[Mpls] Rental property homeowning
In a message dated 7/29/2003 8:48:54 PM Central Daylight Time, "JIM GRAHAM" [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: A one or two bedroom apartment in a building filled with other poor folks OR owning your own nice three or four bedroom home? Which would YOU and most folks chose? Which would be more likely to break a cycle of poverty and crime? Ask yourself, which would be better for your own family, and I will bet you have the answer for poor families too. I agree that home ownership does help a family succeed. It gives them stability and incentive to be more involved in the community. But, we need to be careful about how we do this, lest most of the money be wasted. On the White Earth reservation in western Minnesota, there were two programs started in the late 1970's to help upgrade the housing of tribal members. One program simply built houses and gave them to members. The other created a low-interest revolving loan fund that allowed members to get mortgages well below the market rates. Which program worked better? All you have to do is drive around the reservation and and you can spot the two different types of houses. Those houses which were gifted are almost universally run down or are boarded up. This was true within 10 years of the house being built. On the other hand, those houses built or bought under the mortgage program are in good shape, well-maintained and in good repair. Jimmy Carter works with Habitat for Humanity, and they don't just swoop down and pick potential homeowners at random. They are carefully screened and chosen on the likelihood of their ability to keep up the home and make the payments. Help people get into a home they own, yes. But we need to be sure that they are ready and motivated to succed in home ownership. --M. G. Stinnett Jordan
RE: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue?
One note: Bill Cullen writes: 1) Jim Graham is right. Help low income families purchase houses. Their investment will help them escape poverty and give them emotional investment in the neighborhood. It will cost less than $158,828. Unfortunately (for me professionally), Bill is referencing an erroneous figure calculated by my paper, the Southwest Journal. The figure was meant to reference the city's per-unit affordable-housing subsidy ... unfortunately, we included private (nonsubsidy) money in our math, which was wrong. We printed a prominent correction/explanation in the next issue. The corrected figure is $41,473 per unit. Whether that is too much is, of course, up to you, but please use the correct figure in debate. As we said in print, sorry for leading everyone astray. David Brauer Editor, Southwest Journal King Field TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Child hit by gunfire in north Minneapolis
Child hit by gunfire in north Minneapolis Terry Collins, Star Tribune Published July 30, 2003 A child inside a north Minneapolis home was struck late Tuesday by a bullet apparently fired from outside the home, police said. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4015314.html Posted by Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- __ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search http://corp.mail.com/careers TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] General Mills grant will keep 14 Minneapolis rec centers open
General Mills grant will keep 14 Minneapolis rec centers open Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune Published July 30, 2003 More than a dozen Minneapolis community buildings will remain open during the last two weeks of August thanks to a donation from the General Mills Foundation. The foundation's grant, to be announced at a news conference today, will spare 14 recreation centers scheduled to close as a cost-cutting measure. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4014924.html Posted by Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- __ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search http://corp.mail.com/careers TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Minneapolis Fire Department situation
The Rake magazine has a feature on the situation with the massive staff cuts at the Minneapolis Fire Department. http://www.rakemag.com/features/detail.asp?catID=61itemID=5610 Also mentioned is the idea of adding revenue to MFD by having firefighters conduct housing inspections on their downtime. Does anyone know more about how that might work? I asked my dad (retired MFD firefighter) and he thought it was a pretty idiotic idea since anyone who knows the MFD knows there isn't that much downtime with the training, equipment maintenance and fire safety inspections that are already conducted. I would also imagine that this could further stretch response times if firefighters have to leave inspections to respond to calls. I've also heard from the housing inspection side that this would likely have problems - inspections having to be rescheduled if a firefighter gets pulled away by a call, costs for training firefighters to do inspections and installing Inspections software at the stations, inspections would become secondary concerns for staff who were hired primarily to fight fires and respond to emergencies. The idea is portrayed in the Rake feature as essentially a done deal. Does anyone know if that's the case? Mark Snyder Windom Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue?
