[Mpls] Minneapolis Solves Its Budget Problems

[David Shove]

Alas, it was found that, even selling off as much as it did, there was
still a huge Mpls public debt. So the City Council swallowed hard and sold
themselves into slavery. We owe them a great debt (not thank god in
money!) and wish them well.

Unimpeachable sources declare that they have been sent to the Valley of
the Dolls. For their rescue, a new organization has been formed, Escape
>From the Valley of the Dolls (EFVD). At last some excitement in local
government!

--David Shove
Roseville



On Thu, 1 Apr 2004, Gregory D. Luce wrote:

> 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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