LRT
Hey, chins up everyone! The Feds have guaranteed federal LRT funds. The article is available at the link below. http://www.pioneerplanet.com/docs/head9.htm One quote from the article- "the federal government will pay for $334 million of the 11.4-mile line's $625 million cost" Way to go Feds! But what about the inevitable $150- 300 million dollar cost overrun? Who's on the hook for that? richard carney st. paul ps: now that this is officially federally, state, and locally funded, will the Boy Scouts be allowed to ride?
lrt
Jack asked who ever said lrt would be any help at the dome. If you go through the various documents and puffery about "why it should be built", you find city staffers advocating for the separate siding and others talking about it eliminating congestion at games. I agree with Jack that it's stupid to think that it would have any real effect on congestion at games. Guess what, those pushing for lrt or a busway on West 7th Street in Saint Paul are using the Wild as a justification. They are even less likely to have customers using such a line than the dome does. Richard Carney asks who will pay the overruns. By definition, if a federal Full Funding Grant Agreement is signed, the city, county, and state are on the hook for all overruns because the terms require that the project must be completed and operated for the full term of the agreement (20 or 30 years) or all federal funds granted by the agreement must be repaid. As a side note, they tried a big push in San Diego to get people to use the trolley to go to a big game (world series or superbowl). Even the mayor rode it. Had a big problem when the line totally stopped something like 30 minutes before game time. It was eventually restarted (possibly by only having so many trains in operation at one time) and people got to the game just before it started. I think that there were more problems after the game. The mayor said that he wouldn't use the trolley again to get to the stadium. Bruce Gaarder Highland Park Saint Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: New affordable housing new math
Katie Simon-Dastych of Ward 9, Cooper/Longfellow wrote, in part,... Okay, speaking about affordable housing would someone like to educate me and others regarding the housing units near the Stone Arch bridge? I don't remember the actual name of either of the two projects. One is new construction and the other loft renovation I believe. I also think public money went into several of the developments but I heard that "those" units do not include the affordable housing formulas and I guess I want to know why? And I think part of the answer is that there "is" affordable housing elsewhere on the river front so maybe this satisfies the requirements, but it isn't clear to me. So I'm ready to listen to others (MCDA) to explain this to citizen's. And by the way there is lot's of good information on the Website, (www.mcda.org) but not all project have all the details of the funders and financial package. There are actually three projects, all being done by the same developer -- Brighton Development. The first is North Star Lofts directly on Portland Avenue and Second Street So. (across from the Hyatt Whitney Hotel). This is the historic North Star Woolen Mill. The project is complete, was sold out before construction began, and is occupied. Down river is the Stone Arch Lofts. This is new construction in a formerly vacant space between the North Star and the Utility Building. Finally, there is construction of lofts in the renovation of the Utility Building. As Ms. Simon-Dastych indicates, there are affordable rental units under construction up river (Heritage Landings in the Itasca warehouse area). However, there is no connection between the two and that is not a reason for the absence of affordable housing in the Mills area. There is no affordable housing component to these projects for several reasons. Prime among these is that the city's Affordable Housing Policy relates to rental housing. That is, all rental projects assisted by the MCDA shall have at least 20% of the units be affordable. Since these are all ownership units, the policy does not apply. There is, however, a public investment in the mills restoration. It is tax increment that will be repaid from the new taxes received from these units. The reason for the investment was historic preservation, another component of the MCDA's mission. The City has long desired to preserve this important part of our history and this re-use accomplishes that. Long before this construction and renovation began, the MCDA has invested funds here. Except for the North Star Mill, the rest of these were purchased to preserve them. Indeed the elevators beyond the Washburn Crosby Mill are also owned by the MCDA. Considerable money has been spent over the years doing emergency repairs, providing security for the buildings and even holding up the south wall of the Washburn Crosby mill ruins. For those who haven't been able to get down here (MCDA offices are in the Crown Roller Mill, just a block up from the Hyatt Whitney), work is under way to develop a St. Anthony Falls History Center in the ruins of the Washburn Crosby, along with the Washburn Lofts. The Minnesota Historical Society will build what is essentially a glass building inside the mill ruins, thus preserving and displaying the ruins and telling the story of milling (check out http://www.mnhs.org/events/saf/safdesign.html to see the plans). Across the street, the Park Board is underway constructing the Mill Ruins Park, which will be a park that features an archeological dig, places for kids to play and climb on old mill equipment and an interpretation of milling history by viewing the uncovered mill-races and turbines and other machinery. Comedown and take a look while the weather is still reasonably nice. Finally, I'm sorry not all our projects and programs are on the website. Although we recently received several awards for our site, it is a considerable chore getting everything up on the site and keeping it current. Thanks. Keith Ford Deputy Executive Director Minneapolis Community Development Agency (612) 673-5013Fax (612) 673-5293 http://www.mcda.org/
