Longtime Advocate for Selby Avenue Revitalization Forced From Home by City of St Paul
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posted by Bob at Friday, June 01, 2007
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Friday, June 01, 2007
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28 Comments:
Earlier this year, my family was forced out of our
private residence by the City of St. Paul. No drugs
or other similar issues were involved.
We believe the City of St Paul has crossed over the
line from enforcement to abuse. Few options for
justice are available. Despite making a number of
improper actions, the city’s inspections department is
largely immune from legal accountability. Experience
has shown the city would not provide a professional
service if we filed a formal complaint. Also, many of
the city employees involved with our house
condemnation are named in federal antiracketeering
lawsuits.
As part of closure, our story is being presented to
ADemocracy.
Legal Notice
This report represents my opinion based on research,
discussions with others, and personal consideration of
the facts. It may contain errors. Please consider
and use any information provided at your own risk.
Last summer, housing inspector Paula Seeley sent a
letter demanding several maintenance items be
performed on our 120 year old house, and threatened
FELONY LEGAL ACTION for noncompliance.
The house had been undergoing continual upgrade, and
we believed the time demands were unreasonable. The
inspector’s letter also appeared to violate the letter
and spirit of the District 8 Plan, which I understand
carries the weight of law. An appeal was filed before
Legislative Hearing Officer Marcia Moermond. At a
hearing, Ms. Moermond stated she would give 15 months
to make repairs, although no documentation was made in
writing.
Moermond held one issue for separate consideration.
The house apparently had an uncompleted electrical
service.
Unfortunately, the city had no record of the permit.
People were informed that I had been stealing
electricity from Excel Energy. I was accused of
having work done without a permit. I located and
provided an approval form from the electrical work,
which contained an inspector’s signature as well as a
permit number. The city did not accept this proof as
legitimate.
The city issued another order to fix the electrical
work within 10 days, but then did not allow 10 days.
The city ordered a partial cut of electricity. No
warning was provided. I had a severe medical
condition dependent on electricity (since corrected by
surgery) and this could have been FATAL.
My contractor consulted with Excel Energy and verified
there was NOTHING WRONG with the meter wiring.
Statements made that I had been stealing electricity
are SLANDER. A subsequent letter dated 03/28/07 from
City of St Paul Senior Electrical Inspector Richard P.
Owen stated the city is allowed to purge permits after
6 years, and if a permit existed, it is no longer
available. Also, I eventually located checks paid to
the contractor and the contractor’s proposal (all from
1993).
When contacted, City Council representative Debbie
Montgomery refused to meet with me.
Our electrician took out a new permit for the outside
work demanded, with an estimated completion time of 4
hours. I was informed the city would not sign off on
a permit unless I allowed the electrical inspector to
go inside the house before any work was done. This is
ENTRAPMENT.
(Note: We thought all electrical work had been done
years ago. We do not know electrical standards, and
certainly did not know what enforcement standards the
City of St. Paul used for Selby Avenue in 1993. A
neighbor commented that the electrical wiring on
surrounding houses looked similar to house wiring
found in the Dominican Republic. Further, in past
years, the City of St Paul has been negligent in its
treatment of Selby Avenue. For example, the yellow
curbs and crosswalks were not painted for over 30
years. Many of the streetlight poles had flaking
paint, possibly endangering the neighborhood children
with lead.)
On the day before the condemnation, the hearing
officer appeared rude and dismissive. She did not
appear to want to know the facts before making a
decision. At a follow-up hearing, city official Steve
Magner helped provide direction for the city.
On August 31 the electrical inspector ordered a
complete shutdown of the house, which was then
condemned by the housing inspector. My family was put
out on the streets that same day. A follow-up letter
from the housing inspections department indicated that
we could not reoccupy the house until a code
compliance inspection was made and fulfilled.
The compliance report was written by Code Compliance
Inspector James Seeger. Two general contractors were
unable to bid on it due to extremely vague wording.
For example, one item “replace siding as necessary”
had a range of interpretation from $1 - $60,000 (this
has nothing to do with Safety and Health). Other
wording required “bring to code” without identifying
which code. This is not standard procedure for
inspection reports. I could identify only three
possible reasons for this deviation: 1) It provided
maximum intimidation, as maximum interpretation could
be demanded at any time for any reason; 2) The
compliance inspector wanted to run the job, since only
he knew what he would accept; and 3). The compliance
inspector wanted the house sold to his friends or the
city’s friends. He could then perform minimum
interpretation, and thus provide them with maximum
profits.
Meaningful discussions with community groups and
leaders during this time were impossible. Costs could
not be defined, and the city could demand maximum
interpretation if they were offended by the mere act
of questioning their work in the community.
