[Mpls] 80% Returns
With 80 percent: RT, Gordon, Samuals, Glidden, Remington, Kummer, Fine, Nordstrom all have leads. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Shawn Lewis [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 9:36 PM Subject: [Mpls] UNOFFICIAL RESULTS-GENERAL ELECTION SUMMARY REPORT CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS UNOFFICIAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 8, 2005 RUN DATE:11/08/05 09:07 PM VOTES PERCENT PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 131). . . . .25 19.08 REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL . . . . .43,155 BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . .11,572 VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL . . . . . . 26.81 MAYOR - MINNEAPOLIS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 R. T. RYBAK. . . . . . . . . . 6,357 55.69 PETER MCLAUGHLIN . . . . . . . . 4,872 42.68 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1861.63 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 1 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 PAUL OSTROW. . . . . . . . . . 3,596 67.13 ERIK JOHNSON . . . . . . . . . 1,718 32.07 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . .43 .80 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 2 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 CAM GORDON . . . . . . . . . . 802 53.54 CARA J. LETOFSKY . . . . . . . . 688 45.93 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 8 .53 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 3 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 DIANE HOFSTEDE. . . . . . . . . 1,204 68.41 AARON NEUMANN . . . . . . . . . 541 30.74 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . .15 .85 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 4 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 BARBARA A. JOHNSON . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 5 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 NATALIE JOHNSON LEE . . . . . . . 183 38.45 DON SAMUELS. . . . . . . . . . 281 59.03 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . .122.52 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 6 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 DEAN (Z) ZIMMERMANN . . . . . . . 0 ROBERT LILLIGREN . . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 7 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 CHRISTOPHER CLARK. . . . . . . . 317 16.26 LISA R. GOODMAN . . . . . . . . 1,619 83.07 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . .13 .67 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 8 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 MARIE HAUSER . . . . . . . . . 0 ELIZABETH GLIDDEN. . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 9 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 DAVE BICKING . . . . . . . . . 0 GARY SCHIFF. . . . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 10 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 RALPH REMINGTON . . . . . . . . 0 SCOTT PERSONS . . . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 11 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 SCOTT BENSON . . . . . . . . . 0 GREGG A. IVERSON . . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 12 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 KEVIN MCDONALD. . . . . . . . . 0 SANDY COLVIN ROY . . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 13 - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 1 BETSY HODGES . . . . . . . . . 0 LISA MCDONALD . . . . . . . . . 0 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 BOARD OF ESTIMATE TAXATION - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 2 GORDON L. NELSON . . . . . . . . 2,140 15.12 DAVE BERGER. . . . . . . . . . 2,199 15.54 CAROL BECKER . . . . . . . . . 5,160 36.46 JILL SCHWIMMER. . . . . . . . . 4,528 31.99 WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 126 .89 PARK REC COMMISSIONER AT LARGE - MPLS VOTE FOR UP TO 3 MEG FORNEY . . . . . . . . . . 3,067 13.74 DANIEL J. FROEHLICH . . . . . . .
Re: [Mpls] Latest Vikings Stadium Proposal
I agree that a metrowide sales tax would be preferable, in fact it is something I pushed in this forum over two years ago. The fact is however, the only relevant Twins ballpark proposal is the Hennepin County sale tax proposal. If a special session is called, It will be that proposal or no proposal. P.S. your original post was Minneapolis specific because the Anoka County agreement appears to cement into place the fact that Mpls will be losing the Vikings. It is amazing to me that the City fathers and mothers and downtown businesses didn't fight harder to keep the Vikings in Mpls. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005 5:35 PM Subject: [Mpls] Latest Vikings Stadium Proposal I neglected to make my Vikings stadium proposal post Minneapolis specific. Here is my concern. I would like any sales tax that would partially fund the Twins stadium to come from the seven county metro area and not just Hennepin County. This would alleviate some Minneapolis tax burden. However, if Anoka County picks up the Vikings stadium tax, it will be hard to ask them to contribute to the Twins stadium as well. Bill Dooley Kenny REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] My spin on the 2005 primary, citywide and 8th ward
It's just not 2001, historically the 7, 10, 13th, and 11th wards have had by far the strongest turnouts in the City, given the results of the primary I don't see how anyone can think it will be different this coming November. I also have to agree that the primary was probably the high water mark for the anti-rybak vote. Those who were didn't think a change was necessary and isn't super involved in politics probably didn't vote on Tuesday. It's hard to see what can happen between now and November what will make them all of sudden be rabid McLaughlin supporters. Especially since the candidates are pretty similar in a vast amount of their viewpoints. Furthermore, my sense is that voters don't differentiate between governing styles unless one style is considered overly overbearing, or obnoxious. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Sheldon Mains [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 8:28 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] My spin on the 2005 primary, citywide and 8th ward RT Rybak's support in the SW wards put him on top in the primary, but might not carry him to victory in November. The specific gravity of the SW Minneapolis vote is almost certain to be much lower in November. I suspect Rybak is much less popular with Green Party voters than 4 years ago. I was just doing some analysis for my campaign so I was looking at the 2001 general election results. In the 2001 general election, Wards 11, and 13 (the far southwest and south central wards of Minneapolis) produced 23.08% of the vote. If each ward voted equally, the total should have been only 15.38% of the vote. So, what is my point? Before we speculate on what will happen, lets look at the history. The President has provided us with enough faith based analysis. I really don't need to read it on this list. sheldon . Sheldon Mains Seward Neighborhood, Minneapolis, Minnesota REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] My Candidacy for Mayor
It's not only Mr. Graham who sidesteps the question. Its McLaughlin and all his supporters. So I would extend the question to anyone supporting Peter McLaughlin: How does McLaughlin intend to pay for all these promises he's making? McLaughlin is certainly demonstrating his great experience in filling up the spending side of a balance sheet. Where are the cuts or new revenues going to come from? Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Mark Snyder [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gemgram [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Minneapolis Issues Forum mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 10:03 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] My Candidacy for Mayor On 9/5/05 6:53 PM, gemgram [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Though I have received requests to nail someone's tail to the wall, fortunately I have been out of town so could not rise to inflammatory political rhetoric. Isn't time a wonderful thing? Did anyone else notice that in his long, boring post where he attempts to nail my tail to the wall, Jim did not make one attempt to answer the primary question I posed to both him and the McLaughlin campaign? Again: How does McLaughlin intend to pay for all these promises he's making? McLaughlin is certainly demonstrating his great experience in filling up the spending side of a balance sheet. Where are the cuts or new revenues going to come from? Talking about anything else, as Jim does so well, is just side-stepping the issue. Mark Snyder Windom park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Dueling mayoral op-eds in the Strib
I have to agree with Mr. Lohman. Peter McLaughlin has a lot of unobjectionable sound bite ideas with no details backing them up. To wit: McLaughlin says he will hire 150 new cops. Sounds good. What taxes will be raised to pay for the cops, what current programs will be cut, what other cost savings will the Mayor find to hire these cops? We deserve to know these answers before we vote. McLaughlin wants better schools. Fantastic. The Mayor's office doesn't control the School Board's budget and doesn't even sit on it's policy making board, much less control it. So how does he intended to better the schools? Take over the School District, levy an additional property tax dedicated to the schools, buy every student a lap top? Again details Mr. McLaughlin. The list goes on and on. Now mostly such lack of detail would generally be considered par for the course for someone seeking office. Unfortunately we had a mayor and a City government that also didn't care for the details and pushed difficult decisions to the future, even though the impact of their policies were right out in the open for all to see. RT Rybak confronted those ignored issues head on. You may disagree with they way they were addressed but at least he did something about them. Let's not go back to the bad old days of governing with our head in the sand. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Paul Lohman [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2005 2:33 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Dueling mayoral op-eds in the Strib I am a bit confused by some of the McLaughlin supporters. Nikki Carlson wrote: Four years ago, I wholeheartedly supported Rybak as a breath of fresh air, and I believe I did the right thing for the time. [Lohman] An explanation as to why you supported Rybak wholeheartedly and did the right thing but now don't support him would be helpful. Has he not done a great job? Nikki Carlson wrote: Today I wholeheartedly support Peter McLaughlin as these tough times call for someone with experience, focus and follow-through. And please tell me how these are tough times compared to when Rybak took over 4 years ago. Rybak was handed a mess when he came to office and in addition the State cut our LGA by $37M. In addition the economy was very slow if not in recession most of the time. In spite of all of that Rybak has presided over 4 balanced budgets and kept property tax increases as low as possible. I think that shows experience, focus and follow-through. McLaughlin has said he would have spent more on cops and more on neighborhoods, but please, when is he (or anyone) going to tell us how he was ever going to pay for it. I support Rybak because I think he has a great job during the last 4 years - years that I would describe as tougher times than what we have now or what appears to be ahead. I am more confident today of the direction of this city than I was 4 years ago and more confident that good groundwork has been laid for fiscal responsibility going forward as well. Nikki Carlson wrote: Some call him old guard, I think of him as having a proven record. McLaughlin does have a proven record, and it's not a bad one. I don't think too many people argue with that. But most of his support is coming from constituents who have had their personal ox's gored during the necessary belt tightening of the last 4 years, or they are his long time DFL friends - the old guard. So, someone explain it to me. How does Rybak go from breath of fresh air with whole-hearted support to being the bad guy? How does 4 years of successful leadership bring about a change of mind that chucks him out the door? He more than deserves to be re-elected for his tireless work for this city and for the leadership he has shown for the past 4 years. Paul Lohman Lynnhurst REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] In Ballot Box: Vile and petty misrepresentations
I'm shocked, shocked to hear that one candidate for the DFL endorsement would take steps block other candidates, who also want that endorsement, from getting it. Boy has campaigning stooped to a new low ;o) Also Mr. Remington accuses Mr. Persons of personal attacks and then accuses him of conducting a Karl Rovian campaign, which in most Democrat's book is about as low and personal as it goes. Looks like a muddy summer in front of us and Mr. Remington's got a sloppy big bucket. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Craig Cox [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 4:23 PM Subject: [Mpls] In Ballot Box: Vile and petty misrepresentations In Ballot Box: Vile and petty misrepresentations 10th Ward council candidate Ralph Remington on opponent Scott Persons' campaign strategies Go to: http://www.mplsobserver.com and click on Ballot Box REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Giving past councilmembers their due
It should also be noted that during the last SSB/Cherryhomes budget that was passed, Councilmember Barret Lane would go from councilmember's office to councilmembers office with charts and graphs showing how the proposed budget was unsustainable. Despite his mountain of evidence, his exhortations for some sort of budget sanity fell on deaf ears (at least 7 pairs of deaf ears). Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: David Brauer [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 8:17 PM Subject: [Mpls] Giving past councilmembers their due As I spell out the city's history of budget foibles, I should mention, in the interest of completeness, that Steve Minn and Lisa McDonald (and one or two others I'm forgetting) regularly voted against the Cherryhomes group on budget issues in the 1993-2001 era. Steve of course is making a lot more money now NOT being a Councilmember; Lisa is again a candidate - and like everyone running - should spell out how she can pay for her priorities. But she at least has a history of budget votes she doesn't have to run from. David Brauer Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Stadiumus Giganticus!
