Reading the Highland Villager #251

[A desperate Villager in a Trader Joe's parking lot.]

[Basically the problem is that the best source of Saint Paul streets & sidewalks news is the Highland Villager, a very fine and historical newspaper. This wouldn't be a problem, except that its not available online. You basically have to live in or frequent Saint Paul to read it. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free. See also: Three Reasons Why I Re-Blog the Highland Villager.]



Headline: City study calls for reorganization of Police Department; Among reforms is hiring of 103 more employees
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The City Council asked the Police Department to do a study of themselves to see how many more police officers they should hire. A Police Commander looked into it, and came up with the following answer: a lot. [I did a study just now of how much local sidewalk bloggers should be paid, and I my initial findings suggest that local sidewalk bloggers should be given a 1003% increase in compensation.] 


Headline: Moratorium on charter schools is debated
Author: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: There are more charter schools now. Many people dislike this.


Headline: Boutique hotel opens on Summit
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old mansion is a hotel now.


Headline: Liquor licenses sought for two proposed bars on West 7th
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A guy wants to turn an old building on West 7th into a bar; meanwhile, another person would like to sell booze in a new hotel.  In both cases, an obscure rule called a "commercial district" will have to be invoked to make this happen. Article explains what these districts are, and makes claims about "vibrant nightlife." [A guy walks into a  bar. Bartender says, hey this ins't a bar because there's a cap on the number of Ward 2 liquor licenses for some reason. Guy says, oh shoot, never mind. Both of them have a long face.] Quote from Planning Commissioner: "This seems like a weird use of our time." [O to be young and naive again!]


Headline: City receives six proposals to develop space above RiverCentre ramp
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A falling-down parking ramp might be reconstructed with big buildings on top of it. There are six proposals to do so. The city tried to get the state to pay for the ramp, so this is taking a different approach. CM Tolbert is quoted saying: "we haven't had success with our requests for bonding." [The government should not be subsidizing downtown parking ramps in the year of our lord 2020, anyway.]


Headline: HRA grants forgivable loan for firm moving to University Ave.
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The City is going to loan some money to a company moving offices to an empty building on University Avenue. [Seems fine.]


Headline: Met Council OK's $1.25 million subsidy for Lexington project
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A vacant lot might become an apartment building, and the project got some money from the Met Council. Neighbors are concerned that not enough of the apartments would be affordable.


Headline: Hearing set on new penalties for reselling parking permits
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: the City Council will have a meeting about whether or not, or how, people can sell parking permits in parts of the city where parking is limited to residents only. Some college students might or might not sell parking permits to each other. [The permit parking districts are badly designed, de facto unenforceable, and the permits far too cheap in the first place.]


Headline: UST faces on-street parking issues during campus construction
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Some people are parking their cars on the street. Some things on the St Thomas campus are under construction. Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking. Workers park cars on the street where people who own homes also park their cars. Some streets have [largely unenforceable] rules about who can park their cars. There might have been a parking lot built for empty cars to be parked at one point, but it did not get built because trees were there. Some people like new dorms being built, but not the cars parked by the people who build them. Some new dorms will have underground parking, for people to park their cars under the earth. [Sounds like there are too many cars.]


Headline: Commission approves concept plan for repurposing Highland 9-Hole
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A lesser-used golf course might be used for other activities like soccer, mini-soccer, pickleball and kick volleyball, as well as parking one's car, having picnics, or for water to run into the ground. There is no money for any of this yet, but might be someday. People are concerned about parking, costs of things and the health of trees. [One parks commissioner is named 'John Mountain', which is a great name for a Parks Commissioner to have.] One person spoke who really likes golf and wants more places to play golf.


Headline: Airport users advised to plan ahead during resurfacing of Hwy. 5
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A highway by the airport will have a construction on it this summer so it will take longer to get there.