RACKETEERING LAW SUIT MOTION FOR SANCTIONS HEARING
Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.
posted by Bob at Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Custom Search
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A DEMOCRACY TOWN HALL HOME
Do you have a topic you want to discuss at the Town Hall? Email your request to A_Democracy@yahoo.com
“A DEMOCRACY” Disclaimer- While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to this forum express the views and opinions of the author and not the administrators, moderators (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.
You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-oriented or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned
THE ROOF GUYS
Mickey's Diner 1950 7th Street West, St Paul, MN
(651) 698-8387
AX-MAN SURPLUS
1639 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Tel:(651)646-8653
LANDLORD.COM LINK HERE
SHHHH! While we listen to words of wisdom from a wise man.
Conscience is the light of the Soul that burns within the chambers of our psychological heart. It is as real as life is. It raises the voice in protest whenever anything is thought of or done contrary to the righteousness. Conscience is a form of truth that has been transferred through our genetic stock in the form of the knowledge of our own acts and feelings as right or wrong. A virtuous and courageous person can alone use the instrument of conscience. He or she can alone hear the inner voice of the soul clearly. In a wicked person this faculty is absent. The sensitive nature of his / her conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption. Hence he or she is unable to discriminate right from wrong. Those who are leading organizations, business enterprises, institutions and governments should develop this virtue of the ability to use their own conscience. This wisdom of using the clean conscience will enable them to enjoy the freedom.
Dr APJ Kalam, President of India given during the inauguration of the seminar on “THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Previous Posts
- Proof Communist Support Councilman Dave Thune
- Ramsey County Court Corrupted by St Paul City Offi...
- Plaintiffs of RACKETEERING lawsuits seek sanctions...
- Mayors News Release On Budget
- Mayor Coleman Sacrificing his political career for...
- Battle at Kruger
- Another lawsuit against code enforcement/ More lie...
- Prayer Request
- Cracking down on nuisance properties.
- HAAS/ Home Ownership and Vacant Properties
253 Comments:
*
**
Hi All,
On Monday I attended the RACKETEERING law suit hearing, "motion for sanctions" against the City of Saint Paul.
For you new readers to bring you up to speed, the RACKETEERING lawsuits are linked to the right of the screen on the front page below the "Scales of Justice".
In previous hearings city attorney Seeba had support from assistants. At this hearing Ms. Seeba was the only representative of the city present. There were aprx. 20 interested members of the community that showed up on behalf of the plaintiffs. Others of note in attendance were Jim Swartwood, editor of the Watchdog News. Charlie Disney who is a well known property rights activist. I also observed a man who I had thought was possibly a Federal Agent. He sat off by himself and it was obvious he was packing a firearm under his sport coat.
When the proceedings first started city attorney Seeba seemed arrogant, cocky it was as if she was having her time wasted for even being there.
Attorney Engel argued the issue of emails first. The plaintiffs have to show there was prejudicial information in these emails destroyed. Then the Magistrate went on to lecture the City Attorney for the destruction of the emails. It is a violation of the rules. The court rules called for a "litigation hold" to be put on the evidence back in early 2004.
The Judge also instructed the plaintiffs attorney to submit an "Affidavit of costs" so they can get reimbursed for the legal fees in bringing the Motion Hearing.
The City Attorney was arrogant enough to also pleaded for attorney fees against the plaintiffs when the city violated the court rules. However, the judge did not instruct her to submit an "Affidavit of costs".
The magistrate is ordering the plaintiffs can do further investigative research into emails of city staff and said the plaintiffs could depose city officials again, and the city would have to pay for the costs of the plaintiffs conducting more depositions.
At the end of the hearing, the judge kept asking the city attorney if she was done like the judge had heard enough and just wanted to get rid of the city attorney.
John Shoemaker the plaintiffs other attorney argued the city had destroyed the Truth In Housing Reports, and how those reports would show the condition of the properties in the neighborhood around the plaintiffs properties.
Attorney John Shoemaker was very successful in describing how the city had destroyed all these documents prior to 2004 and they clearly should have kept them back to 2001 which is the city 3 year retention policy for keeping records. Shoemaker also argued that it was the city's own expert witness who had released a report saying that these Truth in Housing Reports were relevant to the case at hand, even though the City Attorney kept arguing they were not relevant. The judge did not buy that argument either from the city.
On the matter of the city documents that were mailed anonymously to the plaintiffs the judge also said more depositions were in order and the city should pay the cost for these Depositions. The Judge also said the plaintiffs could send a "request for admissions" to the city for them to admit or deny that the anonymous documents were in fact city documents or not.
This puts the city in huge bind no matter what they say to this requests. If they admit, then they get hurt and if they deny then the plaintiffs hire a forensic" anylist to see if they are, or are not city documents. This is something that is very easy to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
At the end of the hearing the City Attorney seemed very nervous and desperate. The more the judge asked her if she was done the faster she talked......like she thought the amount of words spoken would get her something even though the judge was clearly not buying into what she was arguing.
City attorney Seeba was caught in a lie in court and told the judge that she did not have the emails and then made it seem like the emails had been available all along.
Then Shoemaker argued about how as officers of the court how important it is that they be able to trust each other and take each other at their word, and how the city had violated that trust. He also said he would not have even brought the Motion if he had known these emails were available, and he continued to say if he had not brought the issue to court that the city would still be sticking to their position of only having email from December 2005 forward.
ONE WORD FOLKS DISCRIBES THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL "SKULLDUGGERY".
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then
you win."
- Mahatma Gandhi
When do you sleep? I am coming to think if there is some shenanigans going on anywhere, you are working 24 hours a day here to set it up for "Rapid Distro!"
Bob,
Good writeup. The one question I have is whether the legislative hold on emails applies to the assistants as well, such as Marsha moreman's assistant.
OOps, I meant "litigation hold" as in the earlier post, as assistants can do the dirty work. I attended the proceedings as well.
As I see it, the future of some city officials is that they will be wearing stripes after the criminal charges that result.
I wonder why the city would be destroying evidence and playing games if they have nothing to hide and really believe that their actions with these people have been on the up and up?
Hi All,
The villagers have lite their torches. They have armed themselves with pitch forks, axes, and spades. They are marching on City Hall wearing robes of colors representing the people who have been oppressed.
THE END IS NEAR!
They deserve what they get putting elderly people out on the street. Taking their homes from them. Very sad!
Government does this tampering with evidence and emials, etc. all the time and it happens from the local level all the way to the White House. I am sick and tired of it and hope the city really gets raked over the coals for it.
TC.com reader
Landlords 2- St.Paul 1.....Hey Repke the landlords aren't doing to bad with these so called bogus lawsuits,huh?
Landlords - $100,000,000.00
St Paul - FLAT ASS BROKE!
We have a 17 million dollar budget gap and they are playing games that are costing us more money now in legal fees? These things eem like they have been going on for years now. What's the tab so far? They probably could have settled the damn thing for less than they have paid in legal fees. Great leadership you have offered Ms Lantry.
I haven't seen a post yet on this thread from Repke or Amanda is their foot stuck in their mouth so bad they can't type all of a sudden?
Mmmm... or is it taking extra time to attempt twisting this one around to support the city?
It's too bad that this is what it takes to get a honest Government. Maybe it's worth having our taxes go up to pay these if we get city leaders who know something about people's civil rights and try to respect them.
Well its really looking like it will be proven that these city officials have been lying and violating the rights of many citizens with their intimidation and other tactics in order to acheive their goal of taking homes. which will come to a stop and then all of those accusations we have been hearing all along from certain members that feel the city could do no wrong by saying that what we state here is not the truth will be known to the whole community as the way it was exactly "THE TRUTH!"
Nancy O.
Wouldn't it be nice to have Lantry and Thune deposed before their election run? Oh yeah and on the cities dollars. Hey Repke make sure you talk to thune so you know what to say when you get your foot out of your mouth.
Where is big mouth Chuck Repke now?? He is probabley sniffing around Dave Thune trying to find out what the City is to do now. Chuck will probabley come on and say some B/S about the judge is on the landlords side now. Chuck Repke, whoever painted your house did a horrible job! Oh I forgot, you probabley figured out a way to have the east side develp. to pay for it anyway-- isn't that the way you operate Chuck- I heard it is, and I have a few things that may open your eye's chuck. Keep watching, even you may wonder how I got my hands on this chuck..
ASPCC
Maybe Schiller will spill the beans the next time he is deposed. Schiller its never to late. Be like these landlords and stand up to the city and tell your truth. Because inthe end the CITY won't be there for you!!
100,000,000 dollars?!?!?
Are you serious?
Well since this is a civil rights issue, I'm sure all of that money will go to the people who have been wronged? Right? I mean, the minority citizens are the ones who will get this right?
Yeah, right. Yet another way for SOME of you to line your pockets off the backs of the poor.
BTW, we have city attorneys who job is to represent the city, what legal fees are piling up? They come to work and do their job rather its a bogus law suit or a traffic violation.
Eric M.
People need to get involved and let Minnesota Delegates, Senators, and the Governor know we have had enough and we want change.
People need to know the truth and it needs exposed!
Eric wrote:
100,000,000 dollars?!?!?
Are you serious?
Well since this is a civil rights issue, I'm sure all of that money will go to the people who have been wronged? Right? I mean, the minority citizens are the ones who will get this right?
Yeah, right. Yet another way for SOME of you to line your pockets off the backs of the poor.
I ask:Give the city 100,000,000 dollars and what will they do for the minorities and the poor?
Eric said:BTW, we have city attorneys who job is to represent the city, what legal fees are piling up? They come to work and do their job rather its a bogus law suit or a traffic violation.
I say: This is the biggest lawsuit in the history of St.Paul. If you don't believe me call Louise Seeba.Without this case Mr. Eric couldn't the city cut its staff of attorneys to help the 17 million shortfall instead of closing libraries on the poor and the minorities.
I also say:Thank God these landlords are standing up to this city for the poor and minority because God knows you won't!! Eric look in the mirror! You should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!
Eric M.
Aren't all landlords customers of the city? SHOULDN'T THE CITY WORK WITH ITS CUSTOMERS? Whats funny is that you couldn't name one landlord other then Chuck(who by the way makes money from them) to agree with the way St.Paul is attacking its affordable housing and private rentals. Just ask Bill Cullen. Bill, you out there? Hows St.Pauls policy with working with Landlords? Did you sell all your property in St.Paul? What group were you head of? Tell us your story.
Chuck Repke- Are you out there?? Or is Dave Thune wining and dining you tonight on the taxpayers dollar?? Am I making you nervous yet Chuck? Think hard Chuck. Mhmmmm, Have I ever, I mean ever ate, had a soda, on the taxpayers dollar (hint chuck- it was with Dave).
ASPCC
$100M is a bargain to save the city from complete annialation.
I think Chuck might be changing his mind, since this suit is in his best interest.
I can say with 100% confidence that you are NOT acting in the best interest of the civil rights of any minority group except landlords. If you were, you would have heard our voices about the conditions of some of these rental units over the years. No, you weren't concerned then.
Please, please, please go to a group of black St Paulites and try to explain what you're doing. I dare you. Then listen to the complaints about your fellow landlords and tell them what you're going to do to better that situation.
And I'm sure you'll find your one or two or so but, where ever you have a sizable number gathering, you'll find that your interest is not theirs.
This is so stupid. Cut the shit and file a case with the Justice Department, US Commission on Civil Rights or the National office of the NAACP. You can poo-poo those groups but they are still trusted in the black community and would certainly bring media light to the issue among the mainstream press. But, I'm guessing that's just what you want to avoid.
This suit will not do anything but keep the city in court before its thrown out. Its doing exactly what its designed to do.
6:52 -I'll thank you for not speaking for st paul minorities. However, if I ever need the opinion of a dipshit- you'll be on the call list.
Eric M.
Eric,
It looks to me like the city is trying to establish a plantation system, with too many city officials who just like to puah people around.
Justice is the first thing necessary to build a healthy city. Many, many people think the plaintiffs actions are necessary to establish justice.
Like I said in another thread it will be interesting to see what the Judge rules on this. None of what Bob says is a surprise. I wasn't there, so I have no idea of the mood of the judge or the attorneys.
Like Bob has said the plaintiffs are requesting every email sent to or from the City of Saint Paul in every relevent office since at least 2001, you could argue that they realy want all the way back to 1999, but if we agree on that date they are asking for millions of emails.
The City's basicly saying they are having a hard time retreiving all of that data and that there are gaps in the ability for them to retrieve that info the City's computers.
What Bob calls skull duggery the City is saying is technicall difficulties in retreiving that many years of email records from that many departments and staff.
So, I said this before I always thought this was the goal of the law suit which was to have a bogus case and try to steal some money on a technicality.
Nothing has been proved here other than the data recording system that the City is using in 2007 is having dificulty pulling up date stored in earlier systems in earlier years.
And whoever this new scumbag (ASPCC) is please feel free do your best come at me I don't care. Every little piss ant that hides under fake chicken shit names here threatens me with one thing or another. You do know that I was an employee of the City of Saint Paul and Thune's staff between 1/1/90 and 12/31/97 so there will be times during that time I am listed on Thune's expense reports (which is what I am guessing you are reviewing).
Other than that I can't think of a time where Thune and I didn't split the check. And if Thune put a private party on an expense report they wouldn't reimburse him anyway... So, good luck in your search.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
I thought we stuck a dirty sock in Chucks mouth once and for all.
Anyone take any bets that drunk has something to say about this to Chuck. Probably at the bar now talking about him.
The vacant building ordinance is a failed ordinance that is riddled with undefined and/or poorly defined regulatory terms and conditions with no consideration of the consequences the ordinancewould have or with a broad scope of the future outcome. What is does do is; give excessive discretionary authority to the City's code enforcement officials that have been abusing this authority which has in some cases turned law abiding citizens into law breakers. Its a failed ordinance that should have envolved as a collaberate effort to work with the property owners not against them as it has.
Somewhere downtown
The legal proceeding are based on logic and facts.
Back to Eric, the City has become oppressive - - and chickenshit. This has to be fixed.
Chuck,
The city could have protected the 17 defendents emails at the beginning of these lawsuits.They didn't. They were destroyed. The judge scolded Louise for not protecting them like they should have. Come on the attorneys for the city should have sat all the defendents down and said now that we are in litigation you need to not delete any emails. They didn't. Any chicken shit half ass attorney knows the rules of law.
How come they didn't? From what I've heard the plaintiff have gotten some pretty juicy info from some emails and the city knows that is where they are most candid. So poof there gone. Chuck wake up and smell Thunes ass, Its in your face!!
Chuck,
You said, "So, I said this before I always thought this was the goal of the law suit which was to have a bogus case and try to steal some money on a technicality."
Chuck, the city does this all the time. Just like the paint on your house was as you say chalky, was this a technicality?
The code is open for interpretation and Mr. Manger is a master at interpreting it in his own way.
Chuck, just so you know, I disagree with turning people into the city because they disagree one another. I have seen this used by neighbors who are upset at each other and this is NOT the way to go. It just makes the city the bad guy. It takes a man to go and talk about the differences one has with another person.
9:50 Your ignorance of what is going on is amazing no one anywhere had the ability to delete the information this isn't an issue of the defendents deleting anything. All of the information that comes in as emails to the City is stored on the City's hard drives the employee can't delete it.
The problem is that this is all stored in one large main frame and they are having issues pulling up the data.
I wasn't there so, I didn't here the discussion, but I assume that what the judge must be thinking if that was said is that the City should have started storing the data of all of the departments and all of the employees that the plaintiffs named in 2004 in some seperate data base assuming that the ruling would have gone in the plaintiffs favor and that they would have had the issues pulling this stuff up.
When I worked for the City from 1990-97 they said don't worry about saving emails they are all stored on the main fraim. As Thune's aide I got 400-500 emails a day then, so the only storage was done in the main frame.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Your an idot Eric. The city has a criminal scheme to chase the poor out of the city and or cause an action (code compliance) that raised the rents to unaffordable levels for the ones who stayed, and forces people out of business.
Read the complaints you fool.