Mark is very correct in his assertions. When I lived in Waite Park (NE) there was a city owned rental home next to mine. Both tenants were good families, one foreign, one a single mom. It never bothered me to live next to it except between tenants, mostly not knowing what would move in next. It also bothered me then because it took the city three months to get the place ready for the next tenant (it had not been destroyed by previous tenant, I peeked). The present tenant is the single mom, and I think her and her children are better off being in a house in a nice area rather than an apartment or a bad neighborhood. They have stability and the bad element to destroy her children is not as prevalent. I congratulated her several times for the good job she is doing on her children because I am the product of a divorce, and know how hard it can be on her. There was at least one other city rental house nearby and I never heard it to be a problem, and the tenant took care of the yard quite well. Ron Leurquin Nokomis East -Original Message- From: Mark Snyder [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 8:43 PM To: Minneapolis Issues Forum Subject: Re: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue? Dave Stack is correct that I was thinking primarily of adults with my comments. Children are a different situation and deserve additional attention, especially because they have essentially no control over the environment they live in. From what I've seen, the biggest obstacle facing children in poor families in Minneapolis are unstable living situations that cause them to move frequently and also change schools frequently, often leading to their falling behind. If direct housing assistance to families, either as Jim Graham has suggested by subsidizing home ownership or as Dennis Plante has suggested by deconcentrating poverty, helps solve the problem of school-aged children moving around too much, that might be worth the cost to taxpayers right there. However, I don't know that neighborhood surroundings matter as much as stability of the individual child's home. Who is the bigger influence in a child's life - their parents or their parents' neighbors? With the exception of extreme poverty where meals are missed and such, are kids really that aware that they're poor? I grew up in a single-parent and poor family, but I have to say that I didn't really notice much difference between me and the other kids until maybe around junior high school when we actually started to pay attention to things like clothes and what brands kids wore. Or maybe it was just me. Does anyone know whether kids in poor neighborhoods who do live in relatively stable situations where they're not moving constantly and have responsible parents do better at avoiding things like drugs, gangs or other criminal activity? I would guess that they do. Again, that's why I say that focusing on just one aspect of the lives of struggling families, in this case, where they live, will not lead towards a real solution for the poverty and other ills that plague our most impacted neighborhoods. We need to address all of the obstacles in a coordinated fashion. Where there's substandard housing and concentrated poverty, there are also going to be the health issues, the educational issues, the job skill issues, etc. Addressing each of those issues in a vacuum is what we've been doing pretty much forever and it should be fairly obvious by now that it doesn't work very well. The other problem I have is that whether you go with the Graham idea or the Plante idea, both are awfully tough sells from a political standpoint. As distasteful as it is, we do have to maintain some awareness of how policy in Minneapolis is viewed by the folks at the Capitol. I'm willing to bet that they'd look at something like the Graham proposal and say Gee, Minneapolis has enough revenue to be giving away houses to the poor. They can stand to have their LGA slashed some more. Even though this wouldn't be an accurate portrayal of the situation, when has that ever stopped the folks on the Hill from sticking it to us? As for the Plante idea, while I certainly understand the reasoning behind deconcentrating poverty, I'm still willing to bet that folks in those more well-off neighborhoods are going to see it simply as being told to take on poor families and associated problems they'll bring with them from Jordan or Hawthorne or wherever. And they'll balk, just like they do when the issue is ever brought up of locating supportive housing outside the huge cluster in Whittier. There are areas in NE where just saying affordable housing or increasing housing density will get you a dirty look from some folks. Start talking about something like Plante suggests and you'd probably hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth all the way to Duluth. I'm not proud to have some of these folks for neighbors and I'm glad to say it's not as bad as it used to be when I was growing up, but I'm also
Re: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue? No, Poverty Is!
