NICHOLS: SOCIETY NOTEBOOK • CASADEI: METRO INTELLIGENCER
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APRIL 2019
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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP
CRACKDOWN: MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SHORTAGES THE TRAGIC STORY OF MICHIGAN FILM INDUSTRY ENDNOTE: FUNDING TO 'FIX THE DAMN ROADS' ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM
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DOWNTOWN04.19
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Tragic ending: The story of Michigan film industry Flashing back 10 years, a down-on-its-luck state was writing its own comeback story, in which metro Detroit would become the Hollywood of the Midwest. But that dream disappeared when state finance incentives were eliminated.
LONGFORM
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Bloomfield Township may be among the most challenged local community when it comes to funding employee retirement and related accounts but they are not the only municipality struggling to meet new state requirements.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
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Two Oakland County Democratic members of the U.S. House run the risk of being sullied up by the weaponized language being developed by Republicans who hope to take back their seats for the GOP.
OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL
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From lawmaker to lobbyist; Scarborough singles out Slotkin; potential Stevens challenger; here comes the judge (for prosecutor); Gorcyca now likes pot; well-fed lawmakers; plus more.
CRIME LOCATOR
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A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format.
MUNICIPAL
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Another water lawsuit loss; Hunter House property plan stalled; Birmingham answers Darakjian lawsuit; liquor license violations; no zoning change for hotel; results of Bloomfield survey; plus more.
THE COVER Baboon and Baby Chimpanzee, a sculpture by Marshall Fredericks, in the Children's Garden at The Community House. Fredericks lived in Birmingham and raised a family in the city. Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent.
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Mary Hatch
METRO INTELLIGENCER
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Writer/reporter Dana Casadei helps us provide quick takes on what is happening in the world of food and drink in the metro Detroit area.
SOCIETY NOTEBOOK
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Society Notebook reporter Gigi Nichols provides the latest news and snapshots from the society and non-profit circuit fundraising events.
ENDNOTE
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It's time to “fix the damn roads� with an increase at the pump and a change in the state revenue distribution formula. Protect bistros by enforcing city rules.
FACES
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Mary Hatch Josh Bryant Edee Franklin Jason Orley
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FROM THE PUBLISHER he late William Safire – author, journalist, columnist – tells us in his Political Dictionary that the term “progressive” refers to a “movement of social protest and economic reform” but over time it has become a term adopted by those who prefer that label rather than being pigeonholed as a liberal.
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The progressive label took on life in the early 19th century and in the 20th century was actually applied to a faction within the Republican party. As an interesting side note, the progressive label was adopted by Theodore Roosevelt and others, like former Michigan Governor George Romney, who had been quoted on more than one occasion labeling himself “as progressive as Theordore Roosevelt.” Today that label has migrated over to the Democrats in the U.S. House, where they are now the majority party. It's also taken on a variety of interpretations in the current Congress, right along with terms like socialism, democratic socialists and radical left. These terms are now being weaponized by the GOP who sense a possible vulnerability on the part of Democrats thanks to the several far left House members who are capturing most of the headlines. One writer in the last few months labeled the renegade Democrat caucus members Aleandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib (from Detroit) as a “progressive squad,” which only degrades that label even more. In recent weeks, at least one Republican congressman referred to House Democrats as “fellow travelers” – an obvious loaded reference from the McCarthy anti-communist hearings back in the 1950's. My concern is that two recently elected House members, both Democrats, from Oakland County, will now have to deflect criticism should these weaponized labels gain widespread use, which I assure you they will in the heat of battle in the 2020 elections. I refer to Democrat Representatives Haley Stevens, whose district includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, a small piece of Rochester Hills, the west Oakland lakes area and portions of western Wayne County, and Elissa Slotkin, with a district encompassing Rochester, most of Rochester Hills, Troy, the large swath of the north Oakland area, along with portions of Livingston and Ingham counties (think Lansing and East Lansing). Both are alumni of the Obama administration – Haley Stevens as part of the Obama Auto Task Force that helped bail out that industry and Slotkin who served in Intelligence as a CIA officer and did three tours of duty in Iraq, while also having served the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. They both bring to Washington D.C. experience and a familiarity with Congress that gives them some added cachet as part of the 62 new members of House elected in 2018.
brokers which is often the case when lawmakers return home. I consider both Stevens and Slotkin more centrist or moderate Democrats, although I have heard the latter describe herself as almost leaning toward the conservative wing of the party. They are both pragmatic in their approach to issues, and have exhibited a level of transparency that we don't often see from elected officials serving far away from their home base. As just one example of their status among Democrats, both are now part of 8 task forces asked to develop short-term and long-term policy initiatives for the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist ideological group of 101 members of the 240-member Democratic caucus. The task forces cover the topics of climate change, future of work, health care, housing, infrastructure, trade, national security and technology. Stevens is on the future of work task force, while Slotkin is on the task force dealing with infrastructure. I recognize that we are many months off from when Stevens and Slotkin run again for office in 2020, but the national GOP has already announced that both will be targets in an effort to return these House seats to the Republican column. We will certainly continue to monitor their performance, but we will also remain alert, as the re-election campaigns begin later this year, to any attempts to unfairly sully up the reputation of these congresswomen by painting them with a broad brush as radicals. TRANSITION: Downtown newsmagazine is pleased to announce that Gigi Nichols has officially taken over our coverage of the non-profit social scene effective this past month. We have refreshed our presentation of fundraising events as we make this transition, including renaming our events coverage as Society Notebook. Nichols column will appear online weekly and in print each month. Nichols began her career in publishing as a merchandising coordinator for SEVENTEEN Magazine in New York. Later, her career in retail marketing took her to Dallas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. After her husband's company transferred him to Birmingham, she took time off to raise her two daughters, during which time she volunteered for many non-profit organizations. She became Director of Communications and Media Relations for The Community House in Birmingham, a position she held for 14 years. If you would like your future event considered for coverage, you can email Nichols at GigiNichols@DowntownPublications.com or if you need to speak with her, phone 248.515.6105.
Although both have only been in Congress for a few months, I – and many others – have been impressed with how quickly the pair have hit the ground running.
Watch for Nichols coverage in Society Notebook in the coming weeks/months, and remember, you can sign up to receive our weekly email newsletter of Society Notebook by visiting our website: downtownpublications.com.
In Congress, both have been at the center of legislative action. Back home in the district, both have shown a strong presence at events, both large and small, and have not just focused on working the party power
David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@DowntownPublications.com
A Touch of Lace 4036 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 (Located at the Southwest Corner of Long Lake Road & Telegraph Road) Phone: 248-645-5223 | Fax: 248-645-5227 | Email: Sales@atouchoflace.net | www.atouchoflace.com Monday - Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm | Evenings and Weekends available upon request
PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Brody Anchill | Dana Casadei Kevin Elliott | Austen Hohendorf | Gigi Nichols Bill Seklar | Judith Harris Solomon | Julie Yolles PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Esme McClear | Laurie Tennent | Chris Ward Laurie Tennent Studio ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Birmingham/Bloomfield. For those not receiving a free mail copy, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual charge. To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order online or scan the QR Code here.
INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community. The traditional “letters to the editor” in Downtown are published in our Incoming section and can include written letters or electronic communication. Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 W. Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009. If you are using the mail option, you must include a phone number for verification purposes. WEBSITE downtownpublications.com
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INCOMING Disappointing Okma story Thank you for your story by Lisa Brody covering the problems at the Okma International Academy (Downtown/March). Downtown is one of the few remaining publications that is willing to report on important local issues and, generally speaking, it does so with intelligence and nuance. I was disappointed, however, to read this line from Lisa Brody: "All allegations against Gibson were investigated by the joint steering committee, which found the principal had done nothing wrong, a Bloomfield Hills Schools spokesperson said." There are several problems here, some of them seriously misleading. First, there is no attribution for the Bloomfield Schools "spokesperson." This is usually Shira Good, the communications director paid by the director. It could, of course, be Rob Glass, the district superintendent. Or it could be Paul Kolin, the BHSD Board President. The latter denies it was him. So who is giving this information to Downtown on the "joint steering committee" and its investigation that has supposedly cleared up any issues? BHSD, for example, has conceded – along with all 13 consortium Districts – that the "joint steering committee" was not operating properly. It has never been in compliance with the Open Meetings Act (since it was created in 1996) and is being reconfigured entirely. Its first lawful meeting was March 4, 2019. The only agenda item was to hear public comments and to sketch a plan to create a functioning "joint steering committee." To the extent that a “joint steering committee" existed before March 4, 2019 it was chaired, as Brody notes, by principal Gibson and consisted mainly of her staff. So the claim that the principal's own committee had investigated her activities and "cleared" her is, well, rather strange reporting, no? The fundamental issue here is public oversight. The "joint steering committee" is now acknowledged by all to be barely functioning and illegitimate body. So when Brody reports that this body has conducted some kind of investigation – and does not provide an attribution for who is claiming this – the taxpayer and reader has every right to be deeply skeptical of this information. Frankly, it sounds very much like self-serving messaging being presented as news. That is a shame. There is plenty of information to review and report on downtownpublications.com
SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities. Although we do not have a fixed maximum length for letters sent to us, we recommend a maximum length of 175-200 words. We also reserve the right to edit letters for length if necessary. Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.
(see more disinterested coverage in The Detroit News and Troy Gazette, for example, or even the Birmingham Seaholm Highlander). When you couple this with the opening characterization of a teacher as a "disgruntled" employee, well, you see an even bigger problem. Please feel free at any point to contact those of us who have sifted through the mounds of paperwork and FOIAs on this issue. It really is quite important that the community has a good look at it. Ken Jackson Bloomfield Hills (Publisher’s note: The school spokesperson quoted in the story is district communications director Shira Good, which normally is noted in our stories. As to the use of the term “disgruntled,” it means disappointed, unhappy, displeased, which would certainly be a fair description of a former employee who filed a lawsuit against his past employer. Lastly, we take exception to any suggestion that our story was not a “disinterested” presentation of the facts. We have no dog in this fight, as the saying goes.)
FROM OUR WEBSITE
International Academy This is a complex story. Thanks to Downtown (newsmagazine) for this introduction. I wonder, however, if the reporter had time to speak with Bloomfield Hills Board President Paul Kolin. He has created a task force to investigate concerns surrounding the IA's management. I've heard Kolin say that he's neither defending nor attacking IA Principal Lynne Gibson, just seeking the truth. My understanding is that, in recognition of the First Amendment right to free
speech, the Bloomfield Hills school board will continue to allow public comment related to school employees' work -- despite the letter from Gibson's attorneys. A Michigan Attorney General's opinion protects that kind of speech specifically in school board meetings, according to research by Michigan State University's First Amendment Clinic. Emilia Askari Who is your source (claiming completed investigation)? Have you seen the pictures, legal bills, memos, emails, and other info retrieved via FOIA? The task force has not concluded the investigation. That is incorrect. There are other areas that you reference that may not be accurate. I strongly suggest that you watch the public school board meetings available via video and request a copy of the "Resolution" that has signatures from hundreds of students. It's unfortunate that whomever you spoke with, apparently, didn't share this information with you to review first. Stephanie Crider West Bloomfield
Flawed city process I have been an aggressive advocate of redeveloping Birmingham's N. Bates St. site for many years. I have stood atop the Old Woodward parking structure many times and imagined what might be done with the special piece of under-utilized property on the Rouge. If you've never stood there and let your creative juices flow, I'd encourage it. There's also a gate in the fence along the back of the parking lot. Open it, step through, and you'll be transported to another world. I always hoped that Birmingham, the home of many creative and intelligent people, would manage to do the right thing. The recruitment of some of our best and brightest to lead an international design competition was one not-so-outlandish thought. Sadly, the process that has unfolded has been shocking in its incompetence. The lawsuit the city now faces accusing it of inside dealing and conflicts of interest is just one symptom of a process flawed since Day One. The city failed to appoint experts to help guide the process, and instead relied on an ad-hoc committee of amateurs. The resident member intended to have commercial development background, former city commissioner Gordon Rinschler, had no relevant experience, and at least
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one member, city commissioner Rackeline Hoff, repeatedly, accurately and presciently wondered aloud whether the committee was overreaching its charter. No one in city government – elected or appointed – has any significant experience in public-private partnerships. The refusal to seriously consider, and then summarily dismiss, a proposal from one of the world's foremost architectural firms, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, was shameful. City officials should think carefully about how they proceed and the likelihood of success of their current plans given the circumstances. If any aspect of this embarrassment comes to a vote, the city will face strong opposition that will delay any development for years. In this game of Monopoly, the city should return to Go, do not collect $200, and start over. Clinton Baller Birmingham
The Woodward-Bates project It continues to amaze (me that) the city of Birmingham is so willing to give up precious real estate, instead increasing the amount of expensive to build and maintain road surface. The section of town (for the Woodward Bates project) is already street-dense and this change would increase the traffic density. That road is unnecessary. Why not instead return that real estate to productive property tax-paying use? Furthermore, why not encourage a developer to instead keep an open pathway through the new development where the "new" Bates extension would be... a pathway that leads to a pedestrian bridge connecting to Booth Park? Take advantage of that natural beauty at the Rouge River rather than walling it off from the public. Charlie Smith Birmingham
Water loss coverage Very good article by Lisa Brody (Wasted Water/ March). Very thorough and fact-based. I want to thank you for this – it is too rare we see pieces like this. The more folks know about all our infrastructure the better they understand what we are doing and the future impact of today’s work. This is what journalism should be. Jim Nash Water Resources Commissioner Oakland County 21
The 19th Amendment
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Susan B. Anthony, a powerful voice in the women’s suffrage movement, once said: “There will never be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.” Since the hard-won ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1919, which granted all American women the right to vote, women in Michigan and across the United States – women from every race, religion and political party – have used their voices and their votes to make historic contributions to the growth and strength of our great nation. As we approach the 100th anniversary of American women’s suffrage in 2020, we are also experiencing many other exciting milestones for women voters and candidates, especially here in Michigan. As a founding member of the Women Officials Network (WON), I am especially thrilled to see so many women serving in public office. On the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, we have a majority of female members for the first time in the board’s history. Last November, Michigan elected women to every statewide office on the ballot: governor, U.S. senator, attorney general and secretary of state. In January 2019, a record-setting 102 women were seated in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this historic Congress, women comprise nearly a quarter of its voting membership for the first time ever. On March 5th of this year, we marked another important milestone for Michigan women: the 100th anniversary of the first Michigan primary election in which women were able to vote. Michigan women headed to the ballot box to vote in a general election for the very first time on April 7, 1919. The battle for the right to vote was long and difficult. It took decades of marches, protests, petitions and public debate. It required the brave and tireless efforts of countless women working together to overcome strong opposition and longstanding barriers to women’s suffrage. On May 8, 1917, Michigan Governor Albert E. Sleeper (R) signed a bill granting women the right to vote in presidential elections. After Alice Paul and other women’s rights activists picketed the White House, resulting in their imprisonment and subsequent hunger strikes, President Woodrow Wilson eventually reversed his position on women’s suffrage and declared his support in 1918. In November of that year, Michigan male voters approved the state constitutional amendment
granting women the right to vote. On June 10, 1919, Michigan voters ratified the 19th Amendment, making the state just the second in the nation to do so. On August 26, 1920, voters across the nation secured the right for all American women to vote when the 19th Amendment was fully ratified. It was a long, difficult and dangerous fight, but at last women were granted the rights and responsibilities of voting citizens they so justly deserved. Today, women comprise more than 52 percent of registered voters in Oakland County and wield more political power – as voters and as elected officials – in this nation than ever before. We are all individuals and have unique, intersecting identities. We have different positions on issues, different passions, priorities and political parties. Still, I hope we can continue to work together, as the suffragettes did all those years ago, to leverage our collective power in the areas where our passions and priorities overlap, in the spaces where we have shared interests and goals, so that we can continue to use or voices and our votes to improve the lives of women in our county, our country and the world. Shelley Goodman Taub Oakland County Commissioner 12th Commission District Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, part of Bloomfield Township
Climate change skeptics I'm going to assume you're journalists without an agenda and are actually looking for the truth. So before you get too many eggs in the manmade climate change claim (Climate Change/March), it would be a good idea to look outside the "consensus" box for information as well. Try www.realclimatescience.com or the Heartland Institute, or John Coleman's video Weather Channel founder for starters...they are real scientists as well, and may change your view of the "97 percent consensus" that climate change is manmade. I've been around the block for awhile but never did much research into the subject until recently. A couple things caught my attention that spurred me to dig for the truth myself: 1. Gore said the ice caps were supposed to be gone 5 years ago...apparently wrong. 2. Why did the global temperature drop for roughly 30 years in 40's, 50's and 60's...when we were having the biggest industrial and population boom in our history?
