Last night at the Common Council meeting (live-blogged by Kristian at the Isthmus) a group of conservatives (I guess that’s what you call them?) attempted to kill the City’s Neighborhood Conference.
This is much of the same group of folks who wanted to get rid of Neighborhood Planning Councils during the 2004 budget and the 2005 budget.
At issue was the funding for the conference. This was a budget amendment so it required 15 votes to pass the council. Alder Brandon took the lead on this expressing concerns that someone was supposed to raise $45,000 in private funds and they only raised $9,000. I thought he said $45,000, but the fiscal note indicates that it should have been $35,500.
Personally, I take exception to sending staff or the Mayor’s office out to raise private funds on behalf of the City. I think it raises ethical and procedural concerns. Additionally, if we’re going to require fundraising, we should probably make it clear who is expected to do it . . . but I digress . . .
Anyways, because this was a 15 vote item and Ald. Van Rooy and Rosas were absent, just a few votes could have prevented the Neighborhood Conference from moving forward. The first vote we took Alds. Brandon, Compton, Sanborn and Skidmore voted “no”, effectively killing the funding for the conference. There were a few quiet “nos” uttered and a “yes, under duress” from Alder Palm. Alder King subsequently changed his vote to “no” in order to reconsider the item.
We finished up a few items and then moved a 10 minute recess. After the 10 minute recess we reconsidered the item and the votes changed a little . . . hmmmmmmm. Ald. Brandon chose to leave the council meeting instead of vote and as he was leaving he was muttering something about people who “have no spines”. Ald. Skidmore changed his “no” vote to “yes”. Ald. Palm voted “yes, still under duress”. So, despite the theatrics, we had our 15 votes and the Neighborhood Conference was allowed to go forward.
I don’t get it. What is it that these Alders have against neighborhoods? Are they afraid that folks can get organized around issues that they care about and leaders will be established who later might run for Alder? Are they afraid that neighbors will fight for issues in their districts which the Alders are opposed to? What is to be feared about having strong neighborhoods and strong neighborhood leaders?
