I'm very pleased to see people are discovering the site and commenting on the plan. Our goal has been from the start to insure a fair approach. The existing "plan" is not fair. Anyone not entranced by Mr. Svengali can see that. My seven year-old nephew sees it.
I'll have more to add within the next couple of days, but please know that we have been quietly meeting with City Council members and trying to expose for them what we keep hearing the city administration will not share. We are still trying to reach out to them and remind them that the truth shall set you free. This site is our public face and we've only just started. But we've not given up on good old-fashioned button-holing.
I'm just one guy, trying to get the word out through this site. And Clint and I are just two regular residents trying to get the plan a fair hearing (and Clint's done by far most of the work on that score). We have no political agenda. We are just trying to stop this trainwreck.
As for me, I think once real cuts are made, fair and equitable cuts, and the residents see the result and need to improve services and understand that the information is now credible and free from manipulation, they will support a modest increase in mill rate to keep us from falling off the cliff. I know some of you will disagree, arguing that no increase under any circumstances will do. I respect that view and simply ask that if its your view, make the argument. Clint believes that the original mill rate request was appropriate and keeps us as we were - a damn nice place to live. I have no real quarrel with that view, but I still think the perception that it was excessive is legitimate and must be respected. How do you see it? Please comment on this.
I'll be out of town the next couple of days, but look for new documents soon, including the City Manager's contract, the Mayor's contributions to the "Keep Troy Safe" campaign that she now represents as an endorsement of keeping the Police Department free from cuts (the advertised cuts are not real, my friend, stay tuned for more damning information there too), and more details. I'm also looking at alternative posting options so the documents can be downloaded.
So please stay tuned and don't let a couple days of silence make you think no one is listening. Listening, engaging, is what this is all about. Now my real life, the one where my job is threatened, my city is in crisis, the truth is in short supply, is calling.
See you all on Monday.
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The city of tomorrow, today, is quickly becoming the city of yesterday, now. This site is dedicated to honest discourse, from the left, right and center (those who voted YES and those who voted NO) in hopes that we the residents of Troy can take back our city from the "professional" politicians and their administrators to make our community whole once again. Our fiscal crisis is real. Join us in seeking honest solutions.
6 comments:
Was ASKED 4get the PAST..mmm..Explain,,wHY,,who R,aND how funded,TROY LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP TROY,Oakland LEADERShip,,Community Foundation of TROY,North Woodard Community,TROY DRUG COALITION,why TROY uses cash 4 CLARK HILL, the super lobbyist and Brimingham uses UNwanted office space.why,police r used 4 school crossing guards. WHY, no parks or buildings named after great TROYites in over 30 years, HOW much PRIVATE land AND BUILDING maintain by TROY tax money.how much has TROY has given free tax status to 5013c's,IN THE LAST FEW YEARS,100,000's.why were the fire training station and girls and boys club built on wetlands.WHY? WHEN AN asia WANTED to use her building 4 a learning center was shot down,,with the MAYOR SAYING you want the change of status,,2 put added value to her holdings,,but when a 'christian organization', wanted a change no insult was asked.why TROY dazes never makes money,AND THERE was no public audit 4 last years,when the Columbia center,has their festival raises $50k.if ya don't look at the past YOU CAN not FORWARD.
Learning from the past and moving on while using what has been learned is not the same as dwelling on issues without including thoughts on how to fix the problem(s).
You bring up excellent points that definitely need resolution.
example:TROY has cut grass on many LOTS,Strips,and areas that were the people's,as a favor of.or away to pull the needed Employees on city payrolls..265 pieces just a few years ago..one area on BEACH over 1/2arce. and TROY used BLOCK grants to cut so called low income housing,no credit check or if the house was a rented house.When I asked for the list of the land the CITY of TROY cut,,answer,,no list,and the TRUST in2 the person asking for tax money to low income seniors was lefted 2 the land lords.
another hiden costs in TROY,
,,UNregulated water meters on big beaver and the city paysmbut the DDA collects their owns taxes.
,,UNreluated water meters off 19 mile that water the golf course
,,rule only hand carry water used between certian hours,,DDA using tax money hires a water truck to hand carry water using all the free city water 4 high maintence areas.
SO GOES.eletric used in TROY,,the DDA DESIGNS high maintenance projects as the rest of the city goes in2 the dump.
Thank you for encouraging public debate on these issues facing our City. I've put a plug in for your blog on http://lambert-blog.com/
Thanks, Dave. I saw that. Have you read "The Plan"? If not, please do and feel free to comment, good or bad. That's really what we're after here. And feel free to link to it as well.
I read your blog as well and I would recommend it to others. It's a bit more far afield than our single issue focus here, and I would encourage anyone to not jump to conclusions before you look at all that Dave and his family are into. Too often we seem to caricature each other by our positions, but I believe we can all find common ground and solve our common problems.
And if it wasn't for Dave's blog, I wouldn't have known the Mayor was the first contributor for the Keep Troy Safe campaign. Hmm.
Barry, I've taken a quick look at your plan and believe that it has some good ideas. I'm going to spend some more time reading it in the near future. Yes, Mary Ellyn and I have a blog that covers a number of issues (not just Troy), concerns, and even family news. Hopefully it doesn't bore readers!
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