Make Government Work Forum #4 coming up 10:00 am to noon, Saturday, July 16 Sacred Heart Catholic Church Activities Building 3451 Rivard St., Detroit (South of Mack Ave. and east of Chrysler Exp./I-75) North of Eastern Market.
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The 2016 Presidential election is important because it is about what
kind of country we will be and what values will determine government
policy and budget decisions.
Thanks to the 90-plus people who
helped make the Feb. 6 "Make Government Work" Forum so successful. It
was a very diverse audience, by union, community, age, gender and race.
Activists came from Peace Action, UAW Locals 600, 1781, 898, 228, 1700,
869, 174, 163, and 909, Dearborn Democratic Party, Democratic Socialists
of America, D-15 (The $15 and a Union movement), Retirees for Single
Payer Health Care, MichUHCAN, American Federation of Teachers, AFT-AAUP,
Metro Detroit AFL-CIO, Michigan Nurses Association, Detroit Catholic
Pastoral Alliance, Our Walmart Alliance, Southeast Michigan Jobs with
Justice, UAW Region 1A Retirees Council, Michigan Alliance to Save
Social Security and Medicare, American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees, Marygrove College, A. Philip Randolph Institute,
Swords Into Plowshares, UAW-GM Department, Coalition of Labor Union
Women, Michigan Labor History Society, Michigan Universalist Unitarian
Social Justice Network, and University of Michigan-Dearborn's Center for
Labor and Community Studies.
Inside
the Republican debate in Detroit March 3, GOP candidates will be recalling the
spirit of President Ronald Reagan who proclaimed, “Government is
not the solution to your problems. It is the problem.”
For
decades now, we have been hammered with this anti-government
messaging and lived under the tyranny of anti-government governing.
In
Detroit, Flint, Highland Park, Pontiac and other Michigan cities, we
know first hand what we get when government is run by politicians
who hate government – A government people hate.
In
Michigan, Governor Rick Snyder showed his contempt for democracy and
local autonomy by running government like a business.
What
does running government like a business look like?
Top-down,
undemocratic rule, like a CEO unelected and unaccountable to the
people
Secrecy,
out of the scrutiny of the public eye and the media
Operating
with the Bottom Line as the only consideration worth considering and
ignoring public health and the real desires and needs of people.
Outside
the Fox Theater March 3, Detroiters will be saying we disagree with the
conservative Republicans' hatred of government.
We
say democratically-elected government is the very tool we need to
solve the problems we face:
stagnating
incomes
unsafe
and unaffordable water
emergency
management
suppression
of our right to vote
denial
of a workers' right to join a union without fear of retribution
police
violence and inequality
Let's
get the differences straight: Business is about maximizing private
profit for stockholders.
Government
is about maximizing fairness and justice for all.
We
are sick and tired of government of the corporation, by the
corporation and for the corporation.
Running
government like a business clearly does not work. It does not
“promote the General Welfare,” as the writers of our Constitution
understood government's role to be.
It's time
to restore government of the people, by the people and for the
people.
This is the third Make Government Work Forum sponsored by Southeast
Michigan Jobs with Justice and UAW Region 1A Retirees Council. The
forums seek to address 40 years of Right Wing Conservative
anti-government messaging and anti-government governing that has
resulted in 75% of Americans not trusting government and a government
that doesn't work for the 99%.
For more information on Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice's Make Government Work Project, go to "Campaigns."
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STOP OIL DRILLING IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN - TOWN HALL FOR EVERYONE WHO'S CONCERNED
Monday, Feb. 1 at 6 pm
State Rep. Jeremy Moss will host an event to provide residents information on oil and gas drilling. Auditorium at Southfield Public Library - 26300 Evergreen Road in Southfield. ___________________________________________________
MDEQ should heed concerns over drilling in Southfield
Jeremy Moss, Free Press guest writer
12:03 a.m. EDT March 30, 2016
Southfield
is not a community under state emergency management – but you wouldn’t
know it based on a recent Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
decision.
When
I first started to tell my colleagues in Lansing about this proposal
and my community’s outrage, someone pointedly replied, “At 9 Mile and
Evergreen? Everybody lives near 9 Mile and Evergreen!”
