Even the Mayor agrees that Minneapolis officials haven’t been focusing on their responsibilities

The Mayor has stated in delivering his budget proposal that the infrastructure in Minneapolis has been neglected and is in disrepair. He announced his 27.5 million package to repave or repair more than 1/3 of the city’s heavily traveled streets and parkways maintained by the city. Of course he blames the state and federal government for the problem. Let’s take an accounting of the facts here. This is the same gang (Mayor and City Council) whom most are in at least in their second four-year term. Roll call please:
Rybak : 2001
Ostrow : 1997
Gordon : 2005
Hofstede : 2005
Johnson : 1997
Samuels: 2003
Lilligren: 2001
Goodman 1997
Glidden : 2005
Schiff : 2001
Remmington : 2005
Benson : 2001
Colvin Roy : 1997
Hodges : 2005

You mean to tell me this group hasn’t had the ability to address the problem until now. It is the responsibility of the city officials to take care of these things, it’s what they are elected to do. They have to look no further than a mirror in front of them to find someone to blame for the crumbling infrastructure. Here is a short list of things they have been focusing on.
Green roof tops
Water fountains
Bike path projects
Payoffs of lawsuits for bad policy
New Community Engagement Department
Redesigning perfectly good streets for no good reason (example: Hennepin)
Making the city more “walkable”
Global warming handouts

Whew…this is just the tip of the iceberg. None of these things are going to catapult the city into the annals of Better Homes and Infrastructure. Isn’t about time these folks get to the business of conducting city business, or maybe it’s time to give them the business.