Unsecured, Open To Trespass, And Being TIMED

Photo By John Hoff 

This house sits across from a day care center. The front door is wide open, decorated with an old "STOP WORK" order.

I called it in to 311 as a vacant, unsecured house. Now I'm timing that sucker with a stop watch.

Last year, after SOME citizens started taking things into their own hands under the city's "adopt houses" mandate, and doing what was necessary to secure our neighborhood against copper thieves, whores and crackheads, the official boarding process got a bit faster. It started taking a couple days instead of, oh gee, WEEKS.

Or a MONTH.

But somehow I think...


...in the last few months that increased speed, that sense of urgency has just evaporated. So it's time for a test. And this house, RIGHT ACROSS FROM A DAY CARE CENTER, is the test. I'll be watching this one, and if it doesn't get the attention it needs in a reasonable period of time, I'll be griping about it over and over.

In a related matter: Hawthorn Crossings strip mall continues to be a cesspool of open air drug dealing, with no on-site security evident, except meaningless "NO LOITERING" signs which may serve some function as back-scratchers, but appear to have no other function. I hear some important North Minneapolis names are associated with this strip mall and some of the businesses at that mall.

Read more »

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: SNOW FOODS STRIP MALL IS BEING GUTTED!!!

Photo By John Hoff

Reliable word comes from Homewood resident Brian Reichow--a true urban pioneer in NoMi--that the Snow Foods store and associated strip mall at Penn and Plymouth is being gutted by heavy equipment even as I type these words. The building will apparently remain, but the interior is being completely renovated and revised as part of University of Minnesota "UROC" efforts.

I have, in the past, criticized the U of M for not moving much, much faster at Penn and Plymouth. But today is progress and I celebrate and I thank Brian for getting me this info so I can share it with all of you! The struggle for urban utopia moves forward with shoe leather, emails, blog posts, concerned calls to public officials, 311 reports, and--perhaps most dramatically--on the clanking treads of heavy equipment.

(Do not click "Read More")

Read more »

Preparing For The Next Census In North Minneapolis, Throwing Around Predictions

Photo By John Hoff 

Yesterday, a young man working for the Census Bureau was walking up to the doors of houses in the Hawthorne Neighborhood, stopping about five feet from each door as though halted by an invisible force...

He was punching data into a handheld device.

Not knowing who he was, or what he was about, but realizing he was somebody OFFICIAL, I asked him his mission. He identified himself--actually holding up his census taker ID, around his NECK--and said he was entering data about the locations of houses in preparation for the next census.

GOOD IDEA. There are so many formerly-occupied houses which are now VACANT LOTS, I can see where it might get confusing for the Census Bureau. Without going through and physically checking the locations of homes, they could waste a lot of effort looking for something which is no longer there. Of course, by the time the census is actually taken, MANY more buildings will be demolished. So I hope this won't be the only "go through."

A friend of mine who cares a lot about neighborhood demographics recently made a stunning prediction about the next census: the final data will show North Minneapolis is no longer a majority black neighborhood.

I disagreed with my contact. I was all, like, NO WAY. Yes, the foreclosure crisis has deeply impacted our neighborhood with many people moving out, and new people moving in, but I figure this just produces the same overall percentages of various ethnicities, not any dramatic change. The sheer drop in the number of PEOPLE living in North Minneapolis, now THAT will be interesting, I say.

My friend was insistent, and probably more insistent after drinking half a bottle of very good wine: LOOK AROUND, said the friend, start calculating.

I am always willing to consider data contrary to my own opinion, so I contemplated this counterpoint. I told my friend about the time, quite recently, I boarded a No. 22 bus and started counting heads, doing an informal census of my own. My "straw poll bus census" produced an even split between white and black on that particular day, riding that particular bus, which was VERY ODD FOR THAT BUS ROUTE. In fact, that's the reason I started counting heads in the first place: I wanted data to back up my gut-level perception that something wasn't the same as usual on that bus, that particular morning.

Not wanting to be disagreeable with my friend--especially over a bottle of good wine--I said I'd be more likely to believe this kind of result with the upcoming census: North Minneapolis might be no longer "majority black," but certainly not "majority white." There are huge pockets of Hmong families, the families often three generations with many children. Furthermore, there are many people who will be declaring their biracial heritage, especially in the wake of the election of President Obama. One should not parse individual human beings: biracial is its own category.

I would be more likely to believe, in the next census, North Minneapolis might be in a state of "diverse plurality" with white, black, Asian, biracial, and a relatively small number of other races, nobody holding a majority. I would also be more likely to believe a situation of "majority black, but with deep losses in overall numbers."

The thing is, though, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS. Riding a bus doesn't tell you. Thinking up all the people you know and where they live doesn't tell you. Looking at real estate data doesn't tell you, though what's happening with real estate appears to be the reason things might change so much, so fast.

Really, the only thing that can tell you with a veneer of official accuracy is the United States census, which is why we have a census in the first place.

But can I find information to completely rebut my friend's stunning prediction? No, I can't. And that's why the question fascinates me, because it is deeply important and yet NOBODY KNOWS. So I thought I'd just throw the question out there, for consideration.

One thing is for sure: the next census will show dramatic changes in our North Minneapolis neighborhoods produced by the foreclosure crisis. But the question is: WHAT will those dramatic changes be?

Read more »

Kenya McKnight "Sounded Insane" And Had A Homemade Tattoo As She Appealed Fifth Ward Convention Results

Photo By John Hoff

I was given some details about Kenya McKnight's argument and testimony yesterday before the Minnesota State DFL Constitution Committee. Council Member Don Samuels won the convention endorsement on the third round of voting, but Kenya McKnight, attorney and public figure Ben Myers, and former JACC Executive Director Jerry Moore have filed a similarly-worded complaint. A meeting of the Fifth Ward "C and B" Committee was held yesterday to deal with the matter of the complaint.

Kenya McKnight's verbal arguments took over an hour, as she went on and on like a mental patient off her meds.

(Like. Like. Like. Let me emphasize "Like.")

At one point, according to somebody's very detailed notes, Kenya actually argued the convention should be nullified because SHE wasn't organized. But then she contradicted herself by saying something like "We had candidate info because we were organized." At another point she argued "my people and the DFL" didn't tell her what the rules were.

You have to wonder what she means by "my people" since...


...she still lists no campaign staff at her website as of today! Obviously, Jerry Moore and Ben Myers are playing roles, but they aren't LISTED. You gotta wonder about a thing like that. Why be reluctant to admit Jerry Moore and--?

Never mind. It's obvious why you'd be reluctant.

As Kenya stood and argued, one person noticed she had (what appeared to be) an amateur tattoo on her forearm, and also a "big blue dot the size of a nickel" upon one of her hands. Her speech was a disorganized waterfall of words which was not terribly organized but somehow took an hour. It was noted that when Jerry Moore rose to give testimony/make arguments, he actually had his remarks organized along the lines of the questions which had to be answered, "Was the challenge timely? Were convention rules NOT followed? Were delegates sent notice? Was there a failure of somebody to do their duty?"

By the organization of Jerry's speech, my source was led to conclude "Jerry Moore is the smartest of the bunch."

