Re: [Mpls] Sust Enviro Conference
I too have wanted to read comments from Issues List attendees at the conference. I couldn't be there, but my sig. other was (P.S. he biked to the conference), and he was impressed by the attendance, the presentations, and the fact that the mayor showed up. I understand that it was the first time a Mpls mayor attended. Kristine Harley Sheridan ___ 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] Congradulations 'Good Neighbor'
Jean: Congratulations on being named WCCO's 'Good Neighbor' for Tuesday January 29th. As you know, the pay for being an active community volunteer isn't very good, but it is nice when you get a little 'pat on the back' for all of your hard work and dedication. Go ahead, take the rest of the day off- you deserve it. Ron Lischeid ___ 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] bike commuting in mpls
Sorry if this info has already made it to this list and I just didn't see it... Based on the recently published 2000 Census Supplemental Survey, Minneapolis is ranked #1 in the country for bicycle commuting with an estimated average of 5,366 people riding to work each day on a bike. That is a 2.63% mode share. Sacramento, California ranks #2 with a 2.59% mode share, and Portland, Oregon ranks #3 with a 2.25% mode share. We should be particularly encouraged considering are relatively inclement weather. More information can be found at the following website: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTGeoSearchByListServlet?ds_name=ACS_C2 SS_EST_G00_state=dt I think we should give ourselves a great big pat on the back for this. There's an action item on the original message having to do with legislation at the state level to fund bike lockers and changing facilities, but it didn't seem Minneapolis-specific. If you'd like information about the bill so you can call your legislator, drop me a line. Robin Garwood Marcy-Holmes ___ 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] Stadia
This must be a first: A Star Tribune editorial on paying for the proposed stadia draws no angry List response. Battle fatigue out there? Steve Brandt Kingfield Next door to Lyndale, the home of the Minneapolis Millers ___ 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] Stadia
on 1/29/02 8:52 AM, Steve Brandt at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This must be a first: A Star Tribune editorial on paying for the proposed stadia draws no angry List response. Battle fatigue out there? No, I don't think it's battle fatigue, Steve. Could be that the marvelous semantics game the Strib's playing is really working. It's not a publicly funded ballpark, it's a publicly financed ballpark. My guess is that the Legislature will putz around with this thing most of the session while folks wait to see if Donald Watkins really has the dough to buy the club (and will Pohlad sell?) and build the ballpark himself. I still don't see folks putting up any money--funded or financed--as long as Pohlad owns the team. And none of this talk addresses the inevitability that five-ten years after building a spanking new ballpark, the Twins will be losing money by the bucketfuls and looking for more government help. You need look only as far as Arizona to see the magic of baseball economics at work: new stadium, World Series champion, a sea of red ink. Craig Cox Hiawatha ___ 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] Sust Enviro Conference
Annie says, I have been quite surprised at the lack of comments from folks about last Saturday's Neighborhood Conference. OK Annie-- here goes! I was in attendance at most of last Saturdays event. The Center for Neighborhoods, the events main sponsor, did a good job planning, organizing and implementing the entire event. The many booths were well stocked with literature and other display materials. They had good workshop topics, many knowledgeable speakers, and they did a good job on publicity. Location was also good, with plenty of parking and major bus routes nearby; and the weather was very cooperative, although I found myself looking out the large windows on the gorgeous sunny day more than once. I also met many old friends I hadn't seen in awhile, and that's always a treat. I attended the 'Safe, Healthy and Efficient Buildings' and Community Gardening, Urban Agriculture and Forestry' workshops and found both to be very interesting. In the 'Safe, Healthy and Efficient Buildings' workshop I found discussion of the economics of modular building techniques and re-use of materials very interesting, along with the carriage house concept-- I hope city housing/zoning folks take a good look at the possibilities. Lead also remains a problem for us to deal with in the city. In the 'Community Gardening...' session, I found the most interesting topic to be the transitory nature of community gardens due to reliance on vacant lands that suddenly are reclaimed for use-- usually housing. How about allocating MPRB lands for community gardening projects throughout the city? Get more folks out in our parklands, and realize more tangible benefit from our parklands! Young and old get involved in productive community activities, meet