Mayor's Home Invasion/Burglary Solved ?

I am very pleased and relieved to announce that Ferndale detectives have interviewed a person of interest in the April 17th 2009 home invasion of my house, when my car, jewelry, tv, and cell phone were stolen.

According to information received from the Ferndale Chief of Police by me earlier this month, fingerprints from my jewelry box drawer were matched by Michigan State Police to Damion Butler, 23, a convicted felon and parole absconder who was also wanted by Hamtramck police in a home invasion/murder investigation from 2008. The jewelry box drawer had been taken from my bedroom that night, and was found that morning on the kitchen counter, with a diamond ring, gold bracelet and necklace, and diamond post earrings missing.

Butler was taken into custody recently in Hamtramck by police and is to be interviewed today by Ferndale detectives in Covey’s home invasion case. Police officials also told me they will seek a warrent for this man in the case of my home invasion.

I’m so glad this nasty villain is in jail, and I hope they throw away the key. This highly publicized burglary threw my life into turmoil for weeks, and caused stress and anxiety not just for me and my friends and neighbors, but for all the residents of Ferndale. If this guy is guilty of murder as well as home invasion, then my only regret is that Michigan does not have the death penalty.
I would be tempted to throw the switch if they would let me.

Police Chief Michael Kitchen told me that had I awakened that night during the crime that I may not have been around today to talk about it. That was truly a chilling thought.”

Butler was wanted for questioning by Hamtramck police in a 2008 murder of a young man committed during a home invasion in that town. The suspect in that case emptied a handgun into the victim, shooting him six times and killing him.

Butler has been a career criminal for the past six years, beginning when he was 17 years old. He
has at least two convictions for car theft and receiving stolen property. He is also an absconder from parole. He has been in prison at least twice.

While home invasions in Ferndale are according to police reportedly rare, I want to say that no one should have to feel vulnerable from such a crime. I have nothing but praise for the Ferndale detectives and police officers who were professional and efficient in their diligent work. While there was always some hypothesis that this was done by someone I knew, it appears now that that was not the case. Im just glad that no one else was hurt, and no one will have to live in fear of this particular bad guy any further.

Finally, it is all too common for some people to justify many types of crime by finding reasons to find fault with the victim. In my case, some people asked me why I left a door unlocked. I heard from others disbelieve that I had slept through the crime. And others were sure that this was someone who knew my house or had been in my house before. The truth is this guy is a total stranger to me, and to my knowledge I have never met him nor has he been in my house.

I often use white noise to help me sleep, an air cleaner or a fan to drown out the traffic on Woodward or lawn mowers in the morning. In this case, that fan may have saved my life.

Next time you learn of a crime victim, be it someone who was mugged or raped or robbed, resist the temptation to justify the incident as the victim's fault. A woman is not raped because her dress is too short or she was out at night alone. It is not the fault of burglarized home owner because his locks were not strong enough. Blame the person who committed the criminal act.

Motor City Pride Huge Success

Estimates for the total attendance at the 2009 Motor City Pride Festival held in Ferndale June 7th range from 40,000 (my estimate) to 50,000 (Between the Lines estimate), but regardless of the actual numbers, most everyone agrees it was the best ever. The seven hour street festival and party featured concerts, speeches, delicious food, non-profit booths promoting health, religion, political action, and community service. The restaurants and pubs were packed all day and the beer tent was as popular as ever.

Probably everyone's favorite activity during this annual gathering is the people-watching, although most agreed the event was tamer than usual. The feather bedecked drag queens and men in leather were few and far between. The mild weather also seems to have kept the crowds more fully dressed than previous years. Long pants vastly outnumbered the shorts and hot pants common to such summer events.

Reports are that there was only one arrest during the entire event, which is quite low considering the size and length of the festival. Compared to a similar sized concert or festival or DreamCruise day, the safety record is remarkable. Only one person suffered a a personal health incident, again quite low for a day-long summer festival.

The few problems that did occur were the result of a couple of "bad apples". While thousands enjoyed the music and socializing, there are always a few who drink too much, or try and act-out.
After the festival was over, at least one woman had her expensive sunglasses stolen by a youth, and at least one fight broke out later that night outside a bar. Such is human nature and our society.