At one point, one of the committee members said, normally, the challenged person gets the final word. Usually, that would have been Don Samuels, pictured above. HOWEVER, because Kenya McKnight's challenge DID NOT INCLUDE A REQUEST FOR A REMEDY, this meant Don should not get the last word, as he was not being challenged.

Remarkably, according to my source, this legalistic utterance seemed to CHEER the Kenya McKnight people. They didn't appear to understand the full import of the words "didn't include a request for a remedy," which is along the lines of filing a lawsuit but then forgetting to ask for money.

It's unknown when this sad little farce will conclude, but it's pretty easy to predict HOW it will conclude:

COMPLAINT DENIED.

Read more »

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Sunday's 4th Ward Meeting, Troy Parker Challenge Rejected

Photo by Don Allen

After my previous blog post about the 4th Ward DFL rejecting the post-convention challenges of Troy Parker, Don Allen of the IBNN blog kindly forwarded a photo of the proceedings. This is what Minneapolis history looked like in the 4th Ward, when Troy Parker tried...but fell way short.

My simple political analysis is this: in the wake of the foreclosure crisis and its huge impact on North Minneapolis, SOME constituents are indeed unhappy with Don Samuels and Barb Johnson.

However, by a margin of roughly 60/40, more constituents SUPPORT Don Samuels and Barb Johnson. Both Troy Parker and Kenya McKnight should accept the judgment of the DFL and just...pack it up and quit wasting their efforts, which could go into making their neighborhood better.

ADDENDUM: February 6, 2011. This blog post was written before I and many others in North Minneapolis discovered what a disreputable con man character Don Allen is. I would advise anybody: Do not trust Don Allen. Seek further information about Don Allen from various online sources before having any contact with him.


(Do not click "Read More")

Read more »

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Troy Parker Challenges To 4th Ward DFL Convention Results, Er, RESOLVED

Stock Photo By John Hoff 

An email was forwarded to me which appears to be the last salvo in the marathon 4th Ward convention battle, which went 11 vote rounds but ultimately endorsed veteran city council member Barb Johnson over challenger Troy Parker. 

The email pretty much...

...speaks for itself, so I'll let it do the speaking:

(From Mike Rothman to various recipients)

Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:19 PM

Subject: DECISION ON HEARING OF 4TH WARD CONVENTION CHALLENGES

COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY

DECISION ON HEARING OF 4TH WARD CONVENTION CHALLENGES

After considering the written statements from the challengers, statements from the persons being challenged, statements from all persons who wished to present relevant testimony on the matters, and after a hearing for the presentation of live testimony and evidence before the full Commission on April 19, 2009, the Commission has decided to not sustain any of the challenges.

Dated: April 19, 2009

Mike Rothman
Vicki Wright

Co-chairs of the Constitution and Bylaws Commission

Read more »

Interesting Curbside Fridge, Plus, Oh Yeah, Hearing Scheduled Over Kenya McKnight/Jerry Moore/Ben Myers Challenge To 5th Ward DFL Convention Results

Photo By John Hoff

So I saw this fridge just south of Farview Park, on "Desolation Row," and I thought it was pretty cool--even by fridge standards--so I snapped a picture of it. 

In other, purely lesser and secondary news...

Here's the unedited word on the challenge to the 5th Ward DFL Convention results, just the way this hit my inbox.

COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY

NOTICE OF HEARING


Pursuant to the 2008-2009 Official Call of the Minnesota State DFL Party, a hearing will be held on April 25, 2009, 1:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, Minnesota DFL Party Headquarters, 255 East Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55107, before the three-person panel of the Constitution and Bylaws Commission.

Any written statements from the challenger, statements from the person being challenged, and statements from any other person(s) who wish to present relevant testimony on the matter must be submitted to the Commission on or before Monday, April 20, 2009, by e-mail to mrothman@gmail.comand vickiwright@comcast.netwith a hard copy by regular mail to Mike Rothman and Vicki Wright at the Minnesota DFL Party Headquarters, 255 East Plato Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55107-1623.

Parties and any interested person(s) will also have an opportunity to present live testimony and evidence on the date of the hearing.

Dated: April 13, 2009

Mike Rothman

Vicki Wright

Co-chairs of the Constitution and Bylaws Commission

Attachments: 2 challenge forms

cc: Kenya McKnight, Don Samuels, Benjamin Myers, Jerry Moore, Brian Bushay, Judy Baker, Brian Melendez

Note from JNS: I guess when Kenya McKnight was asked whether she would abide by the convention results, she really SHOULD have been asked whether she would BELIEVE the convention results, or whether she would prefer to believe evil, deeply hidden, malignant forces (Queen of England, cough cough) were distorting the results.

Meanwhile, Kenya hasn't OFFICIALLY announced whether she's still running, but a recent Insight News puff piece talks about McKnight planning to gather signatures on a "petition." Once again, it seems as though Al McFarlane is the one doing all the talking for Kenya McKnight.

Read more »

PHOTOS: This Is Why Mr. Slummy's Bloody, Decapitated Head Ended Up On A Pole, A Graphic Lesson That We Ain't Partial To Slumlords Round These Parts!!!

Photos By Jeff Skrenes 

From top to bottom, here's the pictures which illustrate the previous blog post.

You now what this first picture reminds me of? When I was a little kid, there was a store at the Viking Plaza Mall in Alexandria, Minnesota which sold nothing but Western-themed items. A rack near the cash register sold humorous postcards, showing cartoony cowboy construction projects like fanciful outhouses poised, precariously, over...

...steep cliffs.

Yeah, that's what this picture reminds me of. Well, except for the part about it being humorous.

Some readers might be wondering what is that rounded, barrel like structure on the bottom, also clear in the second and third photo? 

Well, that's what's called a "cistern." These were common at one time. You'd capture rainwater and use the water for washing, drinking, bathing. Green, sustainable technology might yet bring back the cistern. We shall see. In the meantime, it's good to know many old houses actually have cisterns and the owners are unaware of their existence, because they've been covered over.

The fourth photo really shows how EXPANSION and ADDITION were clearly being plotted, not demolition of the structure. In the fifth photo: yes, that's a great idea. Hold up the house with a very large toothpick.

Next photo: this is not "where's Waldo?" This is "can you spot the busted sewer pipe?"

Second to last photo: now that our elite anti-slumlord unit has actually defeated a "Baby Backhoe of Doom," scientists can study the incident for clues to save our neighborhood from the adult version of the BACKHOE OF DOOM!!!!

In the last photo, you see the slumlord to the left of the Baby Backhoe of Doom--his head still attached to his shoulders at this point--walking toward Jeff. I'm told that today Jeff walked up and shook the hand of a city inspector while the slumlord was standing there, glaring daggers.

Well, as much as a severed head can "glare daggers" at anybody.

Read more »

WARNING!!! City Inspectors & Hawthorne Neighborhood Puts Wannabe Slumlord's Severed Head On A Pole, An Object Of Horror And WARNING!!!

Photo By Jeff Skrenes

It happened over the Easter weekend: a wannabe slumlord (or possibly one of his employees, though we think it was Mister Slummy himself) started digging a massive hole behind 2515 3rd St. N.

