Tired of smoke, tired of crime, tired of being taxed all of the time

 

"This summer, the citizens who are still here are tired of the unsolvable crime. We are tired of being taxed for just about everything, up to and including breathing. Speaking of which, noticed how hard it is to breath this summer? Thanks to our friends up north who seem flummoxed on how to put out forest fires."

Welcome to Minneapolis. At one time, Minneapolis was considered to be nothing but a "cold Omaha". No longer. Ever since the George Floyd fiasco, Minneapolis has made the big time. We are right up there with many of the other Big Blue Cities. We have crime, and we have taxes. We have our share of feral youth who insist on doing things which range from breaking out the windows in cars at night, to carjacking at gunpoint. What can the cops do to stop this mayhem? Seems like not too much.

I recently heard on the news, that one city on the East Coast (actually a blue city in a blue state) has had it with juvenile crime. So much so, that a law is being proposed that should a juvenile commit a crime, it is his or her parents who will do the time. Like maybe 90 days in jail plus a modest fine. Why punish the parents? Seems that punishing a minor is a slap on the wrist and that is it. Lots of crime, no time. However, with the parents, they can be held accountable. I like this new law, if it ever gets passed!

The city of Minneapolis has a cop problem also. Another unfortunate aftereffect of the Floyd fiasco is not enough cops. Remember? The "defund the cops" movement? Minneapolis is still down over 200 cops. And because they are having trouble filling those open positions (who would want to?), some cops have been making double overtime. And that - is breaking the bank. Mayor Frey wants to cut that out (wonder how that will work), rather than soaking the taxpayers for the excess. Once again, it is the blind leading the blind in the City of Lakes.

This summer, the citizens who are still here are tired of the unsolvable crime. We are tired of being taxed for just about everything, up to and including breathing. Speaking of which, noticed how hard it is to breath this summer? Thanks to our friends up north who seem flummoxed on how to put out forest fires. The weather pattern has been (all summer so far), wind comes from the north, no thunderstorms, but lots of smoke from Canada. Wind comes from the south, smoke gets blown back up into Canada, but here comes the thunderstorms. And so it goes. The weather guessers think this will continue on into the fall. Oh, joy.

One distressing weather report I heard of late, is the specter of "zombie fires" in Canada. That is where the peat (underground) in the artic tundra can smolder into the winter. Like, when it is snowing? Could happen. The fires in Canada have been so widespread this year, it might take months for the smoke to completely go away. 

Soon school will start, and many of the school districts are already clamoring for more money. Not enough from those stingy Republicans in the state government to help out. What does that mean? If referendums pass, more taxes. After getting assessed $4,000 to fix my street this summer, the last thing I need right now is more taxes. But Minnesota is the land of 10,000 taxes, so good luck on that one!