Proposed St. Paul budget cuts 'devastating,' mayor says
Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.
posted by Bob at Friday, February 13, 2009
Custom Search
Friday, February 13, 2009
Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.
A DEMOCRACY TOWN HALL HOME
Do you have a topic you want to discuss at the Town Hall? Email your request to A_Democracy@yahoo.com
“A DEMOCRACY” Disclaimer- While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to this forum express the views and opinions of the author and not the administrators, moderators (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.
You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-oriented or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned
THE ROOF GUYS
Mickey's Diner 1950 7th Street West, St Paul, MN
(651) 698-8387
AX-MAN SURPLUS
1639 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Tel:(651)646-8653
LANDLORD.COM LINK HERE
SHHHH! While we listen to words of wisdom from a wise man.
Conscience is the light of the Soul that burns within the chambers of our psychological heart. It is as real as life is. It raises the voice in protest whenever anything is thought of or done contrary to the righteousness. Conscience is a form of truth that has been transferred through our genetic stock in the form of the knowledge of our own acts and feelings as right or wrong. A virtuous and courageous person can alone use the instrument of conscience. He or she can alone hear the inner voice of the soul clearly. In a wicked person this faculty is absent. The sensitive nature of his / her conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption. Hence he or she is unable to discriminate right from wrong. Those who are leading organizations, business enterprises, institutions and governments should develop this virtue of the ability to use their own conscience. This wisdom of using the clean conscience will enable them to enjoy the freedom.
Dr APJ Kalam, President of India given during the inauguration of the seminar on “THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Previous Posts
- Saint Paul/ Investor's say to hell with Saint Paul.
- Birthday Reminder!
- Test case shows city's tough stance on fixer-upper...
- Detective Jane?
- St. Paul ordinance seeks to educate rookie landlor...
- The emotions of property rights.
- St. Paul mayor to explain proposed cuts. Show us t...
- Judge scolds, sentences two Ramsey County sheriff'...
- I think ALL of us are looking forward to an exciti...
- City of St. Paul to pay $5,000 to settle protester...
52 Comments:
Proposed St. Paul budget cuts 'devastating,' mayor says
By Dave Orrick and Mara H. Gottfried
Pioneer Press
Posted: 02/13/2009 12:01:00 AM CST
Say goodbye to St. Paul city government as you know it.
Cops, firefighters, prosecutors and inspectors: laid off, resulting in perhaps 400 fewer jobs.
Hamline Library: closed. Other libraries: hours reduced heavily.
Half the street lights: turned off. Plowing of side streets during snow emergencies: only at 4 inches.
Eight recreation centers: closed or with barely a city presence.
These are among the proposed cuts — nothing's final yet — recommended by Mayor Chris Coleman's top staffers, including those in charge of police, fire, public works, libraries, and parks and recreation.
"These are devastating," Coleman said Thursday, shortly after the city released the recommendations, which aim to fill a gaping budget hole over the next two years that includes $44 million in a general fund shortfall.
The $39 million in reductions accounts for $30 million in general fund cuts and $9 million in cuts to other city funds. The other $14 million in the general fund deficit comprises projected inflationary increases as well as other streams of revenue that are scheduled to disappear.
Coleman said his final proposal to the city council next month could be somewhat rosier, or it could be worse. It depends on the upcoming state economic forecast and federal aid package being finalized in Congress.
Coleman released the department heads' recommendations — in the form of an assortment of memos and spreadsheets — in advance of a
pair of community meetings he has scheduled beginning next week to hear from the public.
Nothing is a done deal, and certain recommendations — such as Police Chief John Harrington's proposed layoff of 67 sworn officers — are more subject to change than others. But Coleman said this: "Right now, you'd have to characterize this as the most likely scenario, but we're still fighting."
Coleman, a Democrat running for re-election, also blamed Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty for "forcing" the cuts on the city by proposing to reduce state aid payments to local governments. Pawlenty has said the cuts were necessary to balance the state's troubled budget.
