[Mpls] The death of Mike Matson
I want to echo other's comments about Mike's long history of service to residents in his work for the Minneapolis City Council and Hennepin County Board. He was a delight to work with, unflapable and cheerful, creative and helpful. It is troubling when the good die so young. May we do some good work in his memory. Lisa Kugler Tangletown
[Mpls] Wading Pools More
Risking the wrath of people who will see this as knuckling under, giving up, bad public policy, etc, I am willing to pay a moderate cost for the extreme conveniece of having the wading pool open at my neighborhood (Fuller) Park. You can stop by with kids on the way home, for a short time in the evening, without driving or otherwise transporting warm and thus whiney children. If the cost if $2,000 per park, that's 100 people at $20 each, or 50 people at $40, or 20 people at $100. In past years I have paid $36 to have my kids swim one afternoon at the St. Louis Park water park. This is the kind of fundraising task that the Park Councils, Neighborhood organizations, groups of parents, etc can take on. No charging at the gate, money is raised before the pool opens. It is OK with me that some people can't or won't pay and their kids will still swim. It is still worth the money to me to have the convenience and the social life. I don't have the information and, thank heavens, don't have to review the entire Park Board budget to weigh recreation, environmental and sport priorities. I am not advocating having to pay for each and every public service or suggesting that voluntary payment is a solution to the disintegration of the ethic of the common good. I just don't want to have to try and explain to my children in 10 weeks why "their" pool has only dirty rainwater. Lisa Kugler Tangletown
[Mpls] Lilligren, Johnson Lee, Zerby Zimmermann cut Civil Rights deeper toprotect Police budget
Thats a headline I never expected to see. On a periodic late night lurk, I read the More to the Story post from Michelle Martin describing the amended budget numbers. Its puzzling to see who supported and who opposed the Johnson/ColvinRoy/Shiff Save Cops amendment. Lilligren, Johnson Lee, Zerby Zimmermann all supported it. Who would have predicted these four would vote to cut deeper into Civil Rights and Health Family and send the money to the Police department? Youd think it would be folks who typically promote public safety as core service : Lane, Ostrow, Goodman, Benson. But only Ostrow supported it the other three didn't; they voted to protect Public Works, Civil Rights, Health Family Services, Planning, etc. This feels like an unusual political world for Minneapolis. These voting patterns are so all over the map. What's their reasoning? Theres got to be more going on here? Martha Bolinger ECCO 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] Sustainable Transpo at the Bakken -- Saturday April 5
Hello! This Saturday, April 5, the Sustainable Transportation Project will be at the Bakken Library and Museum for the "Family Science Saturday" event. The event is open from 11 AM until 3 PM. We will have HPVs (human powered vehicles) available -- let us take you for a ride, or drive one yourself! We will also have information about the STP and about how we can make a positive change by participating in the sustainable transportation movement. Other presenters will be on hand as well as the Bakken's own terrific, very kid-friendly exhibits and activities. This Saturday's Family Science Saturday theme is "Planet Preservation" and the Bakken is at 3537 Zenith Avenue South in Minneapolis. The Bakken's phone number is: 612-926-3878 The Bakken is online at: www.thebakken.org Check it out! If you have further questions about the event or about STP, I am always happy to talk or e-mail about sustainable transportation! Thanks! Gary Hoover King Field
[Mpls] No more crime?
