Show Me The Details I’ll Show You The Money..

Image by bjmccray via Flickr

Two and half years, that’s how long I’ve been hearing the same complaint about the lack of details on the invoices from lawyers working for the city. The council time and again has asked and demanded detailed invoices from the law firms working for the city. Corporation Counsel has no problem doing it, but not the case when it comes to Acho.

Dear taxpayers, your money pays these bills don’t you want to know what it’s going for I do and the council sure does. There is no violation here to put City vs ——— no one is asking for the details of the case. If someone wants to know that they can go down town and get it once it’s in the court system it’s all public information you can even get it online if you want to. So what is being hidden in these invoices? Why doesn’t the attorney for the city comply with councils repeated request for detailed billing? Who is the one signing off on these invoices to get paid? That would be the assistant to the mayor, why hasn’t she asked for detailed billing before she signs off on them? Why has the council paid these invoices if they are not sure what they are for?

Councilwoman Badalow suggested that a number be assigned to all cases and they as council can call and find out what the case is about based on a number. Sorry to say I don’t agree, as someone who is paying the invoice with my tax money I want to have a name, something tangible not a number that only council can call and ask about. I want to know what case my money is going to.

Invoices for the attorneys are available to the public in the agenda packets online. Good luck trying to find out what the charges are for, most times Acho just puts labor matter or some other non-descriptive term. Someone told me the council should just stop paying the bill until they put in the details. I couldn’t agree more No Details No Money!!! That’s what I would do anyway, but I’m so controversial and confrontational that just might be too much..

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Teens Charged In Dearborn Heights..

A comment left on the blog brought this to my attention I didn’t know about this story sorry to say I have not been keeping up on some things. This is the comment left for me,

Seeing as how you show so much concern for the citizens of our great city, I am wondering if you plan on ever mentioning the case of four young men whose futures are in jeopardy because of some overzealous (some might even say racially motivated) Dearborn Heights police detective who took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in a football game an turned it into criminal charges against these young men. Most of your readers probably won’t care – or perhaps may even be overjoyed at this news. But it is a shame. The actions of the DHPD and the DH city government remind me so much of Dearborn in the 1980s vis-a-vis the Arab American community.

 

“If minors were charged as adults, football would be a banned sport in America,” adding that the “half of the Detroit Lions” would also be charged and noting that the Star players are minors.Source: Arab American News

 

The families of metro Detroit high school students are crying foul and fighting back against charges stemming from a fight on the field during a football game.

Four teens, Ali Bajjey, Fanar Al-Asady, Hadee Attia and Mohamed Ahmed, are facing charges of aggravated assault for the incident that happened Oct. 21 between Star Academy and Westland Lutheran High School.

The quarterback for Lutheran planned to touch his knee to the ground to end the game, with Lutheran leading 48 to 6. Police said game officials knew this and instructed teams not to have contact after the snap. But players from Star Academy, according to police, went after the quarterback, knocking him to the ground and kicking him. The quarterback suffered a concussion. Read full story here

Another write up about it,

There’s a controversy brewing in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, after four teenagers were charged with assault and battery for injuring a young quarterback on the football field last October.

While the question of how harshly these young men should be punished is controversial enough, a lawyer representing them believes they are being targeted simply because they are Arab Americans. Others, though, claim that their crime deserves an appropriate response. Read full story

 

Something just isn’t right here, half the stands full of Arab Americans and the police can’t find one as a witness out of 22. Hell just make a show of at least trying to look like your not running this investigation on a racial slant. Well nothing surprises me anymore not with things the way they are all over the United States concerning Arab Americans.

 

The Truth A Funny Thing..

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

Mark Twain

Thanks to the person who sent this to me I love this how simple life would be for us all if we all would live by these words..

 

Re-Election News..

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Six years ago, David Turfe earned the respect and support of citizens across Dearborn Heights by waging an aggressive door-to-door campaign for District Judge.

Judge David Turfe

He was successful and has served with integrity as District Judge for the City of Dearborn Heights. Earning the support of voters, one at a time, by walking the city and greeting residents at their homes, neighborhoods, and community events, David worked hard in that campaign, promising integrity and a well managed courtroom if elected. He has delivered on his promise and has filed for re-election as

Appropriate judicial temperament was a cornerstone of his race for District Judge and it will be no different this year.

