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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Hennepin County's HUB Project
2:16 AM | 
Posted by
The I.I. |
This blog thread posted by the Irving Inquisition uses some explicit language, as well as depicting some aspects of life in North Minneapolis that some readers may find objectionable. Reader discretion is advised.
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1st Up: The HUB
Let’s pick up where we last left off on the subject of the HUB. This proposed project is intended to break ground on the north end of Broadway between Girard and Irving next March.
This blogger was the lone attendee from the Jordan neighborhood at the NRCC meeting on the 12th where the plans for this project were finally unveiled to the affected neighborhoods. You may be wondering to yourself, why does this matter? It matters because the county wants to distribute its currently efficient and centralized operation into satellite offices. These satellite offices would be scattered around the county, three in Minneapolis, and the remaining three somewhere in the burbs. When I asked Hennepin County Area Director, Rex Holzemer, how this would save money, he replied with a statement about how this would increase service levels. This of course if code for added expense and added operational costs.
But let’s cut straight to the chase shall we? The HUB has quickly been labeled as a pocket of poverty. Why? The sole purpose of this facility is to provide financially related social services. In the NRCC meeting, Holzemer stated that 80% of all North Minneapolis residents utilize county services. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard that. Did I understand Rex correctly? Am I some stupid, naïve, starry eyed idiot, living in a fantasy land? Is virtually everyone surrounding me in North Minneapolis suckling off the government teat except me? No, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure that is statistically impossible. In fact there’s no way that’s possible. Even in a neighborhood like Jordan, owner occupancy is no less than 35%. That means that if absolutely everyone renting was in dire financial straits, and they required financial assistance, a maximum of 65% of all people living here would be on assistance. I draw this conclusion because the logic of home owners being on public financial assistance is quite frankly a non sequitur. When confronted with the home owner statistic, Mr. Holzemer replied that county services went beyond financial. They included child and mental care as well. Now I’m really confused. The HUB is supposed to be strictly for financial services—at least that’s what was said at the NRRC meeting—yet 80% of North Minneapolitans are going to be paying a visit there? Once you shower off the bullshit being lathered on oh so thick, it’s fairly clear that the rationalization to move ahead with this project will be whatever sounds the most emphatic.
So what about the building? What is it supposed to look like? Here it is! This glorious structure is going to be 30,000 square feet, two stories, and crammed into the southwest section of the lot. Everything else will be parking. Imagine three quarters of a city block in a residential area consumed by black top parking. It’s so lovely it makes me vomit in my mouth a little.
HUB
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Jerk Du Jour: Al “Mayor of Crazy Town” Flowers
The NRRC meeting was civil for the most part. When I say “most part”, I’m referring to everything that transpired that didn’t involve this guy speaking. Once Stupid opened his mouth, the collective intelligence of the room dropped precipitously.
This blogger had the indignant dishonor of sitting next to this douche. At first I didn’t realize I was sitting next to one of the biggest turd blossoms in all of Minneapolis. Therefore I made the mistake of shaking his hand. An hour later I realized who’s fecally laced prehensile paw my hand had made contact with; I quickly ran to the bathroom and washed my hands!
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| Al "Mayor of Crazy Town" Flowers... a.k.a. Stupid (image by JNS blog) |
At the end of the NRRC meeting, I introduced myself and stated my case as opposition to this project. Flowers quickly blurted out that I was a writer for a racist blog. To date, nobody that’s actually called me a racist has actually pointed out anything concrete to substantiate that claim. Flowers didn’t hesitate to identify himself as a member of the NAACP after calling me a racist. Then he went on to threaten me by stating that I had better watch myself. Again, this is nothing new. Outsiders have been threatening local north side activists for years. The sociological irony is irresistable. But just in case there is any confusion, I think I’ll ask NAACP CEO, Benjamin Todd Jealous how he feels about Al Flowers and his verbal attacks on people trying to conduct business in their communities. Somehow I think Jealous would be inclined to distance himself from Flowers, especially considering that NAACP’s M.O. doesn’t generally include heckling the locals. Did I mention that Al Flowers is a south sider?
There’s no point in even linking Al Flowers to other blogs. A simple Google search will yield endless references to Flowers endless and shameless abuse of the legal system, as well as bad taste in apparel.
On a sad note, I must say that I was disappointed with my first and hopefully last confrontation with Al Flowers. Like so many things in North Minneapolis, mediocrity has become the accepted staple to reign supreme. Incidentally this includes building concepts, non-profit initiatives, and government projects. Unfortunately, this mediocrity has spilled over to people as well. Even blog trolls and villains like Al Flowers are mediocre. I was hoping to be wowed and impressed by the vaunted “Mayor of Crazy Town”, yet sadly his inaudible and broken English reveals a man that probably didn’t make it through high school. A pity, I was hoping for a worthy advisary.
Al “Mayor of Crazy Town” Flowers… Today’s Jerk Du Jour!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Government, Developers, and Non-Profits Attempt to Make a Power Play on West Broadway
This blog thread posted by the Irving Inquisition uses some explicit language, as well as depicting some aspects of life in North Minneapolis that some readers may find objectionable. Reader discretion is advised.
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Government, Developers, and Non-Profits Attempt to Make a Power Play on West Broadway
Take a look at this lovely document. What is it? This is the proposal by CPED to redevelop swaths of West Broadway.
At first glance this may sound nice but the reality is that it’s not. Ackerberg, Catalyst, CPED, and Hennepin County all got in bed together to build a 30,000 square foot monstrosity, with two levels, and a massive parking facility. They want to build this structure between Girard and Irving, on the north end of West Broadway.
What do they want to do with this structure? Stuff it with 200 Hennepin County employees, with the purpose of providing social services. Social services like public assistance, child services, mental health, and so on… That means that the intersection of Broadway and Irving will be swarming with the unfortunate dregs of society.
Why build here? Well, the official line from Joan Mathieu at CPED is “The Hennepin County Hub will provide adult and child social services to clients throughout north Minneapolis with much more convenient access than is currently available in the County’s downtown service center. Some space will also be available for affiliated nonprofits to enhance customer service.” In reality that means that Ackerberg Group builds the structure and makes a ton of money in the process. Catalyst—West Broadway’s non-profit empire—affiliated with the Ackerberg Group, will then own and lease out the property back to the county.
Oh yes, there’s more… Review page 9 of the document above. See that part about acquiring 11 parcels of land? There are multitudes of century old homes and apartment buildings there. These would have to be demolished to satisfy the requirements of the proposed facility. Demolishing dilapidated properties beyond repair is one thing. Demolishing inhabited structures that are serving their purposes is unacceptable.
So everybody makes money, meanwhile the Jordan and Old Highland neighborhoods turn into a cesspool vortex of biped vermin. Because this blogger resides a mere two blocks away from this ground zero of social services hell, I have decided to do everything I can to stop this initiative from becoming reality. The plan is to build momentum, based on public outcry, and then shoot this thing down. While the services proposed are necessary, they already exist, and they’re downtown where they belong.
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