Doing The Dirty Deal In Front Of Hawthorn (Sic) Crossings Strip Mall

In a spirit of full disclosure, I should mention Megan Goodmundson gave me a ride to the 5th Ward DFL Credentials Committee meeting. Megan is affiliated with the campaign of Don Samuels. I am, however, a Green Party member and have never been DFL. 

While we were waiting for traffic at Bryant Ave. N. and West Broadway Ave., Megan saw a drug deal go down right in front of us, across from Hawthorn (Sic) Crossings Strip Mall.

"Did you see it?" Megan asked. "Did you see the hand off?"

Well, I'd seen how two men going in opposite directions had gone very close to each other. I'd caught the odd movement of hands coming together but no pausing, like you would pause to greet somebody with a handshake or fist bump variation. But Megan had seen the deal go down because she was watching for it, anticipating it. I asked who was the receiver versus passer; i.e., who had the crack right now? Megan indicated it was the guy jaywalking across Broadway.

Hey, when...

...you smoke crack, who cares about a little jaywalking, right?

I managed to snap this photo as we passed by on the way to the Credentials Committee meeting. I didn't bother calling 911. What am I going to say? There's a nondescript male in front of Hawthorn (Sic) Crossings who just got some kind of "hand off" on the 900 block of West Broadway? I may as well call the street department and tell them about cracks in the sidewalk. If I'd been stationary at that moment, heck yes, I would have made the call. But being in a hurry and being unable to keep my eyes on the suspect, it would have been a big waste of time.

No, it's better to snap a picture, get on my blog, and point out the 900 Block of Broadway--especially the area in front of Hawthorn (sic) Crossings strip mall--continues to be an open air drug market. (Though, to be fair, it spills all over the 900 block, on both sides of the street)

Did I mention this strip mall is my blog bitch and I will write about this place until something fundamentally changes? Yeah, I think I did.

BREAKING NEWS: Council Member Don Samuels Wins 5th Ward DFL Endorsement On Third Ballot

Contributed Photo

Council Member Don Samuels won the 5th Ward DFL endorsement today, with 61.9 percent on the third round of voting. After winning the endorsement, Samuels reached out to McKnight supporters, saying he needed to engage them, to listen more and win their support. After his victory, Samuels invited delegates from both camps to share pizza and beverages at Broadway Pizza.

Kenya McKnight's post-endorsement statements did not make it clear whether she would continue her campaign, and when asked directly by JNS blog, McKnight refused to answer. The most extensive and detailed blow-by-blow to be found anywhere on the internet will follow in the next day or so, here on Johnny Northside. 

(Do not click "Read More")

Haste, Waste, And Nothing Green Going On At The "Lost Victorian," 3216 3rd Ave. S.

Original Photo By David Piehl,
image above by an anonymous
suburbanite, who digs our
North Minneapolis revitalization
fight

In response to assertions that cast iron radiators were not recovered or recycled at the "Lost Victorian" in South Minneapolis, (3216 3rd Ave. S.) I asked for better photographic proof than what I could make out, "Where's Waldo" fashion, in the photos I was provided.

The proof came quickly enough by email, and you see it, above, undisputed.

HARDLY ANYBODY IS GREENER THAN JOHNNY NORTHSIDE, AND I AM P***ED ABOUT THIS!!!!! I AM CALLING BULLS*** ON THIS!!! Is this the new Minneapolis "green economy" in action?

WTF!!!!????

On a lighter note: I guess hours and hours playing "Where's Waldo" aren't a complete waste of time, after all.

(Do not click "Read More")

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Hot Fifth Ward Credentials Committee Battle Over "Kenya 8" Delegates

Photos By John Hoff

At Thursday night's 5th Ward DFL Credentials Committee meeting, a furious parliamentary battle was waged over challenges to Kenya McKnight delegates. The way it shook out; some "Kenya 8" delegates/alternates passed through the Credentials Committee seive despite opposition from the Don Samuels camp--which was outvoted by a slightly greater number of Kenya McKnight supporters--but McKnight "Mystery Delegate" Elliot (He Doesn't Live Here) Cooke didn't pass.

Two of the Kenya 8 are still having their credentials investigated, but the "investigation" appears to be in the hands of a McKnight supporter, Mike Fedor.

What happened at the committee meeting hardly ends the battle: apparently, credentials can be disputed on the floor during Saturday's convention, and it appears the Samuels and McKnight camps are prepared to scrap and slug it out over delegate credentials, particularly in light of a written DFL "investigation" which calls into question the integrity of either Kenya McKnight or Brian Bushay over who-did-what with 8 supposed "letters" about individuals wanting to be delegates.

I was the only media present at last night's meeting and here is my firsthand account...

It is an incomplete account based on notes. Many things were said; I am concentrating on what I perceived to be the important parts, but your committee highlights milage may vary.

This Is What Democracy Looks Like

The meeting took place at North Commons Park, in the park building. It was as grassy as grass roots gets: a fussy toddler made his presence known early in the meeting, at one point the meeting proceedings were interrupted by a loud verbal dispute among youth hanging out in the park building; a perpetual occurrence at North Minneapolis community meetings, which are often held in park buildings.

The committee warmed up with a discussion about Earnestine Brailsford-Walton, and the issue of whether she was a delegate or an alternate. This was apparently one of those things where somebody--out of politeness, a desire not to be TOO forward--was told something like "we're allowed 28 and we have 29" so Earnestine said, oh, I don't need to be a delegate. A successful motion was made to put Earnestine in the position of second alternate. (There was already a "first alternate" position)

Now the committee took a collective breath. Now came the warm-up appetizer of conflict--Elliot Cooke--who preceded the 8-course dinner of democratic dispute: the Kenya 8 investigation, the "missing" letters, the word of Brian Bushay against Kenya McKnight.

He Doesn't Live Here, But Mail Comes, Sometimes

The issue was Mr. Elliot Cooke, who had been called about whether he was a delegate, whether he had been at the meeting, but Cooke had not called back, had "made no overtures," and--as Jackie Cherryhomes pointed out--there was still the matter of the woman who lived at the address who said Cooke didn't live there, although, yes, she was known to get mail for him, sometimes.

He was at the caucus, Jerry Moore said, casually, as though this was obviously beyond dispute, not even really worth talking about.

"We aren't real sure," Cherryhomes said.

"He was there," Moore said, with a shrug.

Cherryhomes said, "bottom line," we don't know him and we can't say for sure. There is some notation by his name on the green sheet. There is a statement that he doesn't live in the house.

A motion was made by Dottie--a member of the Jordan Area Community Council, a blogger strongly aligned with the victorious "New Majority" faction which ousted Executive Director Jerry Moore, he who was even-at-that-moment co-chairing this credentials committee meeting--that Elliot Cooke's name be removed (from the list of delegates and alternates). The motion was seconded. Now the battle was finally at hand.

