Highly Miniaturized Dragon Dance To Celebrate Chinese New Year On The Jordan Pond...

Video by Megan Goodmundson, blog post by John Hoff

It was yet another night of festivity punctuated by plotting and planning neighborhood revitalization, as friends and neighbors gathered for Chinese New Year on the Jordan Pond. Any excuse for a party among the Jordanites.

The party was reported in my previous post, but here is exclusive footage of the "highly miniaturized dragon dance." It's just not Chinese New Year without a dragon dance, even if it's a "nominal dragon."

Chinese New Year On The Jordan Pond!

Sesame balls, mmmmm.
Many small children were at the party in traditional Chinese costumes. Some or all of the costumes were past gifts from the Yin family.
Photos by John Hoff and Megan Goodmundson,

blog post by John Hoff

As has been the custom for a number of years in the Jordan Neighborhood, friends and neighbors enjoyed Chinese New Year with the family of Ann and Yulin Yin. The event was catered by Keefer Court, a Chinese bakery/restaurant on the West Bank near U of M, and included delicious...

...sea bass, sesame balls, green beans, fried rice and noodles. An alcoholic concoction called a "Lucky Rabbit" made the rounds, which included fresh mandarin oranges and ginger which went through a juicer, along with Prairie Vodka, an organic and locally produced liquor. There was also a ginger-infused vodka which was the best vodka I've ever had, ever ever ever.

Ann Yin mentioned how Governor Dayton had dropped by her Local D'Lish store in North Loop, which features organic and local food. His Governorship left Ann a note asking her to "keep an eye on my sons." The two sons of Governor Dayton are opening a restaurant next door in the near future.

The highlight of the party (I think it was the highlight, but the party is still going as of this moment) was an incredibly scaled down version of a Chinese "dragon dance." Johnny Northside Dot Com hopes to have exclusive video posted soon.

It's Hennepin County Jail Roster-O-Rama Time On Johnny Northside Dot Com...

Stock photo, blog post by John Hoff

My post last month about the Hennepin County Jail Roster--how the portion of the website with the suspect home addresses apparently does not get picked up in search engines, and you have to know your way around the jail roster to make the addresses pop up--got an unexpected amount of reader traffic even though it was the literary equivalent of writing a phone book.

But, surprisingly, that initial "jail roster post" has been the most popular post on my blog, surpassing even the "Chicken Wing Flavors" post which gets more traffic than anything else in a fairly mysterious manner, coming up number one on Google in THE ENTIRE WORLD when somebody searches "chicken wing flavors." Go figure. But I digress. Probably because the thought of spicy, saucy, delicious and amazingly multi-flavored chicken wings is so...

OK, never mind. Back to the jail roster.

At least one mainstream journalist doing a story about a suspect named Jamal Gray contacted me by email in regard to that post, and I replicated the email and posted it in the comments section. The comments section also contains a valuable discussion about falsehoods and inconsistencies which are somehow in the roster...

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Former Real Estate Agent Known As "T" Breaking Into Vacant Houses, Renting Them Out!

Stock photo and blog post by John Hoff

Information is going around in real estate circles by email, and some of this information made its way to Johnny Northside Dot Com minutes ago from a dependable and reliable source. Reportedly, there is a former real estate agent known by the street name "T" who is breaking into vacant houses in North Minneapolis and fraudulently renting them out...

The mysterious Mr. T. reportedly cuts off the lock boxes on the exterior of houses that are for sale, gets into the lock box somewhere away from the house and removes the key. Now, possessing the key to the house, he disables the alarm system and quickly rents the house to some unsuspecting dupe who will be very much out of luck when the true owner learns of the circumstances and notifies police.

"T" reportedly drives a beat up red Monte Carlo. He lost his real estate license "a long time ago" but still possesses skills and insights into the real estate profession which allows him to pull off this scam.

It's no great stretch of the imagination to think this scam might work particularly well at the beginning of a three day weekend, and we have one of those coming up in February.

NoMi neighbors, don't assume just because you see somebody cheerfully moving into a house it's legitimate. Be a nosy neighbor and look out for the security of your area.

Vacant House On The Odd Side Of 2000 Queen Ave. N. Destroyed--Two Men Witnessed Running From The Scene

Videos and blog post by John Hoff

A vacant house at 2031 Queen Ave. N. in Minneapolis was destroyed by fire on February 2, 2011, at about 10 PM. This address is not 100 percent confirmed due to confusion on the scene about the precise location. Clearly, the actual numbers on the house were burned the hell up, but the last odd side house on that block seems to be 2031 Queen Ave. N. based on Minneapolis property records, which also contain information about the house being vacant.