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What I found is disturbing, and I believe any honest seeker would at least have some serious questions after hearing what the "skeptics" are saying. So back to my initial assumption...if you are journalists, you'll want to look honestly at both sides. I'm not a journalist but I am interested in the truth, which is why I decided to investigate on my own. Hope you'll do the same. Jack Burket Birmingham
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Bistro license renewals Note to BHam Commissioners: The plethora of bistro licenses actually contributes to many of these issues. The expanded number of "seats" makes it more difficult for everyone to remain profitable. ▪ Toast hours are reduced. ▪ Mitchell's Fish Market closed a year ago. ▪ Veteran New Bangkok closed 2 years ago. • Restaurants in the Palladium building cannot seem to stay open. ▪ The chain that was founded in BHam, Olga's, closed its Bham location. ▪ Veteran Einstein's closed. Charlie Smith Birmingham This seems overkill. What is the rationale behind the strict enforcement? Write them a ticket and be done. That is enough of a deterrent. Possibly revoking a liquor license and sending them packing would be unfair and detrimental to the city. These restaurants are already super difficult to run. Pratheep Birmingham
March Crime Locator map The Crime Locator map on page 27 in the March edition of Downtown newsmagazine contained an error that warrants correction. The map showed a “murder” crime category symbol in the area of Woodward/Maple in Birmingham. This was clearly an error – there was no murder in Birmingham. Our apology for the error and our thanks to those who took time to call us for further information when they noticed this on the Crime Locator map. 04.19
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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL Oakland Confidential is a periodic column of political gossip/news, gathered both on and off-the-record by staff members at Downtown newsmagazine. We welcome possible items for this column which can be emailed to: OaklndConfidential@DowntownPublications.com. All sources are kept strictly confidential. The gossip column can be viewed at OaklandConfidential.com. GANGING UP: It’s good to have friends when you’re in a new place. And newbie Congresswomen Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, western Oakland, part of western Wayne County) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Rochester, Rochester Hills, north Oakland, part of Livingston and Ingham counties) quickly found spots at lunch room tables. According to Politico, Slotkin became part of a “Gang of 9,” a group of freshmen Democrats who bonded over their shared military service and more moderate politics. Each of the “gang members,” including Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (DNJ) and Rep. Max Rose (D-NY), also won in districts that had previously been held by Republicans. Stevens is part of a coterie considered “The Big Six,” which, just like in high school, are the high achievers and class presidents – STEVENS Stevens is co-president of the freshman class of legislators, along with co-Big Sixer Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX). Rep. Lauren Underwood (DOH), another member of the clique, told Politico, “This is not like ‘Mean Girls’ – we’re not all trying to be homecoming queen.” Stevens said while the broader freshman class is united, “I think people are finding their friends in Congress. We’re all in this together.” HEAR HER ROAR: Freshman state Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills), who was elected as part of the women’s wave that swept through Oakland County in 2018, isn’t taking a backseat to anyone. Despite being the youngest woman in the legislature, Manoogian was recently selected as treasurer of the Michigan Progressive Women’s Caucus. The caucus is intended to advocate for legislation to support women and their families and fight back against attacks on women’s health and well-being. Manoogian also has a leadership role in the state House, where she serves as Assistant Minority Whip for House Democrats.
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OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET: State lawmakers who left office after the 2018 elections may indeed return to Lansing, as at least half a dozen former representatives and senators have registered as lobbyists or lobbyist agents with the Michigan Secretary of State. Those lawmakers include: Warren Democrat and former Senator Steve Bieda, who now works as director of legislative affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury; Westland Democrat and former Rep. Robert Kosowski, who is serving as government affairs associate for the Michigan Association of Counties; former Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (D-Lowell), who recently joined Lansing lobbying firm Kelley Cawthorne; Sen. David Knezek, Jr., (D-Dearborn Heights), who serves as director of legislative affairs for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel; former Sen. Geoff Hansen (R-Hart Township), who serves as president of MainStreet Legislative Consulting Services; and former Republican Lt. Governor Brian Calley, who now serves as president of the Small Business Association of Michigan, where he heads up lobbying and communication efforts. In addition, former Democratic lawmaker Virgil Smith, who gave up his state Senate seat in 2016 after initially pleading guilty to multiple criminal charges related to shooting up his ex-wife’s Mercedes Benz, registered as a lobbyist agent in January in connection with his private consulting business. Outside of Michigan, Ian Conyers, who became the youngest state senator in 2016 after filling Smith’s seat, is heading up government affairs for San Franciscobased Eaze, a cannabis delivery platform. SETTING UP SHOP: With the dawn of the new political season comes the need for political strategists. David Doyle, longtiime strategist with the Marketing Resource Group (MRG) in Lansing known for its media relations, political consulting and survey research, has struck out on his own, along with former MRG researcher Kara Douma, opening D2. Doyle is a favorite of Michigan Republicans, having served as chair of the state party from 1991 to 1995. He’s also known for coordinating the campaigns of former Gov. John Engler, Sen. Spencer Abraham, former Secretary of State and Congresswoman (and currently Macomb County Public Works Commissioner) Candice Miller, and many others, downtownpublications.com
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including former state Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield). Doyle told MIRS that his new company is designed to help deliver a “clear and convincing message to your target audience. Whether you are running for office and trying to inspire voters, or you are trying to communicate a message to elected officials, we do the research, and help you develop a winning message.” GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Former gubernatorial candidate Shri Thanedar (D) may have faded from view in August 2018, but for those who put in the work, hours and sweat, it looks like the hangover is hanging on. It appears about a dozen former paid campaign employees are still waiting to receive 1099 forms they need in order to file their 2018 taxes – which are due April 15. According to MIRS, Thenadar told a former employee in early February that the forms had been mailed out...and 40 days later, the woman, Rachel Felice, wrote on Facebook, “I find it hard to believe the most ‘progressive’ candidate for governor would leave his employees begging for their tax forms.” Thanedar’s Facebook page shows he’s been enjoying his time since his campaign came to an end, traveling to Cuba and India among other locales. He told MIRS, “The person I relied upon dropped the ball,” he wrote. “I am working on it as quickly as I can to remedy the situation.” Might be time to stay home and take care of the “we.” THE GURU SPEAKS: Good Morning Joe, an early a.m. MSNBC show for political news junkies, is hosted by former newspaper editor/publisher and former congressman (1994-2001) Joe Scarborough, considered by many (among them, Vanity Fair a few years ago) to be one of the country’s most influential Republicans. So that made the homage he paid to Michigan Congresswoman (8th district encompassing Rochester and north Oakland) Elissa Slotkin – a Democrat – on Friday, March 8, on his show even more remarkable as he gave her a shout out as an “impressive” freshman member of Congress. The occasion? The House was nearing a vote on HR1, a massive 700-page bill overhauling elections and government ethics at the federal level. Slotkin had offered an amendment that prevents foreign entities from purchasing television, radio and digital ads to influence U.S. elections. Scarborough backed the effort, saying members of both parties should get SCARBOROUGH on board with Slotkin. The amendment was adopted by the House as HR1 passed that day. COMING OUT SWINGING: Anyone who thought election season was over is looking in the rear view mirror. Candidates are lining up for 2020 which is only 20-some months out. For the 11th Congressional district, where Democrat Haley Stevens is just getting comfortable, Republican John Akouri, a former conservative talk radio host, former councilman and former senior advisor to late Rep. Joe Knollenberg, announced “the formation of an exploratory committee to consider the notion of my possible candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives next year.” And he announced on the most 2019 format – Facebook. Akouri’s most recent Republican credo was serving as the 2016 Michigan co-chair of Trump’s Presidential campaign, which then led Trump to consider nominating him for an ambassadorship to Lebanon – Akouri is the founder, president and CEO of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce. That came to naught – the ambassador position for Lebanon remains unfilled. Stevens is taking the challenge seriously, sending out a fundraising email the same night Akouri announced. AKOURI
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE: Republican Senate candidate and rising political star John James grabbed headlines last month when his name was at the top of the list for a potential appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. President Donald Trump has supported James on Twitter, with Vice President Mike Pence visiting Michigan to rally for him last year. Despite James’ loss to Senator Debbie Stabenow, James performed better than expected, leading Trump to mention his name as a potential ambassador. Trump subsequently picked Kelly Knight Craft for the job. Despite being overlooked, Michigan Republicans are hopeful James will find a win in 2020 against Senator Gary Peters (D) or 11th Congressional District Democrat Haley Stevens – although one political insider noted that James feels the House seat is beneath him. Onward and upward! NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Karen McDonald announced in early March that she will step down from the seat she has held since November 2012 in order to run for Oakland County Prosecutor in 2020; her last day will be April 12, as she needs to be off the bench for a full year before filing to run. McDonald, who was an assistant Oakland County Prosecutor from 1999-2002, when she went into private practice, is likely to run as a Democrat against Prosecutor
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Jessica Cooper – although word is she has approached both local political parties for endorsements. “It’ll be interesting to see where she ends up,” said Oakland County Republican Party chair Rocky Raczkowski, who said he’d be delighted to have her on his side of the tentpole, but figures it’s unlikely. He pointed out that her stepping down now allows Governor Gretchen Whitmer to appoint a new judge and “keep the seat more left than right.” Raczkowski thinks McDonald could beat Cooper in a primary. But don’t count Cooper out. On March 8, she announced on Facebook that “like many baby boomers, I’m at the top of my game. I have worked tirelessly to turn this office into one of the premier prosecutors offices in the country. And I am intent on keeping it that way. I filed for re- election, on October 8, 2018… It is presumptuous as well as offensive for anyone to assume that MCDONALD because I am a baby boomer that I am going to retire. Really, it is not only ageism; it’s a bit sexist. No one would make such a presumption about a male elected official.” So there. CHANGE OF HEART: Talking about prosecutors, former Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca has had an apparent change of heart on medical marijuana, as the previous opponent of the drug received pre-qualified status on February 21 for three licenses from the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board. The approval was granted for Silverback Investments, to which Gorcyca is listed as the president, treasurer and secretary. Pre-qualified status means the applicant has already done a background check but doesn’t have approval from a specific community where a medical marijuana facility is to be located. The irony is that while prosecutor, Gorcyca (husband of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Lisa Gorcyca) was an outspoken opponent of medical marijuana legalization, claiming it to be a gateway drug with no documented legitimate medical uses. Silverback is a “management services company providing business solutions to licensed lawfully operating medical marijuana cultivation and distribution businesses” focused on the Michigan market, according to its COO and Chief Business Development Officer Steve Gormley’s LinkdIn profile. Gormley also serves as CEO of International Cannabrands. STAY HUNGRY: Rochester Hills state Rep. Mike Webber (R) once again made the top 10 list for the most well-fed lawmakers in Lansing in 2018, according to registered lobbyist disclosures. In total, registered lobbyists disclosed at least $1,000 in food and drink for 27 different state lawmakers in 2018, according to an analysis of the disclosures done by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. Lobbyists must disclose purchases for food and beverages totaling more than $60 in a month or $375 a year. According to the disclosures, Webber received $3,049 in food and drink from lobbyists, the fifth most in the state. That amount is up from $2,184 in 2017 and $2,405 in 2016. Other Oakland County legislators who received significant amounts of food and drink include: Rep. Klint Kesto (R-West Bloomfield) $1,575; Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills) $1,385; Rep. Tim Greimel (DAuburn Hills); Rep. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) $607; Rep. Christine Greig (DFarmington Hills) $411; Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) $251; Sen. Jim Marleau (Lake Orion, Bloomfield Township) $222; and Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R-Birmingham, Troy) $5. JOB HUNTING: With long time, and beloved, Bloomfield Township Clerk Jan Roncelli retiring in 2020, rumors and speculation over who will ultimately fill her charismatic shoes have been swirling. At the recent State of the County report by county executive L. Brooks Patterson, township trustee Dave Buckley – rumored himself to be positioning himself to take on Supervisor Leo Savoie – was overheard asking Rochester Hills Clerk Tina Barton if she knew township trustee Dani Walsh. Feeling Barton out, who is a former assistant Bloomfield Township clerk, Buckley asked her if she knew Dani Walsh, because “she’s interested in clerk...she needs a paycheck.” After the February 12th meeting, Walsh asked Roncelli how she liked being clerk, and that she’s thinking about running for clerk. While Roncelli is currently neutral regarding her successor, she notes as it gets closer to the filing deadline for 2020, “they’ll come out of the woodwork.”
