Letter to the editor: Lillie will stand strong in fight with Met Council

The Metropolitan Council is an example of how a radical minority can impose its will on a moderate majority, even under our constitutional republic. This shadow government wields extraordinary power through political, legal and financial maneuvers unaccountable to the voters of the state. As Sen. Ted Lillie pointed out during the Oct. 12 meeting of the Senate Transportation Committee, “The Met Council has been the judge, jury and executioner of the businesses along University Avenue.”

 Mark Fuhrmann, Deputy General Manager for Rail Metro Transit reported that he would give himself a grade of B to B+ with regard to construction of the Central Corridor. Light rail construction along the Central Corridor has caused layoffs or reduced staff hours because of decreased revenues and in many instances has forced businesses to close. Although Fuhrmann couldn’t specify the exact number of employees impacted by the project, frustration by business owners remains as parking and access to the livelihood they built with the sweat of their brow forces customers to take their business to a more convenient location.

With an operating budget of $828 million for 2013 we have to ask ourselves if the power and hidden influence they wield over our communities should be allowed to continue. The radical vision of the Met Council would not survive if they made an honest, public appeal to voters. Warning bells should be going off for Woodbury businesses that will be impacted if and when the construction of the southwest corridor proceeds as planned. 

There is no need to sink into apathy and despair, believing we are hopelessly under the control of the Met Council. We need to re-elect Sen. Lillie to continue his work on the Senate Transportation Committee to fight the harmful and oppressive agenda of the Met Council and big government.

Gary Richardson - Woodbury

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