Recall efforts are not addressing the problems
Now for something less controversial than my last entry….
The Macomb County Election Commission rejected the language of Delise’s massive recall effort against 5 of Shelby Township’s Board, deeming the language unclear. This would be a bigger story if the actual recall effort really meant something, but the fact of the matter is that the entire recall effort falls short of what I think we need as a Township. I still think that the bigger story is that this Board, which is “committed” to not having votes cast in work sessions, is doing just that over and over, but that headline doesn’t sell papers. What we really need in this Township is some common sense, reasonable expectations, recognition of strengths, and a real plan to address the falling tax revenue.
Recalls are filled with political warfare that drag both sides through more mud than a pig would know what to do with and isn’t just like local Republicans to do their best to destroy themselves until their only friend is a Democrat? I think the better choice in this situation is the high road. Is it a bitter pill, yes. Is it hard to take the lies than have been thrown around this Township for for three years, of course! It’s my opinion that, in the end, the voters will see what has and will transpire over the next two years and vote for what is best for the Township. We don’t need to stoop to the level that others have stooped to, we can survive through the next two years and let them fall on their face when it comes to defending their own record. After all, this house of cards that they have built on lies can only last so long.
If Mr. Delise wishes to continue his effort to recall the Board members, that is his choice of course, but I think the other side is lumping all of us concerned citizens together in the same boat, which is giving them ammo to piles on issues that don’t even matter anymore (the courthouse). This Board plays a dirty game of politics and will use whatever it can to hold on to power. Continuing to play in their court will not get our message out. I know some of us are angry over what has transpired, but putting our cause on the coat tails of a recall will not get our real problems with this Board out. In fact I think it may hurt the cause with those who don’t truly pay attention to what goes on around them.
So imagine if the recall language was approved, then there is the task of acquiring the needed signatures, then the acceptance of the signatures, then finally the scheduling of the recall vote, then finally the special election, all this time the petitioner would have to endure the onslaught of abuse and political attacks that would be launched by those targeted. Should Thomas Delise really have to endure this when, in fact, he is upset that his condo is never going to be worth what is should have been worth if they didn’t rezone the half of his condo complex? I guess my point is this, Mr. Delise is between a rock and a hard place. On one side he literally has apartments about to be built where there were supposed to be condos, on the other he has the likes of Stathakis and friends, who find it easy to tear down honest people with a barrage of insults, lies, and political fodder. After all they have already used name calling and deceit to try and tear Mr. Delise down, what would be next, more alleged threats? In the end, I think Mr. Delise will be unfairly treated, will not get the change that he truly seeks (overturning the rezoning decision), and will just make them stronger as they will continue to use these episodes, as they have in the past, making themselves the victim in the situation.
I can understand why Mr. Delise is upset, I don’t like the rezoning decision that was made in regards to this property either. I am not of the opinion that apartments will do anything to help property values increase over there, in fact I think they will decline at best. These apartments will increase the tax revenue of the Township (most apartment property owners pay, on average, twice the amount of property taxes single family dwellers pay when comparing the effective tax rate), but it’s a short sighted decision. This is a simple trade off, lower property value, but higher tax revenue. Hurt the residents that live there to increase the tax revenue, why not? It’s only hand full of votes they will lose. Once these apartments go up, you can’t reverse that, you can’t unscrew the property owners that bought their homes in the same complex. Surely there must be better ways for this Board to raise tax revenue without stomping on it’s citizens like this. This short sighted leadership will make our community look like there was simply no forethought to how our community was to look. It lacks vision.
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