Not just ANY hole, mind you. This was...

...a "dig to China" hole. This was a "oh, my word, is he looking for DINOSAUR BONES?!" kinda hole. This is when you wonder--you seriously worry and wonder--whether the earth will give way and the house will fall (ass over china hutch over tea kettle) into the earth's gaping maw.

Pictures will follow. YOU WILL SEE.

Real estate agent, housing preservationist, and Hawthorne's newest, arguably HOTTEST resident, Constance Nompelis (No-bell-iss) was our Paul Revere, sounding the alarm on her "Over North" blog with cell phone pictures. Discussion took place on an unrelated chat thread of THIS blog while Housing Director Jeff Skrenes was on vacation in the "UP" of Michigan, with Jeff saying he was ON IT--very seriously ON IT--the red hot second he got back.

Dyna Sluyter was on the issue as well, absolutely LIGHTING UP the e-democracy forum while the incident was still ongoing.

In the meantime, voice mail and email inboxes of public officials slowly filled up with the frantic cry for help from the Hawthorne neighborhood, where very involved, very wired, very communicative NoMi citizens were rallying like MINUTEMEN to face off the red coats.

But it was Jeff's crystal clear digital pictures and the office of Council Member Diane Hofstede which sent city inspectors to the site POST HASTE, ripping off the adhesive from the order to STOP WORK IMMEDIATELY. Yet long before those inspectors arrived, Jeff Skrenes PERSONALLY confronted the slumlord.

The slumlord got out of what Jeff called his "Baby Backhoe of Doom" and walked rapidly toward Jeff. It was clear the slumlord was getting pretty tired of citizens standing at the edge of his beautiful hole with cameras and horrified expressions. He tried to tell Jeff he had all the proper permits to do this.

"NO YOU DON'T!" Jeff said, and he said it LOUD. Jeff said he'd called the city and the slumlord DID NOT have an excavation permit, and that was clearly what was happening HERE: not mere demolition, but EXCAVATION, like "TELL ME WHEN YOU HIT MAGMA" excavation.

The slumlord was clearly digging a hole to put in a basement, expand the house, and pack in as many renters as he could. KEEP IN MIND this house is zoned R2-B, which means it can't have more than two units without a special zoning variance, which this house--what's left it--DOES NOT HAVE.

(Jeff, who is a Star Wars geek, also noted "R2-B" might be an R2 unit whose primary language is Bocci)

"I AM THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DIRECTOR!" Jeff said, facing down the slumlord. "YOU DO NOT COME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

I'm not sure if expletives were thrown around. If they were, I wouldn't quote 'em. This is the true grit it takes to protect our neighborhood, and it's a good thing we have a Housing Director who is also something of a body builder, because it's moments like this you need a big, muscular guy from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to face down a slumlord armed with a "Baby Backhoe of Doom," most likely a "Bobcat."

HOW MANY TIMES will this need to happen before the slumlords figure it out? It happened on "Desolation Row" near Fairview Park, the first place I ever saw what a "STOP WORK IMMEDIATELY" order looks like. It happened at 3001 6th St. N., when I personally called it in to the Department of Inspections, and blogged about it here. This very thing has happened other places in Hawthorne, too.

Slumlords obtain a property dirt cheap, and then come into the neighborhood thinking North Minneapolis is a place where nobody cares, where permits can be ignored, where it's pretty much the wild west and the only law is renters need to pay money by the first of the month or they'll be out in the street.

But that's NOT how it is. You pull up with a truck in front of a house, and neighbors approach. They make inquiries. And if the inquiries do not meet with satisfactory answers, they start making calls. LOTS of calls.

Today there was an article in the Star Tribune talking about how properties held by absentee homeowners (quite possibly wannabe slumlords) are outpacing those held by the people who give a rip about making the neighborhood a nice place to live and raise a family.

So let the word go forth to those who are thinking of buying property in North Minneapolis, and to those who have already bought property and are thinking, gee, should I renovate it? Or should I pack it with renters and ignore as many rules as I can to maximize revenue? Let them look here, and let them know:

SLUMLORDS, FLY-By-NIGHT OPERATORS, SCAMMERS OF EVERY TYPE AND STRIPE:

WE WILL PUT YOUR BLOODY, SEVERED HEAD ON A POLE!!!!!!!!!

Read more »

ATTENTION WANNABE SLUMLORDS: The Hawthorne Neighborhood Has A Little Present For You!

Photo By Jeff Skrenes 

A couple days ago, a battle was fought in the Hawthorne Neighborhood: Housing Director versus Heavy Machinery.

The Housing Director won.

The full story is coming, but for those who are on Facebook: check out the photo album of Jeff Skrenes. In the meantime, word needs to get out: people who think they can buy up dirt cheap "investment properties" in the Hawthorne Neighborhood and then do whatever they like, without pulling permits...need to think again.

Word is the office of City Council Member Diane Hofestede was extremely helpful in making this property a priority for city inspectors and getting the quick action needed to stop a slumlord LITERALLY IN HIS TRACKS. 

(Do not click "Read More")

Read more »

Follow The Heckler, Follow The Money, Lennie Chism Shows The Way

Photo By John Hoff

As part of an ongoing email discussion--which is much more congenial now, I would have to say--Lennie "The Heckler" Chism forwarded some documents in PDF form. One of the documents...

...was produced by the University of MInnesota in 2006 and discusses a kind of distribution of monies in North Minneapolis. The other document is a map which shows, it seems, some of the same stuff.

I have not dug deeply into the documents but when Lennie sent them by email I thought, "Oh, this is the kind of stuff certain North Minneapolis policy wonks would think is ACTUALLY INTERESTING."

You wanna see the documents? Just go here to the JNS blog PDF support site.

http://sites.google.com/site/johnnynorthsidesite/documents-provided-by-lennie-chism

Sorry the link is not live. Regular readers have heard me gripe about Apples versus Dells. But I will say my Apple computer saved the day today at the Hawthorne Housing Committee meeting, so score one for Apple.

Anyway....have fun digging through Lennie's documents. The information contained in the documents probably isn't as delicious as Nyquil but might produce the same results.

I want to point out that one purpose of this blog is to be a conduit of information about North Minneapolis. People may think I have my particular angles--maybe I see Don Samuels as better than Kenya McKnight, or I see the North Side Marketing Task Force as being in need of revision and reformation--but, honestly, I believe, (more than I believe in any particular side of any particular issue) in the benefit of free-flowing information and discussion.

Read more »

"Geek Is Good" Says Candidate For Board of Estimation And Taxation

Keeping up with a theme of "side shows" at the 5th Ward DFL convention, as discussed in the previous post, here is another one: CAROL BECKER, THE AMAZING TAXATION AND ESTIMATION GEEK!!!!!

Last time Becker ran for the Board of Estimate and Taxation, her signs said "Geek Is Good." (See one of the signs, above) This slogan was so attractive to her fellow geeks that...

...one of the stolen signs ended up on a dorm room at MIT!!! How does Becker KNOW this? Trust me, geeks have ways of ferreting out information.

