THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
May 7–13, 2020 Vol. 86 No. 40
85Anniversary
FIND US ONLINE AT WWW.SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
Why destroy food when so many are hungry?
th
1934 - 20 19
“AS IT WAS SPOKEN ... LET US RECORD.”
National News Briefs
It’s more about logistics than scarcity By Michah McKinney Contributing writer
M
any people struggling through the coronavirus finding it difficult to put food on the table have been outraged by news reports describing farmers destroying crops and even livestock. One group, Second Harvest is working to try to prevent that surplus from going to waste. Even in the best of circumstances, the richest country in the world has struggled to feed all of its hungry mouths. According to The Economic Research Service from the Department of Agriculture, 37.2 million people were food insecure in 2018. The pandemic crisis has only exacerbated that need. Why then do we see headlines like “Dumped Milk, Smashed Eggs, Plowed Vegetables” from the NY Times for stories about
Produce box farmers purposely destroying food? And why is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issuing executive orders to make it easier for livestock farmers to “depopulate and compost” their livestock? Culling the herd isn’t new to America. In Burton W. Folsom’s book “New Deal or Raw Deal? How FDR’s Economic Legacy Has Damaged America,” the retired professor of history at Hillsdale College brings to light some of the darker aspects of the New Deal. During the Great Depression,
sevelt, as a part of his New Deal, introduced the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA). This legislation paid farmers to kill millions of hogs and cows and plow under over 10 million acres of cotton to artificially inflate prices. Unfortunately, this occurred as millions of Americans were going hungry. This tactic was widely scrutinized and criticized. It was difthe cost of livestock and crops ficult for farmers to reconcile, were so low that Franklin D. Roo- having worked hard to raise
Unprotected NYC Black hospital workers fall to virus ShivelFarm produce
While the State of New York has failed to compile a list of those who have died from exposure while working in hospitals, a New ■See FOOD on page 5 York Times article reveals that non- medical staff who succumbed to COVID-19 were overwhelmingly Black According to the article, at least 32 Black and Brown people have died from the disease who worked in New York hospitals as medical records clerks, greeters, orderlies who deliver patients from one place to the other, custodians, chefs, food preparers, medical waste removers and hospital security. Some of the workers who handed out hospital supplies, inthat.” cluding N95 respirators, also fell victim to the disease. Apparently, A new University of Minne- being in the hospital environment where there were diseased pasota study released last week said tients proved fatal, as these workers were left totally unprotected that the pandemic could last at with no PPE at all, even as some of them delivered the life-saving least two years and recommends equipment to others. that the U.S. prepare for a worstAmong the victims were, pictured above clockwise from top left, case scenario. The Center for Edward Becote, Derek Braswell, Rafael Cargill, and Priscilla Infectious Disease Research and Carrow. Policy surmised that COVID apPhotos provided by family members and social media pears to spread more easily than the flu because of a large incubation period, and it can spread more among people who have no symptoms. The study concludes that the virus won’t be halted until 60-70 The number of coronavirus cases in Georgia has surpassed percent of the world’s population 27,000 with nearly 1,000 new cases reported in a 24-hour period immediately after the state reopened, according to the Georgia Department of Health. The State reported 27,134 cases, up from 26,175 recorded on the previous day. The majority of the state's cases are in the metro Atlanta area. At least 1,147 Georgia residents have died as a result of COVID-19.
Pandemic exposes deadly impact of disparities
meetings as they occur over the coming weeks, the MSR also is talking to others both locally and nationally about the impact the Part 4 of a continuing story coronavirus outbreak is having or may have on our local Black The national NAACP is hold- community. This week: Where to ing virtual town hall meetings go from here. throughout the month of April The NAACP is strongly advoto discuss the health, economic and social impacts of the CO- cating an action plan to address VID-19 pandemic on the nation’s the historical social, educational, Black communities. In addition economic and health inequities to providing excerpts from these that have affected the Black comBy Charles Hallman Contributing writer
munity, which has been at the epicenter of this country’s coronavirus crisis. They held four virtual town hall meetings on the virus last month, and a weekly average of 20,000 people participated in the events. Originally billed as a discussion on creating a post-COVID action plan, the NAACP weekly meetings mostly consisted of talking points rather than offering any concrete solutions. “It will take months and years to truly understand the impact” of the virus, said Dr. Patrice Harris of the American Medical Association.
As Georgia reopens, COVID-19 cases surge
“Let’s use this moment to expose the chronic injustice faced by African Americans and solve it.” “The COVID-19 is shining a bright light on many preexisting conditions on health and inequity” on the Black community and communities of color, she added. “Now we have COVID on top of
is immune. It could take 12 to 18 months to test a vaccine, then manufacture and distribute it. All invited panelists—national lawmakers, doctors, ■See DISPARITIES on page 5
County, nonprofits partner to safeguard homeless By Analise Pruni Contributing writer
PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
According to Ramsey County’s HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), a database system used to count the number of people using emergency shelters annually, roughly 3,300 people experienced homelessness in Ramsey County in 2019. In 2020, already vulnerable
unsheltered people are now dealing with the added fear of the coronavirus pandemic. “If we bring the crisis from the lens of homelessness, we already know that people who experience homelessness face extraordinary barriers in their daily life,” said Max Holdhusen, Ramsey County’s housing stability manager. Everyday struggles such as addiction, trauma and mental health issues are now being compounded with tight living spaces in shelters. “From a pandemic perspective, that dense congregated setting is really dangerous,” Holdhusen said. The Ramsey County Board allocated up to $1.8 million on March 17 to focus on reducing the potential spread of COVID-19 at area homeless shelters. According to a press release from Ramsey County Manager Ryan O’Connor, as part of these efforts, “On
Atlanta crowds defy death for new Air Jordans After the Georgia’s Governor Kemp opened up the state for business as usual, crowds of Black people gathered in Atlanta to buy the new Air Jordans without face masks or practicing social distancing. People anxious to purchase the new Air Jordan 5 "Fire Red" Sneakers caused a massive crowd at the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, forming long lines. The lines stretched from the entrance of the Jimmy Jazz store inside the mall, all the way outside where a large number of people waited for their turn to buy the shoes.
symptoms, and do daily temperature checks, because we know that fever is a common symptom of COVID-19.” If someone’s condition at Mary Hall were to worsen, they are then sent to the emergency room. Another part of this initiative includes a partnership between Ramsey County staff, Catholic Charities, City of St. Paul staff, Carlos and a local hotel to provide 60 rooms for homeless elders aged March 27, Ramsey County and 60 and up. They were moved Unequal enforcement of the law was on display recently when its partners opened a respite facil- from the Higher Ground shelter social media users captured NYC police patiently handing out ity at Catholic Charities’ former at the end of March and begin- face masks to Whites in one part of town while brutalizing and Mary Hall location near down- ning of April. arresting Black youth elsewhere—all on the same day. A cop was “Most or many of them have town Saint Paul. caught on video attacking, The facility accommodates slapping and throwing a up to 140 people showing COBlack youth to the ground VID-19 symptoms who are rewho was simply standing ferred from the primary shelter around. facilities in the East Metro: CathNew York City Mayor olic Charities Higher Ground, Bill de Blasio tweeted, Union Gospel Mission, and the “Saw the video from the Safe Space facility at Ramsey Lower East Side and was County Government Center really disturbed by it. The East.” officer involved has been Holdhusen noted that “Mary placed on modified duty Hall is a non-medical facility, so Bruce and an investigation has begun. The behavior I saw in that video the nurses’ job there is really to ■See HOMELESS on page 5 is simply not acceptable.” do the initial intake, monitor
Protect and Serve or Protect and Slap?
