Rezoning “Skip Flip” Illustrates Maccarone’s Hypocricy In Supporting Current Recall

When you think about the current recall attempt there is one political name that immediately comes to mind:  Ralph “Skip” Maccarone. Feeling the heat from residents opposed to the recall, Maccarone has tried to make the case that criticisms of him are off base because he is a private citizen.

Skip’s wife Linda is a documented and determined Save Shelby recall fanatic.  Skip publicly supported the ouster of current township officials in a written editorial in the Source newspaper.  Since Mr. and Mrs. Maccarone have been heavily involved in the political recall attack, they are both fair game for critics.

Skip and his new BFF Rick Bottcher launched their attack against Supervisor Stathakis to try and lend some credibility to the recall.  Shelby residents we have spoken to were emphatic that the Maccarone/Bottcher reunion had the opposite effect.  It highlighted the recall for what it is: a vengeful power grab by people who want to go back to the future.

Residents who read the Maccarone/Bottcher “joint” editorial in the Source came away with one clear impression: rezonings are no good.  That was the theme of the Bottcher/Maccarone Source attack.  One could say that Skip Maccarone was trying to lead us to believe that he is better than the current Supervisor, because he would never support a rezoning idea that township residents opposed.  Right?

Thinking back to when Skip Maccarone was Supervisor:
• Didn’t Skip have a huge rezoning issue come up during his first year in office?
• Didn’t Skip support a rezoning change vehemently opposed by neighboring residents?
• Didn’t Maccarone flip-flop from being against a rezoning to being an enthusiastic advocate?

You betcha!!!

However, the recall gang that claims to want to save Shelby thinks what Skip did back then doesn’t matter now because he supports their recall.  As the Save Shelby group has already made clear, past actions by public officials have no meaning today.  “True or not, it is high time some folks realize that what happened in the past is not the issue that is effecting the Township today,” is what Save Shelby recall advocate Valarie Alspaugh recently said.

The massive rezoning/consent judgment at the northeast corner of 26 and Van Dyke (just north of Pearson Street) was a hot issue for Skip Maccarone.  During the 2000 election, Maccarone told residents to their face that he would never support that rezoning.  That pledge helped win him votes.  However, shortly after he won the election Maccarone did a political “Skip Flip” and supported the rezoning.  This was a violation of a promise that went against the wishes of township residents.

For months afterwards, Maccarone took a spiteful and angry tone with anyone from Pearson Street who spoke at Board meetings against his rezoning.  Skip belittled residents as he stared over the top of his glasses (see photo above), called taxpayers names, tried to intimidate people so they would not come up to speak, and declared that anyone who disagreed with him was “sorely misinformed.”

Skip’s “I know best” theme became a hallmark of his eight years in office.  His superiority complex culminated with his outrageous plan to spend $50 million more dollars on new buildings, paid for by new bonds, without a vote of township residents.  “We were elected to make decisions like this,” is what Skip said about his plan.  Trustee Lisa Manzella agreed with Maccarone.  However, Shelby Township residents disagreed with this enormous bond and spend plan, and in 2008 we told Skip enough is enough and sent him on his way.

When the 26 and Van Dyke rezoning came up during a Board of Trustees meeting in 2001, we remember how residents who live along Pearson Street came out to protest.  Despite public comments against it, Maccarone pushed the rezoning.  This did not sit well with Pearson residents who were forced to endure a major disruption to their lives.

The Board of Trustees meeting in question was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2001.  The issue that residents were angry about was the 26 and Van Dyke rezoning/consent judgment.  We are happy that these resident comments were transcribed and preserved for the last 10 years.  You see, it does pay to save things like this just in case somebody, someday tries to rewrite history.

Reading the comments below by three Pearson Street residents, you will see how outraged they were at Skip Maccarone’s advocacy for the rezoning that he promised he would not support.
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Caroline Spitz
I am also very disappointed about the decision this Board made to allow 27 acres of residential property to be developed as a C-3 and C-4 commercial nightmare.  I found it very strange that our community’s source of information, the Source newspaper, would diminish the importance of this decision by first not even mentioning it in the April 22nd edition – the edition following the decision.  But further having it buried in an article the second week.

