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Walker Church Tenants Say Fire Investigation Botched

June 3, 2012 by Bill Sorem FBI Actions, Health Care, Immigration, Minnesota No Comments

Click on Picture To See Video Of Walker Fire Press Conference

Did someone intentionally torch the headquarters of several Minneapolis political and social action groups on Memorial Day? Tenants of the old Walker Community United Methodist Church say we may never know for sure because the city ordered the building demolished a few hours after the fire was put out.

According to a Minnesota Public Radio report, “city officials say the remains of the structure were demolished because they posed a safety hazard, adding that fire investigators were able to examine the rubble before the demolition.”

Three of the tenants of the building aren’t satisfied with that explanation, questioning why the building was torn down so quickly, particularly on a holiday. … Continue Reading

Police Brace For Violence, Instead End Up With A Song From Occupy MN

June 2, 2012 by Bill Sorem Minnesota, Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on picture to see video of non-violent response to police occupying home.


Minneapolis police were braced for a violent confrontation with Occupy Minnesota activists intent on reclaiming a home the police had seized. Instead, the police were peacefully serenaded while a pastor from across the street led the crowd in prayer.

Occupy Minnesota had announced earlier this week it intended to “reoccupy” the foreclosed and evicted Cruz home at 2pm on Friday. Just before 2pm, about 30 Minneapolis Police officers were deployed on the homes front lawn and the yard was closed off with yellow tape.

Officers on bicycles were the first line of defense. A second row of tape was wrapped around the property. A surveillance camera had been deployed at 41st and Cedar. The alley behind the home was blocked with a solid line of squad cars as was the alley south of 41st Street. Squad cars kept circling the area and a paddy wagon was reported close by. Occupy Minnesota activists said the police were acting as if they were being paid by Freddie Mac. … Continue Reading

Obama Calls on Congress to Act on Veterans Job Corps

June 1, 2012 by Michael McIntee DC, Economy/Jobs, Minnesota No Comments

Click picture of President Obama to watch his speech to Honeywell employees in Golden Valley, MN

President Obama brings his Congressional “to do” list to Golden Valley, Minnesota. One of the items on the list is passing the Veterans Job Corps legislation aimed at employing returning US military personnel from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The site of Obama’s visit, a Honeywell plant, has an aggressive veterans hiring program in place, hiring 900 vets there and elsewhere in the company since the start of 2011.

Transcript of President Obama’s speech on vets jobs: … Continue Reading

Occupy: Minneapolis Mayor’s Words Not Matching Actions On Foreclosure

May 31, 2012 by Bill Sorem Economy/Jobs, Minnesota, Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on Picture to see video of disagreement with Mayor Rybak.


David Cruz, Homeowner

Occupy Minnesota activists are convinced Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is saying one thing and doing another when it comes to evicting homeowners.

David Cruz is the owner of the home in South Minneapolis that has been subjected to a series of police actions about foreclosure,

Cruz interprets the Mayor’s statement of the previous day that Minneapolis was not in the foreclosure business to mean that police actions at the home would be suspended. Yet the previous afternoon the property was raided by a substantial force of police and firemen.

The angry crowd went to the mayor’s office and asked if the mayor had lost control of the police force or was he not telling the truth. about 20 people moved in to the mayor’s outer office and demanded a meeting with Mayor Rybak and David Cruz. The request was denied, but later the group stopped the mayor in the hallway for an impromptu meeting.

The lender trying to evict the Cruz family is Freddie Mac. Occupy Minnesota activist Nick Espinosa says a protest is planned on Monday for outside Freddie Mac’s national headquarters in Washington, DC to demand it back off on trying to evict the Cruz family.

Occupy Temporarily Retakes Cruz Home, 14 Arrested

May 31, 2012 by Bill Sorem Economy/Jobs, Minnesota, Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on photo of Cruz home to see video of recapture.


The see-saw battle between Occupy Minnesota activists and the city of Minneapolis will continue tomorrow (Friday) as activists plan to “reoccupy” a foreclosed South Minneapolis home .

After two unsuccessful tries earlier this week, Minneapolis police and Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies evicted the protesters on Tuesday from the Cruz home, 4044 Cedar Ave. South. Wednesday after unsatisfactory discussions with Minneapolis Mayor, R. T. Rybak, Occupy Homes recaptured the house and opened the front and back doors which had been boarded up. But late in the evening Minneapolis police showed up, ended the occupation and arrested 14 people

New players in the drama: private security guards hired by the lender. … Continue Reading

Occupy Activist Jackhammered Out Of House

May 30, 2012 by Bill Sorem Minnesota, Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on picture to see TK describe being jackhammered out of a home.


