RE: [Mpls] McKinsey recommendations
Isn't it nice to actually get responsive and substantive information from the Mayor's office. What a change from a year ago. Sure looks like a different regime to me :-) Russ R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Fishing Opener In The City Of Lakes
It is fishing opener and it looks like everybody is leaving the metro area for a better, cleaner lake. How about a list of great lakes and fishing spots in Minneapolis and the metro area where people who don't want to drive for several hours can go and throw in a line by themselves or with a kid. Are there any lakes not too polluted to do this? If not, maybe a list of lakes that should be restored for fishing habitat. Wouldn't it be great to have a grand fishing opener right in the city! R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Crime in Phillips
Since Minneapolis has decided to keep its police chief, perhaps he would participate in this forum on occasion to address some of the crime concerns. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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: Litter on Interstates and Highways
I'd like to see MNDot accept a more natural view of the land on the side of its roads, perhaps running prairie or forested areas, it might help them reduce visual garbage, snow drifting and a host of other problems. It would be nice to see MNDot, especially in the City of Minneapolis and surrounding burbs, adopt an approach more similar to that of Seattle where they respect and restore the natural environment instead of trying to mow it down. Let's quit mowing the ditches and start restoring the natural environment wherever we can including prairie and trees. We'll save on fossil fuels and a whole lot of other headaches. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Failing Schools, Total Quality Reviews, reaction
The failure of counties, especially Hennpin County, to provide adequate social services intervention on behalf of children is the single largest reason schools are failing. We keep trying to play ball in the wrong field and it isn't fair to those families and children who ARE doing their part. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Pedestrian Rights
This discussion has come up over and over again on this list, especially in the Spring. As I've said before, I strongly believe in the recommendations in the book Street Reclaiming. Essentially the philosophy is that people need to start living in the street again and that cars are guests in our streets not the other way around. I've seen this happen in my new home, where we have put tables and umbrellas in the street and identified play areas for kids using chalk and other elements. Everybody in the neighborhood now knows they have to drive slowly because we are all in the street living. Russ R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] And the boondoggle turns
This is the paragraph that I don't understand: Marriott says Graves, in order to extricate his group from the 20-year agreement, sued first, accusing Marriott of duping Graves into signing the agreement based on misrepresentations about the target customers of the Renaissance brand. Please tell me how a veteran hotel developer...(who) operates numerous hotel properties, including Marriott can be duped by what the target market of a partner is. This argument just doesn't seem plausible to me and I have to believe there is something deeper going on here. I sure hope another downtown development fiasco is not on the horizon. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Was Orfield now draft Thoman
I'd sure like to see Rebecca Thoman run again if the boundaries work. She is a tireless, smart and gracious candidate. After her great showing in the Rep race last time, she'd do well in a re-configured district for the senate. I urge any of you who supported her last time to give her a call and encourage her to run again. The senate needs inspirational, intelligent and strategic thinkers like Rebecca Thoman. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Guthrie Theater skyway-to-nowhere
We can harp all we want at the details, but that won't change the Guthrie's minds or the design. I think Linda Mack said it perfectly in her commentary, that what we needed was a fabulous symbolic response to the river, not a response to the mills. The fundamental flaw in the design, is the original concept. Of course the mills are important historically, but most Minneapolis developments have continued to think the context of previous buildings is more important than the original natural environment - creating a city that unfortunately looks pretty much like everybody else. And this has happened because the city has failed to articulate a vision that is based on valuing the environment and it's citizens. And it has failed to link that vision and those values into development agreements - especially those who accept public funding. As for the Star Tribune's editorial I have the following: Just because it looks different doesn't make it the Sydney Opera House. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Library needs
I knew I'd get back exactly what has been posted: that the library staff are completely serving of the public, that their individual needs weren't important, that I've never worked with librarians, and that my location in St. Michael seems to intimate that I shouldn't have a say. These are shallow arguments. In the larger scheme of things, every organization I've worked with always wants everything to service it's users in the primary spot. Let me reiterate - everybody wants a big floorplate, especially on the first floor - it doesn't make any difference if it is a library or a coffee shop or an office building or a social service agency. That's why 3 dimensional thinking is so important. So - take part of the south block if you need it for your building or build a large concourse level under the street to get your big floorplate - there are a million ways to think about getting more space. But we have to let go of our socialization that restricts us in thinking of orthogonal patterns defined by the streets, horizontal only planes and other road blocks. I am not attacking individual librarians or their needs, I have consistently commented on the cultural of programming a building and that this library problem is no different than just about everything else. And I think the larger picture of redevelopment in the area is loosing out because there has been no planning vision for the city in the past couple of decades. Because of all of these things, the library will be built on the south block with a big footprint and it will grab as much land as it can get so it can be seen from a distance. However, the more prudent and sensible approach is to put the library on a block where you can borrow the vista land from a neighboring building without asking for more money for the taxpayers (no matter where they live) and at the same time help to spur redevelopment in the area. (If the library really thought that the vista to the building was so important, why didn't they locate in another spot where they could borrow that vista. The answer is that it has only become important now as a way to satiate those who want a more prominent building. This is backwards programming and I still say they are trying to capture the land on both blocks for their needs. This is not what had been promised to the taxpayers.) It is easy to point to your solution by telling people that you don't want them to have to go to two different floors for information on Chaucer. It is easy to say that you carry 20 books out of the library every week and that's the person we should be concerned about. It is easy to tell people they haven't worked with your kind before or to intimate that because of where they live they should have no say (See: Geographical Discrimination. Look at immigrant problems in the city for more reference). Someday, the insular thinking of some people in the City will be reformed. And instead of fighting the suburbs and others who haven't lived in the city for decades or haven't fallen on the sword of living in an inner city neighborhood, or haven't engaged the elitist ultra liberal me-ism thinking; those people will actually engage the dialogue of others unlike themselves in a critical way instead of consistently pooh-poohing it. I anticipate that day with baited breath. I can hear the sounds of keys clicking on the other side of the listserve... :-) R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Skyway to nowhere
Chris took the words right out of my mouth as I read this morning's paper: Skyway to nowhere. Leave it to our great city to put a skyway over a road where one isn't even needed. I sure hope the City doesn't give them the right to do so. Beyond that, this is probably the most disappointing design I've seen from this architect. Looks to me like kind of a postmodern cubist mix that pretty much misses the human component let alone engaging the river except for the voyeur in us. We finally have a chance to restore some beauty to the river and engage it in a meaningful way about the people of our great city and all we get are boxes with metal logs, a combination of warehouse and flour mill stripped of detail, and a skyway to nowhere that looks like somebody demolished the building on the other side of the street. And that would all be o.k., if the building at least stretched the imagination and the experience of theater going or more specifically: theater going in Minneapolis on the Mississippi River - which frankly it doesn't. I say, Act II needs to eliminate the outcome of Act I. The people of Minneapolis deserve better. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Skyway to nowhere
Criticism of the design is bound to ruffle some Midwestern sensibilities. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Coldwater Spring Press Release from MCWD
What Pam says may be true, but in the end the desired outcome was not reached. Efficacy is part of an elected officials job. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Abstention fever
Thanks Brain for the detail. Just a note that I was quoting from the original version of Robert's Rules of Order. I know it is fashionable to us the Newly Revised version. Do we know which version is tied to the Minneapolis City Council? Most organizations cite the particular version as to not create confusion - I should have done the same. My version in section 44, does not contain the word abstention. In the end, however, I believe my analysis was correct that the vote did pass by a wide majority according the the rules in place, unless somebody has some other knowledge of operations that I am still missing. And even though you cannot force someone to vote, it is still in my opinion according to Robert's Rules that the only real reason to abstain is for conflict of interest. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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: Abstention fever
I have always hated abstention voting except in the case of conflict of interest. I have been unable to find in Robert's Rules of Order abstention as a voting method, perhaps somebody else has a source. However it does say, No one can vote on a question affecting himself. This would verify the argument that voting on your pay raise is improper. In Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary we have the following definition for abstain: to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice. And since it isn't counted as a vote as Brian and Robert's Rules seem to illuminate, it makes for a curious argument that perhaps the representatives who vote as such are not really voting at all. In fact they had no vote on the issue. This is particularly important for representatives who support alternative voting methods to help increase the voices of minority populations and so firmly believe in the right to vote. It has to be hard to say to supporters, Get out and vote for me and then when you get there you don't vote for those who voted for you. Also I've always felt that organizations who were highly dysfunctional used abstention to avoid facing up to the truth - or as I like to say sometimes, conflict avoidance. Perhaps that is the case here too. So, IMHO, unless there is a conflict of interest, abstention voting is really a non-vote and should be viewed as such. Essentially, those people did not exercise their right to vote. For too long the media has put attention on those who abstain - thinking it is strategic or highlighting their efforts as if they have something important to say - or a signal to future actions. And in fact, we've been doing the same thing on this list. Highlighting those who abstained and giving them more attention just propagates the action. I say, they didn't vote. Therefore, they shouldn't have a say in what should happen and we shouldn't pay any attention to them on the issue. Thus, the outcome is that the vote passed by a whopping margin. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Library North Block
It was a good solution to study in more detail how the library would work on the North Block. And although I don't know the library's program, I would suggest three things need to happen. One is the library board needs to start thinking a little more outside of their box. Don't hold onto things just because the plan might not be going the way you had originally wanted. Hold onto them only if other solutions aren't workable, but make sure you keep an open eye to other more interesting solutions that don't necessarily compromise primary functions. Secondly, does the library have to be a contiguous form of 5 stories that go up in the air above one another? Think more three dimensionally...Can the building go under or over the street? Can any major operations be paired with the cavernous space under the old Federal Reserve Building? Thirdly, I remember designing a large operations center and the head project manager for the client wanted a large impenetrable space to hold all of the computers. He said the space couldn't have any windows and the walls needed to be reinforced without access to adjoining spaces. We struggled to change the clients idea of the space, but did not prevail. When the building was built, computers had become so small, they no longer need all of that vast vault space. It was useless for anything else because there weren't windows or access to adjoining spaces. Ultimately the most expensive space in the building became storage - a real waste. I like to point out to clients that life changes very quickly around us and that a creative flexible space is very important. And in the end it will be a lot easier to change the inside of the building than to ever move it, if you place it on the wrong site. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of List Manager Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 7:04 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Lotsa city stuff today Library-site train wreck in tussle between council/mayor and library board? http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/1104398.html Minneapolis crime down for the year but up sharply after 9/11 http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/1104371.html Hidden beach not so hidden? Buck-naked becomes harder with less buckthorn... http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/1104501.html Sex, crime and books...your morning newspaper has it all... David Brauer List manager _ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Form over function?
