[Mpls] 1700 miles away
How is it that someone from 1700 miles away can write in and try to influence 'Minneapolis specific'? I guess us 'rich' local crowd should just hunker down and implement exclusionary rules for all these outside agitator types who only want to manipulate and exploit us to dazzle their preverted psycho mentalities. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: costs
I think the Governor is absolutely right about charging those arrested in protests to pay the police costs before being dismissed. In a time when both City and State governments are besieged with budget problems and have to do layoffs -in police and fire departments, then those who want to challenge civil order, and protest the common defense of the country, necessitating extra police duties -as well as court costs- should pay those costs. The idea that police are there just for the rich is another misguided rationalization as the Mayor and Council have total power over the police and in 24 of the past 26 years, we have had Frazer and Belton as Mayor, I didn't perceived they were caring only for those who had conserved their own financial position. Three or four times I have gone to the police station to inform them about some needle freaks with kids and each time was told 'Oh, you just want us to help you with your property, We aren't interested in helping you with your property'. Maybe thousands of protesters can 'come forward' now and get arrested and provide revenues such as to restore the whole budget. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] intellectually dead
Those kids will have dislike and disdain for the 'programmers' when they become aware of it all, -the Hitlerian charactor of Hussien and the whole story which will come out like vomit for decades -and of which they will be informed in their future educational experience. Was there any Americans -any kids from the Minneapolis schools protesting when the United States went to war to destroy Hitler?? My mother says that at Roosevelt it was quite the opposite. Does anyone of older generations now wish they had protested the American actions against Hitler and the Nazis of WWII, -mass murderers of millions of Jews, Poles, Russians and etc.? -Hussien paying to kill Jews in recent years. Our action to get rid of Sadam Hussien is a great humanitarian effort on behalf of the Iraqis, the Arabs, the world -and our own country, and city-ref 9/11- and the protest craziness, here in Minneapolis and elsewhere is badly stereotyped in events of decades ago and intellectually dead to current issues. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] messmakers
The rental properties or their owners don't make the messes, some of the people living there and also the people living accross the street -or the other side of town- stop at the curb to change their kids diapers and throw he loaded ones out onto the curb- or they just through out their trash anyplace. Sometimes people living in rentals are really bad, I have seen them cut their screens and then just through milk bottles and such out the window. When I had some rental properties I drove a pickup and I continually had trash in the pickup, as everytime I drove to the property I would find trash to pickup. Problem has been that the city, in trying to help nonprofits get the properties, has villianized the owners while deifying the tenants so that some people just throw out their garbage and leave it for others to clean up. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] sparta
Now is the time for Spartan mentality in the city. There is great merit in the ethics and idealogy of Sparta, and the public could and would get oriented to it and enthused about it. People are into no fat food and walking and running -around the lake, all of which kind of thinking easily would transfer to handling of finances of the city, and would solve the budget problems. Instead of hanging out at the Athenean public bath and continuously feasting on grapes carried in by city servants,--or as I saw once in an all you can eat Friday fish deal, where the obese guy with his wife and kids sat there, the guy yelling every 10 minutes, 'more fish'-,People become self sufficient and are working for improvement, both personal and public. The economy, -federal, state and local, -to include the stock market- is just waiting for the Iraq thing to happen and get over with, after which -when Ford stock is selling for six and seven dollars a share (it went up 10% yesterday), it all will go straight up and all budgets will improve. But transfering to a Spartan outlook is very much needed now and, like vegetarian food, will be very much appreciated once given the taste test. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: huffy puffy
Neighborhood 'executive director', Roberta Englund writes a huffy puffy letter condemning the attempt at balancing the budget, threatening 'voter action' if anything in her neighborhood gets its city funding diminished by a penny. Of course she gets a hefty salary as the neighborhood 'director', so she is defending both her turf and her paycheck. She didn't suggest where they should get the money to keep her neighborhood library open (webber cambden), she might have discussed where they could get the money to keep her salary paid, otherwise she's apt to get trimmed the same as all else. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] libraries
Follow up on 2nd library item, -In Minneapolis all summer they have ice cream trucks that go around and parental types give their kids a dollar or two to buy the stuff and throw the wrappers in the street. Lots of other things kids get money for, if they are serious about books, I doubt that a 50 cent charge would be seen as at all prohibitive. All for today. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] libraries
What about the public radio and television, they are always raising money. whether or not the libraries charge 50 cents for checking out a book, they could find ways to raise money to support themselves, -selling small items, etc., etc.. They could offer space to Starbucks on rental or percentage basis. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: libraries
I have a suggestion for the city budget crunchers -and pertaining to the library system- Why not start to charge a small fee for checking out a book? An amount like 50 cents. Also, they could sell stuff in the library, greeting cards, papers or discard books, even t-shirts. In the art gallery business some years ago there was the Rifle Sport gallery (so named because it was located upstairs from a place on lower Hennepin (old block E) where you shoot rifles for sport). It is difficult to impossible to get a gallery to pay it's way as lots of galleries, a few people come and look and nobody buys a thing. So this Rifle Sport Gallery went to selling under-a-dollar priced items, hand printed greeting cards, t-shirts, I don't know what all, but through that business they got more shoppers and art buyers and they survived for a time. Kind of in line with the planned new library where some eating places plus some retail is plannned to help with revenue. I used to go to the Central Library downtown -usually on some mission to get some particular info- and it was disgusting the outer hall way was used by the bums to stay warm -or cool- and usually you could smell the urine -the bums were usually drunks too. I wouldn't criticize the bums so much as the library and city for having been so defunct about the function of their facilities. I never heard of any law saying the libraries can't sell and promote stuff, like the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, -periodically they have some particular art, like 65 landscapes from a particular artist or a 'group' of art of whatever kind and they give out notices about it, often it is borrowed art so it has to go back eventually, --Why couldn't the libraries promote subject matter, tell something interesting about it, like medievel history, Francis Hackett biography of Henry the 8th, or such like that, early history of China, -or maybe the ancients, like Egyptian, Greek and Roman history, maybe they could promote -for a time- all books on Atlantis or of 'the gods from outerspace', stuff that would intrigue and attract patrons. Then they could sell stuff on the subject matter as well as to have books to check out on it. Why are those people paid huge salaries to just sit there in these tombs of books -not promote anything or take in money to help pay the bills. I know public libraries in America got started with Andrew Carnegie funding them, but that shouldn't mean that forever they just do nothing but dust books and draw pay. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Nicollet Lake debacle
Seems to me the city could secure 20 year leases for the new developments to go on Nicollet and Lake Street, and use the leases to secure bond issue to do the project. I recall that Cub foods wants to go in there, and I suppose KMart, -since they have stayed amidst bankruptcy, probably would come back in, if not Walmart would do well, and smaller shops and cafes, -more fast foods- too could be attracted in at shorter leases. The whole project could be oriented some to the Asian, Latino and Somalie populace in the area. The whole deal could be arranged securely so that the revenue pays the costs and contributes to the city also. The city system seems just too overbloated -with too much personal and high pay- to function in all these problem scenarios. I have seen it where typicals get 'important' jobs with good pay and they become too 'important' to take their calls, talk to people, and really work with such tasks before the city. I have seen them walking around with their noses up trying to look important, -avoiding talking to people. Of course they don't know much anyway and probably just don't want to disgrace themselves by saying something. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] outside cold
