> This morning's Strib reported on the transportation bill that just
> passed the MN House:
> "The bill also establishes a taxing district along the Hiawatha
> light rail line, requiring most businesses to make up the difference
> in operating costs from what fare boxes bring in. That could be as
> much as $16 million a year ... about 500 businesses along the
> Hiawatha light rail line would be affected, though Northwest
> Airlines and the Mall of America would be exempted."
I take this a preemptive strike by the Republicans to insure
that the Hiawathia LRT is the only line to ever get build and
thus insuring the failure of LRT in Minneapolis The business
community was pretty supportive of the Hiawathia route, but if
they had known that they would be solely responsible for any
short fall if the line did not get enough riders that support
would turn to opposition. None of the small business I know
could afford to take that risk.
I just cannot figure out why the Republicans hate Minneapolis
so much, other parts of the state elect DFL as well. Seems so
vindictive.
Cheers;
--
DeWayne Townsend, PhD.
Research Associate
University of Minnesota
515 Delaware St. SE., 16-212 MMHST
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612)625-4488(voice)
(612)626-1484(FAX)
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