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Open Forum
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A Job Well-DoneTo the Editor:
As chair of the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee I would like to commend State Sen. Mary Olson for her work on the 2008 Data Practices Bill. In her second session at the legislature, she is the chair of the Data Practices Subcommittee, and she has successfully negotiated a very fair and balanced omnibus data privacy conference committee bill.
The Omnibus Data Practices Bill, authored by Sen. Olson, has several provisions to safeguard our personal information including: protecting our social security numbers on mailings; regulating third-party background check companies to make sure their information is up to date and accurate; and protecting the data privacy of those who apply for and are appointed to public boards or commissions.
As an experienced attorney, Sen. Olson has been a valuable member on the Senate Judiciary Committee and has always shown a great concern for protecting Minnesotans’ data privacy and personal information. Her work on the Omnibus Data Practices Bill this session continues to demonstrate her ability to take very complex issues and dissect them to form the best possible outcome for Minnesotans.
As Sen. Olson’s constituents, you should be proud to have such a hard-working and knowledgeable senator on your side who consistently stands up for all Minnesotans’ rights.
Sincerely,
Mee Moua
State Senator, District 67
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Inside the First Amendment: Debate over separation of mosque and state sparks death threatsBy Charles C. Haynes, First Amendment CenterAt a charter school in Minnesota, what should have been a “call the lawyers” dispute over religion in the classroom has escalated into a “call the FBI” imbroglio involving death threats against school officials.Allegations of school-sponsored prayer don’t ordinarily provoke threats of violence. But Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA) in Inver Grove Heights is no ordinary public school.TIZA is a public charter school named for an eighth-century Muslim leader, housed in space leased from the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, with a curriculum that includes Arabic as a second language and a student body that appears to be largely Muslim – a magnet for controversy in post-9/11 America.Right on cue, controversy arrived last month after Katherine Kersten, a columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, suggested that TIZA might be an “Islamic school” funded by taxpayers. She offered as Exhibit A the eyewitness account of a substitute teacher who claimed, among other things, that during her one day at the school the Friday assembly was actually a required prayer service attended by all students.Word of a “madrassah” in Minnesota spread through the Internet like wildfire. A longtime critic of Islam, Robert Spencer, suggested that TIZA might be part of a “grand jihad” bent on undermining Western civilization. Not surprisingly, TIZA now receives what the school’s director describes as “numerous death threats, harassing e-mails, harassing phone calls.”The hysteria over TIZA is just the latest example of a growing number of attacks on Muslims and Muslim institutions in the United States. The school’s staff is well aware that Islamophobia sometimes goes beyond words and turns violent. As recently as March, a federal grand jury in Nashville handed down an indictment charging three men in connection with an arson fire at the Islamic Center in Columbia, Tenn.Fortunately, some of the news coverage of the school – especially an investigative report by KARE 11 News in Minneapolis – has provided a more accurate and balanced look at what is actually going on in the school. From these accounts, it would appear that TIZA administrators are sincere in their aim to run a nonsectarian school.According to the school’s lead teacher, Wendy Swanson-Choi, who has observed every classroom for the past three years, there is no religious instruction during the school day or any pressure by teachers for students to participate in any religious activity.It’s true that many students do attend Islamic-studies classes taught by community members after school. But this is no different from the Christian Good News Clubs offered after school at many elementary public schools throughout the nation (and upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court).At the same time, however, TIZA’s efforts to accommodate the religious practices of the mostly Muslim student body may have gone too far. In various news accounts, the school acknowledges that class is interrupted so that students can fulfill prayer obligations and that Friday assemblies are indeed prayer services – although the school says that all prayers are voluntary and Friday prayers are led by parent volunteers.Even if the school doesn’t encourage participation (and this is one of the allegations that needs more investigation), the First Amendment has been violated if class is halted for prayer and/or kids go to organized religious services within a public school. Students may pray all they like during their free time. But prayer times can’t be organized or endorsed by the school.Far from being an Islamic plot to take over America, TIZA would appear to be a charter school with somewhat fuzzy ideas about what is and isn’t permitted under the establishment clause of the First Amendment.Separation of church and state is also separation of mosque and state – and the “public” in public charter school requires TIZA officials to avoid all school sponsorship or endorsement of religion, even while attempting to accommodate the religious needs of students.TIZA may have crossed a First Amendment line – that’s for the Minnesota Department of Education to determine and, if necessary, to correct. But it should go without saying that in a nation committed to the rule of law, even the most egregious First Amendment violation doesn’t justify hate mail and death threats.When we need the FBI to protect a school from hate and violence, something has gone terribly wrong in America.Charles C. Haynes is senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. Web: firstamendmentcenter.org. E-mail: chaynes@freedomforum.org. |
