St. Louis Park is on its way to becoming "an inner-city wasteland" with "hoodlums standing around on the corner to harass the young women." Meanwhile, unelected bureaucrats trample on the rights of citizens.
And it's all because of sidewalks.
That distressing scenario was painted by John Iacono, a resident of the Aquila neighborhood, where sidewalks will be installed over the summer.
In an e-mail this week to city officials, Iacono let off steam about what he sees as an unnecessary change to the quiet street along Minnehaha Creek, where he's lived for 45 years.
The City Council recently decided to proceed with the $3.1 million project to install sidewalks and rebuild streets in the Aquila, Minnehaha and Cobblecrest neighborhoods. Crews have been out to place flags and paint spots marking the path of the upcoming construction.
"Many residents have asked the city to take wise opportunities to invest in these types of infrastructure projects," said Gregg Lindberg, the council member who represents the areas in the Third Ward affected by this year's construction. "The city's comprehensive plan calls for these connections."
Car-oriented postwar suburbs throughout the metro area are looking to reinvent themselves for the millennial generation. From Coon Rapids to Apple Valley, long-range suburban plans include sidewalks and trails where cars now reign supreme.
But the shift doesn't always come easy for longtime residents. In Edina, for instance, a public meeting to discuss new sidewalks grew so heated that one resident felt compelled to apologize to a beleaguered city planner, saying he'd been sent "into the lion's den."
