Fw: Re: [Mpls] Some specific strategies the Tyesha Edwards Peace Project
Note: forwarded message attached. - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 14:41:09 EST To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Some specific strategies the Tyesha Edwards Peace Project -- ___ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Meet Singles http://corp.mail.com/lavalife ---BeginMessage--- What do you think of the project? Zack ---End Message---
[Mpls] Do Black Community Leaders Really Want Change?
Article emailed to me directly from Pauline Thomas Community Collaborative March 6, 2003 Spokesman-Recorder EDITORIAL By: Pauline Thomas Do Black Community Leaders Really Want Change? I think we can all agree that the black community has simply suffered too much police misconduct. I have been on the front lines trying to get the City of Minneapolis to make systemic change in its Police Department. Back in mid August a small group of us met with US government officials about police misconduct. We looked at our options, and decided to request federal mediation. The Department Of Justice (DOJ) said they needed an issues letter to be able to talk to the City about possible mediation. Prior to this, no one had actually asked the DOJ to mediate in Minneapolis. We sent our request at noon on 8/22/02, just hours before the riot in the Jordan neighborhood. Federal Mediator Pat Glenn showed up right away, and despite the City's alleged concern over the riot, she tried for months to get Minneapolis to agree to federal mediation. Some black leaders came out against federal mediation. Spike Moss publicly opposed federal mediation (StarTribune 8/25/02). However, we continued to lobby the City Council through a coalition of communities of color, called Federal Mediation Now. Finally, the City Council was primed to vote on 11/22/02. To help the Council vote for mediation, the DOJ wanted a community team organized, but no one stepped forward except for Federal Mediation Now. With advice from the DOJ on how it was done in other cities, we organized a public community meeting. We personally invited the NAACP and the Urban League. But as we all know democracies are run by those who show up, and the NAACP did not come. It is important that people know that the various communities of color each selected their own representatives, and that is how the (CNT) was born. It was at that meeting that the black community voiced that the Urban League was too dependent on city funding to be able to fight for systemic change. Clarence Hightower stated publicly, Clearly, the Urban League should be at the table, but if not, the mediation should still go forward (Pioneer Press: 12/20/02). But then he demanded that the Ministerial Alliance get an additional 9 seats on the Community Negotiating Team (CNT). We strenuously object to the Chief forcing his picks to the table. We are not interested in a sham mediation process. The DOJ protocols do not allow cities to pick who sits on the community team. The CNT chose to keep the identities of the team confidential, so that the City would vote on the concept of federal mediation, not whether it liked certain individuals that sat on the team. When the Council voted on November 22, the CNT was ready to go. We met with the On 12/3/02, the DOJ requested a confidential meeting to plan for mediation, which was scheduled to start 12/10. Chief Olson was the only non-CNT member who knew its location. Spike Moss busted in, demanding to know who was on the CNT. Within a couple of days, Chief Olson refused to attend the December 10 mediation, and came out against the composition of the CNT. Ultimately, Olson's claim for stopping the mediation from moving forward was that traditional black leadership needed to be at the table. To eliminate that argument we voted to invite the NAACP to sit at the table to keep the process moving. After being given that invitation the NAACP has since backed away. Why? Is this really about change or is the real goal to manipulate the outcome of this process? Olson can't be allowed to manipulate the process. The saddest part is that his dirty-work was done through African-Americans, some of whom call themselves leaders in our community. This is pitiful, and I am embarrassed. I have yet to hear anything from these so-called leaders about systemic change, or the protection of the victims of police brutality. The City of Minneapolis said they wanted federal mediation, but apparently they meant only if we get to pick the community team. They passed a resolution agreeing to mediation, but they won't force Olson to come to the table. They just won't let the process work. We see federal mediation as a low-cost alternative to a full-scale lawsuit. But it has become clear that the City will not change unless it is forced. That same small group of dedicated people is now gearing up to file a multiple-class, class action lawsuit, including a claim for declaratory judgment and injunction. That means we will ask the federal courts to force change in the MPD. We won't back down unless the City makes clear that they will voluntarily agree to systemic change. Next week: How much police misconduct costs the city, why litigation is more expensive than mediation, and how class actions lawsuits have been successful in other cities, at making systemic change. Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood --
[Mpls] Thoughts on LGA
Mark Snyder asks: What if we stopped providing the services that we're being punished for providing? What if we stopped selling water to our suburban neighbors, for example? Vicky comments: As nearly as I can tell from the Truth In Taxation 2203 budget forecast, Minneapolis expects to make a PROFIT of almost $100 million from water/sewer charges. Projected Revenue: $329,400,000 From Selling Services Projected Expenditure:$231,800,000 Public Works 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] Nicollet/Lake Debacle
One hopes that neighborhood response to this benighted decision to pull the plug on Sherman Associates will send a wake-up call to Cms Niziolek and Lilligren - stunting this development will reverberate through the west end of the Lake St. corridor and failing to open Nicollet will perpetuate a long-standing traffic flow problem that will be made worse in the event the 35W ramp goes forward. Why is city hall willing to see these major hits to tax base growth potential? Why are the incumbent council members rolling over for this? I surely see more credibility in the Lake/Nicollet plans than in the financial black hole that the Sears Tower has become. In the dark corridors of the city's bureaucracy, is someone's professional reputation being salvaged at substantial immediate expense to the Sherman Associates firm and formidable future cost to the economic viability of scores of existing businesses in these corridors? What chilling message does this send to the aspirations of other city council members and their business and residential constituents in other commercial corridors radiating out from the central business district? Is this an example of a turf war that pits embattled big-ticket development bureaucrats against the leaner, more supple, more manageable products of local initiatives? We have a weak mayor system of government. Are we now to have a weak City Council as well? Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 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] Protecting Our Backs
