Bill Hosko Supports Eva 4 St.paul Mayor

P.14

As Mayor, Eva will lift the bureaucratic rock off this special city and close the book on Chris Coleman’s disrespectful behavior, unending exaggerations and misinformation. *

*

*



Saint Paul is a special place. Some of our neighborhoods are extraordinary, but all Saint Paul neighborhoods should be such in their own way. Our downtown’s struggles can be overcome and our downtown area waterfront can yet become a magnificent resource that attracts people from around the nation. And lastly, Saint Paul’s financial house can be put in order as well. But only with a leader who truly embraces honesty and high standards.

ǀĂΘŚƵƐďĂŶĚŽď Remember: 82% of eligible voters did not elect Chris Coleman mayor. Don’t stay home on Election Day as he wants you to, Go out and make history - throw the Emperor out! ŚƌŝƐΘĂǀĞ Share this communication, and encourage your neighbors and anyone who calls Saint Paul home to Vote on Election Day!

Bring not a breath, but a gust of fresh air to our fair city…

With your vote for Eva - Mayor of Saint Paul Let’s bring sincerity back to City Hall. Thank you so much for your time and concern. Sincerely Yours,

%LOO+RVNR For voting information please phone 651-266-2171 Or visit { HYPERLINK

"http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/elections/maps.htm" }

Coming this week on { HYPERLINK

Hosko says let’s roll!

P.13

In Summary: We need Eva as Mayor! Saint Paul cannot afford four more years of Chris’ leadership. As ‘An Emperor with no Clothes’ he ignores reality and blames others or the recent economic downturn for his failures: His unwillingness over the years to truthfully acknowledge and tackle problems within our: neighborhoods, public transportation system, riverfront redevelopment plans, downtown business and retail environment, is now catching up with him and costing Saint Paul greatly. He blames past mayors; Kelly and Coleman, for bad budget policies that he supported while a councilmember. He blames Governor Pawlenty for implementing “devastating” state aid cuts which have actually represented a small percentage of our city’s budgets. Other communities have to live within their means. Chris won’t understand Saint Paul needs to as well. Instead he runs around the state on his “Misery Tour” which was a stunt to raise his profile in case he pursued his fantasy run for governor. Chris’ campaign literature claims he is “Bringing everyone to the table – Chris Coleman has made sure that neighbors, businesses and workers have a seat at the table for an honest discussion about our values. In doing so, he’s created a new culture of respect in our city & changed the way St. Paul does business.” His record has been very much a different picture - his unending hypocrisy is breathtaking. The “culture” he has nurtured has dismissed critical thinking and dissension on many occasions. Common sense has been ignored on many occasions. The organizations and yes people he surrounds himself with he uses to protect and defend himself politically. Chris’ supporters have dismissed Eva’s candidacy because of her lack of elected experience. Eva’s elected experience equals that of Paul Wellstone, Norm Coleman and Al Franken and countless others when they first took office. And now Chris pats himself on the back for not running for governor after all, and for deciding three weeks before the next mayoral election that (per the Pioneer Press) “Saint Paul comes first”. Unbelievable! Chris somehow believes Saint Paul has no self-esteem that he has this race in the bag, and that Saint Paul is at his feet. His behavior clearly shows he has Narcissistic Personality Disorder: 1. He has a grandiose sense of self-importance. 2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power and brilliance. 3. Believes he is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, people (or institutions) who are also "special". 4. Requires excessive admiration. 5. Has a sense of entitlement. 6. Is interpersonally exploitative. 7. Lacks empathy. 8. Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him. 9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes. There is no cure.

P.12 22. In July 2009 Chris supported a new ordinance taxing citizens for public art they will not be allowed to approve of before it is installed on public property. At the time I wrote a letter to the city council and distributed copies prior to their council meeting on July 22, 2009. In part it read: “…the majority of people in this city are not involved in the public art selection process as they should be… After my comments before you last week a group of east side homeowners contacted me to show me another example of public art which does not enhance this city. This mural, on the Arlington Recreation Center, glorifies graffiti and degrades the east side. Mayor Coleman, supportive of it, says this was a “collaborative” effort which allowed kids to “express” themselves (reality: no kids thought it up, thoughtless people did). I ask you, can you in good conscience say the poor examples of public art I have shown you today uplift this city and would be welcomed in your neighborhood? Again, the system for placing public art in Saint Paul is broken. Again, please consider the involvement of the people of Saint Paul, as I have suggested above, before giving your support to this ordinance.”

