Posts in Minneapolis Issues Forum

--- On Thu, 1/8/09, Cam Gordon <camgordon333@msn.com> wrote:
From: Cam Gordon <camgordon333@msn.com>
Subject: Re: [Mpls] "Everything is on the table"
To: <email obscured>, <email obscured>
Cc: <email obscured>
Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009, 8:44 PM

It would be helpful to have readers of this list (and others) answer Caty's
question, or at least discuss it more.  It is something those of us inside City
Hall are asking ourselves and our staff a lopt these days. I know I would
appreicate hearing your answers.

What are those things that Minneapolis government should spend money on that
won't get covered or done otherwise?

Thanks,


Cam Gordon
Seward> Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 13:50:51 -0600> From:
<email obscured>> To: <email obscured>> Subject: Re: [Mpls]
"Everything is on the table"> CC: <email obscured>>
> Yea to your general ideas. However, there are things that the
government> should spend money on that won't get covered/done otherwise
and what those> things are should be decided with much communal input.>
> caty royce> bancroft> > On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 1:44 PM, Michael
Thompson <mthomps@mninter.net>wrote:> > > This is a rare time
when I completely agree with Wizard. The budgeting> > mess,> > city
and statewide, will be a true test of what our electeds are made of.> >
Everything should be on the table, though I doubt it will. What will be> >
most> > interesting is every group coming out of the woodwork saying
"yes, there> > must be cuts, EXCEPT this one thing..........".
We got ourselves in this> > mess when times were fat and happy (relatively
speaking, of course). We> > simply cannot sustain t
 he spending that government (us in the long run)> > insists on. Sometime
it must stop. What a great time for that to happen.> >> > Mike
Thompson> > Windom> >> >> > ----- Original Message
-----> > From: "WIZARD MARKS" <wizardmarks@q.com>> >
To: "aa MPLS forum" <mpls@forums.e-democracy.org>> > Sent:
Thursday, January 08, 2009 1:35 PM> > Subject: [Mpls] "Everything is
on the table"> >> >> > >> > > According to a
Steve Brandt story in the Trib on Tuesday (B section), RT> > > Rybak
says that, in trimming the budget, everything is on the table. If> > >
the first things on the list do not include the alleged green roof for> >
the> > > Target Center, the phoney NRP, and the artsy drinking
fountains, then the> > > whole process will be a sham.> >
>> > >> > > Wizard Marks> > > Central, Mpls.>
> > Info about Wizard Marks:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/wizardmarks> > >> > > This
topic's messages may be viewed at:> > >
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4RLlLwvdJ4JgChzaEUell4> > > -
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Thompson> > Windom, Minneapolis> > Info about Michael Thompson:>
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flame-bait.> >> > > > -- > "We are the change that we
seek."> Barack Obama> > caty royce> work on Selby, live over
south min
 neapolis> Info about caty royce:
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_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live: Keep your life in sync.
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009
Cam Gordon

Info about Cam Gordon: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/camgordon

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________________________
Steve Kotvis
Kenwood, Minneapolis


> From: edfelien <edfelien@pulsetc.com>
> Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:29:48 -0600
> To: "Timothy J. Salo" <salo@saloits.com>
> Cc: aa MPLS forum <mpls@forums.e-democracy.org>
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] "Everything is on the table"
>
> Timothy J. Salo writes:
>
>> Michael Thompson wrote:
>>> ... We
>>> simply cannot sustain the spending that government (us in the long run)
>>> insists on. Sometime it must stop. What a great time for that to happen.
>>
>> Can you point to any evidence to support this broad claim?
>>
>> Historically, Minnesota has had _both_ some of the highest
>> taxes and the highest per capita incomes.  Are you implicitly
>> claiming that high incomes cause high taxes?  Are you claiming
>> that investments in infrastructure, such as an efficient
>> transportation system and an educated workforce, don't enhance
>> our prosperity?
>>
>> By the way, Minneapolis is one of the few municipalities in the
>> state that has a full-time fire department.  Do you consider this
>> an unnecessary luxury?  Are you willing to become a volunteer
>> firefighter (now called "pay-per-call") in order to reduce your
>> taxes?
>>
>> Why did you knowingly choose to live in a high-tax state and
>> municipality?
>>
>> Or, do you simply wish enjoy the benefits of the investments
>> made by others, but don't want to pay for them yourself?
>>
>> -tjs
>>
>>
>> Tim Salo
>> Macalester-Groveland/Dinkytown
>> Info about Tim Salo: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/timsalo
>
>
>
> Right on Tim!!!!
>
> Yes, please read Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine to fully understand how
> gangster capitalists wait in the bushes (pun intended) to pounce on weakened
> states.  Yes, we need to tighten up and luxuries should be eliminated, but
> the infrastructure of Minneapolis is crumbling (BRIDGES ARE FALLING DOWN!),
> we are not providing health care, food or shelter for our most vulnerable
> and the public library system is surviving on the lean portions of County
> relief.
>
> Now is the time to go to the State Legislature and ask for a municipal
> income tax: one-half to one percent of income earned inside the city of
> Minneapolis would go a long way to meet our budget crisis.  People use the
> City for its parks, universities, and opportunities to work, and they don't
> pay taxes to support the infrastructure of road, police and fire necessary
> to support their pleasures and work options.
>
> Does that seem fair?
>
> Ed Felien
> Powderhorn
>
> Ed  Felien
>
> Info about Ed  Felien: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/edfelien
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/eCbw19olu7dHQXdEeWY8B
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-----------------------------------------> To post, send your message to:
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More info about Minneapolis Issues Forum: >
http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls> > E-Democracy.Org rules:
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Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net> > 1. Be
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member is in violation, contact the forum manager at> <email obscured>
before continuing it on the list.> > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious
flame-bait.

