Local Newspapers Condemn Ridiculous Retaliatory Recalls!

Shelby Township residents are learning the truth about the current recall rage, and increasingly don’t like what they hear about the motives of the self-described “saviors” of Shelby.  Given the importance of this topic, we decided to pass along some additional viewpoints.

Two local newspapers, the Macomb Daily and the Oakland Press, went on record recently declaring that the Shelby Township recall is a ridiculous waste of time and a disservice to township residents.

We have reprinted both editorials below.  Clearly, those handful of people in our township who are pushing the recall enterprise (we highlighted the culprits previously) have found themselves on the wrong side.  The court of public opinion finds these individuals “guilty” of wasting time and energy -- not to mention THOUSANDS of precious taxpayer dollars IF they manage to collect enough petition signatures to force an election.

Interestingly, those pushing this recall love to gripe about government spending.  Township spending has certainly been a problem in years past, especially under the previous Supervisor, Mr. Maccarone.  However, the current Board of Trustees has done a commendable job of controlling and cutting spending.  It appears that some people just complain to see themselves on TV.

Since a recall election is (conservatively) estimated by our township Clerk to cost around $30,000, we demand that Mr. Delise and like-minded recall fanatics tell us what they will cut from the township budget to get this $30,000 (or more)?

Perhaps they support cutting funds from police protection?  Maybe they support cutting money from our township’s fire and EMS services?  What about cutting money from local roads, bike paths and sidewalks?  Hey, why not cut parks and recreation programs?  Perhaps they want to cut programs and activities for Shelby’s youth and senior citizens?

Since there is no endless pot of money, since Shelby Township’s share of state revenue sharing dollars keeps dwindling, and since property taxes are falling with the decline in housing values (as a result of the Wall Street mess) where would they get the money for their pet project?  If they don’t want to cut, or can’t provide a coherent plan of where to cut, then where will they get the money?  Higher taxes?

Here are the two editorials mentioned above...enjoy!

MACOMB DAILY
Recalls should be limited to corruption or malfeasance
Published: Tuesday, December 07, 2010

It continues to amaze us how a few political activists want to make a mockery of local government.

We're not talking about those who appear before city councils, township boards or boards of education to express their concerns over particular issues. Those elected should consider it a privilege to hear from their constituents. And those expressing their views certainly have a right to be heard.

In our representative government, we should all be concerned with how our elected officials are serving us. And certainly, as the Tea Party has shown us this year in state and national elections, we can vote against those with whom we disagree.

The problem, however, is with those who want to use their rights to disrupt government. And any vote they disagree with will result in an attempt to recall the officeholders.

We've seen such actions across Macomb County, from its southern tier to northern New Haven.

The current hotbed of threatened recalls is Shelby Township, where the rights of the electorate are being misrepresented by a few misguided activists.

In the last few weeks, recall petition language was filed against Treasurer Paul Viar and Trustee Lisa Manzella.

Viar is the latest, targeted because he voted to approve a land rezoning for apartments. But he shouldn't feel alone. All seven Shelby Township officials either are subjects of active recall efforts or have been targeted in the past several months.

Township Supervisor Richard Stathakis, Clerk Terri Kowal and Trustee Manzella face active recall efforts. Recall language was previously rejected twice against Viar and Trustees Paula Filar, Michael Flynn and Douglas Wozniak.

Seeking approval of recall petition language is only the first step. If the Macomb County Elections Commission deems the language clear, those seeking a recall then have 90 days to collect signatures equal to or greater than 25 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in the community's most recent statewide election.

In Shelby Township, the minimum number is 6,318. If certified, residents would then vote to determine whether the officials should remain in office.

Most recall efforts never get to the voters, which is reason enough for us to think that most are started only in retaliation.

A concerned and intelligent electorate, however, should realize that recalls should be limited to those elected officials guilty of corruption or malfeasance. Other issues can wait for the next scheduled election.

OAKLAND PRESS
Another example of a wasteful recall effort
Published: Tuesday, December 15, 2010
 
It continues to amaze us how a few political activists want to make a mockery of local government.

We’re not talking about those who appear before city councils, township trustees or boards of education to express their concerns over particular issues. Those elected should consider it a privilege to hear from their constituents. And those expressing their views certainly have a right to be heard.

