Detroit CofC Endorses DRIC

[1KielsonDrive]

Anyway, back to Manny. His company annexes a city park. Property owned by the citizens, on the excuse it's his company's right under terrorism laws. No requests, no petitions, no legal basis, just take it. His company takes property from the neighborhood and builds on it with no requests, permits or legal basis. His company takes property from citizens that's part of the new freeway interchange, costing us an undetermined amount of money. He surrounds small business owners and prevents them from doing business and making a living becuase he refuses to negotiate with them in purchasing their properties and businesses. There was at least two instances - a Duty Free Store and a Bait Store. This guy is a tyrant. "Moroun is evil".

[kraig]

Anyway, back to Manny. His company annexes a city park. Property owned by the citizens, on the excuse it's his company's right under terrorism laws. No requests, no petitions, no legal basis, just take it. His company takes property from the neighborhood and builds on it with no requests, permits or legal basis. His company takes property from citizens that's part of the new freeway interchange, costing us an undetermined amount of money. He surrounds small business owners and prevents them from doing business and making a living becuase he refuses to negotiate with them in purchasing their properties and businesses. There was at least two instances - a Duty Free Store and a Bait Store. This guy is a tyrant. "Moroun is evil".

Has anyone noticed that there hasn't been anymore talk from the City of Detroit about the DIBC taking over a portion of Riverside Park without permission? It may be due to the fact that the City did give permission to the DIBC back in 2003.

Additionally, while MDOT is committting resources to the DRIC, it has been losing out on hundreds of millions of federal dollars because it hasn't been able to provide its matching fund requirements. A lot of roadwork that's needed right now in the state of michigan is being sacrificed for the sake of the DRIC which may not be needed for another 20 years. MDOT's priorities need to be scrutinized.

[Novine]

"Additionally, while MDOT is committting resources to the DRIC, it has been losing out on hundreds of millions of federal dollars because it hasn't been able to provide its matching fund requirements."

How much has MDOT committed to DRIC?

[SCS100]

"Additionally, while MDOT is committting resources to the DRIC, it has been losing out on hundreds of millions of federal dollars because it hasn't been able to provide its matching fund requirements."

How much has MDOT committed to DRIC?

As of June 30, 2007, they had committed $21.3 million in the study. $4.3 million was supplied by MDOT, the rest by various federal funds.

http://michigan.gov/documents/mdot/D...1_217026_7.pdf

See page 3 for the overall expeditures by year and pages 4 and 5 for funding sources and expenditures by area.

As for the fact of building the bridge itself, the total that has been floated around in several places is $1.5 billion, which seems very small to me considering what they are proposing. That plus the fact that it was proposed right before the economy tanked would suggest that the price would have easily increased. Apparently, they have said that it will be repaid through tolls and no public funds will be used, but I am still very skeptical of that.

http://www.partnershipborderstudy.co..._Responses.pdf

[urbanoutdoors]

I personally think that SW Sol does a pretty good job of summing up what the community wants to see happen if a bridge is to be built... The issue at hand here is transparency or lack there of. I would like to see no bridge built but if one must be built then whats below should be taken into account...

Southwest Solutions is a nonprofit organization providing mental health, affordable housing, services to the homeless, literacy programs, and community organizing in southwest Detroit. The organization’s annual budget is $23 million and its real estate portfolio $70 million in real estate assets in southwest Detroit.

Since 1999 and in collaboration with other organizations, Southwest Solutions has worked intently to maintain a knowledgeable and educated position regarding international bridge-related issues.

By way of background, the Ambassador Bridge, is owned and operated by the Detroit International Bridge Company [[DIBC), a privately-held corporation. DIBC will strongly benefit from a $200 million investment by the Michigan Department of Transportation [[MDOT) in a complete rebuilding of the infrastructure connecting the existing bridge to the interstate highway system. DIBC’s intention is to build a six lane “replacement� span adjacent to the existing bridge.

In addition to the DIBC’s plans is the Detroit River International Crossing [[DRIC), a bi-nationally sponsored public endeavor to erect and maintain a publicly-owned bridge situated downriver from the Ambassador Bridge. This new bridge would connect the Delray community in southwest Detroit with Brighton Beach, Ontario.

In partnership with the Gateway Collaborative and others, Southwest Solutions has sought to protect the interests of the Southwest Detroit community with respect to bridge-related issues. We believe that the best way to protect the community is to promote vigorous and continuous dialogue between both DIBC and the promoters of DRIC and community residents. This dialogue should include:
o public hearings
o study and analysis of community impacts
o continuous dialogue between the community and the United States Coast Guard, the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

In light of recent developments regarding bridge-related issues, Southwest Solutions:

1. Affirms our position that Southwest Solutions seeks to protect the best interests of residents and the small businesses that serve them in connection with both the current Gateway Project and any new international bridge project originating in our community;

2. Stresses that community protections in connection with such projects must be codified through legally enforceable agreements, such as Community Benefits Agreements, before any bridge plan is approved and before any bridge construction can begin;

3. Opposes any plan that fails to reduce bridge-related traffic volumes on surface streets in our community;

4. Will help ensure that community concerns are presented to appropriate governmental and regulatory bodies;

5. Seeks completion of full environmental impact studies and the sharing of results of those studies with the local community.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?to...4420#post93001