Carol Becker wrote: My name is Carol Becker. I am on the Oversight Board for the new Downtown Library after being treasurer for the referendum campaign, a referendum supported by over 106,000 Minneapolis residents. And I did vote for the W-I-N-G.
The Oversight Board could have built a plain box. We could have gotten some of those precast concrete walls like they use to slap up Wal-Mart's and other big box retailers. It would have very inexpensive and simply sheltered the books and nothing more. But it would not have said anything about Minneapolis. It would not have made our city more beautiful or interesting. It would not have said anything about who we are. It would not have been something that someone remembers as a child and brings their child to see. It would not have inspired discussion and debate. If we had simply built a plain box, it would have been a huge disservice to our citizens. What we have strived to do is to build a building that will be an icon for our city. Something that truly says something about us. We went out and got an architect who had previously built another icon (Cesar Pelli built the Norwest Center, the lit-up builing on the Minneapolis skyline) and who had a long track record of building buildings which were sensitive to the people where they were built. (he also designed the Petronis Towers, the tallest building in the world, in Kuala Lampor). And we spent a lot of time talking about that "restrained enthusiasm" that characterizes who we are. And how we wanted something that would both be provocative as well as timeless. A statement for the City like the spoon and cherry or the IDS. It will be up to the community to say how well we did, how well we captured who we are in glass and stone. But we did try. Mark Anderson replies: I wish Minneapolis would quit building monuments. I wish the government would stop spending the taxpayers' money to say something about Minneapolis. I've been to various libraries hundreds of times, and not once have I had the desire to look over the building before going inside to find books. Why can't the government build functional buildings, and leave the beautiful ones for those who are spending their own money? If the city doesn't get out of the mindset that it needs luxuries instead of the basics then it will never get out of its current financial straits. Then Vicky's predictions will come true, and we'll turn into Detroit. I believe Minneapolis is moving in the right direction, but when I see comments like the above I worry whether we can maintain the momentum of more fiscally sound government. This is not a rich city, so we can't afford to buy trinkets. Mark V Anderson Bancroft REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