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TSL: This month’s dubious award goes to state Rep. James Lower (R-Cedar Lake), who despite being chair of the state House’s local government and municipal finance committee, may not quite understand how it all works. A law sponsored by Lower during last session’s lame duck (and signed into law), HB 6595, limits petition circulators from collecting more than 15 percent of their total signatures from one congressional district, or they won’t be counted, has drawn fire from across the political spectrum – imagine Right to Life and the ACLU on the same side of an issue. Attorney General Dana Nesssel was asked by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to issue an opinion. “Restricting the right of Michiganders to participate in the political process is a serious subject matter,” Nessel said in a statement. downtownpublications.com
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CRIME LOCATOR
NORTH
Map key
Sexual assault
Assault
Murder
Robbery
Breaking/entering
Larceny
Larceny from vehicle
Vehicle theft
Vandalism
Drug offenses
Arson
These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through March 18, 2019. Placement of codes is approximate.
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Mary Hatch rtist Mary Hatch is literally a figurative painter, meaning her work is based on actual people in the representative form that speaks to the viewers mind on the conscious and unconscious levels. “It's all figurative work. I became obsessed with the figure a long time ago,” Hatch, who moved to Kalamazoo decades ago, some years after graduating from Cranbrook Kingswood School, which she attended as a boarding student. “I think what I'm really trying to do is look underneath the surface of society. My paintings on the surface, everyone is good looking and nicely dressed, but there are strange things going on. It's not so much that I'm trying to do that, but that's what happens.” Take for instance Hatch's “Wedding Book” series, which is based on wedding photos borrowed from friends or family. On the surface, the scenes don't appear out of the ordinary, but there's something deeper happening that's conveyed through the faces and posture. “I start with one figure, and eventually there's a narrative or story going on that is outside of my ability to articulate, and certainly nothing I can control, but usually it's some kind of statement about society,” she said. “I don't know. I don't know how (viewers) react.” Likening the paintings in a way to a Tom Wolfe story or a Robert Altman film, Hatch said she loves looking at the small sections of our lives that tell a larger story about society. “It just sort of happens,” she said about her process. “It all sort of pulls together in the end, even though you have these seemingly unrelated things going on. It all makes sense. It's like when writers talk about their work, they say eventually that the character takes over, and eventually you're not doing it. It's a natural process.” Recently, Hatch collaborated with poet Elizabeth Kerlikowske on a 114-
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page book titled “Art Speaks: Paintings and Poetry,” which includes writings and illustrations. Hatch said she and Kerlikowske met at a party where several guests were telling the poet her work had many similarities with Hatch's paintings. The two began talking, leading to the collaboration. “We are very much alike in the way we express ideas: subversively funny,” Hatch said. Hatch said she has also been experimenting with printing and ink, as the process has become more available. That has allowed her to use the computer to design some of her work in recent years. “I figured out how to use photoshop and could make pictures on the computer, which was a huge thing for me,” she said. “I've been doing that, and about once a year I make a print, and it led me to thinking about different ways of composing my ideas on canvas.” While Hatch said she rarely works in series, she said the process led to her Wedding Book series. It's another example of how the artist's voice and process continue to develop over time. Hatch got her start in painting when she was 14, after convincing her parents to enroll her in a class. At Cranbrook, she took a life art class, which she said clinched her interest in figures. “I felt really lucky,” she said. “If I would have stayed in public school, they never would have let you work from a nude model.” While her interest was strong, it took time to develop her work. “I spent quite a few years trying to find my voice,” she said. “I just painted everything. Eventually, I found a way of expressing myself.” Story: Kevin Elliott
INTRODUCING THE BLOOMFIELD COLLECTION O a±ųĩ eÚĬåų BŅĵåŸ ĜŸ Ïųå±ƋĜĹč ŅĹåěŅüě±ěĩĜĹÚ ÏƚŸƋŅĵ ĘŅĵåŸØ ƵĘĜÏĘ ÏĬåƴåųĬƼ ųåĜĵ±čĜĹå ƋĘå eųƋŸ ±ĹÚ ų±üƋŸ ŸƋƼĬå ƵĜƋĘ ± ÏŅĹƋåĵŞŅų±ųƼ ā±Ĝųţ Ęå ƚĹĜŧƚå ĬŅŅĵĀåĬÚ ŅĬĬåÏƋĜŅĹ ĘŅĵåŸ ±ųå üųåŸĘØ ĬĜčĘƋ ±ĹÚ ŅŞåĹţ ƵŅ ĘŅĵåŸ ±ųå Ĺå±ųĜĹč ÏŅĵŞĬåƋĜŅĹ Ņų ÏĘŅŅŸå üųŅĵ Ÿåƴåų±Ĭ ŅƋĘåų ŞųåĵĜƚĵ ÏƚŸƋŅĵ ÆƚĜĬÚ ĬŅƋŸţ eĬĬ Ņƚų ŞåųŸŅűĬĬƼ ŸåĬåÏƋåÚ ŸĜƋåŸ ±ųå ĬŅϱƋåÚ ĜĹ ĘĜčĘĬƼ Ƶ±Ĭĩ±ÆĬå ĹåĜčĘÆŅųĘŅŅÚŸØ Ĺå±ų ƋĘå ÆƚŸƋĬĜĹč ĜĹƋåųŸåÏƋĜŅĹ Ņü a±ŞĬå ±ĹÚ X±ŸĘåų Ņ±ÚŸ ƵĜƋĘ ĜųĵĜĹčʱĵ ŸÏĘŅŅĬŸţ a±ųĩ eÚĬåų BŅĵåŸű ĬŅŅĵĀåĬÚ ŅĬĬåÏƋĜŅĹØ üå±ƋƚųĜĹč ʱĹÚÏų±üƋåÚ ±ųƋĜŸ±Ĺ ÚåƋ±ĜĬŸ ±ĹÚ ĘĜčĘěåĹÚ ±ŞŞŅĜĹƋĵåĹƋŸØ ±ųå ųåĵ±ųĩ±ÆĬƼ ŞųĜÏåÚ üųŅĵ âŎ ĵĜĬĬĜŅĹţ
D ESI G N | BUI LD | EN J OY ĬŅŅĵüĜåĬÚ ƵŞţ ó 8ų±ĹĩĬĜĹ ó åŸƋ ĬŅŅĵüĜåĬÚ ó åųĩĬåƼ ó 8±ųĵĜĹčƋŅĹ BĜĬĬŸ
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BY LISA BRODY loomfield Township trustees and residents in August 2018, were alerted of a potential looming threat to their way of life: after enjoying decades with a relatively low tax rate and a surfeit of municipal services, there was a possibility they would see a change in both, all due to a law, passed in December 2017, mandating they fully fund their pensions and retiree benefits, ensuring the promise the township had made to employees and former employees over the decades was fulfilled. Problem was, they had often come up short or paid for the benefits out of current funds – what is known as “pay as you go,” often putting residents and services first over retiree benefits. But the new law, Public Act (PA) 202, also known as the Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act, now changes that, and requires local municipalities to report and have a collective action plan for each retirement pension benefits and/or retirement health benefits account to the state treasury of each plan's funded ratio by specifying assets and liabilities; the annual required contribution, if it is a retiree health care plan; the actuarial determined contribution required, if it is a retirement pension plan; and the local unit of government's annual governmental fund revenues.
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RETIREMENT FUNDING
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For pension plans, the criteria for underfunded status is less than 60 percent funding; and for retiree health systems, less than 40 percent funding. It changes the game for how local governments are viewed by the state, and mandates that they fulfill their promises to their retirees. As of January 1, 2018, municipalities had to develop collective action plans to show how they would get to a minimum of 40 percent funding in the next 30 years if they were determined to be “underfunded.” The irony is, the Charter Township of Bloomfield, a community of over 42,000 residents and one of the most affluent in not just Oakland County but the state of Michigan, was determined by the Michigan Department of Treasury to be not only in “underfunded status,” but as Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie noted, one of the bottom communities in the state. And as Bloomfield Township and its board of trustees wrangle with its upcoming budget, potential tax hikes, service and personnel cuts, it is proving to be not only eye-opening but rancorous as well, as they examine not only where they are but how they got there. And they are not the only community experiencing the “no pain, no gain” fever. Savoie said Bloomfield Township has about $161 million in unfunded liabilities. That means it owes that much to its pension and health care benefit accounts. The liability is primarily on the retiree health care side, with the pensions “96, 97 percent funded. The state constitution mandates 100 percent funding. For the retiree health care benefits, we're up to about 6 percent – we had been at zero. For the last 4 to 5 years we've taking the excesses from various budgets and putting it into pensions and (retiree) health care. (But) to reach 40 percent over the next 30 years means putting aside about $65 million. “Bloomfield Township has been a pay-as-you-go community,” said Savoie for its retiree health care, which was an accepted practice for many years, but the adoption of PA 202 no longer permits “pay as you go” as the primary means of funding retiree health care benefits – meaning Bloomfield Township is now considered an unfunded community. “When you look at where Bloomfield Township ranks, we're in the 20 worst communities in the state.” Over the next 30 years, they have to come up with a lot of cash annually to
“It doesn't mean 'underfunded' in the class emergency manager way. It's a frightening choice of words,” noted Oak Park City Manager Eric Tungate. “It means you're waiting for a waiver.” Tungate said Oak Park has been approved for their pension collective action plan, but is still waiting on the plan for their retiree health care system. He said while the state wants pension plans funded to 60 percent, their public safety pension plan is about 55 percent funded, while their general fund retiree plan is about 45 percent funded. “We have a plan we're working toward, and it would have been implemented regardless (of the state treasury approval),” Tungate said. “On our own accord, we've implemented a dump of $1 million into the two pension plans. We had $1 million that was a budget surplus at the end of the year, so we did a one time dump. By doing this, it has put us on a 20-year amortization schedule, and the state has accepted this plan for our pension system.” Tungate emphasized he does not take the budget surplus Oak Park had at the end of last year for granted. “We – with the city council – it was not an easy choice,” he said. “We chose to use it for these long term liabilities.” But he noted that there were other choices that could have benefited the Oak Park community. “With that money, we could have hired more police officers or added a park,” Tungate said, noting there are good and bad sides to the legislation. “On the good side, it has put communities on notice to be more proactive to bring down these liabilities. “On the negative side,” Tungate continued, “it's also a hard choice to prefund long term liabilities versus maybe going out and hiring more staff, people like public safety officers to provide services to residents. We're very frugal and careful, but it's hard to get out from under this liability. With health care, the only one who can help and fix this is the federal government. “The only way for us as a local government to make it work is to cut costs and to shift benefits elsewhere,” Tungate pointed out. “We have to find more cost effective ways to shift benefits. These are human beings who need health care.”
The new law, known as the Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act, requires municipalities to report and have a collective action plan for each retirement pension benefits and/or retirement health benefits account. reach the $65 million funding status. “We will have to make payments of $3.7 million to $5 million a year,” Savoie said. Compounded, he said, is the township's involvement with an “archaic pension plan we are involved with Prudential Insurance,” going back to 1961. While over the ensuing years other communities exited similar pension plans, Bloomfield Township remains one of the few in the country saddled in this kind of costly and restrictive plan, Savoie said. The Michigan Constitution of 1963 requires all communities to fully fund their retiree pension funds; it makes no mention of health care benefits, which primarily arose during union negotiations after 1963. While Bloomfield Township is in the midst of resident surveys, community discussions, budget meetings and approvals (the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget was approved on March 11, beginning April 1), town halls and bloodletting to determine how they will change that status and adequately and appropriately fund their retiree pension benefit and Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB) liabilities, which encompass retiree health care benefits, the reality is it will take biting the bullet by trustees, administrators and residents, and most likely paying more in taxes to receive less in services. A proposal has them shifting their public safety millages to a special assessment district. And they are not the only community to feel the impact of PA 202. It is a law that hits local governments big and small, affluent, middle class and struggling, with almost equal measure, because it is a reflection of how they structured their benefits and retiree health care benefits, rather than a reflection of their financial fitness – although to satisfy the requirements of the act, communities will likely be forced to raise taxes, cut staff and axe services, which could alter their desirability and fiscal security. Across Oakland County, Oak Park is also under review with their status pending, and Berkley, Southfield, Pontiac, Madison Heights, Hazel Park and Holly all were found compliant in February and early March after being under review. According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, a total of 19 local units of government were underfunded statewide, although more were under review and found compliant. Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills each had no issue.
