February 1-8, 2021
Feb 01 14:06 Minneapolis is the 2020-2021 violence capitol of Minnesota Feb 03 08:08 East Side renovation weasel words Feb 04 01:13 Tim Walz's fair share dilemma Feb 05 04:16 A costly show-vote for Democrats? Feb 05 08:59 Due North is not True North Feb 06 10:54 The DFL's COVID cautiousness Feb 07 17:00 Newt Gingrich on the Democrats' teachers union crisis Feb 08 05:29 Michael Osterholm, COVID & lockdowns
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Minneapolis is the 2020-2021 violence capitol of Minnesota
The Minneapolis City Council's attempted dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department apparently laid the groundwork for future violence in Minneapolis . This isn't surprising. In fact, it's predictable.
Looking back at 2020, dismantling the MPD looks like a terrible idea. Then again, it looked terrible at the time it was proposed. According to "an end-of-year report presented to the City Council last week, Minneapolis experienced a 105% increase in shootings between 2019 and 2020."
The same report states that the "city recorded 82 homicides in 2020, a 70% increase over 2019's 48 homicides. Between 2016 and 2019, Minneapolis had an average homicide rate of 41." Minneapolis residents are bracing for far worse in 2021, with prosecutors asking the judge to push the Derek Chauvin trial back into summer. A longtime reader of LFR said that his family is worried about rioting downtown and borded-up businesses near the courthouse.
Theft of motor vehicle parts, a subcategory of larceny, increased by 660% in 2020, likely because of the rising price of precious metals found inside catalytic converters, the MPD said. Carjackings, different from auto thefts in that the owner is inside the vehicle when the robbery occurs, increased by 301% - from 101 in 2019 to 405 in 2020.
With police retirements up in Minneapolis, expect this to continue:
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With the MPD police force depleted from retirements and officers taking medical leave, 2021 figures to be another great year to live somewhere other than Minneapolis. If the Chauvin trial ends (as I suspect it will) with an acquittal or a guilty verdict on a lesser charge, expect Minneapolis to erupt in another summer of riots.
Posted Monday, February 1, 2021 2:06 PM
Comment 1 by J. Ewing at 02-Feb-21 08:24 AM
These anarchists and idiots want to chant "no justice, no peace" but then when justice is done in the court, according to the evidence, they keep right on chanting and destroying the neighborhoods they supposedly care about.
Comment 2 by Chad Q at 04-Feb-21 05:40 PM
Because it's not the justice they have been told by the race baiters and race hustlers they were going to get. They have been gaslighted by there own people and don't even know it. Just wait until the MPLS cops are acquitted in the Saint Floyd case.
East Side renovation weasel words
Developers are thinking about redeveloping St. Cloud's East Side. One of the City documents opens by saying "The City of St. Cloud has completed the East End Vision - Small Area Plan , which outlines redevelopment opportunities to revitalize the city's East Side. Located within one of the state's designated Opportunity Zones , the city hopes to attract new investment to the area in the coming years. The document lays out a road map for redevelopment opportunities in several key catalyst sites throughout the district."
In his attempt to sell the plan, Matt Glaesman, the community development director for the City of St. Cloud, said "This shared vision for the East End represents a fantastic opportunity to build lasting changes that benefit the entire community. This plan is the culmination of rigorous research and input from stakeholders citywide. We've created a roadmap for new opportunities and look forward to building on this city's success."
This neighborhood is virtually my back yard. Some of the areas that they want to redevelop are within 3 blocks of where I'm typing this post. Also, I've literally lived in this neighborhood my entire life. I know pretty much every inch of this neighborhood. This picture outlines the plan for the entire East Side:
I've been told by a longtime reader of LFR that the area between the 2 railroad tracks (one going northeast, the other southeast) will be developed into a major apartment complex. That will replace Simonson Lumber. The tracks to the north and south don't attract a ton of traffic but the tracks to the east are some of the busiest tracks in the US. At least 6 'oil trains' per day use those tracks. Now that Biden has eliminated the Keystone XL Pipeline, those "6 'oil trains' per day" will likely turn into 8 oil trains per day. Also, where the tracks intersect with E. St. Germain St. is one of the loudest traffic-train intersections in the city. I can hear the train horns from my house and I'm a half mile from that intersection. Imagine being a block from that intersection. I wouldn't want to live there.
It wouldn't be a big deal if the redevelopment was into a manufacturing plant or industrial site of some sort. That's what that part of town has been since the 1950s. The other criticism I have of the redevelopment is that it doesn't give the East Side an identity. Until St. Cloud starts manufacturing things again, it's just an oversized bedroom town.
