Bitching Posts

922 percent tax increase? Really?

Dec 03, 2012 12 Comments

I moved to Duluth 18 months ago to take a great job with a great company and raise my family in a great city. I bought a modest house that sits on three very small lots within the city limits of Duluth. (My three lots would equal one “Hermantown” sized lot).

Well, the city raised the property tax on the two vacant lots by 922.2 percent! I now have to come up with an extra $752.26 per year in taxes.

Now I know why everyone kept telling me not to buy within the city limits of Duluth! Between the insane tax increase and the bizarre school redistricting red plan nonsense, I would have been better off in one of the surrounding suburbs.

Thanks. Rant over.


Uncategorized ,

Upper Chester: Not so fast there people!

Dec 03, 2012 35 Comments

Duluth took a beating this past year. But thanks to everyone pulling together we’ve made a remarkable comeback. For proof, you don’t have to look any further than Chester Park. Thanks to the indefatigable Dan Proctor and others the Lower Chester trails are probably in better shape than they were before the floods of June, and that’s saying a lot considering the scope of the mudflows and washouts that ravaged pretty much every inch of the ravine.

Upper Chester, however, is another story. Despite good intentions, there’s been a lot of jumping the gun to clean up or improve things that one could make the argument has ended up doing more harm than good. I’m not going to run down the list, but the latest chapter seems to have taken place largely under the radar, and I think it deserves a public airing.

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News and Current Affairs, Politics, Sports ,

Business Ideas for Old Downtown

Nov 11, 2012 20 Comments

What type of business do you think would survive in Old Downtown once all of the storefronts are empty by the Last Place on Earth?


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East Superior Street Parking

Oct 25, 2012 16 Comments

It seems to me that in recent years, with the additions of Zeitgeist Arts, Black Water Lounge, Carmody Irish Pub, Tycoons, etc. (not to mention the fabulous new product additions at the Last Place on Earth) the area surrounding the NorShor Theatre has gone from being a really easy place to find a parking spot to one where you either have to get really lucky or park in a ramp.

I mention this mostly just to stir up the pot so people can bitch about progress, but I also want to throw out two observational questions:

1) Are you like me and fear parking in ramps because so many TV shows and movies when you were growing up had scenes where people get ambushed and shot in parking ramps?

2) Doesn’t it seem like kind of trap that the Sheraton ramp is free at night … until 2 a.m.? So, you know, go get drunk — the parking is free. But make sure you move your car before you get a cab home.


Random ,

You forgot something the other night …

Oct 05, 2012 3 Comments

Perhaps this brief rant is more appropriate for Craig’s List, but I’ll digress anyway … 

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Uncategorized

Last Place on Earth first-of-the-month sale

Oct 01, 2012 16 Comments

Drive by the Last Place on Earth today and watch your tax money going up in smoke!


Random ,

Someone stole my kids pumpkins again!

Oct 01, 2012 19 Comments

I have had it. On and off over the years that I have lived on 43rd Avenue East my childrens’ pumpkins have been stolen. The first year they were smashed against our sidewalk after they had been carved. Another year they were just stolen. Last year we rigged them to spray water if they were moved and put up a sign as such; they were not stolen. This year we thought we could thwart the person by buying 70-pound-plus-size pumpkins from my brother-in-law figuring it would be too much effort to get a car to steal them. Well, this morning I come outside and all five of our extra large pumpkins are gone.

The kids are devastated. They picked out these “Cindrella” pumpkins from their uncle in Wadena and were really excited to carve them. Who does this type of thing? I’m going to drive around Lakeside during lunch today and look for them. If you stole them, please bring them back. You made for some very sad children this morning.


Random , ,

Stolen Yard Signs

Sep 30, 2012 21 Comments

My wife and I are disappointed. We have had a “vote no” sign in our yard for the past month or so. One was stolen, like other signs in the neighborhood. I saw one or two homemade signs to replace what were stolen. We told ourselves that paying another $10 for a replacement would just be more money to the cause, so we got another. We also put a bunch of staples in the new sign and connected it to a tree with wire. We figured that they would really need to work to take it. They did. Is this happening elsewhere in town (we are in Lakeside)? How can such behavior be anything but theft? I cringe when I walk by a yard with a “vote yes” sign, but I don’t steal the sign. I think somebody’s values are seriously out of whack. We are disappointed. It’s apparently not enough to limit the freedom to marry, but free speech is also out of bounds.


News and Current Affairs

Roads and Poles

Sep 07, 2012 No Comments

Is there any news about the Vermillion-Tischer road repair? Is there an estimated time of completion?

Also, I’m perplexed by Denfeld High School’s parking lot and traffic pattern with utility poles in the middle of a drive path.  What gives? When will that be fixed?


News and Current Affairs

Hey, so how are those allergies treating you?

Aug 22, 2012 8 Comments

Graphic via pollen.com.


Random ,

Oktoberfest 2012 not at Bayfront Park?

Aug 20, 2012 16 Comments

Does anyone know why Fitger’s is not having its Oktoberfest at Bayfront Park this year? It doesn’t really seem like an Oktoberfest if it’s going to be indoors. Here’s a link to some of the new details.


Events ,

Minneapolis Fundraisers Haven’t Learned the Duluth Trick: Not Paying Artists

Aug 04, 2012 14 Comments

Fundraisers cost money?

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Uncategorized

Sad Summer

Jul 24, 2012 23 Comments

So there we are last night, my hubby and I, enjoying the warm Summer night driving east down Superior Street. I would say it is about 9ish or so. And there I see the saddest little child, looking tired and laying his head on his dad’s (I presume) shoulder. This child was dressed only in a diaper and was about 1 year old.

So what is the big deal you ask? Because this child was in front of the Last Place on Earth. Is it just me or is this way fucked up??? I know, I know the law is being changed and there is only so much the cops can do. But my God people think about your kids for one minute and don’t expose them to what I saw standing there last night on that sidewalk.

What a dark turn this particular area of Duluth has taken. If you don’t believe me, take a drive down Superior Street some evening and see for yourself. I hope you don’t see the same tired, sad little child I did, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you did.


Random ,

Thanks Duluth School Board

Jul 24, 2012 19 Comments

I just found out that 3 out of the 4 professionals that have helped my autistic child so much last year have been released. I don’t know how we are going to cope.

I hope everyone enjoys the new buildings; they cost more than you can imagine.


Uncategorized

Bring back bricks!

Jul 19, 2012 26 Comments

I know the city has a lot on its hands right now, but this decision was made pre-flood. Maybe a fraction of a percent of rebuilding money can go toward buying a couple of bricks, because this looks awful.


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