Letters

Don't subsidize the car culture

The Legislature's proposal to spend $200 million in taxpayer money to build another parking ramp for the privately owned Mall of America is a bad idea. We don't need a large subsidy for driving at a time when we should be investing in ways to make it possible for people to drive less.

Taxpayer dollars should go to support transportation for the future -- light rail, regional rail, expanded bus service, bike trails, bike lanes, more sidewalks and car sharing. Those investments will help Minnesota meet its climate change goals, better serve an aging population and provide alternatives to high gas prices.

If the Twin Cities region needs an economic development stimulus at a time of recession, let's fund the Central Corridor, our region's first streetcar line or the next Midtown Greenway bike/ped trail. Over 7,000 housing units have been built along Hiawatha light rail. The Midtown Greenway bike and pedestrian corridor is transforming that sector of south Minneapolis. Portland, Oregon's city-owned streetcar line, which cost $100 million, has stimulated $2.4 billion in new development.

Those are the kind of transportation and economic development investments that this region needs -- not more subsidized parking at the Mall of America.

BARB THOMAN

ST. PAUL

Can proponents of megamall subsidies prove that it will provide a net gain in jobs, other than those working on building the project, or will we just have a shift in jobs to Bloomington from downtown, Edina, Minnetonka, etc., where retail will sag because of business lost to the subsidized megamall? Of course, the head of the trade union wants it. Principles aside, the mall already got a light rail line, siphoning retail business from downtown. St. Paul and the U of M don't even have that yet. You get what you pay for. I say no.

CHERIE RIESENBERG

ST. PAUL

I wanted to say the way Robin Williams tickets were handled was completely horrible. Reminiscent of the Hannah Montana fiasco, my wife was late two hours to work because she was trying to buy them online and calling into the comedy club, only to hear the voicemail box was full and the line was busy. With such a large headliner coming to town, there should have been a completely different way of setting this up compared to the usual acts coming to Acme. With the various venues that are available in the Twin Cities metro, he chose the one place that doesn't know how to handle a large headliner. One of the greatest comedians of all time and thousands of people are left in the cold because of horrible customer service and planning. Thanks a lot, Acme.

DANIEL STOWE

OAKDALE

Our household recently received a letter from Driver and Vehicle Services reminding us to register our vehicle. Tucked inside the envelope was an advertisement for a Discover Card. Why is the state of Minnesota pushing credit cards to its citizens? It is inappropriate for the state to use its knowledge of our personal information to allow the credit card companies to piggyback in letters of official state business. If I want a credit card, I'll get one myself.

M. MCCALL

ST. PAUL