RE: [Mpls] NRP and city affordable housing fund. Some questions?
We appear too busy fighting over the solution and the process to step back and remind ourselves what the problem is. For years, we have all believed that the Affordable housing crisis is caused by a lack of housing. However, this assumption has proven false over the past 12+ months. We are currently in the untenable situation of having many homeless folk and having an increasing vacancy rate in our rental housing stock. Rental properties have seen vacancies climb from 2.5% to 6.6% and the predictions are that it will get worst. This dramatic increase in vacancies is forcing the rental industry to offer aggressive incentives to attract residents and (in some cases) a lowering of criteria to fill up vacant units. Can we rightfully argue that government funds should still be allocated to building more housing? Shouldn't we instead be asking why we are unable to fill the existing housing stock with families that need housing? I believe the affordable Housing crisis is not an availability problem, but rather an affordable problem. There are many ways to fill the gap in housing costs and this program appears to be an excellent example of one way. I personally applaud Mr. Graham and his associates for proposing up to date solutions. This solution is all the better because it is targeted at homeownership and not rentals. I encourage all of us to look at other possibilities for filling the housing affordability gap. Some possibilities are: 1.) More programs like the one Mr. Graham is pushing that makes it easier for low income folk to buy existing homes. 2.) Asking why we don't have readily available gap funding for rental housing (ala section 8 and wilder roof programs). 3.) Asking who and how can people live on $7.00/hour? 4.) Asking if homeless folk have enough support to help them overcome addictions and historical behavior problems that keep them out of housing? 5.) Asking if the city of Minneapolis has policies that discourage home ownership for low income folk? Can we keep a lid on property taxes for lower cost housing? Why does the city of Minneapolis have their own licensing division for contractors (Thereby limiting suppliers)? Etc... We readily provide food stamps for those that cannot afford food. We build homes for those that cannot afford homes. Why not readily provide rent/mortgage stamps for those that cannot afford homes and buy more cows for those that cannot afford milk? I hope this post is beneficial to you. Regards, Bill Cullen. I live in Hopkins, but own a business in Uptown. TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Trojan Horse?
On page B6 of Saturday's StarTribune Mary Abbe reports that the City Council approved without debate, a controversial gift to the city--a giant mural for the Convention Center by artist Anthony Whelihan. All the debate went on beforehand in committees and in the Arts commission. The Mayor was quoted as saying it wasn't a perfect process, but the end result is a gift to the city that will allow us to turn a blank walll into a celebration. Why am I so leery? Is this a Trojan Horse that will prove to be the muralistic equivalent of the Mary Tyler Moore statue? Furthermore, if the process was so imperfect, why continue? Do we want to be the Capitol of Kitsch? Tim Connolly Downtown West __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] NRP and city affordable housing fund. One answer....
