TDC NEWSLETTER
March 2010
What’s Inside?
COMING EVENTS…………………………………………….…………….…………2
• OCDP EXEC BOARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 9
• TDC EXEC. BOARD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10
• TDC GENERAL MEETING, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
RECAP OF PAST EVENTS……………………………………………..………..…….3
• CAMPAIGN REPORT: Election Results
• TDC MEMBER’S RESPONSES
• COMMUNITY RESPONSES
• THE CITY COUNCIL’S RESPONSE
• THE OPPOSITION’S RESPONSE
TDC COMMITTEE REPORTS …………………………………………………..7
• MEMBERSHIP
NEWS FROM OTHER DEMOCRATIC AND ALLIED GROUPS……………......................7
• MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY—FEATURING SATURDAY APRIL 17—ENDORSEMENT CONVENTION AND JEFF-JACK DINNER
• OCDP
• TIM BURNS: COUNTY COMMISSIONER
• GILDA JACOBS REPORT
• SUPPORT THE COFFEE PARTY
EDITORIALS…………………………………… …………………..……………...12
• 105 Days
• OPEN LETTER TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARTY KNOLLENBERG
Put together by volunteer labor working at home in our “spare” time
Current Events
Breaking News From Rep. Sandy Levin via Facebook:
Sandy Levin named to Ways & Means: “I am pleased to take on the Chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee at this time. The Committee plays a vital role on critical issues facing American families, including, job creation, economic development, and health care. I look forward to moving forward vigorously on this agenda.”
Congratulations to Congressman Sandy Levin! It is a fitting testament to the respect with which he is held by his colleagues, and by his constituents and fellow Michiganders. This is a great day for Sandy, for Michigan, and for the USA.
OCDP MONTHLY MEETING March 9 7 P.M.
Tuesday March 9 at 7 p.m. Oakland County Commissioners Auditorium, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, www.ocdp.org
Guest Speakers:--Candidate for Governor Virg Bernero, Lansing Mayor
Candidate for Attorney General David Leyton, Genesee County Treasurer
And Candidates for State Senate Aaron Bailey, Marine Corps Veteran, Dave Coulter, County Commissioner, Paula Zelenko, Past State Representative
TDC EX BOARD MEETING March 10 7 P.M.
The Troy Dems Executive Board will meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday,
March 10, at Executive Board member Cathy Fucinari’s house (3754 Edenberry,
Troy 48093). All Troy Dems members are welcome to attend to help plan the Club’s 2010 activities.
TDC Potluck at the Community Center at 6:30 pm, Wed., March 17th , Rm 305.
Come Kick-Off the 2010 Campaign with State and Candidates for Troy in
Room 305 of the Troy Community Center. Please help the Potluck by bringing Appetizers, Salads, Casseroles and Desserts. Bring your family, friends and potential future Troy Dems members.
Michael McGinnis, OCDP Chair -
3
Master of Ceremonies
Aaron Bailey, Candidate for Michigan Senate
Ed Spillers, Candidate for Michigan Representative
Tim Burns, Oakland County Commissioner
Gary McGillivray, Oakland County Commissioner
7:15 Program
8:15 TDC Business Meeting
8:45 Adjourn to the Pub!
RECAP OF PAST EVENTS: Campaign Report: Election Results
YES: 7316 [36/7%] NO: 12631 [63.3%] see Troy City website for full data.
Not one precinct voted a majority “Yes”. The closest were pcts 13 and 19, but they still went against the proposed millage. This is a major defeat in a high-turnout election which was unexpected because two-thirds of the voters voted against their long term economic interests. It may have been the case that they did not believe the official numbers. Perhaps other factors were in play; we will have to identify and understand them before we can effectively oppose them. See the following articles and the editorial.
TDC MEMBER’S RESPONSES TO THE ELECTION
The following comments were made by the indicated individuals during the public comment time at the 1 March City Council meeting. We reproduce them because of their general interest.
1. Cathy Fucinari
In the aftermath of this election, there are a few points I would like to make. People complained about Mr. Szerlag not bringing these financial crises to the council sooner. He was hired at the July 9 council meeting. The vote was Schilling, Beltramini, Broomfield, Eisenbacher, Fleming, Kerwin voting yes, and Howrylak voting no. On September 5, Mr. Szerlag had looked at the financial position and brought it to city council just as the previous city manager had. Bottom line is, that due to the declining revenue line, there is no money to keep the facilities open. Either we close facilities, or we increase revenue, those are the options. That city council refused to put the issue on the ballot.
