Re: [Mpls] Bicycle registration
One of the big problems in Mpls. was the difficulty with getting the bike shops to issue the license. The process for getting the license, the first time, was a nightmare so there were a lot of bikes without license. I tried for three days to get the bikes in my scout troop license and was unsuccessful. I favor bike licensing, but you have to make it easy. I am Director of Transportation at the Waterloo, Iowa MPO. Recently, we were approached by some citizens regarding a trail user fee or the licensing of bicycles in the metro area. Our metro area has a population of 120,000 and an extensive trail system of over 70 miles. In searching over the internet, I came across a discussion relating to the bicycle registration process in Minneapolis. Could you enlighten me as to the results of this discussion. Did the city repel their bicycle registration/licensing process? If so, Why? If you have not, how has the process worked Any information relating to this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks You. Kevin Blanshan Director of Transportation and Data Services INRCOG 501 Sycamore, Suite 333 Waterloo, IA 50703 DeWayne Townsend Cooper Minneapolis, MN TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Cub moving in.......
Nancy The LCC office has a site plan of sorts that you could see before the meeting, but I don't think anyone knows very much about this project. The idea of an expansion to the West is news to me. I hope that after tonight's meeting the plan will be a little clearer. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend Cooper -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Does anyone have the facts on Cub's proposed store on 46th and Minnehaha? It is my understanding this is to be discussed at a Longfellow meeting this evening at 7. I also just found out from one of the involved property owners that Cub has offered to buy the properties on the west side of Minnehaha in the 46th block as part of their venture. TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Affordable Housing - Other Ideas
An interesting article. Bashes SUV's, but more important shows what streets should be like. Fits into the West Broadway and Lake Street re-building. http://pps.org/newsletter/Mar2003_Guest -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] City Council vote on NRP
So I take this to mean that the Minneapolis Neighborhoods have 4 supporters and 9 opponents. Unfortunately both my council members* fall in the opponents camp. I sure would like to know what the reasoning was behind the opposition to the mortgage program. Seems to me that if affordable housing was the goal this is a good addition to the mix. While I agree with Barb that this vote is truly weird, I am glad it was taken since it is the only look I have had since the election as to where my council people stand regarding neighborhood empowerment, or in this case un-empowerment. The Council voted 9-4 this morning to support the CD committee resolution opposing the NRP Policy Board's proposal to take $2million for a new mortgage insurance program. The four CMs voting no (in effect, supporting NRP's proposal for the new mortgage program) were Lilligren, Johnson, Johnson-Lee, and Zerby. *pural since I voted for one and am in the ward of another. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] homeless - the role of government
Wrong! Charity is not a government function. Maybe not charity, but welfare is. Giving homeless people a warm place to sleep is not charity. It is simply the right thing to do. There is no process in Capitalism for taking care of the casualties of the theory. Since we have only two process in this country Capitalism and Government it falls to government. It's true that we have let government take care of problems that we would rather not deal with ourselves - like caring for our elderly parents and others in need. The fact that we let them do so doesn't make it right or moral. I am pretty sure this was an asked process not a let one. I do not believe that any government component started taking care of homeless or children without medical insurance without being asked. Government in this case is simply an efficient way to take care of individuals disconnected from family and community. Elected officials are supposed to clear the pathways for us, make sure the playing field is level (fair), and protect us from bullies, foreign and domestic. We are responsible for our own welfare, our own pursuit of happiness, our own success, our own failure. Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one's own person is its ultimate reward. Patricia Sampson I do not buy this. Our welfare has been influenced by millions of others throughout history. Nothing we accomplish was/is done alone, we progress/ achieve on the back of others and if we do not let other progress/achieve on our backs we are cheating them. Not to mention the bad choices made by others that effect us i.e. industrial pollution. Who knew, so now many are affected by the choice of others, not exactly our own failure. The idea that an individual is successful or not by their own volition is not true. Never has been and certainly never will be. The more individuals contribute to the collective knowledge the less able one is to claim individual success. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] SW Journal pension story
Ah, pensions. Oregon offers a glimpse of a potential Minneapolis future: The PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) has gone from an $8 billion deficit a year ago to $14 billion. Because everyone involved is a good person, no one wants to come out and use words like stupid, liars, and incompetent. Here is the deal: My Oregon contacts tell me this is pay back for all the Californians who came to Oregon when they were asked not to come. :-) -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Libraries
One thing about the plan that I'm hearing for the library is the implication that even books seldom EVER called for must be out on open racks. Sorry, but I've NEVER seen something like that done. Only a fool would saddle themselves with handling archival material like that. A book should be borrowed a certain minimum times per year to be out and available. There is a common sense standard for that, too. And some books are in such delicate condition that they should not be borrowed out at all. I have to disagree. My main use of the library is for reference, ie. method for determining solvents in water or how to fix a leak in my cars air conditioner. I seldom have a book in mind when I enter the library, and even after the catalog search I only have a list of possible books. Think grouping books by category is one of humanities greatest ideas because it give me the opportunity to search within a search. (By the way how does one do that in Google) I may look through a dozen books to pick the one I think will help me with my project. In many many cases I never check any book out and most of the time I put the books back were I found it (Sorry librarians that was the way I was brought up). No one knows I ever looked at it, yet it could contain the exact method, photo or description to solve my problem. I like big libraries with wide selections. I also like buildings that function well for their use and recently I have come to highly value the eyes on the street concept. I like the idea of a glass library, modern glass is energy efficient, lots of nearly natural light for reading and most important lots of windows to gaze from when problem solving. Then there is my Minnesota values If you do something do it right, there are too many kludges already. So while I am not completely convinced that the new library design is ideal it seems pretty good. As far as when to build. I have never head of buildings getting cheaper with time, but then we are in A new economy so maybe it could happen. The bottom line is that Mpls. residents approved a new library and I suspect would do it again so a new library is what we should have. As far as where to build. I have mixed feeling about the Sears site, great location, but I would like retail there so much more. Still the display windows are on the street at least on the first floor and perhaps the tower could be opened up some for gazing, but the new warehouse space is pretty grim. I wonder if it would be less expensive? Maybe some of the surrounding land could be utilized for Mixed use there is a lot of asphalt there. ---2nd Topic- Serving on boards has lots of rewards, but in my experience money is not one of them. Insight into processes and people, real world problem solving, contacts (which might lead to $$), and a personal feeling that you are participating in and contributing to something you believe in. Besides committees are much more interesting than any reality tv or for that matter any tv. Not only that since most committees do not serve snacks you do not gain weight, so it is really good for your health. