By John Ramos
On October 16, 2008, as a natural outgrowth of my research on the Great Lakes Aquarium, I began attending board meetings of the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area Authority.
Spirit Mountain and the aquarium have much in common. Both are large tourist attractions. Both are state authorities. Both are subsidized by Duluth’s tourism tax. Both [...]
Posts under ‘Out and About’
Spirit Mountain’s Secret Budget
The Case of the Rubber Stamp: A Thriller
By John Ramos
The night of December 1, 2008 was cold. Real cold. Dead leaves rasped about my ankles as I hurried up the wide stone steps of City Hall. I pulled open the heavy glass doors and entered the shadowy vault of the commons area. My footsteps echoed overhead. Former mayors stared down at me, [...]
Visiting the Courthouse
By John Ramos
On July 28, 2008, fresh and invigorated from a fine family vacation, I bounded up the steps of the St. Louis County courthouse. I felt like a million dollars! Trim, fit, well-rested, handsome…I was ready to get back to work! As I ascended the elevator to the Clerk of Court’s office on the [...]