Letter to the Detroit News, e-mailed on February 28, 2011. Regarding: Suburban representation on the Water and Sewage Department Board and Emergency Financial Mangers.
Dear Editor:
Like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned, Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh and fellow-fiddler JoAnn Watson are ranting about an alleged suburban takover, supposedly sanctioned by Mayor Bing, of the Water and Sewage Department. Also, Pugh and Watson express outrage that the State is trying to be prepared for the possible fiscal collapse of Detroit (and other cities to be sure) by training emergency financial managers in advance. Which is what a prudent State government should be doing.
Apparently Pugh and Watson have never been repeatedly put on hold when trying to call 911; apparently the police actually show up when called by them to a crime scene; apparently the street lights work on their streets.
In spite of high taxes, Detroiters, such as me, receive inferior City services. Rather than working to improve services by cooperating with other communities, the fiddlers rally their minions to demonstrate and fight against the imaginary threat of outsiders who are trying to seize "control" of City assets. The fight over "control" is a needless diversion from what the City Council should be doing: making Detroit a better and safer place to live, work, and play.
Thomas E. Page
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
February 23, 1981 is my LAPD seniority date, the day I started the LAPD Police Academy. My classmates are holding a 30th reunion next week. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the trip to LA. The reunion coordinators asked each of us to recount some memorable moments of our careers. Here's a couple of my entries.
Best temporary assignments: While I was the OIC of the DRE Unit, I traveled extensively. Some of the places I traveled to were: Canada, Sweden, Russia, Australia, and Guam, in addition to much of the U.S. In 1995, I was the sole law enforcement representative of a group of people (mostly prosecutors) who taught a class at a Moscow Prosecutor Academy. The day we started the training, the audio-visual Russian expert came up to me and pointed to his lapel. He was wearing an LAPD mini badge!! He told me that his father had been in LA as a news correspondent for the 84 Olympics, and had brought the mini-badge back as a gift! He told me he wore the mini-badge every day to remind him that his dream was to visit America. Understandably, I was very moved by this.
Here’s another similar anecdote. In the mid 90’s I traveled to Guam on behalf of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute. We put on a class dealing with DUI enforcement, focusing on drugs. I was the only LAPD instructor. During a break in the class I was chatting with one of the other instructors, a Sergeant with the Maryland State Police. A Guam officer came up to me and said, “Sarge, did you bring your badge with you?” I had, and I pulled it out of my pocket. The Guam officer held the badge with both hands as if it were a sacred object. He said, “All my life I’ve wanted to actually touch an LAPD badge. That’s why I became a police officer.” The Maryland State Police Sergeant pulled out his badge, but the Guam officer wasn’t interested in seeing it. I have often thought of how Chief Gates used to remind us that the only way someone gets the LAPD badge is to earn it!!
Worst assignment: I was wheeled to 77th Street after I completed my probation as a Sergeant (late 1986 or early ’87). I lived in Pasadena. There was no way to avoid the downtown LA congestion to get to work. I hated that commute! Stacey Koon was a Sergeant in 77th at the time too!
One of my worst memories: In about 1990 I became the OIC of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) unit. One of my duties was to respond to call-outs when a Department employee, a celebrity, or a City Council Person (remember Mike Hernandez?) was believed to be under the influence of drugs. In the early 90’s I received an early morning (3 AM?) call from a Hollywood captain. They had an officer working the desk who they thought could be on drugs. I responded to the station, and after meeting with the captain and the WC, the officer was brought in to the captain’s office. I could tell right away that this officer, who was in full uniform, was under the influence of cocaine. The captain introduced me as the head of the DRE Unit and told the officer that I was going to determine if he was under the influence of drugs. The officer, still in full uniform, replied that he had to go as he had a doctor’s appointment (it was about 4 AM) now. The officer ran out of the station. Fortunately, the WC didn’t chase him. (There’s never a good outcome when officers with guns are chasing an armed officer.) I was told later that IA went to the officer’s home later that day. As they pulled up, the officer ran out of the back of the house. The picture of an LAPD officer, in uniform, high of cocaine, is something that will never leave me.
