[Mpls] Living wage policy for Minneapolis

[Mark Hanson]

Nikki Carlson wrote:

A living wage policy for Minneapolis:
 
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/10/07_scheckt_wage/
 
Ostrow: is supportive
Zerby: is supportive
 
Progressive MN: supports it, is pushing it
Mpls Central Labor Union: supports it, is pushing it
several faith organizations: support it
 
McLaughlin: fully supports it
Rybak: isn't sure...
 
What's the deal?
 
**

Nikki, legitimate questions about the new policy were cited in the story.

Does your 'what's the deal' comment indicate that because other individuals and 
groups support the new policy, Mayor Rybak needs to fall in line?

Re: Council President Ostrow, I didn't see his unqualified endorsement of the 
policy in the story that was attached. Here's what the story says:  
Council President Paul Ostrow says he supports the concept but isn't sure he 
supports the entire ordinance. He says council members need to be careful that 
they don't harm economic growth within the city. 

"If there are provisions that might impact development potential in certain 
parts of our city where our constituents are really advocating for 
redevelopment, we need to be straight and honest about that," Ostrow said. "I 
think we need to make improvements in the ordinance but it's important that 
those choices are out there in front for people."

In my capitalist mind, it raises a question about the role of government 
(again).  Should the City of Minneapolis be in the business of engaging 
reputable vendors who will provide high quality goods and services for the best 
possible price, or should the city be trying to remedy a serious social problem 
through vendor micro-management? 

For the record, I'm gay, and I have comparable questions about monitoring a 
vendor's employee benefit programs as they relate to domestic partners.

At the risk of opening an enormous can of worms, this policy would have 
prevented the city of Minneapolis from making agreements with companies like 
Northwest Airlines, at least when I worked there before the big layoffs in the 
fall of 2001.  Entry level clerical workers, represented by IAM, were not paid 
at the rates cited in the story.  Granted, that was 4 years ago, but given the 
state of the industry, I doubt those rates have significantly changed.

I'm not defending low rates of pay for anybody - I have no idea how adults 
survive on $10.00 an hour.  But, I don't know that it's the city's role to turn 
that around.  Vendors who might otherwise be very good may not be willing to 
open up their books and comply with this proposal.

A person's rate of pay and benefits, within statutory boundaries, is still a 
matter of negotiation between the employer and employee (who might be 
represented by a bargaining group). That's called offer and acceptance, and 
that's how people form contracts.  It's hard for me to see how a client of the 
employer should have a hand in that negotiation.

Pondering difficult questions in Prospect Park
Mark Hanson





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[Mpls] EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAYOUTS POST #4

[Michellehill64]

EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAY-OUTS CONTINUED:
 
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $24,000.00; NRRC(?) $25,000.00; CPED 
$107,150.00; Lucille’s Kitchen; New Direction Youth Ministry (For Hockey) 
$8,000.00; Oasis/AGAPE $12,500.00; Oasis $12,500.00; Family Support Program 
$12,500.00; 
Urban Ventures/Opportunity Kitchen $250,000.00; Pilot City $90,000.00; 
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $175,000.00; North Community High School 
$125,000.00; Siyeza, Inc(?) $184,000.00; Summit OIC $134,000.00; Sumner 
Field/Heritage 
Park Housing $133,000.00; MAD DADS $75,000.00; Quest for Excellence $15,750.00; 
Sabathani Community Center, Inc $98,000.00; North Coaliation(?) $17,700.00; 
Northside Initiative $1,000,000.00; Weed and Seed, North $100,000.00; West 
Broadway Façade Program $50,000.00; American Indian OIC-Nursing Asst. Program 
$135,000.00; Antique Minnesota Reuse Center $1,050,000.00; Antique Minnesota 
Reuse 
Center $250,000.00; Bloomington-Lake Redevelopment-Sherman Assoc. $250,000.00; 
CCHT-The Wellstone $50,000.00; Centro, Inc(?) $100,000.00; City-County 
Federal Credit Union $25,000.00; MCDA Rehabilitation Coliseum $300,000.00.
 
 
The report alleges that 86% of funding for the North area was received by 
White people. With no disrespect to the recipients, I am now asking how the 
monies given created jobs in the impoverished communities? Why was so much 
money 
given to McCormick Baron for Heritage Park (the old Northside projects) when 
there was federal monies paid out in the lawsuit to rebuild in that area? Who 
is 
the person, on the Civil Rights Board, that received Empowerment Zone monies? 
I was told the amount that person received, $200,000.00, but not the name of 
the individual. Are any of the listed business “non-profit?” How can a citizen 
get a copy of the proposal used to get the Empowerment Zone funding from the 
federal government? How many organizations on the list, who received funds, 
have ties to certain city council members?  I think these are questions for the 
federal government or perhaps the FBI.
 
A special thanks for the emails acknowleging my past post regarding the 
Empowerment Zone funding. It was because of those post that I was given a copy 
of 
the Civil Rights Commission Report.
  
Michelle Hill
 
Cleveland
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[Mpls] Somali Justice Advocacy Center

[omar jamal]

Omar Jamal Director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center

The Executive Director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center Mr. Omar Jamal 
will address about the “Somalis in Minnesota post 9/11” on Thursday October 
20th 2005 at the Humanists of Minnesota at 900 Mount Curve Avenue Minneapolis 
MN, Chalice Room down stairs.

schedule:Social Time: 6:45 - 7:30 PMFirst Unitarian SocietyProgram: 7:30 - 
8:30Chalice Room - DownstairsQ & A: 8:30 - 9:00900 Mount Curve AveMinneapolis, 
MN 55403

 

 


 

October 19, 2005 St Paul, Minnesota…. Thousands of Somali refugees have settled 
in the Twin Cities since Somalia's civil war erupted in 1991. Minneapolis-St. 
Paul has become the de facto "capital" of the Somali community in North America.

Mr. Omar Jamal will speak about the change the community went through after 
9/11. Some of the main reasons the community settled in the Midwest were job 
market and services for families; however, soon after 9/11 all hopes vanished 
and fear, detention and FBI interrogation become very common. 

Mr. Jamal will focus on the high spirit of the Somali community being most 
recent immigrants in the United States in an attempt to accomplish the American 
Dream, yet without any of their making, get caught up in the terrorist war



-
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Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Andy Driscoll]

What claptrap. Restaurants are opening and closing all the time and we have
more restaurants than we could possibly support in this metro area in any
event. For most good restaurants, the smoking ban has boosted business.
Alcohol sales dip when smokers can't smoke. Alcohol sales slumps in bars is
hardly something to cry about.

Moreover, a quick check of the economic barometers will reveal that all
business everywhere is down. The economy is back in a slump. Jobs are scarce
- and getting more scarce as time goes on. When all this happens you can
watch a geometric increase in what are already pockets of poverty in the
shadows of affluence in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Andy Driscoll
Saint Paul
--
"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
‹ Plato

 "Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing
is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity."
‹ Lord Acton



on 10/19/05 6:39 PM, Dan McGrath wrote:

> Hasn't anyone considered that restaurants, and bars may be closing due to
> the gigantic drop in patronage following the March 31st implementation of
> the Minneapolis and Hennepin County smoking bans? Since the ban(s) took
> effect, 40 bars and several (don't have the exact number) restaurants in
> Minneapolis have closed. My favorite pub (Molly Quinn's) is probably closing
> in a couple weeks. The owner has already laid off all staff, and cut back to
> 7 hours a day. Many owners have tried to combat the drop in business with
> nice new patios, but are finding that that only slightly mitigates the
> losses. Now that winter is upon us, we are likely to see another surge of
> closings. 1400 jobs have already been lost in the hospitality industry, and
> that doesn't even account for the cuts in hours for those hospitality
> employees who have managed to keep their jobs.
> 
> I've been watching this discussion for a while now, wondering if anyone
> would draw a link to the smoking ban. To my chagrin, listers seem to prefer
> not to consider that possibility, and instead turn to ideas about local
> ownership, chain vs. small small business operation, et-c, ignoring the
> obvious. Chain operations are more likely to be able to weather the storm,
> as they can afford losses until the smaller competitors have been killed
> off. Once the number of bars and resturants has been sufficiently decimated,
> the big boys who held on will probably begin turning profits again.
> 
> Who benefits from a smoking ban in Minneapolis? Large, rich corporations:
> Chain operators from out of state; Giant pharmaceutical companies (whose
> addictive products cost twice what tobacco does)..
> 
> Who suffers under it? Small, local business owners, working stiffs in the
> hospitality industry (ironically, the very people the bans are ostensibly in
> place to protect), and everyone who has the guts to make their own
> decisions.
> 
> The price of progress, right? My own elected city representative has been
> heard to say, "bowlers and smokers are expendable" Seems to be a common
> attitude among the "progressive" elite.
> 
> Dan McGrath
> Longfellow
> http://www.shegstad.us
> 
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[Mpls] EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAYOUTS POST #3

[Michellehill64]

EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAY-OUTS CONTINUED:
 
Franklin Avenue Safety Center (Amer. Indian NDC) $150,000.00; Franklin Bakery 
(Amer. Indian NDC) $300,000.00; Franklin Library $25,000.00; Hope CC, Central 
CHT, & Franklin Av. Dev. $180,000.00; Central Comm. Housing Trust of Mpls 
$170,000.00; METP $210,000.00; CPED $222,850.00; Hope Community Court 
$80,000.00; 
West Side Comm. Health Services $100,000.00; Urban Ventures Leadership 
Foundation $75,000.00; Little Earth of United Tribes Housing Corp. $500,000.00; 
Whittier CDC $20,000.00; Whittier CDC $25,000.00; MCDA/CPED and Brighton 
Development $200,000.00; LaFamilia Guidance Center $15,000.00; LaFamilia 
Guidance 
Center $20,000.00; American Indian Housing  $400,000.00; MCCD-Lake Street 
Business 
Survey $15,000.00; Midtown Exchange-PPL $133,000.00; Green Institute 
$136,000.00; Neighborhood Development Center $500,500.00; MN Renaissance 
Initiative 
$20,000.00; Mobe Group, Inc(?) $100,000.00; Quest for Excellence $15,750.00; 
Somali Community of MN, Inc. $125,000.00; Urban Village-MCDA $250,000.00; 
Powderhorn Residents Group $500,000.00; YWCA Abbott NW Childcare Center 
$1,379,000.00; 
YWCA Children’s Center Renovation $150,000.00; Hmong American MAA, Inc. 
$150,000.00; HAMAA $25,000.00; Hollywood Studio of Dance $31,000.00; The 
Jeremiah 
Program(?) $400,000.00; Jordan Area Community Council $40,000.00; Juxtaposition 
Arts, Inc $200,000.00; KMOJ $25,00.00;   