Initially, the city of Rochester was listed as under review, and is now compliant. City Manager Blaine Wing was surprised, as he said the city's pension is currently 69 percent funded, and their OPEB is 95 percent funded, with $11.4 million in the fund. “I'm not concerned at all. We're on the path to go 100 percent (funded),” Wing said regarding the rankings on the Michigan Department of Treasury site. “We closed our (defined benefits) pension plans several years ago, depending on the unions and when their contracts expired, in 2011 to 2014, and we are on the track to be fully funded in 2033,” he said. “We have also been looking at ways to improve our funding percentage, such as making a 13th payment (an extra monthly payment) and/or paying our payment up front each year, instead of monthly.” Rochester decided several years ago to use ICMA-RC as investment managers along with a governing board, helping to put them on a firm financial foot. “The policies this (governing) board sets continues to show positive results, and in December of 2018, the board approved a web-based software tool through a company called GovInvest. GovInvest's web-based software will allow staff and the board to run various scenarios, in order to maximize our investments as well as to make smarter choices,” Wing said. Wing said he believes the city of Rochester is the first municipality in the state to use the software. Wolverine Lake Village started a program recently to add extra contributions to its pension funds in order to become fully funded sooner, treasurer Michael Kondak said, working to add an extra $100,000 a year. “We were assured that putting that in over an actuarial period of 10 years, we'll be fully funded,” he said. The addition of $1 million covers 2 union groups, the police and department of public works. “On the health side, we're not so well-funded,” Kondak acknowledged, at only about 12 percent. While the community is small, with a small pool of retirees, Kondak said, “fair is fair, and we're trying to make it right by increasing out contributions to
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OPEB. But it's not as onerous as someplace much larger, like Bloomfield Township.” Other southeastern Michigan local governments feeling the impact of PA 202 are Grosse Pointe Woods, whose original collective action plan has been disapproved and their revision is pending. Gibraltar is in the same boat, while Grosse Ile Township is under review and pending. Highland Park's plan was disapproved and is non-compliant. Redford Township is under review, but was recently approved and found compliant. Garden City is non-compliant and under review, having never submitted a collective action plan. Romeo Village President Christine Malzahn acknowledged they have big pension and OPEB liabilities, and have submitted their second plan to the state after having been disapproved and found non-compliant. “The question is how are we going to raise these funds? We are in current union discussions. The current union contracts have 2 years left, and we're looking to close (defined benefits). It takes into account changes to the contribution plans, from defined benefits to 401Ks,” Malzahn said. “There are so many moving parts to it. The second phase is where do we find the money? We have the money and we're looking at revenue sources within the general fund balance, and looking forward 30 years, with inflation, as well as the rate of return with our trust fund. “We've also looked at the possibility of raising taxes of a bond, but at this time we're holding,” she said. Romeo's unfunded liability is just under $11 million, Malzahn, who was elected in November 2018, said. “At the current time, we have a $110,000 bond that is going to be paid in full in 2020, and that will be recaptured in 2020 and we'll have that additional revenue stream.” She said they need about $110,000 a year plus $60,000 which they have been paying as normal pay-as-you-go costs, plus inflation, which they can access from general fund revenue. “We're making assumptions our newly-created trust fund that we're putting the money into will grow at a rate of 7 percent a year,” she said.
bankruptcy, and followed an initiative in the form of a task force by Snyder. “Detroit's bankruptcy was very much about these issues,” said professor Eric Scorsone, an economist at Michigan State University. “Detroit's biggest creditors were the unions and retirees, who didn't have benefits paid into health care or pensions – they had exactly zero paid into them. The city of Detroit owed them $6 billion.” John Axe, senior counsel at Clark Hill and a member of their education and municipal law practice group, and who has written pension and OPEB legislation, expanded on the problem. “The city (of Detroit) did something that was not too smart – they did not close the pension fund and didn't have all new hires go to a defined contribution fund. They left it in a defined benefit fund. It's the equivalent of running a boat, cutting the hull below the water line, and as it fills with water, running the water real hard,” Axe said. “It's not real smart – and it tells everything. “It was called the Detroit bankruptcy, but the city had a completely unfunded health care system. They never did anything about it,” he continued. “After the bankruptcy, the health care benefits were wiped out.” Because the pension benefits had not been paid into funds and protected, retirees were left with less than they expected. In May 2014, as part of the “Grand Bargain,” legislation was introduced giving Detroit's retirement systems a $194.8 million lump sum as part of the state's $350 million commitment. With their acceptance, and the unions' agreement to contribute towards a Detroit settlement, there was bipartisan support which saw retirees' cuts at 4.5 percent, rather than 50 percent. “The state is coming down (with PA 202) because they think it's a problem,” Axe said. To clarify, a defined benefit pension plan is a type of pension plan which was very common in which an employer promises a specific pension payment upon retirement that is predetermined by a formula by the employee's earning history, tenure and age, rather than on investment returns. It was a traditional way of compensating government and many large corporate employees for many decades in lieu of increased pay. In contrast, a defined contribution plan
Bloomfield, one of the most affluent communities in not just Oakland County but in Michigan, was determined by the Michigan Department of Treasury to be not only in “underfunded status,” but as one of the bottom communities in the state. The city of Centerline was recently approved after being under review because they did not meet the threshold of PA 202 – while one pension fund, for police and fire retirees, was 64 percent funded, but for general retirees, the fund was only funded at 49 percent. Their OPEB fund was at 23.4 percent, said Centerline City Manager Dennis Champine. “We have a good plan in place to meet the thresholds by 2028,” he said, where each of the funds are reaching additional funding through 2028, by both making increased contributions and decreasing costs. Champine said the city's deputy treasurer “has saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars through investment policies. He made structural changes to how we were paying fees to investments, and made numerous changes to our investments – where we're investing and how. He's an expert, and he's saved our general fund. In that way, taxes don't need to be raised. They've been status quo for 3.5 years. Actually, we're anticipating some bonds expiring soon, and not needing to re-up them, so residents will actually pay less in taxes.” Champine said Centerline, which he said has the highest tax rate in Macomb County, is at 14.663 mills. “We're economically in good shape. When PA 202 came out, we were not happy. We felt the law was punishing communities that were already working and complying,” he said. “We felt the state was adding another unfunded mandate, another level of red tape for cities who were working to comply.” He pointed out that initially over 400 communities were labeled “underfunded.” “Centerline was given a stigma, when we were already working to fund our retirees,” Champine said. “It would be different if we were not funding our benefits at all – but we had a plan in place and we're funding it. At the same time, the state has not been funding us with proper level of revenue sharing under Proposal A. This is a knee jerk reaction to those communities who aren't funding their retirees at all.” PA 202, which was signed into law by former Gov. Rick Snyder on December 20, 2017, did not come out of the ether, but was rather a reaction to very bad behavior from some bad actors – notably the city of Detroit during its
is a retirement plan where the employer, or employee or both make contributions on a regular basis, the contributions are invested and upon retirement, the member's account is used to provide retirement benefits. Worldwide today, defined contribution plans are the dominant form of retirement pension plans, both private and municipal. PA 202, and supporting Public Acts 206 and 207 of 2017, which were initially Senate Bills 686, 694 and 696, sponsored by Sen. Jim Stamas (RMidland), Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Hillsdale), Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Grand Rapids), Sen. Philip Pavlov (R-St. Clair Township), Rep. Kathy Crawford (RNovi) and Rep. Gary Howell (R-Lapeer), among others, created the Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act, following the creation of a task force by Snyder, looking into responsible retirement reform for local governments, which met from February to May of 2017. “Approximately one-third of the 1,856 general purpose governments in Michigan provide employees with post-retirement benefits – whether in the form of pension benefits or other post-employment benefits (OPEB), which principally include health care benefits, or both,” the task force reported in July 2017. “The total unfunded pension liability for local units in Michigan is estimated at $7.5 billion, and the total unfunded liability for retiree health care is at $10.1 billion.” “The biggest unfunded liability is health care,” Axe pointed out. “What the state didn't mention is, the percentage of the state's unfunded liability is 85 to 90 percent, and they can't issue bonds unless they're voted bonds. “This was not on any former governor's agendas.” The new act changes local government's ability to maintain their underfunded status, because they must submit an annual report to the Department of Treasury, which according to the act means the most recent audited financial statement of the municipality's liability for retirement pension benefits and retirement health benefits, with appropriate actuarial projections, assets and liabilities and inflationary standards. “Even those local governments that do pre-fund retiree health care benefits often have substantial unfunded liabilities mainly (because) they do not make the full annual required payments; system assets do not generate the
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investment returns assumed; and the cost of health care increases at a rate significantly higher than general inflation,” the act noted as the chief problem it seeks to address. According to the July 2017 report from the task force, in 2015, retiree health care actuarial accrual liabilities for all Michigan cities, townships and villages averaged funding at 19 percent. Michigan counties were on average 34 percent funded. “Sixty-nine percent of our communities who reported for 2017 were not underfunded across the state,” said Rod Taylor, division administrator of the Community Engagement and Finance Division at Michigan Department of Treasury. “The majority of communities are very strongly responsible and have positioned themselves well for responding to this liability that they have. The total of more than $19 billion in pensions and OPEB is good news. On the pension side, 74 percent of communities on average are funded across the state, with the trigger at 60 percent. Most units have been very positively addressing this. OPEB, the retiree health care, that's at a very different level, though. The average funded level is about 25 percent, primarily because pensions are an item that is constitutionally required.” Taylor explained that for many local units of government, including Bloomfield Township, health care has been pay-as-you-go, or PayGo. “Pay-as-you-go will never work for anyone,” Axe stated. “You can never catch up.” “It has not been constitutionally required to make payments,” Taylor explained. “PayGo has been allowed, unless for employees hired after June 30, 2018, who they are required to pay normalized costs – those they must pre-fund the benefit, per the law. “The focus of the law is transparency and shining a light, so local communities can make the best decisions for themselves, and that has been very effective,” he noted, with employers, retirees and union retirees all able to see and be aware the challenges facing the community. “So they're all in it together. The more people are aware of challenges, the
within 60 days to review the updated form, then respond within probably 30 days, and have another 60 days if it's denied. We will probably do this a couple more times as we get into the fall.” Taylor said that the Municipal Stability Board has to act within 45 days of receiving a municipality's action plan, and then has 15 days to respond to a local unit of government if they issue a denial. “If the plan is approved, they are sent a detailed letter as well (as it being posted on the website) outlining next steps,” he said. “They have to start implementing the plan within 180 days. Ultimately, the Municipal Stability Board will monitor them every 2 years to make sure they are complying. “It is an ongoing effort on the part of both the local units of government and the state.” Bloomfield Township's Savoie, finance director Jason Theis and the board of trustees are actively working to find a proper mix and solution to comply with the state, fully fund their pension and health care obligations while finding the right combination of tax increases and cuts to taxpayers and employees. On the pension front, the board has been working since 2013 to help fund the long term Prudential Insurance obligations, selling $80 million in pension obligation bonds in 2014 which was intended to throw off enough interest from an equity account to meet the needs. “Just then Prudential was demanding a full lump sum annuity amount for actuarial retirement to be taken out of the equity amount (which was managed by Gregory Schwartz and Company – who did a very good job), and put into the fixed rate account,” Savoie said. He said instead of the $80 million being able to grow to between $110 and $115 million in the equity account, “instead we withdrew about $50 million from the equity account and put it into the fixed rate account with Prudential,” earning between 2 and 3 percent. As the 2016 elections approached, Savoie recalled, “we had been working with the unions, and had them convinced of the ramifications of
The focus of the law is transparency and shining a light, so local communities can make the best decisions for themselves – with employers, retirees and union retirees all able to see and be aware the challenges facing the community. better it is for everyone. For communities who don't meet the criteria, it allows communities to come together and determine the best solution that works for that local community.” Taylor said the bigger risk is in a community not addressing unfunded liabilities, because costs can rise very quickly over the years, “and then locals have to deal with issues of funding services. (By complying with PA 202) locals can honor long term benefits as well as fund critical services like public safety, roads, and other needs.” Axe, who has worked with Oakland County on its pensions and municipal bonding, said it is not by accident that Oakland County is fully funded, with closed plans. The Michigan Department of Treasury was required to create a Municipal Stability Board, a 3-member board, within the treasury, an independent board, which monitors compliance of underfunded local communities as well as having to oversee any corrective action plan the local community has to submit and comply with. Taylor noted that the Municipal Stability Board operates under best practices, and provides troubled communities with guidelines that other communities have used to address their underfunded status. They also have a cap criteria which the board uses to determine if the corrective action plan is likely to be approved, “so it is very clear to the municipality what the expectation is.” As recently as March 8, 2019, Bloomfield Township is under review by the Municipal Stability Board, with their first compliance plan disapproved. A revised plan was resubmitted in February, although finance director Jason Theis told trustees at a meeting on February 11, he anticipated the plan would again be denied by the state, as a full plan was still being updated. “There are some things that still need to be filled out, but we don't have that data ready,” Theis said. “We feel they are pushing us to make a decision that we should take our time on. We will file and expect it to be denied, but we are filing what the state is asking at this time. We had 60 days to respond once we got the denial. We will go back before the board
staying with the Prudential guarantees, when we went into a closed session with (trustee) Dave Buckley (and former treasurer) Dan Devine screaming that it was unconstitutional to get rid of the contracts...Across the country, communities had gotten rid of these contracts in the '70s and '80s. The early '80s were the perfect time to get out of them because of high interest rates, and because people were living longer and mortality tables changed. “So, in 2017 and 2018, we started legal action against Prudential because we don't even have the right to see what we've invested in,” Savoie said. “Bloomfield Township funds are just placed in general funds.” To address its underfunded status and fully fund its pension and OPEB liabilities, Bloomfield Township is looking to go to its residents in August to raise about $1.5 million revenues a year. Savoie said it would be funded all or in part by a public safety special assessment district. “Large townships like Bloomfield are limited to a 10-mill cap on property taxes and must seek alternative funding sources when providing a high level of service,” he said. “In 2010, the residents approved a 10year general levy of 1.3 mills; over 9 years, 88 percent of the funds raised have gone to public safety and the rest to roads. The millage expires after the 2019 levy. Where there is funding needed for the defined benefit plan or OPEB plan, two-thirds of it will be paid from public safety.” He said they need to raise a total of $6 to $7 million for the 2 benefit funds. And if the residents vote it down? “The likeliest cuts will be in personnel. Everything else is inconsequential,” he said. The greatest irony, to Savoie, is that all of these issues could have been averted. “One of our previous finance managers used to say to me that before Proposal A, we had so much money coming in, we didn't know how to spend it, and I kept warning them they needed to fund these promises, but (former township supervisor) Fred Korzon's goal was to keep the taxes the lowest in the area.”
