[Mpls] Re: school district cuts and computers
I can shed no light on Ms. Marten's request for research supporting the validity of the use of computers in our school system, but I can offer one personal example of a use that I questioned. When I was in teacher training, I spent 10 weeks in a kindergarten class in a MPS elementary school with a fairly high level of poverty. And every day we hauled those kids to a brand spanking new Mac lab for what was supposed to be 15 minutes of customized computer time (that is, the pre-reading/reading program that they worked on could be calibrated to their individual level of skill) What with the effort it took to get these squirrely little kids all lined up and ready to go, passing through the hallways to a location that was on the other side of the school, getting them in the lab and signed on (each had their own unique sign-on access code that involved typing their name and some numbers - with zero keyboard skills this took a while) and then needing to stop to get them organized to move back to the class room - I figure we spend about a half hour to get them 10 minutes of computer time. I always thought that this half hour could be better spent staying in the classroom and working on reading in a more low tech fashion. I would think that keyboarding skills and computer time is a much better investment for older kids, but kindergarteners and first graders I would question. Sue Herridge Lynnhurst ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] 2001 Minneapolis Awards
The City of Minneapolis will honor 14 outstanding individuals who have donated time, talent and energy at the 2001 Minneapolis Awards today. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and MPR host Cathy Wurzer will present the awards to these distinguished recipients at a ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The City received many fine nominations and after a thorough and difficult review a selection committee consisting of the City staff and community members chose the following winners of the 2001 Minneapolis Awards. Please join us in congratulating the winners of the 2001 Minneapolis Awards. Richard (Dick) Clark Little - Winner of the Special Recognition Award Dick Little has dedicated his life and work to making Minneapolis, and its public schools, a better place to life, work and play. A long-time advocate for affordable housing, quality education and racial equity, and an early proponent of Study Circle democracy, he has been a powerful resource for involving all stakeholders in creating solutions that work for the whole community. He continues to volunteer, teach and travel all over the country sharing the Minneapolis message of building community and neighborhoods for all. Richard Amin Amos - Once homeless himself, he has overcome a trouble past to raise his daughter and become a voice for those without homes and often without support from society. As the Housing Director for St. Stephens Housing Services, he serves as an advocate for the homeless and works hard to create affordable housing especially housing for ex-offenders. Margo Fluegel Ashmore - Co-owner and publisher of the Northeaster and North News newspapers and an active community volunteer who has been building community through volunteerism, art, communications and support of local and small businesses. She coordinates the Art-A-Whirl art festival and works closely with Central Avenue revitalization projects including the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design project around Lowry and Central Avenue. Mary Margaret Bell - A long time volunteer at the Store-to-Door, Margaret has been quietly working to ensure that elderly and disabled residents get their shopping needs met for more than 17 years. She also volunteers at the St. Olaf of Minneapolis Catholic Church. Ava Brown - Founded Violence Prevention Initiative to help families heal after death and injury to loved one as a result of street violence. Along with her son Bobby Brown, she also founded the Bobby Brown Beyond the Court youth basketball clinic that also delivers the message about dangers of guns and street violence. Doug Davis - Former Drama, Economics, Civics and History teacher at South High who before his retirement helped shape thousands of young lives and now works tirelessly for seniors, serving as an advocate, speaking for and influencing legislation that has helped seniors and retired teachers not only in Minneapolis but state-wide. Michael Gramling - A community volunteer who has been active in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood working closely with the community and youth. His contributions to the Lake Street Cultural Festival and to the Bloomington/Cedar/Lake Commercial Association are many. Carol K. Johnson - A long time Minneapolis environmentalist, the former City Council member continues to fight hard against threats to the City's natural beauty and was instrumental in passing legislation to protect Minneapolis' environment. She also uses her personal experience to raise awareness of breast cancer and works to increase investigation of environmental carcinogens. Michael O'Keefe - A life time of public service which has seen him championing affordable housing, the arts, preserving the environment, access to higher education and welfare-to-work programs that respect the dignity of the poor. His career has been, and continues to be, based on a commitment to justice and the empowerment of citizens. Gregory Owens - A North Minneapolis volunteer, mentor, fundraiser, father and coach, he is known for his philosophy of team building that has touched thousands of youth, many of whom have gone on to college and successful lives. He continues to remain active in youth programs on the northside donating his time and wisdom teaching new coaches and kids the right way to play the game of life. Debra Petersen and Kristie Roedl - Two dedicated parents who recognized the need for safe, welcoming and accessible playground and fought hard to make the Hiawatha Park playground happen. They worked tirelessly to raise funds, educate parents, teachers and park staff about playground accessibility and safety. The Hiawatha improvements are becoming a model of safety and accessibility for children whether or not they have a disability. Dabala Rikitu - Founder and executive director of Parents and Elders of Africa Common Efforts (PEACE), this former East African immigrant has worked hard to bring together immigrants who come to Minneapolis from a wide and diverse range of
RE: [Mpls] School district cuts and computers
From: Heather Martens PLEASE convince me that our schools are not wasting money and time on computers. Heather, first thank you for starting a thread on a topic that gets me cranked up, that is not about the Twins. Amen to that. My credentials: I am a computer consultant. I have worked in the field for almost 20 years. No Luddite here, either Similar credentials ( a few years short). This debate needs to go beyond computers and also cover the use of calculators in school. I have been told that calculators are standard issue in math classes. Calculators are good tools in Jr-Sr High level courses in accounting, chemistry, physics etc but NEVER in a math class. Why? Because they are a crutch which prevents the student from learning math. Like Walt said, kids learning this way have no feeling for numbers. When they get to college they will find their calculators useless. In 1984, as a college freshman I bought a beautiful and expensive calculator. IT was very useful in my labs but had no value in my main classes because we never dealt with real numbers. Now I go to stores and cashiers can;t even count change. They just lump it into your hand. When I was in Ireland I watched a 9yr old girl count change better than most adults. There is a result of a focus on the basics. Now I don;t have much experience with the local school system but it appears to me, especially in the low-income areas, that computer skills are word-processing, data-entry and so forth. Where is the emphasis on teaching these kids programming? I'd support computers in art classes part time. As research tools they are phenomenal. Even as note-taking tools. I type faster than I write. I organize better with computer than without one - but this is a matter of personal style. You can't put a classroom of kids in front of computers and believe they are all suddenly going to be great note takers. My bottom line is that computers are great tools and necessary in schools but that, so far, they have probably been poorly used. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Park Board and Money