RE: Letting off steam
Thanks Keith for your attempt at clarifying my issue. It is, however, far from the mark. My post rather states that I did not know, nor was I told, that MCDA was a part of my contracting to build the house. We worked instead with realtors. To the point, it has been stated by the firm that built the house that the infractions existing there are with full knowledge of MCDA, and approved. Unless there are different building codes that apply to the construction trade here in Minnesota, this is the one instance where they have been trampled, ignored, and passed over by the authority responsible to enforce them. As troubling as this may sound, it is a fact. Consider this if you will: can we afford for even one instance to occur? The immediate thought should be, what factors caused this particular instance, and how many others have been, or will be, subject to the same? How many dollars have been wasted in this manner, and who are the persons or what properties have received similar treatment? Though this is more properly assigned another venue, it is an issue that should be discussed in this forum, if for no other reason than to alert Minnesotans to the possibility of encountering the same. As it does involve tax dollars and fair and equitable circumstances for Minnesotans, it is a matter to be reckoned with. Robert Anderson IP Candidate 61B www.andersonforhouse.com -Original Message- From: kaforbes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 12:10 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Letting off steam - Original Message - From: Ford, Keith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Multiple recipients of list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 4:28 PM Subject: RE: Letting off steam The MCDA's construction standards not only comply with existing standards (i.e. the Building Code) but exceeds them. Always aware that we are spending taxpayers' money, we nevertheless strive to ensure that our partners build superior homes. In addition, for every home we build the design is approved by the neighborhood group with which we contract and pay to advised us on MCDA neighborhood activities. (I know Karen Forbes, in her complaint about Council Member Herron, believes that process didn't work well in her case. We are looking into that and you'll get a response soon. Please bear with me.) I would like to clarify what I understand about the recommendation that MCDA made to the city council yesterday. What Daryl Hall recommended was a private party to buy the lot. They care only about the money. He made no mention as to the house that would go on that lot. So quality of the house was not considered. The neighbors who saw the house were not at all impressed with the quality of the house but Mr. Hall did not seem to care. Mr. Anderson further wrote: Without being aware of MCDA's involvement in my project, I find that their influence, or the lack of it, has created a problem for me as well as the community. I don't know how to respond to this. Mr. Anderson seems to say -- I don't know what the MCDA did, or even whether it did anything, but I don't like it and it messed things up for me. Modular structures are being built in Minneapolis and not just by the MCDA's partners. In fact, there was a lengthy discussion with the Phillips neighborhood about 2 story modular housing and, in fact, the MCDA (i.e. taxpayers) paid for neighborhood representatives to visit some sites and a factory in Baltimore (at least, I think it was Baltimore). The neighborhood reps and the MCDA staff concluded that the construction materials were not high enough quality. That company was sent the MCDA standards and it came back with a price that exceed traditional construction price. That idea was dropped. Since then, we have tried out another company and so far we have had positive results. The developer that wants to build the house is from Wisconsin. Finally, Mr. Anderson says: Clearly it is time to re-think the activities of MCDA and its mission, as well as the politics supportive of its acts. That's probably always a good idea. In this context, the MCDA has several missions. One is to provide affordable housing, with particular emphasis on "non-impacted" areas -- i.e. areas that now have a low incidence of affordable housing. We are also charged with trying to improve neighborhoods by removing blight and improving the housing stock. Mr. Ford, by supporting a sale of a structure that is of questionable quality and does not fit in with other houses you are contributing to blight on our block and definately not improving our housing stock. In fact if the house is an eyesore our property values could go down. We try to do this by teaming with superior partners, always cognizant that we are spending the public's money. In this case you are spending the public's money but not with a superior partner, and certainly not considering the neighborhoods
RE: Letting off steam
