Governor Pawlenty today shook the monkey off his back and taught Mayor Chris Coleman a lesson about politics. It’s a little unfair for SPicy to level all the blame on the Mayor.  Placing all your hopes and dreams in the Saint Paul Legislative Delegation for something positive to happen in your city is a concept doomed for failure.

SPicy’s been busy and a little disconnected with things on the political scene over the past few months.  One thing for sure, SPicy is smart enough to know that when you keep blaming the guy with the red pen for all your ills, you’re likely to pay for it in the end.

No doubt local officials have made great strides in getting the Central Corridor planning to mutual agreement, but from the looks of things, the Governor just pulled the emergency brakes.  DFL legislators have done yeomen’s work in taxing Minnesota residents to the edge this year.  County officials have done their part too, all in the name of transit.

SPicy has to wonder how much sense it made for the City of Saint Paul to enter into the legislative session with a novice lobbyist.  SPicy also wonders how the City proposed such a broad list of bonding priorities if Central Corridor was the number 1 priority, why they did not focus on a core issue like Central Corridor.

SPicy believes that all of the eastern metropolitan area was dealt a significant setback when losing the $70 Million for the Central Corridor.  A train down University Avenue would have been something of a moral victory for Saint Paul.  SPicy hopes that this $70 Million can somehow be reinstated and fast.  If not, look for SPicy and SPousy on the train to Eden Prairie.

One final note SPicy got an email from a member f the Highland Business Association.  Even this group is hearkening to days gone by.  Mayor Chris Coleman participated at a luncheon the other day. Too bad the agenda listed that the group would have Mayor Norm Coleman as their guest.