The
population density of this area only amplifies problems related to
drilling: spills, emissions release, transport accidents and others.
Further,
not all of Southfield is hooked up to the Detroit water system and many
residents use well water. Should any groundwater be contaminated during
the drilling process and anything other than the crystal-clear water we
expect comes out of Southfield faucets, we’ll have a huge problem.
That’s why I introduced House Bill 5258 to limit oil drilling in densely populated residential areas.
After
holding two crowded town halls on oil drilling attended by hundreds of
concerned Southfield residents, I asked MDEQ officials to conduct a public hearing on the permit in February to listen to my constituents. I didn’t want them to simply sign off on a backroom decision.
Alas, the meeting that night may have been just for show.
Among
the thousand residents who turned out on Feb. 17 was our deputy city
planner who read an unanswered Jan. 19 letter from the city to the MDEQ.
The letter requested more information from the permit’s applicant,
including the impact of the drilling on nearby residential water wells,
wetlands and endangered species, and details on protecting our residents
from air pollution, odors and waste.
At the public hearing, MDEQ
officials promised, in public, to provide answers to the city’s concerns
before making any move to issue a permit.
The city ended up
getting its answers from the MDEQ – about four hours after they issued
the permit, and a month and a half after a response was first requested
from the city.
Ultimately,
in addition to the health and environmental concerns (which are not to
be underscored),
Michigan residents in every city have another concern
upon which to reflect: When can our local government govern?
Prior
to being elected state representative, I served on the Southfield City
Council. During my tenure and for years before it, our City Council
passed countless ordinances on the city level to provide stricter
zoning, inspection, setback or operation regulations that what is
permissible at the state level.
That’s how local units of government work in this state. Or at least how they’re supposed to.
Some examples:
When
I first arrived on the council, we had a newly implemented ordinance
that placed stricter city regulations to approve in-home day cares than
what the state allows.
In 2012, we adopted an ordinance to limit
the zoning for fast check-cashing businesses and pawnshops in
Southfield, permissible under state law, but now subjected to local
zoning regulations.
At the end of 2014, the council approved
limited zoning and operations of medical marijuana facilities, a service
approved in statute by voters in 2008 but one that can be locally
restricted.
This is why I strongly believe that the
MDEQ’s rulings on oil drilling permits are incompatible with our city’s
ability to implement our lawful moratorium on such activities and future
zoning regulations.
I also was on the council when we denied a
proposed Walmart from being built at 12 Mile and Southfield Road in 2013
due to zoning concerns.
Walmart did not appeal our decision
because, as founder Sam Walton once said, “If some community, for
whatever reason, doesn't want us in there, we aren't interested in going
in and creating a fuss.”
If only the MDEQ operated under the same philosophy.
Jeremy Moss, a Democrat from Southfield, represents Michigan's 35th District in the state House of Representatives.
Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/1MAe0vR
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Update from Southfield Mayor Ken Siver:
Public Hearing set for Feb. 17 at 6 pm at Southfield High School, 24675 Lahser Rd, Southfield, MI 48075.
The
format for the meeting will be a brief presentation by the the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
The
second part of the public hearing will be limited to audience questions
about the department’s role in granting permits and the proposed
drilling operations specific to Nine Mile & Evergreen.
The third
part of the hearing will be to for public comments by those in
attendance. Each person would be given up to three minutes to speak.
The official states that the MDEQ staff will remain as long as there are
people who wish to address them.
Take a look at the Word of Faith map
in the drilling application.
A corner of the mega-church building is within 670’
of the proposed well. Several driveways and parking lots are even closer to the
well. This is a MEGA-CHURCH with thousands of people and cars frequenting this
location, especially on Sunday. See page 3 in
The proposed well pad (the work space)
will be approximately 250 feet x 250 feet (62,500 square feet). This well pad
will be larger than a football field including end zones (57,600 square
feet).
An oil and gas production well pad will likely contain storage tanks for acid, drilling fluids, produced natural gas,
oil, and waste water, a rig, flaring equipment, plus, considerable heavy truck parking
and traffic, and more. Some details http://teeic.indianaffairs.gov/er/oilgas/restech/desc/index.htm
All of
this will provide unnecessary risk to humans, property and the environment
Gosh, what could happen? Take a look at these pictures of Michigan drilling
sites.
