All posts in the topic State of the City (Short link)
Summary
- There are 57 posts — by 24 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by John Wilson at Mar 28 18:14 UTC
| From | File | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Rosa Maria de la Cueva Peterson | Mar 19 17:56 UTC | |
| Rosa Maria de la Cueva Peterson | Mar 25 19:04 UTC | |
| Andrew Hine | Alfred Hine, poet, ca 1906.pdf | Mar 26 21:27 UTC |
Greetings, Last week I delivered my third State of the City speech at the Wilder Center in the heart of the Central Corridor. In a room filled with people who want to make a difference, I felt the optimism that is found in every corner of Saint Paul. I left the Wilder Center energized that we have the right talent to seize the opportunities the City offers and make Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America. In Saint Paul, we're rightfully proud of our accomplishments – such as the groundbreaking work we are doing in education and the progress occurring along the Central Corridor – but we are equally proud of the partnerships we've built in the process. Over the last two years, I've been honored to work with an endless stream of policy makers, community activists, and non-profit and philanthropic partners who have helped us shape the City's future and move Saint Paul forward. Starting today, I'll be holding meetings across the city to share our progress with residents and engage them on how they feel about the state of the City. So, over the next week, I invite each of you to give your impressions on the State of the City, to engage in constructive dialogue on where you think the City should be headed, share your ideas on how we can get there, and to ask questions you may have. Over the course of the week I'll be following the dialogue closely, hoping to hear from both those who actively post and those who may just ‘lurk’ on the forum, and over the weekend I'll put together a response to the 5 most commonly asked questions. I want to thank Saint Paul E-Democracy for the opportunity to partner with them and all of you on this project. I hope this is the beginning of a larger community dialogue on Saint Paul's future. As a starting point, you can view my State of the City address at http://www.stpaul.gov Sincerely, Mayor Chris Coleman
Anyone else from the forum at the state of the city address yesterday?
What did you think?
Tim Erickson
Wow, Sir! You're up early for March 18th!
I have two comments at the moment; one about Education and the other about the
Economy.
Education:
Last night at the Ceili (CSPS Hall, w/ Barra and The Eddies) there were people
as young as 2 and as old as 90. It struck me that not only were the young
learning from the old, but the old were learning from the young, too. (I'm 46,
so I didn't learn a thing.) It would be nice to have more of this type of
activity, but maybe with less Irishness.
Economy:
I realize that just because a city used to have a lot of certain types of jobs
doesn't mean it always will, or always should. Take brewing, for example. A
lot of people used to be employed by breweries in Saint Paul. Now very few
are. Part of the problem is that Saint Paulites buy beer from places like Saint
Louis, Oregon, Michigan, and Amsterdam. One of the reasons I quit the Team of
17,999 is that Wally The Beer Man was not allowed to sell me Summit at my seat.
Even shouting "Summits for our whole row!" didn't work.
Buying local beer is the easiest, if not the most satisfying, thing I can do to
reduce pollution caused by shipping. The Farmer's Market is another example.
Schmidt Brewery Water used to be another - even seeing a bottle of Fijian water
gives me a drowning sensation.
So, my first question for you, and thank you very much for the opportunity, is
"Can we raise the tax on Anheuser-Busch and Miller products and make Summit,
Finnegan's, Flat Earth, and Great Waters beer tax-free? What about other
incentives to reduce 'redundant imports'? What about hiring people to
'dismantle' old homes (to reuse the studs) instead of knocking them to
smithereens?"
If people still need their lite <sic> beer, I suppose a person could whip some
up easily enough down at Pig's Eye Lake (more jobs).
Zymurgically yours,
A. M. Hine
Brewerytown USA
PS Don't miss "What's Brewing In Saint Paul?", a free preservation talk at the
Summit Brewery, Thu 10 Apr 08, 7-9pm. Located on the #54 (limited stop)
busline. More info at www.historicsaintpaul.org
Mayor Coleman: Thank you very much for giving people this opportunity to
respond to the State of the City. Hopefully we will get to see some
interesting questions, and some interesting answers.
Andrew Hine: What about Surly? It's from across the river, but Brooklyn Center
isn't that far away, all things considered. Also, for that matter, what about
Coors? I don't actually know what goes on inside, but there's a big building
on Prior Ave N with a Coors sign on it (you can see the sign in Google Street
View at 496 Prior Ave N...also, for the time being, the "street view guy" is a
leprechaun, fyi). Is this whole thing just a distribution center? Or maybe
bottling?
