RE: Urban Sprawl and KARE Extra report.

2000-11-16 Thread Sheldon Mains

Since the KARE report was brought up, I'll throw in my two cents worth.

I find it interesting that KARE views it as balanced since they have the
regulator (Met Council) and one side (the builders) represented.  On their
web site they have links to both.  But they don't have links to the other
side--Alliance for Metro Stability or Sierra Club Northstar chapter.  They
are really only presenting one side.  They are even totally ignoring the
affordable housing groups like MICAH or the Minnesota Housing Partnership.

Go to their Web site and complain.  Suggest how they can correct their
coverage--don't let them get away with it!

Actually, this is typical of how industry likes to depict these
issues--setting up the regulator as the other side and ignoring the real
other side.  Way back when I worked for the state, I always pointed out
that there were the utilities on one side and the energy conservation
community/environmental community on the other. In fact, I really liked it
when the Friends of the Earth would get involved.  I could then claim that
the Sierra Club/Nature Conservancy/Izack (Sp?) Walton League were the
moderate, middle position.

.
sheldon mainsseward neighborhoodminneapolis  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
the shameless agitator  in  the electronic town square





Re: Urban Sprawl and KARE Extra report.

2000-11-14 Thread Luisa Pessoa-Brandao

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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For anyone who is interested, Ted Mondale is on MPR right now and he just
addressed the KARE 11 special. He is also addressing issues of urban sprawl and
smart growth.

Luisa

"Rich McMartin (Rich McMartin)" wrote:

 This may be slightly off Minneapolis specific - but it definitely affects us.

 KARE TV is running an "Extra" series on why TC housing, including
 Minneapolis, is so expensive. They are blaming the Metro Council for
 restricting the amount of land available for new houses, and this is
 driving up prices.

 To me it sounded a lot more like editorial than news reporting.  I haven't
 heard them say anything about the problems associated with the new
 development that they seem want. Their main complaint is that the land
 costs for a lot have gone from $80,000 inside some line set by the Met
 Council to $20,000 outside of the line.

 They also didn't bother to discuss the huge number of vacant lots in
 Minneapolis that could be converted to housing, and the number of vacant
 houses that could be rennovated.

 One would hope that they would put the other reporting that they have done
 on what is happening out their since the ramp meter shutoff together with
 the ex-urban development that they seem to want. Then hopefully they would
 see the traffic congestion as a hint of why Metro Council exists and tries
 to restrict growth.

 They showed pictures of developments on one side of the line where the
 inside development was a lot more dense than a few feet away on the
 outside of the line.  They presented this as if it were an undesirable
 result - which for them it probably is.

 I think that there is also an article on this in the Strib today.

 Rich McMartin
 Bryant Neighborhood.

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RE: Urban Sprawl and KARE Extra report.

2000-11-14 Thread Robb

Rich

Ted Mondale, the head of the Met council was on MPR today commenting on the 
Kare 11 report.

I did not watch it, regretably, but just looking at the ad, I could tell it 
was going to be of the editorial variety...as you put it.

I think your analysis of the report is good. The council, while it doesnt 
do enough (do to its lack of legislative authority) in my mind, does do 
very good considering the political obstacles present in the region...

The line you speak of is the MUSA line...metro urban services area. It is a 
designation created by the council where urban services will not extend 
past. This is the historical method the council has used to control sprawl 
and growth in the twin cities region. All of this is much to the dismay of 
suburban legislators and snickering media people, like We dont KARE-11.

Robb Clarksen
SE Mpls
Writing my senior thesis on regional government in the TC metro area..and 
looking for input from those interested.

On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 11:23:16 -0600,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote...
This may be slightly off Minneapolis specific - but it definitely affects 
us.

KARE TV is running an "Extra" series on why TC housing, including
Minneapolis, is so expensive. They are blaming the Metro Council for
restricting the amount of land available for new houses, and this is
driving up prices.

To me it sounded a lot more like editorial than news reporting.  I haven't
heard them say anything about the problems associated with the new
development that they seem want. Their main complaint is that the land
costs for a lot have gone from $80,000 inside some line set by the Met
Council to $20,000 outside of the line.

They also didn't bother to discuss the huge number of vacant lots in
Minneapolis that could be converted to housing, and the number of vacant
houses that could be rennovated.