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May 7–13, 2020
Feeling lucky in spite of the coronavirus pandemic?
side, enter the Business Relief Lottery and see The Hennepin County Small Business Relief Pro- if you can be one of Hennepin County’s main gram invites you to test your good fortune in a lot- street business winners. tery to help save your business. Hennepin County recognizes that its main street Apply now businesses are feeling some of the deepest impacts • Applications are now being accepted. of COVID-19. It has therefore designed its Small • All applications are due by noon on Friday, Business Relief Program to help small local busi- May 8. nesses meet immediate financial needs. • Guidelines and materials are available in Certain businesses in Hennepin County may be Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Oromo. eligible for a one-time emergency forgivable loan Questions? up to $7,500 to maintain operations. Unfortunately, Contact: HCCOVIDRelief@mccdmn.org the County does not have sufficient funds to help all eligible businesses, so it is leaving the decision —Information provided by of who gets help and who does not up to chance. Hennepin County (Odds of winning are not currently available.) So if you are feeling like Lady Luck is on your
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May 7–13, 2020
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COVID-19 may have a deeper, darker side
Young people with corona virus infections are dying from strokes at an alarming rate
Dr. Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD
Doctors are seeing more and more young people infected with COVID-19 who don't have the commonly associated lung problems. They are having brain strokes and becoming disabled or even worse, dying. These are people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Usually, these types of bloodclot strokes are seen in people well over the age of 60, and generally in people in their mid70s. Doctors in New York first got suspicious when they realized young people were having strokes at a rate five times higher than normal. The story in these young stroke victims is a common one. A person has no history of any chronic medical condition. They are taking no medications. They are feeling fine, and then, all of a sudden, they have difficulty talking or moving one side of
their body. The common denominator is that they are young, have the COVID-19 infection, and don't know it. Thankfully, the overall number of young people that this happens to is relatively low, but it’s still much higher than would be expected. The fascinating point is that the exact way the virus attacks humans is still not completely understood. Doctors once believed it was a pathogen that primarily targeted the lungs. Scientists are discovering it is much more insidious. Papers have been published that COVID-19 also attacks red blood cells, and that is what might be responsible for the low oxygen in patients rather than lung damage. The closer scientists look at the virus, the more they are beginning to realize that it can have a devastating impact on every single organ system in the human body. Doctors are reporting patients with COVID-19 can have damage to their hearts, kidneys, and even skin. In the skin, dermatologists around the country are seeing a strange net-like rash on the legs called reticulated vasculitis. They also observe red-purple bumps on the toes, another type of vasculitis with probable associated microblood clots, called pernio. These peculiar findings of inflammation and clots in the skin, organs
gets starved of oxygen and gets damaged, or the tissue or organ dies. This sudden interruption of the blood supply is commonly called a stroke or heart attack. It also affects kidneys (acute kidney failure), heart, lungs and brain. When a big clot causes a stroke in the brain, it can be devastating. Evidence is suggesting the younger coronavirus patients are suffering these catastrophic, large-vessel blockage strokes to the brain. These strokes are what is seen in young patients with few other symptoms, except they are coronavirus positive. In New York, paramedics reported that four times as many people were dying at home during the pandemic than before. Many of the people did not have autopsies, but it is suspected that many died from strokes. The association of young people who are COVID-19 positive and strokes has been seen across the country. Several national medical institutions are currently preparing medical reports concerning the alarming rate of strokes in young people who are COVID-19 positive. Many of these will appear in print this month. The good news about this strange finding of strokes in young people is that largeCOVID reticulitis vessel strokes to the brain can cells back to the lungs to pick be treated very effectively if up more oxygen). That means caught early, ideally within six that everything downstream hours but certainly within 12-24
and brain are all probably related to what the virus does to human bodies during infection. It appears that the virus triggers some type of inflammation that acts on blood vessel walls. Typically, blood vessel walls are smooth and resist blood clots. Scientists now think that the virus infects and disrupts blood vessel walls, allowing blood clots to form. Some stay locally, as seen in patients with "COVID toes." Others can float around, say from the legs to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or they can affect any organ where the supplying blood vessel gets blocked. Doctors see the clots both in arteries (that carry oxygen to organs) and veins (carrying blood
hours. Doctors can remove the ing signs will save lives. clots, and the brain's blood flow, Doctors are now realizing that the COVID-19 infection is not just one that affects the lungs, but it is a disease that can affect people of all ages and affect every part of the human body.
COVID toes nourishment and function can be restored. It is critical for anyone who experiences any one of the following five signs for a stroke to call 911, immediately: • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body) • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech • Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes • Unexpected difficulty walking or dizziness, loss of balance, or problems with coordination • Severe headache with no known cause Heeding these stroke warn-
Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of biology at Carleton College. He also has a private practice, Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, MN. He received his MD and Master’s Degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine. Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specializes in skin-of-color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 18 years. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He can be reached at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.
Useful tools and resources for warding off stress 1-800-SUICIDE 1-800-7842433 www.hopeline.com
bacco, or illicit drugs
By Dr. Dionne Hart Guest contributor The #StayHome campaign is saving lives. Four percent of all tests have returned positive in Minnesota compared to our neighbors in Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota who have rates between seven and nine percent. These figures suggest Minnesotans are having more success with social distancing in an effort to flatten the curve. While we are having success in this area, social distancing may lead many individuals to feel isolated and stressed. Both isolation and stress can be a risk factors in worsening symptoms of a chronic mental health problem and may increase probability of relapse for patients with substance use disorders. In addition, social distancing and exposure to constant news updates regarding COVID-19 may lead to feelings of overwhelming anxiety and fear even in those without a chronic mental health problem. Stress may lead to: • Increase or decrease of time sleeping or change in quality of sleep • Increase or decrease in normal eating patterns • Worsening mood or anxiety • Onset of anxiety • Onset of sadness • Worsening agoraphobia or fear of open spaces • Increased concern about your health • Increased use of unhealthy coping behaviors such as use of alcohol, to-
While some outpatient therapy has changed to telehealth, which is difficult for some individuals, and while some treatment programs have been temporarily discontinued, there are new resources such as a dedicated COVID-19 line. In addition, many resources remain in place to provide support. There also many skills and behaviors you may adjust or add independently to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some tools that you can utilize to combat stress: • Eating healthy, well-balanced meals • Maintaining structure in your day • Getting dressed and maintaining normal hygiene routines • Limiting news coverage and screen time • Developing a new hobby or skill • Avoiding alcohol • Avoiding illicit drugs • Making an effort to decrease use of nicotine, if
Courtesy MGN exercises. • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline 800-9855990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 Free resources • Crisis: • Calm: offering free conTexting MN to 741741 tent to support your mental 651-288-0400 or text and emotional wellness • Smiling Mind: an app for “Support” to 85511 Hennepin County adults and children seeking to cope with daily stress. The Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies app is based upon mindful(COPE), 612-596-1223 ness. Regions Hospital Emer• Hay House: provides gency Center 651-254-1000 access to movies, podcasts, Txt4Life meditations, articles, and Minnesota LinkVet: ebooks. 1-888-LinkVet (888-546• Headspace-Weathering: an app that includes medita- 5838) tions, sleep, and movement you’re a smoker • Scheduling a contact with a friend or family member each day either by phone or a written note
1-800-273-TALK (8255) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills, or other essential services, dial 211, 651-291-0211 or 1-800-543-7709 or Text MNCOVID to 898211. If you need to make an appointment with a provider, visit www.Fast-TrackerMN. org If you have a question about COVID-19, call the Department of Health at 800-657-3903 or 651-201-3920 Monday through Friday.
