Monday, February 28, 2011

Father/Son Moments In North Minneapolis: The Crystal Growing Experiment...


Photos and blog post by John Hoff

Without the ultra-affordable housing deals in North Minneapolis, I don't know how I would manage to be near my 13-year-old son and a meaningful part of his life. I keep trying to put out the word to single fathers: get up here and join our struggle to fix these houses and make our neighborhood a safe and livable urban utopia.

When I have visitation with my son, I usually try to have a few things planned for weekend activities or (like most kids his age) my son will revert to video games like it's his default setting.

Recently, I obtained a not-very-expensive crystal growing experiment kit. The beauty of the experiment is the crystals take roughly seven days to grow and--due to some kind of "makeup weekend" situation--my weekends doubled up. So Alex was able to put the experiment to bed on a Saturday night and have it pretty much completed the following Friday.

As you can see by the photos above...

...we grew some perfect "rock candy" sugar crystals, which Alex consumed shortly after this photo was taken. Yes, that was a lot of sugar but...well, it was for science.

We tried to re-use the kit and grow more crystals with our own sugar, but all we managed to produce was a jar of gooey sugar syrup. I also wondered if it would be possible to add food color to the original experiment and produce colored crystals. That would be cool.

The crystal growing experiment was fun, but kind of a one-time thing. Now my son and I have a new, long-term hobby: watching our 377,977 shares of China Nuvo Solar Energy.

Chicken Egg Embryo Food Experiment Goes So, So Wrong...

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

Readers of this blog know all-too-well about how willing I am to try almost any food, whether it's eating crickets to entertain kids at a NoMi birthday party, or sampling delicious buttery silkworm pupae (not so bad, but definitely not destined to become one of my faves) or checking out the legendary durian fruit, which is stinky in a fruit-i-licious way.

But some culinary adventures (like my recent attempt to chow down on gigantic African snails) don't go so well. It's not that I get physically ill (I can't recall ANY food that has made me physically ill, ever, with the exception of watermelon pickles circa 1974) but some foods are just a real letdown and simply don't taste good at all. So it was with boiled chicken embryos...

I had heard the culinary legend of "balut." This food, which consists of duck or chicken embryos, is a popular bar snack in Thailand and other parts of Asia, and is known by different names depending on the country.

When I noticed "baby egg(s)" being sold at Bangkok Market (so often the locus of my culinary forays) I inquired excitedly about how to prepare this food.

Boil it, I was told. Then dip it in fish sauce and hot sauce, mixed together.

Three Crabs Brand is considered by many to be the best fish sauce for this sort of thing. The clerk showed me precisely where in the store to find a bottle of Three Crabs which was about three bucks. A buck a crab.

That first day when I noticed "baby eggs" (note the disturbing use of Easter clip art) I was tied up in some other activity (a frivolous lawsuit would be one example) and I didn't feel like I had time to deal with the eggs. I thought, well, I will get the eggs another day. That's when the snowstorm hit and, day after day, there were no eggs. I was told the truck with the eggs couldn't get through. I actually bought the bottle of Three Crabs Brand fish sauce, just to be ready.

"It's a sign," my girlfriend Megan told me. "God doesn't want you to eat a baby chick."

And then one weekend--it was a weekend I had my son Alex along with, so he could be freaked out by what his father is willing to eat--God finally made the "baby eggs" available. I only bought two of them, which was a whole buck. When I boiled the eggs over at Megan's house, I didn't have the fish sauce, so I used Hoisin sauce. I don't think the sauce would have made any difference, though, no matter how high-quality it might be.

Let me tell you a thing or two about eating chicken embryos.




The egg is an odd shape. There is a cavity at the top of the egg, so it's flat on top. It's hard to make out the various chicken parts, but I know I saw half-formed feathers which looked like tufts of hair, but were soft and slimy. That's why some Chinese call this food a "haired egg" I guess.

There is a big difference between the part of the balut which is chicken embryo and the part which is still egg yolk, which hovers down at the bottom. The embryo tastes like, well, nothing much. It doesn't have a lot of flavor. It doesn't taste like egg, or meat. There's not much texture there. I expected, I don't know, the crunch of cartilage but it's just a ball of soft protein.

The yolk part is entirely different. It's not like egg yolk anymore, it's more firm, almost rubbery or leathery.



If I was on a desert island and had to survive 14-day-old embryonic eggs, I could get by just fine. And that's kind of a comfort. But now with the mystery of balut behind me, I realize my expectations of something exotic and flavorful were more pleasurable than what balut actually delivered. In fact, I could only eat one of the eggs. Megan told me to throw the other one in the vacant lot next door. Don't let the dog eat it. She doesn't want him to get a taste for baby chicks.

Maybe I will have more luck with the lamb brains at Saffron Restaurant.


The Valley Of The Shadow Of Petro Stop...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Unlike some Northside projects which seem to take forever, the Gateway Lofts project at the former W. Broadway Petro Stop location is speeding right along. An impressive valley has been dug and foundations are being built in the valley. I have dubbed it "The Valley Of The Shadow of Petro Stop" but I guess "Gasoline Valley" has a nice ring, too. Hopefully, this "urban grand canyon" won't be part of our scenery for too long because, well, it's a big and ugly and made out of snirt.

Residents who live in the area continue to express worries that the multi-unit housing will turn into yet another crappy "project," but also express a cautious optimism that decent management and new buildings might produce something which is relatively nice instead of awful.

We shall see.

(Do Not Click Read More)

$$$

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Jerry Moore v. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside (The Blogosphere On Trial! Da Da Da Dummmmm!)

Cell phone photo by Megan Goodmundson, blog post by John Hoff


Regular readers of this blog who run into me in the real world are usually surprised to hear former JACC Executive Director Jerry Moore’s defamation lawsuit against this blog is still in existence. Having not heard about it for a while, they figure it must have gone away, died, or been dismissed. Click here for an article that summarizes the issues wonderfully.

In fact, the lawsuit has dragged on and is currently on the Hennepin County trial court calendar for Thursday March 3, at 9:30 AM, the court of Judge Denise Reilly, Room 655C. The trial may go beyond March 3 to Friday, March 4. It’s not currently scheduled for the following Monday but, well, sometimes things take longer than planned and we have to consider the lessons of history and other trials involving issues in the Jordan Neighborhood.

Attempts to obtain another continuance on the basis of being tied up doing much more important things did not meet with success at a pretrial hearing on Thursday, February 10, but the trial date of March 3...



...appears to have been kindly picked by Her Honor to avoid interfering with my work schedule, so that was helpful and I’m grateful for that.

With Don Allen of IBNN now dropped as a co-defendant due to settling out of court, it appears the case is now captioned Jerry Moore vs. John Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside, which is a fine title for the history books and possibly case law.

The February 10 hearing was attended by Jill Clark and Jerry Moore. I attended with my new lawyer, Paul Godfread, who was introduced to me through a media law project at Harvard, click here for a link to their website describing my case as a threat to free speech.

