Riding in the Trunk, Mideast Riots, School Funding: Feedback Friday

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments that appeared on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Shakopee, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation.

(The comments below are not meant to reflect the opinions of Patch or its staff.)

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Local DFLers are making one thing clear—if they're elected into office this November, they will push to get more money to schools.

But not everyone is in support. User ghoweey said money should be spent elsewhere:

I am without a job. I read where YVONNE SELCER'S (candidate in House District 48A) solution is to increase the school's budget as she did in Hopkins. I can not afford a Yvonne Selcer. We need someone who is not going to put me out of my house. We need someone who has demonstrated that every problem can be resolved by money & more money. Selcer grew the School Districts debt by 120%. Where can I get the 120% in my wallet to pay for "school resolution". Please everyone, vote for a Kirk Stensrud who will not add debt to your unemployment!

Edina Woman Allegedly Made Nephew Ride in Trunk of Lexus

An Edina woman allegedly worried about her nephew getting the leather seats of her Lexus wet is being charged with gross-misdemeanor child endangerment for making the 11-year-old ride home from Valleyfair in the trunk of the vehicle. Susan McCarty, 38, was stopped by Edina Police after dropping her nephew off in Wayzata on Thursday, Aug. 23. Officers report McCarty was agitated and argumentative, but said she did admit to transporting the minor in the trunk of her 2008 Lexus sedan "because he was soaking went and she did not want her leather seats to get wet."

It's safe to say Patch reader james wallace didn't agree with McCarty's decision:

Susan McCarty -- what a self-absorbed Edina jerk! Get over yourself and use your fancy Lexus FOR your family, not AGAINST it. Who's the grown-up here?

Richfield's first Open Streets at Penn Fest event was an indisputable hit among residents and those of neighboring communities. While Penn Fest itself was in its fifth year, a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant that allowed organizers to afford the closing of nearly all of Penn Avenue for a few hours drew an enormous crowd. Of course, the beautiful weather helped, too.

Reader Paul Thomas was pleased with the event, but gave a suggestion on how to make it even better next year:

Great event just wish next year you could have some of the food trucks thru out the event [hamburgers] and hot dogs are great for the kids, but the downtown food trucks are [very] great. thanks for your standout effort.

Police: Child Left Valleyfair in Car Trunk

An Edina woman was charged with child endangerment after she made her nephew ride home from Valleyfair in her car’s trunk. The child had been on water rides and she did not want the car’s leather seats to become wet the complaint states.

Jerry Schmidt thought the charges were unwarranted:

Come on now, the kid was in no danger, too much gov't interference in peoples lives. There was an opening to the passenger area of the car, it's not like the kid was locked in the closet with no food. Not the best choice to make, but it's not endangerment.

Steve Lewis disagreed:

Nonsense Jerry.

Are there seatbelts in the trunk of your car?

Why Are ‘They’ So Mad?

The protests and riots occurring around the world are seemingly unfathomable, but Hopkins Patch Editor urged readers not to lump all the protestors into a single group.

Orono wasn’t buying it:

Mr Warden states: "As you watch the chaos on the news, I encourage you to consider the individual faces, not just the crowds those faces are a part of. It’s only when we start to see the unique hes and shes within the they that we can understand the currents swirling around us."

It is impossible to see the "faces" from here but it is easy to hear the words and see the actions of the leaders of those faces. When the political leaders and spiritual leaders from those countries are spewing hate for America, I stop caring about the innocent faces.

Parents Talk: Would You Support a Teacher Strike?

In Chicago, teachers returned to the classroom Wednesday after a seven-day teachers strike. How would you feel if that happened here?

Joe was unhappy with the Chicago union's choices:

"Satisfied" with a double digit raise over three years? Didn't get the 30% they wanted; and unhappy with the evaluation system?

Get a clue CTU Union. With numbers like that (on top of current salaries) teachers don't seem to care a lick about your students, just your bank account (the Union itself included).

I've had no raise in the last two of three years when the company I work for didn't make a profit. I'm evaluated on the work that I do.

These teachers are nothing but selfish. Their strike cost the city who knows how much money for extra police on the streets during this strike; all while Chicago is already strapped for cash. Parents lost money when they had to pay for child-care or miss work for kids that otherwise would have been in school.