Eden Prairie News - State Politics - Comments

I'd be curious to hear what

Leah Shaffer — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:51:53 -0500

I'd be curious to hear what Council candidates think about the City Budget. There was alot of discussion last year about the role of cities in funding needed social services. The City ended up cutting community services technician position to half time. I'd be curious to hear if candidates agree with that action...

So, what would you ask the

Karla — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:45:43 -0500

So, what would you ask the candidates? If you'd like to submit a question for our City Council candidates, please e-mail it to editor@edenprairienews.com. We'll publish the answers we receive online or in our print edition.

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

Bravo, Mr. Flaherty.

JazzOnThePrairie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:38:11 -0500

Bravo, Mr. Flaherty. Bravo.

Apparently, only dollars make sense. Well, here is a different way to put that into perspective:

Yes, it’s true that a city and its council must be fiscally responsible, but you are making one big mistake: The City of Eden Prairie is NOT a business. If it were, we’d be plowing under every park and athletic field and replacing them with tax-income-producing residential developments and industrial parks. Along with them would go free concerts, 4th of July celebrations, and countless other city-sponsored community events, in favor of some type of “pay-per-view” system. Under a “responsible business plan”, every culturally and/or historically significant building (such as the Goodrich-Ramus barn on Pioneer Trail) would be seen as unnecessary liabilities and immediately torn down, regardless of the fact that the chance for their rescue comes once, and ONLY once; when they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

If, years ago, when our forward thinking City Council was considering what to do with the Smith-Douglas-More property, their only concern had been for the budget, the property would have been sold, the trees and house removed, an office building erected, and a “more appropriate” tenant would have moved in: A law firm. A bank. An insurance company. Instead, what they envisioned was the preservation of one of Eden Prairie’s most important ties to its historic past through an innovative adaptive-use program that would attract a business that, through its very nature, would offer something back to the community, while providing income to maintain what could very well be defined as a living museum. And, so it has been. Dunn Brothers Coffee has not only preserved Eden Prairie’s culture, they have been growing it.

SO it isn’t what would be considered the perfect business plan.
SO they are asking for a temporary break in the rent.
SO Eden Prairie’s 60,000-plus residents would be asked to fork over 50 cents a piece more in property taxes next year to make up for the $31,000 shortfall in order to keep this experiment going…
SO WHAT: Over the past few years, Eden Prairie has consistently ranked among the nations best places to live and raise a family. Why? What’s the term? Oh, yes, “Quality of Life”. This term relates to both the tangible and intangible assets a community provides. Assets that have set our city apart from the others, and, in turn, have increased all of our property values, and – consequently – increased property tax revenue dramatically for the city.
Frighteningly, some members of our current city council and the mayor can’t seem to see that far down the road or think that far outside the box as to realize that investing these dollars now makes good business sense… for ALL of us. And THAT, sir, is BAD business.

Tom Knauer

The Star Tribune is

Karla — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:09:50 -0500

The Star Tribune is reporting that in the race for Supreme Court Associate Justice Court 4, a recount has been triggered, because Hedlund and Jill Clark's vote totals were so close.
See story here:
http://www.startribune.com/28160204.html

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

The City Council might be

Leah Shaffer — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:43:51 -0500

The City Council might be discussing the Dunn Bros. lease at its next meeting, Aug. 19.
Click
here to read a previous story about the issue.

Putt-Putt It's okay for the

bigfoot — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:05:25 -0500

Putt-Putt

It's okay for the DFL to make endorsements in local elections in Minneapolis and St. Paul. And it's okay for the GOP to make endorsements in Eden Prairie elections. It's freedom of speech, and unless legislation is enacted to suppress that, it will remain so.

I offer the fact that political parties have long exercised their rights in making endorsements in city elections, in response to your continual assertion that GOP SD-42 has no business in local politics is sour grapes.

I am not a Republican and have never given a dollar to the Republican party. I vote for the candidate not the party. I took no offense in you labeling me as a Republican, but I doing so, you were once again FACTUALLY wrong.

Ya know, bigfoot - I never

twoputttommy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:42:42 -0500

Ya know, bigfoot - I never thought I'd hear a republican say: "well, the DFL does it in Minneapolis, and in Saint Paul, so it's OK that us republicans do it here."

Then again, I never thought GOP would come to stand for GreedOverPrinciples, and a really never thought I'd see the day that I'd miss Richard M. Nixon.

Putt-Putt I don't "remember

bigfoot — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:21:50 -0500

Putt-Putt

I don't "remember the unofficial but recognized "Redpath Rule"?" What is it?

