Johnny Northside: Fair and Un-Biased? Hardly

Johnny Northside has been blogging away with defending city council member Don Samuels while claiming to be fair and un-biased.
In addition to John being on a "first name basis" with city inspectors, it's no wonder why he goes out of his way to buddy up to certain city and neighborhood leaders.
John Hoff is a member of Facebook.com and the following individuals have approved John to be added to their "Friends" list on the site:

Bryan Thao Worra - Hawthorne Community
Jeff Skrenes - Hawthorne Housing Director
Don Samuels- Minneapolis City Council Member
And let's not forget...
R.T. Rybak - Mayor, City of Minneapolis

I doubt you will see Johnny Northside saying anything negative about Don Samuels since he is "friends" with him. Oh, the Johnny Northside Blog reports on events that he claims are "newsworthy." Yeah, right.

For your entertainment, read about John and his experience as a city council member in North Dakota. It didn't go too well.
Note the quote where he said, "I am the city council now." Sound familiar?
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2000-08-09/news/leaving-las-seattle/

Anti-Johnny is Back in the House!

Lets get ready to.... EXPOSE!

Ok folks, it has been a while since I have posted on this blog mainly because, I really don't care to devote that much time to John Hoff.

Some new twists have begun to emerge in North Minneapolis lately and John Hoff has decided to go after the Minneapolis Mirror and Al Flowers. How nice. Actually, how stupid.

Thanks to Johnny Northsides' coverage of the Jordan neighborhood takeover, it has uncovered many names of people who are able to help with the big picture.

'Ol John Hoff... You really should read his book (pictured). Want to know something really funny? If you read an article from the MN Daily, John Hoff aka Johnny Northside commented where he got his pen name of , Hoffman.

"I have been known to become "John Hoffman," in homage to Abbie Hoffman of the Chicago 7." Hoff.said.

So, Johnny Northside blogs about how he hates all the druggies and crack heads in North Minneapolis but, he pays homage to a world famous drug user, Abbie Hoffman. In fact, he used his last name for both of his books about, Dumpster Diving.

Well, lets get this show going!

Is Email Private? Not To Johnny Northside

The following was posted by Johnny Northside AKA John Hoff AKA John Hoffman, the dumpster diving legend on his blog, Johnnynorthside.com in the comments:
http://adventuresofjohnnynorthside.blogspot.com/2008/11/hnc-housing-director-jeff-skrenes-is.html

"Johnny Northside said...
On another note: Yet ANOTHER comment rejected from Jim Watkins, the "Anti-Johnny," who also states he didn't say Jeff looked like an "out-of-work porn star," but "an out-of-work porn store JANITOR" in an email he thought was "private."
Whatever, evil Anti-Johnny."

What is your take on it? John Hoff thinks it is his First Amendment right to say what he wants as free speech. Johnny Northside has had all kinds of fun by taking words written by others and plastering them all over the Internet, hoping it will have a negative impact on that person and "what are they going to do about it?" he would say.

I read the blog post and saw that Johnny had posted a comment that I had written in an email to him, not to the public and therefore, I assumed it was private. I wrote a reply to be posted in the comments and here is a copy of what I wrote:
_____________________
"This is yet another example of how you have mis-quoted me. My words were taken from what I considered to be a private email from me to you but... I am not the only one who has learned that nothing they say to you is private.
Anyway....My comment about Jeff was in reference to the story USA Today published in May about North Minneapolis. A picture of Jeff was printed in that article and I commented to you (in the email) that he (Jeff) "looks like an out of work porn store janitor."
I didn't say he looked like an out of work porn star.
Might as well approve the comment for your blog, John.
Since you made my comment (mis-quoted at that) public, I felt the least you could do is get the quote correct.
-Jim
PS... I ordered your books. I can't wait to read them!
_____________________

Johnny didn't approve my comments (surprise) but, he couldn't pass up a chance to toot his own... whatever it is. At least he is admitting he dumps comments submitted.
_____________________

"Johnny Northside said...
On another note: Yet ANOTHER comment rejected from Jim Watkins, the "Anti-Johnny," who also states he didn't say Jeff looked like an "out-of-work porn star," but "an out-of-work porn store JANITOR" in an email he thought was "private."
Whatever, evil Anti-Johnny."
______________________