Here Here! Jim is dead on the mark with this post. Craig Miller Rogers [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm sure I'm not the first person to have this thought, but I thinkt he city has to start seriously tying our core needs with our core revenues, something an outside and hostile political grouping cannot deny us. Of course, that also means that extraordinary expenditures must be so constructed as to weather temporary economic hard times. A household would think this way, and I think the time has come for the city to do so also. We've heard some fretting about getting sued because we made lavish plans when we thought the flow of money was insured. That is a good point, but not the way it was presented. We have to consider the RISKS of these plans and never create a legal exposure due to interruptions in income. With homes, that is guaranteed by protections built into our laws. But as a city, we need to insure the protection on each contract we consider. If a potential contractor will not settle on that, we should never HINT that we would do business with them. We have ! a risk management department, but it has to start doing its job better. And candidates for city elective office have to be cornered on these quesitons. We've been remiss as voters in considering that we elect charming but careless people to office. -- Jim Mork--Cooper 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] SW Mpls Honda Thefts
--- Dooley, Bill [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: WCCO-TV reported this evening that 11 Hondas have been stolen in Southwest Minneapolis over the last three days. My sympathies to Bill and those who lost their cars. Someone tried to steal my junker of a Mazda a few years ago. I discovered it when I started the car, reached to flip on the windshield wiper, and the wiper signal wasn't there. Even in a north Mpls. neighborhood, I had felt it was a safe neighborhood and my car was junky enough to leave unlocked. It's unsettling when your safety zone changes. And I suppose crimes like these will be low priority when police cuts happen. On another note: Just turned on the Today show and Paul Magers was anchoring! And it wasn't even the regional segment! When did that happen?? Susan Maricle Bruno MN formerly of Folwell __ 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
RE: [Mpls] Thoughts on LGA
Mark Snyder asks: What if we stopped providing the services that we're being punished for providing? What if we stopped selling water to our suburban neighbors, for example? Vicky comments: As nearly as I can tell from the Truth In Taxation 2203 budget forecast, Minneapolis expects to make a PROFIT of almost $100 million from water/sewer charges. Projected Revenue: $329,400,000 From Selling Services Projected Expenditure:$231,800,000 Public Works [TB] How much of that $329 million comes from selling water outside the city? Do we sell to those cities at discounted rates? Terrell Brown Loring Park terrell at terrellbrown dot org 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] Cutting size of the City Council
On 3/6/03 5:33 PM, steven meldahl [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Spoken by a true tenant, probably. We landlords are not in the babysitting business. I have personally convinced a few Mpls Housing inspectors to send the orders for such things as: mowing grass, shovelling sidewalks, picking up garbage, fixing damages caused by the tenant's kids, and other things that are obviously under the direction and control of the tenant directly to the tenant. Guess what happens? I get a call from the tenant who asks why the man ie the City, is after them. I tell them to clean up their act or they are gone, and surprise surprise they clean up their act. It changes their behavior and what is great about it, their kids see them maintaning the house and grounds better!! Now I am not the Big Bad landlord picking on them and they become some of my best tenants. I think this concept is called, being responsible for your own actions. Quite a novel idea here in liberalville, USA. I'm sorry, but I see this in a different light. If you own a property, you're responsible for it, whether you live there or not. Steve refers to it as babysitting, but if your tenant is acting like a baby, then either babysit or get a new tenant. Steve says that being responsible for your own actions is a novel concept in Minneapolis. I say Steve is trying to push off his responsibilities as a property owner on Minneapolis Inspections by making them play the bad guy so he doesn't have to. Let me add that I also serve as a landlord of sorts, since I am an officer of my fraternity's alumni board, which owns three chapter houses in Dinkytown. As annoying as orders from Minneapolis housing inspectors can sometimes be, I WANT Minneapolis to send that stuff to me and not just to the tenant. Since I also have a full-time job and other commitments, I can't always get to the chapter on a weekly basis to make sure my tenants are maintaining the property as they're supposed to. Then I know when I have to go and play the Big Bad landlord. I don't like it, but it's part of the job. If I just wait for the tenant to call me and complain about the man as Steve apparently prefers to do, I may never get that call. I'm sure I'm not the only landlord whose tenants would ignore an order from Inspections since most tenants probably know that it's the property owner who's going to be penalized if nothing is done. In my case, the tenants could really give a fig what Minneapolis Inspections says but when I or one of our other alumni officers stops by, they pay attention. And by the way, I don't get paid for this, so any for-profit landlords who are complaining about it should consider looking for another line of work rather than whining about Minneapolis inspectors who are just trying to do their jobs. Mark Snyder Windom Park 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] Re: Do Black Community Leaders Really Want Change?