Dr. Dionne Hart is a graduate of the Mayo Clinic College of Graduate Medicine. She is board certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine. She practices community and public psychiatry at multiple sites. She’s held multiple leadership positions in national, state, and local medical organizations including serving as the first chair of the American Medical Association’s Minority Affairs Section. She currently serves as the vice president and president of the Minnesota Association of African American Physicians, a future statewide chapter of the National Medical Association.
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May 7–13, 2020
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes and values commentary and feedback from the community. The articles found here are edited for clarity and/or space, but the opinions are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of the MSR.
A nurse's warning: Don’t reopen too soon go out on sick leave and never come back. Without question, the parReopening the economy tial shutdown of the economy while the virus is still freely circulating will cost lives. This has led to a decrease in hosillness has taken a massive pital admissions and deaths. toll on my patients, my co- Without the shutdown, our workers and myself over the already overburdened hospast month. We have watched pital system would have colour patients, seemingly on lapsed under the pressure of the upswing, suddenly slip skyrocketing admissions. As it stands, our hospitalaway before our eyes. We have watched our coworkers wide census is decreasing By Sarah Dowd
and we are beginning to close our emergency COVID units. If the economy is reopened prematurely, we will see a resurgence in deaths of patients and the healthcare workers caring for them. Sarah Dowd is a medical-surgical nurse at Harlem Hospital in New York City and a member of the New York State Nurses Association.
Reopening will doom many ESPN portrayal of NFL draftees amounted to racist propaganda MELLANEOUS
including, “Don’t Tread on Me” and “Liberty or Death.” And what also stretches the By Mel Reeves believability of his claim is, as Je“Mom Camilia fought drug melle Hill pointed out, he might addiction” was listed on a chart not be a White supremacist but outlining the background of Tee he “likes White supremacist Higgins, and projected on to the things.” Predictably, in his effort to screens of the record-setting audience that viewed the 2020 NFL prove he is not racist, he enlisted draft. Social media took issue two of his Black Marshall Uniwith ESPN’s insistence on get- versity teammates to give testiting in folks’ business, while the monials about how he is just a mainstream press kept mainly regular standup guy! I subscribe to the “Duck silent. This occurred because the theory” of truth tests. That is, if sports network while providing it walks like a duck, looks like a entertainment and a distraction duck, acts like a duck, likes other for their class partners, was not ducks… just broadcasting the draft, they were transmitting propaganda that paints Blacks as the “Other” and the NFL as savior. But more importantly, they were sending a message about Black people: “They are not like On some level, the fact that 29 you and me. They come from single-parent households, live of the first 32 players taken in the in bad neighborhoods, belong to draft were Black, says something gangs, are drug-addicted, felons about the society from which or potential criminals, violent, they come. But that is not the tragic, and they are to be pitied.” story ESPN wanted to tell. Instead, they showed Black The message is that Blacks are different. They can perform pain, Black misfortune, Black amazing feats on the football misery, and Black grief as if it field; they are “faster than a wer entertainment. And maybe speeding bullet! More powerful for some watching it was, but for than a locomotive! Able to leap most, it was painful and disturbtall buildings in a single bound.” ing. Notice they played down the stories of the athletes that In other words, supermen. Notice, supermen aren’t came from more fortunate backknown for their emotional or grounds. It led many on social media mental acuity! If this is a mere exaggeration, to question the purpose, after all. why didn’t the NFL put on the What did all this suffering have board that soon-to-be Patriots to do with running pass patterns, kicker Justin Rohrwasser has catching, throwing, blocking, right-wing and possible White and tackling? But it is important supremacist affinities? Rohrwas- to the NFL because it’s another ser has said that he put what is step in the commodification of basically a permanent mark on the athlete. It’s another part of the cirhis body (a three-percenter tattoo) having no idea what the cus, the show. Black pain is a symbol meant or represented, part of the entertainment. When telling the press he thought it they offered an explanation for why they did such a seemingly symbolized the armed services. That would be believable, but strange and insensitive thing, the other tattoos on his arms they all but admitted it. Incidentally, when confronted support similar ideas that the three-percenters embrace and with their poor judgment, ESPN are popular with the right-wing, did not apologize, nor apparent-
ly did they give any real consideration to the fact that what they had done was in poor taste and should have been reconsidered. Instead, they doubled down! “Our NFL draft coverage analyzes the prospects on the field and introduces the human side of the players by telling their stories, including the obstacles their families have overcome as part of the journey to the NFL.” The “human side?” This is one of the most revelatory unconscious tells about Blacks and race ever uncovered. ESPN, by saying they are exposing the players’ “human side,” is openly implying that there
The NFL, by projecting the players as poor victims, get to come along and play the role of benevolent savior.
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is some other side, some other manifestation by which to see the players. They are saying, in essence, that these darker children of fellow workers, fellow citizens, are some other. Proof of just how deeply buried this is in the White American psyche: Not one of the dozens of people in charge of the corporation’s public image saw this for what it was: wildly inappropriate, intrusive, and invasive. This very offensive public trespass set off no alarms in ESPN. Not even one liberal or a Black-best-friendhaving-White person spoke up, with the exception of a few White sportswriters. Stephen A Smith and Michael Wilbon stayed silent. Incredibly, along with being portrayed as “OTHER,” their personal lives and experiences and heartbreak seemingly belong to the NFL. And after having survived the perils of being Black in America (which in reality they inadvertently exposed) as my son Kellen pointed out, “then comes the NFL to save them!” The NFL, by projecting the players as poor victims, get to come along and play the role of benevolent savior, with Roger Goodell as their fairy Godfather. But as my son also pointed out, most of the players drafted won’t make their team, and of those that do, most of them will be back in the job market after three years, many of them in average working-class job. Some who started on America’s mean streets, will wind up right back there. And you thought you were just watching a draft. The NFL and ESPN prove that it takes a concerted effort by every corporate and capitalist enterprise to keep such a large working-class and oppressed nationality feckless, duped, and divided, even in the midst of a coronavirus crisis that reveals their incompetence and utter contempt for our lives. Justice, then peace. Mel Reeves welcomes readers’ responses to mellaneous19@yahoo. com.
