[Mpls] RE: Uptown - I'm here, now will somebody lock the doors?

[Ray Marshall]

Ray Marshall
Hiawatha
--

Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 23:00:01 -0500
From: Chris Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Lagoon Project and Other Uptown Developments



Uptown resident for 6 years, ECCO homeowner for 4 years, Uptown patron since
1979.
--
Chris Johnson
Fulton


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RE: [Mpls] Please: Think (chatter) Globally/Antipathy and snipe-ing, Dennis

[Bill Cullen]

Dyna et al,

I am stunned at your comments.  From what I have read, Ms. LaVanier is not
asking for a buy out.  Why would you consider the government seizure of
property against an owner's will as "corporate buyout?"

I did not know Ms. LaVanier's original purchase price of the property.
However, $400,000 for an 8 unit building is not out of range.  That is
$50,000 per apartment.

In any part of Minneapolis, I would consider a purchase price of $400,000
for an 8 unit building as a great buy.  In that neighborhood, it would
depend on the quality of the building.

Take a look at a few buildings for sale RIGHT NOW on the north side (thanks
to the MLS):

# unitsaddressPrice
-
4  4900 Knox Avenue N $364,900
4  4700-4706 Bryant Ave N $549,900
3  1700-1702 Thomas Place $374,900
4  1712 Fremont Avenue N  $449,900
11 4100 Thomas A. N.  $690,000
8  3515 Penn A. N.$499,900  (good comp)

I think these, currently for sale buildings, are enough to show that
$400,000 for an 8 unit building is not a "dumb investment."

I don't know Ms. LaVanier or the building in question.  However, I am a real
estate agent and investor that specializes in multi-unit residential
housing.  

This board continues to show more concern about mowed grass than the
intentional damage done to a fellow citizen.  This would be hysterical if it
weren't so shocking.

Regards, Bill Cullen
Whittier Landlord.


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[Mpls] Lagoon

[Dorie Rae Gallagher]

 I have read the words..*.this is the city, don't like it move to Lakeville*. 
Reminds me that because I am against the war
I am not a patriot, move out of the country God save the dissenter!

David asked how many stories...I favor 8 max.  That height seems the best to be 
an intergal part of the existing
community. There are going to be 8 story buildings from 42nd towards 38th along 
Hiawatha... which has no
bearing on the Lagoon, but I thought someone might be interested

Dorie Gallagher/Nokomis 



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Re: [Mpls] City of Minneapolis Help Needed: Apply July 5 - 19, 2005

[Carol Becker]

Terrell Brown wrote:

City of Minneapolis seeks new Mayor and City Council members (13)  for 4 
year terms beginning January 2006.  All positions pay livable wages.  The 
annual rate of pay for Mayor is currently $92,376.42  The annual rate of 
pay for Council Members is currently $70,312.60, these rates are adjusted 
annually based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index.


Apply at City Hall with $20 filing fee.


Carol Becker writes:

The City of Minneapolis is also seeking people for other, less visible jobs 
like the Board of Estimate and Taxation.
Pay: $33 a month. Not a living wage.  Pay does not adjust with inflation. 
In fact, pay set by City Charter, may have not increased since the Charter 
was ratified in 1920.  No benefits.  No pension credits. Little glory as few 
people understand the important work done by this Board.


Apply at City Hall with $20 filing fee.

Carol Becker
Candidate for the Board of Estimate and Taxation



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Re: [Mpls] Teacher experience,

[Dan McGuire]

Tim is absolutely right on this being one of the major reasons teachers 
move.  It's also a big factor in families moving kids from one school to 
another.
Work on the seniority issues for principals will go a long way to 
solving the teacher seniority issues.

Dan McGuire
Ericsson

Tim Bonham wrote:

I've been a Campaign Chair or Treasurer for School Board campaigns for 
the past half-dozen or so elections, and have talked with a whole lot 
of teachers during this time.


By far, the most common reason they give for the concentration of more 
experienced teachers at specific schools is one that has not even been 
mentioned, so far in this discussion.


Good teachers go to schools where there are good principals.


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Re: [Mpls] Lagoon Project and Other Uptown Developments

[Chris Johnson]

I want to apologize to the forum readers and real estate developers in general 
for some of the coarse language I used in describing them in my posting about 
the Lagoon project.


I'm sorry.

It was late and I was suffering a bad headache, so I will plead that I wasn't 
thinking straight, by the rules.


Chris Johnson
Fulton

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[Mpls] School discussion

[rpgoldman]

Once again, when anyone disagrees with him, Michael A decides to call
that person a racist, and a segregationist.

He doesn't seem to feel any desire to engage in answering my question
which was to ask "how do we get teachers to WANT to take on the
challenge of high-poverty schools?"  Name-calling meets his needs
more.

Nevertheless, I would still like to see some discussion of how
teachers could be made to want to take on this challenge.  And I'd
like to see the school system do this by leveling UP, not leveling
down.

For what it's worth, our family uses a high-poverty school (Jefferson)
that does have a cadre of teachers with a lot of team spirit, who seem
to work together admirably well.  Saying this may lead to another
outburst of name-calling from Michael A., but: it is this cohesive
team of experienced teachers that I would fight to resist having be
smashed and scattered to the winds.  I see that Jefferson was omitted
from Michael's statistics:

total   hispaf-am   white
575 296 180 70
51% 31% 12%

Average teacher years of experience, 11.9

Although in the Uptown area, Jefferson has more than the average of
students eligible for free/reduced lunch, which makes it a
high-poverty school.

This seems to suggest to me that it IS possible to have a school where
teachers will want to stay, even when it's a high-poverty school.


-- 

Robert P. Goldman
ECCO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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[Mpls] Evil stupid landlady tells all in secret E-Mail to coven leader at Lowry

[PennBroKeith]

Keith says; 

Lowry Corridor stakeholder Jamie LaVanier E-mailed quick summary of her 
experience at 3123 6th street. As legal issues are pending, the actual numbers 
have 
been with held from view. The numbers are not important for a property 
investor/citizen has the right to buy, sell or hold a property as she desires; 
or 
possibly have a property taken by eminent domain with a court date for a legal 
hearing on just compensation.

In this matter, as posted, the City/County under the cat's paw of Larry 
Blackstad, appears to have maliciously undermined Jamie's right to a fair 
hearing. 
By emptying her building before he has made a deal with her on a buyout, Larry 
Blackstad has created a distressed and dire property scenario for Jamie, 
where there was not one previously.

Keith Reitman   NearNorth
HERE IS Jamie LaVanier's E-mail to me the other day, unvarnished, with 
permission to post:

Kieth please leave out the numbers. 
My lawyer seemed pretty upset that I talked to a reporter, he said things may 
come to bite me in the bum:)

$XX,XXX.XX for improvements(35 new windows, 24 hour indoor and outdoor video 
surveilance, 2x8 indestructable privacy fence and retaining wall, four 
bathrooms remodelled, two units completely remodelled, one with dishwasher and 
built-in microwave. two kitchens with new cabinets and countertops, new light 
fixtures, new paint inside and out, and several new appliances.)
$XX,XXX.XX my labor (30 hrs a week X  $XX. X 52 weeks)
$X,XXX.XX other labor help
$350 to board up building
$ lost rents due to illegal buy-out

=$XXX,XXX total
my appraisal was for $XXX,XXX

I made a good proffit from gutting a delapitated house, and 
restoring/remodelling in the past so I thought I'd up the scalewhat a 
mistake.

I bought the delapitated building in March, 2004, I had planned on a full 
scale remodel, but after tearing out two units, I found out through my tenants 
that there were plans for the city to possibly buy it. I did no further demo, 
as 
I felt it was a waste if I was not going to own it. Sure would have been nice 
if the previous owner would have disclosed this as he get letters from the 
city in the past. The city inspectors did insist on 35 new windows, which I 
did. 
seems a little stupid if there going to tear it down.

It was at this time that I found out how bad this neighborhood really was, 
and decided to put surveilance cameras up.
Because of the cameras I installed, I was able to record the theif that stole 
my truck and all my tools inside it.
Unfortunately the police were too busy to look at it, and I was treated like 
the criminal. It took three days and I don't know how many officers to finally 
find one that would listen and report it, they would each say it was 
reported, then I would call the next day or later in the day and talk to 
someone new 
and again it was not reported.
I did end up getting my truck back minus all the tools of course. 
They made use of the brand new, bolt cutters, never used until they cut my 
battery cables to take the battery. 
Im sure in their life of crime that heavy duty bolt cutter will come in 
handy. 
Thank god for Keith Reitman who gracously took me to his warehouse and let me 
pick out what ever I neded to replace my 15 years collection of 
tools..Thanx again Keith.
 
After my truck was stolen, I had had enough, and put the building on the 
market for $XXX,XXX, of course after I took it off  the market I had two verbal 
offers each for $XXX,XXX but declined because I thought the city would be fair. 
What a mistake.

