Don Samuels (Almost) Upstaged By His Daughter At Campaign Kick Off Event

City Councilman Don Samuels had a successful and well-attended political campaign event. Two different attendees sent me pictures and firsthand accounts. Here is what I was told...

Despite the cold and rain, northsiders and folks from all over the metro came together at a large beautiful home across from North Commons Park to enjoy good food, good company and the good efforts of Don (and Sondra!) Samuels. The huge house quickly filled up, elbow to elbow, with a who's who that included city council members, county commissioners, state elected officials as well as the REAL power people - the neighborhood people of the northside that make the wheels turn.

Everyone had a great time, everyone stayed way longer than they thought they would because it was so nice to run into other neighbors from close and from across the ward who they that hadn't seen since we all went into hibernation back in November.

At the height of the party everyone gathered to listen to the man of the night, Council Member Don Samuels. But we were actually charmed and all fell in love with little 8-year-old Amani, who delivered a little speech she wrote to introduce her dad. Don clearly had some competition to NOT be upstaged by this future community leader.

Don did a great job of verbalizing what we all know in our hearts --that North Minneapolis will be the poster child of Urban Revitalization and the American Dream will be a fulfilled promise for all its residents--regardless of background, age, race, class and status. Everyone.

A nice way to spend the first evening of Spring: talking about renewal, growth, life, and regeneration.

Thanks to my source for that firsthand account. Here is more info.

I am told Don Samuels specifically mentioned "the 900 block of West Broadway" and the drug dealing in that area. These things, Don said, would be going away as Broadway continues to be revitalized.

It was good to hear this specific mention of the 900 block of West Broadway--where there is an open air drug market at and near the Hawthorn (sic) Crossings Strip Mall. This morning I had to run a gauntlet of drug dealers to pick up a chocolate shake for my kid, so I'll continue to bang the drum about the ongoing problems at this location, and the lack of a meaningful security by Hawthorn (sic) Crossings management.

In the meantime, word on the street says Don Samuels' challenger, Kenya McKnight, had a campaign event today, at 10 a.m., at Farview Park.

Johnny Northside NEWS FLASH: Farview Park is NOT PART OF WARD FIVE, KENYA.