News and Current Affairs
Ford and Rubin answer our questions
Have you decided who you will vote for in the race between Melanie Ford and Mark Rubin?
The October issue of The Hillsider is out. We have a candidate questionnaire for several of the candidates running for office this November. Read all the candidates who answered by picking up a paper copy.
Here are links to the St. Louis county attorney candidates’ answers to our most recent questions.
Melanie Ford
Mark Rubin
The questions we posed:
- What things in the County Attorney’s office would you like to see change, expanded or improved upon.
- What is the greatest injustice that needs correction?
- What is your favorite place in any of the three neighborhoods that we cover, i.e. Central Hillside, East Hillside or Lincoln Park.
This guy likes to show off his junk
At 5:23 p.m. Saturday I was driving west along Grand Avenue and had to stop for a red light at Central Avenue. A tall, bald guy in a red jacket and black pants started walking across the crosswalk, then stopped and turned to look at the young lady sitting in the car in front of me. He reached for his belt … and … well … what follows is my thought pattern from there.
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Northland Anti-war Coalition Statement on FBI Raids
On Friday, Sept. 24, FBI agents raided four homes of anti-war and social justice activists in Minneapolis, the offices of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, two homes in Chicago, and others in Michigan and North Carolina.
All of the activists targeted have been involved in legal, open political work against U.S. wars and for solidarity with the people of Palestine and Latin America. None have yet been charged with any crime.
Reports indicate that this raid was more than a year in the making, and it follows on the heels of a U.S. Justice Department investigation revealing that the FBI has been illegally spying on activists in the peace and social justice movements for several years.
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Wednesday night at Hartley Nature Center
Adult Night Out at Hartley Nature Center:
This week, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.- Fabulous Ferns! Learn to identify our areas “top ten” most common ferns and which work well in home gardens. Speakers include Carol Andrews, President of the Arrowhead Chapter of Wild Ones, and Clayton Oslund, author of What’s Doin’ the Bloomin’?
Free for Wild Ones and Hartley members, $4 donation for non-members
Presenting the most complicated ballot question of all time!
If you live in Duluth, this fall’s ballot asks the question below, which I will not even try to simplify.
School District Ballot Question
Approval of School District Bond Issue
Shall the School Board of Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, be authorized to issue general obligation bonds totaling $128,000,000 to be used with an estimated $66,092,086 in bonds and investment earnings previously approved by the board for alternative facilities to build two new middle schools and two new elementary schools; repair and remodel three high schools, one middle school, and five elementary schools; repair and expand two elementary schools; and repair and remodel Old Central High and the Secondary Technical Center?
My question to you, PDD readers, is do you even want anyone to explain what this means?
It would be awesome if a local TV news show asked people on the street what they think this question means. The answers would be precious.
NorShor to Remain Closed
The NorShor received the ban hammer from DEDA today. The building will be closed indefinitely until it meets ADA compliance.
Another Station Change
After yet another radio format switch I find myself wondering the reason for it all, and when it will end. I must admit, the Bridge was one of the few stations left that I could stand to listen to.
Upper Midwest Broadcasting Station News reports:
Midwest Communications’ KDAL-FM/95.7 (Duluth) has dropped its “Bridge” Adult Alternative format and is now carrying Rock of the 1970s, `80s, and `90s as “Rock 96.”
What are everyone’s thoughts?
One hiker could be freed on Saturday
The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that one of the three American hikers jailed in Iran for more than a year could be released Saturday.
Iran to release 1 of 3 jailed American hikers
There is no word on which hiker might be freed. One of them, Shane Bauer, is a Minnesotan. His sister and brother-in-law live in Duluth, and he also has family in Shakopee and Pine City.
Hillsider to Fink and Jewell: Why are issues relating to mining and forestry important?
The September issue of The Hillsider features candidates running for District 1 County Commissioner, Dennis Fink and Frank Jewell, answering two questions:
- Why are you running?
- Why care about mining and forestry?
Click on the links below for the answers. The paper issue also contains an encore presentation of questions and answers from candidates for other offices.
By the way, St. Louis County is over 6,000 square miles — larger than three states: Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. It has an abundance of natural resources contributing to mining and lumber industries. Why should people in the core neighborhoods of Duluth be concerned? Read up.
Duluth’s 2011 Proposed Property Tax Levy and General Fund Budget
Click here for the mayor’s summary.
The city council will approve a maximum tax levy in September, followed by budget presentations from each of the city departments in the upcoming months. The council will vote on and certify the final 2011 tax levy and budget in December.
Highlights:
- Fourth consecutive year of decreases in general fund expenditures
- Zero increase in general operating tax rate
Loud & Angry
“Councilor Kerry Gauthier said he plans to support the proposed ordinance, especially after witnessing the effects of K2 on a neighbor boy who ‘got loud and angry’ after smoking the stuff.”
Uncle Paul Retires from Positively 3rd St. Bakery
Uncle Paul Steklenski, aka “The Cider Man,” is retiring after 27 years of baking wholesome breads for the community. He is one of the bakery’s founders, establishing the worker-owned co-operative in 1983. Luckily he will still do some part-time maintenance.