While putting my indestrucable privacy fence, I would call the police becasue 
the gang members would throw rocks at me and say there were going to tear it 
down (because it blocked a primary escape rout that they used often). because 
of the cameras and the fence, and Spartan Protection, the gang members 
eventually moved out of my parking lot, for the most part, which use to be a 
big 
hang-out, but not before one female officer said to me after a call what do you 
expect in this neighborhood. I know the minneapolis police are very busy, and 
understaffed, so I dismissed it, and I will never bother them again.

The offer from the city did not even cover the purchase price.



 


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[Mpls] In Ballot Box: Notes from the 2nd, 12th, and 10th Ward Council races

[Craig Cox]

In Ballot Box: Notes from the 2nd, 12th, and 10th Ward Council races

Go to:  and click on "Ballot Box"
--
Craig Cox
Founder/Editor
The Minneapolis Observer
www.mplsobserver.com
612/721-0285

Support the independent media! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper!
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Re: [Mpls] Lagoon Project and Other Uptown Developments

[David Greene]

Chris Johnson wrote:

In the former vein, there is David Greene's statement:  "We have a 
million more people moving into the area over the next 25 years and they 
have to live _somewhere_."  Wow.  It sounds like darn near a crisis, and 
gosh, well, many of those million people will need to live in Uptown, 
won't they?  Except that in the old 7 county metro area (which excluded 
counties recently added to make it the newer 9 county or 11 county, 
depending on what measure you use), that means 1.8 acres per person for 
those million people.  In other words, adding one million people over 
the next 25 years is not only NOT a crisis, but we will barely notice 
it.  Even in the older 5 county metro area, there's 1.3 acres per 
additional million inhabitants.


This is a question of urban planning.  Do we really want to increase the
already excessive land area of the metro?  It is extremely expensive
to run services (bus, sewers, etc.) out into the exurbs.  Our metro area
is going to be in for a major change over the next 15 years.  We cannot
simply stick our heads in the sand and pretend there's nothing to do.

No, they don't all need to live in Uptown and your statement to that
effect is clearly specious.  I would prefer that they live in the
core cities and first-ring suburbs, however.

I can think of large swaths of land in Minneapolis where the density is 
quite a bit lower than Uptown.  Maybe some of the development should go 
there instead into an area already overburdened with automobile 
traffic.  That's right; how many people here can remember why they split 
Lake and Lagoon into opposing one-way streets?  Because Lake and 
Hennepin was the single most polluted intersection in the city (or was 
it 5-county metro?).


Why do we, as a region, insist on a single solution for our
transportation needs?  We're going to grow well beyond the
point of feasibility of an auto-dominated urban design.  We
need a fundamental shift in how we think about our growth.


it, it's still a fragile balance.  Screw up the character a little too 
much, and it will die.  It's a mix of hip, bohemian, gentrification, 


Can you state exactly why this will happen.  Uptown has been changing
constantly.  Have we just been extremely lucky all these years, or
is it that the area is not as unstable as you posit?

Is 13 stories too tall where the Lagoon project was to be built?  Yes.  
So is 10.  Both because they ruin the skyline.  


This is entirely subjective.  Personally, I can't stand many of the
two-story building around the area.  I'm thinking of places like
Bennett (great store, lousy building), Campiello and
Stereoland/Tuthill's.

Congestion is a problem.  Piece-meal approval of projects is also a 
really large problem.  As Mr. Zuckman pointed out, what the city and the 
neighborhoods need is a long term, comprehensive plan which finally some 
majority agrees is acceptable.  Any such plan will not please all 
people.  But we need to go through through the long, public process of 
setting a vision for the area after examining what's important, what 
will be lost and what will be gained.  


I agree planning is needed.  But we don't want a building moratorium
either.  It's not one or the other.  Projects can be individually
considered until the comprehensive plan is ready.  My inclination is
to apply strong scrutiny to them.  In this case, many parties agreed
it was a good idea.  Then the mayor killed it.

And thinking about not just 
Uptown, but the city as a whole, and the city in relation to the 
region.  


Hallelujah!  I've been trying to get this message out for years!
We need to think regionally!  That means we need to build more
densely and provide excellent public transportation, inclusionary
housing, public benefits for public investment and so on.

I lived close to Detroit for many years and know quite intimately
what will happen if we don't break our auto addiction.

Transportation is a chicken and egg thing, as someone pointed out, and 
it is also NOT a chicken and egg thing.  Intelligent planning says "we 
will build more transportation (especially those with fixed locations 
like LRT) here over the next 30 years.  Most development will naturally 
go along those corridors."  Define the corridors well in advance.  Give 
people time to provide feedback and to adjust their life plans.  Some 
people will want to move; others will want to push for changes sooner 
rather than later.


The corridors are already defined and have been since at least 2000.
We don't need any more planning for the first phase of our transit
system.  We need MONEY to build it!  Uptown sits near two of these
corridors, four if you count downtown as "near."  So it's entirely
within your desires that it should be built more densely.

David Greene
The Wedge
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[Mpls] tennis shoes = drug dealing

[Mark Wilde]

"At the corner of 34th and Bryant, just a block and a
half from Patterson's house, a pair of blue Converse
high-tops dangle from the electrical wire crossing the
street, an indicator that dope can be purchased at the
intersection. On the southwest corner two kids, around
14 years old by Patterson's estimate, are flagging
down cars."

This is from a City Pages article, and Ed Kohler had
some great pictures, (and a lot of free time I
imagine), of shoes hanging from wires.

First of all who says this means drug dealing?  Ed and
the City Pages seem to state it as a fact, but based
on what?

Trying to think like a drug dealer here for a
minute...hanging shoes over the wire means people can
buy drugs. . . when?, where exactly? What kind of
drugs?  If the buyers know that tennis shoes = drugs
then wouldn't the cops know it too?  If I was a drug
dealer this would seem like a very inexact and risky
way to advertise.

Mark Wilde
Windom Park

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[Mpls] shoes = drugs part 2

[Mark Wilde]

http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/factoids/a/sneakers.htm

should have included this in my original post.  looks
like another drug buying selling myth 

"Another folk belief holds that teenage boys who've
just "scored" for the first time (i.e., lost their
virginity) heave an old pair of sneakers over a power
line to proclaim their conquest to the world. (Who
says teenage boys aren't romantic?) 

Cecil Adams catalogued at least a dozen more theories
in a 1996 Straight Dope column, all of them very
interesting but none conclusive. The long and short of
it is that nobody seems to know the answer. Maybe
there is no answer; maybe sneakers hanging on power
lines don't have any particular meaning at all."

Mark Wilde
Windom Park





 
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RE: [Mpls] Council committee turns down Lagoon Project

[rpgoldman]

> "EK" == Ed Kohler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

EK> I'm still trying to understand the resistance to the Lagoon
EK> Project.

Here are four reasons why I resist the project:

1.  It seems to reflect a capricious flouting of the existing zoning
ordinances and planning.  I don't want to see every project
considered in isolation; if the zoning rules are busted, let's fix
them.  If not, let's apply them.  But let's not just ignore them
this way.

2.  Height/skyline.  I don't have any huge objections to this height *in this
location*.  But I see the height restrictions being blown away on
the shores of Lake Calhoun, and I sure as heck object to *that*.
Given the choice, I'd rather hold the line everywhere, even where
it doesn't matter so much, than cave in everywhere and let us turn
Lake Calhoun into a cavern.  The Edgewater development's
successful variance shows that this is a real threat.  I don't see
the downside of changing this development as anywhere near the
downside to losing height restrictions in a piecemeal way.


3.  Transit.  You wrote:

EK> Another concern is transit implications. The building be at
EK> the intersection of the 21, 12, 17, 6, 861, 114, 115, 23, and
EK> 53 bus services, and within walking distance of the 4. It's
EK> also Midtown Greenway. There can't be many more already
EK> transit friendly spots available in the Metro than this.

Bus transit is fine and dandy.  *IF* people use it.  I'm not
convinced they will.  I think it's a lot more likely that this
development is going to cause the area to be flooded with yet more
cars, and I haven't read any argument that convinces me that
people living here will, in fact, use buses and not own cars.

4.  Other infrastructure
EK> As far as I can tell, the neighborhood can sustain the growth,

I live in this area, and I experience incredibly frequent power
outages in the summer.  At times we have *daily* micro-blackouts
(lose power for not more than 1 minute).  What's it going to do to
put a big building like this in the area.

EK> I'm having a hard time understanding the argument against this
EK> project.

Notice that ## 1 & 2 above are "slippery slope" arguments, and pertain
to the process rather than simply this project on its own merits.


BTW, David Greene has been suggesting that tons of people are going to
be moving in in the near future.  Is this really true?  My impression
is that, with exceptions in favored neighborhoods, the central cities
are going to continue to go *DOWN* in population, while the further
out suburbs are going to continue to grow.  I'm not saying that's a
great thing, mind you, but I don't see that getting more people into
the cities is going to be a big issue.  Just keeping the city
population from slumping too badly is the big challenge, as withness
the public schools cratering...  And building up in-city density isn't
going to help hugely as more jobs go out of the city to big office
boxes, for which we can't provide public transit (because they're too
scattered).

