Detroit Yes Members Running for Office

[HazenPingree]

I am attempting to run for office, the Detroit City Charter Commission, in the August primary, and am currently in the signature gathering phase.

Are there any other Detroit Yes members out there who are running for anything in the upcoming election season?

Personally, my positions are:

1. Work to aid the effort to have the city council elected by district
2. simplify and streamline the Detroit city charter to avoid future "double elections, " as we will see this year, and other potential problems.
3. Create more cohesiveness between city departments.
4. When possible, push for preservation, adaptive reuse, regionalism, urban agriculture, "rightsizing" Detroit, landbanking, school reform, small business incubation, mass transit, bicycle advocacy, environmental planning, smart growth, recycling.

If you would like to support me, join my facebook cause:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/2745...467?m=58df6bcc

And, if you are registered to vote in Detroit, sign my nomination petition by May 10th, at either Bureau of Urban Living on Canfield, or Urban Grounds in Eastern Market on Saturdays.

So, any other candidates on here? If so, post your information, and let's help each other.

[Detroit Stylin]

Its funny that you mention that, becuase I am curently helping someone else whois running for thast spot as well.

Me myself I been kicking around the idea of running for City Council in about 5 years or so...

[HazenPingree]

well, seeing as there can be 18 winners in the primary, I think that there is plent of room for both of us! best of luck to your friend. If you are feeling generous, sign my petition. I will sign your friend's as well. :-)

[Novine]

If people were willing to make a contribution, where should they send it?

[The Recycling Guy]

My name is Matthew Naimi and I am running for a seat on Detroit City Council. Check out my platform website at:

www.vote4growth.com

Let me know if you would like to help out in any way.

You can sign my nominating petition at all Recycle Here! Locations, Canine to Five, and the Bureau of Urban Living.

Matthew Naimi

[raptor56]

Sounds like the Bureau of Urban Living is a hot spot for petition signings.

[kraig]

I am attempting to run for office, the Detroit City Charter Commission, in the August primary, and am currently in the signature gathering phase.

Are there any other Detroit Yes members out there who are running for anything in the upcoming election season?

Personally, my positions are:

1. Work to aid the effort to have the city council elected by district
2. simplify and streamline the Detroit city charter to avoid future "double elections, " as we will see this year, and other potential problems.
3. Create more cohesiveness between city departments.
4. When possible, push for preservation, adaptive reuse, regionalism, urban agriculture, "rightsizing" Detroit, landbanking, school reform, small business incubation, mass transit, bicycle advocacy, environmental planning, smart growth, recycling.

If you would like to support me, join my facebook cause:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/2745...467?m=58df6bcc

And, if you are registered to vote in Detroit, sign my nomination petition by May 10th, at either Bureau of Urban Living on Canfield, or Urban Grounds in Eastern Market on Saturdays.

So, any other candidates on here? If so, post your information, and let's help each other.

Give me an example of rightsizing.

[Hans57]

I think Andy means reducing their infrastructure costs by shutting down parts of the city that are extremely sparsly populated and moving those few residents to more dense parts of the city.

Right, Andy?

[raptor56]

I think Andy means reducing their infrastructure costs by shutting down parts of the city that are extremely sparsly populated and moving those few residents to more dense parts of the city.

Well the world turns
and a hungry little boy with a runny nose
plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto

And his hunger burns
so he starts to roam the streets at night
and he learns how to steal
and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto

[HazenPingree]

NOVINE, regarding making a donation, if you were referring to me, I am honored. Once I collect enough signatures and am officially a candidate, I will organize an election committee, hold a fund raiser, and at that time, I would be very appreciative of a donation. For now, though, if you were able to sign a petition, [[at Bureau, for example) that would be the best help. Thank you very much.

THE RECYCLING GUY, Matt, I am a big booster of yours. I have already signed one of your petitions, and wish you the best of luck. You have my vote and my full endorsement.

KRAIG / HANS57, Yes, Hans is correct. I am currently writing my masters thesis on the topic of what would happen to Detroit if we were NOT to do this. However, I should clarify that I am NOT advocating for emminant domain and haphazardly throwing poor residents out on the street.

I am advocating instead for creating a community-driven rightsizing masterplan, as seen in Youngstown, Ohio, that calls for shut down of already empty blocks first, turning them over to forresters, farmers, and gardeners, and then slowy - over the course of a years - assisting citizens [[both financially and physically) who are living in dangerous and desolate neighborhoods with moves to a more economically diverse urban core, which would create a more traditional and attractive urban density, turning formerly blighted and dangerous neighborhoods into a greenbelt.

This would not only allow these citizens access to jobs and safety, but would also, through population concentration, save the city of Detroit millions of dollars annually, boost property values, reduce blight and crime, and reduce the strain on some city resources. This plan is not something that I have dreamed up, but rather one that has been bounced around the CAY Municipal Building since 1993, and I believe it is a plan with merit.

[choquant]

Sounds like a really good idea, if not one that would take quite a while to accomplish. I will be going to sign your petition today. Good luck!

[kraig]

NOVINE, regarding making a donation, if you were referring to me, I am honored. Once I collect enough signatures and am officially a candidate, I will organize an election committee, hold a fund raiser, and at that time, I would be very appreciative of a donation. For now, though, if you were able to sign a petition, [[at Bureau, for example) that would be the best help. Thank you very much.

THE RECYCLING GUY, Matt, I am a big booster of yours. I have already signed one of your petitions, and wish you the best of luck. You have my vote and my full endorsement.

