Photo By John HoffThe Minneapolis Mirror has the text of Al Flowers' lawsuit against Don Samuels, click below for that information:
http://mplsmirror.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=477&Itemid=1
Here's a few comments about the allegations in the lawsuit:
First, "New Majority" JACC Secretary Anne McCandless told me--with others present--she was the one who called 911. If Councilmember Don Samuels called 911, I was not aware of it.
Second, the lawsuit mentions "witnesses" who said Samuels was the problem, and not Flowers. These witnesses were hardly objective bystanders, but could be fairly characterized as individuals with an axe to grind. Interesting how the names of these witnesses are not mentioned in the complaint.
Third, the lawsuit says Flowers "complained" about the behavior of Samuels--namely the alleged elbowing and toe-stepping. Anybody can watch the video and see what Flowers was complaining about: Samuels daring to stand in front of him. No mention of Flowers' precious toes or the alleged sharpness of Samuels' elbows.
Notably, there's no mention in the lawsuit of Flowers shoving Samuels in the back from behind. That's OK. It's on video.
Fourth, the lawsuit has some odd italics, random single quote marks and, in one instance, seems to substitute the word "took" for "told." Didn't anybody proofread? Or is this how the miserable thing was MEANT to read?
Last, the lawsuit gets into detail about the oh-so-finely-wrought political questions Flowers was supposedly there to ask. Clearly, that stuff was written by the lawyer. I doubt if Flowers could successfully memorize that much intellectual verbiage for an exam. This is a guy who says "medium income" instead of "median."
Anybody who watches the tape sees how Flowers was expressing himself: shouting the same stuff over and over, like a person of limited intellect--such as a child--throwing a tantrum.
(Do not click "Read More")
Here's another important detail: The city has held at least two public meetings to garner input on how to spend the incoming federal housing aid. I have read the city's proposals prior to these meetings, and attended both. I have seen the city's plans evolve based on the public input from those two (and possibly more) meetings. MR. AL FLOWERS WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE AT EITHER MEETING.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with every aspect of the city's plans, but I must stand up and say that the city of Minneapolis has been seeking public input AND adjusting their plans to reflect said input.
So we've had several meetings specifically about an issue, and Al Flowers has not attended them. Then he shows up and acts disruptive to the point where he must be physically removed from a community meeting where the mortgage issue is NOT on the agenda, and was NOT part of his disruptive rant. And we're supposed to believe that he was JUST ABOUT TO STOP HIS RAVING AND ASK A PERTINENT QUESTION when the cops took him outside? Puh-lease.
So...there's some truth to this "gold in them thar hills of North Minneapolis" rumor?
ReplyDeletePiles of money are a-coming down the pipeline?
Folks should buy property and stake out their claim, because the condition of North Minneapolis is about to change, rapidly, for the better?
There's some TRUTH to all that?
Ok two questions for you,
ReplyDelete1) Isn't Al Flowers the "sue master", I read an article a few months ago about Him in the Sentinel, and also heard some rumors to that.
2) What does Don Samuels have to say about the charges being filed? According to these pages, he was sued by Flowers before and didn't argue he settled?
Share with me the Politics of this situation. I heard that Old Majority was embezzling monies, and the new Majority is trying to fix it?
Wow.... Al Flowers is a waist of skin...Hopefully he can get locked up for something, then the north side can finally move on.
ReplyDeleteBabee,
ReplyDeleteSome of my other blog posts have link to info about the other lawsuits Flowers and his sister are involved with...I don't know if he's the "sue master" you read about. If it's the same name...yeah, probably.
In response to your other question: Samuels has nothing to say because that's the standard procedure when a lawsuit like this is filed. I imagine a response will come in the next 20 days or so, by being filed in court in answer to the complaint.
As for embezzlement in Jordan...there's a lot of stuff being said about money. I've linked to some of that info in some of these stories...but nobody has been convicted of anything, so it's all rumor and accusation. We'll see how it plays out and I'm sure it will.
In the meantime, let us thank our lucky stars we are in the Hawthorne Neighborhood. Political fights in our neighborhood happen, but they are limited and tend to blow over. Jordan has some real stuff to sort through.
While attempting to read up on all the JACC "soap opera", I have watched the video, I have also talked to people I know in Jordan, and all I can say is WOW, WOW my chin jut dropped to my key board.
ReplyDeletePeople in Jordan, say its too much drama for them. Plain and simple. The members of JACC, and surrounding members should be ashamed of themselves. I heard one time in history that "Absolute power corrupts Absolutely."
Brings me to the lady that was yelling at the officer "Becareful Al Will sue" WOW again.
You are right, I AM SO GLAD I AM IN HAWTHORNE. WOW. I will be watching for later postings regarding the JACC situation, and I hope for the Jordan Neighborhood that they get it under control.
For Summer is coming and Tangle Town will be up for grabs with the local drug dealers, and prostitutes. The car wash will become territory for hustlers, and kids and dope dealers by the vacs. The land lords will get their spring rentals available, and then not care who is in there. I lived in the Jordan Neighborhood, for man, almost my entire time in North Minneapolis. And yet, this, this behavior does not surprise me. Summer is coming and it is going to be a scorcher.
In include the below quote and laugh, considering the press conference topic had nothing to do with the below:
ReplyDelete"On January 17, 2009, Alfred Flowers appeared at a press conference set to discuss some issues important issues surrounding the mortgage foreclosure crisis, federal monies, dispersed through the State of Minnesota to certain cities, including Minneapolis. Certain factions of the City, including certain members of the City Council (and including Samuels), desire the existing foreclosure monies spent a certain way (summarized as wanting the monies to bulldoze foreclosed houses in North Minneapolis, then wait until financial conditions are better). Certain other factions of the City, including certain individuals who attended the press conference, desire the federal monies to be used to refurbish foreclosed houses so that residents of North Minneapolis can move back into them quickly."
Clearly the press conference is about anything Al "I Am The Community" Flowers SAYS it is about.
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain to me why no one has filed criminal charges against Jerry Moore for his assaults on several neighborhood people at that previous meeting?
ReplyDeleteHas anyone filed a restraining order against him?
Just what does he have to do to have some consequences?
Please note: the MPLS Mirror link no longer works. I might add that the Mirror is a sucky publication, but their crappy links are not the ONLY reason.
ReplyDelete