(00:00:16) They're Fraser is with us during the hour and will be willing to field your questions. Welcome sir. It's pleasure to have you it's good to be here Bob 2276 thousand is the telephone number to call. If you have a question for the mayor there is certainly No Lack of things to talk about just based on things in the news this past week. I think for example of the proposal by your colleague and Saint Paul George Latimer to share some fire fighting Services between the two cities. What what is the extent of that proposal and how far has it gotten? Well, I think in part the background for this stems from the Thanksgiving Day fire in Minneapolis. I haven't been as directly concerned with Minneapolis Fire Department as I have with the police department because it's one of those departments that falls more directly under the responsibility the city council. So I was astonished to learn after the Thanksgiving fire that Minneapolis did not have a mutual Aid agreement with the surrounding communities apparently informal arrangements are developed when an emergency arises backup equipment is made available, but I thought we had a more formal Arrangement and then mayor Latimer's letter which suggested the possibility of perhaps even consolidating. The Department's came. We talked about it in the leadership and concluded that since we were in the middle of of picking a new fire chief, it was probably not the right time to be looking at ways in which we could bring things together. I think since then George is in the It wasn't thinking of total consolidation but more sharing. Basically, I think he's right and this is these are opportunities. We ought to be exploring the both major cities have specialized equipment. They have common needs and there's no reason that we can't find ways to develop a common way of supplying the services training or whatever is required rather than having each City Department to do it separately, but these are Possibilities that will take some time to explore and we need someone in charge of the police fire department is going to be there for a while who can take the leadership in working this out with st. Paul why not have even say a metropolitan wide fire department of single fire department with one fire chief one set of Administrators Etc rather than the individual communities each having all their own it would seem like they would be an opportunity for considerable cost saving their well, I think this may be a situation where we need to kind of move a step at a time and seeing how we can share and we and can affect some savings. Some of the municipalities have volunteer fire departments and some of them perform different functions. For example, a large number of the runs in Minneapolis are made for medical reasons fire stations closed by all of the firemen are trained. And CPR techniques, they have the equipment and they can appear very promptly. If somebody's in difficulty. I doubt that that's uniformly true throughout the metropolitan area. So there's also the question of course if there's a consolidation then presumably the control is transferred to the Metropolitan Council or some kind of met Fallen agency and that may be a good idea. But I think it's the possibility to savings ought to be explored but we'd also have to look to see if it works as well and the integration really wouldn't make sense given the different kinds of services that are provided in each Community people are on the telephone with questions for you mirror Fraser, and we also have some Lions open. The phone number is two two seven six thousand if you have a question for Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser, let's take our first listener. Oh, I'm sorry. That was that was an error on my part. We are not quite ready yet. But we do have some lines open at 2 to 7 6000 in the Minneapolis st. Paul area. Be happy to hear from you. All of the debate that's been going on the past couple of years mayor over City budgets and state budgets and taxes and so on seem in some respect at least to be related to the economic recession that we have been going through Unemployment. According to the latest figures I saw for the Twin Cities area was about eight percent or thereabouts now both the Congress and the legislature are thinking about some jobs proposals, but I know you're proposing some more extensive Aid and some more extensive legislation than they're thinking about. What is your reasoning behind that and and what value do you think it would have for the city? Well, there's no doubt. That unemployment is unusually high it's hired a day for the country least since it's been since the great depression in Minneapolis. The unemployment rate has been below the national average has been through the metropolitan area. Generally nonetheless. There are a lot of folks who are out of work quite a few of them have been out of work for quite a long time now an extraordinary thing happened in our state a few years ago. The state legislature said that if you're out of work the but you have marketable skills don't come to the government for help. In other words, they cut off what was known as general assistance that's created a very severe problem for a lot of folks. And so I think we have to do something about that problem. The preference of people who are out of work, I think the preference of the community and certainly my preference. Is that rather than simply going back to what we sometimes call handouts or government Aid it would be far better if we could provide work opportunities for people so that they could actually earn some money make their own way and get the resources. They need to pay the rent and buy the groceries and that's why I urge the legislature and the governor to consider a substantial program that on my estimates would cost the state about 200 million a year that would provide perhaps 3,000 jobs in the City of Minneapolis out of a total unemployed pool of Sixteen to seventeen thousand people. So it would really only help one out of five or six if we split them into six months jobs. As I think makes sense then of course you could help more people during the year, but still it would only help a minority those how to work. But if one base the Job opportunities on the basis of need then we could really help people who are in Desperate circumstances today. All right, sir, we may be able to pursue that a little bit further as people ask you questions. We do have a number of listeners on the line now. So let's go to our first car. Hi. What's your question for the (00:07:15) mayor today? Alright. Hello. Mr. Fraser. I think that you'll agree with me that the political climate in Minnesota has changed considerably since 1978. What are the prospects that we can look forward to another freezer campaign for Senate next year? (00:07:32) Well, that's not a that's not an idea that I've really been considering very much. The field seems to be full of candidates who are anxious to run for the Senate. I haven't reached a decision of that kind. I enjoy the work that I'm doing is Mayor and so I would say at the moment the chances are rather slim we take it. You've not rule it out entirely. I haven't larger is I haven't seen any reason to rule it out entirely but on the other hand, I'm not actively pursuing it. All right take another listener with a question for me rephrase or go ahead. Please (00:08:04) good morning, mayor Fraser morning like to know since we started out talking about the fire department. What could you address the decision not to rebuild Fire Station Number 4 and how that affects the service to Residents between Washington and the city limits particularly between Olson Highway and Broadway Avenues North a lot of us are seriously concerned. Now that the land is available and we're wondering why that's not going to be built. (00:08:35) Where is first station for first of all mirror. Well, I gather it's on the North side. But oh well that I really am not able to give you an adequate answer at this point that subject has been under review, but it's a while ago and if I were to try to replay it the reasons for you now, I think I would do an injustice to the situation. But if you wanted to call or drop me a note I'd be glad to go into it in more detail. We are faced generally in the city with some very tight budget problems. And anytime we think we can save some money and still maintain basic Services. We take that option, but I really can't handle that this particular question based on the time that's elapsed since we last talked about it in City Hall. It's about 10 minutes past the are Minneapolis Mayor. Don freezer is with us and we're taking your calls and questions to to 76 thousand is the telephone number. We do indeed have a couple of more lines open. Also another listener with a question go ahead please (00:09:40) and you know, go ahead you're on the air mayor. I am very concerned about the situation at the little Earth housing project with the gas companies that need to turn off the gas right and having been a poor person many times when I was Dazed with something like this. It really worries me more but and I don't know what the city or you could do, but I know other people who are kind of worried about this, too. (00:10:20) Well, I think it's there's reason to be worried. The little Earth is behind in significantly in its payments both to the gas company into the water department the part of the difficulty at least according to the little Earth board is that the federal government has not been making the payments which they believe should have been made in recent years. And the result is that they've been falling further and further behind. I know that they're active discussions underway with the federal government. Now, it's my hope that before cut off actually occurs that something will be worked out in a way the build-up of the utility bills is only the tip of the iceberg. The mortgage itself is in default and the federal government has been moving to foreclose on the mortgage that's caused a different kind of concern because we would feel The at the taking over of that project if it were to mean the ouster or eviction of the people who are living there would be a disaster. Now, we've spent some time on that subject with the federal government. We have reason to believe that that won't happen that whatever happens with respect to the mortgage the the Indian Community the residents who are there now will be continue to be able to continue to live there but there are some basic management problems that have got to be worked out. So my hope is that within a relatively short time that these kinds of problems will come under control and there won't be a shutoff and people will be able to continue to live in little Earth following up on her question. But in a slightly different vein, what are the prospects for additional moderate-income medium income medium priced housing for the City of Minneapolis thinking about programs like the McKnight program and so on. We will have another phase of the McKnight program which will enable us to continue to help Finance new construction and and some substantial Rehabilitation programs. The fact of the matter is that we're not likely to be able to produce through that program rental housing for low-income families. This is essentially a homeownership program that night program has helped us with and it's been enormously helpful particularly during a period when construction otherwise was generally down. The need of low income families for housing is one of our most desperate problems in the city. The federal government is pulling out of that effort. They have cut off the supply of Section 8 subsidies, which enabled Builders to build housing and get a payment for the difference between a fair rental value and what a low-income family can afford. We do have about 7,000 public housing units, but most of those are filled and they don't represent a new option. I'm not sure how we're going to most effectively meet. This this need it's the federal government has been talking about a voucher program low-income family could acquire a voucher and bring it to a landlord and and use it to help pay rent. But that program hasn't happened Congress has not acted on it is not clear how it would work. So I see this as simply an unresolved issue and the resources of the city itself are so limited that it is impossible for us to make a significant dent on the problem. But trying to find a way to do better is one of our highest priorities and we will be searching for ways to focus whatever resources we have more effectively on meeting that need you have any idea roughly how many units would be needed? We have the difficulty is that it's it's an income related problem at a time. Now for example in there's a high unemployment. The need is undoubtedly greater that by the way is one reason that in our city efforts were placing such a stress on job programs, not only state and federally funded programs but finding ways to get people into the labor market who have traditionally had difficulty. It's our strong belief that when people