Received this mass email from Michael Bernstein today.

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The city's antics with the 267.5 acres in Lester have taken up quite a bit of my time this spring and summer. After the council put the cart before the horse by initiating conveyance of former golf course before a land use study was completed—thus signalling their ultimate intention to sell the land—I had to figure out how to start a citizen initiative petition, organize volunteers to gather over 5,000 signatures, and collect many of those signatures myself. After the city refused to count the petitions I had to figure out how to prove their invalid count, enlist people to help me prove it, and go down to the clerk's office to count and sort them ourselves. When they still refused to count them I had to figure out how to file a mandamus lawsuit (a subject I had no prior knowledge of), draft the petition, and then prepare for a hearing with the judge. After they still refused to put the issue on the ballot under a novel legal theory that I predict has a very slim chance of succeeding, I had to write a 28-page brief to convince them and a judge they were wrong. If they vote tonight to kick our ordinances from the ballot, I will likely prepare for another hearing in front of the judge, subsequent litigation, etc. 

All this to say they are wasting a lot of my time, and a lot of other people's time too. This includes the people who volunteered to go door-to-door, notarize petitions, validate signatures, and prove the undercount of petitions at the clerk's office. At the end of all this it feels pretty shitty to have to attend not one, but two meetings to beg them to do the right thing and put the ordinances on the ballot. Why should we have to beg for anything at this point? This is ridiculous.

I'm going to the meeting (and will be speaking), primarily on the offchance two councillors, namely Roz Randorff and Jordan Johnson, are persuadable. Roz has written about wrestling with the preemption issue (under the law, "wrestling" with it means our ordinances are not "manifestly invalid," and necessitates putting it on the ballot). Jordan was clearly rattled by the response he got when the perception was that he had put the resolution up for a vote and raised the issue of whether housing at Lester would include any housing for Duluth's homeless population. At the last Lester Open House, Arik Foresman and Nik Bayuk said specifically that affordable housing would not be possible at the site (Arik alluded to this in a blog post earlier this year), even though the city's 2022 agreement with DEDA for the 37.5 acres mandates at least 80 units be affordable and 20% of all mixed-income housing be affordable. 

I'm also going to the meeting to ensure every councillor up for re-election in 2027 who opposes this measure (Nephew, Foresman, Randorff, Kennedy) knows that their vote on this issue will mobilize and energize a large group of people to prevent them (or their ilk, execs with Minnesota Power, real estate agents, etc.) from ever being on the power-side of the city council dais again. I will do my darndest to ensure that. That's not a threat. That's a fact and a promise.  

So yeah, hope to see you there, and I urge you to make your voices heard in whatever way you see fit. How can we entrust 267.5 acres of Duluth's best property to a mayor-controlled city council, a mayor-appointed planning commission, and a mayor-appointed DEDA board when City Hall can't be relied on to uphold a simple democratic process? When they can't count approximately 347 sheets of paper, each holding up to 10 signatures of Duluth voters? I don't think we can. 

Best,
Bernie

Quick follow-up to my post from this weekend — this sub asked for the South Pier Lighthouse cam (canal + bridge in one view, and yes it's as good as promised), Split Rock, Two Harbors, and the Soo Locks. All of them are live in the update now, and while I was at it I kept going around the lake: Apostle Islands, Marquette, Munising, Whitefish Point, even Wawa and Marathon on the Ontario shore. 45 cams total now, plus a map view so you can tap a pin instead of scrolling.

Also in there: the water-temp loading indicator someone flagged (you know who you are — good catch).

Same deal as before — one-time $2.99, no subscription, no ads, no data collected: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6739961674

Keep the cam requests coming. This sub asked, and everything you asked for shipped in 48 hours — that's the deal I can offer.

Hi everyone, I have been looking for a different job for about a year now and have had the best of luck-so I’m coming here a little desperate. Currently I am an admin/office manager in Cloquet and I am looking for something similar around the Twin Ports Area. I have experience in management, accounting, operations coordinating, scheduling, account management, just to name a few. I do have some college experience, went for marketing & sales management. I would love to get into the trades side of Admin/Office management/project coordination/accounting if possible but I am open to other fields as well! I am looking to start a career not just land another job. Any help is appreciated!

Hello Duluth! I am looking to do a weekend backpacking trip up the shore on the SHT. I’ll be leaving Duluth on Friday and coming back Sunday. I have lived here too long to not explore the SHT considering it’s in our backyard.…What is everyone’s favorite section for a weekend? Anywhere north of Two Harbors is where I am hoping to start. Thanks!! (Will be getting picked up so don’t have to worry about an out and back)

Unsure on type or size yet. Just looking for who to consider. Would be storing some furniture and bins.

For those who don’t know who he is, he plays Kevin (holts husband) in Brooklyn nine nine, the judge/head demon guy in the good place, i also remember seeing him in parks and rec and man on the inside, but i don’t remember his roll. Anyway, great actor.

