Photo By John HoffDisappointment--but not surprise--came in the wake of last week's U of M "statement regarding university initiatives in North Minneapolis," in which the University flaked out kind of like...hmmm, to what can I compare it, based on my extensive experience as a teaching assistant at the U?
Oh, wait, I've got it...
A freshmen cutting classes because she discovers her checking account is overdrawn from too much partying, and she needs to work a few extra shifts, so she explains it to her professors about how she is "trying to be responsible." Something like that.
Click here for a copy of the university statement, in case you missed the pleasure of reading such a dryly-worded missive of flip-flopping and excuse-making. The bottom line: the University said it would be a tenant in Hennepin County's North Minneapolis Child and Family Service Center, but now the U won't. Budget constraints.
Uh-huh. But the same statement goes on to say the Urban Research Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC) is still very much a go. Well, that's good. BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY SHUT DOWN A GROCERY STORE TO DO THIS, AND MANY MONTHS LATER THE PLACE IS STILL VACANT.
Snow Foods wasn't very spectacular as far as grocery stores go, but you could get food there, and now you can get NOTHING there. I fear the University is using an incremental bad PR strategy to minimize public outcry. In several months, they'll probably say they're "delaying" the UROC project. Then they're "canceling" it but, not to worry, they're selling the building without a loss to a developer. And then, well, it's only a slight loss, but blame the whole thing on the economy and (by implication) the Bush administration, boo hiss.
In other words...a "snow job."
It occurs to me the acronym for UROC could just as easily be "UREC."
2 comments:
living a few blocks down Plymouth, it's hard to describe the sick feeling i had when hearing that the U is pulling out of their commitment to the Child and Family Service Center. just another numb feeling of "ok, here we go again." personally, i predict that they will also back out of UROP--what incentive do they have to move forward, now that they are no longer wooing Dr. Ciccetti? (remember, this is the same University that recently broke up General College.)
all that being said, Snow Foods was one of the biggest drug hangouts in this end of the Northside, and it was a huge relief to see it shut down. notwithstanding the fact that it was right next door to the 4th precinct building. the police basically admitted that they had given up doing anything about it. as long as it was there, it was like a big sign over the neighborhood saying "we just don't give a crap!" imagine the worst gang house in your neighborhood: would you rather have it stay as it is, or be vacant? well, that's how i feel about Snow Foods. sure, i'd love to have a grocery store down the street--but one that doesn't sell drug paraphernalia would be a good start (Snow Foods' owner allegedly told ACORN activists who confronted him on the issue that he couldn't stop selling drug paraphernalia, because that was his primary source of income.)
And what was the NAME of this owner of Snow Foods who did all this? Allegedly? :)
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