Carol Becker's campaign literature provides a humorous top ten list of the reasons you should vote for her. (Geeks LOVE Top Ten Lists!) Here, David Letterman style, are the Top Ten Reasons to vote for Carol Becker:

No. 10: Reads books about government FOR FUN!!! (Gasps of amazement and horror from the crowd)

No. 9: Admits that she is cheap. Her father would argue she is frugal. (No, Becker is cheap. When she brought up MIT and I said my son wanted to go there, the first thing she said was, "Your son has expensive tastes.")

No. 8: She actually LIKES to talk about TAXES! (Members of the crowd who feel faint should sit down, and put their head between their knees)

No. 7: She has 15 years of Minneapolis budget books at her house, and will let you read them!

(The horror! The horror! BUT THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!!)

No. 6: She can explain the last four years of the Minneapolis budget and what we could have done differently!

No. 5: She is too cheap for expensive campaign literature.

No. 4: She has a spreadsheet and is NOT AFRAID TO USE IT!

No. 3: She actually UNDERSTANDS the financial crisis!

No. 2: She understands humor can be important in tough times.

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO VOTE FOR CAROL BECKER: She wants to talk about how we can all work together to get through this financial crisis!

Naturally, being a geek she has a website: CarolBecker.net.

Now, I don't know if DeWayne Townsend is an opponent of Carol Becker, or if they're both running for different seats. However, in a spirit of fair play I am highlighting some of the amusing stuff I found on a flyer for DeWayne Townsend.

Townsend says he is "nearly retired, so he has time to devote to getting it right." He says his kids live in Minneapolis, and so that gives him "extra incentive." He was born in Brooten, the oil capital of Minnesota. (OK, a lot of people may not understand how funny that is, but you can just go a-Googling and find plenty of stuff about the Brooten oil well dream/fiasco/hoax or whatever you want to call it)

His email is DeWayne4BET@gmail.com.

I'd like to point out that both Becker and DeWayne list massive amounts of educational and professional qualifications on their fliers which are, well, far too boring to write here. Besides, too much sunshine is bad for geeks, so best to get them out of the public eye as suddenly as they arrived. END OF POST!!!!!!!

Read more »

Haste, Waste, And Nothing Green Going On At The "Lost Victorian," 3216 3rd Ave. S.

Original Photo By David Piehl,
image above by an anonymous
suburbanite, who digs our
North Minneapolis revitalization
fight

In response to assertions that cast iron radiators were not recovered or recycled at the "Lost Victorian" in South Minneapolis, (3216 3rd Ave. S.) I asked for better photographic proof than what I could make out, "Where's Waldo" fashion, in the photos I was provided.

The proof came quickly enough by email, and you see it, above, undisputed.

HARDLY ANYBODY IS GREENER THAN JOHNNY NORTHSIDE, AND I AM P***ED ABOUT THIS!!!!! I AM CALLING BULLS*** ON THIS!!! Is this the new Minneapolis "green economy" in action?

WTF!!!!????

On a lighter note: I guess hours and hours playing "Where's Waldo" aren't a complete waste of time, after all.

(Do not click "Read More")

Read more »

A Furious Missive About The "Lost Victorian" At 3216 3rd Ave. S.

Photos By David Piehl

Here is an update on the "Lost Victorian" situation at 3216 3rd Ave. S., which I blogged about previously (click for article) because--despite the fact this is a South Minneapolis situation--it would be VERY DISTURBING INDEED if this kind of thing started happening in North Minneapolis and, further, it appears some citywide policy is being developed because of this situation.

Via a mutual friend, David Piehl sent me these great photos of the demolition and also an email missive dipped heavily in sarcasm, plus a side order of barely-concealed rage. I am printing it, below, pretty much in its original form except for a lot of paragraph breaks. (Which is, in a sense, too bad...because there's just something about writing all-in-one-long-unbroken-paragraph that also conveys a certain depth of feeling as surely as one's content)

David says as follows...

MHC came to the CANDO housing meeting and told us all how wonderful they are and all of the wonderful programs they have, at taxpayer expense, which largely duplicate what is available in the private sector, but without the hand-holding.

Aaaawwww.

Then, the rep from GMHC (forgot his name) told us that they only got involved with 3216 3rd Ave S because Inspections had orders against the house, apparently for some unfinished siding, and was threatening the elderly couple who lived there with more fines and possible jail time.

CPED employee Earl Pettiford, who famously stated at a Central Neighborhood Housing meeting several years ago that "Only through new construction will the city be able to attract the suburban buyers it needs to stabilize the neighborhoods", then referred the low income, elderly owners of 3216 to GMHC.

A GMHC rep visited the house and saw piles of stuff on the porch, and throughout the house. He also noted that some rooms were not heated. This led him to the conclusion that despite original leaded glass windows, woodwork, etc the house would require close to $250k to renovate (and note that a similar house less than a block away recently sold for $250K), so the only option was demolition. GMHC graciously paid the couple $5,000 and then demolished their house.

Despite the fact that GMHC has for decades notified and worked with the neighborhood on new construction proposals, they contend that it simply never occurred to them that the neighborhood would want to know if a property were slated to be demolished...I'm sure that position had nothing to do with the recent Star Tribune articles surrounding the same neighborhood's intense effort to ensure that a house on Park Ave did not get demolished.

(JNS says: sarcasm font is broken, notifying the reader manually)

GMHC claimed that the Green Institute salvaged what was salvageable from the home; however it was duly noted by a resident that photos of the demolition carnage clearly showed 7 or 8 radiators in the demolition pit/former basement; antique radiators are very expensive, and the metal alone is worth recycling if the condition is questionable.

(JNS says: I would really like those photos, since I can't see any radiators in these photos FOR SURE. Looking around in "Where's Waldo" fashion, I can only spot what MIGHT be ONE radiator)

Council Member Glidden was also present, and reported that there is currently no neighborhood notification requirement on the part of CPED, but that they were now working on one.

(JNS says: in the sentence below, Piehl confusingly refers to himself in the third person, but this is indeed Piehl's firsthand account, which I verified with another source)

David Piehl reminded everyone that in the 1990's when Merwyn Larson was head of inspections, inspections had a neighborhood liaison per his direction who routinely gave the neighborhood 60 to 90 days notice of demolition intent, and honored neighborhood objections to demolition when alternatives were found, such as gap financing provided by NRP early access or HOMS Initiative funding, etc.

While this notification was apparently never required, it was the practice and served Central neighborhood well, resulting in several dozen homes being recycled for
owner-occupants and saved from the landfill. RT Rybak replaced the head of inspections with an attorney; so many things are different in inspections nowadays.

Several immediate neighbors expressed their shock at hearing the backhoe as it began working early that Thursday morning. One neighbor and former housing committee chair, Kori Hennessy, apologized to everyone present for not sharing what she knew about the demolition in advance, since her husband purchased the antique leaded glass windows from the house.

GMHC does not currently have a plan in place for the now vacant lot. Several area residents have expressed an interest in utilizing it as a community garden.

Sadly, the vacant lot is more likely to become the future site of a ghetto-fabulous GMHC house...you know, those plastic wrapped milk cartons put together with ticky tack that sport the lovely foam details?

Just why IS it that these GMHC houses always seem to end up in foreclosure rather than on the market?

