OK, as the resident rural dweller----20 acres in Forest Lake Township is, I
assume, rural---some thoughts. When I moved here in 1991, my preference
was to live in the City. The slight problem that I had was that I expected
to be able to live with my HORSES in the City (I'd been able to in other
cities). For those of you that know me--my horses afford me to opportunity
to stay sane---they really are cheaper and more effective than therapy. I
offered to purchase brownfields--there were several (still are) with
considerable "acreage" and I didn't need them cleaned up (horses don't care
if the grass tastes a little "off"). I've managed the neighbor problems,
the perception problems, the "odeur" problems and the trespassing on my
property to see the "wild animals" problems before. My horses are even used
to car backfires and gun shots, not to mention fireworks and wildly
gesticulating persons! However, my horses were specifically prohibited in
Minneapolis, and I was told, with great pride, that "they" had finally
removed, after great effort, the last hoofed animals in the City. When I
attempted to find "close in" property, quite frankly the cost was
prohibitive. Real Estate types told me at the time that for every mile "in"
from the junction of 35W and 35E, add $2,000 to the cost of the property. I
understand that this has since increased considerably. I value city
amenities, I value City diversity, I value City cultural opportunities. I
also value my critters, the wildlife that I am encouraging through pasture
management and habitat development, the minimal amount of light pollution
and the quiet at night. My neighbors were complaining about the noise of
coyotes and chickens at the same time that garbage noise issues downtown
were an issue---it appears to me that all of us must make tradeoffs. I
accept that I pay more in gas taxes in a month than many city dwellers do in
a year--and I've told my representatives that I am willing to shoulder a
greater burden for safe roads. I accept that my commute (without ramp
meters) is 2 hours each way per day, including dropping my daughter off at
Richard Green school for before and after school care. I accept that it is
more difficult for me to be active in her PTO at Banneker, but we make it
work---and that's more than many parents of other Banneker students are
willing to do. My daughter and I go to neighborhood meetings in every
neighborhood of the City to which we're invited, whenever we're invited
(after hours, we come as a team). I have never hesitated to take her
anywhere, at any time, with me. Safety has not been an issue--either
perceived or experienced. I have enrolled her in Minneapolis Public schools
because I believe in public schools, because I want her to learn from the
beginning about the many folks that she will be working and playing with
throughout her life, and because the Banneker staff made a huge, positive
impression on me that no other staff at the School Fair did. My daughter is
receiving an excellent education. She will, I hope, learn to accept the
best of a "rural" life and an "urban" life, and make choices in her life
that reflect opportunities and challenges of each. I am troubled when I
experience us Vs them---of any type. I hear in the rural areas that the
cities bleed them dry--I hear in the urban areas that rural types take
advantage of city jobs and earnings but give nothing but traffic and
pollution in return. I believe that we each have to contribute to our
places---our places of work, our places of residence, our places of play.
Identifying who or what is perceived to be the problem, and figuring out how
to fix "them" can not be the focus of my limited resources of time and
energy; making things better is what must count and where I must put maximum
efforts- .
susan young, the Minneapolis Trash Lady
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