The Minneapolis Silly Council is looking to grow vegetation on the roof of the Target Center!!?? The estimated cost increase over a conventional roof is about $300,000, but claims have been made they will be able to recover those costs within five years. I’d like to see those figures. I’d be all for this crazy scheme if Council Members like Benson and Goodman, who are pushing this, can show where the proof of the savings comes from. Too many times has the Silly Council made claims they couldn’t back up.
The Shadow will add $300,000 to the Silly Council’s waste bucket if this plan gets the go ahead, but I’m sure that it won’t be the final tally for the cost.Note to the elected “Geniuses” in St. Paul: Minneapolis is looking to put another $300,000 into a project that isn’t needed. Remember that the next time Minneapolis comes around with it’s hand out.
Mar 1, 2008
Where is the Shadow? #1
Feb 28, 2008
High Cost of Living
Just getting from there to here is going to get a lot more expensive. The Met Council has approved the new rail corridor between the “U” and Saint Paul. I can’t wait for the same extra congestion and cost overruns that came with the Hiawatha corridor. The state just passed the largest tax increase in Minnesota history including a huge increase in the license tab fee and gas tax.
Do you people have any idea what this going to do to the overall economy? As the cost of moving goods around goes up, the cost of the goods go up. Econ 101! More proof of the poor education system! Raising the gas tax requires businesses moving goods and providing services to have to raise their prices. Just about everything requires transportation. The increased cost of fuel increases the cost of business. The increased costs are passed on to the customer of the goods and services. Hello!!! Now you have some of the state “geniuses” talking about leveling a tax on clothes. How do you expect people to afford to live? Ugh!
If you want urban renewal putting in light rail stations isn’t the answer. If you want to reduce congestion on the road, light rail isn’t the answer. I’m no fan of taking a bus, however at least with a bus system you can move the routes to meet the changing demands of the population.
Keeping taxes low, encouraging business growth, small business investment, and less government regulation are great steps in real urban renewal.
Do you people have any idea what this going to do to the overall economy? As the cost of moving goods around goes up, the cost of the goods go up. Econ 101! More proof of the poor education system! Raising the gas tax requires businesses moving goods and providing services to have to raise their prices. Just about everything requires transportation. The increased cost of fuel increases the cost of business. The increased costs are passed on to the customer of the goods and services. Hello!!! Now you have some of the state “geniuses” talking about leveling a tax on clothes. How do you expect people to afford to live? Ugh!
If you want urban renewal putting in light rail stations isn’t the answer. If you want to reduce congestion on the road, light rail isn’t the answer. I’m no fan of taking a bus, however at least with a bus system you can move the routes to meet the changing demands of the population.
Keeping taxes low, encouraging business growth, small business investment, and less government regulation are great steps in real urban renewal.
Feb 27, 2008
Shine on Hard Earned Moon ... because we can't afford pants
The Minneapolis City Council wants to charge the property owners thru the property tax for ornamental lighting placed in front of their property. The cost figure I've heard, and I hope someone can tell me that I'm wrong, is $2,000 a for a typical lot. Nobody I know has an extra $2,000 laying around for sometime like lighting. Heck if I'm really good at finding a deal I can get my roof replaced for that kind of dough. Of course I'll be able to see it alot better with my $2,000 light in the front. Better yet, they aren't going to ask if we want it.... they just put it in as they replace the road. Oh we can petition city hall to let us out of it, but have you ever tried that? Forget it, you’d have better luck trying to grow grass in Alaska on a ice berg in the middle of winter. Maybe this lighting program could be a part of the transportation bill that just passed the State...sorry don't give them any ideas. This on top of the high priced specially approved contractors for replacing the sidewalks, knit picky inspections program, higher sales taxes to pay for ballparks, and the new gas and license fees for vehicle operation. I think it’s time for the Minneapolis tea party…want to join?
