Stolen Laptop Controversy Won't Die After Minneapolis City DFL Convention In May, 2009...

Stock Photo by John Hoff, my son Alex with an Apple Laptop

Blog post by John Hoff

It has long been the policy of this blog to NOT sit tight on pieces of valuable information, but--whenever feasible--to get information OUT THERE even if the info is incomplete. In fact, that's how the very interesting Pamiko-Gate story was blown wide open, because this blog published what it had--an interesting piece of the story--and, very quickly, more information came flowing back.

In that spirit, I want to make clear this blog post is NOT the whole story, but I am trying hard to get--as Paul Harvey would say--"the rest of the story."

In May of 2009, the Minneapolis City DFL met at Washburn high school. According to a highly-placed source, two Apple laptops were stolen that day from a class room which was left unlocked. Images were captured on videotape...

...of an individual wearing a t-shirt from one of the Mayoral campaigns, skulking in a hallway, trying the doors of various rooms. The individual was a young black female. The t-shirt she was wearing was not from the Rybak campaign, but from one of the many "also-ran" campaigns. When somebody else passed through the hallway, the individual in the campaign t-shirt seemed to act as though she was looking for a bathroom. The individual entered an unlocked room with a backpack which did not appear full. When she left the room, the backpack appeared full. Two valuable Apple laptops turned up missing from the room shortly afterward.

Days after the convention, police attempted to identify the young black female using at least one still photo from the videotape. In fact, police went to City Hall with a photo and asked individuals at City Hall if they could identify the individual in the campaign t-shirt. The individual looks like a young woman associated with one of the Mayoral campaigns, but there is talk of a change in hairstyle, a certain degree of uncertainty as to the identification.

Now, word is the school and the police are leaning hard on the DFL to replace the valuable laptops stolen during the convention.

When and if this story develops further and more info comes my way, it will be published on Johnny Northside Dot Com as quickly as possible. Yes, this blog does have the name of the Mayoral campaign in question but I am not publishing it until I have further detailed info, THEREFORE I WIILL NOT PUBLISH COMMENTS WHICH POINT THE FINGER AT ANY PARTICULAR MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

Camden Lions and Papa's Pizza to Hold Fundraiser for Vang Family On January 16

Guest post by the Hawthorne Hawkman. Image from the facebook page for this event.

A concerned resident of NoMi passed along an email for an event that will raise money for the Vang family. They were in a tragic car accident back in early December. The pregnant mother lost her child and she and others spent much time in the hospital. Here is the invitation for that event...


Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser to Help a NoMi Family in Need

Papa's Restaurant and Deli

4159 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis

Please make checks payable to the Camden Lions. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Vang family.

Saturday January 16, 2010

8 AM to 11 AM

Adults $6, children under 5 free, Family of 5 $20

Pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee

You might remember hearing about a fatal car crash in early December on I-94 here in North Minneapolis. The Vang family lost an unborn child, and the mom was in the hospital in critical condition. Two of the five children in the family spent several days in the hospital. The father had recently lost his job.

The Vang family live in the Camden area of NoMi, and four of their five kids are enrolled at Loring School.

We, the Camden Lions, have decided to try to help this family as much as we can. Won't you attend and help too? If you can't make the pancake breakfast but would like to contribute, please send your donation written to the Camden Lions, c/o Mick Brogan, Papa's Restaurant and Deli, 4159 Thomas Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55412. Thanks!

Thank You from The Camden Lions and Papa’s Restaurant and Deli

(End email; links did not appear in email sent to me and I added them on this blog post)

Once again, click here for the Facebook link to this event or to RSVP as a helper or attendee.

This heart-wrenching event was a tragedy and I hope we can show everyone what kind of a community we have here in NoMi. It's the kind of community I've come to love and be proud of. When terrible things like this happen to our community, we claim those affected as our own and we do everything we can to reach out and help. Spread the word, come to the event, and if you can't make it, please send a check to the Camden Lions. The Lions, Papa's Pizza, this blog, NoMi as a community, and I'm sure the Vang family thank you for your support.

Hawthorne Housing Committee Receives Pamiko-Gate Update...

