There is a new manifestation of what's killing Anoka. The facade of the new Redrum smoke shop is full of death symbolism.
The owner of the building and landlord is John Becker, the brother-in-law of Paul Pierce. Pierce and Bjorn Skogquist are the councilmembers that delayed Riverspointe and caused the Condo project to miss the market.
Thirty people signed a letter to the editor in 2006 saying Mayor Skogquist had let it be known the Anoka River Run Car Show (using the condo building site) was more important than making progress on the Condo project.
Now Erik Skogquist, Mr. "no-more-rental", wants to continue these misguided stuck-in-the-past policies. It's simplistic to say no-more-rental. The discussion should be about the quality of rental as much as the quantity. Hopkins has high quality and quantity and an actual vibrant downtown.
Resisting all new rental locks the city in bondage to the old and deteriorating. We have a recipe for continued stagnation and decline rather than a plan for replacing and upgrading.
You only have to see where the Skogquist (and ally Aaron Barr's) signs go
to see who benefits by their policies. The Tribune called them low-end, predatory landlords: the Pierces, the Fischer's, the Corriveau's of Anoka.
Bjorn Skogquist delayed routine rental licensing for his constituents.
Erik Skogquist promises to resist new, upgraded replacement rental for his.
Killing the competition for the benefit of his moneyed special interest supporters.
Killing Anoka's future.
Demographics is still destiny.
Online Petition - Stop Murder Spelled Backwards Selling Drug Paraphernalia www.gopetition.com/online/22252.html
Comment: If "demographics is destiny":
Anoka is currently being systematically "marketed" to new people through the County welfare system and numbers of failed chemical dependency people each year.
Combined with paralysis in housing renewal, rental licensing, resistance to redevelopment. . .what will Anoka look like in 10, in 20 years? And who will live here?
Who benefits but the Fischers, Corriveau's and Paul Pierce types? It's not difficult to see why they support Aaron Barr and the Skogquist's.
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