I need to vent a bit. Forgive me. As our fine city debates cutting police, fire, etc. This very morning the worst crimes in Northeast Mpls were people running the ramp meters. How wonderful that I live in such a Utopia. If that's all the force could find for that man to do why don't they put him on another shift where he is needed more. Is it impossible to put these officers to work on worse crimes than running ramp meters? Maybe running red lights, even? Ronald Leurquin Waite 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
Re: [Mpls] Getting the Gold by Looking for Lead
On 3/30/03 6:12 PM, Michael Atherton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a word, Yes. We do need the numbers and additionally we need to ask other questions. We should not perpetually fund governmental program on faith and unquestioned assumptions. Is it indeed true that children with high levels of lead are developmentally different from other children when environment and SES are controlled for? If the answer is, yes, do special education program actually produce benefits over and above conventional programs? At what age do high levels of lead produce significant differences in educational outcomes? Well, gee. That sure sounds fair enough. I won't even pretend to know enough about special ed to say how or even whether it is effective, but as Wizard has pointed out before, the evidence has shown that children suffering from lead poisoning are developmentally different from those who aren't. The reason we have a standard of 20 micrograms per decaliter to constitute high blood lead levels is because federal government established that standard through testing to determine whether there was a safe level of lead exposure. The reason the Minnesota Department of Health recommends all children under age six be tested for lead exposure is because that¹s what their screening guidelines dictate. So this is hardly based on faith and unquestioned assumptions as Michael suggests. It should be the responsibility of governmental programs to show that they are effective, not the responsibility of taxpayers to show that they are not. Again, 62% of childhood lead poisoning cases in Minneapolis were generated from rental properties. Which means of course that 38% were not. Maybe we should consider funding a program that addresses the problems of children in both rental and non-rental properties. I'll agree that our lead hazard reduction program should address the problems in both rental and non-rental properties. I'm even willing to pay the three bucks myself if that¹s what City Council decided to do. However, I ask this question: who should pay to determine the threat posed by lead in rental properties? Should government (aka taxpayers) have to foot the bill to determine a threat exists or should rental property owners who profit from that unit have to pay to demonstrate their property is lead-safe? One might say that the burden of proof should be on government the prosecutor as is the case with criminal law. However, when you look at it from a product safety standpoint as with food or drugs, the burden is instead placed on the manufacturer to show that their product is safe before it's allowed to be sold. If we had the same standard for other chemicals such as paints as we do for prescription drugs, perhaps we could have avoided this whole issue from the start. Correlation does not imply causation. Can you present evidence that it was actually the CEH program that prevented the demolition of affordable housing units and not some other program or even market forces for that matter? So, what is the function of CEH? To preserve affordable housing? Protect the health and well being of children? Or both? Regardless of the answer, CEH should be able to present evidence that it is meeting its objectives, not object to the questioning of its worthiness by taxpayers. Here's what the Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services request for this ordinance states: _ Federal and State mandates in terms of the City of Minneapolis Childhood Lead Poisoning Program: Federal Requirements: CDBG Entitlement communities are required to include a lead hazard reduction plan in their consolidated plan. HUD states that CDBG dollars are available to ...ensure decent affordable housing for all, and to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, to create jobs and expand business opportunities. Minneapolis' Childhood Lead Poisoning Program clearly meets these goals. The Children's Environmental Health - Lead Hazard Control program: - Saves affordable housing units from condemnation - Has leveraged almost ten million dollars in federal resources in the past ten years to improve properties and provide services primarily in Minneapolis' most vulnerable communities. - Creates jobs and skills training by contracting with SRC and our local CLEARCorps (http://www.clearcorps.org) program. Currently, we support a Small Contractor program where we offer training, certification and work in lead hazard reduction to small neighborhood contractors serving targeted communities. State Requirements: MN Statutes require cities of the first class to respond to elevated blood lead level cases. Federal HUD grant funds cannot be used for this purpose. In 2002, there were 63 cases requiring 85 investigations. Due to increased screening of children, investigations are expected to increase to over 130 in 2003. Lead investigations are time intensive; each costs approximately $3000. A
Re: [Mpls] Lilligren, Johnson Lee, Zerby Zimmermann cut Civil Rights deeper...
In a message dated 3/31/2003 5:56:23 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Youd think it would be folks who typically promote public safety as core service : Lane, Ostrow, Goodman, Benson. But only Ostrow supported it the other three didn't; they voted to protect Public Works, Civil Rights, Health Family Services, Planning, etc. I don't think the post had as much to do with who is supporting Public Safety and who is not as it had to do with the budget. I'm sure they continue to support Public Safety, but right now in these tight fiscal times, they were more concerned with how the vote would impact the budget. The Council had a five-year plan worked out and by changing that plan right now to accommodate Public Safety, they in essence negated the budget plan they had worked so hard to achieve. Karen Collier Linden Hills
[Mpls] Mike Mattson
Over the years, Mike helped alot of people with a variety of issues. He worked with me on a variety of issues, including the Access Project. I remember Mike as a kind soul with a great depth of understanding and compassion for people, he will be missed. David Piehl Central To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 14:57:49 -0600 Subject: [Mpls] Mike Matson Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that my long-time friend and former aide, Mike Matson, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on Wednesday evening, March 26th. The reviewal will begin tomorrow, Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. Services will begin at 1:00 p.m. Both events will be held at the Basilica at 17th and Hennepin in Downtown Minneapolis. Mike was a sweet and gentle man of great conviction and skill. He taught us all how to live life more fully and gently. His absence from our lives and community will be painful. It is my hope that his life will teach me and others to emulate his caring and grace as we go forward. Peter McLaughlin __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.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] City cuts the number of Police Officers - Penny Wise and Dollar Foolish