> Michael Thompson wrote:
>> ... We
>> simply cannot sustain the spending that government (us in the long run)
>> insists on. Sometime it must stop. What a great time for that to happen.
>
> Can you point to any evidence to support this broad claim?
>
> Historically, Minnesota has had _both_ some of the highest
> taxes and the highest per capita incomes.  Are you implicitly
> claiming that high incomes cause high taxes?  Are you claiming
> that investments in infrastructure, such as an efficient
> transportation system and an educated workforce, don't enhance
> our prosperity?
>
> By the way, Minneapolis is one of the few municipalities in the
> state that has a full-time fire department.  Do you consider this
> an unnecessary luxury?  Are you willing to become a volunteer
> firefighter (now called "pay-per-call") in order to reduce your
> taxes?
>
> Why did you knowingly choose to live in a high-tax state and
> municipality?
>
> Or, do you simply wish enjoy the benefits of the investments
> made by others, but don't want to pay for them yourself?
>
> -tjs
>
>
> Tim Salo
> Macalester-Groveland/Dinkytown
> Info about Tim Salo: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/timsalo



Right on Tim!!!!

Yes, please read Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine to fully understand how
gangster capitalists wait in the bushes (pun intended) to pounce on weakened
states.  Yes, we need to tighten up and luxuries should be eliminated, but
the infrastructure of Minneapolis is crumbling (BRIDGES ARE FALLING DOWN!),
we are not providing health care, food or shelter for our most vulnerable
and the public library system is surviving on the lean portions of County
relief.

Now is the time to go to the State Legislature and ask for a municipal
income tax: one-half to one percent of income earned inside the city of
Minneapolis would go a long way to meet our budget crisis.  People use the
City for its parks, universities, and opportunities to work, and they don't
pay taxes to support the infrastructure of road, police and fire necessary
to support their pleasures and work options.

Does that seem fair?

Ed Felien
Powderhorn

On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 1:44 PM, Michael Thompson <mthomps@mninter.net>wrote:

> This is a rare time when I completely agree with Wizard. The budgeting
> mess,
> city and statewide, will be a true test of what our electeds are made of.
> Everything should be on the table, though I doubt it will. What will be
> most
> interesting is every group coming out of the woodwork saying "yes, there
> must be cuts, EXCEPT this one thing..........". We got ourselves in this
> mess when times were fat and happy (relatively speaking, of course). We
> simply cannot sustain the spending that government (us in the long run)
> insists on. Sometime it must stop. What a great time for that to happen.
>
> Mike Thompson
> Windom
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "WIZARD MARKS" <wizardmarks@q.com>
> To: "aa MPLS forum" <mpls@forums.e-democracy.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 1:35 PM
> Subject: [Mpls] "Everything is on the table"
>
>
> >
> > According to a Steve Brandt story in the Trib on Tuesday (B section), RT
> > Rybak says that, in trimming the budget, everything is on the table. If
> > the first things on the list do not include the alleged green roof for
> the
> > Target Center, the phoney NRP, and the artsy drinking fountains, then the
> > whole process will be a sham.
> >
> >
> > Wizard Marks
> > Central, Mpls.
> > Info about Wizard Marks: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/wizardmarks
> >
> > This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> > http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4RLlLwvdJ4JgChzaEUell4
> > -----------------------------------------
> >  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
> >  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
> >  in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
> >
> >  More info about Minneapolis Issues Forum:
> >  http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls
> >
> >  E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> > -----------------------------------------
> > Technical assistance thanks to our friends at
http://OnlineGroups.Net<http://onlinegroups.net/>
> >
> > 1. Be civil! Please read the rules at http://e-democracy.org/rules.
> >   If you think a member is in violation, contact the forum manager at
> >   <email obscured> before continuing it on the list.
> >
> > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
> >
>
>
>
> Michael Thompson
> Windom, Minneapolis
> Info about Michael Thompson:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/michaelthompson
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2NOO5NFjhR0ULrsB2KR6Dr
> -----------------------------------------
>  To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>  To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
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>
>  More info about Minneapolis Issues Forum:
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>
>  1. Be civil! Please read the rules at http://e-democracy.org/rules.
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>
> 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
>



--
"We are the change that we seek."
Barack Obama

On Jan 8, 2009, at 6:16 AM, cathleen royce wrote:

> i'm very happy that seward coop is growing and will continue to
> support them
> and thereby my own health and the health of my family.  BUT, that is
> the
> ugliest damn building i've seen in many moons. what the heck?????  i
> couldn't believe it when i saw it and they said it was the finished
> product.
>
> On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:49 PM, Sheldon Mains <smains@visi.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
>>
>> On Thursday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m. Seward Co-op will open the doors of
>> its new
>> store at 2823 E. Franklin Ave. There will be a ribbon cutting
>> ceremony,
>> store tours and giveaways commemorating this special event.
>> Everyone is
>> welcome!

