Good Living,

It’s been too long since my last BLOG!  Long story short: I’ve been disconnected from the internet, like half of the Northside.  This blog will reflect on the campaign since my last post…

***

On July 1^st I drove my family deep down south to Louisiana and had my garage broken in to.  An hour after we left my mom arrived to house sit and she found an open and damaged garage door.  As far as I could tell, my bike was all that was taken… but talk about a feeling of violation!  The apartment my family lived in prior to buying our first home was broken into because we left it unsecure – open ground level window.  This time I closed a ground level window near the garage at our house, but I neglected to lock it.  This incident reminded me of the need to always fully secure my home when I leave.  Don’t merely close your windows - lock ‘em!  Illuminate the entrances at night, and set the alarm.  I hate having to live like this, taking various precautionary measures, but that’s the world we’re living in and break-ins can happen anywhere.  I’ll maintain my peace while preventing future opportunities for break-ins to occur at my crib.

It’s amazing that people are bold enough to invade homes.  I’ve been told of dozens of stories of break-ins around the ward, from the south end in Jordan to the north end in Shingle Creek and in my neighborhood, Lind-Bohanon.  (For the record, I grew up in the Willard-Hay neighborhood.)  These house and garage burglars seem to be watching.  Beyond security locks, alarms or dogs, it is very important to have cordial and supportive relationships with neighbors – know them and look out for each other.  The blocks I’ve walked that seem most comfortable are those where the neighbors know and look out for each other! 

With my primary transportation (bike) stolen I had to walk and bus it to canvass for a few weeks; however the walking was very good for my soul!  One night after canvassing for several hours (walking, door knocking, talking to numerous strangers, mostly on my feet, with dozens of brochures in hand, writing notes on a clip board, blah, blah, blah), it took me an hour to walk home.  I worked that day before canvassing and went home to be with my family… 

Fortunately a couple of friends recently helped me out by borrowing me their bikes until November 3^rd.  Now I’m mostly biking to the different Ward 4 neighborhoods to meet the neighbors.

This campaign is a profound part of my overall life journey.  My spiritual cup is overflowing from all of the love I’m receiving from so many Northsiders.  I do encounter many indifferent, discouraging, apathetic, pessimistic, cynical and sometimes mean very people, but the vast majority of Northsiders are open and supportive.  I’m powerfully encouraged by people of all ages: young children, teenagers, my youthful young adult peers, and by my elders - all of y’all middle aged and senior people; people from all so-called “racial groups” and income levels are open and supportive.  That’s what’s up!  Most days or evenings that I’m door knocking I wear a T-shirt that reads, “Got Humanity?” ‡  The Northside has got an abundance of great humanity and this campaign is both teaching me a lot more about the community and causing my love for the Northside to massively swell! 

I’ll soon begin transcribing the surveys we’ve completed on the campaign trail and will I post them anonymously @ www.marcusharcus.org.  We’ve surveyed nearly 600 Northsiders to date.  We have also met hundreds of others at their homes who were either preparing to leave, or too busy / tired to survey. 

————————————————————-
‡ note to potential Intellectual Property thieves: I’ve got it protected and know an I.P. attorney!)

***

While canvassing about a month ago, I heard shooting right around the corner from where I was at and in the direction I was headed.  8-9 shots were fired.  The house that I had just left before the gunfire erupted belongs to a good man who grew up over North; he’s been raising his family here, and has worked hard - 7 days a week since 2000.  He told me how his house had once been shot up before without provocation and how his son had been shot in an unrelated incident in Brooklyn Center / Park because he resisted being jacked at 3:00am.  Getting all of the illegal guns off the street was part of this Northsiders’ vision for the community.  I can dig it!  Shortly after I heard the bullets flying, the gunman and his accomplice turned the corner and ran straight towards me.  I was thinking, damn, “Leave no witnesses.”  I stepped out of their way beside / behind a tree on the boulevard and watched this kid, about 20 years old, openly carrying a huge gun and laughing about his crime as he fled the scene.  They ran through a yard near me to get to the alley.  I was deeply disturbed by the recklessness, mourned for the neighbors who are exposed to such violence and I feared finding someone laid out bleeding in the street.  I’ve grown up over North and have heard gunfire before, and twice as a teen I recall driving past fresh murder victims.  Oh, the inhumanity!  Becoming numb to wild violence won’t happen to me. 

In this particular neighborhood, which I won’t identify, I listened to many complaints from the neighbors about shooting being a common problem there.  One woman said it was an everyday problem!  Many people expressed fear, saying they weren’t comfortable leaving their homes.  Too many Northsiders have told me they are afraid to allow their kids to play outside of their yards.  That is unacceptable! 

Even if crime statistics are down everything happens in trends - there is way too much crime nonetheless.  There are effective policing measures, infrastructure design methods and community actions that can effectively deter crime, but we’ve got to face the fact that crime is but a symptom of various socio-economic factors that must be addressed comprehensively if real crime prevention measures are to be employed, effectively.  What does a lower crime rate mean to recent victims of crime, to neighborhoods with frequent gunfire this summer? 

When I walked around the corner towards the shooting scene I saw that my friend’s family van had a couple of bullets in the back, along with a flat tire.  Police were there.  I told the first cop on the scene who spoke to me that I saw the shooter.  He asked me if I had called the police and when I told him that I didn’t he sarcastically said, “of course not,” and subsequently ignored me.  Would you call the police in the presence of the shooter, with the hot gun in hand?  This was negligent investigative work because the shooting happened less than 10 minutes before.  Several minutes later a female officer arrived and she actually listened to me, but because time is of the essence I don’t think the suspect was pursued promptly enough to be apprehended. 

This couple whose van was shot, and their kids, are very good people who don’t cause harm to anyone.  These are good neighbors and the kind of righteous young family that the Northside needs more of.  While it was fortunate that there was no shooting victim, the people in the neighborhood who witness or hear about shootings suffer with fear and frustration, even when no one is shot.  As I spoke with my friends there I learned that one of their sons was temporarily living with his grandmother because he could not sleep peacefully at his parents’ home.  They are currently looking for a home to buy and preparing to move out of the rental home that their van was parked in front of and shot up.  Their son’s insomnia is a result of his consistently fearing the neighborhood violence, the loud arguing from neighbors across the street and the damn gunfire.  How tragic is this?!  Fortunately, this good family is committed to remaining over North, but drastic measures must be taken to try to prevent violence as much as possible.  The damaging impact on the neighbors is massive; immeasurably. 