Martha Bolinger asks, This feels like an unusual political world for Minneapolis. These voting patterns are so all over the map. What's their reasoning? There's got to be more going on here? What is going on here is that the Council Members who are concerned about crime in their neighborhoods are making it an issue. Those with out such concern are discounting its importance. Martha, Zimmerman, Lillegren, and Johnson-Lee represent areas where cuts in the budget for police will have a devastating effect on public safety and quality of life. Martha, Zerby is acting as a person concerned with neighborhoods and a good public servant. Perhaps Zerby takes serious his oath of office and the requirements of the Minneapolis Charter to enforce State and Federal Law. You know Martha, there are some politicians that actually do that? At its full compliment of 900 officers Minneapolis was barely addressing its present crime problem. With cutting the force to levels of the late 1980's (under 700) Minneapolis will once again see its National ranking increase. No not in livability, but in the best place to do crime in the United States. Does anyone remember the 1980's, that was when Minneapolis' Chief of Police (Boza) said, we do not have a gang and drug problem. When public safety was a very low priority. That unconcern for public safety allowed Minneapolis to become nationally and inter-nationally famous as Murderapolis and a City where neighborhoods were requesting Federal recognition as a National Disaster Area because of drug crime and associated blight. I guess the present Mayor and Council are again wanting some national press. They are mistaken though because it is old news that Minneapolis doesn't care about poor neighborhoods. It does not even make local news when poor neighborhoods of Minneapolis are considered the most lucrative areas of the United States to do drug business. Minneapolis politicians will again make Minneapolis famous for SAFETY; the safety of criminals from the police. When Minneapolis could not fulfill its public safety responsibility last summer to the Phillips Community on the South and Jordan and Hawthorne on the North, why should those neighborhoods have faith that Minneapolis will do better this summer with an even more marginal police force. Don Samuels got elected on this issue in January, I would think he would be leading a revolt at City Hall about this issue. Since Council Members representing rich areas do not think public safety is that vital, are they willing to have the officers representing their neighborhoods reduced so that troubled neighborhoods can have adequate protection. The overall cost to Minneapolis of not providing Police protection will again be blight and a reduction in property values in inner-city neighborhoods. The cost to Minneapolis residents will be hundreds of times the cost of those police officers. Is this again the creation of a housing opportunity? Is the City Council again attempting to clear land for their development buddies? It certainly worked last time. Things have gotten so good in inner-city of late that for profit developers were competing with Non-profit Developers for land and there wasn't enough. Also the affordable rental housing market is showing ever increasing vacancy rates. What better plan than to let blight clear some land and affordable housing so you can justify giving millions to your buddies? I know the Council is probably not smart enough to conspire and plan what they are doing, but it sure seems strange that they are trying to kill NRP and public safety at the same time. The actual reason for improvement in inner-city neighborhoods are NRP and better policing. Killing one and weakening the other will of course create a need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in the future and much of that will go to the Non-profit sector. So some can be excused for thinking it is a conspiracy. It is probably NOT. It is nothing more than a pattern of neglect and unwise decision making to mollify special interests for present political concerns, rather than the future good of Minneapolis. A Pattern that result in the same old discrimination against poor neighborhoods and minority neighborhoods. Suggestion: Whereas, residents in poor neighborhoods have identified public safety as the number one housing issue for poor people. And whereas, there is presently a rental housing vacancy rate that exceeds 7% and is defined as unhealthy. Then the City of Minneapolis should use part of the 10 million per year Affordable Housing fund to fund public safety measures that protect affordable housing from the blight of drugs and crime. If the City of Minneapolis is not going to meet its public safety responsibility, what is it going to do? Deputize gun toting citizens to compete with the gun toting criminals the politicians allow to prowl Minneapolis streets? If crime is out of hand with 900 officers, what is it going to be
Re: [Mpls] City cuts the number of Police Officers - Penny Wiseand Dollar Foolish
Jim Graham makes some strong points about the importance of maintaining adequate resources for public safety, especially in our neighborhoods that are already vulnerable to drugs, gangs and other crime. However, it's also important to note that out of the $260 million dollar general fund for 2003 (pre-recent cuts), the budget for police is $98 million and for fire is $44 million. Public works is next in line at $38 million. Police takes up 38% of the general fund budget. The big three take up 70% of the general fund budget. That means when you're talking about $20 million cuts, there's just no way you can get there without including those departments. Here's one question I have, though. Does anyone know how judgments against the City are paid for? For example, if we had a situation like St. Paul where the city inspectors were charged with harassing a business owner and that person was awarded a million bucks, where does that money come from? Does it come out of inspections or is there some contingency fund for stuff like that? If the latter, I wonder what kind of impact it might have on rogue inspectors or maybe thumpers on the MPD if those judgments were charged back to the department that were guilty of them? Does anyone else think we'd have less of a problem with police brutality if the MPD had to pay those lawsuit awards out of its own budget? I'll bet that would make more of the good cops be a bit more willing to stand up to the bad apples and keep them in line so they don't get laid off next time one of the thumpers loses his temper. 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] Bouza quote
