ICE RINKS

Gender equity required under Minnesota law

In reading about the conflict between different groups for ice time at Braemar Arena in Edina, I didn't see any reference to the state law governing an underrepresented gender ("Seeking to cool dispute, Edina gives hockey more ice time," Aug. 7).

The law — MS 15.98 — reads in part: "If the arena provides more prime ice time to groups of one gender than to groups of the other gender, the arena may not deny a request for prime ice time from the group of the underrepresented gender, provided that the group of the underrepresented gender pays the same price charged to groups of the other gender."

This was enacted when girls and women were just starting to play hockey. I am sure that there are lots of girls playing hockey in Edina now, but this bit of state law should be part of the discussion.

State Rep. PHYLLIS KAHN, DFL-Minneapolis
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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Column inspired but didn't paint full picture

As one who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), I feel that Lori Sturdevant's column on Mary Lahammer left the reader with an overly positive view ("Lessons of a harsh teacher," Aug. 4). I'm glad that Lahammer's experience has been manageable, but there are many for whom that is not true.

MS is unpredictable, and anyone living with it (or with a loved one suffering from it) needs to become accustomed to the idea that the afflicted person may wake up tomorrow and be unable to walk, unable to control their bladder, unable to use an appendage, or be debilitated by depression, fatigue or pain. The list goes on.

Death (or not) is not the best measure of success or failure of control of a chronic disease. Quality of life is a huge issue. It is true that there are better tools available today than in the past, but we've still a long way to go.

ELIZABETH L. HENDERSON, St. Paul

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My wife Pam was diagnosed 21 years ago with relapsing-remitting MS. That's just one form of this insidious disease. Just to be clear, MS is serious and incurable. Someday, Pam will die from complications of it — unless we find a cure. I do the MS Walk and all the Bike MS events, and I volunteer for the Muck Ruckus, and every time we hold an event I learn that someone we know with MS is dying, or dead. That said, our approach has to remain positive and hopeful.

TOM EMISON, Minneapolis

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My adult son Mark had his first MS attack 19 to 20 years ago. Within a few years, it was diagnosed as permanent and progressive. Shortly thereafter, he became unemployable, and hasn't worked since then. Today, he rarely leaves his apartment. A doctor's visit exhausts him for several days. The public shouldn't be confused by stories such as Lahammer's.

EDWARD J. SCHWARTZBAUER, Edina
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MET COUNCIL

Katherine Kersten aimed and missed

Kersten is wrong to suggest that the Met Council's regional planning for the Twin Cities area is a government plot to create zombielike cities ("Sticking it to the suburbs: It's all planned," Aug. 4). It's sensible planning for the future and addresses many needs, including the fact many people want to move back to the cities. They are not being forced into anything.

My sister and I own rental property in St. Paul, and tenants want to be close to work, school, a bustling night life, mass transit and all the amenities cities offer. Developers are building condos and apartment complexes, many of them luxury units, in the Twin Cities because the demand is there. I applaud the Met Council for stepping up to the plate to plan for the future of our great metropolitan centers.

SUE ROHLAND, St. Paul

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Kersten ignores the simple reality that "white flight" spawned the failed economic experiment of the suburban lifestyle. It must be particularly vexing for these panic-stricken conservatives that their own offspring recognize the illusion of a fulfilling suburban life and are flocking to the cities. Why should the balance of the region subsidize a self-inflicted, fear-based and obsolete lifestyle choice?

J. KURT SCHRECK, Minneapolis

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Our 3 million metro residents are about to be forced into high-density urban apartments and condos, relying almost entirely on bicycles, streetcars and trains to manage our lives. Wake up to the new urban realities, folks. Our leftist, urban progressives are about to spend nearly $2 billion on a silly train that no one wants traversing their neighborhoods; a train that few will ride and metro taxpayers will have to subsidize forever.

If you don't start voicing your objections to their hijacking the way of life the vast majority of us have chosen, they will prevail. Welcome to your 1,500-square-foot condo somewhere near a train you never want to use and a lifestyle totally foreign to what so many of us strive for. Do your homework. Speak out. Demand a future that makes sense for you and your children.

MARK H. REED, Plymouth

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Beware of bulls

If one can wreak havoc, let's not run with a herd

I hope people who were thinking of running with the bulls next year at the proposed event in Shakopee will look very closely at the incident at the Dakota County Fair that injured nine fairgoers ("Owner of bull that injured 9 has it put down," Aug. 9). If one bull can do that much harm, just imagine the damage a herd of bulls can do.

WILLIAM CORY LABOVITCH, South St. Paul