Posted Wednesday, February 3, 2021 8:08 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 03-Feb-21 09:13 AM
There is more developer/owner land-based money in housing than in commercial or industrial use. The name of the game is to squeeze out more money. It is the capitalism paradigm - the invisible hand - let the market decide approach many Republicans tout without question.
Gary, who are you to question?
Seriously, how should highest and best use be determined? By planners, by owners, by bankers, or else by whom? Hint: Zoning exists for a reason.
Taxes generally go up to subsidize developers with political clout. Crony capitalism. Is it too early or too hidden to know if cronyism is at play?
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 04-Feb-21 01:10 AM
I agree that zoning exists for a reason. After that, I disagree with everything you wrote. Crony capitalism doesn't employ Adam Smith's invisible hand. It's built on corruption & connections. Smith's invisible hand is built on the premise of integrity & doing what's right for each person in the community. (That's individualism, not collectivism.)
Best use should ideally be determined by merit. Questions determining that should be things like: 1. How many people benefit from the project? 2. Will this project make the city more prosperous, more free of crime or stable economically?
This project doesn't meet any of those criteria, IMHO.
Tim Walz's fair share dilemma
In proposing his biennial budget, DFL Gov. Tim Walz tried justifying his tax hikes by saying the rich had to pay their fair share. John Phelan's article highlights Gov. Walz's deceitfulness. During the rollout of Gov. Walz's budget, a reporter actually asked a pertinent question.
The reporter said "What was a bit unusual at the governor's presentation was when, just moments after Walz proclaimed that only millionaires and billionaires faced tax rises, an uncooperative reporter dared to ask about Walz's proposal for a whopping $1-a-pack tax hike on cigarettes. Aren't such taxes included in his plan, despite being among the most 'regressive' levies of all - hitting the poor much harder than the rich? Well, yes. 'I don't deny that,' Walz said. And yet, having just finished pretty much denying it, the governor was, shall we say, 'incentivized' to bring out some heavy verbal artillery for further clarification."
In other words, Gov. Walz got upset that a reporter did their job. The DFL expects reporters to act like a stenographer for the DFL. DJ Tice nails the impact of Gov. Walz's tax increases in this article . In that article, Tice highlights "Minnesota Department of Revenue's biennial Tax Incidence Study ." Tice quotes this from the TIS:
Above all, in edition after edition, decade after decade, these studies have explained that:
"[T]axes on businesses are regressive : While the initial impact of these taxes is on business, they are partially shifted forward to consumers in higher prices or backward to labor in lower wages."
The latest Tax Incidence Study, from 2019 (a new one is due this spring), reports that lower-income Minnesotans indirectly "pay" well more than twice as much of their incomes through business taxes than the top 1% of income earners do. (Individual taxes are far more progressive, hitting the rich harder.)
Higher taxes on "the rich" is often taxes on successful small businesses. "The rich" have their fortunes hidden away in states or countries where taxes are significantly cheaper. They also hide their wealth in foundations where their families 'work' while the foundation pays most of their living expenses. Finally, high taxes on "the rich" often drives down benefits and bonuses. To quote Bill Clinton, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
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Gov. Walz's budget is a DFL wishlist document. It isn't a serious document in terms of policies. It even has an increase in education spending devoted to what I'd call the BLM propaganda agenda, including money for teaching about systemic racism. Gov. Walz, like Joe Biden, is a captive of the teachers' union.
Posted Thursday, February 4, 2021 1:13 AM
Comment 1 by eric z at 04-Feb-21 08:17 AM
Closing sentence is in error. It should read, "Gov. Walz, like Joe Biden, is a captive of the two party system, owned by oligarchs who want to fuck the rest of humanity." Gov. Pawlenty, who was honest (because he was of your party), called the tax on tabacco smoking a fee, not a tax, and he thus was so honest because he too was a captive of the two party system owned by oligarchs, etc.
Tax portfolios? Tax stock transactions? End distinguishment between capital gains and ordinary income? The only wealth tax is the local real property tax; so, an area for tax expansion clearly exists. Bought politicians don't tax certain things. Rather they stay bought.
Tax churchs. Especially their land and improvements.
Comment 2 by J. Ewing at 04-Feb-21 09:40 AM
Apparently Eric wants to move to a system of one-party rule, where individuals (other than those in government) have no opportunity to gain wealth. Welcome to the old Soviet Union.