An architect was hired, and we went through a lengthy,
costly, and unnecessary process to determine the scope
of work, get approved proposals, and define costs.
Meanwhile, according to city documents, Moermond
conducted a strategy session with PED and the
Department of Public Health. PED employee Michelle
Vojacek provided a bizarre cost estimate to Department
of Public Health employee Kay Wittgenstein. Ms.
Wittgenstein called my wife with these numbers. My
wife felt extremely intimidated by Ms. Wittgenstein,
and was in tears.
Eventually, the bids came in. The city’s demands were
too high and we sold the property.
Afterwards, looking at city files, I discovered that
Vacant House inspector Dennis Senty had placed two
letters in our file which were never received. These
were extremely critical communications conveying the
city’s expectations during the vacant house. process.
Additional Comments:
Until this time, I have not realized the total impact
of the city’s lack of care and recklessness. This
approach may cause major collapse. The high number of
unnecessary stressors in this process may be a
deliberate attempt to silence and discredit people.
As a past recipient of the governor’s award for public
service, I am aghast at the quality of service. We
need reasonableness. Why can’t the city work with
people?
Losses to the City:
I have been involved in inner-city revitalization.
Our neighborhood had been a model for the nation, and
the Harvard Business Review considers the inner-cities
to be one of the most important issues facing the
United States. As the only member of the two big
committees dealing with Selby Avenue in the last 25
years, I provided the accepted solutions for the major
issue facing each committee. One of these committees
was the number one priority of St Paul. I have made
other critical contributions as well. How can I
continue to promote revitalization, when the city
appears mean-spirited and out of control?
As a fourth generation booster of the City of St Paul,
I had always been proud as punch of my hometown.
Now, I am ashamed!
Sincerely,
R. Glenn Gausman
Mr. Gausman,
You are among friends here!
Welcome aboard!
Bob G. you came to the right place.
Many of us here have simuliar stories.
I too welcome you to A Democracy.
11:21 said- I have Mr Gausman's address as *** Simon a nice house on the corner of Simon and ******.
There is a Robert Gausman that shows up as the owner of 451 Selby. Is that the property that we are talking about?
11:21 AM
Bob said...
I deleted the address. I don't post City officials addresses here I have to give Mr. Gausman the same courtesy.
11:21 said- I have Mr Gausman's address as *** Simon a nice house on the corner of Simon and *****.
Bob- Now I find this statement interesting 11:21..
I hope this isn't a form of intimidation, that would piss me off..
12:01 PM
Anonymous said...
My given name is Robert Glenn Gausman, formerly at 451 Selby.
WOW! Seen your invitation on CRAIGSLIST.
Great BLOG!
Hundreds of people with the same allegations against the City and they don't even know each other.
Tell me who is telling the truth?
This sounds similar to what happened to us but I never wanted to take the time to lay it out and write about it. Hang in there Robert. Some day they will do it to the wrong family and there will be hell to pay. Citys never get away with this kind of behavior forever, sooner or later they find someone who will make their life a nightmare also!
2:34, they already have crossed the wrong people.. The plaintiffs in the RICO suits against the City of Saint Paul have brought the fight to them.
Bob G. I give you credit for having the courage to tell your story and use your name.
My mother lost our family home to this bunch. It seemed as though there was nothing we could do to stop them.
My wife and I feel as you do the system is rigged.
We don't have the money to hold these people accountable.
Losing the house is a very small part of the issue. Our entire family suffered great emotional pain & financial set backs.
My mother who was elderly became very ill when this threatening situation was going on in our lives. That home had our families history among those walls. My dad had died several years before and he had taken great care of the home. When my mom lost the house she lost Dad all over again.
I read here and it makes me feel darn good there is people like these plaintiffs in the RICO suits trying to make these people in City government responsible to all of us.
I am thankful the good Lord has burdened Bob Johnson with seeing to it all of us are heard. Bob and his family have suffered for Bob's activism and he has not turned and run.
Bob G. I know the emotions you & your family must be experiencing.The worse part of it all for me is the trust I had in my government has been violated. I don't feel safe anymore.
This is why I post here anonymously.
New Here! On the front page to the right of the screen look under links "GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY" to read the RICO suits.
Robert, I can completely understand what you went through, it has happened to many others. The way I have come to understand the reasoning behind the city and the vague writing of their code compliances; reason one: the city is subject to change their mind at any given moment as to what they expect you to do to comply, which also means they will not allow you to comply so that leaves it open for them to continue to make add ons as you start to think you are close to completion. Reason two: these inspectors are not qaulified with an educational background that would permit them to detail the repairs, most do not have a degree for their job.
I see you also had the misfortune of meeting Mr.Magner, I am surprised you didn't receive the threats that some of us did from him with the power he seems to feel he has to try and force you to sell your propertyy to an associate/friend that does renovations at a fraction of the value.
