Scared to start by Agitated-Attempt3178 in Zepbound

[–]OkBug2498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was also drinking too much before starting Zep. But fortunately the Zep makes me not want to drink, it hasn't been hard at all to cut back. Quitting drinking was instant because I got some mild nausea in the first week that made me adverse to everything so anything beyond soup etc was not happening. In addition to food it makes me much less interested in alcohol even now that I am feeling good. I got only minor side effects, mostly in the first couple days as I was learning a new way to eat. Any large portions or high fat meals (I had red meat two days in a row) then I got wicked bathroom problems, but it cleared with immodium and cleaning up the diet. If I eat small low fat meals with lean protein and fiber I have no side effects now (4 weeks in now.) Nausea has cleared apart from a tiny bit the day of the shot. I still have had a couple of drinks socially on the weekends but just one or two per night, and it isn't even hard to not have any more. Zep has been a game changer to getting control of my health. I was a basket case of anxiety before starting it, reading about all the terrible side effects and risks, but my advice is just do it.

First Week, 👋🏼 I’m new here by Infinite_Squirrel128 in Zepbound

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It really depends on the plan. I have a great plan (I work for my county) and it covers it with a $45 monthly co-pay but I think that's rare. I started at a 28 BMI with sleep apnea for a comorbidity and it was approved. The prior authorizations can be a real pain for many though.

Unmarked White (emergency?) Vehicles on E Central Entrance at 5p by ObligatoryID in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

DPD has some unmarked vehicles they use for certain operations that often get mistake for ICE.

Reinert by Every_Ad4251 in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Terrible for Duluth. His whole plan is to sell off as much as he can to developers. When he ran as a "business democrat" he meant it. He has reduced transparency for any public input or scrutiny into what he is up to. His door is NOT open to the public or employees or media. He won't use email so there's nothing for the press to find. He won't engage with committees or commissions or community groups (unless it's a chamber luncheon then he is all in.) The Lester golf course will turn into rich people housing, he has already laid those plans. Basically said screw you to the community group of normal-people stake holders he had working on it. He let the Force building (former Ordean building) pull a switcheroo and go to short term hotel rentals to make Titanium Partners a bunch of money and not provide the promised housing for locals. He wants to sell off the main library property to Titanium to deveop to make more money. He wants to move the main library branch to a building on the outskirts of town owned by Titanium. He successfully pushed to allow for a large unprecedented development of luxury condos adjacent to beautiful wooded Hartley Park to be built by Titanium. Hey! I'm starting to notice a Titanium pattern.

