You aren't kidding here. While the Park Board is planning to give away land for rich kids to play football - for free - they are trying to soak poor kids in the Phillips neighborhood.
Laverne Turner, who is the campaign manager for Dave Shegstad has been getting a very hard time from the Park Board. He runs a non-profit athletic program (formerly in cooperation with the park system) for low-income inner-city kids in the Phillips neighborhood to play football. Local businesses mostly fund the operation through donations. Other parties and individuals have donated equipment (though much of it is outdated - this football team reminds me of the Mighty Ducks, or Bad News Bears). Previously, the cost to the team to reserve field time was $250. This year, the park board wants to charge these poor kids $1,800 Money the non-profit doesn't currently have. Laverne's operation has been caused further difficulties by the Park Board as well (it's an odd coincidence that Laverne's troubles with the Park Board began right after he volunteered for Shegstad, as an observation). The Park Board is Giving free land for rich kids to play football on, but socking it to the poor kids who want to play football on fields that are already supported by our tax dollars for the very purpose of letting kids play sports on! Since I've been working with Laverne, I've learned how much he cares about the kids he works with. A few days ago, he called, because he was running late to a meeting. He told me he had to stop by a park to disappoint some kids. He had to tell them they still couldn't play this week. This sad saga has gotten me so upset in the midst of all the debate about DeLaSalle taking our park land. The injustice is staggering. I suppose the Park Board has to find a way to make the payments on their new palace, huh? Do it on the backs of the poor, and small businesses, just like the rest of our government does. This post is my own, personal opinion, and shouldn't be construed to represent the Dave Shegstad for City Council Campaign. Dan McGrath Longfellow http://www.shegstad.us Paulett moved the three tables to the side of Minnehaha Parkway. Which has had a couple of tables on it since I moved into the neighborhood in the sixties. They were gone last Sunday...The Park and Recreation guys came and told MeloGlaze that strip of land was park property and if she wanted to use it they would need @$1,800.00!! I measured that strip of land today...7 feet by 20 feet was used by the tables. The park system has never mowed or taken care of that piece of property. DeLaSalle stands to gain how much land for a buck? The Rowing Club..? I understand the law is the law but stupid is stupid..and I believe we have seen too much of it lately. 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