So let's say that you -one guy- are really going to solve the worlds problems, and you get a large bag of twenty dollar bills and go stand in the street between Marshall Fields and IDS and give out a twenty dollar bill to each person who comes by and will take one. At first you will be an oddity, people will just walk past. But then when you manage to get a few twenties into peoples hands, word will spread like fire and soon you will have a line up. Before too long you will get knocked in the head and the bag of twenties will disappear. If you institutionalize the idea that every one must have a place to sleep and live, then you will have people from six states away coming here to live for free. It is just like with welfare, word was that we had people carpooling and busing here from far off to get on and collect free money. It isn't the nature of people to be parasitical. But if they just don't have much and freebies are available it is easy to develop the freebie habit and forget the 'accomplishment' attitude. My own grandfather who, built his first house and lived in 'Ford Town', though he went through the depression pennyless, -worked chopping wood for a dollar a day- he died in his ninties a millionaire from hard work and very smart investing. We used to snicker as in the Carter years when they gave away cheese, he never missed going to get free cheese. They built another house out on the river and through all the years I would go out there and in that time he would cut off a block of cheese and give it to me. One time the block of cheese was wrapped in a paper that had -in my Grandmothers handwriting, the banks and certificate numbers of their Certificates of Deposits. Interesting thing is that downtown at one 'soup kitchen', I have seen reports on CCO, talking to people in the line, getting their hardship story. Accross the street, just steps away, is a high rise hotel with a super luxury cafe, set in atrium, in which you can go in and order breakfast, get paper, sit and watch big screen CNN, and there is no till, you don't pay. Of course that is for hotel patrons but they advertised that the public is welcome also, I have been there several times for nice breakfast, no charge. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] library / budget
Not building the library would not solve the budget problem, as the library, like a stadium- would be funded with a bond issue. Holding off on library construction likely would save some out of pocket city expense which would be helpful in short run, but building the library -like building a stadium- would provide jobs and some razamataz for the city which would be helpful in revenue gathering. Of course, the bond issue, added to already existing city debt would not be helpful. I think the city should hold off for one or two years, by then should have the budget situation organized and then should proceed with building the library. All these people, though, with hundred thousand plus salaries, -even police types, -and not even high ranking- should be considered, -including head of the library- getting $120,000. those salaries could and should be trimmed The idea of using the Sears building for a library has some merit though there would be huge expense to make it work. The whole building would have to be renovated, etc., etc., They can't just abandon the architectural work already done on the planned library, they already have the library in the temp. location, best to leave it there. The Sears building will find a purpose, probably when light rail comes through it will develop, could be a mix of commercial and office. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] budget
The city budget as detailed in the very good City Page article is a real challenge to City Hall, RT et al. I don't know if there is budget soft ware for cities but there is for banks and they allow the entity to target in on a p&l figure and hit it to the dollar. The software puts the planner through every revenue and expense item, allows adjustment that usually is not significant to the citizen consumer but through the whole entity -or city- allows the budget to come out right. Instead of layoffs among city employees, they could just not do rehiring and then do small accross the board paycuts. Even the CMs could take small pay cuts on their own salaries that ballooned up in these 'fat' years. And rental charges on such as the convention center, farmers market and the theatre industry -the city has gotten into- could take some small increases in revenue. Before all that budget process though is some real revenue oportunities such as the property tucked away in the MCDA could be -some of it- offered for sale, which would bring in revenue on the sale but also restart the properties on the tax roles. I recall investigative reporting on city employees who would pull those orange wagons out to some street, set them up like they were doing infrastructure work and then take of for a two week fishing trip. I recall those orange things sitting there everyday with nothing apparent happening there. I have heard the same old talk that 'well, they just have to raise taxes'. That is part of the problem, they have just kept raising spending every year for Christmas tree spending bills and then raise taxes until our property taxes are far higher than small towns and surrounding states which has then caused the rents to go up in dramatic fashion as shown in the 'first apartment' letters. It just wouldn't be facing reality to again raise property taxes and would have larger future negative affects such as driving people out of town. James Jacobsen // Whittier James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] embers, bur king & McDs
Also, about the Embers and Bur 'king -as kids call it- no surprise they both went. Neither had been at all customer appreciative. Similiar with the McDonalds at 24th and Nicollet. With all the razamataz on Nicollet, how long will the McDonalds stay viable verses the economic value of the lot space. James Jacobsen // 'Whittier' TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] realities
The Mayor has a tough job right now of balancing the city budget. Nobody can blame hizzoner for the budget situation, everybody cries and gripes anyway in a rip and tear effort to get money to soothe their alleged woes and assuage their egoes. If taxes were low and the city had a surplus budget, RT would be well in fashion and mainly because everyone would rightly expect they might get something out of city hall. I would bet the big majority -that doesn't write on the 'list'- are patient and appreciative of the Mayor's efforts. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Rybak meeting
The RT letter shows how uninformed general comments are on the Mpls list -about paralleling the consideration level of drivers on the streets and freeways for other motorists. Here is the Mayor trying to be conscientious and fair about dealing with all parts of the community and every kind of bullying and unfair comment takes place at the meeting and afterwards -on the list - and pray tell at what purpose?? I don't know what the purpose is of continually trying to gutter snipe at such as the Mayor, especially when he is only trying to improve the situation and going overboard to do it. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: antiwar events at UofM
(second time with this -with some corrections) Yah, students, especially, get sucked into every kind of exploitation and dumb promotion. When I was at the University majoring in cold war history, I had to endure 'U.S. Twentieth Century' history, three quarters, two of them I had, Berman and Noble, -were working their guts out to make the kids think the United States was a bad outfit, Theodore Roosevelt was really Hitler in disguise, so on and so on. There are a lot of older-than-student types that never got their egoes built up enough in the real world so they go back and try to be Gods, -build up followings. When I was there Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda were there every few weeks and some group was advertising big womens's meetings on Masturbation, -then they cancelled the meeting because lots of guys were calling up to help. (Believe it or not, that is true, I worked at the Admissions Office and people were exclaiming under their breath about it.) So I suppose some non proffessorial types will be holding meetings on campus and trying to give the kids as warped as possible of an outlook and attitude towards their country and the world. James Jacobsen // Whittier > > > > > > TEMPORARY REMINDER: > > 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. > > 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. > > > > > > > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy > > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: antiwar events at UofM
Yah, students, especially, get sucked into every kind of exploitation and dumb promotion. When I was at the University majoring in cold war history, I had to endure 'U.S. Twentieth Century' history, three quarters, two of them I had, Berman and Noble, -were working their guts out to make the kids think the United States was a bad outfit, Theodore Roosevelt was really Hitler in disguise, so on and so on. There are a lot of older-than-student types that never got their egoes built up enough in the real world so they go back and try to be ods, -build up followings. When I was there Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda were there every few weeks and some group was advertising big womens's meetings on asturbation, -then they cancelled the meeting because lots of guys were calling up to help. (Believe it or not, that is true, I worked at the Admissions Office and people were exclaiming under their breath about it.) So I suppose some non proffessorial types will be holding meetings on campus and trying to give the kids as warped as possible of an outlook and attitude towards their country and the world. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] protesters
If it is fair for the anti wars to say the things they are saying then it is fair also to say that they are a treasonous bunch of idiots and liars; They are working against their own country and nation -and people, and in faver of a Saddam Hussien and his Hitlerian dreams of being King of the middle east, controlling the opec oil -and yes, taking the income for his own military-, annilating Isreal and exposing the very protesters , -through suicide bombers- ($25000 paid to the families) to their own death or dismemberment wherever people congregate. We have freedom of speech and opinion in this country. Others have their rights and I have mine. This is only partly a Minneapolis germane letter, though more germane than the letters saying nasty things about the President and etc. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] protests
Since in the 8 years of Clinton when the country went to war several times and without ever a big todo -or hysteria- about it from the 'organizers' and the 'local people in the streets', ie Hennepin Ave., I must presume that local and all over the country this is like a football game, one side against the other and with whatever tactics. We know the tactics on Democrat side as we have seen them the past 60 years, -and protesting, demonstrating in the streets is one of them- to try and beat down the 'other side', never mind that it is about their doing their Constitutional duty of defending the country and its people. The more this goes on the more we know the game and the tactics. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] duct tape, etc.