I am really fascinated by this thread. What is intriguing to me is that the current library was built with a form follows function design language and many people dislike it's coldness and lack of statement. It was much of the modern philosophy of the time. However, a building is more than it's function, I would argue, especially a library. That doesn't mean you throw out the function for other aspects, but there needs to be a design vision that strikes a harmonic chord. Everybody in just about every building I've worked on, especially downtown, wants a big floorplate. Because inherently we are two dimensional creatures and believe if we can get everybody adjacent to everybody else on the same floor it solves all our problems. We tend to read drawings like mall maps and we think primarily on this one plane. I believe it is part of human nature and part of the struggle to improve how we think, create and eventually invent. I think the real challenge, is how do we all let go of our socialization? How do we let go of our two dimensional thinking? How do we ensure a functional library without letting that override all the other aspects of a great library? How do we make the kind of civic statement that is important without violating function or spending too much money? These are all great questions and it is the process of answering those questions that is important. It is as important as the actual library itself. R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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 Budget Cuts
Basic services budgets have been whittled away for several years now. There may be a couple more things to do in those areas, but probably no significant savings. The first place to look for savings would be those areas that had huge increases in budget over the past several years including the City Coordinators Office and the Office Of Cultural Affairs. By far, the biggest savings will probably come from reinventing the delivery of services through the MCDA, Planning NRP programs. But in order for this to be successful, it needs to be done with employees completely involved in the defining of the vision, mission and goals of this new combined department. And employees need to be completely involved in the entire process without management or politicians sweeping out the floor from underneath the process. To mean that means providing leadership, education and dialogue - not edicts. The other area of savings would probably come from reducing the city's role in social services. This is something that traditionally the state and county have provided. With the state reducing aid to cities perhaps the cities should return responsibility of social services to the counties and the state. A management restructuring might get some savings and there should also be a comprehensive look at the cost differential between privatization of some city services and in house costs. Two cents from the peanut gallery... R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Lydia House Etc.
David makes some excellent points. Here's some additional help from the research: I don't believe they were trying to evaluate the difference between a subsidized nonprofit developer and a private developer who doesn't take any subsidy. I think the original intention was to see if there was any truth to the urban legend that subsidized housing decreases property values and contributes to degradation of a neighborhood. Their conclusion in terms of cost value was that property values increase with subsidized nonprofit developers while property values decrease with public housing and subsidized, private developers. From page 51 of the study: We also find that the condition of the private housing market and the practices of private landowners are more important determinant of property values than the existence of subsidized housing. I also think the overall impact of onsite management was a big factor in livability if I remember the entire study correctly. As for methodology in terms of price, they studied two to three block areas around a property with a price model that incorporates a series of building and lot characteristics. They used data from the City of Minneapolis Assessor's Office from 1988 and 1994 using one as a control over time. Please remember, I'm not necessarily advocating for Lydia House, just trying to deepen the discussion. Russ Peterson R u s s e l l W. P e t e r s o n Saint Michael, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can only fly if you stretch your wings. ___ 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] Lydia House Etc.
There is a good book by Ed Goetz from the University of Minnesota called There Goes The Neighborhood? The Impact of Subsidized Multi-Family Housing on Urban Neighborhoods. There are lots of findings in the book that would be worthy of discussion, however one of the most interesting is on page 1 under Executive Summary. It says: We find that proximity to nonprofit-developed subsidized housing actually enhances property values at a rate of $.86 per foot...Crime data on fourteen nonprofit projects show that there were significantly fewer crime calls at these properties after their rehabilitation and conversion to subsidized housing...The tenants of subsidized nonprofit projects are less transient than other renters in the project neighborhoods. As a disclaimer, I served with Ed Goetz on the Central Community Housing Trust for several years. Although I personally believe there may be an imbalance and concentration of subsidized projects in certain areas, I think the reality of this kind of development should be discussed as much as the perception. Residents do have reasons to be concerned and the City must work harder at developing small area plans that communicate intentions clearly to residents. And zoning laws and regulations shouldn't become hit and miss and unreliable for residents because the whim of the council is tied to whatever happens to be the emergent crisis at the time. Russ Peterson St. Michael ___ 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] Lydia House Etc.
