Months ago I said that the under-supported NRP system in this city was going
to explode in some additional neighborhoods. We have over worked
volunteers, under trained staff, lack of city hall support, way too much
movement in staff within the system, poor financial controls, and a clear
lack of accountability (especially through elected officials). We have
volunteers in control of millions of dollars who are not trained or properly
tied into the strategic vision of the city. On top of it we've got under
funded departments within the city trying to go after NRP money as a hot pot
of gold and boundary violations between council members, staff and NRP
funds. Who is watching the dog here? Frankly, I think the state auditor
should take a good look at all of the NRP system. At least we'd have some
fiduciary accountability.
After Phillips, then Central blew up, now we're on the north side. And
there will be another. Let's face it, this is a rag tag system that is
promoting the status quos image of "generosity to the neighborhoods" when in
reality we are wasting money on historic lamps when we should be fixing the
curbs and streets and picking up the garbage. If we really want to get
people into the mix, then we need an inspirational vision for our city, not
money doled out in an over-bureaucratic system that can't even watch itself.
By the way, you would think at a cost of $2.5 million in graffiti cleanup a
year we could actually invest a few dollars in a system that could wipe it
out. But hey, let's put up a few more historic lamps to tag instead.;-)
Russ Peterson
Ward 9
Standish
R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N
"You can only fly if you stretch your wings."
Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID
Founder
3857 23rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-724-2331
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
