Mary Franson thinks City Pages blogger should blame his rent increase on Gov. Dayton

By Aaron Rupar Mon., Feb. 4 2013 at 9:25 AM

Franson blames it on taxes. We think the unfettered free market has a little something to do with it too.

We've had more than our share of fun with Mary Franson, so it's hard to blame her for counter-jabbing when the opportunity presents itself.

SEE ALSO:
-- Spiros Zorbalas, the former slumlord of South Mpls, still flying his private jet
-- Gov. Dayton's deputy chief of staff wants Mary Franson to read the damn budget proposal

Over the weekend, Franson let the world know who she thinks is to blame for a certain City Pages blogger's dramatically rising rent -- and it isn't the landlord.

Here's the backstory -- I rent in a building that used to be owned by Spiros Zorbalas, also known as "The Slumlord of South Minneapolis." As we've reported, under pressure from the city, Zorbalas recently sold off his rental empire. My building was purchased by The Apartment Shop.

On Saturday, I received a letter from The Apartment Shop informing me that on April 1, my rent will suddenly be going up 15 percent -- if I sign a new one-year lease (I'm currently month-to-month). If I don't sign a lease and elect to continue renting month-to-month, my rent will be increasing by an astronomical $145 per month.

"As the new owner of your property, we are increasing rents to a level that is more in line with the market," the letter says. Thanks guys!

Anyway, the news prompted me to take to Twitter with this plea for help:

#Mpls folks: My rent is going up significantly and I may have to move. Have a lead on a fairly priced apartment? Please drop me a line. Thx.
-- Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2013

And here's how Franson -- one of the most outspoken critics of the tax increases on the wealthy included in Govenor Dayton's proposed budget -- responded:

A certain liberal writer is moving due to increase in rent. However, he thinks job providers won't leave state if taxes/mandates increase
-- Mary Franson (@MaryFranson) February 2, 2013

Most likely also believes job providers also won't lay off workers or increase cost of goods if minimum wage is increased
-- Mary Franson (@MaryFranson) February 2, 2013

Actually, I blame us for my plight. After all, if we hadn't done that cover story about "The Slumlord of South Minneapolis" five years ago, Zorbalas might not have been under pressure to sell and I might not be facing the prospect of trying to find another apartment under duress in one of the worst rental markets in the country.

Tags:

Mary Franson, Spiros Zorbalas

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swmnguy topcommenter

1 Like

Rep. Franson is a very silly person, but it's good that Rupar is taking this well. Of course, Rep. Franson's "points" would make sense if Rupar were in control of pricing his means of income (he's not), Minimum wage and business tax increases are offset by price increases, and they are spread over the amount sold, so the price increases are minimal. I say that based on experience of having been a business owner through minimum wage and business tax increases. If Rupar could pay himself more at City Pages, he would absorb the rent increase even if his hours went down slightly at CP to compensate (or however he gets paid).

So as one might expect, Rep. Franson is comparing apples and briefcases. But she's doing it in a way that Rupar can at least pretend it's all in good fun, as opposed to many of the ridiculous and inflammatory things she says.

keny1

@swmnguy See, that's the problem with Liberals like you. You said, "If Rupar could pay himself more at City Pages, he would absorb the rent increase even if his hours went down slightly at CP to compensate (or however he gets paid)."

See, in the real world (which you apparently don't live in), Rupar does not dictate what his wage is. City Pages does. As with any company, their goal is to maximize revenue while minimizing costs. Yes, even Liberal City Pages!! Because Rupar is a substandard journalist/blogger, he gets paid what he is worth. Which is apparently on the low end of the pay scale. This is why he is a renter. If he actually went to college and got a real degree in journalism, he probably would own a nice home in Plymouth or Wayzata. And he would also probably be a Republican.

jo1glex

1 Like

@keny1 So, you're saying you didn't understand the post at all. Or you missed the part that said that Rupar presumably cannot adjust the price of his product. Or you don't know anything about how businesses, and individuals running businesses, price their products.

And if Rupar owned a "nice" home in Plymouth or Wayzata, odds are he'd be spectacularly underwater on his mortgage, and have some sort of formaldehyde poisoning from the chipboard those cheaply-built money pits tend to be mad out of; at least the ones journalists can afford in those areas. He's smarter to rent, though that may not be why he's renting.

But mostly you neither read nor understood the post. Not that it matters when you're trollin'.

keny1

@jo1glex Well, just remember that that those "greedy" rich people are paying for your free ride.

keny1

@jo1glex Rupar is renting because he can't find a real job in journalism. And you need to lay off the Kool Aid. I perfectly understood the post. Franson made valid claims. Rupar did not. End of story.

Chris Welton

Hosing prices are the reason rent prices are going up. I was able to buy a house(fully remodeled) and with ALL utilities it comes to under $1000. You can get more bang for your buck if you own.

Tommy Fru

2 Like

Mary Mary why you buggin?

Matthias Weigel

2 Like

Well Mary certainly doesn't understand the simple concept of supply and demand...

Joe Strom

1 Like

Blame it on the rain

A1batross topcommenter

4 Like

I'm REALLY disappointed that she didn't blame Obama. It seems like she's just not even trying anymore. I blame Obama for that.

Evan Walde

1 Like

Or perhaps you should blame your rent increase on economics.

msummers5

4 Like

Well, at least she spelled everything correctly and didn't bring up vaccinations.

keny1

The headline of this article should be:

"Franson Mocks Rupar's Hypocritical Liberal Ideology. And Succeeds Wonderfully."

Drewey topcommenter

2 Like

@keny1 Poor Keny, too dumb to realize he proves every argument made about the new republican party.

keny1

@Drewey

For the record, I am not, nor do I vote Republican. I vote Independent. However, I dislike Nazi Liberals for the following reasons:

1. Hypocrisy

2. Self-Righteousness

3. Jealousy

4. Envy

5. Intense hatred for people who accomplish something without Government assistance

6. The feeling that they are somehow "owed" something from those who are better off then they are

7. The belief that Government should be financially responsible for people who make bad decisions in life

8. Total disregard for the U.S. Constitution and for everything it stands for.

9. Did I mention Hypocrisy?

Yes, I realize that there are some Republicans who share some or all of these traits, however, the overwhelming majority are Liberals, such as yourself.

MNjoe topcommenter

@keny1 @Drewey Anytime you actually call someone on the other side a Nazi, no matter which side you're on, you've shown your stupidity and nothing else you say can be taken seriously.