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THE END THE TRAGIC STORY OF MICHIGAN'S FILM INDUSTRY
ELLIOT T BY KEVIN
art of the magic of Hollywood films is the ability to plant the seed in the viewer's mind that anything can happen. Whether it's zombie bikers exacting revenge on a Detroit suburb or a tear-jerking love story on the deck of a sinking ship, movies offer an escape from our everyday reality that's capable of evoking emotions and memories. It's no wonder that Michigan – the epicenter of a national recession in 2008 – turned to the film industry to help change the state's narrative. “We needed jobs, and people were leaving out of state looking for jobs elsewhere. We were the only state with a negative population growth,” said former Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe). “We tried to attract investments in the movie industry in Michigan. Hollywood was very high priced for labor, and Michigan has Great Lakes that look like oceans. We have four seasons, countryside and inner cities. There are a lot of reasons to film movies in Michigan, and we made it extremely attractive by returning up to 42 percent of production costs. That was by far the biggest incentive offered in the United States. The administration supported it because anything to bring jobs was good, and the legislature went along with it.” Most readers already know from the opening scene how the story ends: the corpse of Michigan's film industry is floating in a swimming pool. Flashing back 10 years, a down-on-its-luck state was writing its own comeback story, in which metro Detroit would become the Hollywood of the Midwest. Cast as leading lady was rising political star, former Governor Jennifer Granholm, who had given up dreams of becoming a Hollywood actor herself before moving to Michigan. But, was it just easy money and abandoned auto facilities that Hollywood was after the whole time? Back to 2019, there remains a community of creatives and crew members hopeful that Michigan will make its return to the silver screen with the help of the state's new leading lady and a partial restoration of the film credits eliminated by former Governor Rick Snyder. Whether aspirations for Michigan's film and television industry will spawn a sequel is open to debate. Those ready for their closeups point to the success of the original plan, which garnered a slew of blockbusters and helped launch new careers and businesses across the state. Others say the longterm results of Michigan's film credits were a flop that shouldn't be repeated.
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Although Michigan's former film credits were responsible for an explosion of film productions in the state that began in 2008 and ended in 2015, the first film shot in Michigan was MGM's 1947 musical “This Time For Keeps.” Shot at Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel the year before it was released, the movie earned more than $2.6 million at the box office. Four years later, Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott and others returned to the Upper Peninsula to shoot “Anatomy of a Murder,” based on former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John Voelker's crime novel of the same name. etween 1960 and 1980, just 9 films were shot in Michigan, including “Blue Collar” and “Hardcore,” which were written by Grand Rapids-born Paul Schrader, who also wrote “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” and many other critically-acclaimed movies. In 1981, University of Michigan graduate Lawrence Kasdan had already written “The Empire Strikes Back” when at least one scene in “Continental Divide” was shot in Michigan. Meanwhile, Oakland County native Sam Raimi was working on “The Evil Dead.” Michigan's connection to Hollywood was becoming evident, with Detroit getting its own closeup in 1984 with the release of “Beverly Hills Cop.” Between 1980 and 1990, at least 29 films were made wholly or partially in Michigan. “Film is really our forte,” said Selam Ghirmai, director of the Michigan Film and Digital Media Office. “Most states have a film office. Ours has been around since 1979, and it's all about promoting Michigan as a great place for film production.” Formerly named the Michigan Film Office, the original office was created to assist and attract incoming production companies and to promote the growth of the state's indigenous film industry. The office does that through special services, such as providing location photographs, helping with location procurement and clearance, acting as a liaison with local, county and state governments and working with contacts in the business, institutions and other assistance. While film productions in Michigan picked up during the 1980s, those productions began dropping off in the early 1990s, as filmmakers in California began to be lured to Canada, which offered a favorable exchange rate and the beginnings of government sponsored tax incentives. Still, film production in Michigan remained fairly steady with more than 70 films partially or wholly produced in Michigan between 1995 and 2007, including “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “Escanaba in da Moonlight,” “Road to Perdition,” “American Pie 2,” “8 Mile,” “Upside of Anger,” “Transformers,” and others. In 2002, Louisiana offered the first competitive film incentive in the United States, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. To court the movie industry, the state offered a 30 percent tax credit on qualified motion picture expenditures with no project or program cap. The state also offered a labor tax credit in the form of a 5-percent
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credit for payroll expenditures on Louisiana residents. To qualify, filmmakers had spend at least $300,000 in the state. As film productions began locating in Louisiana, it became evident that film and television makers would relocate if they were able to lock in a good enough deal. Other states, such as New Mexico, Georgia, Texas and others began following the lead of Louisiana. While productions in Michigan were seeing a small but steady growth in the early 2000s, the state's economy had started a long spiral into recession. Looking for ways to retain graduates and add some stimulus to the economy, Michigan enacted what was the largest film tax credit in the country in 2008. “Prior to the incentives trend, in the United States it was primarily a locations' game,” Ghirmai said. “It was about making the business of filmmaking as easy as possible and making sure they connect. Today the studios rely on a model that lines up with incentives. To be viable at the studio level, incentives are typically required.” Since the elimination of Michigan's film credits in 2015, the state's film and digital media office has focused on promoting grassroots projects and the limited projections that come from out of state. “Our goal, regardless of incentive status, is that we provide a good business climate for filmmakers, from those that are local, Michigan-based, or those that are looking for locations from out of state,” Ghirmai said. “We have a standard menu of services for any production, at no cost to the production. Most services revolve around locations and connecting them with talent and crews. We provide guidance for state and local permitting, and also provide complimentary location scouting from the office. That's especially important when courting out of state productions.” Included in the office's production directory is more than 3,900 crew and vendors, and more than 6,100 locations and properties available for productions. The service allows businesses, private individuals, governments and organizations to list their property as available for projects.The office also offers promotional services used to get the word out about casting and crew calls as well as screenings and events. In February, the office helped to promote the premier of “Arctic” at the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township. The movie was produced by Timothy Zajaros Jr., of Farmington Hills, who now works in Los Angeles. In March, the office helped promote a made-for-TV Christmas movie set to be filmed in Frankenmuth that was hosting a casting call. Local film offices throughout the state work with the state office to coordinate and promote productions, but none offer any sort of official tax credits. The Detroit Film Office, which operates as part of the city's government, offers several incentives for productions that work in the city. However, those incentives were established after the end of the state film credits and
utilize partnerships with private businesses in the city. Adrian Tonon, who manages the Detroit Film Office, said city offices worked to see how to coordinate and save producers time and money on permitting and other services. “Then we went to the private sector and said we can have Detroit film initiatives, allowing them to save on hotels and restaurants and other things,” he aid. “We are working with craft services and others.” Tonon said many of the local incentives came as an effort to keep Comedy Central's “Detroiters” show in the city after the state's film credits were eliminated. “It's not a credit program, so the funding doesn't come from quality of life services,” he said. “The old bill came from police and fire services… this is responsible and outside the box. We have been doing well without taking funding and creating a savings program, and we have landed some great stuff here.” While Tonon said most productions aren’t the same size as the Hollywood films that came to Detroit during the tax credits, he said there is consistent commercial work, with sound stages and local production companies here working. “It's still a great place to be right now,” he said. Both Oakland and Macomb counties had formed county film offices during the state's film credit program. Maria Zardis, with Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, said she still fields calls for the county's film office. Most often, the office assists with the permitting process. “We aren't seeing the big feature films, but still fielding requests for assistance,” she said. “Sometimes we get a couple calls a week, and then nothing for months.” In Oakland County, the county's film office position hasn't been staffed for more than 8 months. In 2007, prior to Michigan's film credit going into effect, 5 films were shot at least partially in Michigan. In 2008, the Michigan Film Office received 221 scripts, 136 incentive applications and 71 approvals, with 35 productions being completed. By the following year, 44 different states, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., offered some form of film and television incentive. ichigan's film incentive, which was scaled back and eventually eliminated under former Governor Rick Snyder, was pitched by Governor Jennifer Granholm in her 2008 State of the State speech as part of an economic stimulus plan. At the time, she said the program was designed not just to attract film production facilities, but to grow industry activities that support film production, create jobs and train workers. Granholm, now a political commentator and speaker, declined a request for an interview with Downtown Publications. However, her 2011 book, “A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America's Economic Future,” offers a
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window into her penchant for the movie business. “At 19, I took off from our family home in San Carlos and drove 8 hours south to Los Angeles in a yellow Ford Courier pickup truck to try my hand at acting,” she wrote in the book. “One of the thousands of blonde wannabes in Hollywood, I took classes at the famous American Academy of Dramatic Arts and dreamed of becoming the female Lawrence Olivier. But those were the days of Three's Company and Charlie's Angles, and the cattle-call auditions for pretty girls willing to show off their assets and the vapid encounters with seedy agents and producers left me disgusted and angry. “Meanwhile, I was supporting myself as a lowly clerk in the customer service department at the Los Angeles Times and as a tour guide on the back lots at Universal Studios. Increasingly disillusioned with acting, I spent the summer of 1980 on the patio behind the office at Universal Studios, cherishing the moments between tours when I could read political philosophy and civil rights history, marinating in me a growing desire to change the world.” he Michigan Film and Digital Media Incentive consisted of a package of dozens of bills that culminated in Public Acts 74 through 87 of 2008. In their original forms, the new laws included a 40-percent subsidy for covered personnel expenses, with an additional 2 percent available for projects located in one of Michigan's 103 “core communities.” Above line staff, such as directors, writers and producers, were eligible for a 40 percent credit on salaries regardless of Michigan residency. Below line staff, such as craftsmen, technicians and engineers, received a 40 percent credit if they were Michigan residents, or 30 percent for non-residents. The construction industry could also receive a 25 percent subsidy for capital improvements for the creation of new film industry-related facilities, capped at $20 million. The workforce development incentive also provided a credit of 50 percent for on the job training expenses of Michigan residents. The total 42-percent film subsidy was by far the largest offered in the United States at the time, and intended to draw movie productions to Michigan. “We are investing in this new industry for several reasons,” Granholm said at the time. “Every dollar spent in film production will generate up to $3 in economic activity in Michigan. These new laws are timed perfectly to attract business to Michigan from Canada, where the higher Canadian dollar is causing filmmakers to move production to alternative locations. We also believe the film industry can give our economy an immediate shot in the arm while it takes years to reap the benefits of other economic development incentives.” In terms of bringing in films, the incentives did exactly what they set out to do, with film producers pouncing on the incentives to help offset movie productions at a time when private investment was becoming more of a challenge.