May all the smart bombs find their intended destinations, and Happy Valentine's Day. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] d-e-f-a-u-l-t
I have to comment on Vicky's suggestion that the city default on it's bonds. I don't think that is at all necessary. Yah, there is a severe budget problem, but solving it is the best and most needed medicine for the city. The past 25 years, as I have struggled to pay property taxes, I would find in the paper, news about how the city had paid out 8 million or ten million to buy this or that piece of real estate junk -pidgeons flying through it and with no plan as to what to do with it. Then I would see how they had written a check of $50,000 to some guy in a small restaurant NE, his Dad had been a DFL biggey, and they liked to go there for coffee etc.. Then you got the social services mania, people coming here from all over the world because the hand outs are the best. The city is now forced to get into sensible perspectives in its budget. You can't blame the new Governor nor the nearly new Mayor, they are locked in by law to a balanced budget. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] too cheap to haul
Yah, it's been that way for a long time. If you have major work in a building which requires a container box, its ok at first but give it a month -time enough for area to notice the box- and they start dumping there as if it was a county dump. I redid a fire damaged building once at 25th and Chicago and towards the end, I had to just take the box out early and quit on it as it really was being used as a free dump. On smaller scale, most people are respecting and don't do it but I had one neighbor once who continually put junk -discard tires, tree branches, etc. on my yard. There should be some place to refer these kind of problems as it really is purposeful bad conduct. It would be a good function of the local police precinct office, and just the possibility of somebody getting caught at it -or even questioned-likely would greatly diminish the problem. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] RT
Complex thing the Mayoralty is, there always will be stuff that people both like and dislike. In the budget process, there is a limit to funds available. What can the city do, plant money trees? They actually do that with such as the convention center, farmers market and prospectively stadiums and etc., those concessions actually supply most of the city revenues. In the City, -like with the State- they have to make the expenditures fit into the revenue amounts though. In shortfall years like this, there has to be spending cuts. It isn't the Mayor's -or the new Governor's fault. That just is the job they are in. In budget process, there always will be a mix of likes and dislikes, -depending on who is -or isn't- getting rained on with city money- same as with political organizational things, -supporting -or opposing- whatever candidates. It is still early in RT's incumbency, I think from the start he has had good press and good popularity, and with time that will strengthen -and not because of a 'political machine' he controls, but because of really working with the city and it's people. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: anti war resolutions
--Reference Phylliss Kahn's discussion of the anti war resolutions today and back in Viet Nam era-- The Viet Nam 'war' was a definite and -now- generally acknowledged government fau pax, it wasn't the first instance of people being opposed to a war though was a very appropriate public protest action. I was in the army then and I refused to carry a weapon. The discussion of leaders of the Viet Nam era protests in reference to and in organization of protest to any present day military action the Commander in Chief and staff -in compliance with constitutional requirement they provide for the common defense- deem necessary is -like most stereotypes- mistaken conventional wisdom. Will all these protesters and their organizers give blood and contribute public service if again in the United States -or some other country- lots of people get killed by the parties the US sees as a threat? The 9/11 episode being in New York City, Minneapolitans could feel untouched. What if again a similiar thing happens and it is again in some other state or states, or in some other country where all the death and destruction takes place, do we Minneapolitans just go on protesting our government efforts to stop it?? I know only what I get in good cross section of media reports, backed by lots of non fiction reading. I don't access government intelligence that would make me an authority, neither do -I am sure- any of the protesters. I saw the Kuwaity takeover and the oil fields set on fire, I saw on the TV and in printed photographs and articles, I saw reports of the Iraqy military parked up against the Saudi borders. I have seen enough definite evidence on medias to give good credibility to the Bush address, forget about Viet Nam, that's ancient history. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
mpls@mnforum.org
I also think it is germane (spelling correct?), for the reason that any war action is in context of the government doing it's Constitutional duty of providing for the common defense, without which, the president could be impeached, and we could get another 9/11, and it could happen here in Minneapolis and with Minneapolis people endangered by it. I expect that Saddam Hussien would happily pay families of suicide bombers $25,000 each for such activities within the United States -and in Minneapolis- as well as he does in Isreal. The comment that President Bush just wants to get the oil is purposefully false argument. I am sure the Iraqy's would like to loose the restrictions on selling their oil, and any refineries, -American or foreign- would buy the crude and pay market price for it. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] tax // rep
I meant my last post as dealing with what I see as misinformation in discussion of local city representation, -and the comparisons with other states and cities. Other than for that purpose it would have been totally not germane. And while I am at it, in Texas, huge amount of families, -old and new- including the Bushes- are intermarried with Latinos. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: tax but less rep
I have been in Texas a lot and I know that not only are the Latinos -in Austin and other towns- a big part of the populace from a long ways back but they all get along awfully well with whatever Germans or other 'Anglos' -and have, since the Texans took it away from the Mexicans -shortly after the Battle of the Alamo- and which pleased the Mexican people there and they keep on coming out of Mexico to live and work there and elsewhere in the USA. I was told once by a Mexican girl that in Mexico people get elected to public office and then they build big mansions outside of town with all the money they get. There are lots of police and all other public servants -to include in politics- that are Latino -Henry B. Gonzalez was for example- In Rio Grande Valley, they have big bill boards saying; 'Welcome Winter Texans' meaning northern Anglos. The Latinos are 95% of the populous and -I am sure- of the government representatives- and they all get along well. The idea that some white political hacks have been conspiring in Texas cities to keep the Latinos out sounds like misinformation to me. I heard once that even Lady Bird Johnson was some Latino. James Jacobsen // Whittier TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: flyovers
I have never commented on the Lake Street 'flyovers' project,-it does seem like a lot of money to spend -though not from city budget- though I tend to look forward to seeing it as improvement. One issue that I haven't seen mentioned by all those against it is the reduction of ambulance time in coming off the freeways going to the hospital. How many people suffered or died in the last 40 years from too long of an ambulance ride? Improving access should also improve the local economy and enliven the area, and which couldn't suffer from more cars, -we are at the max already with that- and improving access would lesson the amount of time the cars are running to get where they are going. Also about transportation, I like the letter from Pamela Taylor about lite rail. With common administrative work, the lite rail should work well and be likewise helpful. Probably those who were against it will ride it and like it. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: Northwest
This is just your ordinary unavoidable sleaze factor typical of big companies with thousands of employees. Probably Northwest Airlines had no overall corporate intent to give you this treatment. Probably all airline personal are grabbing at money since they have been having financial problems in the industry. I went to Seattle on Northwest for my cousin's funeral a few years ago and I was treated very good by the airline. Big companies like this always have employee problems, they usually have a whole department to deal with such. I have had major problems -clerical type- with major corporates that are based here in Minneapolis and I just talk to someone higher and it has always gotten worked out well. We are fortunate in having Northwest based here in Minneapolis. I was told yesterday by a retired NW pilot that United Airlines -he had heard- likely would Chapter Seven, NW likely would survive. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Re: Iraq // Saudi etc.
Not Minneapolis germain. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] protest
I am fine with moderate protests, I have participated in them.
But the situation here is that America has been hit by major
terrorism killing thousands of totally uninvolved innocent people and doing
mass destruction within the country. As well as the 9/11 event in New York
City, a similiar thing was narrowly averted in Seattle on Millinium New
years. Medias reported after 9/11 that Teleban types had checked out the
Mall of America for similiar treatment.
The country declared to seek out terrorist threatening organizations
and destroy them. In that effort they have sent over 200,000 troops now to
the Gulf region.
You can protest US actions to stop terrerism but what if then we get
more terrorism. What if we get thousands of totally innocent, uninvolved
people killed by terrorism right here in Twin Cities Metro area and these
people, -young or old-protested against trying to stop terrorism.
This is a huge issue and name calling by protesters against people
who don't agree with them and would prefer to be terrorism free is only
indicative of their own mental insecurity.
James E Jacobsen // Whittier
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[Mpls] protest
I was trying to get someplace, attempting to travel on Lake Street about noon Saturday and was badly delayed by the protesters taking up the whole street and blocking traffic. 2400 sounds about right. I think who ever is organizing these kids to parade under these banners should be the first to get killed in any future terrorist activities. They could go to Isreal where Saddam Hussien is paying families of suicide bombers $25000 each. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Green/green
Ref the 'Greens', and the 'Republicrats' and all the brewing stew of city politics, The last city election, I favored the greens because they were an alternative to the machine. I know all the machine types say there is no machine, but these people wouldn't be convicted and then acting all innocent as saints, if there isn't a machine in place. (That's like the mob doesn't want people to think there is a mob and that they are in it) I don't think, though, there is a lot of 'Greens' who are all that 'green', they mainly are looking for alternative to machines. Basically, I think there should be democracy, -that is that I and others are respected in saying what we think about it, generally and technically. And being in the 6th Ward, I am not trying to be involved in any way in 3rd Ward politics. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: mppoa
