Nicollet Islanders don't want to share
In the political lexicon, a logroller is an insider who knows how to work the system to obtain privileges. On Nicollet Island, which is a jewel in the Minneapolis park system, a small enclave of logrollers who have a sweet deal and live on public property have come together to block approval of a new athletic field for DeLaSalle High School. The logrollers like their little preserve and want to keep it to themselves.
The city established a tiny village on the 48-acre island in the 1980s, hoping to revive a blighted area. Now there are 43 vintage homes on the upstream end of the island, some that were rehabbed, others that were moved onto the island. All are on Minneapolis Park Board property, with the land leased to the homeowners for 99 years.
The leases were awarded in a lottery, but a number of them ended up in the hands of the well-connected, including a surprising number with ties to the DFL Party. Now, these proud island people are blocking approval of a football field for a 105-year-old school that also would be used by kids in Park Board programs.
The argument against a football field is ironic:
Opponents say the school should look elsewhere -- off the island -- because a field would be an improper private use of public property.
Coleman shows that he is indeed a great writer by continuing to strengthen his point. [Read the whole thing.]
There will be no "but" in this blogpost. He's got it dead right. He proves himself an old-time Minnesota liberal who retains his man-of-the-people roots here. Conservatives and libertarians can only applaud his integrity and back up his cause.
