I just finished reading the Editorial in The News
Herald titled: “Allen Park Deserves Better Leadership in Time of Crisis.” I
thought of the many times I tried to reach the Allen Park citizens, pounding
the same drum as the writer, to no avail. I was put down and ridiculed as if I
didn’t know what I was talking about concerning Emergency Financial Manager. I
see he is gaining the same in the comment section. I wrote in favor of the millage
and I tried to rally voters to vote as well. They voted, alright, and they
voted against it. I talked to people hoping they would gain enough insight to
research the destruction of EFM’s in other cities, but it all fell on deaf
ears. I will try again, only because it is a fundamental American issue, not
just an Allen Park issue, not just a Michigan issue, but a United States of
America issue. Cities are becoming like fallen soldiers to absolute control.
The premise the voters are using is off base and incorrect. I don’t know what
it will take to open their eyes, but I, too, will try again.
I read the news every day. I am just waiting for the
rest of the Downriver Community to cave to the EFM’s, just like Allen Park.
With Lincoln Park closing schools and trying desperately to save their own
budget problems, I suspect they will be next. I expect Trenton to follow since
they recently opened their school system to school of choice. I really hoped
Allen Park would set an example of what it means to be a true American. To
buckle down, do the right thing, and suck up whatever sludge they had to in
order to maintain democracy. They let me down, but worse yet, they let
themselves down. Still, they can’t get past the envy of pensions of police and
fire. These people took their cuts. They tried to help, but the residents want
to take all. They place the blame of the total crisis in the laps of those who
protect their safety.
I don’t know why the residents of this sweet and quaint
little city are blinded by the forest. I don’t understand why their desire to
place blame where it doesn’t belong supersedes just jumping in and fixing the
problem.
Watching Allen Park has taught me a lesson in politics.
It has taught me that it is people like this, people that don’t “get it,” that
have put us in the position politically that we are in now. It is minds that
think and watch through closed windows and doors that surrender our rights,
time after time, without even realizing what they are doing. They are so busy
passing the buck, blaming the next guy, and protecting their leisure, that they
given our politicians’ carte blanche to rape us of our rights. The head in the
sand mentality enables one to blame, and deem themselves not responsible, and
has led to the beginning of the fall of the crux of the American Constitution.
Sure, vote no, who wants to pay more taxes? Why should we have to pay when they
make too much money, that’s the real problem?” Come on, why should that
American Soldier help his friend who just lost his legs, after all, it wasn’t
because of his bomb, he didn’t do it. That seems to be the mentality. It isn’t
like it should be. It should be, based on American values: We are in trouble
and we need to help ourselves out of this situation. If not we will be taken
over by a dictator, an American Hitler, put into place to control what you feel
is most important. Remember: United We Stand!
To the people in Allen Park:
What is most important to you? I watched the residents
speak out about the Sports Arena, but not one person spoke out about saving
their city. Not one person, not one parent, spoke about saving education. The
city, the children, and education should far outweigh the Sports Arena. The
meaning of your homeland should be a priority. It’s really no different than
surrendering to Hitler’s Nazi Germany. You lose control of everything. No
voting, no city council fighting for your rights, nothing. A dictatorship led
by one man which invalidates your votes. I don’t get it. Why is the focus on blaming
anyone the residents can when there is so much more at stake?
I’ve listened to people blame the Mayor. I spoke with
the Mayor, at length. He is more about saving Allen Park for the residents than
the residents are. What’s in it for him? He doesn’t lose his job if an EFM is
appointed, his income is preserved, but he loses the power to fight for you. He
loves the city and he is doing everything he can do to save you from
yourselves. Sadly, so many people blame him for not doing enough.
I’ve had enough mean comments from Allen Park resident’s
to know the response will be something ultra intelligent like: “You are from
Trenton, stay in Trenton.” I was even told I should be tarred and feathered and
forced out of town. There is a bigger picture you don’t see, Allen Park, I am
an American. You are a part of my American body. We all stand together as
American’s. When an American Right is demolished, I want to fight for it. I
want to breathe freedom back into the spirits that have lost it in the heap of
blame. Many have given their lives for our freedom and I doubt the majority of
those were Allen Park residents.
This isn’t about just Allen Park. This is about the
condition of Michigan, in general. This is about a Governor that is undermining
all cities. He is obliterating the core from the inside, out. He begins by
attacking the funds in education, almost setting up the most secure cities to
fall. Then once the city falls he takes over. Do the residents of Allen Park
want absolute control by an Emergency Financial Manager who answers to nobody
but the dictator, himself, Rick Snyder?
Are the Allen Park residents aware that Rick is going
to abolish the property tax on businesses? That sounds like a good thing, doesn’t
it? Well this is how it plays out for your city. Even if you would have had
Unity Studios, all the taxes that the city would have received from taxes on
the property at Unity Studios would be withdrawn from the city. Those funds go
directly to the municipalities for education and other city services. I’m sure
when the deal was cut with Unity it had that premise in mind. So, with this
knowledge, know that Allen Park is going to be slammed again once those taxes
are abolished. Know that the residents, and their children, are going to take
another cut in income. All Michigan cities are going to take a hard slam on the
loss of that revenue. What now, Allen Park? Do you really want to put the
future of your city in the hands of the ogre that is trying to set us all up
for failure in the first place?
If I were a resident of Allen Park, I wouldn’t just
vote in a 4 mill increase for two years. I would go to the city and beg them to
allow me to pay an 8 mill increase. That is the only way you can save
yourselves and your city from the overthrow of our municipalities, by the very
same person you are trusting to save you.
I hear Mayor Matakas is going to try to put the mill
increase on the November 6th ballot. I hope you make it this time. I
hope you step up to the plate and simply do what needs to be done. Remember,
you are going to be counting on Dearborn for emergency services and they are
going to take a $12-$17 million dollar hit when those property taxes are
stopped. Do you think they will be able to afford to carry you then?
An Emergency Financial Manager is not an accountant
that is going to help you figure out your budget crisis. It is a Dictator. Don’t
come back at me with the inane statements of where I reside. When one American
falls, we all do. When one city falls, it opens the doors for all the other
cities. Be an American, for Pete’s sake. Do what needs to be done and grow past
the issues of the city today for a brighter tomorrow. Show your kids the pride
of Americanism. Quit being a quitter, a blamer, an irresponsible resident, and
above all, quit feeding the Demon of Dictatorship.
Open your eyes.
Till the next time…Deuces,
Pam