‘Letter to the Editor’ Archives
COMMENTARY Saving the Phillips Pool to Save Lives
By State Senator Jeff Hayden Minneapolis “The City of Lakes.” Minnesota “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Behind all those images of sky blue sparkling waters, there is a startling fact: Minnesota has the highest drowning rate among African-Americans in U.S. The drowning rate for Native Americans is third highest in U.S. One reason is the lack of opportunities for inner city youth and adults to learn how to swim. In fact, the only free indoor public swimming pool in the city of Mpls. is at the Phillips Community Center and the only pool in the Phillips community. Unfortunately, the pool has been closed since Boys and Girls Clubs lease ended in 2008. The Mpls. Park and Rec. Dept. planned to infill with dirt and cap with concrete in 2010. Thanks to an outpouring of support from the community and advocacy from interested organizations, the pool was saved from demolition. However, before the pool can be reopened to the public, it needs extensive [...]
Rep. Ryan”'s Bill is Robin Hood in Reverse: “Rob from the POOR and give to the RICH”
By Donna Pususta Neste Wisc. Rep. Paul Ryan sponsored a budget bill in the federal House of Representatives last year that would have: increased military spending, cut taxes for millionaires, raised Middle ”“class taxes plunged millions more into poverty by cutting SNAP (food stamps), the Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC), the Low Income Tax Credit all other Federal Gov”'t-funded nutrition. (more…)
Letter to the editor
Dear Editor, Has the electoral process withered while our legislators balked at compromise? The resignation of Senator Linda Berglin opens a seat to be filled by a special election. The first campaign candidates”' forum at the Mercado Central August 26 brought up some traditional and newfound issues. The citizens of Senate District 61 will decide by their votes which way to turn as we come to this fork in the road. Are the Minnesota legislators to remain in their traditional role of part-time service to the common good? Or are we headed on the path toward professional career politicians using the legislative process as a staging platform by which to create their next higher opportunity? Infotainment has become a business.” Take a look and ask the questions. Are media staff persons really jackals, as Governor Jesse Ventura liked to say? “Is politics as usual ”really dead and buried? Has governor Pawlenty”'s “no [...]