Another Uptown aside: I've wondered was whether we could dig
Paris-style underpasses (through traffic goes under, local traffic
stays up) into Uptown, so that people just driving to points East or
West could be removed from our traffic flow.  Most importantly from my
point of view, such structures would remove we pedestrians from threat
that comes with drivers who are exploding with stress because they
aren't moving fast enough through the neighborhood.



-- 

Robert P. Goldman
ECCO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Re: [Mpls] Lagoon Project and Other Uptown Developments

[Chris Johnson]

David Greene wrote:
> Chris Johnson wrote:
>
>> In the former vein, there is David Greene's statement:  "We have a
>> million more people moving into the area over the next 25 years and
>> they have to live _somewhere_."  Wow.  It sounds like darn near a
>> crisis, and gosh, well, many of those million people will need to live
>> in Uptown, won't they?  Except that in the old 7 county metro area
>> (which excluded counties recently added to make it the newer 9 county
>> or 11 county, depending on what measure you use), that means 1.8 acres
>> per person for those million people.  In other words, adding one
>> million people over the next 25 years is not only NOT a crisis, but we
>> will barely notice it.  Even in the older 5 county metro area, there's
>> 1.3 acres per additional million inhabitants.
>
>
> This is a question of urban planning.  Do we really want to increase the
> already excessive land area of the metro?  It is extremely expensive
> to run services (bus, sewers, etc.) out into the exurbs.  Our metro area
> is going to be in for a major change over the next 15 years.  We cannot
> simply stick our heads in the sand and pretend there's nothing to do.

No one including me suggested we stick our heads in the sand and pretend 
there's nothing to do.  I am in complete agreement that we do not want to 
increase excessive land use, but it is a fact such increased land use has 
happened, is happening as we write and will continue to happen.  That's why 
not only is an issue of urban planning, but an issue of macro land use policy. 
 I have no argument with any part of the above paragraph.  I don't understand 
why Mr. Greene appears to think that I do.



> No, they don't all need to live in Uptown and your statement to that
> effect is clearly specious.  I would prefer that they live in the
> core cities and first-ring suburbs, however.

I clearly said "many of those million people, " not all of them -- Mr. Greene 
is twisting my words to make my argument sound specious.  I think that's known 
as a straw man, is it not?


The point is, unless more of those one million people than the current 
vacancies (remember, rental vacancies are high right now) in Uptown need to 
live there, arguing for 13 story buildings in Uptwon on the premise that we 
have to put those one million people someplace -- which is what Mr. Greene 
previously argued -- is false.


I am still in agreement with Mr. Greene that ideally it would be nice if most 
of those people lived in the core cities and first-ring suburbs.  But I also 
believe people should be free to live where they desire, and that urban 
environments are not the best place for every kind of person and personality.


I'd actually be far more in favor of scattered small towns separated by small 
areas of rural land, with all of the larger such towns connected to the big 
core cities and urban areas by various types of transit (i.e. multi-modal). 
Such a model preserves a lot more rural quality and small town quality, while 
supporting much higher densities than our current suburban and exurban style 
of growth.  Such a land use style for a rectangle roughly bordered by the 
outer edges of St. Cloud on the northwest corner and Rochester on the 
southeast corner would probably work quite well, given the large and growing 
population of that area.



>> I can think of large swaths of land in Minneapolis where the density
>> is quite a bit lower than Uptown.  Maybe some of the development
>> should go there instead into an area already overburdened with
>> automobile traffic.  That's right; how many people here can remember
>> why they split Lake and Lagoon into opposing one-way streets?  Because
>> Lake and Hennepin was the single most polluted intersection in the
>> city (or was it 5-county metro?).

> Why do we, as a region, insist on a single solution for our
> transportation needs?  We're going to grow well beyond the
> point of feasibility of an auto-dominated urban design.  We
> need a fundamental shift in how we think about our growth.

Is this another straw man?  I don't see anything in my paragraph above that 
suggests I am in favor of a single solution for our transportation needs.  I 
am and have been for many years a strong supporter and advocate for 
multi-modal and mass transit.  I've been commuting in the Twin Cities since 
1979 and have observed first hand the many-fold increase in traffic and 
traffic delays.  Auto-dominated urban design is a dead end, and yes, we do 
need a fundamental shift in our thinking about growth.  I've never opposed 
such ideas.


>> it, it's still a fragile balance.  Screw up the character a little too
>> much, and it will die.  It's a mix of hip, bohemian, gentrification,

> Can you state exactly why this will happen.  Uptown has been changing
> constantly.  Have we just been extremely lucky all these years, or
> is it that the area is not as unstable as you posit?

How fragile it is, is all relative.  Fragile compared to

Re: [Mpls] Can Dr. Peebles make miracles happen?

[Socialist2001]

Joan Thom, Hawthorne writes,

"In all the comments I've read I don't see anyone placing responsibility on 
the PARENTS of the children. The facts I want to know behind each test score is 
how many days the child has been in school and how many different schools the 
child has attended. Everyone makes it sound like it's always the schools 
fault..."

Doug Mann responds: 

The discussion is about conditions in the schools that affect student 
outcomes, and what can be done by the schools to close the access / achievement 
gap. 
I haven't seen anyone state that parents have no affect on outcomes. 

-Doug Mann, King Field

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[Mpls] lagoon debate/ward ten race

[Thomas A. Moore]

hi - i'm new to the forum here.  i posted about the lagoon project on my 
candidate's blog yesterday (i'm running in ward ten)
www.candidatemoore.blogspot.com

it seems to me that most people in the ward and the city are fine with a 
thirteen-story building in the heart of a commercial/retail district.  we have 
to increase jobs, housing, and our tax base somehow and somewhere, right?  just 
not in some, convention-and-primary-voters' neighborhoods, i guess.

peace,
tom "candidate" moore
blue-green alliance!
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Re: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[wmmarks]

Ed Kohler wrote:

First reported 3/28/2005 (Central): 
Alley between 4th and 5th Ave S North of 31st St 
 

This alley is notorious for drug dealers, gang bangers, and hookers--not 
to mention graffiti that the businesses try to keep up with, but can't 
always. I'll alert the guys at Aftercare, Inc. They can move them out. 
Two others in Central are 35th between 4th and 5th and 33rd between 4th 
and 5th. This is all Rolling Thirties Bloods territory, so they are the 
offenders most likely.


First reported 3/28/2005 (Phillips): 
Alley between 11th and 12th Ave at 28th St
 

I'll point this one out to the neighbors. I know a bunch of folks around 
there. It doesn't surprise me, though, since Officer Danny Wells has 
been pushing the dealers off 27th and Bloomington and all along 
Bloomington, actually.


You're right, though, around here shoes on the wires are a signal about 
where to look for drugs. The other signs, of course, are lurkers, high 
traffic, late night traffic. At 31st and both 4th and 5th, the pavement 
princesses are always for sale. The cops regularly round them up, but 
they're back the next day. Some of them have been out there for as long 
as 20 years.



WizardMarks, Central


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Re: [Mpls] School discussion

[wmmarks]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


Nevertheless, I would still like to see some discussion of how
teachers could be made to want to take on this challenge.  And I'd
like to see the school system do this by leveling UP, not leveling
down.

I think one part of the solution is to recruit bright kids from the area 
into college and into teaching.


WizardMarks, Central

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Re: [Mpls] Council committee turns down Lagoon Project

[Terrell Brown]

- Original Message - 
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To: "Ed Kohler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>



BTW, David Greene has been suggesting that tons of people are going to
be moving in in the near future.  Is this really true?  My impression
is that, with exceptions in favored neighborhoods, the central cities
are going to continue to go *DOWN* in population, while the further
out suburbs are going to continue to grow.


Rovian slip?

Here are the facts. 
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/planning/Census2000/1990-to-2000-Population-Change-by-Race-and-Ethnicity-for-Minneapolis.asp


City of Minneapolis population 1990 census 368,383
City of Minneapolis population 2000 census 382,618
Increase 1990 to 2000  14,235
Increase as percentage   3.9%

Does this typify the accuracy of the information that project opponents 
presented to the Council committee?




Terrell Brown
Loring Park



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[Mpls] Peace Rally in Midtown Phillips on Friday July 1, 2005

[Barbara Lickness]

Forwarded on behalf of Phillips West Neighborhood
Organization:

As you're all aware there has been an increase in
violence with in the Phillips community over the last
week.  In a response to the violence, Phillips West
has gathered forces with MADDADS, Phillips Weed &
Seed, Powderhorn, Central and Midtown neighborhoods to
gather for a rally for peace and justice.  The details
of the event are outlined below.  We hope you all can
come out & be a part of this gathering. 
 
Thank you, Helen DeFlorin, PW Council Member

RALLY AND WALK for PEACE & JUSTICE!
Friday July 1, 2005

4:30 p.m.-Meet at 2700 14th Ave. for Prayer and words
for the family and neighbors

This is where our young 13 year old neighbor was shot
while sleeping 

4:45 p.m. March to Bloomington Ave.