After the election in November, with a change in the majority, the people were given the opportunity to speak on a 1.9 mil increase on February 23. The voters turned down the millage. How can you now be surprised that services and facilities will be lost? Did you not hear a word that was said? This is not the responsibility of council or management. It is the responsibility of the voters. You voted. You said what you wanted. And now you are mad that you’re going to get it
4
I have read online and in the papers several “suggestions” to cut costs and keep facilities open. Let’s touch on a few
1. Let’s separate the library from operations and give it a couple of mills to operate independently. Hello, we could have kept everything going with less than that!
2. Insist on citizens sitting down with department heads, asking questions, and demanding their input be initiated. Again, that has been going on for years. For Fourteen 8-hour sessions, 16 citizens of Troy who were interested in what was going on in our government, gathered with department heads, asked questions, and made suggestions. It was called Citizens Academy. Where have you people been?
We should rely on other communities to provide the services, such as a library and youth sports, that we don’t want to pay for. Do you really think other communities who are paying taxes to support their facilities are going to be willing to share them with us at no cost? Whoever came up with this idea probably runs an extension cord to the neighbor’s house to use their electricity.
3. On the 6PM news tonight, Royal Oak announced they have a $16 million deficit. Do you think they are willing to share?
4. All of these suggestions for cuts or savings put together wouldn’t put humpty dumpty together again. And most of them are the substance of fairy tales.
5. The “No voters” had a majority of city council for years while this problem was developing. Now, Instead of pointing your anger at city council (who has been sitting for less than 4 months and Mr. Szerlag (in place for 8 months) for what has happened , perhaps you should look at those realtors who put people into houses they could not afford, and the mortgage brokers who put people into mortgages they couldn’t pay for. THAT is who is responsible for this mess.
2. Ed Spillers
In regards to the Tuesday February 23, 2010 Millage election in Troy, I want to say the will of the people spoke and we all respect their wishes. However, I cannot stop thinking of all those workers I met, all those stories, all the accomplishments by every department to deliver number one ranking services while still working on a shoe string budget. I met a DPW worker who just had a baby and now he will be laid off due to the millage being rejected. At the Monday March 1st Council meeting, an individual from the opposition challenged me that nowhere in Mr. Szerlag's numbers did it say that anybody would lose their jobs. I say, if it was understood by everyone that even with the millage passage, there would be some minor lay-offs. So, what do you think will happen now that the millage was voted down? Not to mention he had the cuts right there on his paper he was showing me. Yet, the attitude is that it is happening in the private sector and so it should therefore happen in the government sector is a spirit that lacks compassion for your fellow man, as well as a knowledge of the difference between private sector and public sector. This is an attitude that crosses many issues in this State. It shows in our attitude towards education, transit, good government and even the contentious healthcare issue. Michigan is losing the battle globally with a lack of investment in the areas we hold dear . However, the leadership on the 'NO' vote campaign, Troy-Clawson Republican Forum, Troy Citizens United, Oakland County TEA Party and those who opposed the millage on City Council, I say the ball is now in your court. Yes we can all work together to come up with solutions yet, that election was not a notch in your cap for political success and now you take a back seat. It’s a referendum from the people that now YOU are on the clock and you must provide a solution to Troy's looming budget shortfall. In the end, you must convince the people of Troy that your plan, wherever it is and whatever it is, will keep the city running and not disrupt the quality of life of Troy Residents. The Residents of Troy voted for your solution. Your plan must be diligent and backed by credible individuals who consult governments on fiscal issues or by the County or State. You must take the long hard steps to
5
prove your plan will work just as Troy City government provided Residents the last five months. Merely throwing out suggestions then washing your hands and thinking you hit jackpot is not what the voters of Troy gave you power to levy in that election. Demand for services will continue to go up and will not catch up with proposed cuts and reforms made by the opposition. I say this with all sincerity to those who mounted the opposition against the millage. You will need to work harder than you have ever worked in your life to lead this so-called NEW initiative of fiscal responsibility in Troy. You are replacing Michigan’s number one municipal government services and workers. A task I pray in which you are successful for the sake of the people of Troy and for the sake of your reputation.
3. Harry Philo
I am proud of the work I have been doing with many others and will continue to do to Keep Troy Safe and a Great Place to Live and Work.
Over 7000 people voted YES last Tuesday.
But because of the results of the single-issue election, services will have to be scaled back, and some of the quality of life services including the Library, Community Center, Museum and Nature Center are scheduled to be closed. I think we as a community will have to make the best of it and work towards the future.
I think we have to continue to reject the negative bullying tactics as they have emerged on this issue. Several speakers after the recent City Council election talked about the need for this to happen, and yet this conduct is being perpetuated by a few people claiming to speak for Troy "residents".
On Election Day I had an interesting experience. I was carrying my Keep Troy Safe sign and there was another person carrying their Vote No sign. There were not many voters at that moment so naturally we started talking. We talked about how long we had lived in Troy and discussed several other issues.
