Marty Carlson is a regular contributor. He lives in Kenwood.
Attack ads from the left-leaning progressive political action committee Minneapolis for the Many have become a familiar feature of local elections in recent years, but the group recently picked the wrong target and was forced to issue an extensive apology to local landlord Jim Rubin.
Rubin first appeared on the electoral radar Oct. 1, when Minneapolis for the Many launched a multimedia attack on Ward 7 City Council candidate Elizabeth Shaffer, complaining that she had received campaign donations from several landlords the PAC didn’t like. Rubin was flagged prominently in this campaign and remains so on a website from the PAC targeting Shaffer.
The attacks continued after Rubin was featured in the locally produced documentary “A Precarious State,” which aired on KSTP and drew attention online. The film focuses on a range of issues, including crime, economic stagnation and dysfunctional government, which it asserts have pushed Minneapolis into serious decline. Along with personal anecdotes, the film uses Rubin’s experience as a landlord to tie together its themes and argue that these forces are undermining the city’s well-being.
Readers may recall that former Ward 7 City Council candidate and property manager Scott Graham faced similar media attacks in 2023 when he was running against Katie Cashman. Minneapolis for the Many chose the wrong landlord in Rubin, however. In a statement issued Oct. 15, the PAC published the following retraction and apology:
“A few weeks ago, Minneapolis for the Many made social media posts and emails describing Jim Rubin, of Mint Properties, as a ‘negligent’ landlord and stated that he ‘is singlehandedly responsible for hundreds of property violations.’ We retract those statements and sincerely apologize to Mr. Rubin. He has never been held negligent in his duties as a landlord by a court, nor is it fair to say he is personally responsible for every property violation found at his company’s properties. Mr. Rubin has a history of purchasing, renovating and operating older buildings, which often includes inheriting major maintenance backlogs. Mr. Rubin’s efforts to create naturally occurring affordable housing in Minneapolis are laudable and much appreciated. Minneapolis for the Many regrets the implication that Mr. Rubin could be considered a ‘slumlord’ or ‘negligent landlord.’ Please direct questions regarding the statement to the PAC’s attorney, Daniel Suitor, at danielsuitor@proton.me.”
