City Council

June 20, 2017

The Empty Chair – Does our government listen?

Democracy what a wonderful concept – We the people elect representatives for our local, regional, state and federal government to represent us - but do they? I am not normally an activist or even a negative person; my glass is always half full so therefore I wonder how do we change a non-representative city government?

On May 22nd 2017 many citizens came to Royal Oak, Michigan’s City Council meeting to try to understand the council’s proclamation “that Royal Oak will be a walkable Community” and to have our 5 minutes in front of the City Council and the Mayor to explain our views. The council sat there as if they were Kings and Queens and they proclaimed that the citizens should and will bear the costs.

The meeting was spectacular as many of the 70 or so people attending provided the city council with well thought out, researched, passionate, and articulate arguments to our “leaders”. The Kings and Queens rolled their eyes as they fought to stay awake. Finally the last citizen, voter and activist said her piece, and to the delight of our leaders, there was a short break. Upon returning, the Council and Mayor read from their laptops the same arguments they already had prepared and argued in the past. They did not answer or even ask one question of all of the voters and citizens who elected them and spent their time to come to the meeting. Then they voted. They voted against the citizens of this city. The council voted to force the installation of sidewalks, where there previously was an exemption; they voted – against the 70 or so people impacted that showed up for this meeting – forcing the people to pay for sidewalks WE TRULY WERE SPEAKING TO EMPTY CHAIRS.

Since that time we have gathered as group, as a community, and many of us who were not overly active in the community have become activists. We have collected funds and are going to fight for our beliefs. Too many of Royal Oak’s citizens feel that they cannot do anything about what the government forces us to do, but we do not believe that is true. We believe that if we stick together, put our money where our hearts and mouths are and fight, we can change things.

Listening to many people that have gone before the Royal Oak elected “Elites” and walked away disheartened has awakened me. They have done their work, and prepared material arguments, presented their views (on many issues, not just sidewalks) and have been ignored. Today this ends; we have raised the money to fight the city on sidewalks, first. We are hoping that all the citizens or Royal Oak will join our cause to put people in the chairs of government that will listen. There are 60,000 people in Royal Oak and many in other cities across the country where local governments have become bullies. It is time to stop this! We want transparency as to how decisions have been made how they arrive at cost for special assessment, and why. These empty chairs need to ask questions from their constituents and answer them! - Before we have to go to court.

If you are interested in helping us fight please go to:

https://www.gofundme.com/royal-oak-stop-sidewalks-campaign

Or send me an email at Mskinner@jakesfoods.com

Government has it’s place and does good when it works with and for the people and when the people we elect – that sit in those chairs are open to listening, respecting others thoughts and ideas, and abiding by their wishes.

An Empty Chair does not have a place in Government – Let’s fill them up with people who will listen!

Do Good Things!

Respectfully,

Mike Skinner