[Mpls] Editorial: School's out / Engage community to keep kids busy
Editorial: School's out / Engage community to keep kids busy Published June 16, 2003 Today marks the first full week of summer vacation for many Minneapolis students -- the annual rituals of warm weather fun and family vacations. And for the fortunate ones, it opens 12 weeks filled with parent-arranged activities ranging from wilderness camp to music lessons. For older youth, a job or internship may consume a good portion of the precious summer months. http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/3935822.html Shawn Lewis, Field Neigborhood -- ___ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer
T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 43 June 16, 2003 This is a preview edition of The Observer. To see a sample issue, visit www.mplsobserver.com. To subscribe ($12/yr.), just hit 'reply' and we'll set you up. --The Editor ** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * MAC Vote Will Set New Airport Noise Map * Park Board Restores Some Programs * North Side Community Explores Target Options * Grocery Store Roulette to Continue * Decision Puts Local Business at Odds with Neighborhood * Park Board Restores Some Programs, Services Plus: Library futures, the Mother of All Co-ops shops for a building, geraniums get their due, and have the cops finally gone too far? ** MAC VOTE WILL SET NEW AIRPORT NOISE MAP The Metropolitan Airport Commission will vote today on air traffic projections that will inform a controversial new airport noise map. But the projections--and the process--has anti-noise activists seething. As Scott Russell reports in the Southwest Journal (http://www.swjournal.com), the MAC's environmental and planning committee on June 4 approved air traffic assumptions that will help the commission draw the new noise map, requested after 9/11 sent traffic plummeting nationwide. The agency projects a 3.6 percent annual increase in air traffic through 2007, plus a fleet of larger, but quieter, planes. The projections will help the MAC determine eligibility for the agency's home sound insulation program. But the South Metro Airport Action Council (SMAAC), a community-based anti-noise group, criticized the MAC process as being too hasty and lacking public review, and the city's MAC representative, Dan Boivin, said he is negotiating a deal that would allow adjustments to the noise map after two years,if the projections prove too conservative. Meanwhile, the new Noise Oversight Committee, created last year to replace the 30-year-old Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council, which Northwest Airlines abandoned in 2000 after accusing it of being too activist-oriented, has yet to hold its first meeting and has essentially been shut out of the process. Chad Leqve, manager of MAC's Aviation Noise Program, said the Oversight Committee will have an instrumental role to play in drawing the new noise map, which he said should be ready by the fall. PARK BOARD RESTORES SOME PROGRAMS AND SERVICES The Park Board last week voted to restore a half dozen popular programs and services it had earlier cut in response to expected state funding cuts. NORTH SIDE COMMUNITY EXPLORES TARGET OPTIONS Community leaders on the North side are exploring the potential of buying the Broadway Avenue Target store, which is scheduled to close August 2. NETWORK TV HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL COP PROGRAM The CBS Evening News last week lauded the Minneapolis Police Department's Bait Car Program as one of the nation's most successful anti-car theft projects. The report, by correspondent Cynthia Bowers, noted that the program cut car thefts in the city by 37 percent in its first six months. GROCERY STORE ROULETTE TO CONTINUE Local grocery shoppers will barely be adjusting to new Rainbow ownership when another new player will be moving into the area. DECISION PUTS LOCAL BUSINESS AT ODDS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD A city planning commission zoning decision has put a long-time North Loop business at odds with its neighbors and a potential housing development. CITY'S FIRST FOOD CO-OP RAISING MONEY TO BUY BUILDING North Country Co-op, Minneapolis' first food co-op, is working to ensure its survival by buying its building. ** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. ©2003 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Equine consultant and coffee shop correspondent: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox Thanks to: Medora Woods *** Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ***
RE: [Mpls] Are County Judges Really Elected By The People?