David was more correct than he thinks. He now has the MCDA subsidy at $41,473. But his original figure was much more correct for the total subsidy per unit. What David forgot was to check the total subsidy of taxpayer dollars. Lets see now, we also have Empowerment Zone money, Hennepin County money, MHFA money, low income tax-credits, HUD money with several different programs (that little Bank in Iowa is one of them that disperses such money). I think it was estimated that the Village assembled almost fifty sources of funding to be completely financed. Of course most of the sources ultimately got back to the taxpayer. So David do not be modest, your first estimate was far closer than you seem to think. But for the sake of argument lets look at only the $41,473. A $140,000 house gets a mortgage WITH a guaranteed first 30%. Cost to the City - nothing but a 5% or 10% escrow, which the City gets back. Lets say you escrow a whopping 15% (just to be safe) and set aside $5000 from that 41,473. This of course will give you a loan at about .5 to .75% less than Market on a thirty-year mortgage. Now lets pay down that loan to $110,000 for affordable homeownership. On today's Market the monthly Mortgage payment for the family would be $590.50. That figure might change this morning at say 11:00 AM. It might go up or down by as much as $5.00 or $10.00. So for the sake of argument lets just call it $600.00 per month. In this situation a family now owns a house for less than the guidelines for the rent on a two-bedroom apartment under required low income housing guidelines. AND the City has saved $6,473 in taxpayer dollars. Now of course if you go after all those other pools of money you would have an even lower amount, but lets just leave it there for comparison. Now lets look at the tax creating benefit of that single-family house compared to an affordable rental unit. Just guess which one pays more per unit for property taxes. Folks, this is not idle speculation. The rates I quoted are in a number of Internet sites for anyone to find. The real magic is in how the politicians keep it hidden. For those who think such a program should not be set up for poor people, let's start looking at the real cost of keeping someone in poverty. Don't even consider the human suffering and decreased happiness and well being of the family. Let's just look at real dollars. How much does it cost for twenty years of subsidized rent? How much does it cost for increased medical costs? How much does it cost for other social services? How much does it cost per person to the criminal justice system for the average poverty stricken child who enters a life of crime? In these hard financial times, with budget cuts, We just cannot afford the luxury of keeping people in poverty. We need to help people out of it, and the best vehicle is affordable homeownership. The next thing is concentration of poverty. There will always be a group of people who wish to, or need to, rent. Bill Cullen's suggestion of rent vouchers makes sense for that reason. It allows people the freedom to choose where they live and is far cheaper for taxpayers. More importantly it de-concentrates poverty and gives new opportunities for people. But lets go one step further shall we? How about returning to a system where individual small landlords are given a tax advantage if their property is not in an impacted neighborhood and they rent to a low-income person. We give such tax advantages and financing advantages to Large Land Lords. Most such advantages for Large Land Lords are designed to exclude small landlords. I wonder why? Could it be that Large Land Lords had a little more money and a lot more influence on the creation of those programs? Remember the largest industry in Minneapolis as well as most large cities is poverty, and business is good. All the above looks at only Costs. It does not factor in the increased productivity of a child that is the product of a stabilized family. Keeping to the dollar and cents thyme only, how many more taxes will that child pay into the system over their lifetime? From a purely selfish stance, we just cannot afford the luxury of keeping people in poverty to benefit the Poverty Industry any longer. As a society we could not afford the social and moral cost before, but now as taxpayers we can no longer support the Poverty Industry. We need to start some good old fiscal conservative revolution in this country. We Democrats have antecedents such as Thomas Jefferson; we need to get back to Jefferson's revolutionary philosophy. All men are created equal! They are endowed by their maker with certain inalienable rights! Among which is the pursuit of happiness! My question is this: How in hell are you going to be happy in poverty, when concentrated with other impoverished people and with no opportunity to get out? Homeownership is not the only solution, but it is the best one I know. It is one that has
RE: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue?
