Hiawatha: As people have correctly pointed out, there is a plague of redlight running now (though that hardly makes Hiawatha unique). So, if scofflaws use up the first ten seconds on a red light, then Hiawatha is four lanes wide, this makes it very difficult for East-West foot traffic to cross even if wholly physically able.
Personally, I'd love to see photocops on every traffic light from 26th up to 54th. Let people get nailed a few times and maybe they'll let the pedal UP from the metal. That would be a very good prep for the light rail foot traffic. But restricting speed to what it is now will be helpful, too. NRP: As I understood the question of NRP and race, it is the fact that NRP tends to be dominated by caucasians in most parts of the city. Well, has it occurred to people that the population of the city is, also? What do you expect when a city is overwhelmingly one race? I don't see that that proves any kind of failure of the program. As I watch home prices spiral incredibly upward, I can only conclude that NRP has had smashing success in achieving its main goal which is doing a better job of urban renewal than pure bureaucrat-run programs ever achieved. Sure, I'd like to see the faces of new minority residents in all community-oriented programs. But as I've said before, they have to be INTERESTED. I'm sorry if their history has tend to quash such interests, but my father was an immigrant and had to learn to overcome his past to become a successful American. I see that the Somalis have learned activism very quickly. If they can, and apparently Latinos can, then why can't everyone el se? I do consider it more their responsibility than my own. I've been more of an activist than most people of MY race all my life, but I don't consider the apathy and passivity of most caucasians as something to feel guilty about. They are just bad citizens by my standards. Don Samuels: I've been in the observer gallery for most of this. Every CM on the council affects my city (where I've resided for over 30 years). But I don't get a vote. However, I will point out that "thugs and bullies" is a bad choice of words. Was Jerry Haaf a thug or bully? Is Lt. Greg Reinhard, the commander of the traffic division, who was kind enough to post statistics on traffic laws a thug or a bully? Is Thomas Thompson, my CCP office in 3rd precinct either of those? In short, despite people like Mike Sauro, MOST police are sincere professionals who have a great desire to perform well in their chosen vocation. I'm proud to offer them any reasonable help I can so that our common goals can be met. I deeply regret seeing these inflammatory incidents occur occasionally. And I think the officers with the right attitude cringe, too. But they must do more than cringe. They must commit themselves to a solution that doesn't sweep the matter under the rug. Everybody suffers when these stories make the news. Let us at least resolve to respect the conscientious majority who do so much to make our city safe. I think that's a pre-condition to making it SAFER, which is what we all want. It has always been a marvel to me that the violent crime rate in St Paul can be so much LESS than in Minneapolis. I think the superior relationship between uniformed officers and civilians must be part of the reason. -------------- Jim Mork--Cooper "War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our Country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out." Gen. William T. Sherman (1864) Letter to the Mayor of Atlanta. Get your free Web-based E-mail at http://www.startribune.com/stribmail _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