Robert and all: My point was that the Park Board has the money for this project under control. In fact we stand to lose some of the money if we are not able to purchase the entire parcel. As far as the Park Board, in general, having its money under control: We have indeed restructured our tax plan; we are phasing it in over a 3 year period. This coming year, the 2002 budget we are now working on, will be year two. After the 3 year phase-in, our taxing level will be at a point where we can operate our system without always being in crisis mode. The only thing that stands in the way of this plan is the Board of Estimate and Taxation. The Board of ET has 7 members: Mayor, City Council President, Chair of Ways Means, Park Board Rep, Library Board Rep, and two elected members. The Board of ET sets a maximum levy limit for all boards and coucil in the city. Now, if the city reps to the Board of ET do not renege on our agreement, the Park Board will have its funding under control. The Park Board has not been over at City Hall asking for help. We have been over at City Hall asking for others to get out of our way. You are right, two years ago the Park Board did not have its money in order, now it does. As long as the City does not renege on our agreement. There are other issues. Money that comes from the state, often referred to as state aid. We have agreements with the city on how it is to be devided between the city and the Park Board. HACA money was divided16% to Park Board, 84 % to City Council. LGA was divided 11% to Park Board, and 89% to City Council. These were long standing agreements. Last year the state eliminated HACA and put all the money into LGA. Because the Park Board gets only 11% of LGA, we are now getting less money from the state. HACA was a bigger pot of money. The Park Board perspective is that we need to restructure the % agreement so that we continue to recieve the same amount that we were recieving before. This of course is what some call, the Park Board begging for money at city hall. So far the City has showed no inclination to rectify this problem. This is typical behavior for the city. They have historically found ways to steal the Park Board's money. The reason they are able to do this, is because all of the money is run through the city's accounts. The Park Board is lobbying to get our state money directly. In the interest of saving taxpayers money, the Park Board and the City have made some service redesign agreements in the last couple of years. For example, Public Works now does rountine maintenance of road surfaces on Parkways (we used to contract with Public Works for this service) and the Park Board now does routine maintenance on Green Spaces owned by Public Works. There are a number of details and other areas in the agreement that all agree have led to savings of $'s by increased efficiency. Dean Zimmermann Park Board Commissioner Council Member-elect/Ward 6 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Schools Special Education Reimbursement Rules
The district could better serve children with special needs and improve the quality of education for all children by changing some practices that are strongly influenced by some of the state's special education reimbursement rules. For example, to qualify for special education reimbursement for a learning disability, the district has to have evidence that a child's academic skills have deteriorated to a certain degree. A child's score on an academic achievement / aptitude test must place them two years below minimum expectations for the child's grade level, or a cognitive ability test places the child at two grade levels above what they scored on an academic achievement test. You've probably heard board members complain that the state does not fully reimburse the district for special education services. They have a legitimate beef about those underfunded mandates, but they can't complain about what the state reimburses them for fighting claims for special education services. If memory serves, several years ago the Minnesota legislature passed a law that obligates the state to fully reimburse the district for legal costs associated with fighting claims by parents for special education services, win or lose. On the other hand, if a parent wins, their child is supposed to get the special education services, but parent gets no financial compensation at all for legal costs, lost wages, and so forth. What are the implications? The district is not going to bother to figure out why a child is falling behind academically. If they discover that the child has a learning disability they would have to do something about it. If a child is being disruptive in the classroom, they are quick to label them as emotionally / behaviorally disordered. The answer is usually drugs and title I classes. In many cases where a child gets the EBD label, there may be a mild learning disability that's contributing to the problem. One of the reasons that I go on about the need for phonics instruction is that children with specific reading disorders (i.e., dyslexia) really do need the phonics instruction, and some non-dyslexics will become functionally dyslexic without it. It is estimated that about 15-20% of the population has some type of specific reading disorder. Maybe 1 to 2% of the population has a reading disorder that is so severe as to require special education services, even if best practices are followed in the classroom. I could go on, but I'll leave it at that for now. -Doug Mann Doug Mann for School Board web site: http://educationright.tripod.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] (MPLS) School Funding Issue
Response to all the school funding issues. Truth be told, the per capita spending on education is the highest here in the United States than any other industrialized nation. What is really hard for us to swallow is the fact that we are also getting the poorest grades on educational quality. Where does all the money go? It does not take a genius to figure out that the system is inefficient and top heavy. Money is not the issue, and I hate how often it is used as the red herring. The issues will never be solved by spending even more money on a system that is not working. I liken this togiving drinks to alcoholics. I refuse to enable the system to flounder along. I have voted no to the last two referendums.I will not fundraise for the school system in any way. The system is ill, and terminally so. I am not here to praise Caesar. I am also not here to argue about the particulars. I find that most board members and school administrators like tonit-pick the small issues until they end up doing nothing about the larger issue. They pretend to be interested in what the opinion of the tax payers might be, then do as they will, no matter what. (Like give a bonus to the Superintendent of Schools that is greater than the median income of the people she allegedly serves. I call that self-serving.) I have been told time and again that as a parent I must subscribe to their ideal of what constitues a good parent. Yet, I have more than one example of English teachers (even one that laughingly billed himself as a Language Arts teacher) that are not capable of writing coherent sentences. They certainly do not subscribe to my ideal of what constitutes a good teacher. I still have two children attending the Minneapolis Public Schools. I take pity on us all Jean Brown Cooper/Longfellow ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] School Administrative costs
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 11/10/2001 2:05:24 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Speaking of administration costs, the district is at a very low and lean level of administration costs. Each year, we are audited by Deloitte Touche, an outside firm. In last year's audit, presented on Dec 12, 2000, with 4 area superintendents and offices, the ratio of administrative expenditures to general fund revenue was 4.2% in 2000. Note that it did not include principals. How much money are we talking about? What is the general revenue fund? How much is in the general operating budget? School Board Candidate Dick Anderson noted that there were over 200 highly compensated district employees, defined as employees earning more than the highest paid teacher. In 1990-1991 the average US school district spent 2.2% of its operating budget on salaries for central office administrators and professional staff (Robinson and Brandon, 1992, Perceptions about American education: are they based on facts?; Arlington, VA; Educational Research Service). -Doug Mann, King Field I believe that a look into the amount the Mpls. School District spends on outside consultants, and what services these consultants provide would be benificial to this discussion as well. The Saint Paul School District has been spending $9.2M per year on consultants and purchased curriculums. Thomas Swift Saint Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals http://personals.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] RE: schools and computers
