Jan 2010
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
January/31/2010 15:18
In the latest edition of the Grosse Pointe Times, Michelle Moran wrote an article entitled “Shores one step closer to recall election” that provides a revealing look into how the incumbents are handling this democratic challenge to their leadership. Note the same hollow rhetoric from Mayor Cooper, parroting almost the same comments we read in the recent Grosse Pointe News Breaking News Report:
"I am disappointed that a vocal minority has been able to influence enough residents with misinformation and manipulation of the facts. The city will have to spend even more money and time because of them. This is a wakeup call to all residents to make a stand against those who would attempt to take over Grosse Pointe Shores."
While accusing recall supporters of misinformation, I find it noteworthy that Mayor Cooper and his incumbents have yet to challenge any of the factual information posted on this web site. Perhaps this is because the majority of it is based on either the city’s own source documents, or from newspaper articles in the independent press. If Mayor Cooper wants to correct the record, let him start by addressing the top 10 reasons to support the recall as listed on the homepage of this web site.
As far as taking over Grosse Pointe Shores, Mayor Cooper apparently missed the message from Scott Brown, who in a debate for the Senate seat in Massachusetts said, “It’s the people’s seat!”
Brown’s upset victory should be a wakeup call to Mayor Cooper and his incumbent slate that the people of Grosse Pointe Shores, like the voters in Massachusetts, are ready to take their government back, tired of the higher taxes, deficit spending, lack of courtesy, and absence of transparency that are the hallmarks of the current Shores administration.
As far as Mayor Cooper’s charge that the recall will cost the city time and money, I would assert no more money than the incumbents spent last year on their campaign to hold two elections to dupe Shores citizens in to voting for a new charter that can take their property taxes all the way up to 20 mils.
Even more revealing in the Grosse Pointe Times article are the comments of councilman Fred Minturn. You can tell Fred was well versed in the school of corporate crisis management when you review his following comments:
“I must admit, I didn't expect that number of people in Grosse Pointe Shores would sign on to recall five recently elected fellow residents and neighbors. I don't recognize the names on the petition as people I know personally or as those who have always supported me in the past. That tells me that we need to do a much better job of communicating to all of our residents about the things taking place and our future plans for maintaining the excellence of our community. I am serious when I say, Thank you to all the good people who signed the petitions, for making me aware of your concerns, your passion and your desire to continue having Grosse Pointe Shores be held to the highest possible standards.”
Now that the recall petitions are on file, are Shores residents to believe Councilman Minturn now? Look at the hollowness of his campaign statements, made to the Grosse Pointe news less than a year ago:
“ …we have completely revamped the financial systems of the village… created the right amount of fund equity…Through savings in all areas, overall costs have remained the same despite the rising costs of employee medical and pension benefits, resulting in a slightly lower tax rate and even provided some much needed fund equity.”
Our revamped Shores financial system now has us on the state fiscal watch list, the Shores current budget spends more money than the last, and thanks to deficit spending the city’s general unreserved fund balance was in the red by $221,000. Shores residents know what the incumbents did to our taxes after only three short months in office!
As Mark Twain’s famed adage says, “Actions speak louder than words…” If Shores voters want to learn the true character of our incumbents, rather than being mislead by the seemingly contrite words that will be circulating now that the recall campaign has advanced to the next step, let them see the incumbents in action by reviewing some of the Video Clips posted elsewhere on this website, or by watching the videos of the council meetings as periodically rebroadcast on cable channel 12. Better yet, see things in person and judge for yourself. Show up at city hall this Tuesday night, February 2nd, for the special city council meeting to be held at 6:45 PM, just prior to the finance committee meeting.
Mayor Cooper's reaction to petition drive success
January/26/2010 18:59
The online edition of this week's Grosse Pointe News has a nice piece of breaking news on the success of the Shores recall petition drive. You can access it via this hyperlink.
