NoMi Entertainment - CC and WangWang Harmonize

The NoMi lifestyle isn't all hardcore politics,activism, outreach and anti-slumlord battles.  Sometimes we just get together and find ways to entertain ourselves using our children or our pets.  Or our pets and children together.

Here's a little Christmas Eve entertainment on the Jordan Pond.  CC and her dog WangWang (pronounced "wong wong," Chinese for little prince) have learned piano together. CC's fingers gliding the keys and WangWang on the vocals.

CC is well known for having awesome birthday parties and being one of the most uniquely bilingual children most adults know. She speaks and reads Mandarin Chinese just as well as she speaks and reads English.

She recently had her own table at the Indoor Farmer's Market held at Local D'lish where she drew Chinese characters with sentimental meaning picked out by the customers who had the option of leaving her a tip.

And as you can see from this video, she has learned to play piano like a pro.  And WangWang loves to  help.

Life in NoMi is highly enjoyable, never a dull moment, and quite normal.

Enough of the Empty Houses Already! Editorial Series: 2011 Agenda Part 1

Fine Farview Victorian

Magnetic McKinley Mini-Mansion

Handsome Hawthorne House

I *almost* bought this house in 2002

Parkway Charmer

One of my most favs in all of NoMi

Front yard of 2700 Block of Penn

Happy 2011 and let's jump right into it. Everyone knows the holiday season and the beginning of a new year is a natural time for reflection of the past and looking to the future. Planning and shaping and taking action.  Here at the NoMi Passenger blog a new year is no different.  Let's reflect and plan and shape and take action together; after all we are all passengers on the same voyage through NoMi.

I've got a few thoughts and ideas that I'd like to see move forward in 2011 and it will be a group effort to fine tune them and push them forward to action so I'll do that here.  Consider it my 2011 Agenda.


First up, fill the empty houses, already! It's 2011 and empty houses dot every block in NoMi for various reasons.  We've been experiencing the vacant house disease for how many years now? Four? Five? Many of these homes are already owned by the city (or county) or could easily be acquired, sometimes for pennies on the dollar.

For several years now I've been saying out loud, or in emails and internet postings "SELL THE HOUSES FOR A DOLLAR" or "GIVE THEM AWAY TO CITY EMPLOYEES".

We've seen some benefit from the Minneapolis Advantage program which has given a grant to qualified purchasers of a qualified house.  But it hasn't been enough and it hasn't put a dent in the vacant house disease.  It's time for more widespread, drastic action from the city (and county) to get these houses occupied by homesteaders.

The city needs to get taxpayers back in these homes for the tax and utility revenues they would bring.  The neighborhoods and economic engines need more citizens to populate the neighborhoods, spend their money in the near-by businesses, be additional eyes and ears on the streets in the impacted areas.

The city needs to develop a program to sell or give the homes away for as little as one dollar.  I say start with the city employees.  Write a program to grant the deed to them after a 10 year occupancy, verified periodically by a program director.  I think city employees will be less likely to pull some funny shenanigans and do something stupid like, oh gee, rent out the house for income.

I know the city has done some dollar house give-aways in the past, I have met some folks who are still in their home that they purchased for $1.

However, if the city moves forward on something like this, and I urge that they do, they need to first and also do some immediate and drastic changes to the process of bringing a condemned house back into code compliance.  I have been hearing far too many nightmare stories from folks who have been through the process and are adamant that the hellish process is keeping the average joe from taking on such a daunting tasks.

To start revamping the code compliance process I'd recommend start by using an outside survey analyst to conduct and take in feedback.  Believe it or not I've heard people are actually intimidated to give honest feedback for fear of retaliation in the future, or being labeled as one of those crabby disgruntled people or having it affect anything they might do in the future.

Make it more reasonable to rehab a condemned house and start giving those suckers away to qualified people who will commit to owner occupancy for the next decade or more.

Let's get this done in the next six months so summer can bring a new wave of home ownership in NoMi. Let me hear from you in the comments, whaddya think?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas NoMi Homies!

Winter Indoor Farmer's Market - Tomorrow - Local D'Lish

Tomorrow the highly acclaimed Winter Farmer's Market at Local D'lish will take place. This is the second year for the Winter Farmer's Market, which has met the needs of many customers from the Mill City Farmer's Market which closed in October. 

