  Tkshreve Member Username: Tkshreve Post Number: 214 Registered: 07-2006 |
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20071019/M ETRO/710190423 Why can't anyone prevent this corruption that is tearing the City limb by limb? If I could count the wasted dollars of so many departments. It's not that it is a ton of money being squandered, but consider the amount of the money the city has to use from its' tax base. Gives a little more value to any money being squandered. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10552 Registered: 10-2003 |
Certainly an appaling abuse that needs to be stopped. How can a committee grant hardships with no accountability and no access to research. Just access to titles alone would help a lot. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1931 Registered: 04-2006 |
Yeah, craziness. It is sure to start a storm. JoAnn Watson's involvement is especially interesting... wasn't her entire platform on her initial campaign based on cleaning up the city government? | ||
3rdworldcity Member Username: 3rdworldcity Post Number: 947 Registered: 01-2005 |
I am amazed there is not more outrage over this. Does anyone even care? Based on the DetNews report there was clearly fraud and corruption involved in the case where one of the committee members granted a tax break to her lawyer. His records should be subpoenaed to see if he credited her fees by the amount of the tax break. They should both go to jail. Chances of that happening? Zip and none. The bigger question is: How many more of these taxpayer rip offs are out there and not discovered yet? And folks argue that this is not some third world city. Congratulations to the DetNews. Good job. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 473 Registered: 05-2004 |
Business as usual in the D. Why should they care, it's not their money. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 3174 Registered: 10-2003 |
Storm the CAY with torches and rakes, and throw them all out on their asses. The police won't stop you, they'll probably help.  | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 474 Registered: 05-2004 |
Business as usual in the D. Why should they care, it's not their money. | ||
Tkshreve Member Username: Tkshreve Post Number: 215 Registered: 07-2006 |
I am waiting for the die-hard loyalists to come out and find the silver lining in this story. I am waiting for some kind of rational counter-point that puts this entire situation into perspective. 3WC - you are right, this is point blank corruption, yet the city churns on as if nothing ever happened. Our citizens and public are way too under informed to really even make a difference. Even the people who do have access to our media outlets choose to watch the Brittany child custody battle instead. PRETTY SAD | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 440 Registered: 07-2007 |
great, now if you know who they are, put a lein on their house and fine them and collect the money plus interest and penalties. Then fire the employees responsible, then charge them in court with fraud and embezzlement of city finds, real simple. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 6699 Registered: 02-2004 |
RECALL THE WHOLE CITY " CLOWNSIL!" | ||
Johnberk Member Username: Johnberk Post Number: 69 Registered: 11-2003 |
This is just totally outrageous; I hope criminal charges will be forthcoming. Good job Detroit News. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 232 Registered: 08-2007 |
The Freep reports that Mr. Mayor has locked up the tax records so City Council or the Tax Abatement Committee can't touch them. Charles Pugh reported this morning that Mr. Cockrill has issued instructions to the other Council members to keep their mouths shut. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20071020/NEW S01/710200365 | ||
Pussygirl313 Member Username: Pussygirl313 Post Number: 42 Registered: 08-2006 |
There are many smart members on this forum. What can we do as Tax payers in this city to recall our city council....or hold them accountable? Do we start a petition? or what? This is just outrageous. Can I put my taxes in escrow or something....to show my anger? Where do I go to get a hardship clearance? I have to scrape and save every year to pay my taxes. High Fucking taxes at that. I'm so mad. It never stops. I love this city. But it is getting harder to do so everyday. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 233 Registered: 08-2007 |
I think that is the question on the lips of a lot of folks today. | ||
Pussygirl313 Member Username: Pussygirl313 Post Number: 44 Registered: 08-2006 |
I am so mad............What can we do? Nothing? Come on folks let get together. A rally or picket. Lets unite and take action.......I will do my part. I just don't know how or what to do. Any advise? | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 966 Registered: 11-2004 |
I agree this is shameful. Maybe if council spent more time conducting oversight instead trying to impeach Bush or naming streets after people this wouldn't have happened. | ||
Pjazz Member Username: Pjazz Post Number: 87 Registered: 04-2005 |
