Like other communities and other libraries, Sterling Heights is acting; and you won't like it if you're one of those who believe it's not big deal if we lose library because we have other nearby libraries. We don't.
We need to get used to this kind of thing. Neighboring communities are giving us some of the same attitude I've heard within Troy about non-residents using our services. Never mind those residents buy gas here, eat lunch here, shop here, and in many cases I'm aware of, actually choose to move here. This is part of what galls me about the library being referred to strictly as a "quality of life" service. The Troy Public Library is an economic generator and a key component of community communications. The library has more to do with the image of Troy than anything else this side of Somerset. And yes, it is also a quality of life service. Since when did that become extraneous to the purpose of a community? Isn't quality of life THE determining factor in people's desire to live in a community? Is this how far the disconnect has grown in our city administration and City Council?
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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:
Troy city-manager type of goverment can only be used by honest moral people put the city of TROY 1ST.The only guy was ed rusin,built TROY'S orginal bank.Loan money to almost every thing built in TROY.
THEN Forbes moved in and became a silent partner of BUILTMORE,which was filling wetlands in FLA.Forbes and GM,CAME TO Biltmore,,and built Somerest apts,to house 1,000's plus families of german engneers 4.WHICH OVER BURED OUR public school systems,and the begginning of GM's,1ST step in killing GM,OUT source engneering,1965-70ish,the moral and enthic moved in2 TROY.from white flight from block busting ,caused realestate firms in TROY and Brimingham,AND WERE charged and fined,but the HOMEBUILDINGs,cryied for move land and less regulations,BUITMORE was at the top of beggers.and put many threating lawsuits ,and yes,SCHILLINGS was there,TOM-TAKE-THE CASHIE,COWGER,ALLMON,AND MOST of the committes chairperson's to day.NOW,AS planned,bring in this private company for our building department will destory all the facts,,but as I GOOGLE this safeway,its part of paddock and the guy who owns the ice area,sub-concerns.another taker in TROY.remember BILLIONARE's own hundreds of smaller support systems.
Marv,
The history lessons are getting old. Let's stick with how we move forward as opposed to how we got here. I'm sympathetic, but it's just more of the same and it has to stop. We're looking at capital funds because they shed light on how the city operates, but we're not going after anyone or trying to take Troy back to 1970. That ship has sailed.
I know you're passionate and I appreciate that, but keep it solution based, in the present, clear and polite. Please.
What I'm getting at..most cities has their super-rich buy Land for Parks, Build Libaraies or hospitals,as the old owner of Oakland mall,which was ran out TROY.or the pizza chain located at 18 and Rochester, which donates huge amounts of money in the Romeo area.
as trying to raise-ing captial at/in money projects must go through the Z-man,has finally signing for anything going in2 TROY.
if the TAX baggers in TROY our 4-5 billionare's chip back afew Million out their billionare's made from TROY TAX breaks,things would work as planned.
in 1970 when these Leaders were small all contracts must be a TROY company.when or as these people moved up in Standard of LIVING.1990.moved out of TROY,,changed the contracts,so outside vendors could apply.
Explain,,Kalamazoo.Michigan..same size city,,all childern going to their public schools,with corperation of Kalamazoo..will get a potion,or all Michigan college paid,and TROY can not afford a library,and cross walks r not built for kids,
I was employed in the City of Troy for over 10 years, during which time I moved here for easier commuting, lower crime rates and the wide array of community services offered. The primary attraction for me was then – and still is -- the Troy Public Library. Due to company downsizing in a poor economic climate, I was laid off in 2008, and was forced to make abrupt changes. I relinquished my home internet access, limited my gasoline expenses and constructed a different work and life routine that brought me to the library 5 – sometimes 6 – days a week, and often twice in any given day. Since then, the library has been my second home – where staff has pointed me to valuable resources in the form of books, job search sites and outside guest workshops that have offered tremendous support. I, along with many others, have found – out of necessity -- just how valuable this library is to the citizens of Troy.
A couple months ago, I privately approached patrons in the Technology Center computer areas and asked them about their personal situations, how often they utilize the center and for what purpose… how they depend on the Technology Center and the library as a complete service… and how their lives would be impacted if the library were to close. Over two-thirds of those who responded, indicated that the library’s computer and Internet source is all they have available to them… half of them are unemployed… one-third of them utilize the computer lab three times a week, and nearly a quarter of them come religiously more than once a day… In response to computer use: 20% use the Technology Center for on-line classes and education… 42% for job searches… 50% for specific internet searches… and 57% for research. Finally, it became apparent these individuals depend on the Technology Center much as I. It is keeping us intact through tough times.
In October of 2009, a discussion took place on the library’s Website. “…The library [this person stated], is a cornerstone of a community in the best of times, and a lifeline for many in the worst. The Troy Library is packed EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK with people who are, among other things, desperately searching for jobs, using the internet because they can no longer afford it at home, bringing their children (or themselves!) for wonderful, FREE entertainment, studying because there is no quiet place to do it at home, researching their investments, and, yes checking out the latest best-sellers and blockbuster movies for free or for a fraction of the cost of buying a book or renting a DVD at the video store. My comment followed, “I relate to your comments because they relate to REAL issues and REAL crises.” And I closed my Internet comment with, “It’s unfortunate in the midst of hasty conclusions … that they don’t recognize the REAL issues and REAL crises of the day; and the REAL significance this library has in our community.”
This person’s initial Website comments were directed to an apparently panicked member of the community who appeared stuck on crisis and close-minded to options. In much the same way, City Council was in a position where complex budget options were before them, viable proposed budgets were proposed, but they remained close-minded.
Thanks for putting tremendous effort into this blog’s open forum. I believe it would benefit this community if budget-knowledgeable professionals – outside the political arena – could roll up their shirtsleeves and assess these alternative numbers; THEN step up to the plate as a reliable, publicly-recognized force to correctly represent a community of concerned citizens. Solutions to Troy Public Library’s dilemma may very well be right in front of us. We may just need some whistleblowers to make some REAL noise.
To use the word, "DISCONNECT" in reference to City Administration and City Council suggests a detachment -- a word that depicts these officials mildly at best.
Based on the facts and numbers, the Alternative Plan deserved serious consideration. And yet, it's apparent to me that these political representatives of ours continue to demonstrate "BLATANT DISREGARD” -- not merely disconnect -- to the entire community. That's serious.
Has this been going on for awhile? There MUST be more to this than meets the eye. Is this another case of corruption in the making? Of lies, deception, internal money shuffling, doctoring numbers and cozy cliques taking care of their own?!
MERCY -- The shananigans continue. Where's our "Hall of Shame" guy when we need him?
Nice comments. Thank you for that. And while "disconnect" isn't perhaps the best word, I'm trying to keep this on a positive level. Besides, I genuinely believe, now having met individually with almost all of them, that they really don't understand what is happening. They really don't grasp the building outrage in the community. We've really worked hard to save them, and I mean that. We never wanted to show anyone up. We never wanted to punish anyone. We just wanted fair play and to keep the services the jobs that support those services alive. What is Troy going to look like when we come out the other end of this thing? Anyone have any idea how expensive it will be to restart a library? And a community isn't a community without a library.
And Marv, you bring up an excellent point. The problem, however, is that Troy has money, it's just how decisions are made in spending it. Wealthy individuals and corporations that make grants generally do them for community's that are genuinely distressed. While things are clearly tough right now, it's hard to compare Troy to Pontiac, Highland Park or Detroit, don't you think? But of course, that's what the Option 1 approach has brought Troy to that kind of level of consideration from outsiders. I hear it all the time. It's pathetic.
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