[Mpls] Dear Emmett Carson, We need a comprehensive Plan on West Bro/Bring the Target $$

[PennBroKeith at cs.com]

Dear Emmett Carson,

I am a businessman on West Broadway. I am also a volunteer Board Member of 
the WBAC; The West Broadway Area Coalition. There is a quickening of events now 
on West Broadway, and frankly, the meager planning budget has not kept up with 
need, nor implementation.

 It was reported that the Honorable CM Don Samuels quietly received a check 
for 300K from the Target Corporation and deposited it with your agency, The 
Mpls. Foundation. A check that was to be dedicated to "planning" on West Broadway 
yet is now disappeared, while some unknown people, reportedly keeping "below 
the radar" , plan how to spend it. I am concerned they may spend it on 
themselves instead of our Avenue. Reminder: I am a volunteer, Emmett.

 The WBAC is the appropriate venue for utilizing planning money for the 
Highest public interests of our Avenue. I will explain.

 I wish to refer you to an article I wrote and addressed to West Broadway 
stakeholders. Please look it over closely as you are now a stakeholder. I will 
not include the additional City pages article for you because I will presume you 
have already read it. When you finish my article please take the appropriate 
step of reaching our WBAC Executive Director.

And bring the money, Emmett, for the sake of our "Avenue with the Most 
Potential, West Broadway".

Sincerely, 

Keith Reitman  NearNorth


Subj:   Target takes leave, leaves 300K/ Where will funds land on West 
Broadway?

Dear West Bro. Stakeholders,

 Though somewhat narrow in scope, the article below, from City Pages, does 
provide us some news about West Bro. Like the answer to the command, "Follow the 
money".

 No doubt 300K will not 'save' our Avenue but it is likely to move it 
forward. I remind; this public money must be utilized for the highest public good. 
The only stipulation Target Corp. attached is, it must be applied toward 
"planning" for West Bro. There have been a lot of 'plans' that have come down the 
pike in the last 22 years while I was present on the Avenue. Some have been 
accepted, and are being implemented (roadway and zoning are two, most recently); 
others seemed to suck money, and gain no traction, nor implementation. 

I am a volunteer Board Member of the West Broadway Area Coalition. The WBAC 
is a forum created to bring all stakeholders from our "Avenue with the Most 
Potential" to the table for problem solving and planning. It has a seasoned, and 
qualified, one person paid staff, and many volunteers. In fact Volunteer 
efforts have totaled thousands of person/hours over the years of it's agency. 

The main goals of the WBAC, in my opinion, are: To field a highly diverse 
Board representing more diverse interests, cultures, social strata, and our 
common geography.  This Board, through study, research, presentations, and 
discussions, will act as a crucible for the contentious issues that confront West 
Broadway Planning. And respond to the transcendent communal needs of neighborhoods 
that surround West Broadway; as those neighborhoods rely on WBAC at the 
Avenue.

The West Broadway Area Coalition is THE unique facilitator of planning and 
implementing the highest public interests of our unique and contentious "Avenue 
with the Most Potential, West Broadway". Isn't it in all our interests to 
support the WBAC process; and support allocation, in generous measure, of "Target 
Funds" toward that noble process?

Keith Reitman, NearNorth,    Property owner and volunteer, West Broadway