Sometimes it's just too enervating to keep an oar in our city's pond, and the response of the Chugleys is one of those times.
Definition of working class is malleable. The most romantic image is those doing WPA style hard physical work, like the people portrayed in Diego Rivera's amazing murals in the Detroit Institute of Art. But I don't think those are the people the Chugleys have in mind. In fact, many of those people have moved to MAGA due to the priorities of the progressive left.
I remember an interview with a guy working on the new football stadium, I think it was, who talked about driving by the encampments along Hiawatha on his way to work and resenting like heck all the freebies they were getting from the gubmint. He didn't see his life as being much easier than theirs, in terms of where he started, but said he busts his butt to pay his bills, raise his kids, his wife goes to a tedious day job, and they see their tax dollars going to these "losers" who do none of the above.
At times it feels like the Chugleys believe that those on the streets are the working class and that our city should prioritize their needs. But I'd be curious to learn their definition of working class.
I sit on a fairly high perch on the socio-economic ladder and I've been told that therefore I have no say in this matter. Point taken. But even from that perch I see the billionaire class behaving despicably, the wealth gap growing wider and the tax burden shifting, medical care unaffordable and education costing as much as a modest house, a house that most graduates won't ever be able to purchase. And I believe that government needs to regulate the gougers and the grifters and level the field, as liberal Dem policies for the last 60 years have tried to do, and Repubs since Reagan have tried to undo, succeeding spectacularly under the current regime. The Chugleys et al are rightfully angry, but I think they are channeling that anger in ways that alienate more then unite, and do little to heal our city.
I always thought "working class" meant those that do physical labor. and probably an hourly wage. Recently I expanded my definition to mean those without a bachelor's degree .
I asked Gemini just now for a short definition.
here's what I got:
The definition of the **working class** varies depending on the perspective, but it generally refers to individuals who perform labor-intensive or service-oriented work in exchange for wages.
Here are the three primary ways it is defined:
* **Economic:** People employed in "blue-collar" or service jobs (like manufacturing, retail, or construction) who are typically paid hourly rather than earning high annual salaries.
* **Sociological:** A social group often characterized by having less than a four-year college degree and less autonomy or decision-making power in their daily work environment.
* **Marxist Theory:** Known as the *proletariat*, this group consists of those who do not own the "means of production" (factories, land, or businesses) and must sell their labor to survive.
In modern terms, the "working class" increasingly includes the **precariat**—workers in the gig economy who face high job insecurity and a lack of traditional benefits.
To me, progress will be made when the City Council starts working for all of us, instead of just their special interest slivers. I won’t hold my breath.
In the past 15 years since I moved back to the Kingfield neighborhood,I can’t remember a time that my council rep has knocked on my door, sent a inquiry of what I need in this neighborhood or sent a newsletter. When I questioned why I’m not being updated with a newsletter, or at least pertinent info about my ward I was told that I have to go to their site and opt in.
Yes, that is true. If you're in Kingfield Soren Stevenson is your council member. The only way he will know your email address is if you subscribe to his newsletter. I receive his and those of several other council members. Stevenson is also on social media. You can find Stevenson's newsletter sign up here: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-council/members/ward-8/newsletters/
Fairly sure CM Wonsley has never had ANY intention of working with the mayor, unless that person was a DSA adherent, and they submitted to her. She was on the Council less than two years when she decided to do THIS, below.... and other things like this were happening well before that. In any other, non elected, job, Wonsley would have been dismissed after that. Then you have "smart" guy CM Payne, who asserted, just this last year, that the City could and should be served by a police force of LESS than 300.
After watching this DSA aligned faction on the Mpls City Council, and for years now, it is impossible not to be envious of St Paul. Despite being a large city, they have only 7 part time CMs, and have never jumped on the anti police band wagon.
Conclusion, this DSA aligned, Wonsley controlled faction on the Council, " the Chugleys" have no business being on any city council, in ANY city...AND it would be impossible for any functional, respectable, and qualified mayor to work with them.
