[Mpls] Post Your $10 Million Questions
So, the City seems to be en route to recommend contribution of up to $10 million toward the building of a new professional baseball stadium, with the County also part of the plan. Well, I have a $10 million question: Where's the $10 million for working families and adults who live in homeless shelters every night? Post your $10 million questions here (even if it is Where's my $10 million?) and we'll collect them and send them on to the Mayor. Gregory Luce North Phillips (work) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Post Your $10 Million Questions
On Mon, 25 Mar 2002, Gregory Luce wrote: So, the City seems to be en route to recommend contribution of up to $10 million toward the building of a new professional baseball stadium, with the County also part of the plan. Well, I have a $10 million question: Where's the $10 million for working families and adults who live in homeless shelters every night? Post your $10 million questions here (even if it is Where's my $10 million?) and we'll collect them and send them on to the Mayor. Where is the $10 million to clean up the trash that blows down my street everyday? This weekend, I filled two shopping bags with trash I picked off the street. A recent issue of Skyway News had an article in which several people complained about how filthy Downtown is. I drive through Downtown everyday and I must say that Downtown looks clean compared to the way my street usually looks. I wish my only trash problem was a pile of cigarette butts next to the curb. How about a parted-out air conditioner? Anyone got use for such a thing? It has been moving around the neighborhood for a two weeks until I picked it up and dumped in my trash. The only problem is, the trash guys did not take it. I suppose there is some rule about air conditioners in the trash. Right now, I am too angry to care. I have an idea for funding a new baseball stadium. Everyone who wants a new stadium can send a check as a donation to the Twins and when the Twins have enough money to build a stadium, then they can build it. Scott McGerik Hawthorne/Minneapolis http://www.mcgerik.com/scott/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Urban Ventures and the Colin Powell Center Proposal
Eva Young wrote: Folks were giving testimonials about what Urban Ventures had done for them. They showed a very slickly produced video. David Piehl writes: From my observations over the past several years, generally the people who offer positive comments about how Urban Ventures has helped them, now work for UV Eva Young wrote: I'm still not clear on the following: how much have they raised for this proposal, and how much public funding are they asking for. I understand they are asking for public funding for the housing portion, but not the youth center part of this. David Piehl writes: I've heard (maybe someone can help with details) that Urban Ventures is asking the government for $10 million for an endowment fund, on top of other funding requests. If true, this is absolutely bizarre! The taxpayer should endow a private, religious based non-profit?? Sounds like a VERY slippery slope, if you ask me!! Even slipperier when you consider Urban Ventures track record (or lack thereof) of raising funding from private sources (though they've raised a fair amount from suburban churches), or their history of discrimination against gay and lesbian residents. Eva Young wrote: I question whether Urban Ventures is the appropriate outfit to offer this. Central has a large gay and lesbian population, and Urban Ventures leaders -- especially Art Erickson, has been quoted making anti-gay statements in the Star Tribune. David Piehl writes: And don't forget the flyer circulated by Urban Ventures some years ago about the sin of homosexuality calling on all glbt residents to repent. My former neighbor, Jane Strauss, sent her children to an Urban Ventures summer program some years ago that was funded in part by the neighborhood. Jane's summary of the program was it was supposed to be recreational activities for the kids, instead they fed my kids ham and cheese and talked about Jesus! Rather inappropriate given the fact that Jane is an observant Jew, and was raising her children as such. I wonder if Urban Ventures plans to include the increasing number of Somalian children, most of whom are muslim, in their program? David Piehl Central __ The information contained in this message is private and confidential information which may also be subject to the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine. This information is intended only for the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or copy of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by return e-mail and destroy all copies of the message. Thank you. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fwd: Letter to PiPress