Jenny Heiser wrote: As a footnote: I know many folks, near my age, who vowed back then never to set foot into the Metrodome. And they never have. It is a matter of honor to them. Dean Here: May be so, but according to the Metrodome's web site, 55 Million(!) people have set foot in the dome since it opened in 1982. Also it was built at 100 percent public subsidy, and even though you thought people were going to storm Cowles media, no one did, no politician lost their job either. Same goes for the Xcel Center in St. Paul, no one stormed the gates, heck St. Paul even re-elected the X's number 1 cheerleader as Mayor and the state as a whole voted elected him his Senator. So much for making politicians pay for providing public subsidy for a sports team (and the Wild have a sweet deal at the Xcel Center). Bottom line is that irregardless of the anti-stadium folks rants and raves, many, many people DO support a stadium, will hold their elected official accountable if a ballpark is NOT built, and care very deeply that Twins are a community resource that should be supported. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Real ballpark debate
If anyone wants to participate in a cogent debate about the ballpark deal without the hysterics and goofy rants, click on over to http://www.twinsterritory.com/. (Don't let the name freak you out, there both pro- and anti-ballpark views represented). Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Stadium Ironies: Greens too conservative for Minneapolis?
Mike Jensvold wote: And, when it's time to vote, let's get the bastards who sell us out on this stadium thing. Dean Here: Remember it's a two-way street. I for one will not be voting for Gail Dorfman ever again. And I love Frank Hornstein to death, but since the vote in the House is going to be close, a no vote by Representative Hornstein will cost him my support. There are many others who feel just as passionate on the other side. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: Spam Alert: [Mpls] Doug Mann for City Council, ward 8
It appears that if elected, Doug Mann will be broadening the scope of the office. To wit: Stadii -- This is a County and State Legislative Issue General College -- University of MN issue Enforcement of Fair Housing - County and State does this. Also I don't believe the city can raise the minimum wage, this is a State responsibility Build more Affordable Housing -- Bingo!! This really is a City function. It's great that Doug Mann is on the affordable housing bandwagon. Curious that he was such a vocal critic of the largest effort ever taken by the City in building affordable housing -- Heritage Park. Now he thinks CPED (note to Doug, MCDA no longer exists) can do the job. Education -- School Board issue. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 10:31 AM Subject: Spam Alert: [Mpls] Doug Mann for City Council, ward 8 Issues: *Stadii: No to more publicly-financed stadiums. Yes to a Referendum for any money raised for a stadium by taxing people in Minneapolis. *General College: I am oppose to the U of MN's plan to close general college. For many years I have been opposed to the U of MN's strategy of becoming an elite, high-priced university. Closing down general college serves that end. In recent years the U of MN has been subsidizing biotech research projects to the tune of 10s of millions of dollars per year, which is corporate welfare for Cargill and others, largely paid for by the students in the form of higher tuition rates. *Enforcement of fair employment and housing laws: No government agency is doing much in this area. I believe that fair play in the employment and housing markets is in the best interests of a large majority of Minneapolis residents (and voters), but not in the interests of most of the people who write the big checks for candidates for Mayor and City Council. Segregation of and discrimination against people of color, especially African Americans is the result of a historical process rooted in slavery, followed by legally sanctioned discrimination and segregation throughout the US from the 1890s until recently. Ongoing discrimination perpetuates unequal access to jobs, housing, education, an ideology of white supremacy, and a large, multiracial underclass competing for low-wage jobs. That is not a good thing for most people who have to work for a living. I advocate the creation of city-sponsored programs to identify and prosecute employers, landlords, real estate agents, and bankers who illegally discriminate on the basis of race and gender. Identification of discriminators can be done by setting up survey teams (mixed race / gender) who apply for jobs, seek housing. More about this at http://educationright.com *Affordable housing and living wage jobs: A person working full time should be able to lease an apartment for one-fourth of their gross income. By any means necessary the City government should put upward pressure on minimum wage-rates and downward pressure on housing prices. The City has leverage with employers who do business with the city and within the city, and to the extent possible should raise the minimum wage enough to make the minimum wage a living wage (near $20 per hour) The Minneapolis Community Development Agency should focus on the construction and renovation of low-priced housing, not high-end housing and downtown business development projects (corporate welfare), like a new Twins stadium, tax breaks for Target stores, etc. The creation of more lower-priced housing in neighborhoods with the lowest median incomes will help to curb the inflation of housing prices. Enforcement of fair employment and housing laws would reduce the concentration of poverty in the city's lower rent districts. *Education: The Minneapolis Public School system has an unacceptably high teacher turnover rate, due in large part to the administration's practice of laying-off teachers it actually plans to rehire or replace. And on average the district's 23 racially identifiable schools, schools where the nonwhite and hispanic student population is more than 20% about the district average for grade levels served have very high teacher turnover rates and a high concentration of the least experienced teachers. On the other hand, staffing has been very stable, and the more experienced teachers have been concentrated in predominantly white, community schools in the city's wealthier neighborhoods. I advocate the equal distribution of teachers with less than 5 years of experience equally throughout the district. And I advocate untracking, i.e., phasing out low-ability classes and curriculum tracks for the general student population. I believe that untracking could be done without watering down the curriculum in programs for the academically gifted and talented, which would become programs for the general student
Re: [Mpls] Re: stadium
Did we get to vote on Light Rail Transit? You think that would have passed a referendum in Hennepin County? How about relocating the Guthrie and paying for that? I don't remember having a say on that either or even anyone calling for a referendum. If there was a proposal for a 1/2 cent sales tax to support affordable housing, should that go in front of the voters and how do you think it would turn out? Does that mean these are bad ideas or that they were rammed down our throats? No. The bottom line is that everyone wants to have a referendum when they are against something and are against a referendum when they are for it. The lack of a referendum has nothing to do with the merit or legitimacy of the proposal. Also, list-serves like this one tend to be echo-chambers. You write a post against a stadium and you see it on-line, 2 people respond favorably to your post, and you respond back, all of a sudden your e-mail box is dominated by people who support your view, but in reality 4 people have weighed in and one of them was you. The fact is, many thousands of people support the construction of a new Twin ballpark and are willing to pony up a few cents on each purchase in Hennepin County to do it. If our representatives vote for a new ballpark, its not that they don't support you or care what you want, it's that they support the many others who do want a stadium -- of which only an extremely small percentage post anything on Minneapolis Issues (basically me, it appears) Also for you St. Paulites who want to support the ballpark, come on over to Minneapolis and spend some money, our retailers will gladly take it and pass on 0.0015 percent to the ballpark. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: dain lyngstad [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Allen [EMAIL PROTECTED]; mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 12:20 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: stadium The correct thing to do as representatives is to allow the citizens of henn. couunty to vote, annyything less says they don't support us or care what we want they just want power and perks from others. Dain Lyngstadedina/phillips REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] County, Twins have ballpark deal
I for one hope this City jumps on board with this one, in fact I would encourage all City Council candidates to tell us where they stand (Mayoral candidates too). I've argued that a region-wide sales tax is the way to go for stadium financing. Wisconsin did it for the Brewers and Packers, Denver did it for their beautiful ball park (paid off in 10 years!). The best way would have been to levy a .10 percent sales tax on the 9 county metro area, half go to stadiums the other half to affordable housing, education, arts, transportation (your pet issue here). As others have posted the beauty of this arrangement is that Hennepin County is the economic force of the region. So actually those Japanese tourists visiting the MOA and those suburbanites who work downtown will be paying for the stadium as well. I will be encouraging my state senator and representative to support this bill. I know a lot of other Hennepin County residents who will be doing the same. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Jeanne Massey [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Allen' [EMAIL PROTECTED]; mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 2:03 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] County, Twins have ballpark deal Allen Graetz: I'm curious what, if anything, the city of Minneapolis can do to fight this. Afterall, this is the MPLS email list so we should keep a MPLS focus on this one. Jeanne Massey: Where is the political leadership in opposition to this at all levels - city, county and state? I hope to hear them weigh in on this, and soon - before the county board meeting this week. Gail Dorfman was the only county commissioner who voted against county funding for a baseball stadium last year. I remember the city council overwhelmingly supporting the warehouse district site for a stadium, but I don't remember what vote was taken regarding city funding for a stadium. In any case, an increase in local taxes imposed by the county amounts to the same thing - city council members supportive of this proposal essentially support city funding for a stadium. I was glad to hear at a recent forum the clear opposition by my potential council members (8th ward) to public financing for a stadium. Where are our various state elected officials from Minneapolis on this? Jeanne Massey Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] City ethics board: Rybak doesn't have to pay back taxpayers
o.k., legally the Mayor may not have to pay for the brochure, but ethically it just smells bad. The Mayor could have put this to bed in January by admitting (what most people believe) that the brochure that crossed way into the realm of campaign literature. I would still strongly urge the Mayor to reimburse the City. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: List Manager [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 9:01 PM Subject: [Mpls] City ethics board: Rybak doesn't have to pay back taxpayers From the Strib... Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak doesn't need to reimburse taxpayers any part of the $42,556 he spent to produce and send an eight-page glossy newsletter to city residents, according to an opinion from the city's ethical practices board. The two-member, volunteer board determined that laws governing publications are ambiguous. It's difficult to interpret for everybody. It doesn't mean we agree with the nature of the newsletter, said board member Laura Reich, a physician at the University of Minnesota. She and board member Thomas Schumacher, director of the office of compliance at the university, recommended that the city establish clear standards and encourage all elected officials to have future newsletters reviewed by the communications department. http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5357630.html David Brauer List manager REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] FW: Fort Snelling Athletic Fields
I agree with the post below. Most of the Minneapolis' fields for baseball/softball and soccer are atrocious, especially for younger kids. In fact we have our 10 year old son in Richfield baseball, primarily because the fields are great -- From t-ball to Babe Ruth. Fort Snelling fields are bar none the best fields in all of south Minneapolis (which unfortunately means they are about average when compared to our suburban neighbors). They are a treasure that should be embraced, not critiqued. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Marty Demgen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls@mnforum.org Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 5:46 PM Subject: [Mpls] FW: Fort Snelling Athletic Fields Part I District #5 Park and Recreation Board Candidate Jason Stone and his retainers have, in their apparent campaign against the entire Park Board, been bashing the Fort Snelling Fields as part of their critique. They refer to expense and underutilization. They imply extravagance and boondoggle. As a Minneapolis parent of children in the public schools who participate in athletics through the Park Board, I am mystified by their criticism of one of the best things provided these children in my twenty-five years as a local resident. First some facts: * Park Board sanctioned teams use the facilities free of charge. Traveling and non-Mpls. Teams pay usage fees * Fort Snelling is the home field for Southwest High. * Six of the seven Minneapolis Public High Schools use Park Board facilities as their home parks for baseball. (Only Henry, with huge support from its Legion Program, has a baseball field adjacent to the school. Some teams travel miles to their home parks.) * This Park Board assistance to Public School teams extends beyond varsity squads to JVs, freshmen and Middle School teams. Fort Snelling is the best of these Minneapolis Park Board facilities. I have seen Candidate Stone refer to the ballpark as tournament quality. I can't speak to that but I do know that my kids and their teammates aren't going to roll an ankle by stepping in a hole in the outfield at Fort Snelling. Decent field conditions should exist for Minneapolis children. When my daughters play soccer at Fort Snelling, they play on a regular youth sized and grass covered field. When they play at Sibley Park, they play in the mud on a field where the underwater portions are cordoned off. (No current or recent Board member is responsible for the topography of Sibley or most of the other parks. They are what they are and you cope. But you would rather be playing at Fort Snelling.) Martin Demgen Standish-Ericsson REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Strib: McLaughlin running