Northsiders want the troubled areas cleaned up, but we don’t do much good if we simply sweep crime from one area to another and if we don’t rehabilitate offenders and medically treat drug addicts and people who are severely mentally ill.  Did I mention that the unemployment rate over North is probably at least double the national average?

While there, I also thought of another old friend whose mother coincidentally lives across the street from this shooting scene, a little further down the block.  One of her two sons, an innocent 17 year old, was fatally shot several years ago near her previous house.  Imagine the trauma!  After that loss she couldn’t bear living there anymore (memories).  As I type these words now, I recall my last memory of the kid years ago when he was much younger.  His older brother was a high school friend of mine and I spent the night once as a teenager… I can picture his brother wiggling as their mom led the family prayer.  His older brother cannot bear living over North anymore because of his brother’s killing, but the mother remains committed to the Northside and works to build community and prevent youth violence.  (As I think if it, I also have a couple of 1^st cousins that live on this street) 

The Northside is a good place to live on most blocks, but there are too many areas where crime and violence thrive, most alarmingly amongst the youth.  Someone in this neighborhood told me he wants a City Council member to represent the Ward as if he lived on the worst block, and I intend to take the job that serious.  I will partner with the community to try to alleviate problems by doing more of what works!  I intend to engage at-risk youth in our community on a consistent basis when I’m in office, seeking their help in reducing crime and preventing violence, encouraging healthy living and fostering hope, referring them to opportunities, facilitating cultural consciousness development and demanding academic achievement and the closing of gaps, or disparities.  Youth development is one of my most passionate interests and I’m encouraged that people on every block I’ve canvassed speak of the youth!

***

Community Events

As a candidate for City Council I have been urged by my friends to attend every neighborhood organization’s committee meetings, neighborhood ice cream socials, outdoor movies in the parks, various festivals, parades, etc., during the campaign.  I love community events, especially with good weather, but I cannot attend them all.  I have to work and actively participate in the lives of my family and friends.  When I attend community events, I am rather laid back and I don’t care to aggressively circulate throughout the crowds trying to touch everyone to get them to look at me, listen to me and remember my name.  I am a world class hand shaker, but I cannot shake every hand!  That seems fake to me, especially since I’m shy (nobody believes it, but its true).  I’m not afraid to speak in public, and I admit that I often like to do it, but most of the time I am quiet.  I want to be a great and powerful public servant, but I don’t believe I’m more important than the next man, woman or child and I don’t get excited by the sound of my own voice, or seeing media stories and pictures of me.  Rest assured that I will not be an egomaniac on the City Council!  As anyone who knows me knows, I deeply value humility.  Greatness requires it.

When I’m elected, it will be my responsibility to attend as many community meetings and entertaining community events as I possibly can (work and family schedules permitting), and I’ll gladly fulfill the role of representative, but I’m not planning to be a hyper-glad-handed elected official once I’m in office.  I love people deeply, appreciate crowds and believe in treating all people respectfully and kindly, regardless who, what or how they are, but I’m going to consistently be myself, or in other words, “do me.”  During this campaign I’ve marched in a couple parades, enjoyed the Victory ice cream social, Northside Art Flow on Broadway Ave, National Night Out in Lind-Bohanon (my ‘hood), Live on the Drive concert, etc.  I’ve made presentations to seniors and am planning to engage the youth once school starts (soon!).  I’m sure I’ll attend several other community events before November 3^rd and after.  When I hold a series of forums this fall I’ll invite the entire Ward, including my political opponents!  We’ll have many more community meetings when I am in office, and I will be much more accessible and responsive than the incumbent.  Holla!

***

Several weeks ago I was invited to a 4^th Ward City Council Candidate debate organized by the Metro Property Rights Action Committee (MPRAC) with the incumbent BJ and my fellow challenger TP.  I was informed this morning at 9:45am that both of them canceled their scheduled appearance with me.  This was disappointing.  The voters deserve to see or hear all three of us facing off in order to determine their candidate preferences.  An Election season without candidate debates is unacceptable.  I won’t speculate on why they no-showed, but I hope this isn’t the beginning of a pattern.  People warned me several months ago that the incumbent might avoid debates.  This is also the second time that TP and I were jointly invited to meet with press, and he decided not to join me both times now. 

I never learned of the format prior to the event.  Chris Broberg, a candidate running for City Council in Ward 13 was invited to fill the void created by my opponent’s cancellations and I followed him.  Kenya McKnight, a candidate running for City Council in Ward 5 (Northside!) was also invited and she followed me.  I was invited to sit at a table with the two MPRAC moderators for 30 minutes to discuss my campaign.  MPRAC is a landlords group, so I didn’t know what to expect and anticipated the possibility of differences, but no major conflicts occurred. 

We discussed race more than I had expected to (didn’t really expect to), but I don’t mind because it is necessary to address racial disparities and structural inequities if we’re serious about closing the gaps.  Something wasn’t all good about it though because we focused on African Americans so much that no other ethnic / cultural group was explicitly identified.  I’m Black, so I am deeply passionate about my cultural community, but I’m also a universal humanist (or something like that) and an aspiring elected official with intentions to represent everyone in my community regardless of their background.  The Northside is a very diverse area with about the same amount of European Americans as African Americans, a large Asian American population, an emerging Latino population, a Native American population and other people of Arab or Middle Eastern descent.  We had a conversation that was certainly interesting, but I wasn’t fully satisfied with it because I had been waiting for this debate for several weeks. 

It’s interesting that the 4^th Ward City Council race was the first targeted by MPRAC. 
I believe this would have been the first post-DFL endorsement process City Council candidate debate of the 2009 Election season.  It is amazing how many people throughout the Twin Cities are interested in seeing the 4^th Ward incumbent unseated.  I was asked about running against the incumbent and I clarified that I’m not running against her so much as I’m running for the 4^th Ward and the City of Minneapolis.

***

Family priorities caused me to arrive without time to meditate / pray / train my mind for the kind of thorough focus I desired.  When I do this I am much more potent than when I don’t.  However, I believe I performed decently and made many salient points.  I simply wish the discussion could have been more scripted to include all of the most frequently asked questions from voters.  This was a TV. program with hosts, but it would have been nice to interact with the audience.  I was very happy that a good number of people came out to support me.  I received priceless feedback from one of my good friends that will prepare me to perform even better at the next candidate debate.  I’m learning and growing everyday!