Do Black Community Leaders Really Want Change? Praise Be!, Someone in the community is speaking out against this travesty! I thought the mediation talks were to help the residents and police build better communications? What happened to all those who said they were concerned, and those who said they would used their political powers to help get this monster that's here, in the communities of color; everyone sees it, hears, it and touches it, but, no one wants to speak about it, or resolve it. Only during election times, do we hear the promises, that seem to dangle so easily from the mouths, falling upon those who are desperate for anything, and falling for promises that will never come, or see the light of day. How many times, do we as a people of color have to keep getting dogged out, by our own and others who serve us, before we realize, that our situations are constantly being exploited for someone else's gain. How many times, do important issues such as these have to put on hold, until we as a community is SOLD to the highest bidder. We really need to open our eyes, and take a look around. I mean really look around. We need to start holding these people accountable and showing up, in numbers to vote, and make our voices heard. Enough, is enough. We need to use cable outlets, to inform and educate people of color, using a format that is not polically motivated, informing people on major issues of importance. We need to finish the community dialog, that was started, long ago; most importantly, we need to hold those who represent the community, accountable for their non-actions, or self fulfilling actions. We need fresh leaders with clear visions. A vision that is indicative of the community; not clouded by whom and what put them in their respective positions in the first place. It's rather kind of of sad, each time we think we have someone who speaks out for the community, they get more out of it than we in the community do. You know, summer is coming very soon, and yet, we still have nothing in place. There will be more problems, and more hostilities, more justifiable beating's or shooting's. Nothing will to much happen unless and upon the time another innocent person is hurt, or another violent riot takes place. And even then, future politicians will come from within the ranks, and political arguments will be won or lost; communites will continue in their suffering. My challenge, are to those, who wanted so much to make Minneapolis better, you can do so, before the cameras roll, before the violence starts, before the beating's and misuse of justice starts. Now! Is the best time, let's not underestimate the underline issues that still are just under the surface in our communities, that can, and have in the past erupted. Vanessa Freeman Hawthorne Why wait, until there could be a possible shortage of police officer's, to start having talks _ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail 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] A Suggestion on Budget cuts, for City Council Members
A couple of day's ago, I watched, who, I believe was Ron Edwards, addressing the city council. (If I am wrong about that, my apologize). He was asking the city council to look into the excessive amounts that were being paid to people who sit on the Civilian Review board. ($50 each day when a member attends one or more meetings or hearings). I began to do a little search and found out there is a quite of few of these boards, or commissions that were providing stipends, or receiving compensated salaries. In efforts of cutting back and saving money, why doesn't the city council, just take all the compensation pay away, and provide lunch and validate parking. This could save a lot of money. If a person is using their own money for some expense toward, the commission or board, they would be reimbursed for expenses. Why pay a person who has an interest in helping or serving the city in some capacity, a fee for doing what is in not only the interest of the city, but for all residents. I think, just being a part of process in city government, should be a learning, rewarding experience. I would rather see this money gone then workers whose jobs are beneficial to the public, are lost. Vanessa Freeman Hawthorne Have a good Weekend all :) _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail 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] City of Minneapolis Declares Snow Emergency
Thank you for using the Minneapolis Snow Emergency e-Subscribe service. Today is Saturday, March 08, 2003, and the City of Minneapolis has declared a Snow Emergency. Parking restrictions go into effect beginning at 9:00 p.m. tonight. For complete parking details, follow this link: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/snow-emergency/parking-info.asp or call the Snow Emergency Hotline at (612) 348-SNOW (7669) Please help the crews do a complete job of plowing by complying with the Snow Emergency Parking rules. Full width plowing can only be accomplished if people move their cars out of the way. Alley plowing began at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2003 For change in Subscriber Services: If you want to make changes or unsubscribe from this list, follow this link: http://www.govdocs.com/servlet/GovDocs/user You can update or cancel your subscription at any time by clicking here. All you will need are your e-mail address and your password (if you have selected one). This service is provided free of charge by: City of Minneapolis. P.S. If you have any questions or problems please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance.
[Mpls] Finance: Libraries and Cops
A couple of issues: First, as to the library, I think we have Highway 55-reroute all over again. That is this has all been discussed before. No it hasn't. Because whatever got discussed, it wasn't in the context of our huge shortfalls and our staggering debt. That could have been IMAGINED, but until now it wasn't real. Now that it IS real, it has to be considered. If I have a dream of a Mercedes and then find myself without a job in a competitive job market, it doesnt MATTER how I looked at buying the Mercedes before. Now, I'm dealing with survival and the conditions are radically different. The thing about warehousing books is that it neednt BE a permanent solution. Of course, when you do it awhile, all these frightening concerns heard from the people who long for the glass palace may turn out to be empty concerns, in which case you make the warehouse a permanent solution. But unlike a hugely expensive glass palace, a warehouse can be sold to someone who needs it. Whereas if the glass! palace fails, the likelihood of recovering the investment is minimal. Once again, we are operating in the we're broke scenario. I'd have to see the records to believe anyone planning the glass palace ever accounted for a we're broke scenario. But the time to do so is NOW. Second issue: The police layoff I hope people are thoughtful enough to realize we lose a LOT by forcing our trained police to find another home or a new career. Some of them have decades of useful service ahead. Cut their jobs and their family responsibilities will necessitate them being no longer available to us. There HAS to be a better way! Can you IMAGINE the costly process of bringing the force to full complement again? The academy can only train a small number at a time. Can you IMAGINE what the malefactors will make of all this? Home security systems aren't cheap, plus if you catch someone doing your home, who'll you call to collar them? Cutting them is as close to insane as anything I've heard proposed in my four decades in Minneapolis. I think it is time for R. T. to sit down with his buddies in the union to work out the best way for both the officers and the city. Rotating furloughs? Part time jobs? Whatever. I have always considered managements that just let their trained workforce go l! azy and stupid. I hope I didn't elect a full complement of lazy, stupid managers into office. My signature: The comment about buying bombs with money taken from education has NO relevance to my discussion of the library. I'm not talking about maintaining the ability to aggress against foreign states, I'm talking about taking money from open-stack libraries to maintain a DEFENSIVE force against the criminals among us. Whoever can't discern this difference has a need to refresh their own education. -- Jim Mork--Cooper Only a LUNATIC would cut schools in order to pay for more bombs. We hold these truths to be self-evidentthat the just power of governments derives from the consent of the governed. Declaration of Independence Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail 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] Re: HF67