City Council President Kathy Lantry said the city's budget outlook is so grim "there's nowhere else to go" but cutting core services and staff.
She said that while some cuts — police, fire, libraries and rec centers — likely will garner the public's attention, other departments are just as important. She said other cuts — city prosecutors, inspectors and technology staffers — will hurt the public sooner or later.
"The public may see the closing of a library because it's the most visible, but a good portion of the public will feel it when the tall grass and weeds inspectors are gone," Lantry said. "Everything that's in there will affect people."
POLICE AND FIRE
The "worst-case scenario" for the police department could mean losing 118 officers — 51 through not filling vacant positions and 67 layoffs, according to Harrington's memo. There are about 580 officers now. The memo also mentions officers working 35-hour weeks instead of the 40 hours they work now, reducing the canine unit and restructuring or discontinuing the mounted unit.
The police union's president and a department spokesman said they think other proposed cuts in the department would save enough money to prevent a reduction of hours and having that many layoffs.
"It would be a very dangerous situation," said Dave Titus, St. Paul Police Federation president. "You could say, 'Hello, Detroit.' "
Cutting 14 percent of the fire department's budget could mean laying off 59 firefighters, Chief Tim Butler said in his memo. There are about 375 firefighters now.
"Such cuts would require a massive reorganization of the department," he wrote.
Harrington and Butler issued stern warnings about the dangers of cutting public safety funding during bad economic times.
"As state, county, and local social assistance programs are fiscally undercut, the emergency services sector will be required to step in to provide relief to suffering residents," Butler wrote.
Robberies, burglaries, domestic assaults, fraud and theft crimes can be expected to rise with "the current economic and employment situation," Harrington wrote. "If history is our best teacher, during times of economic distress, drug use, mental health issues and depression have become more acute. This rise will translate into increased calls for service which will tax even further our already limited resources."
Chris Parsons, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 21 secretary, said he understands that "every other city department is going to say they're essential, but with us it's literally life or death."
LIBRARIES
"Closing the libraries at a time when these services are needed most makes no sense," Library Director Melanie Huggins told Coleman in her memo. "There are no acceptable choices."
Huggins proposed closing the Hamline Library — the city's least used — and significantly reducing library hours elsewhere to a benchmark of each library averaging being open eight hours a day. Additionally, a proposed $400,000 cut to the budget would mean buying at least 50,000 fewer books, DVDs and other materials.
PARKS & REC
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm proposed retreating from eight of the city's rec centers, leaving 25, as part of a strategy to not cut highly popular facilities such as Jimmy Lee.
Hahm proposed closing three rec centers: Sylvan, Prosperity and Front. At three others — Baker, Griggs and Margaret — the city would pull out with hopes of finding neighborhood groups or nonprofits to take over the centers with their own programs, much like what was done when several rec centers closed in 2006. At two more facilities — Wilder and South St. Anthony — noncity entities already help run programs, and at those two, the city would pull out completely.
Additionally, Hahm proposed eliminating the equivalent of nearly 60 full-time positions, including 36 layoffs, which would result in such cuts as less security and no lifeguards at Lake Phalen's swimming beach.
"It's dramatic," Hahm said of his proposal.
PUBLIC WORKS
A quirk of circuitry in St. Paul allows for half the street lights — literally, every other streetlight — to be turned off with the flip of certain key switches, saving the city some $700,000 in electricity over the next two years.
And that's among a slew of proposals — many likely to draw opposition — by Public Works Director Bruce Beese to trim $7.6 million from his budget.
City Engineer John Maczko said such proposals — including raising the snow emergency threshold to 4 inches (from the current 3), eliminating the neighborhood "traffic calming" program, reducing tree trimming and stump removal, and eliminating hanging flower containers downtown — will make the city's streets and sidewalks uglier.
"We're in for some very tough times," he said.
One possible upside for scofflaws: the Public Works proposal reduces parking meter maintenance and funds for parking enforcement, meaning fewer people would be ticketed.