Stepping out to be a public figure is strange.  I’m a naturally charismatic man – I can’t help it – and I love humanity so much that I enjoy interacting with many people / the public, but I am essentially a shy guy.  Nobody believes it because I am so bold and confident, but I get somewhat nervous sometimes in front of crowds and I’m getting used to so many people watching me.  On every block that I canvass I know people are watching me walk up and down both sides of their block.  Everyone I meet is staring me in the eyes (I’m staring back) and assessing my spirit.  I chose this challenging path and I like it.  It’s deep!

***

Today I file my candidacy with the Minneapolis Elections Office, go to work, canvass a couple hours in the evening and then distribute some campaign signs.  My life tends to be busy, campaigning or not, but campaigning with a family and a job(s) is very time consuming.

Today I will participate in a 4^th Ward City Council Candidate Debate.  The Metro Property Rights Group organized this campaign event which will be held at the Martin Luther King Park at 4055 Nicollet Avenue South in Minneapolis – 6:30pm-8:30pm.  The Minneapolis Television Network (MTN) will broadcast the debate and I’ll link it to www.marcusharcus.org within days.

I haven’t been informed of the debate format, but I am ready and excited!!!  I greatly enjoy debates and will appreciate the opportunity to discuss the future of the Northside with my opponents.  I am hoping we can come together at least a dozen times before Election Day on November 3^rd 2009.  I will invite both of them to a series of forums I’ll convene this fall, welcoming their input. 

BJ, the incumbent will be the best versed on our City government because she’s deeply entrenched.  However, she is not progressive enough for, nor engaged enough with the Northside (she’s been in office too long) and that is why I’m challenging her for the office.  She has been very cordial with me.  It is not personal.  While I believe the incumbent should retire or be unseated, I have publicly thanked her for three terms of hard work and told her that I would appreciate it if she helped me to make a smooth transition into our office (it belongs to the community) when I’m elected and inaugurated.

I’m trying to be the change I want to see in City Hall and in North Minneapolis, determined to be a strong advocate for the community.  While I’m campaigning with my own vision for a better Northside I’m also facilitating in-depth community visioning by asking hundreds and eventually thousands of 4^th Ward residents what their vision for the community is.  Many longtime Northsiders are telling me that it’s time for CHANGE in the 4^th Ward City Council office and that they too want a better Northside!

My other opponent TP is very passionate, and I value his good works.  Although I love how he’s putting his heart into this campaign and getting many new people involved in the voting process, passion is not enough to provide effective political leadership.  I suspect he moved from the Southside to the Northside with designs on a Northside City Council seat.  This electoral campaign is essentially a competition between candidates to get elected.  He’s my opponent and second choice this year (Ranked Choice Balloting aka RCB). 

I respect both of my opponents’ campaigns, but I honestly believe I am the best candidate.  Don’t take my word for it because I’m biased to favor my own candidacy.  My BLOG is a personal narrative, uniquely written compared to the rest of my campaign literature.  You make a fair comparison and judge for yourself. 

I’ll say it here in the blog now: while I’m in office I would seriously be willing to help prepare TP to succeed me when I retire (no more than 3 terms for me!) from the Minneapolis City Council, if he demonstrates an applicable skill set and sustained interest.  Community and partisan activism is highly valuable, but not enough to ensure competent public policy work or constituent service.  Ultimately, all three of us are trying to do the same thing and so I applaud the efforts of both TP & BJ.  The power of Democracy is the Citizen’s right to choose their political leadership.  Someone told me she didn’t believe that the 4th Ward family dynasty could be discontinued after 40 years because she claimed “they own” the Ward.  I reminded her that the voters have the ultimate power, not the politicians!  She agreed and encouraged me to remind everyone, which I will!

Recently the incumbent falsely alleged that I have failed to build a campaign based on issues important to the community.  That is utter nonsense.  During my canvassing thus far I have interviewed more than 300 residents.  I have inquired to learn and attentively listened to the issues that concern them.  Voters are proving to me every day that my platform for a better North Minneapolis resonates with the vast majority of Northsiders:

    Overcoming the foreclosure crisis

    Economic development

    Fair property taxation

    Fostering opportunities for:

o   Youth development

o   Family stability

o   Senior services

    Crime Prevention

***

Today I noticed several BJ signs raised.  TP signs have been impressively proliferating for at least a couple months.  There are dozens of them in many areas of the Ward.  I was told that campaign signs should not be raised until after August 1^st but I also read an old City Pages article that indicated there would be practically no enforcement of the campaign sign rules.  I don’t know.  Now, I’ve raised my campaign sign in my yard and will begin distributing my signs tomorrow, July 16^th.  It’s on!

At times I’ve felt a little discouraged about not raising much money (less than $2,000) and am occasionally daunted by the challenge of thoroughly canvassing the entire Ward before the end of October (ideally September) because very few people will help me canvass.  I’ve seen TP hanging his campaign door hangers - without knocking or talking to people - and he’s been alone all but once when I recently saw him skip my house.  Our supporters may attend events, which helps uplift our spirits, but it is very difficult to get people to walk the blocks with us! 

BJ drove past me a couple days ago while I was interviewing some of her peers who both committed to voting for me when they realized she was the incumbent.  She didn’t look happy because she must know, and finally witnessed firsthand, that I have this profound campaign advantage of being willing and able to directly and massively engage the community.  My easily memorable name and Ranked Choice Balloting (RCB), the new voting system being implemented in Minneapolis for the first time this year seriously threatens her re-election bid. 

I’d love to win the campaign sign war (note - it is a non-violent competition to raise the most signs with high visibility) in Ward 4 and I will try to raise enough money to do it (please donate), but I’m not worried about it.  Regardless who raises the most money; regardless who has the most downtown insider connections; regardless who has the DFL endorsement; regardless who the “real democrat” is (TP claims to be that); regardless who has the most yard signs I’m very confident that I will ultimately win this race by out-organizing my opponents.  My two opponents will do lit droppings or mailings, but they won’t canvass like I am.  Winning at the doors is more important than winning the sign war.

My training, professional practice and grassroots experience as a Community Organizer gives me the distinct advantage of being best poised, of the three of us, to engage Northsiders most effectively. 
My community development, public policy and entrepreneurship studies have prepared me to understand, imagine, research, analyze, plan and implement viable possibilities for a better North Minneapolis with the support of the community.  My background in youth development gives me a perspective that appeals to the majority of Northsiders, someone who understands what the youth in our community need to stay out of trouble, live safely and succeed in school and life.  I know this job is about public policy, economic development and constituent services and I wouldn’t apply if I wasn’t qualified.   