Two males were seen running from the house and getting into a late model truck, according to a high ranking police source. Neighbors on the scene said squatters had periodically occupied the house. An equally vacant house in close proximity--believed to be 2027 Queen Ave. N.--was saved only by the quick and skillful work of Minneapolis firefighters.

Johnny Northside blog received word of the house fire through a Facebook posting by a Northside revitalizer and rushed to Queen Ave. N. with a video camera. The house was more flame than house by the time...

...I arrived, just in time to see the total collapse of the structure. Sparky debri flew up with a massive column of smoke and steam, then drifted down to earth in little fireballs. At least one piece was bigger than the hand of an adult, and landed half a block from the fire.

Johnny Northside Blog and Friends Featured in The Line Publication

Photo and blog post by NoMi Passenger

The above photo of Johnny Northside was not taken this morning after reading this feature article in The Line. No, this above photo was taken this past summer, after Johnny collected $50 off a winning political wager, plus an extra $10 for delayed payment and, well, because the losing bet was such a loser it just made sense to kick in some extra bucks to regain any shred of credibility after making such a god awful bet...


But the reaction captured above is pretty much the reaction many of us bloggers and blog readers are having this morning after seeing local journalist Anna Pratt's coverage of some of the northside blogs and the impact they are having on the revitalization efforts and conversational climate of the northside. (Notice I say *some*, there are several more northside blogs doing their own thing towards their cause that aren't mentioned in Anna's article)

The daily life of northside activists can be hectic and stressful and involves absorbing a more than fair share of blows. Learning of delays to neighborhood or city projects, finding out a notorious slumlord now owns the house a few doors down, taking in the blight of boarded and dilapidated buildings, swerving suddenly in a frustrated panic because a punk in all dark clothing is walking in the middle of the street at night and you almost clipped his hip with the bumper of your car. Political enemies filing another frivolous lawsuit in attempts to discourage and distract and dissolve your focus and efforts. Etc. Etc. Etc.

So when a little pat on the back encouragement comes our way, a little sign from the universe that all the hours spent doing and doing and doing AND THEN blogging about the doing just might in fact be creating change, well, it's a moment to share and savor.

Good job, NoMi Homies.

Policy Issues Behind The Curtains Of Despair...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Some days ago, I wrote a blog post about "the curtains of despair" at one of Bashir Moghul's properties, 2131 Lyndale Ave. N., an enormous stucco house which holds so much potential but, well, not as long as it's owned by Moghul or any of his slummy kin. On the bright side, it's for sale. Hint hint.

So after a bit of a discussion in the comment threads about whether there's actually a rule to prohibit make-do "curtains of despair" at Minneapolis rental properties, I called up 311 (from the parking lot of Costco, actually, trying to pack in some 311 action while out and about, multi-tasking) and the operator basically said what I thought he'd say, even though I did my honest level best to lodge the complaint and make it stick.

I was told...

...the "window treatments" referenced by the rule in question is a matter of style and taste and whatever gets used is fine, as long as SOMETHING gets used. So I guess this means towels, sheets, newspaper, Venetian blinds that look as though they've been chewed by a pit bull...oh, geez, what do I mean look as though...or whatever.

I couldn't even get a 311 reference number.

This issue is analogous to the "Keith Reitman rule" which was proposed because of slumlords using stuff like Sharpie marker to write addresses on buildings. I'm sure other cities have a rule about curtains needing to be made from, gee, curtains and not towels stolen from Days Inn.

Not that I'm judging, mind you. Lord knows my surname starts with the same letter as "Hilton" and anything people can do to make sure Paris Hilton has less money to party with is pretty much a public service.

In any case, Minneapolis needs a rule like that. And, unfortunately, according to the 311 operator I talked to, we don't have a rule like that.

Maybe a different operator on a different day might give a different answer. But I doubt it.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

Home Address And Criminal Record of Decarieon Scurlock, Accused of Attempting To Rape A DFL Activist...

Mug shot, therefore in the public domain, blog post by John Hoff

Once again filling in the cracks left in news stories by the major media, it falls on Johnny Northside Dot Com to publish the rather extensive criminal record of Decarieon Scurlock, accused of an attempted rape on a DFL activist following a meeting at Farview Park in the Hawthorne Neighborhood, click here for Star Tribune story.

First, a pressing question on the minds of more than a few: how does one say this guy's first name? I'm going to go with "dee carry on" and hope it's right.

And now for this man's rather notable criminal baggage...



