meeting minutes 10-13-08

Minutes NHA meeting 10-13 08

Guest Rep. Joe Mullery

Talking Politics…
Question what will the ramifications be if Senator Obama becomes president?

Contrary what will happen if Obama Does not win the race for presidency?


Joe Mullery: discussed the political climate we will be facing in the upcoming months
Both at a national level and at the state house level.
Joe: Democrats will work to improve conditions for the working class. Un-employment could go high as 8% northside rate could be much higher that that.

Under Obama admin:

Stimulus package, new construction, to improve building trades, expanding assistance programs, expanding Medical Assistance, more funds with federal loans to cities, work to get government to “do up “ mortgages.

Joe: owner occupied loans with federal backing would be wonderful here. 65% of owner occupied foreclosed homes were turned to rental property.


Joe working on at the state house level
Law establishing allowing a city thru zoning ordinance to limit percentage of owner occupied in a neighborhood. Not to apply to owner occupied (duplexes.)
To apply to Tax foreclose properties when the city is involved with or a govt. loan attached to the property. Or if you have a property with a conditional use permit. City can rezone.


Landlord registry is research is being worked up at State level being researched by
MN housing. Currently

Rental licenses. At the state level, (may be difficult to get thru house.)
Agreed that workshops/ training should be mandatory for rental license owners.

Landlords make accountability.
Tolls we have to deal with problem households.

Nuisance statute. : Lower the level of instances to invoke the State Nuisance Statute. 1 gun, possession 1 prostitution, if there is an incident of a gun prostituton or guns then a case can be brought against the landlord. You have to send an evict letter which is sent to the owner of the property. Problem is to prove what an “occurrence” is. Has to be convictions involved.

Bill pushing the back the sheriff’s sale. To 5 months.

: Bill C for D legislation. they can sell on contact for deed . Working on contract for deed. Loopholes.

Housing advocates are working on bill to get vacant properties turned over to non-for profits. Vacant properties with zero equity. Rehab to owner occupied.

Working on imminent domain laws. change to include more power over areas where there is” blight”.

Foreclosure deferment law, Immediate contact with counseling with no service fees.

Some facts :
Concern was raised that issues with Charter Schools need to be looked at at the State Level:

Homeowner:
“15% public schools students are homeless.
44% of the kids on the northside don’t go to public schools.
Charter schools damaging for Minnesota. No lack of accountability, management is needed “.
More Accountability.
Is anybody doing anything about caps on charter schools?

A Major concern is that the public has no say in the schools.

Joe: working on getting Dept of educ. to do oversight.

,
Advantage program should have a covenenant bill in on the program.
For only foreclosed properties.

Get barb Johnson info on advantage.

Discussion to move meetings to fire station.
Parking may be an issue is the major concern to consider. /

Question can the homes that are still foreclosed. Have their services turned off also. ?

Summer metings update...

Summer update for the NHA:
Our Summer Meetings were filled with food and conversation around the community.
Instead of meeting over issues we did community building with food. It was great to see so many people coming together and meeting other members of their community. If nothing more can come out of the NHA meetings it should be noted as being a benefit for he community by creating a strong social network.
We have realized that we are not alone in this community. Not alone with problem properties or crime on our blocks, but also not alone in the willingness to make our community a better place.
A place where we have to be advocates for more new homeowners which will aid in making our blocks stronger and safer.
As part of the summer events, NHA conducted a community livability survey, we will be posting these results shortly for now I will share some of the comments left :

More homeowners
Better financing opportunities for foreclosure purchases
More owner occupied homes
People stop littering
More businesses, quality of life, restaurants, walkable areas
More community efforts, racial reconciliation
More home ownership
Less litter, no chainlink fences, more flowers
More funding for Northside, quality of life projects
If we had more people living in these houses
More homeowners, a university (i.e. St. Catherine's)
People united, less rental, more homeownership!! (more people who care)
More owner occupied homes
1) Moreworking class, middle class, 2) More property owners & business owners that live in the community,
3) Less residents that are subsidized by various social services & government agencies,
4) More police, 5) Changes in courts & correctional systems
Get rid of Section 8 - 3 strikes your out policy, also don't allow so many Level 3 Sex
offenders be residents. Don't let landlords target these folks as the perfect renter
because they have to pay on time and can't trash the environment. But are not Safe !?!
Fewer hair & nail salons — more places for community (bookstores, cafes, groceriestores (not Aldi)
Fewer empty houses
Fewer empty houses
More NOMI-centric cultural opportunities, more owner-occupied homes — less renters
More eateries — local neighborhood pub-like places
Better parenting of kids — enough Section 8, we have too much - spread it out.
More of a political will to bring change
Fewer absentee landlords
More responsibility
More communication
More homeowners who care
More linear parks - connecting our existing parks & providing nice connections to downtown.
Trash pick up
More shops, services, better media coverage
better attitude from police officers
Less negative media, shopping opportunities & home ownership assistance,
More dialog on race & culture
Less rentals & less crime.
Better schools, more homeowners,
Better employment opportunities, better public safety
More: residents, participation, community involvement, events such as "Live on the Drive"
More cops on the streets
More police, more afterschool opportunities, better schools
More middle income families
All: safe, clean neighborhoods, caring neighbors
More people home during the day (pedestrians)


We do have a glass half full opportunity to make the northside a better place for all. We need more homeowners not more rental property. We need to be the advocates for our community and encourage families to once again live here and be part of this community we call home.