Please note that my earlier post yesterday was in response to Mr. Anderson. As I indicated, we are looking into the concerns Ms. Forbes expressed and will have a response soon. Thanks. Keith Ford Deputy Executive Director Minneapolis Community Development Agency (612) 673-5013Fax (612) 673-5293 http://www.mcda.org/ -Original Message- From: kaforbes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 12:09 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Letting off steam - Original Message - From: Ford, Keith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Multiple recipients of list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 4:28 PM Subject: RE: Letting off steam The MCDA's construction standards not only comply with existing standards (i.e. the Building Code) but exceeds them. Always aware that we are spending taxpayers' money, we nevertheless strive to ensure that our partners build superior homes. In addition, for every home we build the design is approved by the neighborhood group with which we contract and pay to advised us on MCDA neighborhood activities. (I know Karen Forbes, in her complaint about Council Member Herron, believes that process didn't work well in her case. We are looking into that and you'll get a response soon. Please bear with me.) I would like to clarify what I understand about the recommendation that MCDA made to the city council yesterday. What Daryl Hall recommended was a private party to buy the lot. They care only about the money. He made no mention as to the house that would go on that lot. So quality of the house was not considered. The neighbors who saw the house were not at all impressed with the quality of the house but Mr. Hall did not seem to care. Mr. Anderson further wrote: Without being aware of MCDA's involvement in my project, I find that their influence, or the lack of it, has created a problem for me as well as the community. I don't know how to respond to this. Mr. Anderson seems to say -- I don't know what the MCDA did, or even whether it did anything, but I don't like it and it messed things up for me. Modular structures are being built in Minneapolis and not just by the MCDA's partners. In fact, there was a lengthy discussion with the Phillips neighborhood about 2 story modular housing and, in fact, the MCDA (i.e. taxpayers) paid for neighborhood representatives to visit some sites and a factory in Baltimore (at least, I think it was Baltimore). The neighborhood reps and the MCDA staff concluded that the construction materials were not high enough quality. That company was sent the MCDA standards and it came back with a price that exceed traditional construction price. That idea was dropped. Since then, we have tried out another company and so far we have had positive results. The developer that wants to build the house is from Wisconsin. Finally, Mr. Anderson says: Clearly it is time to re-think the activities of MCDA and its mission, as well as the politics supportive of its acts. That's probably always a good idea. In this context, the MCDA has several missions. One is to provide affordable housing, with particular emphasis on "non-impacted" areas -- i.e. areas that now have a low incidence of affordable housing. We are also charged with trying to improve neighborhoods by removing blight and improving the housing stock. Mr. Ford, by supporting a sale of a structure that is of questionable quality and does not fit in with other houses you are contributing to blight on our block and definately not improving our housing stock. In fact if the house is an eyesore our property values could go down. We try to do this by teaming with superior partners, always cognizant that we are spending the public's money. In this case you are spending the public's money but not with a superior partner, and certainly not considering the neighborhoods wishes or concerns. Karen Forbes Central Neighborhood
RE: Letting off steam
So that you know, Mr. Ford, I built in Field-Regina-Northrop. Check the files at MCDA (I assume they are available to you from your address)to see the listing for the property. There is no question of MCDA involvement and, yes, the structure speaks for itself. It has been subjected to "professional opinions" and inspections, and it does not meet existing code. This venue only places the matter before list participants to discuss, and become aware. Robert Anderson www.andersonforhouse.com -Original Message- From: Ford, Keith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 4:28 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: RE: Letting off steam Mr. Anderson's (From: Anderson, Robert (CServ) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]) comments deserve a response. Mr. Anderson signed his email Robert Anderson, IP Candidate 61B so I don't know what neighborhood Mr. Anderson is from. I will try to respond as best I can. He wrote: As one who has built in the 8th ward, I can tell you first hand that MCDA, Herron, nor any other member of city council cares about meeting the requirement to ensure that construction complies with existing standards. The MCDA's construction standards not only comply with existing standards (i.e. the Building Code) but exceeds them. Always aware that we are spending taxpayers' money, we nevertheless strive to ensure that our partners build superior homes. In addition, for every home we build the design is approved by the neighborhood group with which we contract and pay to advised us on MCDA neighborhood activities. (I know Karen Forbes, in her complaint about Council Member Herron, believes that process didn't work well in her case. We are looking into that and you'll get a response soon. Please bear with me.) Also, since in his later paragraph, he acknowledges not knowing whether the MCDA was involved with his home, how is he able to draw conclusions about whether we or Council Member Herron care about standards? Mr. Anderson further wrote: Without being aware of MCDA's involvement in my project, I find that their influence, or the lack of it, has created a problem for me as well as the