Someone recently asked me if I was trying to be like President Obama.  I told them, “No, I’m trying to be Marcus Harcus, but I’ m glad we have a Community Organizer in office.”  As a Black man I am especially proud to have such a powerful political role model who has inspired so many people from every imaginable demographic background.  I believe we need intellectuals and community building practitioners with community organizing experience in elected offices.  (Consider how inept most of the lawyers are who run all levels of government in our country?).    Because I am these things, I believe I can represent and serve the entire community well.  American politics must evolve and I believe I will help locally.

I am North Minneapolis.  I grew up here.  I’m raising my own family here.  I understand many of the complex socio-economic issues that challenge our families and neighborhoods.  I love the Northside, I hate the terrible Northside reputation in the Twin Cities and I want to help improve residential quality of life here so that this becomes the best side of Minneapolis to live, a place where my own daughter would love to raise her own family when she becomes an adult. 

Moreover, I’m running for City Council to:

(a)     Increase civic participation,

(b)     Hold our City government accountable,

(c)     Promote good neighborliness, and

      (d)     Help organize the community to improve social and economic conditions. 

I cannot promise any specific results, but I can promise that I will try my best everyday and all day while working for you.  I’ve got a massive heart and extraordinary intelligence (despite my imperfections)!  I will work both hard and smart to represent and serve our community in a powerful, progressive manner. 

I’m very confident that I can represent the entire 4^th Ward well because I intend to demonstrate the kind of political leadership that I desire to see in government, truly representative, responsive and participatory… engaging, effective and equitable. 

Please join the campaign.

Thx!

mh
612 600-0155
marcus@marcusharcus.org

(inner) peace

I respect the neighborhood groups, but I don’t think my lack of experience working with them should overly concern you.  I’ve worked with some in Northeast.  I don’t think you should be too concerned about my lack of experience working with Northside neighborhood groups because I can compensate for that with my training, experience and understanding of organizing, community development and public policy.  I’ve done community work for several years and recently was contracted by a Northside initiative which has Northside neighborhood groups as organizational coalition members.

I am a great listener, quick learner, and good presenter.  I can facilitate large meetings, analyze issues, reports and proposals, work equitably with diverse groups and negotiate conflicts.  The incumbent may be the daughter of Alice Rainville (Ward 4 CM 1975-1997), she may know all the downtown insiders and have support from some unions, but prior to her being elected to her first term, BJ was a psych nurse…  Moreover, I believe she is undemocratic and inequitable.

When I participated in the DFL endorsement process, my primary motivation was to help Troy Parker, my other opponent in this race, block Barb from getting the endorsement, although he never responded to my communication about this.  I’ve voted Democrat 9X% of the time in my life, but I truly am a non-partisan citizen and candidate.  I believe in public policy for the people, not the parties.  I do have the Green endorsement and proudly represent it, yet I’ve never been an activist member of any political party to date.  I believe many DFL politicians, at various levels of government in Minnesota, have disserved and disappointed North Minneapolis. 

TP, my other opponent in this race said he’d abide by the DFL endorsement at the 4th Ward Convention on March 21st, 2009, but he changed his mind after BJ won the endorsement after 10 rounds (it was an unfair game but it was legal).  Parker’s campaign literature touts him as a “Real Democrat.”  In recent years former 58B (Northside) State Representative Willie Dominguez agreed to abide by the DFL endorsement and his reneging was unpopular; he lost his race to Bobbie Joe Champion.  He is currently lit dropping throughout the Ward to get his signs raised early, but he’s not door knocking.  TP moved to the Northside from the Southside 15 years ago to run for City Council against BJ in 1997. 

As I canvass the 408 residential blocks in Ward 4 I ask a series of survey questions.  Survey Question 5 asks my constituents, “What kind of Council Member do you want to represent our community?”  Out of 250+ interviews to date a mere 2 or 3 respondents have indicated that that want a Council Member who is a DFLer.  If 4th Ward residents want to vote for the DFL endorsed (by less than 100 people) City Council candidate this year then they must recognize that they are voting for a far right wing “Democrat” in name only.  If they want to vote for the alternate or “real Democrat” they must know that he has already lied to the community before ever getting elected.  Neither DFL candidate in the 4th Ward this year is worthy of my 1st Ranked vote.

I am confident that I will win this electoral race because the incumbent is disconnected from most of the community members living in our Ward, many people don’t support her and she will depend primarily on mailings while I am door knocking the entire ward.  Approximately 75% of the people I am directly speaking with are indicating strong support for my campaign.  Respondents to my survey are indicating dismal approval ratings for the incumbent, low single digits - 2% in Precinct 10 (4-10).  Although I haven’t quantified Precinct 8 (4-8) yet I do not recall interviewing a single person in 4-8 who is supporting the re-election of the incumbent.  The email that compelled me to publish this BLOG is the first individual indicating support for her, but I haven’t met him in person.

Low single digit approval ratings for BJ is far worse than former U.S. President W Bush’s final 22% approval rating, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll.  The vast majority of 4th Ward residents are ready for change in our City Council office and in our neighborhoods.  Our Ward will give Minneapolis its greatest political upset in this year’s 2009 City Elections!

The incumbent will be unseated as long as I successfully canvass the entire ward, follow-up with everyone we contact along this campaign trail and organize powerful events in the fall, all of which we will do!  When I’m elected I will represent and serve the entire 4th Ward.  Our office will strive to be optimally proactive, engaging, responsive and progressive.  My goals for the Northside are to (I) increase civic participation, (II) hold City Hall accountable, (III) promote good neighborliness, and (III) facilitate partnerships and community actions to improve social and economic conditions over North.

I’m not offended by this man’s implying that I’m unqualified, but I hope to have the opportunity to prove him wrong.  BJ may know all the downtown insiders, have the support of some unions and she does have 3 terms (12 years) of experience, but has this significantly benefitted the 4th Ward?  Moreover, I am confident that I’ll produce better public policy and constituent service.  I believe I am far more visionary and progressive.  I will engage the 4th Ward in unprecedented ways, fostering good communication and cooperation between City Hall and Northsiders.  Overall, my goal is to be a strong advocate on the City Council, to champion pubic, community and private investments in the growth of a healthy Northside community with high quality residential living.