*Minneapolis Council Member Robin Wonsley should recant claims against Mayor Jacob Frey
Happy to hear about this project between these two and Mpls Times. I love it. I sent a little bit of money to support the effort. Next time, maybe can add Denver, CO into the mix too. They are doing some great things there now, and have really turned the corner.
“David Therkelsen and Terry White are hitting the road — and they need your help. Over ten days, they’ll travel to Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco to do the kind of on-the-ground reporting that doesn’t happen over Zoom: talking to residents, business owners, and city officials to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and why. Minneapolis is at a crossroads. The debates we’re having right now — about public safety, housing, homelessness, and small business survival — aren’t unique to us….”
This statement from Wonsley summarizes or at least represents so much that is wrong with the activist class trying to understand municipal governance:
"A city’s success should be judged by how well our most vulnerable residents are doing– not reduced to just the size of the tax base. Proclaiming we need to get "back to the basics" means nothing when our neighbors can't afford their rent or are being chased from block to block by encampment sweeps.
City Council is the city’s representative body and serves as a first point of contact for our communities. Community leadership sets Council's priorities and we’re seeing the outcomes of Council's work in our city’s most successful programs, from traffic calming to violence prevention.
From being in the streets responding to ICE to picket lines with workers organizing across our city, Council has your backs. That looks guardrails against the impacts of data centers, worker protections from big tech, and taxing the rich to shift the tax burden away from working families.
City Council has a clear vision and is ready to keep delivering for our communities. Unfortunately for our city, Mayor Frey has preferred vetoes over collaboration at the behest of downtown lobbyists and big corporations. It is easy to say no, but it is much more difficult to offer actual solutions."
Sometimes it's just too enervating to keep an oar in our city's pond, and the response of the Chugleys is one of those times.
Definition of working class is malleable. The most romantic image is those doing WPA style hard physical work, like the people portrayed in Diego Rivera's amazing murals in the Detroit Institute of Art. But I don't think those are the people the Chugleys have in mind. In fact, many of those people have moved to MAGA due to the priorities of the progressive left.
I remember an interview with a guy working on the new football stadium, I think it was, who talked about driving by the encampments along Hiawatha on his way to work and resenting like heck all the freebies they were getting from the gubmint. He didn't see his life as being much easier than theirs, in terms of where he started, but said he busts his butt to pay his bills, raise his kids, his wife goes to a tedious day job, and they see their tax dollars going to these "losers" who do none of the above.
At times it feels like the Chugleys believe that those on the streets are the working class and that our city should prioritize their needs. But I'd be curious to learn their definition of working class.
I sit on a fairly high perch on the socio-economic ladder and I've been told that therefore I have no say in this matter. Point taken. But even from that perch I see the billionaire class behaving despicably, the wealth gap growing wider and the tax burden shifting, medical care unaffordable and education costing as much as a modest house, a house that most graduates won't ever be able to purchase. And I believe that government needs to regulate the gougers and the grifters and level the field, as liberal Dem policies for the last 60 years have tried to do, and Repubs since Reagan have tried to undo, succeeding spectacularly under the current regime. The Chugleys et al are rightfully angry, but I think they are channeling that anger in ways that alienate more then unite, and do little to heal our city.
I always thought "working class" meant those that do physical labor. and probably an hourly wage. Recently I expanded my definition to mean those without a bachelor's degree .
I asked Gemini just now for a short definition.
here's what I got:
The definition of the **working class** varies depending on the perspective, but it generally refers to individuals who perform labor-intensive or service-oriented work in exchange for wages.
Here are the three primary ways it is defined:
* **Economic:** People employed in "blue-collar" or service jobs (like manufacturing, retail, or construction) who are typically paid hourly rather than earning high annual salaries.
* **Sociological:** A social group often characterized by having less than a four-year college degree and less autonomy or decision-making power in their daily work environment.
