JNS EDITORIAL: All I Am Saying...Is Give Jordan A Chance

Photo By John Hoff

So obviously I've been writing a lot lately about the Jordan Neighborhood...

And, understandably, people might be dismayed to hear about this conflict coming out of Jordan. The most worrisome aspect is how this will effect foundations and government entities which provide funds to keep the neighborhood association running.

I received word that my firsthand account of the "board battle" was mentioned in a Jordan Neighborhood listserv, with a link, and that Anne McCandless described it as "pretty accurate." Considering McCandless was in the middle of this complex struggle, this is high praise, indeed, to be "pretty accurate."

This Is What Democracy Looks Like

However, my reporting leaves something out. It is hard to describe the SPIRIT of the Jordan Neighborhood, the exciting sense that as ugly as these board conflicts may be, this is the face of vital, grassroots democracy by people whose very lives, fortunes and honors are wrapped up in the fate of their neighborhood. Jordan is trying to take hold of its destiny, in the midst of a vital, sincere debate about what that destiny should be and who should lead the neighborhood organization.

The "New Majority" is--at least for now--united in purpose. Their leader, Kip Browne, has the aura, the quiet spirit, the obvious intellect of a President Obama. Depend on him to lead and make good decisions. The magnanimous gesture of nominating E.B. Browne to be his vice-chair showed a bigness of spirit, a sense of "greater good, not just personal gain" which has been, I believe, severely lacking in Jordan.

This new leadership needs a chance to get the house in order, and begin pushing Jordan toward the exciting, tangible progress evident in the Hawthorne Neighborhood, its "neighbor neighborhood" on the other side of Emerson Ave. N. This will take time, and it's going to be messy, but "pulling the plug" on Jordan will make a much worse situation. It's literally life-or-death, to help this neighborhood help itself. Foundations must not pull back now, but grab the opportunity to work with Jordan's vital new leadership. This is a neighborhood of "success stories waiting to happen."

Here are some of my suggestions for the Jordan community in this exciting time.

Ding Dong, The...Oh, Never Mind

First, witch hunts (though tempting) are counterproductive. If money is gone by dishonest means, loud revelations about this fact won't make the money come back. If there are investigations, at all times these must happen in a spirit of "greater good," not a mere seizure of opportunity to settle old scores.

The whole problem with Jordan is fighting and dysfunction. Restraint is in order. One must ask oneself, "How does this look to outsiders?"

Emulate Camden Or, Well, At Least Hawthorne

Second, Jordan must start to concentrate on "livability issues" instead of "social justice issues." Jordan has the most severe problems of ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN MINNESOTA. The crime stats back this up. Jordan's discussions need to be about securing vacant houses, knocking buildings down that are decrepit, driving out prostitutes and crackheads who steal copper pipes, (who gives a rip HOW LONG their families have been in the neighborhood, crackheads gotta go) getting funding for programs...not whether police questioned somebody's son in a harsh and demeaning manner, and what does that reveal about SOCIETY?

Yes, social injustice and racism are all-too-real. But those are matters for the Urban League and similar organizations. Not a neighborhood organization. There are barely enough hours in the day for a neighborhood association in North Minneapolis to get ahead of the neighborhood livability issues, but somehow neighborhoods like Hawthorne and Camden pull themselves up and have astounding success stories, by overwhelming, exhaustive effort. (I would argue the power of the internet is a new tool we're latching onto, with great success)

Sometimes our efforts feel like "treading water." But if you add the tangential, badly-matched mission of solving "social justice" to an already full agenda of neighborhood livability issues, that is like trying to swim with an anvil.

No other neighborhood association in Minnesota has neglected "livability" issues and substituted "social justice" issues to the extent of the Jordan Neighborhood in recent years. There is more I can say on this at a future date. Suffice to say I've seen it firsthand, when I was thinking of moving into that neighborhood.

Just Because It Happened Doesn't Make It Symbolic

Third, what has happened in Jordan these last few days--including my next blog post, about the break-in at the JACC office--is an important crossroads in the history of this neighborhood, which people might look back on for years, decades, and say, "This is the moment when everything changed."

Because of that, there may be a tendency to read too much into the purported symbolism of what happened. For example, fighting in a church. A holy edifice. The shame--!

Yes, well, the meeting rooms of this church are used for very secular purposes. So let's not get too wrapped up in some notion of "blaspheming" the church by angry words and (allegedly) swinging fists. What apparently happened is unfortunate. Perhaps God is unhappy about it, but I think Our Lord has bigger fish to fry in the Israel/Gaza conflict. The alleged fistfight didn't allegedly happen during communion, for crying out loud. Religion was not involved in any way.

So let's avoid undue drama. There's already too much drama in Jordan.

Another example: What about the youth? What about programs for the youth?

This was the question being asked by Ms. Champion when tempers flared. But the question being asked could have been about anything. It could have been a question such as: why the unwillingness to share financial documents?

There is no heavy symbolic value to the question being asked. One might even argue "That was really the wrong question, and the answer might have been to go ask the Urban League or the YWCA."

Youth programs are one minor aspect of a neighborhood association but, again, something of a "social justice" issue. Adequate park facilities for youth are more of a neighborhood issue, but for that we have park boards. There are MANY other entities who are more properly suited to delivering youth programs. Some programs in Hawthorne include a book giveaway and having a youth rep position on the Hawthorne board. Clearly, Hawthorne is concentrating on livability issues, which is why Hawthorne is succeeding...even despite heartrending setbacks, such Annshalike Hamilton's body being dumped in Hawthorne.

(I'm still trying to figure out if Annshalike lived on the "even side" or "odd side" of Emerson Ave. N, in Hawthorne or in Jordan)

The question which allegedly set off JACC Executive Director Jerry Moore--or started the cascade of circumstances which resulted in the alleged altercation--should not be seen as loaded with symbolic value. Folks were angry and frustrated. There were months, years of issues hanging in the air. In such an emotional climate, fists might fly over a remark like, "Jerry, you've got gum on your shoe."

(This would no doubt be followed up with, "Careful, you might accidentally let a financial record out of the office, sticking on your shoe" and three sarcastic pats on the back)

Because We Live Here...Or At Least We Live Close By

Jordan has a long, hard slog ahead. Jordan needs help to turn itself around, and should receive that help. Obviously, everybody will be watching. It is probably best, at this point, to become "overly transparent" with finances. Reveal all the transactions. With great frequency. To everybody. (Um, who has control of the checkbook like...this very second? Just wondering)

But Jordan is not alone and, more importantly, not isolated. The fate of Jordan is the fate of Minneapolis. Now is not the time to throw up hands in despair, but extend hands in helpfulness.

All I am saying...is give Jordan a chance.