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Antiwar resolutions
I think David's post is pretty revealing about the point of view of those who claim to oppose war, while also opposing a local anti-war resolution. This view expresses opposition to war, but ultimately says that the war is not an important issue. snip I have to side with Jordan. The think globally act locally phrase is particularly poignant here. If you are opposed to the war you have to be in favor of anti-war resolutions. If the citizens of Minneapolis think this is an important issue the city council should at least vote on the issue. I don't know how others choose how to vote for city council members, but I choose to vote for the candidates who seem to have a similar view of the world as I do. I seldom vote on how a candidate stands on an issue, but rather what their general philosophy is regarding life in an urban center. Votes on big issues gives me a deep insight into the council member and is very helpful in molding my voting decision. Most votes by elected representatives are not very clear, at least to me, why they vote the way they do. The issues in general are very complex with multiple pros and cons, these high profile votes are very telling for me. Because they are telling, perhaps is the reason they do not want to vote. In any case three cheers for St. Paul, my next night out will be East of the river. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Antiwar resolutions
Uh no. I'm saying a local resolution isn't an effective tactic. I personally believe the resolution is a cheap symbol, devoid of effectiveness. While the benefits may seem obvious to you - the chance of a groundswell that will change policy - I believe the city has little legitimacy on this matter - it was not what it was elected to do. I believe my fears are more likely...that this symbolic act sparks overwrought divisions that harm other fights that have value. If I as an individual am a force, when all I can do is write, call FAX my elected representative how can an elected body be less effective than a single individual. I can accept political uncertainty, not wanting to reveal too much, and too much on the plate, but not that it is an ineffective tactic not with 50+ other cities doing the same. How many have voted it down? That has to mean something even to Washington. Feeling really sad to have use my second post without saying anything about keeping the governance, financing and staff of NRP. Tomorrow. Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Citizens of Mpls too cheap..
Craig is right - and it's not limited to just the big dumpsters you find around apartment buildings. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has taken out their trash and discovered that neighbors or passersby have used their 90-gallon receptacle for storing the excess garbage that didn't fit into their own bins. I wonder how many folks realize that doing this is essentially illegal dumping of garbage? I never check my 90-gallon receptacle, but just the other day someone put two 27 T.V.'s by my receptacle. These were complete T.V. and really big. I have no idea where they came from. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend Cooper TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Minneapolis Neighborhood e-Mailing Lists
Phillips wants to be divided and LCC wants the neighborhoods combined. Diversity even with e-lists, gotta love it. The idea of neighborhood lists is not a bad idea, to bad it took so long to happen. I agree with Annie that subscriptions may be too low to be of any value, but I know a lot of people who do not want to be on Mpls-issues who at least say they would like a community based list. This is especially true for the delivery of crime stats. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend Hiawatha, Howe, Longfellow, live in Cooper -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of We already have an e-mail list in our corner of our neighborhood as do I think several other neighborhood groups. Although maybe not the in depth dialogue of the Issues Forum but used for announcements and sharing lots of information. Makes me wonder though how many folks will signup to be on both lists. Plus what happens if you want to know what's going on all over the city or certainly in some neighborhoods. And I hope you will do as everyone is learning to do - divide Phillips into its four distinct geographic 'hoods/parts within the larger whole neighborhood: Ventura Village East Phillips Prestigious West Phillips Midtown Phillips We each have different audiences, different issues (some common) and each have distinctive ways of getting business done. Annie Young ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] NRP how to get citizens into city-wide planning
While I think that city wide planning meetings are sort of a cool idea and I would certainly be interested in participation I do not believe they will ever achieve the efficiency and success of NRP. NRP works as well as it does, in some measure, because everyone knows exactly what is being discussed and have probably actually thought about it for a long time. It is very local and very focused on the specific project. i.e. reverse the stop sign at 36 Ave and 32nd. St. That level of knowledge is not going to work city wide. Our experience at LCC is that it works very well at neighborhood level and pretty well at the community level. Once people get more than one neighborhood away from the project the level of interest and knowledge drop off pretty steeply. If you want city planning to work as well as NRP then you will have to work more with the community groups, much like city planning did in the late 70's with the planning districts. The development of the City Plan for the 80's was done with a lot of community input, but it was still mostly city directed. I think the neighborhood groups would do a much better job today, the level of sophistication is much much greater now than it was then and the neighborhood groups have access to a much greater array of professionals than they did in 1980. I do not think the Plan for the 80's was ever officially adopted. It was submitted to the Met. Council, but seems to me the city then sort of discarded it. We then went through a decade of council spending on downtown and finally with NRP were the community needs, expressed 10 years earlier, addressed in any significant way. In all the Plans since then the neighborhood people have had to come to central locations to comment on what was essentially a city produced plan. Longfellow had a statement in their community plan to clean up the Mississippi for water-skiing ( we were not even asking for swimming quality