[Mpls] Waste in the city

[Phyllis Kahn]

The first subject today is grass. I urge members to go look at the Mill Ruins Park area just west of the Stone Arch Bridge. Sod, newly laid last fall, looks totally dead. Looking up. the hill towards the Mill City Museum, you see the totally green mixture of weeds with some desirable prairie plants. First there is the environmental nightmare of manicured lawn next to the river (hardly better than a paved parking lot) and the cost of installation without maintenance. An established lawn can make it through this weather, but my guess is that this new one won't. FOR an example of outrageous conspicuous consumption, visit the 2400 and 2500 blocks of West Lake of the Isles Blvd. There two outwardly fabulous mansion were taken down and replaced  by in one case a grass lawn and in the other a swimming pool. An appalling abuse of a scarce resource (Lake location) but just a private act by an individual...inj the "there ought to be a law" context. (I was told that the local community paper did cover this.) I hope the owners don't get a tax break from this, but I imagine they will. Stay tuned for further news of the lawsuit to bring earlier city elections for Mpls. City Council members.   Phyllis Kahn  State Rep. 59B and Nicollet Island resident