Bring your signs:

Stop the Violence
Increase the Peace!
More Officers in the Police Budget!   
 Safety for all in this City!
When we bleed we all bleed!
We need Justice & Equality!
No more wasted lives, build for our future!

5:00 p.m.  -  March to Lake Street

5:15 p.m.   - Meet at the Workforce Center for
Testimony, Music, Prayer, and Food

For more information call the Phillips Hotline Number
at #952-996-6490 

WE NEED EVERYONE. 

NO MORE MURDERS. 

SAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. 

SAFETY IN OUR HOOD

Please, please join us.we need to be heard!
Come out to meet your neighbors, free food and music.

Sponsored by: Phillips West Neighborhood Organization
Phillips Weed & Seed and MADDADS

Phillips West Neighborhood Organization
2414 Park Avenue South Suite 157
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
(612) 879-5383
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change 
the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
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[Mpls] Teacher turnover, excessive lay offs, and the law

[Socialist2001]

Steve Brandt, Star Tribune (education beat) writes,

"...overall there's a clear pattern that high-poverty schools have 
less-experienced teachers, and there's a correlation between that and test 
scores.

"The district did a correlation analysis a year ago that covered middle 
schools and the middle grades of K-8 schools. A variety of factors were 
correlated 
against passing rates on the 8th grade basic skills test. To quote from my 
story of June 14, 2004: "The analysis shows a strong link between low student 
performance and high teacher turnover. Teacher turnover ranked second in a 
laundry list of variables tested for their correlation with poor student 
progress 
over a three-year period..." 
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 14:02:29 -0500, Subject: [Mpls] Teacher experience; 
student poverty To:  

Doug Mann responds: 

In yesterday's Star-Tribune, Steve Brandt reported that the district is 
laying off 575 teachers. That is easily 35-40% of the district's regularly 
employed 
teachers. I am certain that the district administration / board of directors 
is once again planning to recall or replace a large majority of those laid off 
teachers.  

Unnecessary layoffs contribute to the unnecessary, and often involuntary 
reassignment of teachers between buildings, programs, grade levels and subject 
areas.  Occasional reassignments may help to enhance a teacher's effectiveness 
in 
the long run, but generally not in the short run for self-evident reasons. 
Frequent reassignments, especially in the early part of a teacher's career, are 
likely to retard a teacher's professional development.

The district has at least a couple of motives for laying off excessive 
numbers of teachers: 

1) Cost containment. Given the steep differential in pay between new hires 
and those continuously employed for 10 years and more, driving up the turnover 
rate for low seniority teachers cuts overall payroll costs for teachers (and 
increases the work load of administrative and supervisory personnel).  

2) The district is trying to win public support for reform of the Teacher 
Tenure Act. The district and the State of MN stand to lose at least some Title 
I 
money if the seniority and tenure rights are not watered-down in Minneapolis. 
That will require some changes in the MN Teacher Tenure Act and concessions 
from the Teachers union.

Last year the district laid off 608 teachers, but planned to eliminate fewer 
than 200 full-time positions (with 2 half-time positions counting as one full 
time position). There were 1,309.6 positions budgeted in program 200 (Regular 
instruction) for the 2003-2004 school year. The 2004-2005 budget provided for 
213.8 fewer positions. The district had already achieved part of that force 
reduction by not filling some budgeted positions in 2003-2004 and through 
normal 
attrition (resignations / retirements, firings, requests for long-term LOAs). 
 - Source: Minneapolis Public Schools 2004-2005 Budget Document; press 
releases regarding the budget and teacher layoffs. 

Last year, school board members and the district's legal advisor asserted 
that teacher layoffs and realignment were dictated by the teacher tenure act, 
but 
failed to offer any specific citations. On the other hand, I found a passage 
in the teacher tenure act that authorizes school districts to reduce the 
number of teacher positions as needed due to falling enrollment, budget cuts, 
etc.  
The district is laying off far more teachers than dictated by the need for a 
reduction in the workforce.  

See: "Realignment and the Strand Decision" 
http://educationright.com/id342.htm

Teacher Tenure Act
Excerpts from 122A.40 Employment; contracts; termination.
edited by Doug Mann 
http://educationright.com/id354.htm

Minnesota Teacher Tenure Act
122A.40 Employment; contracts; termination. 
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/122A

Topic: Teachers
http://educationright.com/id471.htm

I accuse the MPS board of crimes and cover-ups
http://educationright.com/id380.htm

-Doug Mann, King Field
Candidate for city council, ward 8
http://educationrightright.com/blog
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Re: [Mpls] Kiffmeyer has booth at Pride - but doesn't show

[Randall G Cutting]

Eva Young wrote:

> The Pride map had included an entry for Minnesota
> Secretary of State - at booth number 2009.  There was
> a booth 2008 and booth 2010 which had tenants.  Booth
> number 2009 was unoccupied.
>
> I remember last year Kiffmeyer claimed to have been at
> TC Pride - and noone recalled seeing her there.
> Perhaps she registered a booth last year too.

Of course she wasn't there, that really goes without saying - last year
too.  Even if her booth was there, it would have been staffed with
employees, she wouldn't have likely come.

Mark Richie, DFL candidate for Secretary of State, on the other hand, WAS
there.  He walked the route with the DFL contingent
(http://www.markritchie06.net).  Who do YOU think is more interested in
all the people of Minneapolis, and Minnesota in general?

Randall Cutting
Mark Richie supporter and recovering employee of Kiffmeyer's
Seward






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RE: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[Dorothy Titus]

In response to Ed Kohler's post on trying to get Xcel to remove the shoes
hanging over power lines:

We have lots of those on the northside, too.  My suggested solution is not
to take the shoes down but for all of us to visit the thrift stores, buy
pairs of shoes, tie the laces together and to throw a pair of shoes over
EVERY power line crossing a street.  I suspect this isn't legal, but it
would make the shoe thing meaningless.  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
[NOTE:  I'm not really advocating that we do this, but the idea had occurred
to me!]

On the other hand, I've seen no new shoe locations in the past several
months in my neighborhood, so I suspect that now the word is out, the shoes
have already lost their purpose as a secret code about drug dealing
locations.  

Dottie Titus, Jordan


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RE: [Mpls] Please: Think (chatter) Globally/Antipathy and snipe-ing, Dennis

[Dorothy Titus]

Dyna said:

<   Agreed, it should not be the job of government to provide 
corporate welfare to bail out businesses that make dumb investments. 
In the instant case, Ms. LaVanier paid $400,000 in March 2004 for a 
building with a taxable market value of $284,000. This is a 8 unit 
building in a distressed neighborhood that probably produces $60,000 
a year in rent at best. Following the usual formula of 4 times annual 
gross for calculating the value of distressed property, this property 
was worth at most $250,000.>

Has anyone else noticed that the city assessor placed the 2004 estimated
market value of Ms. LaVanier's property at $284,000 and raised it in the
2005 esimated value to $425,000?  Those must have been some windows she
installed!

Dottie Titus, Jordan


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Re: [Mpls] Council committee turns down Lagoon Project

[rpgoldman]

> "Terrell" == Terrell Brown  writes:

Terrell> - Original Message - 
Terrell> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Terrell> To: "Ed Kohler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

>> 
>> BTW, David Greene has been suggesting that tons of people are going to
>> be moving in in the near future.  Is this really true?  My impression
>> is that, with exceptions in favored neighborhoods, the central cities
>> are going to continue to go *DOWN* in population, while the further
>> out suburbs are going to continue to grow.

Terrell> Rovian slip?

[...snip...]


Terrell> Does this typify the accuracy of the information that
Terrell> project opponents presented to the Council committee?

Could you rephrase that in some way that is not intended to impute to
me evil, demagogic tendencies?

For goodness' sake, what the HELL is wrong with this list that the
level of civility is so INSANELY LOW?  Why do no posters even CONSIDER
THE POSSIBILITY that a person with different opinions might be missing
horns, a forked tongue and a trident?

In the 2002 data from the city's web site we see:

* Minneapolis saw a 4% growth in population AFTER DECADES OF
  LOSS. [capitalization added]

See 
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/legislativeaffairs/2002PopulationFactsJan03.asp

Is it just BARELY POSSIBLE that a person of reasonable goodwill,
WITHOUT INTENDING TO COMMIT SOME HEINOUS CRIME, might have POSSIBLY
MISTAKENLY extrapolated from the DECADES OF LOSS that the population
of Minneapolis was NOT INCREASING?

Or, dare I say it, is it even possible that the recent bump in
population might be a transient that does not reverse a general trend
of Minneapolis population decline?

Again, you might want to consider that a reasonable person MIGHT have
drawn the conclusion that the population of the city proper was
declining, WITHOUT INTENDING TO TRICK THE WORLD into fluoridating the
water, banning abortion, driving religion out of the schools or
.


-- 

Robert P. Goldman
ECCO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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RE: [Mpls] Please: Think (chatter) Globally/Antipathy and snipe-ing, Dennis

[Dennis Plante]

WOW! a $139,000 jump in valuation in one year?  If anything, I would say 
this favors the landlord.


