[Mpls] Minneapolis Solves Its Budget Problems

[Gregory D. Luce]

Hey, don't mean to rain on everyone's happy fiscal parade (I'm told the
mayor is already rummied at Lyon's Pub), but a group of disgruntled
residents just filed a case in federal court seeking an injunction
against the sale of these local treasures.  The group, Stop Our
Politicians from Selling (SOPS), filed suit this afternoon and the case
is set to be heard on an emergency basis before US District Court Judge
Michael Davis tomorrow morning.

SOPS is the lead plaintiff, but apparently there is interest from other
newly formed Minneapolis-based groups, including PARSE (People Against
the Ridiculous Sale of Edifices), MILMALCS (Minneapolis Issues List
Members Against the Loss of the Cherry & Spoon), and GOPHERDUNG (Grits
and Oats People Hoofing to End the Removal & Disbanding of
Underappreciated Nascent Greatness) 

While I understand the agenda of SOPS, PARSE and MILMACS, I'm told
GOPHERDUNG is not a legitimate group but really made up of former Sayles
Belton supporters.  Not sure about that, however. We'll see how this
thing shakes out.

Gregory Luce
Ventura Village


-----Original Message-----
From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On
Behalf Of Dean Zimmermann
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 1:31 PM
To: Mpls. Issues List
Subject: [Mpls] Minneapolis Solves Its Budget Problems

April 1, 2004

After a long debate today at the Minneapolis City Council's Committee of
the
Whole, the Council voted to solve its budget problems by selling four
pieces of
surplus property. The Council voted 9 to 4 to rid the city of the
following
eyesores:

  a.. Stone Arch Bridge
  b.. Father of Waters Statue in the rotunda of City Hall
  c.. "Cherry & Spoon" at the Sculpture Garden
  d.. The clock from the tower on top of City Hall
The City of London, England has been working for years to get their
hands on the
clock, as it is one foot larger than their famous Big Ben.  Although
London is
offering $64,250,000 for Minneapolis' City Hall clock, it is not clear
if they
intend to replace Big Ben or simply destroy the City Hall clock. Either
way, it
solves London's problem of not having the biggest clock and it solves
Minneapolis' need for some quick money to help solve its cash flow
problems.

As far as the "Cherry & Spoon,"  many Council members stated they were
"glad to
be rid of that ugly thing" and that "General Mills is more than welcome
to it."
General Mills plans to move it to their headquarters in the western
suburbs and
use it to promote their new breakfast cereal Cherryos. That deal pulled
in a
whopping $159,000,000.

People have been complaining for years about the Father of Waters statue
that
"just gets in the way'" for events held in the rotunda.  The City of New
Orleans
was anxious to get their hands on this beautiful statue that was
originally
created for them some 87 years ago.  What many people don't know is that
although New Orleans commissioned the statue, when it came time for
delivery,
the city was broke and Minneapolis was able to pick up the statue very
cheaply.
So, for just $82,000,000 the City of New Orleans is now able to get this
beautiful piece of art to its rightful place.

 Although it is costing New York City some $876,000,000 for the Stone
Arch
Bridge, they are finding that it is much cheaper than the $1,500,000,000
that
would be needed to replace the Brooklyn Bridge with a conventional
suspension
bridge.  The Guthrie Theater and the Mill City Museum have been lobbying
to get
the Stone Arch Bridge out of there because it blocks the view of St
Anthony
Falls from their facilities.

 Mayor RT Rybak has threatened to veto the action, but there seems to be
enough
support to override the veto.

Dean Zimmermann
Minneapolis City Council Member/Ward 6
612-673-2206, Office
612-724-3888, Home
Dean.Zimmermann at ci.minneapolis.mn.us
deanzimm at mn.rr.com
Peace/Shalom/Salaam

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