Seems to me that one of the first actions taken by the new Mayor and City Council after taking office, was to reduce regulatory barriers for building trades people doing business in Minneapolis. Perhaps someone within Regulatory Services area of CPED could clarify the actions taken- for Cathy and other list members. The skilled trades were so over-regulated in Mpls., for so long, many possibly aren't even aware of the changes in recent months... they simply wrote-off Mpls. as a place to do business. I'm almost sure that changes have been made for the better. Anyone have the inside scoop?
Michael Hohmann Linden Hills > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > Cathy Leighton > Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2003 9:37 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Mpls] Driven out of Minneapolis > > > I have read with interest, the stories of businesses and problems > with doing > business in the city. I would like to add my perspective as a home owner > and single parent. > > Last year I refinanced my home to do some long overdue work > including a new > roof, fence, etc. One of things that my, almost 100 year old, house needs > is a new furnace. I asked a friend at work for a recommendation > and called > the company he suggested. The owner called me and I explained the setup > with my house and the existing system. He gave me a "ball park" quote of > approximately $7,000 but said he would have to see the house > before he could > give me a actual bid. I gave him my address and his response was "No way! > I will not work in Minneapolis." He said that he had in the past and that > the hassles were just not worth it. > > Disappointed, I asked him if he could at least recommend someone who does > work in Minneapolis and he gave me a couple of names. Using the same > description as above, their "ball park" quotes came in at $14,000 and > $15,000. When I asked why their prices were so much higher I was > told that > it was the cost of doing business in Minneapolis. My personal opinion is > that when you limit the number of businesses that provide a service, the > remaining ones can pretty much charge whatever they want. > Needless to say, > I am still using my original furnace. > > I already pay twice as much for car insurance and substantially more for > water/sewer service than my suburban counterparts . My property > taxes have > almost doubled in the last few years and will double again in the > coming few > years. I am a single parent, (currently working only one job) > and fighting > just to keep my head above water. > > I just can't get ahead in Minneapolis. I have been struggling > for 10 years > and I give up! When my youngest graduates from high school next year my > house will go up for sale and I will be out of here. I have lived in > Minneapolis for 32 years and I can't afford it anymore! > > Catherine Leighton > Live in Longfellow/Work North East > > 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. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