are forced to rely on food stamps or subsidized housing our welfare general assistance despite the fact those programs can keep them going if only barely is simply is no substitute for a job for those who are employable and one of the great tragedies I think of modern society is that we leave people who want to work out in the cold either because of economic policies or because they've been unable to acquire the training or the Support which is needed to get them into the labor market. I really believe that in particularly in the central cities. This has to be our number one objective in some ways. I'd put it even ahead of the housing problem 15 minutes after 12 o'clock Minneapolis Mayor. Don Fraser is with us. We do have some phone lines open to two seven six thousand if you have a question for the mayor as our next listener does go ahead please. (00:15:36) Hello my appraiser. I wonder if you would like to comment on the present state of race relations in Minneapolis. And whether you anticipate there being made any worse during the summer with high unemployment and what if anything the ordinary citizen can do to make things any (00:15:54) better. Well, I think on the whole entire race relations are good in the city the ways in which government can help. I think our being is effectively brought to bear on the problems as possible. We have a good strong effective civil rights Department. We've found our ability to carry out affirmative action programs is improving steadily that is both on the part of the city's and employer and when the city is assisting others such as developers are entering into contracts. We are strengthening the Machinery which imposes some affirmative obligations on them the way in which our community is policed has an important bearing on the quality of relations. And I think that's steadily improving. I don't want to say that it's perfect as with everyone. People who serve the city sometimes carry prejudices with them which we try to make sure are not reflected in any actions that they take but occasionally something happens. We've had a one of the redress has where there's an implant unfortunate police involvement with the minority Community. We one of the redress has is to have an the problem investigated by the internal affairs unit of the police department has been considerable to satisfaction with that in the past. We've had a panel look at that. They recommended some ways of strengthening the internal affairs unit of the police department and we are pursuing that this will not be a report that will be allowed to gather dust on the Shelf. So there will be a jobs program this summer for low-income Youth and that will help but I doubt that the the number of jobs is going to be adequate to the need those who are in the private sector who can find ways to add to their labor force in the summertime. We hope will seek out and find young people who do need jobs. That's probably the most important thing we can do last year the city itself put some money in despite a very tight budget. These are just some of the things that are going on I think on the whole that things are reasonably good but they're not perfect and the continuing economic difficulties which impact the minority communities more heavily than anyone else add to the stress and tension and the best thing of all we could do is really get the economy moving again and get people back to work. This would reduce the potential for difficulties considerably you Ports the president's proposal of a sub-minimum wage for teenagers during the summer months. I don't think that's a very good idea at least in a time of relatively high unemployment. There are so many adults that need jobs and Well, it might be true that there might there could be a marginal increase in young people getting jobs. If that would have the effect of displacing adults. I'm now talking about sort of the normal labor opportunities. I'm not sure we need to start things that far the minimum wage is low enough as it is is barely a living wage. And so I it may not be disaster for her past. I doubt that would help much and I think it's moving in the wrong direction until at least we get back to full employment or listeners with questions for me rephrase or higher on the (00:19:31) air good afternoon mayor. I was wondering about when is this you think that Central High School could be remodeled to make housing and jobs and it's a very beautiful building which I think should be preserved. The only thing about that. (00:19:52) Well the Central High School dispositions been a matter of intense debate and I know that some who are been interested in converting it to housing have looked at it carefully. The impression I have is that the prospects for housing are not very good the The economics don't work out very well and that it would be difficult to find it a developer who could turn the structure into housing at and provide Fair rentals or provide ownership opportunities. The community itself has been involved in looking at this and so has our planning department. I think at the moment the building is scheduled for demolition or at least most of it. If someone came along with the feasible proposal prior to that time, it's possible to school board would reconsider. I think the decision is back to them at this point the city having looked at it and having concluded that probably demolition is the only feasible course to take if you have an interest in this subject and are not involved with the community. They are you might want to be in touch with the neighborhood groups that have been involved with that question. Another listener with a question for mayor Fraser. Go ahead, please. (00:21:10) Hello. Mr. Fraser. Hello. How are you? Thanks. I want to get back to that little Earth problem right now. My understanding is that the little Earth is owned by the Indians. Is that (00:21:22) correct? Yes. That's (00:21:24) right. Yes now I've been hearing over the radio but they're Towing the taxpayer. I'm not saying the federal government I'm saying they owe the tax payer more than a million back payments on the mortgage. Now as far as the utility bills are concerned if little Earth is a privately owned project. I don't see why the taxpayers should have to pay the utility bills of those people. (00:21:54) Well, the the moment the argument is between the federal government and in the end the board the city is not directly involved except as we've sought to try to help mediate the problem and encourage a constructive outcome. But the federal government is the mortgage holder is the one that will probably have to decide what action to take but In fairness to the board, they say that the federal government has not been forthcoming in payments that they were which the board claims the federal government were obligated to make the housing there is I believe what's known as Section 8 housing in which the federal government pays the difference between the fair rental value of the property and the income of the Indian families who live there, but the federal government is not been at least it's alleged that the federal government has not been making up those differences. Thus the Indian Bart has had difficulty meeting its responsibility. So that's where the argument stands the city is somewhat off to the side looking at with apprehension at what's going on and hopeful that it will work out. All right, and we will be helpful where we can but but I think at the moment the hide in the Indian board have to resolve it themselves. 