COMMUNITY VOICES | Nancy Nelson to leave AM950 Radio

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 Nancy Nelson (in by professional broadcaster’s opinion – Minnesota’s best talk radio host/interviewer) leaves AM950 radio after she signs off at 6 p.m. on Friday August 16.  That’s only two shows left from the time I post this sad note.  For more than three years, Nancy Nelson has provided most of the local juice for the only progressive/liberal radio station in the Twin Cities. Nancy has engaged nearly all of the progressive leaders, politicians and thinkers in the state; provided quality air time for Minnesota and national lefties, candidates, activists and opinion makers in a medium that has been harnessed by corporate media for right wing paranoia mongers and the under informed.  Nancy has been professional, impassioned and always prepared – always knowledgeable about the subject in hand.  I have been blessed to have Nancy Nelson pinch-hit host “Democratic Visions,” the cable TV and Internet program I produce through DFL Senate District 48.  She is a force of nature sparked not by her own ego, but by the people who share with her their perspectives, emotions, hopes, anger and humor.  Nancy Nelson has liberated political talk radio from both the bloviators and the limp, journalistic poseurs on local public and commercial broadcasting.  CALL TO ACTION –Every DFLer, independent, progressive Republican, environmental, gay rights, gun control, health care and good government advocat and listener — Contact AM950 now and tell it to figure out a way to keep Nancy Nelson on the air. AM950 station phone 952-946-8885Nancy Nelson Show call-In Line: 952-946-6205, 5 pm to 6 pmMatt McNeill Show call-in-line: 952-946-6205. 6 am to 8 am Nancy’s email – nancy@am950radio.com  I am not certain why Nancy is leaving, but heard her talk briefly about her departure on her Tuesday drive time show.  I did not hear any of the “whys.” I only heard Nancy conversationally announce in here normally sunny and effervescent precise manner, that she was leaving AM950 on Friday and was very sad about having to leave her AM950 radio listener family and studio crew. A Message from Nancy Nelson’s Website – www.nancynelson.com/ “Thank you for stopping by.  I’m truly sad about not being on the air at AM950 any longer.  I have felt it a privilege every single day of the past three plus years, being able to talk to you and with you about the political matters that are so important in our daily lives.  I don’t know what is next, but I’d be happy to keep in touch with whatever that is, so if you want to leave me a message and your email address, that would be lovely.  Just click on the CONTACT US link.  Hope to be with you again sometime. So browse…. Continue Reading

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Betsy Hodges wants Minneapolis residents to be “militantly immodest”

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Minneapolis mayoral candidate Betsy Hodges wants Minneapolis to be the “greatest city of the 21st century.” To do this, Hodges advocates focusing both on Minneapolis’ “livability,” and the city’s disparities between wealthier and lower income residents.Speaking from the Minneapolis home of David Wilson and Michael Peterman on Wednesday, August 7, Hodges was the fourth candidate to appear as part of an informal “meet the candidate” series. On this mild August night, around sixty potential supporters gathered to hear Hodges’ ideas for the mayor’s office. The final candidate invited to speak is Republican Cam Winton, who is running as an Independent and will speak on August 14.Hodges began by telling the crowd that her vision is to move Minneapolis forward “based on people.” To this end, she spoke of the need to address the “wide chasm” between the “haves and the have-nots” in Minneapolis, in order to ensure that all residents have access to what the city has to offer.A key way to accomplish this, in Hodges’ opinion, is to increase the city’s transit options in order to “bring people to jobs and jobs to people.” She spoke of her support for bringing streetcars back to Nicollet Avenue, and possibly West Broadway Avenue in north Minneapolis. This is based on her belief that transit can “transform communities” and bring “confidence” and “permanent investment” to different parts of the city.Sam Rockwell, who was listening to Hodges speak, said he “doesn’t own a car” and “doesn’t want to.” He asked Hodges about her ideas for making transit more efficient, speed-wise. In response, she spoke about increasing all kinds of transit in the city and adding “more permanent bike infrastructure” to improve the efficiency of public transportation.On the topic of education, Hodges, like many of the candidates who have participated in this series, described the mayor’s role as that of a “convener” rather than an active decision-maker. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | The Hypocrisy of Minneapolis Energy Options

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On August 1st, a rally was held by Minneapolis Energy Options. The group alleges that Xcel Energy is not providing ‘green energy’ and therefore, is not a suitable electricity provider for the city of Minneapolis. Apparently, Minneapolis Energy Options believes that the City of Minneapolis would do a far better job in delivering clean, renewable, reliable electricity to the residents of Minneapolis without raising rates and we will all live happily ever after. Who are they kidding? Not many. Continue Reading

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Jackie Cherryhomes claims “trifecta of experience”

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As a mayoral candidate for Minneapolis, Jackie Cherryhomes believes she has the “trifecta” of experience that makes her a strong candidate. This trifecta includes her government experience from twelve years spent on the Minneapolis City Council, her background in community organizing, and her recent work in the business world as a consultant.Cherryhomes was invited to speak at the home of Kenwood residents Charlie and Julie Zelle, to a crowd of around 40 interested voters and supporters.  She was part of a “meet the candidate” series organized by Minneapolis resident Kate Mortenson that features individual candidates speaking to voters and then answering questions. The next candidate to be featured is Betsy Hodges, who will appear on Wednesday, August 7.Cherryhomes began her speech by identifying three issues that she sees as related: health, housing and jobs, and the disparities within them.  She spoke of the many positive transformations going on in Minneapolis, such as the development of the North Loop district, but said that she wants “all citizens” to have the benefits of such transformation.Housing is a central topic for Cherryhomes, based on her experience on the city council. When asked about density in Minneapolis, she spoke about the need for more low income housing in the city, and her belief that it should not be concentrated in high poverty neighborhoods. Continue Reading