So... How about we take a look at what the Northside Crusader says to people in his own emails? He isn't quite so warm & fuzzy when he's not glorifying himself on his blog or others.
Shortly after I started the Mis-Adventures of Johnny Northside blog, I got an email from John Hoff. Apparently, my blog was not doing him any favors and he politely asked me to discontinue posting on it. Well thats not exactly how he said it. The bold text shows how passionate he is about bullying people to back down. You have to wonder what it is he is trying so hard to protect for him to go to this extreme. Maybe John thought this email was "private" too?
______________________

From John Hoff hoffx106@umn.edu September 1, 2008:
Jim, I am indeed THAT busy. I type fast. And I'm not up for a long phone call. You have a tremendous opportunity to BACK THE HELL OFF, JIM so I won't be forced to "First Amendment retaliate" with a posting about "who is Jim Watkins" which will have you wearing un-removable egg on your face for the rest of your life or as long as our civilization has the internet, whichever is longer.
I did it to you once BY ACCIDENT on the Bigger Pockets blog, so imagine what could happen ON PURPOSE?
The expert opinion in my possession about your unpublished woe-is-me article, and your unpublished article itself gives me all the metaphorical ammunition I need to put a hole in your real-estate teaching ship. I really prefer not to do that, however, simply because it is ugly and personal and therefore unpleasant. But maybe I need to think of the good of the students. Maybe it's my duty to expose you as a fraud, especially when you are out there saying I'm the fraud.
I think you can see how the course of action I have in mind becomes tempting. And I'm not the one who started the unfriendly tone, either, you did that when you blew your stack over some stupid non-remark I hardly even made about your (alleged) girlfriend.
We didn't start out as friends, Jim, so why should you expect me to walk on eggshells about whether you have a real or imaginary girlfriend?

Two can play the pissed off and retaliating in the blog-o-sphere game, Jim, and I'm the pig who revels in muddy controversy while you're the just-barely holding-his-shit-together real estate teacher who lives in a glass house. If you even own a house at this point. If you don't live with your GRANDMOTHER. You really can't afford to have me pissed off, Jim, but I prefer not to battle somebody I have personally liked at some point. It feels too much like my former marriage. But I won't defend myself with one hand tied behind my back forever.
You press the DELETE button and I put down the mud pie and we both go our merry way: me to helping the North Side and you to trying to rebuild your real estate teaching career after one of your ventures went seriously south. And when you're up here, if you like, we can do lunch. Or not. Doesn't matter to me either way.
John

Minneapolis Buys Property & Wrongfully Increases Values

The Minneapolis City Council or John Hoff AKA Johnny Northside (Likely both) have some explaining to do. Serious explaining... To the residents and tax payers of Minneapolis. Its no wonder why Johnny Northside was keeping this quiet. Surely, no one would notice, right? WRONG!
Look at this carefully... This property information was copied from the Hennepin County web site on July 9, 2008: My comments are in Red. It first says, "2008 Assessment (For Taxes Payable 2009) ____________________________________
2008 Assessment (For Taxes Payable 2009)
Property ID: 10-029-24-32-0074 Address: 3016 6TH ST N Unit No.: Municipality: MINNEAPOLIS Owner: JOHN W HOFF
Taxpayer Name / Address: JOHN W HOFF 3016 6TH ST N MINNEAPOLIS MN 55411 Subrecord No. 1
Improvement Amount: Property Type: RESIDENTIAL
Homestead Status: NON-HOMESTEAD Exempt or Deferred:
Values
Estimated Limited Land: 28,400 28,400 ($28,400 Lot value)
Building: 19,400 19,400 ($19,400 Improvement/house value) Machinery: 0 0 Totals: 47,800 47,800 (TOTAL Taxable Market Value) Less Qualified Improvement: 0
Total Taxable Market Value: 47,800 (Remember, this was from July 9, 2008) Hennepin County is providing this information as a public service.Tax related questions: taxinfo@co.hennepin.mn.us _________________________________________
The following is the CURRENT information on the SAME property after John Hoff sold the house to the City of Minneapolis: As of September 9, 2008 _________________________________________
Parcel Data for Taxes Payable 2008
Property ID: 10-029-24-32-0074
Address: 3016 6TH ST N
Municipality: MINNEAPOLIS School Dist: 001
Construction year: 1900
Watershed: 6 Approx. Parcel Size: 37.00 X 165.00 Sewer Dist:
Owner Name: CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
Taxpayer Name & Address: DEPT OF COMM PLAN/ECON DVLPT ATTN: REAL ESTATE 105 5TH AVE S #200 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401
Most Current Sales Information NO SALE INFORMATION ON FILE FOR THIS PROPERTY. (Why not?)
Tax Parcel Description Addition Name: MORRISONS ADDN TO NORTH MPLS Lot: Block: 010 Metes & Bounds: N 18 FT OF LOT 10 AND S 19 FT OF LOT 11
Abstract or Torrens: ABSTRACT Value and Tax Summary for Taxes Payable 2008
Values Established by Assessor as of January 2, 2007
Estimated Market Value: $128,000 Limited Market Value: $128,000 Taxable Market Value: $128,000
Total Improvement Amount: Total Net Tax: $1,676.84 Total Special Assessments: $1,110.05 Solid Waste Fee: $20.27 Total Tax: $2,807.16
Property Information Detail for Taxes Payable 2008
Values Established by Assessor as of January 2, 2007
(As of January 2, 2007... 2007??? How is that possible? WHAT Assessor?)

