Terrell writes: The cab drivers are independent business people, they own and lease their cabs. I don't think the city should be in the business of providing subsidies to businesses. Tragic as it is, we occasionally see > someone murdered while at work. Do we send subsidies to every type of business where someone has gotten killed? If we subsidize, where do we get the money? We're already cutting back on police officers, fire fighters, libraries, parks and virtually every other city service. For those who are backing subsidies, whose pocket do you want to take the money to pay for them from? Unless you've found a bigger pot of money, you've got to take it from somewhere.
Peter responds: Terrell, all your points are well taken. And I hope that you'll bring them up again should the Mayor be inclined to advocate public money for a new TWINS stadium, or for TARGET, or for any other large corporation that attempts to hold our city hostage with its "You subsidize us or else we'll leave town" proposition. Nothing you've said, however, addresses the hypocrisy of the Mayor and other local politicians. Those who are so quick to remind us of revenue shortfalls often have no trouble spending the taxpayer's money for their own pet projects. In fact, isn't the renovation of The Hollywood Theatre going to be partially financed with public money? This is not to say I'm against using tax dollars, even at this time, to restore arts venues. The Hollywood Theatre, I believe, is a sound public investment. But protecting our cab drivers is also a sensible public investment, certainly more beneficial to the city than funding TARGET or the TWINS. As one of the list members mentioned the other day, our city stands to lose considerable revenue if local taxi drivers go on strike, thus making Minneapolis an undesirable site for business conventions.-------Peter Schmitz CARAG 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, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