“Taxpayers deserve to know that their court is well managed and that the judge recognizes the need to control costs and maximize tax dollars. They also expect that a judge will treat all individuals with a judicial temperament that is balanced and fair,” Judge Turfe said. Read The Rest Here

 

You Will Be Missed…

To the Administration of the City of Dearborn Heights;

        I am writing to notify you that I have resigned as a Commissioner of the Dearborn Heights Commission On Disability Concerns, effective November 14, 2011.
After serving as an active Chairman of the Commission for several years, I have found that I can no longer be as effective in this capacity. The city administration has been neglectful when following the suggestions from the Commission concerning the changes and updates of the ADA. The efforts of the Commission to work with the city to include the disabled, making the city buildings accessible, and remove barriers for the disabled have not been accomplished. We have hope that a new Chairman will not run into the obstacles that I have.
The Commission is encouraged by the completion of several projects throughout the City, but there is so much more to be done. This is an ongoing effort and it is imperative that the city fulfill its obligations to its citizens who are disabled.
I would like to thank the many people who have helped the Commission in the efforts for the inclusion of the disabled, especially J. Badalow for her active participation as the liaison for the Commission.

    Sincerely,

    Linda Butler

cc:  Dearborn Heights Administration

       All Commissioners

 

$12.00 or $200,000.00 Can we Have a Seriouse Disscussion About This?

Can we as residents seniors and non have a serious discussion about the senior centers and what is to be done with them? I ask because I want to write about this and have been very hesitant to do so. I don’t want to disrespect the seniors at the same time I don’t want the city to be afraid to do the right thing by the rest of us.

Rent for the Eton center is a dollar a month, the city has to give D7 a years notice if they leave. If the city decides to keep the lease and stay in the building that will cost the city around 200,000.00. The reason for this the roof has to be replaced.

The Berwyn center a building owned by the city has the senior center in it and the community and economic development departments has it’s offices there.

Canfield center has the recreation department and several evening activities this is all so owned by the city. Keeping any of these buildings open cost money in utilities and maintenance.

During the months leading up to the HO vote there was talk about closing down the Eton center the past few months there has been very little talk about recreation what so ever. You have a Mayor who will not commit one way or the other on Eton only to say D7 doesn’t want it back. In the title of the post I used the amount of $12.00 dollars. That is the amount the city would pay even if they gave notice to D7 today closed it up and moved the senior activities some please else.

I would like to ask the question without the people from the recreation department biting my head off or telling me what a vital service they provide. Let’s just say up front a vital service is provided for the seniors that use the senior centers. Let’s also keep in mind that there are many seniors that do not use the centers and we can also establish that all tax money is going to keep their programs and centers open. We can also say that seniors should be honored for everything they have done for us and we should pay them the highest respect and I do.

Now the question for everyone is this what should be cut in order for the senior centers to stay open. If the city is going to find 5.1 million dollars in cuts and the senior centers are off limits then what? I do not want to see the people working there loss their jobs, but we can not have talks about getting the budget together unless we look at everything. So far the one area that no one wants to talk about is this. Cut fire, cut police, cut departments to the bone but don’t what ever you do talk about this.

So bloggers seniors and non where should the council and Mayor look to find the money?

 

Another Week and Still No Movement..

Another study session and nothing accomplished. The Mayor hasn’t met with department heads yet. Not sure how much more some departments could give anyway. The Mayor is sitting with the Police union his self, a good thing and long over due. That doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere the PD has given all they are willing to give, that’s what the word is any way. No word back from the state if it’s a go or no go with the plan. Councilman Apigian came up with something if not cuts then the city should be looking to raise revenue. How far did his good idea go? No where, he was shot down and told that this was not the meeting to discuss that. To that Ned said I thought since we are talking about the budget and revenue is part of the budget that this would be the time to talk about it. I agree Councilman if that was not the time when is the time?  Oh well maybe the next study session will be more productive.

 

You Knew The Situation when You Ran For Office..

At council study session 1-17-2012 the newly elected clerk asked for time to speak to the council. He did for an  hour, an hour wasted on the gripes of the clerk.  Just what he can’t do and what he wants.  Sorry Walter, but you ran telling everyone that you would be best for the job. You ran telling all of us of how you were streamlining the clerk’s office.  You ran for the office telling the whole city just how great you were doing the job. How much you had improved the office of the clerk already. How you were the only one with “On the Job experience.” So what’s up now? You knew all of this and more before you decided to run for the office. What did the clerk say in his hour-long whining session before the council. Well to start with he has done no work on the redistricting of the precincts, something that is very important to every resident in this city who takes the time to vote.  He does not like the IT person and has hired his own. He wants new computers; the city is getting a city-wide up grade that will include his office. They will be working with Clouds and virtual PC. He is upset that he was not asked if he wanted BS&A before the council voted on it. Aah just would like to point out that you were not even a blip on the radar when these decisions were made.. He wants the deputy back. The position was eliminated  for cost savings and he was aware of that when he took the job. He went on to say that nothing was getting done and he was having to come in on week ends. Pointing out that he worked this past Friday, Saturday, Sunday and even Monday just to catch up Why? because they are so far behind. Why are you behind, I thought you streamlined the clerk’s office. That office should be running like clock work for all we heard during the election. Might I suggest that you stay in your office and do the work instead of running to all the different departments to yell at them.