Not even calling for comments from the Board members that opposed the decision, or the residents, or anybody else — just Mr. Maccarone.  And his comment was a 180 degree turn from everything he said this whole past year.  Now all of this is good for the community.  And maybe some of the other readers were as confused as I was about his other comment about this recreational area being a positive edition to this part of the township.  Thanks, but no thanks, to the tot lot.  It hardly measures up to the hundreds of recreational areas that we have a half mile away from that spot at Stoney Creek Metro Park.  The tot lot’s not going to cut it.

I am also frightened by the way this Board is forced to make decisions with guns pointing at their heads.  The entire Board just sat here until the motion was dragged out and declared a failure.  It was obvious that none of you were proud of your decision.  Except for Mrs. Filar and Mr. Carabelli, we thank you very much for seeing through the eyes of the residents and maintaining your campaign promises. 

Following this decision, one of my neighbors contacted Mr. Maccarone and in their discussion he was told that sometimes we should just trust our elected officials to know what is best for our township.  That statement will forever haunt me, because that’s exactly what we did.  We trusted each and every one of you that told us for the last year:  Don’t even worry about it, this project doesn’t stand a chance; and its a shame; and I could never support a project of this scale; and this is a bedroom community; and this is just too intense.  All of you said these things, and we believed you and we trusted you.  There will not be any more trust in our officials.  Thanks to those of you whose actions in the end spoke louder than the empty promises you made.

Not only did you misrepresent yourselves on this 26 Mile development, but you opened the door to all other developers to come in and take over regardless of zoning, density concerns, or the wants and needs of the Shelby residents.

I would also like to take this opportunity to respond to the name-calling of the residents.  I didn’t appreciate being called a member of the “peanut gallery.”  This meeting room is a place for all residents to come in to voice their opinions and support each other in our concerns.  It’s not a court room, we’re not criminals, we have opinions, and we have concerns — concerns of the heart.  They affect us personally, and we are emotional about them. 

If some of you would go home and watch this meeting, watch how many times you snicker, or roll your eyes, or shrug your shoulders at residents or other Board members that are not completely 100% on board with your thoughts.  You should set the example.  We are not the “peanut gallery.”  We are residents with concerns.  It was disrespectful and it comes from our hearts when we’re up here and we’re supporting each other. 

This was a miserable decision, it’s been a miserable year, and it was an even worse let down…followed by that comment.

Beth Loran
…and since I can’t clap my hands, I will verbally applaud my neighbor. 

To relate to this Board the disappointment, and the shock, of your decision and your comments two weeks ago and since in the paper would be totally impossible.  My comments I refer to are to the vote that you took after closed session on April 17th.  To call us a peanut gallery, Mr. Maccarone, was totally uncalled for and very unprofessional for a man of your caliber, as your claim. 

Point of clarification too, for your benefit, the newspaper reading that you referred to last week in your comments to Mr. Spitz, were basically to myself.  I was re-reading the most recent issue of our Shelby Source with reference to the Board’s previous denial to the rezoning of the 26 and Van Dyke property.  I believe it was the May 6th meeting. 

I wanted to make sure that before I approached this podium and spoke, which for over a year now I have referred to as an honor to be able to speak, I wanted to make sure that I had all of your points for denial correct.  Heaven forbid that I may incorrectly speak or change wording to suit my own benefit.

For months you encouraged us to speak our voice and support each other.  But suddenly you’re attempting to stifle our applauding and encouraging our neighbors.  I believe, Mr. Chairman, that you violated our right of free speech and expression.  Your attempt to quiet the audience, along with the loud, boisterous closed session which followed, leads us to wonder how you choose to handle confrontations.  The pounding of tables and the yelling at each other that we heard sitting in this room, were not the positive attributes you campaigned under last summer.  Or in which I feel are proper for the Supervisor, elected officials, or Trustees of a very prominent Michigan township. 

