Let's try to deal with the real issues. I am concerned with the development of the light rail corridor. I will respond to your charges later.
The city needs more development in the corridor. The Klodt development gives an opportunity to have this needed development. I hear all about the needs to have transit. We must then allow the development of density along the corridor. The Klodt development is one of several that will be responding. This development along with the others can be oriented to transit and eventually to a bicycle trail replacing the Railroad tracks! Concentrating on the election donations takes away from the most important issue: the development of the corridor. I believe the density of the Klodt development is good. I am not commenting on the design. I would like to note that several commentators have suggested opposition to the R-5 zoning, which I believe is consistent with the planning study of the area. I would appreciate hearing from Mr. Brauer his views on development in the Hiawatha corridor. ----- Original Message ----- From: David Brauer<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2005 3:45 PM Subject: RE: [Mpls] Hiawatha Flats Tony Scallon writes: > We also should drop the innuendo about campaign donations. This only divides the > community. I'm sympathetic to the concerns about reckless innuendo, but I don't think that's the case in this particular example. A developer gave 10 grand to an effort that was largely concentrated on a couple of key races, and when that developer's project came up for a vote on the Planning Commission, one key beneficiary of the donation was the only one to vote for it. That's more than just an inconvenient array of facts. As a community, we need to be sensitive to reckless division, but at the same time we should not sweep suspicious incidents such as this one under the rug. I think Carol should have recused herself (and please don't use the "independent" PAC expenditure as a rationale - it may not have been legally coordinated, but it was clearly intended to influence her race, and the contribution was public before the vote, I believe). This isn't about reform-versus-incumbents. I did not personally approve of the park reform effort taking 10 grand from Billy Weisman, but Weisman's project happened in the past - there was no "live" project up for a vote. If and when Weisman was to introduce a similar project, and a key beneficiary of his largesse was to vote for it, I'd have exactly the same objection. Let's elevate our standards enough to acknowledge the problem with this, and seek ways to solve it. Voluntary recusal would be a great start. David Brauer Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules<http://www.e-democracy.org/rules>. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html<http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html> For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract<http://e-democracy.org/mninteract> ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls<http://e-democracy.org/mpls> REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
