Back in the 1960s before the suburbs became so powerful a constituency, the
city should have annexed the near burbs out to the 694/494 beltline (roughly
quoted from Tony Scallon).
The city didn't and lost the opportunity to ever do it. Now the city is in
the same position as a land-locked country with no place to go but up in the
air. Many cities suffered the same fate. Half or better of the antipathy
between city and burb stems from arguing about the allocation of resources.
It is the same argument that fuels the situation with the census (if they
count one way, the Republicans could lose power to the cities because the
cities will have larger populations of people who stand to receive
services,--a.k.a. dollars--dems want the count to have more power/dollars
[or power dollars]).
Unlike some of the antipathy of the suburbs, which is based on not knowing
the city, Russel's is an informed opinion. He has the experience of trying
to raise a family in the city.
Were I parenting small children, I would definitely consider the burbs.
(Unfortunately, I'm one of those critters with a small ecological niche--I
can only live comfortably in a city of about 300,000 or so.) If I had a job
I had to be absolutely on time for--nurse, police person, bus
driver--knowing that because I had a garage and everyone else did too my
streets would be plowed more efficiently. If I had a kid who had a learning
disability I'd go to Edina which has a better reputation in its schools for
dealing with those issues--and the crime is usually white-collar, not nearly
as messy as a drive by.
If I were rich, I'd build an absolutely stellar house right in the 8th ward
for me and mine.
WMarks, Central
Alan Shilepsky wrote:
> John Ferman in his post below says, in effect: don't listen to Russell
> Peterson's opinion about Mpls city government because he, Russell, is
> moving out of town, and will not be eligible to vote in Mpls elections.
>
> Hate to analogize to the private sector, but the current philosophy of
> customer service requires you find why your company is losing
> customers. You can learn as much from defecting customers as remaining
> ones.
>
> It seems a good idea to me to learn why people are leaving our city, and
> what our city could have done to entice them to remain. And it seems
> pretty arrogant to, in effect, tell them we don't care what they think,
> and don't let the door hit them on the way out.
>
> Seems with reapportionment and the changing population distribution
> between city and suburbs, it is important that Minneapolitians maintain
> good communications and a cooperative attitude with our suburban
> neighbors.
>
> Alan Shilepsky
> Downtown
>
> From: ferma001 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "Mark C Engebretson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> "Mpls Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> This is one of the best posts on this thread. About Peterson - he is
> moving to the 'burbs according to his own post here and according to a
> Strib piece last Sunday: the upshot is he will not be eligible to vote
> in
> Minneapolis next November. So, in so far as I am concerned his views
> need not be taken seriously by the delegates to the mayoral endorsing
> convention. [I don't think this breaches any list rule because this is
> merely a statement of fact without attack upon anyone]
> _______________________________________________
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