Thx!

mh

(inner) peace

Good (______),

I was planning to canvass this weekend, but as the Weather Channel forecasted, I was RAINED OUT today.  Tomorrow will be cloudy, but if it’s dry I’ll be out in the field / on the campaign trail!  Please help me when (win) you can.

This morning I visited the H. White barber shop on the NW corner of Humboldt Ave N. & 44th Ave N. Mpls for a haircut (low brush fade).  Haircuts make me feel good & refreshed, but I also appreciated the exterior and interior design, relaxing ambiance, professional barbers, good mature customers and the convenient location (at least near my crib)!  For anyone in need of high quality hair maintenance - Northsiders or any Twin Cities neighbors - I highly recommend this fine establishment!  (Many people complain about a disproportionate number of hair / nail shops over North (I’m guilty), but this new shop is a model for the others and a standard bearer for the entire state!)

Speaking of local businesses…  There are too many vacant commercial spaces, 65,000 people living in North Minneapolis and so much potential here for economic development.  Spend your money in local small businesses or OPEN a local business.  Yeah, most of us shop at the big chain stores for something, but we all need to support the independent, small businesses in our neighborhoods.  Strong neighborhoods have good neighbors - residents and businesses who support each other.  Many of the people I speak with on the campaign trail tell me they want to see more businesses near home.  It is important for us to shop in our local small businesses if we want to see more, or any!  

More referrals:
Fremont Cleaners on the W side of Fremont Ave. N. and 42nd Ave N. has provided excellent drycleaning for my wife and I.  It feels good to support local businesses and not just because we can get to them & return home so fast.  It’s nice to spend money outside of the corporate franchise chains, especially in a business owned by a Northsider, with the added incentive of contributing to the commercial tax base that helps fund Northside infrastructure.  OK, Dairy Queen on the 4700 block of Lyndale Ave. N is a franchise, but it’s owned by a Northsider who is often behind the counter serving customers.  Steamworks Coffee on Penn Ave. N. and 44th Ave. N. is another valuable community business that we must support to ensure an operation with longevity.  I saw a full parking lot when I passed this morning on my way to the Post Office on Lowry Ave. N.  I’ve met many people there for 1:1 meetings and it’s a very comfortable environment.  It’s easy, but erroneous, to take these businesses for granted and complain when good businesses close about not having X, X, X, X, or X in business on the Northside.   

I strive to be honest all the time (even though it sometimes gets me in trouble).  Yes, we do have great livability challenges in certain areas with concentrated poverty and crime, which affects all of the Northside, but North Minneapolis is still a good place to call home.  Don’t be mistaken, crime happens everywhere in the city, in the suburbs and in small country towns (small populations), so no place is completely safe.  This morning I heard about break-ins in the Kenwood neighborhood (there were 0 foreclosures there last year, 1 of only 2 of the 81 Minneapolis neighborhoods), one of the wealthiest and stable in Mpls.  I’ve met many people who’ve grown up or raised families here and remain living here despite the troubles in the area and the horrible corporate media coverage, consistently stigmatizing of our community.  The Northside has a terrible reputation everywhere in the Twin Cities, but most Northsiders are good people and thousands of us are actually happy living here.  I grew up here and am raising my young family here now.  I love living on the Northside and I’ll make this publicly known on a consistent basis when I’m in the 4th Ward City Council office!  Some blocks definitely need to be intensely cleaned up and I’ll champion that as the next 4th Ward Council Member, but I believe Northsiders and friends of the Northside need to collectively combat the NEGATIVE polarization of Northside poverty and crime.  I sincerely believe a lot can be done to improve the social and economic conditions that challenge our neighborhoods, but it will require an organized, long-term community movement - residents, community organizations, religious organizations, businesses, institutions, and a healthy, productive partnership with our government.   

Love the life you’re living - get OPEN!

Please join my campaign for Northside CHANGE.  *
*  VOLUNTEER - http://www.marcusharcus.org/volunteer.htm
*  DONATE - http://www.marcusharcus.org/donate.htm

Thx!

mh
612 600-0155
marcus at(@) marcusharcus dot(.) org

(inner) peace 

My canvassing experiences have been rich because of the many individuals I am meeting on the campaign trail.  The Northside has many different so-called “racial,” ethnic and cultural groups living here, but every individual person has a unique spirit and personality; meeting so many different people in a single day is profound.  Regardless of the brevity of these encounters I am engaging in many significant discussions.  I greatly value the many perspectives of the people in my community and learning from hundreds and eventually thousands of Northsiders this year is empowering.  I’m doing much more listening than talking and gaining such keen insight increases my confidence in my ability to be well informed of the common values, the issues challenging Northsiders and their visions and ideas for improving and sustaining the Northside.  Even though it is work I feel fortunate to learn so much.

This weekend I had some of my best discussions yet!  I met a group of brothers who indicated that they represented a street organization and we had a deep discussion about disenfranchisement and opportunity.  Many of these guys are very intelligent but have been disenfranchised and don’t believe there are viable opportunities for them to make a legal living.  One of these guys asked me about my position on ex-felons and I told him that I believe in giving ex-offenders opportunities, which he appreciated.  Let’s face it; recidivism is frequently a result of men and women who served prison / jail sentences but cannot gain livable wage employment or stable housing after they are released.  When people “do the time for the crime,” they shouldn’t be punished for life by the collateral damages.  The most vocal guy told me that the solution to crime was creating opportunities for everyone to make a living.  He told his two friends who were much quieter that he recently heard Obama make a speech where “he was talking about us.”  He went on to express his appreciation for Obama indicating that he wanted to create opportunities for them to join the mainstream economy.  It was deep because it reminded me how so many of my people feel alienated from mainstream society.  I spoke directly with them and I am running for elected office largely because I care about the welfare of the masses of poor and disenfranchised people in our neighborhoods and city who suffer invisibly or with stigmatized attention.  I believe that I can be a strong champion for public and private investment in the creation of viable opportunities for all people to live well.  I’ll champion an equitable Minneapolis!