The city council passed the ordinance regardless. Afterwards as two east side homeowners and I left the chambers we were met outside in the corridor by the Director of Public Art Saint Paul, triumphant with her victory of receiving unending taxpayer dollars she tore up my letter in front of us as she sailed by. I couldn’t help saying - “There you go Christine, you just showed us the real you!”

23. At the October 6th mayoral forum in the Highland Library (the only public forum Chris allowed) he took credit for bringing Cray Research’s “320” employees and Microsoft “think of it, Microsoft” he said, to downtown, as well as “twelve new restaurants and bars”. •

The truth is Cray is bringing 100 less people than Chris stated and Microsoft is bringing in about 30. The June 2009 Minnesota Real Estate Journal reported that “Combined, the deals do little to reduce St. Paul’s office vacancy rate…”

•

Downtown’s workforce continues to decline. Chris does not know how to stop it. ECME moved their downtown headquarters and 350 employees to Oakdale last December. Once in the thousands, BNSF’s remaining 130 employees will be gone in several years. Another downtown employer with 200 employees is exploring their options for leaving downtown.

•

Four office buildings in downtown Saint Paul are completely vacant. Our competitive office space vacancies remain the highest in the metro. The Jackson Ramp, a large core area 5 story parking ramp, has been closed for two years and recently sold for one dollar.

•

Yes, twelve new bars and restaurants have opened downtown in the last three years, but this is the same number, which have closed during this time. Dozens more downtown food and beverage related businesses have closed than opened under Chris’ ten year watch.

•

The retail environment has nearly collapsed as well. The downtown Macy’s (Dayton’s) ‘promise to remain open’ agreement with the city ends in 2012.

P.11 •

The fact is, LRT replaces large portions of existing bus service, and if Chris was truly concerned about vital transit projects, and the concerns of minorities and the disadvantaged, rather than verbally and insultingly patting them on the head as though they were children, he would have years ago delved into the problem of rampant profanity, trash talk and classless behavior which have become the norm on many city bus routes; circumstances no one should have to endure. Also, hundreds if not thousands of the “disadvantaged” children and young people Chris claims he is so concerned about experience this environment every day, yet he does nothing about it!

•

Unlike a Jackson Street route from University Avenue to Union Depot’s platform, Chris’ circuitous LRT route from University Avenue to Robert, Twelfth, Cedar and Fourth Streets will ensure construction and future costs to taxpayers and the downtown business sector will be huge. Blindly arrogant he refused to enact true test scenario LRT conditions for his downtown, into the heart of Lowertwon route including: 131 lost core area parking meters (remember he wanted to take 56 more off St. Peter and Wabasha for his traffic calming techniques in 1999!), lost traffic lanes, lost bus stops and the sounding of six (not just one) LRT bells simultaneously to represent the eventual three car LRT trains which will run 200 times a day, 22 hours a day. ‘Community Meetings’ were insulting in the shear number of facts withheld from the public. The one letter he wrote in reply to my detailed concerns contained even more misinformation!

•

Chris knows the true ramifications of his LRT decisions will not be understood until after he is gone from office. This type of leadership, is what allowed the Twin Cities famous street car network to be destroyed in the 1950’s.

20. In January 2009 Chris announced his bid to seek re-election. His speech was given from yet another closed downtown restaurant; the Carousel (revolving) Restaurant atop the Crown Plaza hotel. Recently Saint Paul’s own Minnesota Museum of American Art also closed. Not long ago it had moved from Landmark Center to the Ramsey County West Building so as to be a part of the ‘Riverfront Renaissance’.

