David Piehl writes: Actually, I'd like to know what Scott bases his opinion on - I know Scott contributed to the Excess Project for the last few months of it, but he missed a great deal during the 4 years+ that it was underway.
Scott Persons: Apparently, David doesn't think I've clocked enough ass time on this project to be informed about it, for the record I've known about the project for 6 years now, worked with the Kingfield/Lyndale mitigation committee for the entire length of the committee, was President of Lyndale Neighborhood for three years during this time, and have kept reasonably well informed through the media, Mpls. Issues, public meetings etc. etc. I think I've paid my dues. The community time spent on evaluating and commenting on this project is astronomical and the project is better for it. This is a project that leverages massive amounts of outside capital (Federal, State, and County funds) to improve our neighborhoods and businesses. Are there trade-offs? Yes, that's part of a complicated and interrelated public works project, no project is perfect but this is miles better than doing nothing. There has been no alternate proposal that is even near viable or funded and if MNDOT decides to do something without community input you haven't even seen excess David. Barb says: I would be interested in you elaborating in more detail just what these tactics are that you have witnessed. Scott Persons: I should have been more clear, my remarks on STRIDE were based on regular visits to their website since it was established. I haven't attended any of their events because I felt their web materials were abusive and inappropriate. (although I know those lampooned are big enough to take the abuse, albeit undeserved) Lisa McDonald: Scott I believe you should disclose that the Lyndale neighborhood would b= enefit from the 35 Access project going through since 35th and 36th Stree= t would no longer have a ramp from the freeway. Scott Persons: You're right Lisa, Lyndale would benefit from moving the ramps to 38th, we would also have more impact at 31st and Lake Street with a full access point there. Is it a wash? No. I'd also like to point out the other benefits to Lyndale and the region, a new, dedicated pedestrian bridge at 34th street, new bridges at 35th and 36th street with wider sidewalks and bike lanes, a safer interchange between the 31st and 38th street exits to replace the hazard that is currently between 31st and 35th street, a transit station at 35W in Lake that is a real destination point for transit users, actual mitigation for neighbors next to 35W (they haven't had that for 40 years!), a relatively small city revenue contribution for a project of this scale (leveraging capital is great, we need more of it), added jobs for our neighborhood residents at Wells Fargo and Abbott Hospital and whoever develops the Sears site (this project will make the Sears site more viable), many of these are regional benefits as well. I don't mean to be a smart alec by pointing these out, but there are a lot of benefits and they are provided by capital investment in amenities by the government. Amenities mean businesses and jobs stay and more jobs are created, these jobs are of the living wage variety and make our region stronger. This isn't Target or Block E, this is an infrastructure project that will benefit our neighborhoods and our business community. It isn't all roses and I'd be happy to consider an alternative project of this magnitude but frankly there isn't one so let's all hold hands and hop on the capital improvement train! Scott Persons Lyndale Neighborhood Ward 10 PAC member representing Lyndale (which unanimously approved the project in January) PS. A belated thanks to Wells Fargo for their expansion at their campus, 800 jobs that STRIDE could never provide! TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