I am very sorry to hear this same story again, its seems to be the same story over and over just a different day and location within the city. I also have been trying to put a closure on my story but I want to meet with Mr.Helgen who had the kind words of "Good News 14 E. Jessamine is Gone". I would like the oppertunity to meet with him so that he can judge me for the person I really am not what I was made out to be from some of the city officials and to at least give me the time of day to hear my side of the story, the truth... Whether he would chose to beleive me or not would be his option but I would personally feel much better. I guess you could call it a little respect but it appears that would be asking to much of him because I did send Mr.Helgen a request after I heard that he had announced that people were misinformed about my situation where I wanted to know what exactly was misforming...
I am sure this group here will continue to grow as the numbers rise on the vacant building list, I just wonder how long it will be before the city screws with the wrong person and gets held responsible for their actions.
Best of luck to you and your family, theres a better life outside the city limits!
Nancy
Keep in touch with this blog as I'm certain many, many, many of you will be able to file a class action suit similar to the plaintiff's in the near future.
My uncle has his Attorney watching this case very closely. He thinks if the landlords win their lawsuit, it will make a claim against the city for everyone who ever had to do one of these bogus code compliance inspections the city uses to break your back with. He's in position and ready tp leap, he just waiting for the green light.
Also saw your invitation on "Craig's List"
I like what I see. It's about time there is a place that exposes this kind of activity!
To
Bob Johnson.
This shows you how the people are getting the chances to express their cruelty, by the city of St.Paul.
All because of the dangleberries, over at E-Democracy stopping people from voicing their views.
They suspend people like you, for talking about what this one article is about.
Boss Hog - The St.Paul Mayor, and the 7 slimy City Council think they became God on this earth.
Then they get wanta-be's, people like Don Luna, a ex city clerk run a lot of these police department issues.
He is on the WSCO committee, he is the President.
That make it possible for Dave Thune, to use Mr.Luna in the dissension making about the Bridges Development on St Paul's West Side.
Make sure "Dave Thune" Does Not, get past Septembers Primary Election.
Amen!
Bill Dahn
www.billdahn.com
http://forums.
e-democracy.org/groups/
stpaul-issues/messages/post/
3tzvV0dqUQKXhsO3V2OxJd
Hi All,
Bob G, search this blog for an elderly woman's story named Betty Speakers. The city gave her condemnation orders while she was in a hospital bed.
Do a search here of 785 Butternut. Dear old friends of mine who met tragic ends over issues with code enforcement.
Search for Veteran Tony's story as he pleads with the City Council thinking his military service and love of his City should mean something in the face of the demolition of his home.
There is numerous people who read here and never post that have been harmed by this City's code enforcement policies. They read anxiously waiting for change.
I know some who read because they are waiting and hoping for the hidden hand of revenge to reach out and make thing whole again.
Thanks folks for the heartfelt comments. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, the light is shining through.
I found some resources helpful. The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Buddhists were all uprooted, and many killed. A lot of people have put a lot of thought over a number of years into a similar situation. I'd recommend the Dalai Lama's book 'The Art of Happiness', or you can poke around his website. One thing the Dalai Lama advocates is to cherish your enemy - there are so few of them, and it forces you to develop - you may not be able to change them, but it helps you with all other people) Another resource is psychologist Dr. Albert Ellis (both the Dalai Lama and Jimmy Carter attended his 90th birthday party a couple years ago, and as a soulmate, since he was kicked out of his own institute.
Bob, thank you. I have not been so impressed by a media person since volunteer work with Hardy Wright years ago. Hardy was one of the co-founders of the West Side Voice. He put endless effort into trying to fix the inner-city problems, while avoiding publicity. He was a true unsung hero.
Also, the hopes, prayers, dreams, support, and compassion have meant a lot.
Take care.
R Glenn Gausman (aka Bob G)
What do you know.....another believer joins the club!
The losers don't believe in anything
Oh yes they do.....they beleive the "ends justify the means."
Does someone have the connections to send a link to this blog to the local TV stations and to O'Reilly? This city needs to be taken to task publicly for this kind of behavior.
Why hasn't the local media covered this stuff?
I am shocked!
They probably haven't been told about it. But that will change.
The local media will never say anything about it. The way they white washed the 14 Jessamine story is the proof. What someone should do is take all the lawsuit complaints and start sending them to all the "national media." Someone somewhere will pick up on it because they are going to have a lot of interest in our area because of the Republican convention coming here.
Isn't this the same as McCarthyism?
Lies . . . accusations . . .
Witch hunts . . .
The city has been on a witch hunt and the property owners have been the witches!
Responsibility to complete the permit is with the contractor, not the homeowner
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