Yes, indeed. Judy Farmer said back then that a school-board-only election costs us 4 teachers!. (Also an interesting look at her view of school finance.) Tim Bonham, Ward 12, Standish-Ericsson That, btw, is one of the reasons that the school board changed their terms, . . . Terrell Brown Loring Park Terrell at terrellbrown dot org 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] Creative Revenue Raising
I live in Longfellow Neighborhood and work in downtown St Paul. Because of timing issues, I usually end up driving to work. This necessitates crossing the Lake Street bridge into St Paul. The bridge is signed at 30 mph but because it is has no cross traffic and because the speed changes half a block off the bridge, virtually everyone goes faster than 30 mph. The City of St Paul has been raising revenues by ticketing Minneapolis residents as they are crossing the bridge. Note that they have not been ticketing St Paul residents as they leave the City, nor do they ticket at night when St Paul residents are coming back into the City. Just in the morning when the Minneapolis residents are coming across. Now it would be fine if this was legal. For everyone's info, the State of Minnesota sets the speed on roads like Marshall Avenue and they have found that the appropriate speed for Marshall Avenue, to the border of Ramsey County, is 35 mph. So the small part of Marshall Avenue that is signed at 30 mph is in fact signed incorrectly. But the City has no incentive to change this as they are making money from the deal by parking their cops on the end of the bridge and ticketing people. Now I called the City of St Paul to talk to them about changing this and their response was that they have no interest in changing it and in fact, they would like to see the speed limit even lower (imagine that). Does anyone have any experience in getting speed limit signs changed and if so could they please e-mail me off - list about any advice they would have? Carol Becker Longfellow 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] Re: Protecting Our Backs
Sorry, Jim, but I can't see this being fair. If you hire someone like an architect to design a custom building for you, you are obligated to pay him for the work he does. You can't come to him after the design is nearly done and say oops, we've changed our mind, we don't want to build after all and expect him not to bill you for the work you hired him to do. At least the part he has done so far. And maybe even the whole thing, since it's likely that he turned down other jobs to work on your contract. But as a city, we need to insure the protection on each contract we consider. If a potential contractor will not settle on that, we should never HINT that we would do business with them. We have ! a risk management department, but it has to start doing its job better. ... -- Jim Mork--Cooper 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] Fw: snow removal from carts at $25. per w/o notice on carts
- Original Message - From: mary lynch [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 19:24:06 -0500 Subject: snow removal from carts at $25. per w/o notice on carts Has anyone noticed that there are flat, flat areas around many, many garbage carts in our alleys after our first and only snow emergency of this season. I ask my boyfriend in early Feb if he had shovelded around the cart at our house. He said no. My mind wondered could the city have created that flat flat yard area around my cart. My mind told me NO, no way. I figured some snow blower neighbor lonely for snow work had gotten buzy in the alley as many of my neighbor had flat flat perfect yard areas that their carts were sitting on. (you understand this is after the snow plow had pushed our one time snow emergency snow down the alley and onto carts) This being such a snowless winter I did not think anything more about it. Until yesterday that is. I own a duplex. My tenant called me yesterday and said a city worker had just shoveled around the two carts at her home. Now yesterday Feb 18 was above freazing and what we maybe have 5 inches of snow left on the ground? I called the city. I had not been hypervigilent this winter and yes the city on Feb 18, 2003 had shoveled out my two carts at my duplex from piles and drifts of snow reaching up to oh maybe 4 to 5 inches of snow. I called back the city and ask about my home in Northrup neighborhood. My cart had been shoveled out on Feb 7th 2003 from the snow the plow had pushed down the alley and put on the cart. I had body slammed the cart on or around that time, I remember doing it so that there would not be a problemn with the cart being frozen in on my pick up day.I guess after my body slamming it snowed again so then the snow emergency was called . (remember we have only had one snow emergency called and only after the second snowfall totaling 8,9 or 10 inches as I recall) The city is charging $25.per cart so now I owe the city $75.00 in extra taxes. I thought we were trying to correct the snow emergency issues only to create snow/cart issues? For the record I was informed by waste management that all city water payers were given a written notice in their Nov 2002 water bills. So my tenents were never notified and I never read any notice stating that no longer would notices be put on carts, but just the city would clear no matter when the snow had fallen etc. I have written too much. Sorry for that. I believe this non notice policy on carts needs to be re thought out and maybe some news coverage of the new policy so we can all remain hyper vigilent about snow removal even in a low snow year. May we forgive these 1st time offenders? I figure on my block 10 carts were cleared at $25.per that = $250. X 1000 blocks that equals $250,000 or a quarter million dollars. Is my math right? Check out your block. This is serious money and serious misinformantion to citizens. Mary LynchNorthrup-- __ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup -- __ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup 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] A Suggestion on Budget cuts, for City Council Members
V.L. Freeman wrote: Ron Edwards, addressing the city council. (If I am wrong about that, my apologize). asking the city council to look into the excessive amounts that were being paid to people who sit on the Civilian Review board. ($50 each day when a member attends one or more meetings or hearings). I began to do a little search and found out there is a quite of few of these boards, or commissions that were providing stipends, or receiving compensated salaries. WM: There is a good side to the boards having honoraria or stipends: People who have to take off work or hire baby sitters so that they can attend can participate. It helped Charlotte Anderson, who sat on the library board for several years, be able to get compensation for time lost at work. Had I been elected last election (losing has turned out to be a blessing), that little bit of money would have allowed me to serve. The question is not why do they pay that sum, or that the sum is excessive, it usually ain't, but who is getting that fee and does that person have a positive or negative effect on getting anything accomplished. Why pay a person who has an interest in helping or serving the city in some capacity, a fee for doing what is in not only the interest of the city, but for all residents. I think, just being a part of process in city government, should be a learning, rewarding experience. WM: This is the $64,000 question. When no compensation of any sort is offered, the only people who can attend are the feckless and the very powerful/wealthy. While both can make a contribution to any endeavor, having all the board members be on the opposite edges of the lives of most people may not provide the best range of intelligences. Though it could be rewarding, and it will certainly be a learning experience, odds are that it's mostly a pain in the butt which generates tons of paper and takes forever. Bureaucracies are designed to slow down processes to a wounded snail's pace. WizardMarks, Central 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 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] What about a moratorium on bond interest payments?
