[Alumni-chat] Re: bridge collapse in Miinneapolis

[Sistersara at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/2/2007 12:25:30 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
sjr5 at nyu.edu writes:

Sorry  for off-topic, but I hope those of you in Minneapolis/Minnesota didn't 
have  any family or friends caught in that bridge collapse.  




No, I watched it on TV just as everyone else has done.  Bridge is  located 
about a mile from my home, and is a major piece of infrastructure.   This is a 
totally fascinating story -- not so much because of what has been the  focus of 
the TV reports, but because of major differences in the political  philosophy 
regarding Government responsibility for transportation.  Just  two months ago 
the Governor zeroed out all the Transit projects in the  Legislature's major 
transit plan (both rebuilding highways and bridges, and  speeding up the build 
out of a Light Rail system),  The Republicans are  against transit as a 
public asset, but transit polls highest among voter  concerns, and last November 
was a major factor in the DFL regaining strong  control in the Minnesota 
Legislature.  Minnesota Public Radio has already  broadcast a seminar with civil 
engineers regarding how to rebuild.  It is  going to be fascinating if you know 
the players and the history of all  this.  



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