The city of Minneapolis has a "no camping ordinance" on its books which makes it illegal to camp on public property in the city. This is selectively enforced against the poorest of our people who camp along the rive and other out of the way places.
The City Council needs to revoke this ordinance
There will be an "Illegal to Be Homeless" camp out on the lawn of the Hennepin County Government Center the end of January,2003. Specific dates will be announced soon.
All of the City Council, the Mayor and the County Commissioners have been sent information on this camp out and an invitation to
Although tragic that those people, including Wellstone, died in that plane crash, I never did or ever will see him as a true fighter for justice.
He voted for the sanctions against Iraq that have killed so many in that nation as a result. He voted for the Patriot Act. He was actively involved in
---BeginMessage---
Kindly
refrain from replying to me. I assure my niceness is not the norm. You're
entitled to your opinion, even if it shows the world that you are an
Ass.
The
truth is not as you see fit to your agenda.
Eric
Mitchell
Director of Outreach
MN
-DFL Party
255
Plato
Rybak and Ostrow's portrayal of council member Rober L's crtiticisms of the access project as "not based in reality" are ridiculous.
Lilligren is saying what many of us know to be true. This is truly a boondoggle for the benefit of politicians and corporations. It will further rip apart our
In my opinion, the right to housing for everyone should be a right protected by Federal Law.
I noticed in reading about the 35 W access project that the law of Imminent Domain might be applied: I noticed that it was mentioned that housing would be torn down to make way for that project. I am
K.Miller writes,
"People want to tell the war stories because you want sympathy and you want
our "black" neighborhoods to sound like a war zone full of drugs, pimps and
prostitutes--that way, you are the heroes who deserve the praise of cleaning
up the neighborhoods and getting people
Rep. Kahn voices her concern about the violation of civil rights of citizens and included the following:
Nearly two dozen cities have passed resolutions urging federal authorities to respect the rights of local citizens.
The city of Mpls. has had ordinances for at least the past twenty
Dear Friends,
A peaceful campout will take place on the South Lawn of the Hennepin County Government Center in Downtown Mpls. from 3p.m. Thursday, January 30th throughout the night to 8a.m. Friday, January 31st.
This is to call for the Mayor of Minneapolis and the City Council to
I guess it depends on the issue. Barb Johnson has yet to respond to my several requests for her stance on the way homeless and poor people are criminalized by the city's no camping ordinances.
Forced into the streets but then told they are breaking the law.
When will people hold them (our
I am sending along the e-mail I sent to the city council so folks can know what it was that Barbara Johnson received from me and my request for a response.
Margaret Hastings-Mpls., Kingfield
To The City Council:
I want to interview (and film) city council members, county commissioners,
I liked what one man referred to on this list re: the way that "career politicians "play games and work to secure their power... with the resulting lack of trust and involvement among citizens.
I have no great love for Republicans but I really like what film maker Michael Moore said in an
Several weeks ago Mayor Rybak agreed to do a filmed interview I requested regarding the fact that people are being forced into the streets due to shelters being overcrowded and the Catch-22 that, if forced to the streets, they are breaking city ordinances that prohibit sleeping, camping in public
I also thought David Shove's response was in the tradition of political satire. I disagree that it was inappropriate.
Margret Hastings-Mpls-Kingfield
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it is obvious that David S. is engaging in political satire about a powerful
elected offical in order to make a statement of
In a message dated 1/18/2003 3:40:31 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
The Mayor has a busy schedule, and unfortunately we can't accommodate every scheduling request. As I mentioned in my phone conversation, Mayor Rybak intends to attend the campout on
Ms. Sether I anticipated
Mr. Bonham (below) says he does not know what his response has to do with Mpls. issues. I think it reflects the attitude of some people in our city, who respond to severe injustice and suffering with the troubling attitude displayed below. If I am correct, Mr. Bonhom's comment indicates
Does anyone know the process involved in hiring Steve Cramer for his current job in housing with the Hennepin County Commissioners'
The man has a terrible record on poverty issues, issues regarding homelessness and low income housing. Yes, I know his stint with PPL, but every good politico needs
It gives me hope to know that we do have people that represent us who are taking a stand against war and its costs both abroad and at home.