In the 1980's, I had a telemarketer as tenant on Nicollett and they were making these calls to raise money 'in support' of the police. They also said they supported the Fire department. They organized concerts and called people to sell tickets for the concerts and the money was to go to some kind of support for the Police and Fire Department. They appeared to be a sleazy set up and they had from 6 to 10 people working on the phones and with a fast turnover. They were only there a few months and left. They basically were straight with me, paid their rent and caused no trouble but I wasn't sure about them being on the level. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] casinos
Legions of people like to go to the casinos, even though it is a give away of their money, -lots of them don't care about that, pensioners and others don't mind spending fifty bucks at the casino as a form of entertainment. I personally don't like them, and never play. When occasionally walking through Treasure Island, it has occurred to me that it gives lots of people something to do with their time. If the Casino wasn't there, they might be working on their house or something like that but they also might be getting into trouble. The casino is a sort of adult day care center. Lots of negatives about the casino, it vacumns money out of the community, that otherwise might be spent at the store and etc. Also, as a state budget shortfall solution, it gives easy way out for the legislature, lets them continue to spend more than they should, they would become dependant on the casino as source of government funding, then overspend on that. For City and State, a downtown or mall casino has both up and down sides. It might serve well if with restraint and if we had a conservative legislature that would avoid future budget shortfalls and not be addicted to casino revenues, but I doubt it would be that way. Most of the legislature is habitually like a hog eating crab apples, they will go for whatever they can get and more. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] resolutions of antiwar groups
In midst of the towers burning, Saddam Hussein commented that America deserved the attack. Then it is common news stated in medias that Saddam Hussien upped the payment he gives to suicide bomber families from $10,000 to $25,000. Also, there are lots of shadowy rumors of Iraq being involved with Al Qaeuda and Iraq agents meeting with Bin Laden agents. We know that Hussien hates the United States and we are his chief ambition for international vandalism. It is written also that his chief admired historical charactor and wannabe is Adolf Hitler. If a mobster guy wants you rubbed out, he isn't likely to come over and just shoot you, movies portray them sending their 'hit man' to do the job and paying him a nice 'fee' of maybe ten grand while the mob guy lays around the pool talking on the phone. In that scenario, do you say then that 'Oh, the mobster had nothing to do with it' and we should just let him go about his 'business?' And then one day, the Mall or the downtown, here or in some other city is hit and those of us who survive all just wring our hands some more. No Thanks, I am for getting rid of Saddam like I would have been for getting rid of Hitler. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] resolutions of antiwar
If a 747 was hyjacked and crashed into the Mall of America on a busy day, -with some 30,000 gallons of fuel on board- or into the IDS Tower- actions reported to have been actually considered, with Bin Laden Luitenants being in the city and going to the mall- then I expect all of these sanctimonious -hollier than thou- pronunciations of anti war declarations against the guy who pays $25000 to families of each suicide bomber- would be gone like ghosts in the night. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] state deficit, local problems
If local gov't aids from the state constitute 30% of the city budget and the state, with about 30 billion dollar biannual budget -has deficit of 4.5 billion to get rid of (that's 2.25 billion per year), --there is apt to be some 'revenue inhancing' actions which cuts the amount by a billion or more. (cuts it down to 1.75 billion or less per year) Likely the 30% of state input to city budget won't be entirely eliminated. Maybe it will be cut to 20%. The city budget is in area of one billion per year (corrections welcome). The city income does not come mainly from taxes, the last I saw a city budget it was less than half came from property taxes. Large amount comes from the vast assortment of 'concessions' such as the convention center, Farmers Market and such, then the fees and etc., beyond that the finance department can look at the whole expense budget and find items to trim and find ways to economize. City and State financial planning though, should not ignore the effects of Keynsian Theory of economics, which says plan the budget to enhance not reduce revenues. If taxes are too high business will be driven out, reducing not increasing revenues, and if fees are too high, users will be driven out, reducing instead of increasing general revenues, and etc. A previous governor who left the State in a deficit budget had spent $400,000 to plant flowers (weedpatches) around the freeways in path of the Gorbachev visit. That category of expenditures should be looked at first by both the State and City. The budget is a substantial project in all years, major attention should always be given to it, without which, of course the city -and state- will have such problems. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] conviction
It used to be that the city or county would prosecute any suspected public servant (no names mentioned) and they all would get acquitted. And anyone else, however obnoxious, like the Alexanders with their porno business- just went on and on getting the city more and more smut enshrowded. --This while the property owners, working 7 days a week, usually stretched for money -and up to their armpits in a sewage problem- were continuously denigrated in and out of court by city officials and the media. Then the feds started to act and off go the Alexanders and then the Council Members 1 and 2. And both during a Republican Administration in Washington. Interesting. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] the conviction
How could a 'great' city like Minneapolis have two of its Council Members, in successive years, get felony convictions for their conduct in office? And both members apparently thinking they were good and honest and doing the right thing? Would it occurr to anyone that there is something wrong with the viscious politics as usual: -the-inside-crowd-gets-greased down - and forget about the 'outsiders'? I talked with a use-to-be-friend who works for a connected to the city north side non profit and I about got beat up for even asking about Biernat, she told me Biernat is good and did nothing wrong. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] dredging
You wouldn't have to dredge the river but then if you don't it is subject to changing course. I have read that long back, the Mississippi followed a course through the Cedar/Ilse/Calhoun, Harriet lakes area. The Missouri is like that, it silts up and in the spring, big ice jams on the silt are the occasion for change, sending the river around the jam and then finding its own way. The Missouri valley is usually about three miles wide and the river snakes it's way within that and has course changes every year. Also, about historical use of the river, I think the river is the reason the metro is here. It was steam boat stops that occasioned the first settlements on rivers edge. And steam boats were freighters. There probably never was a time in the metro's history without 'freighters' on the river. Also, the 'freighters', or freight industry was occasion for the cities to develop, -to boom in the homestead days as all the new farm population needed all the lumber -from up north- and hardware from Chicago factories, though which was freighted through Minneapolis St Paul and wholesaled out to the small towns. Then grain and cattle were freighted back to and through the cities. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] pay issues at grocerys
I used to mainly buy groceries at the Rainbow store near Lake and Hennepin, but it is such an ordeal getting through the cashier stations, waiting usually always at least 20 minutes, I changed my preference to store at 82nd and about Xerxes in Bloomington. I also much prefer going to the Wedge Coop Grocery at 22nd and Lyndale. Lunds is good too. It is obvious at the Lagoon ave Rainbow, they have for years had a personal problem, like that they probably draft people from under the bridge to come up and work for food, that's how bad it has looked a lot of the time, and of course they are horridly slow. A few times I had to just walk out of there as I couldn't keep standing there indefinitely waiting for people to stand looking at and waiting for each other. Those stores have about 15 cashier station lines and seldom more than 3 or 4 open for business and usually with long lines waiting behind the working stations. I often have thought that store -and a few others- would benefit greatly by offering a few dollars more per hour for their help. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] property taxes
I used to own 2217 Nicollet Ave, catagorized as office mansion. Built in 1920s it is well designed and attractive building and I had it maintained well, though in late 1980s, the crack/street crime problem got bad, which brought purse thieves into the building and then an exit of my lease and rental deals until my gross income from the building was about equal to the monthly taxes, and that being a time of real estate depression, I couldn't get new rentals. I talked to the city tax appraiser about it, invited him for tour of the building and was surprised to learn that it was like a football game, the appraisers were out to keep the tax revenues up whatever the situation with the building. After explaining the depressed situation and citing fact that gross rents were only as much as the taxes and hearing the tax appraiser's attitude I asked him, 'Isn't that a confiscatory tax policy?' and he said, "Oh yah, there are lots of buildings that way". I talked to Kris Nelson, then head of Whittier Alliance and his words of wisdom were that 'there has to be a shakeout'. Of course the city was contributing extra money to Whittier Alliance for director of crime issues (Gloria somebody) and to really illiminate crime in Whittier, which was making my building untenable. I did go for the tax appeal hearing and got the valuation knocked down by $75,000 which was some help. There was a continuous parade of people in at the Government Center appealing their tax rates at that time. James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] Fw: property taxes
I used to own 2217 Nicollet Ave, catagorized as office mansion. Built in 1920s it is well designed and attractive building and I had it maintained well, though in late 1980s, the crack/street crime problem got bad, which brought purse thieves into the building and then an exit of my lease and rental deals until my gross income from the building was about equal to the monthly taxes, and that being a time of real estate depression, I couldn't get new rentals. I talked to the city tax appraiser about it, invited him for tour of the building and was surprised to learn that it was like a football game, the appraisers were out to keep the tax revenues up whatever the situation with the building. After explaining the depressed situation and citing fact that gross rents were only as much as the taxes and hearing the tax appraiser's attitude I asked him, 'Isn't that a confiscatory tax policy?' and he said, "Oh yah, there are lots of buildings that way". I talked to Kris Nelson, then head of Whittier Alliance and his words of wisdom were that 'there has to be a shakeout'. Of course the city was contributing extra money to Whittier Alliance for director of crime issues (Gloria somebody) and to really illiminate crime in Whittier, which was making my building untenable. I did go for the tax appeal hearing and got the valuation knocked down by $75,000 which was some help. There was a continuous parade of people in at the Government Center appealing their tax rates at that time. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] prac's role in 58B, DFL etc.//taxes, theft by govt.