I'm fed up. I grew up in North St. Paul! I sent this letter in response. ---BeginMessage--- A March 23 letter from a North St. Paul resident complained that socialist Minneapolis is filled to the brim with hordes of disgruntled Hispanics, Somalis, Hmong and African-Americans who take funds from Americas productive citizens. As someone who grew up in North St. Paul, I must respond. To stereotype immigrants as do-nothing constituents all demanding more government benefits is nothing short of ignorant. Obviously the letter-writer has never met Somalis! He would be surprised at their level of literacy, as many arrived in the U.S. already bi- or trilingual, and at their work ethic, since taking welfare is discouraged by their faith. Perhaps things are different now, but my mostly-white high school wasnt filled to the brim with high-achieving, college-bound students. Most of my female friends got pregnant by their sophomore year and I saw lots of drugs, violence, illiteracy, and shiftlessness. Sports, not academics, were emphasized, and I stood out painfully as one of the few female bookworms as my graduating class (1983) may remember. In contrast, minority students attend my college in high numbers, and the Somalis in particular excel in our all-English classes. Imagine taking something like computer science-which is itself a language-in a second language. Minneapolis, which I hope to God IS Americas capital of diversity, is filled to the brim with Hispanic, Somali, Hmong and African-Americans teachers, physicians, nurses, social workers, scientists, and perhaps most disturbing to suburban Minnesotans, candidates for public office. Being filled to the brim with white people didnt prevent North St. Paul from enduring a significant banking scandal, or an insurance-fraud scheme that resulted in a tragic death by arson, or a child-porn network run by the man who would have been my high-school counselor. Whenever I visit North St. Paul, I hear about the flight of youth from the town and the brain drain that has resulted. The letter I read on Saturday certainly reminds me why I left. Kristine Harley 1518 N.E. 4th Street Minneapolis MN 55413 home: 612-782-0959 work: 612-338-1987 ---End Message---
Re: [Mpls] Affordable housing: another real-world Kingfieldproblem
Hi, all -- Point of clarification, please... David Brauer wrote: A couple of nights ago, we met with a developer named Ned Abdul. Is this person Ned Abul-Hajj? -- John Goodman Central Neighborhood _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Affordable housing: another real-world Kingfield problem
I think you're right John, Ned seems to go by different monickers??? andrea jenkins Bryant -Original Message- From: John Goodman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 1:00 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Affordable housing: another real-world Kingfield problem Hi, all -- Point of clarification, please... David Brauer wrote: A couple of nights ago, we met with a developer named Ned Abdul. Is this person Ned Abul-Hajj? -- John Goodman Central Neighborhood _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Property Tax Appeal Deadline March 31st
You do not need an attorney to file a petition in Tax Court. This link explains the process: http://www.taxcourt.state.mn.us/PPYFactSheet.htm This link is the form you must fill out and take to Hennepin County before the end of this week: http://www.taxcourt.state.mn.us/PPYAppealForm7.pdf The Minneapolis Tax Assessor cannot change your taxable market value at this point UNLESS YOU TAKE THIS STEP. Many valuation disputes are settled with the assessor - without ever going to Court. This step needs to be taken though before the assessor can do anything. Posted by: Vicky Heller North Oaks Minneapolis Property Owner ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Urban Ventures and the Colin Powell Center Proposal
Folks were giving testimonials about what Urban Ventures had done for them. They showed a very slickly produced video. David Piehl writes: From my observations over the past several years, generally the people who offer positive comments about how Urban Ventures has helped them, now work for UV That IS a good point David -- and I believe that you are correct. The folks who were talking about how Urban Ventures turned their lives around also worked for the organization. I question whether Urban Ventures is the appropriate outfit to offer this. Central has a large gay and lesbian population, and Urban Ventures leaders -- especially Art Erickson, has been quoted making anti-gay statements in the Star Tribune. David Piehl writes: And don't forget the flyer circulated by Urban Ventures some years ago about the sin of homosexuality calling on all glbt residents to repent. I don't recall that flyer -- and if anyone on this list has a copy of that flyer, please email me privately. If this is the type of thing UV does, then I would like to see the Minneapolis Public Schools and Park Board immediately quit working with UV. I would like to hear from school board candidates on this list what you think about