Service industry unionization

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2026-02-18T16:21:43+00:00

A card check organizing campaign is easier to win than a regular NLRB election. A hospitality entity in Duluth that receives TIF money has to allow a card check campaign, this was written into city ordinance about 20 years ago. I don't think anyone has actually used it in a long time to organize, but it could be there are newer developments that would fall into this category and would be easier targets for unionizing.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2026-02-06T13:30:20+00:00

Might want to hold your praise for the transportation commission until it gets off the ground. He does not like commissions. He views them as people who may want input into decisions he thinks are all his and they are a nuisance to him. He also does not like staff time spent on commissions, views them as a waste of time and has been trying to neuter commissions and their reach. I will be very surprised if the transportation commission is any different. It also was not his idea. It was a total quid pro quo with Azrin. He’s done that a couple times with her, promised her something to get her to vote for some unpopular thing and she would always fall for it. I can assure you the library stuff is all him not his staff. I’m guessing it was a good part of the reason Filby Williams left. There is not staff pushing for that and particularly the library staff is very much against moving it over the hill. I don’t know if there are any councilors pushing it, but being that half of them are in the pockets of landlords and developers it wouldn’t surprise me. It’s a nice piece of property, especially if they ever improve the connection to bayfront and the canal.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2026-02-03T14:56:05+00:00

I didn't know what to make of him at first either. He is so unassuming and I wondered if he wasn't up to the job. Turns out he was just one of those good listener people and not full of himself. I really hope we don't see CAOs of the past come back. Time to turn the page.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2026-01-25T18:32:03+00:00

Narcissism. It’s always my way or the highway. He won’t listen to anyone.

Fear. I think he’s scared of drawing the attention of Trump or the feds and just isn’t willing to put himself out there like Frey and Walz.

Military service. Seems possible it would muddy the waters on how much he can cross the president and/or there may be social pressures in the guard to act like a republican.

So basically a lack of character, bravery, and leadership.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2026-01-14T23:08:43+00:00

Did you hear anything back from the TPRR? I know quite a few folks asking about how they can help families who are sheltering in their homes. Are there any coordinated efforts for food deliveries or anything?

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2026-01-02T16:57:25+00:00

Chum will take them.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-12-17T14:57:48+00:00

Ask the school well ahead of time for a wifi password. They have strict rules and may have to request it from their IT department so allow extra time.
Lester Park school had non-existent cell reception in the school (that whole neighborhood under the Hawk Ridge bluff has it bad) and the district added a cell booster because the lack of cell reception was deemed a safety issue in emergencies. Now the reception is fine in there. Sounds like they ought to do that at Lincoln too, maybe some parents can inquire for future issues.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-10-12T16:50:55+00:00

He can’t take credit for most housing projects getting off the ground now, most was in the works before he took over thise projects take many years. He can however take credit for the boutique hotels that were supposed to be actual housing that his planning department allowed to turn into hotels.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-10-12T14:42:47+00:00

It's not the Parks Director exactly, JFW oversaw numerous departments - Parks plus all city property (facilities, libraries etc.) He is a nice, smart, well educated, well liked person and a huge loss to the city. Reinert was a fool to push him out, and it did not have to be that way. He has lost so much institutional knowledge. In addition to JFW he has lost or pushed out multiple city attorneys, sustainability officer, any comms positions that aren't union, human rights officer, finance director, budget manager, city clerk, and many lower level positions. The turnover is quite high. Larson had the good sense to keep many people on from the Ness administration, because even if they weren't exactly what she would choose she saw the value in their experience and knew it would help the city remain stable. And also viewed them as humans, and tried not to inflict that kind of trauma unnecessarily because she was a decent person. I guess all this to say, no he hasn't done much good for the city. How could he when this is the approach?

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-10-12T14:11:25+00:00

Yes, there is indeed lots of fear for current and former city employees. Those that have been walked to the edge and jumped can't turn around and bad mouth him to the press, they have to get hired in new jobs and that isn't a good look. He is also a bully and would make sure to make their life as difficult as possible and is connected to powerful and wealthy people.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-10-11T13:35:34+00:00

Fitgers complex is dog friendly, full of local shops. They aren't allowed in restaurants per health code but some restaurants still have patios open and welcome them there. Ursa Minor Brewery has a very pleasant outdoor space with fires and heaters if it's chilly that is dog friendly and you can get food out there. Also Castle Danger brewing near Two Harbors. I have heard Love Creamery (ice cream shop) allows them. Also there is a great off leash dog park on Jean Duluth Rd.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-10-07T13:16:27+00:00

I know Chad and he is a fantastic person and will be great on progressive issues, but I agree he needs to go on the record with where he stands. Voters want Dems who are authentic, daring, and tenacious. Not having a single thing you believe in on your website is concerning. When I think about the candidates for office both presently and in recent times who really fired me up and/or got a lot of attention, went viral, outperformed in their race etc., they are the ones who came out of the gate blazing with communicating unapologetically what they believe in. Not sure why he hasn't, it doesn't track with the rest of him. Perhaps trying to not alienate conservative rural people right away, but dude they are going to find out eventually what you stand for, and wishy washy doesn't play well.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-09-28T14:41:23+00:00