27-JV-07-12826
SCURLOCK, DECARIEON DUPRE
06/18/1989
01/31/2007
- Hennepin Juvenile
Delinquency Felony (Age 16 and Older)
Closed
Assault-4th Deg-Correctional Employees; Probation Officer-Demonstrable Bodily Harm

27-CR-07-116035
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
10/04/2007
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Ridgedale
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Closed
Escape From Custody-Held Pursuant to Lawful Arrest, While on Charge or Conviction or

27-JV-07-14949
SCURLOCK, DECARIEON DUPRE
06/18/1989
11/06/2007
- Hennepin Juvenile
Delinquency Felony (Age 16 and Older)
Closed
Terroristic Threats-Reckless Disregard Risk

27-CR-09-5656
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
02/03/2009
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Obstruct Legal Process or Arrest
Motor Vehicle Tampering-Enter

62-CR-09-2995
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
02/12/2009
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Warner, Teresa R.
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Open
Burglary-2nd Degree-Dwelling

02-CR-10-47
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
01/04/2010
Anoka
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Domestic Assault-GM-Subsequent Violation
Domestic Assault-GM-Subsequent Violation
Assault-4th Deg-Peace Officer-Physically Assaults-G

62-CR-10-628
909144071
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
01/29/2010
Ramsey Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Damage to Property-4th Deg-Intentional Damage-Other Circumstances

27-CR-10-33913
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
07/26/2010
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
ASSAULT-5TH DEGREE-MISDEMEANOR

27-CR-10-35613
109200635
109200635
Scurlock, Decarieon Dupra
06/18/1989
08/04/2010
Hennepin Criminal/Traffic/Petty Downtown
Crim/Traf Mandatory
Under Court Jurisdiction
Loiter with intent to solicit any act prohibited by law
Trespassing

The Hennepin County Jail Roster--a recent source of fascination for this blog, click here--lists 2210 N. 4th Street as Scurlock's home address. The property is owned by Mohammed Moghul, one of the names which seems to come up in association with the Bashir Moghul empire of slum and is believed to be directly linked to Bashir Moghul.

Minor Fire At 2811 Newton Ave. N., One Of Slumlord Steven Meldahl's "Nicer Properties"

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

A week or two ago, there was a minor fire at 2811 Newton Ave. N. However, there didn't seem to be any injuries, including no injuries to the miserable pit pull which manages to survive, somehow, on the cold front porch. I was in the area so I snapped a picture, but it was freezing and, well, I didn't stick around to get a clearer images. Since it wasn't a major fire, I wasn't even sure it was worth writing about.

Then, tonight, it came to my attention that the property is owned by...oh my word...


...Slumlord Steven Meldahl, who is the human chew toy of the Irving Inquisition blog, click here for an example.


The house at 2811 is actually one of the "nicer" Meldahl properties, though that isn't saying a whole lot. The blinds in the upstairs are all garbled up, and the snow removal is obviously a low priority compared to, well, the joys of pit bull ownership.

Does Meldahl even KNOW there was a fire at this property? Well, if he didn't before...

I'm sure he does now.

A "Private Leak" At 2723 Knox Ave. N., Water Spews Into The Gutter...

Above, that's not ice but fresh running water.
The doughnut shaped "main valve" is visible on the boulevard beneath fresh water spewing out from the valve.
Photos and blog post by John Hoff

The house at 2723 Knox Ave. N. is a pristine example of why North Minneapolis citizens need the network of "revitalizer blogs" which has sprung up over the last couple years: long after the big media have entertained and titillated the rest of the city with a dramatic cautionary tale of a child playing with matches (click here for example news coverage) neighbors on the Jordan Pond are still dealing with this burned out house in their midst and need information updates.

Well, there's a new problem coming from the damaged structure. The water main on the boulevard is...

...wide open and spewing fresh, clean, highly drinkable Minneapolis water into the gutter. And, worse yet, the water company isn't going to lift a finger to stop the leak. Upon calling 311 about this issue, I was informed that...

1. 311 has already been called.

2. This is a "private leak." The water company will not do anything to stop the leak. Instead the owners of the property need to get a contractor to stop the leak. This process may take, oh, a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, the water we all pay for is spewing into the gutter.

Attempts to contact city officials have not worked. Their hands appear tied by the policy. If city water can just spew into the street and the city can't do anything about it, then something is wrong, particularly when the leak appears to be at the main valve which is located ON THE BOULEVARD, not private property. (Owners are responsible for maintaining their boulevards but do not, in the strictest sense, own them. Readers, feel free to discuss the boulevard ownership and maintenance issue if you have something to add)

What can be said or added? If this is the policy, then the policy is messed up and the policy needs to change.

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: New Bus Stop Art Near Five Points Building On West Broadway...

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

While documenting a completely different story...or maybe it was really two separate stories which got all entangled, click here, I noticed the much-anticipated bus station art had arrived at the intersection of Penn Ave. N. and West Broadway, in front of the Five Points building.