By Mike Davis As we head into the fifth month of the COVID-19 outbreak, millions of working families feel like they have been kidnapped and sent to hell. As unemployment (officially reported) soars toward 30% or more, an estimated 20 million more people will fall helplessly below the poverty line. In addition to their jobs, millions will lose everything they had spent their lives working for: homes, pensions, medical coverage, and savings accounts. Most of us have already lived through a brutal preview of economic collapse: the 2008-09 “Great Recession.” In a span of 18 months, a majority of Black and Latino families lost all their net wealth and college grads from non-privileged backgrounds found themselves marooned, seemingly for life, in the lowwage service economy. But the threat ahead is mass immiseration and hunger on a scale unseen since 1933. People desperately need to go back to work and save what they can of their lives. But heeding the siren call of the MAGA demonstrators, puppets on strings manipulated by hedge funds and billionaire casino owners, to “reopen the economy” would only result in tragedy. And here is why it would be disastrous. Sending millions of people
back to work without protection or testing would be a death sentence for thousands. Thirtyfour million workers are over 55 and 10 million of them over 65. Millions more suffer from diabetes, chronic respiratory problems, and so on. People will go straight from home, to work, to ICU, and to the morgue. Millions of our “essential workers” face intolerable hazards because of the shortage of protective equipment. It will be weeks, at best, before there will be an adequate supply for medical workers. Workers in warehouses, markets, and fast food have no guarantee of ever receiving masks, unless legislation compels it. If this is a war, Trump’s refusal to use existing laws to federalize the manufacture of masks and ventilators is a “war crime.” The proposal to test people’s blood and then issue back-towork certificates if they have the right antibodies, is mere fantasy at the moment. Washington has allowed more than a hundred different firms to sell serological kits without human trials, or FDA certification. The results they give are all over the map. It may be weeks before public health workers have reliable diagnostics to use. Even then it would take months to test the workforce and it's doubtful that enough people would have the antibodies to safely staff all the closed businesses. The most heroic assumption
is that a vaccine could be available by spring 2021. Meanwhile, hundreds of research teams and smaller biotech firms are working on medicines that will reduce the risk of respiratory failure and serious heart or kidney damage. In a sense, we are living in an indefinite lock-out, facing an administration that sets a higher priority on destroying the Postal Service than it does on organizing a crash program to produce the tests, safety equipment, and antivirals that will allow the U.S. to return to work. Trump’s accomplices are monsters like Amazon, which in two weeks made Jeff Bezos $25 billion richer, and UnitedHealth Group, the world’s largest health insurance company, whose profits increased by $4.1 billion in the first three months of the pandemic. Medical insurers have experienced a windfall since most of their enrollees are now unable to book operations or obtain vital treatments. A volcanic rage is rapidly rising to the surface in this country and we need to harness it to defend and build unions, ensure Medicare for All, and knock the bastards off their gilded thrones. Mike Davis is the author of “City of Quartz, Planet of Slums, Ecology of Fear, and The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu.” Parts of this commentary originally appeared in www. labornotes.org.
Detroit’s poor struggle to keep the water on amidst COVID crisis By Mark P. Fancher A very large segment of Detroit is simply unable to pay market rates for water service. For more than 15 years, Detroit’s poor and their advocates have struggled to end the shutoffs and to urge the adoption of a water affordability plan that will index actual household income to fees for water service on a sliding scale. Those efforts intensified in 2014, when the City drastically increased shut-offs as part of the municipal bankruptcy process. In the years since then, more than 140,000 homes lost water service. When the coronavirus arrived, many of these households were simply unable to follow the oft-repeated directions to engage in regular hand washing. Nevertheless, public officials feigned ignorance and persisted in shutting off water service, leaving thousands of people to get their water by filling buckets from relatives’ taps, seeking bottled water from support organizations, and collecting rainwater and melted snow in trash cans and barrels. The agitation against this madness has been constant, with grassroots activists using every conceivable tactic. In addition, I was part of a team of lawyers that litigated a class action lawsuit chal-
lenging the shutoffs all the way to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled it could not tell a city in bankruptcy how to manage its fiscal affairs, and that even if it could, they didn’t believe that people have a fundamental right to water. Last summer, in frustration and desperation, members of this legal team filed a petition with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that proposed the declaration of a public health emergency in Detroit and a moratorium on water shutoffs. In addition to references to
quest to Governor Gretchen Whitmer that she overrule the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. On February 21, the governor’s lawyer responded saying that there was “insufficient data to support the use of emergency powers in this instance.” Yet, on March 9, in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak and after claiming that there was no connection between disease and water shutoffs, the governor and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced water shutoffs would end, and interrupted service would be restored.
The water department’s mass shutoffs is an attack on Black Detroit that is directly related to the city’s coronavirus problem. scientific studies that demonstrated a correlation between the lack of water and the spread of disease, the petition also emphasized that water is a necessity of life, and without water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing, people are certain to become ill and eventually die, regardless of whether they become infected by bacteria or a virus. The petition was denied on grounds that it showed no “causal association between water shutoffs and waterborne disease.” We made a formal re-
It was too little too late, and we shudder at the thought that, but for activists’ agitation about the water issue in the days leading up to the pandemic, the general disregard for the plight of Black Detroit might have meant water shutoffs would have been ignored until much later, and with even more tragic consequences. Mark P. Fancher is an attorney and longtime writer for Black Agenda Report.
May 7–13, 2020
FOOD
to found The Branham Group, whose goal is to eliminate hunContinued from page 1 ger by reducing waste. Branham animals and cultivate crops to explained that the problem was feed their communities and the not that there is not enough food, rest of the country. In the end, or that the government wants to Americans had to pay a higher keep food from those who need price for goods and the U.S. end- it in a scheme to raise prices. Ined up importing tens of millions of pounds of crops that they were paying farmers not to produce. Eventually the AAA was amended to start the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation (FSRC). The FSRC distributed agricultural products to organizations to feed hungry Americans. Much stead, the biggest issues were like modern food banks today, those of education and supply these organizations packaged chain. First, surplus crops need to and distributed dry and canned goods across the country. Much be identified. This takes outof the AAA subsidies that farm- reach and coordination. While ers got out of the Great Depres- many farms have been absorbed sion are still around today due and consolidated in recent histo farmers effectively lobbying to tory, Minnesota is still one of the most robust agricultural states, keep them. So, is the government now with nearly 69,000 farms of varyconspiring with farmers to cre- ing sizes. Logistics experts like ate scarcity? According to Bob Cargill and General Mills work Branham, Second Harvest with organizations like Second Heartland’s director of produce Harvest to connect Minnesota’s strategy, this may not be the case. many farms with food banks and On Branham’s LinkedIn page help store, repackage and redishe wrote, “There is enough food tribute the surplus. Branham said that storage to feed every man, woman, and child in America. Hunger in has been a big obstacle when it America is not about supply, it is comes to getting fresh produce about redirecting the excess food into the hands of those who need that is lost each year to those that it most. “Getting hundreds of refrigeration units to partners” he need it.” Branham retired from Gen- considered a major triumph. Second Harvest has also reeral Mills after almost 30 years
cently opened a new facility to repackage bulk items into more easily consumable portions. And when the pandemic hit, Second Harvest started making emergency food boxes that contain tips on how to feed a family with the boxes’ contents.
“There is enough food to feed every man, woman, and child in America. Hunger in America is not about supply.”