We keep hearing form Mayor Rybak and other city council members about not supporting this resolution due to "pressing issues at home"... yet we all know
As some of you may remember, I had written previously about the Mayor agreeing (in writing) to a filmed interview about homelessness and then breaking that promise. I have been told consistently "It was a miscommunication.
Not to be out done-- The County has its own version of "give and take".
The latest outrage of police brutality already has the Chief of Police putting "spin" on it. Is he really serious when he talks about all the steps forward that have been taken by the police department? What world does he live in? Certainly not the world of reality. I have had countless people who
As I understand it, this list is a place for critiques of our local politicians and thus I would assume it must also be a place for recognition of them at times as well. I also think it is important for list members to be updated by activists about who supports efforts on a variety of issues.
The statements of Council Persons Barbara Johnson and Colvin-Roy (sp?) at today's City Council meeting brought home the continued struggle for poor people and people who are experiencing homelessness.
Ms. Johnson used the term "special interest" groups as she referred to poor and
I appreciate David Brauer's comments... we need more people putting their positions out there clearly and directly..
As to my "quitting" the Kingfield board. My beloved mother of 84 years died from a painful form of cancer last year and myself, my brothers and sister stayed with her constantly,
I found it very difficult to get our elected officials involved in the campout this past week (note Dean, Natalie and Gail were the exception) regarding the horrible oppression of people living on the streets i.e. homeless.
I now know why.
With all of the passionate debate on this forum
I have already apologized to Peter McLauhgline in a private post...
Peter also stopped by (not for a photo op either) and stayed and talked with people
at the campout.
Over the years I have found Peter to be quite kind and respectful.. so I wanted to
correct my oversight...not intentional
As preparations for a second campout re:homelessness takes shape for early March (this directed at the County Commissioners) I was wondering if people on the list have any information about county funds that you would consider to be "give aways" to developers, or other entities.
I would guess
Ann McCandless in her post comments "I do not remember where it is said that only the largest municipalities are responsible for taking on the care and feeding of all the needy masses. "
A point that takes me back to my original question about whom is Mike Opat incuding when he speaks of "no
David Brauer writes: "Frankly, I find the demonizing of disagreement to be particularly
distasteful. It seems like so much of our civic discussion lately does
not recognize legitimate differences of opinion - someone must be
corrupt, or selfish. We, on the other hand, are selfless and pure and
As I look forward to participating in this Saturday's antiwar rally and march and as I also prepare for the next campout to again decry the terrible manner in which people who are poor and homeless are treated in our fair city
I urge all of us to have long memories ... remember the city
Myself and my partner also participated, marched in today's anti-war rally... it brought tears to our eyes.
As our "empire" continues to destroy human life and quality of life abroad... so it also grinds down so many here at home...
if you have a home that is
I would ask that those who
Mayor Rybak has been taking a lot of (I believe deserved) criticism from many people ranging from his opposition to the anti-war resolution to lack of much significant action on issues of homelessness and poverty.
However, the person who seems to be his relatively silent partner in many of these
I appreciate Peter Schmitz and Michael Calvin's reminders that this is not really Bush's war...
War has been ongoing and waged for years under both Demos and Repubs.. covert, sanctions, "war on crime", "war on drugs", war on poor people,...
Unfortunately we seem to be a nation of people that
As I type this little note ,I am listening to Mayor Rybak's interview with me regarding the no camping, no sleeping in cars ordinances.
The Mayor gave a thoughtful and respectful interview.
He also said that he would welcome information sent to him about these types of ordinances and how other
Phyllis Kahn's excuses, rationales, etc... they are not true and she knows it... what she should be paying attention to is the steadily rising resentment towards her and other DFLer's who continue to act as if they are immune from accountability.