water) and we were told by our council person that it was too controversial and had to come out. I think that might not happen today. Once we bring in experts to answer our questions, then we become simply an audience, not a participating body. Let's get citizens discussing and brainstorming ideas and solutions! At least that's what seems to work within our neighborhood association... sometimes with angst, other times with humor... and usually with good results. Wendy Introwitz Pareene From:Jim Mork [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] You know, you may have something there. HOWEVER, I think I have a better model. The Westminster Presbyterian Church downtown invites in experts in various arias, and anyone can come. There is an opening statement on the topic, and then yellow cards are collected with the expert to answer. I've really liked the ones I've gone to. Maybe that's a model for NROP citizen involvement or even citizen involvement with a broader swath of local government. -- Jim Mork--Cooper The way to get the whole city involved (or those who care) is to hold citizen forums at the Target Center on a series of weekend afternoons and 1 evening per month (to give a couple time slot options to fit into people's schedules) and set up a few mics for citizen ideas, comments and questions. Establish operating procedures up front and form committees to explore options. In other words... just do what the neighborhood assns do... on a grand scale. Think Democracy in its purest form! Think ancient Greek forums... except all citizens would be welcome not just the ruling-class males! Wendy Introwitz Pareene Lyndale Resident From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] One piece of the discussion -- and the Mayor talked about this-is: How can we incorporate the kind of community planning process that happens in neighborhoods currently on NRP projects into the whole city budget and agency expenditures? Scott Vreeland, president of the Seward Neighborhood Group End Original Message -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Re: NRP
This is my current state of evolution on this idea. Community groups maintain a list of neighborhood priorities and works on them much like they did for NRP Phase 1. In addition the city council produces a list of priorities, probably from the Minneapolis Plan and presents them to the community groups. The neighborhoods discuss the city and neighborhood priorities in partnership with all jurisdictions and presents to the NRP Board Scopes of Service for implementation. Much like many communities do now for zoning issues, the city council could override, but a vote would be required to do so. MCDA could still function as the financial arm of the process, especially on projects that require multiple funding sources with different restrictions on allowable expenditures. What is really important is giving the residents a formal forum to voice their ideas and concerns. Community meeting give people a chance to see and hear how others feel about projects and a opportunity to network with a larger group. It has been my experience through these past 40yrs of trying to figure out how a neighborhood work that it is really true that people closest to the problem often have the best ideas. Not hearing those ideas is a travesty to all of us. Yesterday, neighborhood folks attending the city council committee of the whole had an opportunity to sit down with Mayor and talk about our shared perception about what is happening to NRP funding. One piece of the discussion -- and the Mayor talked about this-is: How can we incorporate the kind of community planning process that happens in neighborhoods currently on NRP projects into the whole city budget and agency expenditures? I am trolling for good ideas of how that actually might happen. -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Speed limit on Hiawatha
Terrell Brown [TB] We have Interstate 94 as the southern border of our neighborhood and 35W at the southeast corner. Do we get to close them down or set the speed limit there? Depends, were you promised that the speed limit on 94 and 35 would be 35mph? DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] MTN Christan Programming (Was Controversial junk mail)
Kristine snip As for community classes, I don't believe that only demand drives curriculum. If you offer it, they will come. (Hint!) I agree that most of the classes are offered because there is someone to teach them. In a former life I taught a class on Using Computers and while I was initially asked to teach it, I was able to continue teaching until I ran out of time. snip There's also a disturbing trend in our nation toward a strictly emotional experience of Christianity, as opposed to scholarly knowledge. I agree. As a Lutheran I do believe in an individuals interpretation of scripture, but it needs to be done in a intellectual setting not an emotional one. Most fundamentalist teaching about Christianity is not. snip I think a Bible as Literature class would make a good community class, by the way. That's offered at a lot of universities. I have no problem with it. Well what are you waiting for. The pay is not too bad and you get to setup the course structure. Go for it. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Ventura Village - Citizen Participation
I would be really curious as to what would constitute scrutiny of neighborhood group citizen participation. Would the neighborhood group be required to ask each participant to fill out a form describing the participant's demographic which would be compared to the official census. I am pretty sure that this would not work since most participants at community meetings are somewhat uneasy with providing their names. In my book citizen participation has to be judged on notification and access not on results. If the group widely publicizes an event and make it easy for community members to get to and into the meeting the group has fulfilled the citizen participation requirement. Making people show up is not a good idea. IMHO if a community group really wants to solve community problems citizen participation is critical. First, citizens are generally really smart and probably know how to define and fix the problem better than anyone else. (Ability to understand community problems falls off at approximately the 3 or 4th power of the number of jurisdictions removed.) Second, it only takes a couple of individuals to kill a plan if they are riled up enough, so one should cast as wide a net as possible to get agreement from as many people as possible to lower the odds of the plan being terminated. Third, people who feel that an organization listens to them are much more likely to work with the organization and in this political environment community groups need all the help they can get. Cheers; Michael Atherton wrote: However, state statues require citizen participation in the NRP. Yielding scrutiny to the MCDA mean that there is no scrutiny because the MCDA denies that they are responsible for the NRP. Yielding scrutiny to neighborhood groups also means there is no scrutiny because these groups cannot be expected to report or correct their own abuses. Which means that ultimately there is no effective oversight of the NRP. Hopefully the budget crisis will solve this problem because the NRP shows no interest in reforming itself. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Media Blackout;Visa Card
Wendy I. P.: I would say the Telecommunications Act was passed BECAUSE the media hadn't been doing its job for some time. Did we not just recently have a dialog about the fact that there was no reporter at city hall? Can't do much ferreting if there is no one there to ferret. -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What Do People think of a proposed increase in speedlimit for Hwy 55?