Jim makes some good points about questions past RT supporters will have to ask themselves when deciding whether or not to support the Mayor for another term. However part of that equation for those supporters is whether or not they think that any challenger will handle the same issues better. In my mind, Peter McLaughlin is part of that old DFL hackdom that was swept away 3 years ago. Who knows, may PM's campaign slogan can be Back to the Future. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: gemgram [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Dean Carlson [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 8:33 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Strib: McLaughlin running Dean Carlson writes, Strib says McLaughlin will announce run for mayor this week. Frankly since he's part of the old SSB crowd that RT trounced last time, I'm not sure what kind of a shot he has. But it should be fun. Actually Dean, a coalition of neighborhood activist who were mad that NRP was threatened and community involvement discounted, plus those opposed to financing boondoggles like the Target Development, and those that had fought for better police protection were the ones that trounced Sharon. RT Rybak was simply an attractive vehicle for that trouncing. A very attractive, glib, alternative to be sure. A candidate who was very believable when he made promises. But Dean is correct, it should be fun to see if that same coalition supports RT this time. The press and community forums have not exactly portrayed such a happy coalition. It will probably come down to folks looking at the last four years and analyzing whether RT has performed on the many promises that were made. I believe the election will hinge on how well RT, and his staff, have performed on several promises: 1. Fully funding NRP - Has RT fully supported NRP and the neighborhoods at the NRP Policy Board? 2. Supporting greater community involvement in City decision making such as Planning, policing, etc. - Has RT made those departments more answerable to the communities? Especially as regarding Public Safety and planning and zoning issues? 3. Simplifying City Government such as MCDA, permits, etc., (I believe they called it One stop shopping.) - Is it easier today to go through the City than it was four years ago? 4. Greater accessibility of the public to the Mayor's office. - Does the Mayor (or his office) answer immediately when called and actually follow up on promises about when they are meeting, and what they will do? Sharon was accused of becoming distant from the public. is RT's office better? More accessible? 5. Support for small rental property owners of affordable housing. - Has RT given the support that he promised at their meetings and television show, and has he made things easier for these suppliers of 80% of Minneapolis' affordable housing? 6. Greater support for residents and neighborhoods versus support for large developers. - Has RT aggressively pursued our Minneapolis investments? Has he placed the interests of residents and the City above those of large corporate developers? Those are the six most prominent promises I remember. I am sure there were more, but those are the promises that brought that coalition together. Perhaps others might address whether those promises were well kept, or just political fluff to entice the voters, but lacking any real substance. Perhaps Neighborhood activists and small business people can answer them. I believe the next election will come down to whether that coalition decides that RT has, or has NOT, made his best effort at fulfilling those promises. If he has driven his staff to perform on promises? Or if he, like Sharon, has allowed his staff to isolate him so he is both inaccessible and perhaps unable to see where his staff has led him? Perhaps also important might be if the electorate will have forgotten the sentencing of Basim Sabri and the Mayor's only veto of a City Council decision. Support for Sabri when that City Council voted against Sabri's real estate bait and switch scheme in the Whittier Neighborhood. Will RT Rybak be able to justify or distance himself from the incredible blunder of supporting a known briber and political corrupter. The caucuses are only a couple of months away and if RT does not get enough delegates with faith in him to guarantee a convention endorsement then he as an incumbent mayor (like Sharon Sayles-Belton before him) is in big trouble. Many of us, who were the RT faithful supporters when he previously ran, are probably right now deciding how those questions will be answered. Watching how professional politicians will spin the truth and facts to convince us as to the answers to those questions this time will indeed be as much fun as it was last time. Will the end answers be any different? Jim Graham, Ventura Village, Phillips, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis Some political
[Mpls] Strib: McLaughlin running
Strib says McLaughlin will announce run for mayor this week. Frankly since he's part of the old SSB crowd that RT trounced last time, I'm not sure what kind of a shot he has. But it should be fun. Here's the strib link http://www.startribune.com/stories/1405/5133492.html Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Property tax story of the day......with someethicalconsiderations
I agree with Ron, I have relatives in Wisconsin and North Dakota and I can tell you that both states have much higher residential property taxes, especially in Wisconsin. Both states have much lower commercial and industrial property taxes, however. Vicky makes a good point about assessed value laging behind market value. I've always used the house at 42nd and Dupont South as an example. It sold for $1.125 million in 2001 and its 2003 assessed value (payable 2004) was $748,000 or at about 2/3 of its market value in 2001. There are countless other examples throughout the City -- except my house of course :o) Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Leurquin, Ronald [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Victoria Heller [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mpls Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 8:50 AM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Property tax story of the day..with someethicalconsiderations Vicky: Yes, absolutely. It's not just Minneapolis: Minnesota's property tax system should be more like its neighboring states. Remember that MN's property taxes are DOUBLE those of Wisconsin and Iowa - not good for attracting business. Ron responds: When I lived in Milwaukee I paid 2,400 in taxes on a 65,000 home. I then moved to Mpls, bought a house for 79,000 and paid only 1,100 in taxes. I was just checking my old hood in Milwaukee recently and found my old home has 3,600 in taxes and is valued at 110,000. My house here was worth 200,000 and I paid about 1,700 in taxes. I think your math is way off, but thanks for making us aware of some of MN tax issues. Ron Leurquin Nokomis East REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Walker Library Task Force Meeting
The reason the City is having problems keeping its libraries open is not due to staffing decisions at the Central Library. It's due to the fact that the Library Board owns too much real estate given the fact that one of it's major sources of funds -- Local Aid to Cities -- has been substantially cut over the past couple years (with very little chance that is will ever be restored). Now of course I want Libraries in the City, but the fact is Walker is a dysfunctional library. Even though I live equa-distance between Walker and Washburn, our family goes to Washburn 95% of the time. This is due to conveneince (including parking), books in the stacks, and yes aesthetics. Uptown is a high density, high traffic commercial area that serves the region as well as the surrounding neighborhood. It makes sense that the City and Library Board look at all options at this site, including mixed uses and even outright sale. Obviously the options looked at thus far don't pencil out (don't make sense financially) but fixing a leaky roof, while the cheapest, is a wholly dissatisfying option. Finally I just got my property tax statement and the Library Board's share was eye-popping, with further increases coming down the pike. While I can't speak for my fellow citizens, I would be hard pressed to pay even more for libraries. Perhaps the Library Board needs to look at its entire system, to determine whether it can afford to keep all of its properties. A strategic sale of one or two of its libraries may help pay for other more pressing needs. Furthermore, a merger with Hennepin County should be examined for cost saving opportunities as well. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: WizardMarks [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mpls mn forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 6:35 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Walker Library Task Force Meeting 11/18/2004 1pm Dorie Rae Gallagher wrote: Well said MD! We want our library doors open! WM: If you want library doors open, then you are going to have to persuade the board of MPL and it's staff that the way they have deployed staff has been screwy for the last 10 years or better. Look particularly at circulation statistics for ALL libraries and the staff count for those community libraries with the highest stats. Then compare that with Central stats. and Central staff count. I believe that you will discover that Central has far more staff members (just in the library itself, not in the admin. depts.) than its circulation warrants. Granted, some people who use Central come there for reference documents which cannot circulate, but then people come to community libraries for reference work as well. The over-staffing of Central predates the recent extreme budget cuts by years. Vis-a-vis Walker, I have no idea why the board is even discussing sharing space with private entities. Walker is extremely busy, it's on at least six bus lines, it's incredibly convenient and, as such, it's in a primo position to build patronage of the library. In a nation which is becoming more illiterate by the year, this is an important function for libraries. WizardMarks, Central REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Lawn Signs
The recent SW Journal had an article stating that we have to remove our political lawn signs by November 12. (Sorry no link, David?) I think this law is blatently unconstitutional. I as U.S. Citizen have the right to free speech, meaning I can put a sign in my yard stating what I believe (as long as it isn't obscene). One can make an arguement that political signs are owned by the candidate and are on someone's yard as a courtesy. I think the law is intended for candidates to remove their signs. However if I want to keep the sign on my yard, I can, without fear of reprisal from the City or neighbors who may not want it there. That goes for political candidate signs to any form of political speech. So, if I want to show my continued support for Representative Frank Hornstein, I can. Or if I want to have a sign that says Bring back Mayor Fraser! or put my Wellstone sign out, or say U.S. out of France, or say fire Coach Mason. I can. Try and stop me. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Public School Enrollment, why is it falling? How to increase it.
I WILL NOT be voting for Doug Mann and have encouraged all my friends and neighbors to do likewise. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Pamela Taylor [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 7:51 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Public School Enrollment,why is it falling? How to increase it. Hello Listmembers, Although I am in Florida, and getting prepared to evacuate in the face of Ivan the Terrible Hurricane, I implore you to RUN, not walk, to the polls and VOTE for Doug Mann! He has for years, done his homework, and sometimes, that of the existing school board members, for them. He has offered many ideas to stem the the flow of educational waste, and what he may not be certain of, he actually attempts to search out real answers. If he is elected, I don't believe he will change any, except to pursue solutions more aggresively. I have a very intelligent granddaughter in first grade in Minneapolis. I don't intend to let her be dumbed down nor bullied, nor her educational possibilities stunted by an inadequately managed system. I will come yank her out myself. The system needs help. Give them Doug Mann. Pamela Taylor (In the Panhandle) - Do you Yahoo!? vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today! REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Niziolek Declines Another Term
If Alan Bernard has not thrown his hat in the ring, I say let's just nominate him now. Dean E. Carlson 10th Ward, East Harriet - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 7:59 PM Subject: [Mpls] Niziolek Declines Another Term According to a Star Tribune article, CM Niziolek will decline another term whenever the next city council elections are held. Tenth Warders, do you have names of possible candidates for this open seat? Bill Dooley Kenny REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] vacancy does not mean affordable
Mark Snyder wrote: This suggests to me that HUD may be part of the problem. If 30% of the area median income (I'm assuming this is for a household) is $22,590, then that would mean that the area median income for a household is about $75,000. It's been a long time since I took statistics, but that number seems skewed a bit high to me. That number is correct. Area Median Income is for the 11-County Metropolitan area. Thus high household incomes in suburban Hennepin, Washington, Dakota County, et. al. push the median much higher than what is probably the situation within the City limits of Minneapolis. (If you are puzzled why the suburbs are increasingly voting Republican, there's your answer right there). Unfortunately HUD, or any other agency for that matter, has to pick some number. I'm guessing it would be an administrative nightmare to determine the median income for all 120 plus jurisdiction in the Twin Cities and then apply them to a program. Plus if it did, there would be complaints that households in the Lynnhurst neighborhood were skewing the numbers artificially high. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10, Living in a HH at less than the AMI REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] 2004 City Budget Passed by Council
While I believe that HIV prevention is an extremely important issue that is worthy of my tax dollars, I am not convinced that it should be a City Budget responsibility. I would much rather see the HIV prevention dollars in the County or State budget. Again, not denying the need, just questioning the source. Dean Carlson East Harriet Farmstead Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Terrell Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Minneapolis Issues Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 9:52 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] 2004 City Budget Passed by Council Laura Sether, Office of Mayor Rybak writes: The Minneapolis City Council tonight passed Mayor Rybak's proposed 2004 City budget on an 11-2 vote. This budget represents a significant investment ... What was left out was: City of Minneapolis Budget To Reduce HIV Prevention Funding The Minneapolis City Council voted today to reduce funding for HIV prevention by 35% from $35,000 to $23,000 for 2004. A previous proposal had eliminated the designated funding and instead directed all the money that comes from the Community Development Block Grants, which includes HIV prevention dollars, to other city boards for them to allocate the funds. Instead, nearly all the public health and family support funding received a 35% across the board cut. Since 45% of new infections in 2002 in the state of Minnesota were in the city of Minneapolis. It is a disappointment to see still more cuts in vital public services. With all the restrictions being placed on prevention dollars at the federal and state level, prevention workers were able to use these dollars to do the effective and targeted work that gets at communities most at risk - primarily gay/bisexual men and intravenous drug users. It is also expected that changes will be made to the process for the 2005 budget. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] The Wedge tries to ban gun signs
The latest SW Journal has an only in Minneapolis story about how the Wedge Coop tried to take down their The Wedge Bans Handguns on these Premises signs only to threatened with a boycott by its customers if the signs weren't put back up. Read the story here: http://www.swjournal.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detaildoc=/2003/October/30- 1227-news07.txt I happen to agree with the Wedge's original position. Let's take the signs down. Now before you hit your reply key I should inform you that I'm NOT a raving gun nut and in fact I am as mortified about conceal and carry as the next guy but I really have to question the efficacy of those signs (Hennepin County Government shooting anyone?) and the fact that they are just plain ugly. My absolute worst favorite sign is on the the doors of the Orpheum theatre. Here you are, two $50-$60 tickets in your hand, dressed to the nines, just had a good meal downtown, excited about the show you are about to see, and what's the first thing when you enter the theatre? Those damn gun signs. Take the signs down. If some fool wants to bring a gun into a restaurant, store, bar, church, etc. Ain't no sign gonna stop 'em. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Green party and the city's position vis Heritage Park funding gap ...