Disparities Continued from page 1 celebrities and others—agree that the virus outbreak didn’t create the country’s longstanding disparities. Unfortunately, it did bring them to light in deadly fashion— Blacks have to date accounted for over a third of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) noted that the current health crisis “puts into glaring focus the racial disparities that the NAACP has been pointing out for generations. We have to take the hard, horrible lessons…and make sure we change our policies going forward.” She has asked the CDC for more racial demographic information on COVID-19 deaths. “We have to have [the data] to make the case to get the resources where they need to go,” the senator added. “This is a very serious time…because of the urgency of the matter,” said journalist April Ryan, who moderated the NAACP’s final town hall April 28. “It is our job to speak for those who can’t speak for
themselves,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson stressed. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pointed out, “The African American community has shouldered an unbelievable burden throughout this crisis. Let’s use this moment to expose the chronic injustice faced by African Americans and solve it.” “This virus is holding up a mirror to our society and reminding [us] of the deep inequalities,” Michigan Gov. Grecthen Whithier said. “COVID-19 doesn’t recognize state lines, party lines or color lines, although it has affected the African American community at more significant numbers.” Some also have suggested that the stay-home orders imposed since late March favor the more privileged as well, shining a light on this country’s class and race divide. Many non-white-collar workers and other low-income folk already living check-to-check suddenly are unemployed. The U.S. Labor Department reports that at least 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said last week, after expand-
ply doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle proper distribution in the best of times, and the pandemic has shed a bright light on this weakness. Second Harvest Heartland is one of the United States’ largest food banks. It provides tens of thousands of boxes of prepackaged food that it ships to foodshelf partners. The organization has stepped up its efforts during the COVID-19 crisis, committing to 165,000 boxes and components over several months. They are now providing prepackaged produce in addition to the distribution of regular foods. The food bank works with Minnesota Central Kitchen to help provide prepared meals as well. According to its website, it has “joined forces with local caterers and restaurateurs to distribute thousands of meals per day in partnership with Loaves & Fishes—a free public dining program with 30+ locations.” Second Harvest also depends on lots of volunteers who pack boxes and fulfill other needs to get the work done. They are always looking for volunteers and information on how to do so is on their website.
But even when food transportation and storage aren’t a problem, sometimes the product isn’t moved. Branham used an example of a farmer with an undesirable crop. “A farmer may want to donate a crop of turnips, but we can’t use them.” Undesirable food is a major source of waste in the U.S. According to a report in 2017 by the Guardian newspaper, Americans throw away 50% of their produce. The bulk of what is wasted is left in the field or in warehouses, and much is thrown out by consumers. Unfortunately, livestock has been destroyed and used for composting as a result of the Michah McKinney welcomes pandemic lock-downs that have closed or limited restaurant ac- reader responses to mmckinney@ cess to customers. The closures spokesman-recorder.com. have slowed the processing, preparation and distribution of livestock products. The U.S. sim-
ing the state’s stay-home orders for another two weeks, that the burdens “are falling heavily on communities of color and socially disadvantaged communities.” As we presumably move forward toward a post-COVID America, will genuine long-term equity solutions for Blacks and other communities of color emerge? If so, when and how will they take shape? Which disparity will be addressed first? Who will design, administer, oversee and fund such solutions? Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms declared, “Some call this the ‘new normal,’ but [it is] the now normal.” “We are not aware if this will become business as usual once this emergency ends,” said Minneapolis-based Voices for Racial Justice’s Brent Grant. “It’s highly unlikely that this crisis, this emergency, will be the trigger to move us forward beyond those racial disparities. “There is still an unwillingness to acknowledge how central racism is to what is happening in the Black community. I think in order for us to move forward, it needs to
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Shirley Joan Sims Sunrise: September 13, 1937 - Sunset: April 8, 2020 Shirley Joan Sims - 82 passed on Wednesday (Passover), April 8, 2020 at 10:35pm in Woodbury Minnesota surrounded by her family. She is survived by her sister Sandy Barnes and her two sons, Rodney and Troy Barber. Her daughters Theresa Anderson, Robin Marsh (Henry), Jeri Wilson (George), Mary Rudolph (Kevin) and Jody Lewis. Step-sons Joe Lewis Jr. (Vera) and Michael Lewis. Shirley’s legacy will forever live on through her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband James Sims Jr., Father and Mother, Milton and Willa Mae Barber, Sisters Gertrude Nay, Clara Mae Davis and brother Milton Barber Jr. May she rest in peace.
HOmeless Continued from page 1
other chronic health conditions which makes them even more vulnerable to COVID-19,” Holdhusen said, “whether that’s heart, lung, or an autoimmune condition that has been deemed by the CDC and public health agencies as risk factors for COVID-19.” He noted that while they are actively working on increasing the number of rooms, a true dispersion of the shelter populations reduced by 50%-75% “would require about 400 rooms, so we are attempting to scale up as best we can.” Melea Blanchard is the program supervisor for Catholic Charities’ Homeless Elders Probe that acknowledgement,” gram and helped facilitate the reGrant said. All disparity issues, including mass incarceration, housing and poverty that impact communities of color, must be examined, urged Drexel University Public Health Pro- location. “Keeping people safe as fessor Sharrelle Barber. “My long as we can here at the hotel, it hope is that this wakes us up just gives people a better chance enough. We can’t keep allow- at being healthy to continue to ing whole segments of the have their own space,” he said. population to go without. “We hope to continue this as “We got to really radically long as we can until there is less and totally restructure soci- of a risk out in the community. ety and how we do things. It Ramsey County provided the is literally a matter of life and funding to pay for hotel space as death,” Barber said in an MSR well as three meals a day, which phone interview last month. is through the hotel food service, “There is a conversation which is great because they’re needed about how we need to able to bring some workers back.” expand the safety net in this She noted that at the Catholic country,” Michigan Lt. Gov. Charities facilities, added sanitaGarlin Gilchrist III advised. tion, hand-washing stations, tem“We need to talk and think perature checks for everyone goabout how we can expand ac- ing in and out, and donated face cess to health care, unemploy- coverings were all part of precaument, food assistance, and tions being taken to prevent the other forms of income. spread of the virus. “This pandemic for many Despite these efforts, some people has made it clear that unsheltered folks grapple with we need to have more sup- the decision of risking exposure port for people.” in the shelters or staying on the streets. I talked to a man named Charles Hallman welcomes Carlos about this who was walkreader responses to challman@ ing down the sidewalk in front spokesman-recorder.com. of the Higher Ground shelter where he’d been staying off and on for the last several months.
“I just found out yesterday that somebody was in here had the full-blown coronavirus,” Carlos said. “If I didn’t have to stay here I wouldn’t. They tell you to separate, but a lot of people here, they don’t read that.” Carlos said you could get masks by request and he had asked for one the last several nights. However, between the fear of catching the virus and the “drama” he experienced amongst the people staying in the shelter, Carlos mused that he might just sleep on the street. “I talked with a couple of workers and they said there’s more they can do as far as keeping us who are staying inside [the shelter] safer, than those outside,” Carlos said. “But you still get nervous.” That same day near the High-
“They tell you to separate, but a lot of people here, they don’t read that.” er Ground facility, a man named Bruce leaned against a green city sidewalk railing. While many unsheltered individuals fear contracting the virus, some, like Bruce, continue their daily lives as usual. “What I believe in is if God has something for you, no man can actually deny it, and if God wants to deny you something, no man can grant it. But death is actually inevitable,” Bruce said. “Seriously, a mask and a pair of gloves is supposed to save me from a virus?” Bruce had previously stayed at the old Dorothy Day shelter and later at Higher Ground Lately he had been living in a tent near the highway. “They say it [the corona virus] exists, but you have no information on it,” he added with frustration. “It’s a lockdown on not just a city or a state or a country, but basically the world.” Analise Pruni welcomes reader responses to aliseelle14@gmail.com. Photos by Analise Pruni
May 7–13, 2020
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A review: 'All Day and a Night' By Dwight Brown There is an earnestness to Netflix's "All Day and a Night," a deeply felt urban tale that seems personal, sincere and insular. Unfortunately, that guarded sense is not enough to make this cliché narrative, about a troubled young man headed down the wrong path, more than just another sad song. Jahkor Abraham Lincoln (Ashton Sanders, "Moonlight") is a product of the mean streets of Oakland, California. His mom nurtures her young adult son when she can but gives equal attention to his volatile father JD (Jeffrey Wright). Dad’s quick temper and criminal activities have kept him behind bars or on his way there for most of his life. Can’t blame Lincoln for struggling to find direction. The hopeful part of him wants to be a rapper. The grim part gets caught up in a thug life involving rival gangs and murder. At a trial, the mother-in-law of a homicide victim says to him, “You say you knew my son-in-law, but you won’t say how.” He responds to her only with inner thoughts like: “People say they want to know why, but they really don’t.” Oakland was the setting for the gentrification drama "Blindspotting," a searing in-
dictment of the rich moving in and the poor moving out. The S.F. Bay city was also the location of the tragic drama "Fruitvale Station," an awardwinning examination of racism and police malfeasance. "All Day" does not run that deep in scope. Its claustro-
redemption seems too little too late. Hard to determine why writer/director Joe Robert Cole’s script is so entrenched in bleakness. Cole is the co-writer of "Black Panther" and has been a writer on the "American Crime Story" series.
