It’s Probably Not From All The Drive-By Shootings
By Mitch Berg
The story isn’t all that unusual; Saint Paul has closed the outdoor rec fields at the Jimmy Lee Rec Center due to high lead levels in the soil.
Portions of the lower fields at the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center have unhealthy levels of lead, arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, according to soil test results. Lead is the greatest concern at this point, although officials don’t know the full extent of the pollution. A fence was to be put up on the perimeter of the 6-acre space Friday.
“It’s clear we need to limit access,” said Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm. He wouldn’t speculate as to what might happen in the future, saying test results will determine the next steps.
Jimmy Lee is on the north end of Frogtown and on the south end of the district of warehouses and light industrial plants that abut the rail yards. It’s not unusual for soil to come up with high levels of all kinds of things in that area:
Officials estimate about 25,000 people use the fields for baseball, football and soccer each year. Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield and Twins All-Star Joe Mauer played there as youngsters.
Also Bun and Zam.
But this piece isn’t so much about the lead levels. It’s about asking everyone to keep an eye out for the first leftyblogger or media figure to blame this on unallotment.
Let me know, will ya?
March 19th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Speaking of high levels of _blank_ in _blank_, the high levels of pot holes in Saint Paul roadways caused a coworker to do a vault-over-the-handlebars face plant while biking to work earlier this week. If you are riding to work, keep on your toes.
March 19th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Bicycling is the best form of low-impact cardio there is. And as Mitch quite correctly noted last year, the benefits of biking far outweigh the dangers. In addition, bikers are usually smarter than other people, too. Finally, I am tired of chanting nonsense phrases I learned while letting my brain rot in the comment section at Anti-Strib. Please accept my apology, Mitch, and thanks for providing a much, much better environment for debate. I’ll strive to do better.
As for the high levels of lead in the soil, it explains a lot about peevee; paint chips alone weren’t responsible.
March 19th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Apology accepted, KRod. Go forth and sin no more.
And Pen isn’t actually from Saint Paul.
March 19th, 2010 at 11:24 am
As I recall, most of the “nonsense phrases” came in bold type at the end of KRods multiple, repetitive comments.
In your heart you know I’m right.
March 19th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Well, in my heart and my brain I knew he was usually wrong – on biking, certainly.
But he redeemed himself with his heartfelt apology above. So all is forgiven.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Mitch,
How is Jimmy Lee in the north end of Frogtown? Maybe the West End? I’d say its on the west end of the Rondo neighborhood.
Paddy
March 19th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
What the hell happened to K-rod?
March 19th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
MoN,
He obviously had a blinding flash of epipany and changed his ways. Kudos to him.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Paddy,
If by Frogtown you mean Lexington to Western and I94 to the Tracks, Jimmy Lee – on Minnehaha – is pretty much the north end of the neighborhood.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I’m especially attracted to those snappy, rainbow colored, spandex riding togs so popular with cyclists.
And teh shoes, yeah, I like the shoes too.
March 19th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Hey Kerm…as long as Anti-Strib continues to be GLBT friendly, you need to have a care around here my friend.
If you’re hard, you know I’m right
March 19th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Jim and Tracy are GLBT friendly. Personally I’m GLBT ambivilent. Up until they forced my church (ELCA) to vote to allow non celibate homosexuals to be ordained as clergy.
At that point I became hostile. But that’s my problem.
March 19th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Mitch,
You’re thinking of West Minnehaha Rec Center. Jimmy Lee is south of the freeway at Lex and Marshall. The field in question closer to Concordia and Oxford.
Paddy
March 19th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
PT,
Doh. You’re right. I always mix those two up.
It’s been a few years since I hauled kids to baseball/basketball at either one.
March 19th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Does your church play “It’s raining men” during communion, Kerm?
It’s hard to always be right
March 19th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
No Tom, we just can’t be sure what kind of underwear the pastor is wearing anymore.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Ouch, so that’s what I get for asking peevee about lead in dirt and paint chips.
Nicely played, MItch.
I’m sorry. My bad.
But then your wheels came off, pun intended, when YOU said:
“I knew he was usually wrong”
Usually, hey? I’m a conservative and I thought you were on my side.
MItch, I strongly support Reagan and his ideals; I guess you don’t agree and think I am wrong.
….
Sure, jim, barthe, and the group over at Closet-Liberals 2.0 want to give handouts for homos, go ahead on your own dime, just don’t dig into my pockets for your pet GLBT projects. I reject the C-L 2.0 liberal position that we need even more laws instead of repealing the bad laws.
Whether you are homo or hetro, we all have the same rights.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Well if it turns out to be rainbow colored spandex, expect him to say he was going cycling after church.
March 19th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
I could inject a snark about Catholic Priests, but we’re above that, aren’t we?
In your heart you know KRod is a little bit teh crazee.
March 19th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
we all are Kerm, were bloggers for christ sakes. We are not normal.
March 19th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Note to the audience: I did in fact creatively edit KRod’s comment way above, the one about biking. Everyone was warned, right?
Ouch, so that’s what I get for asking peevee about lead in dirt and paint chips.
Well, no. It’s what you get for repeating an attack on biking and bikers for the umpteenth time. Don’t algore the facts!
Usually, hey? I’m a conservative and I thought you were on my side.
Yep. I sure am! On matters of conservative policy, you are generally as right as all the rest of us – and more power to you! I gotcher back!
MItch, I strongly support Reagan and his ideals; I guess you don’t agree and think I am wrong.
Well, Reagan was silent on the subject of bikes. He was big on staying in shape, and on freedom of choice.
And for whatever reason, the Anti-Strib crowd developed an unseemly hardon for bagging on bikers. They completely algored the issue, of course, trying to make biking an inherently political act, a link that I refute due to the fact that I’m a fire-breathing conservative who rides 60-100 miles a week
Anyway, KRod, your participation is as welcome as ever. But anyone who types “biking is a dangerous hobby” or any of those other Anti-Strib nutslap chanting points can expect to get their comment mutilated for my pleasure as well!
Whether you know in your heart I’m right or not, I am the benevolent president-for-life of this blog
That is all!
March 19th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
To be fair, it was only one member of the Anti-Strib crowd who had a particular hardon for bagging on bikers. The rest of us were just irked at the millions of transportation dollars being spent on bike trails in a state where bike commuting is limited to half the year.
In your heart you know I made a comment
March 19th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
all this bold type is hurting mine eyes.
March 19th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
also why the hell is an AFSCME ad appearing on this site?
March 20th, 2010 at 12:01 am
“# Kermit Says:
March 19th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Jim and Tracy are GLBT friendly. Personally I’m GLBT ambivilent. Up until they forced my church (ELCA) to vote to allow non celibate homosexuals to be ordained as clergy.
At that point I became hostile. But that’s my problem.”
Our Church had the same vote. We (Our Church) decided to leave the ELCA and join the LCMC.
As far as bicycles: just follow the rules and I don’t have any problem with them. Now politicians who want a bike trail everywhere are another story.
March 20th, 2010 at 12:15 am
why the hell is an AFSCME ad appearing on this site?
Because they paid one of my ad vendors to put it there.
It’s $30 they won’t have to spend someplace where it’ll do them any good.
March 20th, 2010 at 8:53 am
No Berg, you’re a SELLOUT!!! Next time you MC an event or hold a MOB function you’ll be wearing a SEIU t-shirt!!!
In you heart you know I’m being sarcastic
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
Ah yes, the definition of flattery. 8)
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Or satire…
March 25th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.