His head covered by a shroud, an Occupy Minnesota activist could only hear the sounds of jackhammers and saws as Sheriff’s deputies attempted to extract him from his self-imposed imprisonment. TK was one of many people trying to prevent the eviction of the Cruz family from their South Minneapolis home on Tuesday. He had chained his arms inside two 55-gallon drums filled with concrete to make it difficult to remove him from the home.

TK suffered burns and cuts on his hands as deputies hacked and hammered away at the concrete, but he said the injuries were minor compared to the injury the community was suffering from the eviction.

Freddie Mac got a court order to evict the Cruz family. Despite evidence that the family was working with PNC Bank which services the mortgage, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office tried to raid the house twice in the last week. A third raid by mostly Minneapolis police and a few sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday finally evicted the Occupy Minnesota protesters who were trying to defend the home for the Cruz family.

In the video, TK described the ordeal. He was arrested for trespass and held under $80,000 bail, which was later reduced to $50.

Cop Pepper Spraying Peaceful Crowd


He was not seriously injured. He also confirmed the use of pepper spray by one of the Minneapolis Police officers.

Minneapolis Mayor Implies City Stepping Away From Helping Banks With Evictions

May 30, 2012 by Bill Sorem Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on picture to see complete comments by Elizabeth Glidden

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak issued a statement implying the city is getting out of the foreclosure/eviction business, but it’s unclear what that means to families fighting to keep their homes from banks.

Mayor Rybak and Minneapolis Council Member Elizabeth Glidden issued a joint statement saying, “We call on all housing lenders, both public and private, to accept full responsibility for managing foreclosed properties and for preventing foreclosures through broader and more aggressive actions.”

Glidden had come to the steps of City Hall about a half hour earlier to meet with the Occupy Homes activists. She said that she and the mayor had held almost continual meetings with the lenders and others involved and that the Mayor was on the phone at that time with Freddie Mac, the agency involved with the Cruz family eviction and sheriff sale. She was credited by insiders to be responsible for pressuring the Mayor to contact Freddie Mac.

There had been three sheriff and police actions at the home culminating with boarding up the Cruz home late on May 28.At that time Police Chief Dolan said, “We’re done with this job.” It wasn’t clear if he meant just the Cruz home or the job of other foreclosures. In any event, the police monitored the house over night and then this morning (May 30) arrested an Occupy person who was in the house. When Gliden was asked if she knew about this raid in advance she said no.

The release went on to say, “It has become sadly too common for us to see our neighbors losing their homes. This human tragedy is made worse when we forget the effect on families who feel lost in a sea of confusing red tape and bureaucratic hurdles.

“Cities do not have the resources to provide private security for landlords, whether it’s Freddie Mac or any other mortgage holder. These lending institutions, public or private, cannot foreclose numerous properties and then just expect local police departments to manage the consequences.”

Full text of joint statement: … Continue Reading

How Much Did Police Raid on Occupy-Backed Cruz Home Cost Mineapolis?

May 30, 2012 by Jacob Wheeler Economy/Jobs, Minnesota, Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with NOC's Anthony Newby

“We want to know how much this cost,” said Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and Occupy Homes activist Anthony Newby following the Minneapolis Police and Hennepin County Sheriffs raid on the Cruz house Tuesday.

“We’re looking around at home many police officers they have, the fire department, rescue squad. The fire department boarding up the home, they’ve blocked off traffic from both ways. The question is how much does this cost the taxpayer. When you have a family that’s begging to make payments, and a bank that’s actively in negotiations with the family. It just doesn’t make any sense. This is costing tens of thousands of dollars on this single day alone to forcibly remove a family that wants to be in the community, that’s made their payments on time, that wants to continue to pay.”

Legal Challenge To MN Voter Photo ID Amendment

May 30, 2012 by Michael McIntee Minnesota, Voter Suppression No Comments

Click on image of Mike Dean of Common Cause to watch video of the news conference

]Minnesota’s Supreme Court is being asked to stop a voter photo ID constitutional amendment from appearing on the fall ballot because the ballot question is misleading. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, along with League of Women Voters Minnesota, Jewish Community Action and Common Cause Minnesota are petitioning the court to review the ballot question.

“This ballot proposal is incredibly troubling because it asks voters to put an amendment in the constitution in a manner that is misleading, confusing and unclear,” said Charles Samuelson, Executive Director of the ACLU-MN.

The petition says there are three serious omissions and three misleading statements in the ballot question, including saying it would apply to all voters when it only applies to people who vote in person and not even mentioning a provisional ballot system that will significantly change how Minnesota elections are conducted.