* **Marxist Theory:** Known as the *proletariat*, this group consists of those who do not own the "means of production" (factories, land, or businesses) and must sell their labor to survive.
In modern terms, the "working class" increasingly includes the **precariat**—workers in the gig economy who face high job insecurity and a lack of traditional benefits.
To me, progress will be made when the City Council starts working for all of us, instead of just their special interest slivers. I won’t hold my breath.
The other term that lacks agreement is “progressive “. Who wants to be against progress, but I doubt there is a common understanding.
It used to have positive connotations for me... Now? Not so much. At least not in the context of Minneapolis politics
In the past 15 years since I moved back to the Kingfield neighborhood,I can’t remember a time that my council rep has knocked on my door, sent a inquiry of what I need in this neighborhood or sent a newsletter. When I questioned why I’m not being updated with a newsletter, or at least pertinent info about my ward I was told that I have to go to their site and opt in.
Yes, that is true. If you're in Kingfield Soren Stevenson is your council member. The only way he will know your email address is if you subscribe to his newsletter. I receive his and those of several other council members. Stevenson is also on social media. You can find Stevenson's newsletter sign up here: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-council/members/ward-8/newsletters/
Fairly sure CM Wonsley has never had ANY intention of working with the mayor, unless that person was a DSA adherent, and they submitted to her. She was on the Council less than two years when she decided to do THIS, below.... and other things like this were happening well before that. In any other, non elected, job, Wonsley would have been dismissed after that. Then you have "smart" guy CM Payne, who asserted, just this last year, that the City could and should be served by a police force of LESS than 300.
After watching this DSA aligned faction on the Mpls City Council, and for years now, it is impossible not to be envious of St Paul. Despite being a large city, they have only 7 part time CMs, and have never jumped on the anti police band wagon.
Conclusion, this DSA aligned, Wonsley controlled faction on the Council, " the Chugleys" have no business being on any city council, in ANY city...AND it would be impossible for any functional, respectable, and qualified mayor to work with them.
*Minneapolis Council Member Robin Wonsley should recant claims against Mayor Jacob Frey
https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-council-member-robin-wonsley-should-recant-claims-against-mayor-jacob-frey/600302863?utm_source=gift_email
A TIF will be difficult to justify because of the “but for” test. The State Auditor and MnDR are supposed to enforce this law.
Happy to hear about this project between these two and Mpls Times. I love it. I sent a little bit of money to support the effort. Next time, maybe can add Denver, CO into the mix too. They are doing some great things there now, and have really turned the corner.
Minneapolis Food for Thought
Organized by Local Media Foundation
https://givebutter.com/mplsfoodforthought
Lead in..
“David Therkelsen and Terry White are hitting the road — and they need your help. Over ten days, they’ll travel to Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco to do the kind of on-the-ground reporting that doesn’t happen over Zoom: talking to residents, business owners, and city officials to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and why. Minneapolis is at a crossroads. The debates we’re having right now — about public safety, housing, homelessness, and small business survival — aren’t unique to us….”
This statement from Wonsley summarizes or at least represents so much that is wrong with the activist class trying to understand municipal governance:
"A city’s success should be judged by how well our most vulnerable residents are doing– not reduced to just the size of the tax base. Proclaiming we need to get "back to the basics" means nothing when our neighbors can't afford their rent or are being chased from block to block by encampment sweeps.
City Council is the city’s representative body and serves as a first point of contact for our communities. Community leadership sets Council's priorities and we’re seeing the outcomes of Council's work in our city’s most successful programs, from traffic calming to violence prevention.
From being in the streets responding to ICE to picket lines with workers organizing across our city, Council has your backs. That looks guardrails against the impacts of data centers, worker protections from big tech, and taxing the rich to shift the tax burden away from working families.
City Council has a clear vision and is ready to keep delivering for our communities. Unfortunately for our city, Mayor Frey has preferred vetoes over collaboration at the behest of downtown lobbyists and big corporations. It is easy to say no, but it is much more difficult to offer actual solutions."