Mike Fedor--who appears aligned with the McKnight camp--said he was "rather curious about this one" and he wondered about the appropriateness of keeping Cooke on the delegate list and making a challenge at a later point. This, Mike said, "constitutes a form of fraud" if Cooke lied. Cherryhomes said if Cooke showed up, there would be an opportunity to deal with that, and preferred removing his name from the list.

Jerry Moore spoke up, opposing the motion. Moore said Cooke was "in the building" (once again, in that tone of things beyond beyond dispute because he, Moore, is saying these things) and Cooke should be a delegate, not excluded. If Cooke shows up, send him to the credentials committee.

Kip Browne--chair of the victorious "New Majority" JACC faction which ousted Jerry Moore--spoke up at that point. Later in the night, I heard there were daggers going back and forth between the eyes of Moore and Browne, though it wasn't apparent from where I was sitting. Browne said evidence was taken, Cooke was given an opportunity to come forward and provide the evidence, and Kip thought it was highly relevant that Cooke DIDN'T come forward and say, "hey, I want to be a delegate."

This, Browne said, is EVIDENCE. If he himself were challenged, he would at least CALL BACK. Cooke doesn't live there, Browne said, and should not be seated.

Another committee member spoke up and said there is enough evidence and--in the EXTREMELY UNLIKELY event Mr. Cooke would show his face at the convention--he can challenge the ruling.

Mike Fedor responded that "every year, we try to avoid unpleasant scenes in the hallways" when "somebody thinks they are a delegate and shows up, but they are NOT a delegate" and said it can "create an ugly scene."

Another committee member--I knew her face, knew her to be among the McKnight supporters on the committee--said, "He do WE know that HE knows he is being challenged?" Kip Browne responded that we don't need to "go into his mind to know what he thinks," we have evidence that we can consider. Mike Fedor said we have nothing but the "dead ends" that our investigation has led us to.

Jerry Moore speculated that a "transposed number" could be at the root of this. Another committee member pointed out, well, that doesn't account for how mail is coming to the residence where Cooke DOESN'T LIVE. Dottie pointed out when the phone picks up, it says "This is Elliot Cooke."

(JNS note: I've called the phone number. It actually says, "This is Elliot.")

The question was called--though there was no vote on whether to call the question, like you would with real, undiluted, full-strength parlimentiary procedure--and the vote was taken. The motion to remove Cooke carried on a voice vote. There were some votes against the motion, but the voice vote was clear enough, from where I was sitting. No roll call was taken.

Who You Gunna Believe, Me Or Your Lyin' Eyes?

Next came the "Kenya Eight" challenges. Co-Chair Jackie Cherryhomes said she had copies for "everybody" of "what was sent by the DFL," which is to say, the written summary of the DFL investigation into allegations made by 5th Ward Candidate Kenya McKnight that she "hand delivered" 8 absentee delegate letters to Brian Bushay, which Bushay emphatically says NEVER HAPPENED and he would remember if it did. Bushay was seated there, in front of me. (See photo above, white-haired man in blue shirt)

He looked, I thought, like somebody who decided against becoming a pastor...because there was just too much emphasis on getting money from the flock. He looked pained. He was very quiet, but seemed to be trying to suppress an agonized look, like somebody was making him sit on hot coals.

As the stack of DFL investigation documents passed by, "a copy took itself to me," as they would say in some of the romance languages.

Jackie Cherryhomes spoke up amid the silence, the reading of the document, and said there was a particularly clear instance of one person who might be "handled separately." Kip Browne asked for a few minutes for everybody to read over the document, which consisted of a single page email to from DFL member David Weinlick to Jackie Cherryhomes, cc'ed to Nick Wallace and Amanda Tempel, bearing the subject line "credentials questions in Ward 5." The email was sent at 10:33 a.m., Monday, March 23.

Here, word for word, is what the email said:

...
Based on our conversation last week, I have tried to gather information regarding the eight people named in the letter from Kenya McKnight. As of this time, I have still been unable to reach half the households involved. I have left messages at the Jones and Howard households, but have not received any response. I was able to reach the Howard household by phone on one occasion, but when I mentioned that I was calling about the DFL precinct caucuses, the line went dead.

As a result, I have no further information to corroborate the claim stated in Kenya's letter that those individuals submitted letters. I do not have evidence to contradict that claim either.

I have gathered additional information in conversations with Brian Bushay and Kenya McKnight, but no clear answers have emerged. Kenya did explain that three of the individuals--Kizzy Washington, Kashanti Johnson, and Charlotte Onsoti--were actually at caucuses, but had to leave early. Kneya explained that they had to leave early, so the letters were submitted so they could be considered for delegate positions. Kenya stated that they had registered using the organge cards at caucus night. No registration cards were found for any of these three, which directly contradicts Kenya's explanation of events.

When I reached Kizzy Washington, she had no knowledge of any letter pertaining to caucus night, which does not fit with the explanation given by Kenya. Although it is possible that Kizzy was confused about the issue because she didn't send a letter before caucuses, she offered no information about her attendance on caucus night to corroborate Kenya's explanation.

When I reached Kashanti Johnson, he had no knowledge of any letter pertaining to caucus night, which does not fit with the explanation given by Kenya. Although it is possible that he was confused about the issue because he didn't send a letter before caucuses, he offered no information about his attendance on caucus night to corroborate Kenya's explanation.

When I reached Lorraine Smaller, she corrobarated Kenya's story that she had submitted a letter regarding precinct caucuses. When she became sick and was unable to attend caucuses, Kenya came to her house to pick up a letter to deliver to caucuses.

Kenya states very clearly that she handed all eight letters to Brian Bushay, who was helping to run the site on the night of precinct caucuses. She did not explain why she gave them to Brian rather than delivering them to the precinct caucus meetings. Brian asserts that he never received anything from Kenya on precinct caucus night, although he was stationed at a table near the spot where Kenya was getting attendees.

I have found no evidence to support Kenya's claim that Brian received the letters, although I have found nothing that can disprove it either. Nobody has provided any evidence that suggests that letters for the eight individuals in question ever arrived at their precinct caucuses.

At this time, I can find no firm evidence to either affirm or deny the claim that letters were ever submitted by Bonnie Jones, Grover Jones, Cyreta Howard, or Lois Howard. The only thing that is clear is that those letters are not found in the material gathered at the Ward 5 precinct caucuses. Lorraine Smaller has confirmed that she gave a letter to Kenya, but it does not appear to have been delivered to the precinct caucus, and nobody has claimed that it did get delivered.

I cannot find any evidence to confirm the attendance of Kizzy, Kashanti and Charlotte at their precinct caucuses, and the registration cards that Kenya claims they completed are not included among the other registration cards from Ward 5.

The convention will need to consider whether it wants to override the election of delegates at the precinct caucus and seat these people, or whether it will accept the rosters of delegates as they were elected on precinct caucus night.
...

