How did the Bloomington City Council mtg about the casino go?

[KitchenWitch]

It happened last night, and I was unable to attend.

[dflprincess]

1. I didn't go either

though I heard on the news that the city council opposes it as do all the state legislators from Bloomington.

I think there were two meetings last night. One staged by Dan Larson and Ann Lenczewski to get input from the voters and another one by the developers who want to expand the MOM and include a casino. One reason I didn't go is Ann's attitude annoys me. She is opposed to all gambling, anywhere (including the Powerball and the existing casinos)and she gets a bit too self righteous for me. I know someone who stopped contributing to her campaigns after Ann made it clear she thought this person was stupid to have gone out to Mystic Lake.

I really don't want a casino at the Sprawl (really, the police have enough to do there now), but what I really object to is the way they're trying to pit the northern Chippewa bands against the metro area Indians.

[KitchenWitch]

2. Thanks for the info.

I knew the state reps were against it, I just was not sure where the council was with it.

[MnFats]

3. I can post more thoroughly later but I've followed this fairly closely

this is going to be a hell of a brawl. the city council doesn't want it, the legislative delegation doesn't want -- that's three DFLers, three Repubs, unusual unanimity -- but the Ghermezians and Pawlenty want it, and the G. Brothers have huge amounts of money backing them.
Their pressers are worded as though the train has left the station..."Construction will begin next year and is expected to be complete in 2007."
they have a $1 billion plan...yeah, with a 'B'....to develop the second phase of the mall, with a performing arts center, an NHL-size hockey rink, hotels, shops, tons and tons of stuff, the schematic drawings make it look like Shangri-la.(by the way, and this is only my speculation, i think they want to get a few NHL Wild games down there in their fabulous new rink....but St. Paul will yelp loudly if they try to make that happen....

more later.
peace and hippie love beads
mf

[dflprincess]

4. I thought Pawlenty said they wouldn't put a casino in any

community that was opposed to it?

One way or another the Sprawl is going to be expanded and the powers that be are all for that, the only question is whether or not the expansion will include a casino.