Every day I go out I feel blessed to gain heartfelt support from the great majority of people I speak with.  It is not surprising, because I am sincere and people feel it, but the responses are amazing!  There are some people, who don’t want to speak, but only one person has been cold and I’m not taking any rejections personally.  My love for the Northside increases each time I go out to knock on doors and ring doorbells.  I often have to explain to people that I’m not selling anything before they get open, but after I clarify the purpose of my visit I am pleased to find most people are willing to talk about the future of our community and so many people are READY for LOCAL CHANGE.  There are people who want to move away from the Northside because of riff raff, and I feel for them.  However, I am hopeful that we can develop a system to better organize the community to improve residential quality of life here so that people don’t have to be afraid for the safety of their kids or property.  People on every block so far have expressed concern about the safety of youth and often the people that parents and children fear are other youth!

Another group of people I met on a different block were very reflective.  One of them told me he was a thug, but he also said that the way the police consistently disrespect and violate young Black men actually fosters a lot of anger and violence in the community.  I know this is true from my own experience; although I haven’t been violent I have often felt terribly angry over injustices.  In fact, it seems most African American men I am meeting are complaining about police harassment, and most of us are not in gangs, not selling drugs, not committing any crimes.  This particular group of friends was very reflective and we discussed poverty, lack of opportunities, drug dealing, parenting, lack of visible Black businesses in the community above the level of very micro-enterprises, etc.  Every day people are telling me they want job opportunities for and in the community.  The better we educate our children at home and in schools the better we’ll prepare them for increasingly competitive job and business opportunities in the future.  When everyone does well, we all do better!

I think my favorite encounter so far was with a guy that invited me inside his house this Memorial Day Weekend (respect to the troops in my family, including two grandfathers, uncles, cousins, friends, and countrymen).  I rang the bell and heard a voice beckoning me to the back and when I got to the back I was beckoned inside.  I met a couple of teens, a wife and some guests and spoke with the man of the house primarily about the youth in the community who lack guidance and hope and the responsibility of the community to deal with this problem.  He had a well thought out vision for reaching out to these many young people who are roaming the community lost, and often living dangerously.  He recommended developing a system of engagement whereby young guys in the community would be approached by a group of brothers in vehicles who would show up like the “jump out boys” (SWAT team) and invite them to talk about their lives, direct them to educational and economic opportunities, mentorships, etc.  I cannot do justice to this man’s recommendations now, but stay tuned because it is exciting and hopeful!  It was out of the box thinking in a wonderful way and I will be incorporating some of these ideas into my platform.  In fact, if you look at my Crime Prevention for Community Safety page in the Issues section of the campaign website now – www.marcusharcus.org - you will find some compatible ideas of my own, as you’ll eventually see.  He spoke of the many young guys who have kids that they cannot feed and how deeply this hurts them and leads them to resort to the underground economy.  This special member of our community was very passionate about not only his own family, but all of the families in our community and I am deeply inspired by him!

My name is Marcus Harcus and I approve of this BLOG!

(inner) peace

Notes:  I haven’t issued a heavy document outlining my ideas for Opportunities for Youth Development, Family Stability and Senior Services, a major area of my platform, because I wanted to speak with many youth, families and seniors first.

I spoke with many other people and want to acknowledge the many concerns about prostitution, gentrification, the Minneapolis Public Schools, etc.  I am recording and processing all that I am told!

Greetings,

(This is a Part II posting - 1,350 words)

After Stephen’s homecoming I rushed home to gather canvassing tools - clip boards, maps, surveys, pens and brochures - before meeting a couple of friends at the North Regional library. * 

This was the third time I’ve gone out into the community to meet neighbors & potential voters at their homes.  I’ve been terribly ill lately and missed about a week and a half of canvassing - which means door knocking in an area, or covering it!  I’m disappointed by this lost time, but I’m not tripping too much because it would help nada and we’ll be all good.  Health is wealth so we must prioritize it highly.  Besides, I won’t earn their votes if I’m making people sick!

Saturday May 16th was the first time I’ve had people helping me ring door bells and knock on doors.  Thank God!  What a difference three additional canvassers makes?!  In my two previous solo outings I only covered 5 blocks.  With help we covered 12 blocks!  Fortunately, all three of these supporters are down to cover much more ground with me.  If we could canvass / cover a rate of 12 blocks per day it would only take 35 days to cover the entire 4th Ward!  Remember there are approximately 425 residential blocks in the 4th Ward.  I’ll tell y’all the truth, that is a rather weak canvassing rate in my humble opinion.  I’ve got about 20 more friends / supporters who’ve committed to canvassing and I need them to schedule an outing with us soon.  Remember, I’m going to visit many people twice or thrice so we need to cover the first round first, when we go to EVERY DOOR.  Someone told me this was a waste of time, but I am sincere about my intentions to represent and serve the entire Ward, regardless if someone votes for me or not.  We’re looking for more than votes - we’re looking for community members willing to build a coaltion to make things happen in between City Elections!

If you are not yet committed, then please contact me asap.  Please don’t procrastinate to join the campaign because Election Day on November 3rd is fast approaching - it is less than 6 months from now!  The weather is warm and most Northsiders who are willing to talk are OPEN to CHANGE!  The winds are still blowing and it is stoking the fire in my heart!  We’re not only going to make LOCAL history this fall by discontinuing the 4th Ward dynasty at the polls and electing the first African American City Council Member to ever represent and serve the 4th Ward; beyond those news headlines we’re going to make a significant difference by helping to ORGANIZE the Northside community to effectively engage City Hall and work together cooperatively, proactively and consistently over North to improve social and economic conditions in our neighborhoods!  That’s what’s up!!!   

                                                                        ***

Sadly, I encountered “voter apathy” on this beautiful evening on the west side of the first block I walked (note: this blog won’t name too many names or identify blocks that I may refer to, such as this one).  A few people close to my age indicated they would vote for me, but a few middle aged and older people outright told me they don’t vote, but they did apologize or wished me luck.  You’d think they might be a little open by an intelligent and passionate young man standing up to run for change in our community…  I am getting great support from many middle aged people and a few of my best supporters are in their 70’s, but the people 35 and younger seem to be the most OPEN!  

Overall, the majority of people are commiting votes, many are undecided and we’ve only encountered one person who said they were voting for the incumbent.  There is still a long journey ahead on this campaign trail, but if this trend continues it is not looking good for the opposition. 

I love conducting the surveys, or in other words, asking questions and documenting responses.  I can’t wait to analyze the responses and present the results to the community this fall! 