Note Mayor Cooper's comments as quoted: "It is very disappointing that a vocal minority can have such an influential affect on our residents," said Cooper. "Grosse Pointe Shores will now have to spend even more money and time because of them."
When as many or more people signed the Shores recall petitions than even voted for most of the incumbent council members in the first place, how can Mayor Cooper seriously label the over 550 residents who signed the petitions as a "vocal minority"? This statement shows how out of touch Mayor Cooper is with his constituents.
The money issue raised by Mayor Cooper is a smokescreen. He knows that defending against a recall campaign is supposed to be funded by the individual candidates or their campaign committee, and not by the city. The only added cost to the city should be for the recall election, and then a second election needed to replace any of those incumbents who are successfully recalled.
Check last years Shores budget; electoral costs were in the range of only $3000 (aside from the added legal bill to have the city attorney review two challenger's campaign literature). As far as the time issues, the only time other than the election that municipal workers should spend on the recall is for Mr. Vick to review and certify the voter signatures in his capacity as city clerk. State campaign finance law is clear that defense against a recall is to be undertaken by the individual office holders, and not by the government.
I think it is very hypocritical for Mayor Cooper to contend it was OK for the city to fund the two special elections he wanted last year to push through his pet city charter with the higher 20-mil property tax limit, but now that over 525 Shores citizens want to exercise their democratic rights, he feels this is too costly. Three grand is a drop in the bucket when you look at the unsustainable employee salaries and benefits that Shores taxpayers have been springing for in recent years.
Mayor Cooper is also wrong to assert: "This is a wake up call to our residents to make a stand against those who would attempt to take over our city." No Mayor Cooper, this recall is no take over attempt. It is a broadly supported democratic effort to afford all voters the chance to cast an educated ballot. Citizens were denied this opportunity last year when you used city money to fight a FOIA request to make salary and benefit information public. Now that the facts about the high salaries and benefits, the deficit spending that has wiped out our unreserved general fund, our high city debt level, and the state of Michigan having the Shores under fiscal watch are out and in the open, Shores voters deserve the opportunity to make a fully informed choice.
If anyone needs further proof of why Shores voters should consider recalling Mayor Cooper and the incumbents, please be sure to watch the video of the January city council meeting, airing on cable channel 12, on both Thursday and Sunday nights at 6:30PM, and on Tuesdays at noon. For those who do not have Comcast cable access, I have posted some more video clips from the meeting on the website, or you can request a copy of the video from city hall
In watching the video, note Dr. Ray Rahi's salient comments to Mayor Cooper on his rude behavior and the way he treats other council members, and how Shores citizens really expect a lot more from our elected officials. Look closely at the expressions on the faces of certain council members when opposing points of views are presented. See how Mayor Cooper talks down to Jan Pemberton.
Listen closely to John Booth's questions as to why the council is moving so slowly in addressing the city's fiscal crisis. When John asked when citizens could expect to know about next year's budget, and whether our taxes would be increased, he was told we could find out in May or June!
When John advised the council members that the recall petitions had been filed that day, the Mayor and his incumbent slate came to the realization that they may not even be in office at that point. Being present at the meeting, the expressions on the incumbents faces real gave real meaning to Thomas Jefferson's famous quote:
" When the people fear their government there is tyranny; when the government fears the people there is liberty."
If anybody is still on the fence about the recall, let them consider the continued unacceptable behavior of the incumbents, their failure to take aggressive and timely action to deal with our fiscal crisis, and Mayor Cooper's arrogant response in learning the citizen's petition drive had garnered sufficient signatures.
My sincere thanks to all who worked on the signature drive for their encouragement, dedication, and their committment to get involved and make a difference. Thanks to all Shores voters who signed the recall petitions for their willingness to take a stance and let city hall know that you are not happy with the incumbent leadership and with what is happening in the Shores. To those voters who said they agreed with the cause, but would not sign because they feared retribution, either social or otherwise, I really look forward to you having the opportunity to have your say within the sanctity of the voting booth this coming May!