T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 18 December 16, 2002
********************************************************** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * Affordable Housing: The Downside * Uptown Carolers Spread Anti-Shopping Gospel * Guthrie Will Pay More, Get Less of Riverfront Spot * Drug Use on the Rise at U of M * Wetlands Controversy Ends at Lake of the Isles Plus: Penny's dream, downtown's dangers, Biernat's education, and a 12-step program for sports addicts. ********************************************************** NORTH SIDE ACTIVISTS CHALLENGE CITY ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE North side community leaders last month asked the city to delay consideration of an affordable housing initiative they say will further concentrate poverty and crime in their neighborhoods. The proposal, which would decrease the size of buildable lots in the city by 30 percent, is designed to allow the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA) more flexibility in selling or developing condemned property, was approved by the Zoning and Planning Committee November 22. But, according to the Camden Community News (http://www.camdenews.org), North side residents were shut out of the public hearing process, and petitioned the council to delay the vote. Some 65 percent of the affected lots are located on the North side, where crime and poverty already are major issues. And though residents there support affordable housing initiatives in general, they say it should be spread throughout the city--not confined to struggling neighborhoods like McKinley, Hawthorne, Jordan, and Folwell. "These neighborhoods have the highest level of poverty, crime, and affordable house, and the fewest natural amenities," said McKinley Neighborhood director Nancy Beals. "The current segregation of the poor/low income in certain areas of the city would be continued, confirmed, and sanctioned for many years to come." The Community Development Operating Committee on November 25 voted to table the measure until a new Third Ward council member is elected. UPTOWN CAROLERS SPREAD THE ANTI-SHOPPING GOSPEL A group of anti-consumerist singers regaled shoppers at Calhoun Square and The Gap last week in the first of a series of holiday performances designed to counter the holiday shopping daze. GUTHRIE WILL GET LESS, PAY MORE FOR RIVERFRONT SPOT The City Council last month approved a renegotiated land deal with the Guthrie Theater that will cost the theater $1 million more for less land. DRUG USE ON THE RISE AT U OF M Drug use has increased among University of Minnesota students in the past three years, according to results of a survey released last week. ********************************************************** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. ©2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Equine consultant and correspondent: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox ******************************************************* Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ******************************************************* _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
