University-area workers, owners, and residents (and progressives from other neighborhoods, too) oppose funding any Central Corridor light rail plan that puts trains on University Avenue.

We asked the governor to line-item veto, we asked him to stick to it, and we asked DFL legislators to consider their core minority-justice values and vote “no” on any funds for a University Avenue light rail.

Why? Because University would cease to be a place where Twin Cities residents with little-to-no wealth can reasonably invest income or have safe, free childcare at work and build wealth.

If trains were to become the only frequent form of transit on University, all buildings within a block of transit would become high-rent, and all low-rent buildings would have no to-the-block, frequent transit service.

Many current business owners there would never find another bootstrap like that service, and there simply won’t be enough rent subsidies for them all to occupy high-rent buildings near train stops.

I know my neighbors in Bridgeland, so I know they can look in their hearts and reconsider support of today’s Central Corridor plan if they reflect on how it would increase skin-color-related wealth gaps in this city.

I believe it would increase those wealth gaps so much that Minnesota would suffer more than it would gain from various benefits touted by supporters of train transit on University.

The Midway-Frogtown area of St. Paul is already a highly developed business zone. University and its businesses are already as transit-oriented as it gets — but it’s oriented towards frequent transit that is capable of stopping at little streets. Look at bus stops a long walk from proposed train stops — they get used all day long.

last revised: June 18, 2008

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