What Mr. Mann quotes from the court documents does not counter my argument. What he quotes is correct, however he is missing the fact that this refers to the court's oversight of the consent decree, not the completion of the units which under the consent decree are to be completed by October 1 2004. Same is true to the 2007 date. As I mentioned in my long post from yesterday, that date refers to the for-sale housing and not the 770 replacement units. Dean Carlson - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 12:38 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Green party and the city's position vis Heritage Park funding gap ... snip... When the consent decree was entered, the parties ambitiously agreed upon a seven-year program within which to complete the project. In a thousand different ways, however, the realities of life humanity... Seven years has simply not been enough time... Therefore, based on the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS ORDERED that: 1. By agreement of the parties, the consent decree and jurisdiction of the Court over defendant Metropolitan Council [Docket No. 218] is terminated. 2. Jurisdiction over defendants Mondale and Ryan is terminated. 3. The Court's jurisdiction over this matter and the remaining defendants [Docket Nos. 202 205] is extended until November 1, 2004. Docket numbers 202 205 refer to the City of Minneapolis and HUD. One of the arguments used in a brief by the City (arguing to keep HUD in) was that the City didn't expect to fulfill its duties in relation to the replacement housing until 2007 or 2008. The City was, by its own admission, 5 to 6 years behind schedule on a project it had agreed to finish in 7 years! REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Green party and the city's position vis Heritage Park funding gap (Long Response)
Mr. Mann's Pulse article and subsequent postings are so rife with error and misinterpretation it's hard to know where to begin. But some facts: (apologies for the length) The Hollman Consent Decree required the MPHA to replace 770 public housing units, not 900 as Mr. Mann states (minor point, I realize) The relocation process for the families who resided at Sumner-Olson, Glenwood-Lyndale categorically did not produce a corresponding increase in homelessness for people eligible for public housing. All residents were relocated in accordance with federal law, some purchased homes, others moved to other public housing, some chose to use a Section 8 voucher to move elsewhere in the Twin Cities or other areas of the country. No one ended up displaced from public housing to no housing. The original consent decree deadline for replacement of the 770 units was not November 2002. It is October 1, 2004. The November 2002 date corresponds to the date that the court oversight of the defendants activities was to end. The defendants, however were still on the hook to finish the housing by the 2004 deadline. And in fact it was the City's and MPHA's decision to ask the court to continue the oversight of the decree until the housing was completed. The federal court agreed to this request. Mr. Mann states that the City and MPHA predicted that it would take until 2007 or 2008 to finish the housing. That year relates to the for-sale housing that is to be built at Heritage Park. The for-sale housing is outside the 770 public housing units that are to be replaced under the Decree, which, as stated above, are to be completed by October 2004. It is true that the City has informed the plaintiffs that the last 38 public housing units (out of a total of 770 or less than 5 percent) would not be finished by October 1, 2004, but would in fact would be under construction at that time and would be ready for occupancy by March 2005 or a delay of 6 months. The reason for the delay was the geotechnical issues at Heritage Pa rk (not polluted soils mind you), the need for additional funding, and the general complexity of developing a 73 acre site with new infrastructure, streets, and housing. Due to HUD reneging on previous funding commitments, there is a $7.5 million gap to finish the last 38 units. This issue is being brought in front of Judge Rosenbaum in October. Even if the City/MPHA loses its argument, it is still on the hook to complete the units. MPHA would have to come up with the money from other sources -- the lack of money does not excuse it from meeting the terms of the consent decree. Look for a resolution to the funding issue soon and the last 38 replacement units built and occupied with only the 6 month delay. Furthermore MPHA did not lose or squander the money. HUD gave one lump sum to MPHA to build all the housing in 1995 with no provisions for inflation or increased housing values. Image someone giving you money in 1995 to buy a house in 2003. Also image that in 1995 you needed a two-bedroom home but since then your family size has increased and now you need a 4-bedroom house. Given the fact of home price increases since 1995 do you think you would have enough money to buy house now? That's the situation facing MPHA with the settlement dollars. Also HUD limits how much money can be spent on a unit and every dollar spent is highly regulated and audited on an annual basis. MPHA and the City can account for every single dollar spent with the settlement dollars, and they can produce the voluminous audits to back it up. Regarding McCormack Baron and the settlement dollars. Remember the settlement dollars only pay for the public housing units at Heritage Park and public housing only comprises 45 percent of the housing built. McCormack Baron has millions of dollars of private investments, and other MCDA and MHFA funds to pay for the other affordable units. If you gotten this far congratulations. It should be pointed out that the Hollman Consent Decree is but one such deconcentration lawsuit that was filed in the 1990's throughout the country. Minneapolis is the only one that is being implemented successfully with 472 of the units being replaced in suburban communities. To date nearly 550 units are occupied by public housing residents with another 80 or so to be completed by the end of the year. Besides the last 38 units at Heritage Park, all other units will be completed and occupied by October 1, 2004 as required by the Consent Decree. Naysayers can howl and rant all they want but the fact is they've been wrong every step of the way. They were wrong when they stated that the former residents would never be allowed back at Heritage Park, they were wrong when they said that the suburbs would never take replacement units, they were wrong when they said that the employment goals for minorities and women would never be met, they were wrong when they said the ground water was polluted, and they are
Re: [Mpls] Minneapolis Continues Pattern of Discrimination Against Poor Communities Of Color - Pollution
just so everyone's clear, Heritage Park is NOT a superfund site. Furthermore, contrary to public belief, there is millions of dollars of private investment in Heritage Park. No way in hell a bank, or its insurance company, or its lawyers will allow a single dollar be invested in real estate if they are not absolutely positive there is no pollution that will, in essence, make their investment worth nil, and in fact cost them millions in lawsuits and clean-up. The claims of pollution at Heritage Park are bogus, testing has shown they are bogus, and I challenge anyone to provide real proof otherwise. Dean E. Carlson, Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Chris Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mpls Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 05, 2003 5:26 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Minneapolis Continues Pattern of Discrimination Against Poor Communities Of Color - Pollution The amount of remediation to clean it up has been relatively minimal compared to what is done at a typical superfund site. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Inaccessable City Sponsored Housing- the Next Holman?
- Original Message - From: Dyna [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Inaccessable City Sponsored Housing- the Next Holman? snip... I attended one of the public hearings on the Heritage Park projects a couple years back. I and several other citizens in attendance reminded the designers of this blunder in the bog of the need to make it accessible for those of us who can't do stairs. They didn't listen to us, and while a few apartments may be accessible the townhomes aren't. Of course, given the smell of petrochemicals that permeates the place this may be an academic matter, with the wrecking ball perhaps soon to return to this crippled creek. The old projects had several accessible buildings, and Minneapolis and it's developers have failed to replace most of those accessible units. ...snip Dyna Sluyter Dean here: Heritage Park is being built in full accordance with Section 504 (basically the Americans with Disability Act) which governs how many accessible units must be built. I can't recall off the top of my head which units are accessible and which aren't, but I do know they are distributed equitably among bedroom sizes. Again without hard numbers in front of me, I'm pretty sure more units are being built that are handicapped accessible then were in the old projects. Also, given the fact that all testing of the Heritage Park water, woodchips, ponds, etc, at Heritage Park found NO unwarranted contaminants, I'm guessing it will be a long time before we see the wrecking ball back on the Near Northside. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet Farmstead Ward 10 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Clearing up Heritage Park Misperceptions
- Original Message - From: Dyna [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 12:27 AM Subject: [Mpls] Polluted by racism: Bassett Creek and a short history of the Northside... snip... I heard promises that 25% of the units in Heritage Park would be set aside for low income folks. Now their talking 10%, and for seniors only. Must be figuring that the seniors will leave sooner and their units converted to market rate thereafter. Despite all this subsidy Heritage Park has been a hard sell. And then the oil started oozing up from the bog... ...snip Just to clarify. Twenty-five percent of the Heritage Park units ARE set aside for public housing residents (making less than 30 percent AMI). It's happening now and will continue to happen. In fact there is a federal judge overseeing this project to make sure it is happening. Furthermore, Heritage Park has not been a hard sell. The units are being leased up as soon as they are ready for occupancy with waiting lists in the hundreds. Also in response to other comments, Heritage Park is in fact a mixed-income community with persons paying market rate rents living literally next door to public housing residents. There is no such thing as a section being set aside for the african-american community to do so would be against numerous federal and state fair housing laws. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) 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] Let's have some GOOD news for a change
apologies for long post... There is apparently a lot of confusion surrounding Hollman and Heritage Park. First the Hollman lawsuit was originally about Locational Choice. If you were poor and needed public housing there was basically one place you could live -- the projects in Near North. This was direct result of decisions made by the Minneapolis City Council in the 1950's, decisions made against the recommendations of the Mayor, the City's HRA Director, and against the wishes of housing advocates. The point of the lawsuit was to begin to right that wrong and a key component of the lawsuit was to scatter public housing choices to all areas of the region, including the fast growing suburbs and their large job base. The Hollman Consent Decree basically states that all 770 housing units demolished in poor areas will be replaced. The settlement stated that 480 of the units would go into the suburbs, 200 would go back to the Near Northside at the new redevelopment area now known as Heritage Park and approximately 90 or so be scattered throughout Minneapolis in non-concentrated areas. That plan is being implemented and will be finished by October 04. Mr. Reitman may be right that it would be easier to site public housing in 3rd tier suburbs than in East Harriet but I should point out that of the 88 scattered sites acquired under Hollman, 40 percent were located in SW or Calhoun-Isles, including the neighborhoods of Kingfield, Bryn Mawr, Tangletown, Lynnhurst, Linden Hills, and Fulton. (alas no East Harriet). Another 15 percent were in Northeast. Suburban units are also being located in such third tier cities as Edina, Golden Valley, Columbia Heights, Richfield, Roseville, and Bloomington. Suburban Hollman units can be found in 32 different cities in 6 counties (Dakota County refused to participate). Now that's locational choice!! Heritage Park is a work in progress but when it is completed will include 200 public housing units, 90 affordable rental units, 150 market rate rental units, 55 habitat for humanity homes, 55 affordable for sale homes, and 250 market rate homes. In addition, MPHA will build a 100 unit senior housing for low income seniors, including at least 40 assisted living units. When it is completed, 500 of the 900 (55 percent) new units will be for built for low income or moderate income people. All on the site of an acknowledged ghetto with buildings that were sinking into an ancient riverbed As I stated in my earlier post, 40 families have moved in with new leases signed every week. Yes there are still piles of dirt, but there are also families living there -- low income families, rich folk, blacks, whites, asian, somali, hispanic, sometimes all living in the same building or on the same block and many of whom who lived in those deteriorating buildings 3 short years ago. There may have only been 20 families in January, but at the end of February there are 40, by Easter, it could be up to 60, 80 or more -- that's the way it is with large-scale developments, it doesn't all happen at once. When completed, Heritage Park will be a mixed-use, mixed-income development located 1 short mile from downtown. It will be connected to the City via new roads, park amenities, and bike trails. People of all races, incomes, and backgrounds will be sharing the same space and it will probably be the most integrated neighborhood in all of the City. Critics like Ron Edwards will probably never accept it but I stand by my original post -- This is Good News!! Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Peter Jessen [EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm confused. My response is: is this really true? If 770 are to be completed by October, with 330 of those in the suburbs, that means only 440 of the 900 that are to be done at Heritage Park would be completed. But is even this true? When I stopped by the project in January, there were only 20 families, and I was told here would be few government subsidized families (the original purpose of the project, which promised homes for 300 public-housing residents and 100 for the elderly poor). I saw a few buildings, most not completed, and acres and acres of dirt mounds. There are several reports that also add to my confusion. ...snip Keith says; It is not just a little weird that the *M*PHA is messing around in the suburbs to solve Mpls. issues. Rapping off of what I learned at the Coalition of Impacted Neighborhoods meeting this evening, I bet it is easier for the MPHA to site high density subsidized housing for poor people in a third tier suburb then in Dean Carlson's East Harriet Neighborhood. No reflection, of course, on Dean Carlson, but I withhold my Huzzahs. Keith Reitman NearNorth 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
Re: [Mpls] Predicting the winner in Ward 3
9:48, 8A and 8B are in and its... Samuels 1199 Moore 1059 Looks like Samuels kept it close in NE and won big in North Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Fredric Markus [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 9:45 PM Subject: [Mpls] Predicting the winner in Ward 3 At 9:42 with only 8a and 8b left to report in on the city unofficial website, Samuels has pulled ahead 1061 to 1023 for Olin Moore. 8a and b are in the Jordan neighborhood. Need I say more? Fred Markus Horn Terrace Ward Ten, in the Lyndale Neighborhood --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.449 / Virus Database: 251 - Release Date: 1/27/2003 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 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] SOS;Council Members;Crime Reports; Un So Weiter
Annunciation (in-Parish) Tuition: $2,200 for the first kid (2nd and 3rd kids reduced, 4th kid free!) Out of parish tuition is around $3,000. Cost of instruction is around $4,000 per kid. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10, Annunciation School Board Member - Original Message - From: Jim Mork [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 12:21 AM Subject: [Mpls] SOS;Council Members;Crime Reports; Un So Weiter For those out there who think it can be done for way less, here are some figures from online sources of local private schools: 1. Minnehaha Academy, tuition is $8420 or $9575, depending on level; 2. St Paul Academy, $14,500; Cretin-Derham Hall, $14,210; Mounds Park Academy, $14,140. Caveat: ALL of the schools have giving pages on their web sites with the goal of raising millions of dollars for the expenses that are NOT covered by the tuition. I couldn't find online budgets (they don't have to share that data), so we have no idea what the cost of instruction would amount to if they didn't collect money beyond tuition. And, of course, they escape a lot of the programs forced on public schools. We should segregate those programs and budget outside the school administration budget for them, so that we can get a true picture of what MPS really spends on teaching its students. 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] Goodman, Lane, Benson Commentary NRP Resolution Straight Talk About Sharing The Pain.