The City could save $300+ million by simply delaying interest payments for two years. This would not be a default, just a legal, negotiated deferral. It seems to me that the bondholders shouldn't mind too much since other risk free investments pay less than 1%. They will eventually get paid the 4% 5% that they are expecting. In fact, the City could select CERTAIN bonds to defer - just enough to balance cash shortfalls each year until the economy perks up. Many years ago, the government issued IOUs to teachers and other government employees in lieu of paychecks. Why not modernize this idea and issue IOUs to bondholders instead of cash? This is just an idea - it certainly should not be used to avoid needed spending cuts. 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] Park Board seat/City Council
Eva - you are not in the we on this one unless you have moved again very recently. The voters in this case would be those who vote in the 5th Park District which is the Southeast corner of the City including Minnehaha Park, a couple of lakes and a golf course for starters. I would love to know offline how many folks from down in that neck of the woods would have wanted a Special Election. I like getting the input. Thanks. Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner At 07:19 AM 3/8/03 -0600, Eva Young wrote: $20 -$30 thousand would be a bargain if we get to vote on the person. Eva At 12:09 AM 03/08/2003 -0600, you wrote: Thank you for your comment on this topic, Steve. Some of us on the Board did think that because of the length of time still left in the term an election would have been the appropriate action. However, legal counsel continued to tell us we couldn't do it. We did some research though and I believe the city attorney did note that an election might be possible but that since the charter has no mechanism other than the six-vote, fill the vacancy wording it would not be likely this time around. The elections director did give us an estimated cost of $20,000-$30,000 to hold a Special Election assuming there would be a primary and a general election. With the pending budget cuts and layoffs paying out that kind of money just really wasn't an option and we too want to see it much more clearly spelled out in the Charter for future reference. Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner 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 Eva Eva Young Near North Minneapolis Blog is up: http://lloydletta.blogspot.com You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be. --Article II of the Bill of Non-Rights. 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] Give it up Phyllis
Without trying to beat a dead horse - I would hope that this issue would die. The facts: Phyllis ( a DFL rep.) introduced this motion. Cosponsored by a DFL colleague (Len Biernat). Supported by many (DFL and Republicans alike) and geared towards having Minneapolis and other cities adhere to a system of representation that has already been adopted by the majority of other cities. The proposal will fail as there is no sponsor in the senate (as it has in the past). The argument; This proposal is sound in the fact that we should not have to wait five years after a sensus to adjust our representation. The "ideal" here is to have an election just after the boundaries are redrawn to be fair to all. That makes sense. The reality; Phyllis is wasting our valuable time and money. This is not an issue for the state. Even if Phyllis were to pass this through the house and senate, like a kidney stone, with all of the moaning and crud, this still would not change a thing. The real problem (not DFL or Green Or Republican) is in our city's Charter. We would go through the same stuff in 2010-2003. If we changed the Charter to reflect redistricting and the timeliness of the elections then we would be achieving something. But for now we sit and argue about a proposal that will only cost us more money than it is worth and accomplish nothing. So drop it Phyllis. And let's get to task to make a real difference. CHANGE THE CHARTER. Valdis Rozentals SAW
[Mpls] car thefts
Hondas may be the target in one neighborhood. Here in Seward, we have equal opportunity thieves. Different makes and models have disappeared with 2 attempted thefts and 6 successful thefts in my immediate vicinity in the last several weeks. I suspect that there is an increase in car thefts and other crimes throughout the city. I have talked to neighbors who've had cars stolen from locked garages. Others have had them stolen when they'be been locked on the street. Still others have chased them down the street after they left them running when they returned to their home momentarily to retrieve something they'd forgotten. According to tv reports, Kenwood residents suffered many burglaries this winter; businesses along Hennepin Ave. faced a rash of armed robberies, and that is also happening on the streets to individuals near Powderhorn. What I found interesting is that we citizens are supposed to install security devices and protective devices. I understand that no one should not leave a car warming up, but shouldn't having a vehicle locked be "reasonable" deterrence? Where are these vehicles ending up? Are they being used for joy rides and turning up again? Or are same model thefts disappearing into a "chop" shop? The problem is far broader than these thefts.CODEFOR crime maps do show patterns. Unfortunately, a number of factors make me concerned that these problems will not lessen. Jean Johnstad Seward
[Mpls] Womens' Day Demonstration
Does anyone know how the Peace March went today? I had to work. Linda Mann 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] Finance: Libraries and Cops
Jim Mork wrote: A couple of issues: First, as to the library, I think we have Highway 55-reroute all over again. That is this has all been discussed before. No it hasn't. Because whatever got discussed, it wasn't in the context of our huge shortfalls and our staggering debt. That could have been IMAGINED, but until now it wasn't real. Now that it IS real, it has to be considered. If I have a dream of a Mercedes and then find myself without a job in a competitive job market, it doesnt MATTER how I looked at buying the Mercedes before. WM: This scenario does not compare like things. A library is not like an automobile. A library is a living organism and recorded history has been the central reason for its existence. Were it the case that MPL were a repository library, delaying the build might not matter. However, MPL is a hybrid, it is first and foremost, a public library, and only second, a research library. Public libraries reach their peak usage during economic downturns or at periods of huge immigrations. Minneapolis is experiencing both those situations now. We have huge, mostly very new immigrant populations and we have an economic downturn. Having the library temporarily housed in a building not suited to its tasks is blow enough to gravely injure the library, the budget cuts are a second blow, delaying replacing the central library any further could make the library unable to recover. It was not the healthiest library going into this situation. Hence a demand for a new director. The question becomes: do the people of Minneapolis support a Minneapolis Public Library at all? Rescinding the referendum or refusing to issue bonds will not support MPL, but it could deal a blow from which it cannot recover. Now, I'm dealing with survival and the conditions are radically different. The thing about warehousing books is that it neednt BE a permanent solution. WM: A library in the 21st Century, (according to Library Journal, I think) will be a cultural center and meeting place for the people. People need to be able to go to the library and stay there for hours to work and learn. Mr. Mork's assumption is that the body politic will get used to using the library as sort of a free video rental joint if we stuff it into a warehouse till the good times roll. In truth, to accomplish a 21st Century library, staff and patrons need to interact on an even greater level than they do presently. Of course, when you do it awhile, all these frightening