In the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park, some residents can't fathom the idea of the city spending $3.1 million to add sidewalks in existing residential neighborhoods.
John Reinan reports on the surprisingly vocal resistance to a $3.1 million project in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, "to install sidewalks and rebuild streets in the Aquila, Minnehaha and Cobblecrest neighborhoods." The St. Louis Park City Council approved the project as a way to reinvent itself "for the millennial generation." In fact, writes Reinan, "Car-oriented postwar suburbs throughout the metro area are looking to reinvent themselves. From Coon Rapids to Apple Valley, long-range suburban plans include sidewalks and trails where cars now reign supreme."
The sidewalk retrofit has sparked outrage among some residents in St. Louis Park, however, who say the city is "on its way to becoming 'an inner-city wasteland' with 'hoodlums standing around on the corner to harass the young women.'" Reinan found those words in an email written to city officials from John Iacono, a resident of the Aquila neighborhood in St. Louis Park.
Reinan reported similar outrage over a sidewalk plan in the nearby town of Edina in 2014.
FULL STORY: Some in St. Louis Park want city to curb its enthusiasm for sidewalks
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HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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