Several voters came up to us and said that they were surprised that we could talk together given the just-completed campaign. We both said that of course we could, because no matter what the results of the election, we had to be able to work together for the future of our Great City. I think that is the spirit of Everyone Working Together in which we have to ask our leaders in the city to keep in mind.
The City Manager’s Response to the Election
In the public study section which followed the 1 March City Council meeting, City Manager John Szerlag presented Item N-01, which details the restructuring of the Troy City Government in order to balance the budget. Downloadable copies of the report may be found on the City website. The basic plan is to begin layoffs and privatization this year, with further layoffs and facility closures in the next year or two. The editorial contains a summary of the events that transpired at this study session.
THE CITY COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO THE ELECTION
See editorial for a summary of all the events that took place then, including the Study Session in which the decision was made by all members to proceed with the cuts as generally outlined in the City Manager’s Option 1 of 9 September 2009.
COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO THE ELECTION
6
Zach Kilgore: 10th grade student at THS
We gave it the best we had, and we will continue to do so. The results are in, and unfortunately, the millage did not pass. Despite this, I truly believe we all gave it the best we had in ourselves. Some went door to door, others made phone calls, and many attended rallies. It was a lot of fun, and we all learned a great deal from the experience.
While we could spend our time blaming this on a number of things, I think we need to focus on the future. Here's where we are now. The city is facing a $22 million loss in revenue, and can no longer afford many of the services we hold near and dear to our hearts. Without the additional revenue, the library, community center, nature center, and museum may close. At the same time, as much as 30% of the police force could be laid off. We cannot let this happen.
No matter what, services will have to be scaled back. Troy will not be the same over the next five years. We unfortunately have to face this fact, and make the best of it and work with it. Over the course of the past few months, we've put together a coalition of hundreds of people. We have teenagers, seniors, and everyone in between. At this time, we all need to use our talents to put together a plan of action to make Troy the best place it possibly can be.
Since the start of the Vote YES Facebook page, there has been a great conversation about the millage. Hundreds of people have been informed by their fellow citizens. Please become a fan of Troy Action Net on Facebook so we can continue this incredible discussion. From there, we can continue to share ideas of how to make Troy an even better place, and put them into action. We may have lost this battle, but our fight isn't over
Please go http://troyactionnet.blogspot.com for other postings from
Troy citizens who share our pride in Troy, sadness at the outcome, and some strategies for the future.
THE OPPOSITION’S RESPONSE TO THE ELECTION.
1. The major Anti-Save Troy group was Troy Citizens United, and this group is one of the likely sponsors of the website www.time4changeintroy.com. Check out their entries for 24 February, the day after the election. Their major contribution to solving the budget deficit they did so much to bring about is to state that we should eliminate completely the Troy Police Department. They say that this should come about, not because it is a public benefit of some sort to do this, or because it represents good government in some way, but rather because City Manager Szerlag should strike back at the police who failed to give him substantial reductions in their pay and so he should take revenge on them for failing him. This is an accurate précis – check it out. Note that their style of government is totally based on personal power and revenge against those individuals and groups that stand in their way. And other parts of their website promise more retribution is to come in the near future. Oh, these people sound like just the sort of neighbors to whom you would willingly entrust your future.
2. Oakland County Commissioner Robert Gosselin and Councilman Howrylak were quoted in the Troy Times of 4 March (p. 18) as saying that it would be preposterous to close down facilities, and that Council would have a fight on their hand if they tried to do so. They both suggested reducing department budgets in order to keep the facilities open - but of course they presented no numbers to anyone, anyplace as to just how this could be done.
7
Note that the opposition is divided into at least two (probably more) groups with opposing viewpoints and ‘solutions’. Divide and conquer may be a valid dictum here.
TDC COMMITTEE REPORTS
Membership Committee
If you were disappointed in the election results and want to do something about it, then please join the TDC and help us Save Our City.
Welcome, New and Renewing Members
If you have any questions on membership, please contact Kimberly McFall at
membership@troydemocrats.org
NEWS FROM OTHER DEMOCRATIC AND ALLIED GROUPS
Michigan Democratic Party
MDP schedules endorsement convention for April 17 at Cobo Center
The Michigan Democratic Party will hold a convention on Saturday, April 17, at Cobo Center in Detroit, to endorse candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State. Constituency group caucuses will start at 8 a.m. and Congressional district caucuses at 10 a.m., with the convention following at 1 p.m. and the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner later the same evening. MDP members age 16 and older who have been in good standing at least 30 days before the convention will be able to cast endorsement votes.
During a February 27 State Central Committee meeting at which the decision was made, MDP Chair Mark Brewer explained that an April endorsement will give candidates for these positions more time to mount their statewide campaigns. They cannot be nominated officially until the August convention, but an earlier endorsement prior to their official nomination will give them a boost vs. their GOP challengers.
