Sunday, October 16, 2011

Guest Post -- Rick Moses, Ramsey County Charter Commission

Note:  Rick Moses is a member of the Ramsey County Charter Commission. Rick wrote to this feature last week about the role the Charter Commission has played in the ongoing debate concerning a potential new stadium for the Vikings in Arden Hills. Rick has more thoughts that he wanted to share about the role of the Commission and the context in which it has acted. I present Rick's views below; I appreciate Rick's service and his candor -- Mr. D

What we heard on Tuesday night and on September 28th was a surprisingly well-informed and articulate citizenry telling us to let the people vote on the stadium. Those in favor of the vote were 13 to 1 on the first evening and 3 to 1 on Tuesday, the difference being union construction workers flooding the chambers the second evening. Those in favor of the amendment to the Charter often came up with suggestions for alternative financing for the Vikings, or voiced relevant figures and statistics. One citizen did the math and figured out that the proposed ½-cent increase amounted to a staggering 7 percent markup over the current sales tax.

On the Pro-Viking build-the-stadium-at-any-cost side, a t-shirt and bead-wearing girl said it was an important lifestyle for her. Construction workers were less articulate, blurting “We need jobs!” without saying why anyone was obligated to provide them in this way. They may as well have said “Ugg!”, caveman style.

So nine of my colleagues on the Charter Commission thought “Ugg” was a solid reason to vote no on the amendment. In so doing they ignored morality, ethics, reason and the testimony of the vast majority of the citizens who told them to vote Yes.

Discussion and debate on the stadium issue began last summer. The county attorney at the time, Mr. Caruthers, said there was no legal barrier to passing such an amendment. So any subsequent challenge by members was for show or delay, not to clear up anything.

That brings me to the operation of the Charter Commission itself. Ordinarily the 17-member body meets every 3 months. Issues can be hotly debated putting great pressure on the Chair. Most members have agendas. The members are appointed by a Ramsey County Judge after there is an opening and after they have applied. Members are not paid, tend to be older, and for some reason nearly all are men. Death is the usual reason for an opening. It is a diverse group with several walks of life represented, from lawyers to professors to retired union electricians. Nine votes are required to pass an amendment, Needless to say, that is difficult if the matter is weighty.

On the stadium issue, I found it ironic to be allied with other members who had previously tripped me up or shouted me down on other matters. Such are the dynamics of the Ramsey County Charter Commission.

Bev Aplikowski is someone I know as an expert parliamentarian. But on Tuesday night she raised a different challenge wondering aloud whether this was our proper role. (The “proper role” is a common issue at meetings.) This struck me as an already settled issue at least from a legal standpoint. But Bev had not previously raised it so I am thinking now she was grandstanding. She is a disappointment to me on this issue.

I will say again that the stadium issue is a clear case of right and wrong. It should rock you like a clap of thunder on a clear day. No clear-thinking person can get it wrong. A half-cent sales tax imposed on the populace for the benefit of a private organization is unconscionable. If it takes a Charter Amendment to undo the bad works of a renegade politician, we must do it.

What was the motivation for those who voted no? Three members were ex-mayors who may have issues with bothersome citizens. Perhaps they have visions of dollars due to an irrational belief in economic development as a result of the stadium. Or a quick fix to the cleanup problem at TCAAP. Whatever the reason, thirty pieces of silver, sparkly objects or illusory visions have all been known to dissuade people from doing the right thing. Perhaps the nine will reconsider.

175 comments:

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol rx buy tramadol texas - tramadol hcl picture

Anonymous said...

generic klonopin online klonopin bioavailability - klonopin dosage for seizures

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online with mastercard tramadol for getting high - tramadol dosage rat

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol 200mg - tramadol snort

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 tramadol 75 mg - buy tramadol cod personal check

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online reviews tramadol ultram for dogs - tramadol for dogs an 627

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 100mg effects - tramadol hydrochloride online

Anonymous said...

discount klonopin long term use of klonopin for anxiety - lorazepam generic klonopin

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol no prescription buy tramadol online dogs - tramadol 50mg ndc

Anonymous said...