Judges This is going on in all 50 states. My reaction to this has been to vote for anyone running against an incumbent judge. If I actually know the judge not being opposed, I will write in a name so I can at least be able to say I didn't vote for him/her. Our system is in a shambles in many ways, and we have only ourselves to blame for letting it get this way. This forum provides a way to voice these problems so more of us can see them in the light. We didn't get this messed up overnight, and it wont get fixed overnight. Ron Leurquin Waite park -Original Message- From: Michelle Gross [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 6:26 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Are County Judges Really Elected By The People? June 4, 2003 Spokesman Recorder Editorial By: Pauline Thomas Are County Judges Really Elected By The People? In Minnesota, according to our State Constitution, county judges are supposed to be elected by the People. The problem is that politicians regularly scheme to keep the People from having a real voice in judicial elections. Have you ever wondered why so few lawyers run for judge? Why do voters have so few choices on the ballot? I believe that lawyers are afraid to run against incumbent judges for fear that they will be punished by the judges. Lawyers are afraid that they will lose their cases, or lose their careers if they speak out against a judge in a campaign. And other lawyers are afraid of endorsing them for fear that they will be punished by sitting judges. This is a fear of speaking out against the King that was supposed to die in the American Revolutionary War. But it continues to this day -- right here in Hennepin County. I think we'd all agree that judges should be held accountable for misconduct; that's something I'll explore in upcoming columns. For the time being, we have good, bad and outright racist judges sitting as incumbents. How do we remove the bad and racist ones from office? If we can't get lawyers to run against incumbent judges, the next step is to explore why so many judicial elections involve incumbents. In other words, judges are retiring and resigning all the time. Why, then, does almost every single judicial race printed on the ballot contain the designation incumbent? Instead of having new judges voted in by the People, judges in Minnesota are overwhelmingly appointed by politicians. This makes for real problems. By appointing judges, the political party that appoints them can put political pressure on judges, rather than having them decide cases fairly. Do you think judges should be serving a small handful of politicians who appoint them, or serving the People? Perhaps this may explain part of the reason why so many African Americans land in prison. Appointing judges all the time also violates our state constitution. Do you think these people should be allowed to break the law? Pay close attention: Here's how they do it. Judges can be appointed to fill a vacancy in a judgeship. This is supposed to ensure that the work gets done. It's not supposed to be abused by politicians. The problem is that politicians are using this loophole to fill 99 percent of the judgeships. They know they are doing it, and you will even find people in the system defending this deliberate violation of the law. These people are smart enough to know that if they don't like the way the constitution reads they can try to get it rewritten. Yet they continue to deliberately violate the current constitution rather that uphold it. You know what happens when a Black man steals $5 worth of goods from a convenience store. Yet these white-collar politicians are violating the law all the time without consequences. They get retiring and resigning judges to time their resignations so that a small handful of politicians can appoint the next judge rather than letting the judicial election go before the People! Then, when it comes to the next election, that judge who was appointed (and never ran for election by the People) gets to put incumbent by his/her name -- even if they have only been serving for a couple of months! And that word incumbent almost assures them of winning the election. They should not be allowed to put incumbent on the ballot unless they have been elected by the People. Otherwise, we will never have any voice. Remember, it is our current incumbent judges who have given Minnesota the worst record of any state in the nation for the disproportionate conviction of Blacks. Do we want this system to continue without any input from us? The political appointment people got caught doing this once. In June 2001, Judge Eugene Atkins of the First Judicial District wrote a letter saying he would resign one day before his term ended. The Governor's Judicial Appointments Coordinator told the secretary of state not to put it on the upcoming ballot, because the governor was going to appoint somebody to fill
[Mpls] STRIDE website update
STRIDE has some great new info on 35W Excess, Target on Broadway closing (despite full freeway access) and how neighborhoods' visions of a calmer, more pedestrian-friendly Lake Street conflict with the mega-speedway proposed by the 35W Excess Project. www.stride-mn.org Jeff Carlson, Whittier __ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Lake Street, Sidewalks and Happiness
The city of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and neighborhoods surrounding Lake Street are considering several options for its reconstruction and streetscaping. Public meetings held toward the end of this month will be announced on this list. E-mail me if you are interested. At the heart of the debate about Lake Street is whether we will build primarily for automobile speed or quality of life for neighborhoods. This is a mutually exclusive relationship wherein one suffers while the other benefits. Choosing vehicular speed means perpetuating the status quo of a four-lane roadway with restricted parking, narrow sidewalks and in general a wide swath of pavement filled with speeding cars, dust and exhaust. Chosing quality of life means accepting that narrower, traffic-calmed Lake can safely accomodate traffic levels upwards of 20,000 cars per day (much like Lincoln or Diversy streets in Chicago) with one lane in either direction, while providing bedrock, unrestricted on-street parking, wider sidewalks, bump-outs at intersections, and possibly on-street bike lanes. I have seen streets in Chicago that work phenomenally in this way. Some of these streets are as important to the street system as Lake Street is in Minneapolis. Unlike the current Lake Street, however, these streets are designed with people, not cars, in mind. Traffic is slowed, making life better for pedestrians and bicycles. Space is restored for bike racks, plantings, brick pavers, benches and even sidewalk seating at restaurants. We should never underestimate the instrinsic value of sidewalks and bike lanes for human happiness. Cities should be designed to encourage shoulder-rubbing amongst neighbors, and not fender-bending. Walking and biking brings us into touch with one another. While it would be naive to wish away the automobile alltogether, it is unacceptable not to build the best infrastructure we can for pedestrians and cyclists. Don't miss this recent article on the subject from TwinCities.com: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/6031964.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp Jeff Carlson, Whittier __ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Crime fighting and dumping grounds?