Look, I don't know enough about Lydia House to know what needs to happen. All I was saying, is if one would actually take time to read the research, one would find that non profit affordable housing does more for a poverty stricken neighborhood than subsidized private or public housing. This still doesn't negate the concentration of poverty argument or the lack of planning and communication by the city or the tilting of the private business rental market caused by subsidized non profits. These are all serious issues that need attention. As for Kenwood, Linden Hills and the suburbs...Keith might not remember that when I first became a member on this list, I joked about a meeting on affordable housing in Kenwood. It was taken to be offensive and I apologized. However, I have not heard one thing about that meeting since. Nor have I seen any proposals for affordable housing grow out of that project. If the city was really serious about affordable housing, they would consider combing an affordable housing component with every parking ramp they build as much as forcing other people to do so. So the Walker site would be perfect. What a message to send the world. A public venture to help the Walker with parking, combined with affordable housing and one of the most famous art galleries in our country. This is the kind of out of the box thinking that we need implemented in the city. Russ Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Parking Ramps
If these parking ramps are self supporting in the first year, why aren't they privately developed without public funds or involvement? Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Library Site Selection
DeWayne said: Build the best operational library possible. The city changes. How the library fits the city should not compromise the function of the library. The best operational library would probably be built on a 10 acre site so all the adjacencies and functional relationships could be solved appropriately, but that is not the case. And the context of placement of a downtown library IS a part of the best operation possible. Listen to your architect, Cesar Pelli. You hired him for a reason. He has experience and knowledge from all over the world and has recognized the best location of the two available sites is the north block. Function is important, but I do not believe it will cause operational problems that can't be overcome in other ways. The chance to make the connection of this site between Nicollet Mall and the river is tremendous. It also leaves a much better development opportunity between the south block and the Ritz hotel block or the blocks south of that. In the financial times we are in, Minneapolis is going to need all the leverage it has to make development happen. So make a great statement and a wonderful library at the entrance to Nicollet Mall on the North block, connect Nicollet to the river and gateway in a sensitive way and build the best functioning library on that block (don't forget to think 3 dimensionally by using boxcars and connections above and below the street to the other blocks including the vast old Federal Reserve underground). Then leverage the south block against development in other blocks. Good luck. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Boondoggle
...objects to this concept on four grounds: 1) one-way car travel will promote high speeds; 2) a serpentine pattern and bumps will cause bumper car driving; 3) the street is already bike-friendly; and 4) the design isn't green enough. Before we respond, let us assure people that the Greenway will not be implemented in any neighborhood without the consent of the neighborhood organization, and a decision to allocate NRP funding to construction. There are people who want to move ahead with the Greenway in each of the six neighborhoods, but the neighborhood as a whole will make the decision. What a great dialogue on a planning issue. This concept is a really an attractive idea, but why not just green up the existing street, eliminate a side of parking and put in dedicated bike lanes. You'd have a fabulous boulevard without the hassle of trying to fix a problem you've created - the one way street - by screwing up neighborhood traffic through speed humps, and alternating one way directions. And you'd be able to do it at a significantly lower cost. From my perspective, just because a neighborhood organization supports a project, doesn't mean the neighborhood does. From one who tried to get speed humps installed in Standish, I know that the City requires almost complete unanimity (a high percentage of sign offs from neighbors) in order to install them. From what I've seen in Standish, I just don't think that is going to happen. And since there is already a tremendous speeding problem with Roosevelt High school (I actually know people who have left the neighborhood because of it), there needs to be a better look at micro-neighborhood design - or what St. Paul would call Small Area Plans. A good start would be to read Street Reclaiming. Some of its essential ideas are to get rid of the punitive measures such as speed humps and controlled intersections and instead narrow streets, use street furniture, banners and greenery to create more of a yard extended into the street. If we designed our streets to say look at the beautiful yards we are driving through as opposed to what we have now, which is yards fronted on speedway routes. I just cannot accept installing a one way along 40th, no matter what punitive measures to slow traffic are taken. Just as we are thinking about the environment, we need also to think of the children playing in the yards along that street. And with the money that it is going to take to solve the affordable housing crisis in Minneapolis, I think there is a better solution for this bikeway idea at a significantly lower cost. Good luck. Russ Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Stop the Dangerous New 40th Street Greenway
I lived only 1 block from South 40th on 23rd Ave S. and just about everybody in the neighborhood I talked to did not like this greenway idea, especially those living on 40th. Providing bike lanes and green space is one thing, but every transportation designer knows that once you have a one way - you have a race track for cars no matter how tight you try to make the street. And there is already a speedway problem from Roosevelt High along that and other parallel streets. Many of my neighbors also viewed it as a short cut for those living west of 35W to get to the river. With a route along the creek and along 29th, why is another one needed at 40th, especially with so many other needs in the city. Where is the city's list of overall city priorities and spending objectives? It would be nice to see this weighted against other needs. From a citywide perspective, I think the park on the north riverside is a much bigger need than another east-west bicycle route in south Minneapolis. And from a neighborhood sense, I think many in that area would prefer having 38th and 42nd fixed up. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Twins breaking Metrodome contract
In business, contracts can sometimes be completely meaningless. If an entity goes under or doesn't exist, there is nothing to sustain to operate or to pay rent. I have never found court a good place to resolve business differences. And it certainly isn't a good place to determine public vision. It seems to me the question real question is: Do we want baseball in Minnesota or in Minneapolis specifically and what are we willing to do given the current circumstances if we want the Twins to remain? If the answer to the first part is no. Then we need to quit playing the game. If the answer is yes, then we need to define what we believe is both responsible for our society and responsive to the public's wishes. Personally, I think baseball needs to significantly reform the way it operates. I think we are sending that message loud and clear, that is why they are so nervous and have threatened contraction. Now that we've sent that message, how do we work with Congress to help make the necessary reforms and with baseball to keep the Twins in place until those reforms are implemented. Putting together a sound private offer for the team and building a stadium with a combination of private funds and some kind of graduated ticket sur-charge or perhaps a sports lottery where only those interested in participating can do so, seems like a reasonable approach to me. But more than anything, it would be a shame for Minneapolis' new start to get derailed by paying too much attention to this issue. Don't let major league baseball define the agenda for Minneapolis. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] PRAC hits the big time
I am absolutely convinced that respectable buildings help promote self-respect - a phrase I coined trying to get builders and designers to pay more attention to their work product in affordable housing projects. That doesn't mean that one isn't responsible for their own behavior, but the environment does have an impact on us both psychologically and sociologically. Take away the sun for a few weeks and see how you feel. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] School funding other issues
I guess I need to add some clarity to my discussion. First of all it might help if people understood my experience base. I helped start a charter school for kids who mostly had social problems, family problems, peer problems, and poverty. These were the kids that perhaps weren't disruptive in school, but you didn't notice them really until they were gone one daywhere did they go? What happened to them? I have volunteered in the public school system. I've taught classes in both large and reduced class sizes. I've volunteered in private schools. I have taught at courses at the college level and at the Perpich school for the arts. I spent two summers running a summer theater program for kids aged 5 to 12. I am not a teacher, although my brother and sister-in-law are teachers and my in-laws are both teachers. Currently, I volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten class of 24 students teaching early math concepts and reading and phonics. Frankly, I'm amazed at how well her teacher runs that class. However, only a small percentage ever get individual attention. Generally speaking, the better students who can do the work suffer because they are not challenged as the teacher needs to focus on those who are having a harder time. From my limited observation, not scientific by any means, I have come to believe that we could solve many of our problems if children came to school ready to learn every day. I agree with Michael Atherton that Head Start and other preschool programs have improved that initial jump. But there are still tremendous disadvantages, and not just in the inner city, kids have in coming to school. A kindergarten teacher with 24 children that has one or two who need special help and are taken out of class is one scenario. But when you've got a class of 20 and half the kids don't speak the primary language of the school and their families move around so much they don't participate in their children's education, that is a much different scenario. I agree with Mr. Atherton that there are plenty of things schools can do to improve, but I still believe unless we fundamentally address our understanding of community, strengthening families, and helping those children with profound disadvantages our schools will only make minimal progress. Perhaps I am light on the research, but my intuition and experience tells me that there is something to this approach. That means that the State, County and City have an obligation to help improve our schools beyond giving them money. They need to ensure affordable housing, stable work forces, and social services/intervention as well as address homeless children issues, and livable wages among other things. And if we are truly going to do accurate measurement and assessment of our schools, we need to include these variables and partners as a part of the assessment. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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 and politics
http://www.lavendermagazine.com/168/168_letters_10_1.html Lavender magazine endorses R.T. Rybak for Mayor. See the link above to their editorial. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Strib shillin' for Sharon
Clark is right. And it was good to see his calmness on TV the other day regarding the Twins. Another idea would be to create a new urban park/civic meeting place and put it on the current Library block. Move the library to the north block with housing. Put the planetarium and housing/office on the Ritz hotel block - and then urge the energy company to revitalize their block. A great meeting place for the city with Hennepin and Nicollet on each side of the park, surrounded by a lot of housing and urban activities and just a couple blocks from the river!!! Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Arts Ticket Vote Rybak
Star Tribune Pop Culture Writer Kristin Tillotson writes, On an arts ticket, I'd cast my vote for Rybak in Minneapolis. Here's the story link: http://www.startribune.com/stories/389/797504.html Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] A lesson in political spin...