The clerk went on to say that there are to many interruptions during the working day. People calling all day for different departments because when they call those departments no one picks up the phone. Well here’s the deal the clerk before you and the clerk before her did that all day. No they did not ask for special time to address the council on the matter. They did what’s always been done answered the public’s questions. Not saying that this is right just saying the clerk’s office is the equivalent to the information desk at any company. Seeing as how the city doesn’t have one of those, the clerk’s office has been delegated that duty over time.

He said that he is short-staffed well it’s the same amount of people you had working in there when you campaigned for the job right? You gave the impression that you could handle this job even with under staffing. He has to do a fund transfer for the council secretary’s overtime. Yep that’s right the council secretary has overtime. That’s a new one. All the years that Mary was there, she never had over time to the point that a fund transfer had to be requested. He wants to do a fund transfer for the recount, funny thing here he said he did not know where he was going to take the 4,400.00 dollars to pay the county from. Someone on the council pointed out that ah you take it from the election budget.

As a taxpayer I resent the fact that Council Chair gave an hour of the study session time to talk about this nonsense. Time that should  be used to talk about this city’s current budget crisis, and the plan..  Next time put it in a Memo. What ever the hell is going on over there at city hall between the clerk and the other departments the council has nothing to do with it. Please Mr. Mayor get your boy under control here isn’t this something you could have taken care of on your own. I have to say here that every department over at city hall is working with understaffed departments, not one of those department heads has come before the council to complain. They do the job with what they have to work with. If this is too much for you then leave, that simple. It’s just a little late in the game to come and cry about it. You wanted it, you campaigned for it, you won. Now stop the complaining and do the job.

 

Crime…

BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

 

8400 BLOCK OF HAZELTON  –  VACANT HOME HAD PIPES REMOVED  –  WE NEE TO BE WATCHING VACANT HAMOES AND REPORTING WHEN THERE ARE VEHICLES IN THE DRIVEWAY  –  WITH THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS STOLEN, THE OFFENDERS ARE USING VEHICLES TO COMMIT THESE CRIMES

 

4100 BLOCK OF GRINDLEY PARK  –  CAMERA AND TOOLS TAKEN FROM A VEHICLE

 

STOLEN AUTOS

26000 BLOCK OF WARRINGTON                       2001 FORD F250

1700 BLOCK OF EVANGELINE                          2006 FORD SUPER DUTY PU

5700 BLOCK OF EVERGREEN                          1995 FORD EXPLORER

 

ARRESTS

 

OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE 4400 BLOCK OF EDGEWOOD ON A REPORTED STOLEN VEHICLE  –  THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT RUNNING AND WAS STOLEN AND CHASED BY THE OWNER  –  THE STOLEN VEHILCE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE OUTER DRIVE AND SOUTHFIELD AREA AND THE OFFENDER AS WELL AS THE DRIVE OF A DROP VEHICLE FLED  –  ARRESTED WAS A 16 YEAR OLD BLACK MALE FROM RIVER ROUGE AND A 17 YEAR OLD BLACK MALE FROM DETROIT  –  IT SEEMS THAT THE DROP VEHILCE WHICH WAS ALSO STOLEN OUT OF ALLEN PARK WOULD DRIVE THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS LOOKING FOR RUNNING VEHICLES  –  WHEN LOCATED, THE PASSENGER WOULD GET OUT AND TAKE THE RUNNING VEHICLE

 

Cpl. M. Parrinello

Dearborn Heights Police Department

Crime Prevention

(313) 277-7414

mparrinello@ci.dearborn-heights.mi.us

 

Antiquated Hardware A Two Year Old Subject..

