On this blog I tie into issues that concern city dwellers and look at all levels of government for where those issues can be drawn from, resolved, or are derived from. This subject points out how all levels are involved in city issues.
On Monday night I attended a meeting in regards to completing the Grand Rounds national scenic byway. This real wonderful city jewel is an important part of the fabric of Minneapolis. On the eastside of Minneapolis there is a missing piece of Grand Rounds, and it has been missing since the design over 120 years ago. Now they are talking about completing the route and adding a whole bunch of new parks. They are talking about spending millions of dollars on completing this byway and adding parks during a tough economic period. People are having trouble making ends meet and the “elected” are talking bike ways and parks.
What happen to spurring business and providing lower taxes? These two actions could provide the millions of dollars thru increase tax revenues and pay for the “goodies” they are looking to build. The “elected” are looking for ways to spend money the public doesn’t have in order to pay for grand projects that they can point to and say “see what I gave you…reelect me”. Greedy if you ask me! Paying for their reelection on the wallets of the hard working middle class people. I have talked to a lot of people about this, and all of them ask me if I’m kidding. “You can’t be serious, those people are talking parks and bike ways”? One person asked me if these “elected” are from a different planet.
In the meeting some bragged about the fact that James Oberstar (D-8th district Minnesota) promised he could get the money to fund this project. Some bragged that “we should have no problem getting money from the state since we have Larry Pogemiller in the State Senate”. To these “elected” I ask what is more important parks or people? Oberstar serves on the Transportation committee and is charge of spending for bridges. Ah, Jimmy boy, should we be spending on bridges or parks? What are the priorities?
Apr 9, 2008
How Out Of Touch Are They???!!!
I walked out of a meeting in Northeast with Council Member Paul Ostrow on Monday night. After exchanging greetings he said “So the Governor really handed it to us”. I looked at him some what of a perplex look and asked, “how so”. He start complaining about how the Governor struck out $70 million dollars from the bonding bill, and really let Minneapolis have it. Now Paul and I have had similar discussions in the past, and it he never fails to amaze me with his weird sense of priorities. I told him that I’m sure the Governor funded only what was needed, and struck out what wasn’t needed. Paul started going on about the light rail and bridge projects. I let him know that none of what I saw struck out of the bill was really needed at this time. I mean “holy crap” we have everyday joe lunch bucket having trouble making ends meet and he is peeing about the light rail. I pointed out to him that I know some people whose property taxes went up 30% last year! The one question that he is never able to answer “do you know anyone who got a 30% raise last year”? Where do you think the money government collects comes from anyway? Can he be that unaware of where the mnoey they spend comes from, or does he just not care about the people he represents? He paused, and said “we need people like you at the truth in taxation meetings”. Ugh, total waste of time. They would never listen, and I work for a living and don’t have time to play their games just to end up on their “hit list”. Wait a minute; I most likely am there already.
Here is the link to the Governor’s veto list, judge it for your self. The Minneapolis Shadow hands to Paul Ostrow the golden “Wasteiod” award for the week.
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/prod008798.pdf
Here is the link to the Governor’s veto list, judge it for your self. The Minneapolis Shadow hands to Paul Ostrow the golden “Wasteiod” award for the week.
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/prod008798.pdf
Apr 6, 2008
Sunday Visit
Education recap
One of the major passions that I have is education. I find the lack of effort on focusing on the real problems inexcusable, and an abandonment of kids left in the charge of the school systems.
Here are the key points discussed in the education series this week two weeks.
Disciple in the classroom
The parents need to understand and come to an understanding with the administration of the school that there are expectations of their children’s behavior and strong consequences for not meeting those expectations. The teacher is in charge of the classroom.
Clear out the administration
The school administration is a bloated bureaucracy that requires major trimming. More money needs to go towards classroom materials, instruction, and better pay for teachers. We need to attach teachers from the professions that they are to be teaching to improve the quality of instruction and provide real life experiences.
Prepare for the math and science revolution
The sciences, math, and engineering fields are the way of the future and require better instruction that what is currently being provided. This type of education experience is the “meal ticket” out of poverty. Thses facts need to be stressed to kids and parents and with the focus on can be brought into reality.
Focus on what is important
Do away with social promotion and focus on the basics, which must include math, reading, writing, civics, history, science, physical education, health and finances.