I was raised a Democrat and have been so soured on
David's encouragement to say what I really mean about Ms. Kahn has inspired me... I did not mention that I also think her behavior is opportunistic in the extreme.
Margaret Hastgings-Mpls-Kingfield
Pretty cold out today! Minnesota weather is particularly tough on people experiencing homelessness. And certainly our city of Minneapolis is cold both literally and in spirit towards our fellow humans out in the cold.
In Philadelphia, the city requires that when the temp drops below a certain
Steve Brandt's article in today's Tribune is an example of the rather sloppy manner that the issue of "affordable housing" tends to be discussed among many sectors: reporters, politicians, advocates, etc.
1) He does not clearly define the terms he uses: He uses the term affordable housing but:
In response to David Brauer's sincere question.
I have been having difficulty getting "the other view" represented in the documentary I am doing on homlessness in the twin cities. I keep trying to find people who will go on film, who believe in what they say enough to have it recorded for public
David Brauer has finally succeeded in getting the responses I have been trying to draw out from those who dispute homelessness exists in Mpls.
I particulalry was struck by the term "undercover spot checks" used by Ms. Heller
Again, I really want to interview some of you folks on film...
let me
Bill,
Caitlin said their were four empty beds in simpson for women, the men were full and Caitlin did not say how many were turned away.
Also, she did not report on Marie Sanvik, St. Stephen's, Our Saviors, and safe waiting and 519 Portland, I am not able to remember the name of a shelter up on
Actually Stride is doing a lot right... I figure whenever I see the word demonize on this list.. the target of this term has said something truthful.
Margaret Hastings-Kingfield-Mpls
I have never been to a STRIDE meeting, I have educated myself about their position and support them...
There are plenty of us out there who are allies, supporters of STRIDE who are busily organizing around other issues so do not make it to meetings.
So, doing a head count of atetndacne at their
The campout Saturday, March 15th into Sunday March 16th was peaceful and without arrests.
County security guards made their sympathy for the campout obvious by the respectful manner in which they treated us.
One guard expressed his gratitude that we were there..."I worked at 519 for a year
Jordan Kushner wrote:
"I have not received any feedback from any city officials about my suggestion
a few days ago that the city should refuse to spend money to suppress
protests against the federal government."
Jordan's experience is not unique. It seems if you do not have some sort of
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Ms. Heller's comments about lead bullets flying reminded me of my original request to list members who have similar negative views towards people who are homeless- to please let me interview them for my documentary on the way homeless persons are viewed and treated in
I need video or still photos of Mayor Rybak and his dontut contest with Chief Olson. Also of Mayor Rybak at the dedication of the Mary Tyler Moore Statue.
If you have such footage please contact me. I want to use it in a docymentary.
I do not need advice on going to the major T.V. stations, etc.
The Public Safety Committee did instruct the inspections department to consult with The Advisory Board on Homelessness as to how the no camping/no sleeping in cars ordiances impacts people who are homeless.
Below is my response to the Public Safety Committee
Margaret Hastings - Mpls- Kingfield
I noticed in a report in the Southwest Journal that the Mpls. City Council approved submitting a letter to Hennepin County expressing the City's concern regarding its (the county's) policy closing homeless emergency shelters during the summer months. This was an 11-0 vote.
This deserves some
A friend of mine said he e-mailed Council Member Lisa Goodman asking for a moratorium on the no camping laws so people who are homeless will not be harassed by the police to keep moving on, having camp sites destroyed and abuse delivered.
If my friend misquoted Ms. Goodman, I hope she corrects
I hope Michelle Gross continues to voice her views about Federal Mediation and the co-optation of it. I, for one, need to know her perspective on this issue and her experience with how the process was derailed.
I do not know Ms. Kambui personally, so am not invested in making a judgment of her
Bill wrote:
"The homeless problem in Mpls is worst tonight. And, like you, he is a good person. He is frightened. He cried."