On Mar 18, 2008, at 4:18 PM, Jonathan Barrentine wrote: > Mayor Coleman: Thank you very much for giving people this > opportunity to respond to the State of the City. Hopefully we will > get to see some interesting questions, and some interesting answers. I finally attended my first State of the City address this year. (whoops, don't tell.) I was pleasantly surprised by the number and diversity of folks in attendance. Lots of city staff (including police and fire department officials), neighborhood leaders, media, and a few community activists. There were a few folks in the back with signs about the closing of the Ford Plant. There were a number of forum members in attendance, mostly forum members who also wear hats as public officials or staff at community organizations. I wondered how many people in attendance were aware of SPIF - or have participated in the past. Certainly, being there made it apparent to me how big the circle of folks are, that are involved in planning the future of our city, and of the many groups that we've (St. Paul E-Democracy) not yet tapped into. If someone has a link to the text of the speech, it would be great if you could share it in the forum. I know that many people have technical troubles hooking up with the video version, I just failed myself (I think I need to download another plug-in). Again - a link to the video can be found at: http://www.stpaul.gov/ Who else attended the speech? What did you think? Best wishes,
Jonathan,
It would be progressive and somewhat distance-based:
Beer produced within Saint Paul would be tariff-free.
Beer from other parts of Ramsey County would be taxed $1 per barrel.
Beer from other MN counties, $1.50/bbl
Midwest, exc. Wisconsin, $3/bbl
Wisconsin, $4/bbl
USA, $5/bbl
Canada & Mexico, $10/bbl
South American, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, $20/bbl
Anheuser-Busch & Miller, $30/bbl
Coors & Pabst, $50/bbl
water from Fiji, $110/bbl
AMH
Andrew M. Hine
3M IATD
Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division
3M Center 230-1F-35
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
<email obscured>
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-2003
"Jonathan Barrentine" <<email obscured>>
03/18/2008 04:18 PM
To
"St. Paul Issues Forum" <<email obscured>>
cc
Subject
Re: [SPIF] State of the City
Nice idea Andy but I believe it would be illegal. The
Commerce Clause of the constitution prohibits one
state from discriminating against the products of
another.
There is a way to accomplish what you want though.
Require returnable beer containers with a large
deposit. It was the nonreturnable bottle that allowed
the interstate shipment of beer and the growth of
megabreweries. Requiring returnable containers makes
it much more expensive to ship beer over large
distances and favors local breweries.
I've attached (below) the schedule of upcoming community meetings that
the Mayor is hosting to discuss the "State of the City" and "how we
best collaborate to move Saint Paul forward." The next one is tonight
at 7:00 at the Hub Center for Lifelong Learning.
I know several members of this forum are planning on attending
tonights meeting at the Hubbs Center for Lifelog Learning. Hopefully,
various members of SPIF will attend all of these meetings and report
back to the entire forum.
As members of this forum, we have a real opportunity here to help
spark and carry forward an important discussion about the future of
our community. Please, consider the following:
1) Attending one of the meetings
2) Posting observations about the topics of discussion
that come up in those meetings
3) Posting your own thoughts in this forum about the
future of St. Paul
- - - - - - - - - -
"Mayor Coleman will also host a series of five community meetings
through the end of March to discuss the City’s progress with
residents. The Mayor encourages residents to attend the gatherings to
participate in an active discussion on the state of the city and how
we best collaborate to move Saint Paul forward.
Scheduled Community Meetings include:
* March 18th, 5:30-7 p.m. in Large Meeting Room 272 at the Wellstone
Center for
Community Building at Neighborhood House, 179 Robie Street.
* March 19th, 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 112 at the Hubbs Center for Lifelong
Learning, 1030 University Avenue West.
* March 25th, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Como Zoo & Marjorie McNeely
Conservatory
Visitor Center Porch, 1225 Estabrook Drive.
* March 26th, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Ecolab Room at Metropolitan State
University/Dayton’s Bluff Branch Library, 645 E. 7th Street.
* March 27th, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Weyerhaeuser Hall Board Room at
Macalester
College, 62 Macalester Street."
- - - - - - - - - - -
Tim Erickson
Chair of St. Paul E-Democracy Executive Committee
I figured it was flawed somehow... Thanks for the alternative, MC.
Last night at Supatra's, I enjoyed a 22 oz. Flat Earth Cygnus X-1 porter.
I couldn't bear to see the server take the empty bottle, put it in a bin,
have it picked up by a truck to be crushed, melted, reformed into another
bottle, and then reshipped and resold to Flat Earth a mile away. So I
asked them to rinse it out and save it, and we'll ask the new W7BA* to
arrange shipment to Flat Earth (on Benson, nr. W7th & Homer and Pearson's
Candy Factory). If we can get Randy & Supatra to start putting the
empties in a nice Flat Earth box, it might induce other patrons to buy
local.