Stock Photo By Jeff Skrenes, trashy Pamiko property

On Wednesday night, Hawthorne's Housing Director, Jeff Skrenes, gave an update to the Hawthorne Housing Committee about the situation with Pamiko, which was blown open in a very public way on this blog. (In the interest of full disclosure, readers should know I am the secretary of this committee and--in fact--was re-elected secretary at this same meeting)

The meeting was public and nothing was said in secret, so here is what came up about Pamiko...

Jeff explained how research into compiling a list of property for CPED--for CPED to possibly acquire for renovation or demolition--led to the discovery of a Pamiko property with a foreclosure of 2.5 million bed at the sheriff's sale. Jeff started digging a little, on his own unpaid personal time. After Jeff posted a relatively small amount of info on Johnny Northside Dot Com, info started to flow Jeff's way.

It turned out there were extensive property holdings by an entity associated with the Koenigs, who were previously involved in the Dream Homes fiasco, a matter which makes the Chair of the Housing Committee literally gnash her teeth. (Please note the Chair of the Housing Committee--Bev Scherrer--was also re-elected at the same meeting. Congratulations, Bev)

Jeff said there is the appearance of mortgage fraud, though explaining the technical reasons why he suspects that would take too long and would be boring beyond the endurance of most human brains. (OK, Jeff didn't actually say that LAST part) Jeff said he has contacted the FBI, city attorney, and Hennepin County attorney.

Minnwest Bank Metro appears to be very involved in this matter. Multi-million dollar loans appear to be lines of credit. There is crossover between the different properties and the different lines of credit. This could be as big as T.J. Waconia, though it is in OUR neighborhood and some other neighborhoods, not the same neighborhoods as T.J. Waconia.

Jeff noted that if no charges are pursued against Koenig, there is a portion of the civil rights ordinance which says you’re in violation if you contributed to the creation of a ghetto. That portion of the ordinance is untested. There is an attorney who could be interested in taking on this case. The attorney gets funding from other foundations.

The Chair thought that the neighborhood needs to zero in on which properties are better and which need to come down.

Editorial remark: If every single so-called "Dream Home" were demolished, it would present no loss to the neighborhood, though perhaps one or two of the buildings could be moved around and used as chicken coops by some of the fine old homes in the neighborhood. That way at least ONE of the buildings would be around for the sake of history, but preserving more than one is probably preserving one-too-many.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG IS OPEN TO RECEIVING INFORMATION AND EXPLANATION FROM PAUL KOENIG, WHO HAS SO FAR FAIILED TO PROVIDE IT DESPITE BEING CONTACTED THROUGH A FRIENDLY THIRD PARTY.

Just One More Photo From Eco-Village Groundbreaking...

Photo By Jeff Skrenes, blog post by John Hoff

The old Life Magazine used to include a feature in the back called "Just One More," which would feature a charming or off-the-wall picture. (No, I'm not old enough to remember the old Life Magazine, but I've paged through the magazines in antique stores)

When Hawthorne's Housing Director Jeff Skrenes emailed me the picture, above, I couldn't help but think of the "Just One More" feature in the old Life Magazine. This image shows CPED Director Mike Christenson running to greet Hawthorne resident Valeria Golebiowski shortly before the groundbreaking ceremony.

(Do not click "Read More")

JNS VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Eco-Village Groundbreaking...Actually Breaking Ground!

Here is the 33-second clip of the actual Eco-Village groundbreaking which took place yesterday, click here for more info. For some reason the video wouldn't load up to YouTube yesterday, but today the problem appears to be licked.

Not that you'd want to be LICKING anything in the cold weather pictured here!

(Do not click "Read More")

Today We Only Stand At The Front Door Of The Future--More Images And Video Of The Hawthorne Eco-Village Groundbreaking...

Above, former Hawthorne Neighborhood Board Chair Peter Teachout talks about facing down crime in the Eco-Village.

Photo By Megan Goodmundson

A group photo of individuals who were very involved in the Eco-Village effort, including residents and public officials.

The green door pictured in the photo has a bit of a story behind it...



