Alright, so if you follow local politics then you heard early voting for Minnesota primary started last week. And, hundreds of Somalis showed up at Mpls city hall to cast their votes for Kahn – current state representative, Noor the hopeful or Askar – the real deal who is running as the first Somali republican in Minnesota history. Askar often gets less attention from MN liberal media and Somalis who by mistake assume MN DFLers are better for them.
As research after research has told us, this district has some of the highest education gap in the state and the country, some of the worst health disparity for women and children, twice higher Black unemployment rate as Caucasians and even a huge gap in home-ownership. Therefore, those that live in this district must ask themselves;
1. Why are our kids failing in schools – for Somalis graduation rate is less than 50%?
2. Why are our men sitting at Fadhi ku dirir and not employed?
3. Why are women having more health problems?
4. Why do we have the highest autism rate in the state for our children 1 in 32 Somalis in this district has autism while nationwide the rate is 1 in 68, That is heartbreaking?
5. Why so many city contracts are never awarded to our businesses, not even 1%?
6. Why is it so hard in city hall and state capitol to start a minority owned business?
7. Why is this district never part of the state appropriations?
8. Why is there not a fence in dangerous playgrounds at Cedar/Riverside?
9. Why are our young/youth wandering the streets instead of being in school, work, and after school programs to enrich their future?
10. Why do we keep choosing the same politicians who have failed our district, our community and our families for years, decades and generations?
Ask yourself why and vote differently.
You see voters in district 60B are just as Americans and as Minnesotans as any other district. So why are district 60B voters at the bottom of every statistic from education to health?
Well – if you answered current representative Rep Kahn is out of touch, then you are right. I think Kahn has stayed too long and lost the ability to feel and see what district 60B constituents need. 40 years is way too long for any politician. Sadly, Kahn does not want to leave and must be voted out.
There are two other choices – Mohamud Noor or Abdi Askar. Let’s examine them from my little autism views.
As I learn and get to know both of these men. My choice is very clear, Askar is the one with different and better vision. Mohamud Noor has been around the block and has held many positions from the director of CSCM which has not improved under his leadership. In fact, the victims of last new year’s day fire are still homeless and Noor is accused of using those funds for his campaign by some Somalis in district 60B. Noor is also a current Mpls school board member which he rarely devotes any time to it, not like Hussein Samatar did. In fact, there isn’t one single good thing he pushed as MPS board member to help failing Somali kids in Mpls schools. Why did he even run for that position if he was not interested in making a difference. In Addition, Noor has been a member of Council of Black Minnesotans which again there is not one single significant item he pushed to better the lives of Black Minnesotans. Furthermore, he just moved to district 60B just to run for office rather than live there and really understand the needs of the people, unlike Warsame who actually lived there for years and knew the people.
Tribal Racism is just as bad as color racism:
Now it seems Cedar voters just want someone from their tribe to win, rather than someone with better policies and ideas. Voting for someone because of their tribe is as racism as voting for someone because of their color or gender. If Somalis are saying – they want fair and leveled playing field in Minnesota then we must practice those words and vote based on the content of their character, not their tribe.
Noor often has lots of good ideas, but they never transfer to fruits, and seeds are just seeds if they are not grown. Plus, as I learned recently – Noor will never stand up to anyone. Noor will not stand for Somali autism families even when Ka Joog toddlers are out of line. In other words, what is the use of good ideas if he never executes them. Based in my little humble opinion, MN DFLers at state capitol will have him for lunch by breakfast. Noor will even go as low as to defend Gov Dayton & Sen Franken’s lack of real policies addressing Somalis and other minorities. There is not one single le
gislation from Dayton or Franken that uplifted Somali community and they have been in office for the last 4 to 6 years. Yet, Noor thinks we should still vote for them. Noor lacks a spine, a backbone & has zero real solutions for our increasing gaps.