I am forwarding the following letter about the Star Tribune Profile on R.T. Rybakto the list on behalf of Mr. Cunagin. Russell Peterson Saint Michael -Original Message-From: Danny Cunagin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 2:18 PMTo: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'Subject: A lesson in political spin... I am sure I am not the first, and I know I will not be the last person tofeel manipulated by a copy reporter. Recently I spoke with Mike Kaszubaabout my experiences with mayoral candidate R.T. Rybak. I was more than alittle surprised in reading today's piece on R.T. and Mike'scharacterizations of my comments. Clearly this indicates intent by the StarTribune to cast unfair dispersions on R.T. While I wholeheartedly supportthe Tribune's right to endorse a candidate of it's choosing, I take issue atthe lack of journalistic integrity in manipulating my comments in an effortto serve the Tribune's agenda. For the record, my comments to Mike Kaszuba were: R.T. possesses acontagious zest for life. He is a consummate creative problem solver.Professionally, he far exceeded my expectations in providing meaningfulstrategic consultation related to internet initiatives. R.T. possesses anuncanny ability to build diverse teams of people and organizations, andgalvanize them towards a common goal. I have witnessed this ability firsthand, time and again. Taken together, R.T.'s passion, vision, and abilitymakes him uniquely qualified to be the mayor of the city that he, and manyother residents of Minneapolis, care so deeply about. I am happy to havethe opportunity to vote for R.T. on Tuesday. I find my actual comments above to be significantly more supportive of R.T.than Mike Kaszuba's characterization of near indifference. Sincerely, Danny J. Cunagin President/CEOLogic Product Development411 N. Washington Ave.Minneapolis, MN 55401(612 ) 672-9495 x203[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[Mpls] R.T. DEBUTS FIRST TV AD
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Sether (612) 408-2467 Minneapolis MN: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 R.T. RYBAK CAMPAIGN DEBUTS FIRST TV AD OF MAYORAL CAMPAIGN “I Want a Mayor” Ad Showcases Broad Support for R.T. Rybak Business consultant and Minneapolis Mayoral candidate R.T. Rybak today unveiled the first TV ad of the campaign season. The ad called “I Want a Mayor” features a broad cross section of Minneapolis residents putting “R.T. Rybak for Mayor” lawn signs in front of their homes, apartments and businesses. These residents each describe the qualities they’re looking for in a Mayor. (See transcript attached) “I’m thrilled with how it turned out. It reinforces our main message: the need for restoring fiscal discipline downtown, the need to reprioritize housing and basic city services. It’s all expressed under the broad theme we need a Mayor who’s in touch with people and their priorities,” Rybak said. The ad project was filmed in one day, with a small camera crew led by Thom Sandberg and a volunteer creative team going to all corners of Minneapolis to shoot footage. “The initial ad buy was significant and it features our campaign’s other most visible feature over 4000 lawn signs across Minneapolis,” Rybak concluded. In addition to television, interested viewers can watch the ad or download it from the Rybak campaign website at www.RTforMayor.com under the News ( http://rtformayor.com/index.asp?Page=DISPLAYGroupID=1DTID= PRID=13005 ) section or the Media Gallery of the website using Real Video Player. END RELEASE R.T. RYBAK FOR MAYOR “I Want A Mayor” Commercial Transcript A succession of Minneapolis residents put “R.T. Rybak for Mayor” lawn signs in front of their homes, apartments and businesses. Each describes what kind of Mayor they want. Voices: “I want a mayor who cares what I think.” “…no matter what neighborhood I’m from.” “We want a mayor who will come into the neighborhoods and work for the small business people.” “…who’s interested in senior citizen issues…” “…who’ll be a strong advocate for this city.” “I want a mayor with business and management experience…” “…who’s more concerned over the housing…” “…basic city services…” “I want a mayor who can say ‘no’ when the price is too high.” “I want a mayor who cares what I think.” “I’m R.T. Rybak, and I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 6th.” END TRANSCRIPT Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Items In The Race For Mayor
Carol said: As to MPEA for example, it is clear why MPEA did not endorse the Mayor. They had a dispute with the City over whether federal law allows for exempt employees (i.e. salaried) to be treated like hourly employees and earn overtime or comp time. That's portraying a group of professionals as pretty two dimensional, don't you think? Perhaps you say obvious because it made a splash, but perhaps MPEA and others are endorsing Rybak because of less splashy things such as the bloated increase in spending in the city coordinators office, the massive internal services debt, the lack of living wages in development deals, the loss of the AAA bond rating, the lack of attention to basic services, loss of support at the state legislature from an incompetent city lobbying group, financial weakness in one of the greatest economic expansions of our time, and the overly glossy image of the mayor's record. I don't speak for Rybak or MPEA, but all of these things would compromise their jobs and the people who work for them as well as the health of the city they so dearly work for. Maybe they are not as two dimensional as you think. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Bureau of Mines/ Camp Coldwater, any good ideas?
Finally some creative vision on this list. Thanks Mr. Stolarek...you should run for office. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael ___ 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] Trashy Subjects
Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion. -- Has the City of Minneapolis considering going in with other cities on its website development? I know that campaignoffice.com has been developing govoffice.com and nonprofitoffice.com. It seems to me that cities across the country have a lot in common and Minneapolis and other cities could gain some real efficiencies by working together. Does anybody know if this is happening? Russ Peterson Saint Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Cyber Terrorism in the 2001 Election
Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion. -- m a al-Kabir wrote On or about 2 September 2001 we received a virus from an organisation call CampaginOfffice.com. Who guess has a site hosted there ? The RT Rybek Operation. We are conducting more investigations of the matter. CampaignOffice.com also hosts for Sharon Sayles Belton. Russ Peterson Saint Michael ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Minneapolis ward results for mayor
Not as absurd as hanging a supporter out to dry on this list a couple of months ago by misleading them as to who they were supporting. Russ Peterson Saint Michael ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] No Endorsement
Wonderfully deflected, Candidate Schiff - don't answer the question, but blame the civilian who asks the questions; try to link the civilian to his candidate through dirty politics; berate the entire list as rumor posters who don't care about policy; and frame yourself as the independent-minded candidate. Wow - ain't leadership great! My apologies to Kathy Thurber and Michael Guest who each would have made a far superior council member even if I didn't completely agree with their positions. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] No Endorsement
Dear list, I know this is my third post today, but I ask for a little latitude. I apologize to Candidate Schiff and for members of this list for making a disagreement public and acerbic. My intent was only to illuminate the subject and I unfortunately got pulled into something I should have had the wisdom to stay out of. Thank you to all of you who had the wisdom and the courage to advise me offlist. Russ Peterson Saint Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] We held the election?