Oh, and, now that in excess of $30,000 of our tax dollars were used to acquire and demolish 3216 3rd Ave S, not including all the staff time the city spent chasing down those renegade elders who dared to have unfinished siding and some bad updates, what now? The neighborhood is left with an empty lot, and what happens to the seniors who lived there?

$5,000 isn't exactly enough to start over.

(JNS says: the comments section is wide open to opposing points of view, including those of GMHC, CPED, etc. For the record, I have always had a very friendly relationship with CPED. I am also committed to publishing substantive commentary about neighborhood issues)

(I would like to add this, however: that yellow dumpster does not look like an "Atomic" dumpster to me. Atomic is very aggressive about recycling the metal in demolition debri, and based on some behind-the-scenes discussions, I was under the impression Atomic was the preferred waste hauler for these kind of local government initiated demolition projects, since Atomic is apparently the "greenest" choice. SO WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?!!)

Read more »

FREE MONEY FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS: City of Lakes Community Land Trust Home Buyer Programs

This post contains basic information about CLCLT Programs and is directed at individuals of moderate income who may be researching North Minneapolis, thinking of buying a home, and are interested in buyer assistance programs. It's a public service post, nothing entertaining or newsworthy. I do this kind of stuff, too.

I'll start with the contact information. Call Ben at...


...Urban Homeworks, 612-272-4339, benp@urbanhomeworks.org. Their website is urbanhomeworks.org or clclt.org.

Based on a brochure that I was provided at a recent Hawthorne Housing Committee Meeting...and which I promised to publicize, here I am getting around to it...it seems like CLCLT has three main rocking programs.

# Homes for sale, which are "turn the key" ready unlike the many fixer-uppers for sale in North Minneapolis at rock bottom prices, the market has never been better, woo hoo.

# Project Reclaim, which is "a responsible contract for deed program."

# HIP, the Homebuyer Initiated Program.

First, in regard to homes for sale, here are the addresses of homes in North Minneapolis for those who want to do more research: 1314 15th Ave. N., 1522 Irving Ave. N., 4247 Emerson Ave. N., 2015 4th St. N., 5139 Vincent Ave. N., and 2101 Illion Ave. N.

The actual fair market value/sales price of the houses is the market value price. Qualified buyers with incomes below 80 or 50 percent of median income. CLCLT sales price determined buy buyer's ability to qualify for mortgage and subject to buyer need.

Resale restrictions per Ground Lease with CLCLT. (Please note: the land trust basically owns the land under the house, and leases it back to the owner of the house for a nominal sum. I'm told the sum is $1 but I have not been able to confirm that officially)

Second, in regard to Project Reclaim. This is a home ownership tool to equip and support households to successfully own quality revitalized homes. The goal is to facilitate successful homeownership that helps create a healthy and vibrant community. It is designed for households that have been declined by a regular mortgage due to credit challenges.

This program creates an opportunity for people to affordably own a home and participate in a credit enhancement program and debt reduction. Project Reclaim minimizes the homebuyers' exposure to financial risks and real estate speculation.

Highlights of the program are as follows.

# Three percent interest rate.

# Monthly payment will be approximately equal to a 6.5 percent conventional mortgage.

# Home values range between $100k and $150k.

# Two percent reserve account established for the homeowner to use for approved purposes.

# Rehabilitated home with great attention to detail and stringent construction standards.

# Buyer support through mandatory credit enhancement program.

# Contract for Deed with an initial term up to 24 months.

Qualified applicants will: Plan to purchase a home in Minneapolis. Not qualify for a conventional mortgage. Need a credit enhancement program to minimize debt and increase credit score within the terms of the contract period. Household income must be greater than $30,000 annually. But the household income must be less than the following amounts, based on family size:

Family of 1, $43,050. Family of 2, $49,200. Family of 3, $55,350. Family of 4, $61,500. Family of 5, $66,400. Family of 6, $71,350.

It should be noted this program is actually spelled "Project: Reclaim" with a colon in the middle, like that. However, this English Major (magna cum laude) has SERIOUS ISSUES with that colon. Try writing about this program and putting that colon in the name all the time; it makes the text messy and confusing. Therefore, on my own initiative, I removed the colon. I can do that.
It's my blog. Go ahead and send me mad voice mails and emails via Facebook, I can deal with that. It's worth it, to fight the scourge of "trendy punctuation."

The third program outlined in the brochure is CLCLT HIP. (Homebuyer Initiated Program) Selected families will purchase homes currently on the market with the help of two grants: Up to $65,000 towards the purchase of a home, and up to $25,000 to rehab the house.

In exchange for the grants, the participating buyers will agree to the Community Land Trust model of home ownership, which (if and when the buyers decide to sell) will limit the resale price and keep the homes affordable for future low- to moderate-income buyers.

To be eligible for HIP, households must be under 80 percent of the area median income. Funding of CLCLT HIP homes gives preference to applicants who make less than 50 percent of the median income. These requirements may depend on family size.

Here, for example, are the numbers for a family of 3:

Fifty percent of MMI qualifies for up to $65,000 in affordability assistance. Fifty percent of MMI for a family of three is $36,400. For complete numbers and to find out if you qualify, visit clclt.org or call Staci Horwitz at (612) 721-7556, ext. 18.

To be considered, though, you'll need the following things:

# Complete a homebuyer education workshop.

# Attend a CLT orientation session.

# Get mortgage financing from a CLT-approved lender.

# Complete a CLCLT application.

Read more »

Don Samuels, Kenya McKnight Campaigns Jockey For Delegates At 5th Ward Credentials Committee

Rumor had it there might be some fireworks at the 5th Ward DFL Credentials Committee, as the campaigns of City Council Member Don Samuels and challenger Kenya McKnight jockey for delegates, with both sides issuing challenges and McKnight alleging intrigue over 8 delegates, which some are now calling "The Kenya 8."

While the Credentials Committee was not nearly as much fun as a JACC meeting, I was not disappointed. Here is my firsthand account...

The meeting took place at Heritage Park, a development located at the former site of high rise, low-income housing which was demolished. I'm told there were lawsuits filed over the demolition of the high rises, the loss of the housing. Another story for another day; in any case, the meeting took place in the community room of the rental office.

The meeting started out, as nearly all North Minneapolis meetings do, with the moving and setting up of chairs. Kip Browne, the new chairman of the Jordan Area Community Council, and Jerry Moore, the former executive director of that organization, put seats in place like they were student government buddies or something. After a while, somebody brought refreshments; bottled water and sandwiches from Subway. No airs being put on, here.

I was able to gather the names of some of the characters in this little drama, both before and after the meeting.

# Jerry Moore, co-chair of the committee, lives at Heritage Park, former executive director of JACC. He is apparently affiliated with the campaign of Kenya McKnight, but critics say Jerry is putting on a pretense of "non-affiliation" and "objectivity."

# Jackie Cherryhomes, co-chair of the committee, former member of the City Council, a resident of the Homewood area of Willard-Hay. She is openly affiliated with the campaign of Don Samuels.

# Brian Bushay. He was not present at this meeting, but he was in charge of running the recent 5th Ward Caucus, collecting information from the "conveners" about who showed up, who became a delegate and an alternate. Kanya McKnight claims she gave documents about 8 absentees to Bushay, but Bushay apparently states he didn't get any such documents. He is married to State Senator Linda Higgins.

