A Word Or Two
By Mitch Berg
Saint Paul’s Ward Four City Councilman, Russ Stark, is holding a town hall meeting. It’s less than three weeks away:
Please join me for a conversation with your neighbors and fellow Ward
4 residents in a conversation about the status of the City and its
neighborhoods. Tough times are upon the City of Saint Paul, leaving
my colleagues and me with the challenge of making responsible,
difficult budget decisions. Please join the discussion to lend your
knowledge and creativity to the task of sustaining the City’s
livability despite the challenges we face.Tuesday, March 3, 6:30-8:30pm at Goodwill Easter Seals (553 Fairview
Ave N)– enter off the corner of Fairview and Charles.
(Goodwill/Easter Seals is conveniently located on bus lines 16, 50,
and 67. www.metrotransit.org If you’re driving, there is on-street
parking and a lot across Charles from the building.)Due to the urgency of this gathering, we are unable to notice it in
community papers. Please extend this invitation to neighbors and
friends.If you know questions in advance that you’d like answered at the Town
Hall meeting, please send them to Samantha Henningson
(samantha.henningson@ci.stpaul.mn.us) so we can prepare for some
questions and have the most informed conversation possible.Thank you for considering attending this conversation, and for passing
the invitation to others.
Yes, I do believe some of us could come up with just a smidgen of feedback.
February 12th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
What say you and I show up to tag team Stark with our plethora of sound budget saving ideas, Mitch?
February 13th, 2009 at 8:03 am
MItch, they are closing our Library.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Not immediate budget items, but long term, how about:
More homeowners in economincally depressed areas would revitalize neighborhoods. Would you support a temporary moritorium on enforcement of the City’s vacant building ordinance, just until the present glut of foreclosed homes can be sold to young people, people of limited means, and persons of color, all of whom need starter housing?
More residents of this Ward rent dwellings in privately owned buildings than in government owned. Considering the large number of people being evicted in the foreclosure crisis and needing rental housing, would you support a temporary rebate of property taxes on privately owned rental property, to stimulate that market to provide more crisis housing?
The City operates outdoor refrigerated hockey rinks at Northdale and Phalen. Their operating cost must be diverted from more pressing needs. Would you shutter those rinks even if little skaters cried crocodile tears?
The City operates three golf courses, none pay taxes. Would you sell them to raise immediate cash from the sale and long-term revenue from property taxes?
The City bought $50,000 worth of “traffic calming” signs last year and installed them in the Thomas-Hamline neighborhood. Where are they now? Are we committed to buying more or can we cancel?
The City has declared two snow emergencies this winter, meaning many streets have been plowed only twice. The City doesn’t plow alleys at all – residents hire their own plow guy who generally comes every snowfall, not just twice a winter. Would you support letting residents opt out of city street snowplowing in favor of privately contracted plowing, to improve timeliness and save the City money?
.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Nate, those are really solid questions!
Flash
Hamline/Midway