21. In July 2009, three months before election night and eighteen years after Minneapolis led the way, Chris signed Saint Paul’s Domestic Partners Registry saying at the time “Equality is equality is equality.” His signed the document in a gay bar, not City Hall or another public building where historically past equality issues were addressed. Chris engaged in nothing more than a shameful pandering publicity stunt aimed at gays and lesbians while reinforcing the stereotype that bars are the center of their lives.

P.10 17. Chris said the September 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) would be a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to showcase Saint Paul. His “Red Carpet Program” intentionally created a downtown façade by luring unsuspecting new retailers into vacant spaces with fantastic promises that tens of thousands of convention goers would pass by their doors. He and Dave Thune then put out another red carpet welcoming protesters to protest the very convention goers they invited to Saint Paul. The results were predictable; most of the convention goers spent their time and money outside of Saint Paul. The economic loss to Saint Paul was huge. During the RNC a three story banner was displayed on the Xcel Center’s west façade, it read: September 1- 4 ‘08 Republican National Convention Minneapolis / Saint Paul Chris allowed Saint Paul’s “once in a lifetime” opportunity to give Minneapolis top billing.

18. Afterwards, a well known Saint Paul business owner sent Dave Thune an email saying he thought Dave was a disgrace to the city and asked him for his resignation. Dave responded with a profanity laced email. When asked by a television news station if that was a respectful way to deal with a citizen of Saint Paul Thune said, "It is a respectful way to deal with someone of the low class that he is." Chris refused to reprimand Dave by asking him to publicly apologize to the business owner and Saint Paul for his shameful behavior.

19. In 2009 Chris takes credit for bringing Light Rail Transit (LRT) to Saint Paul. •

The fact is the planning process for a number of possible routes, particularly for downtown, has been ongoing for years and did come to a head during his tenure. I am an ardent supporter of mass transit, but the fact is the final circuitous LRT route through downtown that Chris championed for his legacy will only later be viewed as one of this city’s great planning mistakes.

•

Early this year he publicly chastised those who dare “delay or derail this vital transit improvement project” by questioning his intelligence and cried rerouting LRT “would mean delaying the project for perhaps a year – and potentially much longer”. He couldn’t have that during an election year.

•

Chris then pandered and claimed the “LRT line will provide improved access to important employment, educational and economic opportunities for thousands of area residents, including minority and disadvantaged populations”.

P.9 13. In March 2007 after downtown’s two Radisson Hotels had been closed, a company spokesperson remarked that Radisson is preparing for growth after paring properties she described as “the dogs of the brand”. Chris made no comment after the remark was reported on the front page of the Star Tribune’s local section. The Crown Plaza picked up the Radisson on Kellogg Boulevard of course and remade the neglected Saint Paul “dog” into something beautiful.

14. In June of 2007 I began my bid for Dave Thune’s council seat. I ran as an Independent NonPartisan candidate not seeking endorsements from special interests, including the two daily papers. Even so the Pioneer Press’s editorial page editor and co-editor had their secretary coax me to stop in for an interview, if only for ten minutes. At the end of our, 45 minute, interview my concerns about Saint Paul’s well-being had obviously fell on deaf ears when the co-editor asked “Has Dave done anything illegal?” I thought what a question to ask. I replied I have been told that Dave is homesteading a second house in the city of Saint Paul “Is that illegal?” They endorsed Dave. Chris supported Dave as well despite this and a barrage of literature he sent out at the end of his campaign which mislead and misinformed the public. Chris also supported Dave because “he will agree with me” he told a well known person in Saint Paul, and friend of mine. Dave won the race by 6.5%. I will look forward to another contest in 2011. Curiously, four years earlier, Chris would not support Dave’s bid to win back his old seat because “If the DFL party doesn’t start to bring young people in, we’re dead. She (Christine Nelson) is the best person in the race, if we endorsed more candidates like her we’d be better off”.

15. In 2007 Chris had opposed the ‘Bridges’ in part to protect “downtown’s” viability & job base. Yet in 2005 he supported the relocation of over 2000 US Bank jobs out of “downtown” to another location across the river. And in November 2007 he supported relocating 200 Ramsey County employees out of “downtown” to another building across the river.