The Ferndale City Police, the Police Auxiliary, the Public Works staffers, and the Fire Department personnel were magnificent; as is usual they were professional, hard working, and helpful.

The event is about people from a community gathering to have fun and show their pride. In that we succeeded. As this first such festival of our all-too-short summer ends, we look forward to the other annual gatherings that will take place over the next four months.

State of the City Address - Ferndale 2009

What a difference a year makes. Last year the stock market was several thousand points higher than it is today, we had unemployment but it was not as high as it is today…George bush was president, and Ferndale had a budget surplus. Kwame Kilpatrick was still mayor of Detroit. And Michigan still had 3 fully functioning car companies.

But in spite of major challenges, I am still very optimistic about Ferndale.

Probably the best recent news here is that we have as of last week adopted a balanced budget for the city. We did have to raise some fees and water rates will go up once again, this time about 10 %. It will cost more to get certain permits or reviews from the city, and if you are late on paying a parking ticket, expect that cost to increase. We will not replace our senior services director at the kulick center, instead those duties and efforts will be absorbed by the Recreation Director herself. We still have a hiring freeze in place, and it will become increasingly difficult to persuade City Council to fill vacancies. We will try and limit overtime, and in the Fall, leaves will be picked up less often than before.

But compared to most of the cities and townships around us, Ferndale is in solid fiscal shape. Our $18 million dollar general fund is lean, strong, and able to fulfill the obligations for excellent city services that our residents and business owners expect and deserve.

We have received federal stimulus funds for a variety of projects, including some road resurfacing on the East side. We are applying for an $800,000 grant from stimulus money for replacement of the city’s water meters, part of a 3 year , $3.1 million dollar plan to upgrade water system components. This green initiative will save the city money on water bills and will allow for automated meter readings without having meter readers drive the whole city.

We also received $1.1 million dollars from the federal government to rehabilitate foreclosed and vacant properties in Ferndale and aid in putting these homes back on the market. These funds can also be used to demolish dilapidated homes and this program should assist in redevelopment in 20 to 30 homes, primarily in the south east quadrant of the city.

Our property values have dropped in Ferndale, as they have in every community across the nation, but the good news is that Ferndale’s values have declined far less than most; in Oakland County, our city is in the very top tier of cities whose values have dropped the very least.

We broke ground two weeks ago on the new $4 million dollar library renovation and expansion…that project will result in a state of the art library in our downtown and it should be open next year.

We also are on track to build a new 43rd District court facility on city property in front of the police department. That $3.5 million dollar project will be funded by savings, court income and bonds. It would not impact the city budget or services. The Council plans to proceed later on renovation of the Patrick Sullivan Law Enforcement Building which is cramped and in dire need of updating. Finally, depending on future revenues and economic conditions, we may also borrow funds through bonds to renovate city hall.

In 2008 we saw a 300% increase in new public and private investment in downtown Ferndale over 2007 which included a net increase of 225 new jobs. The $20 million in new investment included $9 million for the Lofts on 9 and the renovation of the Foley Mansfield Law Firm at $5 million. Other renovations include the new Loving Touch Billiards Hall and Blumz by JR Designs.

We learned today of a new successful $30,000 grant to fund half of our project to renovate the alley-way between Ferndale Center Building, Dino’s and the Foley Mansfield building making that alley pedestrian friendly with benches, plants, and artwork.. the first of what we plan on doing with many of our downtown alley-ways.

Coming soon, the new Rosie O’Grady’s restaurant and sports bar which
I am quite sure will be an amazing place and quite popular. Then we should see the original restaurant next year become a Tex-Mex restaurant..which I expect will become one of my favorites. Nami Restaurant is also being fully renovated under new ownership.

Pete’s Place on Woodward Hts just west of Hilton is very popular and if you have not been there yet, you will truly love it.

We are studying now the feasibility and location for a new parking structure downtown on the East side of Woodward.

Ferncare is the new planned free clinic which has generated huge amounts of interest and support. It may open toward the end of this year.