If it's an unofficial rule, it it isn't a rule. Who is it that "recognizes" this pretend rule. In your world, you may take a Mulligan if know one is looking, because there is an unwritten rule that allows you to do so. A true golfer would know that the rules don't allow this.

When the issue of political parties endorsing local candidates appeared more recently, it was pointed out that former Mayor Jean Harris did receive an endorsement from the local Republican party in the 90s. At that time, no one complained, citing some unofficial rule.

Your rationalization for the DFL sour grapes regarding the endorsement process is that "political boundaries cross city boundaries." Did you mean to say that state districts cross city boundaries? Either way I will respond to your faulty logic.

The setting of district boundaries rarely will result in a state district exactly matching the boundaries of an individual city. Following you train of thought, if SD 42 covered only the city of Eden Prairie, it would then be okay for endorsements.

You've claimed that the local endorsement process is being tainted by people from Minnetonka and you asked me not to deny that, so I wont. In return, I ask you to submit proof that Minnetonka residents are determining the endorsements in Eden Prairie City Elections.

Any resident from Minnetonka, Duluth, Miami, or Dallas has a first amendment right to support candidates running for local office in Eden Prairie. Those who don't reside in Eden Prairie can't vote in city elections. They certainly are allowed to share their time and talents to support candidates for office anywhere in the country.

I do believe the United States Constitution allows any citizen (as well as those legally in the country) to express their opinions anywhere on domestic soil. You apparently have a much narrower view than I, regarding the freedom of speech.

It is time for Putt-Putt to admit he was wrong for relying on an "unofficial" rule in suggesting we deny others their constitutional right to speak. Putt-Putt was FACTUALLY WRONG."

It should not be left up do disgruntled DFLers to make up the rules in local elections. The only rules to be followed are those set forth by law at the state and federal levels. If Putt-Putt wants change he should contact his DFL buddies and have them enact legislation. If disgruntled DFLers are successful in passing restrictive laws that pass constitutional muster, there will no longer need to be a need to cry foul because they felt some unofficial rule was broken. As well, there will no longer be a need for Putt-Putt to use FACTUALLY incorrect reasoning as he attempts to come to terms with DFL defeat in local elections.

And by the way. The three times I've called the Madia Campaign were during normal business hours. My original reason for doing this was to attempt to gather some background following your attack an Fred Koppelman. As I stated before, Koppelman can't be faulted for not contacting the Madia campaign. It is you who needs to contact Madia to discuss any differences you might have about gay marriage.

Twoputt, you're missing the

epeagle — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:18:57 -0500

Twoputt, you're missing the point i was trying to make. Your statement "at the end of the story Young claimed...they weren't helping him raise money..." is based upon the reporter's words--i.e. the conclusion the reporter made to end his story. Every reporter has latitude to draw conclusions or make summary points which may be either more general or more broad than the answers to the questions actually asked. A true comparison of Young to Clinton requires knowing what questions were asked of Young and what his answers were. The questions "is the GOP helping you raise money?" or "can the GOP make donations to your campaign?" might receive the same answer and could both permit the same general conclusion from the reporter. But, your attack presumes that the first question was asked. (I also leave aside the issue of whether a weblink constitutes "help").

But, enough of that old election. More interesting will be the race between Aho/Butcher/Case for two council seats. Slap on the hand in today's paper for Case taking some liberty with the facts in his letter of last week. What's your take on that, Twoputt?

bigfooot, try calling them

twoputttommy — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:47:29 -0500

bigfooot, try calling them during normal, business hours.

As far as your "we're republiCons, and we reserve the "right" to endorse", let me explain it in a manner you might understand:

political bounderies cross city boundaries. And just as Eden Prairie residents have no business influencing endorsements in Minnetonka elections, Minnetonka residents have no business influencing endorsements in Eden Prairie elections.

While in Minnesota, both parties have a history of endorsing locally, in Eden Prairie they don't. Do you remember the unoffcial but recognized "Redpath Rule"?

That was back when GOP stood for Grand Old Party - unlike today, where GOP stands for Greed Over Principles.

And don't try to claim that GOP Minnetonka residents will recuse themselves for Eden Prairie endorsements, and vice-versa. That simply isn't credible, but then again - republiCon leadership isn't credible, either.

Putt-Putt You profess that,

bigfoot — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:52:42 -0500

Putt-Putt

You profess that, "partisan endorsements do NOT belong in city elections - period." When you recently looked down your nose to inform readers that America was the land of "liberty and justice for all", were you snorting mucus back up that somehow blocked off the blood flow to your brain?

Political parties have a legal right to endorse candidates in local elections. In Minnesota, both the GOP and DFL have a long history of endorsing candidates for local office. You may well get away with making up your own rules on the golf course, but how can a sane person suggest the denial to any one the freedom of speech?

