Readers Write for Tuesday, Feb. 16

Bob Fine's Feb. 15 counterpoint suggests the Star Tribune Feb. 7 editorial, "Good start for new board," "contained false and misleading information." The same could be said of his counterpoint.

Fine states that "the minority walked out in objection, but had no alternative suggestion." In fact, the minority, of which I was a part, proposed that we go back to the five semifinalists, and we had received an indication that some were still interested in the position.

Fine also said that "members of a minority on the board made statements that caused both finalists to leave." That seems to be a perception on his part. There is no evidence that it was the case.

VIVIAN MASON, MINNEAPOLIS;

MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD COMMISSIONER, 1997-2005

Regarding the Feb. 10 article "Northeast braces for life without a fancy water fountain": It's simply a fact to say that the basic needs of life -- home, food, clothing, medical care, warmth -- are necessary before a human being can appreciate art.

Art is a good and healthy part of life, but only if one has the above needs met. Can't relish art if you're homeless, starving, freezing or sick, can you? Human needs come before art, especially when public funding is involved.

MINNEAPOLIS

During the Bush administration, Vice President Dick Cheney showed great disdain for anyone outside the administration questioning its national security policies and procedures. At the time he claimed that only those within the inner circle of national intelligence had the knowledge and understanding to make such judgments.

Fair enough. Now that he is outside the circle, he should heed his own advice.

ROBERT W. CARLSON, PLYMOUTH

Where is the Star Tribune's coverage of the State Dance Team tournament? All I could find in Sunday's paper was a single photo with a caption, which gave very little information. One piece of information in the caption was interesting: Apparently, 49 teams competed in this statewide tournament this weekend.

No one who has ever seen these teams merely practice, let alone compete, would doubt their dedication, hard work or athleticism. Yet a statewide tournament in one of Minnesota's premier sports venues involving hundreds of athletes and thousands of fans merits no coverage in the state's largest newspaper?

Maybe all your reporters were too busy stalking Brett Favre?

ROB EPLER, RICHFIELD

It's interesting how one's initial reaction to hearing the news about PolyMet seems to be one of excitement and joy -- at last, jobs for Minnesotans! The Star Tribune's Feb. 14 editorial, "Don't let new law slow PolyMet," would make it seem that anyone objecting to PolyMet's plans would have to be nuts not to be overjoyed about this.

At first hearing about PolyMet, I, too, thought mining jobs in Minnesota sounded pretty good. But before Minnesotans make up their minds, I would suggest they take a serious look at this issue by Googling "PolyMet" and look at the environmental effects this and other similar projects would have on our state.

•6,700 acres of pristine/Indian treaty land that is host to many of this state's endangered species will be destroyed, setting a precedent for dozens of other copper strip sulfide mining operations to open up all over the state.

•There is no proven technology that will prevent the leaching of sulfuric acid and mercury, along with other hazardous byproducts, into the ecosystem.

•The copper, nickel and palladium will not result in electronic- or manufacturing-related jobs in this country. The minerals will be exported to the Asian markets, where labor is dirt cheap.

•The wastewater overflow from the operation will go directly into the Partridge River and will likely contaminate surrounding aquifers and wells.

The list could go on; I simply want to ask Minnesotans who just voted for a clean water protection bill in the last statewide election why they would consider it a positive attribute to have literally thousands of years of environmental pollution for a small sector of the population that possibly may have two to three decades of low-paying jobs while the land they live on is threatened with contamination and environmental destruction.