> From: Phyllis Kahn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > 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. Of course, that appears to be the system in effect right now, but on what grounds could this possibly qualify for a tax break of any kind? > Stay tuned for further news of the lawsuit to bring earlier city > elections for Mpls. City Council members. Surely not THIS year!! With whatever is left of 2003, what could be more unfair to Minneapolis voters than to change horses in such a crunch time? It's bad enough that permanent legislation could have solved this issue of redistricted wards holding elections years ago after the voters installed four-year terms for councilmembers. It's almost as bad that last session was wasted on accelerating these elections to 2003 when the terms run until 2005 in contravention of voters' preferences when the Legislature and/or the Charter Commission could have made the bookkeeping amendment to structure elections to conform with redistricting - a 4-yr, 4-yr, 2-yr term cycle as currently controls the state Senate which just had an election last year after their short two-year cycle. If Rep. Kahn and supporters of both the 4-year terms and, now, earlier elections, had shown the foresight to structure election cycles to reflect these needs, there'd have been no need for the rancor this proposal has generated and the suspicion it's aroused now that two Greens occupy seats DFLers think should be theirs. Suddenly the Charter doesn't matter? That's like saying the Constitution doesn't matter. It does. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul Former St. Paul Charter Commissioner 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