HAVE YOUR SAY
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has scheduled a pair of public meetings this month to discuss city budget cuts.
At each meeting, Coleman will outline the proposed cuts and take questions and comments. City council members, who will vote on any cuts, might be present as well.
The meetings are:
5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the El Rio Vista Rec Center/Neighborhood House auditorium, 179 E. Robie St.
5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Como Conservatory Visitors Center auditorium.
I though Obama was going to come and save the day.All you dumby as city hall new this day was comming but waited to the last second to make cuts.You should have started 3 years ago.All you libs make Pawlenty the fall guy but just think if he wasn't slashing his budget years ago like you fools.The state would look like California.
Jim
from the article;
Half the street lights: turned off.
My response;
Well at least one of my ideas is a consideration.
With the abuse going on in DSI cutting them will save the city money in future lawsuits.
I didn't see a freeze on vehicle and office equipment purchases here.
I hope they aren't foolish enough to close rec centers in low income neighborhoods.
Actually this state is worse than California. When you figure out the debt ratio per spending, we are way above where California is.
Cut the core functions and protect the moonbat crap; your Democrat government in action, ladies and gentlemen.
Why do lefty's hate America so much?
Actually this state is worse than California. When you figure out the debt ratio per spending, we are way above where California is.
Bob - congratulations on the turning off 1/2 of the lights!!!
That will save about $350,000 a year $700K over 2 years. Which is about 5 cops that will stay on the street!
On the rec centers its Sylvan, Prosperity and Front from what I understand, that are goners.
For the last several years District 2 has requested CDBG (federal) monies to build a new rec center at Prosperity. I have been worried that it was getting so warn out it could be on a hit list. Frost Lake was cut last time, so this will mean no rec centers north of Maryland between Lake Phalen and White Bear, which is a pretty big chunk of the East Side.
I said it looked bad. But, this is where LGA and property tax money goes. It does core functions. Its the Feds and the State that give direct payments on the other things.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
I do not see a re-negotiation of city contracts with vendors on the table.
This could save millions.
With the city getting rid of the miscreants in DSI, it would kill two birds with one stone. DSI has opened up the biggest can or worms ever with its predatory inspections.
Maybe ADemocracy could take a poll of which 15 inspectors, and their City Hall support, should go.
The hit in DSI is going to end up putting us back where you didn't like it before, which is complaint based only. With a cut in staff inspections will end up being done on the squeaky wheel and the rest will go.
You won't see staff being able to do the target area, only checks on the house called in.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
11:44, ( Alias too CHICKEN SHIT TO COME OUT WITH YOUR NAME ! ).
You hate gays, you hate disabled persons, and your not getting attention and recognition, and you just called Eric an animal.
Why don't you beat it !
Jeff Matiatos
Kathy Lantrys address is a matter of public record, so is the fact that council sit as Board of Health, For educational purposes
here is the 2009 Stimulus from GPO
if you are intelligent to know the signature certification.
Hey Baby Cakes Takes one to know one..Sign you name
While the rest of the world had lost 30% of their retirement benifets, why isn't the city renogotiating the city employee benifets? Since when are these slugs different than the rest of us?
Our St.Paul City budget is so over inflated by these double dipping officials
State Rep. John Lesch making over $100,000 a yr. as St.Paul City Attorney, and as state Rep. making $80,000 plus medical - plus - plus - plus.
Over the years of battling with St.Paul and their Democratic ruled Government, City Attorney John Lesch attempted to prosecute me for my effort of addressing discrimination by St.Paul and its Police Force to deny me free speech, or freedom of expression.
President Obama said, We have to make a change in our government.
Lets start with some of these people that have jobs in city and state government like
MN. State Rep. John Lesch (DFL) making laws that he as a St.Paul City Attorney refuses to enforce.
We do not need these double dippers that are drawing pay from two jobs and can't in reality do one job.
Bill Dahn
651-453-1992
www.BillDahn.com
www.BillDahn.blogspot.com
Someone calling themselves Saint Paul Resident left this comment at twincities.com. There is an over whelming number of citizens barbecuing the mayor.