Godfread--who is not a graduate of Harvard, but part of their media law network--normally handles intellectual property law cases (stuff about copyrights, for example) but he has a passion for the First Amendment. He is, quite possibly, one of the tallest lawyers practicing in Hennepin County and (for those readers familiar with North Minneapolis personalities) bears a physical and personality resemblance to “shoe patrol hero” Peter Teachout, who is now an officer in the United States Army.

Also present in court was Don Allen of IBNN. At a hearing on Monday, in which Don Allen sat on the defendant’s side of the table long enough to say he’d been dismissed from the lawsuit, Allen announced he was filing a “harassment restraining order” against me. Not long after that, he apparently articulated the same threat to Sheila Regan at Twin Cities Daily Planet, click here and read the “sidebar story” to the article.

However—and this is so often the case with anything Don Allen says—there has been no sign of any harassment or restraining order filed against me or this blog. Rather than being stalked or harassed, Allen is simply unhappy about First Amendment public discourse: articles on various blogs (and now the Star Tribune) seriously questioning the wisdom of giving him $15,000 of scarce public schools tax dollars to produce commercials for the Minneapolis Public School system which, one can’t help but worry, may be not much better than his “talking baby” video posted on YouTube before it disappeared recently.

Also present in court was Terry Yzaguirre of the Mpls Mirror and notorious Level Three sex offender Peter “Spanky Pete” Rickmyer, who also attempted to sue the Johnny Northside blog and was declared a frivolous litigant, unable to file lawsuits pro se. In the corridor outside of court, Rickmyer was overheard speaking to Jill Clark about something “Puh-Puh-Peggy” told him to relate.

Clark is known to have a paralegal named Peggy. Rickmyer was also observed to fiddle with what appeared to be a cell phone during court proceedings.

Jordan Neighborhood super citizen Megan Goodmundson was also present in the court room.

With little time to prepare for the big show, Godfread has jumped into trial preparations with both feet.

Readers and media are urged to come one, come all to watch the live show:

THE BLOGOSPHERE ON TRIAL! (Click here for dramatic musical effects)

$$$

Monday, February 21, 2011

Alex Hoff, 13, Buys His First Penny Stock, Instantly Doubles His Money With China Nuvo Solar Energy! (CNUV)

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

First of all, since my son Alex, 13, is a minor, he doesn't "own" any stock except through his parents. But a couple of weeks ago Alex took his "North Minneapolis savings"--about $80 in a bank account--and instead of spending the money on video games he bought 40,000 shares of penny stock in a company called China Nuvo Energy. (CNUV)

The company owns a patent-pending invention for a solar cell which is both more efficient than other solar cells and, it appears, can be manufactured cheaply. (For example, the lens is glued on) The devastating Chinese earthquake knocked this company's value into the basement, but they are making moves lately, trying to claw their way upward and produce value for their stockholders.

In that way I feel an affinity with the stock. I say to myself, "This stock is like my neighborhood. Right now, you can buy in for pennies on the dollar but we have unlimited potential."

When Alex bought the stock, with a little help from his dad, it was priced at about .0020 but not very long after that, the stock rocketed up to .0066. Currently, it is holding at around .0040 which means Alex has doubled his investment, turning $80 into $160. Rumors are flying about a pending "reverse merger" and suddenly millions of shares are changing hands. Word is high volume is usually an indication of something big in the works.

Not having any money which doesn't need to go toward bills, I still found a way to invest so I could be in the venture with my son...



I had an old 403(b) account from back in the day when I worked for a non-profit psychiatric facility in Seattle. I haven't added so much as a buck to that 403(b) since I left Seattle in early 2000 for a difficult, uncertain existence trying to be near my child and part of his life. There was about $1,700 in the 403(b) but I can't get at that money until I am 59 and a half.

No, I couldn't get at the money. But I could convert the 403(b) into a Roth IRA and put all the money--every blessed penny--into China Nuvo Solar Energy. And that's exactly what I did. Currently, I own 377,977 shares (including my son's 40,000 shares) and win, lose or draw I don't plan to sell those shares for a long, long time. (Of course, Alex can do what he likes with his 40,000 shares when he turns 18; I put them in an account separate from my Roth IRA)

What I especially like about this stock is that it's 100 percent alternative energy. As an environmentalist, I prefer to have my investment money (what little there is!) in alternative energy stock rather than, for example, earth-raping stocks. (Weyerhauser...cough cough)

One reason I am writing about this is to explain why readers may see links to China Nuvo Solar Energy appearing at the end of blog posts. My recent experiment with Amazon Dot Com advertising has been a failure, producing not even a penny of revenue. If anybody asked me about putting Amazon Dot Com ads on their site I would say "Forget it. Don't even bother."

My Google ads produce about a hundred bucks every six months--not a big deal, but it beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick--and I think advertising gives any blog a more "official news source" appearance.

But here's what I'm going to do for a little while. I'm going to promote China Nuvo Solar Energy. And I've been up front about the reason why: I own stock in the company. In fact, it's the only kind of stock I own.

Well, actually, I think I have some soup stock in my cupboard.

But beyond that I believe in the company, in the idea of making a better solar cell and getting solar power to catch on and replace fossil fuels. Maybe this won't be the ultimate and perfect solar cell for all time, but it sounds like a pretty good solar cell for the next few decades.

Or maybe I just love bragging about my son and the fun we have in North Minneapolis. We sat in Broadway Pizza as the toy train went around, got on the internet, talked about the stock idea and then said...

Let's do it. Let's put money in China Nuvo Solar Energy.

Blogging Burns Up Yet Another Pawn Shop Camera...

Self-portrait by unknown, blog post by John Hoff

There's no doubt about it, I am rough on cameras.

I crawl over fences with my camera, cross a treacherous frozen lake, throw my camera in my black leather duffel bag--the same one I took to Army Basic Training in 1990, only now it has more patches--in short, I treat my cameras about as rough as I treat my clothes and my cars. That's why (just like with my clothes and cars) I buy cheap, dinged-up stuff and run it into the ground. With cameras, I prefer the ones from pawn shops with a memory card full of "gangster pics," so I can put 'em on my blog.

Recently, I went through yet another camera. Toward the end, the latch on the battery compartment was being held together with a paperclip. And I'm mighty grateful to my buddy who made that temporary fix, using his self-taught watch repair skills to rig up my piece-of-junk digital camera and get...

...several more months of life out of it. But toward the end, something was wrong with the memory and it just wouldn't retain pictures so today off it goes to the Graveyard of Cameras. Today a friend with a pawn shop credit kicked the credit my way so I could get another camera, and so I obtained a sweet little HP digital in Robbinsdale.

This camera came with no memory card, but three similar images were in the internal memory, here's one below.

Is that a tattoo of the outline of Minnesota on his left cheek? How civic-minded! (Sarcasm font)
My old camera had an image burned into the memory which appeared each time I hit the "on" button. I dubbed her "Imogene." The image of Imogene won't download, so I tried to take a picture of the picture but, well, I couldn't get a very good result.