Bill Cullen wrote: 3.) Asking who and how can people live on $7.00/hour? Vicky applies a pencil: I calculated the Net Take Home Pay, after taxes, assuming a 40 hour work week, for a single person with no dependents. People with children would receive approximately 25% more because of the earned income tax credit. $6.15 per hour, $198.18 per week, $10,305.36 per year. $8.25 per hour, $258.75 per week, $13,455.00 per year. $10.00 per hour, $308.40 per week, $16,036.80 per year. $12.50 per hour, $380.75 per week, $19,799.00 per year. At the minimum wage of $6.15 per hour, two people could afford, without subsidy, a nice apartment for around $600 per month, $7,200 per year out of total take home pay of $20,610.72. When young and/or broke, people share expenses to make ends meet. It should be noted that HUD claims the AMI (area median income) in Minneapolis is $53,700 for a single person. This allows affordable housing developers to charge high rents, and rent to people who don't need subsidies at all. 60% AMI = $32,220 per year. 50% AMI = $26,850. Arithmetic by, Vicky Heller Cedar-Riverside and North Oaks TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Tuesday's AI community event
I am thankful for the coverage of the AI community event last Tuesday that brought together the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors, community and city officials. This was not easy event to developed, this was originally developed to address safety and violence in our community and the perception of the Police Department's role within that. Since the planning began, another incident involving the Police occurred. This led to some internal questions on whether an event could be created that was meaningful, respectful and yet accepted a history of frustration, anger and harm. We have had four different occasions where we asked community members to expose their stories to paint a picture of the depth and reach of this issue. The event on Tuesday was developed with the intent to honor those stories and the risk people took in sharing them by creating a forum for discussion that could translate into believable actions. Based on the Mayor's response on this listserve, the intent may not have been clear to him about the event. As a MUID Co-Chair, attempts were made to connect with him for at least a half-hour in the week leading up to the event to be clear of the intent of the gathering and provide some educated advice on what words or actions expressed that leads to some level of reconciliation. Unfortunately that meeting never transpired and other city staff came to gather the information, but they may have played the role of a filter than a line of communication. Today we will sit down with some city staff to reflect on the event, next week our sub-committee will gather and the following the full MUID group will come together to develop our collective reflection. However, I need to be clear on some general lines of thinking emerging. One is we were honored for the Mayor, City Council members Robert Lilligren and Dean Zimmerman's participation. We were also honored by the many levels of Police representation and their investment into the planning and carrying out the event. We would be foolish, if our expectations were that a Mayor or anyone would have moved from knowledge to understanding in this period of time. We would also have been foolish in thinking we could have made more progress than we achieved that night considering the issue. We did present a position that we are expecting an answer within a designated period of time. However, we do believe we are engaging those responsible and will continue to pursue a relationship that is respectful, sustained and accountable. Tony LookingElk MUID Co-Chair
[Mpls] Affordable Housing - Other Ideas
I would like to applaud Mr. Cullen's redirection of the discussion back to the underlying problem. I think the time has come to look at some other options. Home Ownership: I would like to see a program where low income people could get their down payment (anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000) paid by the city. This is substantially less expensive than the per unit costs of rehab or new construction under the name of affordable housing. The city could even put a lien against the property for the amount of the down payment. At any point that the title is transferred; refinancing, sale, gift, whatever, the money would be returned to the city and used again to help someone else. I personally believe that the down payment can be one of the biggest hurdles to home ownership. When money is tight, there is no way to set aside the extra that is needed to get into a house. Loans for a down payment just increase the burden even more to those who are already struggling. Rental Housing: I really like the idea of rent stamps so that the people who qualify for them can have some kind of meaningful choice as to where they want to live. Another option whould be to allow boarding and/or rooming houses again. This is a very efficient means of sharing space. It offers a home owner, with extra space, the opportunity to get some extra income and provides the renter (especially single people) with a truly affordable option. I lived in a boarding house some years ago and absolutely loved it. Catherine Leighton Live in Longfellow/Work North East TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Tuesday's AI community event