The city made such a hostile environment that lots of people had to sell of their rental business at huge losses to stay ahead of bankruptcy.
The city seeked these people out and targeted them because of the behavior problems of mostly black tenants, not the deplorable conditions you speak of.
They framed people and came after them with criminal charges after they filed lawsuits or were witnesses in the lawsuits. They were trying to put one guy in jail at the very time he was trying to bury his dead son.
Many others have given sworn testimony that they were being shaken down by city officials.
And just what is the cities response to the actions you say are OK? They use the taxpayers money to fight having to have their depositions taken, they use more taxpayer money to hide tax returns, they are caught red handed shredding documents and destroying evidence, they refuse to do any type of investigation and instead give promotions and pay raises to many of the people involved, they uses their influence to fix rig the court ahead of bringing charges against certain landlords, and now they are going to spend more taxpayer money paying for more depositions to be taken. They are also going to be paying the legal fees of the landlords for bringing the action against them for destroying evidence, all at a time when they are complaining about a 17 million shortfall in their budget.
You don't think these people have some damages coming you piece of crap. Your so stupid and ignorant you don't even see your own people getting the shaft, or you don't mind it cause you have a nice cushy job on the racist neighborhood group trying to promote the problem so you can keep your little power click going. Your nothing but a godamn fool Eric.
Eric says:
BTW, we have city attorneys who job is to represent the city, what legal fees are piling up? They come to work and do their job rather its a bogus law suit or a traffic violation.
I have a sneaking hunch you are just about to find out what legal fees are piling up you moron.
While you don't even have the inteligence to figure out how there are huge legal fees piling up against the city, the landlords are getting close to cleaning out the city treasury and the thing that's important to you is who they may not give the money to.
Typical democrat mindset!
You are wrong Chuck. I was at the court hearing and heard every single word. It was very clear that the cities position had been that they did not have ANY emails or any other electronic communications prior to the end of 2005. The city tried to back pedal on the issue and the judge was not going to have it.
The city also shredded thousands of reports prior to 2004, which (according to the testimony) the cities own expert witnesses said were relevant to the lawsuit. The city still tried taking the position that they were not relevant. The judge was not having that either.
Sorry Chuck, you can spin it any way you want to, but people with nothing to hide do not destroy evidence.
Eric says he'll thank people for not speaking out for the minorites in town and goes on to say if he ever needs this guys opinion (who Eric describes as a dipshit) he'll ask for it!
It sounds to me like the only dipshit is Eric. He's still not able to figure it out after all this time and all these victims and all the facts and testimoney.
Don't ya just love em?!?!?
Hello Everyone,
Once again Eric and Chuck shed the light of truth on this unbelievable story. Now you can call me names too.
I have been reading here for sometime now. I think I am qualified to make an assessment of this forum. Chuck, Eric and myself are the only sign of intelligent life form here. Tards!
I have tin foil hats for all the anonymous slumlords here.
Eric says,
This is so stupid. Cut the shit and file a case with the Justice Department, US Commission on Civil Rights or the National office of the NAACP. You can poo-poo those groups but they are still trusted in the black community and would certainly bring media light to the issue among the mainstream press.
People have gone to the justice department and they were too busy to talk, but said they would call back if a phone number was left. The phone number was left, but no phone call ever came. A second attempt was made and the same thing happened.
One person went to the US Attorney and was refused an interview. Instead he was told to leave the almost 1,000 pages of documentation he had and they would get back to him. They never got back to him. He called back and they told him they would get back to him. They did not. He became frustrated and went back in person to get his documents and they told him they lost them. He never did get them back.
The NAACP in Minneapolis was approached. They sluffed it off on the St Paul branch and the person did not follow up on it because the director of the St Paul branch is a Fire Dept member and very political. Copies of the WATCHDOG newdspaper were delivered to this persons house and he never even bothered to take the time to call and see what facts there were regarding the case.
A very influential professor at the one of the area colleges was appraoched. His response was that the black community would not get in back of the lawsuit because it was white people bringing the lawsuit and not blacks.
There are black people who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
There are black tenants who were hurt and testified under oath that their apartments were in fine shape and that the city did just exactly what the landlords said they are doing.
Inspectors testified during Depositions that the code department was being manipulated by predjudice neighbors.
Anonymous
This is a battle for the soul of St. Paul. The amount of the lawsuits will measure the damage done by Thune, Lantry, and company.
The Nazi quislings can talk all they want. It doesn't make it right.
Let me see now, they don't have any emails prior to the ending of 2005 huh? That would mean that they do not have any emails and documents for the entire time that Kally and Dawkins ran the city right? Why is it that this just doesn't smell right?
It's all done Repke. Over.....finished.....the trial with the landlords is in session and so far the city is getting a dam good whoping. They have to pay attorney costs, depositions....hell before the trial is iver, the jduge will have the city paying for the landlords lunch when they take breaks. They are all done rEPKE, AND THAT MY FREIND MEANS YOU ALL are done. Washed up------swept away-----like a kat 6 huricane came in and blew you out to sea. You're all over Repke.....no more non profit money mean nop project going on anywhere cause the city is busted. I'm afraid you'll have to get a job as a fruy cook Repke, it's all that left for you mr friend. I was going to condiser having you cut my grass but I'm afraid ahving you around would draw the attention of the code polcie and I cna't have that. It's curtains Repke. The fat lady is getting reasy to sing and she ain't going to be sinign your'e song Chuky boy. So whta do we do from here? there's only one opitron my man....pack 'r up and head out Repke. Get a spread in the country and geow beans and corn. I tolf you Reopke...ha ha ha finished....all your money is oging to be leaving town in armor cars with the landlrods following it.....headin gofro cancoon Repoke, but you won't be there. I would imagine oytu;ll be aimlessly riding around on a lite rail car wosmwhere in North Dakopt. See ya Repke..bye
Hi Folks,
It has been reported to me that the City controls over 4400 rental units.
I am doing some legal research if the City has the authority of law to even BE a landlord...so far, it does not look good for the City.
I think that it would be quite interesting, at the end of this lawsuit, when the plaintiffs prevail, that they put a LIEN on these 4400 rental units...and then get a sheriff's sale.
Now, if the City does not have clear title to the 4400 rental units, ANY City owned property would do just fine....Maybe the building that houses the police department, no, you'd need more than that...I think the the Plaintiffs will need to make sure any assets the City owns are "frozen"
...now.
Maybe, as part of the plaintiff's victory, the judge could order that the plaintiffs have ownership and control over the 4400 units.
Remember how Magner intimidated Nancy O.?
And if I recall, the public officials are PERSONALLY named in the lawsuit.
Has anyone checked out the equity that Magner has in HIS properties?
I've personally named the same public officials in my state case (as the plaintiffs named in the federal RICO case)...
I'm not a "Slum Landlord"
...and I think that I would rather have the PRIVATE CITIZENS in the RICO case running 4400+ rental units in the City, than the City.
There could be some great "empowerment" opportunites here. They could take the 4400 units the City currently runs...and the prevailing plaintiffs turn them into AFFORDABLE CONDIMINIUMS that the current renters purchase.
....Thereby ensuring a solid base of low income, predominantly minority people that can make a choice if they want to "stabalize" their own community.
But that would be just "too" wonderful...the horrible slum landlords actually using money and power to provide affordable housing to the minorities
...oh, I guess that's what they were doing before the City decided the City didn't want the minorities in the City.
From my own PERSONAL experience of taking kids OUT of gangs in Minneapolis...the greatest tool the "people in power" have is our own IGNORANCE.
If the PEOPLE in the City of St. Paul want
"responsible" minorities, then ALL of the people need to become educated in what it means to be a CITIZEN...their rights and the RESPONSIBILITIES.
There would NO NEED for
"code compliance"...when people re-learn how to live together in a community, how to care for a neighbor, to "look out" for the children, and if someone is selling drugs on the corner, then find that person a job, give them some options...see that person as VALUABLE.
You see, I've been there. I've cleaned toilets to feed my kids...but I'm "white" and I had a car.
And I've held women in my arms whose children were killed from the violence on the street that I lived.
I know the hopelessness and the oppression placed upon people...and their only escape is drugs.
The government is not going to fix OUR problems. The problems on YOUR street, on YOUR block ..are there for YOU to fix. Get to know EVERYONE. Be a solution in THEIR lives.
We can sit here and complain about the horrible things done to the "elderly"...but how many of you offered to paint their houses? to fix some plumbing? even to have a cup of coffee with them and see how they are doing?
Yes, "WE HAVE" corrupt public officials...because WE allowed it. Even more, we looked to the public officials to fix the problems that are OUR responsibility.
It is NOT "Us against the public officials"...because we are a SELF-GOVERNED people. "They" are "Us".
"They" responded to "Us" complaining about the drugs and crimes in the minority population. And "They" decided to attack "Us"...to enforce what they
"perceived" we "wanted"
...and applied force against the landlords because they were unable to build adequate criminal cases against the tenants.
If you don't know the name of EVERY person that lives on your block, then you have NO RIGHT calling yourself a Citizen. You are a discredit to what we are, a self-governed people.
I will bet you that each of the Plaintiffs in this case knew their tenants, better than you know your next door neighbor.
And the ONLY way that I "got kids out of the gangs" is when they knew that there were people that loved and supported them, outside of the gang.
One of these children, a thirteen-year old boy, was executed, shot in the head, because he left the gang. My fourteen-year old son was a pall bearer at his funeral. My son would have gladly given HIS life, in exchange for his friend's.
Now, tell me about what YOU are doing to change the community that you live in.
Someone said "this is a battle for the soul of St. Paul." Yes, it is...but it is YOUR battle, fought on YOUR street...and a choice YOU must make.
Stop complaining and do the work.
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
Chuck, Eric & Amanda,
I attended the hearing. The issue before the court was access to defendants material.
Some history first. The city has maintained all along that Kelly and Dawkins e-mail – and the backups of their e-mail – were destroyed. This hearing was to sanction the city for destroying evidence. But just recently the city came forward and said they were happy to find disaster recover tapes with e-mails on it. The city is not sure what is on the tapes or if everything is there. Both parties are just hoping the information is there.
The court was not amused. Discovery period was a long time ago. This information was to be turned over before depositions. We are far past that period. The court did not seem to care about the volume of e-mails and the city did try to make issue of it.
The TISH reports are even more interesting. It is the city who made a big deal of the TISH reports, not the plaintiffs. The city seems to be saying the plaintiffs ran bad properties because their TISH reports had some “below” or even “hazardous” labels. The plaintiffs maintain that those labels are somewhat common on TISH reports and asked the city to provide all of the TISH reports during the years of complaints so the plaintiffs can calculate how rare those labels are. The city has destroyed all of the TISH reports other than the plaintiffs. So, no comparison can be made. This is like saying Cullen is a bad person because he got a “D” once in high school, while preventing me from looking at other report cards to see how common “Ds” were that year and with that teacher. Get it? The plaintiffs are making a fair request SOLELY in response to the CITIES arguments.
I agree with many of the assessments out here. The judge did appear frustrated with the city. However, I am frustrated with the tone of the debate on this website. I know Bob, you are trying. Such is life with anonymous posters.
The judge was fairly clear that destroying documents after a lawsuit is filed is a no-no and the sole responsibility of the defendant. Kelly and Dawkins know better. Now Seeba is left with the mess. Isn’t destroying documents what took down Arthur Andersen in the Enron case?
Regards, Bill Cullen.
Government exists to serve the
people. In order to do so effectively, the people must have
confidence and trust in the integrity of their city government. They deserve
elected and appointed officials, city employees and volunteers who maintain the
highest ethical principles and avoid misconduct and conflicts of interest, apparent
or real. Effective democracy depends on a government that is fair, ethical and
accountable to the people it serves.
The confidence and trust has been lost!
Dowtown Somewhere
Chuck you weren't in court. What you hear from Thune has been filtered and downplayed 20 times. Go property owners!!
Ed
Again, all I know is what I read here and what I knew was the case when I worked for the City. Those of you who were in the court room know what was said, but of course there will be some hearing things how one wants to hear.
In an earlier thread and several times here I have said the entire issue of the motion for sanctions is, shall the court give financial rewards to the plaintiffs for the City not having/keeping information going back to 2001?
The City isn't saying it just deleted these emails, it says it deletes all emails after a certain period of time. We are talking about millions of emails. The keeping of this kind of communication for how long is an issue that comes up from time to time. This isn't file info on a property this is email communication. There has recently been a ruling in another case where a judge has ruled that you can delete that kind of communication after ninety days. So, we shall see what this judge says. It sounds like the judge wasn't pleased that the City is offering now to make copies of the disaster tapes... which will give the plaintiffs billions of emails (and I am sure all sorts of spicey conversations that have nothing to do with housing issues that you will all enjoy...)
Its the same thing on the Truth in Housing Info. As Bill says the plaintiffs now want copies of every TIH done on properties that weren't problems to compare them to the ones that were. Well, the City doesn't keep files on houses that have been sold that aren't problems, why would they? I guess I don't get how you guys think, why would the City keep a file of houses that had a truth in housing done so that they could be sold and there weren't any problems?
Again, none of this has anything to do with the conspiracy to put private landlords out of business and turn all of the rental property in the City over to PHA, which is the case... only a dispute about how much garbage emails have to be kept for how long.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
No more bootlicks!
Vote for real leadership!
Nancy L for city council!
Keep twisting Repke like its a dance craze in the end your foot will be back in your mouth where it belongs!
There is a Federal Law called "Sarbanes - Oxley," and it states that every corporation must keep ALL emails FOREVER. Get is Chuck? Forever....period! If big companies can do it, then cities can do it also.
Also it is not like the plaintiffs just came along on the latest whim and wanted this stuff from the city. They have been trying to get it for years and the city has been giving them the run around, probably hoping the plaintiffs would drop off or run out of money. Well they didn't, and they have a right to the info......the info that the city destroyed.....the same info that the city's own expets say is relevant to the case.
By the way Chuck, the issue IS NOT "shall the plaintiffs get rewards for the city not having kept information back to 2001." The issue is wether or not the city should be punished for destroying evidence that they had a duty to preserve, and wether the plaintiffs should be reimbursed for their cost in having to fight just one more aspect of this corrupt Government.
If you are innocent, you do not destroy evidence Chuck, and that is exactly what the city of St Paul did, and they did it to "cover up" their illegal actions.
Nancy L.,
I agree with you on everything except the premise that the trouble is based on minorities. You seem to say change them and we change the city. Many of these problems stem from aspects of poverty and being disengaged from your community and that goes across racial lines.
Everything else you're spot on and I'm sure we know some of the same young people if you're still working with them. I haven't volunteered in Minneapolis in a couple of years- there is enough going on in Saint Paul.
I'm convinced though that your message went right over the heads of the people on here. I wrote something similar a couple of weeks ago and was bombarded with the 'I don't have time' and 'that why we elect people to handle this stuff'. Hence the situation we find ourselves in today.
In plain words, I think the whole RICO thing will be thrown out because there is little evidence so far of a conspiracy. There may be some outright corruption. St Paul has seen individual corruption in other departments in recent years like the Fire Department (Guerin) and the Police Department. But, it was not found to be a conspiracy. This, at best, is a case of some corrupt individuals. What may be hurting the case is the nitwits who are pushing an entire city-county conspiracy to remove minorities.
Eric M.
Tell us what this law is Chuck that says a defendant can destroy evidence during the pendencey of an active lawsuit against them after 90 days. This will be good info for all of us to have in case we ever get sued.
Eric,
You said, "What may be hurting the case is the nitwits who are pushing an entire city-county conspiracy to remove minorities."
That is what is happening as a result of Steve Manger and others doew at city hall. Minorities end up on the street as well as low income individuals.
Mangers' intention is to line his pockets on the backs of the poor.
Oh I didn't forget about all of the chickens throwing bombs at me from their anonymous hiding place.
10:48
I don't work for the city or a neighborhood organization or a non-profit. That's all volunteer time because I happen to not want to see my community and city devolve into East St Louis or Tulsa.