Michelle Hill

Cleveland
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[Mpls] R.T.'s lack of movement

[Barbara Lickness]

And oddly Mr. Blackshaw while you are chastising Peter McLaughlin you and your 
candidate remain silent on the fact that the Police Community Relations 
Coalition announced today at a press conference held in front of the Ancient 
Trader's Market that they have called the Chicago office of the Federal 
Department of Justice to ask that the Minneapolis Police Department be placed 
in receivership. In other words, they want a consent decree. A budget busting 
venture for the City of Minneapolis. This coalition is a who's who of every 
leader in the communities of color and other disenfranchised communities that 
have existed in the last 20 years in this city. To watch the leaders of these 
various communities being blown off by this cities mayor is very painful and 
shameful. Especially when this all could have a very different outcome. The 
communities representatives, the Minneapolis Police Department and the City 
Council all mediated in good faith and wanted the approved Memorandum of
 Agreement implemented. It did not happen in a two year period and no one at 
the top is taking responsibility for it. That is an abdication of leadership. 
 
That news made me a 15 year community activist cry today. There are so many 
people that have worked very very hard over the past 15 years to build strong 
partnerships with the police department, including the people that are members 
of the Police Community Relations Coalition. 
 
To think that we face the very real potential of those relationships being 
destroyed is utterly unconscionable to me. 
 
Barb Licknesss
Whittier 




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the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
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[Mpls] McLaughlin's desperate moves

[BLACKSHAWJ]

Desperation has really started to set in with Commissioner  McLaughlin.  He 
no longer simply distorts Mayor Rybak's record, he now  tells complete 
falsehoods. Tonight Commissioner McLaughlin told a Radio Rey  audience that 
Mayor 
Rybak did not support the separation of the police and  Immigration Service in 
dealing with immigrant communities.  Well, nothing  can be further than the 
truth.  Mayor Rybak has been a passionate and  vocal advocate for the 
separation 
and has spent countless hours in  churches, at community meetings and inside 
City Hall working  to maintain the separation.  
 
Does Commissioner McLaughlin really think this kind of politics is a  winning 
strategy? 
 
John Blackshaw
Rybak Campaign Manager
Linden Hills 
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Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Michael Thompson]

- Original Message - 
From: "Becca Vargo Daggett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

I'm generally sorry for the bars that are negatively affected by the 
broader societal shift away from allowing smoking in indoor public 
places. But the idea that the Olive Garden might have closed because 
people couldn't smoke there any longer is absurd.


Of  course you find it absurb to find it anything else would mean 
that the smoking ban proponents inability to make decisions in their own 
best interests (by staying out of smoking establishments) actually cost 
people their jobs. But deep down I'm sure they're very thankful, because 
they're healthier, thanks to people like you. What's a few waitresses and 
bar backs, really, anyway, when their jobs were ruining their health? I'm 
sure they'll find something else.


Mike Thompson
Windom 



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[Mpls] Smart Libraries: Cyber Campaign Release!

[[EMAIL PROTECTED]]

Samantha Smart for Minneapolis Library Board
Cyber-Campaign
Breaking News!!!
please pass on widely!


AFSCME Council 5 has voted to endorse Samantha Smart as a candidate for the 
Minneapolis Library Board.  This union representing library workers felt that 
Smart expresses a platform that is closely aligned with the interests of 
workers in the library system, as well as the vital needs of Minneapolis 
communities for open and free access to libraries.  Smart has consistently 
proposed a significant re-structuring of the income stream for the system in 
order to open libraries full time, and has worked tirelessly in her own 
community to keep library staff employed even after the budget cuts of 2003.  
AFSCME Council 5 feels that Samantha Smart will make an excellent Trustee of 
the Minneapolis Public Library system.


Samantha Smart
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Smart libraries are OPEN libraries!
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RE: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Michael Atherton]

 
Steve Nelson wrote:

> Before blaming the smoking ban I would look to the long term economic 
> decision made by the current administration and the fact that 
> they have literally drained the most of the middle class wealth.  
> How many meals a day do the wealthy eat? I think the term "fat cat" 
> refers to their bank accounts and not their waist lines.  Add to that 
> the cost of fuel and the rumors of high heating costs this winter and 
> I think you will find the true culprit behind the sluggish business.
> 
> The time has come to stop whining about taxes and start 
> equalizing the percentage of disposable income.

Yea and what about land reform?  I think that I deserve
a forced time-share in one of those opulent vacation
homes on the North Shore.

You want whining about taxes:  I'm really sick of 20% property 
taxes increases to pay for pension mismanagement subsidizing
middle-class retirees.  Why should I being paying so that
people in their 70s can take month long vacation cruises?
I'm sick of the middle-class, I think that we can all learn
a lesson from the USSR and eliminate the upper and middle
classes and all live in poverty together!  Equal incomes
for all!  God bless Minneapolis.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park







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[Mpls] EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAY OUTS POST #2

[Michellehill64]

EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAY-OUTS CONTINUED:
 
Barbara’s Salon $5,000.00; Bassett Creek Eco-Industrial Study $25,000.00; 
Harrison Neighborhood Center $25,000.00; Phil Greenberg(?) $35,000.00; MPLS 
Public School $175,000.00; CCHT(Ripley Gardens) $100,000.00; Redeemer Center 
For 
Life $100,000.00; El-Amin Enterprises $100,000.00; Urban Strategies(Harrison 
Employement & Training) $39,000.00; Harrison Youth Employment $25,000.00; 
Harvest 
Preparatory School $25,000.00; Hawthorne Homesteading Program $200,000.00; 
Heritage Park-McCormick Baron $1,425,000.00; McCormick Baron-Heritage Park 
$980,000.00; Heritage Park-MCDA $200,000.00; Heritage Park-MCDA $725,000.00; 
Heritage Park-McCormick Baron $420,000.00; Heritage Park-MCDA/CPED $500,000.00; 
Heritage Park-McCormick Baron $420,000.00; Heritage Park-Urban-Strategies 
$45,000.00; Heritage Park-McCormick Baron $200,000.00; 
 
 
 
Michelle Hill
 
 
Cleveland
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[Mpls] EMPOWERMENT ZONE PAY OUTS POST #1

[Michellehill64]

Many of you know how often I talk about the Empowerment Zone Funding, 
sometimes tirelessly, and I have constantly asked for a list of who benefited 
from 
the funding. I just received a copy of the Civil Right Commission Report. 
Apparently someone filed a complaint alleging discrimination in issuing the 
funds, 
which led to an investigation from the Civil Rights Commission. In fact, I’m 
told that someone on the Civil Rights Board received Empowerment Zone Funding, 
is that a conflict of interest? Below is the start of the list, and amounts 
paid out from a fund that was supposed to help “impoverished areas.” I will 
have 
to send it in 4 post between to night and tomorrow morning, so please bear 
with me.
 
AccessAbility, Inc. $14,000.00; Achieve!Mpls $150,000.00; Achieve!Mpls 
$75,000.00; Achieve!Mpls $30,000.00; ACORN $30,000.00; African Credit 
$30,000.00; 
Homeownership Center $285,000.00; MCCD $350,000.00; NDC $200,000.00; MCCD 
$425,000.00; NDC #375, 000.00; Women Venture $150,000.00; METP(Close the Gap) 
$500,000,00; METP(Construction Training) $100,000.00; METP(net) $400,000.00; 
MPHA(Homeownership Program) $133,000.00; NDCAD $16,938.00; Project For Pride in 
Living $30,000.00; Small Business Association $25,000.00; GMHC(Smart Commute) 
$55,000.00; METP(Step Up Program) $200,000.00; We Win Institute $12,000.00; 
MPLS 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS $334,260.00; agape Child Development Center $300,000.00; 
Architect & Contractor Services $100,000.00; 



Michelle Hill
Cleveland
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Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Steve Nelson]

Before blaming the smoking ban I would look to the long term ecomonic 
decision made by the current administration and the fact that they have 
literally drained the most of the middle class wealth.  How many meals a day 
do the wealthy eat? I think the term "fat cat" refers to their bank accounts 
and not their waist lines.  Add to that the cost of fuel and the rumors of 
high heating costs this winter and I think you will find the true culprit 
behind the sluggish business.


The time has come to stop whining about taxes and start equalizing the 
percentage of disposable income.


That is the purpose of a progressive tax.  The wealthy pay more because they 
are able and also because it eases the burden on those of us whose entire 
income is used up in meeting the basic necessities of life like food, 
clothing and shelter.  These are the folks who are hardest hit by Tim 
Pawlenty's vision of "fees".


Let's get some money back in the pockets of the middle class and poor and 
have some REAL economic stimulation.


Steve Nelson
Willard Hay


Hasn't anyone considered that restaurants, and bars may be closing due to
the gigantic drop in patronage following the March 31st implementation of
the Minneapolis and Hennepin County smoking bans? Since the ban(s) took
effect, 40 bars and several (don't have the exact number) restaurants in
Minneapolis have closed. My favorite pub (Molly Quinn's) is probably 
closing
in a couple weeks. The owner has already laid off all staff, and cut back 
to

7 hours a day. Many owners have tried to combat the drop in business with
nice new patios, but are finding that that only slightly mitigates the
losses. Now that winter is upon us, we are likely to see another surge of
closings. 1400 jobs have already been lost in the hospitality industry, 
and

that doesn't even account for the cuts in hours for those hospitality
employees who have managed to keep their jobs.