Seriously, the big mistake Leftists constantly make is to assume that things like taxes do not affect behavior. It's all a fantasy. Increase taxes and "the rich" can afford to hire tax accounts to find ways around it, or pick up and move, either themselves or even their business. Historically, tax increases have led to far less tax revenue than predicted, and sometimes even a loss.
Comment 3 by Chad Q at 04-Feb-21 05:36 PM
J, you can't use logic, facts, and statistic with progressives because they only understand the emotional side of an issue. It's not right, fair, or the new catch phase "equitable" that some have more than others so we must drag everybody down to the same level by the force of the governments fist. Sadly it never works out the way they intended and those who the progressives are trying to "help", end up getting hurt the most.
Comment 4 by J. Ewing at 05-Feb-21 09:19 AM
Chad is exactly right. It's like trying to teach astrophysics to a hamster. Of course, in their minds, good intentions are all that matter, since a leftist majority can always repeal the laws of physics, chemistry, economics and human nature to mandate their desired outcome.
A costly show-vote for Democrats?
Part of the budget reconciliation process is something called a vote-a-rama. Another part of that process is the minority party offering germane, nonbinding amendments to the budget. Thursday, Sen. Tom Cotton and Sen. Todd Young put forth an amendment "that would prohibit any future economic impact payments from being sent to illegal immigrants."
What's amazing is that "42 lawmakers voted against it. All were Democrats, including two independents who caucus with the Democrats." In a statement, Sen. Cotton said "The Biden administration shouldn't reward illegal immigrants for breaking our laws by giving them checks. Instead of courting foreigners with U.S. taxpayer funds, President Biden should use that money to aid American schools, businesses, and families."
Towards the end of this interview, Sen. Cotton highlights the things that Democrats voted for or against:
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Sending stimulus checks to illegal immigrants is far-left stupidity at its worst. Voting to send COVID money to school districts that get vaccinated but refuse to open isn't that bright, either. Suburban families, keep that in mind when Democrats hurt your children while protecting the teachers unions.
Democrats are on the wrong side of each of those issues. That's why Republicans will flip the US House in 2022. That's why they have a fighting chance of retaking the Senate majority. Another reason Republicans have a shot at retaking the Senate is because they're anti-fossil fuel in a pro-fossil fuel state, aka Pennsylvania. Finally, the Biden Recession will hurt Democrats who would otherwise be in safe states.
How long will people tolerate Democrats being the 'Theater of the Absurd Party'?
Posted Friday, February 5, 2021 4:16 AM
Comment 1 by J. Ewing at 05-Feb-21 09:16 AM
This delightful fantasy of Republicans retaking the House (US OR MN) will remain so until we somehow get some "election integrity" measures in place to stop "improper voting."
Comment 2 by Chad Q at 05-Feb-21 08:02 PM
What do you mean? MN SOS says there was "miniscule" amounts of voter fraud in 2020, wink, wink, nod, nod.
I used to think voter ID would solve most of the fraud but the progressives outmaneuvered the GOP and got vote by mail approved. The GOP needs to sue the SOS to repeal that unconstitutional move.
Comment 3 by eric z at 06-Feb-21 06:35 PM
People in need are in need, with illegal immigrants likely as a group to be more in need than second, third generatlon locals with community job contacts, etc. Either you have compassion or you''re Republican.
Response 3.1 by Gary Gross at 09-Feb-21 07:58 AM
I have compassion for people following the law. I don't have compassion for people brought here illegally by drug cartels. I don't have compassion on coyotes that traffic in child pornography sex slaves.
Finally, the US should be protected by high walls wide gates so we control the border. I don't want the cartels controlling who comes in.
Due North is not True North
Due North is not True North
By Ramblin' Rose
True North - the way we want our compass to point. But this education plan will go south -- and that is a negative statement. In the announced budget plan on January 25, 2021, the Walz administration announced lofty goals - even commendable goals for all children in the state to have "a high-quality education, no matter their race or zip code."
Walz's plan is long on words and short on substance as it proposes seven priorities:
- Meet the needs of students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic'
- Ensure every student receives a world-class education;
- Ensure every student learns in a safe and nurturing environment;
- Ensure every student learns in a classroom with caring and qualified teachers,
- Expand access to opportunities for students of color and Indigenous students;
- Expand access to opportunities for students in Greater Minnesota,
- Fund a 21st-century education.
Sadly, this plan is a lot of rhetoric. The plan promises caring and qualified teachers, elimination of systemic racism (through a council), value student identity (at the expense of the identity of other students now marginalized due to their skin tones and moral beliefs), increased opportunities for career advancement, and increased funding to the students who need it most (who makes that decision?), and much more.
