I wrote, then Greg Abbott writes:
 
> > Sec Taylor Stadium (the only one in America named after a
> > sportswriter)
> 
> I believe that Jack Murphy stadium in San Diego is also named after a
> sportswriter.

It's been Qualcomm Stadium for the last few years. So I say Sec stands
alone (though I'd even take Sid Hartman Field over the Wells Fargo
Deposit Box if a new park gets built in Minneapolis.)

David Strand writes:

>San Francisco joined a number of smaller communities
>when it passed a $100 million dollar bond initiative
>that will outfit public buildings with solar panels
>and place wind turbines at some keypoints around the
>city.

>I guess I am feeling that Minneapolis has been resting
>on it's laurels for awhile in the innovation area.

Does everyone who think Minneapolis should spend $100 million on solar
cells have them on their house? I doubt it. Why not? Perhaps it's too
costly for them...and for our local government.

Look, I love solar power more than the next guy. I understand talk such
as "internalizing the externalities." I'd love to replace polluting
technology with less-polluting technology. But local government has a
lot on its plate and not enough heft to really change the broader energy
market. 

While I can't deny that locally generated power would be great, there
are lots of things that would be great. $100 million is a lot of
money...should we commit a similar sum here when we have other needs,
such as housing, which is a more serious and immediate local problem.

Sure, you can say, we've spent more money on stupid stuff. Hopefully,
that day is past. If, I read this election right, it was a
left-right-center coalition against spending money stupidly. So the
slate is clean, and that brings us back to priorities.

Some may point to NRP as a $200 million program that could be tapped for
solar power. You know what I say? Go for it! For example, I've been
encouraging the Greens to follow up on their election organizing by
embracing the neighborhood organizations and working to funnel new
people into that process. If you think Minneapolis hasn't been
innovative, you have the chance to create innovation right in your own
neighborhood! Get solar power in your neighborhood's Phase II plan - if
your neighbors will go for it.

It's local self-reliance and then some!

I think there are lots of innovative ideas out there, but they have to
move beyond rhetoric and be considered among a lot of other worthy
causes with scarce resources. San Fran might lead the way in
power-generation (or at least move from the back of the pack), but I
wouldn't want their affordable-housing or homeless crisis.

David Brauer
Kingfield - Ward 10


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