It is not only the park. The strip of land on the West side of Hwy 55 is a major bike route in the summer, maybe winter too I don't know, and there are lots of kids on bikes, boards and skates. I do not know if this will continue once the LRT is up and running. The stations area could be a problem, but we should wait and see. I for one do not want cars going 55mph if there are kids playing 15ft away. Besides it is too busy for 55mph. MNDOT should set the lights to 35mph and post the required speed to make the next light. I have questioned MDdot and elected officials on this subject several times during the push to build the highway through Minnehaha Park. I felt great apprehension about cars possible driving 45-65 miles an hour through a park area that families and children heavily use. MNdot promised at numerous meetings I attended that the speed limit would stay at 35miles an hour. I believe they should be held to that promise. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Hennepin and Lyndale two lane?
The conversion of Minnehaha to one lane in each direction has worked pretty well the flow of traffic has not changed much as far as I can tell, but it is much more relaxing to drive and bike for that matter. There is still some confusion as to how right turns should be done since they cross a bike lane, the city needs to do some education in this area, but over all an improvement over the old 4 lanes. DeWayne Townsend Cooper I recollect that in the last week's media overwash (here?) there was mention that Hennepin and Lyndale Avenues south of Franklin Avenue might be made two lane highways in the next five years. That is, these roadways would have only one lane of automotive traffic in each direction. I recollect that bike lanes would take up some of the created space, and that there was a hope that this throttling down would cause through traffic to divert onto 35-W. Can someone confirm or deny that this is a planned change, and what agency is responsible for it. As a frequent driver on both those streets I think it is a terrible idea. Alan Shilepsky Downtown Minneapolis resident who likes to drive to Uptown occasionally (and occasionally rides the bus) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] ZP committee picks up River-Lake Tabernacle
I agree with Steve. We should not hide or disregard these events. DeWayne Townsend Cooper Regarding the memorial for the River-Lake Tabernacle, everyone seems to be assuming that a memorial means a saying something nice about something not very nice. Why not a memorial that says On this spot the River-Lake Tabernacle used to exist. For 50 years, it preached anti-Semitism now known as a disgraceful episode in the history of the city. Just because it's a memorial doesn't mean that you're commemorating something positive. It may actually be more important to remember the revolting things that happen in history so that they are not repeated. One example, I understand that in Duluth a memorial is being placed where several blacks were lynched about 100 years ago. Duluth is doing that to remind everyone of the effect of racism. It might be appropriate in Minneapolis to say somewhere, Remember that this was once a very anti-Semitic city. Don't let it happen again. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Tony Scallon, you are a Stand-up kinda Guy!
Ed I think I have to side with Tony on this. I was pretty active with LCC in the days when Hiawathia was being rebuilt and I do not recall dealing with anyone other than Mike Monahan (sp?) and other city engineers. I do remember being pretty impressed that the city would do the design work, but also unhappy that we could not figure out a better way to get people and bikes across. When I look back and compare that experience with the Reroute the city was really great to work with. They were really up front with the design constraints, there were real engineers in the room, and listen to community ideas. Rather different from MNDOT who, as far as I know, never had a community meeting and then hid behind a bunch of technocrats. We never had any sort of dialog about design constraints or other possible designs. Guess it just reinforces what I have always believed, the people closest to the problem work harder to solve it. Cheers; Tony Scallon wants to take the blame for the catastrophe at Lake and Hiawatha. He says the City designed it in collaboration with MDOT. I'm sure that's true. At the time the underpass was being considered it was a City road. But the County took it over shortly after that, and, whether the City designed it or not, the County built it. It happened on Peter McLaughlin's watch. He is responsible for the extended delay, the octopus exits, no provisions for pedestrians or bicyclists. Sorry, Tony, the buck didn't stop with you. I fought with Tony Scallon for the length of his tenure on the City Council, mostly over development issues. We fought. We argued. We campaigned against each other. But, Tony, there is one thing I never gave you credit for-you actually created the NRP. The most dramatic experiment in neighborhood and grassroots democracy ever attempted in Minneapolis. It was your idea that $20 million a year could be skimmed off tax increment projects to fund neighborhoods. It was a great idea. We are all in your debt. But, Tony, Peter has to take responsibility for building that bridge. Ed Felien Powderhorn -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Thanks, Craig!