I am so embarrassed to think that those same elected officials of my neighbors and myself could, and eventually did, tuck tail and give in to the threats and shady promises of big developers.  Each and every one of you sitting here tonight are on record of being in opposition of this high dense, overkill development within Shelby Township over this past year.  Mr. Chairman, you and Mrs. Kowal each sat in my home and told us last summer, that development of this magnitude would never come to pass in Shelby Township.  You claimed to see smaller stores on these blueprints two weeks ago.  The only thing we see smaller is our confidence and support in our Board of Trustees. 

You agreed unanimously on March 7th that this was not consistent with the township’s adopted Master plan; it was out of scale with the needs of the township at this location; Kirco never showed that the property couldn’t be developed as currently zoned, which you requested numerous times; and that there was never sufficient transition to the residents on the south side of Pearson; and that the growth and development patterns within the community in this particular area did not justify it.  What happened?  What did Kirco development and Mt. Clemens General Hospital offer the Board members of this township?  In my opinion, nothing was received to benefit the township. 

According to the newest plans presented two weeks ago, the lot sizes are smaller than presented on the 27th, not larger, as reported in the Shelby Source.  Also, it doesn’t meet the township’s required parking space ordinances, as the plan shows they are nearly 200 spaces short of what’s required.  And today, the most popular vehicle purchased are SUV’s which even make our parking spaces harder to get in and out of.  If we are already 200 spaces short, how can we getnship’s required parking space ordinances, as the plan shows they are nearly 200 spaces short of what’s required.  And today, the most popular vehicle purchased are SUV’s which even make our parking spaces harder to get in and out of.  If we are already 200 spaces short, how can we get away with that. 

You seem so pleased to be receiving this tot lot on the corner of our street and Van Dyke.  Yet, who in their right minds would allow their children to play at that location.  With the shopping center parking lot to one side, and a busy intersection on the other, which will soon be five lanes.  In my opinion, those shopping at the stores will be first dropping off their children to play unsupervised, which is already what Kirco has told us.  That the dads would be dropping their wives off to shop at Kohl’s and Target, while they go on over to Home Depot. 

Plus, since Kirco so graciously will be deeding back this tot lot to the Parks and Recreation Department, my tax dollars are now going to be paying for the maintenance and upkeep of it.  I don’t see that the residents of Shelby Township received anything of benefit except for, as you told me yourself Mr. Supervisor, the added strain and burden on our police and fire stations; the added traffic that our roads already cannot handle. 

Two weeks ago, I advised you of the article that quoted the CEO of Home Depot himself that they will be quoting 40 stores over the nation in this next year.  According to the information given to me by current employees at other locations in our area, this store had already been pulled from Home Depot’s plans.  Kirco stated that Home Depot was the deciding foundation store for all the others to sign on the line and commit themselves.  Did you rush this going in before going to court, just to satisfy and protect Kirco, insuring their contract with these larger stores?

Also, imagine our shock now to learn that the Pearson Street residents will be required to pay an assessment to bring sewer lines down our street.  Those of us at the west end paid dearly for engineered septic fields for our homes. 

The vote taken two weeks ago gravely effect those of us living in this township.  For many years, my family alone has been here 13 years Mr. Supervisor, unlike your family of three years.  Even in my anger, I would still like to stop and thank Mrs. Filar and Mr. Carabelli for voting as the voice of this township, and their conscience.  You did not give in to being bullied or voting against your record.  Your honesty and your backbone are to be commended.  I honestly wish, and feel, though Mr. Holmes that if you felt you had a gun to your head, that you could have voted with your fellow members. 

Honestly, I have lost all faith in this Board.  The reversal of the Ambassador issue at 25 and Van Dyke, due to high density, followed by the approval of the Shelby Creek project, of even more density, along with the circus proceedings of tonight, have opened the door to all developers to come in and do exactly whatever they feel. 

In my opinion, Shelby Township has lost credibility in all of Michigan.

