T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 1, No. 47 July 22, 2002
This is a preview issue of The Observer. To subscribe to the full-meal deal ($12/yr.), simply hit "reply" and state your intentions, and we'll set you up. To see a sample copy, BTW, go to www.mplsobserver.com. Thanks. --The Management ********************************************************** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * Local Playgrounds Unsafe? * New Parking Ramp Could Spare Guthrie--for Now * Johnson Lee's Secretary Problem * Cops Concerned About Latino Gangs * Park Board Will Step Up Leash Enforcement Plus: Northstar Corridor hopes, Block E bathrooms, mohawks forever, 'Fast Eddie' for County Commissioner, Roger Moe discovers Uptown, boulevard gardens, and what a great time to be an anarchist. *********************************************************** LOCAL PLAYGROUNDS UNSAFE, SAYS NATIONAL STUDY Playgrounds at Minneapolis parks have been rated "dangerous" in a nationwide survey. But the Park Board disagrees. The survey, conducted by volunteers for the United States Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG) and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), rated more than a thousand playgrounds around the country using CFA standards set a decade ago, according to Robin Repya in the Southwest Journal (www.swjournal.com). And local playgrounds fell short in the area of padding--or "inadequate surfacing," in the parlance of the report. Anything less than nine inches of wood chips, pea gravel or rubberized tile won't do. But Park Board officials contend the survey was flawed. "We really disagree with the report that was done," said Park Board information officer Emily Ero-Phillips. She said the park maintenance staff are trained to monitor such things and that the volunteers who provided the data for the survey didn't do the job. Still, she added, the staff is checking each of the playgrounds cited in the survey and will make any changes that are required. NEW PARKING RAMP COULD SPARE GUTHRIE--FOR NOW While the City Council continues to hedge about demolishing the Guthrie Theater, citizens can be consoled by the fact such delays will at least be financially beneficial. PROGRESSIVE MINNEAPOLIS When Irvington, New Jersey, mayor Wayne Smith journeyed to City Hall recently to meet with Fifth Ward Council Member Natalie Johnson Lee, he was hoping to get some tips on how to transform his city into one as "progressive" as ours. But, according to One Nation News (www.onenationnews.com), Smith may have departed less inspired than he'd hoped after listening to some of Johnson Lee's travails. ************************************************************** AND NOW WE'RE ON TELEVISION, TOO!!! See firsthand why none of us ever went into TV as a career. Tune in to The Minneapolis Observer on MTN cable channel 17 Sunday nights at 8:30 for news, weather, and sports with a Minneapolis perspective. This Sunday, see part two of our chat with 11th Ward Council Member Scott Benson. ********************************************************* The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Associate Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Nora Cox, Laine Bergeson, Chris Dodge, Mark Engebretson, Tim Herwig, Leo Mezzrow, Sarah Wash Occasional research assistance: Martin and Nora Cox Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard Thanks to: Kristen Larson, Shirley Parker, Nicole Reich, and Annie Young ******************************************************* Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ******************************************************* _______________________________________ 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
