Jim Mork has hit at least a couple of nails on the head with his post. There are indeed ways of creating pedestrian and bike crossings for Hiawatha Avenue that remove people from harm's way. Land bridging between developments and tunnels under the highway seem like good alternatives. But please not bridges like the one at 24th. That sits in the middle of nowhere and would make a good toboggan run but little else. That type of bridge is a waste of taxpayer's dollars and has no use. Bridges should connect more than just dirt. They have to be sited at the places where people want to travel. The best place for both development and bridges is in the same place, (where people want to travel). Both are less expensive if constructed together, with a primacy on development.
As for NRP, Jim Mork is also on the mark. People have to decide if they would rather have a thousand of the "wrong people" making decisions or thirteen of the "wrong people". I contend that it is certainly easier for a minority to become part of the "Thousand" than to become one of the thirteen Council Members. This brings up an interesting dilemma for the CM's who want to use the "inclusively" argument against Neighborhood control of NRP. I am absolutely sure there were more minority members on a percentage basis involved in NRP than the percentage of the City Council Members that are minorities. I think only 7.6% of the Council is minority, and I am certain minorities were represented to a greater extent than this in NRP. I guess the only honorable thing for a CM holding this view would be for them to step down from office until there is proportional representation on the Council. Or to have the City Council refrain from voting on money and NRP matters until there is equal proportional representation on the City Council. The suggestion of one person that, "It is true that we know our neighborhood better than an outside bureaucrat, but also we are amateurs and volunteers without much free time." is humorous. This is NO reason to turn over decision making to a group of people who have even less time. A group who are no more professional than the average resident living in a neighborhood. The City Council has, to my knowledge, an over representation of only one "Profession", lawyers. Even with this "professional" group the Council seems to have a problem abiding by its own ordinances so as to stay out of court. They also appear to be such amateurs on legal matters as to have several members either already indicted or awaiting indictment. If you watch Council proceedings on TV, they also appear to have almost no time to deal with community problems, let alone Neighborhood Revitalization, (unless it entails giveaways and Zoning changes for favorite Developers and Non-Profits). Interested residents living in a community are not amateurs on that community they are the true "Professional". I am not sure I would want to sit on a Neighborhood Board if I considered myself an amateur with out any time to contribute to it. I would want people who had the knowledge and expertise to have confidence in their input, not amateurs. Unless of course that person meant NON PAID. Non-paid volunteers working out of love and devotion for their communities are always going to make decisions that are best for their communities not what is convenient. Politicians tend to vote more on self-interest than what is actually good for a community. And no Wizard this is not paranoia. This is observed actions. When rezoning and bonuses to increase density and poverty in inner-city communities was considered by the Council, two or three Council Members stopped the proceedings before voting to assure their constituency that their vote in favor of this issue would not affect their wards and neighborhoods. They assured the voters in their wards that this type of housing would not be allowed in their neighborhoods. Sounds like a pattern of discrimination and acting more in self-interest than City interest to me. Quiz: Which CM's made the above statement? Winner gets two HALLELUIAHS and the City Council Maven Award. Guessing is permissible and advised. As a last note: I also view with humor a certain Social "Service" lawyer's post about personal attacks, "I'd like to know or get comments about those suggestions--not just dismissive comments that rely on personal attacks and fear." In that post I was named "personally" more than one time. I must assume naming someone by name is a "personal attack". I also must assume this personal attack on me came because I wrote about middle class Social "Service" types that come from outside our community to exploit poor people. No name mentioned. I did not mention any names, but apparently that person saw himself in the description. Just as in another situation he seemed to recognize himself in the description of lawyers who Phillips had experience with, though his name was not mentioned and it was not even intended for him. I must assume he wishes to create a colony of St. Paul called "North Phillips" since he loves Minneapolis SO much that he chooses to live in St. Paul. I am sure he lives in one of the depressed neighborhoods there. Great needs exist in St. Paul just as they do in Minneapolis, there should be profitable work there. Jordan and Hawthorne are wonderful places. Someone who loves Minneapolis might want to buy a house, rid it of lead, and live there. This would help stabilize that community. It would give something back to the community where one makes his living. Jim Graham, Ventura Village and Phillips - Activist for thirty-five years. >>> There are no finer investments for any community than >>> putting milk into babies and revolution into minds. - _______________________________________ 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
