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TROY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
 TDC NEWSLETTER 

December 2009

What’s Inside?
COMING EVENTS…………………………………………….…………….…………2
•    TDC EX BOARD MEETING, WEDNESDAY, December 9 7:00
•    TDC HOLIDAY PARTY, DEC 16TH, TROY COMMUNITY CENTER, ROOM 305
•    TROY CITY HOLIDAY EVENTS

TDC COMMITTEE REPORTS …………………………………………………..4
•    MEMBERSHIP: Approaching 100!

RECAP OF PAST EVENTS……………………………………………..………..…….2
•    THE CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
•    THE CITY COUNCIL’S RESPONSE

NEWS FROM OTHER DEMOCRATIC AND ALLIED GROUPS……………......................5
•    CONGRESSMAN GARY PETERS
•    TIM BURNS: COUNTY COMMISSIONER
•    CONGRATS TO SANDY BURGESS
•    SENATE DEMOCRATS REPORT
•    ARC DETROIT CHRISTMAS PARTY


EDITORIALS…………………………………… …………………..……………...9
1.    THE MILLAGE: CONSERVING THE “DESTINATION CITY” THAT WE HAVE CREATED
2.    STATE OF THE STATE: A REFUSAL TO CONSERVE LEADS TO A RACE TO THE B OTTOM

  Put together by volunteer labor working at home in our “spare” time
 
COMING EVENTS  
TDC EX BOARD MEETING December 9 7 P.M.
The Troy Dems Executive Board will meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday,
December 9, at Vice-Chair Kathy Martin’s house (707 Kimberly,
Troy 48098). All Troy Dems members are welcome to attend to help plan the Club’s 2010 activities.
TDC Holiday Potluck at the Community Center at 6:30 pm, Wed., Dec.16th, rm 305.
The TDC Holiday Party will be from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, in Room 305 of the Troy Community Center. TDC will provide the main dish and beverages. Please help the Potluck by bringing Appetizers, Salads, Casseroles and Desserts. Bring your family, friends and potential future Troy Dems members to this festive event, which will feature presentation of our 2009 Troy Democrat of the Year award to a deserving recipient.

To RSVP, please contact TDC Events Chair Kathy Martin at (248) 990-0029 or
events@troydemocrats.org. Be sure to share copies of the Holiday Party invitation flyer with people you know who might like to participate; you’ll find the flyer on the last page (Page 12) of this newsletter.
Holiday Events in Troy: see the Troy City Events Calendar at http://troymi.gov/DecemberEvents2009.pdf   for a Christmas Tree lighting, a Fun with Santa party, a Deer Christmas, a Holiday Swim, a New Year’s Eve bash, and much more.
TDC COMMITTEE REPORTS
Membership Committee

Welcome, New and Renewing Members
The Troy Dems welcome Luna S. Afroz and Sara Pajerla as our newest members

Thanks as well to these recently renewing members: Harry Philo, Barbara and Larry Libbrecht, Carol and Roger Garvelink, Gloria Inglehart, Rosalind Cox, Seymour and Carol Hundley, Barbara Ford, David and Janice Ashland, Terry Merriweather, Barbara Klein, and Merrill Miller and Nancy Tavalan.

We’ve crossed over the 90 mark, so please help us reach that wonderful 100!
If you have any questions on membership, please contact Kimberly McFall or Kathy Martin at membership@troydemocrats.org

RECAP OF PAST EVENTS:
The City Manager’s Report
On September 9, 2009, Mr. John Szerlag, the City Manager, gave a long and detailed presentation of the City’s projected income and expenditures over the next five years. These bleak numbers lent importance to the issues debated in the recent City Council election, and lead straight to the millage vote facing us on February 23, 2010. The information in that report may be of use to individuals during the runup to the special election.

The City home page at www.troy.mi.gov/ has the October 9 Report.

The City Council’s Response
The City Council was newly constituted as a result of the Nov. election with the additon of Dane Slater and Maureen McGinnis, coupled with the retirements of Cristina Broomfield and David Eisenbacher. The new Council approved a special election for February 23rd 2010 in which the voters would have the opportunity to vote for or against a special millage proposal: a five year limited increase in the City portion of the real estate tax of up to 1.9 mills. In Council’s discussion of the matter, it was emphasized that Council will be monitoring the budget and revamping it as necessary every year.

