There is lots of overlap between MCDA, the Planning Department, and NRP. If one were to put together a Human Resources chart and attach the individual salaries and other direct personnel costs, one would see some pretty big numbers. In the white-collar ranks, a few six-figure numbers, I suppose, a fair-sized group between $50K and $100K, and a small army of $30K to $50K folks. Don't forget to add 40% to the salary totals for fringe benefits. Just imagine what downsizing and consolidation of function would do in this gazillion dollar staff cost environment. Then there's the effect of streamlined paperwork both inside the agencies and in the interface between the agencies and the public served and the increasingly substantial impact of digital information management technology that accelerates and focuses decision-making - the rapid diffusion of local Census 2000 information in the media demonstrates this latter phenomenon nicely. Lastly, there's the significant resource of informed citizens who have learned the ropes thanks to NRP. These follks participate in voluntary ways in a decentralized universe far beyond the individual capacities of legacy voluntary boards at the city level like the planning commission, capital long-range improvements committee and the like who perform needed advisory functions but are heavily staff-dependent and necesarily distant from the plethora of local situations they are expected to contemplate in their official capacities. Good for RT and others who are exploring this fertile ground! All the campaigns worth their salt are already heavily invested in computer-driven management systems - incumbents and challengers alike - so our elected municipal leadership will be capable of major innovation. It's the entrenched bureaucracy who will drag their collective feet. A case in point: MPHA is raising "miminum rent" from $25 to $50 for about 900 units. That's $270,000 annually, equivalent to the salary for two senior staffers. The occupants of 900 units - remember, possibly more than one occupant per unit - are having their very slender resources tapped while the exigencies of the marketplace for skilled professionals takes its inevitable toll. Granted we have dedicated and effective professionals in our municipal agencies - do we need so many when the collateral cost is so easily demonstrated? Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