At Last, Relief from Rising Property TaxesHouse tax bill helps those who need it the mostSt. Paul, MN - Rep. John Ward (DFL-Brainerd) joined his colleagues in the House on Monday to pass a property tax relief bill that is designed to lower property taxes for those who need it the most - seniors, families and farmers. The key reform component of the legislation is a new "Homestead Credit State Refund", which links property taxes to an owner's ability to pay. "At last, thousands of Minnesotans will feel some relief from drastically rising property taxes," said Ward. "Any homeowner in the state who earns under $200,000 and pays more than 2% of their income in property taxes will be eligible for this refund."According to Ward, over the last six years, statewide property taxes in Minnesota increased by 59%, for a total of $2.7 billion; homeowner's property taxes increased by over 81%."If nothing is done this session, they will increase by another $559 million next year," said Ward. "Homeowners are hurting - this bill offers them some relief." The legislation offers relief to property owners who pay high property taxes in relation to their income. It also increases Local Government Aid (LGA) by $30 million, and offers $20 million in new aid to counties and $3 million to townships.An amendment offered by Rep. Ward to repeal the tax-exempt status for seasonal property for school operating levies failed to get support needed to pass."The tax exempt status of seasonal properties has had a huge negative impact on the schools in our district," said Ward. "Our schools, and our kids, could have used this additional tax money."Other provisions in the bill include foreclosure assistance to homeowners and communities, Bovine TB tax credits, and homestead expansions. It also helps protect homeowners during tough economic times."If someone loses their job, or a spouse dies, their property taxes will go down to reflect the change in income," said Ward. "This bill is fair and progressive, and gives help where it is needed most."Homeowners who are interested in knowing how this bill will affect them are encouraged to check out the Property Tax Calculator on the House web page at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/issinfo/hmvccalc5a.xls "This is a solid bill that will provide property tax relief to those who need it the most, and does it without raising taxes," said Ward. "It meets the benchmarks the Governor has set for property tax relief, and I believe he should sign it into law." |
Courage to Challenge the Dinosaur MentalityDear Editor:
I was so uplifted to read Lynne Corbett’s letter [April 29, 2008 edition] that I am compelled to write in support. I would think that anyone could see the logic in this, unless they are locked into a religious mindset with the key belonging to the Pope or the clergy. How, indeed, can anyone get so upset about the cessation of a fetus while waving a flag and cheering on the bombing of other countries? I heard someone say “but they are so innocent” (fetuses, that is). To this person I ask, when is someone no longer innocent? If someone dropped a bomb on your home, maiming and murdering your loved ones, who would not be innocent? Where is the logic?
Thanks, Lynne, for taking Mr. Abler to task on this issue, and thank you Northland Press for having more guts than the Dispatch. Shame on them and Bravo to you!
Phil Donahue once said, “I’d like to be a Pacifist, but I’m not that brave”.
We Could all use a little more courage to challenge the dinosaur mentality of the sacred cows that keep us perpetually killing each other.
There are causes brave people take on.
Time to evolve.
Thank you,
Verna Clark
Crosslake
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Mn/DOT Asks Motorist to Slow Down for Maintenance CrewsST. CLOUD, Minn. -- Motorists are reminded to slow down and use caution when encountering crews working on area highways and bridges--now through late November as they perform annual maintenance and preservation work.The Minnesota Department of Transportation strives to make work zones safe for maintenance workers, as well as drivers, by providing advance traffic control and changeable message signs whenever possible. Striping operations, pothole patching and bridge washing are a few examples of the operations that require traffic to move slower through the work zone.Multiple heavy equipment trucks can be involved in maintenance activities. Motorists are urged to slow down, use caution and pass one truck at a time, being careful not to cross the centerline or drift over the fog line.In the case of striping operations, drivers who get too close to the pavement markings may get wet paint on their cars. The paint usually takes from three to seven minutes to dry on the roadway.For updated statewide traffic, construction, weather and travel information visit www.511mn.org.Work Zones. Pay Attention or Pay the Price.Please note:Maintenance crews will repair potholes on Highway 169 from Onamia to Milaca, May 12 - May 22Work is scheduled on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., weather permitting. Motorists may encounter intermittent lane shifts and closures. |
Moe’s Bill to Study Vacation Rental Lodging Goes to Governor DeskMinnesota Tourism will be studying the impact that private lakefront home rentals are having on the resort industry under a bill passed today by the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Assistant House Majority Leader Frank Moe, DFL-Bemidji, the author of the bill, said the study will look at issues like tax compliance, consumer safety and tourism promotion, as well as the extent that private lakeside homes and cabins are being used as vacation rentals and whether the same taxes and regulations should apply to them.
"A lot of commercial resorts and cabins are going through tough times and this study is intended to look at things we can do to make sure the playing field is level and they remain competitive and profitable," Moe said. The bill is now headed to the Governor's desk for his signature.