What did I tell you? Held together with a paperclip. Too bad I can't trick the Minneapolis public school system into giving me money and get the big bucks like Don Allen.

Let's hope this new camera lasts a while. Heck, it cost a whole $79!

Slumlord Mahmood Khan's Answer To "The Curtains Of Dispair" Is "The Pizza Box Of Desperation"

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

What happened here at 2501 Golden Valley Road? Was slumlord Mahmood Khan jealous of all the attention this blog paid to "The Curtains of Dispair" at Bashir Moghul's run down property, and so Khan needed to grab center stage?

Check out what's going on with this broken plate glass window. Somebody has stuffed a take-out pizza box and a bubble gum pink blanket behind the hole in the window. Please note that whoever did this has a finely-tuned sense of aesthetics: they faced the greasy side of the pizza box away from the outside.

Careful, you might accidentally set off a wave of gentrification like that! Here's the most bitter irony of all: this building is directly across from a glass repair business.

Obviously, about ten seconds after I get done with this blog post...

...I will be sending an email to 311.

But it's pretty hard to keep up with Mahmood Khan, no matter how many 311 calls and emails are made. This man's capacity to create slummy conditions are on a par with the super powers of cartoon villains. We in North Minneapolis can only cry out to a higher power, in this case the city: please revoke this man's rental license and save us from his tidal wave of slum!


NoMi Bus Stop Bouquet Is Now Complete!

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

This blog previously reported the installation of some spectacular bus stop art near the Five Points Building, but at that time not all the metal blooms were in place. In the midst of today's snow storm, I drove by and noticed the final flowers have been put in place and the installation appears complete.

This distinctive bus stop seems destined to become a NoMi landmark. To those who find it too gaudy, too busy, too SOMETHING I say:

Give it time. You'll find it grows on you.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Arson Investigation At 2031 Queen Ave. N. Still Open...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

The vacant house fire at 2031 Queen Ave. N. continues to be under investigation, which means it's pretty much like all the other arson investigations in North Minneapolis. But as I was looking through some of the pictures I took that night--including this piece of debris that fell from the sky and landed a block away, flaming--and you can get an idea of its size from the adult-sized glove print to the right--I thought it might be good to mention it again, pointedly.

Arson investigation. Still open.

This blog would be very interested to know what insurance was on that house and who was the beneficiary of the insurance.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Criminal Record of Teesha Shantel Churcher, Wounded At A North Minneapolis Warehouse Party...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

Several mainstream media outlets recently reported on the wounding of three individuals at a party inside a warehouse in North Minneapolis. First of all, it should be noted this represents an odd sort of progress in North Minneapolis, the fact the party took place inside a warehouse instead of in the middle of a residential area.

Second, none of the mainstream media attempted to dig into the backgrounds of the victims in this shooting. Why is that important? Because decent people are surprisingly safe in North Minneapolis while criminal no-accounts prey on each other, a fact this blog constantly emphasizes in the course of reporting on revitalization topics.

Here's the record for Teesha Shantel Churcher, 35, a St. Paul resident who was wounded by a bullet at the party...





62-T4-97-065888
97910168
97910168
CHURCHER, TEESHA SHANTEL
06/22/1975
09/23/1997
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Moving - Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
NO DL [120.00]
NO PROOF INSURANCE

62-K5-99-003713
CHURCHER, TEESHA SHANTELL
06/22/1975
12/15/1999
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
VOCSL3 SALE NARC DRUG

62-T6-00-079934
00257848
00257848
CHURCHER, TEESHA SHANTEL
06/22/1975
10/02/2000
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Moving - Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
D A R
EXPIRED LIC PLTS (50.00)

62-T8-04-031523
RW000608
RW000608
CHURCHER, TEESHA SHANTELL
06/22/1975
11/19/2004
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Moving - Misdemeanor
Converted Closed
FALSE INFO TO POLICE
DAR

27-CR-08-11877
CHURCHER, TEESHA SHANTEL
06/22/1975
03/08/2008
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Drivers' Licenses - No Drivers License in Possession or Fail to Display Upon Request

27-CR-08-46356
CHURCHER, TEESHA SHANTEL
06/22/1975
09/16/2008
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Small, Robert M.
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Assault-2nd Degree

Some of these may represent charges, not convictions. I have not yet had an opportunity to look up any records for the other two victims at the party.


416 31st Ave. N. Goes Down, Hawthorne Eco-Village Moves Forward...

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff

Located right next to "the Polish Lady" in the Hawthorne Eco-Village, the house at 416 31st Ave. N. was right in the middle of everything. And, by virtue of being in the middle of everything, it was the subject of several stories here on Johnny Northside Dot Com, everything from a bloody and disturbing tale of pit bull fighting to...


...stolen aluminum window frames to a real estate tour which turned into a festival of "stupid property repairs." Oh, and the owner of the property reportedly "trying to save face."

In the last year or so, the house was a rental while for sale on the market. There wasn't much trouble with the renters, unlike the situation for years before that as one no-account after another lived at the property and hurt the quality of life for decent people living in the Eco-Village.

About a month ago, I got word the house was demolished. As far as I know, no pictures of the demolition were taken. Progress in the Eco-Village has become so commonplace we are starting to take it for granted. The march of revitalization in North Minneapolis is unstoppable.


A Stay Of Execution At 2939 Lyndale Ave. N.

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

It happened a month ago, but I promised to write about it and so here's the promised info: The duplex at 2939 Lyndale Ave. N. came up for consideration in front of the board of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association. CPED was thinking of acquiring the property for demolition even though...

...like a handful of properties that have been demolished in North Minneapolis, it's a solid structure and deserves to be saved. (The vast majority of houses torn down in North Minneapolis NEEDED to be torn down)

The issue came before Hawthorne: what should CPED do? Acquire the house to tear it down? Or let it go on the open market?

The house in question has seen better times, but it has amazing features inside like many of the houses in North Minneapolis hitting the market at substantial discounts. I wrote a blog post once about suspected drug dealing which was taking place right in front of the house and (without blogging about it) I personally made several 311 calls on the property. The house in question is notable because massive amounts of ivy have taken over one side of the building, a situation way beyond merely decorative. However, the house is right at the border of the Eco-Village, where massive amounts of money have been spent to turn around four tough blocks. Wasn't the whole idea to promote a ripple effect on the area nearby?

At the full board, there was a tie vote: 4 to 4 over whether to recommend demolition to CPED. The chair could have broken the vote but elected to let it stand as it was. And so--because CPED does tend to give these recommendations some weight--it would appear the house is saved from demolition.

This is, of course, not the end of the matter. Something will happen with that house. If a slumlord thinks they're going to turn that house into a disgusting fleabag hovel for no-accounts, (as some in favor of demolition have fearfully expressed) well, be advised: this house is under the special watchful eye of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association and a small but powerful collection of bloggers.