As a child, before EU rules kicked in and even forced Farmer Hine to pour
perfectly good Cheshire milk down the drain, I occasionally got to
deliver milk on foot. This task included picking up the empties which
were on people's doorsteps. Later, my cousin-in-law had a milk round, and
I got to help him in an electric "float." It was very fun, but very early
in the morning. Picking up empty beer bottles and delivering full ones by
scooter, at night, sounds much more my speed.
Which brings me to scooter parking. This is another great, green idea of
Councilman Thune's, and I hope you will support his proposed experiment.
If you do the math, you can see how one metered parking spot could
actually bring in more money while each parker pays less:
1 car@$1.50/hr << 3 scooters@$0.75/hr
(Speaking of parking, the Shamrock's Saturday tent event did not go over
very well with Supatra. Look for a change in the rules. Thai business
dropped on account of the many cars, and the drunken debauchery was not
very appetizing, apparently. It is also interesting to note that The
Glockenspiel actually doesn't like Wild and/or CSPS Hall events because
parking becomes an issue and so passers-by think the Glock is full when it
actually isn't. I guess being a destination on a busline isn't very
helpful if the origination of the trip isn't. Which brings me to an idea
for green taxis that I like to call Two Buck Truck...)
What was the question?
Happy Solstice!!!
AMH
* I erroneously suggested a few weeks ago that my wife is a new member of
the W7BA. She is not. She paid the $1 to vote at the first meeting, and
then balked at the $49 to join. I must've drifted off during that part of
our conversation and regret the error.
Andrew M. Hine
3M IATD
Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division
3M Center 230-1F-35
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
<email obscured>
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-2003
M Charles Swope <<email obscured>>
03/18/2008 05:51 PM
To
<email obscured>
Jonathan Barrentine <<email obscured>>
cc
"St. Paul Issues Forum" <<email obscured>>
Subject
Re: [SPIF] State of the City
Why are there no parking meters on Grand Avenue? Metered parking would generate revenue, even the playing field between downtown and Grand Avenue and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And it could be done without expensive parking meters for every parking spot by using the one per block ticket machine system used in Manhattan and most European cities. "If cities want to reduce congestion, clean the air, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve neighborhoods and do it all quickly they should charge the right price for curb parking, and spend the resulting revenue to improve local public services." http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/opinion/29shoup.html
I agree with Charlie. But if they were going to add meters they need to be long term meters, like those near the Metrodome. Meters do not increase the turnover of parkers. They only make patrons leave their meal or shopping so they can plug the meters M Charles Swope <<email obscured>> wrote: Why are there no parking meters on Grand Avenue? Metered parking would generate revenue, even the playing field between downtown and Grand Avenue and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And it could be done without expensive parking meters for every parking spot by using the one per block ticket machine system used in Manhattan and most European cities. "If cities want to reduce congestion, clean the air, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve neighborhoods and do it all quickly they should charge the right price for curb parking, and spend the resulting revenue to improve local public services." http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/opinion/29shoup.html Charles Swope Ramsey Hill, Ward 2, St. Paul Info about Charlie Swope: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/charlesswope This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/23i72XsT7aEEM7MKb15tQS
What's the City's plan for its network of arterial streets and how is
this coordinated with the County and State? How might this network
look different after the next ten years?
Even more specifically:
Does the city have any plans to work with the County and/or State and
provide alternative(s) to Snelling Avenue? While the problem is
exacerbated by shifting traffic due to the closure of the 35-W
bridge, it seems like the traffic volume on Snelling increases each
year. But the existing alternatives (Lexington, Fairview,
Cleveland, etc) are pretty limited if you're driving to or from
Rosedale, the State Fairgrounds, Highland Park, Grand Avenue, etc.
and need/want to go north or south.
Once the Central Corridor is in place, will there be park 'n ride
locations for both commuters and non-commuters to use if they want/
need to drive to one of the University Avenue stops and ride into
either of the downtowns or the University?