Jim Graham said: Does anyone remember the 1980's, that was when Minneapolis' Chief of Police (Boza) said, we do not have a gang and drug problem. Actually, I do remember, and would like to note that this is an oft-repeated myth. Bouza's quote was we don't have a gang problem, we have a youth problem. The quote wasn't very articulate (or perhaps too clever by half), but Bouza wasn't denying the presence of gangs, or a problem. He was trying to point to causes kids with nothing better to do. Now, you can disagree with Bouza's emphasis and his subsequent policing (and many do), but excerpting only half of his quote is highly misleading, if oft-repeated. David Brauer King Field Home of the first gang killing - Christine Kreitz's murder in 1986; her body wound up in King 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
Re: [Mpls] City cuts the number of Police Officers - Penny Wiseand DollarFoolish
An interesting point - without a doubt, the sequential order (of the top 3) of budgetary significance, would be police, fire and public works. In review of the proposed budget cuts, the question begs to be asked - are the cuts going to affect ALL citizens equally? I might not be approaching this from an unbiased position, as I live in Jordan. However, my "issues" are related more to public safety than they are to public works and park amenities. I'd much rather have to "live with the insufferable issue" of not having a two wading pools somewhere in South Minneapolis, than I would live with the fact that there aren't enough squads to respond to basic livability issues on the north side. Even when times were good (budget-wise), I can remember more than one occasion last year, while standing out on the corner of 26th Knox Av N, being told by the 911 dispatcher that there was NOT a squad available to respond to my call of an individual dealing drugs (after watching them make several transactions) in the near vacinity. While I am trying to find empathy for those that live in other neighborhoods, and are faced with cuts to their wading pools, and crosswalk painting, it's hard. Is there any guarantee that the proposed cuts (especially within public safety) are going to be made proportionately? Or should I just plan on meeting my wife at Lake Calhoun after we both get off from work, so that I can experience a livable standard? Dennis Plante JordanTired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. 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] Getting the Gold by Looking for Lead
Michael Atherton wrote: Mark Snyder wrote: Does anyone really need specific numbers quoted ... In a word, Yes. We do need the numbers and additionally we need to ask other questions. We should not perpetually fund governmental program on faith and unquestioned assumptions. WM: What unquestioned assumptions? Germany banned lead in paint in the 19th Century after study with gross tools. Preceding the 1925 European vote, studies were done with fairly gross tools. Preceding the American 1978 vote to ban lead in paint, there were yet more studies using much finer tools. Post 1978 American and Minnesota laws require studies. At what point does one say, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck ? It was time to get off the dime and start cleaning up the lead that is poisoning people. You may have gained a misimpression by my post saying, I don't keep those numbers; ergo, there were no numbers. There were so many studies of lead and studies of how to abate lead, and practical applications, and consequences of not abating and their costs in 1993? or 94? dollars to make the head swim. I didn't keep that stuff. I'd have been visited by the Fire Dept. as a hazard. The state, the county, the city, the scientists and the accountants keep those numbers. My job was to come up with a plan that the legislature could fund on a pilot basis while protecting the displaced families with lead poisoned people through supplying a temporary lead safe environment. It should be the responsibility of governmental programs to show that they are effective, not the responsibility of taxpayers to show that they are not. WM: There's an assumption here that Project 504 has not proven itself effective at lead abatement. However, if no housing came down that was condemned or tagged as lead poisoned last year, Project 504 seems to be solidly on task Again, 62% of childhood lead poisoning cases in Minneapolis were generated from rental properties. Which means of course that 38% were not. Maybe we should consider funding a program that addresses the problems of children in both rental and non-rental properties. WM: The assumption here is that those programs do not exist. I think they do and that they are funded through health clinics and that stream of community dollars. Family doctors are primarily concerned with alleviating suffering and healing, not with home ownership status. Again, prior to the formation of the CEH program, over 40 affordable housing units were demolished annually. Since the formation of the CEH program, no affordable housing units have been demolished. Instead, they've been made lead safe and people continue to live in them. Correlation does not imply causation. Can you present evidence that it was actually the CEH program that prevented the demolition of affordable housing units and not some other program or even market forces for that matter? So, what is the function of CEH? To preserve affordable housing? Protect the health and well being of children? Or both? Regardless of the answer, CEH should be able to present evidence that it is meeting its objectives, not object to the questioning of its worthiness by taxpayers. WM: The assumption here is that CEH has not so presented. They have. Their operation is vetted to each of their funding sources, to the city, the state, and the feds. Further, there is an assumption that those studies are not going on. That is not the case either. Someone(s) has most likely put it out on the net. Look to universities. The absolute worst assumption being made throughout this debate has been the inuendo/slander of Project 504. The zingers are all for-profit vs. non-profit. From what Jim Mork iterated in a recent post, 'some landlords don't care.' The rest of us have got to force his compliance with a bigger hammer (law) and assist him in getting the problem alleviated because it's so expensive and has to be done immediately. The family has to be introduced to a regimen of behavior they have not had to do before to keep the lead out of the house as much as possible and to clean religiously with a hepa vac and other methods. Ameliorating lead dust and its effects in a city environment is no small task. The family has to take on the task of changing a whole pattern of behavior around washing hands and toys and furniture and walls and floors and clothes and bedding. All of us who live in the city should be doing most of that anyway. The problem is being ameliorated in several arenas. It's a public health issue. Non-profit Project 504 agreed to take on part of the task for some of the people in Minneapolis. Since they do not have to show a profit and since it's a totally thankless task, why would you expect a for-profit entity to step in? 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.
