PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
See more MN Landscape Arboretum on pg 4
September 13-19, 2018 Vol. 85 No. 6 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Minneapolisâ Catch 22
Regulating landlords without punishing tenants has found that holding negligent landlords accountable to tenants has also created houshe City of Minneapolis ing instability for those very is experiencing a unique tenants. According to Ward 5 City housing problem that policymakers have not quite Councilmember Jeremiah Elfigured out how to solve. Be- lison, who serves as vice presiyond the all-too-well-known af- dent of the Housing Policy and fordable housing crisis, the City Development Committee, the By Keith Schubert Contributing Writer
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City is doing a better job than in the recent past on cracking down on negligent landlords. Those concerns have been exacerbated with cases like North Minneapolis landlord Mahmood Khan, whose rental license revocation last December left hundreds of tenants facing displacement.
The crackdown causes landlords, said Ellison, to âdisplace the most vulnerable person in the situation, the tenant they were housing,â he said. âHow can we successfully do the things weâre supposed to do as a city, which is condemn properties that shouldnât be lived [in]; revoke licenses of landlords who shouldnât have licenses; then in turn punish the last person who should be punished â arguably the person whoâs been punished the most because theyâve had to live in the really crappy conditions?â It also leaves renters with fewer housing options, added Kellie Rose Jones, director of community engagement for the Department of Regulatory Services. She noted that landlords rarely reach the level of negligence that Khan demonstrated, but it does still happen. âWeâre very aware that there are landlords who specifically interact with families who have fewer choices and can take advantage of them,â said Jones. According to Real Estate Today, the vacancy rate for the Twin Citiesâ seven-county metro area was at 2.4 percent at the end of 2017. âThe [housing]
â See CatCh 22 on page 8
Black folks farm
(But not like they used to) NEWS ANALYSIS By Iyegbah Angela Rae Contributing Writer I am a third-generation African American farmer from the Midwest. My father and his father were both farmers in Southern Iowa. And, yes, you would be surprised to know how many of us exist. Many of you may have a parent or grandparent who farmed, as well.
However, the image of farming and the quality of life it provides has changed over the years. Farmers, especially Black farmers, are not as visible today as they were in previous generations. That is primarily because we are in rural areas far separated and removed from the ruckus of urban congestion and life in a concrete jungle. It is also due to people
â See Farm on page 8
Iyegbah Angela Rae calls for greater understanding of modern agriculture Photo by Zede Hart
Gala celebrates mother-son connection
from one to four percent. âThere is evidence supporting the positive influence of mother engagement on Much is made of the importance of childrenâs social, behavioral and psychoparental connections â especially those logical outcomes,â Austin said in press between father and son, father and materials. âMother involvement seems daughter, mother and daughter. These to reduce the occurrence of behaviorbonds strengthen families â even singleal problems in boys and psychological parent ones â and thereby the commuproblems in young men, as well as ennity. Not as much is said, however, about hancing cognitive development, while the connection between mother and son. The upcoming fourth annual Mother-Son Gala, set to take place October 28, is looking to widen the conversation with an evening dedicated to this parent-child dynamic. âItâs so important,â said Terry L. Austin, executive director at Positive Image, which sponsors the evening. âWe have so many mothers that are working, going to school, trying to get that degree. And theyâre doing it alone. So, I wanted to take some time out to recognize those moms, to give them a salute,â Austin said. Indeed, the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau notes that a disproportionate number of Black children under 18 live in singleparent homes, usually with the mom. Over time, this disproportionate number has become a norm in community after community. From 1960 through 2016, the percentage of children living with only their mother nearly tripled from eight to 23 2017 attendees percent, and the percentage of children living with only their fathers increased By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer
decreasing delinquency and economic disadvantage in low-income families.â Needless to say, that involvement also greatly benefits young men who are not disadvantaged. âThere are some great moms in our community, doing great things â and some awesome boys, as well, who are doing well in school, academically as well as in sports.â The event, he added,
is âalso [for] sons that are older and have their own kids [who] want to show their mom some appreciation.â The formal festivities for boys and young men five years of age and up include, Austin noted, âa nice dinner, words of encouragement from local leaders, and a fun-filled night of dancing and interconnectedness teaching their sons what it feels like to be treated
Photo courtesy of Facebook/Positive Image
with love and respect.â Along with acknowledging these mothers, Austin looks to empower them. âThey can network with other moms, maybe for employment, or just [socialize],â he told the MSR.
Origins The Mother-Son Gala was inspired by Positive Imagesâ already successful Father-Daughter Dance, which is designed to engage âfathers from all walks of life,â Austin shared in a previous MSR interview. âA group of moms came to me and wanted to do something because we had such a good time,â explained Austin. âThey wanted to have something they could celebrate with their boys, to create some traditions in their families [and] have some memories they can hold onto.â The gala is just one more piece of Austinâs overall commitment to community through his Positive Images organization. Founded in 2004, Positive Images provides programming to mothers and children regarding stress reduction, social boundaries, online safety, dating safety and co-parenting. It also offers health awareness, education and leadership development creating partnerships between school systems, corporations and the
â See Gala on page 8
Controversy on the corner
Claiming unfair bias, store owner defies St. Paul signage citation By MSR Editors St. Paul business owner Lucky Rosenbloom has been known for years for plastering his St. Paul office and its surrounding area with signs. Until recently, he did so with impunity, but on August 31, a City department decided he had gone too far. Driving past the corner of Dale Street and St. Anthony Avenue, one will see signs on everything from college prep classes and abortions to firearms and gun lessons. âThis is what we have been doing on the corner for 57 years,â said Rosenbloom, who inherited the space from his deceased father, the original proprietor of the iconic Tiger Jackâs shack. But, Rosenbloom is convinced itâs his Trump signs that are putting him on the wrong side of the law. Rosenbloom recently received a letter from the City of St. Paul demanding he remove his signs or face a criminal citation. âThis is selective enforcement,â asserted Rosenbloom. âNot only is it selective, it is racist. You can drive all throughout the city and see signs advertising their business. They have never been told to take their signs down. I am the only Black man in this area that has been
told to take their sign down. âWhenever I put up signs about Melvin Carter, supporting Rena Moran or any Democrat, I donât have a problem,â he continued. âThe moment I put up a sign about Trump, the moment I put up a sign about Bush, put a sign up about âBlack abortion is racism,â or if I put up a sign about any Republican policy, then itâs a problem.â Rosenbloom, who appealed the citation last week, said that the City called Monday to close the case. Nevertheless, he wants his proverbial day in court. âI do not accept it as proper for the City to issue a threat of criminal prosecution [and] advise of an appeal policy, only to be denied right after filing,â he wrote in a statement to the St. Paul City Council. For Rosenbloom, the fight is now a matter of principle. âI paid my fee. I am appealing, and now [the City is] telling me I canât come to the hearing,â he told the MSR. He has decided heâs going to attend the originally scheduled hearing on September 25 anyway. And, he plans to keep his signs out front and center. âLetâs take this thing as far as itâs going to go.â Photo courtesy of Lucky Rosenbloom