My wife and I had a grand time, but it was too hard to match names with faces. Wish I could have met more of you. So which table had the balloons anyway, I only saw them on the ceiling. There were a couple of southsiders present. Mike Holhman, the Wiz, Barb Lickness, I'm sorry if I missed a couple of you. In general though, considering how bottom heavy this list is with south siders, as usual they wouldn't deign to cross Hennepin Ave and see what happens up north. Too bad they missed it. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper Minneapolis, MN 55406 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Pit Bulls: Ban Them !
WizardMarks wrote: Virtually any dog can be trained to bite and be mean. The pit bulls, the rottweilers, the Dobermans have all gone through a period of distain and false accusations as to their propensity to bite. Any dog will bite if frightened badly. Any dog will bite if trained to do so. Too many people get a dog for defensive purposes and have no idea how to train it properly. This lack of information does not seem to enter into the equation when people get a dog. Worse yet, there are people who deliberately train dogs to be mean. Them's the dangerous types. I agree that any dog can be trained to be mean, but Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans and maybe a few more are a special case. These strains have been breed over a very long time to be guard or fighting dogs. Genetics counts and when these traits are selected for over hundreds of generations they count a lot. At the very least people who own these breeds should be required to carry special licenses and insurance. The dogs are not too much of a threat to those with whom they are familiar, but still I would never own one of these breeds for a family pet. They are, however, a great danger to strangers and need to be treated as such. Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [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] re: Yucca Mtn. Consequences for Minneapolis
For example, if I were a nine-year-old white boy from Saint Paul today, I would probably be safe crossing the new Lake Street Bridge. But would I be safer continuing to the West? Sure you would at least until you got to Edina. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [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] Nicollet Lake Reopening
Kimberly I heard MPR reporting this morning on Thursday's Morning Edition: The Minneapolis City Council is expected to discuss what to do about Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street. A K-Mart store has blocked Nicollet at the Lake Street intersection since 1979. A developer has an agreement with the city to reopen the street, but it expires this week. Neighbors hope the deadline will be extended. Should it be extended? Opinions and facts are welcomed. If the neighborhood group is actively engaged with the developer and they are satisfied with the way the project is progressing the city should extend the agreement. I too heard the report and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. This sounds so much like the city council trying to re-do something that the community has a handle on without even talking to the community about it. From my experience the community almost always gets it right and always does better than a development directed by downtown. The council job is to make sure that the neighborhood process is open and that they have the resources to make an informed decision. Given those resources it will be a good development. Maybe not perfect, but certainly better and the community has a stake in the long term success. Just MHO. DeWayne Townsend Cooper Neighborhood [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] DFL endorsements for School Board ?
I had to leave the DFL convention early today because I had to be at work this afternoon. Does anyone know the who got endorsed? Thanks - Rod Krueger12-3 / SENA Erickson, Farmer, Moriarity, Johnson. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [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] lawn care
Except that reel push mowers do a poorer quality job of cutting laws than either gas or electric mowers. As noted in the recent Consumer Reports tests of lawn mowers. Tim Bonham, Standish-Ericsson I really like my Black Decker electric mower. Takes 3-4 times to figure out how to do the electric cord, but I have spent far far less time fixing cords than I did trying to start a gas mower. I have done nothing to this mower in 5 years and it just starts every time with no noise. They are apparently hard to find right now, so if anyone know a store that is selling them let me know. I have a friend who wants one. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend Cooper Neighborhood [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] Border Battle between Ventura Village and Seward
The border between Seward and Phillips has been a source of confusion back to 1954 or so snip So what is the current official boundary between Phillips/Seward, Phillips Corcoran/Longfellow Howe, and Standish Ericcson Minnehaha/ Howe Hiawatha. Hiawatha Avenue or the Railroad tracks? For the last few years the Longfellow Community (not neighborhood) has assumed it was Hiawathia. After lobbying for a change from the railroad track since 1980 or so we were told, that the official boundary was Hiawatha Ave. Has that changed? If not, how and where does the boundary jump from Hiawatha to the railroad track? Which department has the official map and is there a web link? -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ 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] Critical Mass
Got to agree with Michael on this. I was stopped at a traffic signal when a car went around the bus behind me and turned right on red clipping the front wheel of my bike in the process. I fell on my shoulder and head from a dead stop, my collar bone broke and my helmet split from front to back. If not for the helmet I probably would not be able to tell you that my only reminder of the incident is a bump on my collar bone and a broken helmet I just cannot throw away. If you ride a bike wear a helmet. In my mind hopefully the need for helmets isn't necessary if you are traffic and you are going 10 miles or less an hour. I don't agree with Ms. Kahn on very many issues, but speaking as a person who's life has been saved by a helmet, I would like to encourage others to wear them. Imagine going head first into a curb at 10 miles an hour, or as happened to a friend of mine, having your front wheel lock between the slats in a street gutter grill and being thrown vertically head first onto the street. I wouldn't what to make helmets mandatory, but I don't think it's wise to downplay the risks of riding bicycles. Michael Atherton 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 -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [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] E-Democracy Celebration - Thur April 25
I have a request. If anyone sees a resident of Howe, Hiawatha, Cooper or Longfellow celebrating or playing to the Japanese camera Please send them to the East Lake Library. The E-Democracy Celebration is the same time as LCC Annual Membership meeting and if they are on this list they should be at the Library voting for their community representatives. Thanks. ANNOUNCEMENT: E-Democracy Celebration Thursday, April 25 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sargent Preston's in the Seven Corners area of Minneapolis (near the West Bank of the University of Minnesota). We will have lots of FREE MUNCHIES. Second Annual MVP Awards (Most Valuable Posters) Candidates for statewide office and the U.S. Congress will be given a two minute greeting and a chance to promote their web sites in-person and with print materials. Other candidates, candidate/election site webmasters, and other elected officials, are also encouraged to say a quick hello and shout out their URLs! Special guests should be in attendance around 6:30 p.m. and notify E-Democracy that they plan to attend [EMAIL PROTECTED]. Stay tuned for more details. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper Current President LCC ___ 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] House File 3445 - Neighborhood Organization Elections