23 minutes past 12:00 noon Minneapolis Mayor Don freezer is with us and we have some telephone lines open to to 76 thousand is the number to call if you'd like to ask the mayor a question changing the subject just a little bit mayor noticed. Of course anybody who drives through Minneapolis at all sees the tremendous amount of new Development and Construction that's going on. There are Office Buildings going up everywhere. It seems Condominiums their retail shops. You think that the city has about reached its saturation point with this new development or or is there more possible? What is the what is the future look like? Well, I've been in astonished that the market those are prepared to invest in the market continued to believe that that they could safely build additional commercial office space and you're right. There's a lot more of that going up. We really have to rely on the vest has themselves to make their own estimate of the larger. He's out there. It's possible that we may overbuild but my guess is that if we do it the over building will be temporary if the economy picks up. We are looking toward a rather significant expansion in employment in jobs in the central business district and the estimates that we've been working with suggested on a base of a hundred and five thousand jobs. Now in the central business district that by the end of the decade that will have increased to over a hundred and thirty-five thousand that's a very large increase for relatively short period of time. There are other projects that are on the drawing boards and some of them involve housing the whole West Bank of the River from about Plymouth Avenue down to the 35W bridge will be the subject of developers activities in the next few years. The Burlington Northern is proceeding with plans for the area roughly between Hennepin and play. The Avenues and the Mill City District planning has just been completed for the area generally between Third Avenue and 35W right along the river. So they'll be a lot of housing there and perhaps more retail space taken altogether. I think we're going to see a dramatic change in the whole appearance and use of the river and that will give the total downtown. I think in new impetus. Let's take another listener who has a question for you. Go ahead. You're on the (00:25:45) air. Hello. Yes. I was watching TV the other night on Minnesota Exodus and I couldn't help but wonder if there is anybody with the city government actually going out soliciting business for this area and helping them to get set up. I'll hang up and listen. (00:26:12) The city is quite active in both soliciting Enterprises, but probably even more important and attempting to keep the Enterprises that we have staying in the city. We've had an out migration from the city of industrial jobs. We've been having a growth in the number of I guess one would call it sort of office type jobs. We've had a significant growth in employment in the central business district, but we need the industrial jobs. They offer more diversity of employment opportunities for the people in the city and we hope that we can continue to show people attractive building sites and to give them whatever support we reasonably can but we have a within the Minneapolis Community Development agency. We have a very active Marketing Group headed by Donald risk who's been in that role for quite some time with the city and when we learn of opportunities to solicit the interest of outside firms, we pursue those opportunities. We try to bring the attention of Of prospects to of the many good qualities that we have to offer in the City of Minneapolis. We think we have many good things to offer what kinds of Industries are you are you interested in pursuing well at the moment for example, the both Minneapolis and st. Paul working with the governor's office plan to make a presentation in Chicago at the end of next week to attract the interest of a new computer Enterprises represents a Consortium effort of ten of the largest computer companies the United States. The new Corporation is called MCC and it's headed by former deputy head of the CIA Admiral Inman. And we would very much like to get that Enterprise in the Twin Cities and we're so we're going to see if we can persuade them that we've got the best. Opportunities here for them the Manpower the quality of living and so on. Otherwise it what we've been interested in is trying to hold them hold firms in our or when there are firms in the general area and are thinking of relocating then we have to to get their interest in the Central City what kinds of arguments can you make we hear we hear so much about the attraction of the job climate in surrounding states in particularly in The Dakotas people will argue that the taxes are high in Minnesota workers comp is high property taxes are going to become High etcetera Etc. What as the mayor of a major city? Are you able to say to somebody who would like to move maybe to Sioux Falls or something? There is some movement to South Dakota usually industrial production activities are the candidates for such a move. It's my impression that the principal reason that those moves are made is that they believe that in South Dakota they will the wages that they will have to pay will be lower. Sometimes they welcome the prospect that it's unlikely that there will be a union among the employees. I think those considerations far outweigh the tax questions. Although I wouldn't say that the tax questions don't have any bearing at all. The fact of the matter is however that for the last quarter of a century. I've