A reintroduction. I'm Pat, father of Jacob, a junior at Central, and Kevin, a 19 year traveling in Chiapas, Mexico, checking out the Zapatistas. I'm married to Rachel Blank, a special education teacher, and I'm a civil engineer with the City of St. Paul. I used to be on the board of directors for Camp duNord for six years, a YMCA family camp, and I used to be on the board of managers for Capitol Region Watershed District for the first year of its existence. I then served on its citizen advisory committee. I'm a DFLer, participating in most caucuses and various conventions over the years. I've been a resident of St. Paul since 1968 and live in ward two. And I help clean parks and like to tutor math.
At times I've been known to get a bit fanatical, uncompromising, on the negative side, about Chris Coleman, my former councilmember, and now candidate for mayor.
But hey, its only because, one, he told the council and any one watching it that I didn't keep my promise when he knew perfectly well I did; two, he lied to my neighbors during a council meeting; and three, when my wife and I called him on it, the letter ended up in my boss' hands, in a blatant attempt of intimidation. The first can be confirmed by the community organizer, the second was confirmed in conversation with the city engineer, later to be confirmed again in a letter and sworn deposition by the same person, and the third is a matter of record in personnel files. In the same file you can find emails from Coleman's office wondering when they are going to take care of me as well as a written apology to my family and I from the Public Works director, a few years later, for letting Coleman's intimidation work. So, again that's my explanation for seeming (well, actually, I am) somewhat rabid, strongly, about Chris.
One politician being bullied by another politician doesn't generate a lot of sympathy on my part. I think it comes with the territory. But I agree with Lee Helgen that it would be better if our mayor was more persuasive using an argument in dialogue. And as to why the mayor would threaten other legislation that would benefit St. Paul, its sounds so stupid that I'm wishing it was reported wrong. Back to Chris for a bit (see?) I would hope that a politician bullying a constituent and their family would draw some harsh reaction from Lee also. Same with those 'uncommitted labor' delegates when they look at what can be done to a fellow union member who happens to work for the city.
On the issue of the dike around Holman field, I hope to learn more about that and other river front issues when I go to that meeting tonight at Harriet Island. One of the things that bothers me about the rhetoric is the amount of flooding that people claim will happen when its built. It's my understanding that the last modeling process showed it to be about an inch or so increase and even more final that the modeling method and results were approved by the DNR. Also I think the 6 inches of increased river level available for flooding, on a regulator basis, was being used by other past, present and future projects that the City wants, as well as the proposed dike. I would think that the issue of expansion of services, and the detrimental impact associated with that, would be something that could and should be fought, and concentrated on. And I wonder if the expansion of services is more than the increased use simply because its not flooded every once in a while? On the flip side, if increased flooding is not an issue and isn't going to happen, why can't they come out and talk about that and explain clearly why it isn't going to happen?
By the way, the ten largest floods in the last 100 + years of records all happened during the last 50 years. What's changing?
As for other local issues, and in general as a continuation of the reintroduction, I'm looking forward to the smoking ban, and strongly believe that it will greatly impact, positively, the health of workers in the service industry; I have a difficult time supporting $44 million for further construction on Ayd Mill Road when we are cutting back public / mass transit (yes, I know the funding sources are different, but I still want the priority to be more evident than it is); I'm voting for Ortega for mayor at the city convention because I believe he is more honest and direct in his answers and at the general election because his progressive stance is more in line with mine; and I think the St. Paul schools did a wonderful job with my children (Webster, Ramsey, Central) and would hate to think that other children won't get as good service as mine did.
I generally just read on this site (or bitch about ..... ) But I would like to say thanks to all those who contribute to my learning process. I hope no one ever thinks they talk too much. I find it extremely valuable. Thanks again.
Pat Byrne
St. Clair and Lexington Parkway Neighborhood.
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