Letters 10-19-2015

Oct. 16, 2015

True Activists Must Act

I take strong exception to the letter writer who said that activists are self-motivated.

My social activism and that of many others is driven by genuine concern for others, especially the working class. The fact that there are many in this country who greedily put the screws to others to better themselves disgusts me!

Unless we "activists" stand up and fight, things will only get worse, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. This is not the future I want for America.

It is safe to say this letter writer is living comfortably and could care less about others. Shame on him!

Lee Astrauckas, Mancelona

115th Year of Remembrance

There are two northern Michigan historical myths that keep being perpetuated through rural legend, rumor, and gossip. The first one is that the Good Hart Robison family murders of 1968 were never solved. The second is that somehow, the burnout of the Cheboiganing Band’s Indian Village at Burt Lake in 1900 was legal.

On that day 115 years ago, the peaceful settlement of Ottawa and Chippewa Native Americans residing on Indian Point (now Colonial Point), Lake Cheboiganing (now Burt Lake) was violently disrupted when the homeowners were forcibly evicted from their 20 log cabins. Their belongings were set out along the dirt road side, and their homes were doused with kerosene and set afire.

Their ancestral homeland on Burt Lake had earlier been protected and preserved in perpetuity by the federal office of Indian Affairs agent William Richmond between the years of June 1, 1848 and 1850. The same protection had been given to the southern Michigan Calhoun County Huron Potatwatomie Band. Both bands’ lands were purchased for them by Mr. Richmond. Their land patents were both written with special language, "In Trust to the Governor of Michigan and His Successors (for Chief Kie-She-go-we of the Cheboygan Indians)" by Mr. Richmond, a former General Land Office employee.

The "In Trust" status of the Potawatomie Band was and still is honored. The Cheboiganing Band (Burt Lake Band) "In Trust" land status was not honored. As a result, the small Burt Lake Band not only illegally lost their ancestral homeland, they then lost their affirmation as a federally recognized land holding Michigan Indian Band.

It is way past due time (115 years) to right these two wrongs. Justice demands it.

Richard A. Wiles, Petoskey

Cuckoo Vs. Grandfather Clock?

In David Newhouse’s delightful Letter to the Editor, he entertained us with wit and humor likening the Republican presidential candidates to crazy, out of touch citizens who have missed the obvious truth only the left can recognize. This comparison suggests that perhaps the "grandfather clock" represents the other side.

Filled with old-world style, dark-wood sentiment, and predictable gongs on the hour, the old clock stands as a reminder of times past. This is similar to the current Democratic candidates who grab the media’s attention. Mrs. Clinton would be 69 when she starts her presidency. Jumpin’ Bernie would be 75 on his inauguration day. Good ole buddy Joe Biden would be 74 if he decides to run again and wins.

Of course, we know the public doesn’t care about age and with The Donald on top of the Republican charts, it is apparent that the maturity that comes with age is being valued on both sides of the aisle. But it is difficult to ignore the youth that also are making a strong showing on the Republican side.

Perhaps cuckoos and grandfathers are interesting metaphors, but they hardly address the real problems we all face. This is a country mismanaged by government endeared unto itself as omniscient and omnipotent. Certainly we can do better than name call, label and libel those with enough courage to run for the highest office in this land.

William Deneau, Traverse City

Keep Dollars In The City

The Oct. 5 "Spectator" by Stephen Tuttle was right on in its entirety. The most compelling question Mr. Tuttle posed to the next Traverse City Commission is: "Why is Hickory Hills, completely outside the city limits, the responsibility of the city, and the Civic Center, completely within the city limits, the responsibility of the county?"

Most compelling is why would the city allocate $1.5 million – or 70 percent of the $2.1 million Brown Bridge Trust – to this park outside of the city limits? The next city commission would be wise to ponder all of the commentary and questions raised by Mr. Tuttle.

Mayor Mike Estes, Traverse City

Demand Pipeline Transparency

After 62 years of corrosion and stress, Enbridge pipeline 5 is a toxic oil disaster waiting to happen, not just for the Great Lakes, but for almost the entire length of Michigan – all the rivers, lakes and wetlands near it. Pipelines are safer than trucks, trains and barges. But this begs the question of our desperate need to transition to non-carbon sources of energy.