Best temporary assignments: While I was the OIC of the DRE Unit, I traveled extensively. Some of the places I traveled to were: Canada, Sweden, Russia, Australia, and Guam, in addition to much of the U.S. In 1995, I was the sole law enforcement representative of a group of people (mostly prosecutors) who taught a class at a Moscow Prosecutor Academy. The day we started the training, the audio-visual Russian expert came up to me and pointed to his lapel. He was wearing an LAPD mini badge!! He told me that his father had been in LA as a news correspondent for the 84 Olympics, and had brought the mini-badge back as a gift! He told me he wore the mini-badge every day to remind him that his dream was to visit America. Understandably, I was very moved by this.
Here’s another similar anecdote. In the mid 90’s I traveled to Guam on behalf of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute. We put on a class dealing with DUI enforcement, focusing on drugs. I was the only LAPD instructor. During a break in the class I was chatting with one of the other instructors, a Sergeant with the Maryland State Police. A Guam officer came up to me and said, “Sarge, did you bring your badge with you?” I had, and I pulled it out of my pocket. The Guam officer held the badge with both hands as if it were a sacred object. He said, “All my life I’ve wanted to actually touch an LAPD badge. That’s why I became a police officer.” The Maryland State Police Sergeant pulled out his badge, but the Guam officer wasn’t interested in seeing it. I have often thought of how Chief Gates used to remind us that the only way someone gets the LAPD badge is to earn it!!
Worst assignment: I was wheeled to 77th Street after I completed my probation as a Sergeant (late 1986 or early ’87). I lived in Pasadena. There was no way to avoid the downtown LA congestion to get to work. I hated that commute! Stacey Koon was a Sergeant in 77th at the time too!
One of my worst memories: In about 1990 I became the OIC of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) unit. One of my duties was to respond to call-outs when a Department employee, a celebrity, or a City Council Person (remember Mike Hernandez?) was believed to be under the influence of drugs. In the early 90’s I received an early morning (3 AM?) call from a Hollywood captain. They had an officer working the desk who they thought could be on drugs. I responded to the station, and after meeting with the captain and the WC, the officer was brought in to the captain’s office. I could tell right away that this officer, who was in full uniform, was under the influence of cocaine. The captain introduced me as the head of the DRE Unit and told the officer that I was going to determine if he was under the influence of drugs. The officer, still in full uniform, replied that he had to go as he had a doctor’s appointment (it was about 4 AM) now. The officer ran out of the station. Fortunately, the WC didn’t chase him. (There’s never a good outcome when officers with guns are chasing an armed officer.) I was told later that IA went to the officer’s home later that day. As they pulled up, the officer ran out of the back of the house. The picture of an LAPD officer, in uniform, high of cocaine, is something that will never leave me.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Letter e-mailed to the Detroit Free Press on February 24, 2011 regarding the DSO Strike/lockout.
Dear Editor:
I fear that we are witnessing the equivalent of a murder-suicide pact involving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra management and the striking musicians. Unfortunately, and certainly not intentionally, the parties are threatening the very future of our community. Vibrant communities offer their residents and visitors a comprehensive menu of cultural opportunities that become woven into the fabric of life. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an integral part of Detroit's cultural fabric. In today's mobile society, we make choices about where we will live. Jobs are only part of what attracts people to live in a community. Just imagine the negative press coverage that will accompany an announcement that the DSO has disbanded as a result of this protracted lockout-strike. If you're tired of the world media using pictures of the abandoned Michigan Central Train Station as evidence of our City's decay, imagine for a moment images of an abandoned Orchestra Hall. Don't be so smug to think that couldn't happen. Think of the devastating impact that would have on the recruiting efforts of our companies, our medical centers, and our universities.
We are in a "bite-the-bullet" period. Our automobile industry - primary sponsors of our cultural institutions - nearly disappeared two short years ago. Michigan, along with many other states (witness Wisconsin) are having to make some very difficult budgetary choices. If we are to get through this period and survive, much less prosper, tremendous sacrifices will have to be made. I plead to the DSO management and the musicians alike to settle this labor dispute before it's too late - for all of us.
