thanks Pamela...
Sadly, a lot of Northsiders are doing precisely what you suggest. I attended the Hawthorne neighborhood housing committee meeting tonight. I've had to work evenings for the last couple years, so the last time I attended was during the housing boom of a couple years ago. Back then the room was packed, and we had many developers and proposals to pick between.My suggestion to Dyna is to think back when you were telling us of the great property you could buy elsewhere, and go purchase it. If you are not going to be part of the solution in the third ward, you are part of the problem.
Tonights meeting was different- only one developer was present, and didn't seem in any hurry to develop anything. There was no roomful of people seeking or opposing planned development. And the "504" list of vacant and boarded abandoned buildings was back and growing. In fact, I suspect the list is underestimating the number of abandoned buildings in Hawthorne- there are three on my block and only one was on the list.
Looking around the neighborhood it's obvious too that people are leaving- several houses have had for sale signs up for months, and their's plenty of parking available. So Don Samuels will have no trouble establishing residency in Hawthorne before the next 3rd ward race.
My family has lived in the 3rd ward for most of the last century and we've been on the same corner here in Hawthorne since 1941. I took a house that sat empty for two years, put it back on the tax rolls, added a garage, and bought two adjoining tax forfeit lots. I will leave only at gunpoint, which unfortunately happened a few times last summer. After several busts the gangs aren't quite so obvious and I haven't heard gunshots in a while. None the less the drug dealing is only a few blocks away.
Given the continued Bush recession unemployement is rising giving the gangs plenty of new recruits. The 3rd ward needs more than a cheerleader, it needs a Council Member with vision. My vision for the 3rd ward includes:
Living wage jobs- keep those we have and develop more
Seize and Sue the gangs out of business- we need to aggressively seize the criminal's assets and use civil law to bankrupt them, much as the Southern Poverty Law Center did to the Klan.
Empower homeowners- most of our housing stock is old enough to need major rehab. Most owners can't afford to contract this work out. We need to help these do it yourselfers rehab their property with technical help, tool lending, etc..
I'd worry about crossing Don Samuels a lot more- he walked through a unionized print shop and saw only white folks, then went on a campaign long tirade against union folks. Sorta like our recent one term governor...And, had Olin Moore won, I wonder what he would be in store for if he ever crossed you.
peace,
Dyna Sluyter from Hawthorne held hostage...
Pamela Taylor (Tampa)TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
-- TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