From 10 am to 2 pm local food artisans will be providing samples and selling their specialties at Local D'lish in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis.  Here's some info from the home page of Local D'lish:

For the past two years, Local D’lish has teamed up with the Mill City Farmers Market to bring you the Winter Farmer-in-the-Market event.  This event features about 20-25 vendors, a mix of familiar faces from the Mill City Farmers Market and product vendors here at Local D’lish.

At the Winter Farmer-in-the-Market, customers will find a wide variety of locally grown and produced meats, cheeses, chocolates, breads, sweets, and more!   To nurture a strong local foods economy, our farmers and producers must have a stable income year-round, and this monthly event is meant to help in this arena through the winter months.

The 2010-11 Winter Farmer-in-the-Market will be held on the following dates, from 10am – 2 pm: November 20th, December 18th, January 15th, February 19th, March 19th, April 16th

Local D'lish is owned by Jordan, NoMi neighbor Ann Yin, and her husband Yulin and daughter CC. 

Some of my favorite things I've tried at the Indoor Farmer's Markets are smoked salmon, shepard's way (sheep) cheese, Lucille's Kitchen jams (they always have it paired up with something simple yet delicious for a quick and easy hors d'ouvres), Olsen's Naturals body and skin care products... Now that I think about it, there are so many good things to try at the markets or in the store.

Head out tomorrow for a good time and some great holiday shopping while supporting your local small business vendors.

Happy Holidays! 

Don Samuels' Fall Fundraiser Is The Social Event Of The Season (November 17, Local D'Lish)

Don Samuels enjoys pumpkin soup at Local D'Lish

Next Wednesday, November 17, NoMi folks will have a good excuse to gather and celebrate.

The Don Samuels for City Council Campaign Committee is inviting everyone to a fall fundraiser at Local D'Lish.  If you are looking for a good opportunity to meet some Northside neighbors, some city movers and shakers or the famous Don and Sondra Samuels...this is your perfect opportunity.

Don Samuels fights tirelessly for public safety, quality housing and economic development. His eloquence and vision have changed the way the whole city of Minneapolis looks at itself, increasing understanding and compassion between people and communities.

At this event, revitalizers from around the Northside will gather, mingle, eat, drink and be merry.  Laughs will be shared over fresh local food.  Revitalizing battle stories will be shared of lap dogs being saved from snarling pit bulls, court battles waged and won, and amazing 311 success stories. There might be some friendly one-upmanship in the relating of such tales.  Of course, dry-yet-important topics such as economic development and city projects around NoMi will be touched upon for the benefit of policy geeks.     

You may be asking yourself, "There is no city council election right now, why is the campaign committee having a fundraiser?"  Well, you will just have to come and ask Don yourself!

Vote For Chanda Smith Baker for School Board

In my last post I shared a commentary piece written by school board candidate Chanda Smith Baker.  Today, I'm sharing a couple of video endorsements from two of our city council representatives.  The first one is City Council Vice President Robert Lilligren who represents parts of South Minneapolis, an area that has some of the same inner city challenges like NoMi has.  The second endorsement is from City Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden.  He ward is also in South Minneapolis and straddles the interstate, so her ward might be more similar to Diane Hofstede's ward in that it's got some of the same race and class divisions like Ward 3, very challenging to represent, indeed.

I'll be sharing more Chanda Smith Baker videos in the next few days and I hope you will also share them and spread the word of the excellent candidacy of Ms. Baker, we need her on the school board.

Election day is next Tuesday, November 2nd.

North High School Reaction by Chanda Smith Baker



Chanda Smith Baker, school board candidate, ©Mary Hanson Photography MaryHPhoto.com 2010



 The whole city has been in a flurry about North High. Its future. Its past. Its failures and its successes.  I just want to take a minute to share and repost something written by school board candidate Chanda Smith Baker.  I hope each and everyone of you reading this, that lives in the city, will turn out on November 2nd and give Chanda one of your school board votes.  To me, it's the most important vote of this year.  Our state senator and our congressman are extremely likely to win their elections, the NoMi state rep incumbents seem secure.  And the school board at large candidates have very tight battles on their hands.  So if you can send some money, give some time and get out the vote for Chanda Smith Baker, it will be a very well placed vote.