We organized the first town hall meeting of our city’s charitable groups and organizations, and had about 30 people attend representing a dozen local not-for-profits.

And there seems to be some possible movement for a store in the Old Navy Building. I suppose a giant Halloween Store is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick…and it should fit into Ferndale’s image just fine.

We continue to save resources by partnering with neighboring cities for animal control, fire protection, and in the future even possilbly more police and fire services with Pleasant Ridge, Hazel Park, and Royal Oak Township.

I led my own organization Midwest AIDS Prevention Project into a
merger with a similar group called the Michigan AIDS Fund, which
now has a combined staff of 17, a board of directors of 26 and a
budget of $1.4 million dollars. We expect to move downtown before
the end of the year into a newly renovated building on Woodward with
4,500 square feet of loft style office space.

Ferndale continues to lead the way in environmental efforts with additional bike racks, planned improvements to our parks, support for renovated and or green buildings, purchase of Ford Focuses to replace old gas-guzzling Crown Vics and we have doubled the number of trees planted by the city this year, from 100 to 200. Since 2001 we have planted 1,000 trees in the city, which beautify and cool the city and add oxygen to the air.

In addition to the Dream Cruise, our city now is home to the annual Green Cruise which attracts 1,000 people each year, the Veg Fest which attracted over 3,000 people this year, the Gay Pride Festival which attracts 35,000 people each year, and now the DIY which attracted many thousands of millenials and others last September.

We are still the darling of the media, which is always looking at our innovative, creative, and cutting edge ways of doing things and creating change. There is always plenty of bad news in Michigan with stories of inept government, scandals, unemployment, bankruptcies, and
budget deficits. But we continue to be the “mouse that roars….The media appreciates what we are trying to do here, showing the region a new way.

WE OF COURSE HAVE MAJOR CHALLENGES. Income and REVENUES FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND STATE REVENUE SHARING WILL REMAIN FLAT AT BEST, OR CONTINUE A SLIGHT DOWNWARD TREND. WE ARE IN THE STATE THAT HAS SUFFERED
THE MOST AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME UNDER THIS RECESION.
The STATE HAS A HUGE AND ONGOING DEFICIT, AND DETROIT IN MANY WAYS CONTINUES to falter with poor to NEARLY NON-EXISTENT SERVICES, high crime rates, and serious budget problems.

While Police Chief Michael informs us that current over-all CRIME STATISTICS in Ferndale ARE STABLE OR EVEN FALLING, WE STILL ARE AT-RISK BASED ON THE ECONOMY AND OUR PROXIMITY TO big crime problems nearby.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH SUCCESS FERNDALE MAY ACHIEVE, OR HOW COOL A CITY WE ARE, IT WOULD ALL BE FOR NAUGTHT IF THE RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS DO NOT FEEL SAFE ON THE STREET OR IN THEIR HOMES.

But in spite of these challenges, WE CONTINUE TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND
HAVE FAITH IN OUR CITY AND THE REGION.

We have succeeded in attracting young people and millenials to Ferndale…according to census, the largest subset in among ferndale’s 21,000 people are those aged 25 to 34. Together with our seniors who have kept faith in our city, we baby boomers, and the families and children who make Ferndale home, we are poised to create a solid foundation for the future.

On a macro level, I believe THAT AS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES, WE WILL SEE THE GREAT LAKES REGION, BECOME STRONG AGAIN.

THE BURGEONING CITIES IN FLORIDA , TEXAS AND ARIZONA ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE, AND IF THE CLIMATE BECOMES HOTTER AND DRIER, YOU WILL SEE A REVERSAL IN THE 30 YEAR POPULATION MOVEMENTS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

THEY ARE BUILDING A HUGE DEEP WATER PORT IN NOVA SCOTIA TO HANDLE SHIPPING THAT WILL SOON BECOME ROUTINE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE EARTH AS THE POLAR ICE CAP COMPLETELY MELTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MILLENIA. CANADA AND THE NORTHERN U.S. WILL BECOME EVER MORE IMPORTANT FOR TRADE AND AGRICULTURE. MICHIGAN’S LOCATION WILL ONCE AGAIN BE VALUABLE IN THIS CHANGING WORLD.


WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT, A NEW MAYOR IN DETROIT, and in 2011 we will have a new Governor.

THIS FALL FERNDALE VOTERS WILL ELECT TWO COUNCILMEMBERS AND A MAYOR, AND THAT ELECTION COULD BRING CHANGE AS WELL.

I want to thank the businesses in our community who have kept faith in our community such as Ferndale Labs, Gage Products, Credit Union One, Huntington Bank, Garden Fresh, many others who are growing and investing in Ferndale’s Future.

We have new businesses like S3 and other entertainment and media/adverstizing companies bringing the film industry not only Michigan but to Ferndale.

Our shop local initiative reminds folks that we can shop and buy right here in town, saving time, gas, and stress at places like Blumz, Snap Fitness, State Farm Insurance,Garden Fresh Salsa, Mobil Oil, Foodland, Western Market, Emory, and so many more.
I almost never have to leave Ferndale and can buy cars, vitamins, vegetables, plants, furniture, take out of every ethnic variety, and so much more. I can get a massage, go to the gym, see a doctor, get a hair cut, and go to the bank or post office without even getting into a car !

In my five decades, I have lived in six cities…by far Ferndale is the best…people love living here and visiting here….and it is the people here who make the city as productive and cutting edge and pleasant and fun.

It is the people who run and own and work in our businesses and the residents and volunteers who live and work and play here who are making Ferndale synonymous with the word...cool.

Do Something for Your Mother

Today (Wednesday April 22) is Earth Day 2009. A day created to remind all 6 1/2 billion of us alive on Earth that we depend on this planet for survival, and that we had better start taking better care of her.

I remember well, the first Earth Day in 1970. I was thirteen years old, and organized some friends and kids to pick up litter and debris in an empty field that had become an eyesore.
This was in Canton, Ohio, and was probably the first time I helped create a newspaper story.

Prior to that, in the fifth grade, I got my school class to write letters to Potlatch Corporation, asking them to stop polluting the rivers in the Pacific Northwest. Kinda pathetic that forty years later we still have to work to get people, corporations, and governments to think about the environment, and get them to stop trashing it.

Every one of us can do something, or many things, to protect Mother Earth. Drive your car less. Ride a bike or walk more often. Recycle more items, and throw away less trash. Reuse, and reduce "stuff". Use public transportation and buy your future cars with better mileage in mind. Eat less meat.

Do something for your Mother today.

Four Down....46 to Go !

With Vermont and Iowa racing to see which state would be the next "Free" state when it comes to same sex marriage, it is obvious to any forward thinking individual that the writing is on the wall. The end of anti-Gay discrimination as it pertains to full marriage rights is in sight.

When the Netherlands and Denmark and other Northern European countries legalized full gay marriage, many could dismiss the change as kooky liberal Scandinavians. When Spain did it, it gave some pause. This was a Catholic Latin Country.

Massachusetts legalized Gay marriage, and no one was all that surprised. After all, this was the most liberal state in the Union. The state where Ted Kennedy was Senator, and the only state that voted for George McGovern in 1972. Connecticut was just another small liberal northeastern state. No one too excited.

Vermont raised few eyebrows either. While that state is the whitest state in the country, with only 3 % of its population not caucasian, it is still very liberal. And very small.

But now Iowa. A purple state. A Midwestern state. A place off hardy Methodist stock, where farms grow corn and hogs. What are they doing allowing full and equal marriage for Lesbian and Gay couples?

The answer is simple. The good people of Iowa are honest, hardworking, and open minded. They mind their own business. They live and let live. They don't take much stock in nosing into other people's business. They are smart people and they now become a heartland state that is showing the rest of the country the future. It won't be long now. The states will start falling in place.

Michigan wont be there for awhile, since our state is woefully unorganized and our GLBT political power is fairly weak. And states like Alabama and Mississippi may never get there without nudging from the federal government. All the same, congratulations Vermont and Iowa.
Your are showing our country a new way. We are proud of you.

Dogma, the Dark Ages, and Plague

I have written in the past about the archaic and deadly positions taken by the Catholic Church regarding HIV/AIDS, prevention, and condoms. I guess I have to do so again.

