True North

3 Metro Counties took up the Joint Powers Agreement and Transit Sales Tax Increase today. 

Ramsey County - passed 6 to 1 - Tony Bennett was the lone no vote. I’ve had numerous conversations with him about this, and I am thrilled to see him come around to my way of thinking on this one.

Anoka County - passed  5 to 2 - Robyn West & Rhonda Sivarajah were the 2 nays. As suspected, the good old boys network doesn’t give a rip about the citizens. They refused any public commentary, and sold out the Anoka County citizens today. I did a liveblog of the meeting which can be found here.

Carver County - defeated 5 to 0 - Unanimously voted against the tax increase and joining the Joint Power bureaucracy. I heard some great audio clips on the radio from the Commissioners.

Thank you to the brave 8 who tried to make up for the 6 (R)epublicans in the MN House who allowed this travesty in Democracy happen in the first place.

One of them, Rep. Jim Abler, was at the Anoka meeting and he sat behind me for portions of the meeting. I could hear him bragging to someone in the audience about the grand compromizes they made to get the bill through. Unfortunately, he wasn’t looking out for the taxpayers or citizens. Shame on you Jim! You should the right thing and retire just like Tinglestad. I’m sure all those businesses you say are supporting you could give you a nice fat salary to thank you properly for throwing the citizens under the train.

It was a travesty in Democracy today in Anoka. We will be sold under the train tracks that all lead to Hennepin County. Anoka’s board gave away the power to decide for itself, the future of the county’s transportation. They have now handed over the keys to the County to the Met Council and Hennepin County.

I was interviewed by Bob Collins of MPR and will try to get a link to the audio if and when it becomes available. Since the board did not allow any public input, I was the lone voice of the people there today.