I have not had the time to fully digest Lisa Goodman's post, but the response below demonstrates why elected officials find it so damn difficult to do anything about the budget crisis. I'm all for looking at paring back executive staff raises but what's that going to actually do, save $250,000 to $300,000 a year? When we have a $11 MILLION per year gap? You can force all senior staff and electeds to work for a dollar and we will still have a huge budget mess on our hands. If you are truly serious about dealing with this gap then put some serious proposals on the table. Let's face it, it's going to take some combination of increased tax revenues and cuts in services that people want and depend on. Either way it's going to hurt, I don't care how much you want to pay your council person. And please I shudder to think the mess we would be in if we put all City Council votes to the neighborhoods. Believe me having 13 captains and a mayor is enough thank you. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: JIM GRAHAM [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Goodman, Lisa R [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Gardner, Douglas K [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Sheehy, Lee E [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Lutz, Chuck [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Born, Patrick P [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Omdal, Tammy A [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Moir, John [EMAIL PROTECTED]; rt [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 8:15 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Goodman, Lane, Benson Commentary NRP Resolution Straight Talk About Sharing The Pain. Straight Talk About Sharing The Pain. Since Lisa Goodman, Barret Lane, and Scott Benson wish to SHARE THE PAIN I have a proposal for them. How about turning back the pay raise you folks voted for YOURSELF this past year? In addition how about voting to cut Council Member and Senior Staff salaries by 10%. This cut would only be in effect until you get a handle on the budget. It would show a little Good Faith, if you know what I mean. It would allow you the privilege of Sharing The Pain. How about a referendum needing a 66% vote at the City election for a pay raise for Council Members? It just is bad business for employees to be deciding when they will get a raise. If the Citizens of the City believe the CM's are doing a good job the citizens will probably vote for a raise. If not, then no raise. Just like the real world for everyone except CEO's for Corporations like ENRON. Such a referendum would not have much of a chance right now. (Yeah, I think the Enron Executives should share a little pain with the companies employees and shareholders also.) Part of the problem with cutting NRP has been that it was the first thing cut, not Council pay raises! The portions going to neighborhoods is now the portion being talked about being cut the most? How about that set aside money from NRP that these folks have some discretion over? Perhaps the Council Members could correct me if I am wrong with my understanding of NRP. Is it true NRP is not a City Program, it is a State mandated program set up by State of Minnesota Statute? Is it true the first 20 million dollars of net TIF and Common Projects Pool is supposed to go to NRP? Is it true that this net amount would be more than 11 million dollars this coming year? What is the position of the Council Members who oppose you folks? There are nine other Council Members and another who will join the Council in a month. They also MUST have a thought on this. I personally can not believe Paul Zerby, Robert Lillegren, Natalie Johnson-Lee, Dean Zimmerman, Gary Schiff, Barb Johnson, Paul Ostrow, and Dan Niziolek would go along on this issue. With their emphasis on Neighborhoods and communities, and their commitments to support NRP, I just cannot believe they would go along. If I am wrong, about one of this Council or the Mayor, would that person please post something? Please, so we are not under an illusion about where you stand? Until someone else fesses up, I am going to assume this is the position of only these three. Is there any consequence to the fact that these three CM's represent the fertile crescent of Minneapolis? Minnehaha Creek to Kenwood. Sounds like an area that needs a lot of Revitalization? No wait a minute, I remember they're being a whole lot of neighborhoods from those three folk's area that also are up in arms about the attempt to kill NRP. What do list members from these three Council Members neighborhoods say about the issue? Also since we are talking about involving Neighborhoods in other empowering activities, besides deciding where money goes, such as Planning Decisions. How about if you give neighborhoods the decision making capabilities and perhaps require a 9-4, or better, vote from the City Council to overturn it? Rather than the neighborhoods being only advisory in nature. An advisory committee made up of resident cronies, (like I have heard suggested), is a joke and fraud. Just my thoughts
[Mpls] Ole Olson
It was with great sadness that I attended today's funeral for Ole Olson. He has been a fixture in North Minneapolis for over 35 years and will be greatly missed. Besides his work for the Park Board (he's the father of current Park Commissioner Jon Olson), Ole provided many years of service to the Public Housing Authority and to countless other folks throughout the City -- especially his beloved north Minneapolis. It speaks volumes when you see old Northside titans like Lou and Nan Demars and new titans like Natalie Johnson Lee and Shane Price stand up and speak touching, funny, poignant words about the same man. Brother Shane's words were especially inspiring. I was blessed to know Ole Olson. I valued his advise and counsel but it was his friendship that I truly treasured. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet (Ole never held it against me though) ___ 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] 3-10 Results Just Posted
Oops, that's actually the results of the 10th Precinct. Actually its Moore and Ashmore, I guess it's still a DFL town after all. Dean Carlson, Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Walt Cygan [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Minneapolis Issues Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 8:44 PM Subject: [Mpls] 3-10 Results Just Posted Don Samuels - 30 Shane Price - 23 Olin Moore - 22 Valdis Rozentals - 17 Margo Ashmore- 15 No one else had more than 3. Walt Cygan Keewaydin ___ 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 ___ 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
[Mpls] Downtown Shopping
Interesting article in the Star Tribune about shopping downtown: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1557/3537000.html We went to our annual christmas downtown excursion tonight. It was pretty bleak. Very few people, the Marshall Fields Christmas show was lame, prices slashed everywhere (great for the wallet). By far the most disappointing experience downtown at Christmas ever. Hope it was just a bad night, not a trend. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 ___ 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] Property Tax Calculations/Market Values
I'm with VH on this one. Here's a real world example: The house at 4200 dupont avenue south sold for $1,125,000 in October 2001. The assessed value for 2002 was $706,500. The assessed valuation is 62.8 percent of the market value. I bet we could do similar calculations all day on the higher valued residential properties in the City. Don't believe me? Here's the link. http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/pi.app/reports/valuation_history.asp Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Victoria Heller [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mpls Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 9:42 AM Subject: [Mpls] Property Tax Calculations/Market Values Carol Becker writes: Estimated market values must be within 95% of actual market sales or the City loses local government aides Andy Driscoll writes: The market rates are controlled by the marketplace. If market values appreciate as they have so significantly over the last several years, it raises the asset value of the owners. Vicky Heller replies: If these two statements are true, then all of the downtown Minneapolis real estate values would have DROPPED by 80% - like City Center did (leading to the Brookfield default.) Vicky Heller Cedar-Riverside and North Oaks ___ 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 ___ 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
[Mpls] Yep, It's Mark Andrew
Here's the Strib Article... http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3459750.html Dean Carlson Ward 10 ___ 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: Lawn Signs
Notwithstanding any law, it is my humble and unlawyered opinion that if you want, you can have a sign in your yard expressing whatever views you espouse (I guess as long as it is not obscene). If you want to keep a Wellstone sign in your yard as a tribute to the late, great senator, that is your choice and right under the 1st amendment. If you want to take someone's sign and write stinks under their name as a protest of their views, that should be allowed to. The law regarding political signs really applies to campaigns. I suppose you would have to pay the Wellstone campaign (or any other) for the sign so that you can tell the sign police that it your own sign and not hasn't been removed due to lax campaign volunteers. So go ahead put signs in your yard and windows. Let us know what you think about the War in Iraq...what really is your opinion about the Highway 35 expansion...remind me to slow down on 50th Street...tell me who the Twins should sign in the off-season... after all it is a free country. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 (signless, but open to ideas) - Original Message - From: David Brauer [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 11:11 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Lawn Signs Changing direction a bit, and not trying to cause trouble but... What about the people who have the Say No to War on Iraq lawn signs? Are they bound by the take-down-in-10-days rule? Or, since it's not really an election sign, can they keep it up as long as they wish? Does that mean people can put cause-oriented lawn signs out for as long as they want? Curious, David Brauer King Field ___ 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
[Mpls] Don't Forget Judge Crump!!
