tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post4339236992941376015..comments2023-10-09T11:28:14.030-05:00Comments on The Adventures of Johnny Northside: Signs, Signs, Everywhere the SignsJohnny Northsidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03694273579383113753noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-48466530926736064882010-04-04T13:29:20.976-05:002010-04-04T13:29:20.976-05:00Concrete Rosa:
I'm outside all the time,
with...Concrete Rosa:<br /><br />I'm outside all the time,<br />with my phone, my neighbors, and our "we watch we call" signs.<br /><br />Do yourself a favor and keep the racket down late at night or you'll find a squad in front of your house, and me in my yard watching it all go down.Anon 11:10amnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-16112115165326780592010-04-03T00:41:22.628-05:002010-04-03T00:41:22.628-05:00I'm up at midnight because the thugs on the co...I'm up at midnight because the thugs on the corner are out taunting their off leash dog up and down the block, dealing drugs to vehicles who honk to get their curb service and carrying on as if no one else has any rights to peace and quiet. This has been going on since after 10pm.<br /><br />So who wants to come over and ask them politely to stop it?!? I'm not going out there, hell to the NO! I shouldn't HAVE to -- they should have the common decency to respect their neighbors, stay quiet after 10pm, NOT deal drugs ... with little kids out there, too. And stop behaving as if they alone inhabit the planet!<br /><br />For crying out loud, how can ANYONE think this is acceptable behavior?! Snitch -- you bet! No, I'm not going to let this continue ... it just gets worse if we don't exercise OUR rights to peaceful co-existence.<br /><br />I don't carry a gun and wear a bullet proof vest, and I don't have the authority the police do. That's their job and I'm happy to feed them the information they need to do their jobs. <br /><br />There were four of them standing in front of MY house the other day doing hand-offs to cars pulling up. WTF?!? I'm supposed to go inside my house, close my drapes and let this happen. Again, hell to the NO! <br /><br />We don't look the other way, we don't tolerate this crap and we call the police to take care of it! How is THAT wrong and criminal activity is okay?!?<br /><br />I've lived in NoMi my entire life, too, and this is just plain not acceptable behavior for anyone. Those kids in that house deserve better. That dog deserves better. Those guys deserve better --- and they could have it with all the help and resources available out there. THEY are making CHOICES. No one has forced this on them. They have options, they CHOOSE to live this lifestyle ... the kids and the dog didn't. <br /><br />It's sickening and sad and intolerable. And I'm not going to put up with it --- never have, never will. We've gotten rid of half a dozen lousy neighbors like this in the past several years, we'll do it again. <br /><br />They can choose to buck up and fly right and reap the benefits, or they can continue illegal activity and pay the consequences. <br /><br />I'm just sayin .....Conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11541390876367764667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-86827978355823968612010-04-02T21:38:42.637-05:002010-04-02T21:38:42.637-05:00I hope Megan is not opposed to miscegenation.I hope Megan is not opposed to miscegenation.Boogaloonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-68993492326518926182010-04-02T21:32:54.877-05:002010-04-02T21:32:54.877-05:00James - I knew you would find a reason not to intr...James - I knew you would find a reason not to introduce yourself as a real neighbor! And stop trying to make my neighborly outreach into something romantic! That's just odd!!!<br /><br />Look - I grew up with black folks so intertwined in my life in many ways that it's one reason I went house hunting on the northside!!! <br /><br />In all my years I have never heard 'spade' be used in a derogatory way - stop trying to reach for the racist card. <br /><br />But thanks for proving my point - you aren't a real neighbor that exists.MeganG.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-81723840891811431672010-04-02T18:23:07.816-05:002010-04-02T18:23:07.816-05:00The word "niggardly" has nothing to do w...The word "niggardly" has nothing to do with the "N" word. The definition is below, as well as the etymology of the word. Yeesh. <br /><br />AKL<br /><br />Niggardly, Definition: Not generous; unwilling to give or spend money<br /><br />Etymology: mid-14c., nygart, of uncertain origin. The suffix suggest French origin (cf. –ard), but the root word is probably related to O.N. hnøggr “stingy,” from P.Gmc. *khnauwjaz (cf. Swed. njugg "close, careful," Ger. genau "precise, exact"), and to O.E. hneaw "stingy, niggardly," which did not survive in M.E.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-56792860404525481122010-04-02T15:10:44.057-05:002010-04-02T15:10:44.057-05:00Megan,