Friday, February 11, 2011

Making Way For The New Minneapolis Public School Headquarters...Or, As I Like To Call It, Don Allen's Public Tax Dollars Sugar Daddy!

Contributed photos, blog post by John Hoff

Though the Irving Inquisition blog managed to scoop JNS blog on the story of demolition taking place to make way for the new Minneapolis Public School headquarters, click here, this blog did receive some great photos from a reader.

Of course, I can't even hear the words "Minneapolis Public Schools" without thinking about the frigging unbelievable and outrageous....



...$15,000 contract with Don Allen and newly-creditable reports of $103,770 funneled toward notoriously litigious loon Al Flowers via the Urban League.

In fact, from now on whenever I make mention of the Minneapolis Public School system for any reason, I am going to bring up these two stories by mentioning them or linking. And I am going to do this until...

1.) The contract with Don Allen is cancelled, and these tax dollars are saved from ending up in the toilet.

2.) Hard proof comes to light, either that Al Flowers DID NOT receive some or all of this money (and both my highly creditable source and renowned "Poopgate" liar Don Allen of IBNN are wrong) or proof comes forth that Flowers DID receive some or all of this money; proof such as the actual contract.

If one of the conditions is met before the other--which seems likely--I will just keep mentioning the OTHER thing until both conditions are met. So be it.

Here. Let me demonstrate.

Minneapolis Public Schools (Don Allen, $15,000 wasted, Al Flowers, cough cough)...

I think readers get the point, but feel free to practice on your own when posting comments whether here on Johnny Northside or anywhere else Minneapolis Public Schools are mentioned, particularly in association with their need for public tax dollars to do WHATEVER.

Here's more photos:






Ian Alexander, North Minneapolis Attorney, Has Some Of The Most Creative And Frugal Advertising Ever!


xtranormal cartoon by Ian Alexander, blog post by John Hoff


The online world is being taken over by homemade xtranormal cartoons, and attorney Ian Alexander (who has been mentioned on this blog before due to opening a new office on Lowry Ave. N. and having a thesis about how to transform the situation with vacant houses in North Minneapolis) has jumped aboard the toon-it-yourself bandwagon.

Remember, if you have divorce, custody, child support issues Ian Alexander is affordable and, really, one of the most kindly and considerate lawyers you're likely to meet.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

The Moghul Slum Empire Chalks Up Another Outrage, This Is Getting Old...

Stock photo, Moghul property, blog post by John Hoff

Lately some of us have been wondering if Bashir is just the world's most naive landlord, or does he pick and choose the (alleged and indicted) scum of the earth as renters?

Word comes via email of the latest no-account to find shelter in a Bashir Moghul property...


This report of an aggravated robbery went out over various listservs to which many decent folks in North Minneapolis subscribe, to keep track of crime patterns in our neighborhood. Note the address at the end of this report where the suspect, Johnathon Davis, 21, reportedly lives.
---------------------
CASE SUMMARY:

Case Year: 2011 Case No. 035388

Incident Location: 06** Broadway AV W
Date and Time: 2/7/2011 4:10:00 PM - 2/7/2011 4:12:00 PM

Offenses Recorded: Robbery of Person-Aggravated - -

Public Information:
Vict was robbed by AP1 and AP1 implied he had a gun. AP1 was arrested a few blocks away from the incident scene and a show-up was done and confirmed identity of AP1. Ap1 was booked into HCJ for Robbery of Person.
JUDICIAL PROBABLE CAUSE: THE COMPLAIN ...

Arrested Parties, if any (name - age / Address AptNo City, State Zip):
Jonathan Davis - 21 / 002938 Dupont AV N a Minneapolis, MN 55411
--------------
I wonder who owns 2938 Dupont Ave. N.? Well, let's click right here, go to the City of Minneapolis website, and find out.

Wow. It's Manzoor A. Moghul. But digging into the online history of the house shows it passed into the hands of Bashir Moghul, no surprise. When it's a "Moghul Monstrosity" property, we often find the names of other Moghuls listed, and this house falls right into the common pattern.

Once again, this blog cries out to city officials: revoke, revoke, revoke this man's rental license and, for that matter, investigate the actual facts of who has de facto control of these Moghul houses, no matter whose first name appears as owner. How much does the city spend in tax dollars because Bashir, Manzoor and the other Moghuls perform such lousy background checks or (you gotta wonder!) actually goes out of their way to fill our neighborhood with criminal no-account scum?


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Shoefiti Makes Fuel For A Wood Burning Stove...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Some weeks ago I was driving around with Hawthorne Neighborhood Housing Director Jeff Skrenes (the Hawthorne Hawkman) in his car and Jeff had a pair of tied-together shoes kicking around on the floor, which I recognized as the "ground score" shoefiti shoes he picked up while digging into the facts about slumlord Paul Bertelson, click here for Jeff's blog post and look for the picture of the snowy shoes.

So I was all, like, hey, what are you going to do with the shoes? And Jeff was all, like, nothing...you can have them.

So, as is my habit with shoes I obtain from power lines or, in this case, shoes that didn't make it up to the power line or possibly fell off, I tossed the shoes in my car and, when I got around to visiting my prolific and well-armed country mouse relatives way out in the sticks, I brought the shoes with me to see if they might be of any use to the many, many little Hofflings who occupy that part of Minnesota...

Turns out the shoes were moldy and worn out, but the laces were still good. So the laces were saved because we are, honestly, THAT frugal. The shoes themselves went into one of the wood burning stoves which Hoffs greatly prefer as heating systems, but you can't always do exactly what you want in the big city. I hope that shoe sole was made of RUBBER and not some plastic compound, because dioxins are the devil and are created every time you burn plastic.

Here sits one of the shoes on the wood pile, moments before it met its fate, just like its twin.

Shoes are not going to stay on power lines very long in North Minneapolis, not with decent citizens staying on top of this issue and taking action on their own initiative.

Howard "Howie" N. Gangestad, Slumlord Extraordinaire, Finally Gets His Much-Deserved Blog Recognition...

Slummy stock photo by John Hoff, the property is NOT
owned by Gangestad, blog post by John Hoff

Slumlords try very hard to operate "below the radar," but that's no excuse for how severely this blog has neglected Howard "Howie" Gangestad, a slumlord who (back in his slummy salad days) was pretty near "Public Enemy No. 1" as far as being a pain in the butt to city inspectors.

Here is Howie's petty record of scrapes and scuffs with the law, and those times when ol' Howie was dishing it out in court as a plaintiff, making sure he got every last dime, all of the time.

Are you ready for the ride, dear reader? Remember, keep your hands and arms inside the car at all times, THIS THRILL RIDE IS NOT UP TO CODE.

Here we gooooooooooo....