Since the State Central meeting, there is more information. There are a great group of candidates running for both Attorney General and Secretary of State. For Attorney General, our field includes Wayne State Board of Governors Chair Richard Bernstein and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
For Secretary of State, our candidates are Wayne State University Law Professor Jocelyn Benson
and Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey. All four of these candidates have exceptional track records and experience, and would be an excellent choice to represent our Party in November.
Under MDP rules, candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State are nominated by the State Party, not in a primary election. Endorsements and nominations for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will wait until after the August 3 primary election.
The Convention will conclude that afternoon and be followed in the evening by our Annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner - a rich tradition for the Michigan Democratic Party and for Democrats throughout the state.
8
Anyone who is a precinct delegate, elected official, candidate for public office, or a member of the Michigan Democratic Party is eligible to vote. If you are not a member, you can
join today. Per Party rules, you must be a member of the Michigan Democratic Party 30 days in advance of the Convention in order to vote. That means the deadline is March 19th so don't delay.
Help us make history. Together we can show the voters of Michigan that the Democrats have the solutions to move our state forward. The future of Michigan is at stake. We hope you will be a part of this exciting process
Cong. John Dingell predicts passage of health reform bill
Congressman John Dingell, the “dean” of the U.S. House of Representatives, predicted final passage of a health care reform bill and said, “The future for the Democrats is bright,” while addressing a meeting of Michigan Democratic Party State Central Committee delegates on February 27.
Dingell has championed health care reform every year for more than five decades representing Michigan’s 15th Congressional District. His father proposed it as early as 1943.
The bill being shaped in the House would extend Medicare’s financial solvency by nine years by eliminating the Medicare Advantage program that results only in inflating insurance company profits and their executives’ bonuses, Dingell contended. It also would close the prescription drug “donut hole.” It would ban insurance companies from dropping coverage for people who become sick and from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Stating that passing a good bill now is better than letting a perfect one be defeated, Dingell said, “I prefer not to use reconciliation to do it; but if we have to do it, we’ll do it.”
Dingell expressed outrage at delaying tactics that GOP senators have used to stall 324 bills already passed by the U.S. House.
“Keep your courage high,” Dingell advised fellow Democrats. He said that three recent Democratic losses, including the Senate race in Massachusetts, were due to bad campaigns run by weak candidates and should not be indicative of the party’s chances in November. Incredibly, he reminded his audience, the Democratic candidate for Senator in Massachusetts took a two-week vacation during the thick of her campaign.
The venerable Michigan legislator, who recently declared himself a candidate for re-election, said that he would be taking no vacations from serving his constituents and the causes he supports. He received rousing applause and a standing ovation.
MDP makes voter lists available to primary election candidates
The Executive Committee of the Michigan Democratic Party has voted to allow Democratic candidates in primary election campaigns to have access to the party’s Voter Activation Network (VAN). The VAN provides contact info and political party preference data about Michigan voters.
Until now, VAN access was available only for the general election campaign to Democratic candidates who already had won their primary election.
MDP Women’s Caucus Meeting, Saturday, March 13
Hope you can make it to this event at Jay Kommaredi’s house on Saturday, March 13th from 3p.m. to 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served. This is NOT a fundraiser!
9
The address is 8426 Warwick Groves Ct, Grand Blanc, 48439. This is a terrific opportunity to talk about how the budget cuts in MI affect women & children, what the Stupak amendment (if included in the health care reform bill) means to women, health care disparities, domestic violence, why women should run for office and the importance of voting amongst other things. It is really important that many of us be aware of how decisions made in Washington DC & Lansing impact the lives of millions of women, children & families. Jocelyn Benson, candidate for Secretary of State, State Senator Deb Cherry, Pam Faris (wife of Lt Gov John Cherry), Gerri Hall, Maryion Lee, Pat Erickson are a few of the women who have signed up to attend to date...we hope to make it productive and fun. Trina Ellis, chair of the caucus will give the group an overview of what the women's caucus's plans are for the year. We hope to have a robust discussion and your input and participation will only help us move forward. Feel free to call or e-mail me with any ideas you might have. Please let me know if you plan on attending and feel free to bring a friend. Looking forward to seeing you all.
Jay Kommaredi, Board Member, Michigan Democratic Women's Caucus, 810-252-9250 jkommareddi@yahoo.com
Sen. George McGovern to speak May 12 at free event at Temple Beth El
Sen. George McGovern, the Democratic Party’s 1972 presidential nominee, will speak about his new book, Abraham Lincoln, and do a book signing starting at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 12, at Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph at 14 Mile Road.
During his distinguished career, McGovern served as the first director of the Food for Peace program and as a professor of history and political science in addition to his service in the U.S. Senate. He was a decorated bomber pilot in World War II.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. They will be available as of Monday, March 1. To order tickets, call (248) 865-0617, then press 1.
