St. Paul

Having criticized Star Tribune columnist Nick Coleman in the past, I thought it only fair that I call attention to one of his great pieces in today's Strib.

Nick criticizes efforts underway to re-launch the Twin Cities brand - using my own corporate lingo here:

So it is a cause of concern to learn that a new public-relations campaign for the metro area is being spearheaded by something called "Meet Minneapolis," a new name for the old Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau, which might as well have called itself "Forget About St. Paul."

Nick takes potshots at the mayors of Mpls and St. Paul (his own baby brother Mayor Chris Coleman) for their attempts to cozy up to each other:

I liked it better when our mayors used to get on each other's nerves and take potshots at each other's burg. Now, it's all sweetness and light. The Brother was even quoted in the newspaper as saying that Minneapolis and St. Paul are each other's "best friend."Best friend?" Watch out, Little Brother. That's what somebody always calls someone in a mob movie right before they end up in a river. St. Paul's best friend is not Minneapolis. St. Paul's only friend is St. Paul.

Having grown up in Mpls' shadow (Richfield) and living many years in Mpls itself, I've always been oriented towards life west of the River. But now as a resident of Roseville (first-ring suburb of St. Paul) for the past 6 years, I'm beginning to feel some affinity for our parental city - St. Paul. It's nice to see Nick defend good old St. Paul.