If you casually use terms like "spade...Megan,<br /><br />If you casually use terms like "spade", I don't want to spend any time with you, romantically or otherwise. You probably think that's pretty niggardly of me, but I have no tolerance for racism.<br /><br />JWJames Washingtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-55362668615650251462010-04-02T12:48:48.187-05:002010-04-02T12:48:48.187-05:00Anonymous: why the flippant tone in response to m...Anonymous: why the flippant tone in response to my, I thought, constructive post? Are you the shut-in who spent an entire evening hiding inside, repeatedly dialing 911 on your unsuspecting neighbors? Way to enrich the sense of community! /sarcasm <br /><br />“Until it is changed, it is the law and you and your "struggling entrepreneurs" are subject to it, just the same as I am. I have a right to expect the law to be enforced, and I aim to see to it that it happens.”<br /><br />I applaud your keen sense of “just-us”; however, this thought provoking prose brings up the question of whose job it really is to enforce these laws. Is it Wild West vigilantes, such as Hawkman, who march into neighborhoods STEALING property from small business owners? No, it is the job of local law enforcement (bankrolled by local hoods such as Taylor Trump) to see that these laws are upheld. <br /><br />I’ll be outside having a few beers tomorrow, enjoying the company of my neighbors. Do the rest of us a favor and stay inside with your touchtone.<br /><br />CONCRETE ROSACONCRETE ROSAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-75182393725593238472010-04-02T11:26:28.227-05:002010-04-02T11:26:28.227-05:00James - I look forward to setting up a meet-n-gree...James - I look forward to setting up a meet-n-greet at an exact time/exact location - and no, as flattered as you may feel, I'm not looking for a relationship other than meeting a new northside neighbor. Have a good trip to Chicago and we'll go for a dog walk one evening next week - Hillside Chronicles has a dog too, matter of fact she is the girlfriend of my dog, it's cute.MeganG.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-5000423741864939512010-04-02T11:10:06.934-05:002010-04-02T11:10:06.934-05:00Concrete Rosa:
You may want to familiarize yoursel...Concrete Rosa:<br />You may want to familiarize yourself with a concept called 'rule of law.'<br /><br />The citizens of this city and this state (both of which include North Minneapolis) have elected officials who have enacted legislation that makes much of the behavior you are defending illegal.<br />If you don't like it fine. Vote.<br />Until it is changed, it is the law and you and your "struggling entrepreneurs" are subject to it, just the same as I am. I have a right to expect the law to be enforced, and I aim to see to it that it happens.<br />If you don't like it... Hit the road, or stay... obey... and vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-15466956112734982262010-04-02T09:59:17.264-05:002010-04-02T09:59:17.264-05:00Be the change you wish to see in the world. Calli...Be the change you wish to see in the world. Calling the police on your neighbors for minor infractions does nothing to better the north side – other than to perpetuate your twisted “us vs. them” mentality, which I hope other readers find at least half as disgusting as I do. If you are too racist to go and speak to them without invoking Minneapolis’ pathetic excuse for law enforcement then you have no business here in the first place.<br /><br />Stealing the sign of a struggling entrepreneur, in my humble opinion, does far more harm than a few pals drinking outside on their own street – think about the big picture the next time you “do-gooders” choose to jeopardize another citizen’s livelihood and/or freedom.<br /><br />CONCRETE ROSACONCRETE ROSAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-37414758123150665712010-04-01T23:30:15.941-05:002010-04-01T23:30:15.941-05:00Megan --
Count me in too.Megan -- <br /><br />Count me in too.HChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06587954835420325302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-31413641253396497342010-04-01T22:22:35.665-05:002010-04-01T22:22:35.665-05:00Shoot Megan,
I thought this was going to be a mor...Shoot Megan,<br /><br />I thought this was going to be a more romantic sort of meeting. I guess not.<br /><br />I did get a lot of garbage picked up tonight though!<br /><br />I'm going to Chicago this weekend to visit my son. We'll have to get together after that and see where the relationship goes.<br /><br />JWJames Washingtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-66863759877907711262010-04-01T17:13:11.190-05:002010-04-01T17:13:11.190-05:00James - I totally get the email sharing thing - bu...James - I totally get the email sharing thing - but for real, you can't expect me to meet you "somewhere between..." with no set time? C'mon James!!! :-)<br /><br />Let's set a specific location and a specific time - and we can call it a JNS meet-n-greet? Shall we? Come one, come all. Bring your wife, too! I'd love to meet her as well. Got kids? Bring them! I'll just have my four-legged kid.<br /><br />I'm tied up helping on a local political campaign friday afternoon - so what's your weekend look like?MeganG.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-70724317670337245732010-04-01T14:18:24.179-05:002010-04-01T14:18:24.179-05:00AKL, that's some of the same stuff I was told ...AKL, that's some of the same stuff I was told over on Pioneer Press' commenting section. "Why live in North Minneapolis? It's always going to be a bad place to live. You can't change it."<br /><br />Everything can change, if people try hard enough. Once you've been to the absolute worst, things can only get better from there (preferably).la_vie_en_rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16891785583402534770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-91146400175830111672010-04-01T14:18:24.180-05:002010-04-01T14:18:24.180-05:00AKL,