While I would agree that the most important influence for a child growing up is that of a stable, nurturing family, I think it's also important to realize that one of the larger issues facing impoverished families is the constant struggle to just survive, whether they're receiving government assistance of not. I do not propose a rental property cap by neighborhood to remove people (from my neighborhood) that I no longer wish to live next to. If it were that simple, my wife and I would sell and move elsewhere. I do so because on a daily basis I have the opportunity to wathc the interaction of my neighbors. My oberservations are as follows: When a child in my neighborhood finially gets it and realizes that they, through hard work, have a right to live a life other than what they see, they become outcasts. Not through the petty bullying that most of us remember growing-up, but through much more dangerous and malicious methods. In my neighborhood, if a young male attempts to make a different life for himself he will be continually threatened and eventually beat-up. His self-esteem will be eroded through constant derogatory remarks regarding his ethnic background (especially by those of his own race). Most end-up failing in their dreams because they're not strong enough to take it. Those that eventually succeed do so because their parents care enough to either move, or ship them off to lives with friends/relatives in a nicer neighborhood. Anyone that doubts these dynamics exist on a regular basis only need to come spend some time in the 'hood. Many more of the kids would escape poverty (and break the cycle) on their own, if the neighborhoods they lived in were better influences on them. Making housing affordable (whether it's rented or owned) won't change these dynamics. Only deconcentrating the number of rental properties by neighborhood will. It's been my experience that good neighborhoods only exist when the majority of its residents are unwilling to accept behaviour that is counter-productive to having a safe, healthy neighborhood. Currently, neighborhoods such as Jordan don't fit that criteria. If something is stolen in my neighborhood, the cops aren't called, as many of the residents in my neighborhood see the cops as more of a problem than they do the person that stole from them. Homeowners and renters alike, for the most part, turn a blind-eye to activities such as drug dealing and gambling. The reasons typically center around the fear of reprisal or the desire to fit-in. I find a certain irony in the fact that many of the dealers I call-on now recognize me and my vehicle and I consistently hear them telling me that I need to get the F out of the hood. The irony? Many of them live in the northern suburbs, or South Minneapolis and only come to my neighborhood because their crimes are more readily accepted by the residents here. It's easier for them to do business. _ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue?
I attended high school in North Minneapolis and have experienced what you speak of. Some have the attitude that if you work hard to better yourself you are somehow 'acting white,' a phrase I often heard spoken about people moving out to better neighborhoods. Some people also think that to leave 'the hood' you give up your roots and your respect. Perhaps it is this mentality that is plaguing some of the neighborhoods such as Jordan, to stay there is hell but to leave it's a sin. Sean Ryan Audubon (Also, being a white male from Northeast people often assumed I was rich based simply on those facts when in reality I was not.) From: Dennis Plante [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Mpls] Is Rental Property the Issue? Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 09:04:04 -0500 While I would agree that the most important influence for a child growing up is that of a stable, nurturing family, I think it's also important to realize that one of the larger issues facing impoverished families is the constant struggle to just survive, whether they're receiving government assistance of not. I do not propose a rental property cap by neighborhood to remove people (from my neighborhood) that I no longer wish to live next to. If it were that simple, my wife and I would sell and move elsewhere. I do so because on a daily basis I have the opportunity to wathc the interaction of my neighbors. My oberservations are as follows: When a child in my neighborhood finially gets it and realizes that they, through hard work, have a right to live a life other than what they see, they become outcasts. Not through the petty bullying that most of us remember growing-up, but through much more dangerous and malicious methods. In my neighborhood, if a young male attempts to make a different life for himself he will be continually threatened and eventually beat-up. His self-esteem will be eroded through constant derogatory remarks regarding his ethnic background (especially by those of his own race). Most end-up failing in their dreams because they're not strong enough to take it. Those that eventually succeed do so because their parents care enough to either move, or ship them off to lives with friends/relatives in a nicer neighborhood. Anyone that doubts these dynamics exist on a regular basis only need to come spend some time in the 'hood. Many more of the kids would escape poverty (and break the cycle) on their own, if the neighborhoods they lived in were better influences on them. Making housing affordable (whether it's rented or owned) won't change these dynamics. Only deconcentrating the number of rental properties by neighborhood will. It's been my experience that good neighborhoods only