Posted on 12/14/2010 8:00:36 AM PST by MplsSteve
An angry and, at times, defiant gathering of Minneapolis homeowners sent a loud message to City Hall Monday - no new taxes.
"We're not going to sit in our houses and just take this year after year after year," said Mark Johnson, who organized an evening rally on the steps of City Hall and launched the website for the group, Minneapolis Tax Payers United.
When Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak came outside in the bitter cold without a coat to greet the 20 or so protesters, one person began shouting at the three-term mayor, who initially proposed a 6.5% property tax hike, but later reduced that to 4.7% in the face of intense public opposition. The lower levies would result in a $265 bill for a home with a value of $196,650, according to figures provided by the city.
"It's up to you to solve it! It's not up to us! It's up to you!," shouted one of the demonstrators while standing two feet away from the mayor, who invited the group inside his office to talk about ideas to balancing the budget.
When asked by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS if he heard the demonstrators' message, Rybak responded, "Oh, absolutely. Yeah, I think we not only just hear their message, but we responded and made even deeper cuts."
At 12:28a Tuesday, after six hours and 17 minutes of intense debate and heated public comment, the City Council voted 10-3 to approve the 4.7% increase to the levies.
(Excerpt) Read more at kstp.com ...
I've lived in Minneapolis for 20 years and have never seen such an outpouring of anti-tax, anti-spending sentiment. People berated the City Council for hours last night. Not that it mattered much in the end because the DFL-controlled City Council (IOW, 12 Democrats and 1 Green Party member) voted 10-3 for the increase.
Contrary to Mayor RT Rybak's statement that he's heard the outcry, he really hasn't. This city is still proceeding with all kinds of worthless spending projects.
I couldn't help but smile last night as I watched the news. The smile was not one of humor but as I watched this homeowners (many of whom have voted straight DFL in municipal elections) suddenly realize that they're getting screwed by the same people they elected time and time again. All I can say to many of these people (including those who didn't show up) is "Folks, you wanted this type of government. Now you've got it. STFU and take your medicine".
Comments or opinions - anyone?
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That’ll buy alot of $50k water fountains!
I'm sorry sir, but apparently you are again. Your Mayor was just paying you lip service.
1) Use this opportunity to tell the residents that’s what they get with liberal democrats
2) repeat as neccessary
I’m guessing that the city is in need of a few more bike trails (so useful this time of year). You’re right—these folks continue to elect the same type of folks year after year. At least 20 people in Minneapolis are beginning to wake up from their stupor.
Thank you, thank you, for posting such a bird’s eye view of real hope! So long as people remain courageous enough to speak out, and in freezing weather, this country has a slim chance left to reclaim the Republic. Very encouraging image of people saying “NO”.
The mayor is dead wrong to raise taxes on falling property values.
And the schools are closed again today because they can’t clear the snow off the roads.....
It’s Grand Theft. Our governments steals our money year after year. They scream we need more money or we need to tighten our belts while they are pocketing our money instead of using it for what it is intended for. They spend like they are drunk on themselves, family and friends on our money while telling tell us we don’t count . It’s past time for them to go. Perhaps a jail term would sober them up.
What’s the cost of pitchforks up there?
Nearby Chattanooga just went through the same thing recently. RINO mayor Littlefield, after courts stopped his annexing frenzy, decided it was time to raise property tax by 33%. Well that got widdled down to a mere 19% after we packed the council’s chambers weekly for a couple of months.
The idiot gave away everything to Volkswagen, fully expecting to make up for the lost revenue by robbing the citizens of the city. Perhaps if the city would quit funding homeless shelters and giving special deals to “friends” of the mayor, they wouldn’t need a confiscatory tax hike.
City, County, School Districts, States and the Federal Govt. NEVER EVER consider just eliminating departments and services ... EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL - to this I say BALONEY...
We had in the recent past a Tarrant County, Tx school district and board vote to build a 20 million $$$$ football stadium - which they did ... saying they would Share the stadium ... Since Texas is addicted to Friday Night HS football - you can imagine how that went ... Well guess what - we had other schools in the district whine and cry for their own stadium — thank goodness this came about when the economy fell apart or they would have likely built more...
Question - What is the Hell does a High School Football team need with a 20 M. $$$ stadium ??? Even if it could have been shared. ??? Nutty out of perspective expectations... is all I can say...
Tell them to write their congressman.
In Arabic
I was driving in Minneapolis yesterday. The condition of the roads are unbelievable! Because of the enormous amounts of snow still left on the roads, it was like driving around in a maze!
SOme questions
FOr a 200K single family home - how much do you pay a year in property taxes?
How much of the property tax goers to the school system?
In the last year - did the police and fire unions get a pay raise? How much as a %?
I drive in to Minneapolis through back streets every day. Every suburb had their roads plowed curb to curb and down to pavement yesterday morning. Once you hit the border of Minneapolis the streets resemble a war zone. Every 4 lane road now is barely 2 that are covered in ice and this is going into the 3rd day after the storm.
I know we had a lot of snow but if I had the misfortune of paying property taxes in Minneapolis, I would be asking serious questions based on the street service alone.
Over the past year and a half, I’ve taken to attending all local government meetings - school board, city council, police jury (county commission) and reporting on what’s going on therein.
I’ve met with some small successes in exposing some of the more blatant idiocy.
http://lincolnparishnewsonline.wordpress.com/
It's called keeping the Unions fat and happy. All built with union labor.
Don't blame you at all, if my work wasn't located here I would only come down for Twins games in the summer.
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