FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE: LCC board members expressed their frustration to Ward 9 Council Member Gary Schiff about the Committee of the Whole’s decision to deny neighborhood requests for six months to response to the Framework for the Future. The Committee gave neighborhoods until September 26 to submit comments.

The Framework, drawn up by Council Members Robert Lilligren, Paul Ostrow, Barbara Johnson, Betsy Hodges, Cara Letofsky (policy aide to Mayor R. T. Rybak), and Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) Director Bob Miller, is designed to replace the NRP that has funded neighborhood organizations and programs since 1990. Neighborhood organizations are primarily opposed to the portion of the Framework that shifts the ability to set priorities from the neighborhoods to City Council.

“What do we have to do to get City Council engaged in discussions with us?” asked board member Don Hammen. “Seven council members support the Framework,” Schiff told the board. (Lilligren, Ostrow, Johnson, Hodges, Lisa Goodman, Don Samuels, and Ralph Remington) “That doesn’t mean that some of those seven wouldn’t agree to changes to the Framework.” Schiff recommended that NRP supporters draft specific resolutions to present to the Council.

Schiff promised his continued support of NRP and pledged to help shepherd an amendment through the council.

“I want you to know that we vote and there will be political consequences if NRP goes away,” board member Stacy Behm warned Schiff.

VICE LORDS ACTIVITY IN LONGFELLOW: Schiff reported that Longfellow residents have expressed concern about groups of boys wearing red shirts and black shorts gathering around a house on 30th Avenue near 32nd and 33rd Streets. Schiff photographed graffiti on a fence two blocks west of Longfellow Park. Minneapolis police gang specialists identified the tag as belonging to the Vice Lords gang.
Because of past crackdowns, Schiff told the board, most Vice Lords leaders are in jail. That and the fact that the Vice Lords have historically been associated with the north side of Minneapolis lead police to believe that, if a cell is forming in Longfellow, it is still in its infancy. “We very much want to visit their parents,” said Schiff of suspected gang members, “and start intervention.”

Schiff encouraged residents to report groups of youths in red and black gang colors and graffiti featuring a backwards cane or top hat and the letters IVL, which stands for insane vice lords.

15-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED IN LONGFELLOW HOMICIDE: Schiff told the board that police arrested a 15-year-old boy for the August 7 stabbing death of a 24-year-old neighbor man.

LCC FORMS ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE: The board approved the formation of an advancement committee. The committee is charged with pursuing new fundraising and marketing opportunities for LCC.

BOARD REVISES PROTOCOL FOR GUEST SPEAKERS: LCC clarified the steps that a task force, committee or other group needs to follow before bringing an actionable item before the board. A group must hold a documented vote, present an account of those present for the vote, provide the board with written recommendations or resolutions for the board to consider, and provide a minority report or recommendations if applicable.

LCC TO ‘SEVER CURRENT RELATIONSHIP’ WITH SEWARD REDESIGN
Editor’s note: this reporter’s notebook item has been updated to more accurately reflect the language and intention of LCC’s letter and action regarding this issue.

The board approved sending a letter to Seward Redesign severing their “current relationship” and asking that Seward Redesign stop referring to itself as the “official developer of Greater Longfellow.”

The letter cites a change in funding and housing climates, as well as LCC’s disappointment with the level of Redesign’s work on Longfellow-based projects, initiated in 2001 with LCC, like the 46th Street Station, the Super America at 39th Ave. and E. Lake St., and the Coliseum Building as reasons for the split. In the letter, LCC states that “there may have been an agreement at that time [2001] … where Redesign was asked to act as greater Longfellow’s developer but we have no such agreement on record.”

The letter also states that Seward redesign “is welcome to submit competitive proposals whenever a Request For Proposals (RFP) is issued by the organization.”

FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN APPROVED: LCC approved $1,250 in NRP funds for compost bins, black dirt, and flowers to enhance the 32nd Street Community Garden.

NEXT: Board meeting, September 18, 2008
MEETINGS: 3rd Thursday monthly, 6:30 p.m., check www.longfellow.org or call 612-722-4529 for meeting location
CONTACT: 722-4529, www.longfellow.org
BORDERS: Mississippi River to Hiawatha Ave., Minnehaha Park to 27th St. railroad tracks

last revised: September 17, 2008

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