been hearing the same statement about how Industries leaving Minnesota and the fact is that over the last 25 years. Minnesota has been doing relatively well particularly compared with other states of the Upper Midwest and the Northeast Our metropolitan area is slated by some outside studies to be the area of the greatest growth among any of the metropolitan areas outside of the Sunbelt. So I think we have to keep these issues in perspective. There was testimony the other day before the legislature by someone who's been studying the question of firm movements who and in the development of new business opportunities who was arguing that most of the new newly created Industries tend to occur in high-tax areas. And when one thinks about it, there would be a reason why that would be so you've got strong education a strong University people committed to a high quality of of Public service. That is the kind of environment which you're more likely to find entrepreneurial activities bearing fruit. So, I think it's a matter not losing our head, but trying to keep it balanced perspective and there are some who find it useful to argue that we're going to be an empty shell here in Minnesota. All our industry's going to fled to low tax states, but we have a very long history of demonstrating that the simply hasn't happened so far as Minnesota's concerned, but we do need to pay attention when business finds that there's a particular point of friction then I think we need to look carefully and see if they're right. We don't need to unnecessarily add to our difficulties in our effort to to adequately maintained Public Services here 29 minutes before one o'clock Don Fraser the mayor of Minneapolis Our Guest today, and we have some open lines in the Minneapolis st. Paul area. The phone number is two two seven six thousand. If you have a question, let's take our next listener now. Go ahead. Please (00:32:03) here from worrying about the justification. Listen of naming Jan highly as your Deputy Mayor you talk about the industry's leading. What about the city people leading with children leaving because of what's been happening in the education public education in Minneapolis. We had Jan harvly appointed not by us. She was appointed by the school board to go ahead and draw out this Five-Year Plan no parents were taken into consideration. You had parents left people who are still leaving and parents who want to leave because they're not happy with what happened. They had no input into her selection as far as their children's education was going and now we have no say in the matter for her being appointed our Deputy Mayor and I wanted to know what your justification of that would be. (00:32:48) Jan Hive Lee is a professional who's shown enormous talent in planning. And that's the reason that the school board asked that her Services be made available to them. She took a leave as the deputy director of the Minneapolis planning department. She worked with the school Personnel in developing A Five-Year Plan, but the responsibility for the plan, of course lies with the school board and the top staff. She was providing planning assistance. Let me say that I think though even though I know the reorganization of the school's was not embraced enthusiastically by everybody. I do think that as the years go by we're going to see that the decisions that were made were decisions that had to be made we because of the financial problems in the declining School enrollment. It was essential that we Get some kind of a plan put together so that people would have some understanding of what was going to happen in their neighborhoods with respect to the school's over a period of time rather than having the city faced and the school board with school closings on an unplanned basis year after year. The my my belief is that these the offerings that are available to pupils in the Minneapolis school system are stronger today than ever before and that those parents who do send their children to Minneapolis school system are going to find that their children are getting a better education or not. Well there, you know the school's very a lot. That's one thing. I learned a long time ago and I think any parent with a children in school who's dissatisfied ought to take that issue up with a school principal and and work it out because we've got a fine staff in the City of Minneapolis. They want to do a good job. And if they're having trouble then they need the cooperation of the parents I think in working out those problems. 25 minutes before one o'clock and we do have some more phone lines open to two seven six thousand is the number if you have a question Mary you talked about a little bit earlier about the importance of jobs in the city and how you're going to be pursuing that at the legislature wonder what other items are on the city's agenda for the legislature this year particularly as we look at all property tax situation. For example, where the governor is recommending a cutback in the homestead credit and all that which could lead to an increase in property taxes of Isis saw somewhere about 28 percent Statewide maybe around 15% in the cities. well, the governor is I think facing realistically a very difficult problem the growth of the homestead credit, which is fully reimbursed by state government has added significant demands on the State Treasury and what I think his people have concluded and I think rightfully so is that the homestead credit as a form of tax relief is not carefully targeted. So as to provide the assistance most clearly to those who really need it the problem in that we're facing in our city is that some of the homes have gone up in value so much in recent years that the tax burden even with the homestead credit is becoming very difficult for many families to carry and this is a matter of some concern to us. I suppose if the tax is get heavy enough the may result in driving down the value of those homes so that in a way it may adjust for itself, but that's not a very happy happy circumstance or way to solve the Of them. So we will be working with the legislature and the governor to explore the best ways to make sure that that the homestead credit is a form of tax relief is managed as wisely and carefully as possible. And so that it is targeted to those in greatest need but there is a separate question. That's the question of the total tax burden that is occurring with some of our with some of our homes and that undoubtedly deserves separate consideration. It's a tough problem because property taxes on are