The film rests entirely on the validity and accessibility of one young man’s sheltered existence. phobic feel, with depictions of homes, close-up street scenes and prison yards and scant images of the city, does not pan out. It’s hard to get a feel for Oakland. Impossible to get a glimpse of anything outside the perimeter of a tight-knit community. If you’re looking for a global message or a city view, there are none. Instead the film rests entirely on the validity and accessibility of one young man’s sheltered existence, and that experience does not resonate the way it should. Lincoln only smiles when he’s freestyling at a mic or romancing his baby momma Shantaye (Shakira Ja'nai Paye). Otherwise ill-fated gloom colors his poor choices. There’s so much misery in his life that his perpetual angst becomes a turnoff and any
Surely, with that pedigree, he knows how to create engaging, challenging storylines with solid moments of hopefulness and atmosphere that
where they may. If drama or chemistry doesn’t show up, there is no remedy. Nor does his direction exhibit a visual style that would make the footage stunning. If Cole attempts this kind of film again, he should re-watch John Singleton’s "Boyz n the Hood" or check out some of Sidney Lumet’s NYC films ("Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead") to get a better grasp of how filmmakers can capture urban spirit, explore the environment and use it as a canvas to convey a vibrant city vibe to audiences. The musical score (Michael Abel) is putrid and Lincoln's raps are lame. He's no Jay-Z. The camerawork (Jessica Lee Gagne) fails to turn poten-
Ashton Sanders (l) and Shakira Ja’nai Paye star in Netflix’s “All Day and A Night.” Photos courtesy of Netflix makes a crime/drama feel real. So why this? As a director, Cole sets the scenes up and lets them go
tially evocative locations into indelible images. While the editing (Mako Kamitsuna) exasperates lethargic pacing
and doesn't make confusing back-and-forth flashbacks any more discernible. The
spective, will be full in coming weeks. Films like "Blue Story" (London) and "Charm
Jeffrey Wright (r), with Ashton Sanders, shines as father JD. tech crew gets a save from Kay Lee's production design, Alex Brandeburg's set decoration and Antoinette Messam's costumes, which are fairly realistic. Ashton Sanders was a vision as Chiron in the classic, Oscar-winning film "Moonlight." There is something about his look and demeanor that is mesmerizing. The rest of the cast is sufficient and professional, though one performance towers above the rest: Wright’s take on JD, fatherly but incorrigible, is fluid, raw and explosive. Only a few actors can get this primal. Only the chosen can be great with less-than-great material. He’s a rare breed. The landscape for urban dramas, told from a Black per-
City" (Baltimore) are on the horizon and boast lively rhythms, electric casts and creative swag. Joe Robert Cole continues to establish his presence as a filmmaker and hopefully his next venture will benefit from the lessons he’s learned from directing his second feature film. “All Day and A Night” premiered May 1 on Netflix. To view or find more info, visit netflix.com. Dwight Brown is an NNPA News Wire film critic. Find more of his work at DwightBrownInk. com and BlackPressUSA.com.
Babyface offers special Instagram Mother’s Day tribute people on Instagram Live that wanted to hear music from the "Waiting to Exhale" [soundtrack]” during his faceoff with Riley. “So, I thought this would be great [on] Mother’s Day, to play the 'Waiting to Exhale' album, tell stories, tell how it all happened and talk about the artists." The famed soundtrack
featured an all-star lineup of female vocalists like Whitney Houston, one of the stars of the film, and Mary J. Blige, who sang the classic “Not Gonna Cry” among hits by Toni Braxton, Faith Evans, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and Brandy. Though the kickoff to Babyface's event with Riley was mired in technical prob-
Babyface Edmonds Courtesy of Wikipedia Fresh off his much-viewed and talked about "face-off" with fellow legendary producer Teddy Riley, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds appeared on "The View" talk show to confirm that he would host a special Mother's Day special on Instagram featuring music from the iconic "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack. The upcoming concert came about organically, The female-centered "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack will take Babyface told the "The View" the stage May 10 on Babyface's Instagram page. hosts. “There were so many Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
lems, it ended up being a success with the two superstar producers showing off their considerable musical catalogs, much to the delight of the
over 500k music lovers who tuned in. For info and updates about Babyface's Mother's Day special, follow @Babyface on Instagram.
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May 7–13, 2020
Legals State of Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 ASSUMED NAME: PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:
StimSherpa 100 South Fifth St., Ste. 1900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 USA Stim Sherpa Inc. 100 South Fifth St., Ste. 1900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 USA
NAMEHOLDER
I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath. SIGNED BY: Matthew J. Smyth, Owner EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: matthew.smyth@headlandlaw.com DATED:4/20/2020 11:59 PM
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder April 30 & May 7, 2020 State of Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 ASSUMED NAME: PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:
Headland Law & Strategy 100 South Fifth Street, Ste 1900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 USA
Ars Imperatoria Law Group PLLC 100 South Fifth Street, Ste 1900 Minneapolis, MN 55402 USA I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath. NAMEHOLDER:
From Classified Department/MN State of Minnesota District Court Spokesman-Recorder Ramsey County Second Judicial District PHONE: 612-827-4021 Court File Number: 62-HR-CV-19-456 FOR BILLING Case Type: Harassment INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS Notice of Issuance of Mao Yang Vs See Yang PLEASE CONTACT Harassment Restraining Order ACCOUNTING DEPT By Publication ASSUMED NAME
FLAT RATE $150.00 2 WEEK RUN
To Respondent:
From Classified A/1 Contract No. 21-020 Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder INVITATION TO BID PHONE: 612-827-4021 Sealed bids will beBILLING received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul FOR at 200 E. Arch Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55130 for FURNACE REPLACEMENTS INQUIRIES AT MCDONOUGH HOMES, Contract No. 21-020, until 2:00 P.M., Local Time, on JUNE 4, 2020, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. & TEARSHEETS A complete set of bid documents is available by contacting Northstar Imaging at PLEASE CONTACT 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com , public plan room under FURNACE ACCOUNTING DEPT REPLACEMENTS AT MCDONOUGH HOMES, Contract No. 21-020. Digital downloads are no charge, contact Northstar for hard copy prices.
NOTICES Bids mustLEGAL be accompanied by a 5% bid guarantee, Representations, Certifications and Other Statements a non-collusive affidavit, and EEO/AAP submittals. SIZE:of2Bidders COL Form, X 5.75 The successful bidder will be required to furnish both a satisfactory performance bond and a separate payment bond.
