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Minnesota 2020 Journal: “Truth Will Out”
The 2013 Minnesota legislative session pleased and disappointed me. I’m not alone. Many progressives feel shortchanged by some of the session’s public policy outcomes. Yet, it’s important to keep the big picture in mind, celebrating, perhaps with a tight smile, the sea change. We’re better off with the changes than we are without them. The alternative—continuing conservative policy direction—is a downward, state-defeating spiral. Minnesota, like the nation, has been on a conservative policy trajectory for the past 20-30 years. “No new taxes,” as activist rallying cry and as tax policy, facilitated a structural shift in state tax policy. We moved…
Streetcar Desire Heats Up
It's been nearly six years since I last posted about Minneapolis' plans for a streetcar revival, but except for a short park ride at Lake Calhoun, no trolleys are clanging in the Mill City. These things take time. A century ago, Twin Cities newspapers heralded the imminent construction of a subway line between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Obviously, that didn't happen. Next year, finally, the Metropolitan Council's Central Corridor light rail project will link the downtowns with trains running above ground. Meanwhile, both core cities seem to be getting serious about establishing modern streetcar service in selected locations. With tax-increment-style…