klonopin drug vicodin klonopin high - klonopin versus generic

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod online buy tramadol with cod - buy 300 mg tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription overnight buy tramadol online cod no prescription - tramadol online forum

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod online buy tramadol legally - tramadol hcl 50 mg what is it used for

Anonymous said...

soma muscle soma pills cost - soma bras on sale

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol rx buy tramadol 100 - tramadol 50mg tablets high

Anonymous said...

ambien ambien side effects sleep walking - generic ambien doesn't work for me

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma online texas - soma online fedex

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin dose get high - long term side effects klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription overnight buy tramadol online no prescription cod - 3 tramadol high

Anonymous said...

tramadol no prescription buy tramadol online overnight uk - tramadol dosage for humans

Anonymous said...

ambien online 10mg ambien and pregnancy - buy discount ambien

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg buy aura soma usa - cheap breakfast soma

Anonymous said...

best buy tramadol what is a normal dosage of tramadol for dogs - buy ultram from canada

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin klonopin anti anxiety medicine - klonopin side effects coughing

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien withdrawal effects - there generic ambien cr

Anonymous said...

soma without prescription soma drug mechanism - buy soma usa

Anonymous said...

buy generic ativan ativan for alcohol detox - ativan withdrawal joint pain

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online how to get prescription for klonopin - gradual withdrawal klonopin

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol tennessee - legitimate online pharmacy tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online mastercard overnight buy tramadol overnight delivery - tramadol 650

Anonymous said...

buy zolpidem ambien high dosage - ambien generic walgreens

Anonymous said...

buy soma aura soma online store - where to buy soma online overnight

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod overnight ultram online legal - tramadol 50mg opiate

Anonymous said...

ambien generic blue ambien pill mg - order ambien online with no prescription

Anonymous said...

ambien 10mg ambien sleeping pill side effects - ambien cr sleep driving

Anonymous said...

viagra online buy generic viagra new zealand - order viagra online australia

Anonymous said...

generic ambien online ambien cr vs ambien - ambien dosage forms

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard tramadol hcl vs oxycodone - buy tramadol health solutions network

Anonymous said...

order ambien without prescriptions zolpidem er generic ambien cr - prevent sleepwalking ambien

Anonymous said...

buy viagra no prescription cheap generic viagra online reviews - buy viagra 25mg online

Anonymous said...

ambien on line drug class for ambien - ambien 10 mg overdose

Anonymous said...

buy viagra in chicago buy generic viagra pills - viagra online amazon

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cheap tramadol 50mg opiate - buy tramadol using mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight buy tramadol for dogs - tramadol 100mg buy online

Anonymous said...

how to order viagra viagra dosage for altitude sickness - viagra headache

Anonymous said...

ambien online no prescription generic ambien just good - generic ambien 12.5 cr

Anonymous said...

generic soma soma pills info - what does soma pills look like

Anonymous said...

buying viagra generic viagra professional - generic viagra when will it be available

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online fast delivery viagra online pharmacy review - buy viagra online genuine

Anonymous said...

klonopin 2mg klonopin overdose - side effects from stopping klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol hcl ultracet - buy tramadol generic ultram

Anonymous said...

cheapest soma soma cruz - soma muscle aches

Anonymous said...

buy viagra do buy viagra online - does viagra work drunk

Anonymous said...

buy real viagra online generic viagra canada paypal - buy viagra online cheap no prescription

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis online free shipping - cialis price list

Anonymous said...

soma carisoprodol buy soma cod overnight - soma back pain medication

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy 100mg viagra online - purchase viagra legally online

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol drug generic soma with codeine - soma coupons printable store

Anonymous said...

order viagra online overnight viagra buy chemist - buy viagra kamagra

Anonymous said...

order viagra online cheap female viagra online - order viagra online india

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol medication tramadol hcl 25mg dogs - cheap tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online paypal buy viagra no prescription australia - buy viagra stores uk

Anonymous said...

purchase viagra generic viagra online paypal - viagra online authentic

Anonymous said...

soma no prescription salzarex generic soma - soma bras usa

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online mastercard tramadolor 100 mg - is tramadol online real

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online cheap viagra online in the uk - order viagra cheap

Anonymous said...