The thing I am left scratching my head over is how someone can plunk-down 
$400k for the purchase of a property and NOT know it's going to be taken for 
a redevelopment project a year later.


And as Keith so kindly shared with us, potential damages are being 
caluculated to include a years' worth of work (52 weeks) for remodeling 4 
kitchens, redoing the interiors of 2 of the units and installing 35 windows 
(all w/o permits).


Yet, no one has been willing to confirm whether or not the owner was 
compensated by the tennants when they moved-out with relocation monies 
receved from the City/County.  Something which was asserted needed to be 
done, by Megan G., in an earlier post.


Clearly, to be fair (and I am sure it will only be shared in litigation), we 
need to know the dates when everything related to this transpired.


When did the current owner receive notification that the property would be 
acquired through emminent domain?


Has anyone determined whether or not the City/County acted inappropriately 
by notifying the tennants when they did and explaining their rights to them?


The flipside to what I am hearing is that the City/County needs to 
succesfully negotiate with each and every landlord/homeowner in the path of 
the redevelopment prior to starting the development.  What ahppens if 
someone decides to uncooperative and hold-out for an unreasonable amount?  
Do we put the redelopment off indefinitely?



dennis plante
lind-bohanon


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Re: [Mpls] Lagoon Project and Other Uptown Developments

[David Greene]

Chris Johnson wrote:


 > This is a question of urban planning.  Do we really want to increase the
 > already excessive land area of the metro?  It is extremely expensive
 > to run services (bus, sewers, etc.) out into the exurbs.  Our metro area
 > is going to be in for a major change over the next 15 years.  We cannot
 > simply stick our heads in the sand and pretend there's nothing to do.

No one including me suggested we stick our heads in the sand and pretend 
there's nothing to do.  I am in complete agreement that we do not want 
to increase excessive land use, but it is a fact such increased land use 
has happened, is happening as we write and will continue to happen.  


This is where we disagree.  Yes, we will use more land, but my
impression is that you think it's inevitable that we'll use land
at the same rate we have been for decades.  In order for that not
to happen, we must increase density.  Uptown, with its existing
and future transit amenities, is a natural place to do so.

That's why not only is an issue of urban planning, but an issue of macro 
land use policy.  I have no argument with any part of the above 
paragraph.  I don't understand why Mr. Greene appears to think that I do.


Because you argued that given the existing geographical size of the
5, 7, 9 or 11 county area, each of those million people can have
between 1.3 and 1.8 acres.  Behind that statement is the assumption
that the people will be evenly distributed around the 11 county area.
The actual geographical reach of our urban infrastructure is currently
much, much smaller.


 > No, they don't all need to live in Uptown and your statement to that
 > effect is clearly specious.  I would prefer that they live in the
 > core cities and first-ring suburbs, however.

I clearly said "many of those million people, " not all of them -- Mr. 
Greene is twisting my words to make my argument sound specious.  I think 
that's known as a straw man, is it not?


I misread the quote and I'll accept that mistake.  I was not setting
up a strawman.


The point is, unless more of those one million people than the current 
vacancies (remember, rental vacancies are high right now) in Uptown need 
to live there, arguing for 13 story buildings in Uptwon on the premise 
that we have to put those one million people someplace -- which is what 
Mr. Greene previously argued -- is false.


The "unless" is key.  If we agree that most of the people should land
in the existing core cities and inner suburbs, I find it quite likely
that a good number of them will want to live in the midst of Uptown
given its vitality and access to unique venues and features.  Of course
if extra units are not built, we will not get those extra residents.
There is some risk that has to be taken.

I am still in agreement with Mr. Greene that ideally it would be nice if 
most of those people lived in the core cities and first-ring suburbs.  
But I also believe people should be free to live where they desire, and 
that urban environments are not the best place for every kind of person 
and personality.


Clearly.  However, I believe we absolutely should encourage people to
live near the cities.  Right now the incentives run exactly the other
way.

I'd actually be far more in favor of scattered small towns separated by 
small areas of rural land, with all of the larger such towns connected 
to the big core cities and urban areas by various types of transit (i.e. 
multi-modal). Such a model preserves a lot more rural quality and small 
town quality, while supporting much higher densities than our current 
suburban and exurban style of growth.  Such a land use style for a 
rectangle roughly bordered by the outer edges of St. Cloud on the 
northwest corner and Rochester on the southeast corner would probably 
work quite well, given the large and growing population of that area.


I'm not entirely understanding what you're saying.  Don't we already
kind of have that?  Of course the urban areas are swallowing up the
small towns currently, or the small towns grow into big towns and
merge with the urban areas (Hopkins, Lakeville, etc.).


 >> I can think of large swaths of land in Minneapolis where the density
 >> is quite a bit lower than Uptown.  Maybe some of the development
 >> should go there instead into an area already overburdened with
 >> automobile traffic.  That's right; how many people here can remember
 >> why they split Lake and Lagoon into opposing one-way streets?  Because
 >> Lake and Hennepin was the single most polluted intersection in the
 >> city (or was it 5-county metro?).

 > Why do we, as a region, insist on a single solution for our
 > transportation needs?  


Is this another straw man?  I don't see anything in my paragraph above 
that suggests I am in favor of a single solution for our transportation 
needs.  


You're arguing that congestion will become unbearable.  That will only
happen if we don't change our transportation habits.  Congestion will
never dec

[Mpls] Decorum alert

[List Manager]

Comments such as this:

> For goodness' sake, what the HELL is wrong with this list that the
> level of civility is so INSANELY LOW?  Why do no posters even CONSIDER
> THE POSSIBILITY that a person with different opinions might be missing
> horns, a forked tongue and a trident?

...are really counterproductive to the goal of civility.

Please, if you have a problem with someone's tone:

a) Email me directly - offlist - if you think they've violated the rules.
b) Take a deep breath and go do something else for awhile before responding.
c) Take the high road and show everyone your facts are superior enough to
resist slime.

But whatever you do, don't respond in kind. It only prolongs the agony and
degrades the forum.

Also, all-caps is shouting and that's inflammatory by my interpretation of
the rules.

David Brauer
List manager

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Re: [Mpls] Kiffmeyer has booth at Pride - but doesn't show

[Eva Young]

> 
> Of course she wasn't there, that really goes without
> saying - last year
> too.  Even if her booth was there, it would have
> been staffed with
> employees, she wouldn't have likely come.
> 
> Mark Richie, DFL candidate for Secretary of State,
> on the other hand, WAS
> there.  He walked the route with the DFL contingent
> (http://www.markritchie06.net).  Who do YOU think is
> more interested in
> all the people of Minneapolis, and Minnesota in
> general?
> 
> Randall Cutting
> Mark Richie supporter and recovering employee of
> Kiffmeyer's
> Seward
Yes, but she didn't even have employees at her office
there.  It was very wierd.  



Eva Young
Near North 
Minneapolis
Blogs: 
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
http://www.outletradio.com
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[Mpls] Fwd: Harriet SE and Calhoun 32nd St. Beaches Closed

[Annie Young]

Subject: Harriet SE and Calhoun 32nd St. Beaches Closed
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 12:23:04 -0500

The Harriet SE Beach and the Calhoun 32nd Street Beach are temporarily 
closed today due to high bacteria levels. The E. coli results from 
yesterday are over the EPA's guideline of 235.


The high bacteria levels are likely a result of the inch of rain we had. 
The beaches have been resampled and we will have those results tomorrow.


Harriet Main, Calhoun Main and Calhoun Thomas and all the other beaches 
are open. They had low bacteria levels and are under the EPA guideline. 
The beach on Lake Hiawatha is closed again this year.


The Beach Information Line has been updated (612.313.7713). It is in 
English and Spanish this year. The website is also updated. Let me know if 
you have any questions.


Sara Aplikowski
Environmental Operations
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
612.313.7782


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[Mpls] RE: New 5th Ward election

[Michellehill64]

DENNIS PLANET WROTE:

It seems to me that requesting the list of emailers to MTN on the issue goes 
way beyond what most would consider doing.

I have been accused of being very tenacious in matters I care deeply about.  
And I am sure that most on this list know I feel very strongly about who the 
better candidate for the 5th ward is.  However, I must admit, I never 
considered taking the time to find-out who had emailed MTN regarding the 
broadcast.

MICHELLE HILL RESPONDS:

I did not request any emails from MTN, Nor would I have any reason to. I was 
at the Urban League on June 10, 2005, when there was discussion of the matter 
and the name Megan Goodmundson, and what she stated in her email came up and I 
recognized her name from the forum, but did not comment, I just read a copy 
of the email. 

DENNIS PLANTE WROTE:
I have either met, or become familiar with, most of the individuals that are 
politically active on the northside.  For the life of me, I cannot remember 
ever having run into Michelle Hill at any political or neighborhood 
functions.  I can only suspect that she has not been active and that her 
affiliation to Booker and/or NJL is through either church, or social 
functions.


MICHELLE HILL RESPONDS:

Don't believe for one minute that you know every person in the black 
community. Some of us are content with working behind the scenes and not for 
media 
attention. You have made the assumption that I am "politically active," in a 
matter that would make me be publicly involved. Some of us watch CNN and Fox 
News, 
we read the paper and in my case all of the community papers, and we have 
conversations with our friends, but not all of us make it our life nor do we 
take 
it as personal as some.