The entire two-page plan is full of promises and platitudes. It lacks substance. There is nothing about true academic standards, about improving student learning, about holding students accountable for their test scores. There are no measures of determining how or when success is achieved. Is it when they have spent all available funds and enriched their cronies?
The budget proposal outlines $745 million in new state education spending in addition to the $649 million in federal tax dollars to fund this proposal. Since when has more money increased learning? NEVER - NOWHERE! No increase in reading and math scores will result if the focus goes only to destroy our national identity through teaching the critical race theory and demeaning the majority of the students now marginalized because they reek of white privilege.
For decades, Leftists have advocated for the elimination of discrimination based upon race. Now the push is to provide opportunity and funding based on race and ethnicity and to malign those who have learned in a less than perfect educational system but who were motivated to learn and achieve in order to earn a better life through personal achievement - basically white and Christian. Now the State wants to determine a new set of winners and losers - our children, our future - in order to promote their -ism: marxism, socialism, communism.
Regrettably, some Republicans and members of the judicial community have already advocated for the same: 'a first-class education.' I pray that they and the rest of Minnesota wake up before the DFL gets their way and send Minnesota further down the path of mediocrity.
Posted Friday, February 5, 2021 8:59 AM
Comment 1 by J. Ewing at 06-Feb-21 08:04 AM
This is INSANE! Why, if these were the goals, have they not been long ago realized??? Our State Constitution mandates a good education for every student, our State education aid formula allocates more money for students of color and poverty, yet the achievement gap remains the largest in the nation. And any analysis of per-pupil spending versus academic achievement will show that spending has a NEGATIVE correlation with achievement! That same analysis will show that, for a given amount of spending, schools differ by almost 2:1 in achievement! Obviously money is not the "control knob" DFLers believe it is. The may to measure achievement is not by dollars thrown at it, but by measuring and demanding it.
Comment 2 by J. Ewing at 06-Feb-21 08:05 AM
Sorry, that's the "way" to measure...
The DFL's COVID cautiousness
One thing that's becoming clear is that the Democrats' worries are oversized. Friday night on Almanac, U of M infectious disease doctor Michael Osterholm drew the picture of sitting on a beach in the Gulf of Mexico. "It's 80 degrees out, gentle breeze, blue skies and I'm telling you it's time to evacuate and the reason is we can see this Category 5 hurricane just 5 days south."
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During the interview, Osterholm spoke of an upcoming spike in cases that first surfaced in Europe. It's noteworthy that he didn't say that there'd be a major uptick in hospitalizations or deaths corresponding with the uptick in cases. According to this article , "Today marks two weeks of declining COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S., 14 straight days without a blip upward, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic. Case numbers, too, are declining, and today the seven-day case average is down a third since its peak, on January 12."
It continues, saying this:
That day, the count of current hospitalizations was 131,326; it's now down to 108,957. It's the first significant decline since September 21, when the climb down from the summer surge stopped just under 29,000. As the country passes the milestone of 25 million cases, it's a stable indicator pointing in the right direction.
We'll never get rid of COVID-19. We can't keep Minnesota shutdown forever. This nation has always been a nation of risk-takers. It isn't in our DNA to play it safe.
That doesn't mean that we're foolish risk-takers. Quite the opposite is the truth. The US was built on the principle of rugged individualism and strong communities. TRANSLATION: We're a nation of risk-takers that look out for each other in times of crisis.
It's time we started acting like this country's greatest generation again.
Posted Saturday, February 6, 2021 10:54 AM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 06-Feb-21 01:45 PM
What defines a case? Is it someone testing positive whether they are really positive or not, or is it someone testing positive with actual signs of COVID? If it is the former, it's junk data.
Osterholm also said that they should start giving out the first dose to as many people as possible and forgo the second dose until most receive the first dose. I thought the vaccine was only 95% effective after the both doses. What is the effective rate on just one dose and did he discuss this plan with the actual vaccine makers?
You're correct that we will never get rid of COVID-19 but if the government doesn't keep scaring the crap out of everyone each and every damn day, how are they going to keep controlling the masses and spending trillions of dollars, most of which will go to unions and democratically controlled states and very little to the people directly affected by the governments heavy handedness.
Newt Gingrich on the Democrats' teachers union crisis
Newt Gingrich's weekly Newsweek column highlights the opinion that Republicans should be optimistic going into 2022. Then Gingrich lays out why they should be optimistic through some statistics.
