Sue Anderson wrote about the Access (Excess) Project meeting: (snip) it looks like the agenda has been set to limit discussion. Those party to the Hiawatha-Lake public meetings may see a similar pattern.
David Piehl writes: I've attended a few of the Access/Expansion meetings, and found the structure truly limiting, probably as intended. At the most recent PAC meeting, Robert Lilligren pointed out that originally, the public meetings were supposed to have a public-input component, but for "whatever reason" that didn't happen - he continued with a recommendation that the input component of the up-coming meetings be a central focus of the meetings. Nevertheless, it looks like input is STILL UNWELCOME!! It's interesting to see an agenda for a "public meeting" where the agenda is locked in a holding pattern. Do they really believe we are that foolish? I encourage everyone to attend the meeting, but don't waste time on the regurgitated "facts" they get from their crystal balls about traffic projections for 20 years from now - instead, focus on getting answers as to what the project means to the neighborhood; whose businesses will be priced out of the market, whose will be demolished, etc (check out the article "Linking I35 to Lake; whose gain, whose pain" at www.spokesman-recorder.com). Don't let your opinions fall victim to the reasons other people want the project in OUR neighborhood! Perhaps the answer to the question about why a private law firm (Smith Parker)is being paid by the taxpayers to convince us that taxpayers should also fund the corporate welfare scheme called the Access Expansion Project for their clients (Wells Fargo, Childrens Hospital, and Allina) is that lawyers are skilled at fulfilling the letter of the law while ignoring the intent of the laws. David Piehl Central __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch.yahoo.com/u2 _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
