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So maybe he did !
from Minneapolis Issues Forum at http://www.mnforum.org/pipermail/mpls/2002-October/017865.html
I have been a PAC member of the I 35W access project since it's
inception, representing the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and
the Nicollet Lake Business Association. At our first meeting Commissioner
McClaughlin said that the county has long over looked South Minneapolis.
This project was to revitalize this area.
In July of 2001, just days before Brian Herron made public his
mistakes, a meeting was held at St. Mary's to discuss the city and
county position on expanding the project to accommodate additional
lanes on 35W. Former Mayor Sales-Belton, her body guard, Peter McClaughlin,
Brian Herron, Jim Grube, a rep from the Phillips Partnership and
others were in attendance. Attendance records and minuets should
exist but were not distributed. The outcome of this meeting was
a letter to MNDOT Commissioner Tinkelburg stating that the city
and county did not want this project to become an 35W expansion
project. This letter and Tinkelburgs reply were discussed by the
project PAC and TAC in December of 2001.
During the meeting at St. Mary's Commissioner McClaughlin stated
that he had told Wells Fargo that if they were to acquire the Honey
Well campus that he would try to get them access. McCaulghlin also
said 'How would the county look to other businesses looking to come
into our area if we can't deliver on this'.
My perspective of the project and motivation for the same changed
at that meeting. I believe that the primary reason for the project
is not as McClaughlin had said at our first PAC meeting. The primary
reason for the project is access to big businesses. Layered into
all of the monies is the hook for the neighborhoods that $30 million
may be available for mitigation and enhancement.
As further evidence of McClaughlins commitment- when the lack of
monies at MNDOT became evident he proposed the county bond $95 million
of the project with no guarantee that the state will repay the county.
I agree with Commissioner McClaughlin that the county has long
over looked investing in South Minneapolis. This project however
is not a direct investment for the betterment of neighborhoods and
small businesses of South Minneapolis and should be stopped.
Tom McGreevy
more McLaughlin fun here >>
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