their neighbors, save money and eat healthy... a real win-win, seems to me. Urban lands owned by non-profits and religious groups also represent opportunity for urban gardens and community outreach. On a critical note, I was put off by the many references (in efficient bldgs. session) implying that individual household energy self-sufficiency is economically feasible in our urban location. I think the touting of such nonsense only serves to establish false expectations for many people who don't have the time and expertise to investigate such claims. The conservation-oriented discussions were great, but the topic can become very complex in short order. (While significant energy conservation and energy cost savings are possible given well thought out and effectively installed/implemented conservation improvements, there is also significant opportunity for the deterioration of indoor air quality, excess moisture and mold problems, health problems, and structural rot due to poorly designed and/or installed projects. ) In general, producing our own electricity at the individual household level in Minneapolis, using photovoltaic and wind conversion systems is simply not an economic alternative. Demonstration-type projects are fine and serve a valuable lesson in demonstrating feasibility, but they remain demos. Installing many wind generating systems on tall towers throughout the city is not a viable solution due primarily to noise, electrical interference and other general safety concerns, plus cost. Photovoltaic systems are costly and require direct sunlight which we have in limited quantity during much of the year. In general, energy conservation and efficiency improvements remain our best low-cost option at the individual household level, and passive solar can sometimes be used to economic advantage. (Please note that I thoroughly support the development of rural wind farms to supply electricity to the grid, which makes sense economically and environmentally. Biomass is another renewable option that makes sense in many situations.) Mike Hohmann 13th -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Annie Young Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 9:47 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Sust Enviro Conference I have been quite surprised at the lack of comments from folks about last Saturday's Neighborhood Conference. With almost twice the expected audience in attendance and the Mayor driving a hybrid car and hearing the workshops... snip Annie Young East Phillips snip ___ 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] Schools thread
--- Audrey wrote: At the end of the special session, at 3 am in a closed conference meeting, we lost $5 million in integration aid, money that was helping with the cost of the NAACP settlement. That's gone. Speaking of gone, a few years ago, Gary Suddeth, who was then President of the Urban League publicly asked the district to account for millions (I believe it was 100 mil, but have forgotten the exact number) that the district recieved to close the racial gap in academic achievement. I never did see the district's answer, can you explain Audry? [Audry]If you have friends or relatives who live in the outer ring suburbs tell them how this public education bashing is hurting the future of the entire state. We can appropriately fund education or we can spend billions more in the long term on prisons. So an infusion of cash is all that is needed? How much cash? $10 million? $100 million? $1 Billion? What if the district recieved it's every wish. What if money was no object? Would that work? In fact that's been tried. To improve the education of black students and encourage desegregation, a federal judge invited the Kansas City, Missouri, School District to come up with a cost-is-no-object educational plan and ordered local and state taxpayers to find the money to pay for it. Kansas City spent as much as $11,700 per pupil--more money per pupil, on a cost of living adjusted basis, than any other of the 280 largest districts in the country. The money bought higher teachers' salaries, 15 new schools, and such amenities as an Olympic-sized swimming pool with an underwater viewing room, television and animation studios, a robotics lab, a 25-acre wildlife sanctuary, a zoo, a model United Nations with simultaneous translation capability, and field trips to Mexico and Senegal. The student-teacher ratio was 12 or 13 to 1, the lowest of any major school district in the country. To entice white students to come to Kansas City, the district had set aside $900,000 for advertising, including TV ads, brochures, and videocassettes. If a suburban student needed a ride, Kansas City had a special $6.4 million transportation budget for busing. If the student didn't live on a bus route, the district would send a taxi. Students could take courses in garment design, ceramics, and Suzuki violin. The computer magnet at Central High had 900 interconnected computers, one for every student in the school. In the performing arts school, students studied ballet, drama, and theater production. They absorbed their physics from Russian-born teachers, and elementary grade