I have written in the past how infuriating the Chursh's positions are around safer sex and the prevention of HIVAIDS, and I have to do so again.

Last time, it was John Paul and his policies. Now it is Benedict. Evidently progress and change are not concepts that come easily to the Catholic Church.

As the Pope traveled to Africa this week, he released positions on condom use for HIV prevention. It is the same tired, lame, pathetic, and life-threatening policy that has been in place for three decades...at least this organization is consistent in its backward thinking.

Benedict says that condoms are not the solution to AIDS, that indeed condoms can make the situation worse. He needs to stick to pomp and ceremony and incense burning. Let public officials, doctors, and outreach workers deal with reality.

More then 21 million people around the world are lying in graves because of AIDS. Millions more are sick and at risk of death from HIV infection. Millions more could get infected over the next few years.

There are more than 11 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

The Pope says that abstaining from sex is the only solution to the epidemic. Easy for him to say, as he is forced to stay celibate by his religion. Whether he is indeed celibate or not matters not to me. We all know that a large percentage of his priests have unmarried sex with women or men, and sometimes little girls and boys....I wonder if THEY use condoms.

The Catholic Church has always been sex-phobic as well as hypocritical. But they feel a need to stick with such unhealthy and inhumane policies. Sickness, death and disease must be less important than following their ancient sexual taboos.

Condoms, like abstinence, are critical, inexpensive and successful methods to stop HIV from infecting more people. Condoms are very important at reducing risk for HIV and other STD's for people who have sex, including married couples where one partner is HIV positive. Safer sex techniques are proven effective at halting HIV in its tracks.

Exhaustive studies in the U.S. show that abstinence-only programs actually result in higher rates of risky behavior and sexually transmitted infections as well as increased pregnancies than for youth taught the full variety of choices and safer behaviors.

There is only one upbeat angle to this sorry story. Most people disregard the Church's teachings on matters that are sexual, including most Catholics. At least some folks have brains as well as hearts. I just hope the Pope finds it in his heart and brain to understand the human toll that his ignorant and false admonitions exacerbate.

Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother H. lived in a shoe, she had so many children, she didnt know what to do. Well, one idea would be to practice birth control of one means or another.

The old nursery rhyme neglected to explain why Mother H. had so many kids or inform us as to the wherabouts of the father. Perhaps in children's fables that doesn't matter much. But today, with six and one half billion people crowding the planet, it is germaine.

Our present day prolific mother is Nadya Suleman, known by the popular media now as "Octomom". That moniker is lame, however, since this Mom doesn't have eight children, which in itself is way too many. But Nadya has 14 kids now. She has no husband, partner, job, or house. But she does have 14 children.

Most of the news coverage and scandal/indignation ignited by the story revolves around Ms. Suleman lacking funds or employment to handle bringing up these children. People are angry that government taxes and welfare programs are going to be spent raising 14 kids. Rightly so.

But here is another concept, not covered by the media, but more serious than tax dollars going to feed and clothe these particular 14. Planet Earth is not going to handle well the continuing over-population of human beings. At six and one half billion, we as a species are going to pay a steep price indeed for this constant breeding frenzy.

Mother Earth is groaning under our weight. Fish stocks in the oceans are depleted and shrinking at the fastest pace in human history. Arable land is nearly used up. Energy supplies grow tighter with each new nation that wants cars and trucks and SUV's. Our water supplies grow more polluted, and climate change threatens rain and weather patterns.

Now, there are two possible solutions to this growing problem. Either people can be sensible and rein in their prolific reproduction, or nature will solve the problem through plague, pestilence, or other catastrophe.

You will notice that "Right to Life" has been strangely silent on the Mom and her 14 kids. Since they hold all life as holy and sacred, perhaps they support the concept of having as many kids as one can pop out. And once children are born, these pro-life groups usually don't much care for mundane issues like providing children with health care, shoes, food, and schooling.

What I know is that if every Mom decided she wanted 14 kids, or eight, or even five children, then life isn't going to very pleasant for any of us on this ever-shrinking planet Earth.