Will Gandmothers House be torn down.

GOOD MORNING FLINT!
BY Terry Bankert.
12/27/09

Study: demolish entire neighborhoods.

WILL YOUR GRAMMA HAVE TO MOVE?

How should public policy be set in Flint?

For generations we have suffered the latest study by obscure but definitely private promoters eagerly promoted by the cheerleader ,local media ,as our salvation.

Caution is urged today.

I cannot honestly say than any variation of local elected officials in Flint or Genesee county is currently or was ever capable of independent ,through ,researched, evaluation and development of realistic public policy that will in turn increase our quality of life and economic life.

Against my better instinct my mind is open to another study on Flint NBH land use as cheered on but unanalyzed in today’s “The Flint Journal.” 12/27/09, page one above the cut on the left.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/12/new_report_identifies_most_vac.html
　
NOW after we have suffered a year filled with guess work ,radical statements ,insensitive to us that are struggling to live in Flint . Yes some of us live on near deserted streets .

A” NEW” study has been released. College Kids? Working with the downtown business, Mott foundation and land bank interests?

Right ….is this new or is it a timed ,predictable, inclusion into the discussion about tearing down some Flint NBH to clear land for some possibly known but yet undisclosed development?

And in this corner the authors are “ University of Michigan Graduate Students” . With my Flint Uof M -Flint MPA I was one of them once. Good job gang. But, how much of this did you really write?

Why is the report directed to the Land Bank and not my Mayor of Flint nor the Flint City Council.

With County Treasurer Daniel Kildee off the job, he resigned, just who is the Land Bank now? Or is this report really directed to his foundation?

Just whose grandmother trapped in the families home in Flint will be forced to move if the Students plan is adopted as our land use policy.

I guess I am making an assumption that we have a role in this policy adoption process.

We do don’t we?

Back to the open mind thing. We should read the report. The most likely real author Eric Duewekee community partnership manager for the Urban and regional Planning Program at UofM-Flint said “There has to be a kind of game plan for the reuse of vacant land.” I agree.

But who creates the final game plan for our neighborhoods. Elected leadership or privately funded consultants? When this is over it will be both.

We are at the cutting edge of new inner city land use policy, TEAR IT ALL DOWN! Maybe you do have to tidy up the clearance process that the free market is already doing. Just drive around Flint, lots of empty city parcels and abandoned houses.

The Journal says the report was funded by the Genesee Institute. Who runs and funds this operation?

In the article the Journal observes and says essentially those that do not parrot the downtown business (Reinvestment Group), Mott Foundation, Land Bank line should be careful.

Their remarks “…could spark the emotional debate about shrinking the city all over again.” I guess how you characterize this discussion depends on whose home is being torn down and who makes the decision.

Mayor Walling Says “This Administration will not choose winners and losers.” Good Point.

Mayor Walling says “ We will not treat some better than others.’ BETTER POINT.

Some are critical about the approach being promoted by the Journal and advocated by essentially unknown others .

Woodrow Stanley , County Commissioner, says “…a straight scholarly approach that does not include resident in the process shouldn’t go anywhere.”

So the debate continues, just what does Flint do with its vacant land and just who should make the decision.

It seems to me that the Land Bank is central to this decision and the future of Flint.

With the County Treasure running the Land Bank and the Treasures position being vacated it is critical to pick the right person to fill this position.

We must demand a person in that position who is sensitive to the needs of the citizens of Flint.
Three local politicians will fill the treasures position.

I suggest we let them know what kind of vision for Flint we want to see in that position.

Posted here by
Terry Bankert
http://www.flintfamilylaw.com/
　

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Sam Riddle I wish you well.

GOOD MORNING FLINT.
12/27/09
By Terry Bankert

The end of this story is ‘ Sam Riddle found innocent on all counts in all courts including the court of public opinion.” How will he do this? Heck if I know! But my opinion is that if anyone can pull himself out of this pickle he is in its Sam Riddle.

I know a little bit about politics but I have always viewed Sam as a “better”.

I once ran for city council suffering an agonizing defeat wondering where all my friends went.

Well one did not walk away and that was Sam Riddle. I will not walk away from him. Sam is also not someone to trifle with so as I post on the subject of Sam Riddle I do so in a manner to demonstrate I am still his friend.

So what do you do when people you know are hip deep in it. Tell the world how you feel, offer assistance and wish them well.

Sam Riddle is Flints rough edge cowboy of politics, brilliant, a maverick, tough and his own man.

In Flint , Michigan and National politics he could be found one step in the background dealing with big people, big issues and big media. Heck I don’t know what he was really doing or how he did it.

I just knew he was a Flint Guy making a lot of things happen.

I have asked him for opinion and advice on issues before me and would not hesitate to do so again. I am making no judgment on the events he is embroiled in today. I just know if anyone can extract himself from this its Sam Riddle.

So no matter how this turns out I am grateful to this man who has offered me a helping hand.

His name is Sam Riddle and he is my friend and I wish him well. You should too.

Posted here by
Terry Bankert 12/27/09
http://www.flintdivorce.com/

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PUBLICLY INTERVIEW COUNTY TREASURER APPLICANTS!

GOOD MORNING FLINT!
BY Terry Bankert
12/24/09

Mayor Walling is right, when he says, trees do not pay taxes.

Vacant abandoned homes do not pay taxes either.

Residents trapped between run down rental property, thanks to the Political Clout of the Genesee Landlords Association, and empty and sporadically maintained property thanks to the Land Bank are paying taxes at a rate higher than the fair market value of their property because of state law.

We are at a cross roads. Daniel Kildee as a public servant has assembled a significant block of property .

He has our thanks but now what is to happen to these properties.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/12/al_jazeera_report_highlights_f.html
　
What is the plan of Dan Kildee the private person working off a grant from the Mott foundation and in concert with his friend at the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce ?

What do they have in mind for our quality of life as driven by land use policy in part?

Now as Kildee abandons his post as country treasure and his statutory leadership of the land bank what is our communities vision?

What are our plans for the use of this land?

Why cannot the public directly and through our elected council and mayor discuss this at hearings?

Where is the public agenda ?

Where are these decisions really being made?

The only neighborhood agenda in Flint is being played out by the obscure policy actions of the Land Bank.

Why?

What is ironic as the country treasure position is being vacated County Clerk Carr and County Treasure Kildee say the position should be left vacant.

At the very moment that public leadership is needed there are interests that want our voices to not be heard through our appointed/elected leadership.

Soon three county political figures will fill the County Treasures position abandoned by Kildee.
Who is lobbying these three politicians?

What is the criteria to be used in this selection?

What deals are being cut?

These are logical questions we should all be asking.

Needed is transparency in the process for selecting the next county treasurer.

I hope the interview process is open to the public and media.

Is it?

Posted here by
Terry Bankert
http://www.attorneybankert.com/

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