27-CR-96-104808
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
11/27/1996
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
FOUNDATIONS,ROOFS,EXTERIOR WALLS, SURFACES
RAINWATER DRAINAGE
STAIRWAYS AND PORCHES

27-CR-98-001183
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
11/19/1997
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
WATER HEATING FACILITIES

27-CR-98-001130
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
12/19/1997
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
INTERIOR

27-CR-98-001172
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
12/19/1997
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
FOUNDATIONS, ROOF, EXTERIOR WALL SURFACES
RAINWATER DRAINAGE

27-CR-98-107405
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
10/19/1998
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
CONSTRUCTION,MAINTENANCE OF NONDWELLING STRUCTURE

27-CR-99-018291
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
02/16/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
RAINWATER DRAINAGE
FOUNDATIONS,ROOF,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES

27-CR-99-018292
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
02/16/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
FIRE WARNING SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND FIXTURES
PLUMBING FIXTURES
LIGHT AND VENTILATION
INTERIOR

27-CR-99-018293
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
02/16/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND FIXTURES
PLUMBING FIXTURES
INTERIOR
WINDOWS,EXTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS

27-CR-99-025357
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
03/10/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
STAIRWAYS AND PORCHES,HANDRAILS
STAIRWAYS AND PORCHES
FOUNDATIONS,ROOF,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES
FOUNDATIONS,ROOFS,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES

27-CR-99-025360
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
03/10/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
WATER HEATER FACILITIES

27-CR-99-038579
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
04/08/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
FIRE WARNING SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND FIXTURES
PLUMBING FIXTURES
INTERIOR

27-CR-99-039406
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
04/08/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
STAIRWAYS AND PORCHES,HANDRAILS
FOUNDATIONS,ROOF,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES

27-CR-99-039407
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
04/08/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
FIRE WARNING SYSTEM
PLUMBING FIXTURES
INTERIOR
WINDOWS,EXTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS

27-CR-99-039410
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
04/08/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
INTERIOR
LOCKS REQUIRED

27-CR-99-080530
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
08/06/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
GRADING AND DRAINAGE

27-CR-99-080548
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
08/06/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND FIXTURES
INTERIOR

27-CR-99-097028
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
09/09/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
WATER HEATER FACILITIES

27-CR-99-129177
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
12/23/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
PLUMBING FIXTURES

27-CR-99-129178
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
12/23/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
LOCKS REQUIRED
INTERIOR
WINDOES,EXTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS
WINDOW SECURITY

27-CR-99-129184
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
12/23/1999
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SCREENS
WINDOWS,EXTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS
FOUNDATIONS,ROOF,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES
RAINWATER DAMAGE
CONSTRUCTION,MAINTENANCE OF NON-DWELLING STRUCTURE

27-CR-00-057949
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
06/12/2000
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
GRADING AND DRAINAGE

27-CR-00-077831
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
08/03/2000
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SCREENS
CONST,MAINT OF NON DWELLING STRUCTURES

27-CR-00-086179
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
09/08/2000
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
RAINWATER DRAINAGE
FOUNDATIONS,ROOF,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES
FOUNDATIONS,ROOFS,EXTERIOR WALLS SURFACES

27-CR-00-086190
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
09/08/2000
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SCREENS

27-CR-00-086193
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
09/08/2000
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
WINDOWS,ESTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS

27-CR-00-086219
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
09/08/2000
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SCREENS
WINDOWS,ESTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS
FOUNDATIONS,ROOF,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES
FOUNDATIONS,ROOFS,EXTERIOR WALLS,SURFACES
GRADING AND DRAINAGE

27-CR-02-002911
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
01/10/2002
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Brookdale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
INOPERABLE VEHICLE ON PROPERTY
FAILURE TO SECURE UNFIT & VACATED BUILDING

27-CR-02-016003
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
02/11/2002
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
WINDOWS,DOORS,HATCHWAYS

27-CR-02-072475
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
08/06/2002
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING AREAS
FAIL TO COMPLY W/ WRITTEN ORDER

27-CR-02-096672
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
11/26/2002
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING AREAS

27-CR-02-102942
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
12/26/2002
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SURFACING
DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING AREAS

27-CR-03-003740
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
01/09/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
WINDOWS,EXTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS

27-CR-03-015812
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
02/03/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OF NON-DWELLING STRUCTURE

27-CR-03-045144
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
06/30/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SURFACING

27-CR-03-064915
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
08/25/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OF NON-DWELLING STRUCTURE

27-CR-03-072655
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
10/06/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
SCREENS
WINDWOS,EXTERIOR DOORS,HATCHWAYS

27-CR-03-082607
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
11/03/2003
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
CONSTRUCTION,MAINTENANCE OF NON-DWELLING STRUCTURE

27-CR-04-019045
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
03/18/2004
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
OCCUPY CONDEMNED BUILDING

52-VB-05-2994
N 27635
Gangestad, Howard Neil
08/25/1943
06/08/2005
Nicollet
Crim/Traf Non-Mand
Closed
Traffic - Speeding - Exceed Limit of 30 mph - Urban District

82-T2-05-025372
SO 004289
GANGESTAD, HOWARD NEIL
08/25/1943
10/20/2005
- Washington-Cottage Grove
Speeding-Petty Misd
Converted Closed
80/65

07-VB-09-3159
MPD83380
Gangestad, Howard Neil
08/25/1943
04/28/2009
Blue Earth
Smith, Norbert P.
Crim/Traf Non-Mand
Under Court Jurisdiction
Renting Property w/o a Rental License

OK, so that's all the stuff which comes from one portion of the Minnesota courts website, now here's stuff that comes from a different portion, basically all the civil suits. Keep in mind the civil suits portion of the Minnesota courts website doesn't list the birthday of the parties, unlike the criminal portion, so there's always a possibility one of these parties might be a different Howard Gangestad, and not the guy born in 1943.

27-CV-000451205 GANGESTAD,HOWARD VS WILLIAMS,STEPHANIE
09/17/1982
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-CV-000454592 JOHNSON,GREG,OWEN VS GANGESTAD,HOWARD
12/30/1982
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-CV-83-008781 GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N VS WOLF,NEIL
12/09/1983
- Hennepin Civil
Larson, Carroll E.
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-CV-84-016289 RANUM,MIKEAL VS GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N
10/25/1984
- Hennepin Civil
Contract
Closed

27-CV-87-014469 LARSON,CARL,C VS GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N
07/31/1987
- Hennepin Civil
Carey, Thomas H.
Contract
Closed


27-CV-87-021809 GLANDER,THOMAS,E VS HAMMANG,JOHN,T
11/19/1987
- Hennepin Civil
Posten, William S.
Contract
Closed

27-CV-88-013051 SCHULTZ,KEITH,A VS GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N
07/25/1988
- Hennepin Civil
Nord, Beryl A.
Civil Other/Misc.
Closed

27-CV-88-018934 GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N VS BOSTIC,RONALD,LEE
10/26/1988
- Hennepin Civil
Pierce, Delila F.
Contract
Closed

27-CV-89-004560 GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N VS PARENTEAU,AUDRA,J
03/16/1989
- Hennepin Civil
Odland, O. Harold
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-FA-000161171 HOWARD GANGESTAD PETITIONER VS REBECCA L. JOHNSON RESPONDENT
10/31/1989
- Hennepin Family
Aldrich, Stephen C.
Dissolution with Child
Closed

