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I'm afraid I hafta agree with Mitch. Unless every business person in St. Paul could get the same kind of deal from the City Council this thing smells bad.
This might be a bad idea and might even smell bad. However, it should be a bad idea or smell bad on its own merits.
I'm nervous about suggesting that the city can't get involved with one business, unless it gets involved with all of them. In fact, there may be times when this kind of intervention is necessary and appropriate. But, that doesn't mean that its always appropriate.
I can envision cases in which a private business provides a service that the city considers important to the quality of life in the city (such an argument COULD be made about Ruminator books) - in such a case, the city MIGHT want to "bail out" the company - for the long term good of a neighborhood or the entire city. BUT, in that case, we must be sure that something has been done to FIX the original problem and we must enter the deal with much fiscal scrutiny. In this case, a change in ownership or management MIGHT be a reasonable expectation.
In my opinion, its important to look at the details of this specific case and not make blanket judgements. I think that both Tom Goldstein and Mitch Berg have made those kinds of arguments (drawing different conclusions) - and I learned something from them.
I'd like to thank them for their contributions to the discussion.
Best wishes,
Tim Erickson Hamline Midway [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722
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