Bill tells the story not of just one man when he speaks of this...he is telling the story of so many good, decent people who this very night are in crappy overcrowded
Why has 519 not been reopened for the summer? The lame excuse is lack of funding.
Another is that it was "inhumane". I was down there the last night it was open. The men I spoke with found it a lot more inhumane to be forced into the streets:
At 519 they had a sense of community, safety, toilets
A few weeks ago I went to the County Commissioner's public forum to talk about 519 among other homeless issues.
At that time the Commissioners said that 519 will reopen in the fall (we shall see).
The Mpls. City Council sent a letter to the County Commissioners urging them to keep shelters
Today I was at the Community Advisory Board on Homelessness.
One, among many, troubling pieces of information mentioned at that meeting is that there is a possibility that Minneapolis may follow St. Paul's (relatively new) initiative of placing rods under bridges that prevent a human being from
Regarding Jim Mork's comment on the appointment of the two development directors
"It looks like tax dollars going to what should be lower priorities.
It looks like an elite taking care of its own and blowing off those of us
who pay the bills."
I think Jim's point is well taken.
Mayor
It seems time for our city council to voice their outrage at the CDEP appointments coming from Mayor Rybak.
This is an insult to Minneapolis residents.
Recent history has shown that the majority of Minneapolis residents are sick of the quality of life and the money of Minneapolis being
Hennepin County is planning a major reconstruction of
Lake Street. Unfortunately, this project is heavily
influenced by another road-building project, the
controversial 35W Access Project. Both of these
projects are linked in many ways. Both projects are
managed by Smith Parker, a law firm with no
Jim Mork writes:
"We need some straight talk. And R. T. needs to be on notice that he's
excited a lot of suspicions among those who dig in our pockets for hisexpenditures. He doesn't have a huge amount of credit with us. And if he starts looking like Belton-Cherryhomes, the bandwagon
I really like Craig's $1 a year man example from Roosevelt.
It does seem like a great idea.
H, still nothing from City Hall posted on the list to answer the questions many of us want answered.
Out of sight out of mind (or off the list, off the hook) seems to be the tactic at hand.
This weeks City Pages has an article by Mike Mosedale entitled "Bum-b-Gone" about the "Transient Barriers " (steel rods) being installed under bridges to prevent people who are homelss a place to rest, get out of the rain.
one quote from the article is the following:
...The DOT estimates it has
I was pretty impressed with a column written by Steve Perry in this week's City Pages:
He gave me the words I could not find to describe our current politician culture:
and I think it could be applied to our current Mayor: that "In American politics, professed intentions always count more than
I too noticed what Mayor Rybak chooses to respond to on the list.
At least he reads the list, so he knows the questions he is being asked, even if he does not respond.
I have noticed a pattern that the issue that Mayor Rybak tends to come on strong about is "law and order".
When all
My admiration for Natalie Johnson Lee continues.
And my disgust with the way police are allowed to conduct themselves in this city continues to rise.
Minneapolis is the city of "pick and choose" for many police officers. They decide when and whom they are going to hassle in the name of the
The issue about Natalie Johnson Lee and the police officer speaks to me of a bigger issue: SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT
It is the way in which laws are enforced (i.e. unequally) that cause me such concern.
Over the past several years I have witnessed and dealt with reports of people who are homeless
I have now read "At Home on the Island"
Having worked with folks who are homeless, who have had to live outside and make the best of it...I am saddened at the oversimplification and triteness of this article.
Trauma, mental health issues, the stress of trying to survive that then can create
Eric Stonechild, outreach worker with American Indian Housing Inc. died last week.
Eric testified at the Public Safety Committee of the Mpls City Council advocating for the people he served with such compassion-- Native people who are homeless.
I did not know Eric very long. Was fortunate
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I have read two articles by Doug Growe recently where he berates the tedium of following established protocol related to Kingfield's NRP steering committee.
