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A
SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
8
October 25, 2012
Bridge prompts questions
To the editor:
I've heard all the ads and innu-
endos related to the “bridge ques-
tion.
The one big thing I haven't
heard either side say is, “Do we
need it? Are there companies not
doing business with Canada, or
vice versa, because there is only
one bridge? Will they increase
their business if there's a second
bridge?
If we need it, build it, if not, why
build a second I-75?
TomKelly,
Plymouth
Bond millage supported
To the editor;
With the Nov. 6 election just a
few short weeks away, voters are
encouraged to learn more about
how the Northville Public Schools
Technology Bond will benefit stu-
dents and teachers in the class-
room - while also maintaining the
existing millage rate for taxpayers -
by visitingwww.voteyesnps.org.
The website is sponsored by
Vote Yes! For NPS, a citizen-led
ballot question committee com-
prised of about 15 Northville
school parent and community vol-
unteers who have joined forces to
get the word out about the
Technology Bond, which will raise
$20.87 million for technology
improvements across the school
district over the next nine years if
taxpayers are willing to maintain
the existing 4.3-mill rate they cur-
rently pay.
While almost 90 percent of the
bond funds (more than $18 million)
are earmarked for technology
needs, the bond proposal also
includes approximately $2 million
for the purchase of replacement
buses for the district's aging fleet.
The Vote Yes! For NPS website
provides details on howaYES vote
on theTechnologyBondwill:
• Provide proven educational
technology that adapts to students'
learning styles and prepares stu-
dents for a lifetime of learning.
• Strengthen college and career
readiness of students.
• Maintain the current millage
rate of 4.3-mills for taxpayers.
Many people in public office
claimthey are not politicians.
They'll look you in the eye and
say as much, perhaps to earn some
empathy or to remind a voter that
he or she is one of them, just a reg-
ular person trying to do a job.
Many others will say-particular-
ly lately, when the economy has put
many communities in a difficult
position-that their city or township
is in better shape than neighboring
ones.
Consider this, then, a salute to a
'regular person' who helped make
his community into one of the pre-
mier communities in Wayne
County a place that is, in fact, in
better shape than many other
municipalities.
When Township Supervisor
Mark Abbo first took office in 1992,
he came on board as a trustee
amidst a complete changeover of
elected officials. Northville
Township was poised to enter its
greatest period of commercial and
residential growth and, despite
that, lacked sound leadership.
Now, 20 years later, Abbo has
gaveled his last meeting and left
the township in an enviable posi-
tion. The townshipwas able to nav-
igate the difficult economy with lit-
tle more than a hiccup, maintain-
ing service levels while building
up assets-with a solid fund balance
of more than $12 million in
reserve.
The township has developed
more than 150 acres of park land
during that time, often by trading
smaller, valuable parcels for larger
oneswithmore recreational poten-
tial. Northville has also secured
the legacy of one of its most prime
pieces of real estate, the former
Northville Psychiatric Hospital
property, which will eventually
become a 330-plus acre park that is
expected to be the jewel of the
It almost always starts about 6
p.m.
The phone rings, just as I am in
the middle of fixing dinner or sit-
ting down to it. When I resentfully
answer, I am greeted by some
recorded voice announcing that it
wants to give me an “important
message.”
Yeah, well important this, I
often used to think as I slammed
down the receiver in a snit of irri-
tation.
But lately, in my ongoing effort
at self-improvement and anger
management, I am attempting to
look at the calls as a symbol of my
incredible popularity.
Think about it. I'll never again
be as popular with some very
important people as I am right
now. Well, maybe in four years, but
still, youknowwhat Imean.
Do you think Mitt Romney (OK,
OK, so his office staff) is going to
call me after say, Nov. 6? Nope.
Not a chance. Do you think Mr.
Obama will be giving me a call?
Nah, I don't think so, either.
Neither will all these judicial
candidates who want me to know
that they protect children and are
advocates for women or the ones
who want me to know that three of
those nasty judges have always
sided with the big insurance com-
panies, and “denied care to a
woman with cancer.” The repro-
bates.
