First of all, Eva has a confusing collection of writings from the past and the present in the previous digest about Urban Ventures. In it, she says I support the UV project. I 've told her before that I don't give a hoot about this project. I have never been briefed on it by UV or its supporters. I have never been asked to support it or oppose it, except by Eva. I voted for the bonding bill it was in a few years ago -- I've voted for all bonding bills -- it's all about putting people to work! But that doesn't mean I'm a supporter of all projects in the bill. In fact, I think I was the author of 7 projects in that bill that also got vetoed by Jesse.
Sen Higgins - I looked through my post:
http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2004-January/030038.html
And the archival post it mentioned....
http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/msg10918.html
I did NOT see that I mentioned you as supporting the UV project - it was Linda Berglin I was talking about - and I included Berglin's correspondance to me on the topic. Higgins was not my state senator at the time the UV project was put into the bonding bill. Berglin was.
Make no mistake about it: The governor picked this little project, named for a prominent republican person of color, so he could stiff the city on all of its stated priorities for the bonding bill: The Planetarium, infrastructure for Heritage Park, the health profession education project at the old Sears building, the biotech proposal at University Research Park, and the Schubert Theater. Not one of these items is in the governor's proposal. While the city would benefit somewhat from other parts of the bill, the governor and his partisans managed to pretty well avoid supporting any projects in democratic areas of the state -- Mpls, St Paul and the range. Maybe we should rename the planetarium for Ronald Reagan and the Schubert for George Herbert Walker Bush.
Here's the link: http://www.budget.state.mn.us/budget/capital/index.shtml
I have some real problems with a number of items in that bonding bill - and think it's a shame that the Planetarium didn't get recommended - because it IS a statewide resource. And with the Governor's expressed interest in Biotech, I am disappointed he didn't recommend that one.
Higgins writes:
The bonding bill will be hundreds of millions of dollars of building and restoration projects throughout the state. It is a great way to support our economy and get people working! There will be significant funds for our university and college system, environmental projects, ag projects, transportation and so on. When legislators decide whether to vote for the bonding bill, they must decide whether the projects as a collection are valuable, not just a small project or two, like UV.
EY: True - but the problem with these bonding bills is they grow and grow - because each legislator likes to add little pork ridden Christmas presents for their district.
Also - I just hope that Minneapolis legislators don't help that UV project get put in the bonding bill. There are other much more worthwhile projects.
Higgins continues: Of course, having said that, there's that whole collection of House rightwing republicans who have voted against a bonding bill because it contains a train. Others say they won't vote for it if Mpls gets "too much money" or if arts funding is included.
EY: Oh those evil rightwing nasty republicans.
Well perhaps the Minneapolis Delegation can sacrifice that 35W Excess Project in support of the cause - trade it maybe for something more valuable - like the Planetarium. Do any say they won't vote for it if Stadium funding is in there?
Higgins:
Others don't vote for it if their particular district didn't get any project at all.
EY: The biggest problem - and the biggest reason these things grow so big.
Higgins: And no, we won't vote each individual project up and down, standing alone, on the senate floor, as some people always say we should.
EY: Why not? I haven't thought about this alot - but it seems that this might help with the problem of things getting snuck into the bonding bill in the dead of night.
Higgins: I suspect there will be a hearing on the UV proposal. I hope Eva and others who have an opinion, one way or the other, will go to the hearing and speak their minds and educate the committee members. Otherwise, it will be portrayed, as the governor did it, as a great project that helps kids graduate from school. Good decisions come from good information.
EY: If I can find out when that hearing happens, I'll make every effort to be there - and to let others know also. My point is when this was an issue 2 years ago - Peter McLaughlin was a major booster.
Eva Young Near North Minneapolis [EMAIL PROTECTED] Blog is up: http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
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