not normally related to a person's income and so often they find themselves stuck with some very large tax bills. It is very hard for them to handle. But I I think the governor is approaching the sensibly and it will take some study and thought and my hope is that by the time the legislature adjourns will have work through those problems carefully. Another major issue for the city is the future of local government Aid the city and over recent years has been getting almost a third of its operating budget from AIDS provided through the state government. There will undoubtedly be efforts to revise the formula and perhaps even the amount of money that would be put into those AIDS and we're very interested in that and want to make sure that our city along with the other cities are treated as fairly as possible. We have a general interest in another number of other subjects, but I suspect the revenue problem is our number one priority more listeners are on the line with questions for you mayor. Let's take our next caller. Go ahead, (00:38:11) please. Hello. and in light of the recent vote on word Edwards (00:38:25) Well, I think the vote you're referring to is the vote that in which the city council turned down his nomination for the Civil Rights Commission. I had submitted his name and thought he would be a good member of the commission. I don't think that the vote of the council should be a reflection of should be taken as a lack of commitment to affirmative action. It isn't written down anywhere that the city council should automatically take any name that I submit to them. A Ron Edwards is a very forceful and I think if effective advocate for his point of view and he's very often advocating for what he sees as in justices in the community on the other hand because he is outspoken and very forthright. He often rub some people the wrong way they have difficulty adjusting to that style. I happen to think it's useful to have somebody who make sure To he gets your attention but not everyone feels that way and I so I think that's one of the reasons that he did not get a majority vote. And but I that's really more I think reflection of their concern of body style and is not should not be taken as real as a lack of interest in the larger issue of affirmative action. We've been making steady progress on affirmative action with the active support of the city council. More listeners with questions. Hi, you're (00:39:55) next. Good morning. Mr. Mayor. My name is Steve mcinerney and I live at 22:15 Fillmore in Northeast. And I just turned on the program. I don't know if you've dealt with this question already. But what I'm most concerned about is what I feel is that General squalor. It seems to be spreading throughout the city. I think especially here in Northeast. It was an article earlier this week in the Minneapolis paper about declining property values in Northeast and in our neighborhood in particular, we've had a great deal of trouble with rental property trash cans without lids trash strewn around the The Yards. We've made several calls to the city inspector on this but really not much has happened and what I guess my question is, what is the city doing about cleaning up? This area in the city and in particular we moved back to Minneapolis about a year ago. I work in the Suburban areas. I could have easily moved to that but being born and raised in Minneapolis, I really care for the city and I'm very concerned about this very distressful depreciation and the property values and just the looks of the city now hang up and let you answer. (00:41:19) Yeah. Are you still on the phone stay on for just a minute are the problems that you're concerned with Associated largely with rental properties. (00:41:29) All right. Yes. Yes, I would say about 95% of it is I'd say on our block about 50% of the residences are rental property (00:41:45) in those are circumstances, which the landlord is not there. Either (00:41:49) then yes. Yes. (00:41:51) Yeah, that's a very real problem and What we need to do of course is to enforce the ordinance is a strictly as we can that runs into our budget problems. We are tied on Manpower but it's one of the reasons it's been City policy in recent years to encourage more home ownership in the city is the realization that if you own your own home, you're going to take a much stronger interest in its appearance and the appearance of the yard and it's a maintenance if you're a landlord your and particularly if you're not living there you're not going to take that same interest to tenants obviously don't have the same interest. So I think this is a problem that has to be addressed on a number of fronts. I think the first line of responsibility clearly is with a city and enforcing ordinances on how trash cans are maintained and so on, but I would also encourage you to consider Being involved with the neighborhood organization are ways that neighborhood organizations can help create a climate that will encourage landlords to take more interest in care of their property and encourage the tenants as well another form of organization, which can make a difference is the block club. We are organizing block clubs currently in the city mostly for crime prevention purposes, but usually when they're organized for that purpose, they go on to consider other problems as well as the problem of watching out for each other's property. I really think that getting the neighbors together and talking about these problems is an important First Step from your perspective. I this is not a simple problem. I don't want to suggest that we've got an easy answer to it. And but it is one that we have to keep very much up front because if the city's runs down in appearance for the reasons that you indicate then we're all the losers and that we simply can't tolerate that happening. Let's take another caller with a question. Hi, you're on the air. (00:43:58) Thank you. Good afternoon Don. This is Lauren Abraham. Yes, how are you? Real good. I have a couple of questions the concern an issue that I think most Twin City residents are very concerned about and that is in terms of their safety in this nuclear age. And first I would just want to say very warm. Thank you for helping to sponsor the full page ad that's going to be running in the Minneapolis Star and both the st. Paul papers next Thursday that had supports the fries and as you know is in a position to funding for First Strike weapons and if there any listeners who would like to find out how they can be listed in the antis but supporters. I'd like them