exist when the majority of its residents are unwilling to accept behaviour that is counter-productive to having a safe, healthy neighborhood. Currently, neighborhoods such as Jordan don't fit that criteria. If something is stolen in my neighborhood, the cops aren't called, as many of the residents in my neighborhood see the cops as more of a problem than they do the person that stole from them. Homeowners and renters alike, for the most part, turn a blind-eye to activities such as drug dealing and gambling. The reasons typically center around the fear of reprisal or the desire to fit-in. I find a certain irony in the fact that many of the dealers I call-on now recognize me and my vehicle and I consistently hear them telling me that I need to get the F out of the hood. The irony? Many of them live in the northern suburbs, or South Minneapolis and only come to my neighborhood because their crimes are more readily accepted by the residents here. It's easier for them to do business. _ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Dayton helping/Thanks ROAR
I just got off the phone with Sen. Mark Dayton, who is already working hard to stop a backdoor attempt to limit the sound insulation program for homes impacted by airport noise. As you may have read in the Star Tribune this morning, Sen Trent Lott has tried to prohibit use of Airport Improvement Program funds for noise mitigation beyond the 65 DNL. In other words, agreements made in Minnesota, involving hundreds of hours of negotiations, could be immediately erased by a maneuver in Congress. Sen. Dayton said he would do everything possible to defeat this in Congress. (Those of you who remember Sen. Dayton's run for Senate may note that he came to the ROAR forum, said he would be an ally fighting airport noise in Congress and it's good to know he's kept his word.) ROAR's email on this topic helped generate needed calls to the Congress people, which has helped shed light on what could have been a backroom maneuver done before most of us knew what happened. It illustrated how important it is to have citizens helping in this fight so I encourage people to go to ROAR's Website (www.quiettheskies.com) and sign up for email alerts. R.T. Rybak TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] What Carol Johnson is telling Memphis
Ann Berget wrote: As a Tennessean myself, a Memphian in fact, I assure you that the difference between Nashville and Memphis is a lot greater than just 240 miles along I-40. Nevertheless, I think it is only fair to remind readers that Carol Johnson has served Minneapolis Public Schools faithfully and admirably for over thirty - thirty! - years, most of those years as a classroom teacher. Her commitment to the children of Minneapolis is indisputable. She has served as superintendent now for six years at a time when the average tenure for urban superintendents nationwide is just a little longer than two years. Concern at the prospect of her possible departure is understandable, but impugning her integrity in the process is unwarranted. I have to admit that it is a little discomforting to question the success of an African-American given the state of contemporary American society, but success as an individual is not necessarily the same as effective job performance (as Clarence Thomas implied in his dissenting opinion on Affirmative Action). Certainly we can say that it is a great achievement for a young woman from Brownville, Tennessee to obtain a Ph.D. and rise to become the superintendent of the Minneapolis Public Schools. Yet, what should be important to us as citizens of Minneapolis is not, as Ms. Berget points out, her length of service or her degree of commitment, but Dr. Johnson's specific contributions to the achievement of students in the District. I doubt that many liberals will be willing to evaluate Judge Thomas' tenure on the Supreme Court by his length of service or his degree of commitment. In the GoMemphis article Dr. Johnson cites two of her accomplishments as the passage of the tax increase for small class sizes and her plans to grade schools. Neither of these speak to actual gains in student achievement or reductions in high school drop out rates. Her plan to grade schools appears to be a derivative of Bush's No Child Left Behind program which is now beginning to be represented as part of the Liberal Educational agenda. I have seen no clear cut evidence of Dr. Johnson's impact in Minneapolis other than her ability to mollify African-American parents who should be truly incensed by the failure of the Minneapolis Public Schools to do anything of value for a large percentage of their children. A White superintendent might be held accountable for these failures and be challenged for maintaining predominately White high schools in a predominately Black school district, but a Black superintendent seems to a get a free pass on these issues (which, if one is really cynical, might be the reason she has the job). Regardless, whether Dr. Johnson goes or stays will have little impact on the quality of education in Minneapolis as long has we have a liberal DFL dominated School Board that is unwilling to hire a task oriented superintendent who will make the reforms necessary to improve education quality in Minneapolis. And, I don't write this as a candidate for school board (never again!), but as a parent faced with having to pay, over and above my tax contribution, for quality education. Michael Atherton Prospect Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Dayton helping/Thanks ROAR