12:33am
According to Justice, they never heard from you. Since I've been knowing these two particular lawyers for years, I'm leaning to believing them. Its easy to say anything about a faceless bureaucracy, but when you know people personally, its harder to lie on them.
I said send it to the national NAACP but the fact that you didn't want Nathanial Khaliq (StPaul NAACP) to handle it in St Paul also makes me question your motivation. He is a rental property owner and can rally people around an issue fast. He also is not afraid of the city. He's taken them on several times and recently over the former Fire Chief's treatment. He's sued and gotten results in the past from the city, in spite of their strong resistance. You couldn't find a better ally. Unless its all about money.
Hold on to your hat- I know that some code enforcement calls are being motivated by prejudiced neighbors, as are some police calls. The question is what do you do about those people? Eliminating code enforcement won't stop those kind of calls.
Calling the U.S. Attorney won't get you anything. Haven't you read? She's a Bush/Ashcroft flunkie without a lot of experience. A case like this is too big for her. She's on her way out anyway. I can imagine that if there was merit to your case that Bush's first appointee Tom Heffelfinger would have been all over this.
The Watchdog is NOT a newspaper of record. Its opinion and editorials.
10:48
I'm an idot? What's that?
(someone has to see the irony)
Eric M.
9:34
You mean like sluml- I mean low-income providing landlords?
Eric M.
The matter was brought to Hefflefinger Eric, not the Bush appointee.
If you don't like being called an idiot, stop talking like one. Whoever said they wanted code enforcement eliminated? Tell us Eric. Tell us 1 time in almost 2 years anyone here has advocated that.
And as far as "Justice" goes, they are either lying to you or you are lying to us, because they were contacted and refused to veen respond back to the person making the complaint. As long as we are at it though, as long as you know these guys so well, why don't you see what you can do. There are enough facts and sworn testimony for any US Attorney to get indictments and arrest warrants right now. You know these guys so well big mouth, have them call the plaintiffs Attorney's for a 5 minute chat.
HUD was contacted as well. They could care less. You see, these sticky messy political casde , no one wants anything to do with them, so the poor people just continue to get screwed.
I attended the hearing. It is mind boggling to me at this late date that the city drops this bombshell, "Oh, by the way, our disaster recovery system did save a lot of emails from named defendants and other city employees(though far from all)". At the same time the city didn't take actions to preserve emails once the individuals were named in court actions.
What a snaky trick. How can the plaintiffs possibly sort through them in time to find the important ones? How can they do the necessary follow-up?
This is an important part of this case. Did the city think they could stall until everything blew over? It looks like dirty actions to hide dirty deeds.
Hi All,
Eric, the plaintiffs attorney Matt Engel read into the record one of the anonymous emails saying that the city knew that using the "excessive use fees" would have a bad impact on the "community of color" because that is who lived in those areas, but instructed the inspectors to do it anyways so they could raise the half million dollars in money?
Bill C., I too get frustrated with the dialog here at times. I have come to accept the fact it will always be this way because we are representative of all walks of life here. One thing NOBODY can take away from this forum is, "The truth always prevails"!
Again, I am not a lawyer, but folks here through the word evidence around like they know what is in the emails.
There is the other side of this issue which is Data Privacy. When Bob emails the City to complain about Bill's property, he is not putting that on the public record. He has the right to communicate with the government without his comments being made public. So, there are issues with how much information the government can share and its relevance to the case...
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
The truth prevails until Eric gets involved with his twisted BS. If we use Eris'c logic, predjudice and racism do not exist. If someone could prove it did with cold hard facts, Eric would be the first one in line to try and cover it up so he can look good to his political allies in the city. His statements and positions have convinced me that he is nothing by a lyin ass uncle Tom looking out for his self interest at the expense of the people he pretends to care about.
12:23
I don't need a 'professor' to tell me about black people. Black people will be hesitant to get involved because you landlords have ignored their complaints of some of the conditions of their apartments for years. That is, until code enforcement (the city) gets involved. Then you mark them. Like I said, you all seem to care so much about the poor when you have less of them to profit from. Now that it appears your ability to exploit is limited or at least regulated, its time to sue.
10:20
You're the only
Umm, Heffelfinger was a Bush appointee too, and if you went to him it had to be a couple of years ago. How long have you had this suit out there?
I'll call justice, I need to when you called and what info was sent to them and who did you talk to. I really have no problem doing that.
You can go to the fair housing site and contact them yourselves:
www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/fairhousing/
I'm sure you won't, so send us the information I asked for and I will post their response.
Please tell us more though, the more I hear about these organizations turning you away, the more I see that you have no case. If any US Attorney would have taken it, why didn't they? Could've save yourself all of these legal fees.
U can't bullshit me.
Eric M.
I disagree with you Chuck.
The city has said there are people complaining, but inspectors have testified that a lot of complaints come from city employees themselves, not the people in the neighborhood. If the city wants to take that position, then the landlords should ahve the opportunity to see who it is that is REALLY complaining.
The city's employees cannot comitt criminal acts Chuck and then hide behind data privacy to coveer it up and get away with it.
As far as throwing the word evidence around, bob had posted some of the court papers previously which contained some fo these emails. One of them was an email chain betwwen neighbors, city council offices and the inspections department talking about screwing the owner with code enforcement so the neighbors could buy the property cheap, and then the city council offices notifying the inspections office to go after the guy. We know for sure that is one of the emails they have. Does that sound like evidence to you Chuck? I think it does to the rest of the world, and that is probably why they destroyed the evidence.....they knew what it contained and they couldn't filter it so they just get rid of it and do what they always do......play dumb and lie.
10:40
You don't know me and clearly don't read anything I write or know of what I've done. Racism is alive and kicking and institutionalized in the system.
You racists poverty pimps are using poor blacks to make money off of and when the city forces you to comply to minimum standards you try to complain like you have some concern for them. You don't. You never have and your only interest is that you can collect money off of them.
The NAACP knows, the USDofJ knows it, the US Attorney know it, HUD knows it, and black folks, we know it. That's why you can't get any real support.
You're nothing but a bunch of opportunists who have reached the end of their desperate pitiful rope. Of course, Nancy and others who may have lost your homes due to corrupt individuals are exempt from that assessment.
Having some old uneducated bigot call me an Uncle Tom does nothing. Your position over people of color is coming to an end and your grasping for what worked in the past. You're a dinosaur heading for extinction.
Being called a liar from a chickenshit 'anonymous' poster shows what kind of man you are. Well, actually that doesn't make you much of a man at all. Just a sneaky, pussy-footing back-fighting jellyfish.
Fuck you and fuck this forum. Be sure if I knew who you were, you'd have the opportunity to say it to my face.
Bob, don't fool yourself, you don't have people from all walks of life on here, you got one group and there is this group-think that prevails here. Like Nazi Germany, if you're different, your persecuted by cowards hiding behind a symbol or in this case 'Anonymous'.
You can have this orgy of ignorance.
Eric M. - Who will be having a drink a Governors around 4pm on the East side this afternoon for anyone who may want to know or show.
I love this place...
9:26 said...
There is a Federal Law called "Sarbanes - Oxley," and it states that every corporation must keep ALL emails FOREVER. Get is Chuck? Forever....period! If big companies can do it, then cities can do it also.
--------
Actually, Sarbanes-Oxley is about corporate financial management and the documentation that they must keep about financial data and there isn't one mention of local governments that I can see in the entire legislation but as Bob says the truth will come out...
"If big companies can do it, then cities can do it also." I love that tag line, that doesn't mean that they have to only that the writer would wish it so...
Because people can just make wild accusations and misquote the laws and make up stuff as they go along and as long as they sound like they don't have their head entirely up the ass people believe them...
I love this place...
10:50 said...
The city has said there are people complaining, but inspectors have testified that a lot of complaints come from city employees themselves, not the people in the neighborhood. If the city wants to take that position, then the landlords should ahve the opportunity to see who it is that is REALLY complaining.
-------
So that you can come after them like the bunch of ass hole bullies you are. Come on folks, you see it here all of the time. You come after me, and Thune and now you come after people who are willing to put up a Thune lawn sign - public humiliation for the crime of taking a sign now that is a classic chicken shit bully...
The problem landlords know how to stop the complaints they will attack the grandma who calls in and complains, they'll shut her ass up, they'll sue her to Tuesday and if she can't prove what she said, they'll make her spend her life savings on attorneys.
Property Rights above all - protect the wealthy...
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Eric RICO is only 1 part of the case. There are other parts of the case like civil right violations,fair housing and so on. It just goes to show me you really don't know much about the case.
I also talk to a lot of black tennants and they often tell me its very hard to find affordable housing they like around the city. And with all the the vacants the number of rentals are very few.
Oh and another thing Eric what do you think of Jesse Jackson and Al (Sharkton)? Aren't these two blacks who exploit their own?
If you were being targeted because who you do business with you'd sue too.
And Chuck said:
There is the other side of this issue which is Data Privacy. When Bob emails the City to complain about Bill's property, he is not putting that on the public record. He has the right to communicate with the government without his comments being made public. So, there are issues with how much information the government can share and its relevance to the case...
I say: Wrong Chuck!!The city is going to hand over all emails even with complaintants names for attorneys eyes only. Maybe you should show up for these hearings so you can get a clue!!
Bill Cullen weren't you the president of SPARL? Did the city like to work with landlords or against them? Do you think it was ever about code infractions? Where do you sit on this issue? Did you know anybody in these lawsuits? And if so were they slumlords?
I ask you because your kinda right in the middle and don't have a dog in this fight.
And I heard a poster say you sold all your St.Paul property. WHY?
Eric,
You are a real disappointment. First you call me a landlord - I am not. Just someone concerned about the wrong path the city has taken. Then you call me a coward when the city has closed all other avenues for complaint.
You defend the city in conducting the War Against Poverty. Fact is many landlords provide low income housing that would otherwise not be available.
Your hiding behind a mountain of racial talk is particularly disturbing. I have lived with racial issues all my life. I think a number of the racial issues are a disgrace to the United States, as is the pecking order, and I've taken significant actions.
You are not in the same league as Nathaniel Khaliq. You defending the sick actions of a sick city government is part of the problem, not the solution.
Hi All,
I want to thank Nancy L. for the "un-bias" truthful statement concerning the delima we are facing here in Saint Paul.
Your words are words I and others have spoken here many times and never had the ability to put such flavor in discribing the truth of our situation here in our city.
I think most of us know what the problem is. I believe part of the solution is to educate our children in public, charter and private schools on patrotism and civic responsibility. We need to educate them in the history of corruption and the lack of citizens involvement in our government that has lead to these problems.
This issue(RICOs)is the essence of all our social ills. Thank you to everyone who is contributing to this important subject.
Eric said- Fuck you and fuck this forum. Be sure if I knew who you were, you'd have the opportunity to say it to my face.
Bob, don't fool yourself, you don't have people from all walks of life on here, you got one group and there is this group-think that prevails here. Like Nazi Germany, if you're different, your persecuted by cowards hiding behind a symbol or in this case 'Anonymous'.
You can have this orgy of ignorance.
Eric M. - Who will be having a drink a Governors around 4pm on the East side this afternoon for anyone who may want to know or show.
11:08 AM
Hi All,
Eric has a right to be pissed off. Folks please do not use racial over tones here.
Eric is a highly valued poster here.
Please don't stop posting Eric, as you know many citizens of Saint Paul read here. I hope you draw upon your sense of responsibility and continue on with us.
I do take issue with you Eric claiming there is only one interest group here at this forum. The archives of this forum paint a different picture from what you are describing. The property rights advocates are the "dominating interest group" at this forum, and most of them are not plaintiffs in the law suits.
Eric: Sharon would meet you at Governors Bar, altho Sharon was sworn in as outside Guard of the Eagles Aire33 Auxillary, at 3rd & Maria, You are invited to meet Sharon with her evidence of City Hall Corruption for the past 30 years OK http://sharons-election2007.blogspot.com proof of tax's paid Blogger Bobby Johnson deserves the Blogging Award of the Year. Great respect,Thanks Title 26 501(c)3 public education. http://sharon4council.blogspot.com
In response to Chucks 11:09 comment.
I love this place too Chuck..
It is the ONLY place in Saint Paul we get issues not being talked about in our local media.
"We are on a truth seeking mission" at A DEMOCRACY. Chuck, this is a fact!
Up coming story notices-
Citizens on the east side claim they live in a war zone. They wonder why our local media isn't printing the enormous volume of crime taking place. They are begging for help!
A Family member of the Burgess homicide victims posted at A Democracy on the "Burgess Homicide" topic yesturday after all these months wondering why the police have not made any progress. The family wonders why the local media has abandon this story.
Wow,
It is amazing how ignorant the Citizens are.
Where do I start?
The City, by law (MN Chap 13, Minnesota Data PRactices Act...also known as Freedom of Information---FOIA) must keep a records and retention schedule. In that schedule they must show HOW they are managing the PUBLIC and PRIVATE data. The schedule must show how LONG certain data is retained. ANY member of the public has the right to access the public data...because that data belongs to US.
In a court case, FOIA does NOT apply. If a party objects to producing documents, then an "order for protection" must be asked for and granted by the court. The party seeking the documents can ask the court to review the document "in caners"...a fancy name for the judge gets to privately look at the documents and evaluate whether the documents are important evidence. The judge can also allow the documents to be used as evidence, but prevent the documents from becoming "public record".
The City of St. Paul is a municipal CORPORATION. They are a CHARTER city, but their charter cannot supercede statutes that concern ALL of the state Citizens...they cannot ignore MN Chap 13...and they cannot ignore the MN and U.S. constitutions.
The depth of Chuck's ignoranance is clearly apparent in his statement, "Property Rights above all - protect the wealthy..."
When Minnesota was a TERRITORY, before we could become a state, there had to be at least 500 PROPERTY OWNERS in each district. These PROPERTY OWNERS were necessary, so that we could elect delegates to the MN constitutional convention, so that MN could become a state, with a state constitution.
All of our rights are tied to property ownership. I can put an election sign, on MY property (freedom of speech), I can "live peacably" in my house, on MY property, I can grow crops, on MY property and sell them, thus determining my wealth, I can have sex in MY house, without the government interfering (right to privacy), I can have people over and have a party at MY house (freedom of association).
When a person RENTS my property, they are, in affect, "using" my property owner's rights. This is in the contract, whether a lease or implied.
The renter can now live peacably in MY house. They can have sex in MY house. They can have their friends over to MY house. The police cannot come into MY house, without a warrant and harrass the renters.
The renter is afforded the RIGHTS of the property owner, by contract, when they rent the property.
This is why I believe it is unlawful for the City to be a landlord. The City has no rights, the Citizens have rights. And since the City has no rights, the renters are not protected and secured their rights, as they are when they right PRIVATE PROPERTY owned by a CITIZEN.
It has been my argument, over and again, that people in the City do not obey OUR law.
And it is my argument that WE don't take care of the people in OUR communities.
There has always been and always will be a "group" of people that are "poor". The Pilgrims were poor...and the native people took care of these "poor white trash".
In the Declaration of Independence, we specifically cite the King creating war between the native people and the colonies...and that was a main reason we went to war with England.
The native people were crucial in helping is frame the U.S. constitution.
Thomas Jefferson, a slave owner was asked about freeing the slaves. His concern about a "mass release" of newly freed slaves was that these people would not be educated and would have no concept of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Jefferson educated each and every one of his slaves, and upon his death, they were all freed...and most did not want to live Jeffersons' home.
Originally, we had a good foundation. We knew how to work together as a community.
And then we became REALLY STUPID.
Yet, MOST IMPORTANTLY, we have no concept of WHO we are.
The "white people in power" saw fit to "publically educate" us. So we never learned what it means to be a Citizen...all of us became ignorant...white, black, red, yellow, green and purple.
Now we are all equally dumb.
And we have absolutely no control over those we have placed into public office.
Because we don't take responsibility to create a community on the block that we live on, we have no business calling ourselves a "self-governed people".
Instead, we label people
.."slumlord",
"nigger",
"honky",
"Uncle Tom",
"wetback"
and then we blame the problems on the people that we have labeled...and ask the "government" to fix it.