More reason's why I never vote for DFLs --though Republicans aren't much better and we have yet to see the Greens at it. If they were qualified for their jobs, we wouldn't have the problem at all. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] good times bad times
Re: sabataging power lines, I said I didn't have a clue about it except what Prof. Berman said the other night on Almanac. I never did fraternize -hang out- with the types you describe. I never had anything to do either with driving Honeywell out of town. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] good news / bad news
Reference Wellstone and the Hy Berman statement on Almanac, the power line protesters were tying explosives to one leg of the power towers, it was shown on news, the destruction. They said it cost $240,000 each tower destroyed. I think the way they stopped it was to order the highway patrols -guarding the towers- to shoot to kill. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] good news bad news
The word sabatage wasn't used but the implication was very much that Wellstone was the 'head of the operation'. Perpich had sent Berman to talk to Wellstone -their both being proffs- to get him to quit with it and when Wellstone said 'no way', Perpich was upset. They wouldn't have had this discussion if Wellstone was just one of a group of 'stand there' protesters. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] good news / bad news
I had no clue about connect between Wellstone and the Crookston powerline sabatage until the other day -after the plane crash, I saw University History Prof Hy Berman on Almanac telling about it and telling about Wellstone as being the main charactor behind dynamiting the towers and that then Gov. Perpich -who Berman worked for as kitchen Cabinet- sent Berman to talk to Prof Wellstone to get him to quit and Wellstone said 'no way', after which Perpich went into a rage and was voted out of office in the next election. I was told that it was openly discussed at the Wellstone 'Memorial' also. As to my experience with the politics on the West Bank, I won't go into it further but Mr. 'Wizard' marks would gain by a lot of learning about Minneapolis, the West Bank and Democrats and in some kind of historical context. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] good news / bad news
I will say about the election that I used to be a strong Democrat. When living on the West Bank and a student, I was a member of the PAC and participated in several DFL campaign activities. But then like most of the student crowd, I was looking to move on, I wanted to buy a house and ended up buying a four plex on a GI loan and then two duplexes in need of repair and for low down payment. With that I became persona non gratta on the West Bank. I was like 'investigated' and found to own property and I then became subject of phony but worrisome law suits which I won easily though at some expense and loss of 20 pounds. With all of that, I was totally poisoned on the 'DFL' and haven't voted for any Democrat candidate since. Further, when I found out that Wellstones were involved as organizers of the Crookston power line sabatage some 25 years ago -though I had met and talked to Mondale long back, and thought well of the Mondales, no way would I vote Democrat. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: lawn signs
I was told by Council Member Slater in the 1970s that it is illegal for anyone to put any kind of posters -including campaign posters- on utility poles, traffic signal poles or the like. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] vouching
Once at Whittier Park, 2600 Grand Ave South Minneapolis, in the crowd of voters there I overheard one person say, well I don't live here but I want to vote for my friend who is candidate here. She had the voucher lined up and they went through and voted. Of course, likely she had already voted where ever she lived. All that's needed -then or now- is a person accompanying them who does have the credentials, and that person just vouches for the other person and they all vote, no questions asked. This was in mid 1980's, likely the candidate was DFL as in the city most all office holders were then DFL. I wondered how many other voters were doing that. And I wondered how many office holders got elected that way. The practice is pantently dishonest and voter fraud and the people doing it have to be aware of that. They are participating in theft of an election. The dishonest votes are votes against democracy itself. I think there should be an effort to either catch fraudulent voters -and give them maximum penalty or just preventing them from voting if they have no evidence at all of where they actually live. James Jacobsen // Whittier. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] wild animal safari
I got a rabbit in my back yard and there usually is a pidgeon or two around, like a whole mess of pidgeons hang out in the big parking lot at Lake and Nicollet. Deer come all the way into the city at night often. They have been taken out of alleys live in the 24th and Nicollet area, They come into town following the parkway and then the lakes Harriet-Calhoun-Cedar, will get them near to Loring and then anywhere around there. Black bears and cougars have been sighted in the burbs and My malamute named Wolffie is closest thing to a real wolf, she likes to sleep out on the back porch and watch and hear the excitement all night long -wolfs being nocturnal. She'll give a few wuff wuffs if there is something she doesn't approve of. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: incon- conservatives
I would say, though I agreed little with Senator Wellstone, that it is a heartbreak that the Senator, his wife and daughter as well as the other five people perished now and in this way. The few who create roadside villians here, I challenge you to state what -reference to the grass roots of Minneapolis- did Senator Wellstone do specifically to help, what great battles did he fight, Who did he help in valiant efforts. James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] re: libraries need readers
It is a numbers game. Maybe 60% of people read enough to sometimes visit the library and make use of it. Of these maybe 15% would be avid users. The other 40 per cent number can go up and down slightly but through the decades probably 40% has been about usual. If the civilization and culture is progressing as it should, or improving slightly each decade then the 40% number should decrease, and in the 1950s and 1960s it was generally thought the 40% was shortly going to zero, though as Vicky implies, it has been likely on the increase the past 30 years. People involved in the school system -our Minneapolis School system- should think seriously about this and ask what major issues are we -they- wrong on. This is another of the issue groups that can be a discussion of statewide or nationwide significance, though it certainly is applicable -as I am talking here about- in Minneapolis. It surely is worth it to have the library, if only for the 60%. It is again like baseball, if only 60% are interested and want to go to the game, are the other 40% within their rights to -like with the library- stand up and oppose there being a baseball park or a library? James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] billy
I am no Billy Graham patron, though I see no reason for a negative attitude. In past decades, lacking neon, I am not sure that anyone even knew that building was Billy Graham, The street, around the Graham center was the worst, with junky bars, xx and so on. Then Billy came to town, got his picture taken with the Downtown Council and shortly, a few hundred million investment and the whole Hennepin Ave is very good, which has been a great self improvement for the city. The place must employ a few hundred people. Don't know that it pays taxes. It sure hasn't caused any trouble that I ever heard of and they did use the Dome Stadium, which must have contributed something to the erstwhile baseball park revenue. And like winning baseball, they do draw a big crowd. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] puc
I raised issues of crime to include corporate sleaze in banks and utilities, and some people wrote back that that had nothing to do with Minneapolis. I don't agree. The utilities, mainly the phone service, isn't going to hell, it is already there and that affects everyone who uses a phone. I am talking about Minneapolis. I don't know how you ever get a phone service but to get one changed is near to impossible. The phone service is regulated by the public utilities commission which is regulated by the governor and legislature. I know the problem. Shyster companys want to make more money. (shyse is a Norwegian word which means what a dog leaves when he humps his back). They buy out other companies, merge offices, fire lots of people to where one person, with help of recording message system-is answering phones for three states, that's on people calling with change orders, service problems, etc. It is the Public Utilities Commission's job to see that the utilities operate satisfactorily in serving the public with their government granted monopoly. Not only is their service no good, but both Quest and the electric Excel have been mentioned often as having currupt executives and being potentially bankrupt, while Reliant the company that bought Minnegasco has already done another name change, meaning what -who knows? I would say the PUC has been asleep on the job and politicians who are supposed to be monitoring it all have been too absorbed with their press notices to care a hoot about the PUC and issues thereof. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Gastov's
I was at the Gastov's, and had some German food and drink, I knew and met about three people there connected with the Minneapolis List. Am sure there was a lot more listers there. The meet is a good thing, though two things; 01. It should be in a warm place, room of its own, 02. It should have sign in sheet and name tags so that everyone can see who everyone is and to lend basis for speaking with each other. I didn't stay much as my Grandma was dieing that night, though it would be fun to do it again better. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Twins
Ref. Jim Graham's letter in regard to the Twins, he makes a good observation about handicapped and house bound types. I have thought the city or the Sports commission -or whoever- should make cheaper tickets available and free transport on bus or lite rail for those to attend the games. such would boost the gate and generally add to the community. As to having the city or any government entity buy the Twins, I think that would be a collosal mistake. I doubt the Twins have been a profitable business for the Pohlad's, except as a tax write off. Carl Pohlad, though, must have had something to do with the Twins winning the two previous World Series, first ever since early 1960s. I just don't think the city government would be anything to run a pro baseball team. Who would do it?, the Council or certain council members? or RT? Would there be another big agency like MCDA to administer the team? If they aren't being harassed to death someone will buy the team. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] mpls protest organizers
The last war -in Yugoslavia area- resulted in no combat deaths at all. The idea of equating an action now dealing with a wanna be Hitler- Sadam Hussien with Viet Nam is as antequated idealogically as it is technically. For the Walter Mittys fantacizing themselves as great political leaders changing the course of history, whatever war to get rid of a guy who pays $25 thousand to families of suicide bombers will likely be over before they get up in the morning. James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] Fw: mpls protest organizers
The last war -in Yugoslavia area- resulted in no combat deaths at all. The idea of equating an action now dealing with a wanna be Hitler- Sadam Hussien with Viet Nam is as antequated idealogically as it is technically. For the Walter Mittys fantacizing themselves as groundswell political leaders changing the course of history, whatever war to get rid of a guy who pays $25 thousand to families of suicide bombers will likely be over before they get up in the morning. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] new library
Just a positive comment about all the commenters -back seat architects? I think it is good to get it all hashed out about a major building like that. At the University they had a Coffman Student Union. In the 1970s they spent some $25 million in a major rebuilding and improved it some but then in recent years they are spending 39 million to rebuild it again, saying it just didn't feel right. Major buildings like that should last for centuries. Like the remodeled City Hall and the Government Center- both of those should still be just great buildings a century and more from now. Of course technology will continue to bring changes in bldg requirements. Some otherwise good structures, -like the domed Stadium- can become totally outmoded for commercial and technological reasons. James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] new library
Just a positive comment about all the commenters -back seat architects? I think it is good to get it all hashed out about a major building like that. At the University they had a Coffman Student Union. In the 1970s they spent some $25 million in a major rebuilding and improved it some but then in recent years they are spending 39 million to rebuild it again, saying it just didn't feel right. Major buildings like that should last for centuries. Like the remodeled City Hall and the Government Center- both of those should still be just great buildings a century and more from now. Of course technology will continue to bring changes in bldg requirements. Some otherwise good structures, -like the domed Stadium- can become totally outmoded for commercial and technological reasons. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] tax/revenue
On budget issues -local and national- it can and with voter interest- likely will be brought under control again. The governments need to keep taxes down and -in case or local property taxes- reduce them so as to promote and not strangle off prosperity -the governments funding engine -that's Keynesian Theory of economics. The city, if they choose, can reduce the budget by enough to get by for a few -like five- years, while debt -and attendant expense- is reduced and revenue -through new construction properties on line and increased other revenues- is increased. On federal level an effort to get rid of Saddam Hussien wouldn't cost anywheres near $200 billion. On the day they start the action -with beaucoup cruise missles already paid for- they likely would have it accomplished by 7 am with mop up work left. There would be a lot of expense having troops in Iraq for a period though that likely would be mostly other country troops and expense. Of course there is the profiteer -from government- crowd that wants the cost high as the money goes into their pockets, and they mainly are the ones preaching about what the costs will be. As example, in southern Texas when the bridge to South Padre Island was knocked out a year ago, the boat taxi guys -being paid by federal government and acting very inside knowledgable- said it likely would take a year to get the bridge repaired. It was done in a few months. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: felien
Eddie Felien refers to Wells Fargo as the 'new tenant' in the Honeywell Campus, He refers later in the same letter to the 'purchase' by Wells Fargo etc.. Is this Felien's thinking that the buyer and owner of a property is a 'tenant'?? James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: get to gether
I would participate in a list get together, even at the Hard Rock, -if it don't costed me too much- and if it is on a workable night for me, like a Tuesday thru Thursday but not the 2nd Thursday. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] democracy
If it is cool to say that the US is bad for discussing and intending to defend itself from 9/11 types, -our own city and yes the mall -with lots of Minneapolitans always in the Mall- a possible terrorist target- then it is at least equally cool to say that the US -to avoid the 9/11 type of massive destruction right here in Minneapolis- is very good and appropriate to do what the President and now the Congress is talking about and moving ahead with reference Iraq. The issue here is not Iraq, the terrorists, or the war against them. The issue is democracy. Yah, others have a right to their opinions, I didn't say otherwise, glad that they speak up and identify themselves. James Jacobsen // Whittier.