This commentary was written by Chanda and first shared on her facebook page.  I'm reposting it here for those that don't follow her on facebook or don't use facebook.

North High School Reaction

by Chanda Smith Baker

The potential of North High closing has stirred up emotions in an unexpected way.  I was very well aware of the low enrollment and the many challenges North has faced over the last several years.  Last year, I met and spoke with several staff and leadership at North after they received notice that they were facing consequences due to the school being identified as a persistently low performing school.  The consequences included four choices; two of the choices meant significant turnover in staff and one was for the school to close.  We talked strategy and the decision was made to turnover staff at the school. 

This year I attended the open house for incoming students and the auditorium was fuller than expected with many supportive community members in attendance to welcome in the freshman students, all 47 of them.  Again, another sign that North was in serious trouble.  Despite the warning signs and my understanding that North closing was a real possibility, the superintendents announcement and recommendation to phase out North High and close it in three years was met with a heavy heart. 

 I am a fourth generation graduate of North High, the class of 1989.  North High is a mixture of memories of my favorite teachers, Ms Gregory, the librarian who recommended more books than I will ever remember, Brownie Lake field trips, basketball games, and where I met some very dear friends.  My late Uncle Richard Green was both a teacher and principal there, it is part of my family history. It is a place that is close to my heart and holds many memories for me, my family and my friends.  

The personal memories and my commitment to improve outcomes for all students have met head on.  The fact is North High School represents "community" and is a school that connects many of us in Minneapolis. This connection is what makes a strong community school, the connection and the love for North is an unspoken- underestimated factor. The loyalty to North seems to have tipped the scale towards blind loyalty- and we have collectively failed the students and families in North Minneapolis.  The same loyalty and commitment if directed and focused could create a stronger school and better academic results.

This recommendation came as a result of years of disinvestment and an overall lack of accountability and leadership. Currently, there are 267 students attending North High school.  There are fiscal realities that must be addressed and waiting too long without a solid and sustainable solution is a risk that would impact the entire district.  I understand why superintendent Johnson made a recommendation. I do not agree with how it was communicated and I do not believe closing North is a solution that should be made without community input and without a comprehensive plan for families.   In addition, the first publicized effort to "fix" North should not  have been to close it and as a result it has kicked up a large community debate and response.

I have a sensitivity on school closings  and a perspective that is unique.  I remember clearly when my uncle Richard and the school board announced the closing of 18  school closings in the 1980's.  I can vividly recall the emotions, the heated discussions, the frustration, particularly related to closing of Central High school in South Minneapolis. My uncle (and the board) closed  Central, the school my father (his brother) graduated from. It was a stressful time to say the least.   I know that the recommendation  to close North did not come easy and the superintendent came into a sinking situation and decisions have to be made. Having said that, I am not impressed with how the administration and the school board handled this announcement and recommendation to close North.  The district has to improve its communication and relationship with the community, particularly in North Minneapolis.  

The other major concern is academic achievement.  The superintendent stated that this is a moral issue and that she can not ignore the lack of academic progress for students at North High.  This is a valid point and the elimination of the achievement gap is the districts top priority.  In this context, the question becomes does closing North improve academic outcomes for students?  The answer is not clear. Moreover, if closing schools becomes the solution then what does that say.  There have been many changes and school closings, yet the gap has gotten wider.  The displacement of students is not an adequate response alone and has been proven not to work. 

Based on the enrollment numbers, North High has the best teacher to student ratios of all of the high schools.  Research has pointed out that smaller classrooms are ideal for student success.  If this is true and I believe it is, something is not lining up.  There are students at North who are doing exceptionally well.  In the student body: 20% proficient in reading; 8 % in math; and 4 % in science and we should celebrate their accomplishments.  On the other hand,  80% are not proficient in reading, 92% in math are not proficient and 96% are not proficient in science that is an extreme concern and we have to come together to figure out what our students need.   

Keeping North open will not improve outcomes for all students, unless there is a strong comprehensive plan in place.  A plan that includes commitment, multiple measures to evaluate effectiveness and accountability. This is a time for leadership.

This is a benchmark moment in our community.  It will either document the end of an era with the closing of North or it will be the time when our community comes together despite our differing opinions to not only save North, but to save our children. 
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Please vote for Chanda for school board on November 2nd.