All posts in the topic Suggestions for addressing 2207 (Short link)
Summary
- There are 9 posts — by 7 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Kevin Kuschel at Oct 15 20:59 UTC
Kevin asks what do you do.
You keep fighting, is what you do. I have been there and done that, so Kevin
perhaps we should also getthe"T-shirt". How about, "You Can Rock My House, But
You Can't Rock My World".
I once had a half page Strib story, complete with picture, done about my
efforts in Phillips. I flew out of town that day for some work in Costa Rica.
The next day the paper with the story arrived in the morning, a silver bowl
with a thank you arrived from a Minneapolis resident from another neighborhood
late that afternoon, and a concrete block arrived through my picture window
later that evening (where my wife and child had been sitting moments before).
My wife was thrilled by the first two "arrivals" but rather a bit dismayed by
the last arrival. Also not TOO happy about my leaving her and kids while other
unexpected deliveries might "arrive".
A few years agoduring one SpringI had probably ten windows thatreceived rocks
and bricks through them. I considered laying in wait and shooting the culprit
as a half brick could be considered being attacked with a deadly weapon.
Luckily I decided not to give in to the frustration. What you do Kevin is to
just do what you are doing three times as much. That actually will get results.
Take each rock and a bag of the broken glass over to your Council Member, knock
on her door and ask how she would like this to happen to her house, then ask
her to think about it and write you her strategy for addressing the problem.
Take a few neighbors with you. It is surprising what such "personal" contact
can do. Or, take it to the "Public Safety Committee" meeting of the City
Council. Nothing like television (even cable access) to motivate a little
social action.
We really do need to take a group of community leaders down to the Minneapolis
City Council Public Safety Committee. If they cannot come up with a coherent
strategy to address problem properties perhaps we should "ADVISE" them. Of
course we "ADVISED" them for years about the value and need for NRP and they
went ahead and lobbied against it at the State and then seized the opportunity
to try to kill it. So I am not to sure they listen to "Advice". Perhaps they
need hearing aids? Perhaps if they come to the "Party" we can take up a
collection to start fund raising to buy each who might need one a good hearing
aid.
I am really looking forward to the next "Heart of the City" party on the 19th.
I am glad you mentioned it. I had miss-told a bunch of people it was the 26th
just this week. We better get to work. Mega and Nikki, what is the exact
address, and who is going to get the "Biffy"? I have already purchased the
ingredients for my "Salmon au Gem". (I have four large slabs of wild caught
fishies) The arugula and spinach for sauce I will get the day of the party. We
should make a few more invitations to public leaders.
My oneboy will not be able to help cook at this party. He left early yesterday
for that famous vacation spot, that little "Palm Beach", just a little outside
of a tourism place called Babylon. I hear the "Taxi" rides down their highways
can be absolutely "explosive" with itsexcitement. I just talked to him by cell
phone and he had landed a little while ago. Hopefully, God will keep him safe
until he gets home. It would be nice to have him back for one of the "Heart of
Minneapolis" parties next spring or summer. Of course, sadly, more North
Minneapolis youth have been shot this summer than Minneapolis young people who
have been shot over there. So I am sure some mothers around 26th and Penn know
the daily worry his mother will have until he returns.
I look forward to seeing all you folks at the "Party". Some of you I missed
"Meeting and Greeting" last time.
Jim Graham,
> "It is always an utter folly to underestimate the lure and attraction of a
great evil. The whitened bones of their victims litter the highways and byways
of mankinds history. Stopped only by the few willing to pay the ultimate price
and make a stand."
- Toe
Dear Kevin,
Jim G. wrote:
"... Or, take it to the "Public Safety Committee" meeting of the City Council.
Nothing like television (even cable access) to motivate a little social action.
..."
Public Safety and Regulatory Services meets next Wednesday (9/17)
at 1:00 pm. If you can get off work
(& that's always a big 'if'),
contact Chair Don Samuels and ask him, in his role as Chair, to allow you to
speak (chair perogative -even if there isn't any public comment allowed....HE
can make an exception..it's 'good to be THE CHAIR' ). Usually, representatives
from our under-staffed police dept are also present at this committee.
The agenda hasn't been published yet (probably not until sometime
Tuesday)....so still time to be considered.
Attending Truth Or Taxation meeting in late Nov/early Dec is such a waste of
time(lip sevice to law) so it's important to use every chance you can...it's
budget time, Baby.
And 2009 is city election year.
If this happens, would be great if ***Forum Posters*** would show up in support
(count me in, it's on acceptabletransit).
The Forum members began with the picnic...how about extending the action?
Chair Don Samuels: (612) 673-2205
<email obscured>
don.samuels (at) ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Your Council person (?) should also be contacted...especially if on the PSRS
committee.
best wishes,
cheryl luger
nokomis east
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder
to see them not ashamed.
--- Jonathan Swift
Doesn't a rock intentionally thrown through a dining room window qualify as
terroristic action? It seems to me that situations like this should qualify
for some of the over-flowing Federal anti-terrorism funds. Shouldn't our City
should be especially vigilant regarding crimes of retaliation against people
who are taking legal actions to reduce crime? It is often only through the
actions of these people (those who address crime reduction through legal
methods) that there is any positive, house by house, results. It seems in the
City's best interest to go after illegal acts of retaliation as a top priority.
Has there been any police/council member response regarding the rock being
thrown through your house? Any leads on who did it?