Bruce Gaarder wrote: Available in local libraries. I really like this line. WizardMarks, Central ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Housing Crisis A Challenge for the New Council Mayor
Tim Bonham wrote: Statements like the following always seem to set my personal BS detector ringing: Most of us are well aware that a major contributor to the affordable housing crisis is the demolition quest the city has been on for almost a decade. Whenever anyone starts out saying we all know that..., I look to see what they are trying to sell me. So before I'm willing to agree that I am well aware that..., I'd like to see some figures from David supporting this assertion. For example: - are demolition permits for past years significantly higher than previous years? - are the majority of these demolition permits obtained by the city, or by individual owners? - are houses being demolished because of a city demolition quest, or simply because of an aging housing stock? I.E., is the average age of houses being demolished going down? snip David Piehl writes: Some months ago, there was lengthy discussion on the reduction in total number of dwelling units available in the city of Minneapolis, based on census data - it was something like 17,000 units less. The discussions that ensued - as well as work done by several affordable housing groups - identified demolition as the primary driver behind the reduction in the number of units available; hence the (overly broad) statement to open the discussion. I believe many of the units demolished are unneccessarily victims of the wrecking ball, sometimes because they housed problem occupants, sometimes because they are just not part of a larger plan that certain civil servants may feel is best for the area. It is my opinion that demolition is the simple, band-aid solution of choice for certain city staff. Our experience in Central with the houses that were sold by the MPHA as part of the Hollman agreement a few years ago is a classic example. Nine MPHA homes in Central were conveyed to MCDA in the first round, staff at MPHA said they chose to convey to the MCDA so the homes would be thoroughly rennovated and sold to owner occupants rather than investors. MCDA proposed demolishing all of them. MCDA had rehab estimates for each of the properties that were astonishingly high to support their assertions. The residents of Central didn't buy into this thinking, and pushed for further assesments. One of the homes was located on the corner of 33rd and Chicago Ave - MCDA claimed it needed in excess of $100,000 of work to be up to code, including lead abatement, and should be demolished. When the house was toured by some state officials, neighborhood residents, and folks from some of the local non-profit developers, everyone was astonished by the great condition of the home. Lead tests showed that lead abatement had already been done, and a large amount of rehab had already been done by MPHA. It was clear to many people present that the MCDA had generated rehab numbers without ever viewing the property. Maybe they used a standard calculation per square foot, I don't know, but in the end this home was nicely rennovated and sold to an owner occupant for about $75,000 or $80,000 - and there was no subsidy required!! The sale actually generated a profit that was put into less profitable rennovations! If one couples this experience with statements made by senior staff at the MCDA about the value of new construction, and that new construction is the only way to attract suburban buyers, then it lends credibility to the demolition quest theory. Further, the fact that inspections demolished houses if the cost of code compliance exceeds the cost of demolition (about $12,000) is another major issue. In the midst of a housing crisis, it seems that the cost of the demolition could be better spent on the rennovation. I could site dozens of homes that MCDA controlled that were demolished without ever making them available to the public. The dollar figures applied to rennovations are often absolutely bizarre. My opinion: If MCDA can't rennovate a property they receive, they need to do a Request for Proposals before a property is demolished. A moratorium on demolition of housing is probably over-broad, but it's a starting point for discussion. Realistically, properties that have had a fire, for example, might be clear cases for an emergency demolition. Properties that have never been accessable to the public should in no case be demolished until they are made available. To put a little perspective on it all, when the out-going council and mayor established the current demolition evaluation process, the city was very different than it is today. At that time, there was excess housing stock, and all the talk was about how falling housing values could be supported, and the need for less density. In that environment, less scrutiny of re-use options prior to demolition was less of an issue. Today, we have a housing shortage, and values have skyrocketed. It's time to start getting creative about finding ways to use what we have. David
Re: [Mpls] Housing Crisis A Challenge for the New Council Mayor
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If one couples this experience with statements made by senior staff at the MCDA about the value of new construction, and that new construction is the only way to attract suburban buyers, then it lends credibility to the demolition quest theory. snip To be fair to MCDA, suburban possible homeowners, and urban possible home owners, now that I own an old house, I can give much more credence to those who want a new home. I've been here 4 years and I'm a long way from having all the work that needs doing done. I'm very close to being 60 years old--two more years. It's getting harder and harder to keep up with the demands of an old house. So, had I the money, I would opt for a new house so that I could spend the next few years puttering around in the garden rather than sanding the wood work, remortgaging the house for big repairs, or otherwise using brain space to worry about plumbing and electric, and all the rest. Empty nesters, whether suburban or urban or rural transplants, can probably say 'been there, done that' to all this house fussing. And be absolutely justified in so saying. WizardMarks, Central ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Park Board and Money
[Original message to list sent via my partner's computer, Jenny Heiser. I am reposting my response from my computer in case it was missed by Meg Forney or any other list members. DZ] Robert and all: My point was that the Park Board has the money for this project under control. In fact we stand to lose some of the money if we are not able to purchase the entire parcel. As far as the Park Board, in general, having its money under control: We have indeed restructured our tax plan; we are phasing it in over a 3 year period. This coming year, the 2002 budget we are now working on, will be year two. After the 3 year phase-in, our taxing level will be at a point where we can operate our system without always being in crisis mode. The only thing that stands in the way of this plan is the Board of Estimate and Taxation. The Board of ET has 7 members: Mayor, City Council President, Chair of Ways Means, Park Board Rep, Library Board Rep, and two elected members. The Board of ET sets a maximum levy limit for all boards and council in the city. Now, if the city reps to the Board of ET do not renege on our agreement, the Park Board will have its funding under control. The Park Board has not been over at City Hall asking for help. We have been over at City Hall asking for others to get out of our way. You are right, two years ago the Park Board did not have its money in order, now it does. As long as the City does not renege on our agreement. There are other issues. Money that comes from the state, often