Originally, one city official had an idea to obtain a salvaged door at a local used building components business, but Hawthorne Housing Director Jeff Skrenes thought it would be more frugal and environmentalist to obtain a used door without cost which, really, wasn't good for anything but a prop, anyway. He got such a door from the "Hawthorne Princess," an incredible bargain of a house owned by Realtor Connie Nompelis, currently on vacation in swampy, oh-so-uncomfortable Honduras.

I might add there are PLENTY of such bargain houses in this rapidly-revitalizing model of a neighborhood.



After the symbolic groundbreaking--shoveling a path in the snow to the door--it was Council Member Diane Hofstede who personally laid out the welcome mat.




Meeting at Farview Park after the ground-breaking, where it was much warmer, 4th Precinct Commander Mike Martin talked about the incredible turnaround in the Eco-Village. According to Martin, members of gang units don't like to pull duty in this area, because it is TOO BORING. According to Martin, a lot of things went right to create the quick and startling 18-month success in the Eco-Village. He said even the bad guys did what they should have done: they packed and left.

Personally, I have to wonder if there weren't some private heart-to-heart talks with the bad guys, with stuff said like, "You DO NOT burn the truck of the neighborhood chair ON MY WATCH, (expletive)."

Whatever it was we collectively did, it worked, and hopefully we can figure out that magic formula and replicate it all over North Minneapolis and beyond.



Council Member Diane Hofstede gives credit to residents who were involved in the long, difficult struggle to turn the neighborhood around. Diane is always a classy dresser, but today she looked especially sharp.

I couldn't help but notice a minor factual error, made with the best of intentions: Diane mentioned my car "getting burned." Actually, it was Peter Teachout's truck that burned. As for me, I've had a total of ten tires slashed, one vehicle window busted, and one incident of my vehicle being stolen. (That theft also included a busted window) But my vehicle has never been torched. I would never bother to mention this except that I don't want to get credit in public for enduring something that did not, in fact, actually happen.

Due to how closely Jeff Skrenes, Peter Teachout and myself worked to turn the Eco-Village around, sometimes our different sets of facts would get mixed up in the minds of various pepole. For example, today I was asked how "all my kids" were doing. I only have one child, my son Alex, but Peter has FOUR children.



Community Development and Economic Planning (CPED) Housing Director Tom Streitz delivers remarks. One can't help but be reminded of that old saying, "Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan." Today, we didn't really need to worry about that saying.



Today, Eco-Village resident Pam Patrek--whose home might be described as a peaceful island surrounded by vacant lots--gave identical gift baskets to Jeff Skrenes and myself which included (naturally) some homemade Polish sausage.



Jeff Skrenes took some of his sausage and cut it up to share at the gathering. At Jeff's prompting, I told the story of how this sausage sustained us in our long, gritty efforts to turn around the Eco-Village, often eaten in celebration when yet another decrepit property would get demolished. The sausage itself might very well be the key to the "magic formula" which produced such overwhelming success in such a historically short period of time.

Eat, eat! we told those gathered. Eat the magic sausage. It's great cold!

Here, I'll show you--!




Jill Keiner--who is Hawthorne's point of contact with the City of Minneapolis--talks to Steve Brandt of the Star Tribune about the turnaround happening in North Minneapolis. I heard the name "T.J. Waconia" come up.

Photo By State Rep Linda Higgins

Me posing with Tom Streitz, who is a faithful reader of this blog. Thanks, Tom.

Today was a great day. However, the Eco-Village is not just an end in itself, but intended as a model and a seed which will kick start deeper and broader neighborhood revitalization.

Today we only stand at the front door of the future.

JNS BLOG VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Frozen Groundbreaking At The Hawthorne Eco-Village, BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

This afternoon, dignitaries and ordinary residents of the Hawthorne Neighborhood assisted with the groundbreaking in the Hawthorne Eco-Village, an area of four blocks which used to be one of the roughest spots in North Minneapolis. Since the ground was frozen and beneath several layers of snow, the "groundbreaking" was accomplished by erecting a symbolic green door and shoveling a path in the snow.