27-FA-000207573 GANGESTAD,HOWARD,NEIL VS GANGESTAD,MARLENE,FERREIRA
10/24/1994
- Hennepin Family
Daly,Margaret ,
Dissolution without Child
Closed

27-CV-94-019884 GARY NIEHAUS PLAINTIFF VS HOWARD GANGESTAD AND RIO HOT PROPERTIES, INC., A MINNESOTA CORPORATION DEFENDANT
12/22/1994
- Hennepin Civil
Larson, Gary R.
Contract
Closed

27-CV-HC-981202903 JUDGE, KIM VS GANGESTAD, HOWARD
12/02/1998
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-98-019484 DAN ZAPPA PLAINTIFF VS HOWARD GANGESTAD D/B/A RIO HOT PROPERTIES DEFENDANT
12/28/1998
- Hennepin Civil
Hartigan, Bruce
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-CV-98-019485 GREAVU,PEGGY,A VS GANGESTAD,HOWARD,
12/28/1998
- Hennepin Civil
Alton, Ann Leslie
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-CV-99-013603 ASSOCIATED FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSIGNEE OF: HOWARD GANGESTAD PLAINTIFF VS DEOWN MARIE BATES DEFENDANT
09/20/1999
- Hennepin Civil
Transcript Judgment
Closed

27-CO-99-1220015 KEISHA SANFORD vs HOWARD GANGESTAD
12/20/1999
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation - Housing
Closed


27-CV-HC-000508509 THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; HOWARD GANGESTAD VS ERVINE LAIRD
05/08/2000
- Hennepin Housing
Eviction (UD)
Closed

27-CO-00-0707075 HOWARD N GANGESTAD vs ART GIRARD
07/07/2000
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation - Housing
Closed

27-CV-00-011914 GANGESTAD,HOWARD,N VS GIRARD,ART,
08/28/2000
- Hennepin Civil
Neville, Cara Lee
Conciliation Appeal
Closed

27-CV-HC-010831902 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
08/31/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-010831903 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
08/31/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-01-014105 HOWARD GANGESTAD PLAINTIFF VS KEITH NEIL NELUMS DEFENDANT
09/11/2001
- Hennepin Civil
Default Judgment
Closed

27-CV-HC-011001900 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
10/01/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-011001902 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
10/01/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-011105900 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
11/05/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-011105901 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
11/05/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-011105902 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
11/05/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-011105903 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
11/05/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-011105904 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
11/05/2001
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-01-018540 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS PLAINTIFF VS HOWARD GANGESTAD DEFENDANT
12/06/2001
- Hennepin Civil
Default Judgment
Closed

27-CV-HC-020401902 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
04/01/2002
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CO-02-0412011 JUSTICE YOUNGBLOOD vs HOWARD GANGESTAD
04/12/2002
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-02-0624040 HOWARD N GANGESTAD vs EXPERIAN NCAC
06/24/2002
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CV-HC-030303902 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
03/03/2003
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CV-HC-030303903 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
03/03/2003
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

27-CO-03-0617038 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs WILLIE COLLINS, BARBARA MULLINS
06/17/2003
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-03-0617039 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs ROY LEN MULLINS
06/17/2003
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-03-0617040 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs BRYAN ALBERTSON
06/17/2003
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-03-0814039 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs BRIAN ALBERTSON
08/14/2003
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-03-0905016 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs TRANS UNION
09/05/2003
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CV-04-000969 MINNESOTA PROPERTY INSURANCE PLACEMENT FACILITY AKA MINNESOTA FAIR PLAN VS JOANN P. SORENSON AND PARK VALLEY INSURANCE ANGENCY, INC., RIO HOT PROPERTIES, INC., HOWARD GANGESTAD, AND CRAIG S. MATTICE, JR
01/15/2004
- Hennepin Civil
Wexler, Thomas W.
Civil Other/Misc.
Closed
Please note: it is believed this "Craig Mattice, Jr." may be the deceased husband of "Joy The Cat lady," a beloved figure in North Minneapolis who has been blogged about here before, a selfless and saintly woman who devotes virtually her whole life to saving stray cats. It was an anonymous, unpublished comment alleging things about Howard Gangestad and "the cat lady's husband" which started an inquiry by this blog into Gangestad. Something tells me there might be something interesting here.


27-CV-HC-040827901 CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS VS HOWARD GANGESTAD
08/27/2004
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed

62-S1-05-002357 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs. NORTHWEST TITLE AGENCY INC
06/08/2005
Ramsey Housing Conciliation
Conciliation
Converted Closed

27-CO-05-0808013 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs WAGNER STOLFO
08/08/2005
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-06-0713041 RED HOT PROPERTIES INC, HOWARD GANGESTAD vs STACY BRONSON
07/13/2006
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation - Housing
Closed

27-CO-07-0730058 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs RAYMOND PATRICK MCPARLAND II
07/30/2007
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CV-HC-07-7216 PRINCESS NINA MILES vs HOWARD GANGESTAD
08/30/2007
- Hennepin Housing
Rent Escrow
Closed-Physical File Destroyed

27-CV-07-18442 Howard Gangestad vs Brian Albertson
09/07/2007
- Hennepin Civil
Transcript Judgment
Closed

27-CV-HC-07-8080 HOWARD GANGESTAD vs Dierra Bennett
09/26/2007
- Hennepin Housing
Eviction (UD)
Closed

27-CV-HC-07-10249 WELLS FARGO BANK NA vs Howard N Gangestad, Silvana Gangestad, KAY DEMARS, John Doe and Mary Roe
12/11/2007
- Hennepin Housing
Eviction (UD)
Closed

(JNS blog asks, "Ooooooh. Who is Silvana? Why does that name sound so...Russian?)

ADDENDUM, MARCH 16, 2011: I am told Howie's third wife is, in fact, from Brazil and Howie travels to Brazil yearly. Though it is not factually inaccurate to say the name "sounds Russian" I am making this addendum to point out reliable information says she's from Brazil.

27-CV-08-818 AMERICAN EXPRESS vs Howard Gangestad
12/20/2007
- Hennepin Civil
Default Judgment
Closed

27-CV-08-21621 INTER SAVINGS BANK FSB vs Howard N Gangestad
08/15/2008
- Hennepin Civil
Default Judgment
Closed

27-CO-08-0826044 MALORIE HAMILTON vs HOWARD GANGESTAD
08/26/2008
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CV-HC-09-5919 Federal National Mortgage Association vs HOWARD N GANGESTAD, Silvana Gangestad, John Doe and Mary Roe
07/22/2009
- Hennepin Housing
Eviction (UD)
Closed

27-CV-HC-09-5920 Federal National Mortgage Association vs HOWARD GANGESTAD, Silvana Gangestad, John Doe and Mary Roe
07/22/2009
- Hennepin Housing
Eviction (UD)
Closed

27-CO-10-137 Howard Gangestad vs Paul Kusterman, Correctional Transition Services Inc
01/07/2010
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CO-10-140 Howard Gangestad vs Judith Anderson, Ronald Anderson
01/07/2010
- Hennepin Civil
Conciliation
Closed

27-CV-10-19634 HIGHLAND BANK vs Howard N Gangestad
08/12/2010
- Hennepin Civil
Zimmerman, Lloyd B.
Contract
Closed

Wow. Howie, what a ride.