community. I don't know how to respond to this. Mr. Anderson seems to say -- I don't know what the MCDA did, or even whether it did anything, but I don't like it and it messed things up for me. Going on, Mr. Anderson says: it is evident that the contractors allowed to build my house are not professional by any stretch of the imagination, nor even skilled in the trades. A cursory glance of my structure will attest to the validity of my statement. Notice there is nothing about the MCDA here. Yet, Mr. Anderson feels free to draw this conclusion... That said, it is not hard to envision Herron or MCDA allowing a modular structure's erection. At question is their sense of community standards, or the real motives underlying their development trends. Modular structures are being built in Minneapolis and not just by the MCDA's partners. In fact, there was a lengthy discussion with the Phillips neighborhood about 2 story modular housing and, in fact, the MCDA (i.e. taxpayers) paid for neighborhood representatives to visit some sites and a factory in Baltimore (at least, I think it was Baltimore). The neighborhood reps and the MCDA staff concluded that the construction materials were not high enough quality. That company was sent the MCDA standards and it came back with a price that exceed traditional construction price. That idea was dropped. Since then, we have tried out another company and so far we have had positive results. Finally, Mr. Anderson says: Clearly it is time to re-think the activities of MCDA and its mission, as well as the politics supportive of its acts. That's probably always a good idea. In this context, the MCDA has several missions. One is to provide affordable housing, with particular emphasis on "non-impacted" areas -- i.e. areas that now have a low incidence of affordable housing. We are also charged with trying to improve neighborhoods by removing blight and improving the housing stock. We try to do this by teaming with superior partners, always cognizant that we are spending the public's money. Thank you. Keith Ford Deputy Executive Director Minneapolis Community Development Agency (612) 673-5013Fax (612) 673-5293 http://www.mcda.org/
Niland's office police
Here's an update on the post below (concerning last Friday's Critical Mass). One of the people involved called their councilmember, Mr. Niland, to let him know what had happened and the way the police had treated those gathered, of course, they were not able to talk to Niland, so left a message. Lo and behold, some mpls sargeant (I think a sargeant) called my friends house to tell them if they had a problem they should go to the civilian review authority!!! Aside from the obviously horrible action by the police at the event, this raises two more troubling threads - the further illustration of the police's bravado (calling the home of someone complaining about them)!!!, and secondly, the fact that someone in Niland's office gave this information out, and especially to the police. So, Mr. Niland, are you responsible for giving out my friends' phone number to the police, and is this the policy when one of your constituents has a complaint against the police? I assume that you are not personally responsible for this, but I am shocked that it happened, and would like an explanation. jon kelland bryant --- jon kelland [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: last friday there was a scheduled critical mass ride downtown, as is customary for the last friday of each month, but when the riders arrived at loring park, they were met by droves of mpls' finest on bikes, in squads, in a van, the bikers were told if they left the park they would be arrested. the cops were apparently very irritated from the get-go (i was not there but had the story recounted) and threatened people with taking their bikes away (because the cops assumed they were unregistered), ticketing for not having a light on the front of the bike after 4 or 5:00...and generally being aggressive idiots. it is one thing to be a cop and harass a group of people once they do something wrong, but until they do they should not be treated like criminals. the bikers were never told what it was they could do but when asked what they couldn't do a cop responded 'you'll know when you do it' this type of behavior absolutely needs to stop - what do you folks out in mpls-issues think? ever since the wto protest in seattle the police have been on a mission to suppress any voices that are counter to mainstream commerce culture. hard times (with the help of the city council and the mayor, of course), isag, sisters camelot, other critical mass rides, other gm protests, the list goes on and on so far we have seen no reprimands for the police responsible for mistreating citizens, and i think mpls residents need to speak up and make it known that the police do not have the authority to arrest citizens who have done nothing wrong - leave out your pathetic arguments that these people have done something wrong and just admit to the fact that every person has the right to not be arrested if they do nothing wrong - right? we need to first agree that this is the way our system should and does work, and then we can assess police(/judge/jury) actions as they come up and hold each offending offecer responsible as violations of rights occur. though i fear this is less an indivdual police problem than a systemic mpls police department problem... jon kelland bryant __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - 35mm Quality Prints, Now Get 15 Free! http://photos.yahoo.com/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - 35mm Quality Prints, Now Get 15 Free! http://photos.yahoo.com/
New Minneapolis Public Library Referendum Kick-Off Rally TONIGHT!