I've been watching this discussion for a while now, wondering if anyone
would draw a link to the smoking ban. To my chagrin, listers seem to 
prefer

not to consider that possibility, and instead turn to ideas about local
ownership, chain vs. small small business operation, et-c, ignoring the
obvious. Chain operations are more likely to be able to weather the storm,
as they can afford losses until the smaller competitors have been killed
off. Once the number of bars and resturants has been sufficiently 
decimated,

the big boys who held on will probably begin turning profits again.

Who benefits from a smoking ban in Minneapolis? Large, rich corporations:
Chain operators from out of state; Giant pharmaceutical companies (whose
addictive products cost twice what tobacco does)..

Who suffers under it? Small, local business owners, working stiffs in the
hospitality industry (ironically, the very people the bans are ostensibly 
in

place to protect), and everyone who has the guts to make their own
decisions.

The price of progress, right? My own elected city representative has been
heard to say, "bowlers and smokers are expendable" Seems to be a common
attitude among the "progressive" elite.

Dan McGrath
Longfellow
http://www.shegstad.us

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Re: [Mpls] Park not appropriate site for athletic stadium .....

[Steve Nelson]

Not only was it a short window but this CAC flew in the face of citizen 
involvement that is supposed to be an essential part of the CAC process. 
The Park Board's own rules for CACs state that the Park Board announces a 
schedule for CAC meetings and the topic to be discussed.  Attendence is 
taken at every meeting and when the time for decisions rolls around ANY 
citizen who has attended 3/4s of the meetings is entitled to vote.  This 
truly allows citizen input and avoids any stacking of the committee for a 
predetermined result.  The Park Board reserves the right to appoint people 
to the CAC but the CAC is not supposed to be ONLY APPOINTEES.


It is  sad that the current board is so afraid of citizen involvement that 
they had to stack this CAC.


Steve Nelson
Willard Hay
Proud Charter Member of Park Watch, a truly non-partisan group whose sole 
interest is the protection of our parks from privatization and continuing 
good stewardship for our children.


***
Thanks for your comments Jeanne,

Having attended every citizens advisory committee meeting for the proposed 
Nicollet Island Athletic field, and having read the Nick Coleman article 
this morning,  I would like to voice my observation. It was sad to see 
Nicollet Island residents and professional land planners being characterized 
as being in opposition to the parents of the students affected and others 
who sincerely believe in the benefits of competitive youth sports.


There is no one on that citizens advisory committee that would disagree with 
you  -  Minneapolis Parks are great places for athletic activities.


The disagreement among the CAC members, that seems misunderstood by the 
public was: What is the best and most appropriate location for the  most 
well designed athletic field with the best amenities considering the 
opportunities and constraints presented.  Minneapolis Park Commissioners 
appear to be in the same posture.


NO ONE ON THE CAC WAS OR IS AGAINST THE SCHOOL OR THE CHILDREN.

Most  CAC's meet many times over a period of a year or two.  This CAC, 
working on such a complex and controversial  issue was directed to start and 
complete their charge within four meetings.  The CAC may have been able to 
form a consensus if they had been given more time.


Joan Berthiaume
Linden Hills


 I find it more than ironic and just a little disingenous that some folk 
feel that a public park ( re: DeLaSalle ) is not appropriate for athletic 
activities/ but is perfectly fine for "private, exclusive" homes

 Jeanne Wynn


 -
  Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.
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Re: [Mpls] Charettes

[Steve Nelson]

Thanks, Scott!  I thought they were a dance group like the Rockettes from 
someplace like Charlotte!


Smilin' in Willard Hay
Steve Nelson




Q: What is a charette? Is this a word  regularly used in Minneapolis?

A: It is like a chatauqua with paper and  pictures. It is a word that is 
used
regularly to describe a group planning  process where usually some folks 
with
some specific expertise work on developing  a plan with detailed public 
input

in a workshop setting.

Maybe it would  be clearer if we would say-
Basically there is a group that needs a plan- has  info- and wants to
"share it".

Thanks,
Scott Vreeland Seward

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Schubert,,,,Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[David Strand]

I also think the redevelopment of the Schubert Theater
into the center for Dance performance, theater and the
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Minneapolis location
will help lighten up and enliven the area alot.

I don't dislike Olive Garden but I'm not going to lose
any sleep over losing one chain restaurant downtown.

David Strand

--- Becca Vargo Daggett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> On Oct 19, 2005, at 6:48 PM, Michael Thompson wrote:
> 
> > But hey, as long as the Linden Hills enlightened
> can listen to  
> > their jzz, man, in a smoke-free
> environment twice a  
> > month, that's all that matters, right? The
> smaller, locally-owned,  
> > mom and pop bars where blue-collar working people
> go who  
> > cares.
> 
> Um, we were discussing the closing of an Olive
> Garden. I'll admit it  
> is locally owned in a manner of speaking (General
> Mills), and I  
> suppose you could think of Betty Crocker as Mom...
> 
> I'm generally sorry for the bars that are negatively
> affected by the  
> broader societal shift away from allowing smoking in
> indoor public  
> places. But the idea that the Olive Garden might
> have closed because  
> people couldn't smoke there any longer is absurd.
> 
> As to Mike Hohmann's original question:
> > What's the solution for Hennepin Ave between 6th
> and 8th?  Live  
> > theater does well a couple blocks south, how about
> the movie  
> > theaters in Block E?  Are
> > they making it; doing well, or just getting by?
> >
> > Last time I was at a late movie in Block E
> theaters, I found the  
> > Hennepin
> > Ave. street scene troublesome... not inducive to
> normal business  
> > activity or
> > welcoming to out-of-town guests.  What are the
> crime statistics  
> > (trends)
> > over the past five years in that location?  Do
> they correlate with  
> > lost
> > restaurant business?
> 
> As someone who has walked several or more times to
> the Nicollet Mall  
> from a movie in what I like to think of as a bastard
> child of a  
> Circus Pizza and a bus depot, here's my thought: 
> Light up and  
> enliven 6th and 8th. Visually connect the disaster
> that is E Block to  
> the Mall, so that people feel comfortable walking
> between the two.  
> The connection between E Block and First is okay on
> 6th, but not  
> great on 8th, so that should also be improved upon.
> 
> I agree with Mr. Hohmann that the vibe we ended up
> with is not ideal.  
> We're stuck with it, though, for at least 8 years
> (wasn't that the  
> life of that building that stood where the Target is
> now?) so my  
> humble opinion is that the best way to deal with it
> is to create  
> pedestrian friendly corridors between it and the
> Mall and the Target  
> Center.
> 
> And as long as we're mentioning restaurants we miss,
> I miss Chez  
> Bananas. Beans and rice, fish in tropical salsas,
> rum drinks, and  
> magic 8 balls. Independent, too.
> 
> Becca Vargo Daggett
> Seward
> 
> 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
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> http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
> 
> 
> Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused
> Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
> Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
> Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at:
> http://e-democracy.org/mpls
> 





__ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com
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Re: [Mpls] Homeschooling References

[md]

Found this Minnesota Homeschoolers Alliance ...
but it did not have much Minneapolis specific info.
http://www.homeschoolers.org/

Is there any information re

what % of Minneapolis school age children are home schooled?

any test scores or stats comparing the academic performance of home schooled
versus traditional schooled children in Minneapolis?

Does the Minneapolis public...or private schools do anything to support
or not support home schooling?

Anything unique or special about the home schooling movement in Minneapolis?


Madeline Douglass
Kingfield

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Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Becca Vargo Daggett]

On Oct 19, 2005, at 6:48 PM, Michael Thompson wrote:

But hey, as long as the Linden Hills enlightened can listen to  
their jzz, man, in a smoke-free environment twice a  
month, that's all that matters, right? The smaller, locally-owned,  
mom and pop bars where blue-collar working people go who  
cares.


Um, we were discussing the closing of an Olive Garden. I'll admit it  
is locally owned in a manner of speaking (General Mills), and I  
suppose you could think of Betty Crocker as Mom...


I'm generally sorry for the bars that are negatively affected by the  
broader societal shift away from allowing smoking in indoor public  
places. But the idea that the Olive Garden might have closed because  
people couldn't smoke there any longer is absurd.


As to Mike Hohmann's original question:
What's the solution for Hennepin Ave between 6th and 8th?  Live  
theater does well a couple blocks south, how about the movie  
theaters in Block E?  Are

they making it; doing well, or just getting by?

Last time I was at a late movie in Block E theaters, I found the  
Hennepin
Ave. street scene troublesome... not inducive to normal business  
activity or
welcoming to out-of-town guests.  What are the crime statistics  
(trends)
over the past five years in that location?  Do they correlate with  
lost

restaurant business?


As someone who has walked several or more times to the Nicollet Mall  
from a movie in what I like to think of as a bastard child of a  
Circus Pizza and a bus depot, here's my thought:  Light up and  
enliven 6th and 8th. Visually connect the disaster that is E Block to  
the Mall, so that people feel comfortable walking between the two.  
The connection between E Block and First is okay on 6th, but not  
great on 8th, so that should also be improved upon.


I agree with Mr. Hohmann that the vibe we ended up with is not ideal.  
We're stuck with it, though, for at least 8 years (wasn't that the  
life of that building that stood where the Target is now?) so my  
humble opinion is that the best way to deal with it is to create  
pedestrian friendly corridors between it and the Mall and the Target  
Center.


And as long as we're mentioning restaurants we miss, I miss Chez  
Bananas. Beans and rice, fish in tropical salsas, rum drinks, and  
magic 8 balls. Independent, too.


Becca Vargo Daggett
Seward

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Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Michael Thompson]

Amen, brother Dan, Amen.