See Editorial 1 for a discussion of the issues at play in this pivotal election that will determine which path Troy will take in the next five years.

NEWS FROM OTHER DEMOCRATIC AND ALLIED GROUPS

Congressman Gary Peters

Michigan and our nation are facing unprecedented economic challenges.  I wanted to give you an update on what we have been working on to create jobs, to help people who have found themselves unemployed, and to pass common-sense reforms to our financial system.

Bringing Solar Energy Jobs to Michigan: Solar energy is a quickly developing field with huge potential to create jobs and help the environment. That's why I was pleased to add an amendment to the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which provides planning and funding resources for solar research and development. My amendment requires the Department of Energy to spend all resources allocated in the bill related to research, development and manufacturing in the United States -- and particularly in high-unemployment states, like Michigan.

Helping Unemployed Michiganders: We know all too well that Michigan is dealing with the nation’s highest unemployment rate. That's why, last month, I cosponsored the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009, which extended unemployment benefits for tens of thousands of Michiganders. One in six Michigan residents have found themselves without work through no fault of their own, and this extension provides them with resources that they desperately need to get by during this recession and brings needed resources into Michigan’s economy.

Standing Up for Consumers: I believe that protection of consumers must be a priority for Congress.  As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I have spent this year helping to craft legislation to create the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). This is a new agency that would ensure that credit products benefit consumers, instead of harming them.  I have talked to many Oakland County residents who have suffered because of mistreatment at the hands of credit card companies and predatory lenders

His district office is in Troy at 560 Kirts Boulevard, #105. Please contact him via that office if you have issues and concerns that he might help you with. Phone: (248) 273-4227 Fax: (248) 273-4704. Our own Kevin Hrit is on the staff at this office.

Please join the Congressman and his family Saturday, December 12 from 12-4 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 171 W. Pike Street, Pontiac. Help make holiday wishes come true for families in need across Oakland County by collecting and organizing gifts as they are dropped off at the church. Lighthouse of Oakland County is holding their annual gift drive and needs your help!  If you and your family would like to volunteer please contact Cathy King at (248) 547-8830 or email cking1229@gmail.com  by December 7.

The holidays are a time for families, and this is a great opportunity for yours to get together and give back. Children over the age of 14 are welcome, but those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent.

Tim Burns: County Commissioner
OAKLAND COUNTY TO BUILD NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL
 
The Board of Commissioners has approved the construction of a new terminal building at the Oakland County International Airport.  As Vice Chairman of the Board’s Airport Committee, Tim Burns worked to ensure that this new facility would be Oakland County government’s first LEED Certified, energy efficient and environmentally sustainable building. No funds from taxes collected by Oakland County will be used to fund the new terminal; rather it will be paid for from user landing fees and federal stimulus dollars.                Go to http://www.timothyburns.org/ for more information on this topic

 
 
DONATE SCARVES, MITTENS, AND HATS @ WARMER TREES
 
The Troy Women’s Association is continuing its annual holiday tradition of placing Winter Warmer Trees throughout Troy in the effort to collect new mittens, gloves, scarves, and hats for distribution to needy children and families.   Go to http://www.timothyburns.org/ for a list of donation sites
 
SEASONAL FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
 
Oakland County has 4,700 doses of seasonal flu vaccine left (not H1N1) that it will be distributing at the health department's Pontiac office next Monday - Weds; first come - first serve while supplies last. www.oakgov.com/health or call (800) 434-3358.
 
The Health Department is also currently working at distributing 120,000 H1N1 flu shots to local doctors and hospitals by the end of the month. Please contact your family physician or call the flu hot-line above for more information on availability.
 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS IN DECEMBER
 
Oakland County’s Economic Development Department offers a variety of workshops designed to answer the majority of the questions start up, new or even existing business owners often inquire about.                           Go to http://www.timothyburns.org/ for more information on this topic
 
FRIEND TIM BURNS ON FACEBOOK
 
Stay connected with Oakland County Commissioner Tim Burns by becoming a facebook friend.  Visit him at www.facebook.com/TimBurns.