concerns heard from the people who long for the glass palace may turn out to be empty concerns, in which case you make the warehouse a permanent solution. WM: Actually, I'm not personally 'longing for the glass palace'. I want a central library which has tons of fascinating and necessary material for me to use. I don't want a warehouse. I also don't think it's a fair way to treat the staff to try to stuff them into a warehouse. It's been bad enough that so many have had to hang out in the sub-basement turning into troglodytes since the sixties. Frankly, the design, as far as I can envision it from the model, pretty much leaves me cold. But unlike a hugely expensive glass palace, a warehouse can be sold to someone who needs it. Whereas if the glass! palace fails, the likelihood of recovering the investment is minimal. WM: Just how does the public library fail in this sketchy scenario? This is the most democratic institution we, as a people, can lay claim to. How does it fail except that we do not cherish it for the institution it is and treat it with the respect it deserves? Would that it were a palace. I'm more afraid that so many corners will be cut that it will not fulfill our requirements for public library space. Once again, we are operating in the we're broke scenario. WM: This may be the crux of the issue. I say we're broke let's go to the library nd figure a way out of this mess; you're saying, yeah, so let's further impoverish ourselves and make it more difficult to get back on our feet. I'd have to see the records to believe anyone planning the glass palace ever accounted for a we're broke scenario. But the time to do so is NOW. WM: One hundred ten million is not a palace. This is a statement that gives me heart palpitations to think, but it is true. If you look at the analysis of what various cities spend on their public libraries/member of their population, Minneapolis is shamefully low. We have spent less than half what comparable cities spend. Even the demand for a 10% across the board cut in operating expenses is unfair to the library since, having already started with a smaller than necessary budget, they are more affected by the cuts than better funded endeavors. The library was already too skinny, it didn't need a diet. My signature: The comment about buying bombs with money taken from education has NO relevance to my discussion of the library. I'm not talking about maintaining the ability
[Mpls] Library Budget Cuts -- Walker Community Library to Close
All: The Minneapolis Library is having some serious budget cuts along with the city, county, and state. But, unlike the other units of government, it's apparently happening below everyone's radar. One reason is probably that the Library Administration is apparently doing it with minimal public notice. It was that they were announced at closing time on Friday and the cuts are to be considered at next Wednesday's Library Board meeting. To read the official information about it, go to: http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/board_agenda.asp When you get to that page, look at agenda item (8) (m) and then click on Attachments 1 2 3 to read the staff recommendations. They are in Acrobat format. The guts of the changes is the layoff of 45 to 50 staff, the reduction of hours, and the elimination of some services. What is probably the biggest news, though, is that the Walker Community Library in Uptown is proposed for total closing. The interesting part of that is that the Walker Library is one of the most heavily used community libraries rather than one of the least used. One would normally suspect that the least used facilities would be the one considered for elimination for budget reasons. The reason is due to structural repairs. This is an apparent reference to the surface parking lot at the site. (For those who may not be aware of it, the Walker Library is a relatively new building and is all underground -- under the parking lot to be exact.) The parking lot leaks into the building. It was supposed to have been fixed years ago but somehow it never happened. The responsibility to fix the parking lot and building is the city's responsibility not the library's. But, as already known, the city doesn't have money for the repairs. So, it's like the for want of a nail,... scenario. Because the library parking lot wasn't fixed when it should have been, and because there isn't the money to fix it now, the building will be abandoned, the library closed, and the people in Uptown will have to see where they want to go for library facilities. It's also possible that the Franklin and Sumner libraries will close while they are being reconstructed rather than keeping them open in temporary facilities. But read it all and weep -- particularly if you live in Uptown. This is what you get when no new taxes is the bill of goods that the governor has sold to everyone. Steve Cross Prospect Park 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] Keep the ideas coming
There have been some very good budget items coming forward in the posts I've had a chance to read, and I want to encourage people to keep sending them. We need all the ideas we can get. As you do that, remember that we have two related, but separate challenges...Short term for 2003 and slightly longer term for 2004. The 2003 budget ideas we need are obviously those that can be implemented right away. Over the past year, as we've done the budget reforms, we've tried to think as long term and strategicly as possible. We will still do that but right now we also need to look especially hard at ideas that can be put into place right away, don't require partnerships with other groups, etc. The 2004 budget challenges are greater, possibly double if the Governor's budget goes as proposed, but they also open the potential to be more strategic. So here's where we can get into play some of the more reform minded ideas that have emerged. Ideas in both camps are needed. To update on how things are going so far: We may not know the actual number that the state will cut until late spring, or even mid summerConsidering the controversy so far, and the scope of what the state is dealing with, it's anyone's guess when an agreement will be made. But we can't wait to act: If we get the news in July that we are getting a $26 million cut to our LGA, and we haven't cut spending, we will have to squeeze that money into the second half of the year so in many ways that $26 million cut becomes a $52 million cut. This is why you will hear the fire chief and the police chief talking about the need to make a decison as soon as possiblethe sooner we make cuts the more jobs and services we save long term. For this reason, I've asked the council to take action Thursday that will allocate the budget cuts proposed in the Governor's 2003 budget. This will give managers the power to do what they have to do. Between now and the end of the month department heads will be coming forward to present to me and the council how they will manage those cuts. The fire chief already presented. Friday Public Works and the City Coordinator. Most of these meetings will take place the last week of March. The most complicated will be the police department, where there are some real challenges. I met this morning for a couple hours with the chief and his command staff. We made good progress and will continue to meet to make sure we come up with a plan that ensures public safety. The cuts proposed by the Governor give us some very real, and extremely serious challenges. We are also working on cutting spending in areas not effected, such as the MCDA where there were cuts announced Friday. So keep sending ideas, short and long term...We can use your help. R.T. Rybak 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] Finance: Libraries and Cops. WE NEED A LITTLE MORE CAKE AND A LOT LESS FROSTING
