This is my first personal post. List members know me as the Mayor's
Communication's Director, and know that I provide news releases, statements,
and other things that represent the Mayor's activities and policies. The
words that follow are my own and reflect my own opinions.
I want to thank Erik Riese for his friendly observations of the Mayor's and
Council President's news conference yesterday. I work in the Mayor's
Office, spending 9+ hours a day in City Hall, but the Seward neighborhood
has been my home for nearly 16 years. I had no part in the decision to do
the news conference in Seward, but I was very happy that my neighborhood and
our excellent NRP program was going to be in the spotlight.
Seward is a gem of a neighborhood. I've raised my kids (ages 15 and 18)
there. As a mixed income community with growing cultural diversity and
amazing lifestyle diversity, it's been a wonderful place for my family to
live. As a lesbian and a white, single parent raising two African American
children, we fit right in. My kids were park rats and I can't go on a walk
without bumping into people I know (like Erik -- Hi Erik!). It's everything
a vibrant urban neighborhood should be.
I am proud of Seward's citizen-created NRP program and the loan and grant
program that has made it possible for so many people to fix up there homes
and stay in Seward. The program was designed thoughtfully and inclusively.
Parts of the neighborhood in greatest need of revitalization were targeted
first. A variety of loan and grant programs were created to meet the needs
of low income and moderate income people. The duplex conversion program,
which was represented by the home showcased in the news conference
yesterday, helped keep people with growing families in the neighborhood.
(If Erik or anyone on the list has better details about the program than I
do, please weigh in!)
NRP has been great for Seward and great for our city. I'm personally glad
the Mayor and Council President led a final-hour rallying cry to preserve
state support for financing tools that make NRP possible. City leadership
and staff have been at the legislature -- or on the phone to the legislature
-- nearly around the clock addressing this troubling part of the Tax Bill
and other pieces of legislation impacting Minneapolis. (You should see the
level of sleep deprivation among our Intergovernmental Relations staff.)
City staff work incredibly hard on behalf of the people of Minneapolis.
Yesterday in Seward, I was there as part of the Mayor's staff, but I was
also a proud resident of Seward, joining my neighbors in support of NRP. A
lovely moment on a hot summer day. (Erik, I had to get back to work, but I
wish I could have stopped at the Birchwood for lunch!)
Ann Freeman
Ward 9
-----Original Message-----
From: Erik Riese [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 2:00 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Mpls] Mayor's Press Conference
David asked me to post because he used up both his posts today.
The Mayor, Communications Director, Ann Freeman, City Coordinator, Kathy
O'Brien and Councilmembers Cherryhomes and Campbell all showed up across
the street from my home this morning at 11:00 a.m. Joining them were Bob
Miller from the MCDA, staff from the Seward Neighborhood Group,
Longfellow Community Council, the Center for Neighborhoods and several
neighborhood residents. Also in attendance were several members of this
list. In all about 60 people sampled the warm weather across from
Matthews Park.
There were three cameras and two radio stations/networks represented in
the press pool. I couldn't tell if any print reporters were there aside
from David Brauer. (Who no doubt was covering the story for the
Washington Post ;-)
The Mayor spoke briefly calling on the legislature to continue support
Tax Increment Financing as a tool for cities throughout Minnesota.
Following the Mayor's remarks she turned the podium over to Council
President Cherryhomes who was explaining that she grew up in Seward when
I had to leave for a Seward NRP II Steering Committee meeting. I hope
that folks traveled four blocks east to the Birchwood Cafe following the
press conference for lunch.
It was a beautiful day in Seward, the crowd was respectful and
enthusiastic. I expect the legislature to pass a tax bill in the next
few days.
--
In cooperation,
Erik Riese
Decisive Moment - Decision making services.
Seward, USA:
a great place to live, work, learn, and play!
(some pretty good restaurants too)
(612) 242-8528
(612) 724-3217
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_______________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
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Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