What is a County Commissioner? Oakland County Commissioners are the legislature for county government.  County Commissioners oversee a budget of nearly $1 billion dollars and serve as a liaison between Oakland County government and local communities

TIM BURNS
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
19TH DISTRICT [Clawson and Troy]
www.timothyburns.org

Sandy Burgess and Troy Chamber of Commerce
Congrats to Sandy Burgess, who was just elected to serve on the Executive Board of the Troy Chamber of Commerce. Her participation in the Chamber begins in January 2010.

Sandy is a past-Chair of the TDC and a Troy Dem of the Year awardee.  We are glad to see that the TCC has recognized Sandy’s strategic sense and willingness to work hard – qualities which all TDC members can attest to.

Gilda Jacobs and Senate Democrats Report
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FIGHTS TO PROTECT GREAT LAKES: Invasive Species Threaten Michigan’s Economy, Well-being
Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. called on the Assistant Secretary of the Army to take additional actions to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. Recent reports from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicate that Asian Carp may be much closer than previously expected to the current electrical Barrier 2A, which was designed to keep the carp from entering the Great Lakes through the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal (CSSC). Additionally, because work on the planned second part of the existing barrier (2B) isn't complete, an emergency response plan was announced to ensure that carp are contained when Barrier 2A is deactivated for planned maintenance in December.
 
"Michigan has supported plans to protect the Great Lakes during a period when the existing barrier may be deactivated for maintenance, however, these emergency response efforts fall short of the long term solution needed," Cherry said. "We know the damage Asian Carp would cause if they reached the Great Lakes, and we must take every available action to prevent that from happening."  Lt. Governor Cherry called for the following actions:
•    completion of work on Barrier 2B;  
•    full power operation of Barrier 2A (currently operating at half power);  
•    installation of a physical barrier to prevent carp, detected in the nearby Des Plaines River, from entering the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal during periods of flooding; and
•      making the CSSC a priority as the Corps of Engineers studies a range of options and technologies to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species.   
 
Cherry, past chair of the Great Lakes Commission, in a message to the Michigan Congressional delegation accompanying his letter to Secretary Darcy, noted the bipartisan support of the delegation and pledged to work with them to protect the Great Lakes and the recreational and commercial fisheries that are a critical part of our economy.            
 
In 2004, Michigan and other Great Lakes states each contributed $67,000 for the barrier project.
 
 NOTES FROM THE CAPITOL: This Week’s Newsworthy Items
SENATE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE FIGHT FOR EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING
Senate Democrats continued their fight recently to secure funding for budget priorities like education, college scholarships and public safety. As the State Senate took up House Bill 4311, a bill to allocate supplemental funding, Senate Democrats have also called on the Legislature to also secure funding for programs critical to the state’s future. During the budget process, Senate Democrats have continuously asked for the preservation of funding for programs that are essential to the state’s economic recovery. These priorities include: early childhood and public education programs; Promise scholarships that enable all Michigan students to pursue a higher education; local revenue sharing that support police and fire services; and preventative health care programs for those in need.
 
Senate Democrats have pointed out that there are several bills on the calendar or currently in Senate committees that could be passed to provide the revenue to continue these priorities. These include increasing the assessments on tobacco products other than cigarettes and closing unnecessary tax loopholes. To read more about this go to http://www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/pr.php?id=1464.
 
STATE POLICE TO BRING BACK 55 OF 100 LAID-OFF TROOPERS
The Michigan State Police is recalling 55 troopers who were laid off on June 28, 2009, due to declining state revenues. The state budget recently signed into law by Governor Granholm authorized and funded the hiring of the troopers, and the Department of Treasury has confirmed to the State Budget Office that revenues support the decision to rehire the troopers. The 55 returning troopers will be recalled based on seniority, effective Nov. 16, 2009. All recalled troopers will be placed back at their previous work site. The addition of these troopers will bring at-post trooper staffing to 1,000 troopers.
 
MICHIGAN WORKING TO BE WIND MANUFACTURING CENTER
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm recently announced that Michigan is working to become a world center for wind and clean-energy manufacturing, which is part of her strategy to grow the state's economy and create jobs. The governor's remarks came during her address to the American Wind Energy Association's Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.
  
Michigan is well-positioned to be a leader in wind energy manufacturing given the state's manufacturing talent and infrastructure and its geographical location which enables wind products to be shipped via the Great Lakes. The state is working hard to help the wind industry in areas such as capital acquisition, job-training, and research and Michigan already has more than 70 companies involving wind manufacturing.
 
