What constitutes ‘public outcry’?
My thoughts about the death spiral St. Paul is in were confirmed after reading the article in Friday’s Pioneer Press about the St. Paul City Council voting to not extend the terms of a state grant awarded to a start-up business in the Energy Park business district.
This business according to the article has brought 83 well paying jobs (range of $47/hr to $127/hr) to the city with a goal of at least 113. The article cites “public outcry” as the reason the City Council declined to extend the terms of the grant.
I’d like to know what constitutes “public outcry”? The Council heard from 30 or so anti-ICE and pro-Palestiian activists in person and another 32 via email. They voiced their opposition to this company that makes semiconductor microchips for missiles and F-35 military bombers plus other plug-in modules used in the aerospace industry. So you basically have 62 people shutting down commerce and shrinking the tax base in St. Paul because of their activist positions (anti- ICE and anti-Israel). Allowing radical activists to influence these types of decisions is a prime example of why St. Paul is in such dire financial straits. We have a hollowed out downtown, another retailer (Evereve) just announced they are leaving Grand Avenue, and property tax increases seem to be the only fuel to feed this failing engine. I wonder if the last one to leave will remember to turn off the lights.
Kevin J. Kelly, St. Paul
Grow up
Endorsing songs like “F— This” (how very articulate; this guy should run for mayor) and “Minnesota Nazis” (facile and an insult to Jews everywhere) does nothing to contribute to the discussion about ICE policy and tactics. Grow up.
Martin Johnston, Somerset
Don’t let data centers use groundwater
I hope long before the end of this legislative session the Legislature bans data centers from using groundwater. It is insane to allow them to use groundwater. Aquifer depletion is something that humans cannot restore. The data centers can build holding ponds or build huge holding tanks, like you see on these tank farm locations where fuel is stored, that can help to cool the water they need but under no circumstances should they be using any groundwater. During flooding season the data centers can divert water from the rivers into ponds or tanks. I wish there were a jail sentence for any legislator who votes for data centers to use groundwater.
Lenny Leier, St. Paul
Independence
My best friend and I never spoke of politics before. Then out of the blue, he said he was a Democrat, I thought I would reciprocate and told him I was an independent. He asked why and said, “You know you will never win.” That really got me thinking. To me when you pledge loyalty to either the Democratic or Republican party, it takes away your ability to be a free thinker.
During Donald Trump’s first presidency, he shut down the border to illegal immigration. When Joe Biden was elected he opened the border to illegal immigrants. When Trump was elected, he closed the border to illegal immigrants.
As an independent I ask this: “Where were the Democratic leadership and Democratic advisers when he did such an absurd thing? Where is the Republican leadership and advisers when he is also doing absurd things.”
I am a proud independent and able to use my vote to get around all these misplaced loyalties that blur common sense. I may never be on the winning side politically but I like what I think.
G. Mertz, St. Paul
Signature moves
Donald Trump is performing one of the signature moves of every tyrant throughout history. When losing popularity with the people, they find a reason to start a war in vain hopes of raising a rush of patriotic fervor. In Donald Trump’s case it is another act of performance with little if any plan or thought of consequences. Once again we have an old favorite, regime change. The leadership of Iran uses war threats to increase suppression of the people. USA is The Great Satan and a mortal enemy. A shooting war gives Trump his reason to declare a national emergency to create even more havoc against the population and what is left of the economy.
Joe Danko, North St. Paul
Masks for some?
So St. Paul passes an ordinance that prevents police and federal agents from wearing masks. But I don’t see anything proposed to outlaw masks from
the assaulting, destructive and vandalizing protesters who seem to roam the streets at will. What’s wrong with this scenario?
Lee J. Christianson, Baldwin
The luxury of borrowed grievance
I recently attended a service at a liberal St. Paul church where the air was thick with “fear” and “terror” regarding immigration enforcement. As one of the few conservatives in the pews, I found the scene surreal.
The congregants — largely affluent, white Americans — protest with a fervor that suggest they are the ones being victimized. This is a recurring pattern. From Wall Street to current anti-ICE protests, these individuals consistently immerse themselves in the “cause of the week.”
While they act as if they are under siege, they are actually the least vulnerable people in our society. It appears they have been ideologically conditioned to adopt victimhood as a primary identity. One has to wonder: What is the next crisis this movement will push on these willing “victims” to keep them in a state of perpetual outrage?
Warren Poole, St. Paul
Restitution?
There appears to be something missing in Feb. 19 article “Man gets probation for copper thefts.” The article failed to discuss restitution to the city. Is there no accountability for the inconvenience to city residents who rely on those lights, who paid for those lights? The effort and money by the police department to identify the perpetrators on top of the $200,000 expense to repair, why are they and Dem-Con Metal Recycling in Blaine that bought the copper — it’s clearly against the law to purchase copper with “City of St Paul Public Works” stamped on it — not required to pay restitution? Or was that a part of the plea bargain and not included in the article. Please do tell.
Todd Roth, Lakeville
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