Time to Vote for the Future of Troy, Michigan!

The polls are open, the city's plows have cleared the streets as they always do with great dispatch, and so it's time to vote.  You've seen the signs, received the mailings, and likely received the robocalls.  They've been telling you that you'll be receiving a 29% tax increase if the measure passes.  This is not true.  Due to falling values, taxes will go down for most folks in the city -- unless you live in one of the few areas of the city where values have stayed the same or risen (lucky you).  Even then, it's still not a 29% tax increase -- but the opponent's math sounds so simple it must be true.  Unfortunately, that's not the way you figure the tax.  If you think you're going to get a big tax increase, before you vote, check with the assessor's office.  Oh, and just to note -- Bloomfield Township to our west has a 1.3% millage increase, while Sterling Heights to the East is contemplating one.  So, it's not as if Troy is alone in this.

You've been told that the workers should do with less, they are willing to take cuts, and many full time employees have been replaced with part-timers who don't receive benefits.  You've been told that the city government shouldn't be trusted (though even some of the opponents will admit that the city is well-run).  You've been told that the city can get along without the "non-essentials," such as the library, which saw over 600,000 patron visits last year.  

Maybe you've seen postings raising questions about the funding of the vote yes campaign -- suggesting that city employees are behind it.  Well, great, I'm glad they love the city they serve.  What we don't know is who is funding the vote no campaign.
So, I've had my rant.  As for me and my house, we are voting yes, because we value the services this city provides.  We may not use them all, but we're glad they are present in the community.  This is why our family moved to this community -- it provided a high quality of life at an affordable price!  Finally, let me say, that the difference between public services and those of the private sector is that they are open to all and provided at a level most all can afford.  I'm voting yes, because I'm committed to the common good of all.  



Comments

Anonymous said…
Maybe the city shouldn't have plowed the streets just to show the people what it would be like if this milage doesn't go through :)
Mrs.DavidMc
Anonymous said…
The information on who made contributions to both sides is easily available (and has been posted), on Facebook pages. Did you miss that? The information is there, and is no 'mystery. Do you need me to provide the link here? It's disingenious to say the information about who funded the 'no' campaign is a mystery. It's just as available as who contributed to the yes campaign.

And I continue to question you because I think you should focus on religion, not politics. VOTE NO!
Robert Cornwall said…
Anonymous -- Do I not live in the community? If so, then surely I have the right to speak out. I'm not speaking from my pulpit or from the church web site -- I'm speaking from a separate venue. If you note the disclaimer, I do not claim to represent the congregation on these pages.

As for the funding -- both sides have their funders. Both have their agendas. My concern is with the community I live in. So, I'll vote yes. Or does the fact that I'm clergy prevent me from doing that as well?
Anonymous said…
Of course you can vote, but in the typical fashion exhibited on both sides of the aisle, your initial diatribe today inplied that funding for the 'no' position was a mystery when in fact it is not.. why would you post that, when it is in fact untrue? Again, I can provide links to the campaign finance information for BOTH sides which is available from Oakland County. If you just want to admit you are misinformed and didn't know that information was available that's ok too, but I suspect you will not.
And again you use 'as a member of the clergy' even though you say you are speaking from a seperate venue. You keep mixing both together, so is it one, or the other, or in fact both? As a pastor, you should set an example regarding truth.
Robert Cornwall said…
Dear Anonymous,

I need to add something here. I have allowed you to continue to post here even though you do not identify yourself. I know that Dave Lambert has required full identification, but I've not done that.

I don't know who you are, what your agenda is, etc. That is fine. But wouldn't it be more honest to be out front with one's identity? Especially if one is continually questioning the integrity of the other.

Finally, I did a bit of googling, and I've yet to find any information on who is backing Troy Citizen's United, except that it's connected to the campaigns of one of the city council members -- who is supposed to be a Libertarian, and thus is opposed to almost all government functions, beyond police and fire. That is fine, but I wish people were more upfront.

After today we'll know the future -- and maybe the city we know will be no more. If drastic cuts in services are made, it surely won't be the city to which I moved 20 months ago.
Robert Cornwall said…
Dear Anonymous,

I need to add something here. I have allowed you to continue to post here even though you do not identify yourself. I know that Dave Lambert has required full identification, but I've not done that.

I don't know who you are, what your agenda is, etc. That is fine. But wouldn't it be more honest to be out front with one's identity? Especially if one is continually questioning the integrity of the other.

Finally, I did a bit of googling, and I've yet to find any information on who is backing Troy Citizen's United, except that it's connected to the campaigns of one of the city council members -- who is supposed to be a Libertarian, and thus is opposed to almost all government functions, beyond police and fire. That is fine, but I wish people were more upfront.

After today we'll know the future -- and maybe the city we know will be no more. If drastic cuts in services are made, it surely won't be the city to which I moved 20 months ago.
Anonymous said…
I'll choose to remain anonymous. Shut me down if you want, that wouldn't be unexpected, wouldn't be very Christian, but not unexpected. People don't like criticism but, it shows their makeup if they choose to take it, or run from it. Everyone has an 'agenda' including you, otherwise you wouldnt be doing this. People throw 'agenda' out like it's a bad thing. It's not. My agenda is to demand responsible government, avoid placing additional tax burden on homeowners who may have already had enough in these tough economic times, and, for purposes of your blog, suggest that mixing religion and politics is not necessarily a good idea.

For your information here are the 2 links:
Keep Troy Safe (vote yes)
http://courts.oakgov.com/cfrs/iDocuments.php?iCommitteeID=9850&cmdOk=View+Campaign+Statements

Troy Citizens United (vote NO)
http://courts.oakgov.com/cfrs/iDocuments.php?iCommitteeID=9727&cmdOk=View+Campaign+Statements

Hope this helps.

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