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In 2008, film producers spent about $125 million in the state, employing 2,763 people and receiving $47.9 million in incentives, according to the state film office. In 2009, more than 125 productions applied for the film credit, with 62 approved and 46 completing work that year. About $223 million was spent on Michigan productions, with about 4,000 hired crew and 4,000 extras and day players, resulting in $68.7 million in incentives being given. In 2010, 66 productions were approved for incentives, with 45 completing work, generating about $293 million in spending, more than 5,300 crew jobs and more than 8,100 extras, with $115 million in incentives given out that year. Rick Hert, director of the West Michigan Film Office, said the office was looking at 20 scripts in 2010 with about $30 million in projects expected to come to the west side of the state. Since then, he said there are occasional commercials and a few local filmmakers that work with the office. “We still remain a local contact if I can help, but a lot of people have moved out of state,” he said. “The crew list is shorter, but we still work with the state film office. “Tax incentives have gone out of favor in Michigan and some other states, but they could still work in Michigan and be a large financial opportunity for the state, but they need to be done right,” he said. “It's an industry you can grow, but you have to be in it long enough.” While the program was successful in bringing new productions into the state, there were concerns that the state wasn't seeing increased revenues to the point that the program was even paying for itself. “The May 2010 consensus revenue estimates forecasted net revenue impact on the budget to lower revenue by $30.8 million in fiscal year (FY) 2008-09, $91.4 million in FY 2009-10, and $111.8 million in FY 2010-11, with even larger reductions in general fund revenue in FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11, of $100.7 million and $125.7 million respectively,” Michigan State University Professors Steven Miller and Abdul Abdlkadri said in a 2009 economic impact study on the film credits. “Based on the experience of other states, the revenue costs of these incentives are expected to grow substantially over the next few years.” Essentially, the report found “the nature of the credit and resulting activity is such that under current (and any realistic) tax rate the state will never be able to make the credit “pay for itself” from a state revenue standpoint, even when the credit generates additional private activity that would not have otherwise occurred.” In 2011, under then Governor Snyder, the film program was capped at $25 million per year. The number of approved projects dropped to 24, with 15 completed that year, generating an estimated $201 million in spending, with 3,350 hired crew and 12,000 extras and day players, $75.6 million in incentives awarded, $54 million of which was approved in 2010. In December of 2011, Snyder signed into law a revision of the program that capped
incentives at $25 million. The revision also obligated the film office to report to the legislature on specific movie projects that it finances and openly declare the criteria used to award subsidies. After 3 more years of capping incentives and production slowing in Michigan, the incentives were finally cut in 2015, with previously authorized incentives only paid out after that year. ichardville, who pushed to retain some of the incentives, said he believes the state could have remained competitive in the film industry if incentives had been scaled back to provide 26 to 28 percent credits. However, others wanted better returns on the state's investment. “When adding all the economic impacts, it was about a break even point, and we could show that. We were also negotiating with major motion picture producers to whittle down the percentage more and still be competitive,” he said. “The next step when new legislators came in, and their viewpoint was there wasn't a solid return, and the governor wanted to phase it out.” While the short-term intent of the film incentive program was to give the state an immediate economic injection, the longer term plan was to develop Michigan's own workforce to support the industry, including the development of movie studios. While the incentives spurred the opening of 3 movie studios in Michigan, they have all since been shuttered. In 2017, the Michigan Motion Pictures Studio in Pontiac sold off its remaining items that had been part of productions such as “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Oz the Great and Powerful,” the Transformer series, and others. The Pontiac studio was planned to be a major economic engine for the area and state as a year-round studio that would create more than 3,000 jobs. However, since those jobs were dependent on filmmakers using the studio, the total number of jobs couldn't be guaranteed. Still, the state backed the studio, ultimately making taxpayers responsible for nearly $20 million in debt owed by the studio. By the summer of 2011, the studio had about 200 positions, nearly all of which consisted of temporary construction workers. Other studios and businesses dependent on the film incentive program have since closed shop or refocused direction to smaller productions and other mediums. Richardville said legislators on the far right wanted the film credits eliminated, despite progress being made. Ultimately, they wanted Michigan to compete without the cost of the film credits. “There has not been any desire to bring it back,” he said. “The (Pontiac) studio has been sold to a tier one auto supplier. Much of the educated, trained workforce that worked in the movie industry has gone to other states to start over.” Richardville said he had hoped the state would have invested more than the $25
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million cap that was given under the Snyder administration. “We should have went to about $100 million, and that would have attracted more productions to come back to Michigan,” he said. “If you understand basic economics that those opponents didn't heed, you know if you take money from a different economy and inject it into yours, it has greater investment than moving it around in your own economy. A million from California is different than Michigan money being spent in Michigan, and that can grow each year. That has a greater increase factor on the economy.” A February 2009 economic impact study of the state's industry and credit conducted by professors at Michigan State University concluded that state expenditures related to film incentives would double in the first few years, but increase at a decreased rate through 2012, at about $187.7 million. The report found the stimulus would generate about 2,922 new jobs, annual wages equal to about $189.5 million and boost the total state output by about $335 million annually. “Findings of this study show that Michigan film expenditures generated multiplier effects of 1.66 for employment and 1.43 output in 2008,” the report stated. “As film production infrastructure develops in Michigan, these multipliers are expected to expand to 1.9 for employment and 1.79 for output. This expansion in multipliers is the result of deepening value chains, as Michigan will likely capture a greater proportion of total production budgets as its infrastructure develops. Evidence of infrastructure development has already been shown through investment in education and production facilities.” The analysis made showed not that it didn't take into consideration the full spectrum of the motion picture and digital media production, such as video game productions, which would be likely to follow. Nor did it take into consideration the economic impacts of Michigan's tourism industry as a result of film tours. harles Ballard, an economics professor at Michigan State University, said proponents of the film incentives have said that by subsidizing the industry it would bring “cool and techie” people to the state. However, there are several problems with that notion. “One, unless you think you need to subsidize it forever, you would like the subsidy to be a seed that helps to get the industry going and then it would be self-sustaining, and clearly that didn't happen,” he said. “There are a lot of economists, probably a consensus of economists, that believe any time you give a tax break to one industry, you have to tax someone more or you need more revenue. “We have been obsessed with cutting taxes, and the roads we drive on are a result of that policy. We have slashed higher education at a time it's extremely important. We need improvements, we need improvements to
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water and sewer and other infrastructure. But what we have done is given away tax breaks and we haven't made up the revenue. From a fairness perspective, why does the film industry get a tax break and not another industry? Because film had better public relations or lobbying? “If we pay 42 percent of operating expenses for any business, we can get them to come here. If we subsidize them enough, we could get citrus growers to grow grapefruit in the UP, but is that rational public policy?” Overall, Ballard said he's skeptical of tax incentives to subsidize particular businesses in the state, as they typically aren't cost effective. And while he said there were additional benefits to the film incentives, such as a rebranding effort of the state, the previous incentives weren't necessarily a cost effective way tot do it. “I'm a fan of Pure Michigan. There are a lot of people that think we are just a bunch of rusted out factories, so I do think it's important to change our image,” he said. “I'm not sure paying 42 percent of operations of a film company is the way to do that. I don't think that really improved our image.” Rather than revisit film incentives, Ballard said it would be better to create a level playing field. Millions on incentives, he said, may be better spent elsewhere. “I think it's not a ship we should bring into dock again, but that's my view,” he said. “I would rather have a level playing field in how we treat businesses in taxation and raise enough revenues to pave our roads and pay for our schools. No tax break has ever paid for itself. If you were to follow through on the effects, you bring in some jobs, but a lot are temporary for production companies that didn't stay. The other thing is, that money could have been spent doing something else. If I had the choice to subsidize film crews or fix roads and bridges, I would fix the roads. If you do that, there are construction workers that would have been employed. You have to be careful that saying if you subsidize something it will bring jobs. You could have something else that bring jobs.” For Michiganders looking to break into the film and television industry, as well as those already working out of state, the new incentives were exactly the boost needed. Metro Detroit native John Wise had already earned a degree from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, when the incentives went into effect. And the growing number of productions in Michigan and demand for trained crew provided new opportunities. “It basically allowed me to launch my career,” Wise said. Previously working in the restaurant industry, Wise got an early taste in film in 2004 when he started providing craft (food) services for smaller productions. But in 2009, Wise began working as a production assistant on productions, many based in Michigan, including “The Genesis Code,” in Grand Rapids, “Detroit 1-8-7,” “Transformers” and other productions. When Michigan's film incentives were cut,
Wise did what many others in the industry did and moved out of state. For several years, he followed productions around the country, before moving to Los Angeles for steady work. “They really needed to have the credits in place for at least 5 years for them to build the industry here, but that never really happened,” he said. Wise, as others have noted, said that while the state looked at direct jobs that were created as a result of film credits, it didn't look always look at other indirect jobs or benefits. teve Humphreys, owner of Vogue Vintage antique store in Ferndale at 2141 Hilton Road, said he had to close his shop for more than a year after the film incentives were eliminated. Originally opened in 2008, Humphreys experienced an immediate boom when he developed a connection in the movie industry and started supplying furniture and other props to movie productions. “I probably had the number one prop store in the city when we had the incentive window here. It was too good to be true,” he said. “A girl came in one day to rent something for a movie. One thing led to another.” Humphreys said business was so good that his wife, who was running a bridal department at Somerset Mall, eventually quit her job to help run the store. “We had about 6,000 square feet, then I had to get an 8,000 square foot warehouse to fill with props. We had upward of 15,000 square feet with different furniture. You have to have all kinds of good stuff, and crappy stuff. We did a lot of present day stuff, and period movies.” During the peak of the incentives, Humphreys' store was working on supplying items for several feature films along with its retail business. However, after the incentives were eliminated, business dropped off, leading to large losses and forcing the original store in Pleasant Ridge to close. While he has since reopened and continues to ship items to movie productions out of state, he said the demand isn't nearly the same. “We have things that they can't get down south,” Humphreys said, referring to the number of movies made in Georgia, where incentives have helped develop the movie industry. “We recently did props for 'Green Book.' We did over 40 movies, and we did all the TV shows shot here, like 'Detroiters' and 'Detroit 187.'” For “Green Book,” Humphreys said he supplied appliances and other items, including real Christmas trees he had to find, package and ship. “They could have adjusted the credits down, and the industry would have stayed here for less,” Humphreys said of the former film incentives. “The trickle down was working. They say for every dollar you put in, you get 6 back. That's how it works.” Joe Miller, with the IATSE Local #38 Detroit Stage and Film Technicians Union, said the union grew from about 200 to 500 members when the state's film program was operating. He said about 200 members left in
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2013, with many moving to Atlanta, New Mexico and other states. Today, the union has had to partially rebuild, with about 400 members, with only a little focus on film productions. “The motion picture industry is pretty tied to tax incentives in various states around the country,” Miller said. “We have reformed a political action committee, and we are working with individuals at the mayor's office and policy at Governor Whitmer's office.” Miller said there is now work in progress to introduce a new version of incentives. “It's unknown if it will get off the ground, but we are taking a multifaceted approach to include everyone,” he said. Brian Kelly, who is working on behalf of the union to garner support for new legislation, said specifics are still being hammered out, but said there won't be a return to the 42 percent credit that was offered in the past. “That was a situation of asking for the moon and getting it,” he said. “It was a bad situation for our economy and the state. Fortytwo percent was unsustainable for a number of reasons. Today, we are blowing that out of the water.” Looking at incentives in Georgia, California and other states, Kelly said the idea is to model a new, smaller incentive based on other states that have had success. “The idea is to start small and work up to larger budgets,” he said. “It's meant to grow businesses, the tax base and crews here in Michigan, then concentrate on bringing things from out of state.” State Representative Robert Wittenberg (DBerkley, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Hazel Park, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak Township), said he has met with the union and went over some of the overreaching items to be included in potential legislation, but hasn't gotte into the “nitty gritty.” “We'll be meeting and looking at best practices in other states,” Wittenberg said. “It won't be as big as before. We are looking at incentivizing companies for multiple productions. We don't have the specifics ironed out yet.” Wittenberg said living in Los Angeles for a period allowed him to see the importance of the entertainment industry. “I know the importance of the industry and how local businesses benefit from it,” he said. “It touches every bit of commerce, so it's important to have some kind of discussion here.” As Michigan has since eliminated its film incentive program, some other states have done the same. In 2009, 44 states offered incentives. Since then, at least 13 states have ended film incentive programs,with others cutting theirs back, according to National Conference of State Legislatures. Most recently, Wyoming and West Virginia eliminated their film incentive programs. Last year, Colorado, Maryland and Texas reduced their annual appropriation available for film incentive programs. Oklahoma reduced its annual program cap from $5 million to $4 million. Most notably, Louisiana, the first to
offer an incentive program, introduced a $150 million cap on the amount of credits that can be issued each year. In North Carolina, the state switched from tax credits to a grant program in 2015, but increased its annual cap to $34 million and eliminated its July 1, 2020 sunset date. Utah and Virginia have also made small increases to their annual funds available for film incentives. Additional states and their programs include: Alabama, where productions may qualify for a 25 percent rebate of state certified expenditures and 35 percent of all payroll to residents of Alabama. Productions must be between $500,000 and $20 million, with a annual cap of $20 million. Alaska repealed its film incentive program in 2015. Arizona has no film incentive program, but offers a “Reel Savings” program that providers discounts in conjunction with private businesses. The Arkansas film incentive program is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2019. California's Film and TV Tax Credit Program 2.0 was enacted in 2014, and provides credits for qualified productions in the state. Those credits range from 5 to 25 percent, depending on the type of production. The program was capped at $330 million annually. Connecticut's program allows a maximum expenditure of $100,000 and makes the credit amount dependent on the production's total cost. There's no annual program cap. Florida's program sunset in 2016 and wasn't renewed. Georgia's Entertainment Industry Investment Act offers an across the board, one-time transferrable tax credit of 20 percent. An additional 10 percent uplift can be earned by including an imbedded animation Georgia logo on approved projects. There's no annual cap. awaii's Motion Picture, Digital Media and Film Production Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit of up to 25 percent. The per production cap is $15 million, with an annual program cap of $35 million. The program is set to end in 2026. Illinois film production tax credit allows up to 30 percent of expenditures, including postproduction, will sunset in 2021. Applicants may receive an additional 15 percent credit in economically disadvantaged areas. In Kentucky, qualified productions can receive a tax credit of up to 30 percent of approved expenditures, or up to 35 percent in enhanced counties. There's no program cap. Maine offers a wage-tax rebate plan, which generally reimburses about 10 percent of the amount paid as wages for non-Maine residents and 12 percent for residents, as well as a 5 percent tax credit on non-wage expenses. There's no annual cap. Maryland offers a tax credit of up to 25 percent. Television series may receive credits of up to 27 percent, not including salary or wages of those who receive more than $500,000. Massachusetts offers a production
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credit of 25 percent, a 25 percent payroll credit and a sales tax exemption. Minnesota offers a cash reimbursement of 20 to 25 percent for qualified productions. Mississippi provides a cash rebate of up to 25 percent, as well as a 30 percent resident payroll rebate and 25 percent non-resident rebate. The project is capped at $20 million annually. evada offers a transferrable tax credit of up to 25 percent on cumulative qualified production costs on productions that spend 60 percent in-state. New Mexico offers a 25 percent, refundable tax credit on all direct production expenditures subject to taxation by the state, with an additional 5 percent available for qualified productions. The state also offers a “Film Crew Advancement Program” intended to create job opportunities for New Mexican film and TV professionals. The program is capped at $50 million. New York offers a credit of up to 30 percent of qualifying productions. Refundable credits up to $7 million per year are available for qualified commercials. A tax credit up to 5 percent is available on investments on film production facilities. Ohio offers a 30 percent refundable, transferable credit on cast and crew wages, plus other eligible in state spending. Oklahoma offers a cash rebate of 35 percent of expenditures to qualifying productions. Oregon offers a 20 percent cash rebate on productionrelated good sand services, and a 10 percent cash rebate of wages paid for work done in the state. It also offers a rebate strictly for local filmmakers. Pennsylvania offers a 25 percent tax credit to films that spend at least 60 percent of their total budget in the state. Rhode Island offers a tax credit of up to 25 percent for qualified productions. The state has a $15 million annual cap and a $5 million project cap. South Carolina offers a rebate on in-state wages of up to 25 percent, as well as a 30 percent rebate on in-state supplier expenditures if at least $1 million is spent in the state. Tennessee offers a 25 percent cash rebate in the form of a grant. Texas offers qualifying productions, including commercials and video games, a cash grant of 5 to 20 percent of expenditures. An additional 2.5 percent is available for locating in economically disadvantaged communities. Utah offers a post-performance tax credit or cash rebate of 20 percent, and up to 25 percent for qualifying productions. Virginia offers 2 incentive programs, including grants and tax credits of 15 to 20 percent. Washington utilizes a private non-profit organization to manage that state's program, which offers funding assistance up to 30 percent of qualified expenses, and up to 35 percent for an episodic series with at least 6 episodes.
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Josh Bryant t all started when a teenager asked NFL wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders for a selfie. “The kid opened up Snapchat, took a selfie, and asked Emmanuel to sign the picture with his finger,” said Josh Bryant, co-founder of Fangage, Inc, along with his cousin, Sanders. “I was like, whoa, that was really cool and really easy. Do you think people would pay to get their own photos signed digitally as opposed to paying to get a professional photo signed?” The following week, he and Sanders were putting together an app. Within 90 days they had version one of Fangage for users, which they launched three years ago. Version 2 launched in December 2017. Ok, so what exactly is Fangage? To put it simply, it’s now a website where fans can upload photos that go to the celebrity of their choosing (from a list provided of those doing upcoming signings), who then digitally autograph it via Fangage’s iPad app, before sending it back to Bryant’s team. From there, fans get a link to the signed photo they purchased. Ok, but how do you know it’s actually being signed by the celebrity you selected? Fangage’s facial recognition technology. “We were just on a mission to say, how can we eliminate that fraud? How can we prove without a doubt that it’s actually that celebrity signing the photo?” said Bryant, who has lived in Birmingham for almost a decade. “First, it was the facial recognition, then we transitioned to the live feed.” With the live feed, customers can watch their items get signed. People are clearly fans of the tech company. Fangage recently sent out their 5,000th photo while at this year’s Super Bowl, where they did 20 autograph sessions in 2 days. “We basically did more autographs in 2 days than in all of last year,” Bryant said.