I just know the DFL hacks are scrambling for a candidate that has a chance.
Reply »
|Report Abuse |Judge it! |#85 8 hrs ago
Judged:
3
3
2
Go to page 16 of St. Paul's 2009 Adopted Budget.
http://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/DocumentView.a...
You will see that the budget for 2007 was $446M. 2008 was $483M including the $50M for RNC. The adopted budget for 2009 is $514M. In rough numbers that's an increase of $68M(15%) over 2007 and $31M(6%) over the RNC bloated 2008 budget. When adjusted for the RNC the 2009 budget appears to be $81M higher than 2008.
THE $44M ISN'T CUTTING THE BUDGET! IT'S JUST INCREASING IT BY LESS THAN THE INSANE NUMBERS THEY WANT!
click above
Link above to citizens pissed off at the DFL party.
I see other citizens recognize the state of UTOPIA these folks in city government are in.
Bob
Bob
Any money left at the end of the year in the budget would show they didn't need as much as they demand, so they will spend it or hide it in other departments.
Look at the money left at the end of December in snow plowing and removal, they have plows cleaning clean streets.
A good example would be if they were out plowing the last few days, and the streets are dry.
Government waste.
I know who this is
:-) >
From twincities.com
Fan of Common Sense wrote:
I wonder how many people complaining about these proposed cuts actually have spent time looking at the city's general fund budget, and are familiar with the process of creating a budget. Here's the 2009 adopted budget, which includes a handy-dandy listing of expenditures by department (pages 26-30):
http://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/DocumentView.a...
The reason that Police are looking at the largest cuts is because they are the largest line item on the budget by far, with 76 million (38% of the general fund budget) going to them. Next in line is the fire department, with 51 million (26% of the general fund budget). Parks and Recreation - which has some of the finest facilities in the nation - is the only other line item receiving more than 10 million, with 27 million (14% of the general fund budget). And surprise, surprise - the proposed budget hits them with the next largest amount.
You could eliminate the entire mayor's office, and the savings wouldn't even be as much as the proposed cut to police. The generous welfare benefits people keep complaining about simply don't exist. That's right - there is no such thing in the city budget.
Basically, when you're looking at a 12.5% budget shortfall, you HAVE to look at the biggest line items for cuts, unless you are willing to raise taxes. That is the harsh reality.
I've looked at the budget every year and agree that police, fire fighters, and recs are the largest line items but that is because they are universal and apply to all citizens.
*Saint Paul Citizen wrote:
Before any cuts to these areas should even be proposed cuts need to be made to specialized areas, for example Human Rights and Equal Economic Development.
When you have a shortage of cash at home and you have to cut something and your choices are either your grocery bill or your entertainment bill which gets cut? Your entertainment bill! Well the mayor is proposing the grocery bill should be cut.
this post is from twincities.com
about the budget cuts. pg.14
Jon
United States
Reply »
|Report Abuse |Judge it! |#268 3 hrs ago
Judged:
2
2
What a joke. Always threating to lay off cops and firefighters. As a contractor that deals with alot of different city departments. I can help them find alot more people deserving to be laid off rather that cops or firefighters. Every time I go in a city office there is at least 2 or 3 city employees just sitting around doing nothing. The ones working act and treat you like your bothering them. St Paul as a whole is a joke. Great job Dems for running this city in the hole.
As for there snow plowing. It can't get any worse than it is now. It takes weeks for my street to get plowed after a snow, You go to any other city in the metro and within 2 or 3 days all the streets are cleared.
Why?
Yeah, I recognized Repke's weasel words too, Bob.
I wonder if Repke gets paid in cash, or if Coleman lets Chucky gargle his balls.
Anyway, from the looks of the comments at the PiPress, no one is buying the crap he's selling.
I'm going to try my best to attend the Mayor's little pity party. I've got a few statistics I'd love to have him explain to the audience.
Jeff, who said what about me?
Leave for a few days and everything is upside down.