16. In 2008 Chris’s staff announced a plan to reduce downtown’s pigeon population by feeding them contraceptive laced food and stealing their eggs. Good Grief. Only in Saint Paul, where the downtown business and retail sector is in decline and tourism growth remains stagnant, would its mayor declare war on pigeons. Chris is smarter than Rome, London and Paris apparently, where millions of tourists consider pigeons to be part of these city’s experiences - a child feeding a flock of pigeons in a downtown Saint Paul park is a delight to see.

•

The Pioneer Press’s editorial page is overseen by two later middle-aged white males who have helped Chris in keeping a rock balanced atop this city. In May 2006 the editor poked fun at Jerry’s “plastic model” (which it wasn’t) depicting the proposal and pleasure boats being moored to an imagined promenade. He said “It’s an overwhelming idea – a high-rise hotel, luxury condominiums, restaurants and entertainment venues…” I believe only an uninformed person would have viewed the Bridges of Saint Paul as “overwhelming”.

•

The Star Tribune’s editorial board, not to be left behind in the uninformed arena, declared “Bridges clashes with Saint Paul sensibilities” in April 2007. In Truth, the ‘Newspaper of the Twin Cities’ heart lies with Minneapolis not Saint Paul. They don’t want us to catch fire nor become an equal twin, so they pat us on the head, support our Emperor with no Clothes, and tell St. Paul to remain a city “that coexists naturally with the river”, while they do what we shouldn’t.

•

Jerry had a short meeting with Chris at the University Club regarding the Bridges. Afterwards Chris went to the press and whined that Jerry talked at him rather than to him. During this time it became known that Jerry’s wife and a mother of three children became diagnosed with a life threatening form of cancer. At that point the shameful tactics lodged at Jerry should have ended. Chris let them continue.

•

Jerry asked Chris repeatedly to hold a public meeting so they could discuss the proposal in the open, so that the citizens of Saint Paul could hear an honest and unfiltered conversation about the Bridges proposal. Chris refused.

•

On September 5, 2007 City Council members Thune, Lantry, Helgen, Benanov and Harris rejected Jerry’s rezoning request; effectively killing the proposal. Chris supported their decision to stop a plan which would have ultimately created thousands of construction jobs, thousands of permanent jobs, brought a thousand new residents to Saint Paul and become an attraction unlike any in America bringing hundreds of thousands of new visitors to Saint Paul annually.

•

Today, because of Chris, this West Side property as well, remains a sea of parking spaces and a field of weeds. A mile away, in the heart of the West Side which was so supposedly threatened by the Bridges, four businesses have closed in the last year: a bank, clothing store, meat market and coffee shop, all at the intersection of Concord and State Streets. Downtown, also so supposedly threatened by the Bridges, continues to lose more businesses than it gains. Downtown, the West Side, and even Grand Avenue would have benefitted greatly from its existence.

Jerry’s wife, Janice, passed away earlier this month. She possessed a beautiful heart and soul. 

It was another of Chris’ efforts to force feed Harriet Island ‘Regional Park’ to the public. The move failed of course and the carnival is back where it should have never left; an idyllic setting. P.7 12. In late 2005 a great Saint Paul success story and this city’s largest private landholder; Jerry Trooien unveiled a far-reaching riverfront proposal called the Bridges of Saint Paul. Located primarily on undeveloped land he owns across from downtown, the proposal featured in part: hundreds of condominiums and apartments, a Westin Hotel, a multi-screen movie theatre, two glass conservatories and dozens of shops and restaurants, and Mythica; a grand facility exploring the cultures of the world. It was one quarter the size of the Mall of America, and far more beautiful. The massing and design was well proportioned and very picturesque; lower buildings along the riverfront were stair stepped back, intermingled with plazas and gardens. Three taller buildings formed a back along Fillmore Street. The Bridges, by helping frame the now two-sided downtown riverfront, would ensure that the Mississippi would become the center of attention rather than the edge of attention in downtown Saint Paul (To knit the two sides of downtown together I proposed a skytollway to span the Mississippi from Union Depot’s Lowertown concourse and the rest of downtown’s skyway connected amenities over to the Bridges development. The Lowertown artist’s community would have benefitted hugely from the cross river interaction). •

