The trouble I have with these theories of "why Minneapolis declined" is that they can be applied to a hefty percentage of cities in America. So, Minneapolis really isn't that special when measured by those indices. As for new car dealerships, they tend to locate where they are most needed and can charge the highest markup. And it is a no-brainer that that would be in the suburbs. However, it IS pretty intriguing that Saxon Ford, Whittaker Buick-Jeep, and Midway Chevrolet, the TOTAL roster of new car dealerships in the Twin Cities are in one short strip in St Paul. Yet, St Paul has many, if not all, of the deterrent problems that afflict Minneapolis. So, the notion that government has caused all car dealerships to flee to suburbs falls apart in that part of St Paul.
If there's an implicit argument that suburbs are succeeding where Minneapolis fails, what is the real evidence of that. I think people move TO the suburbs because they really don't want to be too FAR from Minneapolis. We hear a lot of "I have to leave Minneapolis", but do we really see people leaving Minneapolis? Or do we see them just throwing off Minneapolis' burdens but staying close enought to enjoy the benefits without the burdens? That, you know, is why SOME costs are lower in suburbs. Suburbs never have to replicate the services in Minneapolis because they can piggyback themselves on the core cities. It is why Minneapolis and St Paul sell purified water to suburbs. I wonder how high the costs would be for residents in these specialist urban entities if they went totally self-sufficient. I think Minneapolis could live without any of the suburbs, but I don't think the reverse is true. I'm hoping that Minneapolis can improve its response to the key challenges that change imposes, otherwise why have discussions. But I'm not buying the hypothesis that the response so far has been inferior, considering the scale of those challenges. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Keith, I gotta say I love "urban avoidance ramps". It was inspired. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Don: What POSSIBLE constituency is Pawlenty playing to by severe cuts to battered women's shelters? Is he now courting batterers? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ===== Jim Mork Cooper-Longfellow-Minneapolis: A Great Town Whose Best Days Are To Come --------------- __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com 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