to call me at the Minnesota freeze campaign office six, four four 4616, but my questions are along this line in regards to the FEMA the Federal Emergency Management act and Will you be emergency relocation plans which are at this moment being developed and and in some areas implemented in the schools and so forth in Minnesota. I'm wondering what the what the current policy of Minneapolis the City of Minneapolis is in response to the plans to implement the emergency relocation and specifically since most experts seem to question the effectiveness of such a plan and indeed say that this is really more dangerous because it gives the American citizens of false sense of security. My second question is a little bit further along that same line and that's that many people that I've talked to have a great concern that their voice really can't make a difference and that even though they would like to have their congressmen support their their stand on the fries and on. On reducing military armaments and especially nuclear arms that that the powers that be in the White House and the Congress and especially in the Pentagon are going to proceed with their plans for for building up the military Arsenal nuclear (00:46:12) Arsenal. All right, sir. I think we have the thrust of your questions. Let's give them are a chance to respond. Now. Let me take the second question first. I don't I have little doubt in my own mind, but that the act of concern that citizens across the United States of already. Shown with respect to the continued growth of our nuclear arsenals and I might add the concern that's being shown in Europe. If and when we do get an arms control agreement that this concern would have played a major role. I'm not very encouraged to buy the underlying attitudes of the Administration Washington with respect to Arms Control efforts, but I do believe that they feel the hot breath of the American people on their necks and that they will probably be more forthcoming in the arms control talks than they would have been without that expression of concern on the relocation plans. The city has not really been called upon to play an active role in on that issue. That is we really haven't had to vote that we like the idea that we don't like it. It's an activity that's been planned and primarily so far at least through the state federal and state governments. What is clear to me? At least my own personal opinion that relocation plans if they're considered a factor in the Strategic equation that that's an absolute disaster. I don't think relocation plans will work. I think we'll just find mass confusion. What we need to do is to work hard to prevent the circumstances ever rising in which this kind of a problem or option would even have to be seriously pursued but there's little reason to believe I think that you could carry out an effective relocation plan and significantly reduce casualties in the United States if we get into a major nuclear exchange, they will be such total disorganization society. That is Someone once said if you're still alive You'll wish that you were dead. So I I'm one of the Skeptics about this but since we're not at the moment asked to do anything one way or the other about it, I've sort of Reserve judgment an argument can be made that the idea of establishing ways to move out of the city and places where you can go could be a value for other emergencies other than a threatened nuclear exchange. It's a little hard to think of the circumstances that might lead to that but that is what makes it a little bit difficult. I think to Simply flatly veto any kind of planning. I guess my view is that the planning such as may be done will not count for much nor should it count for much in our efforts to keep this nuclear arms race under some kind of rational management. 11 minutes before the our will take another listener. Go ahead, please you're on the air. (00:49:17) Good afternoon. I'm calling from Philips neighborhood. I'm a homeowner, right and for several years about seven to be exact. I've been trying to get the city or the place to do something about the serious drinking problem. We have in this neighborhood. I live close to Franklin Avenue and it seems the police have their hands tied because there are no laws that they can enforce and if detox is full which it usually is They usually end up leaving people on the street where they find them or on people's yards and medical emergency teams. Can't legally do anything about a person that is drunk unless the person is passed out cold completely and everybody seems to say the city has to pass some laws for the city council and nothing. Nothing ever gets done. And now the warm weather. We're just starting another year again of the same problem. I wonder if the mayor has any (00:50:30) ideas. Well, this is a tough problem. It's not clear to me that the city council that could pass an ordinance. That would be of much affect the think the courts have ruled that alcoholism is not to be treated as a criminal activity the we need to do something about the fact that the detox centers fill very rapidly. One of the answers lies in providing more residential residential opportunities for The Chronic inebriate simply place for them to live the most of these people are unable to work or simply don't work. There is such there are there is an effort underway Now to create some housing opportunities that will house provide housing for these people and that's hopefully have them off the street. There's been several efforts in the past and some of these have succeeded but the problem is not dealt with that simply the county I believe is prepared to be of assistance in this regard. It provided that the space is found in the management provided that will provide housing for The Chronic inebriates. So I hope that we'll see some improvement there. But the concept of the detox center apparently isn't working people many of the people are being recycled through it repeatedly and they don't there's no improvement in their behavior and we don't really have an alternative place to put them at the moment. I would encourage you on this score however to work with the Philips neighborhood Improvement Association you may have been already but I think through concerted action you might be able to figure out some further options that the city should be exploring. We need your help in this it's not a simple problem. But we need to try to keep the problem under control as far as we're able to because I think the people living in the city don't need to be encumbered