Ed Felien writes, "The election [for Hennepin County District 4 Commissioner] was in many ways a referendum on the access project, and Peter [McLaughlin] beat me 4 to 1 in the precincts most affected by the proposed ramp. If it was a referendum, then Peter certainly won it. In spite of his convincing victory the project made concessions to the immediate residents and eliminated the flyover ramp. There are some diehard antagonists who continue to oppose the project and malign anyone who might support it. But, for me, having gone one-on-one on this issue and lost convincingly, the issue seems settled. It cost me a lot of time, money and psychic energy to earn this black eye, and I am content that it is over. There are other battles and worse enemies."
As a Green Party member who voted for Mr. Felien, I find myself a little perplexed by his representation of his own candidacy as "a referendum on the access project." I remember Mr. Felien's criticisms of the downtown incinerator, traffic on Lake Street, and the proposed stadium (all of which I appreciated); however, I don't recall Mr. Felien making statements about the 35W Access project during his campaign, much less enough public debate with McLaughlin to characterize the issue as a campaign "referendum."
So I did a quick web check: I re-read the text of Mr. Felien's 5th District Green Party Candidate Questionnaire (it's still on the 5th. district GP yahoo list) and I consulted all three issues of Mr. Felien's campaign newspaper, the Challenger (August, September, October 2002). Nothing.
Moreover, Mr. Felien's characterization of those who oppose the Access project as "diehard antagonists" seems unfair: if he's truly concerned about the rates of asthma in this town (as his comments on the incinerator suggest), perhaps he should consider what happens to the air quality when highway lanes are added and freeway "access" is increased. The research is clear: if you build them, MORE cars will come, thereby reducing air quality and increasing the rates of asthma.
The battle isn't over yet, and I'm truly disappointed that Mr. Felien has conceded. What exactly IS your stance on the Access project, Mr. Felien? I'd like to know, just in case you decide to run for office again. I don't want to make the same mistake twice.
Elizabeth McLemore
Bancroft neighborhood