I am not touching this 'budget' debate. Again its the same ol' sounding board for every single issue on this blog, "...the DFL blah blah...", "...the moonbats blah, blah, blah...", "all you have to do is blah, blah, blah".
It's like reading what a group of third graders think about Maxwell's equations. Chuck and I may be party hacks but,you guys do yourselves well in the role of neo-conservative hacks.
Bill, John's salary is public information and easily found in a couple of places on the internet. He makes $41,293 as a city attorney and $31,140 as a state legislator. That's a bit more than 1/3rd of the $180,000 you said he was making.
I'd ask where did you get those numbers especially when the state leg pay hasn't changed in years but, you and I both know you won't answer that.
Technically, the legislator is considered part time and most of them, who aren't retired are expected to work. The republican leader in the House, Marty Siefert, is a teacher, as was Sviggum. Where you concerned about 'double-dipping' then? No. What about Pawlenty and his wife double dipping for years?
Its not double dipping because its a part time position. Also, the voters set the standards and decide who goes to the legislator and who doesn't.
Eric
Thanks for the visual Swiftee. So much rage fighting with all of the ball gurgling images must make you crazy as hell.
The question is not who wrote that but, is it correct.
Everything else is bullshit. Its a game of chess/chicken/war all in one. That's how the sausage is made.
Anytime you go the government, even if you are part of the government-especially if you are part of a government, expect strings to be attached to money. The term frequently used now is dedicated funds. Everytime you take money from the government, you loose a finger.
If you can understand that, then you can understand the position the city- as are thousands of city across the country find themselves in.
This problem goes back to several mayors. Coleman and Kelly did not cut services, they also used one time funds for long term budget additions (cops and fire). Somewhere down the line you have to either pay for it with other money, or cut those services.
There has been a campaign for more cops, better fire service and longer library and rec center hours (crime prevention moves). We got'em. In order to keep them, we're going to have to find more funds or/AND raise taxes. I don't see a way around it. Its probably the least bloody political move since there is so much public support for these functions. People are willing to pay taxes for these functions.
Eric
Sorry Swiftie I sign every post I write and I never use pretend names or funny pictures.
There are other people who understand how math works even if you don't.
I do think Bob is it at least getting some understanding of how it works and suggested something that actually works.
Someone suggested wiping out the Human rights department. I don't know for sure, but I do think this is a department that if you wiped it out at the City level that the state would be required to provide the service to Saint Paul residents out of their office of human rights. So, even though I think it is a bad idea, it is an idea that someone on the right could propose that would save the City money and the service would have to be taken up by the state.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
The problem goes back to Coleman and Kelly my ass! This city leadership has spent money beyond nelief for the last 4 years even after they knew they would get big cuts on LGA money. Go "green out" with the Mayor and get your brains together Eric.
My brains are fine Ms Anonymous.
Your memory is at fault. Norm Coleman presided of the best economic times this country has seen. The 1990's under Bill Clinton.
He didn't raise the levy at all. He also expanded city services. How did he do that, you say? Good economic times swelled up our reserves, so, instead of paying as you go, or as you deliver (those Clinton cops were going to go on local payroll soon enough), Norm just robbed the reserves blind to balance the budget.
Those one time funds were sure to run out but, not while he was in officer and was able to run for Governor and Senate touting his never raises taxes record, when in reality, he took real cash from the future.
Here's a pro-Norm article from MPR after his last budget was presented to the city.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200108/14_wilcoxenw_coleman/
And Kelly, let's see:
He pushed to add street light maintenance to the right-of-way
assessment. These assessments unfairly shifted the tax burden to
lower-valued homes and churches.
The right-of- way assessment benefits large commercial properties and high-valued homes by using front footage to calculate the bill rather than the dollar value of the property.
Nice.
He was willing to gut public safety operations in order to hold on to his Housing 5000 project boondoggle.
He used the capital bonding funds and STAR funds to pay for his projects that he refuse to cut or raise taxes to pay for. Those funds were for bricks and mortar projects, not to meet pet projects like Housing 5000.