referred to as state aid. We have agreements with the city on how it is to be divided between the city and the Park Board. HACA money was divided % to Park Board, 84 % to City Council. LGA was divided 11% to Park Board, and 89% to City Council. These were long standing agreements. Last year the state eliminated HACA and put all the money into LGA. Because the Park Board gets only 11% of LGA, we are now getting less money from the state. HACA was a bigger pot of money. The Park Board perspective is that we need to restructure the % agreement so that we continue to receive the same amount that we were receiving before. This of course is what some call, the Park Board begging for money at city hall. So far the City has showed no inclination to rectify this problem. This is typical behavior for the city. They have historically found ways to steal the Park Board's money. The reason they are able to do this, is because all of the money is run through the city's accounts. The Park Board is lobbying to get our state money directly. In the interest of saving taxpayers money, the Park Board and the City have made some service redesign agreements in the last couple of years. For example, Public Works now does routine maintenance of road surfaces on Parkways (we used to contract with Public Works for this service) and the Park Board now does routine maintenance on Green Spaces owned by Public Works. There are a number of details and other areas in the agreement that all agree have led to savings of $'s by increased efficiency. Dean Zimmermann Park Board Commissioner Council Member-elect/Ward 6 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Robert Gustafson Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 10:40 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Park Board and Money Dean Zimmermann notes that concerning the Riverview Supper Club site, The Park Board does want to purchase. The Park Board has a way of coming up with money--that is not the problem at all. We have the money for this situation under control. It is a great relief for me to hear that the Park Board has their money situation under control. Listening to them when they come to the city asking for financial help the last few years one began to think that they had some money issues. Just two years ago the Park Board prepared an Infrastructure and GAP Report showing that the $1.9 million the city annually assigned to the Park Board for capital projects was not sufficient. Their calculations showed they needed something more in the order of $10.4 million per year, a slight shortage of $8.5 million per year. Apparently at that time the Park Board didn't yet have the money situation under control like they do now so they worked with the Mayor to arrange a new tax levy for the Park Board. That should raise by 2006 an additional $5.5 million per year. That wasn't quite enough to handle their shortage however so the mayor agreed to let them transfer responsibility for the Parkway roads and the Park Board sewer system over to Public Works. That helped a bunch, since the Park Board estimated the amount of their GAP attributed to these two items alone was $4.2 million per year. For those of you who have actually heard of Infrastructure Gaps you are probably thinking of the Public Works Gap. That's the one where Public Works in 1997 identified an ANNUAL gap in maintenance for Public Works of $16 million per year and an ANNUAL
RE: [Mpls] Housing Crisis A Challenge for the New Council Mayor
According to a Planning Department 2000 Census Report and verified against Census Bureau website data, the number of Census-enumerated housing units in Minneapolis are: 1980: 168,828 1990: 172,666 2000: 168,606 Absolute decrease of 4,060 housing units. The number of occupied dwelling units went up from 1990 to 2000 by 1,670 increasing the occupancy rate. While not casting any claim on whether or not the City has been too aggressive in demolishing housing units over the past decade, the Census data does not claim anywhere near a loss of 17,000 units. Does anyone have the number of housing demo permits issued by the City as well as new unit production for Mr. Bonham? Matt Bower Office of Grants Special Projects City of Minneapolis Nokomis Resident Tim Bonham wrote: Statements like the following always seem to set my personal BS detector ringing: Most of us are well aware that a major contributor to the affordable housing crisis is the demolition quest the city has been on for almost a decade. Whenever anyone starts out saying we all know that..., I look to see what they are trying to sell me. So before I'm willing to agree that I am well aware that..., I'd like to see some figures from David supporting this assertion. For example: - are demolition permits for past years significantly higher than previous years? - are the majority of these demolition permits obtained by the city, or by individual owners? - are houses being demolished because of a city demolition quest, or simply because of an aging housing stock? I.E., is the average age of houses being demolished going down? snip David Piehl writes: Some months ago, there was lengthy discussion on the reduction in total number of dwelling units available in the city of Minneapolis, based on census data - it was something like 17,000 units less. The discussions that ensued - as well as work done by several affordable housing groups - identified demolition as the primary driver behind the reduction in the number of units available; hence the (overly broad) statement to open the discussion. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] JADT One More Time
For those of you not on the Green Party of Minnesota list, here are some comments written by Betsy Barnum (posted with permission). Betsy lives in Ward 2. Mark Knapp Lyndale --- Betsy Barnum [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Fran Gumminga wrote: I think we let CM Paul Ostrow off too easy when we say he was backed into a corner and had to vote for the project. Had to? Ostrow wants to be City Council Prez. Who needs this kind of new leadership when we could have gotten that from the old leadership? You wanna be a leader, then stand up for what you claim you believe in. I think this is a very astute observation, and expresses one of the core ways in which I envision (and have witnessed, with Annie and Dean and their refusal to cave on the park land swap for the 55 reroute, to cite a memorable example) Green politics differing from business as usual. I can't help but be reminded of Senator Wellstone and his justification for voting to approve the bombing of Kosovo, that there's no other option. If an elected official can't make a principled decision, but has to fall back on excuses like, he got backed into a corner, there wasn't any other choice, something is wrong. Part of what it means to be Green is that we believe there *are* choices, there *are* alternatives, and we expect our elected representatives to think and act accordingly. In a way I feel sorry for people like Ostrow and Wellstone, whose party doesn't support them for making a principled decision. Maybe it's harder for them to do that, than for Green Party people in office, who know they have their own party (both membership and leadership) behind them in taking risks or stands that may be unpopular with the big-money interests. Betsy Barnum [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.greatriv.org (under construction) * Anything we love can be saved. --Alice Walker __ Do You Yahoo!? Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals http://personals.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] What is missing?
For a lighter side topic: I have lived in Minneapolis for 24 years after growing up in Chicago and going to college in Bloomington, Illinois (Illinois Wesleyan University). My wife and I were talking at dinner tonight about things that at one time (10 or more years ago) were defining things about Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, which are no longer around today. We came up with the following starter list: The Weatherball (What did the colors mean?) OFBD (Old Fashioned Bargain Days) at Dayton's Casey Jones and more specifically the Birthday Song (Happy, happy birthday to every girl and boy...) Burritos at Seven Markets (although I wasn't around for that) Pony rides at Minnehaha Falls Additions??? What does this say about how things have changed? Walt Cygan (and Karen Stuhlfeier) 12-5 Keewaydin ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] What is missing?
