We should we look deeply into one simple question, “What is trust?”. Most of us have undoubtedly heard someone refer to trust as a virtuous attribute that has to be earned. “You have to earn my trust” has become an American axiom where the “News” Industry dominates our attention on the reasons we need to suspend trust. Many believe others have to “earn” respect or love, as if it is a paycheck from an employer or manna from heaven. I paradoxically disagree with that proposition that the News is trustworthy. Trust is an inside-job.

As the weather has become nicer, the frequency of graffiti has increased. Property owners are responsible for the removal of graffiti in the City of Minneapolis. If you see graffiti you can report it to 311 or report it on line at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/graffiti/ . Graffiti removal solvent is available to residents from any Minneapolis Fire Station. If you are a property owner, the City of Minneapolis provides resources for the graffiti prevention that can be found here: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/graffiti/graffiti_prevention

Corcoran Neighborhood Crime Map Mid-April to Mid-May 2016

This month's crime map covers Mid-April 2016 to Mid-May. All statistics are sourced from the Minneapolis Police Department, 3rd precinct from our sector's Crime Prevention Specialist Karen Notsch ([email protected]).

(source: MPD, Karen Notsch, [email protected], 612/673-2856)

South Community Education is offering a class for you this summer! We have classes to bring out your inner artist like watercolor and oil painting, memoir writing, or beginning ukulele. Don’t see yourself as an artist? Try one of our essential oils workshops and learn simple steps you can bring home to improve your overall well-being and environment. For those who like toget their hands dirty try our urban gardening workshops! The owner of Powderhorn Feed Co. is presenting workshops on urban chicken farming, permaculture, and gardening for renters and apartment dwellers. We are also offering a parent and child yoga class on Tuesday afternoons to nurture that creative and active energy!

Classes are offered Monday-Wednesday evenings at the Community Ed Adult Education South Campus building - 2225 E Lake St Mpls, MN 55407. 

For questions, comments or inquiries of any kind contact South Community Education Coordinator, Heather Borgman at 612.668.4326 or [email protected]. You can also visit www.mplscommunityed.com to view full class descriptions and register.

Imbue Yoga

2223 E 35th St

Imbueyoga.com

Mary Bue

Spring brings fresh life to Minnesotans in many ways. After huddling indoors all winter it brings us warm weather, beautiful flowers and renewed efforts to get out, exercise, and interact with our neighbors. For the Corcoran neighborhood, it also means a breath of fresh air for our local yoga studio. April 1 brought a new owner, more instructors and classes, and fresh ideas to Imbue Yoga to help you in those efforts.

Pam Morgan, a gardener at Milly's Peace Garden for over five years, tends to her garlic plants. She planted them last fall and they will be ready for harvest in July. Other gardeners at Milly's have already planted potatoes, kale, beans, and peas; the peas have grown to 6 inches tall and can be seen in the photo behind the garlic plants. Milly's still has two plots available, and it would be great to find a few more gardeners. Contact the CNO office for more information if you are interested. Milly's is located at 38th Street and 21st Avenue; it is actually in the Standish-Ericsson neighborhood.

Let’s get gardening! We had some great weather for our first days, farmpost was delivered, and much was accomplished. It was fun see the gardeners from last year as well as meet our newest gardeners. We still have plots available at the Corcoran Community Garden. Contact the CNO office for more information if you are interested. Happy Summer! 

Hola, soy Edain Altamirano soy una persona que renta en el vecindario de Corcoran por mas de 2 años y me encanta este hermoso vecindario, empecé a ser parte y trabajar con la comunidad cuando el organizador de Corcoran golpeo mi puerta y empezó hablarme y mostrar interés en los problemas de la comunidad y de los inquilinos. Ross me invitó a formar parte de la comunidad y empecé a trabajar con los inquilinos en el vecindario. con el gran apoyo e interés que los miembros de la mesa directiva, me dieron forme parte de la mesa mesa directiva , ahora tengo el gran placer ser una organizadora y trabajar con la comunidad para tener un mejor vecindario, seguridad y dar un mejor futuro para nuestras familias y niños, estoy muy feliz y lista para trabajar juntos organizando y creciendo como comunidad unida!

Hi, I'm Edain Altamirano. I am a person who has rented in Corcoran neighborhood for over 2 years and love this beautiful community. I started to be part of and work with the community when the CNO organizer knocked on my door, started talking to me, and showed interest on the problems of the community and tenants. Ross invited me to join the Renter’s Committee and started working with tenants in the neighborhood. With the interest and support from members of the board, I was asked to join the table. Now I have the great pleasure of working with the community to have a better neighborhood as an organizer at CNO, for safety and to give a better future for our families and children. I am very happy and ready to work together as a community organizing and growing together!

The lawsuit continues against the owner of the Apartment shop buildings, which has more than 5 buildings in the Corcoran Neighborhood. The number of serious things uncovered during the process of this lawsuit has captured the attention of some local newspapers, writing subsequent articles on this situation in the apartment buildings. Frenz, which operates its rental properties under a company called Apartment Shop, which in turn is controlled by Equity Residential, had previously claimed full ownership of the buildings bought from Zorbalas.

From the Star Tribune: “But Frenz, who is now being sued to keep up with repairs and improve the conditions of the apartments, said in court that Zorbalas companies; control 50 to 70 percent of Equity Residential Holdings, LLC, the owner of the apartments entity. Frenz has previously stated that he and his wife owned the company. In court, Frenz pleaded the Fifth Amendment repeatedly refusing to answer questions at least 60 times on the ground that their answers might tend to incriminate him on allegations that he committed fraud and perjury. He also refused to answer 75 questions contained in an affidavit filed by his lawyers.”

Lawyer for the plaintiffs, Michael Cockson told “Housing Court Referee Jason Hutchison he will ask for sanctions against Frenz for committing fraud. Earlier in the trial, lawyers for the defendant Frenz of fraud for manufacturing leases and inventing tenants for the south Minneapolis apartment building in an attempt to thwart the complaint for lack of support among residents.

One of the main sanctions is for Frenz to lose his license to rent these buildings, risking eviction for families. The Corcoran neighborhood is working to create leaders among the tenants in his buildings to promote laws to protect and improve housing conditions.If you are interested in creating a change in housing laws or live in an Apartment Shop building and want to be part of your community, do not hesitate because it is time to speak, act and be heard. For more information about the status of the Apartment Shop buildings, to be part of this committee or have a renter concern, contact Brettina or Edain at 612-724- 7457.

To Read more about the Star Tribune article, click here. 

Over 50 residents convened at Corcoran Community Garden on the evening of May 18 to enjoy live music by Corcoran musicians Eric Silva Brenneman and Oscar del Sebastien, to enjoy grilled burgers and share homemade dishes, to mingle with neighbors, and to elect new leadership for the CNO Board.

The meeting was led by outgoing Board Chair Lisa Barajas, whose leadership and achievements earned her CNO’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2015. Lisa served as board chair for two two-year terms and led numerous critical meetings with Hennepin County resulting in a strong working relationship and a cooperative agreement ensuring community benefits aligned with the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan within the development now underway at Lake and Hiawatha. Lisa’s leadership working with the City, County, and MnDOT also helped catalyze CNO’s Humanize Hi-Lake campaign resulting in the recently published Hi-Lake Interchange study by the City and County.

On April 29, Mayor Hodges and the Minneapolis City Council approved an agreement that will fund street repaving and maintain neighborhood parks. According to a City press release, the measure “will provide $800 million over the next 20 years to help the City and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board keep up with needed maintenance and operations costs in an equitable fashion.”