Message forwarded by the Minneapolis Center for Neighborhoods, 612-339-3480 Friday June 15 2001 by Sean Gosiewski, Corcoran Resident

Your Calls and Visits today and tomorrow can help save NRP.

The House and Senate Tax Working Group are meeting Friday and possibly over the weekend to develop a compromise on the Omnibus Tax Bill. Neighborhoods can call or visit legislators and encouraging them to pass a tax bill that will save funding for NRP. Senator Larry Pogemiller (DFL- Minneapolis) is introducing language into the tax bill today would save NRP as whole. What you can do-

  1. Go to the state capitol. Wear neighborhood t-shirts or buttons, but don’t bring signs. Be respectful. Visit your legislators offices and leave a note at you sharing your concern. The tax working group is meeting in room 15 of the Capitol located directly below the rotunda. People may quietly watch them from the gallery. (To find out when they will meet on the weekend call 651-296-7809)
  2. Call Senate members of the Tax Working Group- please see below for their phone numbers and what to say.
  3. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE TAX BILL over the weekend please leave a message on Robert Thompson’s voice mail at the NRP Office 612-673-5149

Questions? Please call Sean Gosiewski, Minneapolis Center for Neighborhoods, 612-339-3480

Please see below a new action alert from NRP.

To: Neighborhood Activists
From: Bob Miller, Director, NRP
re: Legislation concerning NRP

IN THIS MESSAGE:
I. Background
II. What To Do
III. What To Say
IV. Other Things You Can Do!

I. BACKGROUND

Thank you all for your hard work in calling conferees and asking for their support of NRP. Your efforts were noted by conferees as well as other representatives and senators, and had an impact. As you may know, the legislature is in Special Session, and the NRP is again in danger. We need your help to keep the pressure on and make sure that legislators know we are paying attention.

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 move to change the tax-rates for business properties could have significant impact on NRP.

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 NRP.

II. WHAT TO DO

There are three important ways that you can help NRP.

First, spend an hour or two at the capitol TODAY and leave a note for your legislator, and especially those listed below.

Second, if you don't have time to go to the capitol, give them a phone call.

Third, call us at 673-5149 if you would like to do more!

III. WHAT TO SAY

In your notes or phone calls, tell the following legislators:

"Thank you for your support for NRP, and please keep fighting to save it."

Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe
Telephone: 651-296-2577
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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]
Ann Lenczewski* (DFL)
Telephone 651-296-4218
Fax 651-297-8128
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


IV. OTHER TIPS

When talking to these legislators or their aids, please...

  • Keep your message brief and to the point;
  • Do not talk about other issues;
  • Be positive: do not get angry or vindictive--these are all potential supporters; and
  • Thank them for their time and work on this issue.

Tell them about YOUR experience with NRP, and what NRP has done...

  • Phase I investments have improved the housing stock and revitalized neighborhoods through economic development;
  • Minneapolis neighborhoods worked hard to put in place the infrastructure to implement Phase II of the Program (2001 –2009);
  • Now it is important for the Legislature keep its side of the bargain.

Please call us immediately at 673-5149 if you hear anything from your contacts that you think we should know, or if there is more that you would like to do!

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