At least the anti-choice, smoking ban proponents will sleep well at night 
knowing that those laid off will, at least, be healthy.


But hey, as long as the Linden Hills enlightened can listen to their 
jzz, man, in a smoke-free environment twice a month, that's all 
that matters, right? The smaller, locally-owned, mom and pop bars where 
blue-collar working people go who cares.


And the answer is not a state-wide ban. The answer is to let adults choose 
for themselves where they work and where they patronize. But to expect such 
common sense is like pissing in the wind in Minneapolis, where nearly 
everybody south of Lake Street knows what is better for me than I do. 
Blessed be them for that.


Not.

Mike Thompson
Windom

- Original Message - 
From: "Dan McGrath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes



Hasn't anyone considered that restaurants, and bars may be closing due to
the gigantic drop in patronage following the March 31st implementation of
the Minneapolis and Hennepin County smoking bans? Since the ban(s) took
effect, 40 bars and several (don't have the exact number) restaurants in
Minneapolis have closed. My favorite pub (Molly Quinn's) is probably 
closing
in a couple weeks. The owner has already laid off all staff, and cut back 
to

7 hours a day. Many owners have tried to combat the drop in business with
nice new patios, but are finding that that only slightly mitigates the
losses. Now that winter is upon us, we are likely to see another surge of
closings. 1400 jobs have already been lost in the hospitality industry, 
and

that doesn't even account for the cuts in hours for those hospitality
employees who have managed to keep their jobs.

I've been watching this discussion for a while now, wondering if anyone
would draw a link to the smoking ban. To my chagrin, listers seem to 
prefer

not to consider that possibility, and instead turn to ideas about local
ownership, chain vs. small small business operation, et-c, ignoring the
obvious. Chain operations are more likely to be able to weather the storm,
as they can afford losses until the smaller competitors have been killed
off. Once the number of bars and resturants has been sufficiently 
decimated,

the big boys who held on will probably begin turning profits again.

Who benefits from a smoking ban in Minneapolis? Large, rich corporations:
Chain operators from out of state; Giant pharmaceutical companies (whose
addictive products cost twice what tobacco does)..

Who suffers under it? Small, local business owners, working stiffs in the
hospitality industry (ironically, the very people the bans are ostensibly 
in

place to protect), and everyone who has the guts to make their own
decisions.

The price of progress, right? My own elected city representative has been
heard to say, "bowlers and smokers are expendable" Seems to be a common
attitude among the "progressive" elite.

Dan McGrath
Longfellow
http://www.shegstad.us

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Re: [Mpls] Hey, look over there! (was " Front group looking for headlines...")

[nikkicarlson001]

Niel writes:
"Nikki Carlson's post is a classic demonstation of
campaigns trying to avoid issues that make them
uncomfortable. Quick, change the subject!

Prior to that, he wrote:
"This week they hurriedly sent out an email with a
candidate questionnaire developed by Walt Dziedzic's
daughter Kari to help them with their "endorsement"
process."
Nikki Carlson responds:Kari Dziedzik had nothing to do with developing 
thecandidate questionnaire. Julie Idlekope write it.Kari saw it when it was 
distributed to the candidates.Niel made a false statement. What are the 
"reform"implications of this? Do the ends justify the means?Is it okay to lie 
to promote "reform"? In my mind,this is contradictory. How is that for not 
changingthe subject?
Nikki CarlsonLinden Hills
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Re: [Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Dan McGrath]

Hasn't anyone considered that restaurants, and bars may be closing due to
the gigantic drop in patronage following the March 31st implementation of
the Minneapolis and Hennepin County smoking bans? Since the ban(s) took
effect, 40 bars and several (don't have the exact number) restaurants in
Minneapolis have closed. My favorite pub (Molly Quinn's) is probably closing
in a couple weeks. The owner has already laid off all staff, and cut back to
7 hours a day. Many owners have tried to combat the drop in business with
nice new patios, but are finding that that only slightly mitigates the
losses. Now that winter is upon us, we are likely to see another surge of
closings. 1400 jobs have already been lost in the hospitality industry, and
that doesn't even account for the cuts in hours for those hospitality
employees who have managed to keep their jobs.

I've been watching this discussion for a while now, wondering if anyone
would draw a link to the smoking ban. To my chagrin, listers seem to prefer
not to consider that possibility, and instead turn to ideas about local
ownership, chain vs. small small business operation, et-c, ignoring the
obvious. Chain operations are more likely to be able to weather the storm,
as they can afford losses until the smaller competitors have been killed
off. Once the number of bars and resturants has been sufficiently decimated,
the big boys who held on will probably begin turning profits again.

Who benefits from a smoking ban in Minneapolis? Large, rich corporations:
Chain operators from out of state; Giant pharmaceutical companies (whose
addictive products cost twice what tobacco does)..

Who suffers under it? Small, local business owners, working stiffs in the
hospitality industry (ironically, the very people the bans are ostensibly in
place to protect), and everyone who has the guts to make their own
decisions.

The price of progress, right? My own elected city representative has been
heard to say, "bowlers and smokers are expendable" Seems to be a common
attitude among the "progressive" elite.

Dan McGrath
Longfellow
http://www.shegstad.us

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[Mpls] Frosty the New Mascot for the Strib

[Ray Marshall]

Probably thanks to Steve Brandt, the Strib geeks seem to have fixed part of
my complaint of slow loading from last week.  Still a bit slow, but the
jillion lines are gone.  I thank him and them.

Now I want to know who the new web designer is for the local McClatchy
outlet --- probably is at their branch in Hilton Head, SC, (Do you suppose
they bought that one for the golf?) as Frosty the Snowman (albeit wearing
sunglasses) has been up there all week long, I believe.

I suspect the Chamber of Commerce will be canceling their subscription if
that kind of promotion continues.

Ray Marshall
Hiawatha




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Re: [Mpls] more on WI-Fi...

[Becca Vargo Daggett]

The solution is different for every city, but it looks like Milwaukee  
is in a good spot.
Midwest Fiber will be an overbuilder - something not seen much since  
the telecom bust - putting in their own fiber network and connecting  
wireless to it.
Note that the relationship between Midwest Fiber is strictly one of  
trading something (probably free access in lieu of money) to the city  
for access to public assets. There was no RFP/RFI/whatever, and the  
city has no up front requirements for municipal services (it already  
has a publicly owned fiber network).


Becca Vargo Daggett
Seward


On Oct 19, 2005, at 3:59 PM, Michael Hohmann wrote:


In Milwaukee...
Wi-Fi plan may give city a digital edge
Firm offers to create wireless network at no cost
By GREG J. BOROWSKI and JOHN SCHMID

story at:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/oct05/362598.asp


Mike Hohmann
Linden Hills
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[Mpls] more on WI-Fi...

[Michael Hohmann]

In Milwaukee...
Wi-Fi plan may give city a digital edge 
Firm offers to create wireless network at no cost
By GREG J. BOROWSKI and JOHN SCHMID

story at:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/oct05/362598.asp


Mike Hohmann
Linden Hills
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Re: [Mpls] Park not appropriate site for athletic stadium .....

[Joan Berthiaume]

Thanks for your comments Jeanne,

Having attended every citizens advisory committee meeting for the proposed 
Nicollet Island Athletic field, and having read the Nick Coleman article this 
morning,  I would like to voice my observation. It was sad to see Nicollet 
Island residents and professional land planners being characterized as being in 
opposition to the parents of the students affected and others who sincerely 
believe in the benefits of competitive youth sports.

There is no one on that citizens advisory committee that would disagree with 
you  -  Minneapolis Parks are great places for athletic activities.  

The disagreement among the CAC members, that seems misunderstood by the public 
was: What is the best and most appropriate location for the  most well designed 
athletic field with the best amenities considering the opportunities and 
constraints presented.  Minneapolis Park Commissioners appear to be in the same 
posture.  

NO ONE ON THE CAC WAS OR IS AGAINST THE SCHOOL OR THE CHILDREN.

Most  CAC's meet many times over a period of a year or two.  This CAC, working 
on such a complex and controversial  issue was directed to start and complete 
their charge within four meetings.  The CAC may have been able to form a 
consensus if they had been given more time. 

Joan Berthiaume
Linden Hills   

- Original Message - 
  From: Jeanne Harris 
  To: mpls@mnforum.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:10 AM
  Subject: [Mpls] Park not appropriate site for athletic stadium .


  I find it more than ironic and just a little disingenous that some folk feel 
that a public park ( re: DeLaSalle ) is not appropriate for athletic 
activities/ but is perfectly fine for "private, exclusive" homes
  Jeanne Wynn


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[Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[WJKAHN]

How about a local chain? The Green Mill in Uptown does not deliver to 
addresses in Mpls north of I94 and the one in St. Paul does not go anywhere in 
Mpls 
creating a huge dead spot for the chain. I think new franchises are built 
around on site brewing similar to Town Hall and Rock Bottom, both of which seem 
to 
be doing okay. I like Green Mill, but I don't patronize them anymore because 
none of the restaurants will deliver to me, but I go downtown from my home for 
good food with good beer. Perhaps the Uptown franchisee would be interested in 
expanding.

Bill Kahn
likes his beer in Prospect Park, Downtown, or other Mpls locations preferably
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[Mpls] Somali Justice Advocacy Center

[omar jamal]

Omar Jamal Director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center

The Executive Director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center Mr. Omar Jamal 
will address about the “Somalis in Minnesota post 9/11” on Thursday October 
20th 2005 at the Humanists of Minnesota at 900 Mount Curve Avenue Minneapolis 
MN, Chalice Room down stairs.


 

October 19, 2005 St Paul, Minnesota…. Thousands of Somali refugees have settled 
in the Twin Cities since Somalia's civil war erupted in 1991. Minneapolis-St. 
Paul has become the de facto "capital" of the Somali community in North America.

Mr. Omar Jamal will speak about the change the community went through after 
9/11. Some of the main reasons the community settled in the Midwest were job 
market and services for families; however, soon after 9/11 all hopes vanished 
and fear, detention and FBI interrogation become very common. 