Walt asks for: things that at one time (10 or more years ago) were defining things about Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, which are no longer around today. We came up with the following starter list: The Weatherball (What did the colors mean?) OFBD (Old Fashioned Bargain Days) at Dayton's Casey Jones and more specifically the Birthday Song (Happy, happy birthday to every girl and boy...) Burritos at Seven Markets (although I wasn't around for that) Pony rides at Minnehaha Falls Additions??? What does this say about how things have changed? Love this thread, but let's keep it to Minneapolis, please The Longhorn Bar Duffy's Twin Cities Reader (not 10 years, but I cut my teeth there, so forgive me The Minneapolis Star Mystery Science Theater (born more than a decade ago on local TV in Minneapolis-based Channel 29, created by Minneapolis guys) Memorial Stadium Metropolitan Building Mayslack's with Stan Mayslack What does it say? I drank at a few bars, read a few since-consolidated papers, and watched too much TV sports, and went to the U. David Brauer Kingfield - Ward 10 _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Riverview site
Fran -- Thank you. You have passionately yet eloquently stated the exact reasons why this parcel of land MUST be saved for usage by not just residents of Mpls. but by visitors to our city both regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our politicians must take the blinders off and understand that this river, the mighty Mississippi, is a national treasure. A treasure for which we must be wise and foresighted stewards. Perhaps a lawsuit is in order asking for Federal intervention. The short-sightedness of current city council members and development interests is one big piece of why the election results came out as they did, just a little over a week ago. Minneapolitans sent the message loud and clear: No more city government by the 'Mandarin class,' an insiders clique, 'we are the professionals and know better' claque. I can't help but believe that the reason voter turnout gets increasingly lower with each election in our city, our state, and our nation, is the disillusionment that the average citizen experiences after seeing what happens when after weeks, sometimes years, of hard work one citizen 'advisory' groups' recommendations after another is discounted and disregarded. The 'dog-and-pony' shows consisting of public officials lauding citizen involvement and then totally ignoring the product of that involvment must stop. The words to Joni Mitchell's song: You don't know what you got 'til it's gone... keep going through my mind. Jenny Heiser East Phillips Ward 6 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] what's missing
ready kilowatt outdoor baseball...soon to be baseball. As to the weather ball when the weather ball is glowing red, warmer weather's just ahead when the weather ball is glowing green, colder weather is foreseen white meant snow or rain, but I forget the rest of the jingle. J. Trout Lowen [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
Wouldn't you know David would keep us to Minneapolis. :-) Shees! The Weatherball (of Northwestern National Bank): When the Weatherball is red, warmer weather is ahead; When the Weatherball is white, colder weather is in sight; When the Weatherball is green, no change in weather is foreseen. When the Weatherball is blinking (red, green or white) precipitation is expected. Dayton's Jubilee Sale is what I recall. Casey Jones (Roger Awsumb) sang: A very happy birthday to all the boys and girls who have a happy birthday today. If Casey gets PR, so should Clancy the Cop (John Gallos), Willie Ketchum (Allan Lotsberg), Axel and Carmen the Nurse, Wrangler Steve (Steve Cannon before 'CCO), and on. The Flat Top - best (and first shoestring-style) French Fries and Malts waaayyy before McDonald's, just inside Minneapolis from the old Lake Street Bridge. First real drive-thru: The AirLoHa at the edge of the city on 34th Ave. So. just north of the Airport - natch - when it was Wold Chamberlain and the passenger facility was on the west edge with a balcony outside to watch the clippers and Stratocruisers take off and land and we fantasize over faraway places with strange-sounding names.. The Saturday and Sunday hum of prop planes overhead instead of deafening jet engines flying low. One of the Midwest's first Pizza palaces: Dulono's on Lake St., which sponsored Franklin Hobb's late-night music show on 'CCO and put pizza on the late night map forever. There's more, right? Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, remain neutral --Dante From: David Brauer [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 18:26:49 -0600 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Mpls] What is missing? Walt asks for: things that at one time (10 or more years ago) were defining things about Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, which are no longer around today. We came up with the following starter list: The Weatherball (What did the colors mean?) OFBD (Old Fashioned Bargain Days) at Dayton's Casey Jones and more specifically the Birthday Song (Happy, happy birthday to every girl and boy...) Burritos at Seven Markets (although I wasn't around for that) Pony rides at Minnehaha Falls Additions??? What does this say about how things have changed? Love this thread, but let's keep it to Minneapolis, please The Longhorn Bar Duffy's Twin Cities Reader (not 10 years, but I cut my teeth there, so forgive me The Minneapolis Star Mystery Science Theater (born more than a decade ago on local TV in Minneapolis-based Channel 29, created by Minneapolis guys) Memorial Stadium Metropolitan Building Mayslack's with Stan Mayslack What does it say? I drank at a few bars, read a few since-consolidated papers, and watched too much TV sports, and went to the U. David Brauer Kingfield - Ward 10 _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
Does anyone remember Karlos Kaufmanis' "Star of Bethlehem" lecture? Ya know, as far as I know, it was never taped! Ann Berget Kingfield 10-10
[Mpls] Weatherball jingle - my recollectrion
Red: Warmer weather ahead Green: No change forseen While: Colder weather in sight Blinking: precipitation forecast. Ann Berget Kingfield 10-10
Re: [Mpls] What is missing
The Minneapolis Herald - strike (Guild) paper in 1962 - held on for awhile after settlement, featured Bob White of 'CCO as columnist. The Voice of What's Happnin' Around Town: Will Jones, Star columnist Andy The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, remain neutral --Dante From: Steve Brandt [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 18:30:13 -0600 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] What is missing The Minneapolis Times The Minneapolis Journal Newspaper row on 4th Street Steve Brandt Staff Writer Star Tribune (Mpls-St. Paul) 425 Portland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55488 612-673-4438 (voice) 612-673-4359 (fax) e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Plugged driveways - can we save our backs and our hearts?
I don't want to comment on Mike Kennedy's November sixth response through the use of any excerpts, until I learn whether he had given permission to post what originally was his semiprivate/direct response. I'm grateful to Mike Kennedy for his helpful information in regard to the experience of using snow retaining attachments for plows in Minneapolis. Previously, I had talked to those in Minneapolis and Hennepin County governments who were referred to me by the respective information operators and then chased down all of the subsequent referrals without learning anything beyond information about commercial contacts. I had better luck on the Internet after getting a referral that I received after talking to an official at a snow plow manufacturing plant in Little Falls, Minnesota. I have heard that there are two limitations to the Root Snow Restrictor non-plugging device at its present stage of development: - capacity is insufficient if plowing is delayed during an unusually heavy snow fall. - there may be a need for a variety of attachments in order to fit all plow blades. A representative of a road equipment dealer indicated that a difficult problem to overcome was the resistance of municipal and county governments to change. I understand that the Root Spring Scraper Company has suspended the manufacturing of the attachment because of a lack of interest. This situation might be considered analogous to the suspension of the manufacture of an early automobile because of a lack of interest in that type of product. Since I posted my November fourth message, Plugged driveways and pedestrian intersection crossings., I have heard a claim from a local sales representative that the City of Bismark, North Dakota uses the non-plugging type of device extensively and so here we go again. I'll keep you all posted. Also, thanks to Mike Kennedy, we finally have some City information that we can sink our teeth into! As to comments about equity (see Mpls digest, Vol 1 #513 Message: 13), I see no problem. I don't want to foster a class war between the haves and have nots (Those who have alleys and those who have not.), but I believe that every taxpayer in Minneapolis pays to have alleys plowed and maintained. Only when there is a major overhaul of an alley, as with any street, is the expense paid by the adjacent property owners as an assessment. The City of Minneapolis does not plow our driveways at the expense of others. Are any changes needed? This discussion may be unnecessary anyway because the non-plugging process may also be applicable to alley driveways. I'm still involved with responding to those who have sent messages directly to me on a variety of subjects that I have addressed through Mpls. Issues, but I will want to provide at least one more message in regard to the prevention of the plugging of driveways and crosswalks. And, again, I want to express my appreciation to Mike Kennedy for his information. Neal E. Simons Prospect Park ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
When you drove Victory Memorial Drive and VM Parkway there was an un-interrupted canopy of Elms that extended for 1.5 miles. Break of sunshine at the Flag Pole and Statue of Lincoln. Then 1.5 Miles of Canopy again. Even on the hottest of days, you could feel the temp drop in that long leafy tunnel. You could see it best as a six year old in the front seat of the car. Kids have a much better angle for looking up then mom or dad. Damn that Dutch Elm Disease! Craig A. Miller Former Camdenite [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
WCCO Yes, I know- The building is still there and a radio station using the same call letters and frequency is on the air. But it is not 'CCO. Duke Powell Burnsville ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] What is missing?
