Enough is enough! This is starting to sound like small children bickering!
Dyna wishes to make light of the serious problem we have when it comes to the
Mississippi River and the pollutants being dumped into it. I do not care if
it is one person, company or city policy that is being discussed or dealt
with. The fact that Graco is being pointed out, is an example. It is
impossible to broadly discuss ALL polluters at once. Until we take a stand
and set forth biting legal consequences for ALL parties on the riverfront, we
can only approach what is right before our eyes. The Graco expansion is
indeed something topical as it is happening today. The facts, regardless
where you find them, do not dispute that the facility is a polluter. The fact
still remains that the Upper Mississippi Master Plan had been revised to
allow Graco's expansion and changing/comprimising the intent to connect the
river, the parks and the community with a series of greenways and
development. For those of you who have not wandered down that way as of late,
the building sits much closer to the river bank than one would normally
expect when trying to make the river banks accessible to people in the
neighborhood.
As for the American Iron issue, I have but three points to make;
ONE- as a candidate for the Third Ward City Council seat, I believe it is
best for me to meet with all parties concerned before making an assumption or
opinion on ANY topic. Therefore I met with communities, activists, and yes,
American Iron. Generally speaking the only thing that I am sure of is that
the severe lack of communication between the parties led to the fiasco which
was our cities case against American Iron. As the leader of this charge, the
incumbent could have sought mediation instead. Now American Iron has our
money and a "full head of steam" to continue business as usual.
TWO - During my meeting with American Iron's CEO and staff, there were no
money asked for and no money given. In fact, the comment made was more like
"Why should I give any money to anyone when I don't even know if you care
about me or my business. I don't even know if you will be willing to listen
to reason and work together about solving the issues at hand." So if you
would like to make any more of this issue, you may state clearly that I am
not funded by the Iassacs, and I feel that they would just as soon stay out
of that strategy as a whole.
THREE - When you take a cynical stand against someone or something that is
actively trying to better the environment as a whole, be prepared to put up a
better solution and then be willing to work at it! Otherwise you are just
wasting valuable oxygen. The time is now to act. If anyone feels that there
is not a problem with the pollution level in the Mississippi River, then I
challenge them to a swim. Or even better, let's lets build a pool in the back
yard and fill it with water from the river. How about a nice back yard pool
party. The fact of the matter is we do need to address this issue directly
and with consequence to those who would pollute. But the same set of rules
needs to apply to all - be it Graco, American Iron or Mr.&Mrs. homeowner.
Fair process should be the way of government. Favoritism is for organized
crime.
In short, proceeding with a plan and amending it along the way is sometimes
an unavoidable thing. But this plan has been modified and defied more than we
should allow. The plan needs to be concrete before we go forward, lest we
spend our money in a nonchalant manner and then later ask ourselves why the
results don't match that of the original plan.
Valdis Rozentals
3rd Ward City Council candidate
Saint Anthony West.
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