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Urgent Message Forwarded by Sean Gosiewski, Corcoran
Neighborhood. Please tell everyone to call or visit the state capitol before
Sunday night! THANKS
-----Original Message-----
From:
Robert Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:
Thursday, May 17, 2001 4:41 PM
Subject: Urgent Message from
NRP-Your help needed to Save NRP
To: Neighborhood Activists
From: Bob Miller, Director, NRP
re: Legislation concerning NRP
IN THIS MESSAGE:
I. Background
II. Who to call
III. What to Say
IV. Other Things You Can Do!
I. BACKGROUND
In 1990, the Legislature mandated the reservation by the MCDA of $20,000,000
per year in TIF and other revenues for 20 years for the establishment and
implementation of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP).
Minneapolis, its neighborhoods and residents kept their end of the bargain,
identifying neighborhood priorities, completing plans, developing solutions, and
implementing Phase I of the Program.
The Minnesota State Senate and State House have now both recently passed
tax bills which will radically alter the structure of Tax Increment
Financing, or TIF. As you may know, TIF is the primary funding source for
NRP, and these changes may dramatically alter the future of NRP funding for
neighborhoods.
Fortunately, supporters of NRP in the state legislature have been able to add
provisions to the Omnibus Tax Bill (a comprehensive bill which essentially
combines all tax alterations being considered) which will preserve the NRP. But
Anti-tax groups are lobbying hard to remove these provisions, and the future
of NRP is in doubt.
The State House and State Senate have assigned a small number of their
members to a Conference Committee which will work out differences between the
Senate and House versions of the Omnibus Tax Bill. This small committee will
have a tremendous influence on the outcome of this future of TIF and the future
of NRP.
II. WHO TO CALL
Between now and Sunday, Please call the following legislators: Those with an
asterisk (*) by their name are the ones who will have the most influence on our
issue. Phone Calls are more effective than emails (one legislator has
already received more than 37,000 emails... they are not going to pay much
attention to the emails). A personal visit is best of all!
House of Representatives
Ron Abrams (R)
Telephone 651-296-9934
Fax
651-297-2668
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dan McElory* (R)
Telephone 651-296-4212
Fax 651-296-3949
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
William R. Kuisle (R)
Telephone 651-296-4378
Fax
651-297-2668
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Roxann Daggett (R)
Telephone 651-296-4293
Fax
651-296-3949
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ann Lenczewski* (DFL)
Telephone 651-296-4218
Fax
651-297-8128
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Senate
Lawrence Pogemiller* (DFL)
Telephone 651-296-7809
Fax
651-296-6511
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ann Rest* (DFL)
Telephone 651-277-4176
Fax 651-296-6511
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Don Samuelson (DFL)
Telephone 651-296-4875
Fax
651-296-4135
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Don Betzold (DFL)
Telephone 651-296-2556
Fax
651-296-6511
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Bob Lessard (I)
Telephone 651-296-4136
Fax 651-296-5241
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
III. WHAT TO SAY
When calling these legislators please...
- Keep your message brief and to the point.
- Do not talk about other issues.
- Do not get angry or vindictive--these are all potential supporters.
- Thank them for their time and work on this issue.
Tell them
what NRP has done...
- Phase I investments have improved the housing stock and revitalized
neighborhoods through economic development.
- Minneapolis neighborhoods worked hard to make sure plans and the
infrastructure to implement them are in place for Phase II of the Program
(2001 –2009).
- Now it is important for the Legislature keep its side of the bargain.
And ask them to...
- Support Article 12, Section 46 of the Senate version of the Omnibus
Tax Bill. It assures that $60,000,000 in unspent but obligated NRP
funds are available to neighborhoods to carry out their approved
plans. Without this amendment, the NRP loses these reserved funds.
- If Article 12, Section 30 of the House version of the Bill prevails,
make sure section 469.1792, subdivision 4, clause (3) is included.
Clause (3) permits the special legislation authorizing the funding for the
NRP to be exempt from the limitations of the provision. Without clause
(3) most future funding for the NRP ceases to exist.
- Article 2 of the House version contains class rate reductions and
funding shifts that would result in an annual loss of $21,250,000 in TIF
revenues to the MCDA, substantially threatening the funding source for the
NRP. This is a provision that we cannot support.
IV.
OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO
- Spread the word and ask others to make calls.
- Pay a visit to the legislature this weekend. Visit the offices of the
legislators listed above, and leave a note with their assistants. Let them
know that this is important enough to you that you have taken time out of
work (play, family time, etc.) to come down and talk to them. Even better,
ask if you can send a note in to one of the conferees listed above, and ask
them to come out and briefly talk with you. If you are a constituent of
theirs, let them know on the note!
- Invite neighbors and other members of your neighborhood group to go down
to the capitol for a visit and to show support for NRP. Wear your block
patrol uniforms, your neighborhood garden club t-shirts, or other
neighborhood emblems!
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