He also spent reserves.
So after twelve years of that, we got what we got. Forced to raised taxes and/or go after state and federal funds- since we know people do not want to loose their services.
Eric
Hope the 306 comments come up in this link Bobby J, you made our day
Getting Great to force the Break in City Hall
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/twincities-pioneer-press/TBKBJF8T9AEIDNMK8
Let me show you Democrat assholes something:
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/lgahistout.asp?type=city&city1=26200&city1=274100&city1=191800&city1=192000&city1=276000&city1=270700&city2=274400&city2=274700&yr05=on&yr08=on&yr06=on&yr09=on&yr04=on&yr07=on&calc=amount&output=web
Now tell me something.
How do all of these major cities manage to keep their cops paid, their lights on and their streets maintained without receiving a buck of LGA?
I may have missed something, but I can't recall reading a mayor from any of these large, first ring cities crying about their budget problems.
LGA was never meant to support cities like Saint Paul. It was supposed to "spread the wealth" around to small cities that didn't have enough businesses to support their core municipal functions without taxing the holy living shit out of their property owners.
But the Democrat party saw a big pot of cash out there that they could use to fund all the stupid, wasteful shit they wanted without having to tell the taxpayers about it.
Now we have gaping lefty assholes in our two largest cities squirting tears because the gravy train has run out of steam.
The fact is that there IS NO MONEY COMING FROM THE STATE. There is no money to give them...get that through your empty heads.
Coleman, Ryback and all their idiot supporters can piss and whine all they want, but them's the facts.
Coleman has had THREE YEARS to adapt his budget to today's fiscal realities, but he hasn't done shit....not one fucking useful idea to manage his budget...not one.
I saw this coming a mile away...that's why I moved out of the city limits. I refuse to hang the well being of my family on the backs of ignorant children of failed lefty parents.
This is what happens when you elect people because they wear tie dye T-shirts, hate successful businesses, and speak moonbat goo-goo talk.
This is what happens when you run competent leaders, businesses and working families out of town.
You dolts broke it, you fix it.
good riddance to you.
High taxes and all the City is Better that you took you litter and left Town.
i hope others that think like you left with you or are they out of Town.
The city has driven out some of its best people. They are sensitive and caring. Pretty soon all that is going to be left is dipshits.
You can count me in. I left years ago also. Took my money with me too. I don't spend a nickle in St. Paul nor will I......EVER.
Here's something else to consider.
During the tenures of both Coleman and Kelly, the Democrat "woe is me" band played on and on about how their fucking asinine programs were getting cut "to the bone".
Remember that?
And now, here we are three years later and these same jagoff's are still protecting the same asinine programs that were supposedly done for when they took over!
It's all BULLSHIT folks!
These cocksuckers live to feed upon the contributing members of our society. They themselves contribute NOTHING but misery!
Keep it in mind next election season, Coleman didn't get put in place by people that think.
I think the world would be a much better place with more people like Swiftee. At least he says it like it is and you know where you stand with him. That's a whole hell of a lot more than I can says for most of the DFL'rs that I know. Keep talkin Swiftee. Jeff too!
Swiftee, I never thought I would meet a perfect idiot but you may be it.
Have you ever read anything.
LGA was created exactly for Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It was to keep the cities from increasing their property taxes. The entire point to LGA is that you transfer costs to the income tax from the large number of people that work in the cities instead of continuing to raise property taxes.
Every other tax we have is welfare for the rutal communities.
LGA was designed to protect cities from taxing their industries into the burbs. The reason that those suburbs don't get LGA is because of the ammount of industry they have compared to residential.
Did you just fall off of the turnip truck or were you pushed?
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
So what are they going to do now to deal with the city taxing the citizens into the burbs Chuck?
Cut services... that is all you can do.
The Governor and the legislature passed a budget last year that said they would make payments to the cities. Now they don't pay the money that they promised less than a year ago and morons like Swiftee says that is the mayors not able to deal with today's realities. The governor cancelled the payment, he refused to pay the bill. If you or I did that they would take us to court for the money.
