POTD: this is dedicated to Mayor Rybak

Panic has set in at City Hall. Our relentless (i.e. highly sporadic and rather lackluster) expose on the distressed streets of Minneapolis finally elicited a response yesterday from the city's communications department. Here's the rather tepid acknowlegment of the city's burgeoning pothole crisis:

April 10, 2008 (MINNEAPOLIS) While potholes are a problem every spring in Minneapolis, we're seeing a bumper crop this season. High numbers of potholes are popping up throughout town, often in clusters. City maintenance workers are now busy patching up our streets and smoothing out the ride for drivers.

Crews have already been out putting temporary patches on major potholes
for the past several weeks. Now that warmer weather is here, these crews
can focus on more permanent repairs. These repairs take longer to
complete, so drivers need to have some patience while crews make their
rounds.

Reporting problem potholes

The best way to report problem potholes on Minneapolis streets is to
call 311. Having a single point of reporting helps ensure that the
information gets to the right crews in a timely manner, and helps them
prioritize and manage repairs in the most efficient and effective way.

Calls to 311 are answered 7 a.m. to 1 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. For
those who prefer online reporting, reports can also be made by going to
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us and
selecting "potholes" on the drop-down menu under "report issues &
complaints."

Meanwhile reader Kelly Neisen sent in some photos of this god forsaken stretch of Penn Avenue South (near Highway 62):