Michigan government corruption
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Michigan set to release public records and social media policy
Lansing, MI Michigan state government is getting ready to launch a new comprehensive social media policy this coming August. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which is developing the policy, has announced that it will be completed in August and plans to include posts on all social media website, including Twitter and Facebook, as public records. Public records lawyers and activists are praising the upcoming policy. Herschel Fink, a media law lawyer told the press, "If government and officials are communicating on issues of government policy, using these new means of communication -- social media -- then the public has to have access to that as well." [1]
Michigan Court of Appeals blocks acces to teacher's union emails
Midland, MI The Michigan Court of Appeals, this week, released a decision which in essence blocks access to Michigan teacher's email accounts. The case, Howell Education Association v. Howell Board of Education, centered on the use of school computers and teacher's email accounts for union and lobbying efforts.
Michigan Public Records Request Reveals the Release of Dangerous Prisoners
Clash over Michigan film incentives
Two business owners, Larry and Dianne Mongo, in a Detroit building they were not notified that film crews would block the street that is their customers' main parking area. They say they lost substantial business because they could not prepare.
On October 1, the film crew for "Highland Park" blocked off a part of the street and film crews for "Red Dawn" used a portion of the thoroughfare, as well.
The Mongos rent a space they intend to turn into a restaurant in the building. They got into a verbal confrontation with some of the "Highland Park" crew, during which the police were called. The Detroit Film Office, a city agency that deals with movie crews, is looking into the matter.
"As far as this office is concerned, the film production companies had the permission," to film, said Film Office Director Erica Hill. "But if [businesses] weren't notified, then, that's an issue. It's incumbent on [film crews] to make contact with people and they indicated everyone was informed."
Hill said the crews obtained city permits to close a section of Washington Boulevard and got permission from building owners. The unclear issue is whether the film crew or the building owner informed the building's tenants.[2]
Ecorse, Michigan city officials violated tax law for years
Governor Jennifer Granholm outlined several financial irregularities the state found and, in a five-page letter, announced that the state would appoint an emergency financial manager to run the city.
The review found that the city collected millions of taxpayer dollars for other entities, but it did not turn the money over. The review found that the city hasn’t submitted to the state a financial audit on time since 2003. It also found that Ecorse operates with a deficit, refusing to outline plans to correct the problem.
City officials responsible for the financial issues could face criminal charges.
“I have determined that a financial emergency exists within the city of Ecorse because no satisfactory plan exists to resolve a serious financial problem,” Granholm wrote in her letter to city officials.
Granholm's letter stated that city officials have gotten in a pattern of using money earmarked for specific purposes to pay for general city operations. This includes employee payroll.
Michigan looking at another $685 million in taxes
Granholm had proposed deep cuts in the budget such as 1,500 state employee layoffs, prisons closings, closing of a mental health facility and elimination of a state department. Now her plan is to hike taxes to bring in an additional $685 million from taxes on water bottles, cigarettes, sporting events, beer and other items.
Granholm is choosing to forgo negotiation in public. The budget will be written behind closed doors.
In July, tax collections were down over 19% from last year, while income tax collections are down nearly 20 percent this year, largely because the high tax structure causes business to shut down or lay off employees. With the state’s high unemployment rate, there is less income being generated in the state. Now, more than ever, Michigan taxpayers need to get back in the driver’s seat and hold their elected official accountable for the tax increases used to fund state programs.
FOIA request reveals Ann Arbor City Council members' private, in-meeting emails
An examination of the emails shows discussions of personal political campaign activity conducted during council meetings, jockeying over the politics of City Council salary increases and discussion of public business that keeps the public in the dark.
City Council member Leigh Greden sent an e-mail to another member in September 2008, while the council was making a $300,000 decision about funding a human-service agency, saying, "We didn't want the detailed finances discussed..."
"... Plus, we're trying to get the aff hsng (sic) community to understand that we're not a bottomless pit of money. The goal was to run down the Trust Fund," Greden continued 14 minutes later to Council Member Marcia Higgins.
Both of these e-mails spoke of material that the city's FOIA officer redacted before The Ann Arbor News received the requested records. The newspaper has been trying to speak with Greden about these e-mails since July 14, but the attempts have not been returned other than a phone message acknowledging receiving the requests. In this message he said he was unusually busy with business and with his campaign for re-election to the 3rd Ward council seat he has held since 2003.
