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Community Solutions Podcast


May 18, 2019

www.commsolutionsmn.com- We've talked about the importance of being involved on advisory commissions before. They give recommendations for or against various legislation to cities, counties, and school districts. It is an opportunity for residents of a city/county/school district to get into a position of entry-level governing to consider legislation the governmental body is looking at. Locally elected bodies and advisory commissions are nonpartisan bodies that should represent the entire community's view on nonpartisan issues. That's easy enough to do when talking about zoning, parks, watersheds, or how to organize the government. There has been an undercurrent, however, to create more progressive advisory commissions (like around biking or equity) that have become more of an advocacy group than a balanced community-wide view. These groups are better suited as private clubs that exercise their 1st amendment rights to petition government for their interests, rather than being a part of it, designed to push a progressive agenda in a nonpartisan body. We introduce you to some of these and make the case why they don't quite fit the mold of nonpartisanship.

We also discuss the push by the state legislature to reduce suspensions and expulsions in Minnesota schools. They feel that it is not equitable to minorities, so they want to get rid of the practice for the most part. They feel that by creating a more caring environment that fosters a desire to learn that students receiving suspensions and expulsions will become model students. We're not so sure.

Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy!

Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify, or go out to the PodBabble Podcast Network!