I'm glad you acknowledge that people of ...AKL,<br /><br />I'm glad you acknowledge that people of color can have exceptional grammar and spelling skills. <br /><br />It's good to see some reasonable people here.Shamikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-89653666997061115212010-04-01T09:16:51.218-05:002010-04-01T09:16:51.218-05:00I don't see spelling and grammer as the fishy ...I don't see spelling and grammer as the fishy bit about the "thug hugger" crowd on this blog. The people who won't call 911 or 311 are highly unlikely to spend their time posting comments on a blog. It just doesn't fit the mindset.<br /><br />As to whether the comments reflect a certain point of view among NoMi residents, I think they do. Years ago I used to have block club meetings, which were complain and moan sessions among the neighbors about how unsafe the neighborhood was, but when the suggestion was made to call 911, they were appalled at the idea. They either claimed they were afraid of retaliation or they just shut off and refused to discuss the subject further. And I had more white people than black at these block club meetings, so this is not a "black" attitude. So cool your jets, race baiters.<br /><br />Interestingly, the folks with that attitude have slowly moved away over the last decade out of fear of what their inaction has wrought, typically selling their homes to investors, as no one else wanted to buy their homes. <br /><br />Now many of the investors have failed financially, the homes have been foreclosed and new people are moving into the area, with higher expectations. <br /><br />Hand-in-hand with the local culture is/was a certain attitude by those in public safety offices. I have heard "What do you expect, you live in North," and "You need to stop expecting you can change the behavior of others" [vis a vis a discussion of drug dealing], and best of all, "No one wants to change North because it represents pseudo-containment to the rest of the city." <br /><br />These attitudes are on their way out (a) because new residents aren't going to put up with the crime and (b) local government can't afford to have about 1/5 of the city's real estate under-performing from a tax standpoint. <br /><br />Almost a shame, as there is a dying micro-culture in this area that is rich fodder for some socialigist's doctoral thesis.<br /><br />AKLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-41165333824746799712010-04-01T09:15:45.637-05:002010-04-01T09:15:45.637-05:00Shamika's a dork too.Shamika's a dork too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-76920774080062917472010-04-01T08:50:28.118-05:002010-04-01T08:50:28.118-05:00Megan,
I'm flattered that you'd like to m...Megan,<br /><br />I'm flattered that you'd like to meet me. I share an email account with my wife, and it would be pretty hard to explain meeting a woman over the internet to her, so let's conduct our business right out here in the open.<br /><br />If it is as beautiful today as it was yesterday I will be walking around between Jordan Park and Fairview Park. I'll have my dog with me. He's a black and white pit bull. I should have a large black garbage bag (hopefully full) in my hand.<br /><br />It's great to meet fellow civic minded people, even if we disagree on some of the small details. Can't wait!James Washingtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-59067002875244012172010-03-31T21:57:53.493-05:002010-03-31T21:57:53.493-05:00I concur with the observation that true thugs have...I concur with the observation that true thugs have bad spelling and grammar. Race doesn't make any difference. Thugs are bad writers the whole world over. <br /><br />Some folks are on this blog pretending to be characters they are not. It would be nice to know who is the "right man" and who is just a character, hint hint.Johnny Northside!https://www.blogger.com/profile/18182711866120550770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-82333583413985497602010-03-31T21:26:14.841-05:002010-03-31T21:26:14.841-05:00So, James Washington, you're my northside neig...So, James Washington, you're my northside neighbor - great! I can't wait to meet you! It's actually one of the things I LOVE about being a neighborhood volunteer and a volunteer for local political campaigns - I LOVE meeting new people! <br /><br />So tell me, where can I meet you? Are you going out tomorrow night to roam around your block, perhaps picking up litter? I'll meet you there - I'll bring my dog whom I like to get him out for walks as much as possible. <br /><br />You can tell me where to meet you here, or obviously, for privacy reasons - you can email me at goodponyz@yahoo.com. <br /><br />Look forward to meeting you soon!<br /><br />-MGMeganG.