[Mpls] Why we Need a Board of Estimate Debate

[Carol Becker]

Cheryl Luger wrote:

> Library Board is covered (until after the primary), Park Board is being
> covered...now, any    VOLUNTEERS   to host the board of estimate and
> taxation race?  Since the COUNCIL  and  MAYOR have appointees on the
> board, perhaps, they would be willing to    SHARE   some of  THEIR
> debate/forum time with the candidates for this board?

I can say as a candidate for the Board of Estimate that I would welcome a 
Board of Estimate candidate debate.

I've attended a number of candidate forums. Most of the discussion has come 
down to money.  There isn't enough money to keep the libraries open more 
than three days a week, to restore all the 185 cops that have been cut, to 
keep the parks open as much as kids need them, to improve the snow plowing, 
and to do other things that citizens need.

And even though there isn't enough money to do these basic things, the 
average citizen is being hit with whopping increases in their taxes.  There 
is real pain in the pocketbook, especially for those folks who are being 
gentrified out of their communities, small businesses, folks on fixed 
incomes, folks buying their first houses, and even just the general citizen.
People don't get why their taxes are going up and their services are going 
down, understandably so.

When I go to these other candidate forums, I have to hold myself back from 
leaping up and giving citizens the basics of how we got into this mess.  Our 
tax system is one of the most complex in the country and most people who are 
passionate about needing more cops or more hours of library service or 
better snow plowing  need to understand that their real concern isn't with 
libraries or cops or parks but it is with the revenue system that funds 
these services.  And that is what the Board of Estimate does: we focus on 
the overall revenue picture of the City and what levels of taxation should 
be provided for these necessary services.

So, having said all this, are there people out there who are passionate 
about police or parks or libraries or snow plowing or any of the other 
services that are funded with our taxes who would be willing to organize a 
candidate forum?    There are seven candidates running for this office 
offering a wide set of perspectives and experience which could dramatically 
impact the funding for police or parks or libraries and citizens who are 
passionate about these issues should have the opportunity to question them. 
Anyone?  Anyone?


Carol Becker
Longfellow
Candidate for the Board of Estimate and Taxation
Go Geeks!