Tim Burns: County Commissioner
DOLLARS & SENSE Consumer Forum Oakland County Commissioner Tim Burns will be hosting a free financial education forum on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Walsh College's Troy Campus in recognition of National Consumer Protection Week. The 2010 Oakland County Consumer Protection Forum will feature a panel of financial experts who will provide "Dollars & Sense" advice on managing money and debt issues and will answer questions from the audience. The event will begin at 10 am in the Barry Center Auditorium. Take the OAKGOV Challenge
10
Oakland County, in conjunction with AT&T, announces the "OakGov Challenge" contest. With $10,000 in total prize money provided by AT&T, the contest is designed to encourage those who live, work, or go to school in Oakland County to develop innovative and creative Web-based or mobile applications that enhance government services for citizens.
Winter seems to be the longest season, so why not think ahead to a Mardi Gras Celebration at the National City Taste of Troy benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Troy on Sunday, March 7 from 1–4 pm at the San Marino Club, 1685 E. Big Beaver Road. As a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Troy fundraising committee, Tim Burns is selling advance tickets for $40 dollars. Tickets at the door are $50. Each ticket purchased includes one entry for a three-day New Orleans trip.
Join Tim on Facebook Get regular real-time updates from County Commissioner Tim Burns by friending him on Facebook. Visit him at www.facebook.com/TimBurns
For more information regarding my work as County Commissioner, please visit my website: www.timothyburns.org. 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
OCDP
Young Democrats:
Oakland County Young Democrats Karaoke Night
11
Wednesday, March 10th, 8:00-10:00pm, Bar 7 in Southfield
24528 W. 12 Mile, Southfield, MI 48034 $15.00 contribution to the OCDP ($10.00 with student ID)
Free Appetizers and Cash Bar, 18 and older welcome, (Must be 21 with valid ID to drink)
For more information contact: (248) 584-0510 / youngdemocrats@ocdp.org
Gilda Jacobs Report
GRANHOLM: GREAT WEEK FOR DIVERSIFICATION Dow Partnership to Create 6,900 New Jobs In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm said that this was a great week for Michigan and the Dow Chemical Company, with Dow announcing three clean-energy projects in Michigan that will create up to 6,900 new jobs.
Dow announced a combined investment of almost $1.3 billion in three clean-energy projects that'll create thousands of new jobs in our state," Granholm said. "And these three projects came to fruition through Dow and the state of Michigan working together to achieve our mutual goals of diversification of the economy and job-creation."
The governor said that Dow announced it will manufacture its new DOW™POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle in Midland.
"This is a revolutionary product," Granholm said. "It's a solar panel that looks like a shingle. The Powerhouse solar shingle will create 1,275 new jobs at Dow, with the potential for another 425, plus an estimated 4,400 spin-off jobs."
Also this week, a state advanced-battery tax credit was awarded to Dow Kokam to support advanced-battery manufacturing, creating up to 800 new jobs. And Dow was designated as the state's seventh Center of Energy Excellence.
"Dow's Center of Energy Excellence will focus on developing low-cost carbon fiber materials for products like advanced wind turbine blades," Granholm said.
"The three Dow clean-energy projects announced this week - all supported with targeted state incentives designed to diversify Michigan's economy - will create up to 2,500 new jobs at Dow and an estimated 4,400 spin-off jobs," Granholm said. "Through partnerships like the one between Dow and state government, we are helping transform Michigan into the nation's center for clean- energy manufacturing and create thousands of jobs for Michigan workers."
.
SUPPORT THE COFFEE PARTY!
You have undoubtedly heard of the TEA Party – those anti-tax, anti-government, anti-progress people who heckled politicians’ attempts to have reasoned discussions of the health plan this summer, and undoubtedly helped to defeat Troy’s millage proposal and so help to put us into a dire financial emergency. Well, their opposite number – The COFFEE PARTY – has been
12
organized a few weeks ago and went viral over the entire nation. You can join them on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/coffeeparty?ref=mf.
Who or what are they? They are a spontaneously organized community of people who value the democratic process, want to see our politicians work together to solve problems rather than strive to create roadblocks and belittle their political opponents.
The Coffee Party Pledge says it all:
As a member or supporter of the Coffee Party, I pledge to conduct myself in a way that is civil, honest, and respectful toward people with whom I disagree. I value people from different cultures, I value people with different ideas, and I value and cherish the democratic process.
A Troy group gathered rather quickly on the Join Coffee Party USA Michigan Facebook page. The local gathering is scheduled for March 13, 2:00 p.m. at Panera Bread on 823 E. Big Beaver at Rochester.
EDITORIALS:
EDITORIAL 1: 105 DAYS
What does the word “election” mean? According to Dictionary.com, the word refers to “ The act or power of electing; or ‘The fact of being elected’; or ‘The right or ability to make a choice’. The word itself stems for a late 13th century word meaning “to choose”. Thus it seems clear that the whole point of an election is to make a choice between two or more candidates or, as in our most recent city election, to make a choice between two or more opposing propositions.
