Two Michigan law makers want to require the Chief to be state certified

Letter to the Editor, Detroit, News,

Re: Mich. lawmakers want to require police chiefs to be certified as officers, October 30, 2013

Dear Editor:

This "controversy" is much ado about nothing. Chief Craig has 36 years of experience in Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, ME, and Cincinnati. As Chief of Police, he serves primarily in an administrative, policy-setting role. And he's extremely qualified to do just that. I applaud him for being determined to become State certified, but I think his time could better be spent being Chief. Since law-makers (like State Senators Virgil Smith and Coleman Young Jr.) make laws, maybe they should be required to be lawyers, right? 

Thomas E. Page

Letter to Free Press regarding the Detroit Council rejecting a 30 year lease of Belle Isle

Re: Rochelle Riley's column, Sunday, October 20, 2013, "Detroit is Pure Michigan, too"

Dear editor:

By first refusing to even put the Governor's proposed lease of Belle Isle to a council vote, and now by rejecting a 30-year lease, the Detroit City Council has successfully destroyed any remaining goodwill by the people of Michigan.  I doubt that any other jurisdiction in Michigan, a super-ceding democracy by the way, would look a "gift horse" in the mouth as the Council did. The Governor's proposed lease would allow the City to retain ownership of Belle Isle. It would relieve the City of all expenses related to maintaining it, much less improving it. Detroit Police Officers would be freed up to perform duties where people live and work.  Making Belle Isle a State Park would likely increase property values, and taxes, in the adjacent neighborhoods. Restaurants and other shops would open to cater to an increase in visitors.  Bicyclists would be able to ride to, from, and on the Isle without dodging broken glass. 

Detroit may be "Pure Michigan," as Rochelle Riley writes. But the actions of the Detroit City Council in rejecting the lease are pure sophistry.

Thomas E. Page

Belle Isle Lease - Watson calls it a "rape"

Letter to the Detroit Free Press on this topic.

October 3, 2013

About the only thing that would thrill me more than the State leasing Belle Isle from the City would be for Councilwoman Watson to immediately resign from the Council. November can't come soon enough. Watson took demagoguery to a new low when she called the lease a "rape" of the City.

I applaud the Governor, Mr. Orr, and Mayor Bing for coming to a win-win agreement to manage Belle Isle. As a regular cyclist on Belle Isle, I look forward to the day when I don't have to constantly steer clear of broken glass in the roadway.  

Thomas E. Page

State to lease Belle Isle from the City!

I sent the following letter to the Detroit News in response to the article announcing the lease of Belle Isle to the State of Michigan.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131001/METRO01/310010072/1486/metro08/Belle-Isle-run-state-park-will-get-10M-redo

Dear Editor:

I completely support the lease of Belle Isle to the State of Michigan. And I thank Governor Snyder and Emergency Manager Orr for moving forward on this win-win agreement. Unfortunately, some City Council members continue to espouse the ridiculous point of view that this lease is attempt by the State to steal the City's jewels. The City hasn't done a good job of maintaining, much less improving, Belle Isle for many years. I am a regular user of Belle Isle, usually on a bicycle. I am hopeful that this lease will lead to regular and continuous sweeping of broken glass from the Belle Isle bridge and the paths on the Isle itself.  Hopefully, the City will use the $6 million dollars it annually (supposedlLy) spent on Belle Isle maintenance to improve other parks, such as Chandler Park and Rouge Park. 

I am as excited by the prospect of an improved Belle Isle as I am by the prospect of a new City Council in November! I will relish the day that the leader of the "Gang of No," Councilwoman Joann Watson, leaves the City Council.

Thomas E. Page