[Mpls] Minneapolis switches ramp firms

[Michellehill64 at aol.com]

I actually read Startribune today. An article entitled "Minneapolis switches 
ramp firms" caught my attention. I was both disgusted and saddened to read 
that a family owned business, MPI, was sold to an employee stock plan for 
$480,000.00 in 2004. Now in 2005, the council votes 9-4 to take the contract from the 
employees and give it to a company called AMPCO, even though MPI's bid was 
$500,000.00 less than AMPCO. 

The reason given for taking the contract from MPI was that AMPCO would do a 
better job of marketing the parking space. If that is the problem why wouldn't 
the city offer the employees, who used their stock to buy the business, 
marketing assistance instead of crushing their dreams. To make the argument that 
AMPCO is 40% owned by its employees too, according to CP Benson, makes me wonder 
what the true breakdown is between MPI and AMPCO. I'll have to check into 
that. 

I think it is horrifying that our citizens would pool together to buy into a 
business, looking for that American dream, only to have it snatched away 
before they could see it come true. If they just bought the business in 2004 they 
weren't even given a chance to improve on the business. 

CP Samuels stated, "He had concerns about the change, that he was satisfied 
that many MPI employees will receive good jobs with the new operator and that 
the company will continue to employ a FAIR NUMBER of minority members." That 
statement alone tells you the make up of the employees who used their stocks to 
buy MPI.

I would like to thank my council person, Barbara Johnson, for saying, "There 
should be a reward for being a vendor, a contractor who does work for the city 
in a very efficient, very effective safe way. I view this as sort of the 
American Dream for the people who work for MPI."

Council Person Barbara, Natalie Johnson-Lee, Robert Lilligren and Dean 
Zimmerman voted against the switch. Thanks to each of you for recognizing the 
American Dream.



Michelle Hill



Cleveland