While supporters of the proposed taxpayer-subsidized Vikings stadium and the $700 million bridge over the St. Croix River were celebrating today's developments, state Rep. Ryan Winkler was espousing a contrarian view.
The Harvard-educated DFL from Golden Valley said in a statement:
“These are unfortunately another example of misplaced priorities. I share the goal of job creation, but these proposals are the wrong way to go. Building a bridge that subsidizes real estate in Wisconsin and a stadium that subsidizes real estate for an owner from New Jersey doesn’t educate our children, doesn’t inspire innovation, and doesn’t help us create more pathways into the middle class.
“Building shiny new projects simply distracts us from tackling obstacles to future prosperity.”
It wasn't a partisan position: another DFLer, Gov. Mark Dayton, was four-square behind both projects and lauded today's progress on the two fronts.