"Resorts are vital part of the economy throughout Minnesota. They provide a lot of jobs in our area. This study will help us make sure they continue to be a vital part of our economy in the years to come," Moe said.
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Editorial Columnby Paul Boblett, Editor
A big weekend looms ahead for the Northland area; The 2008 Governor’s Fishing Opener, Mother’s Day, and hopefully, the beginning of an extended golfing season. This could be the year when my golf clubs see more than one round of play - hey, I can dream can’t I?
With so many fantastic courses in the area it would be a shame not to tour as many as possible.
The same can be said for fishing - I wet a line once last year... maybe this year will different...
As the ice is finally leaving the north end of Lake Washburn, the wildlife has definitely returned. A week ago we had a timberwolf prowling our shoreline in search of some grub, a fairy unusual sight. But what was even more interesting were the mallards that began dive bombing the predator, in an obvious attempt to protect a nearby nest.
Enjoy the warmth - grab your clubs, fishing gear, or binoculars and celebrate all that this area has to offer. Most of all, don’t forget to celebrate the moms in your life!
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Inside the First Amendment: Teachers’ Private Postings May Make Waves in SchoolBy Gene Policinski, First Amendment CenterFree expression is an essential guarantee of the First Amendment – the freedom to speak and write as we will, without censorship by the government.But the freedom to express oneself doesn’t necessarily provide a buffer against the reaction to what is said or written. For public employees like schoolteachers, that’s increasingly an issue in the Internet Age, when off-campus postings easily reach the school community.Example: A recent Washington Post story that reported on area teachers who had placed personal material or photos on socialnetworking sites like Facebook. The article is headlined, “When Young Teachers Go Wild on the Web.”The story describes D.C.-area educators who are relatively young and who have posted crude and potentially offensive comments or photos. Several teachers quoted in the story said they expected the postings to remain essentially private, or at most the province of a small group of friends who would understand their sense of humor, satire or irony.And, as one teacher in the story put it, her employer may be anxious about the posted matter, but “my work and social lives are completely separate. I just feel they shouldn't take it seriously. I am young. I just turned 22.” The Post’s report might just pass as noting a titillating curiosity – if not for the potential pitfalls it and other news reports highlight for public school educators who might assume speech away from the workplace is protected by the First Amendment from on-the-job consequences.Legal protections for our speech are strongest for public employees when they are speaking on matters of public concern – government policies or public safety or political issues, as examples. In a landmark 1968 case, Pickering v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a public high school teacher had a right to send to a newspaper a letter to the editor critical of schooldistrict spending on athletics rather than academics.But the distinction and legal protection separating “citizen” from “employee” isn’t always going to tilt in favor of the teacher. Courts in various states have sided with administrators if the speech in question impairs discipline or causes disruption in classrooms, or with co-workers or routine administrative operations, or if it directly affects students. And in 2006, in Garcetti v. Ceballos, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public employees have little or no First Amendment protection for speech made as part of their official job duties – in other words, when they are speaking on behalf of their employer.In 2007, a Virginia teacher was fired after school officials learned of a video posted on YouTube in which the teacher – masked to hide his identity – demonstrated how to “paint” artwork with his backside. Administrators said a controversy over the video was disrupting teaching. The teacher later reached a financial settlement with the school district.Just over a month ago, in Washington state, a federal district court said that school officials did not violate the rights of a teacher whom they transferred from a specialist position to a classroom job after a dispute over her personal blog entries critical of a recent hiring by the school. The court’s opinion said the teacherblogger’s “self proclaimed role as a personality reporter of school personnel” had no relation to a discussion of public issues and would interfere with her job. Potential speech limits on public employees are not limited to educators, or to online video or text postings. In 2000, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled a state investigator could be fired for telling a racist joke at a dinner honoring retiring public officials, because it could undermine his agency’s relationship with clients and the community.The Post story concludes with an anecdote about a teacher who said, after learning her Web site could be publicly viewed, “I never thought about parents and kids [seeing it] before.”But it’s that Internet ease in which a once-momentary aside, or a personal letter, or even a privately viewed video, can instantly reach a wider audience that is posing new issues – and potential dangers – for those in public jobs who choose to display the non-public sides of themselves.Gene Policinski is vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center. Web: www.firstamendmentcenter.org. E-mail: gpolicinski@fac.org |
Concerns Regarding Conditional Use Permit for Gravel Pit in Breezy PointTo the Editor:
This letter is on response to the Conditional Use Permit 2008-001 for Greg Scholz, dba. Breezy Sand and Gravel.
We’re writing in opposition to this proposed 60-acre gravel pit. Does the public know that this gravel pit would be north of Eagle View Elementary with access to Country Road 11 across from the school? Additional access would be on Buschmann Road to the north.