Some people needed to vote to grieve and some people needed not to vote to grieve. Some people needed to vote to fight fear and some people needed not to vote because of fear. This was a senseless act which does not get illuminated any further by blaming those who wanted to vote or those who didn't want to vote. Russ Peterson Saint Michael
[Mpls] R.T. Rocks
For being the R.T. List there sure hasn't been much discussion on the shocking upset R.T. and his team pulled off yesterday. Most everybody who wasn't an R.T. supporter felt he would be lucky if he came in second - and then to storm first place like there was no tomorrow was just a hoot. Of course, I'm a little biased, but I'd be interested in what others have to say. And I'd like to know what those who were supporting other candidates are going to do now? And at the same time what does the defeat of Joan Campbell and the strong showing against Cherryhomes and Colvin-Roy say about the future election? Russ Peterson Saint Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Change of plans for today
CHANGE OF PLANS FOR TODAY The R.T. For Mayor campaign along with the other three major mayoral candidates have agreed to suspend campaign activities for the day; however, voting is still taking place and we encourage everyone to vote. If you have questions, you can email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael Web Advisor www.rtformayor.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Change of plans for today
GATHERING TO WATCH RESULTS STILL ON Questions have arisen about the R.T. For Mayor gathering tonight. We will still meet at 8 p.m. this evening to watch the election results and other events of the day at the campaign headquarters at 2429 Nicollet Avenue South. All other campaign activities from now until the polls close at 8 p.m have been cancelled. If you have questions, you can email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 871-4025. Russell W. Peterson Saint Michael WebAdvisor www.rtformayor.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Legislature Mpls
Just imagine for once that you are someone who lives in the suburban, exurban or rural area of the state. You have an opportunity to reduce your property taxes by between $500 and $1,500 per year. And the biggest sacrifice is a program in Minneapolis called NRP. First of all, do you actually know what those letters stand for. I bet you don't. And why? Because nothing has been done by political leadership to educate the rest of the state on the program and it's benefits to the entire state. And if per chance you do know something about the NRP program, you probably have limited or even second hand knowledge. But for the moment, let's assume you actually know something about the program. You have a dilemma - you have a chance to save this huge amount on your property taxes, perhaps enrolling your child in a better preschool, or to continue a program in Minneapolis that essentially institutionalizes volunteerism. You look around - where in Minneapolis is the Jaycees or the Lions Clubs. If you lived in Minneapolis you probably never saw those civic organizations doing something in your neighborhood because they have been essentially displaced by a government program called NRP. So you wonder? Whatever happened to just do it because it's the right thing to do instead of do it because the city will help us pay for it? Then you look at things that have been funded by NRP - you know, those historic street lights next to the graffiti wall and the overflowing garbage cans next to the beat up newspaper stands at the falling down bus stop on the corner where the weeds are 4 feet tall, or the house renovation in front of the street that is falling apart, or the neighborhood organization who's offices sit in front of crumbling curb and gutter. And then you remember all that diverted tax money Minneapolis spent on big wealthy corporations. You know the ones on Nicollet Mall who just made billions last year touting the Sign Of The Times while they actually helped displace The Times, or that Steven Spielberg subsidy on the block they moved that old theater from, or better yet those high end stores at 50th and France that sell the $200 designer vases that you just saw advertised in MPS/St. Paul magazine. And does it make you feel good that you have subsidized with your tax dollars a $200 vase sitting on the grand piano of a wealthy entrepreneur on a lake next to the country club who just had a few moments to pick up a some things at 50th and France after her manicure. Oh, but remember they bought it on the Minneapolis side! And then you ask yourself the big questions - Minneapolis can't even keep it's basic infrastructure together, but can spend millions of dollars on wealthy corporations and government programs to institutionalize civic activity creating a very large and expensive bureaucracy. And help subsidize wealthy shops and profitable billion dollar corporations with taxpayers dollars and then they want more. So tell me, why should I spend $1,000 of my hard earned money a year supporting NRP? This would be the big question of the day. The question that Minneapolis leaders forgot to ask themselves and then never answered. This is why they got caught short changed at the end of the legislative session. Unless we can truly understand the other side, we are destined to fail. Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Strib op-ed: Johnson taught students wrong lesson about contracts
Ms. Smith wrote: I don't think we should fault Carol for an accepted practice in her field of work. First, I wonder if this would be true if the MPS leader were actually a 50 year old white male who was just doing the accepted practice. I think sometimes we forget that discrimination is a two way street and we must be careful about who and how we let the rules slip by - because in the end it is always about who is in power and the abuse of that power, not the color of one's skin. Secondly, when I was a kid and used to want to stay out late and play with the rest of the gang I would always tell my mother: But mom, the other kids are doing it. To that my mother would reply: Just because someone else does it, doesn't mean you have to do it. The lesson being, just because it is accepted practice doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. That kind of educational leadership is very important to me. Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Teaching Students The Wrong Lesson
Here's a real debate for Minneapolis Issues: http://www.startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?templ ate=opinion_aslug=tan28 Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Neighborhood Associations and Funding
I think we have to be careful in characterizing suburbs as being less concerned with social programs and affordable housing as a whole. That's kind of like saying that minority people commit more crimes per capita. Perhaps each is statistically true, but that leads us down the slippery slope of discriminating against people based on a characteristic - skin color or geography. I think it is much better to try and embrace each other's thinking and understand the underlying issues better. O.k., enough preaching from me. ;-) One of those arguments in this neighborhood-association-stakeholding-through-money concept I'm interested in has to do with progressive and regressive taxation and dues. It seems many times like we paint with too broad a brush. We discount the suburban association with dues point blank because it is that slippery slope that leads to buying in of the franchise as Fred said or as David put it: The biggest problem - based on my personal philosophy - is that dues are often levied as a flat tax. ($20 to join, for example.) That's regressive - it hurts people more who have less ability to pay. Yet part of what those dues pay for in my association is the maintenance of the sidewalks. In Minneapolis, maintenance of the sidewalks is paid for by homeowner and is not based ability to pay or shared by the entire neighborhood. I know many in my former neighborhood who didn't have the ability to pay, but had to. This seems way more regressive to me than spreading the cost throughout the entire neighborhood - even if it is on a flat basis. But be that as it may, why couldn't the taxing structure be organized so that it was clear what went to neighborhood investment, much like school funding. I'm sure I'll be in trouble for saying that and I know there is a move to simplify funding through the state, but that movement really distances people from their individual stakeholding. I don't have the answer, just looking for thoughts. What do people think? Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Neighborhood Associations and Funding
I am so intrigued by the thoughtful posts regarding neighborhood associations. I have learned quite a bit. However, my experience in many cases was that the neighborhood associations where I lived previously did get in the way at times (more bureaucracy). And by virtue of how they are organized and meet exclude many portions of the population - especially families with young children and the elderly. All of these factors seem to distance the neighborhood association from the citizenry. I wonder if part of the reason for all of this is that we were not direct stakeholders. In my current association, I pay dues directly to the association. I am an even greater stakeholder because I know exactly how much I pay to that association every month. It is ever present in my mind about what they are doing and what I am paying for. I wonder if because NRP associations are funded through general taxes and even further removed TIF taxes that many in neighborhoods don't feel as great a stakeholder. Kind of the out of site out of mind thing. Perhaps the funding vehicle needs to change? Any thoughts... Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID Founder R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning You can only fly if you stretch your wings. Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.russellpetersondesign.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Mpls Office of Cultural Affairs criticized
It was my understanding that the director of the Office of Cultural Affairs failed to understand that she couldn't use capital monies for a non-capital project. She promised $100,000 she didn't have and couldn't have had as I read the story. This failed promise is what caused Marshall Fields to withdraw their support and ultimately collapsed the program. I don't care who you are - you don't go around and promise $100,000 to convince others to participate if you don't have it. And to start the interview process and promise kids you are going to do something without having it completely in place is also inappropriate IMHO. Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] heresy
Bravo to Mr. Connolly. The only way to get real change is to put everything on the table for discussion. Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Mpls Office of Cultural Affairs criticized