I can't find the e-version of the article. Maybe our hard working leader can do it for us. But we go. Page 18 of the current SWJournal has a picture and story by Scott Russell. A civilian was laid off in the Police Department. Not a sworn officer. Budget cuts you know. Well happy day, the person has been picked up by the Mpls Inspections Department. Here is the beef. Does the person have the training or education to be a housing inspector? If so, my beef is over. If not, why are we doing this? The old girls network picking someone up when they are down? I and many landlords have spent years complaining about the complete lack of knowledge and training of a high percentage of the housing inspectors. Not just in the city, but all over the metro. Last item, I see hotdog grilling is coming back in vogue for fighting crime. Craig Miller Buffalo MiniStorage [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Crime fighting and dumping grounds?
Craig Miller wrote: A civilian was laid off in the Police Department. Not a sworn officer. the person has been picked up by the Mpls Inspections Department. Does the person have the training or education to be a housing inspector? If not, why are we doing this? The old girls network WM: The Old Girls network, insulting though the term is, does not enter into the picture. The city contracts call for any city employee who is laid off can apply for another job with the city and if he/she has the qualifications, will be given preference over those applying from outside the city's staff. WizardMarks, Central 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. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Crime fighting and dumping grounds?
Just so everyone knows, the qualifications to be a Mpls Housing inspector is that you are alive and can walk. That's about it! In one of my suits against the City back in the late 90's, I was given all of the backgrounds of the current Mpls housing inspectors. Only 20 % had even a minor background related to the Inspection or related fields when they were hired. Most had absolutely no experience whatsoever! The scariest response to one of my Interrogatories was this: Interrogatory from me: Are you (City) required to train your housing inspectors? City Answer: NO Interrogatory from me: Are you (City) required to supervise your housing inspectors? City Answer: NO Anyone wonder why us experts in the field of construction, inspections etc just laugh at some of the ridiculous work orders we sometimes get from the incompetant housing inspectors??? Steve Meldahl Jordan (work) - Original Message - From: WizardMarks [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Craig Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 4:08 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Crime fighting and dumping grounds? Craig Miller wrote: A civilian was laid off in the Police Department. Not a sworn officer. the person has been picked up by the Mpls Inspections Department. Does the person have the training or education to be a housing inspector? If not, why are we doing this? The old girls network WM: The Old Girls network, insulting though the term is, does not enter into the picture. The city contracts call for any city employee who is laid off can apply for another job with the city and if he/she has the qualifications, will be given preference over those applying from outside the city's staff. WizardMarks, Central 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. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Target: Property Values and Property Taxes
Regarding the market value property tax numbers cited below, Phil Handy of this office has provided the following: 1000 Nicollet Mall (Target Headquarters Block, not the Target Store Block): The valuation that Ms. Heller cites, $54,500,000, is only one of three tax parcels that comprise the Target HQ Block. The total 2002 EMV for the block is $167,000,000 and the total real estate taxes paid in 2003 will be $7,062,713. Any decrease in EMV from 2001 was due to over-all reductions in CBD office values by the City Assessor. Target did not file any petitions to reduce valuation, unlike many office tower owners. This project received no public financial assistance. Target Center The valuation that Ms. Heller cites is only the exempt fee interest parcel owned by MCDA. The real estate taxes are paid by the Timberwolves and the Northwest Health Club based on Personal Property Tax Account valuations as leasehold interests. These are assessed just like the regular tax parcels and taxes are paid at the regular C/I rate. The total 2002 EMV for Target Center is $53,960,000 and the total 2003 real estate taxes paid will be $4,999,254. Bill Tetzlaff MCDA/Kingfield -Original Message- From: Victoria Heller [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 7:19 AM To: Mpls Forum Subject: [Mpls] Target: Property Values and Property Taxes 701 West Broadway Market Value: $3,638,000 (up from $3,025,000) Property Tax: $148,408 (4.1%) 313,487 square feet of land 1000 Nicollet Mall Market Value: $54,500,000 (down from $62 million) Property Tax: $2,244,464 (4.1%) 71,508 square feet of land 600 1st Avenue North (Target Center) Market Value: $43,960,000 Property Tax: $0.00 127,999 square feet of land Vicky Heller, North Oaks TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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