Jim Mork, you are absolutely correct about both the library and the police. If we have to immediately have a large building to house the books of the Minneapolis Library, lets look at the Sears building. The City already owns it. Take one or two floors and have a huge library with historical context. The City is clearly not interested in any real commercial use for the building. Retrofitting that building with new sprinklers and into nice surroundings to read would cost a few million. There will be plenty of parking and more people will probably use it. It also starts a commercial utilization of the building, which will translate into other commercial uses. When the City is flush again, build the crystal palace if you still want to and sell or lease, (at a profit), the retrofitted building for other commercial uses. Since this would take about a hundred million dollars from someone's pocket, don't place any money on this option being considered. As for Police, I seem to remember the suggestion that limiting the increase in pay to 2% would mean no layoffs. What happened to that idea? What happened to make a couple of City Council Members preaching fiscal restraint advocate a 6% raise? What happened was bad management or political pay back. The reader can choose the answer, but neither speaks well for those in decision-making positions. Both of these situations point to poor management. It's a bit like a homeowner planning and contracting to build a three-season porch when the roof is leaking and the furnace just went out. Our political leadership seems to be engaging in making the frosting without bothering with the mundane chore of baking the cake. All glitz and no substance. This same leadership seems intent on spending $60,000 per unit subsidy for each rental unit to keep a person poor. It seems to prefer such a large subsidy to escrowing a few thousand dollars on a guaranteed loan to make the same poor person a homeowner. A homeowner whose future might not need such support. Rather than creating truly sustainable affordable housing, some in leadership positions seem to prefer to keep the minority and poor as a permanent underclass. One excuse for opposition to affordable homeownership is that the poor family might later sell the house and no longer be poor. Hmm, isn't that the idea? Isn't the real reason for opposition an attempt to protect the developer fees and consultant fees that come from large rental projects? What profit is there in poor people no longer being poor? No profit, except maybe to the poor family that then would have a stable life and future opportunities! What is our City's political leadership's position on addressing affordable housing in a sustainable manner? Like the old lady said, Where's the beef? Will it be all frosting without any cake? The Developers still would have access to 12 million dollars out of the 14 million dollars set aside for affordable housing, (for their Developer Fees). So why are the supposed City leadership so furious about the NRP Policy Board's decision to keep back, (not to spend), 2 million dollars to guarantee affordable homeownership? Exactly whose ox is being gored to illicit such an unreasonable hissy fit on their part? We, (the City), need safe sustainable affordable housing and home ownership in safe crime free neighborhoods. After that we need basic services, and then if anything is left over the Mayor and Council can play. Until then, how about a little less glitz and a little more substance, a little more cake and a lot less frosting? Jim Graham, Ventura Village The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. - Thomas Jefferson 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] Finance: Libraries and Cops. WE NEED A LITTLE MORE CAKE AND A LOT LESS FROSTING
In a message dated 3/8/03 5:11:48 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: If we have to immediately have a large building to house the books of the Minneapolis Library, lets look at the Sears building. The City already owns it. Take one or two floors and have a huge library with historical context. I love it. In the spirit of increased fiscal conservativism, I have already pledged to limit my spring clothing purchases to bargain bin $12.99 depression-era-style dresses ... I have made a commitment to squeeze another couple years out of my 1988 Buick instead of buy a newer used car... I'd be thrilled to go to a great public library that reflects a little austerity and respect for history (and is practically in my neighborhood -- how radical is that!) Put the dang library where the people live. Enough with the glass palaces... this plan might even enable some of the branch libraries to stay open. -- Holle Brian Bancroft 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] library / budget
Not building the library would not solve the budget problem, as the library, like a stadium- would be funded with a bond issue. Holding off on library construction likely would save some out of pocket city expense which would be helpful in short run, but building the library -like building a stadium- would provide jobs and some razamataz for the city which would be helpful in revenue gathering. Of course, the bond issue, added to already existing city debt would not be helpful. I think the city should hold off for one or two years, by then should have the budget situation organized and then should proceed with building the library. All these people, though, with hundred thousand plus salaries, -even police types, -and not even high ranking- should be considered, -including head of the library- getting $120,000. those salaries could and should be trimmed The idea of using the Sears building for a library has some merit though there would be huge expense to make it work. The whole building would have to be renovated, etc., etc., They can't just abandon the architectural work already done on the planned library, they already have the library in the temp. location, best to leave it there. The Sears building will find a purpose, probably when light rail comes through it will develop, could be a mix of commercial and office. 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: Re:[Mpls] Nicollet/Lake Debacle
Okay folks here's the real skinny. The Nicollet Lake deal is DOA due to money. Having to choose between this project and Sears, Sears made the cut. As to that bit about studying the area more, it's been done by the Task Force and the neighborhoods the last few years, andif CM Niziolek was concerned about that he's had over a year to work on further study. Lisa McDonald East Harriet - Original Message - From: Fredric Markus Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 7:11 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re:[Mpls] Nicollet/Lake Debacle One hopes that neighborhood response to this benighted decision to pullthe plug on Sherman Associates will send a wake-up call to Cms Niziolekand Lilligren - stunting this development will reverberate through thewest end of the Lake St. corridor and failing to open Nicollet willperpetuate a long-standing traffic flow problem that will be made worsein the event the 35W ramp goes forward. Why is city hall willing to seethese major hits to tax base growth potential? Why are the incumbentcouncil members rolling over for this? I surely see more credibility inthe Lake/Nicollet plans than in the financial black hole that the SearsTower has become. In the dark corridors of the city's bureaucracy, issomeone's "professional" reputation being salvaged at substantialimmediate expense to the Sherman Associates firm and formidable futurecost to the economic viability of scores of existing businesses in thesecorridors? What chilling message does this send to the aspirations of other citycouncil members and their business and residential constituents in othercommercial corridors radiating out from the central business district?Is this an example of a turf war that pits embattled big-ticketdevelopment bureaucrats against the leaner, more supple, more manageableproducts of local initiatives? We have a weak mayor system of government. Are we now to have a weakCity Council as well?Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood ---Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003TEMPORARY 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-DemocracyPost messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mplsGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
[Mpls] It's cold outside!
