Maybe it's just me (and I don't think it is), but I think the focus on the lack of traffic on 35W is allowing the media to send the issue of the strike into a seriously disturbing direction. Our focus ought to be on the cities and their residents, the ones who make the most use out of the buses. I'm not interested in the plight of suburbanites and exurbanites trying to make their way into downtown Minneapolis! The drawing force of the suburbs, it seems, is that one can experience all the good of the urban core (i.e. jobs and entertainment) without having to be a part of it and contribute to it (i.e. taxes, community involvement). With that in mind, should it be our main focus whether or not suburbanites are able to continue to have all of the good without any of the bad? I resent the notion that the discussion of what is happening in the city should be focused on its effects on suburbia. That perpetuates the notion that the city is here first and foremost for the benefit of those who live on the fringes. The focus on highway traffic, and the Taxpayer's League proclamation that transit must not be important, leave out an important fact: when the suburbanites go home, the city is still here! People live here! How about people actually living in the city? I believe that 30% of the population of Minneapolis relies on the bus to get around. Can the Taxpayer's League tell me in confidence that we are not important?
Jeff Rosenberg Cedar/Riverside --Who is wondering how he is going to go grocery shopping. 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