Andy
--
651-293-9039/651-492-2221 (cell)

 From MinnPost.com's BRAUBLOG:

Strib bankruptcy talk on KFAI
<http://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2009/01/07/5651/strib_bankruptcy_talk_on_kfai#comments_section
 >
By David Brauer | Published Wed, Jan 7 2009 9:34 am
Politics In Minnesota's Dan Feidt notes that members of several Star
Tribune unions will be on the KFAI program "Truth to Tell" today
(Wednesday) at 11 a.m. It will be a rare chance to hear directly from
folks most resistant to the cutbacks that Strib publisher Chris Harte
demands.
On the guest list: Strib business writer Chris Serres, retired
pressman Dan Ganley and pressman Doug Rzeszutek. Serres helped lead an
unsuccessful effort this summer to oppose newsroom concessions; the
pressmen's union did torpedo givebacks by the Strib's Teamster locals.
By the way, yesterday was management's self-imposed deadline to have
an "agreement in principle" with labor; by all accounts, that deadline
was missed. In a December memo, Harte wrote "prompt union cooperation
is essential," adding "we must get these reductions ratified by the
unions rank-and-file members by mid-January."
He concluded, "Without the support of our unions, an out-of-court
solution is not possible." Management has since proposed wage cuts of
up to 42 percent for some Teamsters, with pay and benefit reductions
all around.
In the past year, Harte has thrown out several deadlines that have
been ignored, though many think this one is real; see whether the KFAI
guests see this as another bluff.
KFAI's call-in number is 348-0980; it can be heard at 90.3 FM in
Minneapolis and 106.7 in St. Paul.
______________________________________________
 From Politics in Minnesota Wednesday morning:

Star Tribune union supporters to hit the airwaves
<http://www.politicsinminnesota.com/2009/jan07/1492/star-tribune-unions-hit-airwaves-pressure-avista
 >

Posted 2:08 am, January 7th, 2009 by Dan Feidt





labor Newspaper GuildStar TribuneTeamsters

Avista Capital Partners' ownership of the Star Tribune has been
bruising for the once-mighty workforce there. However, to date,
despite the layoffs and cutbacks, the forces of organized labor
haven't made much of a visible ruckus against management. PIMhears
that's going to change today, as the unions are beginning to realize
that they need a public solidarity strategy -- a turn prompted by
Avista's new negotiating threat: its says if it doesn't get total
concessions, the Star Tribune will file Chapter 7 bankruptcy on
January 16th, according to one source.

"Theoretically" that's what Avista says will happen, we hear, though
we have not yet been able to get first-hand confirmation of what
Avista is telling the unions.

At a meeting Tuesday evening, folks from the major blocs of Strib
employees got together. Today they will kick off a pressure campaign
against Avista, led by the "Newspaper Workers Rank and File Solidarity
Support Committee." Reportedly the Committee will take its case on the
air on KFAI radio at 11 AM today; more news expected at tdu.org.

Word of the Committee surfaced on Dec. 12th at the Teamsters for a
Democratic Union website, and an account of dismal negotiations and an
acrimonious company Christmas event from Dec. 23rd. The mailers,
pressmen, drivers, mechanics and electricians are all getting into the
act. The mailers, drivers and pressmen are Teamsters. Teamster units
like the mailers face wage cuts of 42%, and threats of Chapter 11
bankruptcy have already been in the offing.

The point of the effort is to build solidarity among the Strib unions.
We hear that if even one union fails to take what Avista offers, it's
reportedly threatening to obliterate the metro's biggest paper, though
we have not been able to confirm this.

In a sense, what remains of the old-school cadres might finally be
ready to throw down against Avista, which rode into town on a tidal
wave of cheap loans from Wall Street (that it's now welching on). It's
said that a few months ago, the union hardliners had little support;
now union leadership is coming around.

The Newspaper Guild is looking at a wage freeze, while other unions
have been presented with up to 50% wage cuts. Pensions, vacations and
health benefits are all in the mix. While the Guild has relatively
less harsh measures coming at it, we hear its leadership is
increasingly willing to stand with the other Strib workers against
Avista.

There's a sense that the unknown Avista private equity firm has been
getting away with everything too easily, even though it has virtually
no public image associated with its myriad of energy and telecom
holdings.

Much like Sam Zell has plunged Chicago's Tribune Company empire into
Chapter 11 (despite its workable cash flow), another heavily leveraged
paper buyout has careened into an ocean of red ink and bad debt. We'll
share what's developing with our readers as we get more details
confirmed. Story developing...