Lawsuit should be no surprise to amendment authors. … Continue Reading

Minneapolis Police Chief on Seizing Occupy-Backed Home: We’re Done With This Job

May 30, 2012 by Jacob Wheeler Immigration, Minnesota, Occupy Movement No Comments

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with Police Chief Tim Dolan

Dozens of Minneapolis police officers (and representatives from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office) stormed the Cruz family house in South Minneapolis yesterday and, in their third attempt, successfully took the foreclosed house from Occupy Homes protestors and boarded it up. Police held nearly 100 protestors at bay, despite a tense standoff that involved pushing and shoving.

Following the action, Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan confirmed that the mortgage lender (he cited Fannie Mae, but meant Freddie Mac) and not PNC Bank (which originally serviced the loan) had called for the raid. Occupy Homes activists claim that Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank has shown a willingness to negotiate with the Cruz family, which is now effectively homeless.

Chief Dolan also implied that the City’s work was finished, and that Minneapolis would no longer expend resources to protect the Cruz home on behalf of Freddie Mac. Activists interpreted this to mean that the police was effectively adopting a moratorium on forced home evictions.

City statement on raid … Continue Reading

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Click picture of President Obama to watch his speech to Honeywell employees in Golden Valley, MN

Obama Calls on Congress to Act on Veterans Job Corps

President Obama hammers on his Congressional “to do” list. This time he is stressing the need to pass the Veterans Job Corps legislation aimed at employing returning US military personnel from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Accretive Health Senior V.P. Greg Kazarian

Accretive Health Apologizes For Emergency Room Debt Collection Practices

Accretive Health’s Senior Vice President apologizes for trying to collect money from patients while they are in the emergency room. The apology comes during a US Senate field hearing in Minnesota chaired by Senator Al Franken.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with Congressman Keith Ellison

Ellison: NATO Focuses on Old Threats, Ignores New Threats

As thousands of protestors massed in Chicago to protest the NATO summit, U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (Minnesota) agreed with some of the demonstrators’ claims, but disagreed with others. “I do agree we’re spending too much on the military, but I believe in the military.”

Click on photo to watch Senator Al Franken's news conference on college financial aid reform

Sen. Franken Announces “True Cost Of College” Act

Senator Al Franken announces the “Understanding The True Cost Of College Act” that would require colleges to use easier to understand language in their financial aid package offers to students.

Click this picture to play video.

First Somali Delegate Headed to Democratic National Convention

Hindia Ali, Youth Leadership Development Coordinator at Somali Action Alliance is a delegate the the 2012 National Democratic Convention, the first Somali-American to be a delegate.

Click photo to watch President Obama's speech

Obama Rips GOP’s “Radical Vision” For US

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, President Obama ripped into Republicans for their lack of compromising and for the first time mentioned his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, by name.

Click on Photo to View Women's Discussion About Health Care and the Affordable Care Act

“Being a Woman Shouldn’t be a Pre-existing Condition”

Minnesota women in healthcare predicaments met with with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Betty McCollum and Governor Mark Dayton on Friday — the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

Click photo to watch President Obama's weekly address

Obama:Fraud, Middle East Conflict, Driving Up Gas Prices

President Obama says many of the factors that are driving up gas prices are out of our control such as unrest in the Middle East. However, he points out there are some things that are in our control such as fraud and manipulation that can cause prices to spike even further.

Click photo to hear President Obama speak about alternative energy

Obama Makes Case For Alternative Energy

President Obama talks about an all-of-the-above American energy strategy at a Daimler manufacturing plant in North Carolina that’s making trucks that run on natural gas.

No recount this time. Click photo to watch the MN Congressional Cookoff

Another Close One For Sen. Al Franken- Ties In Hotdish Cookoff

Senator Al Franken is used to close elections. This time he didn’t beat his opponents, but had to settle for a tie with Representative Chip Cravaack in the second annual Minnesota Congressional delegation hotdish cookoff.

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Click on Picture To See Video Of Walker Fire Press Conference

Walker Church Tenants Say Fire Investigation Botched

Did someone intentionally torch the headquarters of several Minneapolis political and social action groups on Memorial Day? Tenants of the building are not satisfied with the city’s apparent non-investigation into possible arson.

Click on picture to see video of non-violent response to police occupying home.

Police Brace For Violence, Instead End Up With A Song From Occupy MN

Minneapolis police prevent Occupy Homes activists from returning to a foreclosed home. The grouped charged the police yellow tape, linked arms and sang.

Click picture of President Obama to watch his speech to Honeywell employees in Golden Valley, MN

Obama Calls on Congress to Act on Veterans Job Corps

President Obama hammers on his Congressional “to do” list. This time he is stressing the need to pass the Veterans Job Corps legislation aimed at employing returning US military personnel from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Click on Picture to see video of disagreement with Mayor Rybak.

