A couple of things stuck out in reading the Block E article in Sunday's Strib.
The outdoor escalator. The article tells us that the "State Building Inspector" wouldn't allow an outdoor escalator. Although the article didn't tell us, the implication was that state building code doesn't allow it. Did no one at MCDA, which has its name prominently, displayed on signs around the project, bother to check the state building code to see if such a thing was allowed? Why aren�t they allowed? Is it a safety issue related to snow and ice? The only place that I can think of where I�ve seen outdoor escalators is Vegas, not much snow and ice there. The restrooms and first floor hallway. Now, I haven�t read the contracts, so I don�t know if this stuff was really written in or if someone is bluffing. But, IF it was written in and if it is really considered to be important, why didn�t anyone bother to look at change orders or for any other clue that there isn�t a hallway or public restrooms in a nearly completed building? Was there really no communication between MCDA, the City of Minneapolis and the builder? Doesn�t the Inspections Department occasionally show up to see that what is being built is what is supposed to be built? (or is this something the FBI agents over at City Hall should look into <g>?) Speaking of police, today�s Strib talks about the redesigned Police Civilian Review Authority. It has the mayor saying: "Under no circumstances can we come to the City Council with a budget that high.� That high being a number starting at $318,000 depending on the option. Is 1/10th of 1 percent of the Police Department budget really too much to spend to make sure they aren�t doing what they shouldn�t be? Terrell Brown Loring Park terrell at terrellbrown dot org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