Terrific. I'm pleased, too, that progress is being made. I base my criticism on what appeared in the Tribune. So perhaps the account was not fulsome enough for the general public to get a clear picture. There are Indians living near enough to me for me to say they are neighbors (mile in any direction). I know people who are Indian. It would be better for all of us (lest you think that I'm some sort of ersatz Romantic or Idealist lost in the last century) if our neighbors were treated with respect. To do so, I begin to think more and more, is, in part, a function of understanding cultural signals and cultural norms. The designation of the event as a feast was a cultural signal, the previous meetings at city hall were, inevitably, rich with cultural signals and norms on both sides. That the mayor, according to himself, had said he could only stay an hour was, in itself, a failure to understand the cultural signals being given him. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am thankful for the coverage of the AI community event last Tuesday that brought together the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors, community and city officials. This was not easy event to developed, this was originally developed to address safety and violence in our community and the perception of the Police Department's role within that. Since the planning began, another incident involving the Police occurred. This led to some internal questions on whether an event could be created that was meaningful, respectful and yet accepted a history of frustration, anger and harm. We have had four different occasions where we asked community members to expose their stories to paint a picture of the depth and reach of this issue. The event on Tuesday was developed with the intent to honor those stories and the risk people took in sharing them by creating a forum for discussion that could translate into believable actions. Based on the Mayor's response on this listserve, the intent may not have been clear to him about the event. As a MUID Co-Chair, attempts were made to connect with him for at least a half-hour in the week leading up to the event to be clear of the intent of the gathering and provide some educated advice on what words or actions expressed that leads to some level of reconciliation. Unfortunately that meeting never transpired and other city staff came to gather the information, but they may have played the role of a filter than a line of communication. WM: This gets to the point I'm trying to make, though done with great diplomacy, as befits Mr. LookingElk's position. IMHO, the office of mayor requires what I call excruciating class. A mayor does not go to a major event with a sizable group of his constituents unprepared or under prepared. Not knowing the cultural norms of the community he is addressing meant that the mayor was not prepared even though Mr. LookingElk's office made efforts to help him prepare. What it says to me reading an account of the event in the paper is that the mayor does not respect this segment of his constituency enough to be well prepared to meet with them. Frankly, that really makes me angry. As a neighbor to some of the people not being respected as a result of carelessness? ignorance? what I conclude is that the mayor's office has put a stick in the wheel of resolving the issue of police brutality and my neighbors. This is not in the best interest of the city since it erects another barrier between me and my neighbors because it makes the Indians around me less open to creating trust with me. I don't want to live like that. Today we will sit down with some city staff to reflect on the event, next week our sub-committee will gather and the following the full MUID group will come together to develop our collective reflection. However, I need to be clear on some general lines of thinking emerging. One is we were honored for the Mayor, City Council members Robert Lilligren and Dean Zimmerman's participation. We were also honored by the many levels of Police representation and their investment into the planning and carrying out the event. WM: I too am pleased with the presence of those people. I'm particularly pleased that it included Lt. Arneson and Inspector Lubinski because it is they who will be responsible for supervising the change and initiating accountability sanctions for those officers who cannot or will not improve their performance. I'm happy that it included many ears, many eyes, many attentions to assist the process by witness. We would be foolish, if our expectations were that a Mayor or anyone would have moved from knowledge to understanding in this period of time. We would also have been foolish in thinking we could have made more progress than we achieved that night considering the issue. We did present a position that we are expecting an answer within a designated period of time. However, we do believe we are engaging those
Re: [Mpls] Trojan Horse?
Living in the neighborhood that faces a big giant cement wall at the back side of K-Mart gave cause for concern to many residents of Whittier and Stevens Square during the planning phase for 3rd Av and the way it interfaces with the new portion of the convention center. The new portion of the convention center currently has a big cement wall facing you as you navigate down 3rd before the curve. There was and still is concern that a big white cement wall is very uninviting. Hopefully, the mural will soften that a bit. Barb Lickness Whittier = Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Affordable Housing - Other Ideas
(CM) Adding and critiquing Home Ownership: I would like to see a program where low income people could get their down payment (anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000) paid by the city. (CM) This better be a pilot program. What happens if everyone with who gets turned down for a loan else where moves into your city. Do it by lottery by those who have been pre-qualified. Impacted neighborhoods first. This is substantially less expensive than the per unit costs of rehab or new construction under the name of affordable housing. (CM) AMEN! The city is spending something over 100k per affordable unit. The city could even put a lien against the property for the amount of the down payment. At any point that the title is transferred; refinancing, sale, gift, whatever, the money would be returned to the city and used again to help someone else. (CM) Make sure the house is worth something before purchase. Over the years the various government agencies have held mortgages worth in excess of the house. The house sits in inventory. The house burns, gets wrecked, gets looted, etc. Often with the compliance, negligence, overt, covert knowledge of city agencies. MADE, MOHAN city of Maples, Hen Co. Circa 1980's -1999. personally believe that the down payment can be one of the biggest hurdles to home ownership. When money is tight, there is no way to set aside the extra that is needed to get into a house. Loans for a down payment just increase the burden even more to those who are already