Mr. Jamal will focus on the high spirit of the Somali community being most 
recent immigrants in the United States in an attempt to accomplish the American 
Dream, yet without any of their making, get caught up in the terrorist war.

 

  



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[Mpls] RE: Another DT restaurant closes

[Ray Marshall]

It may be a block out of the "area", but don't forget that the locally owned
Cafe diNapoli on Hennepin closed in July.  They had been there for about 65
years.

Ray Marshall
Hiawatha
--

Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:31:38 -0500
From: Tom Madden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Another DT restaurant closes

I too saw this and saw an opportunity for many of the great restaurateurs in
the city.

I believe one solution (of many I am sure) is to have local restaurants
rather than big chains.  Please note - I am not against big chains - I
frequent many myself at times.
 

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[Mpls] Homeschooling References

[Michael Atherton]

For anyone interested in knowing more about homeschooling
and socialization (and just to show that I'm not trying
to dodge the question), here are some the most recent
references I am aware of on the topic.  While I would
hope that there was a major study done this year by neutral 
researches at a highly prestigious institution, these are
not quite that, but two of them were published in peer 
reviewed journals.  I would like to emphasize that, to my 
knowledge, there are no studies (other than opinion pieces) 
that show a negative impact on the socialization of homeschooled 
children.  If you know of one please forward it to me.

Francis, D.J., & Keith, T.Z. (2004). Social skills of home schooled 
and conventionally schooled children: a comparison study. Home School
Researcher, 16(1), 15-24. http://www.nheri.org/pdfs/161B.pdf 

Medlin, R.G. (2000). Home schooling and the question of socialization. 
Peabody Journal of Education, 75 (1 & 2), 107-123. [This article
is not available online, but I can send you a copy via email.]

Ray, B. R. (2004). Home educated and now adults: their community and civic 
involvement, views about homeschooling, and other traits. Salem, OR: 
National Home Education Research Institute. [you can access a summary 
of this report at:
http://www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/HomeschoolingGrowsUp.pdf]

If anyone would like to engage in a how and why discussion of 
homeschooling in Minneapolis I'd be happy to.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park






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RE: [Mpls] Wi-Fi vs. Wi-Max

[Steven Clift]

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Becca Vargo Daggett
> Sent: 19 October 2005 08:48
> To: mpls@mnforum.org
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Wi-Fi vs. Wi-Max
> 
> 
> On Oct 18, 2005, at 2:12 PM, Michael Hohmann wrote:
> 
> > A franchised monopoly doesn't seem consistent with
> > a continually evolving, dispersed technology.  Will award of a  
> > monopolistic
> > advantage to one provider limit otherwise competitive/newer  
> > alternatives due
> > to the reduced market available to competitors?
> 
> Exactly.
> Alternatively, the city could open the market to more competition by  
> building a publicly owned fiber backbone throughout the city (which  
> it wants anyway to connect its own buildings), then leasing capacity  
> on that fiber backbone to competing companies, and competing  
> technologies.

This is the model in Stockholm.  A government-owned company provides
"dark fiber" in the region in a "competition-neutral [manner] and
provides a network that is open to all players on equal terms:

http://www.stokab.se/templates/StandardPage.aspx?id=306

One idea - why not consider a a solared power wi-fi/wi-max backbone that
would survive black-outs?  Would have been nice in New Orleans ...
Infact VOIP was how we first heard the voices on their Mayor:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=642

Steven Clift
Ericsson

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Re: [Mpls] Another DT restaurant closes

[John Harris]

On 10/19/05, Tom Madden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I too saw this and saw an opportunity for many of the great restaurateurs in
> the city.
>
> I believe one solution (of many I am sure) is to have local restaurants
> rather than big chains.

While copelands was a chain, the mpls location was the only one in the
5 state region I believe.  I also thought i heard it closed not so
much because of lack of sales but the changing focus of city center,
could be wrong on that.  Notice, fridays and goodfellows are gone as
well.

Nothing has lasted very long where the olive garden was.  It seems to
be a poor facility for an eating establishment.

I don't think it is a chain vs. local issue.  both types have not
faired well.  rock star, aquavit (not local but not a chain), cafe un
doux trois. are no longer.  I think if it is unique, people will go,
chain or local.  If Houstons (chain) set up shop in one of the empty
spaces, i would go.  if Fhima's (local) did, i probably wouldn't go,
been to the one in St. Paul.  Conversely, drop in a Chili's or Don
Pablo's and i wouldn't even notice it.

Location doesn't seem to be that much of an issue.  Ike's, Murray's
and my personal favorite, Lyon's Pub, all look to be doing well yet
their bookends, olive garden and nick & tony's, never had any
business.

John Harris
webber-camden
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Re: [Mpls] [mpls} District 4 debate a Kenwood Recreation Center

[Annie Young]

Just for the record - we do get funding from Foundations. General Mills, 
the Twins Foundation and the Minneapolis Foundation stick with us all the 
time.  Others join in if it is partnership that is within their program 
guidelines.  Do people really think we haven't been "begging" from money 
from very source there is for a very, very long time ( and I do mean 
years). From Federal, state and local levels to boot. And, believe me, our 
staff does know who to write grants - lots of them!  PLEASE!


But, then did Ms. Wielinski also point out that Ms. Hansen is very 
interested to returning to all programs and services being FREE in the park 
system and no need for a fee for service strategy.  While I personally do 
hate Fees for Service I figure I would have to cut over 100 staff people to 
find the money to cover no fees in the system.  Is this realistic?


Annie Young
citywide Park Commissioner
seeking re-election in ' 05


At 08:02 AM 10/19/05 -0700, Niel Ritchie wrote:


Thanks to Elizabeth Wielinski for her commitment to
reporting on the park board and related issues. This
clip below from last night's debate is illustrative of
the need for rigorous public discussion.

Planning for foundations to help the Park Board avoid
making difficult budget choices is not a realistic
approach to governance.

As one who has worked in the non-profit sector, I have
a hard time imagining that already overburdened
foundations would be very open to requests for this
type of subsidy when more basic human needs like food,
housing, education, healthcare and HEAT are growing
rapidly as the Feds and State balance their budgets on
the backs of municipalities.

Having said that, Christine Hansen seems to be
suggesting that the reason foundations aren't already
giving to this type of activity is either poor
financial management or poor grant writing by the
existing board.

Did she offer any suggestions of how to better spend
the money they do have? Did she cite any examples of
existing partnerships that would be models for this or
give examples of her own fundraising prowess?


Still happily voting for Park Board Reform in Linden
Hills.

Niel Ritchie



>
>Christine Hanson was of the opinion that the MPRB
> should be making
> these places free and that more partnering with
> foundations would give
> the needed dollars to make this happen.  With her
> background in
> business she would be able to help make the grant
> requests more viable
> with better plans for how the money would be spent.
>
>





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Re: [Mpls] Another DT restaurant closes

[Tom Madden]

I too saw this and saw an opportunity for many of the great restaurateurs in
the city.

I believe one solution (of many I am sure) is to have local restaurants
rather than big chains.  Please note - I am not against big chains - I
frequent many myself at times.

I think people who work downtown (and live elsewhere) need a reason to want
to stay and eat downtown - something unique and or different from the chains
they can eat at in their own suburb.  It's much easier to go home and go to
your local Olive Garden/TGIFs/etc... with your family than it is to stay
downtown.

For those of us who live downtown or in nearby neighborhoods, the last thing
I think of for dinner downtown is a chain.  On the other hand, my wife and I
regularly make dates to go to good, unique restaurants with or without our
kids (as appropriate to the type of restaurant).

I'm not in the business so I don't know the financials.  I also know that
those particular locations lack contemporary character.  However, many many
local restaurateurs have managed to turn less than desirable buildings
and/or locations into some very wonderful restaurants frequented by many.

Count me in on opening night for a local good restaurant taking its place -
and thereafter if it is any good.

Tom Madden
Lowry Hill


On 10/19/05 11:15 AM, "Michael Hohmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> The Business Journal reports that the Olive Garden on 6th & Hennepin has
> closed due to slow evening sales, after only two years in the location.
> Previous restaurant closings in the vicinity include TGIF's, Copeland's and
> Nick and Tony's Chophouse.  I miss Copeland's.
> 
> What's the solution for Hennepin Ave between 6th and 8th?  Live theater does
> well a couple blocks south, how about the movie theaters in Block E?  Are
> they making it; doing well, or just getting by?
> 
> Last time I was at a late movie in Block E theaters, I found the Hennepin
> Ave. street scene troublesome... not inducive to normal business activity or
> welcoming to out-of-town guests.  What are the crime statistics (trends)
> over the past five years in that location?  Do they correlate with lost
> restaurant business?
> 
> Mike Hohmann
> Linden Hills
> 
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RE: [Mpls] Candidate Forum for 11th & 12th Wards, MPRB District 5, Oct 20

[Doug Walter]

Judy Johnson wrote:
> ...isn't this the nice church where
> they respectfully ask anyone attending
> an event there to bring a canned item 
> for the food bank? 

Judy, you are correct. Minnehaha United Methodist *is* the church with the
excellent food donation program.  I was remiss in not mentioning that we are
asking forum participants and guests to donate non-perishable food and
sanitary items at the meeting room door.

This will be NENA's fifth or sixth Candidate Forum over the years and it is
looking to be an interesting evening based on the questions that folks are
pre-submitting.  I hope you can join us. (Please introduce yourself--I
always enjoy meeting List participants.)

BTW, I too am a long-time resident of 12-6. I bought my first and only
house--a battered 1860's farmhouse--in 1978, planning to stay only as long
as it took to fix up and sell before moving out to the 'burbs. So much for
that plan. ::chuckle::

Doug Walter
Living in, and working for, 
Nokomis East



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[Mpls] Latino Minneapolis Police Sergeant sues Minneapolis policedeopartment for discrimination

[Alberto Monserrate]

We've gotten a lot of e-mails and calls about the time of the press conference 
today on the on Sgt Giovanni Veliz's Lawsuit against the police.  We just got a 
call that the press conference has been changed from 12:30 to noon today. 