That is a governor that lies to the citizens of the state of Minnesota and is making the cities take 25% cuts while state agencies take 5% cuts.
Who can't balance a budget?
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Two things Swiftee:
1. Somebody is out there voting for DFLers and their policies. Sometime before I moved into town, the people that live here decided that Republican can't do shit right and aren't worth effort anymore. Maybe calling them a bunch of assnozzles and cocksuckers will help get your superior point across.
2. The financial soundness of a city is measured through its bond rating. The main two bond rating houses are Standard and Poor's, and Moody's. Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi is a real fiscal conservative even he was an advisor to John McCain. Moody grades St Paul at Aa2 which is "high quality by all standards". Your burb that you ran off to, West St Paul, enjoys an Aa3 rating.
You took a step down Flipper.
For the record, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google (who's product we're using right now) was one of Obama's advisors. On Friday, Moody's stock closed at 23.87 while Google was down at 357.68.
You are experiencing a deficit of ideas and solutions so, all you have is to yell, curse, lie and point the finger at the Democrats.
Eric
Chuck,
A few days ago you said every Minnesota city gets LGA and was proven wrong.
Now at 10:33 PM you say “The reason that those suburbs don't get LGA is because of the amount of industry they have compared to residential.” Did you *read* that or are you making it up too?
Changing stories midstream, being proven wrong, and accusing Swiftee of not reading. Priceless.
Eric
9:01 AM
The people that point the finger the Democrats aren't pointing the index finer.
Looks like Swiftee got you by the balls Chuck!
11:09 it is almost every city in the state that gets LGA there are about a dozen that don't. So, yes I generalized since about 95% of cities get LGA and the League of Minnesota Cities are strong supporters of LGA.
And, if you read all of those posts I pasted info from the State His. Soc. explaining how and when and why LGA was passed.
Swiftees ignorance is a thing of beauty.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
When are the first round of cuts going to happen ?
I suppose Colemane is waiting for the LGA handout before he does.
I predict that St.Paul will get a large majority of LGA once Minnesota gets its share of the Federal stimulus.
St.Paul will then get its LGA money from the state and Coleman will take credit for saving St.Paul from disaster.
Again, who hasformally announced their running against Coleman ?
Jeff Matiatos
Jeff
They didn't send the check due in December.
The state just didn't pay its bill.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
The state didn't pay it's bill Chuck? I love you lefties, you just spin everything into whatever it isn't so your side appears the poor victim. Your city is nothing but a bunch of free loading thieves that have their hand out for everything they think they can get from someone else. Why don't you guys try living within your means like the rest of the private sector does?
Stolen from the bowels of Saint Paul Issues and Forums.
I like Erik Hare. This is a man who calls it like he see's it.
From: Erik Hare Date: 01:22 UTC Short link
The reason I opened with a strong, visceral metaphor to explain what is
happening is that I do not think that most people understand the world around
them right now. It often takes a good kick in the guts to realize how
everything around you is falling apart. I wanted to do my best to make that
kick a bit rhetorical, at least until the real one sets in. People often can
understand things in their guts that their minds don't completely wrap around.
I've been talking about the catastrophe in our economy in great detail for at
least 2 years now, and the resulting problems with our budget a bit less.
People haven't wanted to hear it, and I've been ostracized for telling people
that they are simply not being realistic when it comes to spending public money
and their expectations of results. This isn't about me, in case you haven't
realized, and I really don't care what you call me or how you ignore me.
Bob mentioned Lawson Commons, which is a fine place to start any such
discussion. Look around you and ask, "Is this the world I was promised? Did we
really reap the benefits promised from the various public projects that have
been done?" There are a few that you might well like - the Xcel Center seems to
me to have been worth it, for example. But there are many bits and pieces of
infrastructure that have been an utter waste.