This whole situation could have been predicted and steps to avoid it shouldn't be just brushed aside by city officials who support this kind of mismanagement. The Office of Cultural Affairs was started through energies of the Minneapolis Arts Commission and other arts activists including Artspace as it tried to take over more control of the City of Minneapolis offices. Many envisioned a cultural organization to the city. Kind of the arts rule idea instead of the inept management that was currently in place - and still is today in many cases. There were people who thought it should even run and coordinate public works, and planning, etc. Or at least coordinate all those projects so the city wouldn't continue to look so dumpy and have such a hard time coordinating projects. I think this idea came out of the trouble the Arts Commission had coordinating other city departments with it's Gateways project. However, the Arts Commission had just as much trouble managing a budget as other departments. Just take one look at the Phillips' Gateway and a few others. I'm sure you can look back at the records and see escalating budget after escalating budget. I think the Star Tribune even did a little story about the Phillips Gateway awhile back. And then the council would steal money from the Arts Commission to do it's own pet projects - like that bust of a famous former council member. So this whole areas seems to be a very pliable sponge in terms of how the council and mayor's office treats it. I'm not sure what has gone on since the inception of the Office of Cultural Affairs, but this fiasco smacks of exactly the kind of stuff that was going on while I was on the Minneapolis Arts Commission. A desire to accomplish arts projects at any cost because the city really doesn't do anything for the arts. That attitude leads to huge inefficiencies and mediocrity at it's worst. Frankly, this is probably symptomatic of larger management problems in the city. I nearly laughed when the Mayor compared the road construction to Thanksgiving dinner - what a turkey. If that's the way they actually think about managing the future, it's no wonder the people of Minneapolis are taking it in the shorts. For my money, they should abolish the Office of Cultural Affairs along with the Arts Commission and I'd do away with the current MCDA structure too. By the way Lisa McDonald's idea of creating a PED ala St. Paul doesn't give me much confidence either. They've been stealing from neighborhoods and investing inappropriately just like the MCDA. And what was with that mayor's op ed piece. Does she really believe that spending 64 million on Target has helped stimulate the Minneapolis economy...over stimulated at best, but this engine would have been going without all that downtown subsidy. We were the first out of the recession and had the best unemployment rate coming into this economy. Those tax and spenders will rationalize their subsidies no matter where they put them in a good economy. Just as they rationalize the failure of a $600,000 program that disappointed a whole bunch of children. When will the madness stop? Russ Peterson St. Michael former Standishite P.S. If you they the city to be more arts oriented they might pick up the trash and get rid of the graffiti first. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] TIF Thoughts
Having digested much of the information about TIF from the very good Strib series and the comments on this list, I have a few thoughts and questions. It seems to me that the Chaska and other outer TIF developments have mitigated the argument that the urban core needs TIF to balance the suburban development threat. It looks like to me like everybody is using TIF for everything. If there really is disparity in the urban core, then perhaps a different financial vehicle needs to be developed for that area where the but for is defined more closely. If there is such a huge need for a grocery store in downtown Minneapolis, why didn't we negotiate Target doing one of it's new grocery concept stores as a part of this development. For the price we are paying, we certainly should have been able to get that too. I have to agree with R.T. and Lisa that the MCDA/Planning/NRP structure needs some modification. However, Lisa is proposing in her op-ed a model very similar to St. Paul PED and yet they have abused TIF and have not responded to the neighborhoods very well of late. I would be interested in hearing from both R.T. and Lisa how their re-tooling of the development and planning structure in Minneapolis would be different and/or better. How would it preserve the character of the city and attract development without selling out the farm? How would it be responsive to the citizens of Minneapolis and create a greater vision? I was disappointed in the Strib editorial today. They seem to want to paint those of us who have opposed these huge out of control subsidies has haters of TIF. Unfortunately, they have only seen the extremist view. Perhaps as I was surprised to read today that Carol doesn't particularly care for TIF, she might be surprised to see that I think there are actually some good uses for it under the right circumstances. Perhaps a discussion on improving the TIF vehicle might be a good discussion on this list. What I think was missing from this discussion is corporate responsibility. I hear over and over that corporations can't make it today if they aren't more responsible civic citizens - yet taking millions in subsidies seems to be contrary to that position. Perhaps our newspaper of the Twin Cities and our politicians would serve us better if they spent more time calling for greater corporate responsibility - not just in programs - but in how they do their developments too. Russ Peterson former Standishite St. Michael ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Mayor Sayles Belton supports council litter container proposal
This press release gives us no information. Which plan was passed and how and where will it be implemented and how much does it cost and where is the money coming from? It's one thing to support something in an election year, it's another to flesh out the details and see what's really happening. And for my money, why did it take almost 8 years for the Mayor to do anything about this basic city service - same goes for the environmental disaster of Hiawatha and the adverse impact on people from the ever increasing noise level of the airplanes. Russ Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] cynicism and defeatism
I actually don't think it is about cynicism, I think it is about believing in something and someone other than oneself. There are great people in this city that have done many wonderful things. For instance, I think Brighton Development has done many good things in our city. (To be fully disclosed, I've worked with them on numerous projects.) Do I think they've gotten too cozy with our administration and that other developers have become, perhaps, unintentionally shut out? Yes. But that doesn't negate the fact that they have done good things. The responsibility here lies in city leadership. I think R.T. will open up the process and let more people in than create an atmosphere of closure. I've already seen him do this with his campaign. Do I think SRF is a quality company that does great planning work? (Again to disclose, I have a relative who is an employee of SRF.) Absolutely, but perhaps they are stuck like other consultants in a city that lacks vision and planning direction - or perhaps neighborhood cohesion. I believe R.T. will bring together a new vision to the city uniting the Planning-MCDA-NRP function into a greater visioning group that can help broaden the criteria that can help all our consultants do the job we really want them to do. These are just two examples where I think the answer comes from a change in leadership and direction. I know that Tim has expressed before on this list that he believes he should run for mayor - perhaps he should. What I do know, is that if we go around believing in nothing and no one, we get nowhere. And even if we make mistakes, as I believe I did in supporting our current administration in the last election, we learn something and go forward to create something even better. Sooner or later you have to reach out and believe in more than oneself and ultimately help others plant the tree seedlings that we will never see leaf to maturity. Russell W. Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Comments on MCDA's financial projection
Steve said: Three factual corrections seemed worth making. While it won't mollify project critics, the public investment in the 900 Nicollet block (Target Store) is $59.6 million, not $128 million. 1/3 of the investment is in publicly owned assets, most notably a 600 space parking facility. Similarly, no public funds were invested in the Block E hotel. The facts depend on your perspective. Target builds stores all over the country financing it's own parking facilities. Just because it is a public asset doesn't mean it wasn't a subsidy. Parking at this level is a requirement of their business and as such should be an expense they bear directly. And I believe a huge building was moved from Block E in order to attract a full block development. Thus there were public investments in the Block E hotel. Just because the line item on the spreadsheet isn't attributed directly to the footprint of a building, doesn't mean that there wasn't expenses attributed to that building. This is where citizens need to be smart and resist the pressure of developers who love to line their pockets with taxpayers money - and not just downtown - that huge investment at 50th and France is just as bad. In this great time of wealth creation, I'd like to see developers step forward and do what's right for our city instead of continually have their hands out. The only way that will change is if there is new leadership in City Hall and government employees who are willing to speak their mind about the current lunacy. Russ Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] dropouts
This drop out statistic for MPS is about more than MPS. We have systematically decreased social services over the past two decades, reduced accessibility to higher education), have not provided enough affordable housing, and many of our HMO's won't even pay for mental health care. So without support systems for families, higher education, affordable housing or good healthcare - how are we to expect that marginal families will survive in our schools? It's time to get off the surface solution and delve deeper into the real problems behind the statistics. Russ Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Minnehaha Creek Watershed)
I have to agree with Ken on this one. Supporting the protection of the Cold Water Springs and running a functional government that protects our environment are two completely different things. Russ Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Private schools, public issue
I was more scared of the candidates who thought they knew how to raise other people's children by telling them they must have their children in public school than those candidates who selected a private school. Russ Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Minnehaha Creek Watershed) NO TRUST IN YOUR LEADERSHIP
Isn't it an election year Ken? Typical current establishment behavior. Russ Peterson Former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] demonizing the schools TIF financing
Thanks Tim for your post. I've also gotten a few explanations offline - some from informative lurkers. Thank you all. What I'm starting to see is that homeowners are getting upset about the amount of subsidy going to commercial projects through TIF which results in an increase in residential tax burden for schools. And if a community is growing and TIF is used there is a likely hood that the growth in school can outpace the growth in tax base causing schools to continue to go after referendum for financing, especially if the State reduces it's share of school funding. Looks like a big problem brewing for growing communities. Russ Peterson former Standishite [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] demonizing the schools TIF financing
Lynell talked about the hard time at the legislature for Minneapolis schools. One of the things that seems more and more puzzling to me is how TIF financing seems to be tied to our school resources. I've heard a number of comments out here in exurbia about how schools are having to dismantle programs because TIF financing is depriving schools of their fare share of tax base. Is this happening in Minneapolis too and come anyone explain this to me? Russ Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Shreves: Let's make students criminals