Jay Clark is absolutely correct. LCC spent about $1500 and a lot of pro-bono time of an attorney to design by-laws that fit the Minnesota's non-profit law. This law had just been passed and as far as I know LCC was one of the first neighborhood groups to deal with this issue. It has been a real pain over the years. People are asked to come to the meeting, but then they cannot vote if their name is not on the list. LCC puts everyone's name on the membership list if they come to a meeting and sign the roster, which states that by signing you will become a member of LCC. That covers a lot of people, but only those who have established issues, those that have committee meeting that people come to. It essentially keeps out people with new or emerging issues, exactly the people that LCC needs to hear from. Before 1995 we could have everyone vote and did not have to waste a lot of staff time making sure that people were on the membership list. I liked that process much better. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend, Ph.D. Cooper This is why it is illegal for neighborhood organizations to have open elections under current Minnesota non-profit statutes. Neighborhood groups are covered under Minnesota's non-profit law. In a non-profit corporation, you must be a member with voting rights to be eligible to vote at a meeting. (317a.437 subd. 1) a person cannot be a member without the person's expressed or implied consent. (317a.401 subd. 2) 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
[Mpls] Re: How to Have Open Elections in Neighborhood Organizations
Steve Cross wrote: I'm always reluctant to use the phrase with all due respect when I disagree with someone. That's because I suspect that what whoever is saying that really means with absolutely no respect to you and your dumb ideas. But, in this case I know Jay Clark so I really do mean that with all due respect. But I still think that he is wrong to say that it is illegal for neighborhood organizations to have open elections. Two different lawyers, both experienced in non-profit law said that we could not have community members vote if they just showed up at the meeting and were not on the membership roster. The lawyers at the MCDA agreed and we started a lawsuit, that fizzled, to try and get the law overturned. Say what you will, LCC was not willing to challenge the law. Not a good way to spend NRP. So for six years we have used the membership list and every time had a difficult time explaining to residents that they could not vote if they were not on the list. -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [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] Cub attracted by LRT?
So are most of the residents. What will happen to the Cub at 27th Lake? Of course a big box means big parking lot, lots of asphalt next to Minnehaha Creek. Maybe Cub can get over the Suburban plan and design a cool Urban friendly store with lots of housing and green space. DeWayne Townsend President, LCC -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of The grocery superstore expresses interest in being near the 46th Street LRT station, but city planners are cool to the idea. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/2111729.html\ 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 ___ 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] Hiawatha LRT Line
they are followed. All interested parties should call the LCC office, 612-722-4529. -- DeWayne Townsend President, LCC Cooper [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] Trash: Paper or Plastic?
My gosh. I don't have to go shopping to get paper bags. I always double bag to be sure I have enough for recycling This is cool, but I think just putting them in my brand new blue Recycling containers would be fine. Bringing them to the door is probably more than, as a Minnesotan, I feel I deserve. With respect to plastic bags, the very BEST alternative, as some folks have said, is to bring your own. Yes, I understand, personally, how difficult that is. I have the opportunity to always say paper when I forget my cloth bags, and my customers provide unending opportunities for me to share my excess paper bags. Yes, if you call Solid Waste and Recycling, and need paper bags for your recyclables, we are usually able to deliver a wad of paper bags to your door. Please remember that your recyclables DO have to be in paper bags--it's not only a safety issue for our crews, it's part of making sure that the recyclables are marketable, and the Kraft paper markets (the bags themselves) are almost always positive. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ 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] Neighborhood org. voting/notification procedures
The Longfellow Community Council works nearly identical to Seward. Must have something to do with common roots. Cheers; DeWayne Townsend, Ph.D. Cooper In Seward we have a committee structure set up and with every big decision and vote like this one we try to have the appropriate committee review it carefully and pass a motion that then goes to the Board of Directors. 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] Open Records
I agree with Andy Michael. If the organization receives public money the meeting must be open and the minutes, with names on votes about $$, available to all. ANY publicly funded organization should be subject to the open meeting and records access laws. Period. Now I have a few more questions. Why would a neighborhood NRP organization feel that it is necessary to have a legal opinion to allow them to avoid releasing records in regards to NRP business? That is especially after at least one MCDA lawyer felt that they should? Is this in the sprit of community involvement supposedly engendered by the NRP? I believe that if the NRP is going to be funded again it should be on the condition that their contractors be subject to the Open Records Law in relation to NRP business. If not it allows rouge organizations to do much as they please with very little oversight and accountability. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ 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] Community Development
I would like to see the list engage in a discussion regarding how they define the phrase Community Development. IMHO. The plan is developed in the community. Open meetings with various times and places over a fairly long time frame, 4 to 12 months. The NRP plan would be pretty close, but may not contain the specific design criteria that a development plan should have. The Minneapolis Plan does give a lot of direction within which a community plan could be constructed. The community likely understands that if it goes in a direction contrary to the Minneapolis Plan it will be much harder to get the development to happen as the community desires, but with that knowledge the plan should be for the community. The difference between the Minneapolis Plan and the Community Plan is that the city has had the organization and teeth to force developers to follow the design guidelines of the plan. Communities are just now starting to figure that process out, we are developing the organization slowly, but we lack on the development of teeth. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper [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] Form over function?