What then occurred over the next two years was a dark period in Saint Paul’s history. Our mayor became a coward again and refused to intervene in a zoning review process that became personal, vengeful and a failure. Misinformation became fact. With Chris at the helm, a succession of often jealous and or angry people with seemingly no business sense from: the planning bureaucracies, city planning departments, city council, the daily papers, and even the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota became self-serving and protested against a project they wrongly claimed would: harm the river, block views of the river, harm migrating birds, disrespect the heritage of the West Side, not provide living wage jobs, be a gated community for the rich, ignore their planning documents, harm downtown, harm Grand Avenue and so on.

•

Heavy traffic was another concern mentioned repeatedly, yet at the same time these individuals said the project couldn’t succeed. How could there be traffic jams if it was going to fail?

•

I met Jerry in person for the first time in early 2006. Disappointed by the ugly turn of events I went to his offices in his Comcast building. It was just after 5 pm. The office doors were closed, the receptionist gone. I pushed the door bell, then again. I turned to leave, the door opened and there he was working late. “Jerry Trooien” I said. He spun around and said “Where?” He was self deprecating at that moment, he did not need to be. I spoke briefly about why I had come. A week later we visited for two hours, he was late getting home for dinner with his wife and three children. I left the meeting with no doubt that Saint Paul needed him.

•

While Jerry’s request for over 100 million dollars in Tax Increment Financing, for a 1.5 billion dollar project, would have been significant, the matter at hand however was a rezoning request. Since Saint Paul’s founding, the primary use for this riverfront property had been commercial not residential; American Hoist and Derrick had one of their facilities on the site for 75 years before closing in the 1980’s.

P.6 A February 2005 meeting was held for the developers in the Humboldt High School auditorium. The moderator asked people to take their seats after they had had time to review conceptual illustrations, the seating area was raised theatre style. Mayoral candidate Chris Coleman made sure to remain standing way last so all could see him looking at the drawings, slowly rubbing his chin, looking thoughtful. He then slowly backed away from the drawings and slowly sat down on a seat closest to the illustrations where everyone could see him continue to look at the drawings. Dozens of people spoke that night, Chris didn’t. He let misinformation about the project continue to fly, including opinions that the project was still too tall. In 2006, and now mayor, Chris took part in a fake ground breaking ceremony for the poor project now reduced to four stories. Land development costs there were very high of course and those costs were then spread out onto even fewer condo units thereby increasing their prices further. Predictably the project failed. The property today remains a barren field.

9. For years a floodwall had been sought for the east and south sides of the Holman Field - downtown airport. Airport tenants include in part: 3M, the National Guard and a flight school. Annually the airport provides hundreds of jobs and brings over 100 million dollars to the local economy. Chris was long opposed to the (9’) wall, because some said it would harm the river, block site lines and bring more air traffic. They did not care if the airport closed and the jobs and revenue left St. Paul. In 2006 the matter came to a head. As mayor, Chris allowed misinformation to again become fact, the meetings dragged on for months. After finally understanding the ramifications of blocking the floodwall, he backed down, but to save face he required 2.6 million dollars be spent to beautify the brown steel wall you can’t see from outside the airport. Coincidentally, a year later 3M announced the closing of their last Saint Paul manufacturing facility. During Chris’ years in office Saint Paul has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs. While campaigning for re-election Chris takes credit for the floodwall he had opposed for years.

10. In 2006 City Councilman Dave Thune, a heavy smoker, began the process to ban smoking in Saint Paul bars and restaurants. Today Chris acts the hero because he backed the effort. Chris is a cigar smoker. He and Dave embrace the leadership style known as ‘Do as I say not as I Do’.

