Letters to the Editor

Article missed what it means to be real neighbor

To the Editor:

I am writing to you about your article in the March edition of the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger by Stephanie Fox titled “Got lots of stuff in your garage? You can now rent it out.”

I am appalled and disgusted with the attitude of this Jason Wood. I have lived in the Minneapolis area for my entire life. My parents always loaned our equipment and tools to neighbors. It was considered “neighborly” to do that. It was “friendly and sociable” to do that. Your article uses these terms for people who make money off of their “neighborliness” while calling the owners of the most equipment and tools “power owners.” Jason thinks this is what a close knit community is? He says, “South Minneapolis is a very friendly place.

A lot of us already share our stuff with our neighbors.” So his idea is to make it “friendly and sociable” and rent to them instead of loaning them stuff. Oh yes, and by the way, you can buy insurance too and use your credit card. I hope he fails dismally. How disgusting to monetize neighborlyness. ICK!

Judy Kjenstad,

a real neighbor, not a fake one

Support Lake St. bike lanes

Dear Editor,

I have lived in Longfellow for 20 years and made the conscious choice to ‘settle in’ here to raise our family, largely because it’s a wonderful neighborhood. We are blessed by our proximity to the Mississippi River, the Greenway, Mother Earth Gardens, and Riverview Theater, to name a few favorites. We love having so many destinations easily accessible by walking or biking, but our neighborhood lacks the much-needed safe east-west artery for commuters, families who bike, and those visiting Longfellow businesses that would connect between the river and LRT.

I value our neighborhood businesses and am grateful for the services they provide to us. I am dismayed, however, by the anti-neighborhood fight against the proposed bike lanes on 38th St. E., without compromise, which some businesses are engaging in. As part of our neighborhood, I would like them to put their customers, and the neighborhood at large, first.

Craig Rymer

Longfellow Resident

Dismayed by some in the business community

Dear Editor,

Two years ago, we bought a house in Longfellow. Living in a walkable, bikeable community is very important to my family. We choose to do errands by bike because of the health benefits, environmental impact and reduction of traffic congestion. It makes us feel connected to our community. Imagine my dismay when I heard of the fight against bike lanes on 38th St.—led by some members of the business community. It sure doesn’t feel very neighborly.

Encouraging biking—especially for short trips—benefits everyone in the community. Certain demographics (women and parents with small children in tow, for example) aren’t going to bike when safety is compromised. Minneapolis loves to tout it’s bike-friendly reputation, but we have to follow through. Adding bike lanes on 38th St. provides an essential east-west route, connecting the river and LRT, connecting the community.

We need to look at a bigger picture than some lost parking spaces.

Brigid Berger

Longfellow Resident