Sounds great. Now, can the good Senator and you do a little noise abatement for us in Jordan? Last night a very loud 'noise' hit a 2 year old sitting in her house at 27th and Girard Ave N. I haven't heard yet how she's doing. The night before, at least three loud 'noises' hit people on the corner of 26th and Humboldt. The victims of this excessive sound infraction may or may not have been a part of the problem. I recognized one as a regular down on 26th. I am pretty sure that the little girl last night wasn't dealing drugs, however. Having worked at Ft Snelling, I know how aggravating jet noise can be, but our noise is deadly. Senator and Mr Mayor, can we please get some Homeland Security up here in Jordan? Our babies really need it. Anne McCandless Jordan TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Rent Control
There are numerous alternatives to the anti-business idea of rent control. 1. Minnesota still refunds a portion of the owners' property tax to lower income renters. 2. Get a roommate. 3. Pool your resources and buy a house with a friend or 2. 4. Graduate from high school, and then back to school and learn a trade or profession to make more money. 5. Plan on having a smaller family as they are less expensive. 6. Wait until you are married, have finished school and have a job before you start a family. Families with 2 parents have been proven to be more successful. Outrageous old-fashioned ideas, but they have been proven to work. I am a single Mom of a 15 year old son. I was, able to support myself when he was born, so even though his Dad is deceased, we can get by. I also manage 66 units of family section 8 in Minneapolis. I speak from experience. Most young people that hear how long my waiting list is react with disgust when I suggest they find a roommate as a temporary solution. It takes time, hard work and dedication to support yourself and a family. The arrogance of some insisting that everyone has a right to this or that is ridiculous. Try earning it! I had roommates for years as an adult. My parents worked 2 jobs. It is lack of motivation more than lack of income that is the problem. Barbara Murray Riverside Park TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] audubon nieghborhood update and recognition of responsibility
for those list members who live in audubon or windom neighborhoods it looks like the vote for granting pop! a beer and wine license will be august 4th at the neighborhood meeting - those with an opinion are encouraged to attend (remember to register as a neighborhood resident prior to the meeting to be eligble to vote, if you have not already). slightly off topic - but entirely applicable to better community living and a better minneapolis: http://www.skyfishproject.org/ror.html - recognition of responsibility please sign and forward to friends. .andrew korf audubon TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Sabri Interest in Felien/Pulse Peter McLaughlin
Tom Welling wrote: My question is, how much of an interest in Pulse does Basim have - does this explain the recent coverage of Sabri and Sabri supporters such as Peter McLaughlin, who was pictured at the ribbon cutting of another building? How will McLaughlin's association with Sabri affect his run for mayor? Jim Graham wrote: Considering the sad circumstances around Brian Herron and the Federal Indictment, I am also amazed that any politician would be seen anywhere with Sabri, let alone where he could get his picture taken. Isn't Sabri still being prosecuted by the Federal Government for attempting to bribe at least one politician? If Peter is so imprudent as to be some how associated with Sabri it would also give many of his most ardent supporters pause to re-consider such support. (snip) Such an association might well end a very promising political career. David Piehl writes: As Jim noted, there are still federal charges against Basim Sabri surrounding the events of the spring and summer of 2001. Basim Sabri is alleged to have given Brian Herron $5,000 in an attempt to obtain Herron's assistance in receiving regulatory approval from the City to commence the proposed real estate project (Motel on Lakestreet 2nd Ave); that Sabri offered Herron $10,000 to threaten the current property owners that the City would use it's power of eminent domain to take their property if they did not sell to Sabri; and that Sabri offered to give Herron $80,000 as a 10% kickback in return for his assisting Sabri to obtain $800,000 in community economic development grants for the proposed real estate development. Though I vehemently disagree with Peter McLaughlin's so-called Access Project, I'm fully willing to admit that Peter has made positive contributions to the community, and would hate to see him get tangled in Sabri's web. Jim Graham wrote: Both Ed Felien and Peter McLaughlin were not shy about writing to the List when they ran for office. They answered personally when they felt slighted while running against each other, so I expect them to each answer personally what many might consider slanderous charges. David Piehl writes: I'm hoping for an explanation as well, and the sooner the better. David Piehl Central __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Rent Control