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Harassment Restraining Order has FLAT RATE: $100.00 been issued on June 4, 2019. PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2020, AT Please proof, respond with 10:00 AM AT THE MCDONOUGH COMMUNITY CENTER, 1544 TIMBERLAKE ROAD, ST. PAUL, MN 55117. A hearing is scheduled for the following email date, time, and location: confirmation to dis play@spokesman-recorder. The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding. Date: Please proof, respond with email confirmation to com. For more exposure: We AN EQUAL KA YANG are also inviting our clients spokesman-recorder.com Time: □ a.m. / □ p.m. OPPORTUNITY AGENCY PROJECT LEADER to advertise on Justice our web site Location: Ramsey County Juvenile and Family (651) 292-6089 Center (JFJC), 25 West 7th Street, Paul MN forSt. 2 weeks for 55102 a flat net fee of Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder May 7, 2020 From Classified OR $150.00 per position with purDepartment/MN printaad. Online only x A hearing has not been scheduled. Youchase may of request hearing Spokesman-Recorder ads run 2 weeks for $300.00 on this matter by filing a Request for Hearing HAR301 with the PHONE: 612-827-4021 per position. Court within twenty (20) days of the date this Notice is published. FOR BILLING You may get a copy of the HRO from the court administrator’s office at the following address: JFJC, INQUIRIES 25 W. 7th Street, St. Paul MN 55102. & TEARSHEETS
PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT
Failure to appear at a scheduled hearing or to get a copy of the Harassment Restraining Order will not be a defense to prosecution ASSUMED NAME for violation of the Court’s order. 5/1/2020
SIGNED BY: Matthew J. Smyth EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: matthew.smyth@headlandlaw.com DATED: 04/21/2020 11:59 PM
FLAT RATE $150.00 2 WEEK RUN
Donald W. Harper Juvenile and Family Court Administrator
proof, Minnesota Spokesman-RecorderPlease May 7, 2020 respond with
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder May 7 & May 14, 2020
email confirmation to dis play@spokesman-recorder. com. For more exposure: We are also inviting our clients to advertise on our web site for 2 weeks for a flat net fee of $150.00 per position with purchase of print ad. Online only ads run 2 weeks for $300.00 per position.
SOE
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: October 11, 2006 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $25,000.00 MORTGAGOR(S): Robert J. Letendre, Jr. MORTGAGEE: US Federal Credit Union DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded with the County Recorder in and for the County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, on November 15, 2006, as Document No. 8892336 ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to Above Realty, LLC, recorded January 15, 2020, as Document No. 10747111 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot 6, Block 1, Krig Heights PROPERTY ADDRESS: 416 Division St, Excelsior, MN 55331 COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $45,135.93 THAT there has been compliance with all pre-foreclosure requirements; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; THAT pursuant to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of Hennepin County as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: July 2, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Room 30, 350 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys' fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) Months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. The date on or before which the mortgagor must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property redeemed under section 580.23: January 4, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Dated: April 13, 2020 Above Realty, LLC Assignee of Mortgagee HOELSCHER LAW FIRM, PLLC By: /s/ Brian G. Hoelscher Brian G. Hoelscher #0238752 Attorneys for Assignee of Mortgagee 13100 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 224-9551 THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. FORECLOSURE DATA Minn. Stat. Sec. 580.025 (1) the physical street address, city, and zip code of the mortgaged premises is 416 Division St, Excelsior, MN 55331; (2) the name of the transaction agent, residential mortgage servicer, and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: – not applicable; or the name of the residential mortgage servicer and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is not a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: residential mortgage servicer – Superior Financing, Inc., lender or broker – Above Realty, LLC; (3) the tax parcel identification number of the mortgaged premises is: 35-117-23-24-0034 (4) if stated on the mortgage, the transaction agent's mortgage identification number is: - not applicable; (5) if stated on the mortgage, the name of the residential mortgage originator as defined in section 58.02 is: US Federal Credit Union Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder April, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2020
From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder PHONE: 612-827-4021 FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT
Fitz
came out of that era. For me to be chosen blows my mind thinking about it,” admitted Continued from page 8 Jones, a personal learning coach many tremendous athletes and dean of students at Robbinin the MIAC, and to be cho- sdale Cooper High School. The MIAC will wrap up its sen as one of them, I think it Centennial Celebration in May. is a tremendous honor.” While at St. Thomas, Leonard Jones (1991-94) Lockdown casualties Before everything was put joined Jesse Owens when he won three individual ama- on hold due to the virus crisis, teur titles at the 1994 NCAA the MIAC strength and condiindoor track and field cham- tioning coaches met in March
“For me to be chosen blows my mind thinking about it.”
pionship. The legendary LEGAL NOTICES Owens won four at the 1936 SIZE: 3 COL X 10 Continued from page 8 RATE $15.53 PCI (1ST RUN) Olympics. The Patrick Henry graduSUBTOTAL: $465.90 2021. Mahomes will make $25 ate was a 23-time conference million. champion, 19-time All AmerRATE $10.35 PCI (PER ADDITIONAL Mahomes has been an NFL ican, and nine-time NCAA RUN) $310.50 regular season MVP, threw 50 champion, including five long TD SUBTOTAL: passes in 2018,$1552.50 and in 2020 jump titles and two each in the Total: he is going$2018.40 into his fourth NFL season making $6 million a year. high jump and triple jump. Hisconseven career NCAA inHe'sPlease the bestproof, playerrespond in the league, with email so talented, yet to he'sdisplay@spokesman-restill locked firmation intocorder.com his rookie contract, which works for the owners. The guaranteed money that was taken years ago from the rookie bonus pool on contracts was moved to the veteran pool. Each team gets to designate a player under the franchise or transition tag if that helps the respective organization sign a player. On the surface the system does not look fair to Mahomes. He is arguably a much better player than Cousins. He's 4-1 in the playoffs and Super Bowl Champion and MVP. He has to Leonard Jones be patient.
and looked at nutritional issues for athletes. However, a scheduled first-ever “Work in Sports Seminar” for over 100 athletes interested in athletics careers in March was cancelled, as was an April mental health seminar. A mental health webinar for league coaches was held, however.
door track titles is still a Division III record. Jones was inducted into the Division III Track and Field Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012, 10 years after St. Thomas inducted him into their Hall of Fame. His high school also inducted him in their Hall that same year. Jones also lettered in football and finished with nine career touchdowns and a 25-yardper-catch average. On his latest honor, he said, “I think this one definitely is in the top three of the accolades. “First of all, it is a blessing to be named as one of the 100 because there’s been thousands and thousands of athletes that
Finally… Minnesota’s 2020 volleyball recruiting class was named last week the nation’s best by VolleyballMag.com. This was the program’s first such honor since 2009 and the first under Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon. The first-year class includes Taylor Landfair, the only Black in the four-member group.
Russell Wilson of Seattle, now in his eighth season, makes an NFL-high $35 million a season. He's won a Super Bowl and led Seattle to the playoffs eight times, twice to the Super Bowl.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGYAM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on "Almanac" (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com or visit Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com. Photos courtesy of MIAC
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May 7–13, 2020
NFL system protects owners
Fitz Beat Larry FitzgeraLd
W
hen the NFL owners changed the collective bargaining system 11 years ago, gone were the days of rookies signing for $50 million guaranteed. The owners stopped the game and cut the bonus signing pool by 50%. The players caved in, gaining improved working conditions and less physical practice contact while giving back the financial gains of legendary union leader Gene Upshaw.