Re: [Mpls] Bouza quote
Actually David, I was not only referring to the Bouza quote that was published. I was referring to an earlier meeting that Tony Scallon and Brian Coil had with neighbors Mosin Agamirzai, Brian Daniels, Myself and other from PV Neighborhood Action Group which Tony Bouza came into the middle of. We were lambasting them with the gang problem and the new (at that time) drug epidemic that was coming. That was before the Guardian Angels and all the other mid 80's tomfoolery that went on. Brian laughed at the idea of crime being a problem and our neighborhood not getting adequate policing. Three months later when the problem hit around his house over in Whittier, Brian said it was the most important issue facing Minneapolis. Drug dealing and prostitution on your corner does have that affect on some of us. Brian said he even had a problem waiting for the bus by his house David, I believe the quote you are referring to came when the Guardian Angels brought their Carney to town in order to help us with our gang problem. Goes to show how long the problem and the denial has been around. We did not spend the pennies then and it cost bushels of dollars afterwards. The Council and Mayor seem to be in the same denial now. Mark Snyder is correct about the amount of the budget that goes for police, fire, and public works. That is as it should be. Remember those things in that order, (Police first), are the only true functions of the City. Everything else is just gravy. Read the Minneapolis Charter. If it has not been changed, the only thing mandated by law is the enforcement of State and Federal law. The law does not require parks, library, or staff for City functions; it only requires public safety. After that then the City can do whatever programs it feels necessary. Public Safety is not a privilege enjoyed only by the Good neighborhoods, and Council people and Mayors who live in Good neighborhoods. It is a RIGHT enjoyed by every resident and neighborhood of Minneapolis. Does the City engage in a pattern of violating that RIGHT in poor and minority neighborhoods? Absolutely! That is why the Impacted Neighborhoods need to have Federal Authorities do Mediation between the Impacted Neighborhoods and the City Of Minneapolis. The City is violating our Constitutionally guaranteed RIGHT to Equal Protection Under The Law. The Constitution does not guarantee Equal Policing; it guarantees Equal Protection. Quite a different thing! If necessary it is time the Impacted Neighborhoods started thinking of legal action to protect those rights. Mediation should always be explored before Legal action is tested. The Mothers, children and elderly in our neighborhoods deserve the same protection as that enjoyed by the Good Council Members, the Mayor, and their children. Do we need to go back to a time when OUR children are being terrified and objectified by crime as well as commonly shot on our streets to get the politician's attention? Remember people; the Council and Mayor do not give us anything. It is our money and it is our RIGHT. Call your Council Member and tell them so. Get mad as hell and don't take it anymore! Jim Graham, Ventura Village To stumble twice against the same stone is a proverbial disgrace. - Cicero We can only be what we give ourselves the power to be - A Cherokee Feast of Days 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] No more crime?
Pretty Clear-cut revenue producer running a ramp-light. It's much more costly to apprehend drug dealers on the street corner. Our judicial system doesn't impose a very stiff penalty on them. Apparently, you're more of a "threat" running a red light than you are dealing drugs and toting a gun :) Dennis Plante Jordan From: "Leurquin, Ronald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Mpls] No more crime? Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 08:40:53 -0500 I need to vent a bit. Forgive me. As our fine city debates cutting police, fire, etc. This very morning the worst crimes in Northeast Mpls were people running the ramp meters. How wonderful that I live in such a Utopia. If that's all the force could find for that man to do why don't they put him on another shift where he is needed more. Is it impossible to put these officers to work on worse crimes than running ramp meters? Maybe running red lights, even? Ronald Leurquin Waite 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 Protect your PC - Click here for McAfee.com VirusScan Online 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] Raucous Caucus Creators Unveiled?
