Readers write for May 20, 2010

As both a city taxpayer and Minneapolis Police Relief Association retiree, I can see both sides to the recent decision ordering MPRA retirees to return overpayments in their pensions ("Judge orders pension giveback," May 19).

It requires two of my full monthly pension checks to pay my city property taxes. In Minneapolis, we are the kind of taxpayers who always vote for school referendums. We don't mind paying to do the right thing. I fear my fellow city taxpayers may view MPRA retirees as hogs at the trough. That is far from reality. In truth, the order to repay will be devastating to many older retirees who can no longer work.

The MPRA is far less generous than the Public Employees Retirement Association system of police and fire pensions. PERA is more on a par with pensions nationally. For many years MPRA was a very good deal for the city. It contributed to our pension only up to 25 years of service. Each year beyond that was a bonus for the city. I served three additional years without improving my pension benefit. For PERA officers, the city contributes for their entire career.

A number of us worked for five years with city elected officials to seek a legislative solution. We received genuine sympathy, but it never rose to the top of the city's legislative agenda.

Current city elected officials have suggested that retirees direct their ire toward MPRA board officers. I do think they share responsibility. For years they have confidently instructed retirees, especially the older ones who placed great trust in them, that their position was ironclad. Evidently, it was not. Those representations may now visit great hardship on retirees.

This decision, if it stands, will hurt my family, but we have time to work through it. That is not true for all retirees. I urge elected officials to continue to work for a solution that does not devastate the most vulnerable among us.

GREG HESTNESS, RETIRED DEPUTY CHIEF, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Nurses also receive training above the level of the average worker for job responsibilities and stresses that I have observed are often above those of the average worker.

Consider, too, that this complaint is signed by people with annual salaries up to 20 times above the level of the average worker.

MATHEW SWORA, MINNEAPOLIS

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What does it mean when the presidents and CEOs of the hospitals involved in the nurses contract negotiations are all male (Allina, Fairview, Children's, HealthEast, North Memorial, Park Nicollet) while the nurses working in these hospitals are mostly women? I'm just saying ...

The online story "Vikes 'extremely disappointed' in stadium progress" (May 19) refers to the recently completed legislative session. We were assured that this would be the last year the Vikings would come begging for money from the taxpayers. Lester Bagley gave everyone the impression that the stadium was a done deal and the approvals were mere formalities.

In the end the Vikings got their opportunity to present their case to the legislators, and that's all the team was entitled to. It was effectively hooted out of the committee meetings, and there's little reason to hope for a warmer reception next year.

The team should now keep its promise and look for whatever greener pastures are out there. That may be California, Mississippi or some other area that is willing to bow to its demands. Those pastures must surely exist, since we've been hearing all about them for more than a year. The team may also want to consider North or South Dakota or Alaska or possibly Wyoming, since those states are currently running a surplus and may be looking for ways to spend it.

But if it should turn out that opportunities are not abounding out there in our deficit-ridden nation, team leaders might consider an alternative approach of negotiating, say, a three- to five-year extension on their current lease in hopes that both the economy and their bargaining position get a bit better. During that time they can sell seat licenses and jerseys or even have bake sales if it moves them closer to their dream of a new facility.

They're welcome to do anything but put us through another year of angst. We have more-pressing problems to deal with.

Your story reminded me of how unfair the NBA's draft lottery is ("Timberwolves slip to No. 4 -- now," May 19). When NBA executives next meet, they should discuss either changing or even eliminating the draft lottery. I feel like starting an anti-draft-lottery petition.

DAN WICHT, FRIDLEY

Your headline about the Twins-Blue Jays game ("Morneau has hot bat up north," May 18) might lead some to believe that Toronto is north of the Twin Cities. In fact, Toronto lies about 100 miles to our south, nearly even with the Minnesota-Iowa border. Maybe that's why Morneau's bat was hot!