Just a reminder, on Tuesday make sure you don't skip the bottom of the ballot and pass over re-electing Judge Harry S. Crump for Hennepin County judge. Remember it was Judge Crump who almost single-handedly stopped baseball's and Uncle Carl's planned contraction of the Twins. I for one will proudly be voting for the plucky yet sage County judge. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 ___ 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] Oh oh, another budget buster - Target Center deal goes sour
As we debate financing strategies for a new Twins stadium I hope our elected officials here at home and in St. Paul take heed the following lesson learned from the Target Center: Cities don't have the resources to finance, maintain, operate, and upgrade regional facilities such as stadium and arenas. These are regional (even statewide and inter-state) facilities that should be funded as such. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 (Twins in 5!!) - Original Message - From: Victoria Heller [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mpls Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 2:16 PM Subject: [Mpls] Oh oh, another budget buster - Target Center deal goes sour Rochelle Olson's complete article in today's Strib: http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3348385.html Vicky Heller North Oaks Cedar-Riverside ___ 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 City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Schools: Public v. Private
I try to stay put of these school issues, but this was one I couldn't pass up. My experience at Annunciation Catholic School (K-8) as a parent and School Board member is vastly different than that described below. Is there religious instruction? Yes, but far from high religious content. In fact the religious teaching could hardly be described as catholic dogma and focuses more on universal themes as love your neighbor, justice, and equality (with the Christmas and Easter stories and a couple of saints thrown in there as well). There is one nun who has taught 1st grade for over 40 years and other than that, the administration and teachers are all lay personnel. Oh one more thing, catholic school costs are no where near that charged by Breck, Blake or Minnehaha Academy with Annunciation tuition this year at around $2,000 per kid with volume discounts given to families with multiple children (the 5th kid is free!!). I bet many on this list spend more than that to send their children to day care. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 I would make a further distinction between private schools and parochial schools. Not everyone would want their kids in parochial schools with their high religious content (Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, etc.) and not all of them are great learning institutions. Growing up in Catholic schools it was pretty clear that the girls were expected to become nice Catholic mommys and the boys were expected to become blue collar workers primarily. Since we were a border state, the Civil War was called the war between the states. Further South it would be the war of Northern aggression. So history wasn't their strong suit, nor did they necessarily want it to be. Everything else was filtered through the lens of Catholic dogma, which became a bigger pain every year one stayed in Catholic school. They were very good on basic math and English and sticklers for how one behaved, in which endeavor they were totally backed by the parents. The nuns or priests had to pull something highly egregious to get the parents down at the school to complain. I only remember two occasions in my school life. WizardMarks, Central David Brauer writes: The question you seem to answer is that the schools are now designed for social engineering.My feeling is that schools are only for education which in the end is up to the parents to control not the government. The private schools do offer a better education which is what parents care about. The troubles are that most of us can not afford private schools for if we could I believe most parents of every race and class would send them there,(except perhaps those who believe in social engineering for their children.) ___ 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 ___ 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] Stadium responses
Jim Mork writes: Um, I seem to remember a vote in which Minneapolis voters voted 70-30 to require a REFERENDUM anytime more than $10 million of city money is pledged to anything. That was directly aimed at the stadium issue. So the majority of MINNESOTANS may want a stadium, but I don't think the majority of Minneapolis voters want to pay for it. Dean Carlson Writes: ABSOLUTELY. Minneapolis voters shouldn't have to foot the bill for a regional (inter-state even) facility. That's why I supported the stadium financing bill proposed earlier this year until the downtown entertainment sales tax got attached to it. If I was Czar, I would impose an 11-county 1/10 cent sales tax with the proceeds going to a new Twins stadium, refurbish the dome for the Vikes, establish an affordable housing trust fund, and create a support system for the arts and education. Another idea would be casino with the proceeds going to the same users. As for Bert Black's question regarding polls showing a majority of voters supporting some public contribution to a stadium, either one or both of the Strib and St. Paul PP had polls this past fall showing such support. And to Walt Cygan's post regarding getting baseball's economic house in order. Of course this isn't a total panacea, but what do you want? It sounds to me that nothing short of baseball players going back to the good ol' days of making $75,000 a year while owners rake it in hand over fist will make this argument go away. This deal is just as good the NBA's or NFL's and you don't hear anybody argue about those leagues getting their economic house in order. Finally David Brauer makes an astute point regarding the fact that although contraction has been taken off the table, relocation hasn't. The only decent market left for baseball is Washington D.C. and Montreal will be going there. It will be laughable to assume that baseball will want to take a small market team like the Twins and move to an even smaller market such as Portland, Vegas, or Charlotte. It ain't gonna happen and if Pohlad even tried to make the argument I think the only reaction he'd get would be a big giant yawn. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 Looking forward to the day when I get to watch the Twins win while tanning myself on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon in July ___ 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] Baseball
Jeez Loueez, the ink isn't even dry on this sucker and the no-stadium contingent is already out, fangs bared. Many on this list said no new stadium until baseball got it's economics in order. Well they just did that. We don't have to worry about the threat of contraction anymore either. I know most on this list don't want to accept it but a majority of the public want a new stadium and are willing to have some (small) amount of public assistance included to do it. Let's just get it done. Dean Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Bob Velez [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 12:11 PM Subject: [Mpls] Baseball According to preliminary reports (wcco.com), part of the 11th hour deal struck to prevent a baseball work stoppage is that contraction of teams will not be reconsidered until 2006. Note to elected officials: THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE REWARD our owner-in- waiting, Carl, with a new stadium. Note to citizens: We can expect at least 4 more years of our elected officials coming back each year with some new stadium deal. The solution: THROW OUT THE INCUMBENTS! I can state that I will be a solid NO vote on a stadium proposal as long as the education funding issues and other budgetary problems/issues loom. I say let Carl come up with a proposal and get the public behind it; why should our elected officials be on the hook for convincining the public that we need a new stadium? Bob Velez Shingle Creek Ward 4-1 -- Citizen Bob Velez Green Party endorsed candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner, District 1 AFSCME (Local 34) ENDORSED http://www.webspawner.com/users/citizenbobvelez/ ___ 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] City Actions at Gaviidae
Councilmember Goodman makes a good point that wasn't in the Strib article: The original Brookfield offer was crap. The City really had no recourse to reject it and I'm glad they did. I think Friday's vote by the Council was to get Brookfield's attention. I'm pretty sure they did, thus Brookfield's desire to get their side of the story to a respected business reporter. Now that they have Brookfield's attention, I hope the City doesn't blow it by rejecting all deals -- even good ones. Owning a piece of prime downtown real estate on the cheap may be sexy but it probably isn't a role the City should undertake for the long term. I truly hope the City does, as Councilmember Goodman posts: hire one of the many quality real estate companies in Minneapolis to operate the building on (it's) behalf until an acceptable offer comes along. If the City maintains that it attitude it will have accomplished a win-win situation of protecting tax payer interests while staying out of enterprises that are best left to the private sector. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Goodman, Lisa R A few important points about the negotiations: 1. Nothing prevents Brookfield from continuing to negotiate with MCDA staff. The reality is the last offer presented to me was an informal offer i.e. not in writing, which would have given Brookfield essentially 12 or so more years to pay off the loan due on April 15th. There was no offer of interest on this loan but a 6% increase to account for the present value of the amount now owed. So while the City would recoup more actual dollars in the end, that is not interest but the present value calculation of the $11.375 million in 2014. 2. The informal offer included a large balloon payment at the end of the loan - which is what we have now and part of the reason we have this mess in the first place. 3. Mr. St. Anthony mentions in his article that Brookfield was, willing to improve the city's security on the loan. How nice of them. You would think the City would be accused of malpractice to negotiate for anything less. 4. He also mentions that Brookfield is willing to give the city, some future upside on any sale of the Gaviidae complex, which includes Saks and the adjacent retail parcel. Well given that Brookfield and its shell corporations which hold the first mortgages on both parcels have admittedly lost a significant amount of money on the deal and they would be paid first - what future actual upside potential is there? And if there is a believe on the part of Brookfield that the parcel will increase in value over time - why wouldn't the City want to own the Saks parcel now. Or as I have said many times, the City needs to buy low and sell high! 5. Brookfield owes the taxpayers another $17.5 million on the retail portion on September 15th. A condition of accepting the deal on the Saks parcel would include giving up the City's interest entirely on this loan. While admittedly the City is an an awful position on the second loan and may very well take a total loss, giving up our right and I would argue responsibility to explore future options on the second loan doesn't make sense as part of the negotiations on the first loan. 6. Mr. Brant's comments that the City doesn't have a plan may be correct but Brookfield obviously doesn't have a plan either. Allowing stores in their properties to close on Sunday's, the dismal situation at City Center and the lack of retail tenants in both sides of Gaviidae doesn't give me faith in the direction of their retail strategy either. The Saks parcel that the City will take over has a cash flow in excess of expenses. In fact, it is the parking ramp not the tenants which generate a mass majority of the revenue. The Saks lease runs until 2015. We will hire one of the many quality real estate companies in Minneapolis to operate the building on our behalf until an acceptable offer comes along. What this decision boils down to for me is one simple principle. I do not believe the City of Minneapolis, on behalf of the taxpayers, should be in the business of making loans to those who have proven that they will not or can not make the payment on their existing loans. The informal offer on the table but not in writing to MCDA staff essentially involved loaning Brookfield the money they owe the public right now for 10 or more years, interest free, with another balloon payment. In return, Brookfield will promise to pay something now ( the amount I saw was $2 million), secure the loan better and foreclose on the $17.5 million loan due in September. Let me know where I can get in line for that kind of deal. Lisa Goodman, Chair Community Development/ MCDA Operating Committee Loring Park ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe,
[Mpls] Ventura Bonding Cuts
Yes it includes the Guthrie, and Planetarium. But he also cut $3.0 million in empowerment zone $$$. Some of which would have helped pay for infrastructure improvements at the Heritage Park redevelopment project. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, still Ward 10 http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/2853684.html ___ 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] Stadium that will never be
I agree with some of TB's points below, disagree with others, but the bottom line is that I'm extremely disappointed in the bill that was passed. Based on my previous posts it should be no surprise that I'm in support of building a new baseball park. I know it's a minority opinion on this list but I truly believe the Twins are gone without a new stadium, the Dome is an abomination to baseball watching enjoyment, and like it or not, 20 some other cities and/or states have set a precedent of building a stadium with tax dollars. Maybe we know something they don't or they know something we don't, but it's pretty obvious we don't have the will to follow suit. Thus I'm in total agreement with TB's 1st point below. Unfortunately there were a couple of options other than the one that was passed. A state-sponsored casino with the revenues dedicated to a stadium would have paid for an awesome park in about 15 years. (and if you don't like the idea of state-sponsored gambling, its here already, that argument has been lost). A 1/10 cent 7-county sales tax could have generated enough to pay for a ball park, fund the arts and culture (e.g. Guthrie, Shubert, Planetarium) and generated funds for an affordable housing trust fund. Plus it is such a small individual amount you would not have noticed it (a $25,000 car would cost only $25.00 more to purchase). The final bill is a disaster whether or not Hennepin County is involved. TB and Councilmember Goodman laid it out pretty clear how unfair it would have been for downtown workers and residences. I have to disagree with TB in that the referendum will not pass in St. Paul. I've heard that the city and especially the business community is rallying behind the referendum. The reason the last one didn't pass is because the business community was pretty lukewarm, basically because they didn't think there was the will on the State's part to participate, that obstacle is gone and look for the referendum to pass with about 54 percent. Having said that I still don't think St. Paul will land a ball park. They don't control any of the 3 sites and I'm guessing the price just doubled on the needed land now that those sites are the only game in town. The cost will be much higher than the $330 million authorized and City will come back with hand out looking for a gap. I think it will be 2-3 years before we see a final ball park plan in St. Paul with another bill or two crossing the Governor's desk before its all over. Unless of course Baseball strikes first. Sorry for rambling. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Still Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Terrell Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1. Legislators from all over Minnesota were talking of how their constituents didn't want to lose the Twins. They wanted to be able to continue to listen to the games on the radio or come down to the Cities to take their kids to the game. The only thing they didn't want to do was pay the bill. The bill paying should be left to the people in Minneapolis or St. Paul. 2. The referendum that we may see this year asks the question of if a tax of **up to** five (5) percent should be levied. The reason: If the initial 3% doesn't raise enough money the additional tax has already been approved. The referendum also over rides the $10 million charter limit that theoretically protected us. Good theory, I guess. Now I don't think the referendum will pass in either Minneapolis or St. Paul. 1% already failed over there, why would 3 or 5% pass? We passed the $10 million limit, why would we vote to toss in many times that amount? ___ 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] Dog Parks and such
I don't know what meeting Mr. Hoover attended about the Lyndale Farmstead Dog Park but I can assure you that there were a lot of better reasons espoused than those described below. First the proposed L-F dog park wouldNOT have been where people have played with their dog off-lease for years. That area can be best be described as the bottom of the bowl. The proposed dog park would have been located west of that area, past the sidewalk where it is quite hilly with a number of trees. I rarely if ever see anyone play with their dog in that area. Also the site was quite small - 1.2 acres, plus as I said before it is quite hilly with lots of trees, good luck throwing a Frisbee there!! The only reason this area was even considered as a dog park is that it was within easy walking distance of a few high profile ROMPers. It was rightly rejected by the Park Board (and at least 1/2 the neighborhood) because of these functional issues not due to a small band of hysterical neighbors. Dean Carlson Still Ward 10, East Harriet Farmsted, Dog Owner - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 8:22 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Dog Parks and such ..snip The site at Lyndale-Farmstead Park seemed to have been shut down by folks who made wild claims that dogs would bite elderly people in the leg and attack and devour toddlers in the play areas. It seems to me that folks just did not want the change. This particular meeting was quite hilarious in some ways due to the absurdity of the arguments made against the establishment of a dog park there. You'd think that ROMP stands for "Ravenous Ogres Mad People" or something. It seems that the hastily organized "Friends of Lyndale-Farmstead Park" were determined not to ever accomodate a dog park there, even though many, many people within walking distance of the park have used it as a de facto off-leash park for years, without any people being bitten by dogs. (Sadly, I've heard rumours of people lurking in the bushes there, waiting to leap out at unsuspecting dogs and..oh, never mind.) snip...