Perhaps Word of Faith members and the
insurance company that insures this multi-million dollar building for
fire and LIABILITY should be made aware of the potential dangers to people, vehicles
and buildings.
There
must be some Oakland County, State of Michigan, Federal … or common sense….. rules that put people first and supersede Part 615 regulatory requirements to maximize
oil and gas production.
Stop the Drilling in Southfield
Strategy Meeting
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
6:30-8:30
Room 221
Parks & Recreation Building
26000 Evergreen Road
Southfield, MI 48034
MDEQ Public Hearing Wednesday, February 17, 2016
6:00 pm
Southfield High Auditorium
24675 Lasher Road
Southfield, MI 48075
On Going
Protests at Word of Faith
Sundays at 9:00 am – Word of Faith
20000 W. 9 Mile Road Southfield, west of Evergreen
If you are concerned about Fracking and Oil Drilling coming to Southeast Michigan,
please express your concerns to the City of Southfield Planning
Department at contactplanning@cityofsouthfield.com.
Jordan
Development filed an Application for drilling in the City on November 4,
2015.
This Company is an oil and gas exploration company based in
Traverse City. They applied to the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) for a permit to drill an exploratory well on the grounds
of Word of Faith International Christian Center.
This Application was
filed with the MDEQ without any prior discussion or approval from the
City. The City of Southfield has opposed this Application and it
violates the Moratorium that has existed for some time.
Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice stands for FULL EMPLOYMENT AND GREEN JOBS. Fracking and oil drilling ain't it.
For more information: News Coverage of Jan. 17 Anti-Drilling Demonstration at Word of Faith Church, Southfield:
Word of Faith Church's position about fracking on its Southfield property:
Minister Andrea Simpson, media and public relations spokesperson at
Word of Faith International Church, declined to comment on the matter,
referring all comments to the written statement that Jordan prepared.
“Word of Faith and its congregation of thousands of people believe
the proceeds from this well may be a blessing to its members and the
community at large,” the statement said.
What Happened in California Could Happen to Southfield and Southeast Michigan:
Minutes from meeting with Southfield State Representative Jeremy Moss:
At least twenty residents, and a handful of activists from
the Committee to Ban Fracking and the Sierra Club, came to Representative
Jeremy Moss' Coffee Hour at the Southfield Library to protest and raise
questions about the requested drilling on Monday, December 14th. My notes from that meeting on the question -
what can be done to prevent the drilling?
·Moss
said request public hearing and submit comments to DEQ with drilling permit
application number # A150095. He
submitted his letter to Director of DEQ Dan Wyant (WyantD@michigan.gov) and Hal
Fitch, DEQ Director of Office of Oil, Gas and Minerals (fitchh@michigan.gov). I
think it's a good idea to send comments and to demand public meetings where we
can learn from each others' comments and questions. I sent an email to DEQ
asking if there is a specific person and email address to send the comments to
and asked how long they are accepting public comments.
·Any
registered voter can sign the petition or volunteer to collect signatures to ban
fracking and frack waste in Michigan, which would ban horizontal fracking and
acidizing (melting the rock instead of fracturing it) anyplace in Michigan.
·Lots
of other ideas came up on what to do during and after the coffee hour and the
city council meeting like holding a protest at the church and finding ways to
let other residents know what's going on.
·Jim
Nash will speak at the next coffee hour in library auditorium on January 25th.
·Jordan
Development Co lawyer Mike Cox, the former Attorney General for the state,
called Rep. Moss to inform him that the exploratory drilling is going to happen
and he is not going to debate it. This was how Moss first found out about it.
Notes
from
comments opposed to drilling made at City Council Meeting December 14th.
Skip Davis,
a long time resident - spoke against Keith Butler's plans to endanger woodlands
and water shed and destroy property values. He denounced a comment in a
Southfield Sun article on Nov. 26 in which the pastor said "proceeds from
the drilling will bring blessings to the community." Davis said fracking
will not bring blessings.
Larry
Bolenbaugh, a Southfield resident who stated he has been working with the
Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan, raised questions about the status of the
drilling, how the council will respond and how will this affect the community.
