I joined the Boy Scouts in 1965 at Fairview Avenue Elementary School in Lansing, MI. It was and still is a great leadership and character building organization for boys.
As I mentioned in a blog post (http://bit.ly/baVpuW) last summer, the highlight of my time in Scouting was attending a Boy Scout National Jamboree in 1969 in Idaho. One of my biggest regrets is not sticking with Scouting long enough to earn the Eagle Award.
From WWJ…
Coffee house meetings were held Sunday by those opposed to a tax hike in Troy. Some of those opposed to the 1.9 mill tax hike met with residents to explain why. Former Troy Councilman Dave Eisenbacher said the move would bring Troy up to 10 mills without a charter change and would amount to a 29 percent tax increase. “It’s too big of an increase. There are a lot of people hurting within Troy — businesses and the residents,” said Eisenbacher. He added that the city needs to increase efficiencies.
There was a great turnout by Troy citizens today at the two Starbucks. Most of those in attendance were “No” voters, but many showed up who were undecided.
You can read the entire WWJ story at:
http://www.wwj.com/Troy-Tax-Opponents-Gather/6305445
The letter below was posted on the Troy Citizens United Facebook Page.
Fellow Troy Citizens,
The solution to the city financial crisis involves a partnership of three elements, all of which must contribute equally. The first involves the city leadership who must have the best interest of the citizens in mind and place the needs of the residents above their own. This is commonly referred to as “Selfless Service” which they lack. Many, but not all of the leadership continues to live beyond their means with examples such as take home vehicles, the purchase of expensive equipment, and the initiation of projects that can wait. The second are the city employees who must realize that before they campaign to increase our (resident’s) taxes, they must first be willing to contribute themselves in a form of a concession. There is a major union that has voted down any concessions because they don not believe the city is doing what they need to save money. However, the sad part is that the leadership has forced these employees, most of whom are not residents, to fight for their job by participating in a public relations campaign. This campaign involves placing the residents in fear by promoting the “Vote Yes” slogan that implies if you don’t vote yes, Troy will cease to be a safe city to live in. This is absurd and an insult to our hard working Police, Fire and Public Works employees who despite whatever restructuring takes place as a result of the cut backs, are dedicated to “Making it Happen” with the resources they are given. The third, is the residents who must take ownership of their city and after the first and second have done their best, and there still remains a shortfall, must decide if they want their city to remain as great as it is which may involve a slight increase in tax revenue however, no where near 1.9 mills. Until the first two do their part, the citizens must vote “NO” otherwise face another tax increase and fiscal disaster which is just around the corner. House cleaning must take place in the fiscal arena. Sometimes you have to hit bottom before you realize you are making bad decisions. “VOTE NO” and give the leadership and employees a second chance to get it together and approach the citizens with a fair “fix plan” and not what they are trying to unfairly force in the current campaign.
Respectfully,
Joseph N. Haddad
member: Troy Command Officer’s Association, Retired United States Army Command Sergeant Major and Proud Troy Resident since 1979, son of Tony (number One Redhawk fan) and Beatris Haddad.
I’ll be posting updates at http://twitter.com/DALambert from today’s University of Detroit Mercy State of the Economy Symposium.
For more information, go to:
http://lambert-blog.com/2010/01/20/udm-2010-state-of-the-economy-symposium/
Henry Payne, editorial writer and cartoonist with the Detroit News, writes in the National Review Online Weekend edition:
Most Americans are just getting warmed up to the idea of a self-centered chief executive who has divined America’s future as a green economy and is brashly installing the industrial-policy tools to get us there. But we here in Michigan have been living it since Gov. Jennifer Granholm took office in 2003. On Wednesday night, the flashy second-term governor celebrated the “change” she’s brought to Michigan in her final State of the State address. Read it and weep.
Read the entire article and weep at http://bit.ly/b8KA3b
For my ECN 520 February 8th class session, Professor Harry Veryser assigned the articles linked below.
The Value of Money …
http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-value-of-money/print/
How Much Money …
http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/how-much-money-2/print/
The Economic Role of Saving and Capital Goods …
http://bit.ly/9fHIMi
What Determines the Value of Money? …
http://bit.ly/9gzuDy
9th Congressional District Republican Party News Release
TROY LEADERS TO HOST MILLAGE INCREASE COFFEE QUESTION & ANSWER SESSIONS
Show & Tell @ Starbucks to Address Concerns of Troy Citizens Related to Election
MEDIA ADVISORY
02-03-10
CONTACT: Glenn Clark at (248) 396-3826
On Sunday, February 7, 2010, and Thursday, February 18, 2010, two well-known and highly regarded Troy citizens will address the concerns of Troy residents over the February 23rd millage increase ballot election. Former Troy Councilmen David Eisenbacher and Dave Lambert will be co-hosting a series of coffee gatherings called ‘Show & Tell @ Starbucks’ in which they will show residents the facts as related to the city’s finances and they will tell residents their perspective on the need to make hard decisions now and in the future related to city services and personnel.
The events, which are open to the public, are planned for:
Sunday, February 7
2 – 3 PM
Starbucks Coffee
Sixteen & John R. Roads
1921 East Big Beaver Rd
Troy, MI 48083
Sunday, February 7
4 – 5 PM
Starbucks Coffee
6908 Rochester Road North
Troy, MI 48085-1292
Thursday, February 18
7 – 8 PM
Starbucks Coffee
Big Beaver and Crooks
1434 W. Big Beaver
Troy, MI 48084
Residents are welcome to attend to have their questions answered. Eisenbacher and Lambert will draw on their vast experience within Troy government to address their concerns over the proposed 29% tax increase on property within Troy.