students learned French from native speakers recruited from Quebec, Belgium, and Cameroon. With some 600 employees for a district of 36,000 students, the KCMSD had a central administration that was three to five times larger than the administrations of other comparably sized public school districts. It was also 150 times larger than the administration of the city's Catholic school system, in which four people; one superintendent, two assistant superintendents, and a part-time marketing manager ran a school district of 14,000 students. It didn't work. When the judge, in March 1997, finally agreed to let the state stop making desegregation payments to the district after 1999, there was little to show for all the money spent. Although the students enjoyed perhaps the best school facilities in the country, the percentage of black students in the largely black district had continued to increase, the average black student's reading skills increased by only 1.1 grade equivalents in four years of high school, and the black-white achievement gap was unchanged. It is my opinion that until the parents of the children who are struggling in school take an active interest in their own kids, no amount of money is going to fix the system. Until the administrators are willing to take responsibility for the academic achievement, or lack thereof, no amount of money is going to fix the system. Until the many fine teachers who do know the difference between a job and a profession throw off the burden of the unions that tie unworthy collegues and political hacks around thier (and our) ankles, no amount of money is going to fix the system. Until the public system rids itself of political special interests, of every stripe, who put idealogy ahead of academics, no amount of money is going to fix the system. My purpose here is not to bash the public schools, indeed my family and I have as much at stake as anyone else. It is very easy to demonize the authors of opposing views, but as has been posited on this forum many times, critical examiation of an issue leads to clearer understanding by all parties involved. Thomas Swift Saint Paul [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! http://auctions.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum
[Mpls] stadia
Is there an anti-professional sports mentality out there? I rarely attend games, though I don't mind that the professional sports brings nine figure money into the city every year,providing huge tax revenues and providing employment to thousands in hotels and restaurants etc. Both stadium constructionswould be funded with bond issues and the bonding can and would be set up so that onlystadium revenuesand attendent tax revenues are used to retire the bonds, no property tax and etc involved. Being set up for the teams the past 37 years, with hotel, cafefacilities,stores andthe endless parking ramps, if the stadiums don't get builtthe area would be suffer economic attrition. James E Jacobsen Whittier
[Mpls] Sabri
List members seem predominantly negative on Sabri. I have nevertalked to or met Sabri. I have only seenthe Sabri development on East Lake Street, which Ihave beenimpressed with, andcertainly have no objection to. Immediate East Lake was the only vacant, boardedarea of Lake Street and withporn-massage parlor history.It is now thriving with legitmate street businessand Sabri is the main developer there. So Sabri had to be pushy charactor to accomplish that, and maybe he offered money to a Council Member (which he shouldn't of had to do)who was evidencedextorting from such developers. Sabri could be given community award foraccomplishment. Can somebodytell what bad stuff Sabri did or does besides the indictment and unindictment thing. James E Jacobsen Whittier
[Mpls] Help Build Minnesota's Gateway to the Stars!
Help build Minnesota's gateway to the stars! This February, the State Legislature will consider a $30 million bonding request to fund the Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center. If they approve it, Minnesota will build a world-class planetarium where visitors can tour the Orion Nebula as new stars are being born, walk on the surface of Mars, and access the same telescopes that today's astronomers use to explore the Universe. If they reject it, Minnesota will become one of only five states without a modern, large public planetarium. Here's what you can do to help: 1. Contact your State Legislators and the Governor by phone, mail or e-mail asking them to support the Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center. Tell them, in your own words, why you believe a new Planetarium is vital to the education of our children. *If you can, e-mail your message to all 35 members of the House and Senate Capital Investment Committee (see www.mplanetarium.org/planet_Help.html for addresses). *Please copy all correspondence to Minneapolis Planetarium Director Bob Bonadurer ([EMAIL PROTECTED]; 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401; (612) 630-6151). *Please follow all contact by calling your Legislators' aides to repeat your request and ask if a decision has been made to support the new Planetarium. 