Does the general public know that the proposed gravel pit would be in an area already zoned Wooded Residential? The definition of Wooded Residential is as follows: “It is the purpose of this section to establish and maintain a low density wooded district preserving the character of the City, serving as a buffer between ag/forestry and residential uses, and providing a rural single family setting with limited ag/forestry uses.”
This proposed pit would obliterate 60 acres of trees and landscape next to critical wetlands, habitats, and a nearby lake The severe deforestation of mature forests will greatly impact the abundant wildlife that is in the area, to include Bald Eagles and the Common Loon. We see them and hear them, not to mention the songbirds, deer, and other animals that thrive in this forest. This will forever change the landscape in a critical eco-system.
Construction started on our new home in September 2007. We moved into our home in March 2008. When we checked into the zoning of our property, we were told our property was zoned low density, and surrounding the property on the west side was wooded residential. Not in our wildest dreams did we think a gravel pit could be put in the backyard of a residential community with families all around this area. What will happen to our property values? Would you buy a home with a gravel pit outside your backdoor?
Our new home sits 124 feet from the property line where the gravel pit is being proposed with a 100- foot buffer. Instead of seeing mature trees, our neighborhood will look at a topsoil berm. How Beautiful and so “Up North”. It’s inconceivable that a City could even consider a Conditional Use permit in an area zoned “Wooded Residential”, and not follow their own ordinances.
Please express your opinion by writing the City of Breezy Point or by attending the public hearing on May 13 at 7:00 pm.
Skeeter and Janelle Carkuff
Breezy Point, MN
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Worn Out RoadsI went on a short trip to a couple of times lately. I used only well traveled roads, they are wore out [and] several of them need attention this year or they will reach the state of some that I was on which had reached the point that they will have to be completely rebuilt.
Finally they have started to raise some money to rebuild the roads. They should have used the few dollars they gave back several years ago to start, and instead of piddling around with a lot talk they could have done more for the economy by building roads and bridges.
St Cloud is a real fun place if you need to get across the river and you aren’t familiar with the town. If they keep closing bridges in the twin cities, we will need ferries to get across from one part of town to the other.
If you are a student at the U you won’t be able to have classes on opposite sides of the river on the same day.
Well, I’m old so what I would like would be a light rail connection down to the VA and the airport so I wouldn’t have to drive those places. A public transit system like we had when I was young is a distant dream.
Jesse H Nix
Emily MN
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Lions’ Support of the CommunityThe Emily, Outing and 50 Lakes Lions Club wants to express their appreciation for the community support experienced this past fiscal year. The support of our fund raisers ---Christmas tree and wreath sales, Brat Sales, Annual Golf Tournament, Fifty Lakes Days games and food, Emily Day Celebration games and food, Outing Fun Day games and the annual Lions Corn Feed was phenomenal. This has allowed us to contribute over $16,000.00 to the following needs in the community:
Bloodmobile $32
Food Shelf $530
Lions Programs (Local and National) $3,320
Resident Emergency Needs $3,152
Youth Bike-A-Thon $230
Christmas Toy Program $1,230
Easter Egg Hunt $327
Local Schools $2,010
Other $1,050
Camps for Kids with Cancer R.E.A.D. Program at CRMC Special Olympics Lions Youth Project $142
Student Scholarships $4,500
Total Youth Support $9,489
Total donations for the year $16,818
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Ward Appointed to Two Conference CommitteesSt. Paul, MN – Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher has appointed State Representative John Ward (DFL Brainerd) to the E-12 Education Policy and the Children and Adolescent Behavioral Health Systems (CABHS) program conference committees. The conference committees are made up of state representatives and senators, who are charged with resolving the differences between the House and Senate bills.
As a member of the E-12 Education Policy Committee, Rep. Ward has worked to craft a bill that will improve public education across the state. The primary focus over the past months has been the Report Card provision, legislation focused on arriving at a school measurement tool that would fully, fairly and accurately report student achievement and emphasize school excellence.
"The Report Card Bill is designed to give schools and the public a better overall picture of where students are succeeding, and where there is room for improvement," said Ward. "If passed, it would not punish schools but would instead provide the information needed to improve our public education."
The other conference committee deals with legislation authored by Ward to prevent the state from closing agencies such as the Brainerd CABHS program without legislative authority.
"The state shut this program down behind closed doors, with little or no public or legislative input," said Ward. "As a result, our community lost a program that was serving young people with mental illness issues – leaving them with no option but to go as far away as North Dakota or Canada for mental health services."
Both conference committees are currently meeting and expect to reach agreement by Monday. Following passage by both bodies, the final bill will move to the Governor.
"I consider it an honor to be appointed to both of these conference committees, and look forward to reaching agreement on legislation that will be good for our students, our schools and our communities," said Ward.
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