From relieving fear in the Northeast community with the solving of rape cases, to giving a beautiful eulogy at an officer's funeral, to keeping open lines of communication in the city where he lives, to lowering the crime rate with innovative policies, Olson has done an excellent job.
Minneapolis needs Chief Bob Olson for another three-year term.
- Walt Dziedzic, former City Council member, Minneapolis.
Energy prices - and supply
My December gas bill from Minnegasco arrived last week. Included in the $277 bill (double my previous highest bill) was the "city franchise fee" of over $10. When I called Reliant Energy Minnegasco to inquire about this fee, I was told this was a city tax.
So while everyone is whining about high gas prices and pointing fingers at each other in an effort to place blame, the city is reaping a huge windfall and exacerbating the homeowners' pain.
This fee was about $5 more than it would have been had gas prices remained at last year's levels. If my bill is average, and I believe it is, then the city reaped about $500,000 extra last month. In fact, it's safe to say the city franchise fee will yield several million dollars more to Minneapolis this winter than last.
By what stretch of logic should the city tax us more for gas this year? When many people are having difficulty paying their gas bills, shouldn't the city make an effort to ease the burden?
- Craig Silberman, Minneapolis.
The price of natural gas is skyrocketing, making it difficult for many of us to pay our heating bills. At the same time, President Clinton has taken serious steps to preserve some of the last remaining wilderness in the United States. It would not surprise me to learn that the producers of natural gas have artificially raised the price in hopes that the same citizens who petitioned outgoing Clinton to protect the arctic wilderness from drilling will now clamor for incoming President George W. Bush to reopen that wilderness and send in the drilling rigs.
It is difficult for the average citizen to influence the internal dealings of big business, particularly the oil industry upon which we are so dependent. But we are not entirely powerless. There is something fairly simple we can do to preserve some wilderness for our children and their children. We can reduce our need for finite resources by driving a little less and a little slower, lowering our house heat by a few degrees, and cutting back on the amount of electricity we use at home. We can make a difference!
- Naomi Jackson, Minneapolis.
In 1994 I listened to the Prairie Island nuclear waste storage debate in the state House of Representatives. Weeks later, after the debates, committee hearings and votes were complete, Rep. Phyllis Kahn rose to address the House members and announced that, after analyzing how the members voted, "if 50 percent of House members were female, the bill would have been defeated." The plant would eventually have to shut down.
Your Jan. 7 editorial "Power shortage" said California's power grid is about to blow a fuse. Government continues to regulate utilities and influence decisions to provide adequate power supplies. People in government who think like Kahn and groups that oppose the electric utility industry's decision to build power plants must look back and ask themselves if their ideas and votes may be one reason for the "power shortages."
Are the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Commerce Department and legislators the right people to make energy supply decisions? Years ago there was no government regulation or a Public Utility Commission. Electricity was cheaper and so was natural gas. When the government entered the utility arena, it said we need competition and enacted regulation that made it very expensive and difficult to build more power plants or transmission systems (California's major problem). These experts also said conservation and renewable energy systems were the way to go.
- Tom Corbett, Centuria, Wis.
Clinton's classless comments
As a middle-aged American, and reasonable student of politics and current events, I have a vivid memory and appreciation of the long-standing tradition of class and professionalism from our outgoing presidents as they welcome in a new administration - whether a contiguous dogma or not. President Clinton's sophomoric and misguided comments last week in Chicago regarding the legitimacy of George W. Bush's victory, while typical of his eight years in office, are a disgrace when measured against the maturity and tradition-bound ethics of past presidents, Republican and Democrat.
I urge my fellow Americans to block this conduct from their minds and look forward to a return of dignity to the White House whether or not they support Bush.
- Rick Borg, Edina.
Vikings fans
Randy Moss does not think the Vikings are able to win a Super Bowl in Minnesota, so he begins thinking of going elsewhere (Star Tribune, Feb. 15). In my book, this is called quitting and one who does so, a "quitter." I believe we Viking fans deserve much better.
I understand that a defeat such as this is extremely hard to swallow; it has broken fans' hearts also. But to castigate Minnesota is disgraceful. We fans have been subjected to Vikings losses for more years than Moss has been alive. Without us there would be no Minnesota Vikings. We are the Minnesota Vikings!
- Michelle Root, Frazee, Minn.
Before the season began, I was telling friends and coworkers that the Vikings would be lucky to go six wins and 10 losses. I thought they'd be really weak in the defensive backfield and that any good quarterback would tear them apart. Imagine my surprise when this team won the Central Division and went to the NFC Championship game.
Yes, I was I disappointed they were blown out. But I want to thank the Vikings for a wonderful season. I hope they continue to improve by focusing on their defensive weakness in the off-season and come back even stronger next year.
- Roy Carlton, Burnsville.
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