discount viagra viagra dosage info - buy viagra 2011

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap no prescription tramadol high blood pressure medication - tramadol online no prescription usa

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis taiwan - cialis buy

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy viagra uk next day delivery - yahoo answer viagra online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap tramadol er high - tramadol for dogs and humans the same

Anonymous said...

propecia online propecia side effects nhs - propecia generic wiki

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy genuine viagra online canada - viagra online canada no prescription

Anonymous said...

cialis 10mg buy brand name cialis online - low dose cialis reviews

Anonymous said...

buy viagra generic online viagra herbal - order viagra in uk

Anonymous said...

buy cialis with paypal cialis daily free trial - cialis retail price

Anonymous said...

buy viagra dosage of viagra tablets - buy viagra online australia fast delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard tramadol withdrawal not that bad - tramadol prescribing information

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol manufacturer - tramadol for dogs constipation

Anonymous said...

generic strattera strattera for adhd - strattera price walmart

Anonymous said...

buy viagra where to buy viagra in vancouver canada - generic viagra release date

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 100 mg sr - lethal dose tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy strattera generic strattera 40 mg - strattera side effects heart rate

Anonymous said...

cialis price buy generic cialis online - cialis price boots

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra next day delivery viagra online yahoo - order viagra by phone

Anonymous said...

propecia pills propecia side effects disappear - propecia side effects last

Anonymous said...

buy generic propecia propecia online italia - propecia side effects getting pregnant

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol buy online cheap - tramadol to buy

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia and testosterone - buy propecia in canada

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online overnight tramadol for dogs usa - tramadol 50mg dosage for dogs

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online buy propecia - propecia 5 year study

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mastercard tramadol hcl weight loss - buy tramadol online usa

Anonymous said...

generic tramadol online buy tramadol in the usa - tramadol addiction help

Anonymous said...

generic finasteride propecia+minoxidil+reviews - generic propecia in 2012

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol generic tramadol 100mg - buy tramadol online with a cod

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy ultram online no prescription overnight - buy tramadol in florida

Anonymous said...

buy generic cialis no prescription cialis ed reviews - online apotheke cialis 20mg

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cheap cialis ireland - cialis hypertension

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol online without rx - buy tramadol online no rx

Anonymous said...

viagra online pharmacy canadian viagra online pharmacy - viagra without prescriptions us

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra reputable online pharmacy viagra - viagra news

Anonymous said...

order cialis online cialis versus viagra reviews - buy cialis new zealand

Anonymous said...

cialis no prescription buy cialis online reviews - cialis risks

Anonymous said...

cialis online usa cheap cialis tablets - can you buy cialis over the counter

Anonymous said...

generic viagra viagra duration - cheapest place to buy viagra online

Anonymous said...

order tramadol buy tramadol from india - tramadol pharmacy

Anonymous said...

viagra online without prescription viagra buy online no prescription us - purchase viagra south africa

Anonymous said...

generic cialis no prescription where to buy cialis online yahoo answers - generic cialis safe

Anonymous said...

buy cialis professional buy cialis and viagra online - cialis 5 mg daily review

Anonymous said...

viagra cost buy viagra liverpool us - buy viagra us

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis grapefruit - cheap cialis for sale

Anonymous said...

generic viagra does viagra for women exist - viagra generic name

Anonymous said...

generic viagra online cheap viagra england - viagra online malaysia

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra get generic viagra us - viagra online without prescriptions

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

tramadol 100mg tramadol online fedex next day - purchase cheap tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol hcl buy tramadol online overnight shipping - tramadol 821

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with paypal buy tramadol rx online - tramadol withdrawal timeline

Anonymous said...

tramadol online pharmacy tramadol 50 mg snort - buy tramadol online with cod

Anonymous said...

tramadol no rx tramadol 50 mg experience - buy tramadol online from mexico

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg online tramadol maximum dosage - tramadol hcl generic name

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg good site buy tramadol - can buy tramadol online legally

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol no prescription order tramadol online 100mg - buy ultram er

Anonymous said...

cheapest cialis cialis online lowest price - buy cialis online in south africa

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol no prescription tramadol vs hydrocodone high - buy tramadol online no prescription needed