Article Section: Local Politics in The Positive Voices
Recent Articles in Local Politics
We asked and you told us what you wanted us to cover. Just like an election the majority rules.
You selected the Governor’s race. In November we will probably cover more but let us know early. We acknowledge the many other primary battles going on and we urge people to gather information, get to know your candidates and go to the polls! In some cases November may be too late. Remember if you know or even think you are going to be out of town on an election day you still have time to vote absentee right up to election day. Call your local or county clerk for details. Voting is not just a right but a responsibility.
Do your duty.
With record unemployment, home foreclosures, an uncertain economy, and many necessary tough decisions that will make most people unhappy why would anyone want to be Governor? Actually there are…
That stuff the Press was talking about the other day,” he started. “Government consolidation?” I asked. “Yeah, uh… I don’t think I like that idea.” Good instincts. What made him hesitate was the Grand Rapids Press’ repeated hammering on the issue with a voluminous snow-job of “proof” that it is a proven recipe for increasing government efficiency, lowering taxes and pleasing the local citizens. This earnest small-town citizen knew that his local taxes were much lower than in larger cities, the local schools were good and that local school and government officials were very devoted to pleasing citizens like him because they lived in constant fear of angering the locals and losing their jobs.
So why was the Press trying “ to sell him the preposterous idea that he would be even better off if his schools were consolidated into huge districts and his local government was consolidated into a…
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Letter to the Editor: What do the words “Reinvent Government” really mean?
by Postive Voices Staff
I have been doing a lot of reading concerning the financial situation of the City of Grand Rapids. The word that keeps appearing is “reinvent.” A word with interesting meaning and a bit troublesome to me when it is followed by another word called government thus creating the recently popular phrase “reinvent government.”
To reinvent is to invent something again, or bring something back into existence, use, or popularity after a period of neglect or obscurity. Under this definition there seems to be nothing new or improved just the same idea with a different wrapper. Yet another definition of the same word means to create a new version of something, to change
radically the appearance, form, or presentation of something or somebody. This is the problem with the term reinvent government. The last time that government truly reinvented itself was done by starting a war. It was called the Revolutionary…
On Tuesday, May 4th the citizens of Grand Rapids went to the polls and by a slim margin approved taxing themselves increasing the city income tax rate in the name of public safety. No mandate, no you’re doing a wonderful job as fiscal stewards, no ringing endorsement of the way our elected and appointed officials are running our City. I believe the voters simply came to the conclusion Grand Rapids was no longer safe and we needed to increase our police and fire staffing levels.
Just one week later not only was the infamous street light utility tax a discussion topic at City Hall, but Manager Greg Sundstrom was threatening to shut down the six city pools and halt park maintenance. Good thing the voters weren’t aware of the parks department scheme, I mean proposal, or the results could have been different. How tone deaf to the concerns of our…
Tagged under
With all the buzz and excitement about Grand Action proposing to build a brand new indoor/outdoor “urban market” in downtown GR – at an estimated price-tag of $27 million – I’m a little bit reticent to throw a wet blanket on all the glee. But I will anyway.
An independent commercial entrepreneur proposed a similar project on the same site six years ago (at about a third of the cost) but failed to find enthusiasm and financing. Now that Grand Action has proposed something three times as expensive, the odds of it getting built have increased dramatically. And the GR Press’s Editorial Board says it “could be Grand Rapids’ next big thing”. Let me demur.
Not that I think it can’t be built. Not that I think it won’t be gold-plated and impressively “just spiffy” with all the bells and whistles. Not that I think that local Boho’s aren’t already…
