Advance apologies to the list for debating this dead horse but I'd like to respond to a couple of Dave Piehl's assertions. David Piehl writes: If you read the post, I didn't say what Scott is alleging; I said that the state money is tied to increasing capacity, without state money there is no project, and thus it is dishonest for those sponsoring and "guiding" the PAC (Smith Parker) not to reveal this fact, and to entertain proposals popular with many PAC members that would shrink the size of the roadway, because they know it won't be funded. The current width of Lake Street varies depending on what portion is being examined.
Scott Persons responds: There you go again with that "increasing capacity" term. Please explain to me and the list how Lake Street capacity would increase over its current four-lane configuration? The short answer is a four lane doesn't increase capacity it maintains capacity, it's a status quo situation. The PAC has voted this morning to maintain capacity on Lake Street, not increase it and not decrease it, if Mr. Piehl can't agree to this simple issue of semantics than we're working in different realities. David Piehl responds to my question about possible property acquisition along the I35 corridor: How and why would you exclude the Crosstown proposal? My read on the recent articles says that over 50 properties will be taken! Scott Persons: Easy there David, the reason I excluded them from my question is that they have already been announced. I know I have must have some hidden sinister agenda by excluding them from my question but it was just a simple honest request for information. But I will give you points for grandstanding. David continues: It's actually kind of humorous when people call planned, defined, strategies "conspiracy theories" in an attempt to marginalize people who disagree with them by evoking all sorts of paranoid images of anarchists and other non-mainstream groups. Scott responds: By any reasonable standard of public conduct the behavior of many STRIDE activists is a bit outside the lines to say the least. I heard Jeff Carlson sang a song at this morning's PAC meeting about a girl getting killed on Lake Street by a car. (the music review was good, Jeff is a talented performer, the content a little distasteful) Ed Felien, who is sympathetic to the STRIDE guys called them die-hard antagonists (couldn't have said it better myself). My and others dismissal of some opponents of these projects is a personal judgement, and I stand by it, Dave Piehl, Carlson, Avidor and others are out of bounds with their antics and attacks. I've also worked with plenty of respectful people on these issues who I have honest disagreements with. This is hard work with difficult compromises, just because some folks want to walk away from these projects altogether doesn't mean they will or should carry the day. I think what the STRIDE guys have accomplished is cementing the opinion of a lot of people in Minneapolis and the surrounding community about the difficulty of working in this area in a respectful manner. My fear is that we will have things foisted upon us from the outside by those who have the power to pull the plug on current processes underway that do a better job of balancing input from residents, businesses and institutions than a MNDOT led process. Given half a loaf or none at all I'm taking half a loaf. I think ignoring the threat of MNDoT led redesign is na�ve and dangerous so I'm taking the current process. Also, Chris Johnson ripped me for not attaching the Lake Street site, I didn't take the time to link it, sorry. http://www.lakestreet.info/faq/index.php Scott Persons Lyndale Neighborhood 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
