Feedback Friday: Prostitution Blackmail, Roosters and Leashes

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the best comments that appeared on on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Minnetonka,  Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation.

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Having just wrapped up his second term at the Minnesota Legislature, State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina) recently took part in a video recap of the 87th Legislative Session.

Dave Hruby responded to Downey's comments, likening him to a "used car salesman":

Nearly fifteen minutes of blather and not a single mention of the constitutional amendments Downey supports. The economy, tax bills and spending all change for the better and worse through the years. Constitutional amendments however are nearly eternal. You'd think Downey would bring these up. At least give them a mention. But no, he leaves his personal bias and social agenda in the shadows. Just as he has done during and elections and when meeting with voters in person. Keith, you are no better than the worst used car salesman, talking about the chrome when knowing you're pushing a lemon. Keith, I regret voting for you.

Possibly the most controversial redevelopment project in recent Richfield history, the proposed Pillsbury Commons affordable housing project hit yet another snag in the review process this week. A public hearing was scheduled for May 29 for the Richfield Planning Commission to take action on a variety of items, however, Ron Clark Construction & Design had not completed its Tax Increment Financing application in time, setting back the process.

Carolyn Dahlman believed TIF in Richfield was unnecessary:

Isn’t Municipal property owned by the taxpayers of the City of Richfield. Who had the right to almost donate it to Ron Clark?

Every city should provide housing for the needy. Housinglink.com helps find housing for these people. Check it out. Richfield has more housing of this type than most other cities. Edina has its very few Section 8 and 42 placed on Richfield’s borders, thereby sending their resident students to the Richfield Schools. Edina ranked #1 in schools this year, and could give these students the best education in Minnesota. Why aren’t they?

Why does Richfield need to use TIF? Our location is one step closer to Minneapolis and St. Paul than Bloomington, thereby making our land more valuable. TIF eliminates taxes that are needed for our schools, because of its lower tax structure. All of the houses that were condemned for Best Buy would now have much higher taxes than they did at that time (as all of the other houses in Richfield now have), but Best Buy’s taxes have not gone up. It will be the same with all the TIF expansions that our City Council is approving. Let the voters decide what they want for their city since it’s their taxes that pay for almost everything.

A Hopkins woman has been charged in Dakota County with threatening to show compromising photos of her prostitution client to his wife unless the man paid for her silence.

Joyce said the suspected prostitute wasn’t the only one who should be held accountable:

Yeah keep it a big secret from his wife!! That is the way this Country is!
HE SHOULD GO TO JAIL TOO!!! and yes his wife has the right to know.

Residential burglaries can be committed within seconds and an open door is an open invitation. In the wake of several Plymouth burglaries, police there offered several crime prevention tips.

Kevin Raposo said he found them useful:

There's some great tips here! It only takes a burglar less than 8 minutes to burglarize you home.

City Council to Consider Single-Sort Recycling

Dick's Sanitation proposes converting those with city recycling to a single-sort system in exchange for a five-year contract extension.

Ken Lehman pointed to Faribault as a example of a good recycling system:

Faribault has the blue wheeled containers and they do pick them up every other week.

I like it. No bundling or corners ripping bags. Those open containers look like a pain in the trash.

With the new idea you can throw out your recycling as easy as trash.

A St. Louis Park woman (and Patch blogger) writes about life with a new pet rooster, found wandering around town by her husband.

Brad Erickson thought one chicken isn’t enough:

I still say another hen is needed. Ralph will get lonely and think of the good training it would be for the daughter and son in law?

Children with safety harnesses stirs up debate between parents who see it as demeaning and parents who see as a way to keep their kids safe.

Candace R shared how her opinion changed from side to the other.

I, too, use to pass judgements on people who used a leash on their child, thinking, hold their hand or put them in the stroller! But then, autism turned up in our family (my nephew) and I got to see it from anothers viewpoint and see it for the safety reasons and it is a whole other world having a child with autism and them not understanding the importance of safety or that you can get hurt if you dash out into the street, or get lost. I have learned much more than just that, from my little nephew. He has changed me in a lot of ways that I used to think :) all for the better! He is a big part of my life :)