DEDA Approves Budget for Norshor
DEDA Approves Budget for Norshor
Posted on the WDIO website at: 08/25/2010 9:22 PM
The Duluth Economic Development Authority approved a capital improvement budget on Wednesday for the Norshor Theatre.
The City of Duluth purchased the building in June, for $2.6 million. Fundraising is now underway for renovation work.
DEDA voted Wednesday night to put almost $100,000 towards those efforts. The Duluth Playhouse is managing the Norshor Theater and intends to have a full line-up of entertainment this fall.
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I’ll say it before Paul does: NorShor, with a cap S.
A superficial — and less superficial — look at the candidates for Minnesota governor
Setting aside the issues and personal party affiliations for a moment, which candidate for Minnesota Governor has the best website in terms of appearance and functionality?
Farheen Hakeem (Green)
Tom Horner (Independence)
Tom Emmer (Republican)
Mark Dayton (Democratic Farmer Labor)
Ken Pentel (Ecology Democracy)
Linda S. Eno (Resource)
Chris Wright (Grassroots)
As for substance, all the candidates seem to like to provide an “issues” section with a few paragraphs of philosophy about a handful of topics. So far, I’ve only seen two somewhat detailed position papers on the state budget:
Minnesota Works: Horner-Mulder Budget Outline
Mark Dayton’s Deficit Solution
Primary Election Sample Ballot for Douglas County, Wisconsin — Sept. 14, 2010
Wisconsin is keeping it old school, with a traditional September primary. Here’s what’s on the ballot:
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Duluth Parks and Recreation Master Plan
PDFs of the most recent draft:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapters 4-5
There will be a public meeting to review the draft plan on Monday, Aug. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Offices, 12 E. Fourth St. It’s your chance to talk to consultants, city staff, and the Parks and Recreation Commission and tell them what you think.
“Habitat Here!” Festival is for the Birds …
… as well as birders and non-birders alike who enjoy Laura Erickson’s “Speaking For the Birds” program on KUMD (Laura will be speaking at the festival!). The event is an essential for gardeners or non-gardeners interested in native landscaping; and/or all your friends and neighbors!
*Wild Ones Arrowhead Chapter and Hartley Nature Center invite you to the second annual:
Habitat Here! Festival and Native Plant Sale
Sunday, Aug. 22, 10-3
Hartley Nature Center, 3001 Woodland Ave. Duluth, MN 55803
A free, open-house style festival to celebrate habitat and learn to create a haven for nature in your own yard; featuring:
- Garden Tours
- Speakers
- Native Plant Sale
- Expert Advice
- Kid’s Activities
Hey, wait, I wasn’t paying attention and now I’m upset and want everyone to go over the whole thing again from the beginning
So, remember a few weeks ago when I tried to spit out as much information as I could about the planned development in Riverside because apparently local news organizations didn’t think it was particularly controversial and had no interest in reporting on it until after the Duluth City Council voted? (more…)
Negative Coverage?
Does any photo published in the DNT even exist on celluloid? I would have thought not, but this suggests otherwise. Or read in your own perceptions of bias. From the home page this morning.
Duluth 2010 Primary Election Results
With 4,136 of 4,136 precincts reporting:
FEDERAL OFFICE
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8 Independence Party
Timothy Olson — 2,515 | 100%
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Republican Party
Chip Cravaack — 26,602 | 100%
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
James L. Oberstar — 56,369 | 80%
W.D. (Bill) Hamm — 13,836 | 20% (more…)
A special primary election day message from the guy in Cotton who reminds us we’re all a bunch of toys
Yeah, this sign is from the 2008 election — and has been posted on PDD before — but it’s still up, and the “I told you so” has been added since then.
Whether you’re a toy or not, you still have the right to vote and bitch. You even have the right to not vote and still bitch. So take that for what it’s worth.
Learn more about the judicial candidates
I was a little surprised by the lack of comments on the wealth of information I had provided about the judicial candidates in a previous post. I know a lot of people are complaining that there isn’t much information out there and they have no idea who to vote for. Does no one really care about this or was the lack of comments because I didn’t make names clearly visible and easy to click onto?
Did you know that this judge will actually sit at the bench in Two Harbors but that the people of Duluth could out vote what the people of the Two Harbors area want? Does that make any difference to you?
Minnesota Sixth District Court Judge 11 candidates:
Russ Conrow
Timothy Costley
Michael J. Cuzzo
Juhl S. Halvorson
Tim Little
John Steven Lind [Did not return questions]
James Ross
Lawrence W. Ulanowski [Did not return questions]
County Attorney Candidates:
Melanie Ford incumbent
Mark Rubin
It’s time to party and the candidates’ answers
See the Hillsider electronic newsletter here for links to where the National Night Out parties are located and candidate questionnaires for the upcoming election.
Many people are especially interested in the judicial candidates. At our last board meeting we decided to ask the judicial candidates:
What could you do in your position to prevent the disproportionately high number of children of color that are in the juvenile justice system? Are there alternatives to juvenile detention by focusing on solutions rather than punishment?