LIGHT RAIL ON CAMPUS

The U shouldn't be demanding status quo

In his July 27 commentary "Light rail: Sleepless in Minneapolis," Tim Mulcahy of the University of Minnesota wrote: "To establish a win-win scenario we seek engineering that guarantees that the trains will not increase vibrations and electromagnetic interference (EMI) in our laboratories to levels that exceed what exists today, and monitoring systems to ensure that continued operation of the line remains within these standards."

I live in a neighborhood that has airplane traffic. This was not always the case. Do I have a right to demand that noise not exceed the levels of 1950 rather than bow to what is needed for the greater public good?

Some mitigation is indeed necessary. But to ask that the public keep things exactly as they are as far as vibrations and EMI simply isn't reasonable.

It is time for the U to spell out the exact problems and the cost for the mitigation. How much would it cost -- a real number, say a quotation from vendors -- to move the NMR lab to one of the new buildings under construction? What is the possibility that NIH funding could be acquired to move the NMR lab?

Asking for things to stay as they are is simply unreasonable and not economically possible.

This leaves the U open to the appearance of trying to stop the project because it doesn't like the route. Please note I said "appearance."

WILLIAM B. GLEASON, MINNEAPOLIS; UNIVERSITY FACULTY MEMBER

TWINS CORNER

Fans want a winner; will owners ever act?

I went for a walk with my wife Saturday during the Twins game and realized I had forgotten to take my earphone radio so I could listen to the game. I didn't go back to get it because I simply didn't care.

This is what Billy Smith and the Pohlads are facing. Fan indifference is rising. Because team officials never make a trade that can push this team over the top, fans are becoming fatalistic about ever getting to the World Series again.

With the taxpayer-funded stadium, we were promised an upgrade in player payroll, but it was just lip service, and the policy of never making a gutsy trade will always leave the team just short. Even their top players know it!

JOHN LUHTALA, DULUTH

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The Twins need more pitching and a righthanded middle infielder who can hit. How about this: Trade Delmon Young and Brendan Harris for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett?

DICK VIRDEN, PLYMOUTH

A STATE FISCAL SUMMIT

Political ladder climbers need not participate

The July 24 commentary by Tim Penny and Arne Carlson on the budget deficit makes the necessary suggestion that the governor and legislative leaders get together this fall to agree on a plan.

But would it be better if the planners did not include anyone who was focused on running for higher office. Seems like another group could focus on the issues instead of making points in their future plans.

RAY SCHMITZ, ROCHESTER

POLICE OFFICERS AT WORK

If there's no crime, they should de-escalate

I was disappointed in Steve Sack's July 26 editorial cartoon, which portrayed President Obama saying "Stupid Cops." Obama specifically stated that he thought the actions by the Cambridge, Mass., police were stupid. There is a big difference.

As the granddaughter of a long-deceased Chicago police officer, I have some understanding of the stresses and the strains that police face every day, and I am very grateful for the work they do.

However, Prof. Henry Louis Gates was being confronted in his own house after hours of travel and problems with a jammed front door. My guess is he was yelling as loudly and angrily as Sgt. James Crowley would be yelling if the situation were reversed.

It would have been much better if Crowley had defused the situation by letting Gates, a diminutive older man who had not committed any crime, mouth off and even make references to the officer's mother without arresting him. As a matter of fact, disengaging from a rancorous confrontation when no crime has been committed is precisely what police officers are trained to do.

THERESA J. LIPPERT, ST. PAUL

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The first thing to be "learned from the Gates case" and the one not mentioned in your July 28 editorial, is that even if it's your own house that you break into in the middle of the night, call the cops first and tell them what you're doing.

I had to do that once when we lived in a two-story home, waited, and the officer held my wobbly ladder while I climbed through the only window that was open on the upper floor.

FRED E. HAHN, GOLDEN VALLEY