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Bryant and his team also recently completed a startup incubator program in Boulder, Colorado. Their goal of raising $250,000 by the end of the year was met before the program ended, one of the first companies to do so. “Since then, it’s been great, it’s been a wild ride,” said Bryant. But that’s not nearly enough for Fangage. They have some lofty goals for the next few years, like crossing one million signed photos next summer at the 2020 Olympics. In the next 6 to 9 months, they hope to cross from sports – currently the bulk of their celebrities, including the Houston Astros’ Tony Kemp and Eric Ebron from the Indianapolis Colts – to everything from musicians to WWE. Bryant, who used to work in sports and marketing, said they work through talent and marketing agents to get celebrities to do a signing. He also said that they often hear comments on how easy it is, especially compared to a more traditional signing appearance. While they charge customers fees – ranging from $3 to $75, depending on the celebrity – Bryant hopes one day they won’t have to charge and can gain sponsorships from companies that lean heavily on influencer marketing. Bryant knows as a minority in the tech world the odds are against him. At first, he found that all nerve-wracking, but now it’s inspiration. He can help break the mold. “Honestly, I look in the mirror and say, 'I have an opportunity to do something special,'” Bryant said. “My nephews and my son can look up and say, he isn’t playing football, he isn’t on TV, but he’s still created something really special and he’s doing something that most of the people who look like us aren’t doing.” Story: Dana Casadei
Photo: Laurie Tennent
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$5.4 million more awarded in water suit By Lisa Brody
Survey: Residents unaware of deficit By Kevin Elliott
More than 90 percent of Bloomfield Township residents surveyed about how best to address a structural budget deficit being mulled by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees are unaware of the budget issue, according to results of a recent resident survey. “By a margin of 86.8 percent, township residents believe the township is on the right track,” a recent survey of 400 Bloomfield Township residents found. “The 86.8 percent level represents a remarkably strong level of approval of the direction of the township.” The survey by the Glengariff Group, including both landlines and cell phone numbers, was conducted at the direction of the township board of trustees to get a better understanding of residents' feelings about $164 million in unfunded liabilities that has resulted in a structural deficit in the township's budget that must be closed by a mandate of the state in the next year through budget cuts, new taxes or a combination of the two. Despite feeling the township was moving in the right direction, more than 90 percent of respondents were unaware of the structural deficit. “Only 7.3 percent of residents have seen, heard or read about the deficit, while 92.3 percent haven't,” the survey said, adding that it was entirely new information to nine out of 10 residents surveyed. Despite being unaware of the problem, residents had varying opinions on how best to address the issue. About 8.3 percent of residents supported increased fees or taxes; 27.8 percent supported cutting the existing budget; 54.8 percent supported a combination of cuts and taxes; and 9.3 percent didn't know. The highest level of residents supporting budget cuts was from residents with household incomes of more than $250,000 annually. The deficit issue arose after the township announced in December that the state would now require municipalities to fund at least 40 percent of unfunded liabilities, including pensions and OPEB, or Other Post-Employment Benefits, outside of retiree pension benefits, such as health care, disability and other services. State law had previously allowed municipalities to fund those expenses as they were incurred, and Bloomfield Township
had been a “pay as you go” municipality. The change means the township will need about $65 million to fund its OPEB liabilities at 40 percent. In order to meet the new funding obligations, the township must increase payments for the next 30 years by about $5 million to $7 million annually, creating a structural deficit in the annual budget. To find long-term solutions, the township contracted with Plante Moran financial consultants to help determine financial fixes, as well as Glengariff, which conducted the survey. Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said that despite support for eliminating animal welfare, he wasn't quick to implement the elimination, as many residents do support the service, which would amount to well under a million dollars in savings. Savoie suggested at a Tuesday, March 2, budget study session that cuts be held until after voters give an up or down vote to any taxes to cover the deficit. Residents surveyed were presented with nine different recommendations developed by Plante Moran and told the pros and cons of each. Residents supported by 68.1 percent, consolidating or reducing services in some departments; 58.3 percent supported adding a one percent property tax assessment fee; 55.1 percent supported eliminating the township's animal control division. About 80.3 percent of residents opposed eliminating police positions; 59.1 percent opposed eliminating general fund support for road maintenance; and about 57.6 percent opposed eliminating public safety dispatching services in the township. Overall, the survey found that six of the nine recommendations could or would win support from residents. Those include consolidating departments; adding an administrative fee for property taxes; contracting property assessment services; elimination of the animal welfare division; elimination of some optional programs; and elimination of fire support from Station No. 4. Three of the nine had strong opposition, including contracting for dispatch services; elimination of general fund support for road maintenance; and elimination of police staff. “As previously mentioned, 90.3 percent of residents give the township marks of excellent or good for quality of services delivered,” the survey results stated. “When asked if they would be willing to accept lower
akland County Circuit Court Judge Dan O'Brien awarded $5.4 million in damages in two parts of a class action suit against Bloomfield Township on Monday, March 18, determining the township should not have been integrating water loss costs into operations, as well as deciding that the township had overcharged sewer customers, and township attorneys said they plan to appeal. A class action suit against Bloomfield Township filed in April 2016 by the law firm Hanley Kickham, which has been largely successful suing municipalities for excessive water and sewer fees, asserted there has been an effort on the part of the municipalities to raise revenue in violation of the Headlee amendment. Bloomfield Township residents who had paid the township for water and sewer services since March 31, 2010, had been included in the Oakland County Circuit County suit, Youmans v. Charter Township Bloomfield, which challenged Bloomfield Township's imposition of water and sewer charges as a tax in excess of rates imposed by Southeast Oakland County Water Authority (SOCWA), which resells water to Bloomfield Township from the city of Detroit, and Oakland County Water Resources Commission, which provides sewer services for the township. The case was tried before O'Brien for the full month of February 2018. There were seven issues under contention in the lawsuit. A previous portion of the class action lawsuit had been awarded to the plaintiffs, in the amount of $3.8 million, in September 2018, and has been appealed by Bloomfield Township. Mark Roberts of Secrest Wardle, attorney for Bloomfield Township, said following the verdict, “The initial judgement of $3.6 million for water rates is contrary to about 25 years of township rate setting,” he said, noting that typically the category of water loss costs are integrated into operations maintenance. “The judge interpreted this as separate, and ordered it paid out of the general fund.” Another aspect of the award was for revenues received for tap fees and late fees, “and other revenues coming into the system other than the sale of water,” Roberts said, noting the costs are spread out amongst all the water customers to determine the water rate. “You want to generate enough revenue to operate the system. The plaintiff contended the township didn't deduct the non-rate revenue from the cost of operating the system, and as a result, the plaintiff asserted, the township was overcharging our customers.” He said the plaintiff never presented any evidence of total costs versus total revenues. “They just cherrypicked figures from our budgets, and from that budget, the judge awarded the plaintiffs $2,925,063.” Roger Young, lead counsel on the appeal for the township, said, “We would argue that the judge has a profound misunderstanding of the facts of the case and we are going to argue vigorously and get this overturned on appeal. The position we are going to be taking is you don't cherrypick but have to present a case in totality.” He said the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the cities of Taylor and Westland on June 29, 2018, in similar class action water cases. O'Brien also awarded the plaintiffs almost $2.2 million over the township's methodology of sewer and water collection, determining they had overestimated sewer flow and therefore were collecting all the revenue needed from their water and sewer customers, and additional revenue from sewer customers was excess. Roberts said that was not accurate. “I don't agree with the ruling, and I believe the judge made an error in law and in fact. “Either way, the taxpayers will be paying for this,” he noted. Both portions will be appealed, but it could be as long as 18 months until the Court of Appeals makes a ruling. Over the last several years, Kickham Hanley PLLC of Royal Oak has filed water and sewer lawsuits against several other municipalities, in the name of a resident, as class action suits. They came to settlements with Royal Oak, for $2 million; Ferndale, for $4.2 million; Waterford for $1.4 million; and Birmingham, for $2.8 million, along with other communities. A class action lawsuit against the city of Westland was dismissed. “The days of settlement are over,” Young, of Young and Associates, said.
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services to balance the structural deficit, 37.4 percent said yes; 41 percent said no; and 19.7 percent said it depends on which services were cut.”
2019-2020 budget okayed after debate By Kevin Elliott
A $49.6 million budget for fiscal year 2019-2020 was approved on Monday, March 11, by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees sidesteps potential cuts to services for the next year, as the township works on a plan to close a structural deficit projected to total $5 million to $7 million each year. The board voted 4-2 to approve the budget, with trustees Dani Walsh and David Buckley opposing, and Bloomfield Township Clerk Jan Roncelli absent. The township's fiscal year runs from April 1 through March 31 each year. Bloomfield Township Finance Director Jason Theis said the budget estimates an overall increase of about 4.5 percent due to increases in the overall taxable value of property in the township, which will equate to about a 3.5 percent increase after tax rollbacks due to Headlee. He said the township estimates a slight increase in state shared revenues, while other revenues remain generally neutral. Of the $47.4 million in revenues, about $34.5 million will come from property taxes, up from $33.3 in 20182019; $3.6 million from state shared revenue, up by about $40,000 from the previous budget; $600,000 from investment income, with no change from the previous year; and $8.5 million from other sources, up from $7.6 million. Property taxes to the township's general fund are expected to be about $8.5 million in the 2019-20 budget, up from about $8.2 million in the current budget. About $2.6 million in property taxes will go to the township's road fund, up from about $2.5 million. The largest portion of property taxes will go to the township's public safety fund, at about $23.3 million, up from $22.5 million in the current budget. Under the approved budget, general fund, road fund and public safety fund expenditures will outpace revenues by nearly $2.2 million, with the difference being made up from an estimated fund balance of about $27.2 million. Proposed expenditures were $49.6 million, up from $46.3 million the downtownpublications.com
previous year. Major expenditures include about $11.3 million for the township's general fund, up from $10.6 million; $4.9 million in the township's road fund, up from $4.7 million; $31.8 million by the public safety fund, up from about $29.4 million; and $1.4 million in capital expenditures, down from about $1.5 million. In terms of expenses, the budget includes a 2-percent increase in all full-time wages, equal to about $430,000; a 2.5-percent increase in healthcare plan premiums, equal to about $200,000; and some one-time capital items, including replacement of underground fuel tanks ($525,000); replacement of a fire rescue truck ($250,000); and the replacement of a motor pool service truck ($90,000). “If you listened to the study session, you know I was dismayed by this budget. We were going to be different. We were going to be the first board not to kick the can down the road,” Walsh said. “We worked with trustees and department heads and paid a consultant on how to reduce expenditures on the budget, yet after all that time we were presented with a budget with no changes. All the departments were presented with suggestions. None of them were included.” Walsh and Buckley said on March 11, as well as at a Tuesday, February 26 budget study session, that they had hoped to see cuts in the budget that would help close a structural budget deficit related to roughly $164 million in unfunded other postemployment benefits (OPEB) liabilities. OPEB includes benefits such as medical, dental, vision and life insurance for retirees and their spouses. “I'm unable to support this budget,” Buckley said. “I have always supported it in the past – 16 times previously, but not when facing a budget issue that wasn't created by the current board.” The township in December 2018, announced that changes to to the state's accounting laws require municipalities to fund at least 40 percent of their unfunded retiree health care liabilities. Prior to the changes, municipalities were permitted to pay for those expenses as they came due each year, known as “pay-as-you-go.” The change means the township will need to increase OPEB funding by about $65 million over the next 30 years. Looking for ways to increase OPEB funding, the township hired financial consultants Plante Moran to help assist in pinpointing potential cuts in
services and/or revenue increases. Those measures could include eliminating the township's animal welfare division; outsourcing police and fire dispatching services; cuts to public safety staff and operations; eliminating hazardous waste disposal, gypsy moth control; contracting assessing services; and other cuts. Additional revenue could also be raised through additional fees for services, as well as a bond issue to address OPEB liabilities and/or a special assessment district (SAD) related to public safety. Trustee Neal Barnett, referring to the February study session, said the measures that will go into the strategic plan will likely be a mixture of cuts and revenue increases. However, he said those measures weren't proposed in relation to the budget, which must be approved before the start of the next fiscal year that starts April 1. “The responsible thing to do is to move forward,” he said about the budget. “We should pass the budget then move forward with the strategic plan, look at expenses we need to save, then go to the voters and move forward. Looking tonight to pick and choose as where to cut expenses is irresponsible without having a full plan.” Bloomfield Township Treasurer Brian Kepes echoed Barnett's remarks. “Plante Moran was hired for the strategic plan – they weren't hired for a budget,” Kepes said. Trustees opposing the proposed budget said that it should have included cuts on behalf of the township to show it has already made cuts before asking taxpayers for additional money. “We know as a board we need to tighten our bootstraps, and status quo is what we were given,” Walsh said. “Then we'll put something out to the taxpayers and have them pay for it all – none of that is fiscally responsible to a group of Republicans.” Walsh said she didn't believe that the township would have trouble attracting and retaining employees if wages were frozen, referencing freezes made during the Great Recession. She also noted that the previous board of trustees had suggested the treasurer position be reduced to a part-time position, but the idea was never implemented. She also took aim at vehicles provided to 9 township department heads. “Instead, I saw raises,” she said. “How can you give raises when we can't pay the bill that is in front of us right now?”