Jon wrote I would hope that studies could be done as to why kids aren't attending school - and work on fixing that problem. Here it is. One of the big problems with the education gap in our public schools. Most of the studies show that the problems are family/social in nature. Many of the schools I looked at for instance had mobility problems. Families moved around so much that there was no attachment by children and no involvement by parents. And in one of the schools I helped start, many of the kids didn't even have a place to sleep or a good meal until they got to school. Over the past decades, responsibility for social services has rested with our counties and more recently has become a joint county/city function. But both our city and county administration have failed to adequately solve these problems. So now the burden has fallen on our schools to not only education children, but to solve the social problems that are at the heart of most of our public education problems. Therefore, we have attorneys going after things like truancy through the courts and have our schools provide more funding to deal with addressing family social problems. So the question is: Are we going to hold our city and county governments responsible for addressing the underlying social problems that cause our schools to have serious education problems? Or are we going to make our schools responsible for addressing these underlying social ills in addition to educating our children? Right now, we are not set up for the latter, but by default our schools are having to do this work. And the tax dollars dedicated to education are now being shifted to addressing social problems. So in reality, our education tax dollars are paying less for education and more for social services. So while Mayor Sayles Belton and Commission Stenglein have failed to address these problems in any meaningful way, Catherine Shreves and other members of the board are having to step up to the plate and cover not only the educational component of our schools, but the dysfunctional social component of our community too. And they are trying to connect with wherever in the system she can get help like the County Attorney, who at least is trying to be creative within the confines of her role. Although I may not agree with the underlying strategy, I think it is admirable. Maybe we need to change the name to of the School Board to: Community and School Board and give them power over the Mayor and the County who seem to have failed at their jobs. ;-) Russell W. Peterson former Standishite ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] DFL Convention Observations
on Mount Olympus producing fancy videos and whining about the fringe left, R.T. Rybak was delivering one of the biggest upsets of the past several decades by assembling a great vision and a great team. Everybody thought Sayles Belton would be endorsed - even the Star Tribune. And not one person thought R.T. would get more votes than the Mayor which is exactly what happened. Now here comes the primary and we get to see if the Mayor's money and corporate connections wins over the people of Minneapolis. I don't know about anybody else, but I'm betting on the great people of Minneapolis to win this one. Russell W. Peterson Exurbia ;-) ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: Strib not Covering Park Board FT was [Mpls] Full time Park Board
Glad you brought this up Dean: ;-) when putting together an event like the 4th of July celebration in Powderhorn Park, a team will be assembled including people from Recreation, Maintenance, Permits, and Police. Such team work would just not be possible if the PB had to work with police that were not under its control. It has been my experience, especially from last year, that there was absolutely no policing of this event. I didn't see the effectiveness of this team. The crowd was out of control in many cases including all the drinking, drugs, illegal fireworks, and rowdiness of post exiting. I would love to attend this event again with my children, but will not unless there are some assurances by the Park Board that this event will be better policed. Thanks for all your hard work. Russ Peterson St. Michael Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID Founder R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning You can only fly if you stretch your wings. Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael 13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376 (763) 497-1003 phone fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Dean Zimmermann Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 2:42 AM To: wizardmarks; Barbara Nelson Cc: Carol Becker; Minneapolis Issues Subject: RE: Strib not Covering Park Board FT was [Mpls] Full time Park Board Barbara: In fact, the Park Board and Public Works did come to an agreement last year or the year before whereby Public Works does maintenance on Parkways and the Park Board does maintenance on certain green spaces owned by Public Works. Also, the few sewers that are below parkways are now maintained by Public Works. There are a few other details to the agreement. However, the Park Board has absolutely no intention of giving up its police. In our management system, teams are formed from various departments. So, for instance, when putting together an event like the 4th of July celebration in Powderhorn Park, a team will be assembled including people from Recreation, Maintenance, Permits, and Police. Such team work would just not be possible if the PB had to work with police that were not under its control. While it may appear to a casual observer that there is duplication by having two police departments, in fact the two departments play significantly different roles. Dean Zimmermann Commissioner District 3 Mpls Park and Recreation Board Candidate for Mpls City Council, Ward 6 612-722-8768 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of wizardmarks Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 1:40 PM To: Barbara Nelson Cc: Carol Becker; Minneapolis Issues Subject: Re: Strib not Covering Park Board FT was [Mpls] Full time Park Board Barbara Nelson wrote: I'd like to question Carol Becker's assumption that Minneapolitan's don't know that there is a Park Board (another government as so many have put it) operating. They are supposed to be the Fourth Estate. Estate is the operative word here, what does it conger up? The reason we buy newspapers is for NEWS (and the comics and Ann Landers) AND Ms. Manners, she cracks me up! Carol Becker's assertion that there are duplicative services is the real issue. Is it possible to combine the duplicative efforts without removing the Park Board? For example, can payroll be handled by the city payroll office? I'd hesitate about the police because the city police department is almost always operating from a shortage of staff power, so were they to staff the parks, would officers be pulled out of the parks for street duty? Could public works take over the roadways and not cause a dysfunction in getting the work done? Annie, Dean, got any thoughts on this one? WizardMarks, Central Barbara Nelson Seward I also would argue that many people in Minneapolis (the vast number of people who don't do things like post to public policy lists) don't understand that there is a second city government (the Park Board) making policy on streets, police, garbage, etc. Accountability for the Park Board is difficult when no one knows that the Park Board exists. Accountability may actually increase if the City Council took over some of the Park's functions because visibility of those actions would increase. I think that the Star Tribune's decision to not spend a lot of time covering the Park Board speaks volumes to this part of the question. Carol Becker Longfellow ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e
RE: [Mpls] Corporate citizens becoming an oxymoron in Mpls
Let's not forget that while Target seems to be quite charitable, they have in fact taken quite a large sum of tax subsidies from the people - remember that tower and store downtown. No matter what their criteria is, they are speaking out of both sides of their mouth. I like to call that charitable slight of hand. Just remember on Saturday who was at the poker table when the deck was shuffled ;-) Russell W. Peterson St. Michael Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID Founder R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning You can only fly if you stretch your wings. Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael 13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376 (763) 497-1003 phone fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] NRP Accountability
Perhaps a better phrase would have been "the Minneapolis DFL machinery" instead of many people. My apologies if you were offended Tim - I know not all DFLers are to blame, many like me are trying to change the system. And I have argued this in detail before on this list Tim, that's why I didn't elaborate. I have even published op-eds in the Strib which detail very specific instances where the DFL has kept people out. Some examples of keeping people out are: Minneapolis' DFL two year residency requirement before you become eligible to be a delegate to endorse your city representatives (go David Brauer with your resolution - this kind of residency discrimination is long overdue in being wiped out) day long marathons for endorsement that keep out the elderly and others who can't take the stamina (you know unions gave us a standard work day because it was inhumane to work long hours- you'd think the DFL would do the same for their own endorsing conventions) selecting locations where food service is unavailable to delegates cutting off or not providing daycare (funny how this is such a big issue for the DFL government machine, but not their own governance - how about practice what you preach) king-making -where incumbents pre-select their successors well in advance of their announcement not to seek re-election And of course their are a host of other examples Tim. The Minneapolis (and state to some degree) DFL needs a wake up call. It is not serving the people or even its constituency - it is serving itself. Russell W. Peterson St. Michael Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID FounderR U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G NArchitecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning "You can only fly if you stretch your wings." Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael 13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376 (763) 497-1003 phone fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Tim BonhamSent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 1:38 AMTo: mpls-issuesSubject: RE: [Mpls] NRP Accountability Message: 17From: "Russell W Peterson" [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: "Mpls List" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: RE: [Mpls] NRP AccountabilityDate: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 23:13:12 -0500. . .And as we all know, many in the DFL are moreinterested in keeping people out than keeping them in.No, Russell, I don't know any such thing! In fact, I would strongly disagree with this and would argue against it (if you had included any arguments for it, instead of just asserting it and claiming it as fact).Many years ago, in high school debates, I was told about this tactic -- rather than argue a proposition, just state it as a "known fact", without any supporting evidence. (There was a specific name for this, but I've long since forgotten it). The coach also taught us to rejoice when an opponent stooped to this kind of fraudulent tactic -- it meant that their argument was very weak, they knew they were losing, and so they would try this kind of trickery. And even back in high school, we knew better than to put this kind of libelous statement in writing and publish it to hundreds of people!
