6.0. HRSR 10-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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To the Elk River City Council and to whom it may concern: lUlr 2. �� I want you to know that I and 500 other people oppose the downtown renewal project proposals. We don't have to go to the Malls now for purchases we can get right downtown in Historic Elk River. A I 1 1 bakery /L best 14 1,..1 I 2 t1 /11 1�.....r....l. I 3 1 meat 1 No. the bakery (the best in the state); No. 2 Daddy v s restaurant; No. 3 the meat market. •of these stores have had their fronts given a new look. i see no reason to put them out of business, besides we need the extra parking behind the stores. We need all of the existing shops (beauty parlors, gift shops, barber, office bldgs., banks, the Jackson Avenue stores, laundromats, Champion Auto, etc.) We have 2 very attractive murals and could use a couple more. The talk of the river walk is preposterous. We already have one beautiful park across from the United Power, ruined by drugies and gay people, patrolled by the city police. We used to have a picnic area in the park. It was cool on a hot day. I lived in an upstairs apartment with no air conditioning so when I came home from work we would load up a picnic lunch and head for the park, a very refreshing breeze off the river. For 4th of July picnics, we need to get reservations for picnic tables. There are four picnic tables left and the restrooms have been vandalized. Now, new people have come to Elk River and they seem to know what Elk River needs. Like one lady said, the drug people have got to be someplace. I say not at the expense of the old timers. It has been predicted by the state that Elk River is a targeted crime area. The shootings will be next for police too. The movie theatre parking lot is not safe, none of the parking lots are safe at night or for ladies alone. Purses have been stolen, windows broken. It's in the police reports. Now back to the river. It will be dangerous and destructive too. I just returned from a visit with the senior citizens of this city and they saw no reason to disturb the downtown area. They like it the way it is. One person said when she worked in an office 20 years ago, looking out their office toward the river, there was drug dealing going on then. There was a well beaten path going across the old fairgrounds, toward the mouth of the Elk River where it joins the Mississippi. Motorcycles were using it from ,ceton, trespassing on the Bailey property. It was scary. No one wanted to be out at night. At the end o the mortuary parking lot, Dare's had erected steps for the residents who lived down there.They were destroyed by the youths so everyone was scared to go out at night. Residents on the river bank should be able to enjoy the river. Low income people live in the Guardian Angels apartments. They should be allowed to remain there in affordable housing. I attended one of the planning meetings and if I ever saw a snow job that was it. I have it figured out that only the newcomers to the city are pushing for the removal of the downtown. Proof of this is demon- strated further by the one running for council against John Dietz and Paul Motin is also a preacher. I asked one of them where they were when we were voting for the school bonds. If they don't like it here as is, why don't they go back where they came from and quit putting a financial burden on the rest of us. The paper is full of foreclosure notices. They are living beyond their means. I was talking with some- one from California and there are people out there that haven't had work for two years. She herself had been laid off in February and she said it is coming this way. That is where a lot of drugs are coming from because there are a lot of people buying them and all of the killings in Minneapolis are drug relat- ed. Have you ever looked into the eyes of a young person who had fried brains from drugs? They can no longer hold a job. A friend of mine (hwy. engineer) lost his only son to a drug overdose. Have you ever seen a young person who was sniffing glue. They are weird and don't know who they are. I have had 45 years of experience in the courts. Been on trials where drug people have come out to � bu drugs and because the man had made a decision to turn his life around and get out of the drug iness, they tortured him and set his body on fire several times and eventually he burned to death. Leave the drugs alone. You will either wind up in prison or dead. Keep our town free from trash. Let's keep our downtown historic!! The only people to benefit from this renewal are the planners and those trying to get the contract. I'm sure the police don't need the added responsibility. A7-i—eR-z7-----