What a breath of fresh air... thanks to Council President (and my councilmember) Kathy Lantry for writing the below, and to Councilmembers Thune and Helgen for signing on to it. For myself, I am greatly frustrated by increasing fees (including right-of-way assessments) while the Mayor says he's not raising taxes (tomayto, tomahto), and the Mayor's contention that the City doesn't have enough money to replace retiring police or firefighters, or adequately staff our 911 center (among other priorities), but somehow we have money to pay for a levee at Holman Field, of all things. And, of course, the list goes on.
It's good to see Councilmembers standing firm in their polite and appropriate insistence that the Mayor work with, not over, the legislative branch of our city government. Too bad that the below reasoned analysis is not more common in the executive branch of our City government... or at the Pioneer Press. Erin Stojan Dayton's Bluff, Ward 7 http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/opinion/10509086.htm Posted on Tue, Dec. 28, 2004, Pioneer Press Council's disagreements with mayor are about policy, not spite KATHY LANTRY It's apparent from the assertions in the Pioneer Press editorial on recent city budget decisions the Pioneer Press just didn't do its homework ("City Council playing politics," Dec. 19). On Dec. 15, the St. Paul City Council put money from the Public Works budget into a contingency fund. Contingency accounts are set up so the council can monitor how the money is spent. This doesn't mean that the council has removed money from the budget. ------------------------------------------ Erin Stojan Dayton's Bluff, Ward 7 --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Dress up your holiday email, Hollywood style. Learn more. _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ 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/
