City Council recap

Okay well you may have read the paper. Now you can read what real people are saying about the meeting last night. Along with my thoughts as well.

First my thoughts then I will get into the people that I talked to today.

The chamber hall was packed with union supporters and those that did not want to see card check pass. There were also a few other things of note at the meeting.

First card check, there about 16 speakers, there was about 6 to 7 that spoke against card check and about 8 or so union heads that spoke for it. There was one guy claiming to be a concerned citizen yet you could tell his speech was written for him either by the union or the senior group. Those that spoke in favor of the ordinance spoke with passion about how corrupt the system is by the United States. Remember that. No speaker talked at length about how this would help Duluth. They did not even offer reason on why it should pass. Why should they have, when the council already had there minds made up to pass ordinance 42. They knew they did not have to do any work. They used it as a platform to attack how unions are formed in the U.S. and also as a barging tool for the negations talks. Shame on them.

The number of use that spoke against the issue came from many different points, something there side either could not or would not do. I spoke of this being the wrong place and wrong time to take on the issue. This issue should be taken to your congressman and or Senator. This is in no way a local issue. I also talked about why it was not a local issue. Mentioning as well some emails from some of the councilors. Another speaker talked about how it would hurt business in Duluth and he also said that it is not fair to exclude those already exciting hotels motels. If indeed they wanted it to be fair all those that already are build and in operation should have to play by the same rules.

Then there were a number of professionals that spoke about why they felled it was bad to inact card check.

Yet the council voted 6-3 to pass this ordinance. Making it even harder to do business here. Councilor Stewart said he was voting for the ordinance because he would hear about it from the people he represents if he did not support, saying he wants to do what is best for his district. He must not have listened to me as I live in the district. I know councilor Stewart and respect him, however diagree on this issue, and take some issue with his comments.

It seems like people from both sides are a little disturbed at the council action last night. I have talked a number of people today that don't agree with the council action. The people come from both sides if you will democrats and republican. One democrat today asked me what I thought of it, all I did was roll my eyes. He then said he was not happy with the choice saying that the issue is one of little issue with local government. He also was not a huge propionate of card check, but is for reform of being able to form unions. Another a republican was very upset about the action of councilor Johnson and said he was ready to take her to court over conflict of interest. He said he knew it would pass and that she was a big reason.

There are many more that I may share later and I have a few post about this issue coming.

More on the meeting later .