Re: Ramp meters sucking the life out of Mpls?

[RANDERSON67]

In a message dated 10/23/00 3:17:47 PM Central Daylight Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 Subj: Re: Ramp meters sucking the life out of Mpls?
 Date:  10/23/00 3:17:47 PM Central Daylight Time
 From:  [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Rocker)
 Sender:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Reply-to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Multiple recipients of list)
 
 It's not the meters that encourage sprawl and subsidize exurban developmen 

John,

You have stated a factual truth (redundant?). We have had many years trying 
the same old approaches and spouting the same old rhetoric, and many failed 
ventures which should be screaming for new  vision.

They are complex issues indeed. However, better solutions are available, but 
require new approaches in how we think of those issues, and especially how, 
or what, we will do to provide equitable relief. On that note, it is prudent 
to say that "leaders" must adopt the thinking process that is more aligned 
with our new view of "stakeholders", and abandon the practice (Keynesian?) of 
legislating in the purview of monied interest.

Philosophically, when ever process immobilizes or alienates factors of 
production, it adversely affects distributive yield:  it occurs randomly 
within the realm but never on , or beyond the curve. Simply stated, it is a 
win-loss scenario for all. There are better ways to address "affordable 
housing", sprawl (all), tax reform, more accountable government, better 
education, healthcare, etc., but it requires a shift in legislative  
priorities and actions to accomplish.

Robert Anderson
Minneapolis
http://www.egroups.com/group/anderson4rep

Re: Ramp meters sucking the life out of Mpls?

[John Rocker]

It's not the meters that encourage sprawl and subsidize exurban development,
it's the road system itself and the continuing belief that the solution to
traffic congestion is more roads and wider freeways. The state legislature
needs to understand smart growth and spend transportation dollars
accordingly, but, even that isn't enough for Minneapolis. When traffic
reaches the joking point and people start locating jobs and housing closer
together, Minneapolis will still be competing with the suburbs for jobs and
residents and businesses will continue to locate where employees live.

Lacking a unified vision, we too often look for a single solution (turn off
the meters, build a downtown entertainment center, build light rail,
increase affordable housing) to a complex set of issues that together
determine our collective "quality of life." In truth, it's a complex issue
that requires a clear vision and a multi-layered solution. The solution is
not affordable housing or market rate housing or light rail or bike paths or
new development or housing rehabilitation programs or better schools or
better parks. It's all of the above.