Duluth mayor wants to avoid escalating war of words on Park Point – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — Mayor Roger Reinert has declined public comment on the most discussed story in the local news this week: the dissing he recently received from Kathy Cargill in the Wall Street Journal.

Reinert wrote the billionaire twice, asking her to share her plans for

13 Park Point homes and 22 parcels of land North Shore LS LLC recently purchased

on her behalf and for much more than their assessed values. Several of the homes have since been demolished, prompting local concern. Citing the city’s housing shortage, Reinert wrote: “Any loss of residential housing is not helpful.”

Reinert said he had nothing more to say about Cargill’s activities or intentions Friday. But in broad terms, he said, “We need to be mindful of housing. We’re talking every day about how we can add to the inventory, and we’re going to remain vigilant on that issue.”

Reinert requested Cargill and/or her representatives meet with city staff and members of the Park Point Community Club

, tempering that ask with an acknowledgment: “I understand and respect your right to make these purchases through the private real property market.”

His letters and the local news coverage they attracted were not well received, to say the least.

Cargill expressed her offense, telling the Wall Street Journal that she had soured on her original plans to beautify Park Point and perhaps bring pickleball courts and a coffee shop to the neighborhood, where she also owns a $2.5 million home.

“There’s another community out there with more welcoming people than that small-minded community,” she told the Journal.

As for Reinert, Cargill made a comment that quickly went viral.

“I think an expression that we all know —

don’t pee in your Cheerios

— well, he kind of peed in his Cheerios, and definitely I’m not going to do anything to benefit that community,” she told the Journal.

Rather than respond and risk escalating an already fraught situation, Reinert has declined all public comment on the article, despite numerous requests for a reaction from local and national media.

According to 3rd District City Councilor Roz Randorf, who represents Park Point, the city attorney has recommended city officials avoid any possible further provocation of Cargill.

Randorf signed on to one of Reinert’s letters to Cargill and said: “We wanted to encourage an open dialog, so she could have a successful project. We wanted it to be a good project for both her and the neighborhood. That’s been our intent the whole time.”

One thing’s not negotiable in Randorf’s eyes, however.

While Cargill told the Wall Street Journal her plans for the Park Point vacation home are “to make it even more private than it is,” Randorf said public beach access and open streets must be maintained.

“Park Point will remain an open neighborhood with all the same access. I will fight to make sure none of that changes,” she said.

Reinert said he shares Randorf’s continued commitment to maintaining public access.

“The beach is public, and it will remain public. That’s one of our city’s treasured assets,” he told the News Tribune Friday.

“All the paper streets will remain,” Reinert said, referring to numerous street easements for unbuilt roadways all along the point that offer visitors direct access to the waterfront, regardless of their means.

Cargill did not respond to a request for clarification of her intentions by the News Tribune on Friday.

So far, Reinert said he’s aware of no effort by Cargill or her representatives to communicate directly with the city, aside from her remarks in the Wall Street Journal.

Reinert said he has been encouraged by Duluth’s response, though, pointing to a cereal food drive touched off by Cargill’s recent comments.

“That’s so classic Duluth, to take something that could be considered negative or critical and then to turn it into a public good,” he said.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office lists Kathy Cargill as the manager of North Shore LS.

She is married to James R. Cargill II, who Forbes identifies as one of 12 billionaire heirs to Cargill, an agribusiness juggernaut that’s the nation’s second-largest privately held company. The magazine estimated James Cargill’s net worth at $5 billion, placing him in 233rd place on its list of the nation’s wealthiest people.

Peter Passi covers city and county government for the Duluth News Tribune. He joined the paper in April 2000, initially as a business reporter but has worked a number of beats through the years.