Alberto Monserrate
President CEO
Latino Communications Network (LCN Media) 
Publishers of Weekly Spanish Newspaper Gente de Minnesota
Bi-weekly Latino Entertainment Publication Vida y Sabor
Yearly Minnesota-Iowa Hispanic Yellow Pages Directory
1516 E Lake Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Office: 612-729-5900
Office: 612-243-1283
Fax: 612-729-5999
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: www.lcnmedia.com
www.gentedeminnesota.com
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[Mpls] Another DT restaurant closes

[Michael Hohmann]

The Business Journal reports that the Olive Garden on 6th & Hennepin has
closed due to slow evening sales, after only two years in the location.
Previous restaurant closings in the vicinity include TGIF's, Copeland's and
Nick and Tony's Chophouse.  I miss Copeland's.

What's the solution for Hennepin Ave between 6th and 8th?  Live theater does
well a couple blocks south, how about the movie theaters in Block E?  Are
they making it; doing well, or just getting by?

Last time I was at a late movie in Block E theaters, I found the Hennepin
Ave. street scene troublesome... not inducive to normal business activity or
welcoming to out-of-town guests.  What are the crime statistics (trends)
over the past five years in that location?  Do they correlate with lost
restaurant business?

Mike Hohmann
Linden Hills

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[Mpls] Park not appropriate site for athletic stadium .....

[Jeanne Harris]

I find it more than ironic and just a little disingenous that some folk feel 
that a public park ( re: DeLaSalle ) is not appropriate for athletic 
activities/ but is perfectly fine for "private, exclusive" homes
Jeanne Wynn


-
 Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.
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[Mpls] Nick Coleman on DeLaSalle

[Joan Berthiaume]

forgot to list my neighborhood
Joan Berthiaume
Linden Hills
- Original Message - 
From: Joan Berthiaume 
To: MPLS FORUM ; Elizabeth Wielinski 
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Nick Coleman on DeLaSalle


Thanks Liz.

While on the CAC, Ted Wirth pointed out that as a professional, this was a very 
poor design because  it is not consistent with the atmosphere of the park and 
doesn't fit into the space between the building and the railroad tracks.  Ted 
said it was like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. A better design 
could be had and would also include a track for the track team as well.
 
Nestegen, (sp) another Landscape Architect on the CAC, pointed out that they 
will loose there tennis courts in this location. They have a tennis team and so 
where is that activity going to move to? 

The only real professionals qualified to analize land use planning, Ted and 
Nestegen both voted against it and said another location would be better.  
Since the charge of the CAC only included looking at that site or ajacent park 
land,  Ted suggested Boom Island or B F Nelson, less than 4 blocks from the 
school.  Then Judy Bleseg (Bob Fine's appointee) said, "But no one's OFFERING 
us that site"   I wondered, did someone from MPRB OFFER them this site?

If DeLaSalle is going to build  a new stadium,  DeLaSalle students deserve a  
better and more complete field, where ever it is located.

Joan


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Re: [Mpls] Nick Coleman on DeLaSalle

[Joan Berthiaume]

Thanks Liz.

While on the CAC, Ted pointed out that as a professional, this was a very poor 
design because  it is not consistent with the atmosphere of the park and 
doesn't fit into the space between the building and the railroad tracks.  Ted 
said it was like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. A better design 
could be had and would also include a track for the track team as well.
 
Nestegen, (sp) another Landscape Architect on the CAC, pointed out that they 
will loose there tennis courts in this location, they have a tennis team and so 
where is that activity going to move to. 

The only real professionals qualified to analize land use planning, Ted and 
Nestegen both voted against it and said another location would be better.  
Since the charge of the CAC only included looking at that site or ajacent park 
land,  Ted suggested Boom Island or B F Nelson, less than 4 blocks from the 
school.  Then Judy Bleseg (Bob Fine's appointee) said, "But no one's OFFERING 
us that site"   I wondered, did someone from MPRB OFFER them this site?

Joan


  - Original Message - 
  From: Elizabeth Wielinski 
  To: MPLS FORUM 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 9:22 AM
  Subject: Re: [Mpls] Nick Coleman on DeLaSalle


  Though I sympathize with Quentin and hope he heals quickly, such is the 
  plight of the athlete.  My sister played for the state champion girls 
  soccer team in Roseville many moons ago and has had knee surgery and 
  many of my uncles who played college football are all now the proud 
  owners of replacement knees.  Where you play the game has little or 
  nothing to do with getting hurt.  And as for DeLaSalle needing a field 
  next to their building I have to say that I am dismayed that they feel 
  that they need to have a suburban campus in an urban setting.  Don't we 
  all wish that we could have it all regardless of the needs of others.  
  No one ever seems to mention that St. Agnes and St. Bernard's in Nick 
  Coleman's home town of St. Paul both play their games at Midway 
  stadium.  Should we all call St. Paul and tell them to use eminent 
  domain to get land for these schools to build their own stadiums 
  adjoining the property???

  Hopefully the voters of Minneapolis can discern that giving this park 
  land to DeLaSalle will open up the door for every developer with a plan 
  to use park land.  Crown Hydro has already taken the MPRB to court over 
  this issue and I imagine that those who covet thy park board's property 
  all over town will now have their foot in the door.  Again I ask... 
  what programs are you willing to give up in your parks to pay the legal 
  bills for the MPRB over all these shenanigans???

  Liz Wielinski
  Columbia Park

  Disclaimer...Catholic, godfather and his 4 brothers are all DeLaSalle 
  Alumni, cousin studying for the priesthood

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Re: [Mpls] [mpls} District 4 debate a Kenwood Recreation Center

[Niel Ritchie]

Thanks to Elizabeth Wielinski for her commitment to
reporting on the park board and related issues. This
clip below from last night's debate is illustrative of
the need for rigorous public discussion.

Planning for foundations to help the Park Board avoid
making difficult budget choices is not a realistic
approach to governance. 

As one who has worked in the non-profit sector, I have
a hard time imagining that already overburdened
foundations would be very open to requests for this
type of subsidy when more basic human needs like food,
housing, education, healthcare and HEAT are growing
rapidly as the Feds and State balance their budgets on
the backs of municipalities. 

Having said that, Christine Hansen seems to be
suggesting that the reason foundations aren't already
giving to this type of activity is either poor
financial management or poor grant writing by the
existing board. 

Did she offer any suggestions of how to better spend
the money they do have? Did she cite any examples of
existing partnerships that would be models for this or
give examples of her own fundraising prowess?


Still happily voting for Park Board Reform in Linden
Hills.

Niel Ritchie



> 
>Christine Hanson was of the opinion that the MPRB
> should be making 
> these places free and that more partnering with
> foundations would give 
> the needed dollars to make this happen.  With her
> background in 
> business she would be able to help make the grant
> requests more viable 
> with better plans for how the money would be spent.
> 
>





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Re: [Mpls] Nick Coleman on DeLaSalle

[Elizabeth Wielinski]

Though I sympathize with Quentin and hope he heals quickly, such is the 
plight of the athlete.  My sister played for the state champion girls 
soccer team in Roseville many moons ago and has had knee surgery and 
many of my uncles who played college football are all now the proud 
owners of replacement knees.  Where you play the game has little or 
nothing to do with getting hurt.  And as for DeLaSalle needing a field 
next to their building I have to say that I am dismayed that they feel 
that they need to have a suburban campus in an urban setting.  Don't we 
all wish that we could have it all regardless of the needs of others.  
No one ever seems to mention that St. Agnes and St. Bernard's in Nick 
Coleman's home town of St. Paul both play their games at Midway 
stadium.  Should we all call St. Paul and tell them to use eminent 
domain to get land for these schools to build their own stadiums 
adjoining the property???


Hopefully the voters of Minneapolis can discern that giving this park 
land to DeLaSalle will open up the door for every developer with a plan 
to use park land.  Crown Hydro has already taken the MPRB to court over 
this issue and I imagine that those who covet thy park board's property 
all over town will now have their foot in the door.  Again I ask... 
what programs are you willing to give up in your parks to pay the legal 
bills for the MPRB over all these shenanigans???


Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park

Disclaimer...Catholic, godfather and his 4 brothers are all DeLaSalle 
Alumni, cousin studying for the priesthood


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Re: [Mpls] Charettes: Midtown Greenway Charettes Tonight the 19th and Thursday the 20th

[Meg Forney]

What is a Charette?

The term ³charette² evolved from a pre-1900 exercise at the Ecole des Beaux
Arts in France. Architectural students were given a design problem to solve
within an allotted time. When that time was up, the students would rush
their drawings from the studio to the Ecole in a cart called a charrette.
Students often jumped in the cart to finish drawings on the way. The term
evolved to refer to the intense design exercise itself. Today it refers to a
creative process akin to visual brainstorming that is used by design
professionals to develop solutions to a design problem within a limited
timeframe. 

Planning charette process - Mpls example
Fred H. Olson ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Sun, 19 Apr 1998 10:32:30 -0500 (CDT)


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I'm posting the following description in case it might be helpful in
thinking about a planning process that would be of use to other
groups.

On Sat 4/18/98 I attended the main public session for "planning charette"
which was announced belatedly on the Twin Cities Neighborhood Issues
mailing list with the following description:

"A planning charette is taking place next week for the area of Lake
Street between Uptown and Lyndale.   A charette is a planning process
specifically designed to get the public involved from the very
beginning.  Members of the public, as well as people directly affected
by redevelopment/development (such as homeowners or businesses) attend
meetings with planners and city reps. where a proposal is created via
their input (usually in small groups).  Planners then take these ideas
and draw up a draft proposal within a few days.  It is then presented
again to the public.  Charettes are a needed alternative to the
perfunctory public hearing where a bunch of angry citizens voice their
concerns and then are usually ignored."