Dear Barbara, I commend you on your resourcefulness. Please understand it's not your way or the highway. People see things and live differently and have a right to in America. There are hundreds, if not thousands of reasons not to handle "struggling" the way you have. My concern is that you appear to be imposing your burden and anger on those who see things differently, while handling property for those in need. Kurt Ballantine South Minneapolisbasia [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There are numerous alternatives to the anti-business idea of rent control.1. Minnesota still refunds a portion of the owners' property tax to lowerincome renters.2. Get a roommate.3. Pool your resources and buy a house with a friend or 2.4. Graduate from high school, and then back to school and learn a trade orprofession to make more money.5. Plan on having a smaller family as they are less expensive.6. Wait until you are married, have finished school and have a job beforeyou start a family. Families with 2 parents have been proven to be moresuccessful.Outrageous old-fashioned ideas, but they have been proven to work. I am asingle Mom of a 15 year old son. I was, able to support myself when he wasborn, so even though his Dad is deceased, we can get by. I also manage 66units of family section 8 in Minneapolis. I speak from experience. Mostyoung people that hear how long my waiting list is react with disgust when Isuggest they find a roommate as a temporary solution. It takes time, hardwork and dedication to support yourself and a family. The arrogance of someinsisting that everyone has a "right" to this or that is ridiculous. Tryearning it! I had roommates for years as an adult. My parents worked 2jobs. It is lack of motivation more than lack of income that is theproblem.Barbara MurrayRiverside ParkTEMPORARY REMINDER:1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.)Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-DemocracyPost messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
Re: [Mpls] Rent Control
I strongly agree with Kurt. Also, I would just like to add that in Barbara's message, she seemed to concentrate mainly on younger people who were in a position to plan things such as how large a family to have. However, senior citizens should be kept in mind when discussing rent increases. Sudden, sharp increases may hit seniors particularly hard because many of them live on fixed incomes and cannot run out and get extra jobs. In 1980 and 1981 when rent control was a hot issue in Minneapolis, it was quite common for people to buy and sell apartment buildings speculatively. They made a LOT of money doing this. But interest rates were high, so it was common for the new owners to raise rents dramatically. This was especially hard on seniors. The Minneapolis Charter amendment failed by a 70-30 margin, so the issue was set aside. However, it should be noted that the landlords outspent the rent control supporters by about 100 to 1. Don Jorovsky (Veteran of 1981 rent control charter amendment effort) From: JKurtis Ballantine [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: basia [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Rent Control Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 13:12:53 -0700 (PDT) Dear Barbara, I commend you on your resourcefulness. Please understand it's not your way or the highway. People see things and live differently and have a right to in America. There are hundreds, if not thousands of reasons not to handle struggling the way you have. My concern is that you appear to be imposing your burden and anger on those who see things differently, while handling property for those in need. Kurt Ballantine South Minneapolis basia [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: There are numerous alternatives to the anti-business idea of rent control. 1. Minnesota still refunds a portion of the owners' property tax to lower income renters. 2. Get a roommate. 3. Pool your resources and buy a house with a friend or 2. 4. Graduate from high school, and then back to school and learn a trade or profession to make more money. 5. Plan on having a smaller family as they are less expensive. 6. Wait until you are married, have finished school and have a job before you start a family. Families with 2 parents have been proven to be more successful. Outrageous old-fashioned ideas, but they have been proven to work. I am a single Mom of a 15 year old son. I was, able to support myself when he was born, so even though his Dad is deceased, we can get by. I also manage 66 units of family section 8 in Minneapolis. I speak from experience. Most young people that hear how long my waiting list is react with disgust when I suggest they find a roommate as a temporary solution. It takes time, hard work and dedication to support yourself and a family. The arrogance of some insisting that everyone has a right to this or that is ridiculous. Try earning it! I had roommates for years as an adult. My parents worked 2 jobs. It is lack of motivation more than lack of income that is the problem. Barbara Murray Riverside Park _ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Sabri Interest in Felien/Pulse Peter McLaughlin Accountability
Jim Graham wrote: Both Ed Felien and Peter McLaughlin were not shy about writing to the List when they ran for office. They answered personally when they felt slighted while running against each other, so I expect them to each answer personally what many might consider slanderous charges. David Piehl writes: I'm hoping for an explanation as well, and the sooner the better. Peter Schmitz Responds: Don't hold your breath, guys. It's been a little over two weeks since David Brauer posed some very even-handed questions to Mayor Rybak regarding CPED reforms and appointments. Ed Felien and Peter McLaughlin have probably figured it out that they don't have to be any more accountable to the public than City Hall has been.--Peter SchmitzCARAG TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] FW: Council Member Samuels announces three important events