Eunice Rose,
also a Southfield resident said if the City of Southfield allows the drilling
it will increase the risk factors for lung disease and reduce property values.
She demanded that the plans to drill cease and desist. She said we must respect
the earth or we will have no place to live.
Diane Weckerle
Committee to Ban Fracking
in Michigan
Letter to Southfield Planning Commission:
Dear Southfield Planning Commission,
I'll leave it up to others who are more expert on fracking to make the environmental arguments against it.
I'll just express my opposition this way:
I
hope Southfield never becomes the "Center of It All" for an
environmental disaster like the one that has been happening in Southern
California since December.
I'm
sure our State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality already
has a plan for evacuating thousands of our city's residents if we should
experience a natural gas leak on the Word of Faith grounds.
Since this agency did such a wonderful job protecting the children of Flint, I guess we have nothing to worry about.
Let
me stop being sarcastic long enough, though, to thank City Planner
Terry Croad, Mayor Ken Siver and our Southfield City Council for having
the courage to stand up and do the right thing. Not enough public
officials do that.
Sincerely,
Sam Stark
Southfield resident, 24 years
Facebook Comment on California's Recent Natural Gas Leak:
Who thinks what happened in southern California won't happen here in Southeast Michigan?
"What
you can't see is easy to ignore. That's why communities that suffer
from pollution from oil and gas development are often dismissed by
industry and regulators," said
Earthworks spokesperson Alan Septoff. "Making invisible pollution
visible shows the world what people in Porter Ranch have been living
with every day for months."
"Aside from the
catastrophic setback the Aliso Canyon leak represents in the state's
efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, the pollution is also
causing a public health nightmare for neighbors. Around 2,100 households
have been temporarily relocated as a result of the leak, and SoCal Gas
agreed this week it would find temporary housing for another 2,600
affected families. The company agreed to make sure pets were taken care
of, and to provide additional security for vacated neighborhoods.
"I
hate seeing SoCalGas' pollution billowing over my home and community.
Knowing this gas leak has been polluting us since October and won't stop
until March, if then, makes it clear there's only one way to keep us
healthy and safe now and in the future," said Matt Pakucko, President of
Save Porter Ranch. "Governor Brown needs to shut down the Aliso Canyon
facility."
Effort to ban residential area drilling in Michigan after Southfield controversy
A debate that started in Southfield after an oil company sought permission to drill
the grounds on a church property has led one lawmaker to propose
legislation seeking to ban oil and gas drilling in all residential areas
in the state.
State House Representative from the 35th District Jeremy Moss
said on Wednesday that he is soon going to introduce legislation that
will deny drilling in any residential area of the state.
His latest effort comes after Jordan Development of Traverse City
applied for a permit with the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality to dig an oil well at the Word of Faith International Christian
Center on Evergreen Road and Nine Mile.
Southfield currently has a moratorium on oil and gas extractions in the city due to environmental concerns.
“If they aren’t going to hear our objections; if they aren’t
going to abide by a lawful city moratorium on oil drilling, then we are
just going to try and cut them off at the state level and ban this
practice in any residential area,” said Moss, who also served on the
Southfield City Council before being elected as a state representative.
Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver said there have been growing
concerns in his community about the oil and gas exploration efforts due
to environmental concerns.
“We do not want the environmental hazards, loss of trees, heavy
equipment, truck traffic and all that goes with such operations in our
neighborhoods,” said Siver. “Drilling for oil and gas in a fully
developed community such as ours is totally inappropriate.”
The city officials have been discussing the issue for the past
several months in hopes to come up with an ordinance to regulate the
exploration practices.
There has been debate, however, on the legal authority of the local ordinance if the state authorizes drilling in a community.
An earlier statement by Jordan Development said the oil well at
the church will be located in dense woods, “at a significant distance
from any residents or property owners.”
“Protecting drinking water and groundwater is also of paramount importance to Jordan Development,” the statement said.
On Jan. 27, Moss will host an event with Oakland County Water
Resources Commissioner Jim Nash to provide residents information on oil
and gas exploration and drilling, including fracking. The event will be held at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Southfield Public Library located at 26300 Evergreen Road in Southfield.
