Comments on: Ward Six: South Minneapolis contest draws crowded field of contenders

By: sue

sue — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:24:51 +0000

I worked fairly closely with Robert Lilligren on several neighborhood issues over a period of years. What I learned is that if you’re lucky enough to finally get him to meet with you, or respond to an e-mail or phone call, what you’ll hear is exactly what he believes you want to hear. He’ll placate you and say all the right things and make you think he’s on your side, then he does nothing. I’m told he used to be different, but that was some time ago. Now he tells you what you want to hear, and backs it up with no follow-through and no results. Look what he did to those people over by the hospital. He’s a political animal. Not what he pretends to be, but he sure talks a good game.

By: Fred Markus

Fred Markus — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:19:14 +0000

I have a feeling of great chagrin when I’m reminded of Robert’s non-responsiveness. Ebenezer Tower Apartments, a seniors-only highrise where I’ve lived for the past six years, is coming up on a HUD-required facelift prior to recertification for another 30-year contract with that agency.

Robert promised vigorous advocacy on the matter of $750,000 from the city’s affordable housing trust fund that the financial bundlers said would be a necessary ingredient in this multimillion dollar project. Nary a word from him thereafter and all $9,000,000 and change in that fund was expended with no mention of Ebenezer’s request that I’m aware of.

This is no simple affair. Our building has 190 units and has been in operation since 1970. It is one of several large facilities that Ebenezer operates and there are simply not very many such facilities within Minneapolis. Thousands of seniors will be looking for safe and secure housing in the years ahead as the baby boomers come into their retirement years. One can’t just look the other way, or overlook the request, or downplay the need to plan for this inevitable market demand. One can’t responsibly assume that all seniors will be able to afford the housing costs implicit in the spate of market-rate housing either already constructed or in prospect. One can’t responsibly look askance at the needs of several thousand current seniors who make up a significant part of the Ward 6 population. Breezy rhetoric doesn’t begin to cope with this challenge.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:58:09 +0000

Given Laura Jean’s strong support for an independent park board, and for an independent board of taxation (and not this reprehensible power grab by city hall insiders now playing out), she’s the candidate I am working for.

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:10:56 +0000

I, along with Rita, pursued getting the city to acknowledge a need for stop signs at 27th and Pleasant Ave South. As far as Robert “engaging” in any efforts to help our neighborhood with the stop signs- him showing up to the neighborhood meeting was like showing up when you knew attendance was going to be taken at school. I had emailed and called numerous times, and was never given a response by Robert or his office. He may have been present at the meeting, but that was only serving his own purpose, when it counted- he was never there for us.
Being involved in a neighborhood that has families with actual legitimate concerns- a job that Mike Tupper is best suited for. He cares, he listens, he has a family that is in the sixth ward. Being present, listening, and NOT just showing your face at a meeting- but actually HELPING the sixth ward- Mike Tupper is the person that I would choose.

By: Rita

Rita — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:53:41 +0000

I am the person that has pursued getting stop signs on 27th Street for about 12+ years, so I would like to comment about Robert’s statement above that “being at a block-level meeting … is indicative of his engagement.” Sure, it’s nice that Robert came to my home in August 2007 (after he first responded to an email about this issue in Oct. 2006, and after several more emails and at least a few phone calls). My impression after this meeting was that both Robert and the representative from the traffic department seemed to think getting the stop signs would not be an issue. Yet, several emails and a year later, we still don’t have stop signs. And, since he never resonded to any of my emails, I don’t know why.

I want my next city council representative to believe in more than just showing face. Thank you.

By: lighthouse

lighthouse — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:02:21 +0000

The city of Minneapolis and the citizens of ward six will be better served by electing Mike Tupper. Mike Tupper is committed to trade Unionism. Mike Tupper will work tirelessly for the people of the sixth ward. I urge everyone reading the Independent to select Mike Tupper as their 1st choice when voting for city council. If can not make Mike Tupper your 1st choice than make him your second choice. Mike Tupper is committed to working for you.