Thomas E. Page
Letter e-mailed to Detroit News, February 22, 2011, regarding the Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike/lockout.
Dear Editor:
I'm fearful that we are witnessing the equivalent of a murder-suicide pact involving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra management and the striking musicians. And unfortunately, both parties, intentionally or not, are dragging down the very future of our community. Vibrant communities have a palate of cultural opportunities that are woven into the fabric of everyday life. A Symphony Orchestra is an integral part of that cultural fabric. In today's increasingly mobile society, we make choices about where we will live. And jobs are only part of what attracts people to live in a certain area. I moved back to Detroit after 25 years in Southern California. Frankly, if the DSO disbands and we are left without a world-class orchestra, I will rethink my commitment to this area. To many of us, culture isn't a luxury; rather, it's a necessity.
We are in a "bite-the-bullet" period. Our automobile industry - primary sponsors of our cultural institutions - nearly disappeared. Michigan, along with many other states (witness Wisconsin) are having to make some very difficult budgetary choices. If we are to get through this period and survive, much less prosper, tremendous sacrifices will have to be made. I plead to the DSO management and the musicians alike to settle this labor dispute before it's too late - for all of us.
Thomas E. Page
Dear Editor:
I fear that we are witnessing the equivalent of a murder-suicide pact involving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra management and the striking musicians. Unfortunately, and certainly not intentionally, the parties are threatening the very future of our community. Vibrant communities offer their residents and visitors a comprehensive menu of cultural opportunities that become woven into the fabric of life. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an integral part of Detroit's cultural fabric. In today's mobile society, we make choices about where we will live. Jobs are only part of what attracts people to live in a community. Just imagine the negative press coverage that will accompany an announcement that the DSO has disbanded as a result of this protracted lockout-strike. If you're tired of the world media using pictures of the abandoned Michigan Central Train Station as evidence of our City's decay, imagine for a moment images of an abandoned Orchestra Hall. Don't be so smug to think that couldn't happen. Think of the devastating impact that would have on the recruiting efforts of our companies, our medical centers, and our universities.
We are in a "bite-the-bullet" period. Our automobile industry - primary sponsors of our cultural institutions - nearly disappeared two short years ago. Michigan, along with many other states (witness Wisconsin) are having to make some very difficult budgetary choices. If we are to get through this period and survive, much less prosper, tremendous sacrifices will have to be made. I plead to the DSO management and the musicians alike to settle this labor dispute before it's too late - for all of us.
Thomas E. Page
Letter e-mailed to Detroit News, February 22, 2011, regarding the Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike/lockout.
Dear Editor:
I'm fearful that we are witnessing the equivalent of a murder-suicide pact involving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra management and the striking musicians. And unfortunately, both parties, intentionally or not, are dragging down the very future of our community. Vibrant communities have a palate of cultural opportunities that are woven into the fabric of everyday life. A Symphony Orchestra is an integral part of that cultural fabric. In today's increasingly mobile society, we make choices about where we will live. And jobs are only part of what attracts people to live in a certain area. I moved back to Detroit after 25 years in Southern California. Frankly, if the DSO disbands and we are left without a world-class orchestra, I will rethink my commitment to this area. To many of us, culture isn't a luxury; rather, it's a necessity.
We are in a "bite-the-bullet" period. Our automobile industry - primary sponsors of our cultural institutions - nearly disappeared. Michigan, along with many other states (witness Wisconsin) are having to make some very difficult budgetary choices. If we are to get through this period and survive, much less prosper, tremendous sacrifices will have to be made. I plead to the DSO management and the musicians alike to settle this labor dispute before it's too late - for all of us.
Thomas E. Page
Monday, February 21, 2011
I e-mailed the following letter to the Detroit Free Press. The letter is in reference to last night and today's major snow/ice storm.