RE: [Mpls] 'missing' CNIA funds
Most revealing to me about the CNIA discussion is how easy it is for people who were not elected as a part of our official democratic hierarchy or hired as a city employee under such a person can control a ton of money and there is really no accountability. In other words, individuals who are not elected representatives, but are part of non-profit organizations (not city employees or elected officials) have no real accountability in the NRP system. That certainly seems to be a Minneapolis city-wide issue to me. Russ Peterson St. Michael Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID Founder R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning "You can only fly if you stretch your wings." Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael 13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376 (763) 497-1003 phone fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Annie Young Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2001 1:06 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] 'missing' CNIA funds I believe I stated this before. IF all 81 neighborhoods and tahe 68 MCDA approved neighborhood organizations all hung their laundry out in from of this list and in turn the world we would have no time to discuss and look at Minneapolis issues which by and large have addressed citywide concerns, visions, changes and issues facing the entire city. I thought the CNIA-Chat e-list was setup so we could go in and read the details if we so choose. But personally, even though I am a neighbor to Central and I care that everything turns out to the best benefit for the neighborhood residents I've had it with these troubles and woes. I shuddre to think if the People of PHillips issues had beenon this list - it was bad enough being in the middle of it and I really didn't want the whole world to know our internal problems. Kind of like a relationship or marriage - what folks don't know goes on in the bedroom, all the better. Let's get back to Minneapolis complexities. Annie Young www.annieyoung.org Ward 6 - East Phillips in Minneapolis Citywide at-large Park Board Commissioner Working to build a sustainable community ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] NRP Accountability
I have to politely disagree with Mr. Kelland on his point. His presumption seems to be that because NRP folks are volunteers in the neighborhood, they are above the kind of thing that can happen with elected officials. This is pure bunk as anybody with broad experience in human nature knows. Voting is the right of accountability for each citizen. The NRP system surpasses that right as it is currently set up by setting up an additional layer of beauracracy that does not go through our elected representatives accountability. I would say that it is now easier for elected council members to skirt responsibility than it was before - therefore taking away accountability. And don't tell me that these neighborhood groups are duly elected - they are not. Only a few people ever really show up and support the system. It is probably more an extension of the DFL caucuses than anything else. And as we all know, many in the DFL are more interested in keeping people out than keeping them in. Look, I think grass roots participation is great. And I think many of the NRP groups and individuals do great work. I just don't understand why we have to create a huge bureaucratic system to do good work. People should be motivated of their own free will to do good things. The government shouldn't have to setup a system for volunteerism like this. I like a lot of NRP, but I also think at some levels it is a welfare system for volunteers that creates another huge layer of access denial to citizens without direct voter accountability. It is something that should be improved. Russ Peterson Saint Michael Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID Founder R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning You can only fly if you stretch your wings. Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael 13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376 (763) 497-1003 phone fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Fifth ward race
Perhaps we wouldn't even have to have this argument if we thought of Minneapolis as having multiple downtowns. Russ Peterson St. Michael Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID Founder R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning "You can only fly if you stretch your wings." Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael 13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376 (763) 497-1003 phone fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of David Brauer Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 11:03 AM To: Mpls list Subject: RE: [Mpls] Fifth ward race Carol writes: I get very tired of the old story about the "neighborhood" person sold out to the evil downtown developers. It is an easy, simple line that "neighborhood" people throw around in whisper campaigns to try to hurt incumbents. This works both ways; I also think incumbent-defenders unfairly erect a straw man of "neighborhood" people who want to pillage and sack downtown. Look, it's NOT downtown-bashing to criticize a mega-million Target Store subsidy (when the office towers would have been built for no public subsidy), or the desperate move of the Shubert Theater to create a mega-subsidized prefab entertainment zone on Block E, or the prospect of subsidizing City Center while the same owners try to skate on their Gaviidae loans (part of the previous decade's attempt at neighborhood uplift.) The ballpark is also on this list. These are legitimate things to criticize, and does not render said critic a "downtown basher." They, too, view downtown as an economic necessity and a cultural hot spot, albeit a more organic place better able to prosper with public investment limited to public infrastructure, private businesses built with private dollars, and a more laissez-faire attitude about culture that lets it spring up rather than directing it like a crazed traffic cop. This may be a vision you can pick apart, but "downtown-bashing" it is not. Having plunked Jackie Cherryhomes on the cover of the Twin Cities Reader in 1989, I can tell you she would not have been elected in the 5th supporting everything she does today. True, the 5th ward voters have re-elected her - perhaps their vision has changed with her. But I do think Natalie Johnson Lee is within her rights to question Jackie's evolution, without being branded as destructive. (Also, while I have heard the whisper campaigns Carol refers to, Ms. Lee is hardly whispering these days). David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Fun with parking ramps
Isn't the real question: "Why put all those parked cars in
the same location?" The answer is: Because it continues a
pattern of planning in Minneapolis which defines common
districts, ie Nicollet Mall: The Shopping District,
Marquette Avenue: The Business District; The Warehouse Area:
The Entertainment District; Hennepin Avenue: The Theater
District. Now Minneapolis is going to put in another huge
sports venue in the Warehouse Area. That area will
eventually become the Sports Entertainment District.
Why is this important? Because human beings love to order
things, unfortunately order of this type in city planning
can lead to chaos. Instead of approaching our city as a
complex organic structure where venues can exist in multiple
locations and there can be cross pollination, we continue to
push for these overly sanitized, clearly delineated
districts. Oh there are a few exceptions, but primarily
this one dimensional planning is what Minneapolis does. So
that's why there are all those cars in the same location at
one time. If we had scattered our ramps throughout the city
instead of lining them up like the Berlin Wall, we wouldn't
have such a problem. And if we had a more organic approach,
we'd be putting more housing directly into downtown in each
of these districts, which would in turn help create the
critical mass to sustain livability after the 9-5 working
hour.
Russell W. Peterson
St. Michael
Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID
Founder
R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N
Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning
"You can only fly if you stretch your wings."
Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael
13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast
Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376
(763) 497-1003 phone fax
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-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2001 5:17 PM
To: David Brauer
Cc: Mpls list
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Fun with parking ramps
The big ramps were funded in part with substantial federal
funds in a complex cost sharing formula. In addition, the
ramps were designed primarily as transit hubs, and were
designed for commuter traffic -- not the onslaught you'd see
at the end of a game. Ramps designed for that kind of
intermittent very high volume exit flow are excessively
expensive to build and an inefficient use of funds, yadda,
yadda, yadda. Hope this clears up part of the mystery. For
the rest call the city transportation dept -- they
operate the ramps.
"David Brauer" [EMAIL PROTECTED]@mnforum.org on
04/17/2001 03:17:13 PM
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "Mpls list" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc:
Subject: [Mpls] Fun with parking ramps
Went to the Wolves game on Sunday and encountered an
interesting flyer as I
was pulling into the Fifth Street TAD ramp (the middle of
the big 394-linked
suckers on the western edge of downtown).
The flyers, handed out by parking attendants, basically ask
Timberwolves
fans to go elsewhere to park before the game. As I can tell
you from
experience, all those Wolves fans exiting from the 7th and
5th street ramps
causes a tremendous logjam. I talked to a friend at the
Wolves who said the
long wait to get out is one of two perennial complaints fans
have (the other
is the Target Center food service).
I told him, "man, you must have some pull with the city
because you have
people at city-owned ramps, which produce revenue for the
city parking fund,
handing out fliers telling people to go to privately owned
ramps with their
parking money. I know you're a major tenant in our
city-owned building, but
boy, we are putting out for you!"
A couple of points:
1. The fliers do direct people to several other ramps: the
4th street TAD
ramp (publicly owned), but also the LaSalle Court, Dayton's,
and Rapid Park
ramps, which are privately owned. We are doing Wolves fans
(our downtown's
customers) a favor, but we're also helping these private
owners make cash at
our city parking fund's expense. (The Hawthorne
Transportation Center and
Hennepin 10th ramps are also listed, but I'm not sure who
owns those.)
I asked my Wolves source what the goal of the program was,
and he said to
get 1,000 to 2,000 parkers out of the 5th 7th street
ramps. At $6 a car,
if half of those people go to privately owned ramps, the
city's parking fund
loses $125,000 to $250,000 a year.
2. If 19,000 Wolves fans cause such commotion, what the heck
is going to
happen if a 40,000-seat ballpark is built on the Rapid Park
site? Massive
parking availability is supposed to be a strength of the
location, but if
we're already admitting it doesn't work for large events...
And of course, the other big question: who designed ram
RE: [Mpls] Pedestrians
There is a book out called, I think, Street Reclaiming. I
think written by an Australian author. His underlying
theory is that people need to claim the street in such a way
that cars believe it is a pedestrian environment that they
are driving through as opposed to a car thoroughfare that
people walk across. Some if his ideas including taking out
a street parking spot to put in table and chairs - kind of
extending the cafe into the street or visually narrowing the
street. Or painting large murals in the street or narrowing
the perception of the street with pedestrian items. Now
that I live in "no sidewalk land," I completely appreciate
what "kids playing in the street" does to the environment.
Because there are no sidewalks (nature paths galore
although) people use and kids play in the street all the
time. This has an amazing impact on cars. They move slowly
and carefully through this entire area.
I worked for a couple of years on speeding in our south
Minneapolis neighborhood, but the requirements of the city
are pretty strict, not very creative and quite onerous.
Even if you are able to get funding to make more extensive
improvements like speed humps or curb changes, getting the
overwhelming neighborhood to agree on a specific solution is
quite a different thing. This is something that I think is
going to take some real City Council leadership in order to
change the philosophy of street safety/environments and help
move solutions along more quickly to create better streets
in the city.
Russ Peterson
former Standish
now St. Michael
Russell W. Peterson, RA, CID
Founder
R U S S E L L P E T E R S O N D E S I G N
Architecture / Interior Design / Strategic Planning
"You can only fly if you stretch your wings."
Metro Minneapolis - Saint Michael
13715 Forty-Seventh Street Northeast
Saint Michael, Minnesota 55376
(763) 497-1003 phone fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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