Major software upgrade scheduled for April and hardware not in place to run it. BS&A software approved by the council set for installation in April. Some departments are using the software  (the City Clerks Office.) Dog licensing and so forth. The rest of the city’s financials set to go on board in April providing the city has the hardware to handle the software upgrade. The city doesn’t that brings us to the forever story of IT. Still no word on who will be getting that contract Dearborn or another company. Dearborn filed for a joint grant not sure based on what I heard at the last council meeting if we got that grant or not. Either way it does take time to get everything in place for the new software. It’s not like the company the city does go with can start the very next day. They do have other clients I’m sure. Hardware needs to be purchased, delivered and installed. Not to mention what councilwoman Badalow was saying. The city of Dearborn did not give the City of Dearborn heights a package including hardware. While April is 4 months away, if past history is any indication of what will happen it will be June before the city is up and running on BS&A.

The whole city under one software program working together. Everyone having access to information across the city. What a novel idea a program that will make work more efficient, and streamline the city’s financials. Not to forget they offer a Dashboard for free to meet the requirements for state shared revenue. This is a council approved city-wide upgrade that all departments will get and use.  You can’t have every department running their own software. The IT subject is not a new one it’s been on going for over two years. Councilwoman Badalows fear of this getting sidetracked is a very legitimate one. Just use this site as an example of how long the city has been talking about it. Take a look at how many post about IT over the past two years..

 

Six Months and $900,000.00 To Go…

Image via Wikipedia

At the January 10 2012 City council meeting councilman Apigian made an observation. He pointed out that the council only has about three weeks to formulate the cuts to the budget. He all so said that the longer the council and the Mayor wait the less they are going to gain with those cuts. The city’s half way through the budget year. So what happened in the first half of this budget year? Nothing.

Last June councilwoman Badalow dared to suggest that she wanted to start moving on the cuts then. The man who runs this city tried his best to humiliate her by saying in essence she didn’t know what she was talking about. Same meeting councilwoman Van Houten said the sooner they get started the better. That’s six months of nothing, six months of the man who runs the show doing nothing. Go back to the adoption of this budget by the council. In this budget the Mayor put nothing in place for deficit reduction he should have it would have been prudent to do so. He knew than that the city was running a deficit and still did nothing.  The council is not in charge of putting together a deficit budget plan the plan must come from HIM. Once submitted to them then they (the council) can work from there. As councilwoman Van Houten pointed out at this last meeting. We might have to make changes on a monthly basis to be on track for this budget year.

Councilman Berry asked for numbers. I want numbers, I want to see numbers, I need numbers. Councilman Berry would like to Chart the city’s progress. As he said how else are we going to know if we are reaching our goals.  You think Mr. Mayor you can get the man some numbers to work with? Councilwoman Hicks-Clayton pointed out that the deficit reduction plan submitted to the council was very basic. She asked when the council would be getting something of substance. We need to see how we are going to reach our goals. The MATT (man at the top) said that we can not work on formulating a plan when there is no plan to work on. Can’t expand on something that this administration has yet to formulate. Think I got the essence of what the MATT was trying to say.

There was a common thread at the first council meeting of the year. SHOW ME THE NUMBERS, LET’S GET GOING, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING…. Well 6 months into the budget year and exactly what Councilwoman Badalow and Van Houten were trying to avoid is happening. Not enough time to come up with the $900,000.00 by the end of the budget year. If I remember correctly councilwoman Badalow said back in June, July, or August that she did not want to try to find the savings half way through the year. Sorry, but that is just what has happened. Once again MATT forever thumbing his nose at the council has managed to put the city in an impossible position. There will be monthly meetings on the budget the third Tuesday of the month. Good thing they insisted on it why with all that the Mayor has on his plate according to Council Chair Baron. Well it’s only 150,000.00 a month for the next (6) months the city has to cut.

 

Talking Out of Both Sides of Your Mouth A Trick Well Mastered By This Administration.

The master of double talk is at it again. The Mayor plays the game like no other while attending a Christmas Party at the Eton Senior Center. The Mayor told the seniors in attendance not to worry he had no plans to close the Eton Senior Center. Not true in his ” Deficit Reduction Plan” he put the Eton Center for closure. During the election you told the Senior Voters that if they come out and support the HO that you will not close the senior centers. Now I’ve heard this from quite a few seniors. Mayor come clean with them you are planing on closing the Eton center and have been all along. Stop it..

The seniors are not alone to the police he said that with the HO he would not need to come to them for more. He told them with out it he would be laying off what was it 20%. To the fireman they were told without the HO they would see one of their fire stations closed. Funny in his 5 year plan he is looking to cut the salaries of all in each of these departments. Funny thing is he puts all of this in his big plans for deficit reduction, but unless they ( the unions) agree to open their contracts this administration can do nothing. Am not saying they won’t but this administration has zero credibility.