In our representative government, we should all be concerned with how our elected officials are serving us. And certainly, as the Tea Party has shown us this year in state and national elections, we can vote against those with whom we disagree.

The problem, however, is with those who want to use their rights to disrupt government. And any vote they disagree with will result in an attempt to recall the officeholders.

We’ve seen such actions in the past in Oakland County and currently we witnessed some activity in Macomb County that warrants comment.

The current hotbed of threatened recalls is just next door to Oakland County in Shelby Township, where the rights of the electorate appear to be being misrepresented by a few misguided activists.

In the past few weeks, recall petition language was filed against Treasurer Paul Viar and Trustee Lisa Manzella.

Viar is the latest, targeted because he voted to approve a land rezoning for apartments. But he shouldn’t feel alone.

All seven Shelby Township officials either are subjects of active recall efforts or have been targeted in the past several months.

Township Supervisor Richard Stathakis, Clerk Terri Kowal and Trustee Manzella face active recall efforts. Recall language was previously rejected twice against Viar and Trustees Paula Filar, Michael Flynn and Douglas Wozniak.

Seeking approval of recall petition language is only the first step. If the Macomb County Elections Commission deems the language clear, those seeking a recall then have 90 days to collect signatures equal to or greater than 25 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in the community’s most recent statewide election.

In Shelby Township, the minimum number is 6,318. If the petitions are certified, residents would then vote to determine whether the officials should remain in office.

Recalling a political leader is a legitimate way to oust him before his term expires. Representatives who are not doing their jobs or who have tainted their positions because of criminal and/or immoral conduct deserve to lose their seats.

But conducting a recall effort because you don’t like the way a leader voted is petty.

Yes, it’s legal but it’s still a waste of time and money — we can’t stress that enough.

Politics is the name of the game, whether on the local level or on to the State Legislature and Congress.

We may be too idealistic — and maybe even unrealistic — but our local communities are facing some tough fiscal times in not just Oakland and Macomb but throughout the state. Why can’t those active in recalls work with the officials to try to improve the community?

Limit recalls to those elected officials guilty of corruption or malfeasance. Other issues can wait for the next scheduled election.

===

Both the Macomb Daily and Oakland Press deserve praise for calling out those who are playing political games with Michigan’s recall statute.

Until next time...

Who Is Pulling the Strings of the Shelby Recall Enterprise?

Recall addicts and fanatics ... UNITE!

You really gotta' love the internet.  This tool (invented by Al Gore ;-) has forever transformed our world.  Computers and the internet impact our lives everyday — from our schools, to our workplaces, to our private lives.  The internet even impacts the way our elected officials govern, the way people receive and transmit information and the way we communicate with each other.

The internet has also served as an important research tool for people (like us). It gives us instant access to information that would have previously been unavailable, or would have taken days, weeks or months to compile.

Right now, there is talk about recalls going on in Shelby Township.  One recall fanatic, Tom Delise, is targeting four duly-elected members of the Board of Trustees: Supervisor Rick Stathakis, Treasurer Paul Viar, and Trustees Mike Flynn and Doug Wozniak.  While Mr. Delise has been the so-called public face of the recall, attempting to get his name printed in as many newspapers as he possibly can, we have often believed there were others who are the REAL people behind this.

The people pushing the latest recall claim to be just a bunch of ordinary citizens.  They claim to be independent with no political agendas or township connections at all.  Really?  Sorry, but we have never believed this BS, and now we have solid evidence to back up our beliefs.

Thanks to the internet, we have a list of people who are busily working to recall members of our township Board.  Clearly, this is no ordinary family.  These are people with clear political agendas and a biased mission to destroy the credibility and reputation of our township officials.  Some of these people don't even live in Shelby Township.  Yet they have signed on to recall of OUR elected officials. Obviously, these people don't truly care about Shelby Township.  They care only about their own political interests.

The recall addicts have engaged in gossip politics and rumor mongering to spread their negative message.  One of the resources they like to use is the social media site Facebook.  Don't these people realize that exposing yourself like this risks exposing your true motives?

The link on the right has the list of "friends" of the so-called Save Shelby Facebook page as of today.  Click on the screen capture to see a larger version of this.

Among the many so-called “friends” listed on this Facebook page, below are some of the more commonly-known ones:

Terri Kowal – Well, well, well ... Clerk Terri Kowal has thrown her support to these recall addicts.  Why would Mrs. Kowal, who claims to want to promote “teamwork” with other Trustees, support this contrived recall? Ask her about this next time you see her, and don’t buy her “I just want information” spin.  Shame on you Mrs. Kowal!