Pretty cold out today! Minnesota weather is particularly tough on people experiencing homelessness. And certainly our city of Minneapolis is cold both literally and in spirit towards our fellow humans out in the cold. In Philadelphia, the city requires that when the temp drops below a certain point, teams of social service workers, the police, other public servants go out to find and get people who are outside into a warm shelter until the temp rises. On those days no one can be refused shelter. This information comes not only from a friend of mine who works in Philadelphia with people who are homeless, it is also discussed in Real Change news a paper out of Seattle in their most recent edition, available on the web. To clarify, this is not about people being arrested off the streets, they are not charged with a crime.. the purpose is specifically designed as a humanity issue. This is also being done in other East Coast cities. Certainly, the City of Minneapolis should be following suit. Right now, we simply arrest people forced out into the street or harass them or beat them up, or tear down their encampments and steal all of their belongings. Steve Brandt in his article today referred to "..the affordable housing lobby, one of the city's noisiest interest groups." Well, you know, Steve, when immorality such as the above continues be allowed in this city there needs to be a whole lot of noise. What does it take for people to become outraged in this town to demand of our leaders that they take immediate steps to stop this suffering? It seems like a slam dunk that it is not ok for people to have to be forced into the streets. Margaret Hastings Minneapolis-Kingfield
RE: [Mpls] It's cold outside!
Margaret writes: In Philadelphia, the city requires that when the temp drops below a certain point, teams of social service workers, the police, other public servants go out to find and get people who are outside into a warm shelter until the temp rises. On those days no one can be refused shelter. My sincere question: Are people in Minneapolis being refused/turned away from shelter tonight? David Brauer King Field -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 8:51 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] It's cold outside! Pretty cold out today! Minnesota weather is particularly tough on people experiencing homelessness. And certainly our city of Minneapolis is cold both literally and in spirit towards our fellow humans out in the cold. In Philadelphia, the city requires that when the temp drops below a certain point, teams of social service workers, the police, other public servants go out to find and get people who are outside into a warm shelter until the temp rises. 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] Libraries
One thing about the plan that I'm hearing for the library is the implication that even books seldom EVER called for must be out on open racks. Sorry, but I've NEVER seen something like that done. Only a fool would saddle themselves with handling archival material like that. A book should be borrowed a certain minimum times per year to be out and available. There is a common sense standard for that, too. And some books are in such delicate condition that they should not be borrowed out at all. Plus, there are books of which the library has ONE copy. I know because I sold a book based on the fact it was in the library collection. Years later, I wanted to borrow it and it had been taken out and never returned. And the book was out of print so now there was NO way to get it. A book like that should be in the reserve collection for reading in a reading room at the library. And NOT in the open shelves where someone can steal it! Actually, the Gutenberg project was to put the content of the Library of Congress online. I think books that are likely never to be printed again should never be loaned OUT in hard copy again. I am not one of those who crabs about taxes, but I do object to the people in government acting as if it doesn't matter if they manage wisely because they have access to an endless supply of cash. That is how we get backed into things like Target Center, the Target office building, and the glass palace. The supply of cash is NOT endless, and it really irks when there is a sudden shortage and then we find we CANNOT put show projects on hold and we MUST strip our police force. If the people in elective office cannot figure out how the larger world protects itself against these contingencies, I think they should have the decency to vacate their office to someone who is willing to LEARN how it is done. A rainy-day fund is a great idea if it can be done, but that certainly is not the limit to insuring oneself. Options, escape-clauses, whatever. A good contract lawyer can draw up the terms and then its just a matter of not being bamboozled by contractors with connections. It is better NOT to contract for a library building than to contract under such terms that you are trapped by hard times. -- Jim Mork--Cooper Only a LUNATIC would cut schools in order to pay for more bombs. We hold these truths to be self-evidentthat the just power of governments derives from the consent of the governed. Declaration of Independence Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail 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] It's cold outside!
David, My sincere question: Let's say if no homeless person was turned away from the shelters tonight, would it be any less outrageous to turn them away when it's fifteen, thirty or even seventy degrees above zero? Even in warm weather, homeless people turned away from shelters are at the mercy of criminals and rogue cops, and because they're technically breaking anti-camping ordinances and laws, there's no way they can successfully file a grievance or a complaint, whether they've been assaulted by a civilian or a cop. This problem has been brought to the attention of our local politicians often enough, but who among them has had the compassion and integrity to respond? Our community's growing indifference to the plight of our most vulnerable citizens reminds me of Hitler's Germany. The coldness outside is nothing compared to the coldness of our hearts. -- Peter Schmitz, CARAG 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
