West metro letters

Lately I have heard a lot of spewing about how the so-called predatory lending practices of mortgage companies are causing many foreclosures on poor, innocent victims. I am sorry, but I knew the amount of my monthly payments, and in the case of ARMs I knew how high my monthly payments could rise for every loan that I have ever received.

As a homeowner, the one factor I never knew was the amount of my property taxes each year. Has a study ever been done not to show how many homeowners have been in foreclosure due to the amount of their mortgage but to see how many people are losing their homes due to the predatory taxing practices of their local governments?

It is amazing how the cities, counties and school districts in this state can just increase property taxes on property owners without any agreement from the property owners. And then when people are losing their property due to these taxes, there is no public outcry about the predatory taxing practices of the local governments.

Yet when a person is foreclosed on because they cannot abide by the terms of a contract they signed, there is a public outcry about the terrible and mean mortgage companies.

I say if mortgage companies are going to be required to renegotiate the terms of a mortgage for people going into foreclosure, then local governments should be required to renegotiate the property taxes of the same innocent victims.

THOMAS DAHL

CARVER

Since gas prices have been unnaturally low (see Europe and their extensive mass transit), further decreasing state revenue, I propose an emergency gas tax on all gas sold below, what, $2.75, bringing it up to $2.75. Thus, folks would be less inclined to believe the energy crisis has miraculously ended (as many I am sure already believe) and the state could use the money to pay the bills. You know, for little things, like paying for education, cops -- well, you get my drift.

C. K. PETERSON

MINNEAPOLIS

Please add my voice to that of Robert J. Gibson (Nov. 28 letter to the editor).

Population growth is at the root of the world's worst problems, so why isn't anyone talking about zero population growth?

Do the various religions that want to increase the numbers of their faith have you scared or what?

HARRY TEDER

EXCELSIOR

You'd think that an inner-city public school with 80 percent low-income students and a racially diverse population (no more than 30 percent of any single race) that makes the federally required Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for all students would be a cause for celebration, wouldn't you?

Apparently not, according to Myron Orfield, executive director of the University of Minnesota's Institute on Race and Poverty, or Star Tribune reporters.

These parents are quite content to decide for themselves which public school works best for their children. We're honored they selected Minneapolis Academy. While we always can improve, we hope legislators and the general public will take a fair look at what we have and are accomplishing.

The Academy parents want safe classrooms, a rigorous curriculum and schools that are grounded in a sense of right and wrong, where children can learn about character and responsibility.

LEON COOPER

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR

MINNEAPOLIS ACADEMY