Bill Spitz
This is regarding the 26 Mile and Van Dyke development that you guys suddenly decided to go for.  I just find it very unusual how after one closed session, five of the board members broke their promise to the community that this would not happen.  Those promises you made to us during your campaigns, at our homes, in front of our families, at the township hall, and even at my church.  Shame on you. 

We campaigned for you people, and we reached over 500 registered voters for you.  I wish I would have known then what I know now.  Mr. Maccarone, you told us you weren’t afraid of court, that you haven’t lost a case yet.  Why didn’t this enter the legal system?  After one closed session, Kirco got all they wanted, everything they asked for.  Where was the lawsuit?  How can you settle it so quickly?  Surely, this is an unusual situation.

Any comments from anybody?  I didn’t think so.

I would like to read something that I read earlier, recently.  I’d like to read this to you.  In American history and constitutional law, the term Bill of Rights usually signifies the first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the United States.  More precisely, the first eight of them specify certain basic freedoms and procedural safeguards of which the individual may not be deprived by governmental power.  Taken together these specified freedoms and protections are the core of the American civil liberty, and provide the constitutional basis for judicial protection of the rights of an individual.

Of particular importance, are the provisions of the First Amendment: freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.  People must have freedom to communicate their ideas and to promote their views because only informed and involved citizens can make the American system of representative government work.  First amendment protects the rights of all U.S. citizens to express their thoughts — be it verbal, written and including clapping.

Mr. Maccarone, two weeks ago you said you think of Shelby residents who clap at meetings as a “peanut gallery” and as a circus.  I am very offended by this.  In my opinion you acted like a dictator to us – and this is America.  This peanut (Mr. Spitz hands Skip a peanut), Mr. Maccarone, is to remind you of your commitment to the people of Shelby Township that you apparently have chosen to ignore and think of as only a peanut.
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When he spoke during the televised Meet the Candidates forum on July 18, 2000, then candidate Skip Maccarone made some very interesting statements.  We have reprinted some of these below:

“I will neither cause nor permit disrespectful conduct aimed at citizens.”
   How respectful did Pearson Street residents feel when he called them the peanut gallery? How much respect did he show when someone did not say what he wants to hear and he ignores them or stares them down?  Is screaming at a board member at the top of his lungs respectful?

“I’m not looking to encourage development that isn’t wanted by our people.”
   At the work session (televised) on the 26 mile and Van Dyke piece that Mrs. Spitz references – Skip was indeed encouraging that huge development. 

“We have to have the courage to say no to developers from time to time to get them to shape our projects to what our residents want.”
   Where was his courage to say no to Kirco.  Maccarone folded after the very first time it came to the Board as part of a consent judgment.

“If the Downtown area were to be built today it would bankrupt the community.”
   The plan Skip publicly condemned at this forum was an award-winning design concept for the 24 and Van Dyke quadrant.  This plan would have been developed by private business using private money, not public sector township tax dollars.  How would that bankrupt our township?
   Skip said the 24/Van Dyke concept plan was a lousy idea.  However, Skip’s overpriced “campus” plan, introduced a few years later, to spend $50 million of new bonds/taxes on public buildings (using public tax dollars) was a terrific idea.  When you consider the true cost, the Maccarone/Manzella “campus” plan is the one that would have bankrupted our township - and that’s why residents rose up and said NO to Skip’s “campus.”

Skip Maccarone’s new-found opposition to rezonings underscores true hypocrisy.  He supported over 50 rezonings during his term.  By comparison, the current Board has approved only three rezonings and yet Maccarone has the cynical sense to publicly condemn our current Trustees.  Has Skip conveniently forgotten his track record?  Or is it that Skip’s rezoning record doesn’t matter anymore since he has joined forces with the recall gang?

Considering his “Skip Flip” on the 26 and Van Dyke rezoning, his advocacy of a $50 million campus spending proposal (without a public vote), and his high and mighty attitude with taxpayers, Skip Maccarone is the guy who actually deserved to be recalled.

Until next time....