Our Mayor, who art in City Hall...
... hallowed be thy initials?
I return to rag on Mayor R.T. Ryback of Minneapolis. I should confess that I'm an escapee from Minneapolis, fleeing to just over the border in Richfield 3 years ago, in search of affordable housing no longer available in R.T.'s bailiwick. I found it, but not likely for long. Richfield also has delusions of grandeur that us po' folk just don't figure into. High-rise condos for the "have" old folks, clearing spaces for corporations, and "gentrification" are favorites of even once-blue-collar Richfield. It's driven by envy of neighboring Edina and Bloomington, both far more wealthy. So, in fairness to R.T., he's far from alone in this, but as king of the largest city in the state, he sets the tone. The damage city government does to its residents and territory is really the fault of the city council, but again... the mayor sets the tone and drives the rhetoric.
I promised to give R.T. some specific suggestions to improve the city. They won't sound grand like his do, but they'll be comprehensible, which his aren't. While his plans sound like they were issued from the throne above, mine are far more "retro"... undoing the damage of hundreds of people just like R.T.
Learning from the liberals, let me begin with THE CHILDREN. Minneapolis, despite any hype to the contrary, is known for rotten schools. I've listened to suburban kids shocked that Minneapolis schools have metal detectors and cops on duty. My children went to Minneapolis schools (my apologies to them... I couldn't afford better). I've written volumes about education, but if Ryback wants to do anything for the children, fixing that rotten school system should be priority ONE. Yes, he has to deal with the statewide teacher's union and the state education "experts", but the city results are still in his realm, and they stink.
He could insist on streamlining the overbearing city school administration, so that more money gets to the schools. He could fight for more control in each local school... less interference from the beauracracies above. He could insist on fewer politically-correct fluff courses and more useful curriculum. He could hunt for a way to simply evict trouble-makers and make schools a safe place to learn. But, R.T. has a problem I don't have. As a liberal politician, he NEEDS the approval of the teachers onion and the educational powers-that-be in the state capitol.
So... R.T., there is in fact very little you can do to even improve the place Minneapolis kids are forced to spend most of their time, which raises the question "How do you think we can take seriously your goal to 'make sure young people are ready by 21 for "college, career and life'"?
As for your "re-weaving the urban fabric", I suspect I know what you mean, and it damned sure was the city government who ripped that fabric to shreds... so there ARE things you can promote to restore the city to a better place to live.
1. Get the city the hell out of the way, and let people do what they want. Let them build what they want, where they want it, and stop giving "incentives" that coax certain businesses in while driving others away. Eliminate many of the damnable zoning restrictions and expensive regulations that small businesses can't survive under. Stop complicating doing business in the city to the point that only large chains can thrive. Stop planning what needs to go where and what shouldn't be allowed here. It will happen NATURALLY if it makes economic sense, and urban planning can NEVER anticipate what the amalgam of ever-changing citizenry is going to need and want. Planners, take note, are always "haves".
2. Stop catering to the highest bidder at the expense of everyone else. That means eliminating the threat of eminent domain to benefit big developments. It means no more "incentives" to drive some current fad. The problem with selling to the highest bidder is that they won't stay if they get a better offer somewhere else, and they won't stay if a different fad takes control. Do the names "Conservatory" and "St. Anthony on Main" ring a bell? Driving small businesses out in favor of the faddish "loft" apartments won't last long either. Those with excess income will find some new fad to glomb onto... they can afford to get bored easily.
3. Reduce the cost of living in the city. Fight the silly building codes that drive the cost of housing above the reach of most of us. Reduce the cost of schools instead of constantly screaming for more money. Stop throwing big bucks into developments that fail, or are subsidized for decades. Eliminate the zillion regulations that cost each of us time and money to comply with.
4. Stop trying to gentrify the city. Stop nagging people about "stuff" on their own properties. Eliminate the smoking restrictions. Allow small stores to put merchandise on the sidewalk. Get the police off our backs with traffic citations and other silliness and ask them to instead at least do a little investigation after a crime has already been committed.
What liberals never seem to comprehend is that if you truly want to help the "have-nots", you need to stop TRYING to give them a shove, or a crutch, and just reduce the cost of LIVING HERE. Do that, and they'll do the rest by themselves. Every grand plan to help someone ends up helping a few at the expense of everyone else, and drives up the minimum cost of just surviving. The poor don't need your help, they only need a CHANCE to survive and thrive. The poor need a chance to LIVE POOR, and cheap, so they can gradually accumulate some wealth. By constantly driving up the minimum cost of living, liberals have created an ever-increasing gap above the poor that prevents them from making any gains... condemning them to staying where they are... if they're lucky and don't get gentrified away or fall out the bottom completely.
But, of course, the truth is that anyone who can rise to political power in Minnesota has to be a "have", and does NOT really give a whit about the have-nots. They really want them to go away, because poor isn't pretty. Naturally, that isn't something a liberal can openly admit to, so R.T. is their perfect choice... he can sound like he cares while catering to powerful interests behind his back.
Just to add a little perspective here... R.T.'s February "goals" presentation will be held at the Museum of Russian Art, a very classy venue indeed. I volunteer there, and I know what the cost of renting it is. I'm glad the PRIVATE museum gets the revenue, but it illustrates that R.T. and fellow liberals can afford to spend a bundle to impress a few voters.The forum will be on February 28th (Tuesday), from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Av. S. (just off 35W south at the Diamond Lake exit). I urge you to attend, not for the demonstration of "urban re-weaving" doublespeak by R.T., but you'll see a great museum in the process.