And when my family purchases a property in your messed up community, I have to deal with the stupid idiots that you elected to fix your problem.
By the way, my daughter, in the first week of when she moved in, knew the names of EVERY person surrounding the house, because she personally met them and invited them over to the house. Both she and I also know the "regulars" that walk by the house on the way to Como park...and the kids that come by know the name of my dog...actually the neighbors have helped find my dog when she decided to break her chain and go visit the people a few blocks away.
I'm doing my part to fix YOUR mess.
Someday you will get sick and tired of what you created and you will either leave St. Paul, or you will walk down the street in your block and finally start acting like a Citizen and rebuild your community.
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
And the black people in this city are being persecuted by the anonymous cowards who hide behind the city officials that do the dirty work Eric.....while you contribute to it by coming here and defending it and try to minimize it by deflecting the attention off to slumlords.....a tactic that has worked well for you and your political buddies for decades now. I'm sorry , but it is you sir who is headed for extinction because the city is no longer going to be run the way it has in the past. Count on it!
Your vieled threat about if you knew us, we could be sure to have the chance to say it to your face are nothing but the words of a desperaate coward. Be a man Eric.....learn to fight with facts and the truth, not your sublte intimidation.
I liked your 11:09 post Chuck but unfortunately a Federal Judge happens to have heard the evidence and said the city was wrong, so whatever spin you try to do here is moot. The court has spoken, and unlike you, they make their decisions on the facts as the law is applied to them. Bottom line Chuck is that the city destroyed evidence and they should not have done that. It was wrong, and now they are going to pay for it, we all are because it's going to cost money.
Eric makes the charge that most of the people here are property rights people and then uses that to make it seem unimportant like property rights is some kind of second class person. Obviously he doesn't understand that property rights is the cornerstone of every freedom we have and if it keeps getting eroded to the point where they no longer matter, then we will have nothing. Very shortsighted mindset in my opinion.
Like Nancy said it is amazing what some people think...
Nancy L said, "All of our rights are tied to property ownership."
Acually none of our rights are tied to property ownership. That was true spirit of the American Revelution. It was to stand up to the wealthy and powerful, the land barons of the time.
In the colonies the King was sovreign and all rights to the land belonged to the King and the King gave land grants to his wealthy friends, who then sold of the parcels. The King maintained the right at anytime to take the land back.
The American Revelotion made "We the People" sovereign, "the People" are King if you will. That is why if you read the fifth amendment to the constitution, there is the discussion of the "Right of Eminent Domain" it is the Right of "We the People" to take land back from the land baron to use as "We the People" deem fit.
The elected government is the representatives of "We the People." Not the land barons, not the rich and powerful and I don't have to own a crum of land to have the same rights as the biggest land baron.
So, Nancy and Bob you can keep shilling for your wealthy land barons, but I will keep reminding people that every citizen has the right to live in a safe environment and the wealthy and the powerful don't have any right to create hazards out of their properties.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
We have a right as citizens to be free of civil rights abuses.
This problem started with too much deadwood in the inspections department. All we need is for Chuck to stop listening to them, replace them with responsible and capable people, and give lengthy prison sentences to the ringleaders, we will have a start.
Chuck is right when he says:
the wealthy and the powerful don't have any right to create hazards out of their properties.
I would like to remind you Chuck that just because some people are deemed to be wealthy and powerful, it doesn't mean that they do ont have the right to an honest government and to be free from illegal government actions.
By the way, where in our Constitution does it back up your claim that:
"that every citizen has the right to live in a safe environment"
I can't seem to find it and wondering if you could help me out.
Chuck,
You call us the land barons. I am just an average guy trying to provide for my family.
I am tried of some crack head destroying my property and I can do nothing about it. Renters rights BS has to stop and property rights reform is needed now.
If all of the Chucks of the world had their way individuals would own no property. It would all be taken and given to nonprofit groups like Chucks.
Chuck I have had a very bad day and your BS today is really something. You are full of it. It is piled so high you need a shovel. I read some of your stuff during breaks today and I have to throw up. Where do you come up with this shit? What reality world do you live in?
You are through, you hear me through. Your buddy Thune is full of BS also.
You give lots excuses for the city. Chuck, when are they going to be held accountable?
I have lived and worked my whole life around W. 7th. You were full of BS then and you are still full of BS now. Chuck if you are ever in Mancini's I will give you an ear full, and that scooter boy Thune.
You two are some pasty Democrats. You are no Jack Kennedy Democrat that is for sure. Kennedy had guts and fiscal responsibility you and Dave are a bunch of chicken shits.
The Democrats of today just want to spread their social BS. I am not going to vote for Thune, I am not sure just who I am going to vote for yet, not Dave that is for sure.
Davie boy has got to go.
I am so tired of your BS.
Hard working Joe
When I was going through my ordeal with the city and the condemnation of my home I did recieve a return phone call from someone at the Justice Center ( I believe that is the organization that offered me help excuse me if I have the name wrong) that was more than eager to help me and represent me with the issues I was having... There was one problem and that was the time frame I was being given by the city before they were going to demolish the home, the Justice Center is very busy and stated that they are backlogged and would need more time then what I had.
As far as being a greedy landlord...the main use I had for the upper unit of my duplex was to house individuals (mainly of color) when they had no place to go, most of them were aquintances of my daughters that had a bad family situation and some were just being released from the Ramsey Co. workhouse with no place to call home. So I felt that just maybe by offering them a place to stay while they hopefully found a job and got back on their feet would be the boost they needed to stay out of trouble. I had both good and bad results from my efforts but thats to be expected. I also made police calls on some of the individuals if I found they had a warrant or one particular time I realized they had a stolen car near my home so I thought reporting them was the proper thing to do. I was also set up by an individual I gave a home to so he could get out of his troubles. Well the later effect of all that was used against me as police calls to the property to label it as a problem property. So helping individuals can be an added cost and risk with the added ingredient of Joel Johnston, Steve Magner and associates.
So please don't categorize everyone here and have some respect for the people that do care about other people. I have friends of color and a grandson that is half "Loas" to to call us all racist is not proper you do not know all of us on a personal level to state those remarks.
Nancy O.
Just for the record, and for Eric, I am also not a landlord. I live on the East Side and I am sick and tired of year after year the council aides, the block clubs, the poeple like Eric all tell us it's the landlord. This has been going on for 20 years and it is not the landlord. It is the police who say they cannot do anything about the liveability issues so they go to their fallback position of blaming the landlords. I do know my neighbors and most of them know the lanldords and I'm sick of seeing one landlord after the other leaving and selling to some greenhorn who goes broke the first time he has to change a lock and we wind up with another vacant building to look at. It's time for a different approach, this isn't working.
Hi All,
With in the next day or so, I will have an update on Nancy L.'s lawsuit against the city of Saint Paul.
First, I would like to apologize for all the "typos" in my last post.
Chuck, you write:
"I don't have to own a crum of land to have the same rights as the biggest land baron."
My great great grandfather was NOT a "wealthy land baron", yet he was one of the FIRST Citizens of this state. He was here when MN was a territory. It was because of HIS land ownership (and at least 499 others in his district) that we were allowed to become a state.
So, the ability of the people in the Territory of MN to define themselves as a state was completely dependant upon the number of LAND OWNERS...if we did not have enough LAND OWNERS, we could not become a state.
And if you are NOT a land owner, and you have not rented property from a land owner
...you are not allowed to have sex in the street
...your right of privacy is directly linked to land, upon which a building sits.
Chuck, are you saying that the "non-property" owners have the right to have sex on the sidewalk in front of your house?
No wait...I think that we should all go over to Chuck's house and exercise our right to free speech...
and put campaign signs on HIS property.
No, better yet, let's get some spray paint and put graffiti on the side of his house...after all, we will just be exercising our "rights".
Actually, I do think that these activities might just be allowed at the 4400 rental units that the City "owns"
...because the City is not a Private Citizen
...and would have no ability to exercise the rights, secured by the constitutions, over their property interest in the 4400 rental units
....the rights defined are for the CITIZENS, not "artifical entities", such as the municipal corporation known as the City of St. Paul.
I suggest the Citizens research the Minnesota constitution that states all the land is ALLODIAL.
When we became a state, ALL of the property was deeded to the United States, and the U.S. issued, back to the Citizens, LAND PATENTS.
The promise of land ownership was the bait that was used by the United States to get people to "settle the West".
My great great grandfather came to the territory of Minnesota, from Germany. He left his wife and four children back in Germany. Once he was established here, had gotten a sponsor for his Citizenship Petition, and we had become a state, he sent for his wife and children.
All four children died during the journey.
Chuck, at times you disgust me.
My great great grandfather lost his four children because he chose to come here, and to help build this area into the state of Minnesota. The United States begged and bribed people to get them to come to the territory of Minnesota.
How many children have you lost, while you were building a future for other people?
The original land owners paid a price so that "rights could be secured" through a constitution in the state of Minnesota.
And they were not "wealthy land barons".
Today, private land ownership is availbale to EVERYONE...but there is a PRICE.
If the community thinks that there are too many renters, then the community, the PEOPLE, should do something to convert renters into land owners.
From my experience with the gang members, land ownership is NOT what they want. In many cases the government (us) pay for their housing (section 8), we feed their children, we pay for their utilites and their medical care.
Hey, why would they even think about being responsible and becoming a "home owner"? You need to get a JOB to qualify for a mortgage.
If you get a job, then the AFDC, food stamps, free medical and reduced or free housing is cut off.
You'd be an IDIOT to give that all up, just to become a land owner.
Has anyone figured this out yet? We created this situation. You, me, your neighbor.
The solution isn't harrassing the landlords because their tenants are getting a free ride, on our backs(...and then making lots of tax-free cash selling drugs...).
The landlords didn't create this problem, the Citizens did.
And the Citizens are going to be the ones that find the solution...or live with the mess that they created.
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
The city is not harrassing landlords because their tenants are getting a free ride and making money selling drugs, they are harrassing the landlords because of the behavior issues of black tenants that white neighbors do not like. It has nothing to do with housing codes or fixing properties up. The City Council micro manages the code enforcement department to carry out the dirty deeds of the white neighbors and the racist Police Dept. who claim they can do nothing about the behavior issues...i.e. crime problem.
I'm not going to get too intillectual in explaining the city's motives.
They are an inept, bungling, mismanaged, nasty group of misfits.
Remember how Rondo Street was elected for the freeway construction because it was the path of least resistance. These yokels need someone to bully to keep their bureaucaracy bloated, so they've hit on "behavior problems" to help justify their own ineptness. The city council, a collection of the spineless and idiotic, has gotten in too deep.
It is interesting how quickly this group will turn on the poor once I suggest that they have the same rights as land barons.
Yup sure looks like the landlords were trying to protect the poor by renting substandard housing to them.
What a bunch of BS.
Lies, lies and more lies
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
It certainly seems like they have chosen the wrong people to fight with!
What sub standard housing Chuck? There was none. At least with some of these particular people. There were civil right violations though and I don't hear you say anything about that. The city "rigged" the court system in their favor and against the property owners and I hear nothing from you about htat either. They lied about code violations Chuck and you remain silent about it. Are we to think that you support this type of behavior? They destroyed evidence in an effort to cover it up, is that the kind of rules you want to live under? I don't hear you saying anything about what has been done, all I hear is slumlords and deteriorating houses, and a bunch of allegations that only you talk about. Is everyone in the city a liar but you?
Chuck,
You say:"Lies, lies and more lies"
What have I said that is a lie?
Do you own property? Does that make you a "land baron"?
Why do you stand for the abuses of the public officials? Why do you think that its "okay" for them to destroy evidence?
What have YOU done PERSONALLY to bring someone "out of poverty"?
Did YOU lend them your car so that they could get to a job interview? Did you make sure, once they got the job, that they could get to the job? Did you buy them a car, and pay for the insurance?
Yeah, right...talk is cheap.
How many times have YOU been shot at because you tried to get someone out of a gang?
Ask me these questions...I have MY answers...because I'm not afraid to be a CITIZEN.
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
Hey Chuck 11:19 PM
Hard Working Joe on 7th put it perfectly.
"I am so tired of your BS."
Not only is he tired of your BS, but WE are tired of your BS.
I as another Democrat that will not be voting for Dave Thune.
Uffda. Where to start?
Eric: You racists poverty pimps are using poor blacks to make money off of and when the city forces you to comply to minimum standards you try to complain like you have some concern for them.
Me: I know Eric is under attack here, so I will set aside the aggressiveness. However, both Eric and Chuck say this is a case of landlords exploiting the poor. Really?
Let me ask… Does everyone deserve access to housing? If yes, then who should house the families with drug, alcohol, mental illness or a history of disruptive behavior? PHA screens them out. Non-profits with their shinny new buildings and piles of tax-credits screen them out.
Private landlords have become the housing option of last resort. But, us private landlords have no skills and no gov’t money to deal with the burden of these broken families. Us landlords are recruited (Yes, recruited!) all the time by social service agencies to house broken families because no one else will. However, St. Paul has made it very clear to us landlords that if our tenants mis-behave there will be dire consequences for our business.
So, Eric, Chuck, Amanda, etc. You say we are exploiting the poor, but you offer no alternative housing for them. Where should these broken families live? Will you join us in condemning the government subsidized housing providers for not helping those most in need? If the subsidized housing providers housed the most difficult families, private landlords would have few problems. How can you not see it?
You guys also argue that St. Paul’s actions are about minimum housing standards. Then why do code enforcement officers (and their leadership) talk about occupant behavior? What does behavior have to do with safe housing? Don’t good and “bad” families deserve safe housing? Isn’t this really a way for St. Paul to use housing code as a weapon to manage which families are eligible for housing? What else could it be?
Chuck, the court was very clear that they did not care about the cities processes or procedures with regard to record retention. The lawsuit takes precedent and the city has an obligation to retain records. The court did talk about how e-mails could have very sensitive stuff in it. The court said that ONLY the attorneys can look at the e-mails and, I forget the legal term, but made it clear the confidentiality of the e-mails must be protected.
I was asked out here why I left St. Paul. I don’t want to bore anyone with details. Let me just say that it is very hard to be successful at any business when the power structure openly attacks your industry and they knowingly put in place inconsistent and unreasonable enforcement. Even though I never felt targeted, who needs that?
No dog in this race, Bill Cullen
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
The government today announced that it is changing it emblem from an Eagle to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the governments political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you a sense of security while your actually being screwed...
A little humor, have a great weekend.
Nancy O.
7:13 Bill you know me and you I have supported the effort of GOOD private landlords to provide quality housing to the poor and or lower income people in Saint Paul and have done that for over thirty years.
But you know some of the ass holes that are in the law suit. I tried to get you to buy one of the buildings that one of those jerks own. Little or no maitainance done on the building, we work to get one drug dealer out and the ass hole puts another drug dealer in. The place is so bad I couldn't get you to buy it WITH MY MONEY!!
Property values go down in the area and that is F---ING good news to him because that means he can just buy more trash cheaper.
They make there living on the margins and that is why they hate the inspectors and the cops. They go CRAZY when inspectors would follow behind on a police raid because the would find that attics were rented out with only one access door or the only access being in someone elses unit. And basements rented out as living units with no egress windows.
Yup there a great bunch doing good things for the poor.
Someone asks what I have done, well I have spent over thrity years working WITH good landlords to develop quality housing in Saint Paul. I have gotten them access to financial assistance to rehabilitate problem properties into quality affordable units. And the City didn't "steal them" (I can hear the morrons already) we worked with the private parties to do site assembly (spending real money) so that properties could be repaired.
And Nancy when you get into the personal assistance stuff you don't know anything about my private life so kiss my ass. I grew up on the West Side of Saint Paul and have dealt with those kinds of personal relationship issues my entire life - so cram it.
I also worked in counseling with men in the corrections system from 1974-1989. Back in the day when we as a society actually tried to assist men in trouble with the law to make it in society. For a while I supervised the counseling staff in a half way house of men comming out of prison and helped them with relocation issues around housing and employment. Got to know the people who liked the work of this list then - they would love to be able to cram a half a dozen of my guys into one of theire places and charge them each $500. $600 a month mortgage on the dump and $3,000 of income coming in from six offenders - cash flows good doesn't it? Pricks like that would love the work of the advocates here.
