Ascension Church plans for demolition of 1707 Bryant Ave North

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It came to my attention this week through the Old North Minneapolis Facebook page that Ascension church wants to demolish a property they own at 1707 Bryant Avenue North.  As one can see from the photos, this house is in wonderful shape.  Even if some work is needed, I have little doubt that the place could be successfully rehabbed.  So the unanswered question is why this house should be torn down at all? Continue Reading

Looking a GIFT Cow in the mouth

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I can’t say I entirely blame Kemps for taking down the GIFT facade improvement. After all, they want to tear down two buildings on West Broadway and it doesn’t help their position if people are actually excited about potential. Oh no, it’s much easier to keep the buildings looking like blight so people are more inclined to favor demolition. But it does show their true colors, in that they are willing to make a prominent section of West Broadway look worse in order to further their agenda. Continue Reading

Minneapolis council member Blong Yang, on 100 days in office: “Don’t lose faith in government”

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Fifth Ward Council Member Blong Yang told NorthNews the most surprising aspect of his new job is how much hard work it is. He said there are lots of meetings with developers and business people, though he is, at 100 days in office, getting a chance to tackle the agendas on which he ran, and hoping to hear more from resident constituents.

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COMMUNITY VOICES | Memories of the Northside

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I have had a strong urging to write about my experiences growing up on the Northside of Minneapolis, especially after seeing the decline and almost demise of the neighborhood. I thought I would share it with you.When I was seven years old, my family moved onto Russell Ave North from South Minneapolis (The house is pictured above).It was considered a step up…We were purchasing our first house and my parents put me in a private schoolI was to attend Ascension Catholic School, so yes we were the affluent Black folks who lived in North Minneapolis.We were NOT the only homeowners in the neighborhood, in fact, Mrs. Rhines one of my favorite African-American teachers owned a home a few blocks away.There was a new development called Lyn Park, brand new houses and Black folks buying them, hmmm how much do we see that today?My neighborhood was clean, like what you would see in a suburbI was proud to live on the NorthsideI could walk home from Plymouth Ave North after skating at the Roller Gardens with my friends and feel safe even with the Gang Graffiti spray painted on the buildings near Plymouth and Penn.Plymouth Avenue North was the place to hang out safely, hundreds of youth, probably even thousands hung out there into the wee hours without the disturbance of the police, we played our music without the threat of being shot, it was our block.Picture one of the movies from back in the day that showed teens bumpin’ their music, sitting on top the cars, laughing, eating and just having a good time. Even Caucasian movies showed this type of atmosphere. This is what we had.We did everything in our own neighborhood. Those that lived in our capital city of Saint Paul would travel to the Northside just to socialize with us. I am going to just mention a few names and those that grew up on the Northside will feel similar nostalgia. Continue Reading

Minneapolis Hmong Outreach Police officer Kou Vang Meets with Northside Hmong Families

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 On January 9, 25 North Minneapolis Hmong family members met with Minneapolis Hmong outreach police officer Kou Vang.  They met at University of Minnesota UROC on Plymouth Ave. N. The meeting focused on reducing crime and making their neighborhoods safer.Councilmember Blong Yang and Minneapolis Outreach Police Officer Kou VangThe Hmong families also got a surprise visit from newly elected councilmember Blong Yang.Much of the conversation focused on two problems:  bike stealing, and staying out of  fights at school.The Hmong students said that at school they can be the targets of hitting and bullying and racist comments by other students.  And they said the zero-tolerance policies of some school systems can end up punishing the victims of bullying.The Hmong students asked how they can get help to avoid fights without risking suspensions or expulsions.In one example, a Hmong girl was jumped by four other girls after gym.  The other girls knocked her down, got on her back, and pulled her hair and punched and kicked her.  No adults were around.  When the Hmong girl attempted to defend herself, the school suspended her and told her if she did it again she would be expelled.In another example, some other boys walked up to some Hmong students, called them racial slurs, and started a pushing match.  The Hmong boys were afraid there could be a full scale fight behind the buses the next day, and went to the vice principal to ask his help to prevent the fight.  The vice principal responded by suspending the Hmong students for pushing. Officer Vang suggested that the Hmong students talk with a trusted teacher about what was happening, in detail and right at the beginning of problems before they get really serious.  The teacher is not going to suspend the students, and if necessary can talk to the administrators to head off fights without using student’s names and putting them at risk of suspension.Many north Minneapolis  Hmong youth also complained that they they often get their bikes stolen, sometimes out of their garages and porches, and sometimes by other kids pushing the Hmong kids off their bikes and riding off.  Hmong students reported that sometimes they see other families with their bikes, and often when they go to the families and/or the police to get the bike back, the other families will simply repaint the bikes and claim it was always theirs.Officer Vang told the Hmong kids that when they get bikes, they should always take pictures of the bikes and write down the serial numbers, so even if the bike is repainted the Hmong kids can prove the bike was originally theirs.  The Hmong kids can also take the seat off, write their names on a piece of paper and stick it in the hollow of the steel tube, and put the seat back on. Officer Vang also said that when the Hmong kids play and ride bikes outside they should go in groups, that usually Hmong kids get knocked off their bikes when riding alone.Officer Vang also said that the Minneapolis police department was getting a lot of calls from  northside residents speaking Hmong.Hmong families thank Councilmember Don Samuels (photo by Don Samuels) While the Hmong families were having their meeting with officer Vang, A celebration  for outgoing councilmember Don Samuels was going on in the next room. The Hmong families went over to the celebration and thanked Don for working hard to get a Hmong outreach police officer. The Hmong families had campaigned with Don samuels for three years to get the Hmong police officer.During the meeting everybody enjoyed pizza and pop.Flaming Hot Cheetos – the officially endorsed snack of Hmong soccer players Continue Reading