[Mpls] A false economic base for Mpls

[Chris Johnson]

Margaret Hastings wrote:
> This continued move to rely on the sports industry and sports moguls to 
> provide economic vitality to the City of Mpls is a house of cards.
> 
> And for Downtown Merchants and others to think they can revitalize DT Mpls by 
> using such measures is not logical.
> 
> DT Mpls has horrible and expensive parking.
> There is no decent mass transit to entice people who have cars, are in the 
> suburbs or outlying areas of Mpls to come Downtown in the numbers they 
> unrealistically want.

That's a very good point.

Not once have I heard someone say they don't patronize downtown because it 
does not have the sports entertainment or any kind of entertainment that they 
want.  It's always been for one of three reasons, in order of most frequently 
heard:  (1) expensive parking, (2) traffic, and (3) crime.

Largely, #3 - crime, is a myth.  It's usually a reason given by rural or 
outstate people who regard Minneapolis as "Sin City."  Yes, those people still 
exist -- my wife's cousins are among them.

Hennepin County would do a lot better to put that 3 cents on 20 dollars 
towards mass transit.  They already own the right of way for the rail lines 
needed.

--
Chris Johnson
Fulton