KRAIG / HANS57, Yes, Hans is correct. I am currently writing my masters thesis on the topic of what would happen to Detroit if we were NOT to do this. However, I should clarify that I am NOT advocating for emminant domain and haphazardly throwing poor residents out on the street.

I am advocating instead for creating a community-driven rightsizing masterplan, as seen in Youngstown, Ohio, that calls for shut down of already empty blocks first, turning them over to forresters, farmers, and gardeners, and then slowy - over the course of a years - assisting citizens [[both financially and physically) who are living in dangerous and desolate neighborhoods with moves to a more economically diverse urban core, which would create a more traditional and attractive urban density, turning formerly blighted and dangerous neighborhoods into a greenbelt.

This would not only allow these citizens access to jobs and safety, but would also, through population concentration, save the city of Detroit millions of dollars annually, boost property values, reduce blight and crime, and reduce the strain on city. This plan is not something that I have dreamed up, but rather one that has been bounced around the CAY Municipal Building since 1993, and I believe it is a plan with merit.

Thanks for that very detailed answer, you have my support. Good luck to you.

[firstandten]

Personally, my positions are:

1. Work to aid the effort to have the city council elected by district
2. simplify and streamline the Detroit city charter to avoid future "double elections, " as we will see this year, and other potential problems.
3. Create more cohesiveness between city departments.
4. When possible, push for preservation, adaptive reuse, regionalism, urban agriculture, "rightsizing" Detroit, landbanking, school reform, small business incubation, mass transit, bicycle advocacy, environmental planning, smart growth, recycling..

I think your positions represent 99% of what every sane Detroiter wants to see, my only issue is how do you get to the positions you give. Its one thing to say what you want its another to have a plan as to how to get there.

[Bearinabox]

I think your positions represent 99% of what every sane Detroiter wants to see, my only issue is how do you get to the positions you give. Its one thing to say what you want its another to have a plan as to how to get there.

Since he's running for the city charter commission, I'd imagine he plans to "get there" by amending the city charter.

[GREENTROIT]

I think your positions represent 99% of what every sane Detroiter wants to see, my only issue is how do you get to the positions you give. Its one thing to say what you want its another to have a plan as to how to get there.

Welll you get the results by electing people. The only way he will have any chance of making the changes he proposes is by holding the power of office. As for implementing the changes while in office, its usually based on government-citizen cooperation, political cooperation, ample funding, and wide-spread support... All things Detroit has had trouble with.

What I'm saying is his plan to get there is by getting elected. And he's campaigning on this thread so theres a start...

[MsChievous]

I'm not sure if it's appropriate to post this here so smack me if I've erred!

Are you interested in helping to reform Detroit City Government? Join us for a night out and chat with like-minded people from throughout the city about the May 5 Mayoral Election and Proposal C- the Charter Reform ballot proposal. Enjoy lively discussion, delicious refreshments and meet some candidates for the Charter Revision Commission - you can help by signing some nominating petitions to make sure that we get some great candidates on the ballot. Let's Work Together to Free Detroit from Politics as Usual!

Sunday, May 3, 2009
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Traffic Jam
Street: 511 W. Canfield
City/Town: Detroit, MI
Email: reformdcharter@gmail.com

[cloud_wall]

Andy, Recycler, and Ms. Chievous, I look forward to supporting your efforts. Will you all still be around this weekend collecting signatures?

My friend [[and boss) has just asked me to help her gather the required signatures to get on the ballot for Charter Commission. Eastern Market seems like a great place to start the recruiting process, but I'm wondering where else might be good this weekend.

The candidate is Ellen G. Schreuder, a lifelong Detroiter. She's had a 30+ year career as an area attorney. She's President of the Rosa Parks Institute, and former Chairperson of the Board of Controllers at Northern Michigan University. I'm sure there are more traditional CV qualifications I'm missing.

She's also an all-around great lady. Ellen is extraordinarly committed to her neighborhood in East English Village. She's invested tons of time and energy to helping out kids in her neighborhood [[I often help shuttle them to Sunday school...they're terrific, but her patience is greater than mine).

Ellen has a passion for Detroit that I hadn't seen matched until I joined this forum a few months ago. I've only been in the area a year or so, and she loves to teach my wife and I the rich and complex history of the City and region.

So I hope you'll all consider signing her petition and/or voting for her. I should be out Eastern Market tomorrow, and I'd love to hear other suggestions for places to get signatures.

[cloud_wall]

Just found out that as a Ferndale resident, I can't even try to get signatures. But I hope you'll all read my endorsement above and support Ellen Schreuder [[along with Andy, Matthew, and Ms. Chievous).

[kraig]

Just found out that as a Ferndale resident, I can't even try to get signatures. But I hope you'll all read my endorsement above and support Ellen Schreuder [[along with Andy, Matthew, and Ms. Chievous).

If Ellen Schreuder is a detroit resident running for the Charter Commission, it should be perfectly legal for you to get signatures for her from Detroit residents. Has someone from the clerk's office or the department of elections told you otherwise?

[HazenPingree]

Cloud_Wall, in asking around, it seems unclear whether or not non-Detroit residents can collect Signatures. To be safe, I have only registered voters collecting for me, but if she is in a pinch, and needs your help, I believe that non-Detroit residents are allowed.

[jba]

Went to Facebook to check out your cause.....Two suggestions....Tuck in your shirt and lose the photo of Coleman....

[HazenPingree]

JBA, hey, that was a photo of ME with Coleman!

I will take your suggestions into advisement.