Re: [Mpls] Ice out prediction.
4/19/02 3:30 pm Dean E. Carlson East Harriet Ward ?? - Original Message - From: Craig Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Minneapolis Issues [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 8:01 PM Subject: [Mpls] Ice out prediction. Let's use Calhoun as the official lake. Most viewable to most citizens. I say 4-21-02 Craig Miller Former Fultonite [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: Barbara L. Nelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Minneapolis Issues [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 4:44 PM Subject: [Mpls] Ice-out Dates for City Lakes Does anyone know the average ice-out dates for the City's lakes? I have walked around Harriet, Lake of the Isles and Calhoun within the last week and the thin ice signs are out all over the place. It would be fun to have a pool to guess the correct date this year. Barbara Nelson Burnsville -- Barbara Nelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility. - Albert Einstein, Physicist ___ 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 ___ 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] Dean Zimmermann's redistricting plan
Well I've looked at them all and Councilmember Zimmerman's is the best. Interesting to see how it plays out in the next couple of weeks. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet (Ward 10 now and in Zimmerman Plan, Ward 8 in Redistricting Commission Plan , Ward 13 in NAACP Plan) - Original Message - From: List Manager [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mpls list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 7:34 PM Subject: [Mpls] Dean Zimmermann's redistricting plan The plans are flocking to the Redistricting Geek site! To see Council Member Zimmermann's plan, please surf to: http://members.tcq.net/david/index.htm David Brauer List manager ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Rybak in St. Paul Paper
Nice article about the Mayor in Sunday's St. Paul PPD. http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/2918324.htm Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 (I Hope) ___ 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] Meanwhile, in the neighborhood...
David Brauer Wrote... So enabling the destruction of two homes really stuck in many members' craws. Ace said they'd called several organizations about moving the homes - they later identified two, neither of which had much experience doing that sort of thingsnipas a board, we are scrambling to see if those houses really can be moved. Ace is open to this, though they've given us a very tight two-month timeframe. Our neighborhood executive director has recruited PPL, who has inspected the houses (we're awaiting their estimate). DEAN WRITES: The problem is that it is really expensive to move houses, especially big two stories like the ones next to Nicollet Hardware. Not only do you have to find a vacant lot, you have to get neighborhood approval for the new house on the lot, and if the house doesn't fit with the rest of the block, forget it. Also there are a number of City regulations regarding house moves, with regards to bonding, distance, etc. Sometimes you have to move overhead powerlines, and that is a lengthy process requiring permits from Excel Engergy. If you want to go over a highway or on a highway, be prepared to make your case to MnDOT. Rarely can one move a house more than a 1 or 2 miles and let's face it, there are few, if any vacant lots in this part of the City. House moves are easily in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $60,000 each. That doesn't count the cost of the lot or any repairs to the house that are needed. For that kind of dough most will find it's easier to start new. Jay Clark Wrote: For me, the most important job of the neighborhood organization board in a situation like this is not to debate the pros and cons of the proposal, but to make sure that the community, and especially those living most closely to the proposed parking lot and those most effected by the lot, hear the proposal and say whether or not they want it. DEAN WRITES: First, let's remember, Nicollet Hardware now owns the property in question, and like it or not, the Constitution gives property owners a lot of rights in regards to what they can do with their property. Nicollet Hardware is going through the process of rezoning their property to allow them to put in a parking lot, there are opportunities for the public to comment, then there is a process where our elected officials judge whether a rezoning is warranted based upon what's written in the zoning code. The problem with the process outlined above is that it may exclude others impacted by the decision who may not live close by. I live 9 blocks from Nicollet Hardware and drive there. As a loyal (non-neighborhood) customer, do I get a say? Also unfortunately by leaving the decision up to the immediately impacted neighbors, many times constitutionally-guaranteed rights such as due process and equal protection get ignored. I say keep the decision with the elected officials, that's their job. Ken Avidor Wrote: The reason I oppose the removal of housing for parking at 38th and Nicollet is that it begins the process of transforming the urban, pedestrian friendly nature of that business node into a suburban style strip mall. DEAN WRITES: Sorry, have to disagree here too. I find it extremely difficult to call this area an urban, pedestrian friendly business node. Also, I doubt that a surface parking lot taking two city blocks will begin the process of transforming this area to a suburban style strip mall. All the poetic and green language will not change the fact that this a busy car- and bus-dominated intersection with very little amenities for a pedestrian, minus a few restaurants to walk into. A well landscaped (as promised) parking lot may in fact help this intersection become a little more pedestrian friendly, especially after the new ramps are built at 38th Street. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet. ___ 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] MPHA's screening standards
I'm extremely offended that Ms. Heller would assert (with absolutely no proof) that MPHA owns 100's of units that it has no idea that it owns and therefore remain vacant. Given the affordable housing crisis facing the City, such a situation would be absolutely criminal. MPHA is extremely concerned about the affordable housing crisis facing Minneapolis and is looking at a various ways internally and externally to increase its share of affordable housing. One way it has done this internally is by working hard to decrease it's unit turn around time by over 10 days. As stated in a previous post, MPHA has maintained 99 percent occupancy for 5-1/2 years and is considered a High Performing Housing Authority by HUD. Criteria for a High Performer include high occupancy rates, management controls, sound budgeting, and resident satisfaction. Furthermore MPHA is audited every year by the State Auditor, MPHA even maintains office space for the auditor during their 6-month visit. Finally, every penny of the $100 million plus Hollman Settlement is accounted for. If you want to e-mail me off-list I can put you in contact with MPHA Finance Director who can discuss with you the (audited) figures. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Victoria Heller [EMAIL PROTECTED] I don't believe the precise numbers. MPHA has never been audited. They claim to have 6,700 housing units, primarily funded by the Federal government. I called them a couple of months ago, pretending to inquire for my mother, I was told that they had lots of apartments available - but only for seniors, 50 and over. They mailed me an application - stating that it would take six months to process. I can process an application in 2 hours and Wal-Mart can do it in 6 seconds. As I recall from sketchy newspaper reporting, no one knows what happened to the $110 million that MPHA received from the Federal government to rectify the loss of the Hollman lawsuit. Dick Brustad (former head of the MCDA and King of the Moneysniffers) was running the agency at the time. My guess is that MPHA has a couple of hundred vacant units that they don't even know about. If anyone wants to know this agency functions, just call the MPHA at 612 342 1400. Imagine what it would be like if you really needed help. I would be happy to volunteer my time to conduct an audit of the MPHA. I do have thirty years of experience in that field. Vicky Heller St. Paul (specifically North Oaks) Still paying taxes in Minneapolis though ___ 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] Coda on the Boulevard Project
Great post, thanks for the play-by-play. I strongly agree with S. Herridge's last paragraph. Let's face it folks, there isn't enough vacant lots and boarded up buildings in the City to come even close to meeting our affordable housing needs. If we are really serious about increasing the City's affordable housing stock it's going to take redevelopments of underutilized parcels along major corridors. And its going to take mixed-income and mixed-use projects so that we aren't concentrating poor families in small geographic areas. The Boulevard is small potatoes compared with what the need is. However I fear little progress if every project has to go through what The Boulevard had to go through. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 10:05 PM Subject: [Mpls] Coda on the Boulevard Project snip.. If we put every developer who wants to forward mixed used housing with an affordable housing component and every neighborhood group who supports such efforts through this kind of mill in the future, then God help us - Minneapolis will never get the 23,000 units that it needs to be built. Susan Herridge Lynnhurst ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] What's Missing and Better
A couple of items I forget, but important: MISSING Ann Baulke's (sorry about spelling) writing on baseball. Where did she go? Somehow I think if she was still writing about baseball in this town we wouldn't be in the mess we are in. BETTER Jim Walsh's writings on music (mostly) in the Pioneer Press. No other writer in the Twin Towns makes me laugh, cry, and want to get up and see a local band (sometimes in the same column) than Walsh. If you like smart writing about music, check him out in the Pionner Press. List Member Britt Robson's writings on basketball. As someone who was never even close to being tall enough to play basketball, I really enjoy Robson's insights on the game, especially as it relates to the Gophers and T'Wolves. Many a time I've looked a lot smarter than I am by repeating his insights to my friends when talking hoops. Dean Carlson East Harriet
Re: [Mpls] Property tax cut
Can I trade houses with you? My 2002 property taxes will be $7.50 MORE than the 2001. Where's my tax cut? I guess it got caught up in the school and library referendum and the fact that the assessed value on my house went up $10,500 Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 23, 2001 6:11 PM Subject: [Mpls] Property tax cut I just got my proposed property tax statement for 2002. I was quite surprised to see that they were reduced only about 12%, because I was expecting them to be about 25% less. Now I am wondering if the tax cut only applied to the amount that the school tax portion was to be reduced? Or possibly only the amount over $76,000 (I think that is the base number) was to be reduced by 25%? Or, if 25% is indeed the right number? If this is all that my taxes are going to be reduced, I wish that the state had just kept the money, as I feel certain that this tax cut will be short-lived in light of both the state's projected shortfall, as well as the school system's never-ending appetite for more money. Not to mention that, for the next 20 years, half of the savings that I do see will be eaten up by the special assessment tax for the ornamental lights in Prospect Park. Can anyone enlighten me as to what the average tax cut percentage was supposed to be, and how it was to be applied? Nancy Alcorn 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 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What's better
Condition of Lyndale Avenue from Franklin to 56th Street South Ability to search Mpls Public Libary on-line Eat Street Lyndale, Kignfield, East Harriet Neighborhoods (my across the street neighbor who has lived on my block since 1963 tells me all kinds of stories about how this area really nose dived in the 60's, 70's, 80's, into the 90's). I remember 10 years ago looking for our first house and Lyndale was scary, East Harriet, Kingfield iffy. (We moved to Kenny). 6 years ago Kingfield and East Harriet great, Lyndale iffy. Today, all three are considered extremely desirable neighborhoods. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Lyndale - Original Message - From: David Brauer [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 2:59 PM Subject: [Mpls] What's better So I'd like to offer the What's better? thread. You can pick an arbitrary date - I'd offer things that have improved or come on the scene in the past 20 years...that's roughly how long I've lived here. A few nominations: Just a sample. I think a long list will only prove that despite electoral differences, there is reason to hope for the city's progress... David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Housing Crisis A Challenge for the New Council Mayor