Rick Mons as Forum Participant
and an "Associate Resident" of St Paul :-)
Thanks to Mayor Coleman, who invites us "to seize the opportunities the City offers and make saint Paul the Most Livable City in America." Last Monday at Rondo Library, Cathi Lynman-Onkka, Jonathan Barrentine, Ernest Farley and I table4d at Rondo Library. We handed out copies of the Town Hall meetings, and had available the text copy of Mayor Coleman's State of the City address (which can be downloaded at http://www.stpaul.gov/mayor/ ). The report covers the following broad areas: *Education (Ready for School, Ready for Life, Second Shift/Out of School, Higher Education and College Access, Lifelong Learning * Public Safety *Economic Development *Invest Saint Paul *Environment *Infrastructure *Soul (passion to make Saint Paul a better city) For our purposes on Monday (to let people know of upcoming town hall meeting) meetings and the state of the city document: *The flier was a wonderful document. I would add that in the future a link to where the State of the City address would be helpful. *The printed copy of the State of the City document was too long. I wonder whether a one-page document stating achievements and challenges would be helpful for residents to get a sense of where the city is right now. It would also be helpful to get a sense of how do we compare from 2-years ago, 5-years ago...as well as a timeline of what we hope to accomplish. From talking to library users, many of them do not who the mayor is, much less what it does. I wonder whether something similar to this document may be helpful. What does the mayor do? http://www.libertyhill.org/common/publications/libertyvote!/ MayoralRunoff/Pg3Eng.pdf. We hope to do have a video kiosk next Monday at Rondo Library (4:00pm to 6:00pm) and get comments on the State of the City Address on video. I hope we all get a chance to read Mayor Coleman's State of the City address (which can be downloaded at http://www.stpaul.gov/mayor/ ) and comment on Mayor Coleman. Rosa Maria de la Cueva Peterson St. Paul E-Democracy Outreach Macalester Groveland
I was able to attend the Mayor's address. The Pioneer Press did an editorial which I thought was spot-on (and I normally do not agree with their editorials...) in saying the blend of "this is a tough time" reality with the "we can do this" optimism is exactly what the city needs. I've met with Mayor Coleman about the Invest Saint Paul goals he has set, which are high but need to be set high, as well as the work that Greater Frogtown CDC (unabashed plug for http://GreaterFrogtownCDC.org) is doing in retail attraction to our core urban neighborhoods. Keeping the eyes on the ultimate goal while actually doing change day-to-day is hard, but I think Mayor Coleman hit it on the head. Now, if the new funders collaborative on the Central Corridor will help us with getting the day-to-day work done, we're going to be in even better shape. Stay tuned for that part... Steve Boland Living in Selby-Dale Working for the Frogtown Neighborhoods Lovin' my city
The following letter to the editor in today's PPress is an interesting idea! Too bad the writer is not a member of this forum (yet). "Housing for convention-goers The Republican National Committee's need for local housing during the 2008 convention in the Twin Cities is critical and is expensive. To help relieve the need and to reduce excessive rental costs, the RNC should rent homes currently in foreclosure...." http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_8629332?nclick_check=1 What does the mayor, council, and realty community think of this idea? I would think that there are downtown condos, etc, that are also under foreclosure. Since the current national administration is at least partially responsible for the the current economic/mortgage crisis, the least the RNC can do is try to help out some in this token effort. I believe the Democratic Party should also consider this in the Denver convention. It would be a bipartisan benefit for all. Gary Thompson
That's a tremendous idea! Clever ideas abound, but this one is just so
appropriate on so many levels that it would be a shame to see it succumb to the
usual inertia.
Well, here's a thought: the RNC and its various functionaries immediately make
arrangements to contract with the city, or some city-designated agent or
contractor, to rehabilitate however many properties they'll need for housing
all the convention goers (ditto for the media companies, vendors, etc.). In
return for the investment in improving all these neglected or abandoned
properties, convention goers can stay rent free in the properties before and
during the convention. Then, the city, or some designated authority can market
these now rehabbed properties at below market interest rates to potential
homebuyers. Lots of jobs would be created in the 4 to 5 months leading up to
the convention, there'd be a boon in construction activity (good for local home
improvement and building supply stores), we'd have this unique situation in
which for a week to a month before and during the convention we'd have all
these temporary residents spread throughout the city patronizing and
experiencing all that St. Paul has to offer. I'm sure there are plans to run
all sorts of shuttle buses during that time, so we could simply piggy back onto
and expand those plans so that all of the convention goers wouldn't have to be
concentrated in downtown. (Heck, we could even run trolleys down University
Avenue.) Not only would the Republicans show they are the party of innovation,
think about the huge publicity they would garner by all these private entities
coming together to invest in the distressed housing of an urban city. Plus,
given the Republican creed that the private sector is where all the ingenuity
and problem-solving comes from, such a private display of ingenuity would
surely be a boon to McCain's presidential bid. From what I can see, it's
win-win-win for everybody. The Republicans look great, the city's housing stock
gets an immediate boost, and the local economy gets a far more significant bump
beyond the expected one that would occur immediately before and during the
convention. Now it's just a matter of convening an appropriate task force to
coordinate and get the ball rolling!