11. In 2006 Chris supported relocating the Winter Carnival from its idyllic Rice Park setting to the frozen tundra of Harriett Island.

P.5 I stopped Chris’ madness by standing up during questions and pointing out the hypocrisy of the Toronto planner and saying that I had phoned a Toronto city planner that morning asking how many one-way streets they had. He replied “A lot”. I suggested Chris send the Framework planner back to Toronto and if he was successful with removing their one-ways he could then return to Saint Paul. The audience roared with laughter. I asked Chris to conduct a poll of the people in the room; nearly 100 downtown property owners and managers, to see what their position was. Chris stammered and said after the meeting’s presentations we’ll do it. At the presentation’s end (surprise) Chris tried wrapping up the meeting. The director of the Building Owners and Managers Assoc. stood up and said, what about that poll? Deflated, Chris took a poll; a sea of hands went up and said No!; thereby stopping his “traffic calming techniques”. •

Chris also supported the Framework’s language which disparaged our skyways; “Virtually no business of interest to downtown residents is on the skyway system” and “The cost effectiveness of skyways as a public investment is questionable and merits much closer scrutiny.” Thousands of downtown residents, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and thousands more downtown workers would disagree and wonder why it is then, that Chris Coleman frequently uses the skyway system?

•

Chris remained silent when during this time as well the Framework’s author condescendingly said Galtier Plaza “is not appropriate” for Lowertown and that it should not have been built. Few of us would want to imagine Saint Paul’s skyline without those two beautiful towers.

6. In 2003 Chris supported the Taste of Minnesota’s move from the Capitol Mall; Minnesota’s beautiful front lawn and the perfect July 4th location where it had been since1983. On Harriett Island it has since declined and become more a ‘Taste of Beer and Carnival Food’.

7. In 2005 while campaigning for mayor Chris ridiculed incumbent Mayor Randy Kelly for having a Summit Avenue fundraising “soiree” and forgetting the common man. The Summit Avenue address was the home of two of Saint Paul’s most philanthropic and caring citizens. Now an incumbent mayor himself, Chris held his own Summit Avenue “soiree”, at another home.

8. In 2004 the Lander Sherman Group proposed a thoughtful four building multi-story housing complex, of 5 to 12 floors, at the south end of the Wabasha Bridge on the West Side Flats. Too tall! Some yelled. The developer compromised and lowered the tallest building to eight floors; a height similar to the nearby US Bank and Comcast buildings and no higher than the second floor of city hall across the river which is at a higher elevation.

P.4 4. In late 1998 a handful of people, including city leaders and staff, were trying to move Lowertown’s Farmers Market to the West Side Flats at the southeast end of the Wabasha Bridge. Chris did not challenge their misinformation campaign so I then stepped forward and stopped the madness with a survey of growers and customers. Overwhelmingly, they wanted the market to stay downtown and deal with its shortcomings. Though I was threatened by a so called Friends of the Farmers Market board member not to, I published the results in the next Lowertown News. The relocation movement ended. Only then in 2001 did Chris begin promoting the idea and remarked the market “creates an amazing sense of vibrancy”. After the market was rebuilt on site, attention then focused as I had encouraged, to building an Indoor Farmers Market across the street. After numerous delays construction began in 2007. The project unnecessarily turned into a mess of finger pointing and stopped. Today it is a gapping city owned hole in Lowertown. During Chris’ mayoral re-election campaign he takes credit for things he shouldn’t, but won’t take credit for this uncompleted project.

5. In 1998 Chris pushed for Saint Paul’s formal adoption of the ‘Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework’; a 125 page ‘Master Plan’ for downtown and the riverfront. It was authored primarily by an expensive Toronto based urban planning consultant who claimed it “was about a reconnection of the city and river as profound and far-reaching as the industrialization of the river in the last century… Saint Paul will, like numerous other waterfront cities, renew and redefine itself for the next century… Saint Paul is poised to become one of America’s finest urban centers.” •

The Truth is Chris embraced an overpriced document; half common sense and half nonsense, which was the beginning of Saint Paul’s now seemingly unending version of the ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’; a classic 1837 Danish fairy tale. In part: the ‘Framework’ distained tall buildings, one way streets and skyways and stated that within downtown’s roughly 8x12 blocks there were eight urban villages. Rediculous. It also directed that our beautiful diamond in the ruff downtown waterfront should become a sea of low-rise buildings.