partnering with an organization that puts out anti-gay flyers such as this. Gays and Lesbians live in the Central Neighborhood, and we don't need taxpayer funded organizations that regularly insult us and tell us we are sinners who need to repent. If this flyer is a reality, I feel the same about having any taxpayer money going to UV as I would about Taxpayer money going to the KKK. My former neighbor, Jane Strauss, sent her children to an Urban Ventures summer program some years ago that was funded in part by the neighborhood. Jane's summary of the program was it was supposed to be recreational activities for the kids, instead they fed my kids ham and cheese and talked about Jesus! Rather inappropriate given the fact that Jane is an observant Jew, and was raising her children as such. I wonder if Urban Ventures plans to include the increasing number of Somalian children, most of whom are muslim, in their program? It would be interesting if they would make the types of bigoted statements about muslims to these kids as Pat Robertson does on national TV. I'm curious whether Colin Powell knows about the anti-gay history of UV. Somehow, I don't think he would want to be associated with an organization that puts out bigoted anti-gay flyers. So as I said, I'm looking for a copy of this flyer. Eva Eva Young Central Eva Eva Young Central Neighborhood Minneapolis ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Affordable housing: another real-world Kingfield probl em
Abul-Hajj, when attached to someone's name, means that the person has made a pilgrimage to Mecca. Ned Abdul and Ned Abul-Hajj are the same person. WizardMarks, Central Jenkins, Andrea D wrote: I think you're right John, Ned seems to go by different monickers??? andrea jenkins Bryant -Original Message- From: John Goodman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 1:00 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Affordable housing: another real-world Kingfield problem Hi, all -- Point of clarification, please... David Brauer wrote: A couple of nights ago, we met with a developer named Ned Abdul. Is this person Ned Abul-Hajj? -- John Goodman Central Neighborhood _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Urban Ventures and the Colin Powell Center Proposal
Eva Young wrote: Folks were giving testimonials about what Urban Ventures had done for them. They showed a very slickly produced video. David Piehl writes: From my observations over the past several years, generally the people who offer positive comments about how Urban Ventures has helped them, now work for UV That IS a good point David -- and I believe that you are correct. The folks who were talking about how Urban Ventures turned their lives around also worked for the organization. WM: However, most of us can also say that at least one job we have had over our lifetimes has changed our lives. Simply having a job changes one's life and I know people now connected to Urban Ventures/Central Community Church who did turn their lives around through their connection to the organization. The people who make that claim in the UV film are speaking their hearts. What do I care about what tool persons use to turn themselves away from crack, heroin, and alcohol toward a life he/she can live. If UV can do that, then more power to them. I question whether Urban Ventures is the appropriate outfit to offer this. Central has a large gay and lesbian population, and Urban Ventures leaders -- especially Art Erickson, has been quoted making anti-gay statements in the Star Tribune. David Piehl writes: And don't forget the flyer circulated by Urban Ventures some years ago about the sin of homosexuality calling on all glbt residents to repent. I don't recall that flyer -- and if anyone on this list has a copy of that flyer, please email me privately. If this is the type of thing UV does, then I would like to see the Minneapolis Public Schools and Park Board immediately quit working with UV. I would like to hear from school board candidates on this list what you think about partnering with an organization that puts out anti-gay flyers such as this. Gays and Lesbians live in the Central Neighborhood, and we don't need taxpayer funded organizations that regularly insult us and tell us we are sinners who need to repent. If this flyer is a reality, I feel the same about having any taxpayer money going to UV as I would about Taxpayer money going to the KKK. WM: The flyer, according to Walt Gutzmer and others who received it, was actually a booklet about the religious convictions of Central Community Church (what denomination I have no idea) which has a Siamese Twin relationship with UV. I never saw this booklet. However, having a Christian Church, the Boy Scouts of America or any other organization proselytize against gender preference shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone nor is it anything anyone outside the organization can change. What you can do, if you have the persistence and energy, is