Say NO!!! to the water takeover.

Dear Charter Commission and Citizens of Detroit:

HOUSE BILL No. 4112 introduced by Reps. Heise and Kowal seeking to ‘take over’ The City of Detroit’s water system. This is a slap in the face of all of the citizens in the city of Detroit. Does the Detroit water system have its problems? Yes, but a take over of our water system should not happen. Allow our Mayor to clean up the water department or let the voters decide our faith, but a legislative takeover is 100% unacceptable. I’m proposing language to the charter that will prevent people from trying to ‘sidestep’ the charter by creating authorities to manage our assets while the city still owns them.

CHAPTER 12. PUBLIC LIGHTING

Sec. 7-1205. Limitations on Sale of Assets.
The following limitations shall apply relative to public lighting:
1. The city may not sell or in any way dispose of any property needed to continue the operation of any city owned public utility furnishing lighting, unless approved by a majority of city voters voting on the question at a regular or special election.

CHAPTER 14. TRANSPORTATION

Sec. 7-1404. Limitations.
The following limitations shall apply relative to transportation:

1. The city may not sell or in any way dispose of any property needed to continue the operation of any city-owned public utility furnishing transportation service, unless approved by a majority of city voters voting on the question at a regular or special election.

CHAPTER 15. WATER and SEWERAGE

Sec. 7-1504. Limitation on Sale of Assets.
The following limitations shall apply relative to water and sewerage:

4. The city shall not sell or in any way dispose of any property needed to continue the operation of any city-owned public utility furnishing water and sewerage service, unless approved by a majority of city voters voting on the question at a regular or special election.

New proposed writing of said Chapters of the Charter.

CHAPTER 12. PUBLIC LIGHTING

Sec. 7-1205. Limitations on Sale of Assets

The city SHALL not sell or ALLOW ANY OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT OR AUTHORITY or in any way dispose of any property needed to continue the operation of any city owned public utility furnishing lighting, unless approved by a majority of city voters voting on the question at a regular or special election.

CHAPTER 14. TRANSPORTATION

Sec. 7-1404. Limitations.

The city SHALL not sell or ALLOW ANY OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT OR AUTHORITY or in any way dispose of any property needed to continue the operation of any city-owned public utility furnishing transportation service, unless approved by a majority of city voters voting on the question at a regular or special election.

CHAPTER 15. WATER and SEWERAGE

Sec. 7-1504. Limitation on Sale of Assets.

The city SHALL not sell or ALLOW ANY OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT OR AUTHORITY or in any way dispose of any property needed to continue the operation of any city-owned public utility furnishing water and sewerage service, unless approved by a majority of city voters voting on the question at a regular or special election.

Thank you reading this and I hope you consider my recommendations.

Your Friend


Herbie Felton
Community Activist
Precinct Delegate
President of the Santa Barbara Community Block Club

Press Conference to say No to WATER TAKEOVER!

Dear Community Leaders:

On January 20, 2011, State Representatives Heise and Kowall introduced House Bill No. 4112 seeking to ‘take over’ The City of Detroit’s water system (a water system which was paid for by Detroit citizens, and which is wholly owned by The City of Detroit).

As you know, Detroit’s water system—the third largest in the nation—has been subject to other take-over legislation in years past; however I am convinced that this will be our toughest fight! I am asking that you stand with us during a press conference to be held this Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in front of The Spirit of Detroit at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center; and immediately thereafter (about 3:00 p.m.) attend a brief strategy session in my office on the 13th floor of the CAYMC (light refreshments served). During the strategy session we will outline plans for a rally in Lansing, discuss messages to send to Governor Rick Snyder, and outline other organizing efforts to stop this latest water take over legislation.

Please join us at the press conference, and if you are able to bring a position paper opposing House Bill No. 4112 along with members of your organization to stand with us, we would be appreciative!

You can access a copy of House Bill No. 4112 on the State of Michigan Legislative website, or request a copy during the press conference, which will be convened by State Senator Bert Johnson, State Representative Shanelle Jackson, and Members of The Detroit City Council.

Attached, please find a flyer addressing the above.

