Our view: Reinforced Duluth divide has silver lining

DM A.
Duluth, MN     11/07/2009 3:56 PM

What's the silver lining? It's safe to ignore half the city and ram anything you want down our throats?

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Grant .
Duluth, MN     11/06/2009 3:46 PM

brad r: Perfectly said!

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brad r.
Duluth, MN     11/06/2009 10:31 AM

Some good points by the DNT, but come on, now they have this optimism for new school board members...after months of politicizing and campaigning for the Red Plan? Give me a break DNT. And to think healing will now occur? Again, give me a break! Dixon's methodologies is what's causing this problem. The Red Plan advocates still have 4-3 majority vote so Dixon can keep ramming this thing through. Why do you think he had such a smug, huge smile on his face on election night? Healing will not occur with this status quo. Dixon, and the board members in favor or Red, have to listen, not push ahead anyway. Do you really think he will listen to Glass, Kasper and Johnston? Highly unlikely! We as taxpayers should start demanding Dixon's resignation! Then, maybe sanity, and healing, can begin. In addition, The DNT can be also be blamed for contributing to this unfortunate division. Don't try to be peacemakers until you admit your fault.

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Dave J.
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 5:34 PM

No healing will happen unless the school board listens - and since they have not done this in all this time, I doubt they will ever. There are changes that they could do that would satisfy many parents, but they refuse, so the students will continue to leave this school district.

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ted c.
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 4:35 PM

Wondering where the money spent by Duluth will go? Well, $250,000 has gone to Cirrus Design as the City administration refuses to effectively collect that past due amount for the lease at the airport. Last payment was received in January and they vacated the premises in October. Apparently the reason for not pursuing collection is concern for minority local shareholders who are what? more important than taxpayers or the city in getting its money back even though Cirrus continues to operate? and for other political reasons. And what is that? Payback for campaign contributions? Can't be for jobs because that $250,000 and more could be used to attract viable businesses to Duluth and create more jobs. But, no, says the City's lack of meaningful action. If that money were used to have more library hours and to repair more streets, Duluth would be more attractive to companies from the outside or give local companies more reasons to stay here. To you newly elected Councilors who made big statements as to how they will be stand up and be counted and hopefully have the knowledge to not be buffaloed by vague promises, now is your chance to get the City its rightful payments. And to Cirrus and the local minority shareholders, "Be a good corporate citizen and pay your obligations".

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Rod W.
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 12:26 PM

It's ironic that Stauber gets praise for bringing a different viewpoint to the table, when he successfully cut down the size of the planning commission (unpaid volunteers) because some members of the commission didn't rubber-stamp ideas/projects that he had the power to veto anyway. He could have let them bring up real issues and then choose to ignore them, but it was easier to just get rid of people he didn't agree with. On a separate note, I'm a republican/conservative camp and I don't feel like there are any city councilors that come close to covering my concerns. It's just the sad reality of living in this city

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See! L M.
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 11:29 AM

Where is, and who is, the "right leadership"? That is the the huge question....

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Larry Z.
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 10:22 AM

Not until someone tips over the old established "apple cart"......will anything change. The money changers in this town got what they wanted.......they are very effective at making sure that they have all of the apparatus in place for that to happen....so why wouldn't they get what they wanted? Good going guys. Now if they can only find a way too sell more "Canal Park" food and rooms....they'd be even happier. (I wonder where most of the money spent in Duluth to go to the new DECC and Bentleyville will end up?) But you got your Chamber cheerleaders working on that for you, don't you? Any chance you could hire those guys out to the us taxpayers to work for us instead? You've proven they take instruction well....let us know.

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My Opinion ..
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 8:51 AM

Spending 1/2 billion will benefit the union overpaid workers for a short while, then the rest of the city can be taxed and pay their unemployment and benefits for another 9 months out of each year.

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mark d.
Duluth, MN     11/05/2009 6:40 AM

If the board realizes the incumbents recieved less than half the votes it normally should help. Which says alot when we knew Wasson would do well considering she represents East Duluth. Cameron just got lucky. if Kasper took a few less votes she would be out too. And if it were the other board members turn for reelection Im positive they would be gone=good timing school board almost seems planned. But the majority of voters voted against the incumbents so if the board represents our wishes start thinking of a way to right it. One way might be to use Central and its sight.

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