During the long, silent reading of the letter, an individual in a black beret entered the room and set next to Jerry Moore. I've never seen a beret worn at such an angle; it practically covered the left side of his face and created a Mohawk-like effect on his head. I wondered how he keeps the beret from falling off.

One of the McKnight supporters spoke up and said--despite what the investigative document said--there is evidence that Kizzy and Kishanti were there. Kip Browne spoke and said now we have gone outside the cody (presumably the committee) to collect evidence, so this is the evidence that we have. Cherryhomes AGAIN pointed out that the Lorraine Smaller issue is more clear, and perhaps THAT can be addressed FIRST?

A Chaotic Fight Over Caucus Chaos

I thought I could perceive relief on the committee. Yes, indeed, deal with the Smaller issue first, before somebody rings the bell for Wrestle-Mania.

Meanwhile, Beret Dude was jumping into the meeting--I learned his name was Antwon, spelling unknown--and said Cyreta Howard and Lois Howard are his cousins, perhaps he could call them and resolve matters. He jumped up to go to the hallway and make the call. Cherryhomes or somebody else on the committee stopped him, saying, "We are not at that point."

Kip Browne made a motion to "accept the investigation." The motion was seconded by Nicole Doran, pictured above with her child, Clifton Doran III, known as "Tre."

A "substitute motion" was brought forth to deal with Lorraine Smaller, this motion was opposed by Nicole Doran and Kip Browne, but made its way to the table. There was momentary confusion--voiced by Doran--about which motion was on the table. Meanwhile, Jerry Moore was moving in and out of the room and--I strongly suspected--making cell phone calls to round up committee members, evidence, etc.

Jackie Cherryhomes--a Samuels supporter--had suggested putting the easier-to-resolve Smalls matter before the committee first, even over the opposition of Kip Browne, another Samuels supporter. Yes, this seemed like the easier, conflict-avoiding-for-the-moment kind of path to take.

However, in my observation, it was a grave tactical error. The meeting dragged on and some McKnight supporters came pouring in late, taking seats at the table, one bringing a baby along. The slim margin the Samuels camp had enjoyed earlier in the meeting (during the Elliot Cooke vote) ebbed away.

Nicole Doran--a Samuels supporter--spoke up in favor of Smaller, who was very likely a McKnight supporter. Doran said she had a "comfort level" with Smaller, because Smaller had been a delegate before." Doran said she was willing to accept Smaller's statement that a letter was given, but by voting to accept Smaller Doran wanted to make the record, here: she was NOT agreeing the letter was ever DELIVERED.

Jerry Moore abstained from the motion with Smaller, otherwise Smaller was unanimously elected.

Now Black Beret Cell Phone Guy's pressing issue returned to the forefront: could he please call his cousins? Browne pointed out the Smalls motion had been dispensed with, and his motion was now on the floor, the motion to accept the results of the DFL investigation.

Jackie Cherryhomes says perhaps what is being put forward is a SUBSTITUTE MOTION to send Antwon out in the hallway to call his cousins.

At this point in the meeting, by my rough count, late arrivals had tipped the potential votes in the room to McKnight.

Things got messy and hard to follow. I think the committee may have voted on whether to send Antwon out in the hall, with Browne opposed and insisting on formal procedure. Antwon ended up in the hallway, making his calls. Discussion turned to whether cards were filled out by Kissy and Kishanti; did they fill out the yellow card? (Sorry, I'm unable to figure out why there was talk of a "yellow" card in the committee, and an "orange" card in the investigaton document. This point wasn't raised)

Doran said she didn't see any evidence of the body voting to make Kissy and Kishanti delegates. Bushay tried to speak up--he was told to wait his turn. Browne spoke and tried to insist on formal procedure. Browne said he was willing to withdraw his motion and make another motion. He moved that Kissy Washington NOT BE SEATED.

At some point discussion turned to a Mr. Ford, and what the instance of Mr. Ford proves about that night, and who did what. Bushay managed to get his turn to speak and said "my behavior is being called into question" and on that basis he should be able to speak, to defend his integrity. Yes, Bushay said, Mr. Ford filled out a card BUT HIS ADDRESS WAS NOT WITHIN THE PRECINCT, so that was a different matter entirley though, yes, Ford had been in the caucus and filled out a card. But as for the other people he--Bushay--was ALLEGED to have taken a card from, Bushay said, "That didn't happen."

Bushay said he went through the cards, one by one, and asked, "Did anybody else want to be a delegate who didn't give me their cards? Bushay said nobody said they did. Sure, several others came in, but they said "No" in regard to being a delegate.

Suddenly, there was a loud and angry argument OUTSIDE the room, among the youth milling around in the park building. Kip stood up and closed the door to the room, but the argument came right through the door, anyway. Doran--whose child, Tre, was outside the room being watched by Megan Goodmundson--said she wanted to get up from the committee meeting, she wanted to "go get Megan and the baby."

Doran came back a moment later. Things had calmed down outside. Nobody came to blows.

In the meeting, there was talk of "chaos" at the caucus, during the process. Were they there? Did they fill out a card? Were they voted in as delegates? Somebody started to raise a point making a comparison to a "Michael Guest." At that point, Black Beret Cell Phone Guy walked in, and said loudly, "She wrote the letter and she gave it to Kenya!"

Discussion about the motion to deny the challenge of Kissy was laid aside. Jerry Moore grabbed the phone to confirm what was said. One of the committee members--a female voice--piped up, rather quietly, saying BOTH the committee chairs might want to talk to the person on the phone, after all...

Jerry more said a few things into the phone, briefly. I heard Jerry say, "She's at church?" Then he took the phone away from his ear and in the same motion pressed the power button to terminate the call.

Moore then asserted the Howards were indeed bona fide, for he had talked to somebody on the phone. Moore started speechifying, saying, "This is a cumbersome process to people who aren't used to it." Moore said some people might hang up, thinking, after all, it is a bill collector on the phone.

Kip Browne spoke up and said part of the problem is the coordinator (apparently Moore?) didn't pass out copies of the call during the caucus. This statement raised yells from the McKnight corner of the room. "No personal attacks!" somebody yelled.

Kip Browne said he does not see clear and convincing evidence that a letter was tendered and on that basis Kissy Washington should not be seated. Dottie spoke up and said it is of concern that we should be NEUTRAL, we should look at evidence. It is not a matter of somebody not UNDERSTANDING. Dottie said we should "stop second guessing, be evidence based, instead of getting off into the emotional."

Call The...What's It Called, Again?

Moore called the question. There was no vote on calling the question. All in favor of rejecting Kissy Washington? The motion failed. By my count, it was 4 to 6, but it may have been 4 to 7.

Jerry Moore made a motion that Kissy Washington be an alternate. Motion seconded. Moore added that Kissy should be LAST ALTERNATE in that precinct.

Browne said the issue is not whether she was there, or whether she filled out a card, the issue was whether there was A LETTER. So how do you not know about a letter you say you wrote and gave to Kenya?