Greetings, Council Member Samuels asked me to send all of you the text to a press release he issued this afternoon. He would like very much for all of you to come and show your support at one or both events. Don Samuels, Minneapolis' Third Ward City Council Member announced today that in response to gun related violence in Minneapolis, he will be holding both a Call to Action Press Conference, and an extended vigil. Council Member Samuels' decision comes on the heels of multiple shootings which happened in the City in just the last three days. The most recent incident happened last night in North Minneapolis' Jordan neighborhood. The victim was a child between the ages of one and two-years-old, and was in her home at the time of the shooting. Press Conference What: A specific call to action to address gun violence in Minneapolis When: 10:00 am, Thursday, July 31 Where: Jordan Neighborhood Community Garden, located at 26th and Knox Avenues North Extended Vigil What: Council Member Samuels will fast and hold an around the clock vigil in honor of recent victims of gun violence in Minneapolis When: From the evening of Wednesday, July 30, to the evening of Sunday, August 3rd, 24 hours a day Where: Jordan Neighborhood Community Garden, located at 26th and Knox Avenues North Why:To draw desperately needed City and State attention and resources to the ongoing crisis of gun violence in Minneapolis. Council Member Samuels urges everyone to join him in his extended vigil, day or night, to show unity in community efforts to end gun violence in Minneapolis. For further information, please contact Council Member Samuels' office, at 612-673-2203 Also please join Don is supporting: Jordan Peace Rally and BBQ Jordan Community Council in partnership with MAD DADS will host a Peace rally and Kick-off to their new community street patrol. When: Friday, July 1, 2003 Where: Jordan Neighborhood Community Garden, located at 26th and Knox Avenues North For more information contact Jonathan Palmer @ 612-529-9267 TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Rental Property Not The Problem
Everybody seems to want a magic bullet on this. Such as deconcentration. But, face it, you need government intervention in the market for this, too, which makes it no better than rent control. If you don't like the government telling our real estate capitalists what to charge, why is it SO much better to tell them where they can rent? Be consistent. As I said and still maintain, the problems you have that come out of rental properties do not come because the properties are rented instead of owned. The people who are bad actors end UP in rental properties because the way they learned to live doesnt favor real estate ownership. And if they end up harassed for trying to be different, that undoubtedly comes from becoming too close to people who also have big problems. What we need is some options for those people to learn functional adaptation to society. Jim Mork Cooper Neighborhood Longfellow Community Minneapolis, MN We think. You'll like it here. And we're more fun than a barrel of Norwegians _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] Dayton helping/Thanks ROAR
Thanks to everyone, and there were quite a few, who responded off line to my earlier posting. Since then two ideas for possible Federal Grant money have come to mind which might help make the neighbors in Jordan, and other communities with gang activity, more secure (we certainly don't want to hog the aid). First, how about getting grants from the govetment to bullet proof our homes. We could get kevlar siding, and bullet proof glass for all our windows. I don't know if Kevlar makes siding, but with Uncle Sam paying for it, think of the boost to the economy that whole new industry would be. The second idea was to supply weapons training to all the gang bangers in town. The grant could pay for several full time Mpls police officers to hold the training at the Fourth Precinct gun range. The primary purpose would be to improve the bangers aim so they are sure to kill the other gang banger and not innocent children. The city could also get some extra financing for cops and rental revenue from the range. Last I heard, the police only have to qualify once a year instead of the four times a year they needed in the past. This means the range has more down time and would be able to handle this unique and valuable community service. Just trying to do a little 'thinking outside the box'. Logic sure hasn't worked. Anne McCandless Jordan TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] GoMemphis reports: Johnson will be new supt.
My Memphis friend reports that Johnson got the job. Read more at: Click here: GoMemphis Ann Berget Kingfield
RE: [Mpls] GoMemphis reports: Johnson will be new supt.
Strib's reporting it too: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/4017083.html Doug Grow: There's nothing to keep a superintendent here http://www.startribune.com/stories/465/4017070.html David Brauer List manager TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] GoMemphis reports: Johnson will be new supt.
Go Superintendent Johnson. Thank you, thank you for the many years you've dedicated to the children of Minneapolis. I wish you well. WizardMarks, Central List Manager wrote: Strib's reporting it too: http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/4017083.html Doug Grow: There's nothing to keep a superintendent here http://www.startribune.com/stories/465/4017070.html David Brauer List manager TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] LRT on track?
Did anyone happen to see if they tested LRT today? The radio yesterday reported that today would be the inaugural run for the light rail. Karen Cooper, wishing Tangletown were closer to Hiawatha Avenue TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
