Letter of the Day

A neighbor concerned about the Porky's process sent this letter to Mayor Rybak:

Mayor Rybak,

Your position is to represent the people of this city and their wishes. The residents of both Windom Park and Holland Neighborhoods have stated that they do not wish for this establishment as a drive thru in their neighborhoods on Central Ave. There have been twenty-five meetings in the last fifteen months put on by the neighborhoods. The feed back has been a resounding "No" to Porky's. Our council member, Paul Ostrow, did not like this answer and held his own meeting in the low income highrise on Central. Even at this meeting, the majority did not want Porky's. The voice of the populace here in Northeast is being ignored. It is not the first time that city politicians held their own meetings to get the feedback that they wanted.

When all these meetings are combine with the way that the zoning was changed for this vacant lot, it seems that the City of Minneapolis' position does not smell like roses. The City of Minneapolis did not respond within the state required sixty days to its own request. Therefore, the request for the zoning change becomes automatic. Mayor Rybak, how does this sound to you? Do we have a breakdown in city admin? Or are we just giving lip service to the old phrase of "I want to represent the people of this great city".

A drive thru also does not follow the Central Avenue Plan of being pedestrian friendly. Councilman Ostrow would not let CVS be built set back from the street because it had to be "pedestrian friendly". Residents were suppose to feel safer walking to CVS. Minneapolis has set a precident here. I know you have fond memories of riding your bike to Porky's. Those days have disappeared. It is no longer safe to let your child ride on Central Ave. Only last week we had a double shooting, with one individual losing his life, within a few blocks of this proposed business.

As an active resident of Northeast Minneapolis, I am asking you to reconsider what the role of your position as Mayor is. You do not wear a crown. Many of my neighbors and I are watching to see what you do. Will you lead by the wishes of the people of this part of the city or lead by your own wishes?

A very concerned citizen


--Neighbors Against Porky's--neighborsagainstporkys@gmail.com