FW: [Mpls] Library scenarios -- A Finger on the Scales
Title: Message Keith brings up a good point, if the city's agenda is to develop the existing Walker Library site, perhaps a mixed-use building of library, housing, and shops is a step towards meeting everyone's agenda. Hennepin County Library and the city of Edina in the not-too-distant-past constructed such a successful facility for the Edina Library. I would also like to thank Steve Cross for bringing up the Walker Library and its future plans. Walker Library has one of the highest density per capita users in the city, making it one of the most successful and needed libraries in the city. Moving Walker to another location would be a huge disservice to the community. Walker's large proportion of foot traffic comes from its immediate location, in Uptown, next to the transit station. Moving it several blocks to the East would make it less pedestrian friendly and certainly in a less than optimal location. Pocketing one time savings by selling off the building will never recoup the great current location. One of the points that should be made is that Minneapolis Public Library is aholder of the public trust, and that includes keeping the public's libraries, not selling them off to benefit the library system, the city council, or a private developer. Libraryadministration, the Minneapolis City Council, and the mayor need to come clean about what is pushing this action to close. It's not a bad roof that is causing it, either. And, of course, onceWalker is sold off, that's it -- MPL willnever have the money again to open another library. And what Steve says is so true -- do we need more high density housing and cute little shops in the area? Yep-look at the empty space in Calhoun Square for a clue.Perhaps this all needs to be brought to the public and have them weigh in on their feelings about the library, and what they feel is best for their neighborhoods. A series of public meetings...? Specifically for Walker? Ryan Paetznick Minikahda Vista Saint Louis Park -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 9:49 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Library scenarios -- A Finger on the Scales (skins?) In a message dated 6/13/03 9:35:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: For decision making purposes, there needs to be an honest statement by the Library Board/City as to whether on not one factor in the decision on the Walker Library for official purposes is that the Walker site would be sold and converted to shops/apartments. If it is correct that the sale and conversion is intended, then the public input needs to include specific input on what Uptown needs more: a neighborhood library or more shops/apartments. Let the developer build on top of the existing "basement" space (library). He gets the "air-rights" and pays for them, in perpetuity. New residents of the building, and shoppers, can have the library as a bonus destination. The library budget gains the income stream. It could be more attractive then the current, leaky, bomb shelter. The only losers would be the skateboarders, and graffiti artists. I do sympathize; around 1989, on a warm summer evening I played my conga drum outside there. Baba-Lu. My stage name: Bongo Dave. Now, as I am a "little older" , friends call me Bongo Davey Boy. Keith, Bongo Dave, Reitman NearNorth TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Target: Property Values and Property Taxes
MCDA/Tetzlaff: Any decrease in EMV from 2001 was due to over-all reductions in CBD office values by the City Assessor. Heller: Does this mean that only one section of the block lost value? Where would we find the information on the other two parcels? Please provide the PINs (property identification numbers) so that we can look them up. Also, if office buildings are losing value, why is the MCDA financing a new one next to the former ice skating rink? Also, the assessor increased my property values (Cedar-Riverside) by 30% this year. Where would I find the facts supporting Target's reduction and my increase? MCDA/Tetzlaff: The real estate taxes are paid by the Timberwolves and the Northwest Health Club based on Personal Property Tax Account valuations as leasehold interests. These are assessed just like the regular tax parcels and taxes are paid at the regular C/I rate. The total 2002 EMV for Target Center is $53,960,000 and the total 2003 real estate taxes paid will be $4,999,254. Heller: Where is this data published? How much have the Timberwolves paid over the past few years? WHEN will they pay the $4,999,254? Will they pay real cash, or will there simply be a bookkeeping entry crediting this amount against improvements promised by the City? Several other properties show no property taxes due (Northern Cap for example.) Where can people go to find a list of all Minneapolis property that pays no tax? Thank you for the added information; awaiting your reply. Vicky Heller, North Oaks TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Lake Street, Sidewalks and Happiness