Tom Goldstein
Hamline-Midway
(tongue only partially planted in cheek)
Actually, the idea has a lot more problems than benefits. First the City doesn't own the properties that are in foreclosure and has no particular control over them. If the property is in the redemption period than the owner is the private party who is losing their home or their investment property and is moving on to other things. They might get some short term monies out of it but it doesn't resolve their financing issues over the long term. If the property is bank owned then their is the property management issue. Over 100 of the foreclosed properties in Saint Paul are owned by a German bank that has never seen any of the properties. For them or any of the other banks to put them into the rental market would require them to hire property management firms to first bring the properties up to rentable shape, get the power and water back on, contract out with a garbage company, the rent the properties, furnish the properties and clean them afterwards. All of that to rent the thing out for less than a week. There isn't any money in it. And then imagine the black eye we would get if someone ends up renting out a dump. Its a very bad idea that is going to go nowhere. JMONTOMEPPOF Chuck Repke Ward 2 In a message dated 3/20/2008 9:40:16 A.M. Central Daylight Time, <email obscured> writes: The following letter to the editor in today's PPress is an interesting idea! Too bad the writer is not a member of this forum (yet). "Housing for convention-goers The Republican National Committee's need for local housing during the 2008 convention in the Twin Cities is critical and is expensive. To help relieve the need and to reduce excessive rental costs, the RNC should rent homes currently in foreclosure...." http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_8629332?nclick_check=1 What does the mayor, council, and realty community think of this idea? I would think that there are downtown condos, etc, that are also under foreclosure. Since the current national administration is at least partially responsible for the the current economic/mortgage crisis, the least the RNC can do is try to help out some in this token effort. I believe the Democratic Party should also consider this in the Denver convention. It would be a bipartisan benefit for all. Gary Thompson
I think the bigger problem is there doesn't seem to be much more demand for
housing coming from the Republicans. So far it looks like there is enough
hotel space reserved for all of them. Even the media so far has already
made arrangements. The unknown seems to be where protesters will stay.
John Mannillo
Speaking of the usual inertia. . . Here I thought it was only we seventh graders who took everything too seriously. Oh, just imagine the disgrace if a "dump" got rented to a GOP delegate!! . . . a "dump" resulting from a recession that doesn't exist? Awkward to say the least. "Here's your delegate quarters, Mr. Rove, but the German Bank hasn't answered their phone since they booted out the previous tenant so good luck with the Emperor's New Plumbing." The copper is all gone; we call it trickle down pvc. Forgive me all to the Green Zone for not having the community development specialist's eye for spotting the lack of potential for revenue, here, but: ticket to St. Paul on locally subsidized airline: 1,0275.00 dolluhrs; Norm Coleman's mortgage on the Excel Center to house your convention: millions more dolluhrs; security to keep you from getting what's coming to you: 50 million dolluhrs; staying the course in Iraq and Afghanistan for one week: 3.5 billion dolluhrs; http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19462.htm the only opportunity to experience first-hand the consequences of your own disastrous economic policy: don't tell me that isn't absolutely PRICELESS.
Dear Mayor,
With regard to Invest Saint Paul, I have heard that Stryker is one area of
interest. But it seems that Smith is in even greater need of an economic
boost. On a recent tour up Smith Avenue given by a Stryker Av business
owner, I was shocked to hear about the demise of so many small businesses,
and to see all the vacancies.
Please consider Smith instead of, or as well as, Stryker.
AMH
Andrew M. Hine
3M IATD
Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division
3M Center 230-1F-35
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
<email obscured>
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-2003
"Chris Coleman" <<email obscured>>
03/18/2008 11:33 AM
To
"St. Paul Issues Forum" <<email obscured>>
cc
Subject
[SPIF] State of the City
On Mar 20, 2008, at 10:26 AM, <email obscured> wrote:
> And then imagine the black eye we would get if someone ends up
> renting out a dump.
Or the mess we'd have on our hands if the Republicans trashed the
property like they've trashed the country.
Chip Peterson
Mac Groveland
I think the State of the City Address by Mayor Coleman was a fair response
about the state of Saint Paul. It was nice not to hear him taking credit
for everything under the sun.
I do however have problems with the editorial. The focus is to pat the
Mayor on the back for not placing blame for our sorry situation. I've said
it before that no one wants to see fingers pointed when a big finger may be
pointed at them self.
It may not be helpful to beat up the guilty parties just for the
satisfaction of some pay back. It is however very helpful have some risk of
accountability hopefully to avoid the same mistakes in the future. We also
need to learn from our mistakes. So first we need to acknowledge them.