2. Forward this message to your friends, family and colleagues ***across Minnesota*** who care about science education, stargazing, and the beauty of our night skies. To find your Representative's name and contact information, call (800) 657-3550; to find your Senator's, call (888) 234-1112. This information is also available at www2.pioneerplanet.com/precinct/. Personal contact matters. Calls and letters persuaded the Legislature to grant this project $1 million in 2000 for research and design. Now they need to hear from us again. The future of Minnesota's gateway to the stars will be decided in a matter of weeks! The following FAQs provide additional background on the project. If you would like more, please contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 630-6172. * What is the Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center? The Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center will replace the Minneapolis Planetarium, which is scheduled for demolition next fall. Combining state-of-the-art technology, hands-on learning and a staff of astronomy educators, the Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center will take visitors on an educational adventure to the far reaches of space. Students and families will return to Earth transformed by the immensity and beauty of our Universe. The Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center will provide a much needed venue for expanding and developing Minnesota's inquisitive minds. The heart of the facility will be a 250-seat theater capable of replicating a night sky lit by more than 9,000 stars. The starfield will be so realistic that audiences can use binoculars to spot faint nebulas, star clusters, and galaxies. A full-dome immersive video projection system utilizing stunning 3-D digital images will dramatically recreate the sensation of space travel. The planetarium will be among the largest and most sophisticated theaters in the world. The planetarium will be enhanced by the North Star Observatory, where individuals and school groups can access images from orbiting satellites and live telescopes around the world. This unique resource will allow visitors to witness the same real images being studied by today's astronomers. Workstations throughout the Observatory will engage visitors in experiments that bring astronomical discoveries to life. The Space Exposition Hall will feature traveling exhibits on topics ranging from the Cassini mission to probe Saturn's Moon Titan to the latest global warming research. In addition, virtual environments, such as a Holodeck that utilizes 3D video projectors to transform an empty room into the surface of Mars of the Moon, will allow visitors experience space directly. * How will Minnesotans benefit from the Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center? The greatest impact will be to inspire Minnesota's students and to greatly improve their science education through the Planetarium's unique, experiential learning opportunities. At the Minnesota Planetarium Space Discovery Center, students will have access to state-of-the-art resources that would not otherwise be available to them, including 3D visualizations of the latest NASA research and connections to remote telescopes and satellites. In addition, we will work with teachers to integrate space science into their classroom curricula. Inquisitive Minnesotan's of all ages will have the opportunity, without traveling to Chicago or New York, to explore the latest advances in our studies of the Universe and Earth's place in it. Not only is the technology unique, the basic experience of a vivid night sky is becoming increasingly rare. Light pollution, which was once
[Mpls] Sabri trial--or lack thereof
What does it mean? For Herron, it means he doesn't have to testify. So he can now be sentenced and get on with his life. If the state pursues Sabri, it could be in the courts for years. If the feds decide to charge him under another statute or bring other charges, then Sabri stays cozy with lawyers to contend with it. Since the fibbies seized his records, it wouldn't surprise me if they were to try him for creative bookkeeping issues. Ortega walks away. This really grinds my grits since this could have been prevented if the city attorney's office hadn't dragged its heels on getting Ortega before the Administrative Law Judge--the precipitating issue. The time ran out on the violations in his stores so that after the story broke July 17, the Inspections Department had to go back to square one with Ortega. 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
[Mpls] Advisory group on tenants and landlords
Gregory Luce, Your email to Pam Blixt on "looking for a few good landlords" was forwarded to me. I am interested in talking to you about the advisory group. I would also like more information on the specifics of the "Tenant Remedies Act". We own and manage 251 units in Stevens Square, Loring Park, and at 35th and Nicollet. We have ownedrental properties in Minneapolis since the mid 70's and have participated in some of the neighborhood groups. Please email meat [EMAIL PROTECTED], or call me at 612-871-2066. Thank you, Diane Hansen
[Mpls] VIRUS!