A little over 2 years ago, MPHA sold on the private market 7 boarded-up, single family homes that were in very tough shape. They ranged in price from $2,500 to $45,000 with most of them sold in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. As part of the sale, each buyer had to agree to fix them up and use them for family home ownership purposes (not rental). Based on my windshield survey of the units several months after the sale, all them were fixed up and are currently occupied. I know for a fact that some of buyers really struggled with the magnitude of the rehab work involved, however they perservered and today 7 formally boarded up homes are nice, completely updated homes contributing to the neighborhood instead of detracting from it. Also more recently MPHA sold 2 homes that had been boarded up for 5 years (don't ask). MPHA required that a work program and financing needed to be in place as part of the terms of the sale. Both homes will receive close to $65,000 to $80,000 dollars worth of rehab work. These homes were in an extreme state of disrepair with the neighborhood recyclers taking anything they could, new roofs needed, all mechanics, kitchens, bathrooms, you name it. (It was fun telling Excel Energy and the water Department that we couldn't do a final meter reading when these homes were sold because there was no meter to read!!). The bottom line is that homes can be repaired and brought back up to code. It is extremely expensive and time consuming, and it isn't something a person can do on the weekends and evenings after work. It takes professionals and lots of dollars. Due to this experience, I can understand why it's difficult to justify the use of amount of taxpayer dollars needed to fix up all the boarded up homes in the City. If the public subsidizes the entire cost of the rehab or significant portion of it, not many houses will get rehabbed before the money runs out; if the subsidy is capped at let's say $10,000 to $20,000, other funds will be needed to get the house up to code. In my opinion, the rehabbing of the boarded up housing stock should be a private matter with the City making available the boarded up homes at a very low cost and let the private financing market provide funds for the rehab. On a related note, HUD has a commissioned a study looking at the barriers to rehabbing affordable housing. It is very academic and quite long (400 pages spread over 2 volumes). However some of it is pretty interesting. Volume II does provide case studies with pro formas. To download the pdf files or to order Barriers to the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing, Volume I: Findings and Analysis and Volume II: Case Studies, visit the HUD USER Web site at: http://www.huduser.org/publications/destech/brah.html Dean E. Carlson (NOT the Project Manager for Hollman, but MPHA Development Coordinator) Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 3:39 PM Subject: [Mpls] Housing Crisis A Challenge for the New Council Mayor David Piehl writes: Some months ago, there was lengthy discussion on the reduction in total number of dwelling units available in the city of Minneapolis, based on census data - it was something like 17,000 units less. The discussions that ensued - as well as work done by several affordable housing groups - identified demolition as the primary driver behind the reduction in the number of units available; hence the (overly broad) statement to open the discussion. I believe many of the units demolished are unneccessarily victims of the wrecking ball, sometimes because they housed problem occupants, sometimes because they are just not part of a larger plan that certain civil servants may feel is best for the area. It is my opinion that demolition is the simple, band-aid solution of choice for certain city staff. Our experience in Central with the houses that were sold by the MPHA as part of the Hollman agreement a few years ago is a classic example. Nine MPHA homes in Central were conveyed to MCDA in the first round, staff at MPHA said they chose to convey to the MCDA so the homes would be thoroughly rennovated and sold to owner occupants rather than investors. MCDA proposed demolishing all of them. MCDA had rehab estimates for each of the properties that were astonishingly high to support their assertions. The residents of Central didn't buy into this thinking, and pushed for further assesments. One of the homes was located on the corner of 33rd and Chicago Ave - MCDA claimed it needed in excess of $100,000 of work to be up to code, including lead abatement, and should be demolished. When the house was toured by some state officials, neighborhood residents, and folks from some of the local non-profit developers, everyone was astonished by the great condition of the home. Lead tests showed that lead abatement had already been done, and a large amount of
Re: [Mpls] What is missing
Gopher Football games at Memorial Stadium Replacements @ 7th Street Entry for $3.00 Raft at Lake Harriet Beach Nicollet Park -- which I never saw :o( Old Viaduct over Washington Avenue near Portland Avenue Ralph and Jerry's Boulevard Theater KFAI on Friday nights circa 1983-86 Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet ___ 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] Experience Is Overrated
You somewhat sound like Adam Stenberg, who while running for the State Legislature as a Republican last year knocked on those very same doors and thought that his message of a smaller government was well received, only to be shocked when he received but 20 percent of the vote. The problem with Mr. Knapp's argument is that people, yes even those in the 10th Ward, don't want a RADICAL transformation of our current system of governance. They'll smile and nod while you talk about rent control and building everyone their own personal electrical power plant but deep in their hearts they know those plans will never fly and probably wouldn't work if they were approved. Fortunately Dan Niziolek's experience extends beyond that of his 10 years of service to the Lyndale Neighborhood. It also includes his experience at City Hall working as a Community Safe Officer and in the Planning Department working on ways to make our built environment safer. I would (and I think most of my neighbors in the 10th Ward) trust Dan's experience, committment to community, committment to the environment (Sierra Club and Clean Water Action endorsements) and demonstrated partnering skills much greater than Mr. Knapp's pie in the sky ideas regarding transformation of our government. That would be true regardless if Mr. Knapp had lived her for 5 years or 50 years. Dean Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet Mark Knapp wrote: snip But real leadership is about much more than improving the bureaucracy. It requires people who can LEAD the citizens into new ideas and new ways of living. Among other things, we need to move Minneapolis away from corporate influence, away from being dominated by cars, toward an equitable distribution of power, and toward sustainability. This progression will require a RADICAL transformation of our current system of governance. When I went from door to door this summer, the overwhelming majority of the voters agreed with the ideas that I presented -- especially rent stabilization, building a city infrastructure that promotes bicycling and mass transit, and reforming our elections with Instant Runoff Voting. But the results of Election Day showed that most of those who voted were bothered by my short history in the city and were not willing to make what seemed like a leap of faith in my commitment to Minneapolis. ..snip.. Mark Knapp City Council Candidate, Ward 10 (write-in) ___ 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] Urban Myths surrounding Hollman
I'm sorry to burst the urban myths surrounding this project but the Hollman project did not eliminate housing without planned replacement. All 770 units that were demolished were and are planned to be replaced. Nearly 400 of the units have been replaced and the other 370 are committed and are going through the permitting and/or financing process. Also, all 770 families were relocated to a new home, including 80 families (over 10 percent) who purchased their own home. The others were moved to other public housing or used a section 8 certificate find a new rental home. All who want will be given 1st priority to move back to the Near Northside redevelopment, which should begin construction in the next 10 days. And finally, and most emphatically, you are incorrect Ms. Marks, most of the families who lived in the Hollman project WERE NOT largely dope dealers, gang bangers, prostitutes and their children. They were poor families, including Hmong, African-Americans, whites, elderly, and those with mental illnesses. They were for the most part, law-abiding citizens, who lived in extremely densely populated, poorly constructed homes situated on an old river bed, virtually completely cut off from the rest of the City so that hopefully the rest of us would forget about them. Sometimes the truth isn't as exciting as the myth. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 12:04 AM Subject: [Mpls] Pickle Seeds snip... the bulldozer- (now called Hollman-) effect of eliminating the housing for a very vulnerable section of our population without planned replacement; ...snip Dave Stack wrote... The original reasoning for the lawsuit brought forward by the NAACP and the Legal Aid Society sounded good and rational to me. Also, the vision and plans for the rebuilding of the Hollman area appear very innovative. However, the ill treatment of the families displaced by this project is very sad, and has come to overshadow any good that may have been intended. WizardMarks, Central wrote snip... The very vulnerable section of the population was the elderly. At the time, there was subsidized housing for the elderly. The others in that section were largely dope dealers, gang bangers, prostitutes and their children. The others were those trying their damnedest to get out of the way of the dealers, etc. and in fear of their lives. ...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] Re: account of Hollman
As the owners of the land, it actually was the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority that has negotiated the 62-year ground lease, not the City. The reason the lease is so long is to ensure that the 200 public housing units that are being built on the site remain as public housing units. Under the terms of the ground lease, no public housing units can be converted to other uses or to other types of housing. Dean E. Carlson East Harriet, Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Dave Stack [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 6:16 PM Subject: [Mpls] Re: account of Hollman According to Meleah Maynard's 26-Sep article in City Pages, the City of Minneapolis will give the developing company, McCormack Baron, a 62-year lease on the Hollman land. I am no expert in this area, does anyone more familiar with these things happen to know if this is standard procedure or unusually long. I would guess that most people involved with this deal will be dead before the contract comes up for renewal. Dave Stack Harrison ___ 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] StarTribune endorses Sharon Sayles Belton
I'm shocked, shocked the Strib endorsed SSB. Here's the link: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/786703.html Dean E. Carlson East Harriet Ward 10 - Original Message - From: Tony Hill [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 4:22 PM Subject: [Mpls] StarTribune endorses Sharon Sayles Belton In case you couldn't guess, or hadn't heard, or didn't know. Tony Hill Logan 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 ___ 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] Sayles Belton Shows Broad Citywide Support
Did anyone else notice that a full 50 percent (14 of 28) names on this list have the adjective former as part of their name? No disrespect to those former elected officials, many of whom have dedicated their lives to making Minneapolis a better place, but I think one of the reasons RT has garnered so much support is that people are looking for a change. I'm not sure a list of former elected officials and old party stalwarts is going to excite an undecided voter or make someone switch from RT to the Mayor. Dean E. Carlson Ward 10, East Harriet - Original Message - From: Randy Schubring [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 3:40 PM Subject: [Mpls] Sayles Belton Shows Broad Citywide Support NEWS RELEASE: Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton Shows Broad, Citywide Supporters Among Current and Former Minneapolis Public Officials Minneapolis, MN (October 1, 2001)-Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton released a list of over 25 former and current public officials supporting her campaign for re-election. Among those declaring their support for Sayles Belton include former Mayors Don Fraser and Al Hofstede, Ventura Administration officials Rebecca Yanisch and Ted Mondale, Hennepin County Commissioners Peter McLaughlin and Mary Tambornino, former independent City Council Member Dennis Schulstad and former Speaker of the Minnesota House Dee Long. I have always been the Mayor who works together with community leaders from all parts of Minneapolis. I set the table broad enough, long enough and with enough places to welcome everyone. I've never been the Mayor to pit downtown versus the neighborhoods or Northside versus Southwest, said Sayles Belton. Minneapolis is one of the best managed and most livable cities in the nation, and that's because we've built these partnerships and worked hard together to achieve solid results. Current and former Public Officials supporting Sharon Sayles Belton: Trade and Economic Development commissioner Rebecca Yanisch Metropolitan Council Chair Ted Mondale Former Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser Former Minneapolis Mayor Al Hofstede Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar City Council Member Jackie Cherryhomes City Council Member Joe Biernat City Council Member Joan Campbell City Council Member Kathy Thurber Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin Hennepin County Commissioner Mary Tambornino State Sen. Linda Higgins State Rep. Greg Gray State Sen. Larry Pogemiller State Sen. Linda Berglin State Rep. Karen Clark Former Speaker of the House Dee Long Former Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew Former City Council Member Walter Dziedzic Former City Council Member Don Risk Former City Council Member Dennis Schulstad Former State Sen. Carol Flynn Former City Council Member Sally Howard Former State Rep. Richard Jefferson Former City Council Member Tony Scallon Former State Sen. Allan Spear Former State Sen. Linda Wejcman Former State Rep. Lee Greenfield Randy Schubring Sayles Belton Campaign _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ___ 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
