Actually, I think the Scott, Dzeidzic and Rainville street naming was a
terrible idea. No disrespect to the three of them (I count them all as my
friends) but it was a terrible misstep from past practice. Annie only has it
partially right. I think the tradition around here has been to wait until
they are deceased. (It was only in late 1977 when Hubert Humphrey was known
to be dying that the City Council Ways and Means Committee appropriated the
funds for his memorial (my source is impeccable -- me, I was W & M committee
chair and it was of my departing acts). And it was about ten more years
before they settled on the statue that is now at the 5th. St. entrance to
City Hall. Obviously, the Metrodome was named after him posthumously.
There's a good reason for a posthumous policy. It usually allows for the
passage of time and let's the sentiment of the immediate moment pass. And
this has been the past practice. Notice that there is no Don Fraser Way,
Charlie Stenvig Street, Naftalin Nook or even Rockenstein Route. The Scott,
Dzeidzic and Rainville deal was an anomaly that should not be repeated.
Nor do we limit ourselves to, as Annie puts it, "elected officeholders and
members of society who have contributed years of public service or wealth".
During my council term, the Park Board opened the park on 34th and Lyndale,
site of the old Lyndale School. I thought it was particularly neat that the
Park Board called the park -- Painter Park. If I recall correctly, it's
named for a gentleman who had been an especially active and beloved, local
volunteer.
Keith Ford -- he who the Ford Bridge is named after
King Field
----- Original Message -----
From: "Annie Young" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2000 11:36 PM
Subject: Connolly, Dzeidzeic
> Actually, Mr. Connolly - along with Dzeidzic and Rainville Lanes there is
> also one for Pat Scott and (whoever the other person was who left).
Anyway,
> you will notice that parks, schools, buildings, streets and parkways are
> named after elected officeholders and members of society who have
> contributed years of public service or wealth to building the great City
we
> live in, usually after they've retired or died! This has been a tradition
> for centuries - respect for those who have served their country and , in
> this case, the City. It's a way of saying thank you for your
contriubtions.
> Alice's pet project - the Convention Center has proven very successful.
>
> You raise interesting points in many of your e-mails but I don't think the
> negativity and slams helps in trying to creatively solve the problems we
do
> have in our city. Partnerships and working on solving root problems -
like
> the Charter, or restructuring the council, and revisting the relationship
> of MCDA and the City when it had citizen representives on the Board of
> Commissioners will have better results in the long run.
>
> And lastly, there are some people who wondered how Walt and I were going
to
> get along on the Park Board. We have actually had some good times and let
> me tell you, his constiuent services is pretty good (his reputation
> preceeds him) and he gets out and visits this whole city's park system.
And
> now that he has grandchildren and takes them to the parks his interest in
> the environment has increased. He asked about spraying not too long ago.
I
> think he now understands that my reduced mowing policy that brought
prairie
> wildflowers back into the natural parts of our system wasn't such a bad
> idea afterall. It just 3-4 year wait for the beauty is hard for many
> people to take. And ask him about me and golf!
>
> Even us old, beleagured politicicans of this city do have our good sides,
> too. We are human, so please try to lighten up. I'd really appreciate it.
>
> Annie Young