It would probably be best to try this with traffic cones and 3M traffic marking tape first. I suspect a 2 lane Lake Street would be the traffic engineering debaucle of the century, so it'd be best not to set it in concrete. hanging on in Hawthorne, Dyna Sluyter On Monday, June 16, 2003, at 11:57 AM, jeff carlson wrote: The city of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and neighborhoods surrounding Lake Street are considering several options for its reconstruction and streetscaping. Public meetings held toward the end of this month will be announced on this list. E-mail me if you are interested. At the heart of the debate about Lake Street is whether we will build primarily for automobile speed or quality of life for neighborhoods. This is a mutually exclusive relationship wherein one suffers while the other benefits. Choosing vehicular speed means perpetuating the status quo of a four-lane roadway with restricted parking, narrow sidewalks and in general a wide swath of pavement filled with speeding cars, dust and exhaust. Chosing quality of life means accepting that narrower, traffic-calmed Lake can safely accomodate traffic levels upwards of 20,000 cars per day (much like Lincoln or Diversy streets in Chicago) with one lane in either direction, while providing bedrock, unrestricted on-street parking, wider sidewalks, bump-outs at intersections, and possibly on-street bike lanes. I have seen streets in Chicago that work phenomenally in this way. Some of these streets are as important to the street system as Lake Street is in Minneapolis. Unlike the current Lake Street, however, these streets are designed with people, not cars, in mind. Traffic is slowed, making life better for pedestrians and bicycles. Space is restored for bike racks, plantings, brick pavers, benches and even sidewalk seating at restaurants. We should never underestimate the instrinsic value of sidewalks and bike lanes for human happiness. Cities should be designed to encourage shoulder-rubbing amongst neighbors, and not fender-bending. Walking and biking brings us into touch with one another. While it would be naive to wish away the automobile alltogether, it is unacceptable not to build the best infrastructure we can for pedestrians and cyclists. Don't miss this recent article on the subject from TwinCities.com: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/ 6031964.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp Jeff Carlson, Whittier __ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] BRT/ Trojan horse for redevelopment of Lowry Avenue/ Wrong Avenue for BRT
Kieth, I partly agree with you- upgraded bus service should be an integral part of the rebuilding of West Broadway. However, this corridor from downtown to Rogers and beyond is more suited to commuter rail than BRT. There are already in place underused tracks on this route. The tracks parallel County 81 from Robbinsdale north. From Robbinsdale to downtown the tracks follow a different route. To come anywhere close to the performance of rail on this route BRT would need it's own dedicated roadway and at minimum bus activated stoplights. To do this would require taking down a lot of buildings on Broadway or having only two traffic lanes after two are taken for the BRT. A more sensible plan would be to have enhanced connector bus service from where the tracks leave County 81 in Robbinsdale down Broadway and across the river as far as UPS and the Postal Service Hub. This would provide service along Broadway while the commuters headed to or from downtown could stay on the train. hanging on in Hawthorne, Dyna Sluyter On Sunday, June 15, 2003, at 10:25 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The Big Muddy still crosses West Bro. at the Broadway bridge. I often wonder: What if our civic leaders could divert that water away from the Northside's greatest Avenue? If they could send it through, somewhere else, by-passing Our Avenue With the Most Potential West Broadway; how quick would they do it? They are diverting some progress that is coming down the pike, again. Hwy 81 (West Broadway), has a huge County/Federal/Suburban Municipal(s) redevelopment/reconfiguaration program from Rogers, to our City limits. But at our City Limits, planning, and implementation, dead ends. Is there a wall at Wirth Parkway; maybe some buried land mines, to explain the aversion to cooperative planning with our stretch of West Broadway? Can Mpls' West Broadway have it's rightful place in the plan? Eastbound at Wirth Parkway--Warning: Do not enter, inner-city West Bro. ahead, stagnancy maintenance zone, no passage. West Bound at Wirth Parkway--Warning: Do not exit the hood, Suburban Opportunity Zone ahead, stay out. Met Council Chief Peter Bell told people that development standards shall be utilized for Met Council projects. Metro transit, including BRT, is the responsibility of the Met Council; but not a peep from