Ten better ‘inside looks’ than ‘Last Dance’
every year by roughly 10%, and the owners and players just agreed on a 10-year collective bargaining contract. The NFL moved from the Scouting Combine to free agency to the 85th NFL Draft virtually over the last seven weeks without a hitch. The G.O.A.T Tom Brady, afSPN has thus far set ter 20 years and six Super Bowl viewership records titles in New England, was alwith its showing of lowed to walk away from the “The Last Dance,” the 10-epiAFC Patriots and sign a two- sode documentary on the year $50 million deal with Tam- Chicago Bulls that premiered pa Bay. The NFC Buccaneers in April 19. This columnist is not the rugged NFC South have not a fan of the team—nor is any made the playoffs in 12 years. longtime Detroit Pistons fan Vikings QB Kirk Cousins or native Detroiter from my three years ago signed a three- generation. year $84 million contract with That dates back long bethe Vikings, all guaranteed fore Michael Jordan, Scottie money. So far his report card Pippen, Phil Jackson et al says he's 19-14-1. The Vikings joined the hated rivals, or an re-signed him to a two-year $66 inside look of the last year million extension. they won an NBA title. The World Champion KanBut still, those Bulls had to go through the hated, twotime league champs Bad Boys,
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May 17—we also may suggest, in no particular order, the following 10 ‘inside looks’ that can be found either on You Tube, ESPN, ESPN+, or other streaming services: • “Basketball: A Love Story” (2018)—Must watch in its exact order of appearance to truly appreciate it. • “Bad Boys” (2014)—This ESPN 30-for-30 chronicled how the Pistons won their two titles. • “Hoop Dreams” (1994)— St. Paul’s Robin Hickman was behind this documentary on two Chicago high schoolers. • “Celtics-Lakers: Best of Enemies” (2017, ESPN)— Enough said. • “Long Shots” (1997)— an hour-long doc on the ABA. • “Requiem for the Big East” (2014, ESPN+)—America’s first all-college basketball conference created in the late 1970s. • “Survive and Advance” (2013, ESPN+)—North Caro-
Ladies”—a hard-to-find but must-see PBS documentary on the 2000-01 Rutgers women’s basketball season. We found it on YouTube. WNBA Draft coverage weak
Despite no live sports at the time, the WNBA still got media seconds on its draft coverage and its immediate aftermath. Lindsay Gibbs on her weekly “Power Plays” newsletter analyzed ESPN’s April 17 barely two-hour broadcast. The first 16 picks got minimal focus, while the last 20 draftees’ names were scrolled along the bottom of the screen after a commercial break. But less than a week later, ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network showed four hours of the NFL’s first round, and all seven rounds over three days were broadcast on multiple channels. The pro football as did the Pistons have to go lina State beating Houston. • “The Fab Five” (2011, draft coverage was chock full through the Celtics and Lakers, and the Lakers had to go ESPN+) – Michigan’s famed of features, highlights, and through the Celtics to finally five that took the basketball other fun facts. “The WNBA Draft itself reach their championship world by storm. • “Women of Troy” (2020, couldn’t even take center level. While you can still watch HBO)—This might be better stage during a broadcast dethe remaining “Last Dance” than “The Last Dance” for voted to the WNBA Draft,” Gibbs wrote. episodes—two episodes are compelling stories. She also tracked 16 news• “This Is a Game, shown on Sundays through
“The WNBA Draft itself couldn’t even take center stage during a broadcast devoted to the WNBA Draft.”
Super Bowl MVP Pat Mahomes Courtesy of Larry-Fitzgerald.com Even during a once-in-a- sas City Chiefs just picked up century pandemic in 2020, the the 5th-year option on Super strength of this system protects Bowl MVP Pat Mahomes for all 32 teams. The salary cap rises ■ See Fitz on page 7
MIAC names its ‘Century of Champions’ Hamline and St. Thomas athletes are among them
The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), throughout the 2019-20 academic and athletic year, celebrated its 100th anniversary. Among its scheduled events was honoring 100 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other contributors from member schools for its “The Century of Champions” series on the MIAC website. Al Frost and Leonard Jones were among eight Blacks named to this centennial list. The others included Horace Gant, Devean George, Lashay Holt, Judge Michael J. Davis, Isaac Rosefelt and
Kofi Annan, who later became the United Nations’ first Black secretary-general. Frost (1963-67) was a three-time All-MIAC at Hamline and lettered in both basketball and football. He played on the school’s 1966 league football champion team and set Hamline singleseason records for points (1966-67). He was the MIAC scoring leader and 15th in the nation, averaging just around 30 points a game. Frost, a retired Minneapolis teacher, coach and administrator, recalled, “I was very happy” upon learning he’d been named on the list. He previously was inducted into
Al Frost the Hamline Hall of Fame (1978) and received the Hutton Arena Ring of Honor in 2018. “This is amazing,” Frost said. “There have been
papers from around the country, including the 12 WNBA team markets, for five days (April 16-20) and found just 60 W related pieces out of 830 total sports stories, while 167.5 stories were on the NFL
draft. April 16: 12 WNBA stories, 31.5 NFL April 17: 20 WNBA stories (10 on front page), 24 NFL April 18: The day after the W draft, 23 W stories (11.5 front page), 28 NFL April 19: Four W post-draft stories, 43 NFL draft stories April 20: One W story, 41 NFL “I think this just shows how much harder the WNBA has to work in order to get coverage that other leagues take for granted,” Gibbs concluded. Finally… Yale’s Saroya Tinker was the fourth overall pick in last week’s NWHL draft by Metropolitan. She was the only player of color drafted in the first round. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Walton chooses North Carolina Carolina this fall. According to Prep Hoops, the 6’5” Walton was the number-three-ranked prospect in the state behind Gonzaga signee Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy) and Marquette University commit Dawson Garcia (Prior PreP Scene Lake). He chose North Carolina Dr. Mitchell PalMer McDonalD over Minnesota, Creighton and Arizona. Walton burst onto the Kerwin Walton, one of the state’s top prep boys’ scene as a player who had from Minnesota, basketball players as a offers member of the Hopkins Creighton, South Dakota, Royals and the Class of 2020, Drake, Denver, Kansas State, committed last week to play Purdue and Baylor before at the University of North the start of his junior season.
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That season he teamed with center Zeke Nnaji— who had an outstanding freshman season at the University of Arizona and has declared for the upcoming NBA draft—and point guard Jalen Dearring to lead Hopkins to the Class 4A 2019 state title. An outstanding perimeter defender, playmaker and shooter, Walton had all three skills on display this past winter after the graduations of Nnaji and Dearring. In leading Hopkins to the sectional title before the state tournament was canceled because of the coronavirus, the sharpshooting, slashing guard simply took over, averaging 26.4 points per game while becoming one of the state’s most dominant players. Of the top-tier players in this year’s in-state class, Walton was the last to sign, joining one of the nation’s top college basketball programs that struggled this past season, finishing with a 14-19 record. The Tar Heels hope to improve on that mark with one of the country’s top recruiting classes. Walton started his prep career at Breck averaging 16.3 points per game as a freshman. After transferring to Hopkins, he netted 11.2 points per contest during his sophomore season and 16.8 as a junior. Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail. com.
Hopkins guard and U of NC signee Kerwin Walton Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
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