There is a recent study by The Capital City Partnership that actually
recommends more public subsidies for new, private, class A office buildings.
This City dug its own hole with enormous private subsidies, in spite of lots
of red flags. Every one of these developments was endorsed by the editorial
page of The Pioneer Press.
We need honest discussion about how to attract private investment through
sensible public investment. The idea behind any investment is to create a
greater return over the long term.
John Mannillo
Healthcare insurance represents an area of great difficulty for establishing
and running a viable small business. One possible cause of business failure
(and with bankrupcy for many people) is the cost of uninsured (or insured
but denied coverage of) healthcare expenses. The City of St. Paul could
become more of a small business incubator if it helped small businesses face
these issues. I am not talking about subsidizing healthcare insurance costs.
Perhaps the city could work to form an insurance pool of eligible
businesses. There would be strenght (and lower cost) in greater numbers.
A second issue is education. I am not talking about general NCLB education,
but about our schools turning out students that have great understanding of
and ability to use math and science. We live in a country that revels in
living better by technology but does not develop kids with backgrounds that
can produce that technology. Just look at the students in graduate school
programs in science, math, and technology: More than 50 percent will be from
countries other than the US. Before 9/11, these students would often stay in
the US and work in our national and local high-tech industries. Now, more
often than not, they are returning to their home countries or other more
welcoming nations. We need home-grown talent. And there is no better place
to start than at home in our St. Paul schools. The eventual consequence will
be talent that will start businesses in and around St. Paul, small
businesses that may grow into large businesses. Our future lies with our
investment in education and a high-quality woek force.
Mike Schoenberg
MacGroveland
I warmly point out that the Gus Hall Action Club, a Marxist-Leninist Communist
club, attended the St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman’s Town Hall Meeting, Tuesday,
March 19 at the Wellstone Center for Community Building in St. Paul,
MN...carrying Communist signs that featured the cover of Gus Hall’s "Working
Class USA" and the slogan: "Ford Plant: Public Ownership is the Answer" along
with our club’s name and logo. I, wearing a winter cap with a Soviet red star
pin with a red flag, carried a "super communist" sign with a picture of Marx,
Engels and Lenin and the words: "Public Ownership is the Answer! Save Union
Jobs! People Before Profits!"
We sat in the front row with our signs raised throughout the Town Hall meeting.
Mayor Coleman, recieving questions and comments from the crowd, called on me to
speak. I, identifying myself as a member of the Gus Hall Action Club, requested
that Mayor Coleman act in his capacity as St. Paul Mayor to fight for the
nationalization of the St. Paul Ford Plant as a means of guaranteeing job
security and preventing the closure of the plant next year. I respectfully
criticized the Mayor and the St. Paul Ford Site Planning Task Force’s plans for
a mixed-use development of the Ford Site--a solution which would not save the
plant and, as I said at the meeting, "would occur on the ruins of a closed
plant." And I pointed out that my reading of the city’s plans did not lead me
to believe that the promised "job creation" after the closure of the Ford Plant
would be union jobs.
I stressed that the closure of the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant is
not a "done deal"--if there is action to nationalize the plant and continue
it’s operations under public ownership. I warmly pointed out that tax-payer’s
money had been used to finance production at the St. Paul Ford Plant for many
years and said: "What tax-payers finance, tax-payers should own."
It became apparent that St. Paul Mayor Coleman did not anticipate my questions,
as he flushed visibly and moved uncomfortably at several points during my
speech. Chris Coleman, in his response to me, articulated that it was a tradegy
that the Ford Plant was closing...but did not deal with the question of
nationalization as a means of saving the plant and guaranteeing job security. I
spoke again, requesting to know what the Mayor thought of the concept of
nationalization of the Ford Plant. His response claimed that he lacked
information.
I warmly, in an effort to provide more information to Mr. Chris Coleman and the
members of this group before I call on Mayor Coleman to act in his capacity as
Mayor, share words by the great Communist Gus Hall which can apply to the
situation of the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant:
Gus Hall spoke of plant closings and said: "The threat to the jobs of workers,
to the cities and city services--the threat to the public welfare--deserves not
only sympathy, but immediate action. This is our one and only serious concern,
because it is the most important and vital of all human concerns. In fact,
nothing else really matters. Nothing else takes priority over people’s needs
and welfare...