This morning I read the post on the digest version by Robert Schmid exposing Ken Avidor as the man behind the curtain of the great and wonderful Raucous Caucus website. I had almost decided that Scott Persons really wasn't the creator after all when I visited the site and noticed the following: March 31st, 2003 Perhaps they thought nobody would notice with the war grabbing the headlines, but someone tried to shut Raucouscaucus.com down last week. We've asked one of our artists, Ken Avidor to register the domain in his name so we can stay on the web. Avidor has agreed to help out to defend the right of free speech and the art of political satire and parody. -The Staff of Raucouscaucus.com The mystery continues.Personally: Minneapolis politics has me just jaded enough to enjoy the satire on the website, and I really don't care who is entitled to the credit if they don't want to claim it. David Piehl Central __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.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] No more crime?
I live on the northside where crime (and blatant littering) run rampant. About two weeks ago Saturday I went out to run some errands. I noticed my front license plate was barely hanging on, but figured I had a rear one on and tossed it in the backseat. I came home about 1-ish and didn't notice until I looked out later that one of our persons in blue had issued me a $75 ticket for failure to display a front plate! Musta been a slow crime day... Jill Harmon Cleveland From: Dennis Plante [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] No more crime? Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 13:21:17 -0600 _ ---BeginMessage--- Pretty Clear-cut revenue producer running a ramp-light. It's much more costly to apprehend drug dealers on the street corner. Our judicial system doesn't impose a very stiff penalty on them. Apparently, you're more of a "threat" running a red light than you are dealing drugs and toting a gun :) Dennis Plante Jordan From: "Leurquin, Ronald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Mpls] No more crime? Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 08:40:53 -0500 I need to vent a bit. Forgive me. As our fine city debates cutting police, fire, etc. This very morning the worst crimes in Northeast Mpls were people running the ramp meters. How wonderful that I live in such a Utopia. If that's all the force could find for that man to do why don't they put him on another shift where he is needed more. Is it impossible to put these officers to work on worse crimes than running ramp meters? Maybe running red lights, even? Ronald Leurquin Waite 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 Protect your PC - Click here for McAfee.com VirusScan Online 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 ---End Message---
[Mpls] Bicycle registration
Hello: I am Director of Transportation at the Waterloo, Iowa MPO. Recently, we were approached by some citizens regarding a trail user fee or the licensing of bicycles in the metro area. Our metro area has a population of 120,000 and an extensive trail system of over 70 miles. In searching over the internet, I came across a discussion relating to the bicycle registration process in Minneapolis. Could you enlighten me as to the results of this discussion. Did the city repel their bicycle registration/licensing process? If so, Why? If you have not, how has the process worked Any information relating to this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks You. Kevin Blanshan Director of Transportation and Data Services INRCOG 501 Sycamore, Suite 333 Waterloo, IA 50703 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] No more crime?
