The write stuff? First Avenue’s Conrad for Minneapolis city council

By Paul Demko
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 8:32 am

Lisa Goodman

Conrad Sverkerson is a legendary figure at First Avenue. Conspicuous for his dreadlocks (although more recently sporting a Jewfro), the iconic rock club’s stage manager has spent more than two decades making sure shows go off without a hitch.

Now there’s a movement afoot (or at least one blog post) to land Sverkerson a job at another iconic Minneapolis locale: City Hall. The Minus Manhattan blog is encouraging voters to write in his name for the Ward Seven city council post currently held by Lisa Goodman.

The impetus for this campaign is the recent opening of Hennepin and First avenues to two-way traffic. The plan, which has been championed by Goodman, is supposed to spur business development along the downtown corridor. But First Avenue (the rock club) has complained that the new street design eliminates a critical area where bands (and beer trucks) load gear in and out of the venue. Now all the equipment will have to be lugged from a block away. Chris Riemenschneider deftly described the conundrum in the Star Tribune a couple of weeks ago.

A block might not sound like that far of a jaunt. But can you imagine lugging 10 cases of Summit beer, a $10,000 soundboard, a $15,000 case of guitars or the entire Wu-Tang Clan herbal supply that far through the snow and ice in February?

On top of that, the First Ave staff figures it will have to hire security workers to safeguard the equipment. Plus, it worries that touring bands might balk at the situation altogether and go somewhere else to perform.

But Goodman expressed zero sympathy for the downtown rock club. “Why should they get any preferential treatment?” she asked Riemenschneider.

Of course, to some the answer to that question is obvious: First Avenue is a cultural jewel that makes downtown Minneapolis a vibrant place worth visiting. Even if Sverkerson isn’t working the stage. Hooters and the Hard Rock Cafe can’t really make the same claim.

For more on the race: Ward Seven: Despite full campaign coffers, lawsuit clouds Goodman’s prospects

Comments

12 Comments

Mister
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 11:17 am

“But Goodman expressed zero sympathy for the downtown rock club. “Why should they get any preferential treatment?” she asked Riemenschneider.” And then added “We save all the preferential treatment for the failing businesses that have been in town less than a few years. Why should we support a business that has been an institution in Minneapolis for over 30 years?” obviously a big music fan that Goodman. Conrad, you have my vote. i can’t stand Goodman and her good ol boys club. If you cross her once, you will have hell to pay. We need to get rid of her, and soon.

Pat Kallemeyn
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 7:30 pm

He threw me out of the club when I was being a drunk jerk then asked me for a ride home because the tire on his bike was flat. He’s the kind of guy who does his job and isn’t afraid to ask you to do yours. Thanks for keeping us safe at 1st ave!

Brix Smith
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 7:34 am

He’s got my vote.

Tobias Ross
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 11:56 am

Why don’t they reclaim the loading dock area that was part of the bus station?

Sport
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

Good Man, calls his mom on a regular basis.

Chrysler
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 1:21 pm

Question about write-in balloting, sir:

Does spelling count?

Barely
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 3:42 pm

Lisa Goodman said: “Why should they get any preferential treatment?” she asked Riemenschneider.” And then added “We save all the preferential treatment for the failing businesses that have been in town less than a few years. Why should we support a business that has been an institution in Minneapolis for over 30 years?”

It seems to me that she reserves preferential treatment for business that line her pockets or those of her associates. She has become all too comfortable being in power, and seems to have developed a sense of authority rather than keeping in mind that she is there to serve The People.

I am troubled by her statement that she has “zero sympathy” for how the rerouting has affected First Avenue.

How does a public servant have the arrogance to even say that? Especially when negatively impacting a cultural landmark like First Ave.?

Has anyone investigated if any of her associates stand to profit from the rerouting? It seems that her attitudes display the hallmarks of corruption and abuse of power.

I could be wrong, don’t know the woman personally, but that is the sense one gets from recent articles and form her statements.

You are not in power, Ms. Goodman… you serve because we elect you, and your statements – if truly indicative of your attitudes – are eroding our sympathy for you.

Matthew
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

I am really not an expert on the Hennepin two-way deal. The only question I can think of after living here for over 20 years is, why? I have not viewed one good explanation for why they are making it two way. I have been hearing multiple “it will take a while for people to get used to it and traffic will flow better” etc. This is a bogus “uh oh” response to a plan which was ill-conceived by a bunch of “I have nothing better to do than mess with shit” places in local government. The whole thing is making me dumber by thinking about it….

Jillie
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 11:32 pm

I’m just glad we are getting bike lanes on the streets!

Matty
Comment posted October 24, 2009 @ 2:26 pm

I love 1st Avenue and it’s the best thing that downtown Minneapolis has, but I can’t believe Riemenschneide’s lame comment about the weather gets this sort of play from Demko. 1st Avenue should be able to work out a deal to use the lame surface parking lot behind it as a loading zone. They were given special treatment to use the parking lane up until this point when they should have a proper loading dock in the back.

There’s plenty of reasons to be opposed to Goodman, but converting 1st and Hennepin Avenues to two-way traffic is not one of them. More downtown streets need to be de-suburbanized. The current street network is designed to funnel suburbanites into and out of downtown as quickly as possible rendering it a ghost town the majority of the time.

I hope people don’t really think that Conrad (or Michael Katch for that matter) would actually be effective at realizing their wrongheaded wants and desires.

V. Mercy
Comment posted October 26, 2009 @ 10:07 am

writing in Conrad makes for a fine statement, & i like the guy, he is the real deal! BUT… why not consider Jeffrey Alan Wagner who is on the ballot for the 7th ward? you can learn why he an alternative by just giving him of few minutes & check him out. and VOTE for anyone else. Since not many folks participate in local government jeff has a chance, and whatever you do “Just Say No to Lisa Goodman” and @ least write in Conrad.