Patch Mailbox: Vote 'No' on Commercializing Parks

(The following letters represent the opinions of the authors, and not an institutional opinion from Patch. We will accept election-related letters to the editor through Wednesday, Oct. 28, and want to hear from all sides.)

We are in the election season and receive many mailings regarding the candidates. I received one today that I feel the need to respond with some historical facts for your consideration.

Write-in candidate Bryan Barnett, current mayor excluded from running on the ballot due to term limit regulations, rightfully claims that that he has invested in our parks and trails.

However, what he fails to disclose in his mailing is his attempts to commercialize our park lands near our homes and schools.

Starting in 2009, the City Council with the support of the Mayor actively pursued the placement of water reservoir tanks on park property — with no outreach to affected residents/subs.

The idea was, there could be a 42 percent savings by drawing water into tanks at off hours to get off-peak rates. The recommendation was quickly followed by a $508,985 engineering contract to TetraTech to place two 130 feet by 30 feet high water reservoirs in the city. The area of Tienken and Adams was targeted — first Nowicki park, then Tienken Park next to Adams High School.

Citizens began their own grassroots awareness campaign and quickly noticed the lack of a valid business case of the project with costs projections of $11 million to $18 million, and a promised three-year return on investment (equivalent to an offer from a Nigerian prince willing to help you get your inheritance via telephone).

Upon review, it was found that there were many flaws in the plan and cost creep, yet the City Council with complicit backing of the mayor proceeded despite a yearlong public outcry.

It took a picket line, 350 protestors, and Fox2 news coverage, to ultimately lead to the defeat of the effort after the letting of contracts in excess of a half millions dollars. The council and mayor’s insistence — despite countering data — “there is a compelling business case” was finally defeated.

To combat the reoccurrence of this pattern within the city, a resident-driven measure was placed on the ballot (Nov. 8, 2011) — an amendment to the City Charter that the commercialization of parks would require the vote of the citizens. The question on the ballot was as follows:

“A proposal to amend the City Charter by adding the following new Section 11.8 – Parks and Open Spaces. If adopted, this section will provide that City-owned parks and open spaces shall be used only for park and open space purposes and shall not be sold, leased, transferred, exchanged or converted to another use unless approved by voters.”

The ballot was approved by a vote of over seven-to-one by residents.

This should have closed the issue of the commercialization of public parks without a vote; however, history repeats itself. Even though the intent and letter of the law is clear, just months after passage, the mayor was in discussions with an oil company rep for an oil lease of the very same parks we just battled over.

After cursory discussions, the lease was approved as a regular agenda item at City Council Dec. 3, 2012; Mayor Barnett signed the lease Jan. 15, 2013 — all without a single public hearing to solicit resident input. It was December 2013 before most residents became aware as oil company landmen knocked on more doors.

That began a sustained resident protest ever since, the formation of non-profit Don’t Drill the Hills and a voting rights lawsuit against the city alleging violation of Charter Sec. 11.8 — currently in Michigan Court of Appeals.

How many times do we need to vote to protect our right to vote on these matters? How many protracted protests, petitions, ballot measures, law suits and long term appeals to this Mayor does it take before he gets it? It’s clear Barnett only knows how to “grow” the city by introducing industrial activity — and the only undeveloped properties left are parks and areas zoned residential. This is not the vision of the city’s future most residents share.

Ravi Yalamanchi, in his eight ears as District 1 Council representative, always kept the residents’ voices and maintaining residential character as priorities. If we want to keep what’s good about our community, the clear choice is Ravi Yalamanchi for mayor.

— Shawn M. Cooper, Rochester Hills

Three Good Reasons to Vote

There are many important reasons for Rochester Hills voters to vote this November 3rd.

There are three millage’s on the ballot: the RARA renewal, Rochester Community Schools renewal and an OPC renewal with a .01 mill increase. It is important that we are all informed on these issues and that we let our voices be heard.

In addition, Rochester Hills voters have an amazing opportunity to elect a mayor of a caliber we all wish more of our elected officials possessed. Former Councilman, Ravi Yalamanchi is that candidate.

During the current election and through two previous city council elections, I have personally walked the neighborhoods of this city with Ravi and witnessed how he listens to each resident and how he considers the issues that most affect our community.

While on Council, Ravi continued to show this same level of respect and value for the resident’s viewpoints and concerns. He also made intelligent, informed decisions and he would not bow to intense political pressure through the years that he served us on city council. He made his decisions with careful thought and thorough examination, and he always represented us, the homeowners and voters of Rochester Hills.

I know as mayor, he will continue to lead in the same manner and will bring respect, integrity and honesty to the office of mayor of our city.

Ravi Yalamanchi is truly a class act.

Please vote November 3rd and cast your mayoral vote for Ravi Yalalamanchi.