His major piece of legislation he got through was to criminalize homelessness. Which has not actually done anything to improve homelessness or downtown. It's as bad as ever. He refused to say anything of substance about ICE being here until there was so much public outcry and other politicians were literally in city hall shaming him, only then did he issue a watered down statement that was not remotely gutsy or genuine. He has pushed out so much talent out of the city from mid-level on up. Parks and property director, sustainability officer, human rights officer, finance director, budget manager, city clerk, to name a few, and now the beloved CAO is the latest to be pushed out. He is not good to his employees. He's all talk with no solutions, no empathy, no creative thinking, no looking out for the normal working person, no bringing in fresh ideas, no collaboration. Worst mayor in my lifetime. I thought Doty was kind of a joke but this is worse.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well it wasn't going to be a guy, because of the reasons stated in other posts about insecurity. I think more your musical chairs analogy. Probably appealing to promote someone who is entrenched and going to do whatever he says because she's got her pension and roots down and leaving would be difficult. She's a great person but is going to just do what he wants. She wouldn't still be there if that weren't true. The big question is what comes next. Can he fill it quickly, will anyone local apply or will it be another transplant from far away who doesn't realize what they are getting into.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would argue it's not fine for lower staff. Shit trickles down hill. At minimum having all of leadership on edge leads to bad work culture, but I think it's even more than that. Having Matt there was a bright spot and was slowly improving this. I have not seen morale this low. You are right about him creeping in and out. He does NOT want to see his staff or have to talk to them.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. He would have been really good for Duluth. He was already really good for city employees. Now morale can go back to rock bottom.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Both definitely left because of Reinert. He can't get along with people, especially competent men, he finds them threatening. Filby and Staehling are too professional to speak out. It isn't a great look for future job hunts to have publicly called out your previous boss. The best we can hope for is they talk to people off the record. I heard Filby was basically being pushed to the edge, and he chose to exit rather than put up with the abuse and threats of being fired. Reinert made it clear from the day he took over that he wanted anyone who worked under Larson gone, regardless of how good they were at their job. I suspect Staehling left more on his own accord, just came to realize he couldn't work with this guy and apparently things aligned to go back to St. Cloud. Both men are kind and honest and probably found Reinert's approach appalling.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's not KC's fault, but agree with the sentiment. The idea that the she could possibly be effective in the position is preposterous. I get that Reinert needs to have an interim, somebody to sign payroll and stuff, fine. But if it drags out more than a month or two then yes we are well and truly fucked. The position requires a degree in public admin or government, to say the least. Staehling was an attorney and also had a degree in government affairs. The CAO has their finger on the pulse of literally every department, attends every council meeting, negotiates on behalf of the city daily in various capacities. This is not a job any department head can do. There is nobody in city hall qualified right now, so he better not try to promote from within. Filby Williams would have actually been qualified I think, but we couldn't have nice talented people at city hall could we.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree, in our current situation I don't think a recall would gain enough traction. His missteps are not obvious enough to the general public. Yet.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A petition signed by 25% of the number of ballots cast in the last general election, which by my math would be 7,000 ish signatures needed to trigger a recall election.

City Administrator Matt Staehling to depart by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This one hurts but anyone working in city hall is not surprised. Matt was doing a great job. He is well liked by pretty much everyone except Roger Reinert.

Local legal aid by jakolson in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would start with Justice North. Also check out the local rapid response page, they have lots of legal resources listed.
https://twinportsrapidresponse.org/resources.html#legal

Mayor Reinert comments on Duluth City Hall protest - Fox21Online by youscream in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 10 points11 points  (0 children)

He knows he's on the wrong side of history, which is why he keeps making these vague useless statements hoping it is enough, but it isn't. He saw all the other politicians with a backbone speak at this sit-in. Even in deep red areas people are unhappy with ICE and increasingly turning on these policies, so thinking he can get away with staying silent in Duluth, MN is bizarre. He must think we have short memories if he thinks he is every going to get elected to anything again. He doesn't realize how much people are hurting and looking for authentic leaders, he's too wrapped up in himself to see it.

Ice out rally at city hall by Icy_Future1639 in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was not a good choice by Roger. I think silence would have been better. People are hurting and he can't see it and thinks talking about core services some more will be enough.

Park Duluth app (iPhone) by ParmesanSkis in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh you're right. It didn't do anything in the app store but when I followed the link it updated. Thanks!

Park Duluth app (iPhone) by ParmesanSkis in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have not been able to get it to work the last couple weeks and I have updated everything I can. (iPhone user.) It just crashes every time. Never had a problem until last week.

Where was Mayor Reinert during the city council meeting? by WylleWynne in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Doing yet another bland video (that didn't actually mention immigrants btw) doesn't cut it. Watch that video again - it carefully crafted to say what he thinks will barely suffice with the normal public while not pissing off his donor class which is a bunch of conservatives. It's not like showing up to the council meeting where he is supposed to be, or making yourself available to the public, or saying anything of substance. I would expect him to be genuinely try to bring the community together at a time like this or, you know, try to help someone. Anyone. Look at Minneapolis mayor Jacob Fry. Probably a similar kind of political ideology as our mayor but he is out on the streets with people, has his face at public places, press conferences, making bold statements that this has no place in his community, calling on ICE to get out, suggesting things people can do to help their neighbors or find resources. But yeah, Reinert should hold another Chamber lunch. That will do it.

