[Mpls] PPL -- "housing the gang bangers of Minnesota"

[Bill Cullen]

As I start the e-mail, there are 7 squad cars in my parking lot dusting =
a
stolen Lexus.  Four members of the =93bogus gang=94 stole this lexus and =
shot
five times at a rival gang member on Lake and Park earlier this =
afternoon.
These brain surgeons then raced to my parking lot and jumped out of the =
car
as it was rolling.  The car stopped when it crashed into a tenants car.  =
The
gang members then ran to Armidillo Flats.

A witness in my building ID=92d two of the four thugs, and they are in
custody.

Armidillo flats has been a problem for years.  They drove the previous
(=93evil=94 for profit owner) out of the building I now own.  In fact, =
just last
night we had a community meeting for the sole purpose of talking about =
the
Bogus Boys at Armidillo Flats.  We invited top folk from PPL to the =
meeting.
They were, as with all previous neighborhood meetings, unable to attend.

Ms. Tracey Wells-Stewart, the PPL employee who runs Armidillo flats
attended.  She elaborated on how the police don=92t help.  The gang =
bangers
are not from Armidillo flats.  The bangers know people at the building, =
but
the residents are not involved.  Residents might bring the bangers water =
or
let them use a toilet, but they don=92t live at Armidillo Flats.

We asked if PPL would hire security.  Ms. Wells-Stewart said PPL =
doesn=92t
have the money.

What did Armidillo flats staff want to talk about?  Well, they have a =
big
party planned for national night out.  Ms. Rose Lobley, a caretaker at
Armidillo Flats is asking local businesses to donate money to their =
party.
Last year, Ms. Lobley proudly told us, they raised over $1,200 dollars =
for
the party.  A neighbor asked if Armidillo Flats should have a party when =
the
site is overrun with the Bogus gang?  Ms. Lobley assured us =93we have =
had
drug dealers in our parking lot for years.  We can manage it.=94  Oh, =
what a
relief!

Some people on this board might say I am a hypocrite.  How can I, a =
defender
of the landlord, be so angry at PPL?  Because PPL claims to be superior.
Their claim of superiority pays off with large government subsidies. =
Read
their website: "During the past 32 years, PPL has grown to be one of the
most trusted affordable-housing ... organizations in the Twin Cities."  =
I
think they should held to the standard they claim.

I beg Minneapolis, St. Paul, MHFA, CPED and all other government
organizations to hold PPL accountable.  Do not help them buy or build =
more
properties until they demonstrate an ability to run the ones they have.  =
It
would be nice if they start with Armidillo Flats.

Or maybe PPL should sell to a capable landlord. =20

Regards, Bill Cullen
Whittier Landlord (helping PPL manage their building)

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