He is referring to the mural on a dry cleaner shop in Kingfield that was paid for by NRP money- he said it cost $1,500
The Minnesota Department of Transportation granted me a filmed interview about their installation of "transient barriers" under bridges in Minneapolis and St. Paul to prevent persons experiencing homelessness from using bridges for shelter.
they were quite accomodating even when I told them it
I remember the Mayor saying he would not support a publicly funded stadium. And I remember that, in a debate with Lisa McDonald, he used that answer.
As to putting his butt on the line. Even if he is not re-elected, he will have curried favor with the rich and connected.A win situation no matter
I think Michelle Gross's description of R.T.Rybak is quite accurate.
Mayor Rybak consistently ignores constituents who do not have power or money connections.
He has yet to respond to my request for his reaction to what other cities have done to address the unfair treatment of people
I looked at Ken Avidor's B.E.E.P. cartoons. Thought he did a very good satiric rendering of how local politicians make decisions not based on what is best for a city or its people...but on who has the money.
Margaret Hastings-Kingfield-Mpls
Ed Feilene's post mentioned flyover ramps and the folks who would be living underneath them if they are built as [part of the excess project.
One group of people who will not be under them are persons living in homelessness---rest assured, bridge rods will be placed under them to prevent those
From the most recent issue of Skyway News, reporter Scott Russellreports on City of Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak counting 251 new sheltermats as new production of 'affordable housing.'http://www.skywaynews.net/display/inn_news/news01.txtFrom the article:The city's goal is to produce or preserve
Although Mayor Rybak did not create (from what I can tell) the practice of counting mats on shelter floors as affordable housing... that does not mean it is ok for that practice to continue.
I hope the Mayor will come forward to change this practice. It is a use of numbers to mislead.
I do
Regarding the post about the failed attempt to get a shelter in the Love Power Church.
Why is it a bad idea to have a children's mission and a homelessshelter in the same building?
Margaret Hastings-Mpls-Kingfield
Tom L. notes that most of the numerical goals of affordable housing have been met:
As always-- the term affordable housing gets used without definition of what
affordable means.
Also, as we now know, shelter beds, mats are being counted as affordable housing, is
Tom using those numbers as
I was not asking for links to web sites regarding Tom L's post on affordable housing.
I was asking for Tom to define what he meant by affordable housing when he talked of
it in his post.
and when he said that most of the numeric goals have been meant-- does that include
the counting of
With bridge rods preventing people who are homeless from finding shelter under our bridges... the opportunity to list bridges as units of affordable housing has been missed by our Mayor.
Margaret Hastings-Mps-Kingfield
I have sent an e-mail to Erik Takeshita requesting that he or the mayor do a filmed interview with me about the bridge rods (transient barriers).
However, if Erik or the Mayor do not want to do this with me, I would hope they would be willing to talk to the Skyway News, Southwest Journal or
I got an off post comment that David Feldman no longer is with the mayor's office and the poster assumed I must have tried to contact him after he left.
So, to avoid the issue getting lost in this sort of side issue:
My e-mails to David Feldman were when he was in the Mayor's office and as I
On Tue, 9 Dec 2003, LEE EKLUND wrote: [I] lose interest rapidly as a post re-affirms the same point a number of times.
Yes, let's go for the sound bite approach.better yet, once anybody has said anything on any topic on the list...ban them from talking about it again.
I know I have seen both
MPR had a story yesterday on the status of homeless shelters (i.e.,full) and what is expected this winter (i.e., full). The story is at:news:news.mpr.org/features/2003/11/27_hughesa_homeless/ It isimportant to get the facts about the shelters because a few locallandlords put out the the false
The mpls mnforum list is a valuable service and guess I just wanted to say what I have been thinking for a long time.
Like all efforts to contribute to discourse, it has limitations, people who choose not use it, and is subject to many criticisms.
NonethelessI sure use it, it has proved a
just because San Fran has more person experiencing homelessness does not let Mpls
off the hook.
the perspective of one person who lives in homelessness or 10,000 is the same...it
sucks.
