It's not unusual to use municipal land cost write-down to stabilize a project when an important public good is at stake. Answering "cui bono?" - "who benefits?" - I submit that plenty of public dollars have found their way into projects surmised to be of compelling public interest.
The resurrection of the Elroy site is such a worthy goal and I give Basim Sabri, R.T., and the CPED and Planning Commission credit for addressing the potential utility of this site to the Somali community. Which "Somali community" is not so easily ascertained and surely there's a distinct whiff of "bait and switch" in the sometimes mercurial nature of Basim's proposals. That said, it seems to me that the deed is done for all practical purposes and I expect that the city will supervise the execution of this project with the same care that must be brought to every substantial development. Call it cultural growing pains, if you like. All the legal business aside, the Mayor is right to look for ways to expand and stabilize Somali participation in the life of our community. Basim has come a long way over the years and he has certainly broken some eggs along the way. But we've been looking at that Elroy site for years, haven't we, and now there's something tangible to work with. Fred Markus, West Phillips ------ http://USFamily.Net/info - Unlimited Internet - From $8.99/mo! ------ 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