Values: Land Market $28,400 Building Market $99,600
Machinery Market
Total Market: $128,00
Land Limited: $28,400
Building Limited $99,600

(Are you seeing this??? The value went UP $80,200!
John bought it in April 2008 where it was valued at $47,800. Then AFTER he sold it to the city, the County claims it is worth $128,400 AND that is based off of an assessment from January 2, 2007... NOT 2008!)
Total Limited: $128,000
Qualifying Improvements Classifications: Property Type RESIDENTIAL Homestead Status NON-HOMESTEAD Hennepin County is providing this information as a public service.Tax related questions: taxinfo@co.hennepin.mn.us _________________________________________

This information CLEARLY shows that someone did something wrong and I have the following questions:
-HOW MUCH THE CITY PAID JOHNNY NORTHSIDE?
-How did the least expensive house on MLS in April of 2008 (John paid $8,500) get sold to the city to be demolished less than 3 months later AND show a property tax value increase of $80,200?
If I am reading this information wrong... Please help me to understand it. But, I don't think I am reading it wrong. I think this needs to be brought to the attention of the Mayor as well as other government agencies since John Hoff nor Jeff Skrenes will not answer how much he got paid for his house.
Sure seems like the City Council found a way to increase the value of a property rather quickly.
If I were a resident of North Minneapolis... I would want answers because, this looks like FRAUD and it was done intentionally!

North Minneapolis' Finest...Right!!!

One note... Neither Johnny Northside or Jeff Skrenes have responded to the questions posed to them on this blog. For two guys that have nothing to hide, it makes me wonder why they refuse to answer the questions.

Here is an interesting story about an incident that took place after the annual Hawthorne meeting.
You will need to scroll down the page about halfway to get to the part about the police and their attitudes.

This is half of the paragraph where it starts:
"Then a police squad car pulled up (I’m still cursing myself for not getting the damn car number) and two police officers stepped out and made their way over to the black males. These two cops were young (late 20’s to early 30’s) white males with SERIOUS FUCKING ATTITUDE PROBLEMS."
Read the rest by clicking on the link below.
Peter Wears a Suit at the Annual Hawthorne Neighborhood Meeting

News Flash: Johnny Northside & Jeff Skrenes Ignore Fraud Questions

Not that this surprises anyone but, Johnny Northside AKA John Hoff and Jeff Skrenes have not answered any of the questions from the previous post.

The link to the post was emailed to them and they simply ignored them.

It is kind of funny though... When John asks a question, he barely gives the person enough time to respond before he goes off on a 50-post run about conspiracy theories & attacks. Just another example of John and his "I do as I do... Not as I say."

Not to worry folks... I have tipped off a few media people because, there is a lot more to the story than I have indicated.

Stay tuned!

North Minneapolis Officials, Inspectors, Hawthorne Housing Director & Johnny Northside: Do a Questionable Deal

Johnny Northside is apparently not about to disclose the amount the City of Minneapolis paid for his house, 3016 6th Street North.
This is public information but, both the County and City websites state "No Sale Information On File For This Property."
Johnny confirmed on his blog that, it was NOT an investment property. He had plans to fix it up and LIVE IN IT. But, he owned the house for only four months.

Johnny Northside went on to describe the current condition of the house in the same post. Here is what he had to say about it:
"The house has a deck in the back. The carpet on the floors needs a good cleaning, but it's not nasty. Somebody started rehabbing and quit in mid-job, but managed to move the project along quite a bit."
That hardly sounds like a house that has been boarded up and declared "hazardous" by city inspectors and needing to be bulldozed.