I was UNsurprised, but struck by the depth of commonality across “race” in the attitudes of many Black and White folks who are homeowners towards renters.  Many homeowners blame most of the problems over North on renters.  I admit that I moved into my neighborhood because it has an 85% homeownership rate, but I don’t believe in stigmatizing all renters or landlords.  I’ve been a renter for at least 1/3rd of my life.  However, I do object to landlords and tenants who don’t care about the community and distablize it.  We must acknowledge that some homeowners can also be bad neighbors.  Many Northsiders express a common vision for more homeownership and I share this vision, but we’ve got to improve rental conditions and I’m passionate about this too. 

I find that many of the best blocks are place where many of the neighbors know each other or are at least cordial.  When I’m elected I want to help foster a greater sense of community on every block, to facilitate neighbors getting to know each other.  I’d love to facilitate reconciliation of the racial tensions that exist, as several European American residents have indicated a need for.  Many people do value the rich and increasing diversity in our community, but I believe we’re still mostly segregated in our socialization, even though I am often pleased to see plenty of integrated friendships in various age groups. 

Crime is a predictablly common issue concern, and it disturbs me to hear that people are afraid to allow their children to play in their own neighborhoods.  One neighbor told us that her vision for the future of the community was, “better, safer for kids, not worrying about shootings.”  Another person said they, “would love to see kids outside.”  People, including me, don’t want to see drug dealing, fighting, speeding down sidestreets, etc. 

My platform seems to be compatible with the values, concerns and vision many Northsiders indicate at their front doors.  Many people feel the Northside is neglected and we lack progressive political leadership.  Many people are distraught about the pervalence of vacant housing.  Many people desire viable economic development, more businesses, more home improvement programs, living wage job opportunities.    Many people are very unhappy about the ever rising property taxes.  Many people are more interested in crime prevention than “crime fighting.”  Showing up after crimes are committed doesn’t make the community safer!  Many people are complaining about litter, which is a serious pet peave of mine.  I’m tired of seeing potato chip bags and bottles on boulevards!  One of the most common concerns is for the youth.  This is sad, but encouraging because I intend to be a chapion for youth development!  I’m trying to figure out how to massively engage youth during this campaign!  Many people complain about neglected children, unemployed teens, lack of resources and structured programming for youth, the influence of gangs and violence, lack of support, etc.  Massive youth engagement and family stabilization through opportunities (educational, economic and recreational) is vitally necessary, on a massive scale and permanent basis.  The Youth Violence Prevention Blueprint is great, but we must make sure it is fully implemented and it is not nearly enough (more on that later).  The goals include:

Before I rest, I must announce that I’ll investigate the terrorization of homeowners by City of Minneapolis Inspectors.  A neighbor told gave me a deeply troubling report about harassing practices that must be stopped!

This BLOG was too long…  Sorry.  I feel like I understand many of the complex issues that challenge Northside neighborhoods since I grew up here in the 1980’s and 1990’s, but I’m learning so much about the community from this canvass!  I’m on fire to complete it, but I need your help!

Thx!

mh
612 600-0155

(inner) peace

Today was a long, profound day.  It was deeply sad, beautiful, inspiring, and encouraging.  The purpose of this blog is to document my campaign experience, but I must share a powerful life story about an event that I attended prior to an evening of door knocking on the Northside.

This morning I attended a funeral, rather a “homecoming” for Stephen Israel Trice, the 22 year old son of my friends James and Dionne Trice, and the older brother of sisters Rachel and Alicia Trice.  Being a friend of the family, I knew Stephen, not well like a friend, but I’ve interacted with him and saw him multiple times over the last many years with his family and many other times on the Northside at his former job at Cub on Broadway.  This was one of the best homecomings I’ve ever attended, the kind of event that has changed my life!    

It is a tragic, heart-breaking loss: a righteous, responsible and loving young man has passed away after a yearlong fight against cancer.  I already knew that James and Dionne were loving, supportive and Very Involved Parents (V.I.P.’s), but they demonstrated the perfection of caring during their son’s tumultuous year long health decline that makes this tragic story so beautiful!  I didn’t cry during the awesome program until the Trice family expressed their gratitude and shared their testimonies at the end to the hundreds of people there to mourn and celebrate Stephen’s life with them.  This blog post doesn’t do justice to their testimonies, but I must say that the Trice family is very beautiful, truly a model family!  

12 hours of time passed today between the good-byes I exchanged with my daughter when I left home this morning until my wife picked me up tonight from a post-canvass debriefing meeting.  I carried my sleepy daughter out of the car, gave thanks and praised her, hugged my daughter very tightly and cherished putting her to bed tonight, reading two bed-time stories!  I am deeply inspired to be a better father, the best father I can possibly be! 

I love canvassing, but I’m going to have to do this almost every evening for the next 5 and a half (5.5) months of the campaign in order to cover 425 blocks!  It’s a lot of ground to cover in a relatively short period of time.  I’m excited about completing the canvass and all other major campaign strategies, but I long for Election Day so I can have more time to be as active a father and husband as I usually am.  I am an imperfect father, but I am a proud V.I.P. who is inspired and determined to grow as my daughter grows so my parental guidance increasingly improves. 

It’s amazing how much death can inspire us to live! 

R.I.P. Stephen Israel Trice

I will blog about the second half, or the canvassing hald of May 16^th asap (time is so limited!)…

PEACE

Greetings,

I am running for City Council, to represent and serve the 4th Ward in North Minneapolis.  Yes, as a political candidate I am a novice, but I’ve got more heart than most people who will ever run for elected office in this city (and I’m not an egomaniac).  Those of you who really know me know this is true.  I’ve been passionate about community, mine on the Northside and all others globally, since high school (actually, since Kindergarten I think).  From the age of 16 I’ve been both a cultural and political activist for many causes for no other reason than my love and reverence of culture, social and economic justice.  I am an intellectual with enormous compassion.  Those of you who know me understand that I am well prepared and determined enough to produce soundly just, equitable, and truly progressive public policy on a standard bearing level.  When I am elected I will fight the opposite like a non-partisan champion for humanity should.  I’m talking about public policy for the people, not the parties.  This is why it hurts me when most of my friends and acquaintances have been too busy or too indifferent to support my campaign.

If you won’t volunteer, then why not donate?  Although I’d appreciate it, and a $1 donation is a pittance, it would demonstrate that you care and this is what I ask all of you for, at a minimum, $1.  Little things mean a lot…  If everyone I knew, including all of the good people I’ve met who may be seasonal relations in life, if all of y’all donated a dollar or $10 it would add up to enough tri-fold brochures, post-cards, door hangers, refrigerator magnets, campaign signs, etc. to win this race! 

