Terrel is partially correct. Some neighborhood objections may seem downright silly. What he misses is that there may be very real objections that are not silly. Just because someone makes a silly statement does not mean there are not real and very legitimate objections. What Terrel and others might consider is that it is more than just Zoning, it is also City tax dollars. I am sure the Sherman Project could not be built without tax subsidies.
There should be a City and County policy that tax dollars are NOT spent by politicians to force projects into a neighborhood without active neighborhood support. If not even a majority of residents of a neighborhood agree on the worth of a project then something is badly wrong with it. If there is existing zoning then let the project go ahead with private funding, that is their right. But NO project should be built using "Public" dollars if a neighborhood objects. It is both wasting our precious tax dollars and creating opportunities for graft by politicians. Terrel and others seem to miss some points in this discussion. What happens when the project does not have legal zoning and the City has to break its own laws to waste tax dollars on? What happens when the City breaks its own and Federal laws to force projects into concentration areas over the overwhelming neighborhood opposition, and yet shows total consideration for good neighborhoods objecting to projects that may have proper zoning? What happens is discrimination and that is against the law. My question to the City Council and the Mayor is when the hell are you going to care about people in Impacted Neighborhoods. Care enough to not break Minneapolis ordinances and Federal Fair Housing laws. Poor neighborhoods are suffering a double insult. Not only does the City break the law by forcing its "special" friend's supportive housing projects into poor neighborhoods, but it pays for those illegal projects with the tax dollars taken from the victim neighborhoods. What happens when the victims get tired of the discrimination? What happens are lawsuits! All the "List" readers should be responsible enough to call your Council Member and Mayor and tell them we need responsible political leadership. That phone call costs a lot less than illegal projects and Federal Lawsuits. Remember 673-2209, 673-2206, 673-2210 or your ward number. It is good policy, and makes good financial sense, to abide by the law. What a novel concept! Jim Graham, Ventura Village REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ 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