Mark Andrew highlights green dreams in Minneapolis mayoral campaign

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CORRECTED 7/29/2013: Mayoral candidate Mark Andrew spoke to around 60 friends, supporters, and curious citizens on July 24 at the Phillips Family Office in southeast Minneapolis, with Dean Phillips hosting the event. Andrew focused on the three issues he considers most important: making Minneapolis the “greenest city in America,” tackling what he referred to as the “gaps” in wages, housing, education, and overall opportunities among Minneapolis’ citizens, and finally, economic development.The July 24 event, the second in a series of Kate Mortenson’s casual “meet the candidate” series,  began with a presentation on Ranked Choice Voting, then moved to a brief candidate speech by Andrew, and then to questions and answers. The first candidate to speak in the series was Don Samuels on July 17, followed by Mark Andrew on July 24. Next up are Jackie Cherryhomes and Betsy Hodges, followed by a last minute add-on of candidate Cam Winton, who is a Republican running as an Independent.Andrew’s passions clearly seemed to be focused around transit and the environment. He referred frequently to his past experience as Hennepin County Commissioner, and highlighted his work on building the Midtown Greenway, the Kenilworth bike trail near Cedar Lake in Minneapolis, and the city’s recycling program.Andrew was asked about the Southwest Light Rail controversy, which involves the expansion of light rail transit in southwest Minneapolis and western suburbs. A key aspect of the controversy is how to accommodate various neighborhood interests, and how to accommodate light rail and freight train traffic. Continue Reading

No more lemmings: Minneapolis mayoral candidate Don Samuels on education

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If Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels becomes the next mayor of Minneapolis, he promises that students in his city will not be allowed to “walk like lemmings into failing classrooms.” At a casual “meet the candidate” event held Wednesday, July 17 at the southwest Minneapolis home of David and Kate Mortenson, Samuels gave a short speech about three key issues—economic development, education and public safety—but received the most interest for his views on Minneapolis schools and how to improve them.About 70 friends and neighbors of the Mortensons, along with some interested citizens and supporters of Samuels, turned out on this sweltering July night to listen to Samuels’ ideas and ask questions about his positions. Samuels was the first of four main DFL candidates running for mayor to be invited to speak with voters at a Minneapolis home or office setting. These events were organized by Kate Mortenson, who wanted to give people who may not normally attend fundraisers a “free chance” to get an up close look at those vying to take over for RT Rybak, who is not running for re-election. Following Samuels, Mark Andrew, Jackie Cherryhomes and Betsy Hodges will be presenting themselves to these informal groups of potential supporters. The format was a brief introduction to Ranked Choice Voting, followed by the hosts explaining the event and introducing the candidate. Then the candidate spoke on the three issues, followed by questions from the audience. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | A party insider’s take on the Minneapolis DFL Convention

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*The following post reflects my own opinions and has not been revised, approved, or endorsed by any campaign, committee, or party officer.Last summer I was asked to run to fill a vacant director spot on the Minneapolis DFL Executive Committee. I had never attended a city DFL meeting, but I knew it would be a great way for me to get more involved in citywide politics this side of the river. After a brief speech to the Minneapolis DFL Central Committee, I was asked instead to run for the vacant role of Outreach Officer. I don’t know how long the position had been vacant, but the only other person who volunteered to run for an Executive Committee role was uninterested in being the Outreach Officer. I said, “OK,” and I was elected with the Central Committee understanding I was new to Minneapolis politics but willing to learn and work hard. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | Corporate candidates pre-selected for Minneapolis mayor

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I rarely ever buy or read the Star Tribune any more.  However- this week I had to drop off my sister in law at a Same Day Surgery Clinic and had 3 hours to spare while I  waited for her. With nothing better to do, I decided to have breakfast and yes- read the paper. There was a fairly large article in the local section on the Minneapolis Mayors race. Without realizing it, the Star Tribune exposed the Kabuki Theater aspect of local politics in this town.Of course it only covered the “main contenders” Mark Andrews and Betsy Hodges, with a very brief mention of Gary Schiff dropping out and throwing his support to Betsy Hodges. Cam Winton, the Republican who is pretending that he is Independent, got another brief mention.One sentence admitted “some others” who were also running. What made this article so interesting to me was how it framed  the campaign: Mark Andrews as the “political soul mate”  of former Mayor RT Rybak; Betsy Hodges has many former Rybak staffers working on her campaign and at the DFL Convention; Gary Schiff, had “opposed” Mayor Rybak, but, now supports Betsy Hodges. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | Minneapolis DFL Party should apologize

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The Minneapolis DFL Party owes the citizens of Minneapolis an apology and ought to make a statement to that effect — whether by resolution or otherwise — at its upcoming city convention.At its convention last year, the Party refused even to consider a resolution expressing the will of the body on the proposed “People’s Stadium.” This was five days before the Minneapolis City Council’s Committee of the Whole — with 12 DFLers out of its 13 members — was going to take the key vote on the stadium bill the legislature had passed. But the Minneapolis DFL Convention remained silent.How is that defensible?The primary business to be conducted at that convention was endorsement of school board candidates. But it was clear that after the at-large endorsements had been voted on, a motion would be made and passed to adjourn so that the smaller political units could make their district school board endorsements. This would mean the resolutions portion of the agenda would fall by the wayside.So at the time the agenda was being considered for adoption, a motion was made to move to the top of the agenda a 10-minute discussion on a stadium resolution. Continue Reading