Annie Young writes:
> IT IS FAIR!
> The past two days have been incredible underpinnings of destroying the
park
> system for the sake of the city. It seems some council members believe
that
> if the City is in trouble and Public Works doesn't have enough money
> therefore, so be it that no one should have any money.
(MM) First of all, "some" council members is at least 10 plus the mayor.
The financial situation of the city is serious enough for 10 council members
who have all demonstrated their independence over the last six months to
come together to make a diffiucult decision for our future. Furthermore, the
parks are part of the city, whether the park board likes to see it that way
or not. The city is not "in trouble" because of some independent actions
taken by people who work at City Hall. The city is in trouble because
expenses generated in all of the departments in the city do not match
revenues - those expenses include the park board. Because they are a
separate jurisdictional entity does not mean they should be exempt from
responding to the financial tensions of the city overall.
> In spite of the "Nice" Park Board who three years ago kowtowed to not
going
> out for a referendum to be nice for the schools and libraries and then
went
> back to the table the next year and worked a deal with the then siting
> Council in order to maintain some level of civility to operate the
> parks. Lo and behold the new kids on the block have said: "The hell with
> all that". We are in trouble - so let's all be in trouble together.
> So when speaking of taxpayer's dollars going up in smoke let it be known
> that the KIDS of Minneapolis are getting the brunt of decisions made by
> adults who should have known that this would all catchup with them
> someday.
(MM) What does a 900% property tax increase by 2010 for the average
homeowner in Ward 4 (as the Star Tribune editorial today points out) do for
the well being of children? Why should the park board be exempt from taking
a cut when the entire city, including the police department, is being asked
to tighten their budgets? I would also point out that the adults Annie
refers to who should have known better includes the adults who set the tax
policy for the park board.
As Chair of Operations and Environment on the Park Board I am
> really getting tired of trying to piecemeal keeping this system together
in
> the style to which you all are accustomed. It is getting to be impossible
> and very wearing on morale of staff who keep it pristine for you. Please
> call your council member and ask them to vote No on the preposterous
manuever.
>
> Oh yes, we all love our parks - to hell with keeping and maintaining them
> though.
>
> Thank you, Minneapolis City Council, July 12th, 2002
> Annie Young
> citywide Park Commissioner
(MM) I'm sure it is hard for the parks to operate their system in a deficit
mode. It is hard for the city to operate with more money being spent than
taken in. And I guess I can't really blame the park board for advocating
for the issue they are responsible for as elected officials - that is,
maintaining the valuable park board system we have in Minneapolis. But, if
the park board commissioners are elected to advocate for the best park
system, then the Mayor and City Council Members are elected to pursue the
best city system. This includes demanding that every part of the city be
involved with responding to the deficit. If the park board would look at
their place in the larger Minneapolis picture, they would see that like
every other department and entity that receives tax dollars in Minneapolis,
they need to take part in the re-allignment of spending with revenues. If
the park board is in this for the kids, then they should see their
obligation to look beyond their own budgets and capital improvements and not
expect a budget increase when the rest of the city (and the rest of the
country for that matter) is taking budget cuts.
Michelle Mensing
Parks-lover in favor of controlled spending
Armatage
_______________________________________
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
