Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ Apologies for cross-postings.
If you're interested in weighing in on whether or not St. Paul should have a charter amendment to prohibit public funding of a major league stadium, here's your chance. Elizabeth Dickinson West Side St. Paul Folks: CITIZEN COMMENT INCLUDED.... Just a reminder that the St. Paul Charter Commission will meet on Monday, March 15 at 4:30 PM in Room 220 of city hall. The ad hoc committee report on the STADIUM TAX BAN charter amendment I have proposed is on the agenda. The commission can adopt the committee report opposing the amendment, hold the item over, reject the report, consider other suggestions etc. The report comes up under item 5. The CITIZEN COMMENT is item 3. The chair may decide to take comment on item 5 under public comment or defer it when that item comes up. Those who wish to speak should address the commission under CITIZEN COMMENT unless the chair advises otherwise. This meeting will be the first opportunity at an official city meeting to give testimony on the record. I hope everyone will take advantage of this Monday meeting to make the case for the citizens to have a real policy choice on the November 2004 ballot to prohibit city taxation for major league stadiums in St. Paul. There is nothing more basic in America than the citizens having the power to decide questions on taxation...remember the Boston Tea Party, the Whiskey Rebellion, Prop 13 etc. I reject the argument that there is no role for the city charter in this matter. The Home Rule City has a Broad Grant of Authority from the Legislature to make more restrictive provisions than state law and that is what this amendment proposes. The half billion dollars Carl pholad wants is the People's money! That alone should be enough to get the matter on the ballot, but there are those who persuaded that our role as citizens is to just shut up and pay the tax. We need to open their eyes, at least as widely as they want open our wallets for the Billionaire League of Professional Sports Team Owners. Greg Copeland St. Paul Charter Commissioner 651-776-7894 _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