What's missing...??? The big panfish in our city lakes... sun fish and crappies The clean, clear water in our city lakes (might be a relationship between today's algae laden pea soup waters, lower oxygen content and smaller fish.. ya think?) Main Beach at Lake Calhoun and the gymnastic hardware (high bar, parallel bars, rings), concession stand and bath house. Porky's Drive-In on Lake St. near SW corner of L. Calhoun and Mr. Lucky's at Lake and Nicollet (across the street from Mat's or was it Matty's) Triangle Bar at Cedar-Riverside near the Viking, where guys like Koerner, Ray and Glover played as kids and a guy named Dylan stopped in now and then... the long-hair's paradise during the '70s, where the honky-tonk went 'till closing every night. Moby Dicks!! The relative open space behind Coffman Union, along the river... The stately old public library near the rail tracks on 29th and Hennepin... (bldg. is still there, but no longer a library) all the grand old hotels and theaters along Hennepin Ave... downtown Central High School on 4th Ave. a downtown skyline dominated by the Foshay Tower, and no 35W and much more... Mike Hohmann 13th ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] (MPLS) NU? What is missing?
The Original Plymouth Avenue and the old neighborhood people that focused on it. Keith Reitman, still seeing ghosts of the old Northside every day, Near North. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
In a message dated 11/15/01 7:14:51 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: When you drove Victory Memorial Drive and VM Parkway there was an un-interrupted canopy of Elms that extended for 1.5 miles. Same is true for the elms on Lyndale Ave. How about the Toddle House? Anyone remember that? Karen Collier Linden Hills
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
- Dave Moore Bud Kraehling Hal Scott on 'CCO 4 - Ray Scott's restaurant - Moby Dick's - Central High School - Outdoor high school hockey - All Star Wrestling (with Marty O'Neil interviews) at the Calhoun Beach Club - The Harmon Killebrew show (before WTCN11 TV broadcasts) - Mel Jazz (sp?) - Nankin - Sears on Lake Street - Berman Buckskin - Minneapolis Lakers - Halsey Hall - Streetcars richard carney st. paul I read the Strib everyday, but I can't seem to find any articles about the new downtown Target store (especially any telling how great it is). Well tomorrow is another day. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
The streetcar bridge that spanned Minnehaha Creek connecting Bryant Avenue South. Does anybody know when it was torn down? The pedestrian bridge that was to its east still exists. I stood on that bridge the other day and was struck how it's beginning to look like a mini-35W below there with all the asphalt bike and walking paths springing up. When we were kids we cut our own paths down there and fancied it our own wilderness - what can you say, city kids! A few blocks from there was the Dairy Queen on Lyndale where the Washburn Branch library stands today. Also, does anybody remember the old concrete bridge over the creek at Dupont that somebody painted red, white and blue like the flag in about 1969? Karen Tischler Larson Tangletown ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] What is missing?
From: Walt Cygan [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Minneapolis Issues List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] What is missing? Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 18:18:54 -0600 For a lighter side topic: I have lived in Minneapolis for 24 years after growing up in Chicago.. (snip) Additions??? What does this say about how things have changed? My husband and I both grew up in Minneapolis. There are many things about growing up here in the sixties and seventies that are good to be nostalgic about. However, there are things that still need changing around here to make things better. Let me make a short list of things that need our attention: - The school system - Housing - Transportation - Jobs How many of us remember the percentage of children that are homeless and/or go hungry in the Twin Cities each and every day? How many children do not even graduate from our High Schools? How many of us suffer from inadequate or overly expensive housing in our tight housing market? How many of us hold down two, three or four jobs per two parent households to make ends meet? Just a thought, not intending to be a spoil-sport. Jean Brown Cooper/Longfellow ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
Lit up neon Grain Belt BEER BEER BEER sign Deals at Bank's The Suburbs at the Union Bar Marshall-University High School in Dinkytown Trespassing on the Stone Arch Bridge Congressman Don Fraser sign left up in Warehouse District Burning leaves Hot Licks and Northern Lights record shops Bringing late mail to the trucks around back of the main P.O. A guy who looked like Peter Lorre selling balloons on Marquette Ave. Quite a few grain elevators Two-way traffic downtown on Hennepin Avenue Chris Steller Nicollet Island-East Bank ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
* The New Riverside Cafe * 3.2 beer at the Seward Cafe * The Unique Bar and the Famous Bar, both on Lake Street and now in the heart of Sabriville. * 38th and Fourth when it was Mr. Crown's Corner. Although I'm embarrassed to admit that I was glad I didn't have to change busses at that corner, there is nothing like it on the southside anymore. * Chuckles LaRue, 1951(?) - 2000 (anyone else on the list know Chuckles?) Rosalind Nelson Still here, and in the Bancroft neighborhood ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Education threads
Sue writes, then brakes: I'm going to stop now because I suddenly realized that this information isn't Minneapolis specific (sorry, Mr. Brauer) The education thread has, for the most part, been great. But like everything, it must be made Minneapolis-specific. We don't want to get too far into abstract or general education ideology. If you could speak in terms of MPS kids, what MPS actually teaches, and things the district can do/change, we'll all be in keeping with list principles. Thanks, David Brauer List manager _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
Walt Cygan wrote: For a lighter side topic: The Weatherball (What did the colors mean?) OFBD (Old Fashioned Bargain Days) at Dayton's There was a mule living on Nicollet Island and you could live in the Nicollet Inn for damn cheap. The streets were eerily clean all over town. There were never any shootings in Central. Phillips was a nice neighborhood only somewhat down at heel. Old green jimmy buses with split windshields. Drivers who collected a dime at the city line on the 16 and 21. Wizard Marks, Central ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] What's missing?