Enbridge has been engaged in a massive PR campaign to convince us that the risk is low and the "benefits" warrant the gamble. Let’s assume Michiganders are somehow willing to assume that risk. What are the real odds? We know now that Enbridge was willing to "monitor" rather that repair cracks in Line 6 for over five years before it ruptured. How much of that million-gallon spill of toxic tar sands oil in the Kalamazoo River has been recovered? Who lost that gamble?

Still Enbridge assures that Line 5 is now being carefully inspected. Enbridge PR effort uses many reassuring phrases, but nowhere do I find the most reassuring word: Transparency. "Trust us" language sounds good, but verification is much more important. Enbridge knows the true condition of Line 5 and its engineering protocols for triggering repairs. Transparency lets the public have access to all inspection and engineering reports, so we can assess the risk and decide whether to play this high stakes cost/benefit "game."

Our governor has the authority to require Enbridge to reduce the pipeline flow to 300,000 barrels a day, restricted to natural gas liquids until we know its true condition. Let him and your state representatives know how you feel.

Leonard Page, Cheboygan

Your Guns, My Safety

People do not realize that when they carry a weapon for their own protection, they reduce my perception and reality of safety.

When you carry a gun, I not only have to be concerned about the miscellaneous unknown crazy, I have to be concerned about you. I have to be concerned that you are mentally stable; I have to trust that you know how to use your weapon.

I have to be concerned that you won’t accidentally shoot me instead of the bad guy, and I have to be protective against an accident that could happen.

You think you are protecting yourself against some bad guy, and I have to be worried that you are that bad guy. The more people that carry weapons, the less secure I am. Of the murderers that I have known (and there are four), none of them were criminals before their act and it is likely that none of the murders would have occurred if guns had not been easily available. All of them were convicted and three of the four have been released and did not repeat their crime. Just saying....

Lee Trucks, Manistee

We Need Activism

I would like to respond to the letter in the Oct. 12th issue by RD Johnson titled "Know the Root of activism." Really RD, activism is simply action by those who are self-serving? I assume that you believe the comments by Rabbi Kushner since you used them as reference. I might ask that you do a little research.

I suggest that perhaps you start with Boston Harbor 1773; you might then move on to the word "suffragette," and from there I would suggest you research Selma, alabama, and just for sake of interest you may want to take a look at Kent State, Ohio.

You see, your country (assuming you are an american) was founded and shaped by activism. That’s what america is all about. If you don’t agree with how things are run, you can take to the streets and change them. That’s your right in this country.

No, activism is not self-serving. There is a real need for activism, speaking truth to power and questioning authority. By the way, I suggest you share your findings with Rabbi Kushner.

Tom Speers, Fife Lake

Northport Sewer Deficit Fact Check

The Northport sewer deficit is $2.7 million and growing. Under law, the sewer was to be affordable and not a burden. a Northport financial expert predicted the deficit before construction began. Northport government was warned of the deficit in October 2010 and advised to implement cost changes then. They did nothing and the public was not made aware.

Leelanau Township Treasurer stated on Sept. 15, 2015 it would take 99 additional Residential Equivalent Units (REUs) to correct the deficit for the township alone (the township only has 89 existing REUs). It would take another 117 additional REUs for the village.

The deficit is not due to lack of growth; growth has been normal at 0.5 percent annually. Officials didn’t dare correct the deficit by raising sewer rates for users alone. Both the village and township plan to take $60,000.00 annually from their general funds, a total of $120,000.00 annually through 2027 for the debt service payment only. all taxpayers in Northport and Leelanau Township will be contributing to prevent default on the loan.

The deficit is the inevitable result of financial advisors not using "existing" REUs in the 20-year payment schedule. Instead, they used overstated ("projected") REUs that didn’t exist. The payment schedule assumes for 2015 there are 663 REUs paying the $13.3 million loan while there are only 590 existing. In 2007 the payment schedule assumed revenue from 578 REUs but there were only 567.

There has been a negative return from the payment schedule from day one.

Those at fault should be ordered to pay, and not the innocent, over-taxed residents of Northport and Leelanau Township.

David C. Brigham, Northport