So, I have seen this shit for a long time. Like I said in an earlier post, you're all great advocates of the poor when you can exploit them to your own advantage, but when I started talking about that one doesn't get their rights through being a land baron it started a delugue of rants against the poor.
The true colors of the advocates of bad housing for the poor come out pretty quick here.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Chuck,
Your totally lost. I heard Cullen ask who should house the behavior problems,so called drug dealers and pimps if the St.Paul if Police won't arrest them and put them in jail?
Chuck said:
But you know some of the ass holes that are in the law suit. I tried to get you to buy one of the buildings that one of those jerks own. Little or no maitainance done on the building, we work to get one drug dealer out and the ass hole puts another drug dealer in. The place is so bad I couldn't get you to buy it WITH MY MONEY!!
I say:
Wow!! Isn't this the policy of St.Paul and why they are being sued? Forcing sales and giving people like Wally Nelson and groups like yours money and special treatment.
Chuck isn't it funny that most people in poverty in St.Paul are of color and create the most crime?
Our people of color are the people in poverty and resort to crime to supplement their government programs they are on.
And Chuck whats a bad landlord? Torn screens, peeling paint, a burned up car in a parking lot, rotten wood, crubbling foundation,missing screens, and so on? If that is then you and Thune are bad landlords and home owners because I just decribed your houses.
So lets cut through the BS and agree its not the building but whos in it. Lets quit saying we need safe housing then start saying this slumlord is renting to a drug dealer.
One last questio Chuck shouldn't the citizens of St.Paul be mad at our city government for allowing these drug dealers and behavior problems walk on our public streets? Don't these same individuals spend money on buses and other government ran businesses? Don't these same people even get money from our good old government? So in the end lets shut down Divas lets shut down landlords and who knows whos next for doing legal transactions with the people the city allows to walk along our streets we pay for.
Yours truely,
Tim Ciani
I'm disapointed in you Chuck. You are smart enough to know that the issues involving the lawsuit have nothing to do with exploiting tenants or making housing safe. It's going to very interesting watching this lawsuit play out in front of a jury, because the only defnese of the city is slumlord, bumlord, safe housing, public saftey, etc. and it's all a bunch of bullshit and it is not going to wash with a jury that has any intelligence at all. The city is using the housing code laws to adddress behavior and crime issues that the police cannot agther enough evidence on to arrest people, so they go through the back door and get rid of these people in a different way where they think they can violate the tenants rights and get away with it. This city doesn't give two hoots about poor people living in safe housing or what the neighbors have to put up with in dealing with problem tenant behavior. It's all about politics, money and getting re-elected. They have been going after landlords for 20 years now Chuck and things get worse every year. Don't you think it is time for a change in strategy?
WELL SAID 9:16..
Timmmmy (or whoever you are - it is a pretend name) Bill and I have had this discussion before about the need for the State go back to the policies of the 1960's and 70's that actually worked in dealing with behavior issues.
Here are a couple of quick points. We need to get rid of determinate sentencing. That was the "get tough of crime" effort of the late 70's that said "if you do the crime you do the time." What it never mentioned is when you are done, you're done. Which means the bad guys are back on the streets with no supervision. There was a time where a guy did a crime, did 6-9 months in jal and then was on parole and had a P.O. for 5-10 years. A long time of supervision a short time locked down. Now they do 12-18 months and are supervised on the street for 3-6 months. We don't have a parole board and no ability for a PO to slam them if they are screwing up. Also, there is no longer any reward in the prison system for working hard in prison. Guys use to get out early if they got there GED or got a skill, now they get the same good time if they just don't knife someone.
And folks we need to have mental health facilities to house the mentally ill. Now, I know that this might scare a few of our regular posters, but there are people who just can't manage their meds as well as you do and get victimized out here in the real world. So, until the world becomes a happier place... we need a place for those who have long term chronic mental health issues to live.
And we need long term chemical dependancy treatment!!! This goes hand in hand with an end to determinate sentencing. Give me that guy with the drug addiction who gets busted and give him two options a long stint in the work house or a 120 Day treatment program. Give these guys a long enough time that they can get clean and then finish their time in sober houses, and if they have a relapse - start them all over again.
Now, the issue is always money, but as my English mother would say we are penny wise and pound foolish. In the long term the cost we have seen skyrocket because we decide to get "tough on crime" instead of fixing the criminal.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
I'm saving my vacation time so I can attend this trial when it comes. I know these gys are telling the truth cause the city did the same thing to me, but I didn't have the money to sue them. The only justice I am going to get is having the satisfaction of watching these guys kick the ass of the city. I can't wait to meet them.
Using Chuck's logic, we have a building in Highwood that was in the news yesterday. A woman was raped for over 45 minutes and this was captured on video.
She yelled for help, people walked by and did NOTHING!
Over 10 people were captured on video watching what was going on and doing nothing. Now the individual who committed the crime is saying he did not do it. Pictured don't lie buddy.
So using Chuck's logic about behavior, is this the buildings fault.
Did this building rape this woman.
Did this building prevent these people from calling the police.
Yeah, sure it is Chuck, it is the building's fault.
We should now put this building through code compliance to address these behaviors problems Chuck?
I have a better idea, lets fine the individuals who did nothing to help. Lets throw this bum in jail for assaulting this woman.
BTW
About a month ago, my mother was rushed to the hospital by SPFD. As they were coming to take her to the hospital, SPFD personal walked by our garage and the door was open. It seems they were more concerned with the contents of the garage than helping my mother. She got a visit several days later from animal control asking to see the two cats my brother has in the garage. There he saw two very well taken care of cats in an enclosed exercise area. These cats had an area of 20' x 16' to run and play. The area was clean as it always is. It had a fan and wood and water. You see my brother does not let his cats run around the neighborhood, he is a responsible cat owner who cares about his cats and respects his mother who cannot have cats in the house because of her health. The cats so south during the winter. What still pisses me off is that the SPFD turned us in for being responsible cat owners instead of doing their primary job of taking care of people. Now they are code compliance officers.
Mom is ok.
What are we going to do with you Repke? We smoke your ass good and you just rise up from the ashes like some kind of godamn "Pheonix" with a whole new spin, and this time you even seem to have a heart. I find myself thinking I could like you even. You just drive me crazy Repke.
Hi All,
WOW, Chuck. You really struck a nerve with me.
In the future I will be doing a story on crime and punishment "now and then" in Minnesota.
I have a feeling we will stand together on this debate. :-)
I will be giving folks some personal insight into my lifes experiences.
9:43, sounds like your mother had an encounter with the gestapo.
Tim Ciani once again bringing people together.
But Chuck you didn't answer the question: If St.Paul police won't throw these gangbangers,behavior problems tenants, and drug dealers in jail who will house them? Are they better on the streets where we can't find them if a crime was committed or in that corner house so the police know where to go when crimes are committed?
Why can the city of St.Paul make money off these people and even give them money but a private landlord can't?
Chuck are you and Thune a slumlord with all your code defeciencies?
And Chuck you were in the jail system, right? What was the racial make up in jail. Mostly minorities, right? So when the City targets behavioral problems don't you think the Blacks are taking the lion share of the targeting?
With Respect,
Someday you will know who I am,
Tim Ciani
Chuck said:
And folks we need to have mental health facilities to house the mentally ill. Now, I know that this might scare a few of our regular posters, but there are people who just can't manage their meds as well as you do and get victimized out here in the real world. So, until the world becomes a happier place... we need a place for those who have long term chronic mental health issues to live.
Chuck, Let's not just jump quickly through mental health issues. These include large numbers of people and are vastly expensive.
A chair of the Senate's Labor and Human Resources Committee described it as, "It is a national disgrace when we know what to do and we don't do it"; and "All they want is simple justice".
Let's make sure that they are actually chronic before we dismiss them. We have modern knowledge and cannot responsibly act like we are still in the stone age. We also cannot let the bureaucrats continue to drain our society with false cures and pleas.
We need:
PROFESSIONAL,ACCURATE and UP-TO-DATE diagnosis, as quickly as possible before these hidden conditions cause maximum disruptions.
Adequate money for research. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure here.
An adequate environment and correct direction so people can rebuild their lives and become productive citizens.
Accountability of government workers, with the elimination of immunity.
Education about these conditions, to minimize the old stigma (our culture has a history of persecution).
Reform of a dinasaur system.
Bob, this issue affects everyone. This is so big that properly selected postings generate much more interest than the RICO cases.
FOR RENT
xxx E Margaret
$1,300.00 per month. tenant pays all utilities
All "Manics" Welcome
612-xxx-xxxx
Thanks 10:56 AM
11:39, I agree there are many subjects that will stimulate conversation here.
The RICOs are important. Council woman Lantry doesn't think it fitting a man who has a 5 year old felony conviction has a right to housing. This is telling of the mind set of the past and present DFL administrations of this city.
Same thing in Minneapolis. A well known civil rights activist in Mlps. has 2 felony convictions over 25 years old and he was having trouble finding housing.
I know a number of people with very old felony records who have trouble finding housing. This city council has created and supported this atmosphere in which rental property investors fear giving anyone with troubles in their past a second chance.
While Chuck talks these wonderful things of what we should be doing to repair the foundation of broken people from broken families he comes here in defense of people who support oppression.
Housing plays a big role in the crime rate in the city and this city council and the past council have not assumed strong leadership roles. Instead they have displayed WEAK leadership roles and instead played the blame game on innocent businessmen for the social ills that fall upon their door steps.
It is easy to demonize a landlord for housing a criminal. Or the businessman of the corner store for selling rolling papers, or blame the bar owner for the thugs that wonder into his establishment.
It's cheaper to oppress innocent people than it is to investigate, apprehend, convict, and house criminals. Just keep on chasing them around. Removing their housing and letting the mass majority go un-prosecuted for their crimes. These present policies of going after housing to fight crime is STUPID and is creating an us and them mentality from citizens good and bad.
11:39 - what we had in the 1960's and 70's that we don't have now is case workers who were assigned to people. It was a mental health worker for those with mental health issues, it was a PO for corrections clients and it was a case worker for the person on welfare.
I am old enough to remember that when someone was on genreal assistance they had someone who would come out to the house to see how well they were managing. They were able to bring in child protection if the person was not capable of taking care of their children or if their life style was endangering them.
But that cost a lot of money... this system works so much better now...
And Timmmy boy... the issue on this stuff is that there are multiple layers of government who all have diferent issues and motivations when it comes to behavior issues. The City just wants it to not occur in its borders, they don't have the courts, they don't have a workhouse or a prison, those things are beyond the authority of the City.
And Bob what the RICO suits do is link two unrelated events to the same occuance and determine them to be cause and effect. Its like global warming being linked to the lack of pirates in the Caribean. The world's temperatures have been going up since the 1870's which is the same time as the last pirates in the Caribean...So, obviously getting rid of the pirates made the Earth's temperature go up.
Its the same thing with the inspections and behavior issues. The fact is that the buildings that house some of the worst actors have some of the worst code issues. The landlords say that it is because there are bad actors that the City writes me up for code issues. They claim that they wouldn't have been writen up but for the bad actors. They have no facts to back it, much like the lack of pirates causing global warming.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Chuck,
I kept one of those tin foil hats you were passing out to everyone last year.
I was into the 3rd sentence of your statement about the Caribbean, pirates, and global warming and I put it on. It worked great.! Your spin hasn't made me dizzy at all.
Thanks!
But they do have those facts Chuck and both you and the city are going to be in fro a hell of a suprise when they come out.
Here's a settlement offer: We forget about the whole thing as long as Sharon Anderson gives Bill Dahn a blumpkin.
Here's a btter one: $100,00,000.00 and Sharon & Bill are "Policy Directors" for the city.
Wow,
It is amazing how many people want government to "fix the problem".
I am wondering who these people with mental health issues are, that we need to "take care of"? Are you talking about addicts?
Chcuk, you say: "And we need long term chemical dependancy treatment!!!"
Does that include fat people that are addicted to McDonald's?
Are we required to treat their mental illness
..addiction to food..so we longer have to see their fat as..es in our streets?
...should we make extra wide seats on the buses to accomodate their illness?
...yeah, that's what we need..more help from the government.
Chuck, did you know that the "recovery rate" of people that have "gone through treatment" is virtually identical to those "addicts" that have "recovered" without "treatment"?
A person does not change their behavior until that person makes a CHOICE to change their behavior.
We put people in jail because they made the choice to put drugs into their bodies....how about putting fat people in jail?
Fat people put things into their bodies that harm them.
And we can pay for "long term treatment" for the fat people, so that they can learn that it is not good for their bodies to eat 10 Happy Meals a day from McDonalds...we can teach them to "just say no".
Come folks, let's get the government to fix all of our problems...we can have the government "clean up our neighborhoods" by making the government the landlord over ALL the rental units
...and then we can have the government discriminate against fat people...no fat people in public housing
...I mean, look, it's disgusting what they are doing to their bodies
...we need a community free of fat people.
....you know, obesity is a DISEASE.
..just like "chemical dependency" is a disease
...and we can't treat people suffering from diseases differently
...all addicts...sugar junkies to pot heads...we must treat them equally.
We have choosen to live together in a society.
And within this society we have established certain rights, that each of us have.
These rights include LIBERTY and the pursuit of happiness.
So, we are free (have liberty) to make ourselves happy...as long as we do not disturb another person's rights.
The answer to much of the crime in the streets is to de-criminalize the illegal drugs.
Oh, crap...I'm going to hear it now.
Okay, then I think we need to make french fries illegal...and white sugar.
Oops...we would have put Lantry in jail, and then get her into treatment
...you see drug addicts can sometimes hide their addiction
...but anyone can see Lantry , well anyone can see she needs help
...somebody help her
...can't you see how she is destroying her body with too many french fries?
Grow up folks, the government is NEVER going to fix our "problems"
...people will ALWAYS do things to their bodies that harm themselves.
We only have the "right" to regulate "them" when their actions harm us.
It is choice that we, individually and as a whole, respect other people, that allows us to be self-governed.
Restrictions by the government, by design, in this country, should only against people that violate those rights secured by our constitutions.
In other words,
If I murder someone, I have denied that someone their right to life...and it is upon this government to punish me.
But when I eat too many french fries, I have harmed no one, in my pursuit of happiness...as I have chosen what makes me happy
...french fries.
Now, I can get stinking drunk in my home...using a mind altering drug..alcohol.
And you have no authority to stop me.
If I get drunk, in public, and I disturb you...then I have violated your right to your happiness...and I should be punished.
And if I get drunk, and take my car down the road and kill someone, or smash into a house...then must be put in jail...not for "drunk driving"... but because I chose to get drunk, to drive impaired, and my choices harmed someone.
But, it is apparent that the people in St. Paul have no concept of this whole self-government thing that we decided upon.
Because the people in St. Paul elected a city council that believes the "voice of the people" is that the people want the government to fix things with ordinances and regulations.
So...renters cannot chose to "live in a dump"
....All renters must pay higher rent so that they live in "palaces".
And instead of holding the obnoxious drunk people accountable for their behavior...we'll punish the landlords for renting to drunks...oh, and be sure to make it a law that all renters have to take drug tests before they can rent a house or apartment in the city of St. Paul.
We reason that we don't do these things against people, is because, when we do, we loose the power to govern ourselves.
Sorry, folks, I'm not willing to give up my right to self-government.
Next thing you know, you'll be trying to regulate my garage sale...or the church bake sale...stay out of my business...and I'll respect your rights, as well.
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
It will be far different a year from now. The people will properly be in power. Bill Dahn will be in charge of condemned houses. The insulation inspection police will all wear tin hats. Repke and Thune will be protesting their house demolitions. Sharon Anderson will be mayor. The city cars will all be replaced by second hand bicycles, which was necessary to pay the landlords.
What do all these crazy posts have to do with the Sanctions hearing and the city destroying evidence? Who gives a damn about drunks in the strret or fat people?