— Deanna Hilbert, Rochester Hills

If You Can’t Get to the Polls, Vote Early

This year Rochester Hills has an election Tuesday November 3rd for Mayor, City Council, OPC, Library Board and RARA. If you cannot go to the polls on November 3rd, you can still vote by going to city hall at the clerk’s office next to the term limited Mayor’s Office (usually with an empty chair) even on Saturday Oct 31th.

I encourage you to vote for Ravi Yalamanchi. He understands our community with his eight years on City Council. He has a number of ideas to bring standards up and costs down. He believes in transparency, representative government and equal treatment across the board. He knows the laws, and will follow them. Instead of walking the grey line to get pet projects completed.

Everyone has two votes for the At-Large Council positions. I strongly suggest you vote for only one. Soule. We have not had diverse representation on our council, as well as boards and commission for 10 years. Susan Bowyer running for District 3 has been at the forefront on many issues and is actively engaged in understanding residents’ concerns and will show no fear when voicing her opinion on City Council. She is thoughtful, knowledgeable and deliberate in pursuing solutions to thechallenges in our community. Voting for Bill Soule and Susan Bowyer will increase the checks and balances while respecting the City Charter.

I have become known as a community advocate, volunteer, and most importantly, as an individuals who is resourceful in finding the truth. I know these candidates will not resort to bullying to get their way. They will do the right thing, not for the shallow, self-serving reasons others have decided to run for office, but because of their integrity and passion for their community. Retaining someone who is going to any length to try and keep an office and paycheck just does not make sense.

Ravi is a problem solver, who demonstrates critical thinking skills with vision. All my votes are going to individuals who can understand thelong-term consequences to each decision. In this way, we add worth to our community’s future. I want a Rochester Hills where the leaders can be trusted even when we are not in the room.

Thank you for your consideration and choosing to be an active participant on this important election day. Don’t allow your friends and neighbors bethe silent majority that stayed home on election day. A vote for thewrite-in, Mark Tisdale or Dale Hetricks is the same as closing Eddington Boulevard and spending well over a million tax dollars to gain another retail development a term limited pet project.

Please join me in voting for Ravi Yalamanchi for mayor (transparency and trust); Bill Soule, At-Large Council (representative voice-make it your sole vote); Susan Bowyer, District 3 City Council Candidate; yes on OPC (transportation services); Ryan Deel for Library Board (long term planning and accountability)

— Lorraine McGoldrick, Rochester Hills

Vote No on Negative Campaigning

Let’s keep a good thing going? Sure — for the term-limited mayor.

With a cushy job making over $100,000, complete with car, generous travel expense account for his frequent trips to Washington DC, (and Saudi Arabia?) and unlimited taxpayer funded video productions for numerous blog entries, no wonder Bryan Barnett still wants to be mayor. For the past 9 years, Barnett has had it pretty good while the rest of our residents fought to keep jobs, took huge concessions with their pay as well as benefits, and clawed back lost equity in homes.

Given all the expensive robo-calls, numerous flyers with flat out lies about his rival’s voting record and huge tractor-trailer banners, it’s clear Barnett has taken more time cozying up to big donors and outside lobbyist money than listening to the residents who voted for term limits.

These past weeks, residents have seen a career politician trying to scare them into thinking he’s irreplaceable in order to keep hold of the Mayor’s office while he waits to take another run at Congress. All that negativity is not a good thing for residents or the city.

Ravi Yalamanchi is a proven city leader who knows that the good things we have going in our city — are because of the residents who’ve created and fought to maintain what is good about the city.

Don’t be scared into settling for a “good thing” — because with Ravi as our new mayor — the best is yet to come.

— Joanna Vanraaphorst, Rochester Hills

Refreshing Change for Rochester Hills

Ravi Yalamanchi has my vote for mayor of Rochester Hills for the following reasons:

As a resident for over 30 years and a local practicing attorney, I find Ravi a refreshing change. Ravi is the polar opposite from the current mayor’s constant self-promotion and indifference to the intent of the voters as to the preservation of our parks and green space.

Further I find it unacceptable that the current mayor has cheapened the intent of our city charter and recent amendments (prohibition against oil and gas drilling) and continued his advancement of cronyism during his administration of nearly 10 years. Time for a change.

Ravi has the educational, employment history and integrity needed to preserve the nature and beauty of our city while remaining ever vigilant to the budget, growth and previous waste of our tax dollars.

Ravi’s opposition has sent countless desperate negative mailings claiming that Ravi is anti-public safety while the exact opposite is true. Ravi has demonstrated without question that his voting record on the city budget is sound by his unwavering resolve to discontinue wasteful spending, such as the 911 dispatching replication. Ravi has and always will be dedicated to the efficient and strong public safety of our community.

Ravi will be an attentive and available mayor to our citizens and not special interests. Ravi is about our community and the best interests of moving our city forward. I urge you to examine the facts and I hope you will agree that Ravi Yalamanchi is the best choice for mayor.

— Stephen J. Kirksey, Rochester Hills