Re: [Mpls] what do these other parties

[KarenCollier]

I think it's important to remember what the City can do and can't do.  For
example,  only a small part of the taxes we pay in the City actually go to
the City.  Over 50% of the taxes go to the schools.  In addition, tax policy
is mostly set by the legislature and not the City Council.  The City Council
controls that portion of the taxes that we pay by their City budget.  Again,
it's a small part of the total.

The City has nothing to do with education policy.  That's set by the school
district and to some extent by the state.

Where the City can have an impact is on infrastructure - roads, sewers, etc.  
That is the portion of the City budget which was under attack during the last
budget session.  The Mayor wanted to cut the budget of Public Works which
maintains our infrastructure.  In reality what should have happened, in my
opinion, is that portion of the budget should have been increased to cover
the increasing demands for infrastructure improvement.  Example:  Drive
Richfield Road  - the road between Lake Calhoun and Lakewood Cemetery -
sometime and you'll readily see what I mean.

In my opinion the reason why Mayor Coleman has been successful is that he
makes maximum use of the bully pulpit.  He's always out there touting the
virtues of St. Paul to the right people.  He has been extremely successful.  
That's what Minneapolis needs.  I just don't think a "behind the scenes
Mayor" is what is needed.  Perhaps we should look at that quality in those
running for Mayor this year.

Karen Collier
Linden Hills