Mike Fedor said maybe the confusion comes from the interpretation of "letter." Maybe they filled out some kind of FORM, and they didn't think of that as a LETTER.

Doran asked, "When the letters were SUPPOSEDLY handed to Bushay, was it all at once? One at a time?" Moore shook his head tiredly and said, "I don't know."

A woman in a khaki hat with a rhinestone peace sign spoke, saying we should seat people who WANT to be delegates, and MAKE THAT CLEAR. The question was called, Kissy was seated as a "last alternate" despite the fact she "offered no information about her attendance on caucus night."

Now a motion was put forward to seat Kashanti Johnson as "last alternate."

Kip--now reduced to "making the record" because the vote count was obvious even before the votes were taken--said "the question is not their intent but whether they did the things they have to do to be there."

Jerry said, "THIS IS BACK IN OUR HANDS" and "we have to make some kind of decision." Cell Phone Guy Antwon now had his turn on the speaking order and said he wanted to do...OK, that thing that you do? Call the...how is it?

"CALL THE QUESTION!" yelled one of the McKnight supporters, helpfully. Attorney At Law Kip Browne had a look on his face like he'd crashed on Tatooine and Jawas were fighting over the shiny, high-tech components of his X-wing fighter.

"Call the question!" said Antwon. Admittedly, there was little point in having a vote as per correct parliamentary procedure.

Kishanti--who "had no knowledge of any letter pertaining to caucus night" and who "offered no information about his attendance on caucus night to corroborate Kenya (McKnight's) explanation" was seated as "last alternate" in Precinct 5-5 on a voice vote by a committee voting strictly along favored candidate lines.

Now there was a motion to seat Charlotte Onsoti. Moore said, in a resigned tone, "She did not run, she was not elected." Onsoti did not indicate she wanted to be a delegate, Moore said. Kip Browne moved to reject the challenge, i.e, to reject Onsoti being seated. Kip Browne started to say something like, "It sounds like she was THERE but it doesn't sound like she had the intent to be a DELEGATE."

Jerry Moore said, "I will save you some time, can we just make her a caucus attendee?"

The McKnight "challenge" over the issue of Charlotte Onsoti was unanimously rejected. Then Jerry made a motion to have Onsoti be an "attendee" and Kip Browne seconded Jerry's motion. At that moment, world peace broke out and, yes, we really could all get along.

Now Nicole Doran (trying to be helpful, but she really should have left the motions to Kip Browne who, unfortunately, had made it look all-too-easy) made a motion to reflect that Bonnie and Grover Jones "attended their caucus."

Jerry Moore spoke up and said, well, they had not, in fact, attended the caucus. Doran withdrew her motion. Ouch. Parliamentary faux pas.

Jerry Moore made a motion--which was seconded--to seat the Howards. The motion passed. As for the Joneses, Moore made a motion to "continue the investigation" into the Joneses. Mike Fedor said he had "nothing better to do tomorrow" and offered to do his best to get ahold of them. Kip Browne said he wanted to find out about THE LETTER vis-a-vis the Joneses, not their INTENT. Somebody said it was a "key question" to ask, "Did you fill out a letter or a form that you wanted to be a delegate."

A "Goofy Deal" With The Challenges, Pleas For Divine Intervention

Doran said "This whole thing wasn't properly approached from the get-go, and in addition to that, "we're seating people who said they NEVER WROTE IT." (A letter) Doran said, "This whole thing is convoluted."

Cherryhomes said, "I've been doing this since I was 17, and I've never seen as goofy a deal as this with the challenges." Cherryhomes said "we really need to make some recommendations about PROCESS."

Jerry Moore said somebody at the DFL--and he specifically said "DFL"--was "too Chicken Little" (sic) to deal with this, and so they have "pushed it back on us" and said "we didn't get what we wanted out of the report." Moore said the problem is "people don't know the process."

Doran replied, "The problem is people can TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT (people not knowing the process) and push people into things."

"We're avoiding the issue, here, people," Jerry said.

Cherryhomes said, "We all have to work with each other Saturday (at the convention) and on."

Kip said, "We don't need to go into a lot of rhetoric and side agendas to find out if Michael goes out and asks these questions." (Which was the motion on the floor at that moment)

Kip Browne called the question; let Mike Fedor go out and collect evidence. All agreed, and loudly.

A discussion took place about how, even with this committee meeting, there isn't enough order and process. For example, there is NO SIGN IN SHEET? Where, exactly, is the sign-in sheet?

There was talk about how the information should have been handled DIFFERENTLY, and how one person--I didn't catch who was saying this, but it was a female--had BEGGED for the information to be handled differently. It wasn't clear what she was saying, because it wasn't being said directly. Was it something to do with WHO handled the info? Angry yelling broke out. Somebody said, "Well, if we're going to PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE!!!!" Yelling. Notes and memory don't capture it all.

A McKnight supporter was granted the floor and said this committee needed "divine intervention," because of all the "direspecting each other," all the "talking over each other." A yellow sign-in sheet started to unobtrusively circulated. Well, THAT problem got solved.

The agenda--for this committee still had one--provided an opportunity to step away from the hurt feelings. Arguably, the McKnight people had carried the day, but had they? The messy, ugly details--the inability to get to the bottom of whether 8 letters, all originals, no copies made--had REALLY been "hand delivered" to Brian Bushay, like Kenya McKnight said--was unresolved.

Furthermore, floor challenges during the convention itself still potentially loomed, and that would play out in front of a much bigger audience.

Really BIG Sign In Sheets. All In Favor?

The committee voted to have REALLY BIG SIGN-IN SHEETS. The committee voted on floor passes, and accepted an idea from Kip Browne to make the floor passes pink in recognition of breast cancer awareness.

There was a discussion about issuing "press passes" to kids from the Kwanzaa church, but it was decided not to call these "press passes," because press isn't allowed on the convention floor and members of the press--like the blogger listening intently in the corner at that moment, though this wasn't SAID--would be wanting some, too. So it was agreed that the passes would be called "Kwanzaa church youth passes."

Thus the credentials committee--which had seen the messy results of a chaotic caucus colliding with raw partisanship--voted to allow a whole bunch of young children to be on the convention floor during the process.

Well, the DFL is the party of inclusiveness, after all.

The committee adjourned, and just about everybody sat down to the task of making convention badges, side-by-side, like they were student government buddies or something.

Latest On The Jordan Neighborhood Leadership Controversy: "Old Majority" Seeks Temporary Injunction, "New Majority" Seeks Disovery

Photo By Jeff Skrenes,
JACC booth at recent housing
fair


Information fell into my hands in the form of two letters to The Honorable Judge Charles A. Porter, one from "Old Majority" attorney Jill Clark, and the other from "New Majority" attorney David A. Schooler of Briggs and Morgan.

In a nutshell: the "Old Majority" attorney, Jill Clark, is seeking a temporary/preliminary injunction and--in a letter dated March 24, 2009--asked for a hearing "as quickly as possible." The "New Majority" attorney responded in a letter dated March 26, 2009, and basically said, "No hearing should take place until discovery is conducted."

