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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 11, 2016 Page 7 Mr. Pablo Tapia stated he lives in Lexington in a mobile home park and for the past 20 years he 1 has worked on issues in the Twin Cities. This time they are going after his family that lives in 2 Lowry Grove. Mr. Tapia stated he has never seen a campaign from the opposition as dirty as he 3 has seen this time and the opposition should be investigated as the leaders of Lowry Grove are 4 being threatened. He stated the law benefits those that have lots of money and they are not 5 people of color. He believed the law was broken when the Park was purchased before consulting 6 with the residents and he does not want to wait 30 years for the news to say they were wrong 7 with Lowry Grove. Mr. Tapia noted St. Anthony has been in the eye of the country for many 8 reasons. 9 10 Ms. Jillette West, resident of St. Anthony, stated she heard some protesters earlier this evening. 11 She has lived in St. Anthony for two years, heard about what was happening at Lowry Grove, 12 and spoke to some general principles as a resident of St. Anthony. She asked are we developing 13 the City or developing the people who live in the City, noting the poor seldom win. Ms. West felt 14 the system was designed to benefit the white people and asked the City Council to stand up for 15 the people in the community. She likes having the mobile home park in the City and thinks 16 Lowry Grove residents shouldn’t have to beg to save their homes or have their children cry to 17 make a point. She commented that government needs to stand up for the people. 18 19 Mr. Alan Arthur stated he is not surprised 38% of the people have gone as we are headed toward 20 the worst housing crisis but mobile home parks are affordable in the State of Minnesota. He 21 noted that ‘home’ is not just the building. He believed that Lowry Grove is the front end of what 22 will be seen more and more in the communities and asked how is history going to judge St. 23 Anthony. Mr. Arthur asked Council to let the process continue. 24 25 Ms. Sarah, Northeast Methodist Church, stated she was ashamed she was not involved in the 26 march earlier today. She stated people need to help each other and Lowry Grove is within her 27 parish. She stated this is affordable housing and an opportunity for people to invest in people and 28 places where people can live and thrive. 29 30 Mr. Ryan Baumtrad, MN Housing, Administrator of the Trust Fund, stated he pays out from the 31 Fund after the neutral third party is appointed to assist residents with relocation. He explained 32 that MN Housing is not taking a position on this case and will process claims if a neutral third 33 party is appointed. 34 35 Ms. LouAnn Zappa stated she is a resident of Lowry Grove and moving on Monday. She stated 36 there is a lot of stress being caused by the RVers and she had called the police about a 37 confrontation with the RVers. She believed that stolen cars were being purchased and there was 38 drug use in the Park by the RVers. Ms. Zappa stated she has accepted the offer, the place she 39 lives in is a mess, and she thinks the Park Manager and his wife and brother are on drugs. She 40 stated she hopes her offer is not kicked out because she came to the meeting. In addition, 41 someone racing through the Park, almost hit some people, lives in one of the RVs, and there is a 42 warrant for his arrest. Ms. Zappa invited the Council to come to the Park and see what’s going 43 on. 44 45 Mr. Ty Storic stated he moved into the Park 25 years ago when the Park sold and since that time, 46 nothing was done in the Park but the rent was raised every year. Mr. Storic stated when his wife 47 passed away four years ago, he wanted to move to the Big Lake mobile home park but couldn’t 48 7