As to the people you named, I DO NOT  personally know CP Johnson-Lee, but I 
have met her briefly. Once when she first ran for office and when I saw her at 
the appreciation roast for Evelyn Eubanks. I DO NOT know Mr. Booker Hodges, 
but I will admit that I called MTN to encourage him to apologize to CP Samuels, 
because I believe it was the right thing to do. Until I had only seen him on 
the MTN show. Neither of them attend my church, or at least I have never seen 
them there. 

They are both too young to hang in my circle, but I make it my business to 
know what is going on in my community and I will call or email the person 
concerned when I have a problem with something they say or do. I am Baptist, 
have 
adult children and a Bachelor degree. I currently live with my son and his wife 
in Cleveland neighborhood, and I believe they have a great council person, as 
do my son and his wife. That is the only reason I am concerned with the 5th 
ward election. I would like to have a council person who fights for the people, 
all people.

If you need to know anything else just ask me, not the people in the black 
community. That way I will not have to explain why you are asking people if 
they 
know me, and they will not feel skeptical about why you are inquiring. This 
forum is for open discussion and I will continue to comment, in hopes that I 
will not offend people. 

As to why you are not getting the emails I have sent to the forum, the forum 
manager would have to answer that question because I surely get yours and 
everyone else on the forum. Just to make sure that you received this one I am 
sending it to you as well as the forum.



Michelle Hill


Cleveland.
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RE: [Mpls] School discussion

[Michael Atherton]

Robert P. Goldman wrote: 
 
>  Once again, when anyone disagrees with him, Michael A decides to 
>  call that person a racist, and a segregationist.

Excuse me?

>  He doesn't seem to feel any desire to engage in answering my question
>  which was to ask "how do we get teachers to WANT to take on the
>  challenge of high-poverty schools?"  Name-calling meets his needs
>  more.

Maybe I didn't answer this question because it has an assumed 
premise that I don't agree with.  Personally, I don't think 
that WANTING is an absolute necessity in this situation.
I think that educating students irregardless of race should 
be a part of the job description.  

As to "name-calling," I never called anyone anything.  I tried
to point out that the structure, and certain parts of your
argument, have been used to perpetuate injustice in other 
situations, as I think they are here.

>  Nevertheless, I would still like to see some discussion of how
>  teachers could be made to want to take on this challenge.  

If, in the 1950s, we had waited until we could find a
way to make segregationists WHAT to take on the challenge
of integration we'd still be waiting.  Sometimes we have
to look back to the Bill of Rights and our fundamental
values and then enforce them.

>  And I'd like to see the school system do this by leveling 
>  UP, not leveling down.

Perhaps you should explain what this means and then propose
how to do it?

>  For what it's worth, our family uses a high-poverty school 
>  (Jefferson) that does have a cadre of teachers with a lot of team 
>  spirit, who seem to work together admirably well.  Saying this 
>  may lead to another outburst of name-calling from Michael A., 
>  but: it is this cohesive team of experienced teachers that I would 
>  fight to resist having be smashed and scattered to the winds.  
>  I see that Jefferson was omitted from Michael's statistics:
>  
>  totalhispaf-am   white
>  575  296 180 70
>   51% 31% 12%
>  
>  Average teacher years of experience, 11.9
>  
>  Although in the Uptown area, Jefferson has more than the average of
>  students eligible for free/reduced lunch, which makes it a
>  high-poverty school.
>  
>  This seems to suggest to me that it IS possible to have a 
>  school where teachers will want to stay, even when it's a 
>  high-poverty school.

The issue was not "high-poverty" schools.  The issue was whether
Black students in particular are provided with educational
services on par with Whites.  How is it then relevant to give
a single example of a school that is more than 50% Hispanic with 
a small White population.  One of the points I was trying to
make was that individual data points (schools) tend to distort
the picture and that you need to look at the general trend.
It also doesn't help to change the statistics you are reporting
in the middle of the discussion.  I was using "percentage of
teachers with more than 10 years of experience," not "average
teacher years of experience."  I'll include the same figures as
I was using for Jefferson below:

WhiteBlack  Years of Exp
   Students Students<3  >10 


JEFFERSON   11.8%31.1%  4.0%53.0%   

This puts Jefferson somewhere in the middle of my analysis,
which means it is not going so significantly impact the
conclusion that Black students receive inferior services
compared to Whites.  You are welcome to analyze the figures
for Hispanics.  My guess is that the correlations for
Hispanics will not be as extreme as they are for Blacks, although
they will probably not be as good as those for Whites.  Once
again, the point of my argument is that the seniority system
results in poorer educational opportunities for African
American students and I think that the numbers clearly show
that it does. Can we please stay on the same topic? If you'd 
like to argue that the seniority system results in equitable 
educational opportunities for all races please be my guest.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park



 

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RE: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[Ed Kohler]

WizardMarks wrote: You're right, though, around here shoes on the wires are
a signal about where to look for drugs. 

Ed Kohler: Those are the ones I'm after. As Mark Wilde pointed out, there is
little good information on why shoes end up on power lines. I don't know for
sure why they're there (only guessing), but there seems to be a correlation
between problematic blocks and shoes on power lines. Obviously, shoes end up
on power lines for any number of reasons, just like graffiti has more than
one motivation. For example, there is a difference between soccer spikes
hanging next to Minnehaha Academy (freshman hazing?) and shoes in an alley
alongside gang graffiti.

Perhaps the shoes are more of a signal to the dealer than to the buyer? If I
was to park and sit near a pair of shoes on a power line, and didn't look
like a cop, I image dealers would approach me. Why else would someone sit in
a car underneath a pair of shoes on a power line? I got the impression that
the "pavement princesses" (never heard that one before) were similarly
confused by my stopping in their pick up lot beneath the shoes I mentioned
last night. 

Another example: My neighbors have been dealing with a problematic house on
46th Ave S for a while now. In the year I've owned my home, I've had shoes
removed from the middle of the intersection of Lake and 46th three times. 

An alley in Nokomis East has shoes hanging at the North and South
intersection, and another pair mid-block in the alley. 
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=5754+Sander+Dr,+Minneapolis,+MN&spn=0.029183,0
.085316&hl=en
(I reported these tonight.)

A Longfellow Neighborhood block had a pair of shoes at the alley, and gang
tags on garage doors mid-block within the alley.

All pranks? Perhaps. But they're darn tenacious pranksters, and choose some
out of the way spots if their goal is notoriety (like some graffiti
'artists' are motivated by).

I got a laugh out of Dottie's "can't been 'em, join 'em" strategy. Should we
all start dressing like gangsters too? I don't know if I could pull it off.

I'd just like to be able to call them in when I see them, with the
expectation that the issue will be addressed in a reasonable amount of time
regardless of the neighborhood. It makes me feel like I've accomplished
something, and "the system" is working. 

- Ed Kohler

Cooper



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RE: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[Annie Young]

A couple of years back when the Park Board dedicated a new totlot at 
Clinton Field off 25th and Clinton Ave. So.  there were probably 15-20 
pairs of shoes across an electric wire.  When I asked what that was all 
about I was told it was a Latino sign for something and no one else seemed 
to know what it was really.


My bigger question was who's tennis shoes are they? Or did they come off 
someone else's feet?  And then after you throw your tennis shoes up there, 
do you have the next $60-$100 for a new pair?


It seems we on this list are not quite up on this possible hop-hop thing - 
how about some of you parent's with teenagers on the list see if they can 
give us some clues so we can get to the bottom of this thread.

Summer in the City,
Annie Young
East Phillips



At 09:25 PM 6/28/05 -0500, Ed Kohler wrote:

WizardMarks wrote: You're right, though, around here shoes on the wires are
a signal about where to look for drugs.

Ed Kohler: Those are the ones I'm after. As Mark Wilde pointed out, there is
little good information on why shoes end up on power lines. I don't know for
sure why they're there (only guessing), but there seems to be a correlation
between problematic blocks and shoes on power lines. Obviously, shoes end up
on power lines for any number of reasons, just like graffiti has more than
one motivation. For example, there is a difference between soccer spikes
hanging next to Minnehaha Academy (freshman hazing?) and shoes in an alley
alongside gang graffiti.

Perhaps the shoes are more of a signal to the dealer than to the buyer? If I
was to park and sit near a pair of shoes on a power line, and didn't look
like a cop, I image dealers would approach me. Why else would someone sit in
a car underneath a pair of shoes on a power line? I got the impression that
the "pavement princesses" (never heard that one before) were similarly
confused by my stopping in their pick up lot beneath the shoes I mentioned
last night.

Another example: My neighbors have been dealing with a problematic house on
46th Ave S for a while now. In the year I've owned my home, I've had shoes
removed from the middle of the intersection of Lake and 46th three times.

An alley in Nokomis East has shoes hanging at the North and South
intersection, and another pair mid-block in the alley.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=5754+Sander+Dr,+Minneapolis,+MN&spn=0.029183,0
.085316&hl=en
(I reported these tonight.)

