Michael Atherton:� There are a couple of interesting education related articles in the Tribune today. New test scores are out for 3rd and 5th grades. Unfortunately it doesn't appear that you can access scores by city on the web, but these scores are in the hardcopy edition. Secondly, Minneapolis is about to raise property taxes to make up for the loss of state educational funding (not much of a surprise), but it would be nice to see tests scores and taxes go up together.�
I hope Michael noticed how student family incomes and test scores go DOWN together. Income is a VERY powerful predictor of success. Also, did you happen to notice the private schools DON�T take the test? So, how can anyone know how their students would do? Jim McGuire:� Add me to this list of those who would vote against the Hard Rock. Let's support local businesses� I don�t like the SYMBOLISM of the Hard Rock Cafe which is the tendency of our government to build up debt to support entertainment development, at the very time when housing was getting worse. By the way, there�s a very nice cafe at 11th and Franklin (Maria�s I think). That�s my notion of a very good place to go. Or there�s a coffee house in Longfellow at 38th Street and 34th Avenue. I think the owner is Latino. ------------- Michael was wrong in saying the scores aren�t available online. Check <a href=� http://cflapp.state.mn.us/CLASS/analysis/classdata.jsp?Key=201200090001030001R9039999999xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx1xxxxO&SN=None+Chosen&DN=MINNEAPOLIS&SIM=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000&CITY=MINNEAPOLIS&SECTION=DA&TR=B&L=0&NP=F�>here</a> �Sept. 25, 2002 (Minneapolis) The City of Minneapolis topped the rankings of the nation's largest cities in an e-government study conducted by Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Using detailed analysis of 1,567 city government web sites in 70 of the largest metropolitan areas in the nation, the rankings were announced in the second annual installment of a comprehensive e-government study conducted by researchers at Brown University's Center for Public Policy earlier this month.� Well, Minneapolis was a little LATE, but I do like how it works now. So maybe later is better. Robin Garwood:� Which brings us to the more important question: how do we solve this? I disagree with your defeatist sentiment that "all the laws in the world won't make people honest." The law against murder doesn't keep our society totally free from murder, but it's still a really good idea� Kinda depends a LITTLE on whether the laws are enforced. We�ve gotten more and more into the mindset that �voters don�t like enforcement of anything not involving blood, so lets go easy�. And with the anti-tax sentiments, it is also CHEAPER to reduce the enforcement of laws. So Victoria can�t validly make her generalization until she demands that ALL laws be vigorously enforced. When she sees the bill handed down for VIGOROUS law enforcement, she�ll probably say �I don�t want laws enforced�, which then will mean that all the dead letters in the world won�t change anything. Michael Hohmann:� Talk it up, list members. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the land trust models? How can we structure the models to be most effective, given the limited financial resources available? How can the private sector best be involved with the land trust model� Maybe what is needed is a credit union that DOES offer financing to buy homes on leased land. How do condos get financing? They don�t have land ownership, either. Mark:�I remember back in the good ol' days when I walked from my fraternity in Dinkytown (we're one of the few not on frat row along University Ave) to East Bank campus. It was about 8-12 blocks depending on where your class was. Granted, we were mostly able-bodied young folks, but we also lugged around those nice 20-pound backpacks on our shoulders - oh, did I mention it was uphill - both ways? :-) � I�m in my late 50�s Mark, and last summer I walked from Longfellow to St Paul�s Westside. It was a nice day and a very nice walk, escpecially across the High Bridge. And then I walked up to Cathedral Hill, and finally took a bus back home. I suppose 6 blocks is not �too far�, it is further than people WANT to walk. . ===== Jim Mork (Cooper Neighborhood) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vote Wellstone! One of the few people in Washington who'll stick his neck out for BOTH the stockholders (combatting management fraud) AND the working people.************ Bush's war. What's it for? Polls and profits, Nothing more!**************** __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! 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
