Jay Clark is right on when he says, " Just as government had the responsibility to put in sound barriers - at no charge to the neighbors - for those living closest to the highway, government also has the responsibility to provide - at no charge to the neighbors - permit parking for impacted blocks." The "Social Justice" of mitigating the "Cost" and harm to the existing residents is evident. Many of the "Social Justice" issues and costs have been ignored or swept under the rug by those doing the LRT. Those costs should not be ignored even if the LRT seems to be doing well. Those costs should be added in as just part of the cost of doing business. Harming and cheating the residents along the present line is not the way to create support for the next LRT line. Mitigating these costs is not just "justice" it is good business.
The same responsibility exists when the City of Minneapolis gives other variances for its parking ordinances that severely impact residential neighborhoods. The residents of those neighborhoods should also be given assistance in creating critical parking zones and FREE parking permits for those areas. Not doing so is irresponsible of the Cities part. An example of this are the several parking variances concentrated in the Ventura Village neighborhood. The City gave a parking variance to the Village Market for thirty-two businesses (with the Neighborhood's support) then over strong Neighborhood opposition gave a variance to PPL for its CVI project, over strong Neighborhood opposition gave PPL a variance requiring zero parking for a hundred cars at the new PPL offices, over strong Neighborhood opposition gave a new variance and CUP to Village Market to add fifty or sixty businesses without new parking. Of course the last one they managed under the ruse of creating more parking without notification to the neighborhood that they intended to cover up the existence of illegal businesses instead of increasing parking. In several of these instances the excuses given was that the parking at the Boys and Girls Club would be used, or that Abbott-Northwestern's ramp would be used. Of course neither the Park Board at the Boys and Girls Club, nor the Hospital folks seemed to have rented even one space. The City of Minneapolis staff and elected officials accepted these lies as fact each time without batting an eyelash. I am not sure if this was due to culpability on the part of City officials, or just stupidity; and I am not sure which would be worse. Like Dr. King said, "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." The residents of the neighborhood requested that the Council Member help with a critical parking designation, but I have not heard of one being considered. If such a "Critical Parking Zone" designation were given I would expect (and it would only be just) for Minneapolis residents to expect the City to issue those parking permits for free as only partial mitigation for the harm the City may have caused. Readers, tonight drive through the Whittier Neighborhood near Pillsbury and 29th (Sabri's Karmel Square) or down 10th Avenue north of 24th Street in the Ventura Village Neighborhood (Sabris' Village Market). Look at the unbelievable impact and damage done to these neighborhoods by the City's not considering (or not caring about) the impacts of their decisions. Imagine living in a house for twenty or thirty years now to find you are neighboring these Sabri controlled businesses. Now imagine your disabled mother coming to visit, or coming home tired from work to find that you have to park three blocks away. Imagine being a single mom with groceries and a small child in your arms and no way to park near your house. You bought a house without off street parking, and the City said it was all right, now the City has decided that YOU must pay the price for the Cities new decisions. Now don't you feel this was an unfair situation, and aren't you and your neighbors deserving just a little "Social Justice"? "Social Justice" should play a part in City decisions. Minneapolis residents should expect that same "Social Justice" from its elected officials. Creating "Critical Parking Zones" and issuing free parking permits to the residents of existing housing units that are harmed by such decisions is not doing those residents any favors, it is just mitigating the damage with a little "Justice". Sure, legally the City can get away with ignoring the harm it has done, but "Justice" is a little different from "Legal". Jim Graham, Ventura Village Neighborhood, Phillips Community Planning District, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis >" Do not so firmly follow a belief that it blinds you to justice." 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