•

Chris then pushed for a ‘Framework’ directive: the elimination of downtown’s one way streets. At the Children’s Museum auditorium he announced the plan which would focus initially on converting Wabasha and St. Peter Streets. He wanted them single lane and two way (with 56 less on street parking spaces) despite an $80,000 traffic study which warned of severe congestion during am and pm rush hours and during events, and despite the warning by the owner of the Lowry and Victory Ramps that “You’re going to cause gridlock.” Chris ignored the warnings.

P.3

Saint Paul’s leadership once pursued greatness for Minnesota’s Capital City. We were once an equal yet distinct twin to Minneapolis. Today, leadership often sets our sites too low. As a city councilman from January 1998 to 2004 and mayor since January 2006 Chris Coleman has failed to lead honorably, with distinction and with guts on so many occasions. Here are some of those occasions:

1. Today Chris takes credit for bringing Light Rail Transit (LRT) to Saint Paul and Union Depot. The truth is many people deserve credit for bringing LRT to Saint Paul. The truth is during his first years on the council Chris raised no objections when multi-story housing; up to ten floors, then later a soccer field (I love soccer, but neither allowed room for passenger trains) where envisioned for the Depot’s expansive and historic platform area. The closest LRT was envisioned near the depot was a loop around Mears Park, 2 blocks away. In late 1999 I was the first to question all of this and suggest to Mayor Norm Coleman that he return Union Depot and its platform to its former glory. My writings, and subsequent illustrations released in 2000, changed minds. Only then in 2001 did Chris begin promoting Union Depot as a “transportation hub”.

2. At the time the forward portion of Union Depot was still privately owned. The attached rear concourse was owned by the US Postal Service. In mid 2002 the forward portion of Union Depot went into foreclosure. Chris said at the time “The foreclosure does not necessarily change any time frames. I think it allows us to look at it in a more comprehensive fashion.” However… Chris did not object when Union Depot was then sold again into private hands for 2.8 million dollars. Nor did he object a year later when the Depot’s closed Leann Chinn’s restaurant space; the Depot’s magnificent 2-story eastern wing, was sliced into condos, with city approval. Recently, Ramsey County bought the forward portion of the Union Depot for 8.2 million dollars; or 5.4 million more than they would have paid in 2002. And now today Chris egregiously takes credit for Union Depot’s new lease on life. The truth is no local politician, particularly Chris, knew what to do with the Union Depot facility until I planted the seeds in 1999.

3. In 2002, the St. Paul Housing & Redevelopment Authority, aka City Council, agreed to seek development proposals for 16 acres of property immediately east of the depot platform; between Lowertown and the riverfront. A California developer expressed a desire to build up to 500 housing units there. Even though the view of the historic Lowetown buildings from the waterfront would then be gone, Chris supported the proposal and said “There are obviously a lot of concerns (about development options), but I think it can go forward.” It didn’t. This property is now owned by Ramsey County as well.

P.2

Chris Coleman’s election history: •

In November 1997 Chris Coleman won an open Ward 2 city council seat vacated by Dave Thune. Chris’ was the only name on the ballot.

•

In September 2000 Chris finished third in the state congressional primaries losing his bid for Bruce Vento’s seat.

•

In January 2004 Chris left the city council. He later told a reporter that while on the council he became very good at feigning interest in things for long periods of time that did not interest him. A shameful admission and insult to all Ward 2 citizens.

•

In January 2005 he (seeing a new political opportunity) announced his run for mayor.

•

In November 2005 though Chris won the mayoral race (defined he correctly guessed) by largely a revenge vote against incumbent (D) Randy Kelly for his endorsement of (R) George Bush and the Iraq invasion, 82% of eligible voters still did not vote for him in the low turnout race.