# Helen Williams, currently campaigning for Kenya McKnight, but during the last campaign she was affiliated with Don Samuels. Williams does funerals for impoverished people who die in North Minneapolis violence, including the recent funeral for Annshalike Hamilton.

# Kip Browne, chair of the "New Majority" JACC organization, affiliated with the campaign of Don Samuels. Kip Browne seems to be chasing Jerry Moore from one organization to another.

# Vladimir Monroe, up-and-coming North Minneapolis political activist, working for the Samuels campaign.

# Mike Fedor, affiliated with the Kenya McKnight campaign.

There are some other minor players; we'll get to them by-and-by. The meeting began when co-chair Jerry Moore, lacking a gavel, rapped on the table with his knuckles and called for order. I followed as best I could but, of course, nobody had bothered to distribute extra agendas to members of the audience. Jerry had everybody, including those of us in the audience, introduce themselves. He emphasized this was a public meeting. The undertone was unmistakeable: grassroots media is watching everything, folks. You'll be reading about this on the internet, tomorrow.

The discussion quickly turned to "known challenges," and how these challenges were delivered. Jerry Moore said somebody (Vladamir Monroe) had put a document on his front door, instead of handing it to him, and said, "When you hand deliver, you usually hand it to somebody."

Despite this little show of sparks, whatever issue was at hand was quickly resolved; Jackie Cherryhomes made a motion saying that "the credentials committee resolved those issues on March 9, and those people have been appropriately placed in the Fourth Ward."

The really FUN challenges involved a challenge to Vladimir Monroe brought by Ben Meyers (yes, of "Old Majority" JACC fame, while Monroe is part of the "New Majority") as well as a challenge to Laurel Moore brought by Vladamir Monroe. Who is Laurel Moore? Jerry's MOTHER. This was indeed an up-close-and-personal, in-your-face moment in 5th Ward politics.

Kip Browne moved to reject the challenge brought by Ben Myers against Monroe, because there was no indication it was delivered to the state DFL, per the proper procedure, and also Browne wanted to know why a copy of the challenge was not delivered to the March 7 meeting. (This last question was directed, pointedly, to Jerry)

During this whole discussion, I couldn't help but notice Jerry Moore's legs were churning nervously, like he was RIDING A BIKE or something.

Kip Browne's choice to reject the challenge on purely PROCEDURAL grounds was lawyerly and tactical: the motion, if successful, would put Ben Myers--a licensed attorney--in the position of having his challenge rejected because of sloppy inattention to legal technicalities. Browne indicated that he had ANOTHER motion at the ready, if the first one failed--probably the fact Monroe could produce adequate and overwhelming evidence of residency, up to and including his state-issued identification. (One source told me Myers has been "obsessed" for quite a while with proving that Monroe doesn't really live where Monroe does, in fact, live)

The question was called. Moore wanted a show of hands, not a voice vote. The way it shook out was 8 in favor of Kip's motion, 4 opposed, and one abstaining. (That was Makeda Zulu-Gillespie, who indicated she didn't know enough about the controversy to vote either way)

The votes appeared to break down among McKnight versus Samuels supporters, with the "groom's side" sitting on one side of the table, and the "bride's side" sitting on the other, mostly.

Next up was the issue of Jerry Moore's mother.

At this point, Jackie Cherryhomes took over the meeting, because Jerry Moore was in the position of being a witness. Moore said this was his mother's address, and she lives there as a renter, living in Unit No. 2, not Unit No. 1. Vladamir Monroe asserted there was no record of her living there, and also discrepancies in the absentee letter. Monroe said he used a reverse telephone directory, apparently White Pages Dot Com, and couldn't locate evidence that Laurel Moore lived at that address.

Kip Browne began to cross-examine Moore, asking if Moore had brought any evidence with him, today, of his mother's residency? Moore tried to revert to his role of Chair and dodge the question by Browne. Browne reminded Moore he was not the chair at this point--Cherryhomes was the chair--and Moore was a witness in regard to his mother's residency. Browne pressed his question: KNOWING HIS MOTHER'S RESIDENCY WAS BEING CHALLENGED, had Moore brought any evidence of--

"NO!!!" Moore said, interrupting the question.

A motion was brought forth to reject the challenge to Jerry's mother. The motion passed. Moore abstained. And then Moore had to physically get up and walk away, into the kitchen. I wondered if there was going to be another altercation involving Jerry Moore.

As Moore walked away, Jackie Cherryhomes asked in a chipper voice whether Moore would like her to go ahead and deal with the challenge to Mr. Cook? Moore said, yeah, go ahead.

The situation with Elliot Cook was, arguably, more interesting than Jerry's mother. The place where Cook claims to reside is a vacant house, according to Monroe. There is no indication ANY person legally resides there, Monroe said.

At this point, Jackie Cherryhomes gave over the chairmanship to Jerry Moore, because she had additional evidence in regard to Mr. Cook. Despite the fact the house is apparently vacant, there is evidence of a person who DOES live there, a woman who told Mrs. Cherryhomes that sometimes mail comes for Mr. Cook, but she doesn't know him, and he certainly doesn't live there.

In regard to Cook, he had a "gold card" at the caucus but according to Cherryhomes Cook never signed in. There was no absentee letter, no evidence he was on a "green sheet," but there is other evidence to consider: the face there is a statement from a resident who DOES live at the address (albeit a vacant house) who says she gets mail for Mr. Cook, sometimes, but COOK DOESN'T LIVE THERE.

The McKnight crowd was deaf to this evidence about Cook. Maybe the woman at the house wasn't representing, accurately, who SHE was.

Jerry Moore spoke up and tried to compare the situation with Elliot Cook to that of Constance Nompelis. (Moore had reportedly called the phone number of Constance Nompelis more than once, seeking to prove her existence or non-existence. Compare and contrast with REALLY GREAT PICTURES OF CONNIE NOMPELIS recently published on this blog. Does Connie exist? Oh, yeah, Connie exists)

In any case, Moore pointed out Connie was somebody who had JUST RECENTLY purchased a house, and so it was tough to find a record of her.

Kip Browne objected at that point to Connie's name being brought up. There was, Browne said, no challenge to Nompelis, so her name should not be dragged into this kind of a proceeding.

Browne also made the record in regard to another objection: there are two separate processes going on for challenges. The challenges for Samuels are taking place through THIS body (the credentials committee) and the challenges for McKnight are going through a different process. Browne objects to this, for the record.

Meanwhile, at or near this point in the meeting, I was calling the phone number of Mr. Elliot Cook. The number had been said aloud at a public meeting. Well, I wanted to know what the deal was. I got an answering machine, "This is Elliot, leave a message."

Mike Fedor spoke up, emphasizing the SERIOUSNESS of the challenges of Ms. McKnight, which were challenges to the intergrity of Mr. Bushay, who allegedly received the 8 absentee letters.

