Posted on 07/08/2015 5:34:46 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
At 8:10 a.m. on Monday, April 27, the Metropolitan Council released the startling news that the price tag of the proposed Southwest light-rail line had increased by $341 million to $2 billion. Met Council Chair Adam Duininck said in a news release at the time that “all options are on the table,” including not building the line at all. E-mails among Duininck, Metro Transit officials and other political players — including Gov. Mark Dayton — obtained through a Minnesota Data Practices Act request reflect the behind-the-scenes positioning in the days leading to the announcement. The 231 pages of e-mails don’t explain why the project cost ballooned, but they do show the machinations to craft appropriate “messaging” to constituents, the media and taxpayers who are largely funding the project. “Note that for the news release, I will NOT be saying it is a worthy project,” Duininck, wrote in an April 25 e-mail to Dayton’s staff, including Joanna Dornfeld, assistant chief of staff; Linden Zakula, deputy chief of staff, and Jaime Tincher, chief of staff (also Duininck’s wife). “I will be much less committed than that.” A day later, drafts of briefing materials and a news release were distributed to Duininck for review. “There is too much certainty in our tone that the project is worthy and must proceed,” he wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Do the residents of Eden Prairie, Hopkins and Edina really want this?
The Mall of America was a nice place, until the light rail connected it to the riff raff of Minneapolis
Good thing Gov turnbukle just gave them all a raise eh?
Turnbuckle is Jesse....Marx Dayton is gov google eyes
sorry.. I get them mistaken. both are idiots.
Both are idiots. Yes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.