I return to rag on Mayor R.T. Ryback of Minneapolis. I should confess that I'm an escapee from Minneapolis, fleeing to just over the border in Richfield 3 years ago, in search of affordable housing no longer available in R.T.'s bailiwick. I found it, but not likely for long. Richfield also has delusions of grandeur that us po' folk just don't figure into. High-rise condos for the "have" old folks, clearing spaces for corporations, and "gentrification" are favorites of even once-blue-collar Richfield. It's driven by envy of neighboring Edina and Bloomington, both far more wealthy. So, in fairness to R.T., he's far from alone in this, but as king of the largest city in the state, he sets the tone. The damage city government does to its residents and territory is really the fault of the city council, but again... the mayor sets the tone and drives the rhetoric.
I promised to give R.T. some specific suggestions to improve the city. They won't sound grand like his do, but they'll be comprehensible, which his aren't. While his plans sound like they were issued from the throne above, mine are far more "retro"... undoing the damage of hundreds of people just like R.T.
Learning from the liberals, let me begin with THE CHILDREN. Minneapolis, despite any hype to the contrary, is known for rotten schools. I've listened to suburban kids shocked that Minneapolis schools have metal detectors and cops on duty. My children went to Minneapolis schools (my apologies to them... I couldn't afford better). I've written volumes about education, but if Ryback wants to do anything for the children, fixing that rotten school system should be priority ONE. Yes, he has to deal with the statewide teacher's union and the state education "experts", but the city results are still in his realm, and they stink.
He could insist on streamlining the overbearing city school administration, so that more money gets to the schools. He could fight for more control in each local school... less interference from the beauracracies above. He could insist on fewer politically-correct fluff courses and more useful curriculum. He could hunt for a way to simply evict trouble-makers and make schools a safe place to learn. But, R.T. has a problem I don't have. As a liberal politician, he NEEDS the approval of the teachers onion and the educational powers-that-be in the state capitol.
So... R.T., there is in fact very little you can do to even improve the place Minneapolis kids are forced to spend most of their time, which raises the question "How do you think we can take seriously your goal to 'make sure young people are ready by 21 for "college, career and life'"?
As for your "re-weaving the urban fabric", I suspect I know what you mean, and it damned sure was the city government who ripped that fabric to shreds... so there ARE things you can promote to restore the city to a better place to live.
1. Get the city the hell out of the way, and let people do what they want. Let them build what they want, where they want it, and stop giving "incentives" that coax certain businesses in while driving others away. Eliminate many of the damnable zoning restrictions and expensive regulations that small businesses can't survive under. Stop complicating doing business in the city to the point that only large chains can thrive. Stop planning what needs to go where and what shouldn't be allowed here. It will happen NATURALLY if it makes economic sense, and urban planning can NEVER anticipate what the amalgam of ever-changing citizenry is going to need and want. Planners, take note, are always "haves".
2. Stop catering to the highest bidder at the expense of everyone else. That means eliminating the threat of eminent domain to benefit big developments. It means no more "incentives" to drive some current fad. The problem with selling to the highest bidder is that they won't stay if they get a better offer somewhere else, and they won't stay if a different fad takes control. Do the names "Conservatory" and "St. Anthony on Main" ring a bell? Driving small businesses out in favor of the faddish "loft" apartments won't last long either. Those with excess income will find some new fad to glomb onto... they can afford to get bored easily.
3. Reduce the cost of living in the city. Fight the silly building codes that drive the cost of housing above the reach of most of us. Reduce the cost of schools instead of constantly screaming for more money. Stop throwing big bucks into developments that fail, or are subsidized for decades. Eliminate the zillion regulations that cost each of us time and money to comply with.
4. Stop trying to gentrify the city. Stop nagging people about "stuff" on their own properties. Eliminate the smoking restrictions. Allow small stores to put merchandise on the sidewalk. Get the police off our backs with traffic citations and other silliness and ask them to instead at least do a little investigation after a crime has already been committed.
What liberals never seem to comprehend is that if you truly want to help the "have-nots", you need to stop TRYING to give them a shove, or a crutch, and just reduce the cost of LIVING HERE. Do that, and they'll do the rest by themselves. Every grand plan to help someone ends up helping a few at the expense of everyone else, and drives up the minimum cost of just surviving. The poor don't need your help, they only need a CHANCE to survive and thrive. The poor need a chance to LIVE POOR, and cheap, so they can gradually accumulate some wealth. By constantly driving up the minimum cost of living, liberals have created an ever-increasing gap above the poor that prevents them from making any gains... condemning them to staying where they are... if they're lucky and don't get gentrified away or fall out the bottom completely.
But, of course, the truth is that anyone who can rise to political power in Minnesota has to be a "have", and does NOT really give a whit about the have-nots. They really want them to go away, because poor isn't pretty. Naturally, that isn't something a liberal can openly admit to, so R.T. is their perfect choice... he can sound like he cares while catering to powerful interests behind his back.
Just to add a little perspective here... R.T.'s February "goals" presentation will be held at the Museum of Russian Art, a very classy venue indeed. I volunteer there, and I know what the cost of renting it is. I'm glad the PRIVATE museum gets the revenue, but it illustrates that R.T. and fellow liberals can afford to spend a bundle to impress a few voters.The forum will be on February 28th (Tuesday), from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Av. S. (just off 35W south at the Diamond Lake exit). I urge you to attend, not for the demonstration of "urban re-weaving" doublespeak by R.T., but you'll see a great museum in the process.
posted by Robert Ronald Smith at 12:01 AM
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