It is important to keep several things in mind here. There will always be a re-valuation of property and changes resulting from it. In the case of Peace House, there is a staff and client resistance to suggested options of relocation, many of which were in my mind, completely reasonable.

Peace House reminds me of a similar situation with another Sister Rose creation, the Free Store. When we built Many Rivers East on the very site of the Free Store, we offered the board the option of a brand new building on the same block. In addition, Joe Selvaggio, founder of Project for Pride in Living (PPL), pledged to find funds so they would own the facility free and clear. The board demurred these overtures and complained to the community that they weren’t being treated fairly. Now the Free Store is long gone because of decisions by their own board of directors. A pity indeed.

This lesson was clearly shown to Peace House advocates. Somehow some of them believe that this is a moral issue in which the weakest members of the community are being pushed around by the more powerful. The truth is that the neighborhood organization has gone on record several times saying it opposes eminent domain seizures of land, despite the fact that compensation for seized property is required by law. Peace House’s leaders have to start dealing realistically with the situation and that’s simply not happening right now. As far as its mission goes, I know of only a couple of residents who scoff at Peace House.

At the other end of East Franklin Avenue is Anishinabe Wakiagun, a permanent residence for chronic inebriates. That is the only one in a residential area of Minneapolis and speaks to the willingness of the neighborhood to embrace a responsibly-operated program serving the less fortunate. And this facility does not even demand sobriety. In the basement is a program called the Kola program that serves chemically-dependent street people with medical assistance (two doctors), showers, telephone, snacks, and personal item/clothing storage.

No neighborhood in Minnesota embraces a wider gamut of people than Ventura Village. We have three programs serving the needs of people with AIDS. There is far less gentrification here than in any neighborhood I know of. At last count, there were more than sixty non-profits serving less fortunate people within this and other neighborhoods. And yes, I work and live here in the neighborhood where Peace House is located and have attended many events there. I consider myself an eternal friend of Sister Rose. Miigwetch, Robert Albee