[Mpls] Bus Strike

[Bill Cullen]

The end of the month is a very busy time for hands-on landlords.  So, I
missed Mark Snyder's personal attack on me until just now.  I am
disappointed Mr. Snyder would go after me in such a manner when he could
have made the same points AND kept his post professional (1).

I never made ANY of the recommendations Mr. Snyder claims I did.  The ONLY
points I made are:

1) "I am amazed the drivers (and some supporters) are using stranded poor
folk as a reason to support their agenda."

2) "Most of the riders DEPENDANT on the MTC don't receive the pay and
benefits the MTC drivers refuse to work for."

3) "Given the no new taxes message, the result of a drivers victory will
likely lead to a fare increase and/or service decrease."

4) "If your focus is to help the poor, you should push for increased
services and lower fares.  The most likely way to accomplish that is to
increase government funding AND lower operational costs (most likely wages &
benefits)."

I never said MTC drivers should be paid equally to folk doing the same job
in the suburbs.

Mr. Snyder had to make a number of negative assumptions and a mathematical
error to create the financial model presented.

I was posed with a challenge to find 2 br apartments for $650/month.  As I
have posted out here before, I have 2 br apartments for $650 and I know
others that have 2 br apartments for $599/month.

I believe both sides of this strike are selfish.

Regards, Bill Cullen.
Whittier Landlord.

(1) Mr. Snyder's post is here:
http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2004-March/031763.html