Here are the letters, unfiltered, for your consumption...

March 24, 2009
VIA HAND DELIVERY
The Honorable Charles A. Porter
(...)
Re: Brown v. Browne, Civil Case No. 27-CV-09-2277

Dear Judge Porter:

Plaintiffs do request a temporary/preliminary injunction hearing, as set forth in the enclosed copy of the Informational Statement. Plaintiffs request that this hearing be set on as quickly as possible, (sic) and that other aspects of the scheduling order (discovery, mediation, etc.) be addressed following the outcome of the hearing.

Sincerely, Jill Clark

A note to the reader: Jill Clark is one of those rare, highly-inconsiderate folks who opts for an abstract signature which bears no relation to human letters; anybody who perceives the signature can just figure it out, making some kind of SENSE let alone LEGIBILITY is apparently not a high priority to the owner of the signature.

Though Clark's signature does look something like a single, over-sized "D," there are no "D's" in "Jill Clark" so that doesn't really make any sense. Therefore I'd have to say Clark's signature looks like...a broken heart that has drunkenly fallen over on its side.

Attorney David A. Schooler responded, on March 26, "VIA E-MAIL AND U.S. MAIL" as follows:

Dear Judge Porter:

This letter is intended as a response to Ms. Clark's letter dated March 24, 2009. Ms. Clark has requested a temporary/preliminary injunction evidentiary hearing in Plaintiff's informational statement. Joint Defendants object to yet another preliminary injunction hearing at this state of litagation.

(Paragraph break not in orginal, PBNIO)

This Court has advised both parties that if "Plaintiffs wish to pursue a temporary injunction prior to trial on the merits in this case, they should contact the Court, an evidentiary hearing date will be set and a Scheduling Order consistent with the decision will be issued." (Order, Paragraph 18)

(PBNIO)

However, absolutely no discovery has been conducted and there is no reason to believe the outcome of another injunction hearing would be any different than the Order issued on March 11, 2009. If Plaintiffs choose to avail themselves to remedies set forth in Rule 65 then Joint Defendants are entitled to notice as well as affidavits so that Joint Defendants can properly respond. Accordingly, Joint Defendants respectfully request that any temporary/preliminary injunction hearing be deferred until such time as there is compliance with Rule 65.

Furthermore, Rule 111.02 requires that both parties file an informational statement within 60 days. Plaintiffs and Joint Defendants have complied with this rule. There is no requirement under Rule 111.02 that the parties appear in Court to discuss scheduling, discovery, mediation or any other issues.

(PBNIO)

Joint Defendants and Plaintiffs are closely aligned in the proposed scope and extent of discovery, scheduling deadlines and trial duration. Plaintiffs has requested ADR...

(JNS says, "That means "Alternative Dispute Resolution," basically mediation)

...and Joint Defendants have indicated that it would appear to be inappropriate based upon the unusual circumstances of this case--namely, impossibility and the absence of any monetary damages. Joint defendants will abide by whatever decision the Court chooses regarding the ADR requirement.

In summary, Joint Defendants respectfully request that the Court issue a Scheduling Order in accordance with Rule 111.03 without an appearance by the parties as it is unnecessary.

Sincerely,

Briggs and Morgan, PA
David A. Schooler

(I'd like to add that I asked the source of these documents, "Why does Jill Clark want another hearing when the TRO hearing went so badly?" To which my source responded, "She likes to beat her head against a wall. She thinks it feels good.")

A Furious Missive About The "Lost Victorian" At 3216 3rd Ave. S.

Photos By David Piehl

Here is an update on the "Lost Victorian" situation at 3216 3rd Ave. S., which I blogged about previously (click for article) because--despite the fact this is a South Minneapolis situation--it would be VERY DISTURBING INDEED if this kind of thing started happening in North Minneapolis and, further, it appears some citywide policy is being developed because of this situation.

Via a mutual friend, David Piehl sent me these great photos of the demolition and also an email missive dipped heavily in sarcasm, plus a side order of barely-concealed rage. I am printing it, below, pretty much in its original form except for a lot of paragraph breaks. (Which is, in a sense, too bad...because there's just something about writing all-in-one-long-unbroken-paragraph that also conveys a certain depth of feeling as surely as one's content)

David says as follows...

MHC came to the CANDO housing meeting and told us all how wonderful they are and all of the wonderful programs they have, at taxpayer expense, which largely duplicate what is available in the private sector, but without the hand-holding.

Aaaawwww.

Then, the rep from GMHC (forgot his name) told us that they only got involved with 3216 3rd Ave S because Inspections had orders against the house, apparently for some unfinished siding, and was threatening the elderly couple who lived there with more fines and possible jail time.

CPED employee Earl Pettiford, who famously stated at a Central Neighborhood Housing meeting several years ago that "Only through new construction will the city be able to attract the suburban buyers it needs to stabilize the neighborhoods", then referred the low income, elderly owners of 3216 to GMHC.

A GMHC rep visited the house and saw piles of stuff on the porch, and throughout the house. He also noted that some rooms were not heated. This led him to the conclusion that despite original leaded glass windows, woodwork, etc the house would require close to $250k to renovate (and note that a similar house less than a block away recently sold for $250K), so the only option was demolition. GMHC graciously paid the couple $5,000 and then demolished their house.

Despite the fact that GMHC has for decades notified and worked with the neighborhood on new construction proposals, they contend that it simply never occurred to them that the neighborhood would want to know if a property were slated to be demolished...I'm sure that position had nothing to do with the recent Star Tribune articles surrounding the same neighborhood's intense effort to ensure that a house on Park Ave did not get demolished.

(JNS says: sarcasm font is broken, notifying the reader manually)

GMHC claimed that the Green Institute salvaged what was salvageable from the home; however it was duly noted by a resident that photos of the demolition carnage clearly showed 7 or 8 radiators in the demolition pit/former basement; antique radiators are very expensive, and the metal alone is worth recycling if the condition is questionable.

(JNS says: I would really like those photos, since I can't see any radiators in these photos FOR SURE. Looking around in "Where's Waldo" fashion, I can only spot what MIGHT be ONE radiator)

Council Member Glidden was also present, and reported that there is currently no neighborhood notification requirement on the part of CPED, but that they were now working on one.

(JNS says: in the sentence below, Piehl confusingly refers to himself in the third person, but this is indeed Piehl's firsthand account, which I verified with another source)

David Piehl reminded everyone that in the 1990's when Merwyn Larson was head of inspections, inspections had a neighborhood liaison per his direction who routinely gave the neighborhood 60 to 90 days notice of demolition intent, and honored neighborhood objections to demolition when alternatives were found, such as gap financing provided by NRP early access or HOMS Initiative funding, etc.