The response to the FOIA request included Nov. 5, 2007, when city officials terminated an agreement for the redevelopment of the former Y property at Fifth Avenue and William Street. City Council member Margie Teall expressed regret about all the work that went into the project in an email to Greden. Teall thought the work was wasted and Greden voiced the opinion that the project would have failed at any point.
The other dates of meetings in which City Council members exchanged e-mails were Dec. 18, 2007, and June 2, July 21, Sept. 22, and Oct. 6, 2008.
Greden was the most frequent e-mail conversation initiator and not all council members participated in the e-mail exchanges. The FOIA office responsible for City Council information provided The Ann Arbor News with more than 170 pages of e-mail messages. There were about 45 conversations that Greden did not initiate. The News did not examine messages outside of the council meetings.[2]
Riddle indicted in Detroit
Riddle had served as City Councilwoman Monica Conyers' assistant when the corrupt contract deal was made with Synagro Technologies, Inc between March 2006 and December 2007. He was charged with a seven-count indictment including conspiracy, extortion, bribery, mail fraud, and making false statements to the FBI. According to the indictment, Riddle conspired with Conyers in order to extort money from individuals having business before the Council and the pension board.
The indictment says he allegedly aided and abetted the councilwoman in receiving bribes in favor of the Synagro waste management contract with the City of Detroit. According to the indictment, Riddle and Conyers allegedly extorted $20,000 from the owner of a technology company seeking a multi-million dollar investment from the General Retirement System, extorted $20,000 from a Detroit restaurant owner who had business before the City Council, and extorted $25,000 from a company operating strip clubs seeking a change in licenses from the City Council.[2]
Sam Riddle expects indictment "soon" in Detroit bribery scandal
Riddle is a former aide to Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, who pleaded guilty last month to bribery in the same case of contract corruption that Riddle faces.[3] Jim Rosendall, a former representative of Synagro, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting he paid a Detroit council member prior to a vote on the Synagro contract.[2]
Riddle is prepared for the indictment and believes he will be vindicated.
"I'm not cutting any (expletive) deal because they're going to do what they're going to do any (expletive) way," Riddle told the Free Press.
Riddle was also a political consultant for former Flint Mayor Don Williamson. He most recently helped Williamson with his gubernatorial campaign. Riddle also advised a mother of a boy who fatally shot a first-grade classmate in the Beecher School District in 2000.[2]
Hamburg officials say clerk and treasurer are not accomplishing basics
The Board of Trustees said Clerk Matt Skiba and Treasurer Pat Evon are not performing their duties and so the board discussed emergency measures. The board said Evon has failed to disburse library, fire bond revenue, and special assessment funds into appropriate accounts. Several duties have been taken off Skiba’s hands, including handling the senior center and parks and recreation operations and last week he submitted a letter of resignation from his duty as FOIA coordinator, typically one of the responsibilities of township clerks.[2]
Supervisor Pat Hohl said about seven “significant” financial problems related to this neglect in the township may have a negative influence on the township’s audit and bond rating.
Evon works part time as treasurer. He said his office needed the board to approve a salary for his deputy, Cindy Pine, in order for it to run more efficiently. The board had questioned Pine's accounting and other credentials and voted against a $27,000 salary for her. Evon voted against this figure too, saying it was not sufficient. Pine recently resigned.
Deputy Clerk Michael Zeglevski still works without pay.
Skiba did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, having Zeglevski, who cannot vote as because he is not an elected official, sit in for him. Clerk Skiba was also absent at a special board meeting held last week.
Skiba has not produced minutes from the last three board meetings, according to Trustee Michael Dolan, putting the township in legal jeopardy.[2]
Monica Conyers pleaded guilty to bribery
The City Council member, 44, admitted to accepting bribes for her vote to sway the City Council to approve Synagro Technologies Inc.'s 2007 $1.2 billion contract. Synagro successfully gave Conyers, wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, money until December 2007.
The same day she received an envelope of cash from convicted Synagro consultant Rayford Jackson, she voted in favor of the contract for waste water treatment on November 20, 2007. In a McDonald's parking lot two weeks later, Jackson gave Conyers another envelope of cash.