Have to agree with Terrell on this. I will take function over form nearly every time. No reason why a cool retail/housing/planetarium building would not have great visual prominence. I would prefer a fully functional library over visual prominence DeWayne Townsend, Ph.D. Analytical Instruments 1200 Mendelssohn Ave, Suite 50 (S.E. corner of Plymouth Ave. Hwy 169) Minneapolis, MN 55441 800-565-1895 FAX 952-929-1895 [EMAIL PROTECTED] This paragraph stuck out when I read the Star Tribune library article this morning: The delay avoids what Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman called a potential train wreck: a scenario in which the committee and City Council prefer the north site, which has visual prominence, and the Library Board prefers the south site, which better accommodates the library's function. While which block has visual prominence may well be somewhat dependent on the design of the other block and to a lesser extent the block of surface parking to the east leading to the Old Fed plaza, I find it hard to believe that Cesar Pelli cannot meet our visual needs on either block. Part of the reason we are building a new library is because the current building was not well designed for its function. In theory the Library Board and staff is better able to evaluate its needs than Council members who are separated from library operations. Unless someone has a plan that is more than the generalized mixed commercial/residential for the block where we don't put the library, it seems we should defer to the experts rather than accept a less than best library to allow space for an undefined vision. Leaving the library on the south block leaves 2 adjoining blocks that could be built as a common project to the north and northeast. BTW, can the Library Board override the decision of the Implementation Committee? What happens then? ___ 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] Well?
For those of us who couldn't make it to the Mpls. Issues bash last night, how about a recap from some of youse who went? And, what did you think of the restaurant -- I haven't tried it yet, but it looks interesting. The company and discussion was very good. I did not try the food this time, but I have in the past and while it is not the sort of food my Norwegian, white food, palate is used to I was glad I tried and will do so again. The beer selection was good. I really like the insides of the restaurant, a far cry from the Embers that once operated their. Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ 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] Library Site Selection
Build the best operational library possible. The city changes. How the library fits the city should not compromise the function of the library. Happy Holiday everyone. -- DeWayne Townsend, PhD. Research Associate University of Minnesota 515 Delaware St. SE., 16-212 MMHST Minneapolis, MN 55455 952-020-1996 Ext.14(voice) 952-929-1895 (FAX) -- ___ 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] Whittier fund shifting
I would like to add that in addition to the need to set aside funds for the NRP evaluation there is a couple of other reasons to redirect Phase I funds. LCC had several NRP goals that were completed under budget, but there was not enough remaining to do another project. There were also goals that simple were never realized, community lighting for example simply was not allocated enough money to make the project viable. There was also the issue of program income, the LCC plan book and income return on loans. All of these dollars were redistributed at a public meeting last week. It is true that many of the dollars could be redistributed by the LCC board without a public meeting, but the board wanted as much citizen participation and transparency as possible. I would like to provide some clarifying information in reference to Tim's post. SNIP -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [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] re: Painting the Town (in concentric circles of) Red
I think it is a cool post. Very Minneapolis and very personal with even a hint of advice. I would encourage this type of post, not discourage it. It will probably be a long time before I get into the downtown Target store, I probably should go to the Mall of America first, so hearing a little bit about it is great. Please forgive a new subscriber's naivete, but I was hoping a veteran or two of this list -- or perhaps the list moderator himself -- might clarify how such quasi advertisements as cited below work into the fabric of this list: In this case, the meditations of a Minneapolis man on the cultural capital of the latest addition to Target Corporation's 63 Minnesota-based Target retail stores, the downtown Minneapolis Target. snip Still not many shoppers in the evening. Lots of staff. Unattended carts whisked away faster than at the airport. A few kids this time. One mom, trying to do the groovy shopping cart escalator thing, just put the cart, kid and all, on the regular escalator (everyone arrived o.k.). Pick up a store map to save on escalator/elevator rides . We closed it down again at 8 p.m. Overstayed our one hour of free parking welcome looking for enough stuff to buy to get the free parking. It really hits you on the second visit: it's just a Target. But the downtown location still puts it up a notch over other Targets as a family cultural event. Chris Steller Nicollet Island-East Bank Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper ___ 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] Patrick's Cabaret
I think it is his birthday today, but I could have him mixed up with another Patrick. He will be missed, I hope he plans to hang around Mpls/St.Paul. -- DeWayne Townsend Cooper -- An article was in the Star Tribune yesterday (Thurs) about Patrick. Annie Young Phillips I was just talked to the executive director at Patrick's Cabaret and found out that Patrick is resigning! WOW, that changes things. Did anyone hear about this yet? FYI - they will now be looking for a new Artistic Director if anyone is interested. Liz Greenbaum Longfellow ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] NRP-funding