to work against having the crap rubbed in your face. For example, when some guy who was practicing to be a minister of some church got a loud speaker system, stood across the street from my house, and called hate speech to every passer-by whom he had tagged as a faggot (his word), that was something I could do something about and no, it did not involve a punch in the nose to the guy. My former neighbor, Jane Strauss, sent her children to an Urban Ventures summer program some years ago that was funded in part by the neighborhood. Jane's summary of the program was it was supposed to be recreational activities for the kids, instead they fed my kids ham and cheese and talked about Jesus! Rather inappropriate given the fact that Jane is an observant Jew, and was raising her children as such. I wonder if Urban Ventures plans to include the increasing number of Somalian children, most of whom are muslim, in their program? Last Sunday, a church in Eden Prairie I think, had a debate on whether Christians should be adamant that the only way to God is through Jesus or should they consider a pluralist notion, that each religion has a set of proscriptions through which they connect to God. Any church that proselytizes takes the position that they have the answer. As the observant Jew Jane Strauss is, she knows that any food served to her children outside a kosher family will be traif by definition, she also knows that she can never depend on non-kosher food preparation to meet those requirements. It would be interesting if they would make the types of bigoted statements about muslims to these kids as Pat Robertson does on national TV. I'm curious whether Colin Powell knows about the anti-gay history of UV. Somehow, I don't think he would want to be associated with an organization that puts out bigoted anti-gay flyers. So as I said, I'm looking for a copy of this flyer. WM: It's a big leap from a booklet and a comment to the press to anti-gay history for the whole organization. It's also a big leap to assume that Colin Powell is opposed to that rhetoric. Wizard Marks, Central ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn
[Mpls] Headsup: Redistricting Meeting Tonight
Minneapolis Redistricting Commission Agenda Regular Session of the Redistricting Commission Monday, March 25, 2002, 6 PM Room 220 City Hall Commissioners: Trostel, Claypatch, Collier, Ferrara, Finch, Markus, Pettiford, Schwarzkopf, Stafford Redistricting Coordinator Susanne Griffin - (612) 673-2073 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1. Call to Order and Roll Call 2. Approval of the Agenda 3. Approval of the Minutes for March 21, 2002 4. Budget numbers Contracts Budget numbers from ten years ago 5. Publication issues 6. Notification of the April 11 th meeting. 7. Meeting dates for the Park Districts 8. Discussion of plans/maps 9. New Business 10. Adjournment == EY: Members of the committee are going to show some maps. This should be an interesting meeting. Also, David Brauer's Redistricting Geek site is at: http://members.tcq.net/david/index.htm === Eva Eva Young Central Neighborhood Minneapolis ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Stadium
I don't know all the details about the much feted Jesse proposal, so please correct me where I have my facts wrong. But I do wish to make a few comments about the proposal as I understand it. First of all, a big part of the proposal is that the State will issue bonds to pay a large chunk of the stadium. The idea is that Minnesota can issue these bonds more cheaply than the Twins because Minnesota's bonds are exempt from Federal income taxes to the holder of the bonds. A way to get an involuntary subsidy from the Feds I guess. But there is more cost of these bonds than from the Feds. The State cannot just issue such bonds at will, for no cost. The more bonds the State has, the higher it must pay in interest - that's the way of the market. Perhaps adding just the amount of the stadium bonds would not change the interest rate (though I haven't heard any facts one way or the other). But even if that's so, it still lowers the capacity of Minnesota to issue bonds before the rates do increase. So issuing the bonds does have a cost to the State. Secondly, I've heard that Minnesota is supposed to make 8.5% on some other funds to pay off these bonds? That is a very high percentage to expect a sinking fund to make. I would expect this fund to be essentially risk-free, which means they must invest in US Treasury Bonds. What are Treasuries making these days - 4 or 5%? Of course we could invest in stocks which have an expected return of 8.5% or more, but then we'd risk losing it all. That risk sounds like a very large cost to me. Of course the most obvious cost of this proposal, is what makes this a Mpls-specific post, and that is the cost to the locality. Whether that results in a general sales tax increase, a tax on restaurants or bars or however invisible the politicians try to make it, it still