RE: [Mpls] McKinsey recommendations

2002-05-31 Thread Russell W Peterson
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]

[Mpls] Fishing Opener In The City Of Lakes

2002-05-10 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Crime in Phillips

2002-05-03 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Re: Litter on Interstates and Highways

2002-05-03 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Failing Schools, Total Quality Reviews, reaction

2002-04-30 Thread Russell W Peterson
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.

RE: [Mpls] Pedestrian Rights

2002-03-28 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] And the boondoggle turns

2002-03-06 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Was Orfield now draft Thoman

2002-03-06 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Guthrie Theater skyway-to-nowhere

2002-02-22 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Library needs

2002-02-15 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Skyway to nowhere

2002-02-08 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Skyway to nowhere

2002-02-08 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Coldwater Spring Press Release from MCWD

2002-02-06 Thread Russell W Peterson
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.

RE: [Mpls] Abstention fever

2002-02-06 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Re: Abstention fever

2002-02-03 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Library North Block

2002-01-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Form over function?

2002-01-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] City Budget Cuts

2002-01-16 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Lydia House Etc.

2002-01-14 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Lydia House Etc.

2002-01-12 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Lydia House Etc.

2002-01-12 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Parking Ramps

2001-12-28 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Library Site Selection

2001-12-21 Thread Russell W Peterson
). 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

RE: [Mpls] Boondoggle

2001-12-04 Thread Russell W Peterson
...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

RE: [Mpls] Stop the Dangerous New 40th Street Greenway

2001-12-03 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Twins breaking Metrodome contract

2001-12-01 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] PRAC hits the big time

2001-11-13 Thread Russell W Peterson
, 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

RE: [Mpls] School funding other issues

2001-11-12 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] baseball and politics

2001-11-03 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Strib shillin' for Sharon

2001-11-03 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Arts Ticket Vote Rybak

2001-11-02 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] A lesson in political spin...

2001-11-01 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] R.T. DEBUTS FIRST TV AD

2001-10-30 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

2001-10-19 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Bureau of Mines/ Camp Coldwater, any good ideas?

2001-10-04 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Trashy Subjects

2001-09-21 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Cyber Terrorism in the 2001 Election

2001-09-20 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Minneapolis ward results for mayor

2001-09-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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,

RE: [Mpls] No Endorsement

2001-09-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] No Endorsement

2001-09-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] We held the election?

2001-09-14 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] R.T. Rocks

2001-09-12 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Change of plans for today

2001-09-11 Thread Russell W Peterson
] 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

2001-09-11 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Legislature Mpls

2001-07-02 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Strib op-ed: Johnson taught students wrong lesson about contracts

2001-06-28 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Teaching Students The Wrong Lesson

2001-06-27 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Neighborhood Associations and Funding

2001-06-21 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] Neighborhood Associations and Funding

2001-06-20 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Mpls Office of Cultural Affairs criticized

2001-06-18 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] heresy

2001-06-18 Thread Russell W Peterson
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,

RE: [Mpls] Mpls Office of Cultural Affairs criticized

2001-06-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] TIF Thoughts

2001-06-13 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Mayor Sayles Belton supports council litter container proposal

2001-06-08 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] cynicism and defeatism

2001-06-07 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Comments on MCDA's financial projection

2001-06-04 Thread Russell W Peterson
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.

RE: [Mpls] dropouts

2001-05-30 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Minnehaha Creek Watershed)

2001-05-28 Thread Russell W Peterson
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 -

RE: [Mpls] Private schools, public issue

2001-05-28 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Minnehaha Creek Watershed) NO TRUST IN YOUR LEADERSHIP

2001-05-25 Thread Russell W Peterson
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:

RE: [Mpls] demonizing the schools TIF financing

2001-05-24 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] demonizing the schools TIF financing

2001-05-23 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Shreves: Let's make students criminals

2001-05-19 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

[Mpls] DFL Convention Observations

2001-05-08 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: Strib not Covering Park Board FT was [Mpls] Full time Park Board

2001-05-02 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Corporate citizens becoming an oxymoron in Mpls

2001-05-01 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] NRP Accountability

2001-04-24 Thread Russell W Peterson
ot 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

RE: [Mpls] 'missing' CNIA funds

2001-04-22 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] NRP Accountability

2001-04-22 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Fifth ward race

2001-04-20 Thread Russell W Peterson
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

RE: [Mpls] Fun with parking ramps

2001-04-17 Thread Russell W Peterson
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. Peterso

RE: [Mpls] Pedestrians

2001-04-11 Thread Russell W Peterson
re 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 / Strateg