While this notification was apparently never required, it was the practice and served Central neighborhood well, resulting in several dozen homes being recycled for
owner-occupants and saved from the landfill. RT Rybak replaced the head of inspections with an attorney; so many things are different in inspections nowadays.

Several immediate neighbors expressed their shock at hearing the backhoe as it began working early that Thursday morning. One neighbor and former housing committee chair, Kori Hennessy, apologized to everyone present for not sharing what she knew about the demolition in advance, since her husband purchased the antique leaded glass windows from the house.

GMHC does not currently have a plan in place for the now vacant lot. Several area residents have expressed an interest in utilizing it as a community garden.

Sadly, the vacant lot is more likely to become the future site of a ghetto-fabulous GMHC house...you know, those plastic wrapped milk cartons put together with ticky tack that sport the lovely foam details?

Just why IS it that these GMHC houses always seem to end up in foreclosure rather than on the market?

Oh, and, now that in excess of $30,000 of our tax dollars were used to acquire and demolish 3216 3rd Ave S, not including all the staff time the city spent chasing down those renegade elders who dared to have unfinished siding and some bad updates, what now? The neighborhood is left with an empty lot, and what happens to the seniors who lived there?

$5,000 isn't exactly enough to start over.

(JNS says: the comments section is wide open to opposing points of view, including those of GMHC, CPED, etc. For the record, I have always had a very friendly relationship with CPED. I am also committed to publishing substantive commentary about neighborhood issues)

(I would like to add this, however: that yellow dumpster does not look like an "Atomic" dumpster to me. Atomic is very aggressive about recycling the metal in demolition debri, and based on some behind-the-scenes discussions, I was under the impression Atomic was the preferred waste hauler for these kind of local government initiated demolition projects, since Atomic is apparently the "greenest" choice. SO WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?!!)

Subpoena Served On "Soon-To-Be Former JACC Accountant"

Photo By John Hoff 

Here is the latest in the never-ending JACC neighborhood controversy. A subpoena was recently served on Judith Gallas, who is currently the JACC accountant--but for who knows how much longer? In the subpoena, Gallas was commanded to turn over...

...a two-page list of stuff, and you could see considerable thought went into compiling the list. The two pages could, however, be summarized in one word: EVERYTHING.

Galllas--whose address is 2018 Franklin Ave. SE--has been scheduled to appear on April 8, 2009, as part of the discovery process.

See, that's the thing about suing somebody. When you sue somebody, you hand them the right to obtain "discovery" and get their hands on information as part of the court proceeding. Shooting off your own foot is an appropriate metaphor, in some ways, but not such an apt metaphor in other ways because--in the long run--shooting off your own foot may be less painful and damaging.

Larry Maxwell Mortgage Fraud Investigation Scuttlebutt

Word on the street is that a professional in the mortgage industry recently spent TWO AND A HALF DAYS TESTIFYING in a court proceeding involving Larry Maxwell. The only other detail I was able to obtain was that the name Jerry Moore came up quite a few times in the testimony.

I am hoping to dig up more details.

In the meantime, I was privileged to have hard copies of some Larry Maxwell court papers in front of me recently. Here's a little taste:

"On 1-23-08 at approximately 1840 hours, Hennepin County Investigator Miller, Bloomington Police Detective Anda and I made contact with Bobby Gill at 3624 80th Ave. N. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Note that according to Hennepin County property records, this address is owned by Angela Denise Carrier 3/16/74.

"Mr. Gill, who answered the door, verbally...

...identified himself and let us inside the residence. I explained to Mr. Gill the nature of our investigation, specifically Larry Maxwell's involvement in facilitating mortgage fraud and some questions we had regarding Gill Construction receiving large disbursement checks for construction work that was never completed on real estate that Larry Maxwell facilitated in some capacity.

"During the course of our conversation I showed Gill a spread sheet that had several closings involving Tanya Patterson as the buyer and Larry Maxwell as the real estate agent..."

(Heavy sigh. How I would love to get a PDF copy of this thick, juicy file and put the whole thing on the internet. But I only have momentary access to the file, right next to my laptop computer. So in these limited moments of golden opportunity I scan for new names, and I find one: Jerry McAfee)

The name Jerry McAfee comes up in association with Vicki-Cox Maxwell. According to Cox-Maxwell's statement to Glen Miller, police investigator, Cox-Maxwell had "one main client, Jerry McAfee. McAfee has her look for investment properties. He pays cash, buys foreclosed properties and rehabs..."

Well...it's late. I don't have to go home, but I can't stay here with this juicy file. Heavy sigh. Maybe I can get my hands on more later...

Northside Marketing Task Force Response Re: Publicity, Outreach For Northside Housing Fair

Photo By John Hoff

Some discussion took place on this blog about whether the Northside Housing Fair was adequately publicized by the Northside Marketing Task Force. Blogger Don Allen, who makes a living in marketing, didn't get word about the housing fair and didn't think it was adequately publicized. 

What follows is NMTF Vice Chair Mike Kestner's response to Don Allen.

Don,

The primary 2009 Housing Fair organizer was...


... John Helgeland. John, in my eyes, has done a fantastic job in putting on this great event over the last four years with a team of volunteers. John remains a true champion of North Minneapolis, who continues to bring community together across all lines.

The Northside Marketing Task Force (NMTF) role this year as a Co-Producer of the Housing Fair was to learn through active volunteerism the planning process, with the NMTF taking over planning and production (with community partners
supporting in co-production) in 2010.

I know John sent out numerous emails to many community members enlisting their volunteer planning support starting in early fall 2008. Apparently you did not receive this communication. It sounds to me that you would have been an interested volunteer.

I'm sorry we did not see you in attendance this past Saturday, given your obvious interest and concern. The NMTF contracted The Carney Group to take photographs and video of the event.

You can view the photos here:

www.northminneapolis.com/north_housing_fair

Overall, I think the North Housing and Home Improvement Fair was a success. We were competing with very nice weather and still managed to have turnout equal to last year, I'm told. There were many families in attendance, and the diversity of the North Minneapolis community was evident. There were 12 seminars covering a gamut of topics of interest, and community organizations were well represented.

The NMTF table had well over 200 visitors, as we gave out North Minneapolis t-shirts, brochures and continued to spread the positive message of living, working and recreating in our community. We also had a thick binder of historical home and building photos gathered from the MN Historical Society.

I can also tell you that Northside Marketing Task Force members were on KMOJ's "Voices of the African American Community" program this past week promoting the Housing Fair.

So I would say it was a success, and as with all worthwhile ventures, it could always stand to improve. I'm proud of the NMTF's involvement with this fair, and look forward to helping shape this event in the future.

We hope to involve your communications skills in promoting this event in the future!

Thanks,

Mike Kestner
Northside Marketing Task Force

FREE MONEY FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS: City of Lakes Community Land Trust Home Buyer Programs

This post contains basic information about CLCLT Programs and is directed at individuals of moderate income who may be researching North Minneapolis, thinking of buying a home, and are interested in buyer assistance programs. It's a public service post, nothing entertaining or newsworthy. I do this kind of stuff, too.