Math, reading, and writing are time tested and regularly seen as the basics, but it goes far beyond that.
Civics. The basics of what makes this country work and makes it the greatest nation on the earth has been lost on a number of generations now and the needs refocusing.
History. The future problems are repeated if you don’t understand history. It cannot be the revisionist history however, but a true account of events.
Science. We have lost some of our ability to properly simulate the imagination and the exploration soul of the human sprit. We have lost some of our ability to properly excite the mind of our kids towards the understanding of the world around us. We must rekindle these things and it starts in the classroom of the sciences.
Physical Fitness and Health. America has become more and more health consciences and must instill good healthy understanding at a young age. An upgrade in our health education curriculum is sorely needed.
Finances. An issue such as the housing financial crisis demonstrates that the education methods on finances are serious lacking. In order to steam the tide of this requires the education system to lay a better understanding of how basic finances and the economy work.
Make a pact with parents
The parents need to be on board with the education program otherwise nothing works. The parents need to be held accountable for their children behavior and education results. Some parents aren’t equipped to handle the kind of help their children need, but the school and teachers need to recognize that and figure out how to compensate for that. I’m a big believer in tutors for kids that are falling behind in subjects, and the parents need to be onboard with allowing the kids to get the help they need. Parnets must also ensure that their kids are meeting expectations such as homework, and get the answers their children need. Without the parents fully engaged nothing gets accomplished.
The numbers don’t lie no matter which ones you believe
Stop avoiding the real problems and directly attack that issues head on. The graduation are horrible and everyone connected with these numbers should recognize it for what it is, a grand failure.
In order to solve these problems it takes real leadership, and in the city there seems to be a lack of it.
One of the major passions that I have is education. I find the lack of effort on focusing on the real problems inexcusable, and an abandonment of kids left in the charge of the school systems.
Here are the key points discussed in the education series this week two weeks.
Disciple in the classroom
The parents need to understand and come to an understanding with the administration of the school that there are expectations of their children’s behavior and strong consequences for not meeting those expectations. The teacher is in charge of the classroom.
Clear out the administration
The school administration is a bloated bureaucracy that requires major trimming. More money needs to go towards classroom materials, instruction, and better pay for teachers. We need to attach teachers from the professions that they are to be teaching to improve the quality of instruction and provide real life experiences.
Prepare for the math and science revolution
The sciences, math, and engineering fields are the way of the future and require better instruction that what is currently being provided. This type of education experience is the “meal ticket” out of poverty. Thses facts need to be stressed to kids and parents and with the focus on can be brought into reality.
Focus on what is important
Do away with social promotion and focus on the basics, which must include math, reading, writing, civics, history, science, physical education, health and finances.
Math, reading, and writing are time tested and regularly seen as the basics, but it goes far beyond that.
Civics. The basics of what makes this country work and makes it the greatest nation on the earth has been lost on a number of generations now and the needs refocusing.
History. The future problems are repeated if you don’t understand history. It cannot be the revisionist history however, but a true account of events.
Science. We have lost some of our ability to properly simulate the imagination and the exploration soul of the human sprit. We have lost some of our ability to properly excite the mind of our kids towards the understanding of the world around us. We must rekindle these things and it starts in the classroom of the sciences.
Physical Fitness and Health. America has become more and more health consciences and must instill good healthy understanding at a young age. An upgrade in our health education curriculum is sorely needed.
Finances. An issue such as the housing financial crisis demonstrates that the education methods on finances are serious lacking. In order to steam the tide of this requires the education system to lay a better understanding of how basic finances and the economy work.
Make a pact with parents
The parents need to be on board with the education program otherwise nothing works. The parents need to be held accountable for their children behavior and education results. Some parents aren’t equipped to handle the kind of help their children need, but the school and teachers need to recognize that and figure out how to compensate for that. I’m a big believer in tutors for kids that are falling behind in subjects, and the parents need to be onboard with allowing the kids to get the help they need. Parnets must also ensure that their kids are meeting expectations such as homework, and get the answers their children need. Without the parents fully engaged nothing gets accomplished.
The numbers don’t lie no matter which ones you believe
Stop avoiding the real problems and directly attack that issues head on. The graduation are horrible and everyone connected with these numbers should recognize it for what it is, a grand failure.
In order to solve these problems it takes real leadership, and in the city there seems to be a lack of it.
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