In Eden Prairie, the endorsements by political parties or local office did not begin with Phil Young or Brad Aho. It began several year earlier and no one cried about it.

If your reasons for opposing local endorsement are anything besides sour grapes, please provide some bullet points for why you think, legally or otherwise, they should be prohibited. I would love to present these to the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, both of which happen to have a decades-long history of electing your DFL-endorsed buddies.

Rather than criticize the GOP for getting involved locally, why not question your friends at the local DFL about their ineffectiveness. It is the poorest of sport, who blames his defeat on the fact the opponent was better prepared.

Does Ashwin Madia support gay marriage? That is the question. If Madia is opposed to gay marriage and Putt-Putt supports it (although you've been waffling) how does Putt-Put reconcile that?

I took your advice and again called the Madia Campaign and again got the answering machine. Your whole attack on Fred Kopplemann began with, "I called the the Madia campaign ... ". You've obviously have the inside track, you should call them. What are you afraid of?

epeagle - at the end of the

twoputttommy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:01:43 -0500

epeagle - at the end of the Strib story, Phil Young claimed that though he was endorsed by the Republicans, they weren't helping him raise money or recruit volunteers --- even though the Republicans had a link on their homepage taking surfers to a website that raised money and recruited volunteers to defeat his opponent. It should be noted that after I compared Phil Young to Bill Clinton (“well, it depends upon what your definition of ‘help’ is”) the Republicans took that link down. Sorry if that fact doesn't fit your world view, but hey - that's your problem.

bigfoot - you don't get it. Partisan endorsements do NOT belong in city elections - period. I'd guess Mr. Aho might rue taking the GOP endorsement; I can't wait to hear him try to explain how he believes in "Limited Government", and how the goernment shouldn't be involved in areas private business can and would fill, but he doesn't support selling the liquor stores. You see, Brad is a true republiCon - he wants it both ways.

If you have a question about what Captain Madia thinks, ask him.

Putt Putt I understand you

bigfoot — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:11:56 -0500

Putt Putt

I understand you being upset that the GOP didn't endorse your candidate. They supported Phil Young because they beleived he was the best candidate for Eden Prairie Mayor. I'm sure that If the DFL had any semblance of organization, they would have endorsed your guy.

You support the right for churches to decide whether or not they want to "recognize unions." So do I. I didn't know this was even an issue. You're making progress, but let's go one further: If a church "sanctifies" a union between Adam and Steve, should the state recognize this a legal marriage? I say no? What does Ashwin Madia think?

Twoputt, Your anger over

epeagle — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:42:11 -0500

Twoputt,

Your anger over Koppelman's generalized conclusions about Madia (which any reader can regard or disregard as they see fit) might not ring so hollow if you didn't do even worse with your attack on Young.

Your earlier posts take issue with Young based upon the words used by a Strib reporter in an article on the 2006 election (note to twoputt: the lack of quotes around the words mean they aren't Young's words). If you're going to attack someone for splitting hairs ala Bill Clinton on the use of a specific word or phrase wouldn't it be a tad bit more honest if that word or phrase was actually a quote from the person you're attacking?

As to Koppelman, it might be true that he exercised his freedom to make a generalized comment about a candidate for office in a different way than you might. (He didn't resort to name-calling, which is also a departure from your high-brow political analysis). But, I also think that most readers look for more than generalized "no understanding" comments before they make their minds up about a candidate.

I compared Phil Young to

twoputttommy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:41:26 -0500

I compared Phil Young to Bill Clinton for the old-fashioned reason: Young EARNED it. He tried to claim that even though endorsed by the GOP, the GOP wasn't going to "help" him. Which puts Mayor Maybe into the postition of essentially saying "Well, that depends what your definition of "help" is" - because at the time Mayor Maybe claimed that, the local GOP website had a link to a site that was raising money and recruiting volunteers for Phil's campaign.

And it's this type of discussion that has caused Erik Paulsen to go from Majority Leader in the state house to a member of the Minority Party: the electorate simply cannot trust GOP Leaders nor Leadership to tell the truth.

And yes, I do support the right of Churches to recognize unions that meet their religious qualifications and requirements; and I also support the right of Churches to decline to recognize unions that do not meet their religious qualifications and requirements - sanctification of a union by a Church is a RELIGIOUS rite.

And I support the legal concept of Liberty and Justice for all, under the framework of the United States Constitution - you know, "liberty and justice for ALL".

Which by definition, makes me a Democrat, because Republicans believe in "liberty and justice for SOME - and only Republicans get to pick and chose which are worthy of it."

GOP is the party of hypocrisy.