I'll start with the contact information. Call Ben at...


...Urban Homeworks, 612-272-4339, benp@urbanhomeworks.org. Their website is urbanhomeworks.org or clclt.org.

Based on a brochure that I was provided at a recent Hawthorne Housing Committee Meeting...and which I promised to publicize, here I am getting around to it...it seems like CLCLT has three main rocking programs.

# Homes for sale, which are "turn the key" ready unlike the many fixer-uppers for sale in North Minneapolis at rock bottom prices, the market has never been better, woo hoo.

# Project Reclaim, which is "a responsible contract for deed program."

# HIP, the Homebuyer Initiated Program.

First, in regard to homes for sale, here are the addresses of homes in North Minneapolis for those who want to do more research: 1314 15th Ave. N., 1522 Irving Ave. N., 4247 Emerson Ave. N., 2015 4th St. N., 5139 Vincent Ave. N., and 2101 Illion Ave. N.

The actual fair market value/sales price of the houses is the market value price. Qualified buyers with incomes below 80 or 50 percent of median income. CLCLT sales price determined buy buyer's ability to qualify for mortgage and subject to buyer need.

Resale restrictions per Ground Lease with CLCLT. (Please note: the land trust basically owns the land under the house, and leases it back to the owner of the house for a nominal sum. I'm told the sum is $1 but I have not been able to confirm that officially)

Second, in regard to Project Reclaim. This is a home ownership tool to equip and support households to successfully own quality revitalized homes. The goal is to facilitate successful homeownership that helps create a healthy and vibrant community. It is designed for households that have been declined by a regular mortgage due to credit challenges.

This program creates an opportunity for people to affordably own a home and participate in a credit enhancement program and debt reduction. Project Reclaim minimizes the homebuyers' exposure to financial risks and real estate speculation.

Highlights of the program are as follows.

# Three percent interest rate.

# Monthly payment will be approximately equal to a 6.5 percent conventional mortgage.

# Home values range between $100k and $150k.

# Two percent reserve account established for the homeowner to use for approved purposes.

# Rehabilitated home with great attention to detail and stringent construction standards.

# Buyer support through mandatory credit enhancement program.

# Contract for Deed with an initial term up to 24 months.

Qualified applicants will: Plan to purchase a home in Minneapolis. Not qualify for a conventional mortgage. Need a credit enhancement program to minimize debt and increase credit score within the terms of the contract period. Household income must be greater than $30,000 annually. But the household income must be less than the following amounts, based on family size:

Family of 1, $43,050. Family of 2, $49,200. Family of 3, $55,350. Family of 4, $61,500. Family of 5, $66,400. Family of 6, $71,350.

It should be noted this program is actually spelled "Project: Reclaim" with a colon in the middle, like that. However, this English Major (magna cum laude) has SERIOUS ISSUES with that colon. Try writing about this program and putting that colon in the name all the time; it makes the text messy and confusing. Therefore, on my own initiative, I removed the colon. I can do that.
It's my blog. Go ahead and send me mad voice mails and emails via Facebook, I can deal with that. It's worth it, to fight the scourge of "trendy punctuation."

The third program outlined in the brochure is CLCLT HIP. (Homebuyer Initiated Program) Selected families will purchase homes currently on the market with the help of two grants: Up to $65,000 towards the purchase of a home, and up to $25,000 to rehab the house.

In exchange for the grants, the participating buyers will agree to the Community Land Trust model of home ownership, which (if and when the buyers decide to sell) will limit the resale price and keep the homes affordable for future low- to moderate-income buyers.

To be eligible for HIP, households must be under 80 percent of the area median income. Funding of CLCLT HIP homes gives preference to applicants who make less than 50 percent of the median income. These requirements may depend on family size.

Here, for example, are the numbers for a family of 3:

Fifty percent of MMI qualifies for up to $65,000 in affordability assistance. Fifty percent of MMI for a family of three is $36,400. For complete numbers and to find out if you qualify, visit clclt.org or call Staci Horwitz at (612) 721-7556, ext. 18.

To be considered, though, you'll need the following things:

# Complete a homebuyer education workshop.

# Attend a CLT orientation session.

# Get mortgage financing from a CLT-approved lender.

# Complete a CLCLT application.

Preview Of Coming Attractions (Fifth Ward Credentials Committee Meeting)

Contributed Photo 

Tomorrow afternoon I will attend the Fifth Ward Credentials Committee meeting, to see how the delegate challenges--mostly the "Kenya Eight" stuff--is coming along. I'm looking forward to posting a full report on this phase of the Samuels/McKnight race, which is important to the future direction of North Minneapolis.

Word on the street is a Star Tribune reporter is nosing around, asking pointed questions about this delegate controversy. It would be wonderful if North Minneapolis politics could get some coverage from the mainstream media, instead of just blogs and City Pages. 

(Do not click "Read More")

Don Allen Not Allowed To Attend Northside Marketing Task Force Meeting, Two Task Force Members Resign

Photo From Don Allen's
Facebook Page

As reported near the end of my previous post, Don Allen tried to attend tonight's Northside Marketing Task Force meeting, but as Don entered the room he was told--by Vice Chair Mike Kestner--"We just went into executive session."

This is the same Mike Kestner who told Don "F*** you" when Don tried, earlier tonight, to find out when and where the meeting was. (This is according to Don. Mike is free to say his side in comments, which I'm sure I'll be happy to approve)

Don, however, told me he's "smarter than the average bear" so, while excluded from the meeting of this state certified non-profit organization, Don managed to get his hands on a copy of the agenda. According to Don, there was...

...nothing on the agenda about an executive session.

"Couldn't it come up under New Business?" I asked.

Don pointed out there was no "New Business" on the agenda, either. Don read the agenda to me over the phone. The most interesting item was the resignation of a "Crystal Christian" and a "Jeremy Morris" from the Task Force. Don had never heard of anybody named "Jeremy Morris." I asked if it might be a typo for "Jerry Moore," but Don said no, he didn't think so.

Don said there were six people at the meeting. Jerry Moore was not one of them. However, Don reviewed the bylaws and said there might not be any quorum problems after all.

Other items on tonight's meeting included a treasurer's report and "election of a new treasurer." This makes Don suspect the person who resigned may have been a treasurer, because a new one is being elected.

Other items included "Next Meeting, April 15," applications for new board members, feedback from the Northside Housing Fair, the status of the Carney Group contract, and the "future of the task force--election of c0-chairs, temporary chairs."

My Opinion, And I Do Have One

I have to editorialize at this point. I can't help myself. The co-chairs model is a bad and unworkable model. It's hard enough to get anything done when ONE person is in charge, but when two people are in charge? Chaos.

One of my recent posts discussed the shocking lack of transparency on this task force. Tonight sounds like another example of the ongoing pattern. What is so secret, so sensitive, that it must be shielded from public view? PERSONNEL MATTERS?