Peter Bell. Is it fair to expect that Federally fueled, and financed, projects in our Northwest Quadrant will adhere to obvious, and reasonable standards? Guess again. BRT is comin'. Plain English: Fast Buses. Light rail; without the rail. Rubber wheels below; and a steerin' wheel inside. What a great advancement that is; and it carries more then people! Yep; it carries most of the Hwy 81 (beyond Mpls.) Redevelopment design money, and implementation money, as a bonus cargo. BRT is doing some heavy schlepping of Federal cash for road redevelopment. But BRT, the Fast Bus , has been hijacked, and diverted! The hijackers are wearing no masks, carrying no bombs, and they are not packing heat. Sport jacket and tie is the uniform of choice, or ladies's power dresses. The pen is more mighty then the sword. And Civic Leaders did the switcheroo. Consider: Lowry is an Avenue in North Mpls. that is being redesigned with, mostly, one traffic lane in each direction; and no parking lanes. Yet, Civic Leaders are touting it for Bus RAPID Transit (BRT) routing. And what booty is garnered by elected officials intercepting a Fast Bus at Wirth Parkway? Who gains, and who loses by diverting it off major West Broadway? Who gains, and who loses, by detouring BRT onto more minor Lowry Avenue north? Who is sending long distance BRT commuters along little Lowry to get from DT, and North Mpls, out to Rogers, and back?? The booty in this hijacking is tens of millions of Federal dollars! Money that should go to the more appropriate major transit corridor, West Broadway. It may go to Little Lowry instead. Who/what/where/why/how? Who: Those who have more interest in minor Lowry Avenue north then major, and unique, West Broadway Ave. What: Diverting Federal Transit, BRT, Money to redevelop Lowry Avenue. BRT belongs solely on West Broadway. Regular MCTO transit to BRT nodes at West Broadway/Penn, and West Broadway/Lyndale, from all over North Mpls., is appropriate. Ask Peter Bell, Met Council Chief, about standards. He just won't stand up for West Broadway; he is willing to dismiss his standards and yield to the political will of others. Where: First, where not: Not Lowry Avenue, a neighborhood corridor. NOW where: West Broadway the Northwest Quadrant's main commercial, and main commuter, Corridor. Why: Cynical and shortsighted Civic leaders' desire to renew minor Lowry Avenue, at the expense, and with the neglect, of more appropriate West Broadway Ave. How: Further clogging a narrow neighborhood corridor with additional BRT busses, and calling it a multi modal commuter corridor, and other
Re: [Mpls] BRT/ Trojan horse for redevelopment of Lowry Avenue/Wrong Avenue for BRT
On 6/15/03 10:25 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hwy 81 (West Broadway), has a huge County/Federal/Suburban Municipal(s) redevelopment/reconfiguaration program from Rogers, to our City limits. But at our City Limits, planning, and implementation, dead ends. Is there a wall at Wirth Parkway; maybe some buried land mines, to explain the aversion to cooperative planning with our stretch of West Broadway? Can Mpls' West Broadway have it's rightful place in the plan? I have to say I'm confused about this idea of running BRT along Lowry Ave. Compared to West Broadway, Keith's characterization of Little Lowry Ave. seems pretty dead-on. It's definitely more of a neighborhood corridor than a multi-modal commuter corridor - whatever the heck that is. Lowry Ave. is skinny - I saw a semi truck struggle to turn onto Lowry from University earlier this evening. They have a much easier time on West Broadway, since it was designed for big vehicles, you know, like buses. Lowry has no real commercial strips anywhere in NE and precious little on the northside. There are hubs, of course. At Central Ave. and Lyndale and Penn. But I really can't think of anything located on Lowry Ave. that would compel one to take a BRT in from Rogers. Unless maybe Craig's been telling folks about the fantastic ribs at AJ's Smokehouse (1427 Lowry Ave. N.) and now everyone's clamoring for a slab? Lowry also has bottlenecks, such as the railroad underpass between 6th St NE and Washington Ave. and that ancient bridge spanning the Big Muddy, which would almost have to be replaced to take on BRT...heee, wait a minute! Is that the story behind this diversion? Run BRT along Lowry Ave and get the feds to pay for an expensive bridge replacement instead of the city or county having to cough up for it? Or are there just folks who want spend millions (billions?) o' taxpayer bucks to rip up and widen Lowry Ave. in order to redevelop it into what we already have waiting for long overdue development on West Broadway? I suggest folks who think West Broadway is a better route than Lowry for BRT should contact Mr. Bell and members of Met Council to share their opinions. You can find contact info by following this link. http://www.metrocouncil.org/about/members.htm Let's not waste taxpayer dollars to create something we already have. Mark Snyder Windom Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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