Dear editor:
Those who doubt the need for a rail link from downtown Detroit to the Airport need only contemplate the results of Monday's snow emergency. Many freeway entrances and exits are closed due to accumulations of ice, snow, and vehicle crashes. As a result, many can't get to the airport in time to make their flights. And woe is the person who arrives at the airport expecting a family member or friend to pick them up. I hope it's not just wishful thinking to expect the Detroit region to join other cities and finally build an efficient commuter train system that connects with a Woodward Avenue, M1, light rail. If this region is to regain any economic vibrancy, mass transit is a must.
Here's the letter that was actually published in the February 23, 2011 paper:
Stuck in snow? It’s why we need transit
Those who doubt the need for a rail link from downtown Detroit to Metro Airport need only contemplate the results of Monday’s snow emergency.
Many freeway entrances and exits were closed due to ice, snow and vehicle crashes. Many could not get to the airport in time to make their flights. And woe the people who arrive at the airport expecting family members or friends to pick them up.
I hope it’s not wishful thinking to expect the Detroit region to join other cities and finally build an efficient commuter train system that connects with a Woodward Avenue M1 light rail system. If this region is to regain any economic vibrancy, mass transit is a must.
Thomas E. Page Detroit
Dear editor:
Those who doubt the need for a rail link from downtown Detroit to the Airport need only contemplate the results of Monday's snow emergency. Many freeway entrances and exits are closed due to accumulations of ice, snow, and vehicle crashes. As a result, many can't get to the airport in time to make their flights. And woe is the person who arrives at the airport expecting a family member or friend to pick them up. I hope it's not just wishful thinking to expect the Detroit region to join other cities and finally build an efficient commuter train system that connects with a Woodward Avenue, M1, light rail. If this region is to regain any economic vibrancy, mass transit is a must.
Here's the letter that was actually published in the February 23, 2011 paper:
Stuck in snow? It’s why we need transit
Those who doubt the need for a rail link from downtown Detroit to Metro Airport need only contemplate the results of Monday’s snow emergency.
Many freeway entrances and exits were closed due to ice, snow and vehicle crashes. Many could not get to the airport in time to make their flights. And woe the people who arrive at the airport expecting family members or friends to pick them up.
I hope it’s not wishful thinking to expect the Detroit region to join other cities and finally build an efficient commuter train system that connects with a Woodward Avenue M1 light rail system. If this region is to regain any economic vibrancy, mass transit is a must.
Thomas E. Page Detroit
Writing on the Wall: Places: Design Observer
Writing on the Wall: Places: Design Observer
Interesting slide show of Detroit signs. But...I find myself becoming increasingly irritated by suburbanites who gain fame and money by their association with the City of Detroit. David Clements certainly takes some great photos. He also has some street cred since he formerly lived in the Cass Corridor. But he left the city for the pseudo-city of Royal Oak.
Interesting slide show of Detroit signs. But...I find myself becoming increasingly irritated by suburbanites who gain fame and money by their association with the City of Detroit. David Clements certainly takes some great photos. He also has some street cred since he formerly lived in the Cass Corridor. But he left the city for the pseudo-city of Royal Oak.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Here's my severely edited Detroit Press letter on the Michigan individual price sticker law. This letter appeared in the Sunday Free Press, February 6, 2011.
Get smarter on pricing
I support the governor's efforts to put to rest the anachronistic individual price sticker law. Really, are Michiganders and Bay Staters (Massachusetts residents) the only people too stupid to read the posted price above the items?
If the individual pricing law is repealed, prices could go down. Profits could go up -- a good thing. More people could be hired to perform meaningful jobs, rather than languish in make-work jobs with no future.
Thomas E. Page
Detroit
Get smarter on pricing
I support the governor's efforts to put to rest the anachronistic individual price sticker law. Really, are Michiganders and Bay Staters (Massachusetts residents) the only people too stupid to read the posted price above the items?
If the individual pricing law is repealed, prices could go down. Profits could go up -- a good thing. More people could be hired to perform meaningful jobs, rather than languish in make-work jobs with no future.
Thomas E. Page
Detroit
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