Go to the next crazy case that has been posted!
Chucky boy,
Still waiting on the response of are you and Thune slumlords or not?
And who should house all the bad actors in St.Paul if The city can't keep them out? Are you saying that the landlord is the last person that could keep these bad actors out?
Maybe I'll start asking one question at a time so you can't dodge them.
Your friend,
Timmy Boy
From your own lines of thought Timmy, you mean who will house all of the 'black people' in this town?
The reason that the City came against the Landlords is because the City wanted the Landlords to control the behavior of their tenants
....it is IN there
...READ the complaint
...READ the evidence
The City attempted to destroy the EVIDENCE of their motives and actions...of using the landlords to control the behavior of the tenants.
Sorry, I thought people already understood these basic concepts.
My posting concerning drunks and fat people was to illustrate that what the city did to the landlords can happen to anyone, including fat people...and I like to eat my french fries, thank you.
The problem with the city officials is just a reflection of the ignorance of the Citizens of St. Paul.
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
Humor For The Day
City council member Thune and mayor Coleman were talking about the Republican convention and Thune asked the mayor, “How many political prisoners do you have?”
The mayor responds, “We don’t call them political prisoners.”
Thune responds, “What do you call them?”
The mayor replies, “Citizens”
The other day down at city hall during a city council meeting was going on and the following was overheard by two citizens talking in the gallery.
“Wow, that guy over there is a real hunk.” The other person says, “Yeah, and after you’ve talked to him for five minutes you’ll realize what he’s a hunk of.”
Chuck I'm still waiting for a response. When you cut all the B.S. and stop beating around the bush and ask Chuck simple one line questions he can't answer them.
Tim Ciani
I wonder why Chuck won't answer Mr.Ciani.We all know where Chuck wants them to live.Come on Chuck answer Tim.
St.Paul Landlord
The reason Chuck doesn't answer is because there is bad blood between the two of them. Ciani is the guy who took the photos of Thunes house falling all over the sidewalk and put them on the internet for all to see. Chuck and Thune are buddies, so go figure.
Chuckie where are you?
Well I believe Chuck has left the building. Or Thune won't let him answer.
A REFRESHING ALTERNATIVE TO PROPERTY RIGHTS
I recently had an uplifting experience in learning about the Pacific Legal Foundation (PCL). A representative is taking a look at St. Paul's property rights situation for possible involvement.
WHAT IS PLF?
Founded on March 5, 1973, Pacific Legal Foundation is America's trusted champion of constitutional rights, fighting and winning decisive actions in the courts of law and the court of public opinion to rescue liberty from the grip of government power. PLF fights for the values embodied in our constitutional form of government. These values define this nation and distinguish it from the many failed governments that have sullied human history.
In short, PLF imposes on government agencies the discipline of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. PLF's cause is to fight for the principles of liberty that will preserve this nation's greatness for future generations.
WHY WAS PLF FORMED?
The American War of Independance has never ended - and it never will! History has taught that the agents of government are naturally hostile to freedom of choice by individuals, left to their own devices they succumb to an innate tendency to repress individual liberty.
It is the moral obligation of all citizens of a free society to ensure that the power granted to our government is not misused to restrict the very liberty it is supposed to defend. PLF exists to give each of us the ability to live up to that responsibility. If we don't prevail, our status as free individuals will whither as government commissions, agencises, and wayward courts wield their power with no appreciation of the responsibility that political power entails.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY DOES PLF ACCOMPLISH?
When PLF wins, government bureaucrats, regulators, politicians, and wayward courts who misuse their authority lose. And when they do, they must:
* Compensate landowners whenever they "take" or devalue private property for the benefit of the public good.
* Allow property owners their "day in court" to defend their right to use and reasonably enjoy their property.
* Abolish environmental regulations and policies that endanger or degrade human values or unnecesari;y deny the reasonable use of private property.
* Manage public lands and natural resourcers responsibly.
* Limit the exercise of political powers to the strict limits set by the Constitution and the laws of our society.
PLF regularly pursues well over 200 cases in over 30 states, with legal defense of private property rights accounting for the vast majority of PLF's litigation.
For further information, you can visit PLF on the web at www.pacificlegal.org, or call the headquarters in Sacramento California at (800) 847-7719.
I will sign my entry as "anonymous". I post this way because I know the City Attorney regularly monitors this site. The Founding Fathers would understand. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "People in small boats should stay close to shore."
I love it....anyone want build a "bigger boat"? It looks like "PLF" has some oars...no, some outboard motors.
Nancy Lazayan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
St Paul is going to keep this thing going until it is out of control and they have everyone suing them. They should have settleed this lawsuit long ago and stuck the blame where it belonged, but no what happens? Lantry and Thune let their egos get in the way because they can't even imagine having to give money to a landlord, so they create the mess they have now with a dozen people suing them, and more lining up. Now the blame will stick to them.
PLF has been around for awhile. Most of these large scale "property rights" groups are formed to fight against the Public's Right of Eminent Domain. They are largely funded by the oil companies. There is a group here in Minnesota that fought to change the state law and make it harder for the public to be able to force the cleanup of blighted properties.
Why the oil companies spend millions on this is that when the government "we the people" take back old industrial land from the polutors the law requires the oil compainies to still be responsible for polution clean up.
Much of the hype that you all get about the "rights" the land has - and I am sorry Nancy the founding fathers gave no rights to land other than "we the people's" right to buy it back at a fair price. The fifth amendment...
And Timmy I am not a slum lord and bad actors have nothing to do with problem properties other than people who do poor maintenance and don't give a shit attract them.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
11:39 PM
Chuck, I have seen personally how the "Government" will try and use the system to bring the price of the land down to a rock bottom price. We saw this recently in South St. Paul and the list goes on. This practice is wrong!
Chuck, we all work hard for what we have. It is not right the government can just walk in and take your property you worked hard to pay taxes and keep in good order. Then the government says it is only worth below market value. This is not new news Chuck. The city of St. Paul is not a friend of the property owner.
Chuck, Timmy C. has a point, where are all of these people going to live? Do you suggest another Swede Hallow?
I kept up my properties. I rented to a poor renter that was referred by a social agency. The DFL states that you have to help your neighbor help them out, but when I went to kick this person out the law was on their side. I, the property owner had no "rights". What I was left was about $2,500.00 in damages and three months of back rent. The social agency that referred this woman to me called me up a short time later and wanted to send over another renter. What do you think a said to them (Not printable even for this Blog)?
I can see Bob's point, these people need housing, but the property owners need laws that also protect their property and not the other way around. Tearing down buildings is not the answer, addressing the BEHAVIOR is the individuals who rent is what is needed to correct this problem.
Chuck, where does Scooter Dave stand on giving property owners better laws with more leverage in dealing with poor renters?
Maybe you and Andy Hine can work on this for Scooter Dave.
What Scooter Dave should be doing instead of working against these property owners is should be working with them to address the housing shortage for this segment of the population. Chuck, remember it is not the building that causes people to act in an inappropriate manner, it is the people. Their behavior needs to be changed. Just moving them to one part of town or to the next town is not the answer to addressing behavior issues.
8:23, if Benjamin Franklin were here with us, he'd invite that little hottie of a city attorney to join us here.
How about it Ms. Seeba, come join us? You can post anonymously. Bob doesn't even have a way of knowing who anonymous posters are.
Chuck,
I read your DISMISSIVE comments about PLF, and I disagree.
In fact, PLF has been in the Supreme Court a number of times. Maybe the Supreme Court should hear about Moermond, Magner, Lantry, and Wally Nelson.
Chuck Said?
And Timmy I am not a slum lord and bad actors have nothing to do with problem properties other than people who do poor maintenance and don't give a shit attract them.
Chuck you and I know the city addresses behavior problems using the building code.They are using the code to rid the tenant.
I'll try not to confuse you so you can answer the questions and stop dodging them.
Question 1:
Where should these bad actors live?
And don't tell me you don't care or anywhere but St.Paul.
And Chuck I think if poor maintenance means slumlord then you and Thune are due to the fact you have poor maintenance.
Do we need photos?
Timmy
Timmy C. and Bob J.,
Keep the photographs coming.
Can Bob post ALL the photos that he had posted on SPIF before he banned from SPIF? Maybe have a link to Dave’s house, the house on Colborne and the property on 7th and possibly Chuck’s property. I know Bob only posted a few of the many photos you had recently. The new roof on 7th without building permits looks interesting. Dave’s property on 7th was particularly interesting with all the work that was done without building permits. The washing machine and trash outside this building was nice also. The unfinished construction and exposed electrical wiring and bricks falling out were great to see. Do you have any pictures of Andy Dawkin’s property in the frog town neighborhood?
Look at the city record for Dave’s building on 7th and you will also see that renters have in the past complained about the place being is disrepair.
Disrepair???????
HA HA
The city website says bricks were falling out ofthe building and hitting people on the head!
Note to the Pacific Legal Foundation:
One thing that bothers me is that the city is tearing down a number of peoples' houses without compensation. I believe this is wrong.
What the people get is a empty lot with a hole it it and a $20,000 lien for the privilege of having the city tear down the structure.
To All...but, especially Chuck...
I have a glimmer of hope that people posting on this blog have the ability to actually use that mass of cells between their ears.
I am extending a personal invitation to Chuck...to sit down with me, one on one, and I will prove that what I have been saying about the Law is correct.
Chuck, you bring your evidence, and I'll bring mine.
Here's the hook...if we "do this", and I'm right...will you, Chuck, be man enough to change your position and support our Law?
If you have the actual evidence to back up what you have been saying, then I am woman enough to change my position.
My hope is that you have the balls to have this meeting with me. If you don't, I will let everyone on the blog know that you are a coward.
Contact me at my email:
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
Nancy Lazaryan
OK - I guess I am responding to several posters. First, to those who continue to get sport out of attacking Thune, he is, has been and always shall be supportive of trying to assist landlords in being able to remove problem tennents.
Also, I have put the challange to this list before to find anyone who has had orders to repair or remove a house in Ward 2 (where there wasn't a report of a meth lab) that Thune didn't support an extention of time. I have done that several times and with all of the hostiles on the list one would think you could have found one damn house by now...
So, if Thune always or at least almost always gives extentions to home owners to give them time to comply, (or at least more than anyone else on the council)and if Thune worked in the old housing office and assisted people in emergencies (so, he knows a little about this stuff) and if Thune has had his own properties writen up and had to go through the same shit as anyone else, why the F is it that people on this list attack Thune? I don't get it.
Tell me who on the Council votes more toward your liking regarding not demoing properties than Thune?
Thune is a historic preservation zellot. He hates seeing buildings demo'ed, so someone explain it to me.
I just don't think anyone actual pays attention to how they vote on these issues as a hole you only maintain your hostility towards DFL'ers and that is all you need to know.
And Nancy, let me check the schedule and we'll set something up.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
At the city council meeting I was at, not one council member, including Thune, voted for any Citizen.
Chuck, Does that mean we have a deal? Will you change your position if I prove to you, by evidence, that what I am saying about the law is correct?
Nancy Lazaryan
nancylazaryan@gmail.com
Just checking in on my friends laptop, so I odn't ahve a lot of time, but if I were you Nancy L, I wouldn't have any kind of meeting with Repke. He's all washed up around here. No credibility. Who cares what he thinks?
And as for you Mr Johnson, you would od good to keep your nose in your own business. Your reference to my social activites and if I am a drunk or not is none of your business, so bug out man.
I be back to deal with you Repke when I get home tonight.
Nancy said, "At the city council meeting I was at, not one council member, including Thune, voted for any Citizen."
Do realize how arrogant that statement is? I have been involved in one level or another government or politics for thirty-five years the people I have met in government service truly want to do what is best for the citizens.
On the problem property issues these elected officials hear from citizens every day begging them to get tougher on problem properties. I have gotten the calls of the seniors who are watching their life saving go down the drain because someone won't take care of their property.
And, you stand up there and pretend to know the law, insult them and their staff, threaten to sue the City and claim that they don't vote in the interest of the citizens...
I get so tired of this right wing drivel that the government is made up of people that hate the citizens... We are the government. The people who serve in government are you and I and they have a motivation to public service.
I have posted here before when Thune first got on the council he chaired the committee that dealt with problem properties and he instituted the policy that required the inspectors to video tape abatements so that the council could see what was removed, to make sure that citizens weren't being screwed... we would still have people saying the camera lied.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Now look it here Repke, I can't have you lurking around here spreading bad information. You're a DFL mouthpiece Repke and we all know that they tell you what to say. I'll bet you have concersations with Thuney boy every day to fins out what the nexrt move is. You're finished Repke, you're day has come and gone my friend. There aren't going to be any more projects in St Pual cause they are broke. Ya hear me Repke....broke.....as in a table that's missing a leg....broke broke broke, and that my friend mean your are finsished in the non profit busines. No money.....+ no non profit.....=no Repke. Ya got it...finsihed......history....as in yesterdays news Rpke.....all over and doen/////the fat lady is singing the song right noew. There's a bif sucking sound by my apartment Repke and ya know what it is? It's all your non peofit money getting sucked right out of town.....it's heading east and it's gonna pass you right up. I suggest you board the first bus to Owatanno Repke and see if you can find worjk.
Repke,
I see you answering all these questions that know one ask. I would really like to hear you answer who is supposed to house the bad actors?
Does anyone else see Chuck not answering this simple question?
Tim
Tim, I don't care who houses the bad actors as long as they don't act badly. Good landlords don't tollerate bad behavior and evict bad tennants. (Yes, before anyone writes it, I know what a bitch it is to get rid of bad tennants, I own rental property too!)
In my office is the East Team police substation that the officer who works with landlords that have issues. There are all sorts of good landlords that run into problem tennants and he has to talk them through the eviction process. I have seen them come into the office frustated and upset with what has occured on their property.
But then, there are your friends Timmy who view the bad actors as an avenue cash payments, and no requests for repairs or updates to the property. They want the landlord to stay away and they pay cash.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Tim,
You can relax. If Repke loses his argument with Nancy L. his mouth will be required to meet code compliance.
Cash payments and no requests for repairs? It is becoming very obvious to me Repke that you don't even recognize a "niche Market" when you see one, and that may make you a bad business man. It's no wonder you are washed up, finished, and expired, and way outdated. It's all over Rpeke. You're in a free fall my firend, and the bottom is not too far away. I never realized you are a landlord too. You'll loose your property in a matter of just a few months. I am very disappointed in you Chuck. I may have to even stop responding to your posts you are so rediculous.
CHUCK SAID:Tim, I don't care who houses the bad actors as long as they don't act badly. Good landlords don't tollerate bad behavior and evict bad tennants. (Yes, before anyone writes it, I know what a bitch it is to get rid of bad tennants, I own rental property too!)
I say:
So its the landlords responsibility to teach and make tenants act a certain way?WOW,maybe we should get rid of the police and put one on each corner.
As soon as landlords start telling tenants how to act. They will be sued.
So Chuck whats a bad actor?
Minorities in white neighborhoods?Saggy pants,thug talking,what?
Because if its something illegal the police would arrest them, right?
-Shouldn't we be mad at the city council and the mayor for not hiring enough cops to police these criminals?
And another thing Chuck you always talk about how property values are dropping because of what is happening next to a house. Did you know that a house loses value if a minority family moves next to it?What should the city do then? Wait they already do---Forget it!
I don't think any home owner should bitch about the house values.We've all have seen triple digit increases. Must be greed.
Timmy Boy
Chuck don't you remember the good days?
I'll explain.
In the good ol' days, minorities knew their place and where they could move and couldn't move. It kept everything nice and neat. Now, who knows who's going to buy that house down the street?
This is because of decades of liberal policies now you want to complain when they mess up your neighborhood or take over your bar (Diva's).
Think about it Chuck.
Timmy Boy
No, I find it offensive too but the only person that can knock it down around here is Bob.
I'm not going to have these guys driving past my house, posting the address and photos on the internet and threatening my family.
B.C.
