Absentee Landlord Named "Dung" Purchases 2755 Penn Ave. N., Site Of The Infamous "Hooker Steps"

Facebook photo used under First Amendment Fair Comment and
Criticism, public safety exception to copyright, blog post by John
Hoff

Word surfaced in a discussion on North Vent Facebook page that 2755 Penn Ave. N., famed as the location of the "hooker steps," has been purchased by an absentee landlord. 

The landlord, whose name is Dung Tu, is listed under the "owner" section of online records as being from Shakopee, yet his address listed is the same as the property address. He purchased the house for $30,000 in August, completed repairs in December, and had that sucker rented this month. 

An distinct lack of joy and excitement is noted among a number of sensible North Minneapolis residents, who can't help but wonder what sort of people moved into a $30,000 house with "hooker steps" owned by an absentee landlord named "Dung." 

It is assumed the answer will come in the spring when the House of Dung begins to thaw. 

Introducing New Penn Ave. N. Resident Jeff Skrenes To "The Hooker Steps" At 2755 Penn Ave. N.

Photo, blog post by John Hoff

Jeff Skrenes, whose numerous neighborhood titles will probably soon require a special blog post that I can link to and skip introductions each time he is mentioned herein, is a new homeowner on Penn Ave. N. Buying that home shows how Jeff Skrenes--who I normally think of as "King of the Geeks"-- has a bit of a gambler streak. But if anybody can turn that area around, it's the Hawthorne Hawkman; part nerd, part swashbuckler.

Naturally, when I visited his home for the first time I wanted to know what problems he was having with Penn Ave. N. hookers...

Easter Greetings From A (Suspected) Penn Avenue Hooker...

Photos and blog post by John Hoff


Once again directing a "citizen patrol" at prostitution activity in North Minneapolis, today me and my girlfriend finished up with an Easter egg hunt and then hit Penn Avenue, looking for hookers. It wasn't hard to find one sitting on the "hooker steps" at 2755 Penn Avenue North, a vacant house. We called the police, and before long squad 462 came along and talked to the suspected hooker.

And I say "suspected" in that I'm-trying-to-be-a-journalist-so-I-really-should-use-that-word kinda way.

Disappointingly, Squad 462 only...

...stopped and talked to the (firmly and strongly) suspected hooker, apparently telling her to "move along." The conversation was quick, so obviously there wasn't even enough time to run her name and see if, oh gee, she's been picked up for hooking before like Deontay Duffy, click here.

At this point, the hookers know my car by sight and we can actually see them reacting when my car comes in sight, apparently knowing a police squad won't be far behind. So after the police talked to the (suspected) hooker she began walking southbound on Penn, and we moved up a couple blocks to intercept her and snap a photo.

Spotting us, the hooker gave us "the bird." In fact, she actually stood still in her tracks, pulling her hood up over her face, and flipped us off for about a full minute.

Like, HOW DARE WE CALL THE POLICE about her turning tricks (we suspect) on Penn Avenue North on Easter Sunday?

As far as I'm concerned, this hooker is giving the finger to the neighborhood, to the police, to the judicial system. I am directing this question at my public officials: WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO for police to actually make some arrests instead of merely stirring the pond scum, which goes away momentarily but returns several minutes later? In fact, we saw this hooker AGAIN several hours later, and called the police on her AGAIN.

In light of the fact we can't seem to get decisive police action, I have decided on a new tactic: I will no longer call 911 when I see a hooker. Instead, I will wait until the hooker gets into a vehicle. THEN I will call the police, but the vehicle's license plate information will appear on this blog.