I'm pretty sure people in every community can ask for a hearing to dispute thier property tax assessment. My neighbor did so a few years ago and they did give him a small break. This is not just a program for the poor, but for people disputing thier taxes being doubled thanks to the cap being taken off and or disputing the increased value of there property. Reading about many of you complaining about high taxes it makes me chuckle at your remarks about this. Any body has the right to dispute thier tax assesment and this should not be blown out of proportion. Investigation sounds as though its necessary but this constant corruption in the city tripe needs to stop. By the way I missed the date I could dispute my assessment so I plan on doing it next year. | ||
Shark Member Username: Shark Post Number: 291 Registered: 12-2003 |
Did you even bother to read the articles? No one is blowing anything out of proportion regarding property values/taxes. This has nothing to do with tax assessments, and everything to do with criminals, con-artists and cheats claiming to a shadowy committee that they are needy when they are clearly not. | ||
Pussygirl313 Member Username: Pussygirl313 Post Number: 45 Registered: 08-2006 |
Amen Shark......... Criminals. And criminals should be put in jail. Oh how I would love to see all of them behind bars, or on a work release program picking up trash on the street. Wouldn't that be fun to see? Watson and rest of them picking up trash, in a nice orange overalls. | ||
Johnberk Member Username: Johnberk Post Number: 70 Registered: 11-2003 |
Pjazz, it does not sound like you even read the Detroit News article from the top of this thread. In one case, there is a lawyer who lives in a $335,000 home in Sherwood Forest. On her application for a tax waiver, the lawyer's wife swore under oath that her husband was deceased. The Detroit News discovered that he is alive and well, AND does legal work for one of the people on the Hardship Committee that approved the tax waiver. So clearly, there is blatant criminal activity here on the part of more than one person. And that is just in this one case. The Detroit News article speaks about several cases. (Message edited by johnberk on October 20, 2007) | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1388 Registered: 12-2003 |
I loved the detail about the woman who claimed HER husband was dead as well, and the reporter found him at home watching their wall-size TV. | ||
Pjazz Member Username: Pjazz Post Number: 88 Registered: 04-2005 |
Ok. After rereading it does say it's the tax cuts were made for the poor. I read the freep link first. My bad. Lets hope whos ever at fault will be punished (Message edited by pjazz on October 20, 2007) | ||
Granmontrules Member Username: Granmontrules Post Number: 225 Registered: 01-2007 |
We need district by council for a starter to get rid of these same ole names that have been around forever. There is really no one to watch over CC. They watch over the executive branch (mayor) but there is really no one to keep an eye on them. Someone has to start signatures to get district by council. I don't know the details but you need a certain percentage based off either population or numbers of voters. A few years ago a guy spoke about it at the Rosedale Park Community Center - anyone else there and remember the details? | ||
Elwoodp Member Username: Elwoodp Post Number: 16 Registered: 03-2006 |
I agree that Detroit needs to establish a district based council or ward system similar to most large cities. Among the 15 largest cities in the country, only Detroit and Columbus has an at-large city council. Having lived in Chicago, I saw first hand the benefits of Chicago's 50-ward system. The elected officials (Alderman) live in the district they represent. If a district is being neglected, you can bet the Alderman will not make it through another election. Ironically, Detroit went to an at-large system in 1918 in an effort to end corruption and cronyism. That is not to say district-based councils are without corruption – any system requires checks and balances. But it would seem to be in the citizens’ best interest to have local representation. Detroit had an opportunity to adopt a district-based system back in 1974 when it was placed on a ballot. It was voted down. In 2002, then Governor Engler tried to get districting on the ballot, but was voted down by the State Supreme Court. http://media.www.michigandaily .com/media/storage/paper851/ne ws/2002/07/22/Opinion/District ing.Gets.Red.Light-1411587.sht ml If placed on a ballot today, does anyone think it would pass? | ||
Elwoodp Member Username: Elwoodp Post Number: 17 Registered: 03-2006 |
Two related articles: http://www.metrotimes.com/edit orial/story.asp?id=10456 http://www.detnews.com/special reports/2001/broken2/1ward/1wa rd.htm | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 454 Registered: 07-2007 |
This is what i have been shouting about. LET'S DO IT! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =VclHtnoTqRA | ||
Tkshreve Member Username: Tkshreve Post Number: 217 Registered: 07-2006 |
This movement needs to gather strength and speed. I could not read the above links. What do they pertain to?? |
