Lucky my wife and kids are up at a ymca camp this week. The research I've
seen shows that the vacancy rates were the highest 10 years ago. Twenty
years ago was pre-everything but the IDS. This I think is an example of the
ridiculous exagerations I see all the time in this Forum. Related to the
early 1990's vacany rate was the severe property tax crunch the city faced
because of the dramatic over building that occurred in the late 1980's. I
don't believe that on a relative basis we have yet approached the problem in
the early 1990's. The comparaion to the early 1980's by Brauer is simply
inappossite.
For anyone to buy the line about stern
warnings read the so-called apology. Laughable. (OH, I'm So sorry.)
I disagree with Brauer's response that only one of the posts delved into
personalities on this subject. The only one that didn't was Mr. Strand's.
Every other one attacked Emily, attempted to malign my arguments with the
fact I am suposedly in it for the "fees" or they attacked Board members
saying the decision should lead to their removal.
To
call the comments I saw this week a "civil city civic" discussion is truly
the best piece of humor I've seen. Now I can laugh at that one. For now it
really is time to go and feed the dog.
Brian
Rice
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
David Brauer
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 7:14 PM
To: Mpls list
Subject: RE: [Mpls] Board of Estimate announces move to Lyndale
Farmstead
Just to correct the facts (list members can draw their own conclusion of
about the interpretations...)
Brian Rice writes:
> The current Park Board rent is $14.00 per square foot--that rent is on
> the low side of rents currently because it was negiotiated 10 years
(not 20
> as the list manager claims) ago when the last downtown real estate
slump
> hit.
Nope, I didn't say anything about when the Park Board's lease was
struck. I said the current vacancy rates are the highest they've been in
20 years.
> I
appreciate humor as
> much as the next person. But I don't find snide attacks on public
servants
> to be funny. One of the members of the Forum pointed out the demeaning
> response issued to Emily Ero Phillips post. Emily is a decent,
compassionate
> and hardworking public servant. She is not Bill Clinton's handmaiden.
We know that. Your outrage is right-on, and I think almost all members
concur. As Mr. Kuettel will attest, he received a stern warning and
expulsion threat immediately. I think this is just a factor of Brian not
having been on the list very long. Members who make posts like this are
swiftly scolded and in some cases kicked off, as per our rules.
> As to
why there hasn't been
> more
> information posted by the "pros" on the issue I can't answer for the
Board.
> For myself I was stirred into action after I saw the derogatory piece
on
> Emily. Obviously some members of the Forum have made up their minds
and the
> truth be damned and let's insult the messengers who try to bring it
forward.
One member. The insult has been punished.
> I also think the
> list manager's view of the comments to date on the subject of being
> representative of the masses is absurd at best. I respectfully submit
that
> those views been less than well informed.
It's tough for Brian to claim that he is posting as an individual and
then keep throwing in "list manager" for a personal post which I've made
a plain, good-faith distinction about.
> Even the list
> manager's latest posting takes the approach that every word should be
> suspect and the masses should rise up.
Here's what I wrote:
"I do not want to attack Brian personally. But as a representative of
the Park Board, I do think his attitude is troubling, as if he is saying
"how dare the hoi polloi venture an opinion in these matters without,
say, being an elected official or bond counsel."
"This is an attitude, frankly, that led to the defeat of many of the
last city council's powers. I think there is new and welcome scrutiny of
the Park Board. Brian chooses to believe this is a harbinger of
talk-radio government; I think a more likely outcome is that an active,
engaged citizenry will produce better and better-supported public
policy."
Every word suspect? Where did I say that? Masses rise up? I call that
paying attention, speaking up, and engaging in a democracy.
> And the list
> manager himself seems more than willing to set the thoughtful and
respectful
> tone which I have seen today and on other days this week, like the
comments
> about Steve Brandt.
Huh? Steve and I are friends, and I respect his work. Please cite the
offending comment in question.
At least it wasn't your last post, Brian! Way to engage the public!
David Brauer
Kingfield
Neighbor and admirer of Steve Brandt
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_______________________________________
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