5:46, the ONLY threats I have ever seen here were from the City of Saint Paul. I recommend that people with something to say against the City of Saint Paul use an alias here to protect yourself from a housing code compliance. This is the city's favorite form of retaliation.
5:46, I challenge you to name a single plaintiff in the RICO suit who threatened anyone. You can't, because it didn't happen. So this means you are lying in an attempt to discredit this blog because you fear the truth.
As for Tim's statements. Like I said in the past. "We are on a truth seeking mission". I too felt the statement was racist.
In the past whenever black people have established large numbers of citizens in a neighborhood of the city it wasn't long before the city would come in and gentrify the neighborhood. They done this in the 60's with the Rondo neighborhood. They have done it in recent times on the East Side and Frogtown.
Blacks and Hmongs are buying the homes in neighborhoods that are marginal and investing in them therefore raising the property values and then the yuppies or artists or young families begin moving in. Look at Central Saint Paul, Swede Hollow and the Lake Phalen area on the Eastside. Lots of black and hmong professionals and some of the blacks moving back into central St Paul are from some of the same families who left in the 60s and 70s.
Tim Ciani is living in the past.
To answer Bob direct about threats. I have seen several posters who don't leave their name talk about wondering what Chuck or Eric's house looks like. That's a threat without saying it directly. It can be backed up with the daily hostility toward them much of it on this post alone. And why? Because they defend the government? Neither are with code enforcement, or seem to be involved in these suits. They tae a different viewpoint and are stuck with the poison pen. Amanda speaks up for them and she is attacked. Bob you yourself have had to come on and calm the frenzy of those attacking Eric, Chuck and Amanda.
Now you're attracting the likes of Tim Ciani a clear racist.
7:35, NOW you are lying a second time. I imagine you are the 5:46 poster also.
7:35, Tim Ciani is the only one who threatens code compliance's around here on Chucks house. Now think about what you call this.
You call it a threat. YOU GOT THAT THAT RIGHT! To get a code compliance is a threatening ordeal by this city's standards.
You must be really scared of the impact of this blog to come here with half truths.
You are starting to give me the impression you want to see every single nasty story in the archives of this blog where the city took a home from an elderly person.
Then you can try to discredit all these elderly people too.
Bob, do you read your own blog? Have you not noticed any venom aimed at Chuck and Eric?
I distinctly remember seperate posts from people asking about Chuck and Eric's house.
And, why does Ciani get a pass? Anyone who's life viewpoint surrounds race as much as Tim's, is that the kind of person you won't on your side? What if Buddy had to rent from him? You think this guy would be fair to him?
Like Bill and Sharon, Tim does nothing for the cause and gives people evidence to accuse this group of being the kind you don't want to be apart of.
Maybe that's why so many of sign with anonymous.
Anonymous
Don't ya just people like 8:04 and 5:46? The city is in the middle of a corruption scandal for using code enforcement to target minorities and their landlords and has been for years. Now that that the facts and evidence start coming out, the only thing this idiot is worried about is Ciani's remarks. I think this guy is worse than Ciani, he's willing to speak up against this type of behavior only when it is comfortable and safe for him. What a coward!
8:04 said, Bob, do you read your own blog? Have you not noticed any venom aimed at Chuck and Eric?
Bob- you know I read every single post here. I also have read thousands of pages of literature educating myself on these Racketeering lawsuits and deconcentrating poverty.
As far as the venom for Chuck and Eric. They are defending corruption by city officials, what do you expect? You don't see the average Joe defending the city corruption machine here even anonymously. Now, I suppose you will make up an anonymous for this purpose.
8:04 said- I distinctly remember separate posts from people asking about Chuck and Eric's house.
Bob- I don't ever remember a threat of sending code compliance to Eric's house by anyone. And to be sure I asked 2 other long time members if they had ever heard this and they don't ever remember anyone making the claims you accert. If it were true, as you know I have never approved of this and felt so bad for Chuck I offered to provide all the labor and equipment to paint his house. I wouldn't of approved of the same threat if it had been made to Eric. And I know for a fact I would have said something.
8:04 said- And, why does Ciani get a pass?
Bob- Tim isn't getting a pass. Posters have called him out on his statements. I didn't endorse his statement either as you would like posters to think. I said in a previous post, "As for Tim's statements. Like I said in the past. "We are on a truth seeking mission". I too felt the statement was racist.
8:04 said- Anyone who's life viewpoint surrounds race as much as Tim's, is that the kind of person you won't on your side?
Bob- I want everyone regardless of what side of an issue they are on to come here. I have nobody on my side but "truth itself".
Also, I have said numerous times I did not like Tim's approach to this civil rights fight. However, I am not his Daddy. I do not have control over him or anyone else.
You have to admit Tim has shown there is selective enforcement.
8:04 said- Like Bill and Sharon, Tim does nothing for the cause and gives people evidence to accuse this group of being the kind you don't want to be apart of
Bob said- This is a difficult issue for me. I want A Democracy to be representive of ALL the citizens of Saint Paul. Not just a cross section of the community I think will best serve my beliefs.
Unlike alot of anonymous posters they post using their name. People will come to know them for who they are whether it is good or bad. Their personalities will not reflect upon this forum but unto themselves.
A Democracy is best described as "BOOYA". There is "Meat" (substance), "spices" (extroverted personalities), "vegetables" (well you figure this one out), and a whole bunch of other stuff thrown in.
I guess I'll agree with 8:48. I don't have very much respect for these closet racists who are content to just sit around and say nothing as long as it is city sponsored racism, but let anyone else say just the littlest thing wrong worng and they are right there to be the spokesman for the minority community. Hyocrites is what they are.
Two comments - I have not felt threatened by anyone here. As Bob knows I have been more concerned by people who have come after me on the SPIF list in private posts, at least everything here is viewed by the public.
As to Timmy's racist drivel, its pretty sad. I don't expect landlords to "control" anyone's behavior, I just expect good landlords to expect their tennants to not create problems for their neighbors, no matter who they are.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
As far as I recall, were the problems with Chucks house and this Ciani guy not all some time before this blog even existed?
The closet racist wants to paint us all with the same brush as Ciani while at the same time he is taking Ciani to task for it. A true Democrat that is!
No no no....absolotly not....no one here would threaten you Repke because they want to see ytou when tyou leave town with your tail beteen your legs. Your all washed up ya damn fool. And your not gonns getta waqy witht his misinforamtion stuff any more either cause now I gto a laptop and I take it to the bar with me so I can keep track of all you BS. Face it RPEK, THE MONEY IS GONE. nEXT MONTH YOU AILL BE FRYING BURGers down at Mickys diner. It's a tough life REPKE, BUT YOU'LL SURVIVE and go on to be beter man.
9:38 makes a good point. Chucks problems with Tim started before A Democracy was even a forum.
Which reminds me folks- It was A Democracy's Anniversary on the 20th. It's been a ROUGH ride and this BUS isn't slowing down, in fact it is picking up speed!
06-3517 & 06-3528 U.S. v. Warner
RICO; State agencies
United States Court of Appeals Affirmed
A state can be a RICO enterprise. "We endorse the Sixth Circuit's call for caution. We also agree with the Sixth Circuit's ultimate conclusion that the prosecution's approach to this issue in cases such as Thompson and the case at hand may often not be absolutely necessary under RICO, but it is not forbidden. Some cases, however, are exceptional, and ours is one of them. In such a case, the prosecution may have no real alternative to naming the state as the RICO enterprise. (This of course does not mean that the state itself has violated any federal law; it may instead be a victim of the overall scheme, as are many RICO enterprises.) In such a case, the use of the state as the RICO enterprise in the indictment is analogous to the courts' treatment of the state as a market participant in a dormant commerce clause case. If the CEO of a major corporation, who ascended to that position from other senior executive positions, engaged in comparable activities, we would not only accept but expect a RICO conspiracy indictment with the corporation itself named as the RICO enterprise, even knowing that the overwhelming majority of employees, shareholders, and consumers of the corporation were innocent of wrongdoing. The situation here is the same. "In this case, the prosecution thought that it had identified an ongoing scheme to defraud the State of Illinois through the illegal use of two of the most significant executive branch offices of the state and of the state's electoral processes during Ryan's campaign for Governor in 1998. The scheme revolved around an elected official throughout his tenure in these two offices - Secretary of State and Governor - and during the time he was a candidate for the latter office. No legal rule prohibited the prosecution from concluding that there was no single entity or office that it could have identified, short of the state as a whole, that would have encompassed the enterprise that was used by the defendants. In these unusual circumstances, comity interests do not override the broad language of RICO, as interpreted in Turkette. The district court did not err by allowing the state to be the RICO enterprise in this RICO conspiracy prosecution." Affirmed.
Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Pallmeyer, J., Wood, J.
http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?caseno=06-3517&submit=showdkt&yr=06&num=3517
Hello Everyone,
I personally don't feel threatened here. There is nasty people here who don't like to be told I don't agree with them and they go out of their way to humiliate me. I think it is childish behavior. I am a mother and can deal with children.
I don't see how the city can be held accountable for the actions of one or 2 employees, it just doesn't make sense.
Eric, are you still with us?
We don't threaten each other here because we have a little bit of class. We might get mad as hell and we might call each other names, but we are all grown up enough to get our point accross without making threats......with the exception of Eric that is. He always seems to have a threat hanging somewhere in the background of his posts when someone is getting tthe best of him or he gets angry.
You know just off a statement racism brought everybody together.Chuck,Bob,liberals and connservatives.
Just off one statement thats not even mine and all sides come together.
Then why can't both sides come together and fight this city that is using race to identify who they target for code enforcement. Come on if you think that statement came from me your all nuts!!
Who ever used my name stop it!!ITS TAKEN!!!
Tim
Tim Ciani that is!!I'm going to bed so if you hear another post by me disregard. Chucks playing games to make himself look good.
SEE how scared of the truth these ass wipes are. They haven't been able to win the debate so they play games.
What is wrong Eric, do you see your party going down the toilet?
I just addressed this issue on another thread.
It is against the law to impersonate someone else. I am offering a $1000 reward for the identity of the poster playing these games. I want to see him or her prosecuted.
This could be an overlooked plus for posting anonymously, at least your name doesn't get stolen and used against you. Concidering the subject content, I have always wondered why everyone made such a big deal about people using their names, and also using the lack of those names in an effort to undermine and diminish the charges at hand. To Eric, Chuck Amanda and all others who seem to want to use this type of an argument, I would ask of you:
When have you ever heard of any kind of scandal or worng doing anywhere involving government or not where the person spilling the beans just came right out and gave their real name? Never right? Yeah that's right, because people are afraid of retaliation. So why should the people here be any different?
Chuck wouldn't post as you Tim. We all know Chuck well enough to know he has more class than this. I think it is Eric too.
I don't believe it's Repke either. Chuck has been too good natured all this time with Tim even though Tim screwed him up. The person that pulled this shenanigan has a special personality.....one we have seen before. We know who you are, and it's not Chuck. Don't egt too cocky Repke, you're still washed up around these parts even if you are a good guy some of the time. There's a lot of corruption in towm Repke, and ya know what that means? It means no more money.....they city s broke so your borke....finished....the non profit oportunitys fro you have gone stale Repke.....like a 4 hour old grilled cheese. You hear me Repke....no more of your fancy ivory towers into the sky, no more pay checks from the public troff. I'm afraid the bucket has run dry big boy, and that leaves you just exactly where? I'll tell you where.....broke and leaving town with your tail between your legs. You'll be floating down the river on a man made raft with a big sign on it saying your looking foer work, but other communitys won't be as generous as sT Paul ahd been cause they don't want to wind up broke like we are here. You got it pal.....over.....finished..........sianotta.....as in meeting adjoirned. I had a meeting some very influential people at city hall tonight Repke and they tell me the non profits days have ssadly come to a grinding halt, and that my friend means the grease that lubed the tracks you rode on isn't htere any more, jsut a lot of friction and that';s not good for the paycheck if you knaow what I mean.l
Unbelievable. Some juvey posts under a false name and automatically its Eric (or Chuck for some). Bob says that there are more people than us reading this.
I write the most unpopular stuff on here and sign it ALL the time.
I complain about Anonymous more than anyone on here.
I don't think racist accusations are funny or a joke or are a 'prop' to make a point.
I'm not afraid or threatened by anyone on here.
I've got over 100 posts to support that.
Eric M.
Well, this is one of the reasons I continue to be active on Bob's site. It has to be dificult to figure out how to run one of these discussion forums and I give him and the folks at SPIF and anywhere else that they try to do this a lot of credit. At SPIF they ended up going a little crazy trying to get people to "prove" who they were, and now here Bob is having problems with people pretending to be pretend people (and a real one in Nancy's case).
I post on this site and others because I believe in democracy and the value of public debate. My personal beliefs are 100% the opposite of the property rights advocates. From my prospective the property rights advocates of today are attached at the wrist and ankles to big oil and the major polutors. I draw a direct line from these folks today to the industrial monopolists of the late 1800's and the royalists that our founding fathers fought against in the revelution. I believe that the Right of Eminent Domain was established in the Constitution to keep the wealthy from making themselves sovreign.
So, I enjoy this debate because I get to challange the folks who listen to right wing (big oil) radio attack the powers that we the people have in our government.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
To all:
Can't you see the fear in the other side that they have to pretend they are Tim Ciani?
Sign your name who ever but when you use mine to spew racism or ignorants I'll draw the line.
Tim Ciani
Bob, thanks for the email. I won't leave but I'm going to stop the daily back and forth. After all of this time, nothing has changed, so I'll just watch again for my name, and correct the constant misconceptions.
I'll try here:
1. I am here to defend the city.
Wrong.
In the beginning, I stated that I'm no fan of bureaucracy and have used my position and involvement on the District Council to cut through it, or go around it to address concerns brought forth from the neighbors on the East Side. I've done it for the years I've been on the DC.
Every post on the RICO issue (which I stayed out of until my name was dragged into), I question the conspiracy- NOT the corruption. I question the intent, not the outcome. In other words (which I have said more than once) I absolutely believe in the possibility of corrupt individuals operating on the city payroll but, a conspiracy of widespread corruption between enforcement and legal (lawyers and judges) to 'cleanse' the city of poor minorities is tough to sell.
Mostly because there are enough minorities and good lefties in that process who would call them out. Someone in the last few years would have done that. Someone. These people are not making the biggest dollars and usually move on to the privates sector. What holds them to this conspiracy? It doesn't add up- to me.
You can again go through my words and find not one time of me supporting, cheering anyone being thrown out of their home, or it being torn down.
As a former civil rights commissioner, I know that the city can have corrupt individuals on their payroll. The police department being the most common. Those individuals are removed from that duty or the job. The entire department is usually not the target.
2. I'm shilling for my DFL friends.
Not entirely true.
I'm a party officer. That's true, but walking in lockstep is not what I have a record of doing. I have supported candidates and recruited candidates that shake up the norm. Living in Saint Paul, being a DFLer can mean lots of things when it comes to what kind of policy and people you support. No one on here can name three elected DFLers who are in lockstep. I'm an East Sider. That determines my priorities locally. Screw us, and I'm likely to be with an organized bunch to screw with you back. Politically, I've organized and gotten more minorities involved in the process (not just voting) than most are comfortable with. I'll continue to do that, its what I know how to do.
I'm not paid by the party, or any candidate for office in Saint Paul to do anything.
I line right up with Bob and Nancy on social issues and the current overdue needs. Hell, Bob thinks me of being part closeted conservative. That part of me will remain locked in the closet longer than Tom Cruise's sexual identity.
3. I'm blind to the racial impact of code enforcement.
Wrong.
Like police calls, it can be abused. I have some neighbors over here who call the police every time they see more than three racial minority kids hanging together, they must be in a gang according to them. I have NO doubt that some of these same people call code enforcement on neighbors they don't like or see as being different. I was and am in agreement with the ACLU letter sent to the city.
On the other hand, I'm also aware of the complaints from some of the minorities who are poorer and may not speak english well, of the conditions they are living in and they are afraid- or concerned deeply about reporting these conditions for fear of having no where to stay once the landlord finds out.
