----- Original Message -----
From: "Eva Young" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "M Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] CNIA "Family Festival"
>I want to alert people that this is a lengthy message. I apologize for
this but I do believe the content is
important. -------------------------------------------
>
> > --------------------------------
> But one mistake Brian does not make is telling lies. Brian's integrity is
> above reproach, which is something I would really like to see more folks
> not only in City Council but in Neighborhood politics work to reach.
> ---------------------------------------
> Matthea, maybe you can address the specifics. I did call Brian a couple
> years ago when the stadium issue was hot, and asked him what his position
> was on public subsidy of pro-sports stadiums. He certainly led me to
> believe he would oppose such subsidy. I later read in the Star Tribune
> that he was one of the votes supporting a city subsidy for a stadium. I
> would have had more respect for Brian if he'd just explained his position
> honestly.
I would also like to follow on this theme on Mr. Herron and his integrity.
Eva has brought up concerns that Brian has not been upfront on his views on
the stadium issue. I would like to refer to another issue that Brian
apparently has not been upfront with. This one concerns is own ward. The
issue I am referring to is his hopes of having a hotel on Lake Street
between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Actually who would be owning the land is Basim
Sabri, a very wealthy developer and a fundraiser for Brian, who has been
trying in many ways, not all very above board, to acquire the land on the
block. Even though Brian's office will say that he is not interested in the
hotel there have been many discusions between AmericannInn that Brian has
been aware of. Actually Linda Wecjman our former representative tried to
have a meeting with the AmericannInn people and Brian stopped the meeting
from happening.
In a similar situation to the church situation that Eva refers to, the
people on the block who would be directly next to and greatly impacted by a
hotel had all signed a petition stating they did not support a hotel on
their block. They have even discussed with Mr. Sabri options they think
would be appropiate for the lots he owns that would fit into the
neighborhood more so than a hotel. The people on this block have done a
wonderful job in rehabing the housing stock on this block. Most of the
houses are turn of the century. One house was on the home tour last year.
It would be devasting for a big behemoth of a hotel to be next to these
beautiful houses. Everyone I have talked to about this possibility are
concerned about the crime this hotel would attract. Also the neighborhood
already voted down a hotel idea, during the NRP planning phase a few years
ago. Candidate Lilligrin may want to expound more on that process as he was
a pivotal voice from the Phillips neighborhood on this issue at the time of
the NRP planning.
I have heard that Mr. Herron will support any variance changes that Basim
needs to get to put this hotel through. I understand that he even tried to
pass an ordinance that would allow the sign on top of the Round Up bar to be
free standing. This would be important because Basim would like to buy to
the Round Up Bar for his hotel endeavor, however the owner will not sell
because of the sign revenue they garner. When I talk to people who live on
this block they do not feel they get the same time and attention from their
council person as Mr. Sabri has been getting.
> --------------------------------
0>
> Those folks that give their time in the neighborhood organizations are
> volunteering long hours. It is amazing to me that those that volunteer
the
> most time get the most criticism from those that "don't have time" do so
> the same. Although I may not agree with everything CNIA is doing, I truly
> respect those folks that are giving up much of their personal time to see
> the neighborhood move forward.
Mathea,
As a person would has put an average of 15 hours a week into my neighborhood
for about five years, I would like to thank you for that support.
FAMILY FESTIVAL UPDATE
I would like to give an update on the "Family Festival" that I just received
in my mailbox today. Somebody at the CNIA ofice must have gotten the
message that the get together they are planning for Saturday and its purpose
was a bit vague so they appear to have defined the "purpose" a bit. I will
quote a few statements:
"After several months of retooling our operations CNIA is embarking on a
very ambitious effort to complete the NRP action Plan adopted by the Central
Neighborhood in October 1995.We still have 3.5 million dollars to spend and
we need your input to help prioritize our spending. In order to continue
our progress we've made thus far we are undertaking a plan modification to
fund out community revitalization efforts. So join us as we outline our
plans..."
These are my concerns about this effort and the most recent flyer.
1. The flyer sounds like the board has already made their decision and they
just want to tell the neighborhood what they have decided. The neighborhood
made the decisions about what to do with the NRP funds. The board does not
have the right or authority to adjust the plan to meet their personal needs.
2. The original flyer talked about $120.000 dollars, now its up to 3.5
million?! Where is this money coming from?
3. There is a requirement, that the NRP sets up I believe, that
notification of meeting agendas come within one month of the meeting. The
meeting is in less than a week. Obviously, they are not within those
guidlines.
4. This whole selling of this as a "Family Festival" irritates me. They
seem to be hiding a very important agenda item, so that they can have their
own CDC, in the guise of a festival. This infuriates me and diminishes the
importance of the process.
It would be nice to have some leadership from our council member on this
issue. Or at least hear his stance on the issues at hand.
Karen Forbes
Cenral Neighborhood
..
> --------------------------
>
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>
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