Thanks to all who came to last week's HONKfest at Walker Library! Wasn't the response terrific??? Minnesotans, honking like they'd never honked before They really do care about their public libraries. Tonight is the official New Library Referendum Campaign Kick-Off. Join Citizens for Minneapolis Public Libraries as we rally support and honks from the public sidewalks in front of Central Library, on Hennepin Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets, from 4:30 - 6:30pm. Inexpensive parking is available in lots and ramps all around the Library and most downtown meters are free after 6:00 pm. "Harry Potter" will be on hand to help the Library make headlines! Then at 7pm in Heritage Hall Auditorium join these library supporters as they read from their favorite books and rally support for the New Library Referendum. Don't forget to forward this message to your friends colleagues. See you tonight! * Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton * Joan Mondale, arts advocate * Baby Grant Johnson, musician * Wing Young Huie, "Lake Street USA" photographer * Pamela Hill Nettleton, writer and Minnesota Monthly editor * Jackie Cherryhomes, City Council President * and Scott Novotny, renowned comedian * Emcee: sports personality Trent Tucker
riverfront
i have been giving considerable thought to riverfront development for many years. I remember in '69 when a friend from Virginia passed through Minneapolis to pick me up on our way to Aspen, Colorado where we had plans to spend the summer. It was a great thrill for R.D. to see the Mississippi River, something heretofore I had taken for granted. My father grew up on the near the Marshall/Lake bridge and as a young teen I had climbed the ladders and walked the catwalks of the old Milwaukee Road train trestle. The summer after senior year we had climbed down to the limestone piers upon which the trestle rested and imbibed illegal substances, something I would not advise anyone to do but also something I am not ashamed to admit, recognizing it as part of growing up and coming of age in an urban environment with very little adult supervision. Thank god for my permissive parents and the luck of the Irish that saw me through those teen years. My father owned a trucking business that had its main Mpls. garage at the northern end of the Central/3rd Av bridge where Winslow House now stands, behind Pracna on Main and as a young boy I rode through downtown, across the bridge, several times a day in summers. As a young man in my 20's I worked for my maternal uncle and my father in their respective businesses on Nicollet Island before urban redevelopment displaced them, not that we were unwilling to move. Over the 40 years I've watched the riverfront there have many changes, many to the good but with the net result that the river has become a residential neigh- bor hood for the more wealthy in our city. The less well heeled among us are left to ride our bicycles or walk along carefully designed paths. I suppose this is fair. I don't know for sure. Seven years ago I fought the city's plan to sell the Hennepin Avenue Bridgehead site, an 8+ acre parcel to the Federal Reserve Bank for the paltry sum of $6 million to build their new facility. Still in my mind were artist's conceptions of what the site might look like when the Great Northern railway sought a permit to destroy their old terminal. At that time, the FRB was building it's new building designed by Gunner Birketts. There was the sense that this land would be for "the people". Alas, it never came to happen. Keith Ford wrote this morning of development projects on the riverfront, mentioning "affordable housing" units in the Itasca and the fact that the city's only commitment to "affordable housing" is in rental prop- erties and not in home ownership. I believe that policy is wrong. I am more than a little sick of tax increment financing monies going to insure profits for private development and land speculators such as Brighton Development Corporation. If the rich want to take the river for themselves and leave the rest of us to peddle and walk through as we do around the lakes of southwest Mpls. let them pay for it. Seven years ago I dreamed of a new central library on the site now occupied by the Fed. Like the rich, I wanted to sit by a window, read a good book, and steal a glance of the river. The idea that the Guthrie Theatre is to build near the river is anathema to me. Here will be a place where people will go sit inside a black box without windows and chew up land that could be better used by all the citizens of Mpls. What foolishness! Karen Collier from this list wrote me what I felt was a snotty little note last week after I took a poke at LRT, skways, etc and suggested I had chosen the wrong place to live and that I might be happier in a small town somewhere. Why would I want to move when I live in America's largest small town? Could there be anyplace more provincially stupid than Minneapolis? I better stop before I alienate everyone in town. Tim Connolly Ward 7 __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - 35mm Quality Prints, Now Get 15 Free! http://photos.yahoo.com/
Re: Reponse to letting off steam
