Sunday's Strib's provides a package of TIF & NRP stories. A metro overview is available at: http://startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story=84499715 This one made my blood boil. Mike Kazuba reveals that on page 495 of the tax bill, there's a nifty little exemption for the $600,000 Washburn-Crosby condos. Yup, the legislature put all kinds of prohibitions on using TIF for NRP out in the neighborhoods, but exempted a luxury condo project! Kazuba is an enterprising reporter to dig this up and frame it the way he did. Still, we need someone to go one step further: which politician got the exemption in there? Why was the condo saved and not NRP? Another interesting note is that Nina Archabal, director of the Minnesota Historical Society, personally lobbied legislators during the special session to relieve the Mississippi River Mill City Ruins archeological-museum project from some of the more onerous new TIF regulations. Granted, history is an easier sell to politicians than NRP, but this shows what can happen when leaders personally lobby legislators! Steve Brandt checks in with the NRP story: http://startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story=84499722 Steve notes that officials are confident about saving Phase I plans still to be implemented. I think he accurately characterizes the neighborhood political climate: "Neighborhood activists are badly splintered over the wisdom of seeking a charter referendum to guarantee the money. Some activists talk of instead asking a court to declare the city's obligation. Others seek a council-enacted levy to finance both NRP and more centralized city development activities. Still others fear that losing a referendum on NRP spending will prompt House Republicans who reined in TIF to repeal the NRP statute. "Some question NRP's popularity with voters. 'There are a lot of people on my side of town who have not been touched by NRP but love the idea of lower property taxes,' said George Garnett, staff director for the Near North neighborhood." Nothing really about who was responsible for the legislative fiasco, or what the city might be cooking up to propose on Monday at their special committee meeting. Not too many facts and figures about how bad the shortfall is, but that will all come out in the wash. Finally, because this has all been so serious lately, I thought I'd point folks toward a pretty funny James Lileks column that is very Minneapolis-related. Note especially the "history" of Uptown: http://startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story=84499763 David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