Last month I posted about the same house and directed questions toward John Hoff AKA Johnny Northside. .
Some of the questions were:
How does one go about selling to the City?
What are the requirements?
Who decides which houses will be bought?
Who determines the values?
Did the city approach Johnny?
Did Johnny approach the City?
None of these questions have been answered. Apparently, there is one man who plays a vital role in determining which houses should be bought by the city to be torn down. I think he should be able to answer the above questions.

In an article posted by Minnesota Public Radio on September 11, 2008, titled: "Minneapolis clears vacant, dilapidated homes to curb dangers"
MPR talked with Jeff Skrenes, who is Housing Director with the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council. It was reported that Jeff has "helped the city identify properties for demolition."
NOW it makes more sense. Allow me to summarize the situation and I will close by directing a few questions to Jeff Skrenes.

- The city of Minneapolis wants to buy and demolish 100 homes by years end.
- The new owner of 3016 6th Street North claimed in writing that the house
had recent rehab work done and the carpet didn't even need to be replaced.
- The owner said it was not an investment property and he planned to fix it up
and "live in it!" It was purchased for $8,500.
- After he bought the house and posted the details, Jeff Skrenes posted the
following comment on Johns blog:
"My name is Jeff Skrenes and I am the housing director at Hawthorne Neighborhood Council (formerly HACC). Your blog has me extraordinarily excited - you're doing a lot of the things I'm doing as well in reporting problem properties. Let's meet up sometime and talk about ways we can work together. I look forward to having you in our neighborhood."

- The following quote concerning the rehab needed at 3016 6th St. N, came
from an email written in March 2008 by John Hoff. It was sent to Jim
Watkins. Hoff said,
"I don't have the funds to pay for it, but I was going to apply for grants and also have friends stay there who have fix-up skills but need a place to stay. The city wants fixes, and the city might be willing to bend a lot of rules as long as actual progress is being made. I've heard things."
- In June of 2008, John sent another email to Jim to explain why he had
decided to not post his questions on his blog that Jim submitted about his
house and why Johnny never talked about repairs his house needed.
"I have many friends, including a bunch of new ones in the Hawthorne neighborhood, who are very fond of me. I don't make a habit of not publishing comments but you managed to fall into that special exception. As for my flipping, my land baron deals, my wheeling and dealing, "my house is being sold as part of positive development on the block. When I can discuss all the details, I will, and openly on the blog. Until then, the city is keenly aware of my doings and dealings. I'm on a first name basis with the inspectors. I have no worries and I don't expect to be in prison at any time in the future. Furthermore, when all the details can be revealed...it will be clear"
- To date, no details have been disclosed on Johnnys blog.
- Johnny sold the house in July to the city after reportedly not making any
repairs to the house. John did not live in the house at all.
- Sale price has not been disclosed by the seller, the city or the County Tax
office. Current tax records shows the property value to be $128,000.

I understand that politicians have been known to engage in shady side deals and questionable situations in the past. Members of the Minneapolis City Council have been on a rampage the past two years while pointing dirty fingers at several people, claiming they have committed fraud and that is the reason North Minneapolis is in such bad shape.
This post has detailed how "do-gooder" Johnny Northside got in with the top brass and has done a deal with the city.
Those involved and "in the know" are Johnny, Hawthorn Community Housing Director Jeff Skrenes, city inspectors (according to Johnny) and city officials.

This whole thing just stinks. If dirty fingers are going to be pointed at people, the ones doing the pointing should be prepared and willing to address the public when one of their deals is called into question.

To Mr. Skrenes...
I direct the following questions to you, sir:

Did you play a role in the sale of 3016 6th St. N to the city?

If yes, What was your involvement?

Johnny claimed his house was not that bad, did you feel the house needed to be demolished? Why?

Why is the sale information being withheld?

How is a purchase price determined? What criteria is used?

Did you approach Johnny about selling his house to the city?

Do you have any influence with the inspectors?

Thank you.

How Much Did the City of Minneapolis Pay For Johnny's House?

John Hoff AKA Johnny Northside, has sold his house to the city. The Hennepin County web site has been updated and shows the owner to be the City of Minneapolis. The sale is reported to have closed on July 23, 2008.

John paid only $8,500 in April (according to John himself and records) but, even though it is public information... The price the city paid for the house is "Currently Not Available."

A call to the County Tax Office only confirmed that the information was not available.
WHY? It is a public record and I am certain other North residents would like to know.

To the City of Minneapolis:

How much did you pay for...

"3016 6th St. N. ?"