MICHIGAN GEARS UP FOR 2010 CENSUS
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dennis F. Hightower and Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. recently kicked off Michigan’s 2010 census campaign, “It’s in Our Hands, Michigan.” Cherry was named Michigan’s complete count chair earlier this year to oversee the state’s census efforts. Michigan is working with state agencies to promote the census through communications they have with local communities and constituencies.
 
Michigan also has a unique problem in that it has more snowbirds than many other states, with an average of 2.1 percent of Michigan’s residents identified as part-year residents. Most of Michigan’s part-year residents have their permanent homes in Michigan and spend the smaller part of the year in another state, which means they need to be counted in Michigan.
 
Quick facts regarding the 2010 Michigan Census:
 
• In Michigan, for every person NOT counted, our state loses $10,000 ($40,000 for a family of four) to other states over the course of 10 years.
• The census also determines reapportionment and redistricting of congressional, state and local representation.
• It is estimated that 24,000 people will be hired at a pay range of $11.25-$19.50 per hour.
• Michigan would not have lost a congressional seat after the 2000 census if its snowbirds had been counted in the right place.
• Because so many of Michigan’s snowbirds were counted in the wrong place by the 2000 census, roughly $200 million of federal funds are spent in other states each year instead of in Michigan, which adds up to $2 billion over the course of a decade.
 
For more information on the 2010 Michigan census, please visit www.michigan.gov/census2010.

ARC Detroit Christmas Party Friday December 18

ARC will have it's annual Christmas party on December 18, 2009 at 4700 Beaufait (Not at 51 W. Hancock). We need you to donate gloves, scarfs and hats... we need about 150 plus items to give out to ARC consumers.
 
Email me at isaacrobinson313@gmail.com or call TomMarla Day at 313-831-0202 if you can donate - also we hope you can attend... or volunteer at the dance


WIT, WISDOM, ETC . . .
Quotables
 
“Man cannot create the current of events. He can only float with them and steer.”
-Otto Von Bismarck
 
“Charm is the ability to be truly interested in other people.”
- Richard Avedon
Quote of the Week: Immanuel Kant
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."





 

EDITORIALS:

1.    THE MILLAGE: CONSERVING THE “DESTINATION CITY” THAT WE HAVE CREATED

Troy is known today as a “Destination City” – namely, a city into which people who now live in neighboring towns hope to someday be able to move. Troy has earned this enviable rating because it has excellent schools, excellent public safety, excellent city services, a variety of housing options, and much green space. These amenities attracted all sorts of people who valued such attributes of a high quality of family life, and the demographic diversity itself became another attractor. And we did all this on the basis of what is the lowest large city tax rate in Oakland County – which means that our public servants must have been both foresighted and efficient in their service to us.

We have built an eminently livable, nationally ranked city. However, the current economic crisis stemming from the housing bubble is decreasing our revenue and threatening our future. Our task is to conserve the city we have created until the storm has passed.  But the question is this last election was just what does the word “conserve” mean with respect to Troy.

As always, it is smart to first define what we are talking about. Webster’s Online Dictionary defines ‘conserve’ as:
“to keep in a safe or sound state <he conserved his inheritance>; especially : to avoid wasteful or destructive use of <conserve natural resources>” ;
and the term ‘conservative’ as:
“tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional b : marked by moderation or caution <a conservative estimate>”
So, if we are to conserve Troy, then Webster tells us we must be willing to “keep it in a safe or sound state”, “to avoid wasteful use of resources, or “to maintain [the] existing institution”. In the past election,

The City Manager, in his report of 9 Sept 2009 and additional reports at subsequent City Council meetings, presented generally agreed upon data showing that the City’s tax revenue has fallen significantly over the past few years, would continue to decrease for some time and would not recover for at least five to ten years from now (see slides on next page).
•    One solution offered was to cut the City spending so as to match the decreased revenues. The rationale for this option was that government needed to live within its means and that it would not be conservative to raise taxes during a recession.
•    Another solution offered was to have the citizens vote on a five-year millage increase of up to 1.9 mils. This sum, plus significant employee give-backs plus some privatization and layoffs due to consolidation and regionalization,  would allow the City to maintain most of its present services. The rationale for this option is that the increased city tax (of ~$195.70 on the average house) would be almost compensated for by the ~$155 decrease in the average house value (i.e., the net increase in money paid out of the pocket of the average homeowner would be ~$44.70; see the three slides from the City Manager’s report on the next page).