A Longfellow Neighborhood block had a pair of shoes at the alley, and gang
tags on garage doors mid-block within the alley.

All pranks? Perhaps. But they're darn tenacious pranksters, and choose some
out of the way spots if their goal is notoriety (like some graffiti
'artists' are motivated by).

I got a laugh out of Dottie's "can't been 'em, join 'em" strategy. Should we
all start dressing like gangsters too? I don't know if I could pull it off.

I'd just like to be able to call them in when I see them, with the
expectation that the issue will be addressed in a reasonable amount of time
regardless of the neighborhood. It makes me feel like I've accomplished
something, and "the system" is working.

- Ed Kohler

Cooper



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Re: [Mpls] Murderapolis: Time to Move Beyond Triage

[Mark Snyder]

On 6/28/05 1:33 AM, "Dyna" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>> "I finally managed to corner Peter and asked how he would fund the 200 cops
>> and firefighters that he blames R.T. for losing. His "answer"- a one time
>> twenty five million dollar paper transfer from merging Minneapolis pension
>> programs into he states. That one time transfer would keep all those
>> firefighters and cops on the job for maybe a year and a half..."
> 
> I've changed my mind- we're clearly in a crisis: probably the
> beginning of another great depression. During that last great
> depression Roosevelt and the Democrats borrowed heavily to revive the
> nation, and the strategy worked.

OK, I'm no economist, nor do I pretend to be one, so I have no idea whether
we're headed towards a depression or a recovery or what.

So does anyone else with a stronger economics background than me think that
issuing bonds to pay police salaries is a good idea? Anyone...anyone?

I would hope that as we've lived through the aftermath of two terms of SSB's
credit-card mentality, we'd know that living beyond your means only makes
things worse. Maybe it's just me, but I have no desire to go back to those
kinds of politics.

>> Has McLauglin admitted yet that increasing police staffing will either mean
>> raising our property taxes even more or cutting elsewhere in the city budget
>> (and subsequently laying off city union workers since staffing is the
>> largest portion of the city's budget)?
> 
> Increase my taxes!- It'd be a lot cheaper for me to pay for
> safe streets rather than move out of Minneapolis.

That's a pretty funny statement coming from someone who has spent the last
three or four years complaining about how insanely expensive it is to live
in Minneapolis and how she cannot wait to leave it behind for Starbuck or
wherever...

For me, I'd personally say raise my taxes as well. I'm not happy to say
that, but if the money goes towards more cops or more firefighters (my
preference), I could live with it. But I know not everyone is as fortunate
as me or apparently, Dyna. My gramma, who lives in Holland neighborhood, is
pretty close to hitting her limit on what she can manage for property taxes.
And since her house is paid off, she's in good shape financially compared to
many Minneapolis residents.

>> Has he admitted yet that the "paper transfer" does not reduce the city's
>> pension obligations, but only delays them?
> 
> Peter was quite upfront about the costs of his proposal. And
> the house I mentioned on my block is typical of the Northside- half
> empty, overrun with crime overflowing into the "better"
> neighborhoods, and an underfunded police department forced to triage
> rather than do proactive policing.
> 
>> Until then, he's just blowing smoke up your behinds...
> 
> Mark, let's try to keep this debate at a higher level.

What? I pointed out that McLaughlin is being less than straightforward by
claiming he will increase police and fire spending without talking about how
he intends to pay for that. So far, I've yet to see anything to suggest I'm
wrong about that.

Do you have any details on his "upfront" description on the costs of his
proposal to suggest that my characterization of McLaughlin is wrong? If so,
please share it. 

And let me be clear. Just saying your proposal cost $XX million dollars is
NOT enough. You have to say how you intend to raise that $XX million dollars
(i.e. what taxes will you raise and how much) or what you're going to cut
elsewhere to free up that $XX million dollars.

Otherwise, I stand by my characterization that he's just blowing smoke.

Mark Snyder
Windom Park

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RE: [Mpls] Murderapolis: Time to Move Beyond Triage

[David Brauer]

Dyna writes:

> > Increase my taxes!- It'd be a lot cheaper for me to pay for
> > safe streets rather than move out of Minneapolis.

Remember, the current budget - including police staffing cuts - already
assumes a pretty stiff tax hike: 8 percent overall property tax increase per
annum. It will be higher for residents because of state property-tax rate
shifts from business toward homeowners.

So...if Peter wants to hire more cops without cutting something else, he has
to go *above* the 8 percent average increase. That's why it's not so easy to
hire more cops.

I don't know if Peter is willing to do that; I'm still waiting for his
budget specifics.

David Brauer
Kingfield

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RE: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[Pamela Taylor]

Hello List,
 
I just asked my daughter's friend (who is in his 20's) and he said that the 
shoes signify that someone has died.  He did not specify whether it was 
connected to a gang thing or not.  That's all I have on the subject so far.
 
Pamela Taylor
(Lyndale) 

Annie Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
It seems we on this list are not quite up on this possible hop-hop thing - 
how about some of you parent's with teenagers on the list see if they can 
give us some clues so we can get to the bottom of this thread.
Summer in the City,
Annie Young
East Phillips


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Re: [Mpls] School discussion

[Laura and lloyd]

On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at 08:36  PM, Michael Atherton wrote:


Once again, the point of my argument is that the seniority system
results in poorer educational opportunities for African
American students and I think that the numbers clearly show
that it does. Can we please stay on the same topic? If you'd
like to argue that the seniority system results in equitable
educational opportunities for all races please be my guest.


The numbers presented so far do not show poorer educational 
opportunities for African American students. They only indicate a trend 
if everyone agrees that more than ten years seniority is the right 
factor. Missing are the test scores for the schools alleged to be 
lacking. Or put the other way the schools with teachers having more 
than ten years experience haven't been sufficiently associated with 
their presumed failure.


As Tim Bonham so vividly pointed out, (teachers)" avoid schools with a 
bad principal." All the correlates one cares to list from available 
data do not take into account variables such as this.


It is way too simplistic to associate poor educational opportunity with 
a single factor such as teacher seniority.


Sometime back, Dr. Sam Myers did an analysis of students of color and 
American Indians in the Minneapolis public system. One report that 
stated: " There are substantial racial differences in suspension rates; 
there are wide racial gaps in parental involvement; and there are 
possible differences in access to textbooks and other materials needed 
for success in schools. Our goal is to determine the prevalence and 
effect of these factors within the Minneapolis Public Schools." 
(Measuring Up, 2003, Myers).


The report also stated: An analysis of the 1996 Minnesota Basic 
Standards Test Data (Myers, 1997) found that all minorities did worse 
than White students on both the math and reading portions of the test. 
The overall math scores were below passing (70% correct) for many 
students except Whites and Asian Americans. Almost all non-White 
students scored below passing on the reading portion of the exam. Most 
White students passed the exam, while most minorities failed. The 
poorest performance came from Black students. High achieving American 
Indian and Black students attended schools that were ranked lower than 
those of high achieving Whites. Those minority students who did well 
did not necessarily attend the same schools or have similar backgrounds 
as top White students, indicating the importance of socioeconomic 
status in test score disparities. (emphasis added).




Best,

Laura


Laura Waterman Wittstock
Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees
DFL and Labor endorsed
Minneapolis, MN
612-387-4915
www.laurawatermanwittstock.com
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/
Wittstock for Library Committee
913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414
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[Mpls] City/County should be fast, fair and friendly in Lowry eminent domain policy

[PennBroKeith]

dennis plante said:

(KR- I will comment in parenthesis)


WOW! a $139,000 jump in valuation in one year?  If anything, I would say 
this favors the landlord. 

(KR- Not germane to the issue of eminent domain; just smoke, sometimes called 
a red herring)

The thing I am left scratching my head over is how someone can plunk-down 
$400k for the purchase of a property and NOT know it's going to be taken for 
a redevelopment project a year later.

(KR- More smoked red herring. For those few, on The List, curious about the 
history of the Lowry Corridor Project; even the County changed it's choice, 
over a two week period at one point, of which side of the street it would take 
and demolish. It finally settled on the South side. I wonder if Dennis asked 
anybody at the City/County if they were coming for his site, some years back, 
before he purchased his house on Knox? Also, 3123 is not on Lowry it is 50 feet 
away on 6th.)

And as Keith so kindly shared with us, potential damages are being 
caluculated to include a years' worth of work (52 weeks) for remodeling 4 
kitchens, redoing the interiors of 2 of the units and installing 35 windows 
(all w/o permits). 

(KR- More Smoke. The issue I bring forward is: A property owner's right to 
operate a building she owns until the point that the County owns it; either by 
"quick take" or market purchase.  And, that was not damages but a factor in her 
basis; the value of her building. Now, what would you like to do about the, 
possible, no permit? The options are limited: We do not have capital punishment 
in this state, so firing squad is out. Board her building up. Already done. 
By the way: If she had bootlegged, and if she had been caught, she would have 
been double-fee'd for the lack of a proper permit. Again, the issue I bring 
forward is an eminent domain policy, implementation issue. Oh well Dennis, I 
guess you won't credit, to her, the painting inside and out, etc.? What do you 
"kindly" charge for that in an 8 unit, painter?)