Jackie Cherryhomes spoke up, saying this matter is not something either Moore or herself should be involved with, given their relationships to the candidates. (She said this in a very offhand way, I thought, considering how Moore was apparently still trying to keep up the story of being "objective" and not affiliated with any campaign) Cherryhomes said, "We are one community, and it's not about one convention, it's not about one race." She was happy to have somebody else sorting through the mess with the McKnight challenges, considering how close and "in the family" this was.

Browne spoke up, reiterating his objections to two separate processes, and (showing evidence of 3 to 4 years of law training teaching him how to argue "on point" instead of in the sloppy, metaphor-heavy manner of laypeople) pointing out this committee had just dealt with a challenge to Jerry Moore's MOTHER, which could hardly be more "in the family," so if that challenge could be resolved here, so could the McKnight challenges.

(Of course, I thought to myself, here on the committee the count breaks down 8-4-1 in favor of Samuels)

At this point, Makeda Zulu-Gillespie spoke up and made an impassioned mini-speech. Makeda reportedly works for the U of M with their much-anticipated UROC project, the one that drags on forever and WHEN are we going to see some results at the former Penn Plymouth Shopping Center? THAT project.

Makeda first outlined the fact she didn't really know much about what was going on, here--not saying this as an apology or a caveat, but trotting out her ignorance with some degree of pride, as though this gave her statement more creditability, somehow--and then said it was "disrespectful" to bring up somebody's mother. She said the "undertone here is getting on my nerves," as though her nervous inability to tolerate substantive political debate was a valid reason for individuals to refrain from such debate. In summary, she reiterated once again that she knows NOTHING about what is going on, really.

After this speech, a few of the McKnight supporters nodded, one saying, "THAT'S right."

The fun part of the meeting was now over. The issue was dealt with of who would staff the table at the convention. At the end of the meeting, Jerry Moore opened up the meeting to questions and comments from the guests. I took the opportunity to ask Mike Fedor about the precise nature of the "serious" challenges by McKnight.

Fedor said this was essentially a "he said, she said" situation. Letters can be delivered to the precinct caucus by those who can't attend but wish to be considered. Ms. McKnight (contends that she) gave 8 letters to Bushay, but the letters never got there.

I followed up, asking how the letters were delivered? Were they mailed? Sent as an attachment to an email? Hand delivered?

Fedor said the letters were hand delivered.

I tried to clarify if that meant ACTUALLY PLACED IN THE HANDS OF MR. BUSHAY. (After all, the chair himself had debated, early in the meeting, the meaning of "hand delivered.")

At or near this point, Jackie Cherryhomes jumped in and cut off the questions. Well, at least MY questions.

One of the other audience members--an old woman in a wheelchair--was apparently one of the 8 names in those letters. She had the exact same question I did about what was up with those 8 names. Her question didn't get anywhere, either.

Don Allen of IBNN asked a question about "what is the process to be a committee chair?" Don's public feud with Jerry Moore is fairly well-known. It was clear the question was aimed squarely at Jerry Moore. The answer, whatever it was, wasn't as exciting as the question.

All in all, it was a pretty hot and uncomfortable night for Jerry Moore. But it was over, and the meeting concluded as it began, with the ritual putting away of chairs.

Out in the parking lot, I tried to follow up with my question to Mike Fedor. I related something I'd been told by one of my sources about the character of Mr. Bushay: that Bushay is so honest, so committed to the integrity of public process that "he'd declare a pack of gum to Customs, he'd declare a ripped-in-half dollar bill to the IRS." If Bushay had been given 8 letters in the proper way, he'd have done what he was supposed to do. Any comment?

Fedor had nothing to say to this. He shrugged, elaborately.

Later in the night I sought additional sources of information. I was told the 8 letters were (allegedly) ORIGINALS, and NO COPIES WERE (allegedly) MADE. And then these oh-so-original and uncopied letters just DISAPPEARED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH after supposedly being handed to Mr. Bushay.

"He said, she said" indeed. Much depends on the creditability and motivations of the "he" and the "she."

Below this blog post you will find an open and anonymous forum. Feel free to spill your guts.

Read more »

JNS Blog Exclusive (Or Not) Mass Transit And Bridge Plans In North Minneapolis

After my post about city council candidate Kenya McKnight, and how she was caught flat-footed at a public forum when asked a question about the Bottineau Transportation Corridor, an anonymous source forwarded some info about mass transit and bridge plans in North Minneapolis. Now, truthfully, I don't know if this info is exclusive or...

...something that can be found elsewhere on the internet. I just don't know. But it doesn't matter, because sometimes I see it as my job to simply promulgate useful info about North Minneapolis. And sometimes I see it as my job to sneak in images and mentions of my son, Alex, pictured above. Alex has been a big fan of mass transit for pretty much his whole life. 

So, for those who are obsessed with earth-friendly mass transit (and actually know what the Bottineau Transportation Corridor is) here's some some blog candy from an anonymous but oh-so-helpful source, as follows:

Bottineau Boulevard

The Bottineau Boulevard Alternative Analysis is studying three light rail transit (LRT) options and four bus rapid transit (BRT) options for North Minneapolis. They are:

Lowry Avenue to Lyndale Avenue

West Broadway to Penn Avenue to TH 55

Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad Corridor to TH 55

West Broadway to Lyndale (BRT alignment only)

The consultant team on the project, SRF, has been giving each of the four alignments under consideration as optimistic chance as possible. For example, on the Lowry Avenue alignment, the Lyndale station was shifted to Fremont/Emerson station because of the opportunity to intercept the bus routes at this intersection and provide greater ridership. Emphasis has been placed on minimizing impacts to properties.

The current light rail station plans for Lowry Avenue call for stations at the Lowry Avenue intersections of Penn and Fremont/ Emerson avenues. The stations would be center platform stations with an eastbound platform on one side of the intersection and a westbound platform on the other side of the intersection.

The consultant team is currently studying the details of each alignment and determining items such as: signal location, additional right-of-way acquisition, road closures and access change necessity, and where vehicle travel lanes will be reduced. Once all details are defined, the travel time, ridership estimate, capital cost, and operating expense for each alignment will be determined.

By summer 2009 all alignments will be analyzed to the level that a decision can be made as to which alignments may qualify for federal funding. These alignments will be studied further during the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) phase of the project.

Lowry Avenue Bridge

The Lowry Avenue Bridge removal project has been bid and the $2 M demolition contract will be awarded to Bolander and Sons Construction (St. Paul, MN) later this month. Elements of the bridge will be salvaged for reuse. The City of Minneapolis will be reusing some of the steel grid deck as a fence at its new Public Works facility on Hiawatha Avenue. Eight of the roughly 8' x 2' x 4' limestone blocks comprising the substructures of the original 1905 construction will be salvaged and available for reuse. Bridge railing will also be salvaged and available for reuse as bike racks. In total, the county plans to reuse over 90 tons of bridge material.

It is presumed that the contractor will use cranes on barges to remove the bridge. It is anticipated that major bridge removal will begin once the river is passable for the barges.

Right of way acquisition for the new bridge has begun. The project is phased due to budget constraints. Construction of phase 1 includes just the river span, phase 2 includes the west approach from N 2nd Street. Hennepin County hopes to bid phase 1 construction in August. The second phase of construction will be bid when funding becomes available for this portion of the project.

