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I'm a little confused about the discussion going on about the caves (in the media, not here). You'll note a quotation from Mayor Kelley (see below) that the city will spend whatever it takes to find and close up the holes. Then, he goes on to say, that public works will tell you "if you close the holes one day, they'll be open the next."
So - - the public policy question appears to be. Do we spend lots of money plugging holes, to make us feel as if we've done something, even if we know that in a few weeks/months/or years they'll just be open again.
Will we respond to this in a rational way that respects the lessons that have been learned over generations. Or will will we throw money at this problem that our public works experts tell us will eventually accomplish nothing.
If we lost three youths in an accident along the Mississippi, would be make an attempt to block off access to the river? (yes, the river is very different from the caves, but at the same time, not so different).
I'm NOT saying that nothing can or should be done or that some effort should be made to restrict access. I don't have the answers. However, its frustrating for me to watch as we often throw money at a problem - sometimes completely aware that our efforts are highly unlikely to succeed, but we do so anyway, just so that we can say that we did.
Comments or ideas about how the city should deal with this problem?
I'm eager to hear what other folks have to say.
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City grieves deaths, vows to close caves http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/8544737.htm BY BILL GARDNER
" One day after three adventurous teenagers died in a cave along the West Side bluffs, St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly vowed to try to keep others out of the caves.
"No matter what the cost is, we intend to find any holes today and close those up," Kelly said Wednesday. "
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Tim Erickson Hamline Midway [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-- ================================================= Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 [EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim =================================================
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