A virus is invading the lists again. I'm on a Mac, and relatively unaffected, I believe, but: Beware any message that promises pictures from my party. There's a virus therein. The thing is making thee rounds. I've had five emails of that subject and they're appearing on the lists now. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -- The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, remain neutral --Dante ___ 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 Thread
The NAACP settlement was to hold the schools harmless. That means that the cost of providing what the settlement called for, which was increased choice for students who are eligible for aid, was to be paid for by the state. That wasn't happening at the levels expected. The state agreed to $5 million of the added cost of transportation primarily. The argument at the house as I understand itlast year was that the state could not settle with financial considerations without permission from the legislature, thus it was pulled. Does that mean we can pull out of the agreement as wellas easily as the state does? The public wouldn't hear of it. So where is the justice to the kids in that equation? We have to do more with less and less.. Gary Sudduth raised very good points and since that time, financial accountability systems have been put in place, so if one wishes to know where the money is going in this district, there is public information that can illustrate just that. The district is audited every year and that information is also public. What would be enough? It would be enough if the state would fully fund every mandate it puts in place such as special education. It would be enough if the state would fund the schools at the rate of inflation, in real dollars, not one time money which is what Ventura did the first year he came into office. Never mind that the state had been deficit funding school districts for 10 years previous to that. The structural balance bill only allows districts to agree to real money contracts, not a bad idea.But the outcome of each session is so unpredictable now,andthe education billis always one of the last bills to pass. It would be enough if the state would remove the barriers toFederal Medical Reimbursements, and it would be enough if the Federal Govt. also fully funded it mandates. Take the new testing system thatthe Bush administrationis mandating; the Federal money appropriated in the newly passed ESEA billto cover that increased testingis not enough to cover the cost to the state. TheCFL uses state money to cover the shortfall. Part of that costwill be passed on to the schools, count on it. That comes out of operating budgets that should be applied to the classroom. We have to do this testing, we just don't get the money. It's like your boss saying you have to work every weekend but not paying you for that. School Districts are required to balance their budgets by June30. This past year, we had no idea what wascoming until 3 am of the special session, which gave our district less than 24 hours to digest the numbers and balance the budget. That is not good practice, and it was totally out of our control. When utility costs do what they did last year, which was not anticipated or estimated to happen, the school districts face deficit spending. That money was not recovered. When insurance companies raise costs at double digit rates, the schools have no control over that. The insurance system is broken, it's having an adverse effect on every govt. from the smallest to the largest. It was a big issue in the state strike last year. When a district that employs 8,400 people had contracted to pay and the cost rises at unanticipated levels, who should cover that cost? Who is willing to really take on medical reform here? That is not the job of a school district, it really falls to the state and the feds. The opportunity gap is not just of the school district's making. Racism and shortsightedness are pervasive throughout the state. The gap is not significantly different or better when Gary Sudduth was questioning the finances. Education reform takes time, and is labor intensive. But the state is not living up to it's constitutional requirement to adequately fund education, that's the bottom line here. Some things like housing, early childhood education, and health care as well as immigration are not things the schools have control over, but the effect of these issues and how they are handled by the state and the countieson kids who come to school is enormous. The livesour children face at home do have an enormous effect on the children. The district cannot change that. But we know what works, there is a massive effort to identify, support and sustain education reform. In the interim, the public education system is under assault from the extreme right wing. Billions have been put into media campaigns across the country to really undermine public education. Yes, the institution of public ed needed to change, has changed and will be forever changing. Time and human development does not stand still. Until everyone in the system, administrators, teachers, parents, the community and the policy makers start working together in a more coherent manner, there is only so much schools can do. Until educational policy is more about what kids need and less about identifying winners and losers, and about political
[Mpls] Minneapolis e-Library
We've discussed the new physical downtown library. Time to change the subject and talk about what can be done to improve our virtual library. MPL has taken some small steps to use the Internet to improve service and access to information: The on-line catalog (this was a REALLY big deal just last century ;-} ) Checking your account on-line On-line access to databases http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/database.asp The reference gateway http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/reference.asp The Seth Eastman Sketchbook online http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/eastman/eastman_intro.asp (but checking the site map, it looks like the only way to get to this one is by doing a search) But what can be done? Here are a couple examples of what is possible: 1. A great digitized collection of historic maps. (Keep zooming in on an image--you will not see any digital effects) http://www.davidrumsey.org/, (use the View Collection with Insight Browser link) 2. The ultimate digital museum. The Experience Music Project web site (financed by Paul Allen--sp??--former number 2 at Microsoft) http://www.emplive.com/. Click on EMP Digital Collection, then Load digital collection Think what this would be like using the EMP technology for the Minneapolis historic collection. It could make it accessible to everyone (and a lot of the items you don't want greasy finger prints on) . ___ 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] stadia