struggling. (CM) I would cut back on the program in tougher times. Fully fund during good times. Rental Housing: I really like the idea of rent stamps so that the people who qualify for them can have some kind of meaningful choice as to where they want to live. (CM) Rent stamps would work if the overhead and overbossing is kept to a minimum. BTW, don't ask the current administrators what the 'minimum' should be. They are not programmed to work themselves out of a job. Another option whould be to allow boarding and/or rooming houses again. This is a very efficient means of sharing space. It offers a home owner, with extra space, the opportunity to get some extra income and provides the renter (especially single people) with a truly affordable option. I lived in a boarding house some years ago and absolutely loved it. This becomes risky business in our modern crime apologetic city. Can't tell you how many senior,severely limited income ladies I've advised over the years. Some were physically injured by their tenants. Just terrible to see that happen. They still had to go through the torturous legal process to get the bad guy out. Boarding houses should have instant eviction power. No bones about it. They call a cop and out goes the tenant. Ageing widows should not be excluded from rental income by violence. Thanks to Catherine for letting me butt in. Craig Miller Rogers Former Affordable housing provider on the north side. [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Labor day police raid in NE
There's an opinion piece on the Startribune's website about one woman's experience with jury duty. It appears to deal with the Northeast barbeque loud party bust and pepper spray incident that was reported in Indymedia and discussed on the list early in September. http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/3722609.html From the article: It sounded as if nobody had behaved flawlessly. Certainly, the partygoers shouldn't have cranked up the music or hindered the officers. But the cops had let a minor disturbance blow up into a bigger one, for reasons that weren't clear. Why didn't they just shrug off the smart aleck's comment? It hardly seemed worth bashing in a door and roughing up three people, including a senior citizen. Nor did it help appearances that the police officers were white, while many of the partygoers (including two of the defendants) were black or biracial. Rosalind Nelson Bancroft neighborhood TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Tuesday's AI community event
Thomas Thai admonished me to: Stop riding RT Rybak's back. Let him do his job as mayor given that he has 24 hours a day. If he succeeds at it, great. If he fails, don't re-elect him. Give him some credit for trying, and being there. As far as repeated police brutality, we need leadership that demand zero tolerance. That leadership starts with the Mayor. As for riding his back, RT Rybak asked me, (and other community leaders who supported him before most Minneapolitans even knew who he was), to ride his back in order to make sure he did a good job as Mayor. I think I treat RT as fairly as possible given that he made that request to us. I actually admired his request, and assured him I would. While I have sometimes praised RT, I have also not hesitated to, as you say, Ride his back. I believe that I, and other leaders who talked people into supporting RT, have that obligation. My suggestions about cultural sensitivity and missed opportunities I view as not riding his back, but as suggestions on how to do a better job. The suggestion of a Native Liaison is very much in keeping with Tony LookingElk's offer to meet with the Mayor to specifically sensitize RT before that feast meeting. Tony, his co-chair of MUID, and Gordon Thayer were very respectful with the Mayor and every person attending the meeting. The problem was one of cultural differences, which could have been easily overcome with a fifteen-minute orientation with the Mayor. I did not mean to imply that this became a catastrophe. It was more in the nature of a lost opportunity. Tony and the Young leaders of the Native Community have too much class and understanding to allow that to happen. Tony's statement that, We would be foolish, if our expectations were that a Mayor or anyone would have moved from knowledge to understanding in this period of time. We would also have been foolish in thinking we could have made more progress than we achieved that night considering the issue. We did present a position that we are expecting an answer within a designated period of time. However, we do believe we are engaging those responsible and will continue to pursue a relationship that is respectful, sustained and accountable. shows both the respect and mature understanding of people interested in actually solving problems; not posturing for public relations. I hope everyone was as impressed as I was with Tony LookingElk's letter and the mature statesmanship it demonstrated. In my view the problem is more of a staff failure. RT's staff seems to have a problem prioritizing issues, prioritizing RT's meetings, and in briefing him about those issues prior to a meeting. One gets the feeling of a staff that has more interest in public relations than in content. It is true that the Mayor has a lot of demands for his time, but that is why it is so critical to have a staff that understands the difference between showing up for PR face and real issues that demand attention. A history of discrimination against Native people in Minneapolis, and the last month's issues, makes this more than showing up at the local street fair for a photo-op. I have no doubt that Tony LookingElk, Gordon Thayer, and other Native leaders will be tolerant and help the Mayor through this issue. Native leaders have historically been very tolerant and forgiving of our political leaders. I would say too forgiving, but Gordon Thayer would probably admonish me that you cannot be too forgiving to someone who asks for it. Jim Graham, Ventura Village Some Native wisdom: We can only be what we give ourselves the power to be - A Cherokee Feast of Days Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. - Will Rogers TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Leaders or followers?