Before the past election, the proponents of no taxes (the first option) had a 4-3 majority on City Council. After the election, the proponents of a tax “equalization” (the second option) had a 5-2 majority on the Council.  The City Council has just approved that a special election be held in February so that the people can vote Yes or No on the millage question.

CITY OF TROY GENERAL OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL
 
THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO LEVY UP TO 1.9 MILLS
WITH THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:
 
Shall the City of Troy levy new additional millage of up to 1.9 mills against all taxable property for a five-year period of time, 2010 through 2014, for general operating purposes, including public safety and quality of life purposes? 1.9 mills are equal to $1.90 on each $1,000.00 of taxable value. If approved, the additional millage levied will raise approximately $9,129,000.00 the first year it is levied.
 
Yes:   
No:

Our elected officials have made their decision. The fate of the City is now in our hands. What should we do?
We can pay ~$45 per year for the next five years (or ~$225 in total) to maintain the many thousands of dollars each of us has already paid out in real estate taxes, to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands of dollars committed in our purchase price plus any improvements we have made to our homes.
One choice is to vote NO and so save $225 against a likely loss of some $50,000 or $100,000 in the value of your home which you will never get back. This is not a Conservative action according to Webster.
Or you can vote YES and so spend $225 as a form of insurance that your home will slowly regain much of its value if – and only if – the City can maintain its national reputation as a ‘destination city”. That means that we will not destroy the city in order to save $44.70/year. This is a Conservative action according to Webster.
Regardless of our political affiliation If we call ourselves “conservatives” but do not wish to “maintain the institution”, then we are not being conservative according to the accepted meaning of the word. We are putting forth an outdated political mantra that taxes are always bad and must never be raised over the future prosperity of our community and thus of our individual wealth. It is one thing to be pragmatic and do what needs be done to improve our lot in life. It is quite another thing to deal in dreams instead of facts.

Let me repeat myself from last month’s editorial:
“Money is important only for what it can buy. By itself, money cannot make a community. But when ministered by a City Council who see themselves as wise stewards of their fellow citizens’ needs and hopes, then money can buy us the multiple services that all of us enjoy but none of us could buy individually. We are a community.”

                VOTE YES ON THE MILLAGE

                                        Robert Arking

  2.    State of the State: A Race to the Bottom

The current recession is, as we all know, pummeling our state of Michigan. The Freep for 12 Nov 2009 had a cover story entitled “A Bleak Outlook for Michigan”.  Since 2001, the state has lost 1,000,000 jobs and will not recover that number of jobs for another 15 to 30 years.  The severe cuts in business and personal income have led to very large budget deficits in Lansing. The political stalemate between the Democrats and Republicans in Lansing seems to be using the same script as was used here in Troy but on a larger stage. The Republicans control the State Senate and have refused to consider any tax increases or tax reforms that would shift taxes from manufacturing to services; i.e., they will not bite the lobbyist’s hand that feeds them. The Democrats control the State House and the Governor's office, propose tax reforms but cannot break the Senate veto and will not bite the lobbyist’s hand that feeds them also.

The failure of our elected politicians to come together and revamp Michigan’s outdated and ineffective tax system is a strong indictment of term limits, for it gives the individuals neither incentive nor time to learn how to get along with colleagues of the opposite party and so craft centrist compromises that will work for the people of Michigan.

The tax base now exempts some of the most prosperous sectors of the economy (e.g., services) “We have a revenue base designed for the industrial economy of the 1960s and today that economic base has changed dramatically” the Pew Report quoted Lt Gov. John Cherry. A continuing failure to revamp and reform our tax system will, according to the Pew Center on the States (a Washington think tank), result in Michigan becoming one of the ten poorest states in the Union within the next decade.  From one of the wealthiest states in the union to one of the poorest in just 50 years!  The state’s revenue system must be changed to reflect new realities and our politicians in Lansing will likely need to be severely chastised before they will “play nice with others” and do their constitutional duty. They seem to have no interest in conserving the state
But we have to focus on conserving our own city at this moment. We can focus on persuading the Lansing politicians to change their behaviors in the course of the 2010 gubernatorial election.

                                                                                                Robert Arking