This list forced me to ask: what is the cost in taxpayer dollars to have a slumlord doing business in Hennepin County? And by taxpayer dollars I mean, specifically, the money spent for judges and prosecutors? I don't think our city can afford slumlords. Slumlords need to be shut down, especially in North Minneapolis where they have propagated like gypsy moths.

It should be noted that Howie gets quite a few mentions on a certain "landlord politics" blog.

Note to self: read landlord politics blog in detail, look for the names of slumlords, make sure this blog hasn't missed any.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: OMG $103,770 In Minneapolis Public School Money Reportedly Funneled To "Mayor of Crazy Town" Al Flowers!


Contributed stock photo, blog post by John Hoff
Amid a rising firestorm of controversy over the Minneapolis public school system awarding a $15,000 contract to Don Allen of IBNN to (allegedly) make a series of commercials to bring students back to the Minneapolis public school district more information is coming loose alleging an even more shocking boondoggle of wasted school system dollars.

Last night, a high ranking and knowledgeable government source spoke to me on strict condition of confidentiality about the shocking reality of Al Flowers managing to shake loose $103,000 worth of school system money. Because I had nothing else handy to write on, I used a child's looseleaf notebook paper and a lavender "sparkly pen" to take notes. Though the source is convinced this expenditure of approximately $103,000 in scarce and precious school system dollars to a notorious loon really did happen, I must make it clear this is an allegation. I do not have a contract, receipts, checks, or anything like that in my hands. All I have is the word of my government source--a very solid source, I might add, who I absolutely trust--and one page of notes written with a sparkly pen.

For many months, it has been rumored among the movers and shakers in North Minneapolis that notorious gadfly and appallingly unsuccessful mayoral candidate Al Flowers had somehow gotten a big payoff of public school money, with the figure $100,000 thrown around quite a bit...

Attempts to confirm this with the school system were unsuccessful, however, though at one point Jordan Neighborhood "super citizen" Megan Goodmundson sent email inquiries to Dan Loewenson, assistant to the superintendent. In response to an information request about any contract with Al Flowers, here was Loewenson's reply on May 28, 2010:

"At this current time, and in the recent past, Al Flowers has not had any business arrangement or contract with the Minneapolis public schools. Mr. Flowers has been present at many public meetings and has requested information on many aspects of the district's work but has acted as a citizen and community activist in his interactions with us."

Goodmundson states that she figured Loewenson was doing "something slick" with his reply, and if there were any financial dealings with Flowers these dealings might be indirect or there could be some kind of entity actually receiving the money. In Goodmundson's mind, she was asking "Fess up: has that lunatic Al Flowers somehow managed to get his hands on all or part of $100,000 that originated as school system money?" But if you don't say exactly and precisely the magic words--if you don't know the actual name of the entity, or if there's a reasonably reputable fiscal agent disbursing the money to the entity--well, how will you ask the question that actually gets the information you're seeking from a mealy-mouthed bureaucrat?

To some degree, the information has been out in the public all along. Since about November of 2008, Don Allen of IBNN has been shouting about "Al Flowers" and $103,770 worth of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) money that was (allegedly) funneled through the Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) to an entity called Front Street Marketing. Click here for JNS support site to view a document which captures discussion posted by (it appears) Don Allen on Facebook. (If the document disappears from Facebook in the manner of Don Allen's "talking baby" video disappearing from YouTube, that's fine, because screen shots have been saved)

There are, however, difficulties with the fact the information was posted by Don Allen. I can identity at least three difficulties.

1. First and foremost, Don Allen has a reputation for distorting and mangling the truth. You simply can't believe what he says anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of the time. He has a tendency to mix pieces of the truth with his own vicious brand of deliberate falsehood.

The most notorious example is, of course, Poopgate. Yes, blogger Eric Johnson published a photo of a hooker who was urinating or defecating on the side of a house. (Truth) But Eric did not stage the photo or pay the hooker. (Falsehood, made up and published by Don Allen) In fact, it's well known in the neighborhood that Eric didn't even take the photo and Eric has never pretended otherwise. Poopgate is merely the most disturbing-yet-amusing example of Don Allen making s*** up.

So there's the problem. Yes, Don Allen has cried out for years about Al Flowers and $103,770. But who cares? It was DON ALLEN saying it. The examples of Allen's dubious reputation (everything from a company he worked for being raided by the Secret Service to a criminal record) are legion.

2. Second, Don Allen's relationship with Flowers is ambiguous. Sometimes Allen seems to be Flowers' ally, and posts complimentary stuff about Flowers. Other times, Allen goes on the offensive against Flowers, as with a post he wrote on December 14, 2010, which once again took Flowers to task and brought up the $100k, note the following paragraph:
---------
If you recall, in 2008 the Minneapolis Urban League in collaboration with Front Street Marketing, and Alfred Flowers received a pilot program grant from the Minneapolis Public Schools of more than $103,770.00 dollar to create and after-school tutoring program. I know this because I was asked to work on completing some of the paperwork and when I submitted the finished document with an invoice, I was told I wasn’t getting paid s*** and to never come back to the Minneapolis Urban League.
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So when Allen criticizes Flowers over the $103,770, one has to keep in mind...Allen is claiming to have worked on "completing some of the paperwork" related to that very project. His main beef? He didn't get some of the dough.

The ambiguity of the relationship between Flowers and Allen forces one to wonder about the truthfulness and motivation of the assertions that $103,770 was funneled to a Flowers-affiliated entity through MUL. Did this actually HAPPEN or was Don Allen merely WORRIED that it happened, and he didn't get a cut, but in reality...maybe a proposal went forward but nothing actually happened. (My source says otherwise, though) It's problematic enough that Don Allen is simply a liar, click here for another incredible example. Even if Don Allen weren't such a liar, the ambiguity of the Flowers/Allen relationship makes it difficult to discern the truthfulness of Allen's statement about Minneapolis School System money being funneled in the direction of Flowers and Front Street Marketing.

3.) Any interesting or relevant points Don Allen might make are buried so far beneath bad, rambling, unclear yet prolific writing that anything important Allen says is likely to be ignored, missed, or dismissed as crazed ranting. As an English Writing Major (magna cum laude) I've never been able to understand a certain type of person who is haunted by an incredible compulsion to write...yet writes so badly. Blogger Eric Johnson of Irving Inquisition actually did an extensive post dedicated to Don Allen's struggles with the English language.