Jim Graham wrote: That leadership starts with the Mayor. As for riding his back, RT Rybak asked me, (and other community leaders who supported him before most Minneapolitans even knew who he was), to ride his back in order to make sure he did a good job as Mayor. Vicky notes: If elected officials give in to public pressure, they would be followers, not leaders. True leaders change public opinion. Vicky Heller Cedar-Riverside and North Oaks TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Leaders or followers?/I asked a year agoCan we come to the table
In a message dated 3/1/03 3:52:32 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Vicky notes: If elected officials give in to public pressure, they would be followers, not leaders. True leaders change public opinion. Vicky Heller Cedar-Riverside and North Oaks Keith says; What if public pressure toward a particular civic goal needs no change? What if a particular public opinion simply needs proper championing by a leader? The neighborhoods are learning that they have no champion of their interests, in RT. The small scale, for profit, providers of affordable housing (us landlords) learned about RT's retreat from his inclusive rhetoric a year ago, already. He turned a blind eye, deaf ear, and his backside, toward our modest public opinions, and proposals. Keith Reitman NearNorth TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Affordable Housing - Other Ideas
There may be some misunderstanding about the proposed Affordable Homeownership Program coming out of the NRP Policy Board this week. Cathy, the program would make it so that a down payment would not be necessary or would be small. Since the program would guarantee a certain portion of the loan, the down payment would not be necessary, mortgage insurance would not be necessary, and the interest would be lower. Here is the best part - the City NRP dollars would not be spent to do this. It would be a guarantee NOT a grant or subsidy! Approximately 20% of the loan would be guaranteed if it were to go into default. This reduces the Lenders exposure to loss and as such people who would not normally qualify for a loan would now be able to buy a home. The City does not spend the 20%; it merely guarantees it in case of loan default. Only about 10% of that guarantee would be necessary in escrow. That amount would be freed to guarantee the loan for another poor family as the loan was paid down. The City is able to recycle that money over and over without using it up, that is why it is sustainable affordable housing. Even if every one of these loans were foreclosed on it would be cheaper than the 50,000 to 100,000 dollar subsidies taxpayers presently pay for affordable rental housing. (Of course this raises the issue of affordable to who?) It is a matter of priorities. Is it a higher priority to put money in a developers pocket for each unit built or is the priority to use 10% of that amount to put three times as many families in houses of their own. Is it a priority to sustain large developers or a priority to sustain and give economic opportunity to poor people? Is it priority to improve the quality of profit for the developer or the quality of life for poor people? My answer of course is that the highest priority is to assist poor people to help themselves to be self-sustaining for their future housing. Craig Miller says, (CM) This better be a pilot program. What happens if everyone with who gets turned down for a loan elsewhere moves into your city? Do it by lottery by those who have been pre-qualified. Impacted neighborhoods first. This is substantially less expensive than the per unit costs of rehab or new construction under the name of affordable housing. Jim Graham: Gosh Craig, you got it right of the bat. Those are some of the elements of such a NRP program. Craig does have a point about people moving into the City to take advantage of the program. Though the program is for those who qualify for Affordable Housing, perhaps we should make an exception for Police Officers who wish to move into the City. Or perhaps we, (Minneapolis), should just set up a similar program for employees who we wish to have living inside the City where they work. (CM) AMEN! The city is spending something over 100k per affordable unit. The city could even put a lien against the property for the amount of the down payment. At any point that the title is