Ronald Leurquin wrote: I need to vent a bit. Forgive me. As our fine city debates cutting police, fire, etc. This very morning the worst crimes in Northeast Mpls were people running the ramp meters. How wonderful that I live in such a Utopia. If that's all the force could find for that man to do why don't they put him on another shift where he is needed more. Is it impossible to put these officers to work on worse crimes than running ramp meters? Maybe running red lights, even? If there's one thing that really disturbs me about the Mpls Police Department it's the lack of traffic enforcement. Even in a situation when I think I'm pushing it by running the yellow, I look in my mirror and there's someone behind me running the red. Not to mention the stop sign in front of my house. I'd swear that I'm the only person who actually stops for it. This stop sign is infamous! It's been scientifically recorded that, as I remember, 10% of those running the stop do so that speeds over 30 MPH (this is a residential neighborhood with lots of small children). And, although I often see University police giving tickets (so much so that I slow down when driving thru), I almost never see MPP officers giving tickets anywhere in the city. Ok, to get to the point...Traffic enforcement is, or should be, a revenue producer. If I remember correctly, the fine for illegally using diamond lanes is BIG, something like $250 (and if it's not, it should be. Let them pay for their convenience). The concept is that revenue from traffic tickets would help to offset budget shortfalls and strict traffic enforcement would go a long way towards making Minneapolis a safer place to walk, bike, and drive. My proposal is this: Have the mayor declare a campaign to increase traffic safety though strict enforcement. For the first month have officers give warnings (so there isn't a citizen backlash), then begin collecting revenue. I'm almost positive that any preliminary study will should both quality of life benefits and increased revenue. Michael Atherton 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] lead
With all the talk about lead paint abatement, I thought I'd bring up a bill of mine, SF 1236, which would give property owners a valuation break when they abate the lead in their property. Patterned after This Old House law, it says that part of the value of the house will not be subject to property tax for five years after eliminating the lead paint. If a city has a program for getting rid of lead paint and you incur some cost to do so, you can get 50% of what you spent knocked off the value of your house for property tax purposes for 5 years. Say you spent $15,000 for the lead paint abatement, you get to reduce the value of your home by $7500 for five years. It is capped at a $10,000 reduction for a $20,000 expenditure. It would be available for both home owners and rental property owners. Rep. Ellison has the companion bill in the house. In addition, There also is a companion bill that would work the same way for rural areas where people need to spend money to upgrade their septic systems. linda higgins the good senator from district 58 north 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
Re: [Mpls] Bicycle registration
One of the big problems in Mpls. was the difficulty with getting the bike shops to issue the license. The process for getting the license, the first time, was a nightmare so there were a lot of bikes without license. I tried for three days to get the bikes in my scout troop license and was unsuccessful. I favor bike licensing, but you have to make it easy. I am Director of Transportation at the Waterloo, Iowa MPO. Recently, we were approached by some citizens regarding a trail user fee or the licensing of bicycles in the metro area. Our metro area has a population of 120,000 and an extensive trail system of over 70 miles. In searching over the internet, I came across a discussion relating to the bicycle registration process in Minneapolis. Could you enlighten me as to the results of this discussion. Did the city repel their bicycle registration/licensing process? If so, Why? If you have not, how has the process worked Any information relating to this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks You. Kevin Blanshan Director of Transportation and Data Services INRCOG 501 Sycamore, Suite 333 Waterloo, IA 50703 DeWayne Townsend Cooper Minneapolis, MN 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] Bicycle registration
Wasn't another reason for repeal the fact that the police busted up a critical mass demonstration (people on bikes who take over the streets) and used the lack of a license as a pretext for confiscating a lot of the bikes? 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
[Mpls] Bicycle tune ups
Speaking of bikes, does anyone know where (in MINNEAPOLIS, of course) I can get a decent tune up for two elderly bikes? Most of the places I have gone to charge $50 and don't appear to do much more than spray some DW40 on the gears. These bikes still run well but like most of us who are getting older they require some maintenance. Linda Mann (the closer to KINGFIELD the better) 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] Bicycle tune ups
Go check out The Hub - across the street from Resource Center of The Americas. I am having a bottom bracket being redone there right now and it was about 1/2 as expensive as Alternative on Lake Street. There is always Free Wheel on the West Bank where they will rent you shop time and also supply you with a bit of guidance tom taylor 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] Getting the Gold by Looking for Lead
Mark Snyder wrote: I won't even pretend to know enough about special ed to say how or even whether it is effective, but as Wizard has pointed out before, the evidence has shown that children suffering from lead poisoning are developmentally different from those who aren't. Liberal educators assume that all children are unique and developmentally different from each other...so? If you follow their assumption then children with lead poisoning should me mainstreamed with the general school population. I have no idea if this is necessary or not. The reason we have a standard of 20 micrograms per decaliter to constitute high blood lead levels is because federal government established that standard through testing to determine whether there was a safe level of lead exposure. The reason the Minnesota Department of Health recommends all children under age six be tested for lead exposure is because that¹s what their screening guidelines dictate. So this is hardly based on faith and unquestioned assumptions as Michael suggests. Unfortunately, many government standards are based on faith and not on solid evidence. Although I have not looked at all of the research on lead poisoning in children, I have heard that there is a critical period in which lead is