James E Jacobsen wrote: Is there an anti-professional sports mentality out there? I rarely attend games, though I don't mind that the professional sports brings nine figure money into the city every year, providing huge tax revenues and providing employment to thousands in hotels and restaurants etc. I don't think the attitude, at least mine, is anti professional sports. I enjoy professional and amateur sports. (For example, I am looking forward to watching the Rams obliterate the Patriots on Sunday.) The problem is taxpayers having to pony up general fund money (state or city) to build palaces to celebrate the egos of team owners and players. Personally, I'll never pay to attend another baseball game again, unless owners and players rejoin the real financial in which the rest of us live. Attending games has become a corporate enterprise, rather than a family one, which is a pity. I do not object to the use of real user fees to pay for a stadium. My personal sniff test for this is whether the cost of the stadium is borne only by people who want to pay it; and easily avoided by those who don't. Ticket taxes are OK. Parking in the immediate area of the stadium on game day is OK. Profit from gambling, where the money is clearly earmarked for the stadium fund, is OK. Bar/restaurant taxes are not. Rental car and hotel taxes are not. I heard that one raised today. This forces out-of-town visitors to pay for our entertainment. I know other cities are doing this, but this strikes me as dishonest (We don't want to pay for it ourselves, so we'll make you out-of-towners do it.). Also, the city should not be responsible for any overruns or shortfalls. That should fall to the team. On another point, there is no way that pro sports bring nine-figure money into the city, unless you count the digits after the decimal. In fact, the studies on the *net* financial impact of sports don't clearly support financial gain for the city. Money is certainly moved within a city: note the rejuvenation of 7th Street in St. Paul. But have Wild fans spent more entertainment money in their families' budgets since the Wild came to town, or have they stopped attending other sports, arts events, movies, restaurants to compensate for what they spend on hockey. It seems to me that those entertainment dollars are spent one way or another, and the net effect of a team's presence or absence is small. Clearly some businesses in Minneapolis would be hurt by the departure or relocation of the Twins, but others would gain. The thing that keeps rolling around in my mind is that if the economic benefits for a community were so clear, business leaders would be tripping all over themselves to put money into the effort. We don't seem to see that, do we? Final thought: Great cities are not defined by their sports teams. Walt Cygan 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
[Mpls] City elections
My bill HF2593 to require city ward (and park district) elections in 2003 rather than 2005 will be heard in the Governmental Operations Committee on Friday, 2/1, between 8:15 and 10:00...probably after 9:00. Julie Sabo will be carrying the Senate companion. Phyllis Kahn, State Rep 59B ___ 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] re: stadia
I would not oppose building new stadium(s) if they REALLY were set up so that no public financing was used. But I have not seen such a plan yet. All the plans proposed hide subsidies from the public somewhere inside them. For example, the current Metrodome was funded in part by an extra percent or two of sales tax applied to meals sold near the stadium. But that was interpreted to mean any meals sold in the downtown area, and at any time, not just when there was an event at the stadium. So for years, all of the people who worked Monday-Friday in the downtown area paid extra foe each days lunch to finance the stadium. Every plan I've seen continues this fraud. Every plan I've seen has (like Mr. Jacobsen did) included extra taxes on hotel motel rooms to fund a stadium. But the majority of hotel dwellers are NOT here to attend a sports event. So we are taking money from unconnected people to fund a stadium. And it applies to all hotels/motels in Minneapolis, not just the downtown area. So when my aunt brings my uncle to the Vet's hospital for treatment, and stays in one of the motels near Hiawatha Ave Crosstown, she pays extra to fund a stadium? How is that fair? And finally, if these stadium(s) are TRULY going to be built with no public funding (only stadium-related revenues), then why get the government involved at all. Just do it yourself! Mr. Pohlad could raise the ticket prices a dollar or two himself, and use that money to build a stadium. There is no need at all to get the government involved as a middleman on this. (Unless, of course, there are public funding subsidies hidden somewhere in your plan.) Tim Bonham, Ward 12 Is there an anti-professional sports mentality out there? I rarely attend games, though I don't mind that the professional sports brings nine figure money into the city every year, providing huge tax revenues and providing employment to thousands in hotels and restaurants etc. =20 Both stadium constructions would be funded with bond issues and = the bonding can and would be set up so that only stadium revenues and = attendent tax revenues are used to retire the bonds, no property tax and = etc involved. . . . James E Jacobsen Whittier ___ 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