After the groundbreaking and the mercifully brief speeches at 400 31st Ave. N., everybody went to Farview Park where there were more speeches--longer, because we were now in a warm building. One consistent theme of the speeches: the Eco-Village area turned around from being a hellhole of crime and decrepit buildings to being a peaceful, virtually crime-free, rapidly revitalizing area IN A MERE 18 MONTHS.

Mike Christensen of CPED called this "the quickest turnaround of a neighborhood in Minneapolis history" and said the residents who stayed to fight for the Eco-Village (including Peter Teachout, former chair of Hawthorne) were "the most gutsy group of people I ever met."

(Do not click "Read More")

End Game In The "True JACC" Court Battle?

Stock photo, John Hoff, infamous January 14, 2009 JACC meeting

Since the beginning of the controversy in the Jordan Neighborhood over which group is the "true" leadership of the Jordan Area Community Council, (JACC) this blog has been the leading source of information on the battle between the "New Majority" and "Old Majority" factions. For many months, this controversy has been in court as the ousted "Old Majority" faction (led by Ben Myers and figurehead E.B. Brown) have tried to claim leadership of JACC and defeat the "New Majority" faction (led by Kip Browne and Ann McCandles)

(However, since there has been yet another JACC election in the meantime, we now have what might be called the "New New Majority," which is led by Vladamir Monroe, Chair, and Kip Browne, Vice Chair)

Now, it appears the never-ending "Old Majority" battle may, in fact, be coming to a close...

A source in the Jordan Neighborhood forwarded some documents--which are public documents, anyway, but how CONVENIENT to receive them by email!--which show what may be the final moves in this climactic battle as the issue of "summary judgment" is debated in briefs filed by plaintiff and defendant. Click here for the Johnny Northside PDF support site to view the documents, complete and unedited, unfiltered.

Do Not Adjust Your Screen--These Photos Taken In "Dollhouse Crazy-O-Vision"

Photo By John Hoff

This blog recently reported the details of the Mayor's and City Council's swearing-in, click here, including the very odd detail of Mr. Tore Simonsen, and his obsessed fixation with the television series "Dollhouse." (Click here for Simonson's blog)

Simonsen was passing out these handwritten "calling cards" at the inauguration.

One guest at the inauguration said Simsonsen gave her "the heebee jeebees."

To which I say: trust your instincts, girl.

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EcoVillage at the Hawthorne Huddle

Guest post by the Hawthorne Hawkman. Photos by Dyna Sluyter.

Today's the big day for the EcoVillage groundbreaking, and neither snow nor rain, nor heat nor gloom of night stays this neighborhood from the swift completion of its appointed development projects. Although some heat would be nice. Pictured above are the panelists from this morning's Hawthorne Huddle. Inspector Mike Martin is first, and he made the EcoVillage intensely personal for him and the officers of the 4th precinct. Below that, from left to right we have...

Jill Kiener of the Northside Home Fund, myself (Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Housing Director for any new readers), Steve Cramer of Project for Pride in Living, and a representative from EJAM (Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota).

EJAM has not partnered much with the EcoVillage just yet, but this group, with an office at the Urban League on Penn and Plymouth, is doing excellent work and we expect to join in our efforts very soon.

One theme that was brought up repeatedly was that the EcoVillage was from the very beginning a grassroots effort instead of a top-down imposition on our neighborhood. Also, Mike Martin and Mike Christenson of CPED and I talked to each other about how at the end of 2009 and early in 2010 the Strib and many media outlets are analyzing the drop in crime. And when conventional wisdom regarding economic indicators can't seem to explain why crime is down in an economic downturn, then it gets attributed to the mystical creature called "national trends."

Well this isn't some kind of "criminology butterfly effect." I've yet to be convinced that the drop in violent crimes in Hawthorne and throughout NoMi has any significant ties to less homicides in Los Angeles or fewer assaults in Boston. The results we've seen in the EcoVillage and surrounding areas are instead the fruits of labor that came from the community standing its ground and the police department and city government delivering on their promises to do so in solidarity with us. If anyone still wonders why violent crime is down, this is exhibit A.

Come join Hawthorne residents and partners at 2:30 today for a groundbreaking at 400 31st Ave N, with a reception to follow at Farview Park!