Currently, Hennepin County, has identified state bridge bonds and county bonds for project funding. An application has been submitted for economic stimulus funding.

(Johnny Northside says: Wow! All this and the WORLD'S LARGEST YWCA coming on West Broadway? And with real estate prices impossibly low? Now is the time to buy, buy, buy a home in North Minneapolis!)

Read more »

Hawthorne Public Safety Committee Opposes House Takeovers By ACORN Advocacy Group

Here is the word on what happened at last night's meeting of the Public Safety Committee in the Hawthorne Neighborhood, where upcoming ACORN "direct actions" were discussed in the context of a neighborhood response...

A resolution was passed by the Public Safety Committee opposing such housing takeovers in the Hawthorne Neighborhood. Word is the resolution had a lot of wording, but the long and the short of it was opposition. This resolution now goes to the Executive Committee for the "yay or nay," but opposition is not expected.

Also, Lieutenant Rugel of the 4th Precinct was at the meeting, and discussed a police memo which had circulated saying, in so many words, some actions are still trespassing no matter what the politics of the situation might be, and those actions will be treated like trespassing.

I've always thought the city's mandate/directive/plea for citizens to "adopt houses" had a lot of leeway for common sense actions to secure vacant properties, but moving into one and making it your home...no, it can't be stretched THAT far.

Read more »

EXCLUSIVE: State Rep. Jim Abler Shoots Off His Mouth To Northside Youth (Accidentally Hits His Own Foot...What Will He Use To Plug The Bullet Hole?)

Cell Phone Photo, Jeff Skrenes

Today, at the State Capitol Building, the Northside Policy Action Coalition (NPAC) gathered to lobby legislators over North Minneapolis issues. One of the issues was different ways to approach youth violence. And that's when it happened...

A group of residents--both youth and adults--were discussing different approaches to the problem of youth violence in North Minneapolis. One suggested approach--not really tied to any particular legislative initiative, much to its detriment, but that's beside the point--was whether youth violence could be dealt with by reclassifying the problem as a public health issue instead of a criminal justice issues.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking...why? The logic behind this idea is apparently that a 13-year-old who commits a crime should not be thrown headfirst into the criminal justice system, just yet. And I would respond: they're not. "Juvie" is nothing like the adult criminal justice system. But regardless of the merits of either side of this issue, it was clear NPAC and a state rep named Jim Abeler did not agree.

Abeler, (R-48B) represents the cities of Anoka and Ramsey. During this discussion about different approaches to youth violence, Abeler took out some of his campaign kitsch--some wooden nickels, as picture above--and gave some to several of the youth and adults. Now here's where it got kind of bizarre.

Keep in mind, this is third hand info, so this may not be a verbatim quote, but somebody who was there actually did write down what was reported by somebody who heard it directly. This is what Abeler said, or words very close to this:

"If you get shot, use this to plug the bullet hole."

THIS apparently refers to the wooden nickels.

This offhand remark did not go over very well. In fact, one person (Cheryl Morgan-Spencer of the Urban League) brought one of the wooden nickels back to return to Abler, because she didn't want to have it after hearing that, to (in her words) show him how much it was worth to her, which was nothing. Abeler then tried to defend his utterance by saying that he "only said it to the boys," as if the girls just magically didn't hear it because it was only intended for "the boys."

Thus, it appears Abeler actually managed to get off two rounds, both hitting the same target--his political foot.

One person prominent in North Minneapolis affairs says that this is simply unacceptable, that it furthers a stereotype about North Minneapolis and, more importantly, it devalues the civic contribution that the youth were making that day by talking to elected officials. Members of NPAC are demanding a public apology from Abler--according to my source--and, furthermore, they encourage anybody who agrees to contact Abler and here is the contact info:

Jim Abeler (R-48B)
100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
State Office Building #203
St Paul MN
651-296-1729 office
763-421-3722 business
rep.jim.abeler@house.mn

This info is from the Minnesota State Reps handbook, which is public info. Also, please note, if you do contact Representative Abeler, do not cuss, or threaten, or be disrespectful, as that will only reinforce his stereotypes.

And, allow me to add this: wooden nickels? If there was a time in America when wooden nickels were actually funny, that time is not within the historical memory of the vast majority of American society.

Read more »

GETTING CREATIVE WITH OUR MONEY: "Hawthorne Advantage" Program Approved, Plus Emergency Assistance For Hawthorne Homeowners

Photo By Bryan Thao Worra

The following information comes via email from Jeff Skrenes, Housing Director of Hawthorne, for immediate distribution...

On Thursday, January 8, the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council board approved two changes to its housing programs. First and foremost, the "Hawthorne Advantage" program for purchasers of owner-occupied houses in Hawthorne. Here's how it works:

Just for buying a house AND LIVING IN IT in Hawthorne, we'll help you out with 3 percent of the purchase price, up to $4,000. And if you buy a foreclosed or boarded/vacant property we'll kick in an additional $1,000.

This assistance will stay as a lien against the property for ten years, but has no monthly payments and ZERO interest. From year six through ten, the amount is forgiven at 20 percent a year until it is completely forgiven when you have stayed in our fine neighborhood for ten years.

Applying The Numbers

Let's put a real-life example or two into this. If you buy a $120,000 house in Hawthorne from another owner-occupant, you'll qualify for the maximum initial assistance amount of $4,000 (3 percent of sales price)

But let's say you find a $50,000 house that just went through foreclosure. (This may be high for foreclosed homes, but it makes the math easy) You'd quality for the 3 percent down payment help of $1,500 plus an additional $1,000 for turning a foreclosed property back to owner-occupied status. That winds up being 5 percent of the purchase price.

And guess what? You can use the Minneapolis Advantage $10,000 in combination with our assistance. Bearing in mind that both prices and interest rates are near record lows, and seeing all the great stuff we're doing in our neighborhood, I've got to ask: Why WOULDN'T you buy in Hawthorne?

(Easy, Jeff, you're not working in a bank on commissions anymore)

Rehab Loan Program Was Always Here, Nothing New

Our neighborhood also has an excellent loan program at 4 percent interest, repaid over ten years.

(Please note: Recently we figured out a lot of folks aren't aware of it, even folks who have been in Hawthorne for a while)

But if somebody has an emergency and can't qualify for that, we are still here to help.

Neighbors Taking Care Of Neighbors

On January 8, 2009, Hawthorne introduced an emergency assistance program. If your furnace goes out in the middle of winter and you have trouble getting access to money to address this or another similar emergency, Hawthorne now has a program to help. We will lend you up to $6,000 at zero interest, forgiven in the same way as the down payment program.

Come to Hawthorne! We'll help you get here and we take care of our neighbors.

(Thanks, Jeff. To add a minor historical footnote: I was the guy who came up with the name "Hawthorne Advantage" during a Hawthorne Housing subcommittee meeting, modeling the name after the "Minneapolis Advantage" program. Jeff Skrenes was kind to summarize the details in an email so this blog would have the honor of breaking the news about these new neighborhood programs)

(As for the picture...our acclaimed neighborhood poet, Bryan Thao Worra, does this with his bills when he leaves tips. This photo was taken at Broadway Pizza in the Hawthorne neighborhood)

Read more »