Center of the Fiscal Target

According to Council Member Ostrow one of the ideas that is being pushed by Council Member Benson to use the NRP funds to work on retiring the Target Center debt. Thru the Community Engagement meetings we are hearing that the TIFF districts need to be extended in order for the “Geniuses” at the State Legislature to hand out the NRP money. The CE plan would call to not extend the TIFF districts, and the property tax money would then go to the city (Red Flag) to spend as possible discretionary funds.

If it is money meant for the city why should it need to go thru the state? Sounds like Daddy handing out allowance.

The Minneapolis “Silly Council” has a history of not being very discretionary when it comes to funds. So the Shadow sees this as a catch 22.

It was Council Member Benson that was looking for money to “green up” the roof of the Target Center. I wonder if he is really thinking what is best for the city financially, or just looking for a way to let the “green grass grow all around”?

The city is pitching the CE plan throwing the people a curve ball by offering property tax relief. Don't believe them! Just one question... ever seen the government sunset a tax increase?

The Shadow says....

1. Retire the TIFF districts.

2. Retire the Target Center debt without a "blooming" roof.

3. Pay for basic city services.

4. "Silly Council" stopping begging for money.

5. Hire new Council Members.

Where is the Shadow #2

Please feel free to post a comment with your guess for this week's picture.

Call the cops.. there has been a ceramic mugging in Minneapolis

This post comes from a very good friend of the Shadow who couldn't have put this any better way.

I think we all have a few ceramic coffee mugs we don't want, like or use.
When an archeologist digs for signs of ancient civilizations, the first evidence found is invariable broken pottery. We know more about ancient civilizations crockery than we know about their agriculture. Ceramics will sit in land fills forever.
Please, lets all pitch in, and save the environment. The City of Minneapolis has decided they will no longer spend up to $500 per year for paper/plastic cups. (I don't know who drinks hot beverages from a paper cup more than once, but that's beside the point). Their stated alternatives are ceramic mug donations and those purchased from second hand and/or discount stores. I have nothing against these stores, but I don't want to incur the labor costs of shopping for used/discount coffee cups out of the city budget.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/2008-meetings/20080321/docs/Coffee-Cup-Resolution.pdf
DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR UNWANTED CERAMIC MUGS.
Donate them to the city council and save the environment. Next year, we will need to appropriate funds for the labor costs of cleaning ceramic mugs, environmental impact studies concerning proper disposal of ceramic mugs, and scientific research concerning the efficiency of hand washing versus machine washing.

Applaud the CE Plan .. Maybe not

The Shadow will always give it up for ideas and people who I think are doing the right thing. On the surface the Community Engagement plan seems to be a step in the right direction.
In years gone by the city council member was the one you went to if a neighborhood needed something. The council member would weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks, balanced against other city priorities, and push to get it thru. NRP changed all that. Neighborhoods spend the money at their whim with very little concrete oversight. Hence the problems with turning NRP into a jobs program, and the city basically throwing true city planning out the window. NRP took the very foundation of our system of government, a Representative Republic, and turned it into a free for all. We tend to forget that which has gotten this country, the great experiment, to where it is today. This is the greatest country in the world, but it can be lost if we don’t stick to our founding principles. Some would even say that we have alright lost too much, but I digress. The Community Engagement Plan is a way to get off NRP and still give the “elected” political cover. A group of citizens should not have to learn the inner workings of the complex city government in order to get a concern heard or a plan to enhance the neighborhood justly considered. They should spend the time in neighborhood meetings listening to the concerns of the people, not just wind bagging and leaving. That is the job of the city council member. If your city council member tells you to otherwise, then they should be replaced!

Raising Income vs Raising Taxes

The Shadow rails against the poor spending habits of the elected officials, but really that isn’t where the objection is. If the citizens really want to spend money on the “bells and whistles”, then the government should provide that because it is the will of the people. However, the government has the responsibility to set the priorities on those things it is most responsible for and what is left over can be spent on the extras. It is when a city is facing crime problems, bad roads, poor city services, failing schools, and a poor job market that raising taxes to meet these obligations is most irresponsible. It’s like the family budget; you fund your food, clothes, house, and car first; and then you can enjoy a movie, dinner out, and a new whatever. The city needs to follow that same policy. You fund the infrastructure, police, fire, and basic services first and then you can pay for parks, lakes, and community programs. The burden of making tough decisions in regards to government funding needs to be off the businesses and residents, and onto the elected officials. I shouldn’t have to ask if I could make a car payment or my tax payment.
The city is the highest concentration of population, and should be a gold mind for business to find available labor. Instead, it is the city that you find the highest rates leveled against people and business. If the elected officials reverse that trend you’ll find more available jobs and workforce to draw from. Businesses will setup shop where they can best afford to, and people will live where they can afford, free safe, and enjoy the extras. Following this recipe will raise income and not require raised taxes.

Come to Minneapolis to fight Global Warming…we have money to burn

Minneapolis hands out over $20,000 in micro-grants to community based organizations that want to fight global warming.
If I want to hand out calculators that figure out my foot print …. I could get a grant.
If I want to water trees in the park… I could get a grant.
If I want to hand out money at theaters to bikers … I could get a grant.
If I want to hand out clothes lines … I could get a grant.

Let’s reduce global warming by removing some of warm bodies on the “Silly” council who come up with this crap, there Mr. Benson!

Hey “Geniuses” at the State Legislature, remember this the next time Minneapolis comes around with its hand out.

The Shadow adds $20,000 to the waste bucket.

Sunday Visit #1

In the “good old days” every Sunday families would get together to visit. People were much more commutative and getting together for at least one connection a week was key for the enjoyment of life and staying connected with each other was vital. In honor of that tradition we will “visit” and dig deeper into some of the issues during the week.
In the past week we have pointed out how poor the Minneapolis Silly Council has been at fighting for the right thing to do on behalf of the residents of the city. After 20 years of fighting the Kondirator they still lose the fight and the money. The council never seems to learn their lesson in overreaching its authority and continues to demonstrate their inability to avoid costly problems. Examples such as the settlement with Metro Produce in Longfollow, or Gabby’s Bar in Northeast. The council did temporarily backed off the sanctions they had sought on Gabby’s, but only after consulting a judge. Meanwhile, the problems experienced by the neighbors continue. Gee, I find it surprising that the “influential” members of the Silly Council can’t find a way to address the issues without leaving the city open to costly problems. With all the power of the city, police department, neighborhood organizations, and a willing business owner they can’t find a solution that will take everyone’s interests into consideration.

We demonstrated how the Silly Council focuses on the wrong set of priorities in creating a well functioning city. The council continues to focus on such things as green roofs and pretty lights that raise the basic cost of living. What ever happen to making the city a good place to live for people of all economic backgrounds? The way things are going Minneapolis will end up with two economic tiers. One tier that is poor enough they require dependence on government and the other tier that is rich enough to pay for the first tier. Any healthy and well functioning city requires a solid middle class population, which will be something increasing scare if this tread continues.

Weekly Awards and Recognitions
The Shadow has added 9 million dollars to the Silly Council waste bucket because of the Kondirator lawsuit settlement.

The Shadow is giving Diane Hofstede the “boo” of the week for her continued attempt at overstepping her authority and robbing business owners their right to make a profit.
The Shadow is giving council members Goodman and Benson the “goofy” award of the week for wanting to grow a garden on top of the Target Center.