[Mpls] Fw: democracy
If it is cool to say that the US is bad for discussing and intending to defend itself from 9/11 types, -our own city and yes the mall -with lots of Minneapolitans always in the Mall- a possible terrorist target- then it is at least equally cool to say that the US -to avoid the 9/11 type of massive destruction right here in Minneapolis- is very good and appropriate to do what the President and now the Congress is talking about and moving ahead with reference Iraq. The issue here is not Iraq, the terrorists, or the war against them. The issue is democracy. Yah, others have a right to their opinions, I didn't say otherwise, glad that they speak up and identify themselves. James Jacobsen // Whittier. ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Iraq problem
I noticed the downtown high rises mostly had their decorative lights off for a few nights around 9/11. This wasn't to save electricity. The Anti Americans -and anti Minneapolitans- on the list are identifying themselves. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: talking trash
I agree with Fred that the trouble didn't come from the group homes, it came from little neighborhood 'underworlds' where people hung out, used and dealt in dope, and looked for people and places on which to conduct their thievery -often people with whom they trafficked in drugs. Good area to have a double barrel 12 guage. 2200 Pleasant was source of such activity, there were others. The police -and inspectors- were not interested, -did nothing, and were against anyone -like myself- trying to get police help in dealing with the problem. Whittier Alliance considered those types their little darlings because they helped drive owners (like Steve) out of the area so as to free it up for Whittier Alliance acquisition, and which then gave them opportunity for 'developer fees' in their pockets and lots of city grants and loans and etc. On subject of group homes, they aren't all that much trouble, they generally are well supervised. The managements keep track of the people and often they have group activities with supervisor, etc. There is an issue though of being too many group homes. If it gets so that group homes are on lots of blocks, then desirability of the other houses on the market is diminished, property values are affected, and which has a beginning of down cycling effect on the neighborhood. There are lots of areas in the city where group homes could do well and not affect a neighborhood, like by a railroad or industrial plant etc.. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: crime
Like I said before, if the Mayor needs to save money, he could just take a few million out of the police budget, and make a lot of life size police cut outs and post them around the town, the cut outs would do as much as the police and drink less coffee, and if live police are around also, -drinking their coffee- then the crime rate should diminish from the psychological effect of the cut outs. I think it is clever idea. Anything would be better than this false notion of police protection when they only protect by their image and presence. Everyone saying -from experience- that the police do nothing about burglaries -even when they have the culprit in possession of the stolen goods. And then us paying steeper taxes all the time, the police being big tax expense item. What is outrageous too is that some local politicians have campaigned time after time with their little brochures promising 'police protection' and to 'get tough on crime' and steadily through the decades they serve, -machine politics usually prevailing- crime gets worse. There has to be some way to improve on this. Getting rid of machine politics is a big start. revising the city and county welfare policies so as not to be attracting dependant types to the city -thus lowering the unemployment rate- would help also. Gradually it will happen because the status quo is just too retardo. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: stadium
Again ref the Stadium issues: 01. The stadium, besides for baseball -inevitably will house -as the current one has- rock concerts, Billy Graham, and all kinds of civic activities, and it is the wavering tens of thousands of people that will go there all paying a ticket price -- and all of which defines it as a civic facility. Do good and constructive citizens rant and rave that such a place be paid for by a private individual or companies?? 02. After all the arguments for or against whatever funding for the stadium, when the final deal is set for construction, there will be a bond issue, -just like the for the last stadium and any school or public building- which will raise all the money needed for construction and completion of the stadium and all of it coming from the private sector, likely a big chunk of the bonds will be funded happily by Carl Pohlad himself, or his banks. And then the bonds will be paid off by stadium revenues over the life of the stadium. 03. Any restaurant or other tax levied to make it look good for bond issue, though unnecessary in paying off the stadium bonds, will not be significant. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] crooks
A few weeks ago somebody made a statement about the Kennedys, Rockefellers etc that they were crooks, I didn't disagree as I know that for instance, Franklyn Delano Roosevelt's mother's family, the Delanos -as well as numerous other good family names- made lots of money pushing opium into the Orient in context of the early last century episode in which the Queen's navy fired cannon into Chinese harbors to force them to accept the West shiping and selling drugs into China. To put it in context of Minneapolis though, does anyone know of any instance of big time crooks operating in the city and stealing from everyone? How about the banks; Wells Fargo and TCF advertise 'Free Checking', then when you deposit they don't credit you for so many days, but having deposited you write checks to pay a few bills, the check hits the bank in hours and there being no money there, -the deposit not having been credited, they bounce a bunch of your checks, charge you $30. per check and then the notice doesn't come out to you for a few extra days, in which time you the customer -fat dumb and happy- are writing a check or two in the pool hall or maybe the grocery store or to buy overshoes for your kid, and then when you find out, the bank has reaped hundreds of dollars in fees from your 'free' checking account. The overdraft and nsf fees make up as much or more as the 'earnings' of the banks -large and small- while the old time functions of the banks -getting their earnings from interest on credits -or loans- which they do little of anymore, is a joke. The banks have charters issued by State and Federal Government on which they have to be convincing that they will serve their community, and so they spend $35 per month putting adds in neighborhood papers, they keep a scrapbook of the adds and show it to regulators to evidence compliance with Community Reinvestment Act law. Some of them do some little bit of community investment but little to justify being the depository for all the thousands of wage earners and depositors up and down the streets. Anybody got any combat stories about banks? Attorneys are as bad or worse for robbing people. Anybody got any good Minneapolis attorney stories? James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] pulse letter
Bravo, except that a large percentage of these people -inner city- are 'new in town', -transient-lots of them are well intentioned, -Curt Carlson and millions of others through decades, including myself have been this route and made good- most of them are well intentioned but they don't really know the city. Lots of people who live in Whittier are unaware of Whittier and uninterested, -let alone of 'downtown'. They have other interests and concerns such as getting an occupation, making a living. And then some of them are drug dealers and such and they too, have no interest in local long term planning. Most people have no interest in getting access to the public trough, they just would like to get promoted at their job at Target, -typically. People in neighborhoods should of course have access and something to say and they can be helpful and in some instances they can lead the way, but the 'future of the neighborhood' just thrown in the laps of the residents isn't always going to result in a lot. The planning and long term vision thing is a necessity. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] rascism
Reference letter from Former Speaker of the House in which she asks, 'From whom did you hear this first hand account, everything probably did go pretty well for many of the whites. For blacks who didn't mind staying away from the voting booths, drinking from their own water fountains and suing their own washrooms standing in the back of the bus--'--in ad finitum. It is against list rules to reveal sources etc, I know I can believe the sources, have you made inquiry to disprove? Actually, I did not say the blacks had a nirvana type situation -any more than the whites did, you have to see it all in context that in the 1950s they were less than a century away from slavery, and there was a lot left to work out in terms of the race relations and etc, but after the 1954 Supreme Court decision and subsequent civil rights activities the communities went from a workable ambiance in which people talked to each other to that of two opposing armed camps. Do you think that was an improvement? James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Fw: [Mpls] rascism
I said that in Minneapolis, if you want to be in politics, you go into the street and yell racism, -ample evidence of that. Nobody mentioned what I said about South Africa where the black majority is now running the whites out. Anyone who says that the Scandinavians and what ever other ethnic group -oh, including the blacks- who didn't immediately get real close and friendly with other ethnic groups, are 'bad' --you are not living in the real world. I will just say that reference my comment about southern cities, particularly Memphis before the civil rights thing got going big, somebody direct mailed me this really nice and stereotype challenging letter: - > FYI: I lived in Memphis in the 50's and I agree that race relations were involved, nuanced and pretty peaceful. I don't have time to write at length right now about my experiences as a little Southern white girl - I'm at work - but I will try to later. It was a good time to be a kid and a very good place to grow up. The racial good will I experienced then has stayed with me for a lifetime. > > Oh, a very good film is "The Long Walk Home." Captures a lot of the dignity and strong relationships of that time. --- James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] rascism