Lisa Manzella – While we may be shocked that Mrs. Manzella would overtly sign on with these recall addicts, we are not surprised.  Ever since her close friend and adviser Skip Maccarone lost in 2008, Manzella has been working to undercut the current administration.  Is she still stinging from the public rebuke of her “justice center” or is she just playing dirty politics?”

Laura Porter – Laura is employed as the court administrator at the 41A District Court.  She is a close friend of Trustee Lisa Manzella. Porter is hopping mad because the township is not going to build a brand new (and expensive) court building.  Hey Laura, unless you haven’t heard, Shelby Township doesn’t have the money!  Porter will deny this is motivating her support of the recall, but let’s look at some facts.
   The August 24, 2008 edition of the Source printed a front page story entitled: “Justice Center: Delayed or Denied?”   We won’t bore you with all the text, but here is an excerpt which speaks volumes:
  [Laura] Porter was involved on the committee with Manzella, [District Judge] Shepherd, [Police Chief] Leman and others to discuss the construction of the new facility [Justice Center].  At a June 17 [2008] meeting of the Shelby Township Board of Trustees, a panel of experts was invited to speak about the financial status of the township and whether the facility could be constructed using funds from the police and court departments.  Discussion, however, was tabled in order to deal with a report that projected a deficit in the township general fund whether or not the center was built.
   “It was said at that meeting that we would still be facing a deficit whether we built that building or not.  We had a lot of paid experts there that weren’t able to speak and help clarify the fact that we could afford that building,” said Manzella
   Porter said she felt much the same way and acknowledged feeling deflated when discussion of the center was silenced.
   “I understand that (Maccarone) and the Board of Trustees have a responsibility to the budget and to the township’s finances,” she said.  “But I really went through the studies forward and backwards, and I agree with the people who wrote them – that the police and court departments have the money to fund this building.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:  It has since been PROVEN that the township could NEVER have afforded Lisa’s justice center – that is without higher taxes and fees on everyone.  Further, the court did not have money for its share of the justice center, and instead would have borrowed money from the police with a “promise” to pay it back.  The so-called “experts” who supported the Justice Center were WRONG!

Linda DeRocher Maccarone – This name should sound familiar, because she is the wife of Skip Maccarone.  No further explanation needed here.

Angela Marasco Freeman – Wife of Brent Freeman.  Mr. Freeman ran for Treasurer in 2008 and lost.  Given Brent’s political aspirations, why the Freeman family would openly associate with a contrived recall like this doesn’t make sense.  But then again, nothing that these people do makes much sense!

Jill Bleeda – Mrs. Bleeda is no stranger to recalls.  In 2009, she unsuccessfully tried to oust our township officials.  Now, she is back.  During her remarks at the January 18, 2011 Board of Trustees meeting, Mrs. Bleeda told residents to go to Save Shelby on Facebook for more information about the recall.  SO WE DID.  All we can say is THANK YOU Mrs. Bleeda.  Had you not alerted us to this site, we would never have the concrete evidence we do about who is really behind the recall.  Gracias Señiorita!

Chris Chalou-Troszak – Mrs. Troszak is the General Manager of the Advisor and Source newspapers.  You know, the paper that claims to be an independent and fair voice for our community.  Can the Source (or any newspaper) make such claims when the General Manager is openly supporting those seeking the ouster of elected officials in a township the newspaper reports about?

Marsha Nightingale – Mrs. Nightingale is a member of the Nightingale family, the company hired to do towing for the township.  The Nightingales were behind the first recall attempt.  Their hatred for the current Supervisor and Board lingers like a fart in an elevator.  Why are the Nightingales continuing their recall madness?  What is their real agenda?

Joe Manzella – Husband of Trustee Lisa Manzella.

Vito Manzella – Another member of the Manzella Bunch.

These are just some of the 44 “friends” (as of today 1/21/11) who have publicly joined this so-called Save Shelby mob.  If you know information about others on this list, please pass it along.

Since these self-anointed saviors are declaring that we need to “Save Shelby” we should ask them what exactly they are trying to save Shelby from?

