Today's Pioneer Press editorial is somehow using the future departure of stem cell researcher, Dr. Catherine Verfaillie as reason to again attack the Saint Paul City Council. I think this is a real stretch. The Paper's vendetta against the "Gang of Four" and Eastside teeter-totters has lost touch with what is sound and prudent public policy.
I think the debate which is really taking place is one of "development vs. management" for the city. The Pioneer Press along with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and those city officials who were successfully elected with the help of big business funding, are strongly allied for new development... at any cost. In the case of some of our politicians this may even mean a step-up to higher office. Unfortunately this is often at the expense of residents of Saint Paul. I really can't remember an example when the PP or CC didn't support any kind of development, unless it was for an even bigger one. Our community councils too often are put on the defensive in order to try to protect what they like and want to save in their neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong. I'm not anti-development, after all I've been a developer for over 30 years. But when we spend both private and public dollars to improve our city, we shouldn't tear down and start over 20 years later. I can't help but mention the Norm Coleman era for our city. He brought his circus to town, set up his tent and almost everyone had a good time. Then the circus left town and were left with unsustainable new development. This becomes more apparent every year. Now the Pioneer Press cites the need to solve our 25% vacancy rate. This of course translates into a greatly reduced tax base. They don't however seem to realize those same development policies they supported under Coleman and since then, have been a substantial cause of the problem. Good public management doesn't mean stagnant development. It just means we should not destroy the good with the bad. Rather we need to build on the good (often this means infill) by retaining what can't be replaced in our community. We should then always look to get a greater return for our investment of time and money we do make. This is good management and good development is just part of the bigger picture. John Mannillo Downtown and Highland Park _____________________________________________ 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/