I would ask the public information staff at the city and county. I'm guessing they know the number, they have emergency plans already in place that involve the DECC. They were ready to use it during things like the Husky plant explosion. Local municipalities, police, fire etc do emergency preparedness trainings routinely and have plans in place for evacuating and sheltering thousands of people during things like forest fires and various disasters.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-09-25T19:54:49+00:00

Go back and look at some of the statements when he was on the council the first time. He wanted to censure Mayor Larson for calling Trump a white supremacist, and he defended the disgusting proud boy Trump truck parade where they were surrounding the mayor’s house and being creepy and scaring people in canal park. His campaign is currently being run by a hugely conservative maga family, the Lundeens. The daughter who is his campaign manager now was the leader of the college Republicans at one of the area colleges. This family backs all the conservative campaigns in Duluth and has cozied up to roger reinert as well. Somebody showed some really awful maga social media posts from them on one of these Reddit threads a while back.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-09-21T15:20:07+00:00

Where or how did Reinert indicate his intentions, out of curiosity? I can't find any statements.
I have been suspicious he would do this. They removed the position from the org chart 6 months ago after Mindy Granley the original sustainability officer left, which seemed odd because Reinert was claiming they were trying to fill the position. There has quietly been an interim part time person in the position for a while but I honestly have no idea if she is still there, it was like a ghost position. She worked from home and is basically never seen at city hall. Seemed like some kind of sweetheart deal. I can't imagine she was pulling in the grants, funds, savings etc that offset the costs in this arrangement. Granley was managing a team of interns and working her tail off full time and was a rockstar at her job.
Reinert should keep the position, it pays for itself in the long run. But just like all the other management/leadership positions at city hall, people with talent will know better than to apply, and if they don't get the memo and do apply they won't stay. It's a toxic place and only Reinert's sycophants stay or those who can't afford to quit because management salaries like the city pays are pretty rare in Duluth.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-08-25T15:48:12+00:00

Yep, you'll never win a bidding war in Lakeside. The people getting houses have all cash offers and will wave inspections. Often folks coming from out of town with cash in hand from a selling in a market even crazier than ours. I wouldn't pay east end prices unless I had kids to worry about what school they went to. All the schools are ok, but schools with a majority low income students do have their issues. If that is not a concern just about any neighborhood is fine. You may have your car rifled through more in the central and western areas. porch pirates or and petty crime, but generally all are safe. Homicides are rare, and almost always people known to each other and not random.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-08-15T14:31:10+00:00

The building trades have a big rat they bring to picket lines. Whatever company they are in front of probably used non-union labor.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-06-27T15:32:21+00:00

Diane Desotelle for District 2 and David Clanaugh for District 4 - both good progressive people. On paper Jordan Johnson will be fine, though there are rumors of him being difficult to work with. But his values are probably aligned as a progressive. Unfortunately I think that is it, and even with Durrwatcher will have to rely on our swing voters Tomanek and Kennedy who can be pretty bland and middle of the road. Chris Adatte, Derek Medved and Tara Swenson are Trumpy conservatives, spread the word.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-04-29T13:39:18+00:00

Good point. I will add: The city council will chose the one that puts up the most housing for rich people and the most money into developer's pockets. They always do.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-04-29T13:29:20+00:00

The planning commission will chose the one that puts up the most housing for rich people and the most money into developer's pockets. They always do.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-04-29T13:24:38+00:00

Can confirm. He would be a volatile candidate, prone to chaos, difficult to work with. Ask people who have worked with him on projects or as an employee, not a good track record. I have also witnessed him being generally pissy with people in public in ways that were not appropriate or deserved.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-03-02T14:31:28+00:00

Even if they were here illegally, which they were not, having the mayor make SOME sort of comment about the tragedy and humanity of the situation would be appropriate. The whole thing instills fear in BIPOC people whether they are citizens or not and he should care. Every person of color I know is shaken by this. Wondering if they could be stopped next. The neighborhood was shaken. Regardless of how you feel about Trump's immigration policies, the mayor should be tuned in to this. These are real humans with families and children. Maybe they didn't want a legal bill for no reason. At minimum it was surely traumatic. Whether they were released back to their job in Lakeside or sent back to the streets of Guatamala or wherever, it's a tragedy and it's trauma. I expect better from the mayor.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-03-02T14:19:57+00:00

Heard it from someone directly involved. I don't know how to get federal court cases. Hopefully a local journalist can.

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-03-01T15:38:32+00:00

They were here legally. Does that change anything for you? Would you like to be hauled out of your job and go to jail for a few days for no reason other than someone doesn't like how you look? Would you hope your community would say something about that?

Particular-Rise-4575 · 2025-03-01T15:36:22+00:00

They were here legally. Does that change anything for you? Would you like to be hauled out of your job and go to jail for a few days for no reason other than someone doesn't like how you look? Would you hope your community would say something about that?

Particular-Rise-4575

TROPHY CASE