WHAT personnel matters? This is an all-volunteer, unpaid board. Furthermore, the Carney Group represents a contract for services, not "personnel." I can't think of any reason why this board should be in an executive session over "personnel matters."

Northside Marketing Task Force Discussion Gets Messy, Interesting, Profanity-Laced

Photo Of Don Allen, From His
Facebook Page

Before I say anything else, I should say this: sincere people with good intentions are known to vigorously disagree with each other.

ADDENDUM: February 6, 2011. This blog post was written before I and many others in North Minneapolis discovered what a disreputable con man character Don Allen is. I would advise anybody: Do not trust Don Allen. Seek further information about Don Allen from various online sources before having any contact with him.

At the end of the day, North Minneapolis needs an effective marketing strategy. We are hard up against media-created spin that paints our neighborhood as a...

...bad place, when we know it is a good place and, even more importantly, our neighborhood is changing and getting better by leaps and bounds through our own hard struggle and--it must be acknowledged--millions of dollars being poured in by government entities, non-profits, and businesses.

Having said that...today I had a business meeting with Don Allen of IBNN blog and V-local.com, which (Don stated) was rated last year as the Twin Cities' No. 1 internet marketing firm. On his laptop, Allen showed me some of the bells and whistles of what his company does, which seems to revolve around increasing internet exposure and rankings for businesses. He gave me a t-shirt. Everybody is giving me t-shirts lately; Northside Marketing Task Force, Pete's Hardwood Floors, and now Don Allen gave me one for inetsurf.com.

Do they think my loyalty can be BOUGHT? (Um...don't answer that question)

NSMTF History, Part One

I'd be fascinated to get the whole history of this task force which, I think, would make an interesting academic study about a neighborhood trying to market itself in the face of politics, a lack of resources, and many obstacles to a successful marketing effort. Like random gunfire. I mean, in my mind, random gunfire is a biggie when it comes to marketing obstacles. Hence my strategy of a "first wave" of adventurous, risk-taking "security minded individuals" to move in and "secure the neighborhood," as outlined in my theory of "Market and Romanticize The Struggle."

Anyway, I'd heard how Don Allen used to be on the NMTF but left. In Don Allen's office, which is decorated with maps of the 5th Congressional Ward, I asked Don about that. Don told me how the Task Force started with high hopes and big dreams, but Don Allen didn't like Jerry Moore from the get-go. Don felt Jerry "didn't understand sound business practices." Others on the Task Force--Don mentions my friends Anderson Mitchell of Mitchell Construction, and Lisa Mitchell, who works for General Mills--were strongly supportive of Jerry Moore, who--at that time--was the Executive Director of JACC.

They supported Moore AT FIRST, that is to say. Lisa and Anderson Mitchell have now changed their tune, and apparently part of that sea change in sentiment involved Don showing the Mitchells documents from the investigation of Larry Maxwell, documents which name Jerry Moore and talk about Moore receiving a payment.

In Don's view, the task force became less about marketing North Minneapolis and more about "pumping up Jerry Moore to run for something." Don says Al McFarlane of Insight News was involved with a lot of this "pumping up." (Don showed me a wrinkled copy of Insight News with a prominent photo of Kenya McKnight on the front. Don said he'd used it to keep the rain off his head today, and it was indeed good for that, he said)

According to Don, Jerry Moore saw NMTF as "his own little platform to build upon."

"It wasn't about positioning the North Side," Don Allen said. "It was about positioning Jerry Moore." Now, according to Don, the NMTF has become about "positioning (Vice Chair) Mike Kestner."

Allen talks, in particular, about an instance where he managed to obtain a promise of some rather respectable-sized donations from a business source, and the Task Force board insisted that Don's name should be removed from a letter to the source, and substituted with Jerry Moore's name. On his own, from professional business contacts, Don Allen had developed the source of funding, but now credit was being handed to somebody else; the annointed one of the McFarlane clique, Jerry Moore.

It's obvious Don Allen still has a bad taste in his mouth over this.

Allen Forms V Media Development Corporation

Don Allen has formed a non-profit called "V Media Corporation." The articles of incorporation, sent by the Minnesota Secretary of State, are framed and hang on Don's office wall. Though a board has already been formed, Don Allen says he is interested in taking on more folks. The goal of the organization is to help areas "underserved by advertising, PR, and marketing." (Like North Minneapolis) There is a goal of showing "successful, measurable outcomes."

Don Allen didn't say so, but Google rankings come to mind. Stories in the media buzzing about North Minneapolis in a generally positive way, that comes to mind, too, and those things can be counted, tabulated, put in the form of bar graphs.

Mike Kestner Tells Don Allen To Get F***ed

When talking to Don, he has to put off taking a constant stream of phone calls, but sometimes he is forced to apologize and, well, he really must take THIS call.

It was in the course of such a call that Allen learned there was a meeting of the Northside Marketing Task Force. TONIGHT. Don began placing calls, trying to find out where and when. We both wondered what might be on the agenda, but figured two items would come up for sure:

# OLD BUSINESS: When will the Carney Group's website work be approved for release? Don's belief is a thing doesn't have to be perfect, it can be "tweaked while it is hot." That's kind of how I see things. Get the story out to the public ASAP, there will always be details to add in subsequent stories.

# NEW BUSINESS: Internet controversy over task force inaction, and a discussion about whether to add Don Allen and/or Johnny Northside to the Task Force.

Don Allen was forced to call Mike Kestner himself to find out when and where the meeting was. Kestner told Don he shouldn't be at the meeting. It would be intimidating, if Don was at the meeting, Kestner said. Don insisted on knowing the location of the meeting. There was an arcane discussion about whether a non-profit is considered a non-profit, when it has filed ONE piece of paper but not ANOTHER piece of paper.

At one point--and this is according to Don--Mike Kestner told Don Allen, "F*** you!" After 10 minutes of cajoling, Don Allen managed to get the meeting time and place out of Mike Kestner.

Last word I had was that Don Allen was heading for the meeting, scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. at the Cleveland Neighborhood Organization Building.

Breaking News, Closed Session, "Personnel Issues"

Don Allen called me a second ago. There is breaking news. Approximately 6 individuals are having a meeting. Jerry Moore is not present, but Mike Kestner is there. When Allen entered the room, he was told "we just voted to go into executive session to discuss personnel issues."

"Um," I asked Don. "They're a non-profit board. They don't have any employees. How can they have personnel issues?"

"THANK YOU!!!" Don yelled into his cell phone.

At this moment, Don is trying to hunt down a copy of the bylaws to figure out if 6 members of the Task Force even form a quorum. More as I get word...

It is a shame that trying to market a neighborhood becomes a political infight, a battle of personalities and he said, she said. But, at the end of the day, this is what democracy looks like and our neighborhood is fighting to make itself something better, having a vital discussion about what competing ideas and visions will take us to that better time and place.