In this conversation with Star Tribune columnist Eric Roper, we discuss the long road back for Minneapolis, and why the city's leaders need to show greater urgency
I largely agree with Roper on most things he writes about, but I believe he is wrong about HERC. Blaming I-94 is the County's convenient distraction (it also happens to be the DSA's main organizing project, because a few key DSA members are anti-car "urbanists", a topic that especially commissioners Greene and Conley are supporting, and Roper as an urbanist himself likely is sympathetic to).
There's also a difference between the pollution from highway traffic versus burning plastics and other materials found in common trash. Both are bad, but burning trash produces especially nasty stuff.
Various states have banned incinerators. HERC was supposed to have closed in 2009, and its standards are not the same as European trash burners.
It's hard to trust the County after how badly it has handled other issues, namely light rail alignment choices (the County, not the Met Council, chose the route for the SW light rail and also the blue line extension), and also how poorly it has managed HCMC.
This article does a good job explaining why Roper is wrong on HERC:
"To add insult to injury, HERC tracks only three pollutants continuously. Everything else — dioxins, metals, particulate matter — is tested once a year by the facility’s contractor. Research on incinerator emissions shows dioxin emissions can run dozens to hundreds of times higher than annual tests capture after breakdown, startup or shutdown for maintenance.
"And the HERC permits that Roper lauds were found in 2008 by federal court to be improper under the Clean Air Act. The EPA’s proposed new regulations in 2024 would likely have resulted in HERC exceeding compliance for several major pollutants."
On another topic I've been meaning to comment on your observation that Soren is unabashedly pro union and pro environment. The implication seems to be that those who aren't socialists are anti union and environment ? And the dsa position seems to be that if you're pro union you're anti business, not noticing that workers need jobs. My father was a union lawyer and both the workers and management highly respected him.
I didn't take the time to the video. But I did read your summary. I was very surprised by the last conclusion that the progressives on the cc have a clear agenda and the moderates are just playing defense. Yes. A clear agenda, with, in my opinion, many negative consequences and often having little to do with the needs of our city. The moderates are responding with some reasonable solutions in my opinion. The Trump administration likewise has a clear and often destructive agenda.
Yes, I think what has been forwarded by the council, such as bathhouses, have taken people by surprise and put them on the defensive. People end up having to justify why they’re opposed to an idea when they hadn’t anticipated it even being part of the conversation.
"Frey is NOT the problem, all eligible VOTERS are, for allowing this counter productive group onto the council, this destructive DSA aligned voting BLOCK that is much more interested in carrying out their anti capitalism, anti police, and anti Frey agenda...with everything they do, rather than paying attention to their job description.
After this group strategically gathered up CM Osman, and made him V Pres, in order to get to the 7 for their majority position, we have lost TIME, week after week, along with those valuable, ( and limited) staff resources that are required to make the strides that are necessary for Mpls.
Without a RECALL function available to voters, we need one OR two of them to just GO, to find another gig, like CM Elllison finally did."
I don't like the idea of using TIF-- taking money away from schools and public works-- to provide upgrades that landlords could finance themselves. It would be a payday for the corporations at the expense of residents on something that isn't a sure bet.
Great interview. Eric is a wonderful local columnist - I appreciate that the StarTribune supports this role.
I largely agree with Roper on most things he writes about, but I believe he is wrong about HERC. Blaming I-94 is the County's convenient distraction (it also happens to be the DSA's main organizing project, because a few key DSA members are anti-car "urbanists", a topic that especially commissioners Greene and Conley are supporting, and Roper as an urbanist himself likely is sympathetic to).
There's also a difference between the pollution from highway traffic versus burning plastics and other materials found in common trash. Both are bad, but burning trash produces especially nasty stuff.
Various states have banned incinerators. HERC was supposed to have closed in 2009, and its standards are not the same as European trash burners.
It's hard to trust the County after how badly it has handled other issues, namely light rail alignment choices (the County, not the Met Council, chose the route for the SW light rail and also the blue line extension), and also how poorly it has managed HCMC.
This article does a good job explaining why Roper is wrong on HERC:
https://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-heres-whats-missing-in-the-debate-over-hennepin-countys-garbage-burner/601786494
"To add insult to injury, HERC tracks only three pollutants continuously. Everything else — dioxins, metals, particulate matter — is tested once a year by the facility’s contractor. Research on incinerator emissions shows dioxin emissions can run dozens to hundreds of times higher than annual tests capture after breakdown, startup or shutdown for maintenance.
"And the HERC permits that Roper lauds were found in 2008 by federal court to be improper under the Clean Air Act. The EPA’s proposed new regulations in 2024 would likely have resulted in HERC exceeding compliance for several major pollutants."
Excellent response. Thank you for sending this information.
On another topic I've been meaning to comment on your observation that Soren is unabashedly pro union and pro environment. The implication seems to be that those who aren't socialists are anti union and environment ? And the dsa position seems to be that if you're pro union you're anti business, not noticing that workers need jobs. My father was a union lawyer and both the workers and management highly respected him.
Thanks for pointing out this distinction. I will need to think about it more.
I didn't take the time to the video. But I did read your summary. I was very surprised by the last conclusion that the progressives on the cc have a clear agenda and the moderates are just playing defense. Yes. A clear agenda, with, in my opinion, many negative consequences and often having little to do with the needs of our city. The moderates are responding with some reasonable solutions in my opinion. The Trump administration likewise has a clear and often destructive agenda.
Yes, I think what has been forwarded by the council, such as bathhouses, have taken people by surprise and put them on the defensive. People end up having to justify why they’re opposed to an idea when they hadn’t anticipated it even being part of the conversation.
Great interview. Thank you.
Roper is a busy guy...
https://www.startribune.com/jacob-frey-mayor-minneapolis-vision-state-of-the-city/601792303?utm_source=gift_email
Comment I put up on the Strib piece..
"Frey is NOT the problem, all eligible VOTERS are, for allowing this counter productive group onto the council, this destructive DSA aligned voting BLOCK that is much more interested in carrying out their anti capitalism, anti police, and anti Frey agenda...with everything they do, rather than paying attention to their job description.
After this group strategically gathered up CM Osman, and made him V Pres, in order to get to the 7 for their majority position, we have lost TIME, week after week, along with those valuable, ( and limited) staff resources that are required to make the strides that are necessary for Mpls.
Without a RECALL function available to voters, we need one OR two of them to just GO, to find another gig, like CM Elllison finally did."
I don't like the idea of using TIF-- taking money away from schools and public works-- to provide upgrades that landlords could finance themselves. It would be a payday for the corporations at the expense of residents on something that isn't a sure bet.