T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 41 June 2, 2003
********************************************************** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * City Needs a New Message, Study Says * Workers Vote to Unionize at Walker Health Center * Bryant-Lake Bowl Owner Eyeing Northeast Theater * Library Cancels Its Earthquake Insurance * Car Dealer Gets Name on Northeast Water Park Plus: Pentel out of the running, Dinkytown arsonist out of school, and the importance of paying attention ********************************************************** CITY NEEDS A NEW MESSAGE, STUDY SAYS A new study commissioned by the city's convention and tourism agency found that only Chicago and Denver rank above Minneapolis as a popular convention destination. Trouble is, the city's not doing enough to get noticed. The $250,000 study by the New York-based FutureBrand surveyed potential visitors from across the country and learned that the city's profile was so low nationally that most people never even considered visiting. "Nobody knows about Minneapolis," FutureBrand's executive director Joanna Seddon told Andrew Tellijohn in The Business Journal (http://twincities.bizjournals.com). "Minneapolis can change that." The study noted that meeting planners who have held events here consider the city to be friendly, service-oriented, and safe. They've also been impressed by the local restaurants and hotels, and by the convenient airline service. But, as Greg Ortale of the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association puts it, the city needs to do a better job of telling that story. "We're suffering from 20 years of Willard Scott talking about the cold," he said. "Everybody assumes that International Falls is a mile away." WORKERS VOTE TO UNIONIZE AT WALKER HEALTH CENTER Despite a strong anti-union campaign, workers at Walker Methodist Health Center last week voted to form a bargaining unit with AFSCME Council 14. BRYANT-LAKE BOWL OWNER EYEING NORTHEAST THEATER Kim Bartman, owner of the popular Bryant-Lake Bowl, wants to put some life back into a Northeast landmark. ********************************************************** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2003 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Equine consultant and coffee shop correspondent: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox Thanks to: Theresa Carr, Alan Shilepsky ******************************************************* Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ******************************************************* TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ 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