Question to the Minneapolis City Council… Do you like residents or just money control? In order to have a well run city you need to have a good balance of happy tax paying residents, profitable businesses, good schools, safe streets, and high quality city services. This doesn’t describe Minneapolis. People need to be able to earn a living to provide a roof over their heads, feed their families, educate their children, enjoy fun activities, and have pace of mind. Paying most of their income to the government is not on this list. Who do you know had a 30% raise in their pay last year. Not many I know! We are going to take careful watch over how much more money is being taken from us between the state and city over the year. We will publish these numbers, along with other trends. Note to all the local city and state government office holders… The Shadow is watching!
Question to the Minneapolis City Council… Do you like residents or just money control? In order to have a well run city you need to have a good balance of happy tax paying residents, profitable businesses, good schools, safe streets, and high quality city services. This doesn’t describe Minneapolis. People need to be able to earn a living to provide a roof over their heads, feed their families, educate their children, enjoy fun activities, and have pace of mind. Paying most of their income to the government is not on this list. Who do you know had a 30% raise in their pay last year. Not many I know! We are going to take careful watch over how much more money is being taken from us between the state and city over the year. We will publish these numbers, along with other trends. Note to all the local city and state government office holders… The Shadow is watching!
Feb 26, 2008
Losing Freedoms: Minneapolis controlling business
If you own a business in Minneapolis …take notice! Once again the Minneapolis City Council is throwing its weight around trying to control businesses. The latest is Gabby’s bar in Northeast, and the city is threatening the liquor license of a 22 year old business. In a response to neighborhood complaints of alleged Gabby patrons causing some admittedly big time problems in the area, the council is trying to tack on some additional unregulated requirements to their liquor license. Security and alcohol service management plans that must be submitted to the city, reduction of already approved occupant limit, and elimination of free drink specials. Isn’t there a more creative way of addressing the problems than trying to dry up a business? Isn’t that what these politicians are hired to do?
Of course this comes from council members like Diane Hofstede who back in 2006 tried to amend the liquor license of the Loring Park bar stipulating that any live music played at the bar on Mondays and Tuesdays would be of the same style as that which is performed there the rest of the week. What’s next Diane, No Greenies? This is the same band of vigalaties that bring the tax payers multi-million lawsuits because they abused their power. Remember the 8 million settlement with Metro Produce for the late night trucks in Longfollow? Minneapolis City Council, why change now? They have a history of costing the tax payers big bucks for their mishandling of problem resolution. Don’t say Kondirator in Northeast! After 20 years of fighting this metal shedder on the river they still lose and end up robbing the coffers to the tune of almost 9 million dollars. Incompletent and expenseive! This was a problem that should have never occurred in the first place. Unless the geniuses in city hall can come up with a better way of handling themselves, all I have to say is…grab your wallets because here we go again.
Of course this comes from council members like Diane Hofstede who back in 2006 tried to amend the liquor license of the Loring Park bar stipulating that any live music played at the bar on Mondays and Tuesdays would be of the same style as that which is performed there the rest of the week. What’s next Diane, No Greenies? This is the same band of vigalaties that bring the tax payers multi-million lawsuits because they abused their power. Remember the 8 million settlement with Metro Produce for the late night trucks in Longfollow? Minneapolis City Council, why change now? They have a history of costing the tax payers big bucks for their mishandling of problem resolution. Don’t say Kondirator in Northeast! After 20 years of fighting this metal shedder on the river they still lose and end up robbing the coffers to the tune of almost 9 million dollars. Incompletent and expenseive! This was a problem that should have never occurred in the first place. Unless the geniuses in city hall can come up with a better way of handling themselves, all I have to say is…grab your wallets because here we go again.
Welcome to the Jungle
The jungle that is city life. The Urban Renaissance Coalition is a group of folks who are focused and dedicated to the improvement of the political structure of the American Urban environment. Too often have the city elected officials suffered from IPS (Insane Policy Syndrome). They implement laws that are counter to the American foundation and common sense. The URC is a non-partisan organization that focuses the public debate on solving the problems, addressing the real concerns, and implementing common sense solutions. All of us look forward to engaging the public on the issues foremost on the minds of city dwellers. We will be expanding our services and interfaces has we proceed on this effort, and look forward to building it with you. This is only the beginning!
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