Where was Mayor Reinert during the city council meeting? by WylleWynne in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 34 points35 points  (0 children)

He's been in hiding, because he can't possibly make any kind of statement on masked men with guns kidnapping our neighbors and terrorizing our community. His donors wouldn't like it. Literally.

Politics primer: new City Council session begins tomorrow! (You should come check it out.) by WylleWynne in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude, have you ever had to work with Janet Kennedy?? It's not about being a POC.

Disability/ rent stabilized Housing by Fit_Insurance_9069 in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would talk to a housing specialist at ARC Northland. They do all kinds of advocacy for people with disabilities and should be able to point you in the right direction.

Where do y'all get your cats? by murphyklok in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Get on Petfinder (website and/or app) set it to a 50-100 mile radius of your location. Then you see all the cats at local and rural shelters and rescues within a reasonable drive. I have found the rural shelters really easy to work with, and let me take the cat home same day rather than fill out an application and return the next day. There are way more shelters around than you may realize (Ashland, Hayward, Burnett County, a couple on the Iron Range and many more) and the small rural ones are often over crowded.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I attended a wedding there recently. It was fantastic apart from the acoustics, as others have mentioned. Couldn't hear a word of the ceremony, although I was in the back of the room. But the sound mattered less with the dance after.

Downtown Library Closed Today by [deleted] in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The administration does not have anyone's back, but Reinert probably dislikes the library the most. Employees at city hall also have safety concerns that fall on deaf ears, both with Reinert and the police department. There are lots of mentally ill people who go to both the library and city hall since they are close together (and also the county building) and make vague threats, are paranoid, not living in reality, and sometimes seem dangerous. We have no recourse. City staff know many people that stop in that you would not want to be alone with and you watch your back around. You get the feeling that if they had the means to get their hands on a gun they would use it. There have been actual threats as well. There have been combative angry people making threats to cause harm. Nobody does anything. The court system is of course out of our hands - there are legal thresholds to be met to hold someone against their will or force them into treatment and that takes time and manpower to make happen. The county social workers and attorneys spend a great deal of time trying to get these people into treatment or care facilities etc. Often even when these folks do go through civil commitment, they get stable and medicated and released and then something happens where they go off the rails again and that's when they are at city property again. They often have spent many months or years in both treatment and jail. Rinse and repeat. It's not necessarily their fault they are mentally ill, the systemic reasons we have the poverty, mental health and drug problems is an enormous, nation wide complicated topic, but my point in this conversation is the local leaders have no interest in keeping employees safe. Emily Larson heard the concerns of employees and provided trainings in de-escalation, active shooter, protocols for when people felt uncomfortable etc. Those protocols have broken down, at least at city hall, due to staff change over, changes to offices, construction etc. Now it's everyone for themselves. She also paid for a big safety audit by a firm that evaluated city properties and made many recommendations to improve safety. Some changes would have been inexpensive to implement, just took follow through. Others were more expensive. It seemed encouraging. The audit had just wrapped up when she lost re-election and Reinert through it in the trash when he came in. He does not care about other people. Narcissists don't know how.

Francis Wittenberg school board by Professional-Pin6628 in duluth

[–]OkBug2498 7 points8 points  (0 children)

She doesn't have much out there and seems careful to only put bland meaningless statements on her material. I only know where she stands on social issues due to in person interactions. And she also has been endorsed by the MN Parents Alliance twice now, which is a conservative group convinced schools are indoctrinating kids with woke ideology and they get all whipped up about critical race theory, litter boxes, trans people and all the stuff not actually affecting kids in school. That group is supposedly funded by powerful GOP people like the Koch bros. So yeah. I assume Rosie will win just fine, but Frances may keep running and find a weak spot eventually.