So now I am put in the odd position of publishing an "exclusive story" about information that has been floating around since November of 2008, but here's the difference: it's being said by a highly believable source instead of just Don Allen. And let the public judge the credibility of this blog.

My source says as follows: Flowers was affiliated with a guy named Todd Barnes. Barnes is, of course, well known in the Jordan Neighborhood as the individual who did "strategic planning" for Jerry Moore, the former and ousted Executive Director of the Jordan Neighborhood who is currently suing this blog. The strategic planning took the form of a hard copy report which the source characterized as "unacceptable and immature." The neighborhood paid a respectable sum of money for the report. My source said $13,000. I do not have confirmation of that amount.

However, I saw the actual report about a year ago. There is somebody in the Jordan Neighborhood who has a copy. In fact, the person who possesses this copy notoriously walked off with that document when Ben Myers, who used to be in a leadership position at JACC, tried to call back the hard copies from being distributed.

It is indeed accurate to say the report looks to have been thrown together by somebody working at a junior high school level. In any case, Barnes is known in the Jordan Neighborhood because of his former affiliation with JACC and Jerry Moore. My source says Barnes was affiliated with Al Flowers. Another source states the Flowers/Barnes entity was known as Front Street Marketing, the same entity Don Allen was screaming about in November of 2008.

The $103,000 was "processed through Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) as fiscal agent," according to my source, who adds that, unfortunately, MUL has a history of this kind of loose money management and incidents like this have been "allowed to happen." In a speculative way, the source adds this:

In regard to the $15,000 that Don Allen is scheduled to receive from the Minneapolis School System for god-knows-what, there is a "likelihood that (Al) Flowers is part of the latest deal."

In the latest twist on the Don Allen saga: in court on Monday, during a pretrial hearing for the frivolous Jerry Moore "defamation" case, Don Allen spoke in open court about his desire to get a "harassment restraining order" against this blogger for writing things about his $15,000 contract with the public school system. Don Allen also threatened to get a restraining order against mild-mannered Twin Cities Daily Planet reporter Sheila Regan, as Regan made clear in a sidebar article published earlier today.

This blog post is published for the purpose of seeking favorable government action and redress of grievances, specifically in regard to credible and believable reports that notorious agitator Al Flowers got his hands upon some portion of $103,770 worth of public monies from a struggling Minneapolis school system.

An editorial note: We in North Minneapolis are tired of the shakedowns by self-serving poverty pimps who stoke racial tensions for the purpose of creating a payday for themselves, whether it be money from the government or private foundations or frivolous lawsuits, and by this I specifically mean individuals like Al Flowers and Don Allen. We are sick of our public officials playing into this sick, twisted and self-perpetuating game behind closed doors and dodging our pointed questions, and pretending everything is just fine.

Don Allen must NOT receive $15,000 worth of public money.

And we want the facts about this alleged $103,770 expenditure of MLS money involving MUL, Front Street Marketing, Flowers and/or Barnes. We want the facts and we want them quickly.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

More Info On The Home At 2031 Queen Ave. N., Destroyed By Fire...

Above, a melted window next door at 2027 Queen Ave. N.
Above, the remains of 2031 Queen Ave. N.
Arson placards were posted at the scene

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

The home destroyed by fire at 2031 Queen Ave. N.--an address which has now been positively confirmed despite some uncertainty on the night of the fire, click here for previous blog post--was once for sale for $149,900. However, at the time of the fire the listing had been long expired.

A visit to the scene some nights later revealed that the house next door at 2027 Queen Ave. N., which...

...firefighters fought valiantly to save, is actually and ironically a CONDEMNED HOUSE. The fire at 2031 Queen Ave. N. was so hot it melted one of the windows at 2027 Queen Ave. N., photographed above. I could not determine whether the window was glass or plastic.

Also, I couldn't help but notice SOMEBODY (whether it was county, city, or some private entity) had lost no time dumping excess snow on the newly vacant lot.

Scrutinizing the city's records on this property turns up an interesting anomaly: the building was placed on the vacant building registration on February 4, 2011. This was AFTER the fire.

Here Is The "New Face Of North Minneapolis" Video That Don Allen Of IBNN Doesn't Want You To See...


Video by JordanNeighbor, blog post by John Hoff

Don Allen, a controversial blogger and self-described "businessman" whose bile-filled criticisms are mostly leveled at leaders within the black community, one of which recently said IBNN blog was "the equivalent of black on black crime," was the subject of a recent blog post here on Johnny Northside in light of the surprising news of Don Allen's $15,000 contract with the Minneapolis school system for video production, click here for that blog post.

Some of us kind of figured Don Allen might swiftly remove or "set to private" his "New Face of North Minneapolis" video if too much attention were brought to it, so a "fair comment and criticism" copy was made by a member of the community, which you can see above, embedded. As anticipated and predicted, the "New Face" video in question was set to "private" on YouTube so it couldn't be viewed shortly after it was linked from this blog and criticized as an example of Don Allen's video production skills and controversial content.

The purpose of this back-up video is not to...


...infringe anybody's copyright (worthless though it may be) but to make sure the document can't be hidden from fair comment and criticism.

So here it is. It speaks loudly for itself, as does the fact attempts were made to conceal it from being freely and easily viewed.


JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Blogger Donald WR Allen Of IBNN To Get $15,000 From Minneapolis School System For "Video Production"


Photo by John Hoff, JACC press conference of January, 2009
blog post by John Hoff

Word has been spreading among North Minneapolis leadership that Donald WR Allen of IBNN has received or will soon receive $15,000 from the Minneapolis school system for "video production services." Click here for a link to a list of contacts and scrutinize the item for $15,000. The entity known as DWRA2 is reportedly a Donald WR Allen entity.

Here is an example of...

...Don Allen's video production skills, click here for "The New Face Of North Minneapolis" video posted to YouTube. (Please note, if this link goes dead or if the video disappears from YouTube, please contact JNS blog through the comments, a back up copy may exist)


Here's another example of Don Allen's video skills, The Grim Reaper Of North Minneapolis Speaks, click here.

Finally, here is "North Murderoplis Auntie Speaks," click here for video.

Don Allen reportedly lives in Columbia Heights and has been a guest speaker at a Tea Party rally, click here for video. Couldn't the Minneapolis School system have made a much, much better choice for video production services?

I want to make this crystal clear due to the vexatious and litigious nature of some individuals: I am writing this blog post for the purpose of "procuring favorable government action" and I am seeking redress of grievances with the Minneapolis School system. It is outrageous to me as a homeowner and taxpayer that Don Allen should receive even a dollar from the Minneapolis school system, let alone a substantial sum like $15,000. The quality and editorial judgment of his "video production" speaks for itself from these examples. In a recent Minneapolis Issues List discussion, Don Allen's blog has been called "the equivalent of black on black crime," click here for a link to that discussion.

If there is a way to rescind this contract, it should be rescinded. And I am not the only one in North Minneapolis objecting to Don Allen getting this money, word has spread far and wide among North Minneapolis neighborhood leaders of this financial outrage.