The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted four raids late last night and early this morning, three of which were in Minneapolis. Remember: St Paul, home of the 2008 Republican National Convention, is in Ramsey County. Minneapolis is in Hennepin County. Jason Barnett of The Uptake notes: “Why the Ramsey Co Sheriff is important - he’s the only GOP elected official in Saint Paul, and wanted to set up holding camps.”
A mass public meeting to discuss the raids will be held at 11:30 am today in Powderhorn Park.
The Uptake has video forthcoming. Twin Cities Indymedia is continually updating as well with submitted reports from citizens. Keep your eye on The Uptake, Indymedia, and MnIndy for continuing updates on further developments.
The idea that gay marriage will be legalized in Minnesota in my lifetime is very exciting to me. While I am not myself gay, I consider myself a staunch Friend of the Gays and I think gay inequity is one of the biggest civil rights problems of our day.
“Grumble grumble,” I thought to myself. “Why the hell not? We, as Citizens of Democracy, need to get to 100% Human Equity as soon as possible.”
Well, yes. I kept reading, and there statement the groups put out sets the path as smartly and safely as possible:
The Minnesota Supreme Court already ruled against marriage equality in 1971. Courts follow precedents, and this increases the chance of an unfavorable ruling in a new case here. The consequences of another unfavorable ruling could be severe: negative rulings elsewhere have already set our movement back by further solidifying a fundamental legal inequality for gay and lesbian couples. While two states’ highest courts have narrowly ruled in favor of marriage equality, at least five states’ highest courts have, in effect, agreed with Minnesota, making a favorable decision that much less likely.
I’ll preface by saying this: Since I have a degree in political science, it’s hard for me to determine the difference between wonky political blather and deep, interesting political discussion. I hope this is the latter.
You read this blog, so you are likely aware of the third-biggest political party in Minnesota: the Independence Party. Like the Green Party and the Libertarian Party, the IP is lumped into a group known as “third parties,” which are also commonly known as “perennial time wasters.” While they certainly voice very necessary, diverse positions each election cycle and give a sense of political representation–at least in the campaign–to significant numbers of people, they rarely win.
So here’s my question to you: is the Independence Party viable in your eyes? I mean, will they ever be taken seriously? Can they win elections on a regular basis? How long will that take? If they’re so well positioned in the political spectrum, why can’t they win now? I don’t need scholarly answers. You’re the people; you tell me.
But before you do, consider the following relevant information: Wonk wonk wonk
National Geographic Traveler’s 48-Hour Guide to Minneapolis (July/August 2008 edition) lists local blogs and podcasts to check out, followed by newspapers and magazines, maps, and books and movies. We’re a design mecca on the prairie. (I didn’t know Building Minnesota had a podcast.)
TC Daily Planet:Copper Thieves at Coldwater. Exploring the effects of neglect of the Coldwater/Bureau of Mines land.
I knew there was the Minnesota Thunder, our professional men’s soccer team in the United Soccer Leagues. I didn’t know there was a women’s team, the Minnesota Lightning. They’re clearly affiliated, judging by the look of the websites. And by the extremely confusing navigation of the Lightning website, in which all of the links and even the site name up at the top of the browser point to the Thunder, but with a light blue color scheme instead of a dark blue one and a picture of women playing at the top instead of men. Boo! [twitter: @mnthunder]
Vote Yes MN implores you to protect the Minnesota you love. Everything you need to know about the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, a proposed amendment to the Minnesota state constitution appearing on the ballot this fall. If passed it will dedicate funding to protecting the environment “by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034.” [web: yesformn.org] [twitter: @yesformn] [facebook: group]
Common Roots is celebrating its 1st year of operation with a Summer Celebration on Saturday August 9th from 2-9pm. “Featuring grilling on the patio, an heirloom tomato tasting, local beer and wine samples, family activities and live music.” [facebook: profile] [facebook: event] [twitter: @commonroots]
FringeFamous is a blog covering the Minneapolis/St.Paul independent theatre scene, written by a group of quasi-anonymous “Twin Cities theater professionals.” They do year-round coverage (as of March of this year, anyway), but you can imagine how frothy they are over the impending Fringe Festival. [twitter: @fringefamous]
Community Design Group is “an urban planning and policy consulting group” touting “a people-centered, asset-based approach to urban planning, policy and design.” (via mediation)
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, AND GETTING DATA: All closed meetings of a government body must be electronically recorded, unless prohibited by attorney-client privilege. The recordings must be preserved for at least three years. A judge may award attorneys’ fees in a case where a government body violated the law.
