Post in Public Money for MOA Parking Lot???

Apr 30 16:04 UTC

Hey neighbors -

Many of you have probably heard about the provision in this legislative
session's Omnibus Tax Bill that would allocate PUBLIC funding for a new Maul of
America (MOA, and yes, I always spell it with a 'u') parking structure (i.e.
existing PRIVATE enterprise).  If not, here're some links to get you up to
speed:

TODAY'S FRONT-PAGE STRIB STORY
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/18389184.html

KARE11 story (from 4/23/08)
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=508553

(See Article 9, Sec 17 & 18 - I know, the legalese is hard to digest)
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF2869&ssn=0&y=2008

I strongly oppose this part of the tax bill for several reasons:

1) First & foremost, I believe that our government exists to help those who
have trouble helping themselves and to maintain our public safety &
infrastructure.  This endeavor doesn't fall into either category.

2) It replaces a successful private enterprise's financial risk with public
financial funding.  The mall has been profitable for years and should be quite
capable of financing its own parking structure.  (For the record, I do not
oppose small-scale public assistance for fledging businesses.  Large-scale
assistance to already profitable enterprises does not meet this criteria.  As
an aside, this applies to our sports franchises, as well.)  This money should
go to improving PUBLIC infrastructure and helping LOCAL businesses get started.

3) The Maul is in direct competition with our SENA neighborhood businesses.
Why on Earth would we want to give MOA a greater advantage in this battle???

4) This legislation sets a dangerous precedent for the upcoming Vikings stadium
issue (they are watching this one closely).  As Hennepin County residents,
we're already on the hook for a stadium that we bought for one of the
wealthiest men in the WORLD (top 500).  Do we want to continue unnecessarily
financing PRIVATE projects like shopping center parking lots and sports
stadiums at the expense of the PUBLIC infrastructure & safety???  WHAT DOES
THIS SAY ABOUT OUR SOCIETY'S VALUES???

5) I don't buy the "we're creating jobs" line that's being used to cloud this
issue.  Regardless of where this money is invested, jobs will be created, so
this point is moot.

I could probably go on with this list, but I need to get going on contacting my
state reps to let them know how I feel about this issue.  If you feel strongly
either way about it, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THEM, TOO!  Here's how to find your
reps' contact info:

http://geo.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/districts/start.html

Most of us probably have these reps:

Jim Davnie
<email obscured>

Patricia Torres Ray
<email obscured>

And feel free to tell other reps your feelings on this deal, too!  I've learned
through my experience with slowing the progress of the Mid-town Burner that my
opinion DOES matter and that the MORE volume & frequency I (and others) put
behind expressing it, the MORE effective it is.  I've also learned that I need
to closely monitor what my government is doing with its power - the price to be
paid for a GOOD democracy!

Carry on, everyone!

:) Ann Novitske