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-7919495235801671262010-03-31T19:40:39.782-05:002010-03-31T19:40:39.782-05:00Next time I watch my neighbors' friends get it...Next time I watch my neighbors' friends get it on in a car with booming bass and then throw their condom into the street I'll be SURE to go over and tap on the window, and politely ask them to have sex inside, where bar-b-que-eating children cannot see them so well.<br /><br />Oh, and to turn down the stereo.<br /><br />And please, not to litter.<br /><br />That oughtta work great.Rantyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626743769899478163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-58090634654886337372010-03-31T19:25:12.232-05:002010-03-31T19:25:12.232-05:00If any of these people want to start living in the...If any of these people want to start living in the solution, please feel free to join any of the neighborhood committees or organizations. <br /><br />Until you try to live as part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Enough said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-2072297987092154332010-03-31T18:29:25.907-05:002010-03-31T18:29:25.907-05:00I've wondered how many Anons (or even semi-ano...I've wondered how many Anons (or even semi-anonymous) are actually real or the work of trolls. However, I give them the benefit of the doubt until someone can prove they're all coming from the same IP address. <br /><br />There are ways to fix the trolling. Ask people to use an email address along with a name, or better yet, stop allowing anonymous commenting, and ask people to create an account. <br /><br />However, realize that doing those things won't keep out trolls. If someone really wants to troll this blog, they'll create multiple emails and Blogger accounts just to do it.<br /><br />Like I said though, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because as Shamika and others said, skin color does not equal intelligence quotient. I know just as many ignorant white folks as I do educated black folks (of course, you can still be educated and an idiot at the same time).<br /><br />No offense to MeganG, but what makes you suspect that Eloise is one of them? Just because she has a different opinion? Am I also a troll just because I do, indeed, point out "what happens to the poor people?" I assure you, I don't point it out because I don't want to see a better community. I point it out because I've been a citizen in other "hoods" where people succeeded in turning the area around, but they also succeeded in kicking out the good (yes, I do mean that) people just because they couldn't afford to live in the new neighborhood. While I'm not saying that you all here are trying to whitewash NoMi, I am saying that it happens elsewhere, so I can understand some of the outrage and desire to understand what you hope to accomplish here.la_vie_en_rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16891785583402534770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-19555628339840864622010-03-31T17:40:03.117-05:002010-03-31T17:40:03.117-05:00We are all entitled to peace on our blocks and in ...We are all entitled to peace on our blocks and in and around our homes. <br /><br />If you stay out of people's business, then great...it shouldn't bother you that people call 911 and 311 ... unless, of course, they are calling on you, in which case it's personal. <br /><br />As for the idea of the "Stop Snitching" signs ... well, I bet they don't manifest themselves. But if someone does go through the effort of putting their money where their blog comment is, then I'll be there to take a picture and write about it ... in fact, it will be interesting to see how many of the potentially hypocritical signs go up (remember, these are people who want to stay out of other people's business but they want to put up a sign that gets into their neighbor's 911 & 311 calling business). I'll have fun with that issue...oh, btw, the "We Watch, We Call" folks have a huge head start...<br /><br />I agree with Pond-Dragon, Megan and Hawkman...something's funny about these identities...HChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06587954835420325302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143409168229764050.post-75894360027322686642010-03-31T17:05:15.501-05:002010-03-31T17:05:15.501-05:00Hawkman,
It's good to know that you're no...Hawkman,<br /><br />It's good to know that you're not more sophisticated than all of the black people of the world. That is big of you to admit that even a lowly black person could be more sophisticated than you. <br /><br />And Megan, <br /><br />Maybe it makes it easier for you to think that all of the dissenting voices must be made up and couldn't be from real Northsiders, but I'm afraid that's not the case. The truth is that this blog got a lot more prominent as a result of coverage in the Strib and through the other good work of John Hoff. As a result, more people with diverse viewpoints visit the site and comment on the boards.<br /><br />It seems to me that we both want a better north MPLS. Maybe we don't agree on all of the particulars, but with the same goals in mind we should be friends and not enemies. I'll be out tonight picking up garbage left over from the winter. I hope to see you around. And if I do I will say hello.<br /><br />JW<br /><br />P.S., I've inserted a few grammatical errors so people don't question my "blackness".James Washingtonnoreply@blogger.com