[Mpls] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer

[Craig Cox]

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. 3, No. 8
September 29, 2003

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THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER:
* Fundraising for New Library Falling Short
* Park Board Considering Riverfront Marina
* Somali Community Lobbying to Save Language Program
* Minneapolis, St. Paul Vying for Slice of Biotech Market
* Twin Cities a Sperm-Friendly Environment, Scientist Says
Plus: The end of public peeing, speaking up for civil liberties, celebrating "lockdown day," and the real problem with Dave Jennings

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FUNDRAISING FOR NEW LIBRARY FALLING SHORT
A fundraising shortfall could force the new downtown library to open without several of its planned features, reports Sarah McKenzie in the Skyway News (http://www.skywaynews.net).

Library officials say the project is about $4.3 million short of its fundraising goal, which will delay the completion of certain features in the children's library, the Athenaeum and special collections, Teen Central, and a fourth-floor staff area. The shortfall will also delay completion of four fireplaces and prevent the purchase of about $680,000 in public art.

City taxpayers are footing $125 million of the library's construction costs, but the project requires another $15 million in private funds, of which only $3.7 million has been raised. "It's certainly a challenge," said Colin Hamilton of the fundraising efforts, "but it's possible."

The effort has been hindered by a sluggish economy and by a glut of other fundraising projects this year, including the new Guthrie Theater and the Walker Art Center expansion. There also has been some confusion about the new library's future after talk of delaying or abandoning the project emerged last winter.

PARK BOARD CONSIDERING RIVERFRONT MARINA
The Park Board will ask the state legislature for $3 million to build a new marina near its new riverfront headquarters.

SOMALI COMMUNITY LOBBIES TO SAVE SANFORD SCHOOL PROGRAM
Somali community leaders met last week with Minneapolis School District officials in an attempt to save the English as a Second Language program at Sanford Middle School.

MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL VYING FOR SLICE OF BIOTECH MARKET
A recent national survey placed the Twin Cities squarely in the lower tier of cities attracting biotech companies, but that hasn't stopped Minneapolis and St. Paul from aggressively competing against each other for an advantage in the market

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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
Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker
Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow
Equine consultant: Nora Cox
Perspective: Martin Cox
Thanks to: Michael and Kathy Fraase

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