FORUM | Consolidated trash collection in Saint Paul

By |

Unlike Minneapolis, which has government-managed trash collection resulting in a single collection option though the city, Saint Paul residents are permitted to shop around and choose any of more than a dozen licensed trash haulers to collect and remove their household rubbish. With no action from the Saint Paul City Council, residents who grew tired of having four or five different haulers drive down their block or alley each week were left with no choice but to band together with neighbors to attempt block by block consolidation.  Now, after years of frustration for some, the City Council has begun to look into the issue to decide whether a government-managed trash collection system, similar to the  Minneapolis system, would work on this side of the river, or whether the current process should be left alone. The Study: At the August 12th, 2009 City Council Meeting, Council members Dave Thune, Lee Helgen and Russ Stark offered a resolution asking for a report to be prepared, which would outline steps and recommend possible options for implementing an organized solid waste collection system in the City of Saint Paul. The study was to be returned within 45 days; however, the report resulted in new questions and was referred back to City Council research for further review. The Case for Trash Hauler Consolidation: Mary Hamel, who lives in the Saint Anthony Park Neighborhood of Saint Paul, organized her block to consolidate their trash collection.  For Hamel and her neighbors, consolidation meant going from five different trash haulers driving down their alley each week to only one. Continue Reading

FORUM | Losing health insurance in Minnesota

By |

With the number of uninsured Minnesotans reaching nearly half a million in 2009, and others in danger of being cut off by the state’s planned phase-out of the General Assistance Medical Care program for the state’s poorest, the question becomes, what can Minnesota do to keep its residents insured? 
More than 100,000 more Minnesotans went without health insurance in 2009 than in 2007, according to a survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health released this month. “The economic recession has had a clear impact on health insurance access and affordability,” Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Sanne Magnan said after the survey was released to the public. “While it is not surprising that we found a higher rate of uninsurance in 2009, these study results highlight the need to sustain Minnesota’s health reform efforts that are designed to contain rising health care costs.” The facts:
Minnesota historically has had one of the lowest rates of uninsurance in the country, but the number of uninsured is growing as the number of Minnesotans who have health insurance through their employer decreased from 62.5 percent in 2007 to 57.2 percent in 2009. Over the same period, the percentage of Minnesotans who were uninsured increased from 7.2 percent to 9.1 percent. Continue Reading

FORUM | Cut the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department’s Complaint Investigation Unit?

By |

Should Minneapolis abolish the Complaint Investigation Unit of the city’s civil rights department? Read both sides of the argument. Then add your opinion. “By almost any indicator, in terms of income, education, healthcare, and home ownership,” said Councilmember Robert Lilligren, “in Minneapolis, the gap between communities of color and white communities is greater than almost every city in the country. After such a robust civil rights movement in this city, that gap is still persistent, and it grows. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Large Scale System Change ahead for St. Paul schools

By |

Grappling with falling enrollments and budget shortfalls, the St. Paul Public Schools are trying to take the long view and make system-wide changes — Large Scale System Change or LSSC. After months of talk about changes, decision time is coming soon … along with the unexpected complications of hiring a new superintendent in the middle of the process and school board elections in November. If you have been following the process closely, you know that the LSSC plans are at a crucial stage. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Diversity, integration, segregation in Minneapolis Public Schools

By |

Minneapolis Public Schools administration has proposed shifting away from citywide busing and towards community schools, beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. The administration is still revising details of the Changing School Options plan in the upcoming months, however the plan will most likely make major changes to citywide busing and magnet schools. The push towards zoning and community schools brings up major questions about segregation and diversity in Minneapolis public schools.This is the last in a series of TCDP forum articles on the implications of the Changing School Options plan, including on citywide busing and on magnet schools.  WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Which of these opinions do you agree/disagree with? Why? • The Story• Keep citywide busing for integration• Integration is not the answer• Integration can’t be left to schools aloneChanging School OptionsMinneapolis Public Schools is facing both budgetary and educational challenges. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Demagnetizing Minneapolis schools?

By |

Minneapolis Public Schools administration has proposed major shifts in the way that schools are organized, beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. Along with a push to cut transportation and busing, Minneapolis Public Schools would like to reduce the number of magnet schools. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Should Minneapolis have fewer magnet schools? Why? • The Story• The case for reducing the number of magnet schools• The case for retaining Minneapolis magnets

Changing School Options
Minneapolis Public Schools is facing both budgetary and educational challenges. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Tough choices on transportation policy

By |

The Story: The Civic Caucus, a local civic group, published a transportation report in April, urging much stronger leadership by the governor and legislature on transportation issues. The Civic Caucus said that terribly important questions are not being addressed:
Today’s main transportation problem is lack of leadership. We must have a statewide comprehensive transportation plan and budget. Projects that are undertaken within the budget should relate to reasonable estimates of revenue and should serve statewide priorities and objectives. Our challenge, with our fragmented system, is who should assume responsibility and provide the needed leadership. Continue Reading