William Earl Champion Arrested, Charged With Domestic Violence...

Stock photo by Hillside Chronicles

This information has been circulating by text among North Minneapolis movers and shakers, and I want to make sure this blog gets the story out first. William Earl Champion, born February 13, 1962, is in the custody of Hennepin County. This fact has been confirmed by examining the on-line sheriff's roster, click here for a link.

Champion is charged with "Assault/Domestic," and held pending $75,000 bail. He is also charged with "Burglary 1st Degree Assault in person in build/on property" and "domestic assault by strangulation." He was arrested on January 2, 2010.

It is not confirmed whether William Earl Champion is the relative of any prominent state politician with the same surname.

(Do not click "Read More")

Local D'Lish In North Loop--Fighting The Good Food Fight!

Photo By John Hoff

A couple days ago, I went by Local D'Lish to buy some organic dishwashing liquid and some locally-raised eggs. Store owner Ann Yin always has some interesting information to share about the local and organic foods movement.

For example, Ann Yin collects egg cartons from customers to give to local farmers who sell their products at farmers markets. Of course, all the eggs sold in Ann's store use new cartons--the state requires that of stores--but Ann can still help out local farmers by collecting used egg cartons. Lately, though, the State of Minnesota has been...

Trying to get farmers at farmers markets to use NEW cartons. Which, really, I think is just SILLY and a WASTE OF THE EARTH'S RESOURCES and you should WRITE YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR. In the meantime, though, Ann is still able to take donations of gently-used egg cartons. She told me, however, that...

...people should buy their eggs from local farmers, not buy their eggs at a big chain store and then "donate their egg cartons to feel good." Ouch!

Ann provides space in her store for a book donation project which helps folks at assisted living facilities. The program is run by a woman named Robin White. Above, Robin's husband arrives to pick up donated books. 

Ann poses with a Christmas card she received from the Minneapolis Bike Cops For Kids, who have their own blog, click here. 

Farm eggs come in different hues, including rare blue-green and olive hues in addition to the more common brown and white. I'd heard of these other egg hues--even saw a picture in a book called Keeping Chickens by Jeremy Hobson and Celia Lewis--but I'd never seen a green egg before. (Well, except in the book Green Eggs and Ham!)



Ooooh, organic laundry soap! It's $16 a jug, but I am SO BUYING THIS STUFF after my washing machine gets hooked up, which won't be long now. (Did I mention I love my house in NoMi?)


Even in the worst part of Minnesota winter, Ann's store is like a little farmers market. Some other products I saw but didn't photograph include goat milk yogurt drink and bison snack sticks. (In fact, as I've mentioned before, Local D'Lish has the most extensive selection of bison meat products in the Twin Cities)

I find it impossible to walk into Ann's store without buying SOMETHING, and I am renowned for my ability to refrain from buying things. My son Alex--a notoriously picky eater--discovered he likes smoked salmon after having a little sample of the stuff at Ann's store, quite a culinary milestone, actually. (Since Alex has a father who eats (for example) bugs, I figure the universe just balances itself out with my son's picky eating habits)

In any case...

Support the local foods movement by supporting Local D'Lish.

Two Days Needed to Remove Basement Bedrooms at 2230 6th St N

Guest post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman

Hawthorne's "pink house," a once-notorious den of iniquity, has been demolished! The demolition of the structure itself went fairly quickly once the property was cleared of asbestos. However, the house once condemned against itself stood (sort of) for an extra day thanks to...

rebar throughout the basement. Apparently the basement was made deeper and reinforced. The end result of that particular rehab was to (wait for it) ADD MORE BEDROOMS, YAY!!!

The egress window yet to be removed above bears out that theory, as well as a conversation with the demo crew who concurred that's what it looked like to them too. So not only did we allow for more bedrooms to be crammed into a building that ultimately became a haven of crime, but it took more time and dollars to demolish and remove the structure. Area residents claimed that dishes in their cabinets were rattling as the demo crew took apart the basement.

Here's hoping we've learned our lessons and won't repeat the same housing mistakes of the past here in NoMi.