<3 government transparency.
HOWEVER, I’m a little ranty about this whole texting while driving (or, as a local TV news outlet has put it, “driving while intexticated”). Don’t get me wrong, texting while you drive is ridiculous. Seriously. Pay attention to the road. Here’s the overview:
DRIVING AND TEXTING: During the first six months, newly licensed drivers under age 18 cannot carry more than one passenger under age 20 unless they are immediate family members. During the next six months, they cannot carry more than three such passengers.
In addition, newly licensed drivers under 18 cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first six months unless they are going between their home and a job or school event and there is no other transportation. The provision does not apply if the driver is accompanied by a licensed driver at least 25 years old.
As of today, it is also illegal FOR ANY DRIVER to text message when a vehicle is in motion or part of traffic.
It seems to me the reason this law was passed is because texting while driving takes your eyes (and attention) off the road. The thing is, we already have a law for that: it’s called reckless driving. Let’s say it becomes really popular for people to drive while blindfolded. Should congress pass a law forbidding blindfolded driving, or should cops just start ticketing (and, perhaps, arresting) people for idiotic reckless driving? If a person is endangering other people due to their texting while driving, ticket them with reckless driving. It’s not hard.
Now the [Hamline-Midway] neighborhood is getting 37 artist-designed signs with oddball imagery meant to make drivers slow down—if only to figure out why a sign that shows a dog says “CAT.”
MPR:Ramsey County creates gas siphoning report line. To which I say, “Isn’t that what the non-emergency police line is for?” Enh, just program it into your phone, I guess. That phone number is not actually included in the MPR story and I could not find it on Ramsey County’s website, so I’m assuming it’s not actually set up yet and suggest you just call the county in the mean time (651-266-8500). There is, however a nice Gather video demonstration of gas siphoning.
Twin Cities Streets for People has the scoop on the Streetcar Feasibility Study that was presented to Minneapolis City Council in January. In case you need it laid out for you in plain English, or in case you missed it the first time around (or both). I’m sloooowly coming around to the idea that, much as I like shiny trains and still firmly believe that the metro needs a comprehensive LRT system, there is a lot of opportunity in adequately funding and fleshing out our bus system and bringing back streetcars.
Three Minnesota couples, including Duane and myself, are preparing to sue the state of Minnesota for denying us our constitutional right to civil marriage. The Minneapolis law firm of Mansfield, Tanick and Cohen has been selected to bring the case against the state. Because the legal fees associated with this case are expected to be thirty to forty thousand dollars, litigants are seeking thirty to forty lesbian and gay couples to join in the suit, which is expected to be filed later this summer.
If you and your same-sex spouse would like to be a part of this historic battle for civil marriage rights in Minnesota, or know of any couples who are sick of being treated like second class citizens and having NOTHING done about it, please call 763-219-1206. Thank you.
I hate that litigation is the way this has to be done. I think that, sadly, this is the easiest way to accomplish this goal. I hate that I can’t rely on my fellow Minnesotans to do what is fair and just (by voting).
I think that there are more appropriate ways to achieve equality (e.g., by truly separating civil marriage from spiritual institutions). At the same time, marriage is not the be-all and end-all of equality, though it does kill a lot of birds with one stone.
Despite the time and effort and money I put into legal fees and drawing up paperwork, it will take one trip to the hospital to turn my world upside down. My partner at least has her parents nearby. I’ve got no one.
I’ve been following the PedalPub story on my blog for awhile now and I’m pleased to say it’s finally a reality.
“The PedalPub concept came from Amsterdam, where passengers have always been able to drink on board (and that’s probably not the only thing they’re doing). But in Minnesota, the PedalPub ran into the state’s open-bottle law. ”
Thankfully, the DFL is an army of drunks (I kid) and Rep. Steve Simon from St. Louis Park (we all know how much drinking goes on in that city - Remember, I said I kid. ) drafted a bill to have the PedalPub grouped with limos and buses. Well that sweet bill became a law in May. I believe the term is puff, puff, pass the legislation.
I say let’s ride this 2000 pound peddle powered keg to glory!
First Minnesota outlaws smoking in private businesses, then text messaging in private vehicles — heck, legislation was even proposed to ban walking down alleys.
After watching this video — featuring the handiwork of a couple treacherous rocks in Uptown — I propose we create legislation to ban the possession and use of rocks (in the name of public safety).
A rock ban is really the only way the government can truly protect us all. These rocks must be stopped.