This commonly used English word seems to be misunderstood by at least some of the people who spoke about the election results at the most recent City Council meeting on 1 March. Many of them, including several people who were actively involved in the Anti-Save Troy coalition, gloated that they won the election but then went on to demand that City Council must not approve closing any of the City services endangered by the failure of the voters to pass the proposed millage. And in fact an opinion was allegedly posted on the Oakland Press online site threatening to mount a recall election should City Council proceed to balance the city budget by closing the city services as specified in the City Manager’s slide show of 9 September 2009, and which all city residents have had ample opportunity to read and study. County Commissioner Gosselin sent much the same message in his remarks to the Troy Times.
13
Pardon me, but this strikes me as a plain case of wanting to eat their cake but have it too. We had an election so as to make a choice between paying an extra time-limited tax to pay for our city services or shutting down those same city services so as to not to have to pay the tax. The anti-tax people won, but now they don’t want the services shut down. This is a clear case of cognitive dissonance – the ability to hold two absolutely contrary ideas in one’s mind at the same time and try to act on both simultaneously. Yet it is physically impossible in the real world to be able to go in two different directions simultaneously.
Now the Anti-Save Troy coalition would protest that characterization of themselves as unfair since what they really mean is that they do not accept the budget revenue and cost numbers presented by the City Manager in his 9 September presentation. According to this excuse, their argument is with the budget numbers, and not with the act of selection which is the essence of an election. OK., lets follow that ‘logic’ to its end. How many of them made rational and reasonable alternative revenue and cost estimates in writing or in an organized speech either in public or in a private meeting with the City Manager? To the best of my knowledge, that number is Zero, Zip, None.
Many of them spoke at City Council or in other venues about the budget numbers but what I heard from the public comments plus what I read on their campaign literature was a bunch of untrue or irrelevant statements.
1. For example, many people said we should pull out of the transit center and use those monies to help fund the deficit – without any realization that standard budgeting procedures hold those funds separate from the City’s general fund, and the accounting regulations basically forbid pulling those funds away for other purposes.
2. Other people ranted about the City Manager receiving both a salary and a pension from the City of Troy, but without any realization that the pension comes from a separate prior account which he earned in view of his prior 22 years of service – and that such a pension account cannot be seized by the City to pay other unrelated general fund debts. And that position so conveniently ignores the fact that Council Fleming – an ardent advocate of no new taxes - voted last summer to hire the City Manager and approved his continuing to receive his pension. In any event, the pension is not big enough to cover the $22 million deficit.
3. Other people ranted about the City golf courses, ignoring the fact that requests for businesses to lease and operate those facilities were circulated without any response to date, and that the city cannot just default on the golf course bonds without wrecking our credit rating, which will cost us more money than we would save.
4. Some people suggested that we dissolve the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) and redirect those funds to take care of the deficit. They said this in perfect ignorance of the City Manager’s statement of 9 Sept that disbanding the DDA would make the City liable for the DDA’s debts, and so incure an additional
14
$1.3 million dollars in debt for the city.
5. Someone suggested using the ~$10.8 million dollars in the City’s Budget Stabilization Fund to balance the budget, despite the fact that the City Manager pointed out that these funds are forbidden to be used for that purpose, that City policy requires us to have a certain reserve amount of cash on hand, and that our credit rating would likely drop should we fall below the minimum balance.
6. Some people talked of having volunteers run the city services, without any thought as to the fact that volunteers are not free, nor necessarily competent. Consider that our excellent volunteer Fire Department requires both full-time people plus an elaborate support and training system. None of these volunteer advocates took such considerations into mind.
7. The hard core Anti-Save Troy people, such as Jack Witt, advocated severely and significantly cutting the pay and benefits of the remaining city employees so as to spare the Police Dept from cuts. None of them provided any numbers to indicate just how much one would have to cut over five years in order to compensate for the estimated $22 million deficit in revenues over that time period. He conveniently made no mention of the City Manager’s prior public statement that even if we fired every employee in every department except the Police, there would still not be enough money to fund the police at their current strength.
8. Finally, Janice Daniels asked why Troy had to be a great full service community anyway.
But there were positive voices as well:
The second speaker called out Martin Howryulak and Wade Fleming for their involvement in the Anti-Save Troy coalition’s last campaign mailing , which was full of lies and false statement. [Fleming later claimed his name was used without his permission – if true, it implies that the Anti-Save Troy people involved in the mailing are even more unethical and unprincipled than we thought!]. She was appalled at their behavior (and she is not alone in that). She is a city employee and was surprised at the list of boards and committees listed on the mailing as having members that voted NO when the groups did not vote on the issue. The height of rediculousness TDC was even on that list of organizations that allegedly voted against the millage even though we voted Unamimously YES. She set the tone for the night—she is tired of negative politics.