"This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute your views to what you'd
like this area to be like (especially if you live near there, although
everyone is welcome).  It is also a good opportunity to experience,
first hand, what "New Urbanism" (neo-traditional/traditional
town-planning) is about."

AGAIN: Midtown Greenway Charettes: All Invite to Participate
October 19, 6:30-8:30pm (west of 35W)

Salem Lutheran Church, Lounge area

28th & Lyndale Ave S

Spanish interpreter available

 

October 20, 6:30-8:30pm (east of 35W)

Midtown YWCA, Community Room

2121 East Lake Street

MEG FORNEY
West Calhoun


Q: What is a charette? Is this a word  regularly used in Minneapolis?

A: It is like a chatauqua with paper and  pictures. It is a word that is
used 
regularly to describe a group planning  process where usually some folks
with 
some specific expertise work on developing  a plan with detailed public
input 
in a workshop setting.

Maybe it would  be clearer if we would say-
Basically there is a group that needs a plan- has  info- and wants to
"share it".

Thanks,
Scott Vreeland Seward  

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Re: [Mpls] Wi-Fi vs. Wi-Max

[Becca Vargo Daggett]

On Oct 18, 2005, at 2:12 PM, Michael Hohmann wrote:


A franchised monopoly doesn't seem consistent with
a continually evolving, dispersed technology.  Will award of a  
monopolistic
advantage to one provider limit otherwise competitive/newer  
alternatives due

to the reduced market available to competitors?


Exactly.
Alternatively, the city could open the market to more competition by  
building a publicly owned fiber backbone throughout the city (which  
it wants anyway to connect its own buildings), then leasing capacity  
on that fiber backbone to competing companies, and competing  
technologies.



And on a slightly related topic, a majority of the board appointed to  
oversee the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power has voted to move  
the target date for 20 percent renewable energy from 2017 to 2010.  
From the article:


Assistant General Manager Henry Martinez told the board during a  
workshop on the issue Tuesday that any accelerated move to green  
power must take into account the reliability of the new source and  
its cost.


An accelerated plan would require a major investment in new power  
systems, at a time when the agency's existing plants can handle  
existing demand.


Cardenas said many of the geothermal and wind resources are  
concentrated elsewhere in the state, and it would cost hundreds of  
millions of dollars to build transmission systems to bring that power  
to Los Angeles.


The nuclear and coal power that make up 63% of the DWP's electricity  
generation cost a fraction of solar, fuel cell and geothermal power,  
Martinez told the board.


"How much financial burden do you put on the customer?" he asked.

The manager's comment drew a quick challenge from board member Nick  
Patsaouras, who said the agency must pave the way for other  
utilities, bringing down the cost for everyone.


"I don't want to hear that renewables are going to cost more. We have  
to say to the world, here is the path," Patsaouras said.


Board member Mary Nichols said the state is already looking at  
accelerating the move to renewables by private utilities, so others  
may beat the DWP to the mayor's goal.



http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-green19oct19,1,4951964.story? 
coll=la-headlines-california


Becca Vargo Daggett
Seward
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[Mpls] Nick Coleman on DeLaSalle

[nikkicarlson001]

I have spoken to several kids at De and kids in soccer and other sports from 
around the city who have attended MRPB meetings and support the playing field 
on Nicollet Island. They shake their heads and just can't understand the level 
of vicious personal attacks against the park commissioners. They are 
dumbfounded at the behavior of adults (the ones who call themselves reformers) 
and even some of the "reform" commissioners behavior at the meetings.
 
To them, this is an exciting opportunity for a field that will benefit a large 
number of kids in the city, something positive to work toward, and something 
everyone who cares about kids will support. Here are some comments from Nick 
Coleman about an incredible De student, Quentin Liggins.
 
Nikki Carlson, Linden Hills
 
---
 
Nick Coleman: Time for Park Board to help DeLaSalle get its athletic field
October 18, 2005 
 
Quentin Liggins will be on crutches today when he speaks to the Minneapolis 
Park & Recreation Board. He'd rather be playing football. But he has a lot on 
his mind. He'll be speaking on behalf of a century's worth of kids.
 
Liggins, a senior, plays quarterback for DeLaSalle High School's homeless 
football team which, like Moses, has wandered for generations, looking for a 
promised land. In this case, the promise came not from God but from the Park 
Board, which only thinks it is God. The board pledged 22 years ago to help 
DeLaSalle get a field for the 106-year-old school on Nicollet Island, which is 
mostly owned by the board.
 
But a nasty fight has been waged against the plan by island residents who want 
peace and quiet on Bali H'ai. To restate my view: A field for one of the most 
diverse schools in the state, which also would be enjoyed by city park kids, is 
as valuable to the well-being of this place as the undisturbed bliss of 
privileged insiders who live on Park Board property. More, even.
 
"It is ridiculous that this is a big issue," said Brother Michael Collins, 
president of the Catholic high school. Collins says the field has become a 
"litmus test" in the election for Park Board seats as opponents campaign 
against a plan approved by an advisory committee earlier this month.
 
Which brings me back to Quentin Liggins, a National Honor Society member with a 
3.5 GPA, a dream of playing college football, a plan to be a lawyer and a 
shattered right leg.
 
He got the leg last Friday, during a "home" game which, like all DeLaSalle 
"home" games, was played somewhere else. This one was at Breck and DeLaSalle 
won 76-54 (the 130 total points set a new high school record). Near the end of 
the game, Quentin dropped back to pass just as a Breck defensive end came 
barreling through on a blitz. Quentin's foot was planted awkwardly in the turf 
as he fell, and he heard the snap as the tibia and fibula broke.
 
While the ambulance was on its way, the two teams knelt around Quentin and 
prayed. He told jokes.
"Are you going to start singing 'Kumbaya' and start swaying around and all that 
good stuff?" he asked.
Then the pain kicked in. Just as he was about to lose it, a peaceful feeling 
came over him. He says he felt as if someone was watching over him.
 
"In the great scheme of life, this is just a little test that God put in front 
of me," he said. "I'll be alright."
The way I see it, maybe God wanted to be sure Quentin was free to give the Park 
Board a piece of his mind.
 
Instead of playing in another DeLaSalle "home" game today at Hamline University 
in St. Paul, Quentin will be at Park Board headquarters for a 5:30 hearing on 
Nicollet Island. Instead of quarterbacking, future attorney Quentin Liggins 
will argue - as he did very articulately at a similar hearing last spring - 
that it is time the board kept its promise to DeLaSalle.
 
"The process has been a little slow," he said, which comes from a kid who 
wasn't born when the promise was made and who will graduate before it is 
fulfilled. "I guess the bigwigs who oppose this are thinking more about 
themselves than anyone else. We are a high school, and we just want to have a 
normal high school experience."
 
So listen to Quentin Liggins today. This is a young man for whom bigger things 
than football may be waiting. He will be on crutches, standing tall. 
 
Nick Coleman 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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[Mpls] Hey, look over there! (was " Front group looking for headlines...")

[Niel Ritchie]

Nikki Carlson's post is a classic demonstation of
campaigns trying to avoid issues that make them
uncomfortable. Quick, change the subject!

I merely pointed out that the PIPs, a decidedly
partisan group with obvious links to both Bob Fine and
Walt Dziedzic, are attempting to create the appearance
of a neutral or impartial third party for the purposes
of swaying public opinion in the park board races.
That's deceitful and sadly, all too common in the
world of politics as usual.
We can do better.

Still happily voting for Park Board Reform in Linden
Hills!

Niel Ritchie

--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

>  
> Niel sees Walt Dziedzik's daughter's support of his
> work as something to criticize. I know Walter and in
> my experience, he is a sometimes cantankerous man
> (forgive me Walter if you read this), always with a
> heart of solid gold and a lifetime record of working
> like a lion on behalf of north side kids and adult
> residents.
>  
> The fact that his daughter - and the rest of his
> family for that matter - are supporting him is
> something to be praised. I think it's a sign he's
> been a good father. I am pleased and proud when my
> kids take the same position I do on an issue and are
> willing to work for it. Believe me, Kari is an adult
> woman, has a mind of her own, and believes in the
> causes she works for.
>  
> Nikki Carlson
> Linden Hills
>  








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Re: [Mpls] Front group looking for headlines as Dziedzic/Fine fight to retain power

[Loki Anderson]

 Nikki, et al.,
 This is the most irrelevant post I've seen. The point of Niel Ritchie's 
original post wasn't that Kari Dziedzic shouldn't help her father with his 
campaigning or that they aren't a fine family. It was that the screening 
questionnaire being used by this People for INDEPENDENT (emphasis mine) Parks 
was developed by the daughter of one of the candidates it will be screening. 
Claiming that this is some kind of neutral organization designed to avoid the 
partisanship they claim taints the other park reform organizations is 
ridiculous. PIP is a sham organization designed to re-elect the G5 
Commissioners and their allies, nothing more.
 
 And it might help, Nikki, if you were to reveal that your name is all over 
the campaign literature for this organziation.
 
Loki Anderson
Downtown

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Niel sees Walt Dziedzik's daughter's support of his work as something to 
criticize. I know Walter and in my experience, he is a sometimes cantankerous 
man (forgive me Walter if you read this), always with a heart of solid gold and 
a lifetime record of working like a lion on behalf of north side kids and adult 
residents.

The fact that his daughter - and the rest of his family for that matter - are 
supporting him is something to be praised. I think it's a sign he's been a good 
father. I am pleased and proud when my kids take the same position I do on an 
issue and are willing to work for it. Believe me, Kari is an adult woman, has a 
mind of her own, and believes in the causes she works for.

Nikki Carlson
Linden Hills





































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Re: [Mpls] Front group looking for headlines as Dziedzic/Fine fight to retain power

[nikkicarlson001]

 
Niel sees Walt Dziedzik's daughter's support of his work as something to 
criticize. I know Walter and in my experience, he is a sometimes cantankerous 
man (forgive me Walter if you read this), always with a heart of solid gold and 
a lifetime record of working like a lion on behalf of north side kids and adult 
residents.
 