"There is nothing wrong or illegal in the government taking over these plants
because there is one sacred and inalienable human right that supersedes all
others. And that is the right of the people to make a living--to be able to
eat, pay rent, raise and educate their children. (This is a)...solution to the
crisis of plant closings." (Gus Hall, "The Working Class Answer to the
Deepening Crisis, " 1979)
I warmly point out that I call on Mayor Coleman to convene an emergency
moratorium on the closure of the St. Paul Ford Plant. The necessity of public
ownership and the nationalization of the St. Paul Ford Plant as a means to
guarantee job security and prevent the plant closure must not be taken off the
table. The Mayor could draft emergency "plant-job saving legislation" or other
creative ways to prevent the closure of the plant and the loss of union jobs.
The slogans on our Communist signs say it all: "Ford Plant: Public Ownership is
the Answer! Save Union Jobs! People Before Profits!"
Mr. Wood,
I can not believe you really think nationalizing the Ford plant will solve the
problem and save the union jobs. I think Mr. Coleman blushed and fidgeted
because he realized the futility of your cause but didn't want to embarrass you
in front of the group.
Let's use your logic of nationalizing the plant on a more recent product.
Suppose in the 1970's, the local government(s) 'nationalized' the typewriter
plants from IBM. They were big plants employing lots of union workers making
nice PROFITS. According to your plan, these workers would still have their jobs
at the 'ol plant' turning out thousands of typewriters. But there wouldn't be
any sales income because people stopped buying typewriters decades ago. The
warehouses would be full. So the government would have to cover all those
materials and wages.
Would you have wanted the government to nationalize the buggy manufactures? How
about the LP record makers? And of course we couldn't let the union employees
of Ma Bell loose their phone manufacturing jobs! The only place government gets
money is from TAXING us. There isn't enough taxes to cover all the jobs lost.
Like typewrites, the Ford Ranger and that plant are going obsolete. Management
at Ford understands that and consequently is closing the plant.
The only way your auto union worker is going to continue providing for his
family is to get trained in something new. Then get on with his life. The
government will never save him!
Dean Sheldon,
SA Park
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael
To: St. Paul Issues Forum
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: [SPIF] State of the City
Comrades, Brothers and Sisters,
I warmly point out that the Gus Hall Action Club, a Marxist-Leninist Communist
club, also attended the St. Paul Mayor’s "2008 State of the City
Address"...carrying Communist signs that featured the cover of Gus Hall’s
"Working Class USA" and the slogan: "Ford Plant: Public Ownership is the
Answer" along with our club’s name and logo. I, wearing a Greek fisherman’s cap
with a Soviet red star pin with a hammer and sickle, carried a "super
communist" sign with a picture of Marx, Engels and Lenin and the words: "Public
Ownership is the Answer! Save Union Jobs! People Before Profits!"
Shortly after entering the building with our Communist signs, we were
"escorted" by a handful of police officers and security guards. An officer and
his comrades were assigned to "stay close to us" inside the room where the
Mayor was speaking. I believe that the considerate officers wanted to protect
us Marxist-Leninists from the capitalists in attendence! (Smile.)
Our signs were raised during the entirety of the program and the "state of the
city address." We, the Gus Hall Action Club, call for the nationalization and
public ownership of the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant as a means of
guaranteeing job security and preventing the closing of the plant.
In order to benefit the union, the working class and the community, the Ford
Twin Cities Assembly Plant must not be torn down and it's land sold to wealthy
developers and condominium builders. Ford should be taken over by the
government and placed under public ownership. Taxpayers have subsidized Ford's
manufacturing at this plant for years. There is no reason why we, the public,
shouldn't own the plant and dam.
Public ownership of industry in France produced such marvels as the high-speed
TGV train...and public ownership of the St. Paul Ford Plant would guarantee
workers (and their families) job security.
I warmly point out that we also held our signs in the hallway as folks were
leaving. The police officers and the security did a great job--not even a
single capitalist took a swing at the Gus Hall Action Club! (Smile.)
Brother Sheldon,
I appreciate that you shared your thoughts--even though they differ from mine.
I'm not quite sure how to respond to the comment about the Mayor not wanting to
"embarrass me"--I am a cat who runs around with picketsigns and Communist pins,
after all. (Smile.) I'm a public member of the Gus Hall Action Club, a
Marxist-Leninist Communist club.
