All, The vote on the 35W Access project is coming up soon. The full council is meeting tomorrow starting at 9:30AM and could be making the final yea/nay vote on supporting the project. There is also a possibility a resolution will come forward to delay the vote. Unfortunately, the agenda has not been posted to the council web site, yet. The latest vote estimate is that it will be very close; 7-6 one way or the other. Last minute lobbying could make all the difference so call your council member.
The 5th Congressional District Green Party steering committee has sent the following open letter to all of the City Council members in opposition to the 35W Access project. It lists some of the concerns expressed by the 5CDGP membership (there are way too many to list all of them in a short letter). Darrell Gerber 5CDGP SC > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of darrell > gerber > Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 11:22 AM > Subject: [SC] Open letter to the City Council from the 5th > Congressional District Green Party Steering Committee Re: 35W Access > Project > > January 29, 2004 > > Dear Council Members, > > We are writing to you regarding the actions before you this Friday, > January 30, 2004 to approve the concept plan for the 35W Access > Project. Members of the 5th District Green Party have expressed > concerns that are shared with many Minneapolis residents and others > who will be affected by this decision. > > Green Party members and supporters believe that, at a minimum, > environmental review of the project must be completed before any > approval action by the City Council. > Approving a project without knowing the results of environmental > review would be premature. In addition, we believe that an > Environmental Impact Statement, rather than simply an Environmental > Assessment Worksheet, is necessary. > There are numerous studies indicating the negative public health > impact of car-centered transportation infrastructure, including > increased asthma, heart disease, and injury. The lives and health of > those citizens most (negatively) impacted by the changes need to be > put first. It is your responsibility to "First, do no harm." > > We are also dismayed at the pressure being placed on you for a rapid > vote without time to discuss amongst yourselves or with the public. In > keeping with the Grassroots Democracy key value of the Green Party, we > believe that open, public processes should be used whenever possible. > Minneapolis City Council approval of the 35W Access Project without > holding a properly noticed public hearing is unacceptable. > > It is our understanding that Allina Healthcare is demanding City > approval of the 35W Access Project in order to make a decision on > locating their new headquarters. We question whose interests are > being represented by the proposed changes (i.e., is this mainly to > accommodate corporations rather than the citizens whom government is > suppose to represent?). There will be 8 residential and 8 commercial > structures directly impacted. Numerous other residents and local > businesses will be affected by the construction process and the > expanded roadways (35W and Lake St.). > Will the $3.5 million City investment be made to the advantage of > Allina yet to the detriment of the host community? Is this the best > approach to addressing the needs of both Allina and the host > community? > If not, could the money be better spent to address the community's > real needs? > > Finally, we feel it is important to look at both short and long-term > impacts of our transportation systems. We believe it is critical to > create a sustainable society in which future generations are not > forced to suffer from the practices of our generation. As the Green > Party of Minnesota platform states: "We support the rebuilding of > public transportation into a convenient and financially attractive > alternative to massive individual vehicle use." > > In closing, we wish to thank each of you for taking the time and > energy to be a public servant, and we appreciate your efforts to meet > the many wants and needs of the citizens of Minneapolis. We hope that > as you move forward in your deliberations, you will do what is best > for our inner-city neighborhoods in regards to transportation planning > and implementation. > > > Sincerely, > The Steering Committee of the 5th Congressional District > Green Party Darrell Gerber, Lisa Boyd, Tamir Nolley, Annie > Young 5th Congressional District Green Party PO Box 582763 > Minneapolis MN 55458 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 612-824-7366 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
