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| [A pile of Villagers on a porch.] |
Headline: Two sides in trash collection debate make their pitch; Possible property tax hike complicated the question
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: There is a question on the ballot about whether to invalidate the ordinance that has organized trash collection in the city for the past year. Article explains the language. The Mayor has stated that if the NO vote passes, the trash collection will continue and be paid for with property taxes. Currently, most people are billed directly. [Other than commercial or larger apartment properties.] Article details some of the pro- and anti- groups, and mentions the "force majeure" clause [which pertains to acts of god, and seems to me like some serious grasping at straws]. Each side is accusing the other of "scare tactics." CM Tolbert is quoted saying that people should not speculate on what a "no" vote would mean without a supreme court decisions. [See below.]
Headline: Area homeowners could see $600 property tax increase; Ramsey County releases tax estimates with and without $27.1M for trash
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: Taxes could go up by a lot. See above. Anti-trash people suggest a NO vote would invalidate the city's garbage contract, but this is not really the case. [This is especially clear after the court decision that came out today.]
Headline: St. Paul City Council Oks maximum levy increase of 22.3%; Council adds $27.1M to levy to cover additional cost of trash collection
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: See above. CM Prince voted against, arguing that she will not presume that "the bad trash contract needs to be assessed." [Well, actually.]
Headline: Study addresses West 7th parking needs
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking, so a consultant did a study of parking policy, supply, and demand in the West 7th area closer to downtown. It has a lot of data about car storage patterns and ideas about how to fix some perceived problems. The main problem: the area has become more popular so more people are storing their cars there. [Classic Yogi Berra situation.] But some parking lots are not really full much of the time, and the study found that Xcel events were not the big cause of on-street parking pressure. The study recommends adding parking bays by doing traffic calming efforts at dangerous intersections [kind of like this], putting in parking meters [yes!], changing some of the permit zones, and making them simpler to enforce. [Study is avilable here.]
Headline: City quickens response to homeless camps
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: More people are experiencing homelessness. The city tries to make people leave spots where they are living, like under bridges, in parks and caves, and by railroad tracks. Article describes some of the city's homeless shelters and how they work.
Headline: St. Paul joins push to raise tobacco age to 21
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: You might have to be older to buy smokes in the future. Smoking is bad for you.
Headline: Allianz, city prepare for crowd during Tommie-Johnnie game
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: There will be a football game at a stadium and neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking. [The only thing worse than regular traffic and parking concerns, are Tommie-related traffic and parking concerns.]
Headline: UPDC has reservations over 6-story building on Lexington
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: A vacant lot might become housing and a retail super market. Neighbors are concerned about apartments being too expensive. [Fun fact: These are the first proposed market-rate apartments for miles built in the past 50 years.]
Headline: Dental office, apartments are planned for West End building
Author: Jane McClure
Short short version: A apartment and office building had a fire but is going to be fixed up.
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