MINNESOTA ANGEL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is getting the word out on the Minnesota Angel Tax Credit Program and recent changes at creating OUTSIDE OF THE METRO AREA, more women and minority-owned businesses.

There is $7.5 million dollars available for greater Minnesota  women and minority-owned businesses.    NOW THAT'S ALOT OF ECONOMIC POSSIBILITY FOR LITTLE FALLS .

AS YOUR NEW MAYOR I WOULD IMMEDIATELY  IMPLEMENT RECRUITMENT OF NEW WOMEN AND MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS BY HOSTING A "WE WELCOME DIVERSITY FAIR'' TO BE HELD in January 2015.

If you hear this idea mentioned by my opponents you know they stole it.

MILITARY JOBS SAVED BY FEDERAL GRANTS PROGRAM

My friend David Swanson (World Beyond War) has written a great article on how federal grants are available to help towns adjust to the expected military cuts.  If your citys economy is dependent on as much as 2-3% on military contracts, then you are eligible to get federal help to prepare an adjustment strategy.  As mayor I will take the lead in securing these funds, and then involve economic development stakeholders to plan an economic transition.  I will promote peace conversion from war to peace economy, as Connecticut has already begun.  The diversification or conversion of defense-related industries with an emphasis on encouraging environmentally-sustainable and civilian product manufacturing. 


http://www.worldbeyondwar.org/federal-grants-available-help-cities-towns-adjust-military-cuts/

NOW JUST SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION.  I BELIEVE IN A MUCH SMALLER DEFENSE BUDGET IN THE FUTURE.  I BELIEVE WE DO NEED A MILITARY, JUST NOT A MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND ETERNAL WAR.  THIS IS BAD FOR OUR NATION, OUR SOLDIERS, OTHER COUNTRIES CITIZENS, AND THE PLANET.

BUT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY WORK TOWARDS PEACE CONVERSION. 

Rotary talk 10-22-14

Yesterday I spoke to a small group of 5 Rotarians and Kris VonBerge CEO of the Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau about how I would govern as Mayor of this city and my recommendations. 

One of the key things I tried to drive home was that without (free) tolerance education for all city staff, elected officials AND every resident, and making a concerted community effort to open the very "CLOSED ETHOS" that plagues this city and county, there will be no growth.  This idea was challenged by those listening.  This group actually believes that there is tolerance everywhere here.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2002/12/winter-technology-florida

I guess they didn't read about the gay couple of two young men who were denied by Rice Creek Hunting Reserve the right to marry at their facility this spring.  (There was a settlement in favor of these fellows and Rice Creek apologized and paid a substantial amount for their bigotry.)

I guess they are unaware or don't care about the ongoing Brook Mallak lawsuit(Brook happens to be an Asian American and a practicing Little Falls attorney)lawsuit against the Little Falls Police Department and the City of Little Falls for illegal data lookups.


I guess they missed the big "Act for America"(Brigette Gabrielle (alias for Hannah Tudor) event at the Little Falls High School, that was all about promoting hate against Muslims.

I guess they must NOT have attended the much needed TOLERANCE event sponsored by CAIR, that was hosted at the Franciscan Convent this year to educate Littlesfallsians on Islam and bigotry.(as a rebuttal to the Brigette Gabrielle event).

I guess they are unaware of the lawsuit against the Morrison County Sheriff by one of their female employees for gender bias.

I guess they missed the lawsuit against the school district for failing to accommodate a student with documented  chronic health problems.

They must have forgotten all of the DEATH THREATS and a terroristic threat(from a Little Falls graduate)directed at me????  And the complete lack of proper investigation of all of them. Or don't they care?

I guess they missed the last three years of their city council and present mayor shooting down every good idea that Theresa Skorseth and I have put forth in the form of public forums, citizen appeals, agenda items and even mayoral proclamation requests. 

I guess they missed the fact that this community has completely ostracized me for standing up for my Constitutional rights and peace activism(say nothing of my socialist and progressive viewpoints.) I represent change and this community is belligerently resistant to it.

I guess they don't believe that there is racial profiling in this city(which I have reason to believe is occuring and told them so.)

Without changing the local intolerant closed ethos there will be more lawsuits(costing taxpayers alot more money), no economic growth, continued lack of new business locating here and no community harmony.  Which makes for one very UNHEALTHY city.

I was taken aback by comments made by Kris VonBerge, Doreen Kapsner, Jeannie Smith, Patience Svor, and her mother, Anna.

It would appear these attendees are very comfortable saying "tolerance is everywhere"(in reference to Little Falls) either because they are wearing blinders or they are fooling themselves.  Nothing could be more apparent than that this city is one of many small towns swimming in ignorance, fear and a complete disdain for anyone with differing views or rebuffs their "poofy party opportunity hoarding click."

Nothing would surprise me anymore after observing MCRecord newspaper and KTLF radios COMMUNITY indoctrination of "radical right wing agenda."



My friend Jody, of MCBlowback, will be posting soon an article about this, so I won't go into details now, but watch for it on Mcblowback.com  

Closed ethos

In order to attract new business and entrepreneurs, the community norms need revision.  The closed ethos that has stifled this area for decades, must change.  If Little Falls continues to shut out grand ideas, like the idea to build a college here but was refused because some power brokers didn't want the riff raff  that college towns attract, this community will never grow or prosper.

 This is exactly why I asked the council in 2013, to consider the development of a Human Rights Commission.   Larger cities like St. Cloud, the Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester, Willmar and others are able to attract a wide variety of business and cultures, because they welcome diversity. 

Little Falls clearly does not embrace change, varied viewpoints or ideas.

What steps have the Mayor or City Council taken to encourage a more inclusive, welcoming community? 
 Answer....ZERO

WELCOME TO MY NEW JOBS BLOG

I will be posting many great ideas on how Little Falls could create more new jobs.   Stay tuned, and thanks for your interest.