Yet, no one has been willing to confirm whether or not the owner was 
compensated by the tennants when they moved-out with relocation monies 
receved from the City/County.  Something which was asserted needed to be 
done, by Megan G., in an earlier post.

( I do not know what the above sentence means? Might be smoked red herring, 
again?)

Clearly, to be fair (and I am sure it will only be shared in litigation), we 
need to know the dates when everything related to this transpired.

(Again, The City/County meddled with her tenants by paying them to exit a 
building the City/County does not own. This causes huge stress on the property 
owner, boarding of the building, and ultimately criminal trespass and 
substantial damage occurred. And the story is still evolving; I would not be 
the least 
surprised if trespassers eventually burn the building down thus endangering 
life and limb on the block.

When did the current owner receive notification that the property would be 
acquired through emminent domain?

(KR- Almost a fair question in other circumstances. Still, fair treatment, 
during the eminent domain process, does not include strong-arm that goes beyond 
bullying to extortion.  Larry Blackstad, the County's point man on the Lowry 
Corridor Project, effectively showed up and said "Here is my offer; accept it 
or I will pour gasoline in your hallway, light it, and your building will be 
boarded up. He caused her building to be boarded up by emptying it before he 
owned it; same boards as if he had dropped a bomb on it. The same boards. And 
this extortion was funded with government money)

Has anyone determined whether or not the City/County acted inappropriately 
by notifying the tennants when they did and explaining their rights to them?

(KR- I did. It was totally inappropriate; although possibly legal. And even 
required by federal law based on the date 3 or 4 months ago?) the County 
notified each of us of impending eminent domain taking. The problem is in the 
way 
Larry Blackstad as cat's paw for the process, didn't QuickTake the property, 
and 
become owner while allowing the clock to run out on his obligation to offer 
moving opportunity to the tenants. The banality of his malice in creating this 
situation for an innocent lady should cost him his last three promotions or he 
should be dismissed. Further, doing his job properly means recognizing that 
eminent domain is a delicate issue and should not create a boarded building 
ripe for trespassers which might take months to become County property. He is 
stalling. And I know why he is stalling; and it is incredibly banal.)

The flipside to what I am hearing is that the City/County needs to 
succesfully negotiate with each and every landlord/homeowner in the path of 
the redevelopment prior to starting the development.  What ahppens if 
someone decides to uncooperative and hold-out for an unreasonable amount?  
Do we put the redelopment off indefinitely?

(KR- Nope. Simply 

Re: [Mpls] Shoefiti

[Brad Hartmann]

We own and live at the property directly north of Clinton Field and
know exactly what Ms. Young has reported regarding shoes and power
lines. After a year of complaining to the MPRB about overgrown brush
on park property directly underneath this power line, a crew finally
cleared it out last fall. We have now enjoyed a great spring and
summer without looking out at an athletic shoe store outside our
second floor back porches.

I am not sure of the motivation behind this shoe display, but I do
know the cover of that excessive brush promoted drug dealing and
prostitution. Those problems and the shoes are now gone.

Also, I would like to correct a statement about a toilet at Clinton
Field. A structure was erected at the park to house such a facility,
but the biff was never installed. Budget cuts?

Brad Hartmann
Whittier

On 6/28/05, Pamela Taylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hello List,
> 
> I just asked my daughter's friend (who is in his 20's) and he said that the 
> shoes signify that someone has died.  He did not specify whether it was 
> connected to a gang thing or not.  That's all I have on the subject so far.
> 
> Pamela Taylor
> (Lyndale)
> 
> Annie Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> It seems we on this list are not quite up on this possible hop-hop thing -
> how about some of you parent's with teenagers on the list see if they can
> give us some clues so we can get to the bottom of this thread.
> Summer in the City,
> Annie Young
> East Phillips
> 
> 
> __
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> If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL 
> PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.
> 
> 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
> 
> For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
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> 
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> E-Democracy
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Re: [Mpls] Evil stupid landlady tells all in secret E-Mail to coven leader at Lowry

[Dyna]

Keith, please forward this reply to Ms.LeVanier.


HERE IS Jamie LaVanier's E-mail to me the other day, unvarnished, with
permission to post:

Kieth please leave out the numbers.
My lawyer seemed pretty upset that I talked to a reporter, he said things may
come to bite me in the bum:)


	Jamie, we might take your plight more seriously if you gave 
us some financial data.



$XX,XXX.XX for improvements(35 new windows, 24 hour indoor and outdoor video
surveilance, 2x8 indestructable privacy fence and retaining wall, four
bathrooms remodelled, two units completely remodelled, one with dishwasher and
built-in microwave. two kitchens with new cabinets and countertops, new light
fixtures, new paint inside and out, and several new appliances.)
$XX,XXX.XX my labor (30 hrs a week X  $XX. X 52 weeks)
$X,XXX.XX other labor help
$350 to board up building
$ lost rents due to illegal buy-out

=$XXX,XXX total
my appraisal was for $XXX,XXX


Plus the coming treble permit fees for not pulling a permit.


I made a good proffit from gutting a delapitated house, and
restoring/remodelling in the past so I thought I'd up the 
scalewhat a mistake.


	You are not the first person to be deluded into thinking they 
would make a huge profit on distressed property. What attracted you 
to this insane business plan- a late night infomercial or your 
buddies BS?



I bought the delapitated building in March, 2004, I had planned on a full
scale remodel, but after tearing out two units, I found out through my tenants
that there were plans for the city to possibly buy it. I did no 
further demo, as

I felt it was a waste if I was not going to own it.


But you then went on to redo at least four units.


Sure would have been nice
if the previous owner would have disclosed this as he get letters from the
city in the past. The city inspectors did insist on 35 new windows, 
which I did.

seems a little stupid if there going to tear it down.


	Ever heard of due diligence? I'm currently buying a small 
town building for less than one tenth what you spent and I've looked 
up the property's history, legal description, and planned projects in 
the area, etc.



It was at this time that I found out how bad this neighborhood really was,


	Again, due diligence in the form of just hanging around the 
building for a while would have told you how bad the 'hood was before 
you bought it.



and decided to put surveilance cameras up.
Because of the cameras I installed, I was able to record the theif that stole
my truck and all my tools inside it.
Unfortunately the police were too busy to look at it, and I was treated like
the criminal. It took three days and I don't know how many officers to finally
find one that would listen and report it, they would each say it was
reported, then I would call the next day or later in the day and 
talk to someone new

and again it was not reported.
I did end up getting my truck back minus all the tools of course.


All my vehicles stay behind a tall fence if not in a locked garage.


They made use of the brand new, bolt cutters, never used until they cut my
battery cables to take the battery.
Im sure in their life of crime that heavy duty bolt cutter will come in
handy.


	My cordless sawzall and drill are padlocked in their case and 
locked to a heavy chain wrapped around a substantial building member.



After my truck was stolen, I had had enough, and put the building on the
market for $XXX,XXX, of course after I took it off  the market I had 
two verbal
offers each for $XXX,XXX but declined because I thought the city 
would be fair.

What a mistake.


You paid way too much for the building.


While putting my indestrucable privacy fence, I would call the police becasue
the gang members would throw rocks at me and say there were going to tear it
down (because it blocked a primary escape rout that they used often). because
of the cameras and the fence, and Spartan Protection, the gang members
eventually moved out of my parking lot, for the most part, which use 
to be a big
hang-out, but not before one female officer said to me after a call 
what do you

expect in this neighborhood. I know the minneapolis police are very busy, and
understaffed, so I dismissed it, and I will never bother them again.


	That officer was telling you the truth- you need deep pockets 
to survive in this tough a 'hood.



The offer from the city did not even cover the purchase price.


	It is not the city's responsibility to compensate you for you 
business mistakes.


hanging on in Hawthorne,

Dyna Sluyter
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RE: [Mpls] Murderapolis: Time to Move Beyond Triage

[Dyna]

Remember, the current budget - including police staffing cuts - already
assumes a pretty stiff tax hike: 8 percent overall property tax increase per
annum. It will be higher for residents because of state property-tax rate
shifts from business toward homeowners.


	Of course a return to a progressive income tax would be 
preferred, but given the reluctance of the "no tax increase" 
republicans to approve such reasonable and progressive tax policies a 
property tax increase may be neccessary.



So...if Peter wants to hire more cops without cutting something else, he has
to go *above* the 8 percent average increase. That's why it's not so easy to
hire more cops.


	With rising crime driving residents out of the 'hoods 
ultimately the overheated real estate market will see a severe 
correction. With that drastic drop in property values will come a 
drastic drop in property tax revenues as Minneapolis slouches toward 
East St. Louis. Or, we can raise taxes, borrow, whatever too fully 
staff our police department, drive the criminals out of town, and 
turn the 'hoods into such hot property that we can pay off the bonds 
early.


hanging on in Hawthorne,

Dyna Sluyter
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