Re: Mill City
I guess I'm lost. If the city does not fund schools, according to Ms. Collier, who does? I seriously want to know how it breaks down. Does the state or county fund public schools? If so, than why aren't urban schools as lavish as the suburban schools. Oh, and by the way, there is absolutely nothing admirable about a corporation that can't draw it's employees by offering a decent living wage, or that uses public tax dollars to increase it's profit margin. Especially when that same corporation pays its CEO an annual salary of tens of millions of dollars. A company that knows it has a city's leaders in its pocket to cover building expenses so it can use the saved dollars for publicity and tax write offs is anything but admirable. In fact, such a company is despicable. wade russell longfellow
Re: Personal attack on Cherryhomes
Carol Becker wrote: It sometimes seems that some folks believe that elected officials by virtue of their position don't even deserve basic respect. And when we treat elected officials like that, it allows us to depersonalize and dehumanize them, making them into some monolithic force instead of a group of folks, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, who are doing their best to better Minneapolis. All I'm asking for is that everyone treat everyone else with respect and decency. I argue, that higher levels of respect must be earned by people in positions of leadership. It is not the office one holds that makes the decision, but the individual. We can all respect the office and still hold the individuals accountable and criticize/praise their personal decisions. In fact, we need to. Are they doing their best to better Minneapolis? Let's see, fees are going up and services are being cut. Corporations are being funded and schools are being underfunded. etc.. If they legislate for corporations or other entities instead of families and citizens, they should be viewed as a monolithic force. I think we all have our own opinions about elected officers and their performance, and should express them. (Criticisms of their professional record are hardly personal, even if their performance record makes somebody sick. Calling someone ugly is a personal attack.) It's obvious that different people have different ideas about what kind of criticisms are personal or not. However, it comes with the territory. Elected officials know what they are opening themselves up to when they decide to run for public office. If they can't take the heat, they should get out of the kitchen! Wade Russell longfellow
Re: Grafitti Again
How about a public caning, like they do to graffiti vandals in Singapore? wade russell
Re: RE: Finance Director
I think it's terrific that issues have been raised about possible motives and agendas of the new finance director and those who appointed him. I wish him well with his new assignment, and I hope he does a fine job for the citizens of Mpls. But, if and when, Pat Born begins to broker a new deal for the twins or the vikings, or both, let's all refer to this discussion. Hopefully that won't happen, but if it does, I'd like to have a nice talk about integrity, honesty, motives and agendas. I guess we'll see. wade russell longfellow
Re: Finance Director
Mholm writes: The City Finance Director doesn't broker political deals... he's a City employee, and primarily responsible for providing financial advice and recommendations to the Mayor, the City Council and other Department heads. Decisions for or against using city subsidies for a sports stadium, a Target on the Mall, or a BlockE project rest with the Mayor and the City Council, and in-the-end with city voters. If our elected Council members or Mayor request his opinion on financing alternatives for such projects... that's his job! Wow! $110,.000 is sure a lot of money to earn per year for just giving financial advice and recommendations to city leaders when they request. Especially when they often don't follow the advice. In fact, Mr Moir resigned essentially because he was tired of rendering his professional advice and having the mayor and the city council disregard his opinions time and time again. Maybe Mr. Born was hired because the mayor and the city council will feel justified paying the $110,000 per year because they feel he shares their view about spending public taxes on private interests. It's nice to have "yes men" working for you, you see. wade russell longfellow
Re: Suburban fright? -- Not here.
Exactly! Belton should have made a stand against business extorting city gov. Instead her and the majority of our city council opened the flood gates, our services are going down and our taxes are going up. Public trash cans are being removed as trash is strewn about our community. We have to have public votes to better educate our kids, yet back room deals are cut to fund private businesses. wade russell
Re: More on Vouchers
PRIVATE SCHOOL using public tax dollars? PRIVATE BUSINESSES using public tax dollars? Supporters of funding private school with tax dollars are wrong plain and simple. The ever-increasing practice of corporations and other private entities stealing finances from the public is a threat to our capitalistic society. Fascism: ".the merging of state and business" This is exactly the direction this country is headed. We need to be very aware and stop it. wade russell
Re: Minikahda tax bill?
Isn't it interesting that politicians and the rich talk about responsibility and accountability when demanding social "welfare reform," but when we talk about corporate welfare reform or argue against more tax benefits for the rich, all of a sudden it's class warfare. Don't be fooled by the right-wing demagogue blowhards. It's about time most of our population starts fighting back in the class warfare corporations and the rich have been waging on Americans for decades. Wade Russell mpls