About the southern cities scenario, I didn't say they had integrated social events or that the blacks or the whites wanted to totally interact socially, I doubt they did. I got that from my sister and brother in law, who, as new PHD, they went to work at St Judes of Memphis, rented a place and that's what their neighbors told them, that previously, the blacks and whites had good working relations. I said you should read an old southern novel, and check out Bernard Baruch. Actually, Baruch entertained members of congress and the President at his anti bellum plantation at Hobcow, Franklin Roosevelt himself spent a good month there late in his time of office and during which they would go to church, of course on Sunday and the only church there was the black's church with the black preacher and they went and it is fun reading the discussion of it. The people carping about rascism are the ones who know and have thought little of the background of it all. Having read a lot of the histories, when I see people here and now in Minneapolis who think they still are fighting the civil war, I am not charmed. As to the white - black relationship being often one of employer and employee -same as the white white relationship is often as employer-employee- that is a big step up from master - slave, and nobody can argue that today opportunity -for school employment and good life- is not open to people of any race color or religion, at least in America. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] racism
Reference 'racism' in Minneapolis, It should be considered that the cities here started as a solidly Scandinavian, European stock community and it should be normally expected that afro types would be culture and community different. The reverse, as in South Africa, where the major population is black, they are literally chasing the whites out. I have noted from long back that in Minneapolis, if you want to be in politics, just run out in the street and yell rascism and hey, you are in politics. Such type of politics does lots more harm than good. Such people should read an old southern novel and get some reality about it all. I heard first hand that before the 1954 major civil rights activities, in Southern cities there was harmony between the whites and blacks, a lot of blacks had domestic work jobs with the whites, the blacks and whites circulated amongst each other and all went well, no crime problems, everyone got along. Then after 1954, it became two armed camps, no more interaction and the whites suddenly all having big guard dogs. It is interesting to read about Wall Streeter Bernard Baruch, when he bought 'Hobcow', a large anti bellum Southern plantation -as vacation and hunting preserve, and it was populated still, by a few hundred black families. Baruch kept everything as it was, he sort of governed the place, made it work well and handled matters of all kinds for the blacks and helped them -if they wanted- to transition to a northern city and have work there. The story is pertinant as a lesson to Minneapolis, as if some of the activist crowd read of it they might gain a much less abrasive and more successful manner of dealing with whatever issues they have and the city would be a more easily governed community and lots more congenial place for everyone to live. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] lite rails
Re: suggested negatives about light rail, the same was said of the construction of the Government Center at cost of about 55M in early 1970s. Board chair and GC proponent, Richard O. Hansen, -whose 29 year career as board member started with county functioning out of one large room in basement of city hall- was hounded out of office mainly over that and very dumb suggestions he got under the table payments on the construction. Hansen said he was clean as the driven snow, -probably was. The building at first stood alone away from the other high rises and Hansen said that if just one new building went up next to the GC, the resultant property tax would eventually pay for it. I expect that after a year or two of light rail operations the negatives will become users and very much appreciative of it and the overall story of the Light Rail will be similiar to the GC. And I expect that the reported dull and urbane 29th street rail corridor will eventually become the light rail line accross Minneapolis. James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] re: neighborhood fundraising
It was my suggestion and efforts to hold 'Benefit Boogie' in the Old Fire House on the West Bank, 1975. We got Willie Murphy and Bees to play for free and took in $1100.00. But then a local neighborhood mugwug just took the money and walked, I never heard a thing of where it went or what was done with it. I sure would never be involved with something like that again. With all the disappearing money from neighborhood groups, I think any kind of 'fund raising' gambling deals should be shy'd away from totally. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: lite rails
Re: suggested negatives about light rail, the same was said of the construction of the Government Center at cost of about 55M in early 1970s. Board chair and GC proponent, Richard O. Hansen, -whose 29 year career as board member started with county functioning out of one large room in basement of city hall- was hounded out of office mainly over that and very dumb suggestions he got under the table payments on the construction. Hansen said he was clean as the driven snow, -probably was. The building at first stood alone away from the other high rises and Hansen said that if just one new building went up next to the GC, the resultant property tax would eventually pay for it. I expect that after a year or two of light rail operations the negatives will become users and very much appreciative of it and the overall story of the Light Rail will be similiar to the GC. And I expect that the reported dull and urbane 29th street rail corridor will eventually become the light rail line accross Minneapolis. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] light rail delay
Not so unusual the lite rail delay, whatabout the Crosstown interchange freeway that was supposed to be getting improved. I, at least, am glad to see that the project is in progress and eventually will be 'on line', and I wish they would do the same with the Crosstown. James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] 'The Property owner'
As to comments ref: the paper affiliated with the Property Rights Group that is being superceeded by the 'Watchdog', the paper was of course called 'The Property Owner', it was put out, edited and published by me, It ran for three years, it quit early this year for reason that though it had good readership, --was even subscribed to by the historical societies of Minnesota and Wisconson-- the editor and publisher, -myself- was also, of necessity, the funder of about half the costs of the paper. The Property Owner could easily have paid for itself in ad revenue, and continued functioning but there was a lot of politics as people in or out of the group whose ox wasn't kissed up to adequately would complain to advertisers and potential advertisers, attempting to kill the 'Property Owner'. In that context, I felt that, even though the paper should run continuous, three years was a long enough run to get that discussion started. Unbeknownst to me in coming up with the "Property Owner" concept, there was a previous paper called the "Property Owner", put out in the 1940s and 50s. I had the honor of meeting the person, in his late 90s, who did that paper, Ed Settevig. I know Ray Whebbe from long back and I know for sure that he will be getting paid for whatever his work is and will not be shelling out for printing and distributing. I was told they were going to use 'personal adds', and etc., to fund the Watchdog. I am not sure what all that dog is going to watch and what will get by it with no bark at all. It should be known though that I and the "Property Owner" have nothing to do edit and management wise, with the new paper, the "Watchdog". James Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] Fw: poverty
Though some African Americans might well have the problem of not being good 'employees', It wasn't African Americans I had observed, they were mainly white. And stop giving me the rationalizations. Any restranteur will tell you the average time of employment for a dish washer is about 3 weeks, the ones who are still there after three weeks get promotion and raise in pay, and the more dependable they are the more they go up. In 1965 (thats 37 years ago) the LBJ admin. got war on poverty legislation passed and this country since has done more for the poor than any country ever and where are we now, reference poverty and associated problems, --all the numbers are bigger--, and with continued shootings, crime, drugs, etc.. Figure it out. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Re: Wizard?marks
Wizard?mark says: "The Kennedy's did not get wealthy by honest means. Nor did the Bushes, the Carnegies, the Rockerfellers, etc." I know there are real crooks out there. I suppose then you are using this unfounded statement to say that people should not try to -or be held to- getting rid of poverty for themselves and by using honest means? Could you give us some dishonest means you would suggest people avail themselves to, like, do you mean drug dealing, theft, etc.?? James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Re: Garwood // Brandon Lacy & poverty
--"The image of people sitting on their porches lazily toking up on the government dime is mythological." -- I have seen exactly that often, as a Minneapolis property owner. People about 19, perfectly healthy, good looking, and smart, getting up around noon, slogging their way accross the street to corner grocer (with help wanted sign on door) to get their milk, bread and beer. That is the female, then the male, and usually more than one over time are there living off the welfare money, they smoke a little as afternoon and evening wears on. Then the guys would get on the $200 a month General Assistance and go for 6 months or a year or two, and then they would begin to look at the SSI thing, and I saw some perfectly healthy able guys in their early to mid twenties get on SSI. All this while Asians and Latinos wisp around in small new cars, going to their jobs etc. -And I only had one 4plex to which this lifestyle was applicable-. As econ student at UND in 60s, I favored the welfare thing, thinking it was all legit and supporting the economy, but experience changed my mind, as I saw the abuse, the wasted lives and the deliberate conniving. And I have heard similar discussion from police officers. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: Brandon Lacy & Poverty
Poverty is not something that I or the government gets rid of for you. Poverty is something that you and each person gets rid of for themselves. The government doesn't do it. The government, with the money you get from it, only gets you mired more deeply into poverty. The check you receive from government is free money, easily spent on drugs, subjecting you to arrest, jail, being shot, etc.. Further, don't have kids expecting to get paid for that by the government. Go to work, get out of poverty before having the kids. The taxpayer has no obligation nor interest in paying you for having kids. Not too many convenience stores and other businesses aren't looking for help. You (anybody) first have to adopt a conscientious (look it up in dictionary, or ask an older person) attitude about doing what you are to get paid for, like showing up for work, doing what the job requires, etc. Nothing and nobody is going to get rid of poverty for you but yourself, and by honest means. James Jacobsen // Whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Fw: Oil shortage??