One would hope that they would put the other reporting that they have done
on what is happening out their since the ramp meter shutoff together with
the ex-urban development that they seem to want. Then hopefully they would
see the traffic congestion as a hint of why Metro Council exists and tries
to restrict growth.

They showed pictures of developments on one side of the line where the
inside development was a lot more dense than a few feet away on the
outside of the line.  They presented this as if it were an undesirable
result - which for them it probably is.

I think that there is also an article on this in the Strib today.


Rich McMartin
Bryant Neighborhood.










RE: Urban Sprawl and KARE Extra report.

2000-11-14 Thread Gary C Bowman, Jr

Since the KARE report was brought up, I'll throw in my two cents worth.

KARE's report is, to say the least, "editorial".  Considering they are trying to pass 
it off as "news", I'd say editorial is a fairly complementary description.  While the 
MUSA line probably plays SOME role in driving up prices, KARE should be ashamed of 
itself for trying to say it's completely the fault of the Met Council and the MUSA 
line.  I saw the first night of the report and my impression was that people plain and 
simple could not find a house inside of the MUSA line for under $150,000.  I wonder 
what my neighbors trying to sell their houses for less than that would have to say 
about that.  Keep in mind, I also live in Northeast Minneapolis and have not had any 
crime problems in the years I've lived here.  KARE clearly felt (at least in the first 
night) that it was not worth considering that people are not willing to cast their 
nets wide enough to find a house they might like because of whatever reasons (maybe 
this could be a tie-in to Suburban Fright, or maybe the idea!
!
 of not having a dishwasher in the house is just too unimaginable) and then gripe when 
they sleep in the bed they've made for themselves.  Keep in mind the houses I've seen 
in my neighborhood have often been easily large enough for a family of four.  Also, 
considering many house in NE were built in the days of lath and plaster vs. sheetrock, 
the houses are much sturdier.  I must wonder how many of the houses built today in 
these far-flung exurbs will be standing ninety to a hundred years from now like my 
house built in 1907. 

Okay, I've ranted enough.  I hope people will realize that KARE's "news" was little 
more than sensationalistic editorial.  There are varied reasons for the cost of 
housing skyrocketing.

---
Sincerely,
Gary Bowman, Jr.
Ward 1-Audubon Park

On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 16:29:38  
 Robb wrote:
Rich

Ted Mondale, the head of the Met council was on MPR today commenting on the 
Kare 11 report.

I did not watch it, regretably, but just looking at the ad, I could tell it 
was going to be of the editorial variety...as you put it.

I think your analysis of the report is good. The council, while it doesnt 
do enough (do to its lack of legislative authority) in my mind, does do 
very good considering the political obstacles present in the region...

The line you speak of is the MUSA line...metro urban services area. It is a 
designation created by the council where urban services will not extend 
past. This is the historical method the council has used to control sprawl 
and growth in the twin cities region. All of this is much to the dismay of 
suburban legislators and snickering media people, like We dont KARE-11.

Robb Clarksen
SE Mpls
Writing my senior thesis on regional government in the TC metro area..and 
looking for input from those interested.

On Tue, 14 Nov 2000 11:23:16 -0600,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote...
This may be slightly off Minneapolis specific - but it definitely affects 
us.

KARE TV is running an "Extra" series on why TC housing, including
Minneapolis, is so expensive. They are blaming the Metro Council for
restricting the amount of land available for new houses, and this is
driving up prices.

To me it sounded a lot more like editorial than news reporting.  I haven't
heard them say anything about the problems associated with the new
development that they seem want. Their main complaint is that the land
costs for a lot have gone from $80,000 inside some line set by the Met
Council to $20,000 outside of the line.

They also didn't bother to discuss the huge number of vacant lots in
Minneapolis that could be converted to housing, and the number of vacant
houses that could be rennovated.

One would hope that they would put the other reporting that they have done
on what is happening out their since the ramp meter shutoff together with
the ex-urban development that they seem to want. Then hopefully they would
see the traffic congestion as a hint of why Metro Council exists and tries
to restrict growth.

They showed pictures of developments on one side of the line where the
inside development was a lot more dense than a few feet away on the
outside of the line.  They presented this as if it were an undesirable
result - which for them it probably is.

I think that there is also an article on this in the Strib today.


Rich McMartin
Bryant Neighborhood.










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