In Saint Paul, we have been looking at cuts to our Parks & Rec programs, some of which were restored by thoughtful city council members looking at the natural resources that make our city so beautiful and livable.
Randy Kelly looks at what is politically expedient (not unlike "Bush Boy" his predecessor, now an embarrassment to the entire state for his persecution of Kofi Annan, but I digress). Randy's "Street Beat" meetings are a way of pretending to care about what voters think, while he's been ignoring our voices adamantly in favor of his "pro-development" Chamber of Commerce friends.
Bread & circuses, I think they called this in ancient Greece, birthplace of democracy. If you will not give the voters what they want, then at least put on a good show, yes? To this end, Bob Fletcher's vampire face appeared on my t.v. screen this morning to warn us of the unexpected public safety cuts... yes, Saint Paul will feel the pinch of having less Homeland Security funding.
This misses the wider point, that our long term security as individuals, as communities and as true patriots is to protect our planet from self-imposed terrorism of pollution, environmental degradation and other forms of internal "rot." MY version of Homeland Security is knowing the water I drink is clean, with or without my having to buy a water filter; knowing the runoff from my lawn is not choking out the aquatic life of the Mississippi; and knowing that our city (and the earth) will be a livable place for our young people.
Traditional bottom-line economic developers needs to evaluate whether the long-term effects will be sustainable. Businesses, having to make a profit and not having to (yet) account for their deleterious effects on our cities and local environments, do not have incentives to do this alone. By electing thoughtful and future-oriented public servants (mayors, city councillors, etc.) we all gain without making our kids pay for their parents' gluttony of natural resources.
Cheers,
Cristy A. De La Cruz Highland Park resident No longer affiliated with any political party
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