Gingrich notes that "Today, there are 27 Republican governors. In 23 states, Republicans control the legislature as well as the governorship. There are 4,007 Republican state legislators to 3,312 Democratic state legislators (with Republicans on the rise). The state legislator advantage means Republicans will draw the lines for reapportionment for about four times as many House seats as the Democrats."
Once redistricting is finished and people start focusing in on the Democrats' disgusting loyalty to the teachers unions, the Democrats' mudslinging won't be effective. The people are frustrated beyond belief that private schools have been open since the start of this school year. These parents are pi$$ed that Democrats march in lockstep to the teachers unions' drums. What the teachers unions want, Democrats get for them. This interview is filled with propaganda:
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First, the BS that teachers love children above all else is dishonest on steroids. Next, the notion that teachers want to return to class as soon as possible is BS. If that's true, they should tell their union leadership to reach an agreement with the school district ASAP. They haven't done that. Third, 70% of teachers in Chicago voted against returning to in-person learning. That's an overwhelming majority. This is worth noting:
The House freshman class (the most diverse GOP freshman class in history) and President Trump's achievement in getting the most minority votes of any Republican presidential candidate in 60 years bode well for continued growth for a party of prosperity and opportunity. The Left is desperate to create a pro-Trump vs. anti-Trump civil war in the GOP. It will not happen. President Trump is by far the best-known and most-liked Republican. But the Republican Party is much bigger than any one person.
Liz Cheney apparently doesn't want a political future :
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., called on her colleagues to cut off former President Donald Trump as his second Senate impeachment trial is set to begin this week. Cheney, the third-ranking House Republican, was one of 10 House Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching Trump last month for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Cheney was censured by her state party over the vote and is facing a primary challenge, though she easily won a vote of confidence last week to remain House Republican Conference chair.
"We have to take a really hard look at who we are and what we stand for, what we believe in," Cheney told "Fox News Sunday." "I think that when you look at both [Trump's] actions leading up to Jan. 6, that he was impeached in a bipartisan fashion, the fact that he lost the presidency, the fact that we lost the Senate. We have to be in a position where we can say we stand for principles, for ideals."
Apparently, Cheney didn't notice that she's on the wrong side of the activists. Never-Trumpers rarely notice such things. President Trump got activists so excited that 75,000,000 people voted for him. That's in addition to 2,500,000 volunteers knocking on doors and making phone calls for him. That's the largest activist army in the history of the GOP. These weren't paid staffers. These were volunteers .
I don't doubt that the teachers unions will show up for Democrats. At this point, though, I'm certain that tons of parents will show up to vote against the politicians that didn't stand up to the teachers unions. These parents are mad as hell and they're already rebelling against the unions. Enrollment in private and Catholic schools has already increased significantly.
Posted Sunday, February 7, 2021 5:00 PM
Comment 1 by eric z at 09-Feb-21 08:53 AM
Kudos to the new Pentagon chief for firing Gingrich from that obscene lame duck appointment Trump gave him. Mucking the stable.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 13-Feb-21 11:42 AM
I hate telling you this but Gingrich has been on that panel since the Bush administration.
Michael Osterholm, COVID & lockdowns
Michael Osterholm is developing a reputation for being overly cautious about COVID-19. Osterholm is definitely a shutdown advocate. This article provides additional proof of that disposition:
"The darkest days of the pandemic are yet to come," according to Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Osterholm issued this grave warning about the COVID-19 pandemic during a recent testimony he gave before the Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy Committee. He also predicted that "we are going to have another surge [of infections]" that may necessitate new safety measures.
However, this is not the first time he's predicted that the "darkest" days are just around the corner. Roughly three months ago, Osterholm claimed that America was about to enter "the darkest part of the pandemic," according to PBS. It appears he's now recycling this proclamation due to fears about a new strain of coronavirus.
How many more times will we be told that locking down is the only thoughtful path forward? Dr. Osterholm apparently has tunnel vision regarding COVID-19. This study is just one of many that highlight one problem:
Rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were higher in some months in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a study of 11- to 21-year-olds in a major metropolitan area of Texas.
Significantly higher rates of suicide-related behaviors appear to have corresponded with times when COVID-19 stressors and community responses (e.g., stay-at-home orders and school closures) were heightened, indicating that youth experienced elevated distress during these periods, according to 'Suicide Ideation and Attempts in a Pediatric Emergency Department Before and During COVID-19' (Hill RM, et al. Pediatrics. Dec. 16, 2020).
The problem with specialists is that they don't see the big picture. They see only the things that they specialize in. We need to see all the things that are happening to us.
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Posted Monday, February 8, 2021 5:29 AM
No comments.