Margaret Hastngs-Mpls-Kingfield
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the
In fairness to Erik, he did post to me, but only to say that it is MNDOT that is putting in the bridge rods. (I already knew that) have my interview with MNDOT on film.
Since that was not the point of my post to him.. I responded that he had not answered my question.
which was--- will he
Here is the reason I resort to the issues list to try to get the Mayor's response
about the outrageous treatment of people living in homelessness.
When pursuing another interview with the mayor about the criminalziation of
person's living homeless I went through the channels suggested
Many would agree with me that $100 is a lot of money to pay for an
audience with the Mayor.
Sowhy pay for it, when you can camp outside the place he will be
partying at?
Actually camping out is an exagerration--- one year I had to stand for a
total of about 30 hours on a public
In Sunday's Strib 12/14/03: from story Kelly and Rybak: The Rivals
Rybak had campaigned against spending public money on a new
ballpark...
Rybak flip-flopped on his position: Within two weeks of his
election, apparently overcoming his anti-stadium stance, he was looking
In response to the issue raised by Mr. Snyder and the Mayor's fundraising party--
I asked that the Mayor respond to a question that is reasonable to pose to him,
and ,given that he campaigned on affordable housing, one I would expect him to
be willing to answer.
He has posted on the forum
Info on this years's service:
The 19th annual statewide Homeless Memorial Service will be Thursday, Dec.18.
A walk from Project Offstreets/Youthlink, 41 N. 12th St., Mpls. will begin at
5:00 pm. Marchers will walk in silence, carrying signs stating the name, age
and city of the people who
See Cathy ten Broeke's commentary in today's star and tribune:
one line from her commentary Americans have mastered the art of
living with the unacceptable.
Margaret Hastings-Mpls-Kingfield
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at
The location for the Mayor's New Years fundraiser seems to be a metaphor
for his inaccessibility regarding the topic of the bridge rods.
Wanting to know where I would be spending my time from 6p.m. to 6a.m on
New Year's Eve, I took a Sunday drive to the Kaplan's.
I was not suprised to
I have copied this to Mayor Rybak and now am posting to the forum in plain
text:
Seems that Mayor Rybak still reads the forum..so once again...
I would like to hear the Mayor's feelings about the bridge rods that are
installed under some of our Mpls city bridges.
I have just
Although I still plan to be at the Kaplan's for RT's fundraiser
(attempting to balance on the few inches of public land I can to keep me legal),
I have decided to give it a go again at the Mayor's open house that Erik
his aide referred to.
So, for those who would like to find out how my
I would encourage those who have stated they really want to work on ending
homelessness to join me at the Kaplan's and also at the Mayor's next open
house.
If you do not care for my style of addressing the social injustice of
homelessness, I would encourage you to contact the Minesota
I forgot to mention, that if you want information related to mental health
issues and homelessness, you might want to read works by the psychologist Paul
Toro who does an excellent job desribing the lack of attention to individuals
struggling with trauma, depression, addiction, mental health
The Plan (or at least my plan)
1) point out that it continues to be a consistent pattern for
Mpls Mayors, and other politicos, to largely ignore the needs of our residents
experiencing homelessness.
2) Consistently refute the claims of there not being
From the article in today's Strib (12/24/03)about Hennepin County literally
exporting persons experiencing homelessness:
...Mayor John Hickenlooper called the policy
'unacceptable'...Hickenlooper, who took office in January, is particularly concerned
about the city's
homeless
For anyone who feels strongly- either postivie or negative-- about my posts
on the forum or other acitivites you have the opportunity to meet with me.
Yes! Taking a page from Mayor Rybak's open forums, I too am having an open
forum.
I will be available starting at 6p.m. on New Year's Eve
From Real Change newspaper: Issue dated from 12/24/03 to Jan.7, 2004
San Francisco Mayor-elect Gavin Newsom intends to make homelessness his
administration's number-one priority, and his first moves will include creating a
10-year plan for ending chronic homelessness and going after tens of
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