(1) Township officials who are wisely cutting the budget without impacting vital services like police, fire and emergency medical protection.
(2) Township officials who wisely abandoned the reckless spending agenda of the previous supervisor.
(3) Township officials who are working to promote common sense in decisions that impact our lives and our pocketbooks decisions ignored by the last supervisor.
(4) Township officials who have rejected calls to raise taxes.  Yes, there have been some residents in our township who believe that the best way to solve the problems facing Shelby is with higher taxes.  Thankfully, these “tax and spend” experts do not currently sit on the Board of Trustees.
(5) Township officials who are taking forecasts of financial difficulties to heart, and not simply throwing these reports in a desk drawer to hide the truth from the people.
(6) Township officials who are properly addressing the issue of spacing for the police department by constructing a new police department without breaking the bank and forcing higher fees/taxes/bonds to build a massive “justice center.”
(7) Township officials who are properly providing for fire protection, and who are getting the same level of safety and protection for us at a lower cost, without jeopardizing the quality of emergency medical services provided to township taxpayers and business owners.
(8) Township officials who have streamlined the township's operations, reduced the township’s payroll through attrition, and are working with surrounding communities to share employees and services where possible to provide quality services as the lowest possible cost.
(9) Township officials who, through acceptance of reality and proper planning, have reduced overall township spending - something residents pushed for in 2008.
(10) Township officials who no longer view residents as a “peanut gallery” but who seriously listen to the people and work  to address our concerns to the best of their collective abilities.
(11) Township officials who have kept Shelby Township on a positive track, as other communities have been forced to cut services and/or raise taxes.  This is a remarkable achievement given the strains on our economy and the loss of revenue sharing money from the State of Michigan.
(12) Township officials who have replaced arrogance with acceptance, and who have involved residents in helping set priorities for township programs and activities.

Shelby Township residents have a right to speak their mind — and we have done so very effectively for decades.  We all have the right to our opinion - but we don't have the right to our own facts.  Just as we expect professionalism and courtesy from our township officials, residents should also demonstrate professionalism toward our township officials.  This is a two-way street.  Sadly, some township residents simply fail to understand this.

At the Tuesday, January 18th Board meeting, one resident actually spoke out complaining about the cost of ammunition for our police officers.  The township is, in his view, buying too much ammunition.  Sorry ... but rationing bullets for our police officers makes about as much sense as rationing health care for the people.  How can we expect our law enforcement officers to protect us if they have to constantly worry about only having two bullets in their gun.  How can we expect them to hit their target when it comes to using a weapon if they don't have adequate training.  What a ridiculous premise!

Residents still complain about spending money for the Fire Department.  After working very hard to cut costs and save township taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars, we couldn’t believe what we heard at the January 18th meeting.  One resident alleged that the Fire Department doesn't properly review its spending policies and, therefore, pays too much for equipment.  Really?  For example, the resident said our Fire Department paid too much for a jaws of life used to extricate people from auto accidents.  The cost was $37,000 and this resident believed it was too much.  We don’t know the cost of a jaws of life but we bet the Fire Chief does!  We will defer to his judgment on this. 

A former supervisor stood at the podium on January 18th to lecture the current Supervisor and Board about how things should be.  After going on for five minutes, and being notified that his time had expired, this Bottcher guy got mad (you could see it in his eyes).  He pushed back against Supervisor Stathakis, claiming (incorrectly) that he could speak as long as he wants to.  Supervisor Stathakis again (very courteously) told Bottcher that his time had expired.  “No Sir, I’m going to speak and you’re going to listen” was Bottcher’s terse reply.  Same old unprofessional Mr. Bottcher!  Shouldn’t the same rules of conduct that apply to the rest of us at Board of Trustees meetings also apply to Mr. Bottcher?

One resident actually came up to speak, and during his diatribe from the podium complained that he and some others were being denied their right to speak.  YAWN!

Free speech is a wonderful thing.  People are as free to be as informed, or as ill-informed, as they want to be on any issue.  We will be the first to defend an individual’s right to speak their mind, no matter how stupid or out-of-touch with reality he or she may be.  Giving a voice to everyone is what has made, and continues to make, America great!

Until next time, remember who is really behind this contrived recall enterprise.  And remember the REAL meaning of the word RECALL:
          R = Ridiculous
          E = Effort to
          C = Create
          A = Acrimony by
          L = Ludicrous
          L = Loudmouths