Ongoing Frustrations

I know that we are supposed to use this blog as a tool for class related material but I just can't help the frustration of what is going on in the City of St. Paul.

In a Pioneer Press article on 3/13/2009 (http://tinyurl.com/cy24rx) is what irritates me about working for the government. With the budget the way it is, we should be looking for ways to SAVE money instead of WASTING it. In the article, Mayor Chris Coleman wants t0 build a miniature Xcel Energy Center across the street from the current one. Which is fine, if your a year round hockey person.

But if you're a city employee (or resident for that matter), it upsets you. My only question is: Why are we spending money on things we don't need (hockey arenas) and cutting services we actually need (police, fire, parks, libraries, etc)? To me, it's a waste of money. We don't need a new hockey arena in a budget crisis. Plus the city is still in debt (32.75 million from the state). How can you build a rink when, not only facing a cut for local government aid, and you owe almost $33 million to the state? It's stupid to even think of building a rink. It's the exact equivalent to paying your tuition bill. If you have an outstanding balance on your account, you're blocked from registering for classes until the bill is payed up. It's common sense really. Oy.

Next time you're in the area, visit Palace Recreation Center. Last year they received a grant to build a brand new refrigerated rink. But, in October, they were able to pour concrete to the shape of a hockey rink. Guess what happened afterwards: The City ran out of money to fund it. Now, instead of horseshoe pits (which the community wanted), sits a concrete poured shape of a hockey rink oval. The whole thing sits on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and View Street. Notice I said corner. How about driving through the intersection and a puck flies through one of your windows? Here's the kicker about the whole thing: The community didn't even want the hockey rink. The head honchos in Downtown St. Paul already approved the idea. So the neighborhood wasn't too happy to hear about that.

Just remember: If you have no idea what to spend your money on, just do what Chris Coleman does: Build hockey rinks.

Come to think of it, I guess this DOES have sometime to do with class, since I have pent up frustrations about the City of St. Paul.