[Note: support the Coffee Party]
Rhonda Hendrickson pointed out that we have a Divided City. We need a workable Ethics Policy to get rid of negative campaigning, and the false statements which the opposition has spread about. It is not only insulting to professional librarians but is a ridiculous view of reality to suggest that we can run the library as it is now with volunteers. Need professionals if you want a first class performance.
Former Troy Mayor Jeanne Stine called it a hypocrisy of the highest level to suggest
15
recalls of city leaders if they proceed with closing facilities in accordance with vote.
There were others that spoke in favor of Keeping Troy Safe. It was pretty intense. This room, and the City, is split wide open on this issue.
There is an old saying in science: “If you cannot measure what you are talking about, then you do not know what you are talking about”. I think that adage applies to the Anti-Save Troy coalition. They are full of talk but are numerically illiterate. Consequently, they live in a dream world where guardian angels always miraculously appear to save them from the consequences of their actions. In municipal finances, the only angels are the taxpayers. And the Anti-Save Troy coalition has persuaded them to not fully fund the city services they now claim must not be cut.
Too late. A choice has been made. The only way the hard choices could possibly be averted is if the City Council finds out that the City Manager’s budget projections are hugely wrong. They have had several study sessions on this topic and not one City Council person has made that claim. We can assume that the City Manager’s cost and revenue projections are pretty much accurate and only need some tweaking with the latest numbers to be fully accurate. On September 9, 2009, the City Manager projected that layoffs and privatization of various units would begin on July 1, 2010.
That will begin to happen in 105 days.
Results of Study Session
On the evening of March 1, after the formal City Council meeting, the City Council adjourned for a public study session on the budget. Not only did they reaffirm the budget’s accuracy but they began to plan the cuts. They examined Study Item N-1: “Restructuring City of Troy Government’, dated 25 Feb 2010. The City Manager stated that we are in a financial crisis, with expected deficits of $6 million in 2009/10 and $6.2 million in 2010/11 alone, plus smaller deficits in the out years until 2014-15. Privatization efforts are under way. The savings to be obtained by layoffs, closures, privatization, etc. must match these numbers. Attachment #3 to Study Item N-01 shows that this is the case.
Not one City Council member disagreed with the City Manager’s description of our presently being in a financial crisis. Howrylak suggested that closing the Community Center was “preposterous” and could be avoided by reshuffling the budget, but he provided no spreadsheets nor modified budgets to support his stand even though he is an accountant by training. No one else disagreed in principle with the proposed solution, although both Howrylak and Fleming were squeamish about closing facilities (second thoughts?). Therefore each and every member of the City Council, including Fleming and Howrylak, agreed on the accuracy of the budget numbers. Therefore the
16
words of the Anti-Save Troy coalition made just an hour or two before in the formal meeting are here agreed to be bogus and without substance by the agreement of the City Council to the dreadful budget numbers. In later discussion, the City Manager noted that they would use the Option 1 as presented in his 9 September slide show as a guide to the closures and layoffs, with Police, Fire, and DPW taking the last hits. But they will be hit. A balanced budget must be in place by the third week in May.
Oh, new data shows that the refuse fund is in deficit over the next three fiscal years by the sum of $2,980,553. This is due, at least in part, because the conservative “Gang of Four” in the prior City Council forced the return of “excess” monies in the fund despite the pleas of management to use it as a reserve fund for future cost increases. The increases came, the money was gone, it will have to be replaced. In the past, this fund was subsidized by the General Capital Fund. That cannot happen, and the refuse deficit must be erased. This will be done by increasing the refuse millage by 0.14 mills to a new total of 0.89 mills. Under the City Charter, the City Council may increase it without voter approval.
[MEMO to Anti-Save Troy Coalition: you were warned that user fee increases would more than eat up any few paltry dollars you might save on your taxes. The new refuse tax increase will now cost the average Troy homeowner $14.42 of the $big bucks$ you expected to save by voting NO. The citizens of Troy who backed the Save Troy millage now expect you to pay the full increase with no complaints since you voted for it. And we citizens particularly expect Fleming and Howrylak to pay without protest, considering their lead roles in creating this particular deficit].
The upshot of the City Council Study Session is that the cuts to all City Services – both quality of life and essential – will be made with due caution and attention in the near future. The die is cast.
The Real Story is Get Rid of the Unions
The above comments of the Anti-Save Troy people who spoke at the meeting convinces me of one thing: APPARENTLY MANY OF THE ~20,000 PEOPLE WHO VOTED IN THIS MILLAGE ELECTION DO NOT WANT HUGE CUTS IN THE CITIES QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES. The Pro-Save Troy coalition was explicitly in favor of paying taxes, and the Anti-Save Troy coalition is now, it turns out, against cutting out all those services as witnessed by their words and their websites. So is this not the basis for a compromise? Probably not.