particularly bad, I believe mainly prenatally and during the first year. However, I ask this question: who should pay to determine the threat posed by lead in rental properties? Should government (aka taxpayers) have to foot the bill to determine a threat exists or should rental property owners who profit from that unit have to pay to demonstrate their property is lead-safe? I don't think that you realize it, but this is an extremely dangerous proposal. Just consider giving the Colonial British government the right to determine which houses could be safely occupied by British soldiers and which had to be vacated by colonists. Since all most all of the homes and rental units in Mpls have lead paint and it is cost prohibitive to have it removed, requiring such actions would give the city government immense powers. One might say that the burden of proof should be on government the prosecutor as is the case with criminal law. However, when you look at it from a product safety standpoint as with food or drugs, the burden is instead placed on the manufacturer to show that their product is safe before it's allowed to be sold. And manufacturers seem to do a very poor (and sometimes dishonest) job of detailing the safety of their products. If we had the same standard for other chemicals such as paints as we do for prescription drugs, perhaps we could have avoided this whole issue from the start. Some things cannot be known in advance, but I agree we should work on the ones that can. Federal Requirements: CDBG Entitlement communities are required to include a lead hazard reduction plan in their consolidated plan. HUD states that CDBG dollars are available to ...ensure decent affordable housing for all, and to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, to create jobs and expand business opportunities. Minneapolis' Childhood Lead Poisoning Program clearly meets these goals. What this Federal Requirement does not require is that the these plans be effective and accountable, and that they are regularly audited. The Children's Environmental Health - Lead Hazard Control program: - Saves affordable housing units from condemnation - Has leveraged almost ten million dollars in federal resources in the past ten years to improve properties and provide services primarily in Minneapolis' most vulnerable communities. - Creates jobs and skills training by contracting with SRC and our local CLEARCorps (http://www.clearcorps.org) program. One of my big questions about these problems is whether they are cost effective and actually deal with lead problems that specifically dangerous and not lead paint that is stable. Or, are these just Federal Make-Work programs, that transfer money from the Local and Federal governments into the hands of contractors and labor organizations? Currently, we support a Small Contractor program where we offer training, certification and work in lead hazard reduction to small neighborhood contractors serving targeted communities. And who checks to see that this training is effective and that contractors actually use it after they are certificated. An article in one of the Detroit papers says that regulations are rarely followed. Prior to the receipt of federal dollars in 1994, there was a condemnation/demolition rate of 40 buildings/year, the displacement of 50-100 families and the loss of income and equity for property owners. You still haven't presented any evidence that CEH prevented these problem from occurring in MPS. As far as CEH having to demonstrate it is meeting its objectives, I think the evidence is
Re: [Mpls] City cuts the number of Police Officers - Penny Wise and Dollar Foolish
At 11:19 AM 3/31/03 -0600, Mark Snyder wrote: Here's one question I have, though. Does anyone know how judgments against the City are paid for? For example, if we had a situation like St. Paul where the city inspectors were charged with harassing a business owner and that person was awarded a million bucks, where does that money come from? Does it come out of inspections or is there some contingency fund for stuff like that? If the latter, I wonder what kind of impact it might have on rogue inspectors or maybe thumpers on the MPD if those judgments were charged back to the department that were guilty of them? Does anyone else think we'd have less of a problem with police brutality if the MPD had to pay those lawsuit awards out of its own budget? I'll bet that would make more of the good cops be a bit more willing to stand up to the bad apples and keep them in line so they don't get laid off next time one of the thumpers loses his temper. Mark, thanks for raising this. As I pointed out in a previous post, the city is self indemnified for liability suits and the payouts come from the general fund. Stupid and/or bad behavior on the part of police cost the taxpayers to the tune of $13 million over the last four years. If that had to come out of the police budget, Chief Olson might decide to be a little more hands on in his management style. This was one of the things we pushed for during the CRA redesign that the city refused to consider. I'd like to see more of the honest police officers take on the bad apples on the force. The problem, though, is a culture that vehemently discourages this (yes, the blue wall of silence exists!) and an institution that at best ignores and at worst even rewards the thumpers. Rick Stanek's career is a case in point. Michelle Gross Bryn Mawr 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] Tired A Mucking Political Stables
I looked at the math for the city budget and then read that therer was no way to take care of the cuts without hitting police and fire and blinked my eyes. Of COURSE there is a way. There are multiple ways. But even the crudest way would cover police and fire. Basically what they are saying is that you can't cut anything ELSE too radically. And I say, on a temporary basis, WHY NOT? It isnt as if city departments are sacred. We're facing an enormous slap across the face from our suburban neighbors. We may not have the votes to PREVENT it, but no way in heck we have to shoot our own foot in frustration. The amount of money pre-cuts is more than enought to cover police, fire and public works. We just have to put everything else on a SEVERE diet for a period of time. And let me tell you, if I only had the money for my house payment and to gas my car, and maybe 1500 calories a day of food (ANY FOOD), I'd do it. And hope it wasn't more than a year or two. But STOP with this Rybak nonsense of can't do it without cutting public safety. The math says that is baloney. If it isnt baloney, let the MAYOR stand up like a MAN and prove it! But the math I see right now says we HAVE the money to fund police, fire, and public works, and all the rest is manure. Jim Mork Cooper _ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 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