Occupy: Minneapolis Mayor’s Words Not Matching Actions On Foreclosure

Occupy Homes activists and homeowner David Cruz confront the mayor about repeated police raids after they thought he’s promised to stop them.

Click on photo of Cruz home to see video of recapture.

Occupy Temporarily Retakes Cruz Home, 14 Arrested

Occupy Homes recaptured the Cruz family home after Hennepin County Sheriff and Minneapolis Police had secured it for foreclosure by the bank.

Click on picture to see TK describe being jackhammered out of a home.

Occupy Activist Jackhammered Out Of House

TK, Minneapolis Occupy Homes activist describes his ordeal in getting jack hammered out of a home that had been raided three times by police forces in attempt to secure it for a foreclosure sheriff’s sale.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with NOC's Anthony Newby

How Much Did Police Raid on Occupy-Backed Cruz Home Cost Mineapolis?

“We want to know how much this cost,” said Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and Occupy Homes activist Anthony Newby following the Minneapolis Police and Hennepin County Sheriffs raid on the Cruz house yesterday.

Click on image of Mike Dean of Common Cause to watch video of the news conference

Legal Challenge To MN Voter Photo ID Amendment

The lawsuit isn’t a surprise. During the partisan battle over the amendment at the legislature Democrats argued that the ballot measure should include mention of the new provisional balloting system the amendment requires.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with Police Chief Tim Dolan

Minneapolis Police Chief on Seizing Occupy-Backed Home: We’re Done With This Job

Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan implied that the City’s work was finished, and that Minneapolis would no longer expend resources to protect the Cruz home on behalf of Freddie Mac.

Accretive Health Senior V.P. Greg Kazarian

Accretive Health Apologizes For Emergency Room Debt Collection Practices

Accretive Health’s Senior Vice President apologizes for trying to collect money from patients while they are in the emergency room. The apology comes during a US Senate field hearing in Minnesota chaired by Senator Al Franken.

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Sustaining Solutions

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Hope, Despair Mark Minneapolis Tornado Anniversary

The UpTake’s team coverage of the anniversary has captured both the hope that city and community leaders are selling as well as the quiet despair of those who bear the emotional and economic scars of twin storms that randomly blew into theirs lives.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with MPR News' Steve Nelson

What Brought MPR’s Live Coverage to North Minneapolis

Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) News set up shop and broadcast live at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (U-ROC) Tuesday for the one-year anniversary of the North Minneapolis tornado.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with NCRT Leader Louis King

NCRT Didn’t “Wander in Circles” Following North Minneapolis Tornado, Says Louis King

Following last year’s May 22 tornado that devastated North Minneapolis, a coalition of nearly 60 local organizations came together to form the Northside Community Response Team (NCRT) to confront both the short-term and long-term needs.

Click on Photo to Learn about the Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater's North Minneapolis Inititative

Compiling Personal Stories Of The Minneapolis Tornado

The Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater company has undertaken a community connections program called “Temporary Shelters: Tales from the Minneapolis Tornado” — to tell the stories of people who survived the North Minneapolis tornado.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with R.T. Rybak About the North Minneapolis Tornado

“You can fix a building, but emotional scars remain”-Mayor Rybak On Tornado Recovery

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak reflected on the anniversary of the North Minneapolis tornado that fixing a building is easy compared to healing someone’s emotional scars following a traumatic event.

Click on Photo to Hear Perspectives on Tornado Healing in North Minneapolis

Releasing North Minneapolis Tornado Anxiety and Pain Through Balloons

Students at Lucy Laney School in North Minneapolis released 200 blue balloons into the air, thereby freeing themselves of the anxiety and pain that the community has carried since the May 22 tornado.

Click Image to View Video

Insurance, Contractor Headaches Haunt Minneapolis Tornado Victims

Eric Reichwald’s home in North Minneapolis suffered over $60,000 worth of damage. He claims an enormous contractor and insurance headache after the fact.

Click on Image to View Video

Tornado And Foreclosure Double Whammy For Minneapolis Homeowner

A tornado and a foreclosure fight has chased Homeowner Gwendolyn Onikoro has been chased from Minneapolis’ North side.

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with Natasha Mitchell

“There’s so much good on the north side”

Natasha Mitchell misses North Minneapolis. The 38-year-old mother of two had to leave the neighborhood after the house they were renting was struck by last year’s tornado, leaving serious water and mold damage in every corner.

Click on Photo to Watch Scenes from North Minneapolis Block Party

Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Across Downed Power Lines, Broken Trees

A lot has been done, but there’s more to do to recover from the Minneapolis tornado that happened one year ago. Residents on the 3000 block of Logan in North Minneapolis were among many who came to each other’s aid following the May 22 tornado.

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