The leaders of the Anti-Save Troy coalition – Howrylak, Fleming, Witt, Daniels, DeBacker, Lambert, Gosselin, et al., - will never admit that their political ploy for power is leading to the transformation of a great little city into just another jerkwater town.
17
They may neither know nor care that their tactics are destroying the social capital, the informal bonds that differentiate a community from a group of people. But what of all their naïve followers who were led to believe that there would be no downside to voting agains a 3.4% tax increase? Well, they are now being told (untruthfully) that the only reason services have to be cut is that the unionized city employees earn too much money and refused to cooperate with the City. This same website implies, but does not put up any spreadsheet with actual numbers on it for verification, that if the unions could be broken and wages reduced to some low (minimum wage?) level, then there would be a $12 million savings. Even Ronald Reagan always said, “Trust but verify”. They have not verified, and so why should they be trusted? (That would still leave a $10 million deficit, but they are characteristically silent on that detail).
So what ostensibly started out as a status quo, anti-tax campaign reveals itself to be an anti-union/anti-government vendetta which will not be satisfied until every union is broken and every public employee is pauperized.
That same website claims their long term plan is to form a “…united belt of the cities of Troy, Rochester Hills, Rochester, Birmingham and the Bloomfields….[which]… utilizes the most appreciative aspects of each community in a collective manner to develop and enhance a central Oakland county region”. I Sound lovely? Think about it first. In other words, Troy doesn’t need a library because we can travel over to West Bloomfield and use theirs! At no charge, undoubtedly.
And we don’t need a police force since we will contract everything to the County Sheriff’s office. Our local business people will love that arrangement! Watch them leave as robberies increase. We can use some other town’s historical museum, and they can use our parks, again at no cost. If you stop to think about the economic implications of this plan, ask yourself why any high tech company in search of top notch employees should locate in a city which, rather than supporting their top notch schools or police or fire dept or library, went and degraded themselves into one of a number of financially strapped jerkwater towns which share their poverty because they cannot differentiate between cost and value. We will have nothing to offer any new high tech company, and they will go elsewhere. On the other hand, we will be a fine match for any company which wants to move here in order to offer only unskilled minimum wage jobs. How long do you think it will be before those residents who can move will move, and leave us here to decay in place?
We cannot deal with these envious, selfish, and misguided people who cover their tracks to power with a fairy tale of regional cooperation while working against the long term economic benefit of most Troy homeowners.
But how do we deal with the ordinary citizens who are mostly concerned about their taxes and their children, and so did not vote for some reason. There are ~56,000 registered voters in Troy, of which ~36,000 DID NOT VOTE.
18
The cuts will take at least one but no more than two and one-half years to be fully effective. If in that time period, these people can be convinced of the validity of the City Manager’s budget projections and of the emptiness of the Anti-Save Troy talk,– and of the fact that deep and harmful cuts are really on their way – then perhaps these potential swing individuals might be persuaded that the only way to stave off all the cuts and ruin their home’s value would be to vote in a second millage election in which the citizenry will have to choose between two starkly different views as to how the city should be governed. This means that the TLC would have to reach out and contact the non-voters of the city. This is a labor intensive and expensive task, but it may be the only way to Save Troy. That, and maybe a cup or two of coffee? Just a thought.
105 days, and counting.
Robert Arking
OPEN LETTER TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARTY KNOLLENBERG, 41ST DISTRICT (TROY & CLAWSON)
Dear Mr. Knollenberg,
This past winter I sent you an email letter regarding some House Bills – HB 5155, 5163, 5164. Primarily they dealt with women’s health issues. They cover everything from sexual assault, to reproductive rights to appropriate age related sex education. With a daughter, daughter in law and two granddaughters, their well being has become paramount in my life. So when I heard about these bills, I wanted you to know I supported them.
Your reply had the usual platitudes of “keeping your views in mind” that one gets from a politician, but one comment you made left me very concerned. This has to do with the provisions of HB 5164 that basically prohibits a pharmacist from injecting their religious views when dispensing legally prescribed medication to women that affects their reproductive health. To wit: birth control or ‘morning after’ pills! You stated something to the affect that you were concerned with taking “both parties" views in mind”. I have heard of horror stories where some pharmacist, because of his religious views, refused to dispense such medications. I’m here to tell you that if any pharmacist objects to dispensing these drugs, then he – or she - is in the wrong business. It is not their right to make such judgments. It is not part of their job description!! So for you to apply a concern for their point of view bothers me a lot. I urge you to reject that premise and support these bills. It is the least you can do for the women in your life – and mine.
Mike Smith
Clawson Michigan