On Friday, September 27th, research associate Maria McCoy testified to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Listen to her statement, arguing against Xcel Energy’s proposed purchase of a gas plant, in this five minute video.… Read More
This week’s rumblings on municipal broadband held more reverberations from last week’s announcement that the FCC would take up formal proceedings regarding Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC petitions. The message for preempting state laws is being amplified, first Business Insider wrote this piece on How “Gig City” Chattanooga is putting Big Cable on the ropes: “Ultimately what it … Read More
If you were judging solely from the reaction of Comcast, you could be faulted for thinking Ramsey County and the city of Saint Paul were making a bold, if risky, investment to bring real broadband to local businesses and citizens in Minnesota’s capital. But you would be wrong. Very wrong. The City and the County are … Read More
For people in St Paul and the surrounding communities, I will be presenting at an event about the digital divide sponsored by the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability. The details are below, but the key detail is that you have to RSVP (no fee for admission). As the Internet and other information technologies have transformed our lives, … Read More
A few weeks ago John C. Nienstedt, Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis wrote a widely publicized letter to a priest threatening to strip him of his “ministerial assignments” if he spoke out against a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In addition to banning dissent the Archbishop directed parishes to form committees to work for … Read More
Boundaries of democracy deserve deeper analysis by David Morris Originally published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 18, 2006 In its May 16 editorial, “We count on legislators to strike a balance,” the Pioneer Press asked “when and why should we vote?” Its answer? In the case of a Hennepin County sales tax to fund … Read More
Local vs. Absentee Ownership by David Morris March 25, 1997 – published in St. Paul Pioneer Press This month two enterprises died in our community and weÕre all the poorer for their passing. Some would say they died a natural death. But what passes for natural in the business world these days can be dangerous to … Read More
