Letters 7/27/06

July 26, 2006

Get the facts straight
In response to the letter submitted by Jim Carruthers last week, I find it funny that it is called “Just the Facts“ as Mr. Carruthers clearly doesn’t have his facts straight.
As president of the Downtown Traverse City Association (DTCA), I would like to set the facts straight. The DTCA is NOT organized by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The DTCA is a membership organization guided by its own elected board of directors.
I don’t know where Mr. Carruthers came up with the 20% number, but all of the members of the DTCA pay taxes in Traverse City. I may live outside the city limits but I have two businesses in downtown Traverse City and own property. I am not able to vote in the city election but I AM a taxpayer. With my small retail business, I pay close to $15,000 in taxes. With this investment, I have the right to voice my support for this project.
I worry about the future of our downtown and work hard in my position not only for the sake of my own business but for all of downtown. This project is the right project at the right time providing the connections, parking, clean up and housing this end of town needs. Without a thriving downtown, there will be no neighborhoods.
There is NO special interest, just concerned business members of this community who know that having a vital downtown is in all of our (special) interest.
And finally, supporters of this project say that NO NEW TAXES will be incurred to the residents of this community.
I am disappointed and frustrated that this project has had so much misinformation reported by the opposition and the media. Please look at the facts: www.citizensfortc.com. Support downtown Traverse City and VOTE YES on City Proposal 1 - August 8.

Leisa Eckerle Hankins
My Favorite Things -- TC

Must be an optimist
The story “Unlimited Loopholes in Campaign Financing“ (June 22) confirmed my suspicions! Thanks to Anne Stanton’s superb reporting every thinking voter is better prepared for the coming elections.
Unworried about having scads of money, I plan to be the best volunteer possible in my community. By phone, on foot or conversing over coffee, I will promote my trustworthy women politicos: Governor Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. Both are extremely competent and work diligently to improve the future of Michigan and our nation. Both are fearlessly standing firm for true democratic principles - including justice and liberty for women.
I must be an optimist because I see signs of citizens sick of elections being rigged by cooperate money-baggers and conscienceless media moguls. The vigilance of wide-awake voters - determined to bring back a healthy democracy - is alive and kicking!
M.E.Barrett • Glen Arbor

Full of loopholes
Duane Marcotte’s letter of 7/13 thanked the “great leadership by the DDA” in making a great downtown. I agree that they have made a difference in its appearance and vitality. However, I cannot agree with his push for the West Front Street Project.
This is not pushing healthy growth from competitive bidders. It is certainly full of loopholes to benefit the developer and his Federated Properties. Lets hear more about “the rest of the story.”

Karen Culp • TC

He‘s no rabble-rouser
I just read you piece on the Film Festival controversy in last week’s edition (re: Random Thoughts, 7/20). I want to thank you for including it in your paper. I was frankly surprised because this seemed to be a story that was being “protected” by the Film Festival. It needed to be reported and you are to be commended for doing so.
I have to disagree with your description of Bruce Peterson being the local rabble-rouser. That is a total misrepresentation of Bruce and also the email that he sent out. I think passion and dedication should not be confused with rabble-rouser. That misinterpretation is soooooooooo Bush-like.

Marilyn Bagdonas • via email

Need for accuracy
Re: “Jason Learns a Lesson“ (Random Thoughts, 7/20). I rely on your newspaper and you in particular for accuracy in reporting which is a bit in short supply in T.C. as it is.
You stated that Jason “received a $32,000 contribution from a developer after intervening to scuttle.....” Jason received his contribution before the “intervening” episode. Big difference.
Re: “The Parking Deck Blahs“:
You state, ”But considering that a proposal for a less expensive parking deck was concealed... and there was a kickback from the developer for a state senator‘s intervention...“ In my business (construction) one letter stating that you think you could do something but with no accompanying specifications, or even preliminary engineering is not a proposal. It’s just an inquiry.
Furthermore the “kickback” term is inflammatory and inaccurate. If the Governor (who I support) receives a political donation from the construction unions and supports union wages on State jobs is she receiving a kickback? Of course not. Be fair.
Please don’t compromise the integrity of your newspaper (which I like) with this kind of Record-Eagle type crap. I need to know I can get good, balanced, and professional journalism in this town (like your parking deck story where you interviewed Quandt etc... that‘s the most info I’ve ever got on this subject despite 20 articles by the R-E.)

Mike Brown • TC

(Mike, thank you for your
corrections. -- R.D.)

Ditch the deck
Your column in the July 20 issue asked what others thought of the parking deck. As a city resident, I vote a big “NO.” Last night as I drove back to TC, I listened to Tim Burden being interviewed on WIAA. He and his eloquent architect kept reminding us that the alternative to his developments is cul-de-sac suburbs with houses on one or two-acre lots.
Parking decks are accessories for the cul-de-sac crowd. It lets them drive directly to their job and back home outside the city where they pay no taxes to support our urban amenities. It lets them climb into that SUV and speed through my neighborhood on the trips in and out.
I say, let’s make things a bit less convenient for the suburban crowd. On those days when I drive to work, it can be annoying to sit in a line of traffic, waiting for the stop light to cycle once or twice. Then I think, this inconvenience and annoyance is just fine, because it adds some small inhibition to the tendency to sprawl. Maybe the folks sitting in those massive vehicles will consider other living arrangements.
I take a guilty pleasure in passing the long line of waiting vehicles at the stoplight on my bicycle.
My neighborhood bears part of the burden of the suburban crowd. I walk out on the porch in the morning to get the newspaper and there’s a big vehicle, stopping at the stop sign and then stomping on the accelerator to reach 35 mph before decelerating in the second half of the block for the next stop sign. It’s just foolishness. As New York Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman says, we’re supporting both sides of the war on terror -- we pay our petrodollars to the most barbaric places on earth, then we pay for the costs of war to oppose their fundamentalist idiocy.
So, I say, no deck. It doesn’t serve our city’s interests, or our nation’s, for that matter.

Chris Campbell • TC

Fanatics on the march
Most people want to see a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflicts. Unfortunately, a small minority believe they can benefit from these wars. Religious fanatics, Muslim, Jewish and Christian, believe that war and violence will further their causes. Did Hamas and Hezbollah believe that Israel would capitulate to their demands? Of course not; they got the exact response they wanted.
Why after 40 years of failing to achieve peace by force with its neighbors does Israel continue to occupy Palestine? And Christians fanatics can’t wait for an all-out nuclear war in the Middle East so their savior Jesus will return and vindicate them. Along with this, corporations such as Haliburton, Exxon-Mobile and others are making a fortune from these wars.
Unfortunately, these rabid minority elements have obtained political power out of proportion to their numbers. Those of us, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or any other belief who are the majority that seek peace in the region, must stand up against our illegitimate governments that don’t represent us and take away their powers.

Randy Bond • Beulah