Jo Ann Watson
Sandra James
Executive Asst./Scheduler
Council Member Jo Ann Watson
Detroit City Council
2 Woodward Ave., Suite 1340
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 224-4535 (O) (313) 224-1524 (F)

CITY OF DETROIT CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION (2009)

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Gregory Hicks,
Executive Director January 6, 2011
(313) 628-2517 Hicksg@detroitmi.gov

Charter Revision Commission to Start Drafting Stage
January 8, 2011 thru May 14, 2011

DETROIT – The Detroit Charter Revision Commission, armed with more than 550 recommendations, will begin discussions between Commissioners to draft language for the new city Charter. The Charter Revision Commission will meet Saturday, January 8th, 2011 in the Chambers of the Detroit City Council, 13th Floor Coleman A. Young Municipal Center at 12:00 p.m. At this meeting, the Commission is expected to discuss and approve Commission rules for the drafting stage of the revision process as well as receive the 550 recommendations collected from citizen and stakeholder input from previous public meetings and exchanges across the city.

The Charter Revision Commission has set an aggressive schedule to work through the 550 recommendations. The schedule includes regular Saturday meetings from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Additionally, the Commission will meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the Butzel Recreational Center at 7737 Kercheval, and on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center at 18100 Meyers Road.

The Commission has also made available at its website complete copies of the recommendations provided to the Commission from the Mayor and City Council, various support documents and an index of recommendations cataloging the recommendations advanced to the Commission by citizens, elected officials and other stakeholders. The website is www.2009dcrc.org.

Commission Chair Jenice Mitchell Ford indicates “the drafting stage is the central activity of the Commission. This is what the residents of the city of Detroit elected us to do! We have hosted greater than 30 public meetings, held three conventions designed to encourage citizen exchange and collectively attended block club and community association meetings across the city. From these outreach activities, we have received approximately 550 suggestions and recommendations to do our work. Our task is to take from the suggestions and recommendations provided us from the public and transform the suggestions and recommendations into a framework document that sets the general direction and power relationships in local government. We have set an aggressive schedule to do this work. Our target is to make the November 2011 ballot seeking voter approval of the Commission’s work product.”

About the Charter Commission:

On May 5, 2009, Detroit residents approved a revision of the 1997 Charter of the City of Detroit (the “Charter”). Nomination and election of Commission members were held on August 4, 2009 and November 3, 2009, respectively. The Commission was seated on November 17, 2009 to fill a three- year term which ends May 5, 2012.

The Commission has adopted a four (4) phase charter revision process.

In Phase I - Education Phase, held from January to October 2010, the Commission held more than 25 meetings across the city to educate the public about critical issues in the existing Charter. In Phase II –Charter Conventions, held during November and December 2010, the Commission sought to engage the public and solicit comments, recommendations and input from all Detroit stakeholders including residents, churches, businesses, organized labor, non-profits and civic organizations to help shape the Charter. Starting January 8, 2011, the Commission begins Phase III – The Writing Phase.

For more information on the Commission visit www.2009dcrc.org or call (313) 628-2517.

House Republicans challenge Obama to join them in cutting spending and overhauling tax code

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the brink of power, House Republicans challenged President Barack Obama on Tuesday to join them in a drive to cut federal spending, ban earmarks for favored projects and overhaul the nation's tax code.
At the same time, incoming House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., conceded the new GOP majority intends to bypass its own new rules when it votes next week to wipe out the health care law approved by Democrats in 2010.
"We just need to repeal it," Cantor said of the effort to fulfill one of the party's main campaign promises from last fall.
Republicans, their ranks expanded by tea party-backed freshmen, take control of the House when the 112th Congress convenes at noon on Wednesday. One of the first orders of business will be the election of Ohio Republican John Boehner as speaker, replacing Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
Across the Capitol, Democrats retained their majority in the November elections. But the 60 seats they controlled two years ago — enough to push through much of Obama's agenda — will fall to 53.

Navy fires carrier's captain years after raunchy videos — only after they're leaked to public

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy brusquely fired the captain of the USS Enterprise on Tuesday, more than three years after he made lewd videos to boost morale for his crew, timing that put the military under pressure to explain why it acted only after the videos became public.
Senior military officials said they were trying to determine who among Navy leaders knew about the videos when they were shown repeatedly in 2006 and 2007 to thousands of crew members aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

An investigation by U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., also is seeking to determine whether Capt. Owen Honors was reprimanded at the time.
The episode has raised serious questions about whether military leaders can behave badly so long as the public doesn't find out.

"He showed bad judgment and he embarrassed the Navy. Those are things that are going to be hard for the Navy to ignore or to forgive," said Stephen Saltzburg, the general counsel of the National Institute of Military Justice and a law professor at George Washington University.