If I had $25,000 to self-finance this campaign I would, but I am a low-income, working class man. 
I have a debt to pay for the wonderful campaign website: www.marcusharcus.org.  Please contribute.

An older man once advised me that, “friends are never there when you need them.”  I know that friends are there at some of the most important times because I’ve been greatly helped by many friends during times of dire need, including bouts of homelessness during my transient adolescence.  However, it is too often the case that friends aren’t there when we need them.  What I’m trying to say is it’s great to help a friend who is struggling, but it’s also great to help a friend who is striving!  Ironically, strangers sometimes prove to be the best friends.  This is why I’m including the entire campaign list, including Northsiders I’ve never met in person yet, but whose vote I’m campaigning to earn.  This is who I am.  I’ve focused primarily on my family since I got married 6 years ago and I haven’t been very social with most of my best, favorite friends since my early 20’s (less than a decade ago), but I’ve got my priorities in order by focusing on my young family, as do those of you who are similarly focused on this institution.  I’m a bona fide family values guy.  To the point: my friends (OH NO, I sound like John McCain, don’t I?!?), and would be friends, I am in need of your active, SHORT-TERM support of this electoral campaign, even if we don’t kick it, even if you don’t live “over North!”  If you live in Minneapolis, somewhere else in Minnesota or somewhere else in the United States, you should join this campaign for Northside change!

I really need help canvassing the 4th Ward in North Minneapolis!  Although I am capable of knocking on every door on all 420 residential blocks by myself, it would be very helpful if some of my friends could join me now and then.  20 people have told me they will and I’m confident several of them will, but to increase canvassing efficiency and effectiveness I need as many good door to door campaigners as possible.  To tell you the truth, I really need a field coordinator because as the candidate I cannot play that role.  We only need 4,000 votes out of 15,000 voting age 4^th Ward residents.  It’s going to get done and while the City sleeps this is how the campaign is won.  The turn-out could be more dramatic with more help, your help!

I don’t like campaigning because it feels like I have to “brand” and market myself as a political entity, but I need to do be a candidate in order to usurp some political power in our city government.  This is a way I’m trying to make a difference in my hometown – LOCAL CHANGE.  I’m in it to win it, to win the most improbable but most possible upset in the City elections this year.  Door knocking is the key to victory!

A friend recently told me that “nobody likes door knocking!”  Door knocking isn’t for everybody, and many people are afraid of the Northside, but this is actually the most enjoyable part of campaigning, and speaking with so many good Northsiders is very energizing!  It’s a spiritual experience for me, so I invite you to share it with me.

Thx!

mh

(inner) peace

www.marcusharcus.org

P.S.  Please don’t be mistaken by the message above lamenting the lack of support from so many of my friends and associates.  I must thank the several dozens of people who have made contributions financially, technically, with equipment, venues, cards, letters, phone calls, emails, attending events, and the many other priceless contributions that have kept me running for a purpose, in spite of electoral campaigning!  There are more names than I can think of at once, meaning it would take me a long time to enumerate every name, which I will attempt when the race is done.  I could not run this far without the support of so many wonderful people, including former and current Minneapolis City Council Members.  I’m not playing; I’m building allies now, as quiet as kept, hoping for a progressive majority of 7.

Greetings,

I’m writing to tell you about my experience on the campaign trail.  I’ve been ringing door bells and knocking on doors in Ward 4, beginning in Precinct 10, in the Jordan neighborhood.  At these Northside front doors I briefly introduce myself as a candidate for City Council and ask if I can ask questions - “Hi, my name is Marcus Harcus.  I’m running for City Council and I’m here to introduce my campaign.  Do you have a few minutes to answer a few questions?”  It has been great meeting so many people; I’m truly happy about these encounters.  There are so many good people on the Northside that I am hopeful about the possibilities for producing significant neighborhood improvements if we can only organize the community and demand the quality of services we deserve from our City government.

Although I heard a lot of lamenting about the crime, unsupervised youth, lack of activities for youth, drugs, prostitution, violence, vehicles speeding down residential streets full of kids, foreclosures and people losing their homes, the need for jobs and racial profiling by police, it was a very encouraging experience.  I benefit so much from listening to the visioning that comes out of the surveying because community residents know what works and there are so many great, practicle ideas that Northsiders have which can make a difference.  The City must recognize and appreciate this, acting to support the realization of the community improvements Northsiders need and desire.

Several people told me they were going to move out of the Northside, but most were committed or resolved to staying.  People of all “races” were open and many people like living here, believe it or not, including yours truly!  I spoke with African American, European American, Asian American and Latino American parents.  I love the diversity!  Most of the people I spoke with were parents and the vast majority were very encouraging - I got many commitments to vote and people on every block committed to getting others on their block to vote for us! 

Note - I will refer to us and we when speaking of this campaign, because it is not about me and because I cannot win this election alone.

Since I began canvassing the community I feel more confident than ever that we will win this electoral race by executing the most effective direct voter contacts and organizing powerful community building campaign events.  Having a perfectly rhyming, easily memorable name will help significantly with the development or proliferation of my candidate name recognition on November 3rd.  More importantly, surveying people gives us a major advantage over our opponents because we’re listening and learning what the community has to say, documenting, quantifying and preparing a presentation of findings from the community responses.  We’re planning to facilitate community visioning for the 4th Ward / Northside in a series of Neighborhood Improvement Forums and Economic Development Forums.  It’s important to gauge the levels of community priorities and it’s important to get community members thinking and talking about the possibilities for community change, for improvements in their neighborhoods.  It’s important to identify commonalities, like the common values and common issue concerns in the community to develop a shared community vision, to highlight shared interests.  This is the Appreciative Inquiry method of systems change we’re applying.  It’s based on the assumption that there are things that work in a community and the people who live in the community would know better than anyone.  We appreciate what community members have to say so we inquire.  We’re building a base of support for a non-partisan Northside Community Coalition.

Well, I’ll end this message with an appeal for your support.  We need volunteers to help canvass (it’s fun!) the 4th Ward, to phone bank (it’s easy), to help with events and we need help RAISING MONEY! 
Voter contact requires campaign literature which costs money, as do campaign signs, etc. 

Please donate today, tomorrow, etc:
http://www.marcusharcus.org/donate.htm

Thx!

mh
(612) 600-0155

(inner) peace