"She was the swing vote in this deal," Berg said. "She used her power to get the deal done, and she acknowledged that." [2]
Detroit bribery scandal trail leads to consultant and councilwoman
Conyers and her former aide Riddle join the other 6 alleged accused of bribery to aide Houston-based Synagro Technologies confirm a multimillion dollar contract with Detroit.[4] The other officials include former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, lobbying firm owner Bernard Kilpatrick, former Detroit CAO and CIO Derrick Miller, Kilpatrick's former assistant and later political consultant Mike Tardif, developer and consultant Rayford Jackson and lobbyist Akunna Olumba. The contract sparking the scandal was set to award Synagro with a $47 million annual contract to recycle biosolids from the city’s waste treatment plant.[5]
Highland Park Schools ask governor to oust board member
"Members of the Highland Park school board said Monday they are asking Gov. Jennifer Granholm to remove member Robert Davis, citing concerns about expenses and his conduct.
'We're sending a letter to Gov. Granholm to remove Mr. Davis,' said board President Jamille Edwards on Monday during a packed special meeting.
'They're just upset and jealous because (their actions have) been revealed,' [Davis] said. He said he has not been attending board meetings because he does not want to get involved in personal politics and bickering."
Editorial: City needs to resolve public use of e-mails
"For the second time in less than a year Traverse City residents who were not reappointed to positions on local boards have questioned whether Mayor Michael Estes has violated the Freedom of Information Act by not making public his personal e-mails.
In an age when so much of our communication is done via e-mail or voice mail or texting or tweeting or whatever, and some of us do work at home (as Estes does), the line between public and private is easily blurred, particularly for someone like the mayor -- a public figure who sends and receives a lot of e-mails in a given day, including some on his personal computer."
Genesee County school boards, superintendents rack up $370,000 in travel expenses
"When local school leaders hit up resort hotels and dine in pricey restaurants, the tab adds up quickly -- and all at the taxpayers' expense.
A Flint Journal review of more than a thousand pages of receipts, check orders and expense forms revealed that the top brass in Genesee County's 22 public school districts have spent at least $365,000 on travel since July 2006."
Former library board member sues officials
"A former library board member filed suit against several city officials, alleging they refused to turn over documents requested under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
George Galic served on the Traverse Area District Library board from 2004 until late last year, when Mayor Michael Estes didn't renew Galic's appointment. Estes ignored a city commission committee's recommendation to re-appoint Galic and instead chose retired English professor Jerry Beasley."
Clerk, attorney at odds over FOIA request
"Hamburg Township Clerk Matt Skiba's rejection of a Freedom of Information Act request has put him at odds with the township attorney and the remainder of the township Board of Trustees over how that state law is to be interpreted.
Resident Bob Gramer submitted several FOIA requests in recent weeks, one of which requested Deputy Clerk Michael Zeglevski's employment history and all related documents."
Release of minutes ordered
"A Muskegon County Judge has ruled the White Lake Ambulance Authority (WLAA) violated the Open Meetings Act last August 20 by holding a closed session to discuss the firing of its longtime director, Brian Binns.
Muskegon 14th Circuit Judge Timothy Hicks, following an In Camera Review of materials, on March 5 ordered the authority to release the entire minutes, including the audio tapes, of the August 20 closed session."
Lawmaker wants to expand 'Sunshine' laws
"A state lawmaker wants to expand the Freedom of Information Act and open to scrutiny records of the three branches of government currently exempt from disclosure.
"We (legislators) don't have to follow the law," said state Rep. Pete Lund, a Shelby Township Republican.
Under current law, the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to the governor, lieutenant governor, Legislature or judiciary, Lund said."
Legislative leader posts names and salaries of employees
After a challenge from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy's "Show Michigan the Money" transparency project, Michigan House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer, R - Bellaire, is celebrating Sunshine Week by posting the names and salaries of the 11 public employees who work in his office on his state Website. The total annual payroll for his office is almost $438,000. No politician in state government has yet been so transparent about a public payroll of this size.
Rep. Elsenheimer follows the example established in February by two members of his caucus: Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, and Rep. Justin Amash, R-Kentwood.
"Every taxpayer should be able to quickly discover who is working for them and how much they are paid," noted Ken Braun, director of the Show Michigan the Money Project in a news release. "Rep. Elsenheimer has demonstrated leadership by example and we have a right to expect the same from all the state's political leadership."
The Show Michigan the Money project is now seeking names and salaries from all of Michigan's state government leaders, most particularly Gov. Granholm, the supervisor of the entire state workforce.
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