Dear Council Member Herron, and fellow list members. First of all I want to thank you for responding to the concerns expressed on this list. I would like to know what staff person made the comment about my supporting the project because a "minority contractor would have the work"... The person who made that statement was a female staff person of yours who spoke at the Planning Commission meeting on the subject of the Alley Turn. I don't recall her name. She spoke on your behalf at the Planning commission meeting, and I believe her testimony held great weight. Neighbors took time off work to show up at the Planning Commission to oppose the alley turn. Our block was divided over the issue of the alley turn, but a considerable majority of the residents on the block opposed the turn--especially close to the church. The problems with Church vehicles blocking the alley could be taken care of, if the Church folks would treat the neighborhood with a little Christian respect. They don't. Eva Eva Young Mpls., MN At 11:31 AM 10/4/00 -0500, Herron, Brian C wrote: Eva, Hello, I really felt the need to respond to your comments, everyone has the rigth to thier opinion...But I have always been an advocate for my constituents' more so then most.. I listen to everyone and then try to make the best the decision based on the good of our community. Too often I was hearing about how the folks att Park ave. Church were blocking the alley or cars using the alley as a pass through...I saw the alley turn as an appropriate way to deal with those issues..In my thinking turning the alley would give the people in the neighborhood some relief and seperate the church and pass throug traffic from the residential..I would like to know what staff person made the comment about my supporting the project because a "minority contractor would have the work"...While I commend Park ave for using a minority contractor..I never made that statement and that had no bearing on my decision making. The fact is I attended several meeting with the residents and representives from the church..Not all residents were against the church project...I continue to hold the church acountable and I continue to respond whenever I here a complaint...As far as returning phone calls I do the best I can with the work load my office has and the amount of pohne calls we get in the 8th ward.We are one of if not the busiest wards in the city... We also are more acessible to constituents then mostI go to a lot of meetings that are at peoples homes one on one as well as neighborhood meetings...I have several development projects as well as other pressing issues that I am so busy I wish I had time to sit at my computer and participate on your e-mail network...I am simply very busy...You don't think I do enough talk to my family who hardly ever see me... What other councilmember walks the streets and runs off drug dealers or intervenes in very tense situations all over the city...It is because I am serving my constitents and my sole commitment to what I 'm doing to try to better the lives of the people who live in our city and our community that I do what I do in partnership with so many others...Lastly I spoke with and assured all bidders for the 4th and lake bldg. that I would not influence the process and I would let the committe make that decisionI was asked by CM. Niland Do you have a problem with Basim getting this bldgI responed honestly and said no...I went onto say i could live with Basim or Mr. Pham My concertn was just getting this project done with as least subsidy as possible considering all the money that has gone into this bldg. with no results and shoddy workmanshipI really would love to do this reguarly but I don't have the luxuary of this kind of time often at all...I respect and here you and will try to be better at getting back to folks...sometimes it would be helpful if people would tell my secratery or my assitent what the problem or issues are and they would began to work on it and most time would get right back to folks with an answerI know I can always improve but I don't believe you will find a stronger advocate or more fair minded listner as that is what I am told by many... Thank you Brian
Bus signs
I've seen bus signs about to the effect of, "I wont swear as much," or "I wont watch as much TV" with the tag line, "YOU Can make the peace." Someone told me they thought the city of Minneapolis is behind these? Any idea who is. If you know more, email me directly at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks, David Brauer King Field - Ward 10
Natural Capitalism conference
Are any other Minneapolitans (or as Bush would say, "Minneapolites" -- which come to think of it, isn't half bad) on this list attending the ongoing Natural Capitalism conference at the U of MN St. Paul campus? If so, I'd be interested to know what projects/pursuits you're focused on, and what reception you're getting. For anyone who hasn't seen it, the Green Institute's building at Hiawatha and Lake is a real showcase of environmentally friendly technology. Ross Kaplan Fulton Neighborhood __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - 35mm Quality Prints, Now Get 15 Free! http://photos.yahoo.com/
