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Gold Medal Park to Be Preserved for 50 Years
Letter to the Editor - Ideas for the Minneapolis Riverfront
One of four representatives to take his name off the Crown Hydro bill, Rep. Michael Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said he supports the Crown Hydro project as a clean source of renewable energy but opposes taking away local control.
“The way that this one was written was basically clubbing the city of Minneapolis over the head,” Nelson said.
A open letter to our elected officials at the Park Board regarding the Crown Hydro project from a resident of Minneapolis suburb St. Anthony Park received today, May 12, 2011. Susan was en route to vacation and asked me to post this:
Dear Commissioners,
Very recently my lovely business CorAzoN closed in "The Mill District" It just did not have enough traffic and I could not wait any longer.
The Mill District is a gem waiting to happen. Like so many things in Minneapolis the city is moving on with things too quickly and not allowing this community blossom. At some point energy needs to be driven by controlling consumption not by producing more energy. I could not wait, you can. Do the right thing this time and leave the river front untouched. Keep it special and unique. You will attract business and residents that will make Minneapolis' downtown a thriving place, not just for sporting events.
The city has an opportunity to carve out something that would be unique to Minneapolis and the USA. Minneapolis was already awarded the most bike friendly city in the nation. Part of this is because the trails offer quiet and pristine beauty. You are attracting people to the downtown. People like Ex-Vice President Mondale and his wife Joan. I walk their dog every morning at 6:00 am. I would encourage each and everyone of you to take this walk. First you will notice you are not alone. Many people (not just who live in the downtown) are out walking and enjoying the views and quiet of the morning.
From an email I just received:
I would like to thank you for contacting me regarding the Crown Hydro proposal on the Central Riverfront. The benefits of the limited power production would not outweigh the aesthetic value of the falls as an historic site and park amenity. I have not seen any new documentation from the Crown Hydro lobbyists, cadre of attorneys or engineers that has provided information to the contrary.
David Tinjum
Please attend the Minneapolis Park Board meeting May 18 at 5:00 PM to show your support for stopping this ill-conceived project.
Contact your elected officials and ask them to drop their support...
Hello Friends, Neighbors, and Concerned Citizens:
With your help, we had 30-40 supporters at the May 4 Park Board meeting, resulting in the issue being tabled until the next meeting on May 18. Thank you! But...
As you read this, the Minneapolis Park Board, under the duress of threatened State Legislation, is negotiating an agreement with Crown Hydro, LLC to build an ill-conceived power generation facility in Mill Ruins Park. See the attached flyer for how to contact your elected officials and more information on Crown Hydro.
If successful, Crown Hydro will risk:
- Damaging the historical birthplace of Minneapolis
- Ruining decades of hard work and millions of dollars taxpayers have invested in revitalizing the Downtown Riverfront
- Drying up St. Anthony Falls!
Why would the Park Board virtually give away National Historic Parkland to a private developer? How much more corporate welfare can we afford?
We’re in the 11th hour, but it’s not too late to stop this. Please:
1. Contact Board President John Erwin and ask him to stop the negotiating process and vote no to Crown Hydro.
2. Contact each Park Board Commissioner and ask them to Vote No on Crown Hydro at the May 18 Board meeting at Park Board headquarters.
3. Contact the DFL State Legislators sponsoring the bill to force the Park Board to give away our National Historic Parkland to Crown Hydro and ask them to drop their support.
4. Attend the Minneapolis Park Board meeting on May 18 at 5:00 PM to let the Commissioners know we're paying attention. When the next election rolls around we won't forget their vote on this issue.
See the attached flyer for how to contact your elected officials and more information on Crown Hydro.
Thanks so much for your help. We can still stop this, and you can make a difference!
If you have any questions, please contact me:
David Tinjum
612-321-8020
PS. If you have friends or colleagues interested in protecting the riverfront, will you please forward this email to them? The more folks we get to write, call or attend meetings the better our chances for stopping this ill-conceived project!
PS. Visit our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/NoCrownHydro and share your opinion. Hit the like button while you're there to show that there are many more against this project than for it.
*See the attached flyer for how to contact your elected officials and more information on Crown Hydro.
River Life coordinator Pat Nunnally discusses the relationship between the Mississippi and the U of M.
From Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman -
What’s next, the Legislature passing a bill ordering the city to sell the Minneapolis Farmers Market land for a Vikings Stadium or sell Gold Medal Park for a new high-rise?”
From The Red Wing Eagle:
The south metro Mississippi River is receiving nearly 1 million tons of sediment from other rivers annually, but a new cleanup plan has targeted the pollution sources and is calling for significant reductions.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released the first draft of a TMDL — total maximum daily load — Wednesday that recommends the Minnesota River - the primary source of pollution to the south metro Mississippi reduce its sediment flow by up to 60 percent.
From Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman -
“It is simply outrageous that the Legislature would even attempt to override the decisions of local government, in this case the Park Board, and compel both the sale of public land and the planning approvals required for a private developer for their private development”
David Tinjum
Please attend the Minneapolis Park Board meeting May 18 at 5:00 PM to show your support for stopping this ill-conceived project.
Contact your elected officials and ask them to drop their support...
From The Journal:
Crown Hydro will have to wait until May 18 to find out if the Park Board will allow the company to install hydroelectric turbines above St. Anthony Falls.
The Board voted 6-3 to postpone a decision on a letter of intent that would have set the framework for a contract with Crown Hydro.
At-large Commissioner Annie Young and others said that because they didn’t receive the letter until the afternoon of the May 4 board meeting, they wanted more time to review the document’s details.
The rushing of the waters over St. Anthony Dam and the locks provided great entertainment on May 6, 2011, when Sara Mayfield and Gay Pogue visited Minneapolis.
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