Eva Young: That statement by Rybak was total nonsense - and quite different that Rybak the candidate who ran on bringing "fresh air" to city hall. A vote against the proposal didn't mean council members wanted Allina out of the city, it just meant they felt the proposal wasn't in the best interests of the city. It seems like Blackmail to me, when Allina threatens to take their corporate headquarters out of the city if the City Council doesn't support the Access Project. I find it curious that Uptown area businesses haven't made the complaint that people are unable to find them - but somehow it's so much harder to navigate the area immediately to the east of 35W. The most nonsensical argument I've heard in favor of the Access project was Art Erickson's (of Urban Ventures) comment at a Stride Meeting about a year ago. Erickson said that this project would make it safer for the kids trying to cross the streets going over or under 35W. Close to that, was Peter McLaughlin's statements at a Property Rights meeting - that the reason to do this freeway access was economic development in the area. West Broadway has very good freeway access. The target store there with wonderful freeway access just closed. Areas much further from the freeway Northeast Minneapolis, Updown, Lyn-Lake - are showing very good economic development. Peter Schmitz: Thank you, Eva, for a wonderful post.
And what a hypocrite Mayor Rybak is for caving into corporate blackmail while bragging about his endorsement by the DFL Greens (oxymoron?) and the Sierra Club. More outrageous was his audacity to seek the endorsement from the Green Party itself. If Mayor Rybak really cares about environmental and health issues, he could've collaborated with Allina on lobbying for mass transit alternatives that could bring the company's employees to work in the city more efficiently. Of course, living where the Mayor does, he won't have to worry about himself or his family being harmed by the long-term health hazards of the project. Shame on him. On the positive side, I'd like to commend CM Natalie Johnson Lee for voting against the project. She could've waffled like CM Zimmerman, since given the area she lives in and represents, a vote for the project would not have hurt her as much as Zimmerman. And I like to congratulate the constituents and Green Party members who pressured CM Zimmerman to stick to his original position against the Project. Just as public pressure forced Rybak to select the best possible candidate for Police Chief, public pressure forced Dean to remain opposed to the project. Again, its interesting to note CM Gary Schiff voting in line with CM Barb Johnson. Sad to say, but the New Guard has turned out much worse than the Old Guard.------Peter Schmitz CARAG 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