much has happened, but I am pretty sure that the greater Longfellow community would have a dramatically different character if not for NRP. No Brackett Park building, erosion control or overlooks on the river gorge, playgrounds in schools (especially no handicapped accessible playgrounds). Lots fewer trees in our urban forest, no windows on the street side of the Fairview clinic, no bungalow book. Hard to say what would have happened to housing if NRP had not primed the pump to clean up our housing stock prior to the influx of empty nesters, they may not have come home again. For sure the Minnehaha Academy construction and community impact would have been very different. Doweling gardens, the oldest community garden in the nation, could be housing and none of it affordable. I am sorry that some folks had to pay for lighting they did not want and that some felt their great ideas were not taken seriously, but I would question if any other forum would be different. It is not possible to please everyone all the time, but it is possible to find a solution that nearly everyone can live with. Before I let you off the hook and shut up, I have one more issue. The issue of Pay Back by the Republicans has been brought up in a couple of posts and I would like to give my 2 cents on this issue. Perhaps it was not the Mpls. DFL the house was against; perhaps it was Bloomington or Roseville or Eagan that initiated the conservative crusade to tank TIFF. From my vantage point it seems as though Minneapolis has done pretty well by the TIFF districts and we had a vibrant downtown, one where people actually live, and neighborhoods that were really returning to their community roots. Perhaps block E and Target were a bad deal, but you would be hard pressed to show that by history we should no do them. Now a library may be a TIFF stretch so perhaps some TIFF reform should have happened, but when the house voted to freeze the 58 million in neighborhood allocated funds that so smacks of vindictive behavior that most other arguments melt into babble. I think this makes a very potent argument against any Republican revival in Minneapolis. I think I can make a pretty good argument that pro-life and acceptance of diverse sexual orientation are not such bad tradeoffs for a party that shows such vindictive behavior. I am really in favor of multiparty government, so I wish the Greens and Independence parties well. The two party system is way too polarizing when victors take revenge as a guiding principal rather than good policy. I have very little faith that any group could raise 8600 registered voter signatures in less that a week, that the wording will pass muster with the Charter Commission or that voters would approve it, but if we call ourselves community activists doing nothing is simply not an option. Go Minneapolis - keep our neighborhoods and downtown strong. Have at me, but I already know it is too long. DeWayne Townsend Greater Longfellow, East End Minneapolis, MN 55406 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] RE: public vs private schools
Bingo This doesn't answer the real why question. If students really felt that a diploma was important they would take the time and effort to finish. That's it folks, they do not value the diploma. They have other agendas so why go to school to learn what they think they will never need. All of the kids I know that have dropped out believe the same thing. They will never use it so why learn it. How to change the perception is beyond me, I had my chance and blew it, worst part is that you only get one chance. -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Post script to Hiawatha LRT
This morning's Strib reported on the transportation bill that just passed the MN House: The bill also establishes a taxing district along the Hiawatha light rail line, requiring most businesses to make up the difference in operating costs from what fare boxes bring in. That could be as much as $16 million a year ... about 500 businesses along the Hiawatha light rail line would be affected, though Northwest Airlines and the Mall of America would be exempted. I take this a preemptive strike by the Republicans to insure that the Hiawathia LRT is the only line to ever get build and thus insuring the failure of LRT in Minneapolis The business community was pretty supportive of the Hiawathia route, but if they had known that they would be solely responsible for any short fall if the line did not get enough riders that support would turn to opposition. None of the small business I know could afford to take that risk. I just cannot figure out why the Republicans hate Minneapolis so much, other parts of the state elect DFL as well. Seems so vindictive. Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend, PhD. Research Associate University of Minnesota 515 Delaware St. SE., 16-212 MMHST Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612)625-4488(voice) (612)626-1484(FAX) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Clean City Minneapolis campaign
List members; As c-chair of the LCC Environment Transportation Committee I would like to second Vaman's comments and invite all of you to participate. It will be a lovely day and your participation will make Minneapolis a more lovely city. Cheers; Here's something we can all agree on - the litter problem in Minneapolis is pretty grim. Litter knows no boundaries. It is everywhere - on our streets, highways, parkways, rivers and yes, even in some our own backyards. The responsibility lies with all of us. We need to set an example. The good news? We have a chance to do something about this, to make a real difference in our City's quality of life, and to set some precedents for good, anti-litter work in the future. For three decades, we have gone without a public education campaign. This year, the City of Minneapolis is about to launch a Clean City Minneapolis education campaign with a kick-off taking place at the Minnehaha Center, 26th Avenue and E. Lake Street, at 9:45 a.m. Come join City of Minneapolis volunteers, residents of Longfellow and Seward neighborhoods, and other business partners in cleaning up litter in the surrounding areas. -- DeWayne Townsend, PhD. Research Associate University of Minnesota 515 Delaware St. SE., 16-212 MMHST Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612)625-4488(voice) (612)626-1484(FAX) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Full time Park Board
Carol I think that an alternative solution to making the Park Board full time would be to substantially reduce its duties or eliminate it completely and have the City oversee the parks No thanks Carol, I do not want a developer driven City Council advocating for our parks. They would likely all be condos by the time my granddaughter was old enough to play soccer. If we go this route lets give the city the schools to run as well. I don't think this is a good plan and I for one would fight pretty hard to keep it from happening. Park Board need to exert itself more not less. We need to know when we elect people to the Park Board that they have the ability to carry our the platform they run on. Right now I think the staff sort of dictate the policy not the board. Park Board was once a pretty cushy position, I think we need to ratchet up their responsibilities. Just my $0.02. Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend, PhD. Research Associate University of Minnesota 515 Delaware St. SE., 16-212 MMHST Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612)625-4488(voice) (612)626-1484(FAX) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
