Letters to the editor for Monday, May 12

USING PEAVEY PLAZA

It's a happening place

As the vice president of events and marketing for the Minneapolis Downtown Council, I was pleased to read the May 8 letter describing Peavey Plaza as a great downtown place, but surprised to see it characterized as home only to Sommerfest. The Downtown Council programs dozens of public events there in June alone, so great outdoor fun is just around the corner. Along with our partners and sponsors, I'm writing to invite everyone to enjoy the many first-class community events that call Peavey Plaza home.

Enjoy the lush urban oasis at the following events produced by the Minneapolis Downtown Council: Tunes at Noon (weekdays in June from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and the 24th Annual Alive After 5 Concert Series (weekdays in June from 5 to 9 p.m.) are opportunities to take in free music and the energy of our city's core on a warm summer day.

In addition to these two great outdoor concert series, Peavey Plaza is home to the Famous Dave's Blues Festival (June 7), Great River Energy Bike Race (June 13) and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival (June 27 to 29). Peavey Plaza is a beautiful urban plaza and a fine example of modern landscape design, and I am pleased that more than 250,000 people come out to enjoy its picturesque setting during our events.

For the many people who work, shop, eat, worship and live in Minneapolis, thank you for your continued support of our events at Peavey Plaza. For those who have not yet attended one of our events at Peavey Plaza, I look forward to seeing you this summer!

LEAH WONG, MINNEAPOLIS

FAIR ISAAC

Protecting consumers

You missed the mark in your May 7 editorial about health care bill S.F. 3132 ("Examine patients first, credit second"). Where is your outrage over the $30 billion in medical bills that go unpaid in the United States each year -- an enormous hidden health-care tax that each of us ends up paying? When patients who have the means to pay their medical bills after treatment instead duck their obligations, hospitals and health care providers are forced to raise rates or shut down operations.

In response to this very real problem, Fair Isaac is working with responsible health care partners to develop tools that hospitals can use to efficiently manage and collect overdue payments after treatment has been rendered. Our collective goal should be to slow rapidly rising health care costs and deliver a better patient experience.

DR. MARK GREENE, SAN FRANCISCO;

CEO, FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION

wright county

More boom than bust

The articles written about the housing foreclosures in Wright County ("From boom to bust," April 20-22) failed to present a balanced viewpoint by ignoring another side of the economy.

Why were all the businesses that are doing well in Wright County not mentioned? Expansions have recently occurred for manufacturers in Annandale, Cokato and St. Michael, and more are being planned for manufacturers in Howard Lake and Monticello. Other expansions occurring with several manufacturers do not include building expansion, but will include product and/ or workforce expansions.

In addition, there is a new jail being built in Buffalo, an addition to the hospital clinic in Monticello and a new Fleet Farm retail center in Monticello. Two new restaurants and two new bank buildings are being planned for Otsego, as well a new bank building in Monticello.

Meanwhile, a new community center is being planned for St. Michael. Some other new businesses that are looking to move into or start up in Wright County include a corrugated plastic pipe manufacturer, an environmental concrete wet-waste handling business that will employ up to 40 people in two years, and a natural pet and human skin and teeth treatment and food supplement business. These are just some of the many projects that are occurring in Wright County, which has a healthy economy overall.

While the current distressed housing industry and market is worrisome and has caused some decay in consumer confidence, this is certainly not the general profile of our economy. The housing and auto industries only make up 7 percent of our gross domestic product. The other 93 percent of our economy is doing fine. With the declining value in the dollar, not only are U.S. and Minnesota manufacturers experiencing increased demand for their products, but, for the first time in 20 years, we are experiencing a positive foreign balance of trade. This market correction is not only a necessary part of a free market society, but already there are some very positive signs of the much-needed correction.

Bottom line is 95 percent of us have good jobs. This is hardly the profile for a despairing economy that the foreclosed housing market story promotes.

NOEL LABINE. ROCKFORD;

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WRIGHT COUNTY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

voter ids

A necessary step

Rep. Keith Ellison must be living in another world ("High court deals blow to voting rights," May 6). You need a picture ID to buy cigarettes at Super America. You need a picture ID to buy beer or wine at MGM Liquor. You need a picture ID to visit your granddaughter in Canada. I needed a picture ID to apply for a job. If Ellison thinks it's unfair to require a picture ID to vote, then he should introduce a bill giving free picture IDs for all who don't have them.

JIM NEVISON, FRIDLEY