On 11/2/05 6:13 PM, "Guy Gambill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hello Minneapolis, > > In response to this post: > > "Hello Minneapolis! Mayor RY Rybak was endorsed by > the Sierra Club. Enough said." > > Except for one teeny problem: There were 4 very unhappy campers from the > Sierra Club at Commissioner Mclaughlin's Forum. Like so many others, they > claim that they were misled in their endorsement of RT... > > Where do you think I got the information for my postings? In the future, I think Mr. Gambill might want to get his information from people who actually know what they're talking about. I already debunked Laura Huseby's attempts to trash Mayor Rybak on the vapor recovery and Riverside issues yesterday, though I see she's still trying to grasp at those feeble straws. Here's a few more I can debunk without even having to do any research on it...maybe if I get really bored this weekend, I'll tackle the others, but I think with this response, I'll have pretty much made my point. Storm Water Utility CLAIM: Rybak claims leadership for new storm water fee and incentives. REALITY: CM Sandy Colvin Roy, Chair of the Public Works and Transportation Committee, spearheaded the effort for the storm water fee and incentives. SOURCE: Ordinance2004-Or-132, November 5, 2004, proposed by CM Colvin Roy, Goodman, Benson, and Zimmermann. MS comment: This is pretty interesting. Earlier this year, the Rybak critics, led by Jim Graham, were savaging our mayor on the storm water utility fee, even when it was pointed out by others, including me, that it was indeed SCR that was responsible for the problems with implementing of this program. Now that "Stormwatergate" has apparently blown over, the Rybak critics are reversing themselves. What's up with that? Phosphorus Ban CLAIM: Rybak claims that he made phosphorus a significant issue in 2001 and later it was banned in lawn fertilizers in the City. REALITY: The City phosphorus restrictions were in place before Rybak was in office. SOURCE: The “Phosphorus Ban” was Ordinance 2001-Or-113, proposed by City CM Lisa McDonald and CM Sandra Colvin Roy. It was adopted unanimously by City Council on September 28, 2001, and was approved by Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton on October 4, 2001. MS comment: It's amazing the short memories that some folks have. Note the timing on when that ordinance was adopted. October 4, 2001. Just a few short weeks after then-candidate Rybak won the mayoral primary. And after a summer of candidate Rybak, and to be fair, candidate Lisa McDonald scoring all kinds of attention on the phosphorus ban and it was pretty well-known that SSB was feeling a sudden need to "green" up her image. All one has to do is go back through the archives of this very forum to see. Personally, I found it pretty impressive that Rybak was able to have such an influence BEFORE he even got elected. The Above The Falls Master Plan CLAIM: Rybak claims he is a big supporter of implementing the Above The Falls Master Plan. REALITY: As Mayor, Rybak has had the basis to object to state permits or withhold City permits, but was silent as heavy industry continues to develop on the Mississippi River in ways that violate this Plan. SOURCE: Minnesota Statutes 103G.245, Subpart 6, prohibits the issuance of the necessary state Public Waters Work permit if the proposed project is inconsistent with a local plan. City CUP permits have been issued to American Iron & Supply and Graco when such facilities violate the Above The Falls Master Plan. MS comment: That's interesting. I was under the impression that City Council approved CUP permits, not the mayor. Last I checked, there were a number of city council members that at least claim to support Above the Falls, but I guess not enough to stand in Graco's or AIS's way. Perhaps that has something to do with the $8.5 million that Minneapolis taxpayers got stuck with when Joe Biernat went on his failed crusade against AIS? By the way, that big Department of Environmental Quality initiative "unveiled" by McLaughlin yesterday? That's something that has been part of Dean Zimmermann's and Lisa McDonald's city council campaigns for at least six months now, plus other candidates who did not survive the primary. That's something that was in development something like a year ago by City of Minneapolis staff and Sierra Club's Water Committee and there was a resolution under consideration that was sponsored by a majority of the current council. In other words, it's not new. And it's interesting that McLaughlin would pull such a shameless stunt after all his attacks on the mayor for claiming undue credit. Pot...kettle...black, anyone? By the way, any Ward 12 voters who liked the Department of Environmental Quality (I know I do) idea should ask their incumbent CM about it since she's the one who killed that resolution as chair of the Transportation and Public Works committee. Mark Snyder Windom Park 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
