Elizabeth Wielinski wrote [as notes on the MPRB meeting of 11/2]:
Commissioner Dziedzic states that there is a public purpose and it is
"There is a public purpose and the public purpose is that youngsters
are gonna benefit. Whether it be in the classroom with math, reading,
writing or arithmetic or on the athletic field with the obesity
problem that we have today whether it's gonna be playing football or
soccer or just a regular gym class the kids are gonna benefit. The
education that the Christian Brothers or not too many Christian
Brothers left anymore, or the teachers give the 650 students at
DeLaSalle most college bound, 40% minority, it's a great education. I
think that's the public purpose." (this is verbatim from the DVD and
do not ask me what he meant I have no idea)
C. Dzeidzic has always been an amateur sports booster for young people.
His son is or was a big time hockey player. His daughter worked for
either the Vikings or the Twins at one point. He's also from Northeast
and considers the island part of his turf and has for his entire life.
It's what he was trying not to say that turns his statement into mush.
He has to dance around the fact that DLS will have control of park land
henceforth. He keeps saying it's for the kids and the staff at DLS does
a good job by the kids, and etc. He cannot very well say straight out
that the city's park system wants to provide a stadium on park land for
a private school. If you think about it, MPRB and the school board have
many school/park combinations around town. Banniker, Green Central,
Four Winds that is no more, Whittier Park, on and on. Dzeidzic is
deliberately blurring the lines between public and private entities, by
again using kids as a cover. The most likely scenario, if the stadium is
built, is that DLS will control it through the school year and the park
system will get some use of it in the summer.
If you look at the way the park board has dealt with Nicollet Island
from the first, which Derus pointed out, it has had private housing (and
other private entities).
The MPRB accepted Nicollet Island from MCDA as an albatross. MPRB does
not seem to have announced a cohesive vision for the island at any
juncture. That's why there is such a division on the board about the
stadium. If the goal and a plan to match said goal were in place and the
commissioners had any intention of following a stated public goal for
the island, a stadium proposal with a private entity would be a simple
yes or no vote. If the MPRB avoids stating a goal for the island and
adhering to the goal, they create problems for themselves, but it gives
them a window to screw around in and exercise personal goals until they
are tossed out of office.
WizardMarks, Central
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