The city and County -the whole metro area, in terms of buses etc., should convert vehicle fleets to natural gas, or better yet -if they can- liquid natural gas. The conversions are not a major retrofit, doable in gas stations, which also would supply the product. There is no shortage of the fuel from within the United States, it is cheaper than gasoline or diesel, and it is pollution free. The process and facilities are already there and some fleets in the city are already converted. When driving on freeway, just notice the fuel tanks on trucks, some have one or two smaller tanks, thats for natural gas. The maps of nearby Eastern Montana and West North Dakota are solid with natural gas resources, and from 3 or 4 levels. The resources are known because when oil wells are drilled they are logged or recorded and on file with the counties. In just about any township, a well could be drilled in each section (36) and find gas in every well. The wells are linked up to central station with some tanks and an LNG plant and then it is only an issue of getting the LNG to the cities. And that could be done by truck or rail. There used to be protests about the danger of the product to explosion but truth is it is not so dangerous, I am told you could pour your coffee cup full of LNG and light a match to it and it would lightly flame away -wouldn't explode. In lots of other countries, including China, they are working towards use of LGN. By converting to LGN, the Twin Cities could become free of oil import problems. James E Jacobsen // whittier ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] re: Phaedrus
If you look at it from a statistical view, first, She had a gun, Doesn't mean she is a criminal, maybe 20% chance. 2nd. She shot a cop. Definite criminal act 100% chance 3rd. She shot below the vest. Implies premediated. 80% chance 4th. She could have been blowing weed and didn't mean to do it 20% chance Total percentage 220% divided by 4 gives 55% chance it being a criminal act and that's being generous. Jim // Whittier
[Mpls] horn towers
I have heard for at least a decade back that Horn Towers was being used to house younger problem people and that there was commomly a crime element there. I was in the towers once to visit a women I knew who, age about 40, somehow was living there, she wasn't a criminal type but I had occassion -on entry- to see a very grimmy image of the place, grimmy types lurking and seeming to be waiting for something. And this women, age 60, -gimme a break- she was carrying a gun and she not only shot a cop to death, she knew to shot below the vest. Oh they didn't think she was a criminal type, maybe it was medication!!, etc. --It was a criminal act with criminal preperation and criminal intent. Jim // Whittier.
[Mpls] Officer Schmidt
Just a comment: It is a sad thing that this officer Schmidt is deprived of her future life in being killed at the Horn Towers. She was apparently well liked at the complex and fact that she was shot below the vest implies no amatuer status with the person who did it. The Horn Towers is an attractive and well located complex that could and should serve well for senior housing. It is time to clean that place out, just get rid of any crime element there. Is this an issue of screening?? Jim // Whittier
[Mpls] tickets & lots more
What I said was "the light rail will make the populace less subject to traffic and parking tickets". I didn't say that maybe 99% of people -instead of taking the light rail- might not choose to go down town and violate the parking laws so as to get parking, and maybe other tickets also, I just was implying that the light rail will give people the options of avoiding all the traffic and parking issues. I really think that after a year or more of 'intro' period, that lots of people will 'discover' light rail and will get into using it on regular basis for the above reasons among others and thus avoid feeding meters, tickets, fines, accidents and etc. Jim // Whittier
[Mpls] re: Lickness / tickets
The light rail system -much as so many people 'railed' against it- will make the populace less subject to such parking and traffic tickets. And there is a new thing now in traffic court, the judge doesn't even come into court, a pedestrian type announces that people get in line to talk to prosecutor and if you don't have tickets on your record you can just pay and keep it off the record. That's an improvement, though a lot of the tickets are not justified and should be thrown out anyway, like in heavy freeway traffic, a ticket for changing lanes without signaling. -a person would be dead in a week if they aren't watching in mirror and signaling for dear life. Jim // Whittier
[Mpls] re: avidor
Opportune place for Lake Street Light Rail is the 29th Street rail corridor, off the street (for much greater safety) though easily accessible and stretching west to Hopkins and beyond and then east into St Paul. And the whole thing is already there -they wouldn't have to dig and build bridges. Jim // Whittier
[Mpls] Best Gov
Tim Penny will be far the best for Minneapolis, St Paul, Bloomington, Duluth, Owatonna, Ely and all the countryside and the towns as well, because he is an experienced, intelligent person, is well thought out on every issue, and because he is not a machine politician, merely trying to keep the 'organization' thing going. James E Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] new in towners
Re: Libby & Rybak on Stadium, Goodman, et al: To all you new in town types, it was that way also with the current domed stadium, there would be like two scrufty antistadiumers that some how got WCCO over to interview and they were saying build homes not domes. To each one of those there was 100,000 that did like the idea of a new dome stadium for baseball and etc. I think it went on for at least a decade and never would quit as everytime a legislative committee didn't quite pass it, they got all kinds of mail from people like me who thought they weren't making good use of their own dome, maybe we could play baseball under that one. And since they did build the existing stadium I haven't heard or read of any terrible problems because of it. James E Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] Re: Sasaoka letter back
I heard Mayor Frazer -about 10 years ago- say it costs the city about $50,000 per year for each cop out there, that would include police expenses beyond just the payroll. Also, he said it cost about $50,000 for each squad car, after it was outfitted and with maintainence. Probably those costs are actually higher now. The police cut outs idea is funny but I'll bet it would bring some percentage of crime reduction. The cut out would suggest that the real thing is nearby. James E Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] police
I have had fair amount of experience with the police in 31 years of living in South Minneapolis and lots of it was good. There are lots of good police officers. I have had good discussions with them and good and honest suggestions about things. But, like with any entity employing hundreds of people, there always will be some shirkers. When I bought my house 26 years ago, the neighbor accross the street, -a couple in their 90's- they had owned the original hardware store where Electric Fetus is now. The guy told me how some thugs got in, pointing guns at them and were going through the house looking for money. He managed to call the police and they happened to be right in the block so they came in just as the robbers were casually walking away. He told me the police had to take a report first while the thugs were just getting in their car and driving out like they were on their way to church. Of course they never caught up with them -and didn't want to. In numerous issues and problems with small time crime, I never saw anyone get caught or even pursued. I learned to only report small time breakins and theft for purposes of insurance claim. Of course there is politics and differing directions taken by the Mayor and Police Chief, but not much difference in the on the street police activity. Their presence on the street -at $50,000 per officer per year- is their main strategy for deterence. I have often thought if the city needed to cut its budget the police is one catagory that, if they cut out a few million dollars, I don't know how we would be any worse off. They could put plywood cutouts of police strategically around the town and really get police bang for the buck. James E Jacobsen // Whittier
[Mpls] airport noise
Ref: Barb Lickness's letter about airport noise: My Grandparents lived in the Ford Town -just where the new runway is being built- I was there a lot through late 1940's and early Fifties until they moved to Overlook in Bloomington. My Uncle and Cousins liked the airplanes but often we would be sitting there in the living room talking and an airplane would rev up and it got so loud, that you absolutely couldn't hear the person in front of you talk and the windows would be rattling. It was a complete war zone, My Grandpa got a few letters in the Star & Trib then about it. My Granddad told me long later that during the Depression when they had no money, he used to go out there at night with a 30/30 rifle and shoot multiple ducks with one shot while a plane was reving up. They voted with their feet, they moved and sold. My cousin though, became a pilot and was captain of a 757 for Northwest. I asked him if they should move the airport or not. He said well, now most of the take offs and landings are over the river anyway and they have jillions of dollars invested there, and wherever they moved to, it would just build up again anyway to the same problem. James E Jacobsen // Whittier