The fact that his daughter - and the rest of his family for that matter - are 
supporting him is something to be praised. I think it's a sign he's been a good 
father. I am pleased and proud when my kids take the same position I do on an 
issue and are willing to work for it. Believe me, Kari is an adult woman, has a 
mind of her own, and believes in the causes she works for.
 
Nikki Carlson
Linden Hills
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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[Mpls] Charettes

[Svattheriver]

Q: What is a charette? Is this a word  regularly used in Minneapolis?

A: It is like a chatauqua with paper and  pictures. It is a word that is used 
regularly to describe a group planning  process where usually some folks with 
some specific expertise work on developing  a plan with detailed public input 
in a workshop setting.

Maybe it would  be clearer if we would say-
Basically there is a group that needs a plan- has  info- and wants to 
"share it".

Thanks,
Scott Vreeland Seward  

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[Mpls] Latino Minneapolis Police Sergeant sues Minneapolis police deopartment for discrimination

[Alberto Monserrate]

This is a translation of an article that we posted tonight in our web site 
www.gentedeminnesota.com. We will be following this case very carefully. 



www.gentedeminnesota.com



Latino Minneapolis police officer sues Minneapolis police department for 
discrimination



By Marco Fernanadez 

Gente de Minnesota



Sergeant Giovanni Veliz, a Minneapolis Police officer, has sued the Minneapolis 
Police department for discrimination. According to confidential information 
we've received, the case goes back to October 2004, when Sergeant Veliz was 
relieved of his administrative duties, to assigned to night time patrol. 
According to a copy of the lawsuit that was  provided to us,  the Minneapolis 
Police department submitted Sergeant Veliz to harassment, disparate treatment, 
a hostile work environment, and retaliation from that date. 

 

The lawsuit establishes that the actions were taken against sergeant Veliz 
because of his insistence in raising the issue that the department had not 
complied with a federal mediation agreement that was entered between the Police 
de department and members of Minneapolis minority organizations . The mediation 
agreement established that the police department would diversify the police 
department, establish partnerships with community based organizations, and 
foster cultural awareness and sensitivity for Minneapolis citizens. This 
agreement included 82 action items that force the police department not only to 
incorporate Spanish speaking officers to the police force that know Latino 
culture, but also covers specific situations in which orders and notifications 
to Spanish speaking people included a Spanish translation. 

 

This agreement was reached thanks to mediation from the United States 
Department of Justice, Community relations office, and was supposed to have 
been implemented a year ago. The lawsuit also alleges that that in more than 
one occasion Sergeant Veliz was denied  the opportunity to receive executive 
training in retaliation for his position in favor of implementing points of the 
federal mediation agreement. Veliz alleges that he was denied a promotion to 
police lieutenant, after having applied to the position and being qualified for 
the position. 

 

The lawsuit  accuses lieutenant Doyle, who became Veliz's supervisor in May of 
2005 of harassing actions and threats against Veliz. The lawsuit establishes a 
direct relationship between Veliz's work on behalf of the Hispanic community 
and a number of consistent threats, harassment and comments against Veliz. It 
goes even further accusing the Minneapolis police department of refusing to 
implement the federal mediation agreement and ignoring the federal 
recommendations on diversifying the police department.  Sergeant Veliz has 
received support for his lawsuit from members of the African American community 
and the committee that negotiated the mediation agreement in 2003. 

 

Several members of Minneapolis communities of color will be making a public 
presentation of the lawsuit tomorrow Wednesday October 19th in a press 
conference in Ancient Market Plaza (Franklin Avenue between 11th and 13th). 














Alberto Monserrate
President CEO
Latino Communications Network (LCN Media) 
Publishers of Weekly Spanish Newspaper Gente de Minnesota
Bi-weekly Latino Entertainment Publication Vida y Sabor
Yearly Minnesota-Iowa Hispanic Yellow Pages Directory
1516 E Lake Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Office: 612-729-5900
Office: 612-243-1283
Fax: 612-729-5999
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: www.lcnmedia.com
www.gentedeminnesota.com
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Re: [Mpls] Building A Better Bike Path

[Michael Libby]

On 10/18/05, Matty Lang <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> (dreaming of the day when we'll be debating the merits
> of expanding bicycle lanes to accomodate congestion on
> the paths).

Why?

We have a superb infrastructure for biking already--goes by the name
of "roads" mostly.

While I very much like the Greenway and other bike paths in the city,
if you actually want to get somewhere (which is what I think Gary
Hoover was talking about, and which is what a "Transportation" bill
should be about), the roads are perfectly adequate!

I detest bike lanes, especially the ones in downtown Minneapolis. Who
in their right mind designs a system in which cars turning left need
to look behind themselves, to the left, to ensure they do not cut off
a cyclist? I run into this (almost literally) every day.

In my experience 99% of Minneapolis motorists are fantastically
courteous to cyclists. I almost never feel any threat from simply
riding on the roads in the "vehicular" fashion. Sure, I need to drive,
er, ride defensively. But that's par for the course when using the
roadways.

The only motorists who've ever yelled at me have *all* done so when I
was riding legally, following the rules of the road. And from their
comments it is clear they think I do not belong on the road with my
bike ("Not a car!" is a pretty clear statement).

Therefore, because many drivers already have this idea that bikes
don't belong on the roads, I have to conclude that continued attempts
to segregate bicyclists from other road users is
counterproductive--especially in Minneapolis, where it has resulted in
insanities like the downtown bike lanes. Reworking existing roadways
with an eye to making them more bikable would be very productive
however.

So while I'm happy to see that there is interest in promoting cycling,
I'm not a fan at all of spending large sums of tax money to build more
bike lanes and bike paths (except as part of our park systems where
the excellent recreational bike paths we have seem to be money well
spent--just like the money well spent on soccer fields, playground
equipment, and baseball diamonds).

Bike lanes give motorists the idea that bikes aren't full users of the
roads. Bike paths even moreso. And bike paths pose a unique set of
safety hazards because they tend not to follow the normal patterns for
traffic flow. Plus, they're often crowded with roller bladers, dog
walkers, and just plain pedestrians. And they're posted with a speed
limit of 10 MPH, which is ridiculously slow for any cyclist over the
age of ten. While I'm aware that the Greenway is being used
productively as a "bike highway" the general approach of segregating
cyclists simply makes it harder for bikes to use the roads when they
need to.

One thing we could do for free is change the anti-bike clause in the
traffic code that requires bikes to stay as far to the right as
"practicable". This simply promotes the idea that bikes are
second-class road users--not to mention that it's confusing, since it
clearly is not intended for us to ride in the gutter, or so close to
parked cars that we are in danger from opening car doors. Just give us
the right to a whole lane, unequivocally. Is it possible for
Minneapolis to do this, or does state law override? I know when I've
been in San Francisco they have signs reminding everyone that cyclists
are entitled to full use of the lane. Seems like a good example to
follow. We do have some "Share the Road" signs here (which show the
car passing awfully close to the cyclist, by the way), but it's a far
cry from simply giving cyclists a full legal right to be first-class
road users.

 -Michael Libby, Cleveland neighborhood, North Mpls
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[Mpls] Latino Police Officer sues Mpls Police Dept alleges discrimination- Press Conference Oct. 19

[Shawn Lewis]

Latino Minneapolis police officer sues Minneapolis police department for 
discrimination 
Marco Fernández
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Sergeant Giovanni Veliz, a Minneapolis Police officer, has sued the 
Minneapolis Police department for discrimination. According to confidential 
information we’ve received, the case goes back to October 2004, when 
Sergeant Veliz was relieved of his administrative duties, to assigned 
to night time patrol. According to a copy of the lawsuit that was 
provided to us, the Minneapolis Police department submitted 
Sergeant Veliz to harassment, disparate treatment, a hostile work environment, 
and retaliation from that date. 

The lawsuit establishes that the actions were taken against sergeant Veliz 
because of his insistence in raising the issue that the department had not 
complied with a federal mediation agreement that was entered between the 
Police de department and members of Minneapolis minority organizations . 
The mediation agreement established that the police department would 
diversify the police department, establish partnerships with community 
based organizations, and foster cultural awareness and sensitivity for 
Minneapolis citizens. This agreement included 82 action items that force 
the police department not only to incorporate Spanish speaking officers 
to the police force that know Latino culture, but also covers specific 
situations in which orders and notifications to Spanish speaking people 
included a Spanish translation. 

This agreement was reached thanks to mediation from the United States 
Department of Justice, 
Community relations office, and was supposed to have been implemented a 
year ago. The lawsuit also alleges that that in more than one occasion 
Sergeant Veliz was denied the opportunity to receive executive training 
in retaliation for his position in favor of implementing points of the 
federal mediation agreement. Veliz alleges that he was denied a promotion 
to police lieutenant, after having applied to the position and being qualified 
for the position. 

The lawsuit accuses lieutenant Doyle, who became Veliz’s supervisor in 
October 4th of 2005 of harassing actions and threats against Veliz. 
The lawsuit establishes a direct relationship between Veliz's work on 
behalf of the Hispanic community and a number of consistent threats, 
harassment and comments against Veliz. It goes even further accusing 
the Minneapolis police department of refusing to implement the federal 
mediation agreement and ignoring the federal recommendations on 
diversifying the police department. Sergeant Veliz has received support 
for his lawsuit from members of the African American community and the 
committee that negotiated the mediation agreement in 2003. 


Several members of Minneapolis communities of color will be making a 
public presentation of the lawsuit tomorrow Wednesday October 19th 
in a press conference in Ancient Market Plaza (Franklin Avenue between 11th and 
13th).
 
http://www.gentedeminnesota.com/news.php?nid=1705
Posted by Shawn Lewis, Minnetonka, MN

-- 
___
Play 100s of games for FREE! http://games.mail.com/

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