Media

Editorial: New Energy Needed on Park Board

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:26:33 -0500

Wielinski, Stone, Bourn, Erwin, Young and Nordyke earn nods.

With an annual budget of $58 million and a separate police force, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has too long been an under-the-radar political entity for many voters. But this summer it was in the spotlight when some commissioners pushed an unsuccessful, counterproductive drive that would have allowed the board to levy taxes independent of the City Council. The debate raised the profile of this fall's Park Board races-- all nine of the four-year seats are up for election -- and highlighted the need for new leadership. We are endorsing in the following four races:
District 1: Liz Wielinski

Liz Wielinski is seeking elective office for the first time by running for the retiring Walter Dziedzic's seat. As a founder of Minneapolis Park Watch, she has regularly attended Park Board meetings for years and has a wealth of knowledge about its finances. There are few watchdog groups as tenacious as Park Watch; its work draws both applause and ire. Wielinski's hard-nosed questions will be a healthy change for a cliquish board.
Wielinski's main challenger is well-known coach Bernie Kunza. The failure of Kunza's sportswear business, which resulted in a recent court order to repay a bank loan, raises questions about his financial management skills. Kunza's below-the-belt contention that Wielinski has not set foot in Minneapolis parks is untrue. Another candidate, John Malone, declined to be interviewed.

Liz Wins Minneapolis DFL Endorsement!

Sat, 16 May 2009 05:51:23 -0500

“Liz Wielinski easily won endorsement with 72 percent .. “

Steve Brandt, Star Tribune

Liz for Parks

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:58:08 -0600

Liz for Parks
Liz doesn't have much of a website up yet. But it's there with her contact information. If I were going to imagine the perfect possible Park Board Commissioner, perfection would be Liz Wielinski. Liz has an extraordinary command of Park Board finances, and she's a Mom that became involved in parks originally because services were being cut, and she didn't understand why.
I've been critical of the Park Board because I don't think that budgets have always been spent well, certainly not transparently (though they're getting better, I think) and most importantly, I think there are misspent priorities. Check out the budget, and there's lots of money being spent on golf courses and ball parks. Not as much on climbing walls, skate parks or other more contemporary activities. I've written in the past about Richard Florida and his notion of building a local economy by attracting creative economy stars. It's not that we don't need ball parks. But it would sure be nice if the Park system took all of our residents, and all of our activities, into consideration.
We've got nearly a year before we cast ballots in Minneapolis elections so there's plenty of time to remember Liz's name. Vote Liz for Parks.

Jeremy Wieland on “What’s Next...”

Wielinski: Parks won't be top priority under City

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 16:42:46 -0600

BY DAN HAUGEN , NORTHEAST BEAT
February 05, 2009
City Council Member Paul Ostrow has set off a fierce civic debate this week with the unveiling of a set of ballot initiatives that seek to radically reorganize city government.
Among the proposals Ostrow wants Minneapolis voters to consider: whether to eliminate the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and roll its duties into a city department.
This evening I spoke with one of the Park Board’s most persistent critics, Liz Wielinski, who is also a candidate for Park Board this year, running to succeed Walt Dziedzic.
And here’s a headline: Wielinski agrees with the Park Board on this one, at least with the public comments made so far by board members, who unsurprisingly oppose the idea.
“In a city like Minneapolis, where the parks are such an important part of the city, it’s important to have an independent board,” Wielinski said.
She may disagree with their decisions, but it’s important to have elected officials whose top priority is looking after the park system, Wielinski said. She’s worried without an elected park board, parks might become lost as a priority among the city’s budget.
“[Under the city] the parks would become budget item No. 285,” Wielinski said. “We need extra money? Just quit mowing the grass. We need extra money? Let’s put off replacing this roof. We need extra money so we’re going to sell off this park land.”
She also criticized the city’s maintenance of parkways. The city is currently responsible for those roads and the lighting alongside them. Based on the number of potholes and burnt out lights, Wielinski said she doesn’t think the city has been a good steward.
“They can’t keep up what they’ve already agreed to keep up,” she said. “A parks department within the city is not going to be a No. 1 priority.”
This evening I spoke with one of the Park Board’s most persistent critics, Liz Wielinski, who is also a candidate for Park Board this year, running to succeed Walt Dziedzic.
And here’s a headline: Wielinski agrees with the Park Board on this one, at least with the public comments made so far by board members, who unsurprisingly oppose the idea.
“In a city like Minneapolis, where the parks are such an important part of the city, it’s important to have an independent board,” Wielinski said.
She may disagree with their decisions, but it’s important to have elected officials whose top priority is looking after the park system, Wielinski said. She’s worried without an elected park board, parks might become lost as a priority among the city’s budget.
“[Under the city] the parks would become budget item No. 285,” Wielinski said. “We need extra money? Just quit mowing the grass. We need extra money? Let’s put off replacing this roof. We need extra money so we’re going to sell off this park land.”
She also criticized the city’s maintenance of parkways. The city is currently responsible for those roads and the lighting alongside them. Based on the number of potholes and burnt out lights, Wielinski said she doesn’t think the city has been a good steward.
“They can’t keep up what they’ve already agreed to keep up,” she said. “A parks department within the city is not going to be a No. 1 priority.”

Liz Running - Northeaster

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:38:15 -0600

Gail Olson -- The Northeaster Jan 22, 2009

Columbia Park neighborhood resident Liz Wielinski said she will run for the District 1 seat. "I’ve been watching the Minneapolis Park Board now for almost seven years, since they almost closed down the city’s wading pools when I had a three year old. I want to make sure the city keeps up its parks so that future generations can enjoy them. The parks in Minneapolis are our collective back yard."

<http://www.nenorthnews.com/CurrentNews.asp?view=1213&paperID=1&month=