Bedtime Noos (with Dave Moore) -- Moore on Sunday too Great Northern Depot (the Federal Reserve Bldg. is now on the site) Cafe Extempore elevator operators in the Medical Arts Bldg. Young Quinlans and Barbara's Bridals on the Nicollet Mall Porky's on Lyndale Cruising on the strip (Lake Street) in the early 60's Curtis Hotel Lemington Hotel The swans in Loring Park's pond Skippy Peanut Butter factory (a memorable Girl Scout field trip) Munsingwear Control Data (well, the some of the workforce was in Minneapolis) Watching the airplanes land from Post Road --- a euphemism for what we used to call parking (is Post Road in Mpls?) I love this thread -- it's making me feel nostalgic Barbara Nelson Burnsville -- Barbara Nelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. Cicero ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] (MPLS)What's Missing (I wrote this10/00, before DFL meltdown)
REMEMBER THE DAYS...(please add to this ironic list), topic by KEITH REITMAN /DOWN MEMORY LANE AT WEST BROADWAY ENVIRONS, October 04, 2000 10:54 PM CST ...when you could walk to the corner store for a jug of milk at 9:PM? (26th Penn or Broadway Irving) ...when West Broadway was a destination for more then gas, Target, and drugs? ...when most of the neighbors looked after their kids? Please add onto this list as you see fit, start with --when...and then add what ever you remember. Submit Response Keith Reitman/Broadway-Irving property owner and Broadway Business Block Club member, October 13, 2000, 10:30 PM CST ...when owning a rental property in the neighborhood was respected, government subsidized housing was transitional (short-term) and it didn't cost $120,000 per unit to build. I think that way back then the private builders built the stuff in our neighborhoods and the city was the policeman, street cleaner, etc., and didn't meddle so much in the free market place. Current results: The North side has neither clean and safe streets nor an adequate supply of homes. Of course, desperate neighborhood residents can blame the slum lords and let our city leaders off the hook. The best and only way to create a vibrant neighborhood is to get over the government money addiction, it hasn't worked. Lets create a neighborhood where home seekers and business people rush in to live and do business. This new blood and energy will create the natural bidding up of property values and reinvestment in the hood. Much preferred to the artificial raising of housing prices we currently see caused by the city's willy-nilly demolition of any property that happens to end up distressed. Those pesky slumlords will move on when the investment in real estate is a reasonable and safe investment for a broad base of people such as you, dear reader, or your sons and daughters. Our city leaders fueled the disinvestment in our neighborhood, free capital moved over the hill. Keith Reitman Near North ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Riverview site
Along with the other sound arguments made for preserving the Riverview site as a park, think of the educational value it provides as an urban river experience as well as the connection to other significant parks such as the North Mississippi Regional Park, Edgewater and Boom Island. From MCNC's February 2000 newsletter and a series that ran in the Camden Community News on Shaping the Future of the Mighty Mississippi's Upper River Corridor: There is only one Mississippi River. It is the most important natural water system on the North American continent. It is a complex ecosystem that is a major flyway for migratory birds and supplies the drinking water for 18 million people. Eagles, heron, beaver, falcons and a variety of other wildlife inhabit the upper river corridor. An "urban river experience" should provide a connection to the natural features for urban dwellers to experience some of what it must have been like before white settlement. The rapid loss of rural open space and access to natural areas makes it imperative that we restore and preserve what remains. The upper river corridor offers us that opportunity. Any development we initiate should consider the down river effects on water quality and views and vistas. If we continue to fill every inch of space with development, throw in a narrow strip of grass along the river - can we really call it a park? Will people know the difference? This is not the central riverfront. You can't have a significant riverfront park if it's not on the river. Preserving expanded areas of a natural landscape allows for more imaginative recreation and provides appreciation of the Mississippi for its intrinsic value as well as the environmental bonuses of protecting this great river. This is one of the few opportunities left to create another rare jewel in the riverfront park system and make good on the promise to the upper river corridor neighborhoods by extending the shoreline to reconnect them to the Mississippi River. Candy Sartell Lind Bohanon
[Mpls] Re: Mpls digest, Vol 1 #542 - 23 msgs
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Whatever happened to that weatherball? Is it at the State Fairgrounds in a box? Oh yea: Colors blinking by night or day mean precipitation's on the way! Steve Jevning Kingfield (once Nicollet Field) The weather ball melted in a fire many years ago. Karen Forbes Central A bummed out Minneapolitan that the bank opted against continuing the weatherball. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What is missing?
--The original Kaplan Bros. store on E. Franklin --The Rainbow Cafe at Lake Henn --Bill's Dollar Store kitty-corner from the Rainbow at Lake Henn --McCosh's Book Store on the West Bank (where the Mixed Blood Theatre now is) --Savran's Book Store on the West Bank --Crane's Stationary store in Dinkytown: great selection of fountain pens and papers --The first Japanese restaurant DT (I can't remember its name but it had the very best tempura) --The Chestnut Restaurant near Loring Park --The Flame Bar -- the CW in Mpls. (perhaps the ONLY CW in Mpls. :-) --Al's Breakfast in Dinkytown when both Al and Carol worked there -- they coulda' done great radio soap opera Back to future focus... Jenny Heiser East Phillips Ward 6 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What's Missing
Kraehling is correct. He and John Gallos were the longest serving booth announcers ever in television. They were THE voices of Channel 4. It was Jass. Mel Jass - and the Channel 11 (WTCN-TV) Afternoon Movie and his incredible used car sales pitches for everything. Often used cars, but dozens of other retailers and products. All sold as though you'd be dead the next day if you didn't buy it today. You could visit the studios in the Calhoun Beach Hotel and watch the shows from behind the camera if you were quiet. Anyone remember Toby Prin at the organ and piano? How about Arle Haeberle and her afternoon Talk of the Town show? DFL Bean Feeds (predecessor of the Humphrey Day Dinners) at the Leamington Hotel, owned by the notorious Bob Short, the man who killed Don Fraser's bid for the Senate in the 1978 primary and sent DFLers flocking to Dave Durenberger. Cedric Adams, Halsey Hall, Howard Viken, Hobbs House, Joyce Lamont (still on the air at KLBB - that makes about 50 years or more for Joyce, who sounds almost the same save for a bit of a slur in pronunciation), Boone Erickson, Jergen Nash - all incredibly smooth - and deep - voices from the Good Neighbor Days at 'CCO, and so successful any young announcer or time salesman would have given an arm and a leg to work there. It was a ticket to full retirement. The radio and television scene today is a jumbled mess of formats and voices, each outlet almost indistinguishable from the other. One of the holdouts is Johnny Canton who started as a rock jock at WDGY in the 60's and is, I think, still at W-LITE. But not much personality left around here. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, remain neutral --Dante From: Barbara Lickness [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 19:44:49 -0800 (PST) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] What's Missing Moby Dicks Goofy's Dave Moore Bud Kraehling (or however you spell it) Popeye and Pete Romper Room (remember Romper Bomper Stomper boo?) Scottie's on 7th Mel Jazz (you got a good job) Dayton's Skyroom Woolworth's The Forum cafeteria Dr. Ruben K. Youngdahl Barb Lickness Whittier __ Do You Yahoo!? Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals http://personals.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Park Board and money
