tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post3922239158848283235..comments2023-04-14T06:24:55.668-04:00Comments on Everyone takes their turn: Why Ferndale should pass on paying $30,000 for the first totem poleTom Gagnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11466965984472091709noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-81387363871188250222007-12-29T15:13:00.000-05:002007-12-29T15:13:00.000-05:00http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/NEWS05/71228032/1005<BR/><BR/>The Woodward Avenue Action Association received $440K more of Woodward Avenue Tribute grants and Ferndale is still on the hook for $30K of development costs. How about spreading the total cost of development across all the communities participating. From my calculation (based on the article), there are going to be 5 poles in all (Downtown Detroit, Midtown Detroit, Fairgrounds Detroit, Ferndale & Birmingham). Therefore, the 30K should be divided by five resulting in the following contributions:<BR/><BR/>Detroit: 18K (3 tributes * 6K)<BR/>Ferndale: 6K (1 tribute * 6K)<BR/>Birmingham: 6K (1 tribute * 6k)<BR/><BR/>But instead Ferndale rushed in to be first and is now committed to the full 30K. What poor decision making by our local government.mjs2007https://www.blogger.com/profile/00165611662459494684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-34552722573157937612007-12-20T14:42:00.000-05:002007-12-20T14:42:00.000-05:00Dale, you reminded me of something my 13-year old ...Dale, you reminded me of something my 13-year old son, Joshua, said a couple weeks ago while Tiffani and I were discussing this topic. <BR/><BR/>He suggested Ferndale could better use the money paying for its defense against the honking lawsuit brought by Nancy Goedert and the ACLU.<BR/><BR/>I should see if I can get him to write the Woodward Talk and get a letter-to-the-editor published.Tom Gagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466965984472091709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-63629807803553855672007-12-20T13:45:00.000-05:002007-12-20T13:45:00.000-05:00Tom, good points, I had not thought about where t...Tom, good points, I had not thought about where the remainder would come from. Ferndale could make a positive statement by returning the pork funds. Just like we don't usually eat the chunk of pork fat in the can of beans, put it aside, give it back. Below is my comment to council, maybe I should go to the meetings sometime. Thanks, Dale<BR/><BR/>Mayor and Council, WA3 organizers:<BR/><BR/>I object to Ferndale spending on the Woodward Tribute project. I encourage Council to reconsider its commitment of providing ANY funding for the WA3 Woodward Tribute Project. I don't care about 'celebrating' woodward. It's a road, albeit historic, which is already celebrated in many other ways. I think I've seen displays in several local museums, and the Dream Cruise is an obvious celebration of the road and all the local communities. <BR/><BR/>Want to spend money on something with a possible return, come up with a way to get cruisers to frequent the ferndale portion of woodward. For example: How about allow cruiser parking on the median in the months before and after the cruise? Zero cost, and people will come here because of it. Between possible increased traffic for businesses, and increased traffic citation revenue, this would actually pay off.<BR/><BR/>This suggestion, and the planned frivolous tribute project, conflict with Ferndale's (and my personal) goals of reducing our impact on the environment. A better suggestion to celebrate woodward: Add a bicycle path to the Woodward median.<BR/><BR/>I would like to know more specific details about the WA3 Woodward Tribute Project. I would like to know more about how this investment is specifically perceived to be worthwile economically. Is it imagined that people will come from all around to see it? Will we charge admission? Where is the remaining funding coming from, it better not have been previously committed and this $30k is an overrun? Really, I would enjoy specific explanation. If it's really a sound economic investment, I encourage council and WA3 members to pay for it themselves, and find the returns on their investment in increased profits of their own businesses. Not willing? I rest my case.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.<BR/>Respectfully, DaleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-80457373235958996832007-12-11T10:38:00.000-05:002007-12-11T10:38:00.000-05:00Yikes.Thanks for highlighting the issue. This is ...Yikes.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for highlighting the issue. This is the sphere at it's best...<BR/><BR/>--Nick<BR/>www.RightMichigan.comRightMichigan.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09225711215771842548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-91999517440404213532007-12-07T09:29:00.000-05:002007-12-07T09:29:00.000-05:00Thanks, MJS.Another reason occurred to me. If mas...Thanks, MJS.<BR/><BR/>Another reason occurred to me. If mass transit returned to Woodward Ave might the monuments be in the way?<BR/><BR/>How ironic that tributes to Woodward and personal automobiles, which did-in mass transit, would literally stand in the way of mass transit's return!Tom Gagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466965984472091709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-23900329851181015202007-12-05T15:46:00.000-05:002007-12-05T15:46:00.000-05:00Tom-Your article does an excellent job summing up ...Tom-<BR/><BR/>Your article does an excellent job summing up the views that I hope a lot of us share. I have attached the text of a letter I submitted to Mayor Porter and Council this afternoon regarding the same issue. Hopefully enough people are paying attention and will share their opinions so this will not just fly under the radar.<BR/><BR/>---<BR/><BR/>Mayor Porter & City Council-<BR/><BR/>After watching the November 26, 2007 council meeting replay I feel it is my responsibility to share with you my opinion regarding the request brought before you by the Woodward Avenue Action Association's Executive Director, Heather Carmona. Simply stated, I do not think it is in the best interest of the City of Ferndale to commit $30,000 of tax dollars to be the first city to build a memorial to Woodward Avenue. Although I do believe public art has its place in society and is an overall good, paying for developmental costs and overruns of a non-essential project is a reckless use of funds. I am certain that $30,000 could be put to better use in our city and I urge Council to revisit this issue to take another look at the potential of applying good tax dollars to an unnecessary project. The City of Ferndale is fortunate to be operating in a net surplus position however the waste of funds on projects which only serve to boost ego could easily jeopardize our financial future. <BR/><BR/>I appreciate your time and consideration of my comments.mjs2007https://www.blogger.com/profile/00165611662459494684noreply@blogger.com