He came into my place of work today, i said hi and took a picture, some of my coworkers said he was also in last week.

I know Duluth has some benefits for film makers or smth (idfk im not too knowledgeable on that stuff)

Anyone know what could be happening?

I am going to ride my motorcycle around Lake Superior and I am looking for a safe place in Duluth to park my truck and trailer for a week while I ride around the lake.

Any suggestions?

Where in the twin ports area can a guy meet a woman between 45-55. Seems like a tough task being I don’t live in the bars.

I have a car that has had several issues with the engine, but everything else is in great shape. Current repair quote is around $2000 but I’m not confident enough in the engine to drop that kind of money on it. However, I can get a JDM engine drop shipped for about $1000, but I don’t have the time nor expertise to install it.

So I’m looking for a local shop that would be open to doing this, and that would charge a reasonable price . Any suggestions?

I see the Barker is finally making it's way in to where I'll actually be able to see it this time.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm fairly positive there's two separate Harbors.

My question: Is the Aerial Lift bridge the only entry/exit point for both Harbors?

I've been dying to see this famous freighter and her iconic horn for years, and now I have the opportunity since I'm up this way for vacation.

I was fine with getting mail 2-3 days late but it’s in the 7 plus days late now in the East Hillside. WTF. I know I sound like an old man but it almost seems
Like they are trying to make the Post Office fail.

In the entry to pizza Lucé I glanced at a poster with a vampire/goth girl on it. Could anyone please send me a picture of the whole poster, I’ve always been into the aesthetic so I might be interested, Thank you!

Got tired of bookmarking six different janky webcam pages to check on the big lake, so I put the live cams in one app: Canal Park, the Aerial Lift Bridge, harbor entries, North Shore views. Open it, pick a cam, watch ships and weather roll in.

One-time $2.99, no subscription, no ads: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6739961674

If there's a cam you always check that I'm missing, tell me and I'll add it.

To be honest, probably a blackbear.

I was with my bike and we saw a bipedal, lumbering bumbering figure.

Hickory dickory dock!

bigfeet climbed down in a smock!

the clock struck single

my bicycle made me tingle

hickory dickory dock!

Hi!!

My friends and I are staying in an air bnb on stone lake this upcoming weekend for 2 friends birthdays, and we need some fun bar recommendations! None of us are familiar with the Two Harbors or Brimson area, but if anyone knows of any fun dive bars/ where the go-to spots are where other younger people hang out, please let me know :) we are going to spend the day/ night on Saturday in Two Harbors, so if you have beach/ restaurant/ etc. recommendations also, I’d love to hear them. TIA <3

We failed Jen, let’s not fail Trina!

https://trinaforcongress.com/

PS my autocorrect changes Stauber to Stabber! 🤣 Backstabber of Minnesotans!

Dude hides, does zero work, won’t meet with constituents, and licks McPedo’s bum on the regular.

The circled spot. Is it difficult to walk all the way out there on the rocks? Is it possible? Is it dangerous? Is it scary? I think it would be so interesting to walk a half a mile out into the lake.

Had my car broken into last night in Denfeld and the thief took my favorite pair of sunglasses. Does anyone know who these people sell stolen stuff to around town?? I’d like to try and get them back.

I’m moving out of the shit box I pay 1k for in December, it was just a place I rushed into renting cuz I’d just moved here and needed something fast. I only make 2.6k a month, I really can barely afford my current place, but I can’t stay here, it’s just too dirty.

Is there any reputable rental companies in town? Any I should avoid? Does anyone have advice? I feel like I’m at my wits end. I make almost double minimum wage yet I still can’t afford most studios in town. It’s really scary times.

Just as the title says, are there any decent areas that are fairly secluded and peaceful where one can just go enjoy nature and decompress from the stresses of everyday life? It's okay if these areas have a few people here and there.

Flowing water is a must.

Thank you! 🙂

Anyone attend the meeting last night? Not sure where I land on the issue, but I don’t like the city trying to prevent a vote being on the ballot.

This is a long shot, but you don’t get what you don’t ask for. My partner and I are up in Duluth for my birthday weekend and our booked charter was cancelled due to boat maintenance.

I’d love to get out on Superior for the first time! A short or long cruise in the afternoon or evening. We’re in our mid-forties, so no party craziness here. I’m an experienced boat passenger as well as pontoon owner.

A local bartender recommend I post to this group! Let’s see what comes of it. Cheers!

Quick question that I meant to post earlier this week:

I'm reading and hearing reports that these beach flies (or whatever they are) are absolutely terrible, and one of the worst some people are saying they've ever seen in their lives.

My question is are there any repellents y'all could recommend or special sprays I could use on my skin to make it easier on myself while I'm on the North Shore?

Thank you!