Bulletin letters to the editor

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Kriesel an asset in the Legislature

I would like to thank state Rep. John Kriesel for his hard work during the 2011 legislative session. He brought courage, conviction of character and fiscal responsibility to St. Paul.

His willingness to work across the aisle to bring real reform to Minnesota is what makes him an incredible asset to the Legislature. Kriesel’s common sense approach to balancing budget allows for him, as a freshman legislator, to navigate the Legislature like a seasoned member. Kriesel has been an advocate not only for issues that affect his community but for controlling government spending while offering a budget that lives within our means.

Cottage Grove and South St. Paul have an advocate at the Capitol who is deeply committed to building a future for Minnesota that has strong schools, sustainable jobs and a thriving economy.  Kriesel has earned a reputation of supporting the cultivation of a business climate during these challenging economic times in an effort to end politics as usual and put Minnesotans back to work.

Kriesel is not a party line politician, but rather a concerned citizen who felt compelled to serve as an advocate for District 57A in St. Paul. It continues to be a pleasure to work alongside him as we hold the line on raising taxes and have government spend only what we have.

Kurt Zellers

R-Maple Grove

Zellers is speaker of the Minnesota House

Business helped play succeed

Many thanks to the following businesses for helping to make the “Wizard of Oz” play reception at Grey Cloud Elementary School a great success:

Cub Foods; Caribou Coffee; Perkins; McDonald’s; Kowalski’s Market; Marathon gas station; Glassings Florist; Holiday gas station; SuperMom’s; Candyland; Party City; Tinucci’s; Dennis Brothers; Burger King; and Prax Air.

Linda Schaack

Grade 3 teacher

Grey Cloud Elementary School

City hall plan is Cottage Grove’s best-kept secret

Mayor Myron Bailey continues to deny citizens adequate, meaningful and substantial input regarding “his” public safety/city hall (PSCH) project. He cannot articulate a “need” and a reasonable solution. If we had no building, that would be a “need.” Regardless, the citizens should vote for any need or want, especially large expenditures. There are responsible ways to make moral and fiscal beneficial changes.

This project is an excessive waste of funds that were collected from residents being overtaxed in the first place. Our taxes over the last 10 years would have been less if the city had not stashed the cash for this project.

The mayor continues to intentionally misrepresent the facts of this project to citizens.

The contract between the county and the city does not have a completion deadline of 2012. This means there is no rush to push this project to completion by 2012.

The mayor refused to discuss the funding before and at the March 29, 2011 open house. The funding would be discussed on June 1. People waited to speak at this meeting and were not given the opportunity. No time to hear what citizens “need” to say in two minutes. People thought it was going to be discussed at the regular 7:15 p.m. meeting. Nope, the discussion of funds started at 6 p.m. People were not even told (through the “PSCH Update” email notices, by the newspaper or in the “Cottage Grove Reports” which every residence receives) about a 6 p.m. start. My “PSCH Update” email arrived 21 hours after the meeting. This is not a coincidence; this is the city standard operating procedure to keep citizens in the dark.

The CIP bonding is a low-risk, low-interest, safe funding, which costs the taxpayer less. The city goal is to avoid a citizen vote. This means the city would rather have taxpayers pay more money than vote. If we have to pay then we get a say.

This city has a “need” alright, to vote out puppeteer Bailey and puppets Jen Peterson and Justin Olsen. They all “need” to be kicked to the curb in the 2012 election.

Kathy Lewandoski

Cottage Grove

Don’t use Bible to spread hate and fear

After reading the Zwakmans’ opinions on the Bible and homosexuals (“View on amendment against ‘sound doctrine,’” June 1) I was saddened and disturbed, not only because of the amount of negativity that these people chose to create, but also because of the blatant ignorance that they have concerning the Bible.

As a heterosexual heathen it may seem as though I have no place in this conversation but as human this issue directly affects me. The Zwakmans accused Pastor Oby Ballinger of cherry picking from the Bible. Unless the Zwakmans support slavery and the silencing of women then they, too, cherry pick from the Bible. Exodus, Leviticus and other books of the Bible detail the rules of slavery and the possession of other human beings. The book of Timothy expresses that women should not teach but remain in silence.

The Bible was written by men and edited by men with power. For the Zwakmans to assert that the Bible is directly from God’s mouth is naïve. Of course the Bible does have some valuable lessons that if learned, could create a more tolerable world. There are over 2,000 references to poverty yet the Zwakmans devote their energy toward a few passages that may have been incorrectly interpreted or written by a bigot.

The unique pain of gays and lesbians is only a result of the hate that is directed toward them from people like the Zwakmans. It is sad and ironic that they are using the Bible to spread hate, shame and negativity. Some people reading this have or will have gay children. It is our responsibility to create a safe environment for all children to grow without shame.

The messages that the Zwakmans are spreading attempt to define an “acceptable human.” Those who do not fall into the desired definition may be bullied or they may commit suicide. They may be your sons, daughters, nieces or nephews. Regardless of how you feel about gays and lesbians, we should agree that we do not want people to live in fear, and the Zwakman rhetoric only works to spread hate and fear.

Leslie Heimkes

Cottage Grove

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