Reflections on “Pointergate”

Minneapolis_Mayor-Elect_Betsy_Hodges_10710314156_o

The Twin Cities have been rocked by more than an arctic blast this November, the now infamous “#Pointergate” scandal has drawn national attention.

Questions have risen to the surface: How did KSTP (one of our local news stations) think it would be sensible to run a story indirectly accusing Mayor Betsy Hodges of standing in solidarity with North Minneapolis gangs? How is it acceptable for police officers to directly accuse the Mayor of standing in solidarity by pointing with her hand? As the momentum of outrage wilts away, I think the public is going to be forced to make a choice on the matter. Will the push be to get KSTP to apologize or will, as Hodges’ response itself has indicated, the lion’s share of the pressure go towards pushing for change in the policing of Minneapolis?

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Interesting Races Sprouting From Tuesday’s Primaries

Minnesota Precinct Caucuses -DFL -GOP - Statewide - Your Vote Counts - February - 2014

Tuesday had its share of winners and losers in the world of Minnesota politics. The big story was the sub 10% turnout of eligible voters (which is low for our state); but for me the excitement was found in the genesis of full-fledged autumn campaigns. A notable few are actually quite interesting.

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Big Change on the Horizon? Phyllis Kahn vs. Mohamud Noor

Mohamud Noor with Supporters from Mogadishu Times by Ilyaas Maow

The surface of politics in Minneapolis appears rather placid and predictable. This week will likely see Linea Palmisano’s moratorium recede into a simple regulation change and a rather powerless Betsy Hodges inch closer and closer to finalizing the proposed (and stupid) plan to dig the light rail through the Kenilworth Corridor. These are (of course) important issues with consequences, but there is no united opposition that will actually translate such flaws into election problems; at least not yet. The recent gridlock at the DFL Senate District 60 Convention between Phyllis Kahn and Mohamud Noor could be the bellwether of coming turbulence.

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