No, a rock thrown through a dining room window is an act of vandalism. There
is a
decided difference between a random act of violence done without a motivating
set
of principles with a defined political orientation and such random acts.
Failure to
distinguish between the two leaves the door open for a blanket response by any
State that views the slightest act of disorder as contrary to its interests.
This is
a dangerous failure to define appropriate levels of response.
In 1981-1983 I lived in Spain, in Valencia, to be precise. In the Fall of 1981
the
remnants of the Falange and other supporters for Generalissimo Francisco Franco
took over the Spanish Parliament under Colonel Tejero. If you were to ask the
folks
in Spain at that time what sort of things served as the calling cards for
fascistic
rule in Spain they would surely look at how our local governmental structures
responded during the RNC and go "there ya go".
Terrorism (def) "The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a
person or
an organized group against people or property with the intention of
intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for
ideological or political reasons."
Fascism (def).
often
Fascism
A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a
dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the
opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of
belligerent nationalism and racism. A political philosophy or movement based on
or advocating such a system of government.
Oppressive, dictatorial control.
See any possibilities here?
Guy Gambill
From: Sara Bergen Date: 21:27 UTC Short link
Has there been any police/council member response regarding the rock being
thrown through your house? Any leads on who did it?
The police who have responded to each incident have been great, but in reality
without seeing it happen there's very little they can do. Actually, I was very
surprised at how quickly a squad came to my house each time. Most of them were
very familiar with 2207, but didn't have much to say when I asked what else
could the City do or could the Nuisance Law be used on this property? Oh, I
forgot the one comment about blowing up the place. I'll be talking to my
CCP/Safe person this week and will once again communicate the urgency of the
letter from Hawthorne to the council member's office. I don't think any
message from me would get anywhere since she's never responded to any other
message I've sent about neighborhood problems. Do I sound bitter? I hope so,
'cause I am.
As far as who did it, it could be any number of gang bangers hanging around
2207.
Oh yes, had another window broken since the last one.
On Sep 14, 2008, at 6:18 PM, Kevin Kuschel wrote:
> I'll be talking to my CCP/Safe person this week and will once
> again communicate the urgency of the letter from Hawthorne to the
> council member's office. I don't think any message from me would
> get anywhere since she's never responded to any other message I've
> sent about neighborhood problems. Do I sound bitter? I hope so,
> 'cause I am.
If Council Member Diana Hofstede doesn't respond by then, she has a
fundraiser scheduled for September 24th from 5 to 8 p.m. at LaRive,
110 Bank Street S.E.. The "suggested donation" is $100, but again
that's just a suggestion.
> Oh yes, had another window broken since the last one.
I've got a few leftover hunks of plywood laying around if you can
use them, and some leftover six foot tall fencing.
from the war zone otherwise known as Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
I feel a need to you keep you folks updated on this issue since it's been
awhile since I've posted and it is still a long ways from being resolved.
It took almost a month for my neighborhood organization to send the letter to
Hofstede, but it finally got sent. A month later, no response from her office
that I'm aware of. I was assured by Hawthorne staff that a follow-up would be
done. To my knowledge, they didn't do it. To be honest, I really don't think
Hawthorne wants to appear too demanding. In a conversation with a staffer,
they're afraid of endangering the relationship they have with her and of any
future support she could give for Hawthorne's activities and projects. Does
this surprise me? No it doesn't. It ticks me off, but it doesn't surprise. me.
A few weeks ago, we had another drive-by shooting at 2207 and the drug and gang
activity around here has been at an all-time high. That did it for me. I fired
off a letter to Hofstede reminding her of the letter from Hawthorne and the
need for a plan of action and a meeting with us soon. I had a whole bunch of
other people send similar messages. Got a response within a couple of hours
that they would discuss the problem address at their CARE staff meeting that
week and get back to us within a few days. No other response from her office
to date.
Last night, I got another broken window and saw the little a-holes throwing
rocks at my neighbor's house too. Fired off another letter to Hofstede this
morning (with copies to all my neighbors with email) asking "What's up? What's
the plan? When do we meet?" Haven't heard back yet.
I'm sure we're going to be given the line that everything possible is being
done and no specifics. I just pray to God that no one around here buys that.
I'm not. How far to push is the next question.
Kevin Kuschel
Hawthorne
At 5:06 AM +1300 10/16/08, Kevin Kuschel wrote:
>I feel a need to you keep you folks updated on this issue since it's
>been awhile since I've posted and it is still a long ways from being
>resolved.
>
It looks as though CM Hofstede does not consider a neighborhood
association letter, or emails and letter from you, to be a suficient
incentive to get something going on this. I would use that old
standby--the telephone--to call her office and ask to set up a
meeting with you and a couple of neighbors, and the Chief of Police
or the Deputy Chief of Police. At City Hall, one of the many little
meeting offices they have.
Maybe the neighborhood group would like to be invited to this
meeting, maybe not. But you and one or two others should definitely
follow up and demand a meeting with the persons who can do something
about your situation.
Connie
Como, in Southeast Minneapolis
--
Connie
I agree with you the personal phone call is the best way to go in any situation
and that will happen with Hofstede soon. Right now I want the documentation
emails provide of what was said and by whom. I'm saving everything including
the ones that have never been answered. It's also the most efficient way of
communicating with a whole bunch of people at once as I'm now doing.
Today, I've already heard from 2 people who have tried dealing with her office
staff directly by phone and have been treated very rudely. I trust what
they've told me is true.
Kevin Kuschel
Hawthorne