This post has already been read 419 times!
"When's the F.EM.A. meeting - Jackwagons!"
The City of Minneapolis DFL political plantation has not done due diligence for the poor minority-ethnic population of north Minneapolis after Sunday’s tornado. While the flagship Black non-profit, the Minneapolis Urban League has not busted a grape on the future of funding to assist the Black, poor and homeless residents over “Nortf,’ a change of guard is needed at the agency immediately. (Yeah, no word from the Northwest Area Foundation either). Minneapolis (city officials) plan to attract funds from FEMA – the city council and mayor are playing their hands strategically by continuing a state of emergency in north Minneapolis. This is nothing more than a move to get federal funding – but like the Empowerment Zone money, will the people of north Minneapolis see any improvement? Or will they be forced out of north Minneapolis in the name of a White DLF political plantation? Congressman Keith Ellison, Senators Amy Klobachar and Al Franken better not sign off on this one; compliance is not in place and hasn’t been for more than 20 years – Its broke and hasn’t been fixed. Don’t throw more money at it.
By Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief/IBNN NEWS and Black Politics in Minneapolis
"It's going to be a whole lot different this time mayor!"
North Minneapolis, MN (IBNN NEWS/Editorial/May 24, 2011)…Let’s face it. It couldn’t have happened any sweeter for the DFL political plantation hacks in city hall. Mother Nature unleashed a devastating tornado, ripping trees out of the ground, destroying homes while displacing hundreds of homeowners, businesses and renters.
On Tuesday the Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution that extends Mayor R.T. Rybak’s proclamation of a state of emergency. After a moment of silence for the two deaths and multiple injuries resulting from the storm and its cleanup, the council adopted the resolution 12-0. (Star Tribune)
The declaration extends the city curfew and other emergency powers.
A mayoral declaration expires in 72 hours unless the council acts.
This is where the fun begins.
The atmosphere of what’s going on in Minneapolis has happened before. Its true what they say, in some form history repeats itself.
On August 25, 2000, the Minneapolis City Council approved the first phase of financing for a $198 million north-side redevelopment project known as Hollman. On paper the unanimous vote–which came with a price tag of $13 million–suggests the council is enthusiastic about rehabilitating what was once the city’s largest public-housing complex. But those who attended the full council meeting, or caught it on cable access, would know that not everyone on the council was sure that the plans to build 900 units of mixed-income housing were either financially feasible or prudent. They would have seen the averted eyes, sideways glances, and stiff body language that accompanied many of the yes votes.
The redevelopment at issue is the result of the Hollman Decree, a 1995 court settlement named after Lucy Mae Hollman, a black woman who lived in the north-side projects. Plaintiffs in the 1992 housing discrimination lawsuit that resulted in the settlement charged that for decades the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Minneapolis concentrated minorities into the giant, dilapidated housing project just off Olson Memorial Highway. The Hollman Decree was intended to deconcentrate poverty by demolishing the 770 units of public housing and using $117 million in settlement money, paid by HUD, to build affordable replacements all over the metro area
Today, in 2011 the plans to build 900 units of mixed-income housing in a neighborhood that poor Black residents use to occupy changed dramatically. The former residents of the Olson Highway Projects couldn’t afford the $200-$400K price range for homes in the area. (City Pages – back when they were relevant)
After Sunday’s destruction, city officials said a partial inspection has located 10 structures so far that need to be razed, including homes, businesses and garages. Overall, they’ve reported just over 600 properties damaged badly enough that they’ll need contractors for repairs, according to Tom Deegan, who manages the city’s boarded building program.
Thirty five have been declared off-limits to occupancy until they’re repaired or razed. Updates of those numbers are expected later Tuesday. Deegan said there will be further analysis beginning Thursday with federal assistance. (Star Tribune)
One of the main issues that will further the disenfranchising and gentrification of Black residents on the north side is, most residents are renters.
Some landlords have told IBNN NEWS they will not rebuild. Property owners will get whatever money they can from the system and be done with it. This leaves long-term renters out in the cold – but makes it easy for city officials to make north Minneapolis a gentrified White urban utopia.
Like in the Holman Development, some residents of the projects did not get vouchers to move. The ones that did were relocated to Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Richfield and Anoka. The year 2000 represented the first step in the city’s relocation of Black residents in Minneapolis.
The City has estimated or says it needs over $150 million dollars in relief. This is odd because the amount of damage based on numbers that IBNN NEWS has (which are closer to reality), says only $40 million dollars worth of damage had been done. (Read: North Minneapolis Asset Report)
Citizens of Minneapolis, especially north Minneapolis must pay close attention to the DFL political plantation and the watered-down version of the truth reported by the city’s public relations arm, the Star Tribune newspaper.
The crisis for north Minneapolis’ displaced residents will only get worse has time moves forward.
One thing’s for sure, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak cannot be elected next time around, not even has a dog catcher.
[smartads]
