The good news is that we have a remarkable levee system that has been built up for the last 50 years or so. We also had very good disaster planning from department heads (I think we learned a lesson from the ice storm). We also had a good response from the state and we will probably get quite a bit of reimbursement from FEMA (or the city will).

So what’s the lesson here? We learned that city prepared this 2nd round very well, which is great. It’s unfortunate they could not have done more about the first round.

But let’s make it clear, moving forward with climate change, we can probably expect more events like this in the future. We are certainly NOT out of the clear.

As for the potholes, it may be too late this year, but moving forward we need to build our roads better. I’m not sure if there needs to be engineering or material changes (probably both) but when you look at what other cities do like Minneapolis, we can build our roads better, it is possible, but it will cost more. That’s reality. This is why the city needs to get back to using the 2nd penny for it’s intended purpose, building infrastructure. The days of building extravagant play palaces need to end and we need to put that money into our roads. We can’t continue to squander that money like we have the past 17 years on entertaining the rich. We also need to end corporate welfare in the form of TIFs and tax reduction schemes. Our development community does just fine without tax breaks, they need to start contributing their fare share towards property taxes.

4 Thoughts on “Did we dodge a bullet with the Flood?

  1. matt johnson on March 27, 2019 at 12:41 pm said:

    I know you hate to be corrected, but once again I will report that some of the levee system is approaching or is over 60 years old. As to climate change, that has occurred since the creation (or the big bang, depending which camp you are in); we are not out of the clear and we are also NOT in the clear either- which is where I would like to be. As to play things I think we should go back at least 20 years- that is when the ultimate play thing for the rich opened. All of the money we have spent on the ARTS could have fixed a lot of streets too

  2. D@ily Spin on March 27, 2019 at 12:53 pm said:

    I ruined a tire and had front alignment damage yesterday from a pothole. I will be joining the citizen class action lawsuit. The city conveniently cancelled the council meeting last night. Is it because they’re afraid of a crowd of citizens showing up to complain?

  3. I have a theory that sounds like something you would dream up and I would poo poo.

    After the real flood of a couple of weeks ago that flooded Lotta street, Noem and the Millenial Mayor seen Emergency Declaration money floating down the river and slipping out of their hands. Cant have people playing in parks or biking on levees and receive federal gov money when they’re suppose to be flooded.

    “Never let a tragedy go to waste” was the phrase I believe coined by the democrats.

  4. Fewer cars and trucks. Also, MPLS residential roads suck too. More and more money for roads is a losing battle.

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