In my experience, civil rights violations are best handled by those with experience handling them from the courts (federal) to the attorneys. I put up the link to Justice and even gave the names of cities that they have successfully sued and punished in just the last few years for racial discrimination when it came to housing. No one seemed interested in that. The one hundred million to break the city seems to be the end game, not justice for the minorities who are living under these city policies. Its probably why the civil rights organizations, traditional minority power structures and even minority pro-bono lawyers are not involved. I see landlords calling themselves the voice of minorities. Well, that's a new one.
That's enough for now. I've had a lot of untrue words attributed to me and there is no proof behind any of it. If I'm wrong, re-post what I wrote and we can take it from there.
Eric M.
Back to a comment Tim made (the real one I think) about supporting more cops.
I do support more cops and was supportive of their campaign from the beginning. Look at where they had their first rally. I think we're the only, but definitely the first District Council to support their efforts. I also, support crime prevention methods such as after school programs, libraries having tutors for students and rec centers with extend hours and quality supervision. That goes hand in hand with more cops. This city needs both enforcement and prevention support.
I don't know what to think about landlords being responsible for behavior problem from individuals. On one hand, you decided who can live there, if there is a record of this person being a behavioral problem (like on another side of town or the next block) before moving there, then you do bear some responsibility. Either way, the neighbors will put the blame at your feet because your tenants are a nuisance and you are still getting paid.
Eric M.
Hi All,
Someone made a very good point. We have never had this identity theft problem until recently.
Eric, I think folks around here were missing you. Everytime you take a break from the forum it seems people come out attacking you just to get you to respond.
Also Eric, there is a small group of regular posters here. Most are property rights advocates. This forum is no different than SPIF in the respect a small number post regularly and thousands read and never post.
If you look back to the days I was a member at SPIF I was in very much the same situation you are now. People were down right nasty to me because they didn't like my opinion. I could not change their minds no matter what I said and I knew this. They were set in their ways. I continued on there inspite of the nasty atmosphere because I knew SPIF has an average of 3700 readers a week. Small potatoes to this forum but I knew it was these silent readers I was reaching out to.
I just want you to think about that Eric. You are one of the most informed partiscipants here when it comes to the organization of local politics and how the city operates. I, and I know many others appreciate your input here.
I wish you, Chuck and Amanda had more support. I encourage all 3 of you to try to get like minded people you know to post here. I also recommend they use first names only. Sorry Tim, I don't want you to hook anyone up with a code compliance because we don't like the things they say or because you might think it is an experience someone should share with us.:)
It's interesting that we have comments regarding problems with Democrats in St. Paul, and problems with Republicans in Maplewood (other postings).
The Founding Fathers implemented a system of checks and balances to keep things honest. I'm not sure what's happening in Maplewood, but in St. Paul, the system has been perverted because there is immunity and no accountability.
Dishonest people, such as Thune, find a blank check for wrongdoing. There is no accountability and codes are subject to infinite interpretation.
Eric said- No one on here can name three elected DFLers who are in lockstep
Anonymous- You sure about this statement Eric.. The city council in four years has voted 0-7 almost every single time unless a council person was absent.
I take that back. One time there was a out of LOCKSTEP vote on the airport flood wall.
Eric Said:I don't know what to think about landlords being responsible for behavior problem from individuals. On one hand, you decided who can live there, if there is a record of this person being a behavioral problem (like on another side of town or the next block) before moving there, then you do bear some responsibility. Either way, the neighbors will put the blame at your feet because your tenants are a nuisance and you are still getting paid.
I say:So landlords shouldn't give a tenant a second and third chance? Should 2 little brothers and single mother suffer to find housing because the older brother has behavior issues. Or should the brother and sister suffer because mom can't break ties with the thug she dates? We need to address behavior with the law or programs not code compliances!
Should we start going after mortgage companies for selling their loans to peple with behavior problems?
The landlords job is this. 1)Give tenants a place to rest their heads that they like. 2)collect rent. 3)Make repairs that are neccesary.
Police responsibility is to arrest people if laws are broken.
Courts job is to sentence a person with punishment that fits the crime.
As soon as you start forcing a landlord to make decisions on what good behavior and bad behavior is, its all over!It just goes to show you how St.Paul is running our city.
The Real Tim Ciani
10:40
I'm not talking about votes in particular, I'm talking about practiced DFL philosophy. Lantry and Helgen are close but still not the same. Bostrom and Montgomery are close but are not lockstep. All seven are now from the same party BUT, do not attend the same parties.
This same seven in San Diego would be a Republican majority (its a GOP city). In San Francisco, most of these Democrats couldn't get elected.
What I'm saying is that, its hard to paint them all with the same brush. On certain votes, but not on Democratic Party philosophy.
If that was the case, why are the last two standing for election 90% of the time Democrat vs Democrat? If they were all in lockstep, why would they challenge another DFLer? How?
Eric M.
I couldn't agree with you more Tim..
Tim,
I'm going to kindly ask you to shut up talking to me and stop lying on me.
When I start the paragraph with "I don't know what to think about landlords being responsible for behavior problem from individuals."
It means just that- I don't know. You even re-printed it and then go on to act as if I said its all your fault. What's the matter? Feeling guilty?
You remind me of Wal Mart. You act like you're focused on providing a social service instead of the truth that you're running a business and the bottom line is the bottom line. Wal Mart runs these commercial about low prices and helping the community like a charity. The reality is they are the biggest retailer in the world and aside from questionable quality of some of their products, the way they strong arm and undercut the suppliers, they way they have turned some of our small towns and neighborhoods into rows of empty former Mom and Pop businesses. They don't try to just compete, they destroy.
You're in this to make money. It doesn't change if you're being wronged or targeted but, first and foremost, you rent to maintain an investment and/or make money.
Start there.
Eric M.
Eric Said:Tim,
I'm going to kindly ask you to shut up talking to me and stop lying on me.
When I start the paragraph with "I don't know what to think about landlords being responsible for behavior problem from individuals."
It means just that- I don't know. You even re-printed it and then go on to act as if I said its all your fault. What's the matter? Feeling guilty?
I say: You seem to have answers for everything except on the issue of city targeting landlords for tenant behavior. I was just trying to help you make a decision one way or another. Sitting on the fence on this issue sure might feel good but lets dig deep Eric. Its wrong. One persons actions in a family may get them all thrown to the streets. If you can't see the negative impact I don't know what to say. This is happening Eric so by sitting there and saying I don't know won't stop it!!
You are in a position to form and voice your opinion to stop city targeting and using the code for behavior and you don't. DO YOU FEEL GUILTY?
The old saying it takes a village to raise one child is over in St.Paul. Its now,"It takes one bad actor to destroy a families housing."
You all should have taken defendant Dawkins statement of St.Paul targets small business owners because their customers are black and thought he might be speaking the truth.So now is he lying?
Tim Ciani
Eric
One hundred million to break the city and minorites are not going to benifet from the conditions they had to live under? Where's your head at Eric? I doubt if the lawsuits intent is to break the city. People were damaged Eric and they had businesses they worked at for years destroyed by an inspections dept that lied about violations to advance a political agennda. People were falsely prosecuted criminally. The city took some deliberate actions to rig the court against these people. I find it interesting that you can minimize all the into someone wanting to break the city. When you huert someone , you have liability Eric and the only way to address that is with money. If the city goes broke paying the judgements, so be it, but I doubt very much if that is the intent of the lawsuits. And what in the world makes ytou think that the minorities you speak of should benifet from the lawsuits for damages done to the individuals invloved who had their business destroyed? Are you nuts?
Hey, I thought you guys were a man's kinda man. You sound like a gaggle of woman getting their feelings hurt, I should know because I am a woman. I think there is an abundance of egos here, especially Repke and eric. You both have lengthy comments, boastful attitudes, ulterior motives and a pleathera of emotions-running-on-high overload. This site isn't about YOU all, it's about the small, average, nothing-special drones, like me, that aren't connected to the government and don't have a big rope lassoed around the heals all the big croanies that you admire leading straight to your pockets. You certainly know how to do your assignments well, you can take this whole thread and spin it into a crash landing that no one can save into what it originally was. You deserve a raise for that which you have accomplished Repke. I'm sure all your superiors have patted you on the head at your knack of over-involving yourself into the contents of REAL life and comprising it with tactics that I, for one, can see right through. Now what was the original title to this again? No, it wasn't about how grown men get their poor little feelings hurt and then stomp and threaten everyone with an upheld fist. Ya know what, this is exactly what is wrong with the world these days, we can't or won't teach our young men how to turn into men who can "take" it, and then take it some more without exploding in an egotistical rage and prideful rantings of how special they are with all their knowledge. Everybody has a sad song and I'm getting rather nauseated at some of the posters, who I'm sure have a blessed life, react as if they were just forced from their homes or had their rights snapped in two right before their eyes. Good people have lost their rights, their lives and their futures here and you whimper on and on, just like I am now, of how people are re-posting unkind responses to you. Waaah, then ignore them! Didn't your mama ever teach you that! It will get you further in the world to ignore things and get on with things that you can control. Anonymous was brought up again is this why because then they can't control anything. It's like getting hit in the dark at some wild party. Then don't go to the party or leave the party. There am I droaning on and on long enough for all of you. You think anyone can take this mindless babble on and on. Let's hear some truth about the law suit, about the complaints in the action, about people who have had their houses taken, about anything else other than emotions and feelings of the few and proud!!!!
Tim,
By me saying I'm not sure what to think, I am giving the landlords the benefit of the doubt. On my end, I hear the complaints about landlords twenty to one. Absentee landlords are the number one complaint in town next to crime.
In saying the above, I don't and have not ever condoned corruption. I wrote over and over I'll back you n corruption. But, its against all the I know and hear from poor minorities that they are being targeted by the city. Surprise yourself and talk to them and see for yourself. The local slumlords, have dominated the image of the landlord. So when there is legislation that will toughen up code enforcement, its supported by minorities and neighbors in those working class neighborhoods. When landlords file a RICO suit and say its to protect the rights of poor minorities to rent property, well its a stretch.
The question I have is where are you when for years, slumlords were running roughshod over peoples rights? There shouldn't be a bluflu when its comes to exposing those in your industry that is screwing up the name.
Second, seperate the suits. The whole conspiracy to excommunicate minorities too hard to sell. Its been admitted on here that even minorities are having a hard time believing this- the landlords are out fighting for their rights. Me too.
What any of us can see and believe is that there may be some corrupt individuals on the taxpayers payroll. Can't argue with those facts.
But, to try and tie that with 1. corrupt judges, 2. corrupt attorneys 3. corrupt politicians and tie it through the objective of removing minorities is once again, a hell of a stretch. We just know you don't care that much. This history supports that.
So, yes, I'm admitting I don't know what to think about the suit. I'm open for my mind to be changed.
Eric M.
12:46, Thank you. You speak the truth.
12:46,
My 'mama' taught me to stand up and speak out. The Minnesota way is to ignore things and pretend like they don't exist. That's not my way, right or wrong. People who do that in life, lay low and ignore what's going on around them, don't get very far at all. They may live long but what kind of life do you live taking peoples crap day in and day out and never standing up for anything?
You too have the option of not reading what you don't like. My name appears at the top and its pretty easy to skip over and read the post you agree with- its 90% of what's posted here.
---
We are talking about the suits. There are several things that most here don't understand.
1. Is the point of the suit that some have lost their businesses(ie rental property)?
2. Is it about some that have lost their home?
3. Is it that there is a concerted effort to remove minorities through targeted civil rights violations?
Which one is it? It can't be all three. There is one reason then symptoms that extend from that.
What I do know from law suits is that anyone can file for any amount and accuse anyone of anything. A court will make the final call on it all. So telling me to accept all on here as face value only works for the choir (those who already believe everything on here and RICO suit at face value).
At this point I see people on here talking about reason number three as being the cause of numbers one and two. There is no proof presented yet. I said I'll wait.
I do know that if it was solely about number three, other options are available which exclude a big payoff.
In this thread alone, my detractors have used all three reasons independently and then ask 'can't you see that?'. If number three is the reason, Why isn't the proceeds from the suit set up to benefit the masses? Because its about the landlords/property owners. Start there.
The charges of discrimination and the elderly losing their homes seems to be fodder or secondary to the main issue- landlords are suing because of the profit threat. Hence 100 million dollar suit.
Are the elderly going to be fairly compensated? Are minorities going to have the option of moving back into the city and expense taken care of them? Will there be a policy within code enforcement to create an independent review committee to over investigate and opine on discrimination charges? A citizens oversight? Those are things that I'd like to see them fighting for in order to believe that this is about exposing and stopping corruption and discrimination.
Eric M.
You've got it Eric. They have two suits that say in effect that the elected and appointed officials of the City of Saint Paul and its employees are involved in a criminal conspiracy to put all private landlords as a class and these listed landlords in particular out of business to the advantage of the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency.
The third suit suggests that the City of Saint Paul its elected and appointed officials and its employees are involved in a grand conspiracy to rid itself of all communitees of color and particularly all poor people of color. That it has done that by trying to eliminate all affordable housing. It is not quite clear who benefits (since a RICO case needs someone to benefit) but one assumes it benefits white, wealthy people benefit somehow to displace these communitees of color.
You'd of thought that since we are such insiders that they would have let us in on the deal so we could have gotten a piece of the action, but no such luck...
The third one appears to be a class action and list numbers of tenents that were displaced so, maybe they would get a crumb or two.
I don't know why, but every time I type the gist of these cases it always sounds pretty insane to me.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
eric it's only going to get you a broken nose or a heart attack, especially in Minnesota as we still have to shovel our sidewalks and are overweight as a society. We overeat, overtalk and over react. Get it!
So on one hand you can't stand up for illegal actions of code enforcement but can stand up if it's one of the loud mouths who post here? Oh, don't bother cluing me in.
Eric says:
You're in this to make money. It doesn't change if you're being wronged or targeted but, first and foremost, you rent to maintain an investment and/or make money.
With all due respect Eric, I've had rental properties and it was a pain in the ass. I made a huge investment, took a risk, and provided some affordable housing for the community. I had everything in my life "overshadowed" by wondering what the next problem was going to be, worked almost every day (including weekends sometimes) to keep up on repairing damages that were not normal maintenance, but rather damage from the tenants you advocate are such upstanding citizens and deserve everything for free, when the rent did not get paid and your lovely renters that you think so much of Eric used the housing code department and the city council to create evidence to use in court against me to get more free rent, it was I who was the one eating hot dogs for a week, not you and not your renters you try to portray as being exploited so badly.I didn't get a free Attorney like your people , I had to pay for mine, and most off the time I got screwed anyways.
Perhaps all the rpivate landlords should get out of the business and you can contribute much more in taxes for an inefficient government to run yet another program of taking acre of the poor and making them dependent on Big Brother.
That's what you like isn't it Eric......trap them into the modern day type of slavery of being dependent on and controlled by your government buddies?
Where the hell do you get off making remarks like because we the landlords make money that it is some how wrong or evil? Do you like to be paid for the work that do Eric? How about if you work for free like you inadvertantly advocate some of the rest of us do. WHere's your brains man?
As a property owner, I should have more rights to kick out a dead beat renter.
If they pay and are respectful, heck I will rent to anyone. Some of my best renters who were persons of color.
Now, how I rent out my place is the new renter has to be recommended by a past or present renter.
Is Steve Manger still free?
He should be in jail along with a few others.
Bob, nice blog here.
Hey Bob,
200+ comments, I bet Tim E. and Rick M. from SPIF wish they had this amount of participation.
The latest topic on SPIF is Highway-Industrial Welfare. Boy that sure is breaking news for St. Paul.
Bob I am having more fun here.
I see Eric and Chuck proved their point. Your a bunch of greedy landlords who could careless about the poor people who rented from you.
Your only concern for the poor is the fact you are able to use them to manipulate a law suit to benefit your greed.
You slumlords are the lowest form of bloodsuckers.
Keep talking amanda. If your thoughts are an example of what people are like in St Paul, it gives me a big boost in the self esteem dpeartment!
Northender
Post a Comment
<< Home