•

In January 2009 Chris announced his intent to seek a second mayoral term.

•

In mid 2009 Chris admits he is considering running for governor.

•

On October 9, 2009, three weeks before he is up for re-election as mayor, Chris announces he will not run for Governor after all.

•

Yet at his news conference he still refused to sign a pledge promising that if re-elected mayor he will serve his term fully and not seek higher office. A smart attorney never puts their name on a document they can’t uphold.

Ladies and Gentlemen, You do not deserve a mayor who disrespects you, nor one who thinks you’re stupid. Please continue reading...

Dear Citizen and Friend of Saint Paul, I was born here 47 years ago. I am a central downtown business owner of 16 years. Despite downtown’s great decline as a business and retail center over these years I have grown my business; an art gallery and a custom framing shop - soon I will open a second gallery on Grand Avenue. I, like so very many of you, care about the well-being of this special city. True story; yesterday, a Chris Coleman supporter became angry with my views and told me that Saint Paul will become a bedroom community to Minneapolis and that’s just the way it’s going to be. I will not accept that. We’re on the wrong tracks folks. I am an Independent voter. Please review my observations of Chris Coleman. Afterwards, I hope you will agree that Saint Paul needs/deserves new leadership, and that it is up to you to help make it happen. * * * Chris Coleman wraps himself in the DFL label for political gain. He has not represented the DFL party with honor. He does not have a mandate to lead this city - the statistics of his 2005 election show this. He has become a politician who will say or do whatever it takes to stay in office. He does not know how to right this city’s serious problems involving business, retail, tourism, neighborhood neglect and decline, and fiscal shortfalls. So has pandered countless times to individuals, special interest groups and bureaucracies to curry favor and political protection. His inability to lead progressively, with distinction, and with courage has cost this city greatly and has not only affected the overall quality of life for over a quarter million people, but it is now coming with a great, and rising financial cost to all of Saint Paul as well. * * * I met Eva Ng (ing) for the first time earlier this year. She is impressive. While not a polished politician, her business acumen, education and life’s experiences will enable her to absolutely become the stronger leader for Minnesota’s Capital City. I am an Independent as I have said, she is a moderate Republican. Though I do not agree with all of her positions, I have no doubt that she can, and will lead this city in a non-partisan manner - as it should be. Her life story; how she came to Saint Paul, how she came to be a mayoral candidate is unique, admirable and refreshing. Eva was born in Hong Kong fifty one years ago. As a child her family immigrated to America. In Houston, Texas she excelled in her studies; finishing at the top of her high school class and receiving fourteen scholarships. In the 1970’s she attended Texas A & M University and became the first generation of female chemical engineers. For thirty years she has worked in the corporate world; ten years with Texaco as a troubleshooter and internal consultant, ten years as a North American turnaround specialist for the George. S. May Company, Chicago and since 1997 CEO of Blanda Inc., Eagen, a micro-precision manufacturer. She and her husband Bob Blanda live on Saint Paul’s Upper Landing neighborhood. They are good people who will be good for Saint Paul.

Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman: An Emperor with no Clothes October 26, 2009 Eight days until the next mayoral election!

Facts to remember from November 2005: 1. On November 5th of 2005 Chris Coleman won the Saint Paul mayor’s race. 2. It was a low turn out election; 73% of eligible voters did not vote that day 3. And 27% of eligible voters did; Chris received 67% of those votes. 4. Which means 18% of eligible voters elected our current mayor, 5. And 82% of eligible voters did not elect our current mayor! 6. On November 3rd let’s bring in new leadership. 7. Mayor Chris Coleman has had his time. 8. It’s time for a Mayor named Eva!

As a business owner for 16 years I have observed the work of 3 different mayors and become involved in many issues as they arose. What I share here are my observations of Chris Coleman as an elected official. I have worked to check facts and be as objective as possible. Be concerned about Saint Paul and its future. Take the time to wade through the following twenty three points covering some of his leadership history. Otherwise skip to the end for my Summary on page 14. Thank you,

%LOO+RVNR