transferred; refinancing, sale, gift, whatever, the money would be returned to the city and used again to help someone else. (CM) Make sure the house is worth something before purchase. Over the years the various government agencies have held mortgages worth in excess of the house. Jim Graham: The beauty of this program is that other than the guarantee, the rest of the transaction is between the Mortgage Lender and the Individual Homeowner. Just like in other transactions. The City would not hold the Mortgage; it would merely guarantee the first 20% of the mortgage. We probably should keep the City out of the housing business, given the history of housing controlled by the City through MCDA! For those concerned with taxes here are some things to think of: 1) Setting money aside in an account as a guarantee on many housing units, rather than spending it all on a few. 2) Each guaranteed loan creates two affordable units - (the one the mortgage is on and the rental apartment freed up when the family moves to their new home) 3) Increased tax base on Real Estate, (also stability means a greater potential for the person to earn and pay other taxes.) 4) Stability of family means greatly reduced social service and infrastructure costs during the entire life of the individual family members. Including less cost to educate each individual child, and lower police and criminal justice system costs. (Do any of the readers have any idea what the social service and criminal justice costs can be for just one person from an unstable family?) 5) One time guarantee rather than a lifetime of subsidy The very best thing is that it gives poor people a chance to enjoy the same quality of life as most more-affluent people take for granted. Poor people' s dreams are not that much different. Quality housing, quality education, and QUALITY OF LIFE! Sort of what I want for my children, how about you? Jim Graham, Ventura Village There is no finer investment for any
[Mpls] Bye Bye Uptown Embers, Hello Chipotle
I was jogging by the Uptown Embers and saw a notice on their door. They sold the property to Chipotle. Anyone know what's happening to that boarded up old Burger King across the street on Hennepin? -- Thomas T. Thai __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] realities
The Mayor has a tough job right now of balancing the city budget. Nobody can blame hizzoner for the budget situation, everybody cries and gripes anyway in a rip and tear effort to get money to soothe their alleged woes and assuage their egoes. If taxes were low and the city had a surplus budget, RT would be well in fashion and mainly because everyone would rightly expect they might get something out of city hall. I would bet the big majority -that doesn't write on the 'list'- are patient and appreciative of the Mayor's efforts. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] embers, bur king McDs
Also, about the Embers and Bur 'king -as kids call it- no surprise they both went. Neither had been at all customer appreciative. Similiar with the McDonalds at 24th and Nicollet. With all the razamataz on Nicollet, how long will the McDonalds stay viable verses the economic value of the lot space. James Jacobsen // 'Whittier' TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Tuesday's AI community event and bikes
I am hardly an apologist for the mayor, but his account of a meeting being hijacked by elders has the ring of truth. I have seen community leaders use the conflicts between the occupying police and poor people as a launching pad for their own careers (and not just in the Native community). That these leaders would tie down a meeting for 2 and a half hours and prevent the other voices (that the mayor came to hear) from being heard sounds all too likely. It's outrageous that bikes would be prohibited from Lake Street. The street is already a death trap for bikes and I avoid it as much as possible. Still, I pay taxes for infrastructure like everyone else and resent being excluded from roads I help pay for. Linda Mann Kingfield TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] NEVER MIND (Tuesday's AI community event and bikes)
I just came upon Jim Grube's lucid explanation of the bike situation on Lake Street so I withdraw the part of my earlier screed dealing with that. Linda Mann (still one day behind on my emails) TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
