Hello, Aurin,
Going forward, when I feel the need to challenge your positions on matters of high governance principle, I will do so through these open letters. This allows more people to see the debate and think for themselves.
Just as you aim to spread the influence of DSA doctrine to the city, my aim is to reduce that influence. As an elected official, you have a much bigger megaphone than I do, but I’ll claim the one I have, which is Minneapolis Times.
Nothing too personal, in fact if after 2025 election 3 or 4 DSA CMs remain, it would be fine with me if you are one of them. You are smart, and sincerely motivated. But from my point of view, the fewer DSA-aligned CM members in 2026 and beyond the better governed our city will be.
So here’s my Open Letter re: University protests. Once again the Mayor, using his veto power, showed more maturity and judgment than the Council.
First and most fundamentally: Who elected you, or any of the other 12 members of the city council, to take any positions whatsoever regarding Palestine (or Israel)? This is not remotely close to your charge to govern our city well. Did any of you campaign on your “expertise” on international affairs? Can you produce a single piece of campaign literature from any of you, promising to bring enlightenment on international affairs and demonstrating your qualifications for doing so? Even in the unlikely event that you can provide this evidence, can you provide any rationale that this is even remotely part of the effective governance of the city of Minneapolis?
Second, does the Minneapolis City Council have any business meddling in the internal affairs of the University of Minnesota? Except through legitimate intra-governmental liaison roles, do you have any right to tell President Cunningham how to manage such things as campus protests, whatever the issue may be?
What if the University Board of Regents began to pass resolutions advising the Minneapolis City Council about bike lanes, or zoning, or the Third Precinct, or public safety downtown? You and the other DSA CMs would likely tell them to stay in their lane.
As should the City Council stay in its own lane. A lane which involves neither University governance, nor US foreign policy.
Stellar job, Dave, and oh-so true!
Thanks!
If any council member wants to advocate for such things in their personal time as an individual, that is one thing.
But in their formal role as a city council member, this is unacceptable.
In what world does it make sense ?
This issue came up during the election. When asked her position on the Gaza war, Aurin Chowdhury’s supporters repeatedly said it was not relevant because the Minneapolis City Council had nothing to do with the Middle East conflict. This came on the heels of the DSA’s (who endorsed her) statement on the conflict. In fact I recall one posting where those asking for her position were called racist and xenophobic for “singling her out.” Yet weeks later, probably her first vote on the council, she was voting yes on a divisive resolution on the matter.