by this problem Beyond. At that's absolutely necessary. Slightly related to that Mary. I remember back in the fall and perhaps in the early part of the winter. There was considerable concern about what would happen to the totally homeless in the city as as the winter came on. Well, we've gotten through the winter. It was a mild one fortunately. How do you think that situation resolved itself? And does it suggest a need for some action over the summer to prepare for next year? Well, we were fortunate that a number of mostly Church communities were willing to pitch in and open up the basements of their churches and do provide the continuing volunteer assistance. Equally, we've been lucky that these same groups are others who have volunteered to run food shelves and places where people can get meals. I do hear that those who are carrying on this volunteer work are getting a little weary of having to fill in a gap that they feel has been left by government policies. And so far the response of government particularly, the federal level is simply been to provide more money for these activities, but my guess is that the money is not going to be sufficient to well. I'm not sure I guess how much will be forthcoming but it may only help keep that system going rather than trying to find an alternative. We've always had homeless in the city, but the numbers have been growing since since unemployment is up in general assistance has been cut off. I really think we've got to reinstate general assistance, even for able-bodied people. It's ridiculous to say that because our able-bodied the can't get it if there's no job for them and my hope is that we won't have to rely on that very much that because we'd rather have a jobs program for them, but they're going to be people that fall between the cracks and I can't believe that in modern society that we're going to Simply turn our back on somebody who's out of Rent money out of grocery money and out of Hope and simply say too bad it that's not the kind of community. I think any of us want to be a part of another listener is on the line with the question. Go ahead, please (00:54:43) hello mere Fraser a couple couple remarks and rather despair comments firstly I recall about a half hour ago a woman called in talking about the nature of the school system in so one remark about that is I'm living in a neighborhood, which we're in a mini baby. Boom. I think it's true the entire area. But in any case when I talk to them about the we're going to be living in the next five years or so the comment that comes out all the time is that they wouldn't mind staying in Minneapolis, but they do not so certain you're going to say because these school system they think is just doesn't compare with other suburban school systems or with private school systems and they think that to the extent that they're concerned about their children that they they just very well my booth of the suburbs in order to ensure the children having the best education possible. And I think there's a lot of misinformation about the quality of Minneapolis schools and remains to be seen what just what they'll be like in the next five years, but I do hear that remark very much fat that the school system is perceived to be bad. And that's therefore they just might move out and another reason is that they they believe that would be tax system in neighboring suburbs to being lower. But the nature of the service delivered is is better with squid with especially with regard to the school system that that is yet another incentive to move out. So to the extent that the city has any as any effect on the school board had ought to work to ensure his high quality of Education as possible because I think that's a universal goal. But in any case that's when we Mark with my main question is regarding hazardous waste facilities in Minneapolis. I know that there are three sites designated and I'm just curious what the city's position is going to be. I'm I'm of the belief that To the extent possible. We ought to handle the hazardous waste that we generate although I realize it's not a Minneapolis problems in Metropolitan wide (00:56:37) problem. All right, let's get the mayor's response On the Hazardous Waste issue. Well, let me just pick up on the school issue for a moment. The I agree with you your description of the perception that some families have my impression is that this tends to be families who not don't yet have their first children in school and my hope is that they will become get acquainted with the school system get acquainted with the schools where their children would go and perhaps try it and I think they're going to be pleasantly surprised. We have a really a basically a very sound school system with a very rich and diverse set of offerings and and helped for kids with special problems. And I think I really do honestly believe that this reorganization will enable us to have some stability and predictability will get an increasingly strong system here. So I hope that those families you talk about will at least be willing to try before they make a decision on the question of hazardous waste I agree with you. We generate hazardous waste in a lots of our activities, whether it be industry or the university. We need to take care of that problem and I think the taking care of consists of having places where the Hazardous Waste is taken and treated and then eventually transship to some ultimate outside disposal place. I've been impressed with the rational reasonable approach that has been taken within the city to this question because it the outset one might have thought. Well hazardous waste the idea of having any even a temporary Depot in the city sounds ridiculous. But what I've seen is that the neighborhood looked at this carefully, they listen to the reasoning and there's rather rather General understanding of the necessity for managing these hazardous waste in a way that will protect the health and safety but also of everyone but also enable us to keep doing business in the city When do you anticipate that some action will be taken on one of those? Well, I haven't been following the sequence of it only the fact that we've had the discussions on the particular sites and so far. I haven't seen that there's been any real difficulty, but I'm not clear what the next step is going to be. Well, sir, we've just about run out of time. I want to thank you very much for coming in and visiting with us and our listeners today has been a most informative our thank you very much Minneapolis mirrored on freezer.