results in a tax on you and me. For that reason I would much rather it went to St Paul, but even then I imagine they'd find some way to stick us with some of the cost - at least if we go to a St Paul restaurant. I have occasionally heard the argument that we could just take those taxes that wouldn't exist if the Twins weren't here. For example, the tax on the visiting baseball players' salaries. This argument is economically incorrect. These baseball players receive their salaries from us when we go to the games. If the Twins weren't here, we wouldn't have their salaries to tax, but then we wouldn't be spending our own salaries on the games either. Our salaries would be spent elsewhere - and those other places would provide us with just as much income tax as baseball does. Let the Pohlads of the World try to make money in baseball; for government it's just a money pit. I admit that I don't really care if the Twins or Vikings, or any other team leaves town. I never go downtown to a game. I may watch sports on TV occasionally, but the game is just as good if it's coming from Milwaukee's subsidized stadium as it would be from Minnesota. I remember when they were discussing putting up the Hump-dome in the late 70's. I was in college and working part-time at a funky factory near the U. We were complaining about the public cost of that stadium, and my boss commented I wish they would subsidize my entertainment...or at least make it legal. I've always remembered that comment as a concise indictment of the government always trying to micromanage our lives. Mark Anderson Bancroft Ward 8 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Affordable Housing
In a message dated 3/24/2002 9:53:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I would love to live in a safe clean and dare I say attractive apartment. I would love to live in a neighborhood where my child by virtue of her address doesn't qualify for free lead screenings. I am tired of hearing that people are afraid of "welfare moms" with big families. Could that be any more insulting? What about building for the working poor? Is it legal to build for people who get no other public assistance? Wouldn't it be refreshing if just once the people who could just use a step towards a little nicer of a life got a chance? There is on the horizon an organization that is taking this sentiment to task. Not only does their charter embrace the concept of decent, affordable housing for the working poor, and homeless housing as well as market rate, but they have already received a ruling which empowers them to do just that. An announcement is premature because all funding is not yet in place, however, check out their website currently under construction: www.j-linch.org. Robert Anderson Field Regina
[Mpls] Ballpark vote - Mpls reps
Here's how the Minneapolis House members voted on the ballpark bill. The interesting question is whether the reps who voted no did so because they are opposed to a publicly supported stadium, or because the bill eliminated Hennepin County (and probably Minneapolis) as a taxing option. AYES: Davnie Gray Kahn Kelliher Skoglund NAYS: Biernat Clark Dibble Mullery Wagenius Walker Gleason By the way, the St. Paul delegation voted for the bill 5-3. The full list can be found at: http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/2125683.html David Brauer List manager ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Community Meeting - Future of Lyndale Avenue South - 3/26/02
The citizen advisory group Lyndale Avenue South Renewal-Creek to Crosstown (LASR-CC) has called a Community Meeting and Workshop for all residents of Kenny, Lynnhurst, Tangletown (Fuller), and Windom neighborhoods to begin discussing the community's vision, values and goals for the renewal of Lyndale Avenue South from Minnehaha Creek to the Crosstown Highway. The Community Meeting and Workshop will take place at the Lynnhurst Community Center, 1345 West Minnehaha Parkway, on Tuesday, March 26 beginning with an Open House at 6:00 p.m. and followed by a Discussion at 7:00 p.m. LASR-CC efforts are: Led by participating neighborhood representatives/residents. Sponsored by the four neighborhood associations: Kenny Neighborhood Association, Lynnhurst Neighborhoood Association, Tangletown Neighborhood Association, and Windom Community Council. Endorsed by the City of Minneapolis Planning Department, Mayor's Office, and the Ward 11 and 13 offices, as well as the Neighborhood Revitalization Project (NRP) and the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA). The NRP neighborhood liaison to all four neighborhoods and the aides to Council Members Scott Benson and Barret Lane provide staff support to LASR-CC. For more information, call (612) 673-2211 or 2213, or visit the City of Minneapolis web site at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/ward13 and click on Current Ward Issues. Dennis Jon Fuller - Park District 6 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