Then there is the law enforce-
ment professional who wants me
to know that Proposal whatever it
is has nothing to do with unions
and that those who support it are
tricking me. As soon as I hang up
on him, the school people call to
tell me that children will be sexu-
ally molested on buses driven by
drunks if I vote thewrongway.
I'm so confused. Popular, but
still, confused.
The man who calls me about
the new bridge is really nice, he
has a deep throaty, smoky voice
and he wants me to know that the
state will be spending tax money
that could be
used for pro-
tecting me from
fire and crime
on building an unnecessary bridge
to Canada. But then, another nice
fellow calls to tell me that's a
bunch of Malarkey and that the
bridge won't cost me any tax
money and if I vote the wrong way,
the statewon't be able to build any-
thing, or repair any of the unsafe
bridges we already have, without
it being a ballot question.
There aremore, of course.
But you can trust me on this.
Not one of them will call me after
Nov. 6 to give me important mes-
sages. No sirree.
Will they call to check in and
make sure I'm feeling OK or ask
how I am after they persuade me
It will be inconvenient. It will take time. It requires some
serious thinking if you are going to do it right. But if you fail,
you have failed not only yourself and your family, but your
state, your county and your country.
No matter what your political choices may be, you have a
responsibility tomake some responsible choices Nov. 6 at the
polls. This election, that won't be easy.
Clerks in every municipality are cautioning voters that
this is a long, long ballot with at least two pages and many
proposals and issues to be decided, along with the
Presidential, Congressional and judicial candidates in addi-
tion to the local races for school boards, councils andboards.
Voters have a lot of choices to make and will, these elec-
tion experts agree, probably have to stand in line for a while
tomake them.
Our concern is that those predictions may keep some vot-
ers from the polls, thinking that it is just too inconvenient and
time consuming. After all, young people these days cannot
take time to make phone calls, and expect an instant
response by text to any communication. Their lives are devot-
ed to short attention spans.
We hope they can make the effort and get to the polls. It
isn't that we don't understand the other pressures facing vot-
ers these days. There are family, work, social and personal
obligations that press into schedules every single day, taking
up precious minutes we could be doing something else. We
understand the need to get to the soccer game with junior or
to band practice, the orthodontist or a swim meet and get
there on time, probably with specially purchased snacks.
There are errands, banking, laundry and other matters inci-
dental to life pressing on every single schedule. We also
understand that the responsibility of voting needs to bemade
a priority over all those other obligations.
If you and junior are late to the game or practice, itmay be
embarrassing and take you down a notch or two on the
parental popularity scale, but it won't change your life. If the
laundry, cleaning or shopping is delayed, it could be embar-
rassing, at worst, but again, it won't change the future of our
country, state or community.
Voting can andnot votingwill.
This will be a crucial election at both the national, state,
county and local levels. There really is awide divide between
the candidates for President, and while most of the promises
being made are completely beyond the scope of the powers
of that office, many of the philosophies and attitudes of the
men seeking to sit in the Oval Office for the next four years
are not. The next President could change a great deal about
our country and your vote decides who that man will be. It is
crucial that voters strip away all the rhetoric and all the
inflated promises, look at the things that a President actually
can do and decide which candidate supports what you
believe is important.
That vote will take time. If you qualify, all the clerks are
suggesting that those older than 60 vote by absentee ballot,
simply to lessen the crowds expected during the peak times
at the polls. Those can be requested at your local municipal
clerk's office and certainly will allow those who obtain them
time to consider the proposals before casting their votes.
We cannot urge residents strongly enough to make this
election a priority. We also cannot urge enough research and
education regarding candidates and proposals to ensure that
voters are really informed, not just following the party line or
votingwithout any real conviction.
This will be a difficult election for voters. It will take time,
much of it before the polls even open, to determine who to
believe or which is the right path for our country and crucial-
ly, our state.
Nothing reallyworthwhile, however, is ever easy.
VoteNov. 6.
Just a
regular guy
But you can trust me on this.
Not one of them will call me after Nov. 6
to give me important messages.
”
The next President could change
a great deal about our country and your vote
decides who that man will be.
”
Political popularity will fade following the election
Carve out time for crucial vote on Nov. 6
See
Letters,
page 9
See
Popularity,
page 9
See
Farewell,
page 9
Letters