For example, preaching universal early childhood is just a statement from MN DFLers because research states by the fourth grade minority children still fall behind which is why there is a huge gap between White and Black kids graduation rate in Minnesota. So, you see that is not a Noor idea, just a washed up and useless MN DFL promises that have failed before. Fighting for a minimum wage of $9.00 – are you kidding me. That is the best Noor can do. Again that is just agreeing with MN DFLers who have created this horrible employment gap in the first place. Besides the better idea would be ensuring our children learn and graduate from school into trade school or college so they can make their dreams come true, not get stuck at a $9.00 an hour job. Ladies and Gentlemen of Cedar and district 60B, Noor promises a lot, delivers a little and as the saying goes – you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. He ain’t going to change at the state capitol. He won’t deliver much there either.
On the other hand, Abdi Askar is not a MN DFLer, he is a MNGOP. I know what – aren’t all Blacks and minorities suppose to stay in MN DFL plantation. Well – based on their never ending disparities – we must change. Let’s explain what Askar will do if elected.
1. He will change the education system, so if your child is not graduating or learning at grade level at his/her current school district, Askar wants you (the parent) to have a choice to take your child to a private school of your choice by using a voucher from the state. In other words, parents don’t have to cry day in & day out because their kids are going to failing school, getting suspended, or expelled by over-rated and under delivering schools. He supports school choice and school vouchers. Many Somalis already take their kids to charter schools and Askar will enhance choices because we as parents know what is best for our children, right?
2. Askar will protect your family and religion values and will never tell you one thing and vote for another that undermines your core family values so that we can live in America as Americans who keep their culture and religion, not sell it to the highest bidder.
3. Askar will never tell you one thing and do the opposite, like Noor. Askar means what he says and says what he means. In other words, he will vote for your needs and values not just march to orders.
4. Askar will fight and introduce autism legislations that will find out why autism is higher in Somali children in which district 60B has the highest in Minnesota. Noor just gives us empty & useless words.
5. Askar will write legislations to assure adequate funding is allocated for district 60B youth so that they don’t become desperate and stay on the right path. He will work with higher education programs to start collaboration with our young to stay in school.
6. Askar will make sure Minnesota department of health stops preaching equity words and starts equity actions by writing bills to assure diverse policies at our state health department which has failed minority health under Dayton administration.
7. Askar will make sure Minnesota department of education and the legislators work together to intentionally recruit diverse Somali teachers including for autism in which there are zero right now under Dayton administration. (you know that Dayton that Noor thinks is doing good – oh please, can he come out for air and stop brown-nosing).
8. Askar will make sure Minnesota department of employment and economics policies and staff reflect our state’s changing demographics. For instance, there is zero Black, Brown, or minority in a leadership position at DEED. You know the department in charge of employment and economics that Noor thinks is doing well under Dayton administration. In other words, if they don’t look like you – they can’t really understand your concerns. Can a man understand the pain/joy of giving birth physically?
9. Askar will write policies to enhance Somalis from this district to become police officers, state troopers, captains, sheriffs and part of the Minnesota department of public safety, so that we are part of the solutions rather than just complaining from outside. Noor has zero ideas in this area and just kisses butt.
10. Askar will listen then make a decision based on reality and need of his voter’s concerns rather than march to orders from others. For example, Noor supports unequal autism services as indicated by a bill Sen Cohen (who chairs MN Senate Finance Committee and is responsible for the hundreds of millions of dollars going in/out – yet has allocated zero, zilch and nada for CSCM) co-authored HF 2700 which means low income autism families will have less inferior autism therapies than high income private insurance autism families. Noor refused to address any autism related issues, yet this medical condition is affecting one in every 32 Somali family in Cedar. If he can ignore your children’s health – do you really think he will care about anything else. Come on folks – open your eyes and stop with this tribal politics and emotional rollercoaster voting.
You see – the choice is very clear. Askar will lead from front and Noor will lead from behind and it will be politics as usual. Make the right choice and vote for Abdi Askar pl
ease. You, your children and your community will all be better for it.
Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee.
Thanks!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate
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