Saint Paul is, by virtue of being the State Capitol and seat of the
Archdiocese, in a uniquely poor position when it comes to property tax. We are
going to feel the effects any number of changes before anyone else, including a
long-term decline in need for office space, and so on. We're also especially
vulnerable to LGA cuts for the same reason.
The situation at hand is one that we should have been more vocal about over the
last decades, as LGA was gradually being reduced. We also should have been more
realistic about where we invested development dollars, concentrating on small
projects with known return like the ones in Lowertown or other housing
developments out in neighborhoods.
This may sound like right-wing stuff, and I really don't care what you call me.
The truth of the matter is that if we want to do good things together in this
city, united as one, we have to make the best use of what we have. We start at
a comparative disadvantage in many ways, so the pressure is even tighter.
The past is the past. Mistakes were made. As we move ahead we need to focus on
developing a city that is sustainable and makes good use of the resources it
has. That means we have to understand our assets and have a strategic plan to
develop them.
This is the intellectual stuff for the brain that comes after we have a good
handle in our guts as to what's happened. We've been in something like a car
wreck. How do we get a ride home in the short term and work towards preventing
this kind of accident in the future?
My hunch is that somewhere in the daze most people contemplating this find
themselves lost in there are some really interesting thoughts about just what
matters most to us. Let's go with those first. Focus, strategy, unity. That,
with a touch of realism, and we might slowly get ourselves out of this.
The budget cuts? They were coming, folks. If you don't like 'em, what you wanna
do 'bout 'em?
Looks like they ignore their own when they don't want to hear something.......just like they did to us way back when. The party is over and it's time to pay the piper. I don't understand what the hell the problem is. Won't these good DSLrs offer to pay the difference out of their pockets?
Sounds like us talking! No one wanted to hear us either, and now the other side is talking about recognizing our "assets>" One of the biggest of those assets are our housing and the people who provide private capitol and jobs to restore them to livable conditions, but those are all slumlords and they don't want to hear about that, so just keep tearing them down and passing laws to prevent the rehabbers from repairing should they ever be lucky or crazy enough to get their hands on one before the wrecking ball gets there. Eric wants to know what people are going to do about the cuts if they don't like them. I can answer that! They are going to choke on what they voted for and a lot of people going to laughing while they are choking.
Why don't you guys try living within your means like the rest of the private sector does?
9:31 PM
Actually, maybe the private sector should try living like the rest of us do. Last I checked, hard earned tax dollars are being used to keep banks and other businesses afloat as they are broke.
Tax dollars to cities where I live and expect high level of services or banks to buy other banks and piss off bonuses to guys to who blew the industry up in the first place? Cities.
Ralphie- you mean Erik. I already what we have to do. Assess what kind of state and federal aide we'll get then either raise taxes, cut services, or a bit of both.
Eric
Doesn't it make you sick Chuck that Republicans only voted against the stimulus because their Republicans ?
I bet Democrats and Republicans alike didn't even read half of it.
Who drafted it, a bunch of Lawyers ?
One of the reasons I don't affiliate myself with either party specifically.
Jeff Matiatos
Ya, special interests groups like banks, the auto industry, and every other corporation had a hand in it.
Lobbyist with money under the table to give out.
I would say they got a good return.
The biggest problem with the Stimulus bill is that 40% of it is tax breaks.
The 60% that is spending is what is going to have an impact on the economy.
We could have used 10 times as much money for public works projects that are already designed and ready to go.
We need to get construction crews working again. For the last eight years we have been cutting back on those kinds of project and that is exactly what keeps people thinking positive about the country and our direction. It is also what triggers private investment.
Did any of you ever sell anything?
How about grammar school, did you go?
Do you remember... If you look good, you feel good and if you feel good you do good.
Reagan was a sales man, Clinton was a sales man... Carter and Bush couldn't sell water to a man who was stuck in the desert for a week.
It takes action to get action.
We need the government to spend some money on visible projects.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
We are kicking your ass with these law suits Chuck. Win or lose the suits, we win!
Even the city Attorney saids so!
Post a Comment
<< Home