It is my understanding that the editorial writer, Mark Yost, has made some really inflamatory comments to council members and staffers that give the impression of "Gotcha" journalism. Anyone else heard about this? Actually, just who is this guy and were did he come from? He seems to be taking the 'angry man' approach, the 'everything others are doing must be suspect' approach. I would love to get other people's reaction. All-in-all he seems to be a negative on the PP, not a real addition.
Jeanne Weigum, Dickerman Park supporter (Dickerman Park was awarded $25,000 from these funds, as reported in the PP as a big PLUS last Wednesday in their front page metro above the fold article about the Dickerman family also contributing to the renovation of the park.) Mike Fratto wrote: > > I was wondering when someone would post on this subject. My > question is why is this issue fodder for the Pioneer Press to look > into at this time? the issue has been around since its inception. > > With all the comments about the Mayor and his relationship with the > Council members and his desire to use these funds for the flood > wall, could it be that Toni Coleman did the story as a result of the > Mayors interest in using the money? I don't want to sound cynical > of our press but this paper has become a conservative paper, even to > the point where columnists are writing editorials disguised as > columns. > > Mike Fratto > Payne Phalen > > >>> "Dennis Tester" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 03/22/2005 1:48:40 PM > >>> > > LOL > Oh yes, our city council is so ethical. > > Council cash called slush fund > STAR component is criticized, but members say neighborhoods > benefit > > BY TONI COLEMAN > Pioneer Press > > In 1997, the St. Paul City Council took some leftover sales tax > money from > the city's STAR program and split it equally to distribute as each > of the > seven council members saw fit. > > The city calls it the Neighborhood Investment Initiative program; > critics > call it a slush fund. > > Up until the council created the program, anyone who had a > brick-and-mortar > improvement idea for St. Paul - from a playground to a neighborhood > coffee > shop - could apply to the city's STAR (Sales Tax Revitalization) > program, > which over the past decade has pumped more than $60 million into > improvement > projects throughout the city via a half-percent sales tax. Then, a > citizens > board would review the application and make a recommendation to the > City > Council. > > Now, groups have another option and a way to circumvent the > elaborate, > months-long review process, and that's raising concerns. > > To date, the council has designated more than $4 million for > members to > distribute to neighborhood groups, businesses and city departments > that can > skip the regular vetting process. There is no set annual amount for > council > members, and the allocations almost always in the form of grants > have varied > widely year to year. > > link: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/11188365.htm > > While Mayor Kelly has to convince people to win support, I guess > the city > council just buys it. > > Dennis Tester > Mac-Groveland > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "CRISTY DELACRUZ" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 12:43 PM > Subject: [StPaul] Thank you for standing up > > > > > Council Member Helgen, > > > > Thank you (and others) for standing up against blatant abuses of > power by > > Mayor Kelly. It is high time the citizens had a leader who they > can trust > > and will represent them in the most honest and ethical manner. I > > > appreciate what you and others have done to make the process of > > policy-making more transparent and less about Kelly's bullying of > council > > members and their constituents. > > > > Cristy > > > > P.S. I think it was well worth it to have worked on your > campaign! Keep up > > the good work. > > > > * * * * * * * * * * * > > Cristy A. De La Cruz > > Highland Park > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > > JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: > > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ > > ------------------------------------------------- > > POST MESSAGES HERE: [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/ > > > > > > -- > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.3 - Release Date: > 3/15/2005 > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ > ------------------------------------------------- > POST MESSAGES HERE: [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/ > > ------------------------------------------------- > JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ > ------------------------------------------------- > POST MESSAGES HERE: [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/ -- Jeanne Weigum 651-646-3005 fax 651-646-0142 ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [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/