I warmly point out that, in my view, the jobs of the workers come before the
interests of corporate profits. And I respectfully remind you that, technically
speaking, workers do not make "profits." Workers earn "wages." Capitalists gain
"profit" by being owners of the means of production and employers of wage-labor
Dean makes valid points. However, there is another way to save these union jobs if the company wanted to. The major issue with the American car companies is they didn't make the changes Japanese and other foreign car companies made decades ago. They refuse to change their product line to reflect the new buying public. What is going to happen with these companies now that the price of fuel is through the roof? Are we going to continue buying these gas guzzlers? Dean Sheldon <<email obscured>> wrote: Mr. Wood, I can not believe you really think nationalizing the Ford plant will solve the problem and save the union jobs. I think Mr. Coleman blushed and fidgeted because he realized the futility of your cause but didn't want to embarrass you in front of the group. Let's use your logic of nationalizing the plant on a more recent product. Suppose in the 1970's, the local government(s) 'nationalized' the typewriter plants from IBM. They were big plants employing lots of union workers making nice PROFITS. According to your plan, these workers would still have their jobs at the 'ol plant' turning out thousands of typewriters. But there wouldn't be any sales income because people stopped buying typewriters decades ago. The warehouses would be full. So the government would have to cover all those materials and wages. Would you have wanted the government to nationalize the buggy manufactures? How about the LP record makers? And of course we couldn't let the union employees of Ma Bell loose their phone manufacturing jobs! The only place government gets money is from TAXING us. There isn't enough taxes to cover all the jobs lost. Like typewrites, the Ford Ranger and that plant are going obsolete. Management at Ford understands that and consequently is closing the plant. The only way your auto union worker is going to continue providing for his family is to get trained in something new. Then get on with his life. The government will never save him! Dean Sheldon, SA Park ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael To: St. Paul Issues Forum Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:08 PM Subject: Re: [SPIF] State of the City Dean Sheldon St. Anthony Park, St. Paul Info about Dean Sheldon: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/deansheldon This topic's messages may be viewed at: http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/4N06scHU0qyBMnlR4aBqxk
Ctzn. Sheldon:
As one of Michael Wood's comrades in the Gus Hall Action Club, I wish to
respectfully point out that nationalising an industrial plant doesn't per se
prevent it from modernising and retooling to make cutting-edge, modern day
products. Let's suppose IBM's typewriter plants were nationalised in the 1970s.
Do you honestly think the Ministry of Typewriters would not see that their
products were losing market share to those new typewriters called "computers"
and upgrade their line accordingly? Communism isn't about arresting economic
development, it is about making it work for all the people instead of just for
millionaires. Buggies, telephones, LPs, and even the Ford Ranger would still be
subject to upgrade if manufactured by the governemnt.
For everyone's benefit, I've listed the issues I found folks have
brought forward to date, roughly paraphrasing the ideas folks have
presented. Some have generated more discussion, and others not as
much. These are listed in the order I came across them (generally
chronological).
Is there anything major missing folks want to share?
... OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS - There is just one off-leash dog park in the
city - Arlington/Arkwright - and folks would like to see another.
Perhaps a fee collected from dog owners could help defray some of the
costs.
... BUYING LOCAL (BEER, ETC) - Can't we do something to get local
venues including the X to offer up local brews?
... EDUCATION -YOUNG LEARN FROM OLD AND VICE VERSA - find more
opportunities for inter-generational learning
... ON-STREET METERED SCOOTER/MOTORCYCLE PARKING - You can get a bunch
more bikes in one space than cars. Convert (or add) metered
motorcycle parking downtown where space allows.
... EXPAND METERED PARKING - perhaps to Grand Avenue, and elsewhere
... CONNECTIONS FROM NORTH SUBURBS - with congestion increasing each
year on Snelling Avenue, is there discussions about how best to
relieve/accomodate that? Are there discussions about park and rides
or other improvements to connections with Central Corridor?
... REDUCING THE TRASH AROUND THE CITY - is it possible to use
educational campaigns/outreach to clean up the litter throughout our
city, to make it more livable?
... RETAIL ATTRACTION TO THE URBAN CORE - it takes hard work to make
progress in places like Frogtown, but keeping the eye on the long-
term, we are making progress
... HOUSING FOR CONVENTION-GOERS - is there a way to take foreclosed
upon properties and make use of them during the RNC?
... SMITH AVENUE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT - in addition to the attention
focused on Stryker on the West Side
... RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - we should be careful not to dig
ourselves a hole by oversubsidizing developments
... SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE SUPPORT - insurance costs challenge small
businesses, but perhaps the city could help some get off the ground by
encouraging a pooling of costs
... INVESTING IN QUALITY MATH & SCIENCE EDUCATION IN ST. PAUL - to
remain competitive as part of global economy
... PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF THE FORD PLANT - to save the jobs at the
plant, and help stabilize our part of the auto industry
... MULTIPLE KINDS OF NEIGHBORHOODS - how can we create parts of the
city that are more pedestrian and transit focused, while retaining the
strong character of existing neighborhoods that has made St. Paul great?
... NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP - what's being done, and what can be
done to ensure we give all children a solid foundation to grow from?