Dean, I appreciate your comments but I am still unclear about the Park Board and some of its money issues. I am not familiar with the details of the Riverview Supper Club project but you speak of money that you will lose if you don't purchase the entire parcel. What is the source of this funding that you stand to lose it, and if you lose it who gets the money or is it just money not spent? I am slightly confused by your take on the Board of ET as being the only thing that stands in the way of your financial plan. You also state that the Park Board has not been at City Hall asking for help, they have been asking for others to get out of our way. If I am reading this correctly you have some concerns that the Board of ET might cancel your adjusted levy. The way I understand it the Board of ET's approval of your additional levy is the deal you cut to avoid presenting your case to the public in a referendum. If they decide now with the new players involved that tax dollars need to be more equitably spread amongst the other agencies of government then you will be free to pursue your case in front of the public. You win either way they chose. If they renege on your deal, they are out of your way which is what it appears you want, and the Park Board can pursue a referendum. If they don't renege you're home free with a 100% financing program in place for your capital program. Personally I question why the Park Board was funded at a level to achieve 100% of their gap phased in over a such a short period ($1,920,000 yearly increased to $7,420,000 in three years) when Public Works with a larger infrastructure gap is receiving only around 25% of their estimated funding shortfall and it is taking 11 years to get there ($18,200,000 yearly increased to only $21,800,000 in the same three year period). That is an increase of 20% for Public Works at the same time the Park Board receives a 386% increase. I must admit with these numbers it makes it difficult to believe that the city has historically found ways to steal the Park Board's money? Perhaps they lost the knack. You couch the Park Board savings created by ridding the Park Board of responsibility for their streets and sewers as an attempt to create efficiencies and save the taxpayers money. I might be confused here but the only real money being saved appears to be by the Park Board that no longer has to maintain, or replace, their streets and sewers. I understood that the maintenance savings for the Park Board was estimated at $1,000,000 per year by this transfer, while also avoiding any Park Board responsibility for capital concerns on assets of over $160,000,000 which according to Park Board estimates would have required an additional $4 million annually to properly fund. I personally think the movement of these items to Public Works is an appropriate move. But lets acknowledge this was a significant contribution by the city towards Park Board finances. Your post also explained the split of state aid between the city and Park Board and stated your opinion that Park Board funding should be restored to its original level. Since the state government has changed the amounts of money coming to the city, which was the basis for the original arrangement made with the city, why should the city take the whole hit themselves just to allow the Park Board to remain whole. It seems reasonable that the City and Park Board need to work out a new deal, based on new realities. You also accused the city of being able to control your money because the Park Board has to run all its money through city accounts. I understand the agreement made with the city in which the Park Board split the state aid proportionally also included an agreement that all fees, charges and other revenues generated or received by the Board will be retained by the Board in their entirety. Are you saying that the Park Board is now running all the income they receive from golf courses for instance through city accounts? One of the concerns I have that led me to bring up this issue is your claim that the Park Board seems to have no problem buying and setting up a new park. Has the Park Board also changed their financial policy that states It will be the policy of the Board that new or expanded programs or facilities can only be added to the system when additional funds are assured for their operation or an off-setting reduction in another cost center can be accomplished in order to provide for the increased costs? People have made some emotional arguments for the Supper Club site being a new park. Maybe that is what should happen. My concern is with a Park Board that has been given full funding to establish a program to adequately fund their existing infrastructure, and now without the budgetary restraints of the past, they appear ready to look for new projects to build. Projects that the Park Board will not have money to adequately maintain or operate. I hope that is not the case. Bob Gustafson MMM
[Mpls] Belated Congrats, Thanks and An Invite
Congrats I just want to offer a belated congratulations to all the candidates who were elected last week, and especially Paul Zerby, my opponent in Ward 2. I have already offered my personal congratulations, but wanted to do so on this public forum as well. Paul is to be commended for running an outstanding campaign. I know how hard he worked having crossed paths with him many times, including on election day where we were both working to get out the votes on campus. I wish him the best as he moves into his role as council member. Thanks I thank all the candidates and the campaign volunteers who worked so hard to make this such an exciting and fruitful election season in Minneapolis. It is the willingness to get involved and participate that makes this a better democracynot to mention a much more interesting, exciting and hope filled place during election season. I especially wish to thank all those who cared enough to get involved in the Second Ward race and those who worked on my campaign. I know the pain of losing by such a narrow margin is intense, but we have much to be proud of. We ran one of the most thoughtful, open, inclusive, issue-based and future-focused campaigns possible. We learned a great deal and we helped shape the political discussion in Minneapolis. I feel honored to have been the candidate for such an awesome group. I offer special thanks to Nick Raleigh, my excellent campaign manager; Betsy Barnum, treasurer and guide; David Schlesinger, inspirational phone bank manager; Kay Colgrove, volunteer coordinator; and to field organizer, candidate motivator extraordinaire, Robin Garwood. What a great team.and these are only a few of so many, many others. I thank you all. An Invite One of the themes of our campaign from the beginning was a commitment to communication. Now as it ends, it is only more clear that increased communication among all people who live or work or learn or play in the Ward will be beneficial. One of my proposals was to set up a e-mail forum (with Mpls Issues as a model) for Ward 2. At our last, post-election, campaign meeting we decided that this idea is still worth doing. One of our volunteers has offered to moderate it. So, now I invite you, and any and all people who are interested, to join the Ward 2 Issues Forum. Please spread the word. To subscribe send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you would like to learn more about the Ward2 group, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ward2 == That is all for now, except for saying thanks so much to all the posters and participants on the list. This is really a great resource and forum. Keep up the good work. Gratefully yours, in peace and cooperation, Cam Cam Gordon 914 Franklin Terrace Mpls. MN 55406-1101 Seward, Ward 2, 62A (612) 332-6210 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
