Sour grapes for voting against developer

BY GARY SCHIFF
 
The allegations from Steve Minn are sour grapes from a developer who is angry that he lost a vote. He tried to build a high-density high-rise on land designated as a park in the Marcy Holmes neighborhood plan.

Let me get the facts straight: I review every development proposal individually, based on the merits. My guiding principle is what is best for the neighborhood. In voting against Minn’s project, I agreed with the neighborhood association, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Mississippi River, Planning staff, the Planning Commission and a majority of the City Council. This proposal was inconsistent with our city’s Comprehensive Plan.

Donations to my campaign never influence my vote. They never have and they never will. To avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, I never discuss legislation or development proposals while fundraising. I also never solicit campaign contributions from someone I know is scheduled to appear on a city agenda. When I talked to Minn in January, he never mentioned he would be bringing a project before the Planning Commission in late July. I did not ask for money from his business partners the Walls—I didn’t know he had a project or partners. We never discussed any business when Minn said he would raise money for my campaign.

The timing of Minn’s false allegation is no surprise. Obama calls it “silly season”—the time towards the end of a campaign when negative attacks and internet rumors take the place of honest political debate. Please visit my website, which has been updated to fight back against smear campaigns: www.gary-schiff.com/stopthesmears.

Ninth ward voters deserve real dialogue about the issues that affect their lives, not sour grapes and negative attacks from developers who don’t get their way.