It's amazing how lifelike these flowers appear, though they're made out of solid metal and big enough to be sniffed by dinosaurs. My second photo--a blurry shot snapped from a moving vehicle--shows how, if you sort of squint your eyes, it is possible to make the flowers appear to scale.

Though we have challenges to overcome in North Minneapolis, something like this reminds us we are constantly moving forward and the neighborhood is improving.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

JNS BLOG VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Auto Accident At Penn Ave. N. And West Broadway, Three Alleged Crackheads Arrested In Unrelated Incident...

Videos, photos, blog post by John Hoff

What a night it was at Penn Ave. N. and West Broadway! I received a phone call about 5 PM from a new friend. He'd just visited Megan Goodmundson and myself at Megan's house. We sipped some wine, talked about photography, mostly, and then he was headed to some art thing. A few minutes after leaving he called me. There had been a spectacular vehicle accident at West Broadway and Penn Ave. N.

My friend was the first witness at the scene, calling police moments after the impact. He saw a white truck speeding along Penn Ave. N., laying on the horn from "several house lengths" away from the intersection of Penn and West Broadway, as though to say...


"Get the (expletive) out of my way. I'm not stopping for the red light!"

But the white truck did not clear the intersection. It smashed into a white Jeep Cherokee, license plate 501 BKX.

When I reached the scene, neither driver was present. I saw an ambulance leaving, apparently not empty. My friend could not confirm whether the driver of the white truck had bailed and fled on foot. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the license plate of the white truck which caused the accident.

A flatbed wrecker on the scene hauled away the Jeep. I personally picked up the detached front bumper and placed it on the flatbed, so the bumper and license plate wouldn't be lost to the driver, who wasn't there to watch out for their own property.


The tow truck driver thanked me. And that's when I saw the three crackheads being arrested.

At first, naturally, I thought the arrests were part of the accident. However, officers on the scene stated the arrests--which happened right in the middle of the accident scene--were not related.

There were three arrestees, all total, though one of them quickly went in a police vehicle. He is visible at the very beginning of the first video. He is a tall, slim character and Megan states he is, almost certainly, the same person known as "Push Up Man" to a few residents in the area of the Jordan Pond, because he was often seen doing push-ups, grunting dramatically out in the middle of the street between bouts of jogging, trying to maintain his super ripped post-prison physique. Megan witnessed officers on the scene search the mouth of "Push Up Man" and the ground around him.

The other two individuals get a lot of face time in the videos. At one point you can see an officer pull out what he announces to be a vial of suspected crack. At another point, the male being arrested (the shorter one, not "Push Up Man") protests at my videotaping his arrest, saying it's embarrassing, and a police officer agrees it may be embarrassing but I have a right to stand on a public sidewalk and take pictures. You can hear me say, "God bless the Fourth Precinct." Twice.

We left the scene before the arrests were resolved, figuring police might release the (alleged) crackheads, and we didn't want to interact with them if police weren't present.

As we were leaving, we saw something wonderful which I will share with readers in my next post: public art has been installed at the new bus stop in front of the Five Points Building. As gritty as tonight was, progress was apparent at West Broadway and Penn Ave. N., and the police were doing a great job catching the (alleged) bad guys.

The "Curtains Of Despair" At 2131 Lyndale Ave. N., Bashir Moghul's Slummy Rental...

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

I am endlessly fascinated by 2131 Lyndale Ave. N., Bashir Moghul's slummy rental which is just a hop, skip and drunken jump from Merwin's Liquor. The other night I was driving by and, oh my word, the curtains. Are those blankets? Bed sheets? I wouldn't be surprised if some of those "curtains" were towels.

Whatever the original purpose of the material, it is now being used for curtains. The Curtains of Despair! (Click here for a sad song I am digging lately)


Fortunately, this house is for sale so there is hope...hope that somebody better than Bashir Moghul might buy it. Hope that whoever buys it will be an owner, not another predatory slumlord who we will need to watch, endlessly, and energetically blog about. Yes, beyond the Curtains of Despair there is hope.

You know, it wouldn't be so hard for somebody like Bashir to make renters sign leases saying stuff like, "Windows must have curtains. Blankets, towels, sheets and other 'make do' materials are not acceptable; the curtains must be actual curtains." Yes, Bashir COULD do that, but he doesn't. Why doesn't he do it? Well, because he's a scummy slumlord and he only cares about the monthly rent checks, not the impact he has on the neighborhood.

Every day we watch Bashir Moghul's properties, and every day we stew and seethe. Nice work, Bashir. (Sarcasm font) The house at 2131 Lyndale Ave. N. looks like hell, and you obviously don't give a damn.

(Do Not Click "Read More")