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Kepes, who served as a trustee prior to being elected treasurer, said the part-time position was discussed in relation to the previous treasurer's performance. “We did think about a part-time treasurer because we had a treasurer who was showing up part-time and was being paid full-time,” he said. “I hate to bring it up, but it was brought up. We can bring that (proposal) up again.” Kepes said such cuts would fail to come close to filling the budget gap in the future. He also noted that the township has retained a AAA bond rating due to its fiscal responsibility. “It's $4 million. It's not a car here or pens and erasers – it's not marginal items. It's significant dollars that's going to require a significant fix,” he said. “It's important to understand that we have a challenge, and it's a significant one, and it's in our means, whether we do it in cuts, increases or both.” Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie took issue some of the comments. “We aren't kicking the can down the road. The budget and the strategic plan are separate from each other. When we discuss the strategic plan, there is more than one option for this board to come up with,” he said. In terms of township vehicles, he said 3 of the 9 department heads who receive them are required to have an emergency vehicle 24 hours a day. He said maintaining a motor pool for those that would be used for township business only would still require at least 4 additional vehicles. Further, he said, the vehicles are kept on an average of 10 years, with a high trade-in value. Savoie also noted that salary cuts and freezes made during the recession were accepted because all communities were making cuts during record-high unemployment and dwindling property values. “It's a completely different economy than 2008. The economy was in turmoil and unemployment was the highest it had been since the 1980s. Values of real estate were crumbling,” he said. “2019 is completely different. I've had 2 department heads offered jobs at different municipalities in the past 90 days. You're going to take a quality workforce and decimate it. Utterly decimate it. For 5 years they took a pay freeze, and now they have other options out there. If you want to decimate the workforce, then do it, but I won't allow it.” 63
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City responds to Bates Street lawsuit By Lisa Brody
Birmingham has filed its response as well as a motion to dismiss in federal court to a lawsuit by TIR Equities, a real estate development company in Birmingham, and its principal, Ara Darakjian, against the city of Birmingham and two city officials, city manager Joe Valentine and city commissioner Mark Nickita, over a bid it had submitted in response to a request for proposal (RFP) issued by Birmingham in November 2017, to redevelop the N. Old Woodward parking structure and create an extension for Bates Street. In its response to Darakjian's lawsuit, amended since its initial filing, the city responded by denying allegations in the suit, and requesting a jury trial, attorney costs and denial of damages to Darakjian. In addition, on February 23, Woodward Bates, LLC, the development group chosen by the city for the project, was added as a third party defendant at the request of the group. Attorney Jeffrey Haynes of Beier Howlett, for Birmingham, wrote Darakjian's complaint “lacks legal merit because binding, unambiguous Sixth Circuit case law holds that disappointed bidders lack standing to allege a liberty or property interest protected by the Fourteenth Amendment,” TIR Equities was one of two finalists, along with Woodward Bates Partners, to redevelop the N. Old Woodward parking lot with more parking, an extension of Bates Street, a liner of retail along the new street, a mixed use building comprising residential and office space, and a park. The city initially had four development groups submit proposals, which included parking consultants, developers, architects, designers and consultants, but only three ultimately submitted completed proposals to the city by the January 3, 2018 deadline, REDICO, TIR Equities and Woodward Bates, LLC. REDICO withdrew from consideration. Woodward Bates, LLC consists of Victor Saroki of Saroki Architecture in Birmingham; Paul Robertson of Robertson Brothers Homes in Bloomfield Hills; John Rakolta Jr., of Walbridge in Detroit; and Ron Boji of the Boji Group in Lansing. The parcel of land, approximately downtownpublications.com
Township approves 2019 road projects he Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees on Monday, March 11, approved nearly $275,000 in road projects for the 2019 construction season to be paid for by the township, Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) and Oakland County. Under the proposed tri-party program, the township will share in the cost of road preservation paving projects along Dublin Road, Gilbert Lake Road and Timberlake Road. Of the total amount, the township will be responsible for paying just more than $91,657. “The township has been a long-time participant of the county's triparty program and has been successful in securing tri-party funds for several road projects that would not normally be a priority for the Road Commission for Oakland County,” said Bloomfield Township Director of Public Works Tom Trice. Trice said Dublin Road, from Andover to Exeter, is in need of repair. The stretch serves as a connector for the Bloomfield Hills High School and the Township Campus. The project will include milling the road and 2 inches of new asphalt. The total amount for the project will be about $32,000, with the township to pay for $10,667. Gilbert Lake Road, from Maple to Quarton, will be milled, with 2 inches of new asphalt. The work is similar to what was done on Hickory Grove from Franklin to Lahser in 2018. The total cost of the overlay will be about $195,970, with the township's contribution totaling $65,323. Timberlake Road, from Lone Pine south in front of the library, will also receive an overlay project, which includes milling and asphalt. The total cost of the project will be about $47,000, with the township responsible for $15,667. All 3 projects were unanimously approved by the board.
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4 acres in the city’s central business district, consists of the current N. Old Woodward parking garage, an adjacent parking lot and adjacent parcels. The city’s objective had been to solicit creative and innovative development plans from qualified developers that will extend Bates Street from Willits to N. Old Woodward, connecting the north and south parts of Birmingham, to redevelop the remainder of the site by constructing a new parking structure that will provide a minimum of 380 parking spaces in addition to replacing the 770 parking spaces currently on the N. Old Woodward / Bates Street site, plus adding residential, commercial and/or mixed uses in order to create an activated, pedestrian-oriented urban streetscape while also providing public access to the Rouge River and Booth Park to the north. The RFP stated, in part, that the city was seeking a new parking structure with a minimum of 1,150 parking spaces; new mixed use building adjacent to a parking structure facing N. Old Woodward Avenue; a service drive access to the adjacent buildings both north and south of the parking structure; new mixed use building facing Willits Street; public park property and
connection between a new city street and the existing Rouge River to the north; and a residential building on the north end of the site, which can take advantage of the existing views in the area. Of contention by Darakjian is that Saroki and a parking consultant helped Birmingham develop the city's bid proposal, depriving Darakjian of his constitutional right to due process. In the city's formal response, to many of the assertions in Darakjian's complaint, the defendants, including Woodward Bates, LLC, answered “Defendants lack knowledge or information to form a belief about the truth of the allegations,” including the statement “The mixeduse residential and retail/commercial features of the design proposed by TIR were superior to those proposed by Woodward Bates,” in the complaint, and “The total net cost to the City of TIR’s proposed design was, in fact, less than that of Woodward Bates, due to the additional revenue received from property taxes, lease payments, and parking revenues under TIR’s proposal.” An assertion of favoritism by the complainant received the same response by the defendants.
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Darakjian is seeking to permanently enjoin the city from finalizing a contract for the project with Woodward Bates, which they are in the midst of, as well as ordering them to conduct the bidder selection process over again “in a manner that is consistent with Plaintiffs’ constitutional right to due process.” Darakjian is also seeking damages from the city for its “wrongful actions,” as well as for his costs in preparing the submission, and a jury trial. Darakjian further asserts in his complaint that “defendants acted under color of state law to deprive plaintiffs of a definite property interest.” The city and other defendants denied the allegations. Haynes responded, “ Under century-old Michigan case law, disappointed bidders have no property interest under state law.” Brian Saxe, Darakjian's attorney, countered all allegations. In response to all of Darakjian's complaints, the defendants requested the court dismiss the amended complaint; deny the defendant's injunctive relief; issue a declaratory judgment for the defendants; deny the plaintiffs any sort of damages; and grant them all costs and attorney fees. If there is a trial, they requested a jury trial. City manager Joe Valentine and commissioner Mark Nickita were included in the suit, the complaint alleges, because Nickita, an architect and urban designer, failed to recuse himself even though he had a working relationship with a member of the Woodward, Bates team – market research and strategic analysis firm Zimmerman Volk. Nickita has been a city commissioner for 9 years and served on the city's planning board for 10 years. As for Valentine, Darakjian asserted that he sent the city commission a letter 6 days prior to their July 9, 2018, meeting, yet Valentine did not include it on their agenda, stating that he and Darakjian should sit down first for a private conversation. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman. Darakjian is represented by Rossman Saxe PC. The city of Birmingham, Valentine and Nickita are represented by Beier Howlett, PC, and Woodward Bates is represented by Carson Fischer PLC. 65
CHRIS
PERO
A s s o c i a t e B r o k e r
248.797.0784 | cgPero@yahoo.com
over $59 million closed in 2018
372 Barden - Bloomfield Hills - $2,799,900
275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham
325 Keswick - Bloomfield Hills - $2,399,900
Magnificent 2001 built estate home on 1.4 acres. Expertly constructed with gorgeous finishes and quality throughout. 5 bedrooms, 5.2 baths.
Wonderful estate home on almost an acre of gorgeous grounds. Beautiful large white kitchen with center island. Stunning first floor master suite. 6 bedrooms, 4.3 baths.
10 Vaughan Crossing - Bloomfield Hills - $799,900
3755 Brookside - Bloomfield Hills - $699,900
High quality built condo in a great area. First floor master with 2 additional ensuite bedrooms upstairs. Wonderful floor plan with spacious rooms and high ceilings.
Renovated colonial on a .76 acre lot. Updated kitchen opens to nook and family room. Spacious master suite. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths. Great yard and grounds.
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3224 Parkwood - Rochester Hills - $599,900
679 Kimberly - Birmingham - $525,000
3632 Pheasant Run - Bloomfield Hills - $375,000
751 Humphrey - Birmingham - $349,900
Beautiful 5 bedroom, 3.1 bath in Hawthorn Hills. Large updated kitchen opens to nook and large great room. Amazing finished walk out lower level. 3 car side entry garage.
Beautiful wooded views from this light-filled ranch condo in Wabeek. Spacious living with high ceilings. Master with attached bath & outdoor access. 2 additional ensuite bedrooms.
Move in ready 3 bedroom, 3.1 bath home in the heart of Quarton Lake Estates. Gorgeous new white kitchen and remodeled bathrooms. Finished basement.
Great location for this remodeled move-in ready colonial with open floor plan. 2 bedrooms, 1.1 baths. Newer two car detached garage.
CHRIS
PERO
A s s o c i a t e B r o k e r
248.797.0784 | cgPero@yahoo.com
275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham
over $59 million closed in 2018
2375 Tilbury Place - Bloomfield Hills - $1,675,000
Newer construction in Bloomfield Village. Nearly a half acre lot. 4 bedrooms, 4.1 baths. Gorgeous white kitchen with center island, mudroom, finished lower level. 3 car attached garage.
4205 Valley Forge - Bloomfield Hills - $674,900
336 Suffield - Birmingham - $1,499,900
Wonderful Quarton Lake Estates colonial on 120 foot wide lot. Spacious floor plan with beautiful remodeled kitchen & butlers pantry. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths.
623 Bloomfield Court - Birmingham - $599,900
Three bedroom, 2.1 bath cape cod in Foxcroft on a gorgeous .64 acre lot. Great curb appeal and nice updates throughout. Back family room addition. Three car garage.
Tucked away on a quiet street just blocks from downtown Birmingham. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths. Private lot, 2 car garage.
590 Riverside/596 Riverstone - $399,900 - Birmingham
832 Davis - Birmingham - $375,000
2 vacant sites remaining in Riverside Place. Fantastic opportunity in an exclusive detached condo development steps from downtown. Design and build your dream home.
Land opportunity - hard to find 60 foot wide lot on a great street of many new builds. Home currently exists on lot.
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264 Woodedge - Bloomfield Hills - $339,900
Four bedroom colonial in desirable Hickory Grove Hills. White kitchen opens into family room with fireplace. Great deck in a peaceful backyard space. Bloomfield schools.
1489 Holland - Birmingham - $3500/mo
For rent - quality newer construction with nice floorplan. 3 bedroom, 3.1 bath colonial. Completely finished basement with 9 foot ceilings includes rec room, bedroom and kitchenette.
FA N I G IO CT IN IT SE M D O E SS C LY N E JU SI IN :BU ES
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FACES:BUSINESS
O N
LOCAL ES: SS BUSINE O RY OUR ST T E L L Y C I A L J U LY E IN A SP Y STOCK S S GLO N IN SECTIO WN O DOWNT
BUSINESS NAME Name of Owner(s) Street Address and Phone Number of Your Business Your Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
WE WILL TELL YOUR UNIQUE STORY IN THIS SPACE FACES:BUSINESS will be a special section printed in full color on a heavier glossy stock and run through the center of our July issue of Downtown newsmagazine. Our photographer will come to your location to capture you as the business owner or manager and our writers will work with you to refine your story. You will be featured in a full page photo, with prominent display of the name of your business, your name, business address and phone, along with your business website, Facebook and Instagram address if you have them. And then a 250 word story that tells our readers something about you and your business. To participate, contact Mark Grablowski: Office – 248.792.6464 Ext. 601 | Cell – 586.549.4424 | Email: MarkGrablowski@DowntownPublications.com
MUNICIPAL
Tree, woodland protection ordinances set By Kevin Elliott
Possible license violations at bistros By Lisa Brody
Approximately 15 Birmingham establishments will be returning to the Birmingham City Commission for a public hearing regarding the renewal of their 2019 liquor license after commissioners saw violations in their 2018 liquor license investigative summary at on Monday, February 25. Clerk J. Cherilynn Mynsberge informed commissioners the city commission is required by Chapter 10, Alcoholic Liquors, of the Birmingham Code of Ordinances to review the licenses of establishments which sell intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises in the city and to consider the renewal of those licenses. As part of that process, investigations of each licensed establishment were conducted by the building, planning, police, fire and finance departments to determine whether the licensees were in compliance with all applicable city and state codes. It was noted that Rojo and Sidecar, which share ownership, is in arrears by $16,325 in taxes and water bills. Mynsberge said owner Steven Simon had come in that day to make a payment on the water bill and set up a payment schedule. “For the tax deficiency, we have finalized the bankruptcy we purchased, to see if we owe the summer 2018 taxes,” Simon said, noting he purchased the restaurants in June 2018, and there have been talks with the city and county regarding whether he or the previous owner owes the taxes. “I understand you have an issue with the previous owner, but we have an issue with delinquent taxes,” said mayor Patty Bordman. “I understand there is a concern that you have an issue with the seller, but we have an issue with delinquent taxes, and if we set a public hearing date for March 25, there will be a resolution,” said commissioner Andy Harris. Commissioner Carroll DeWeese stated he had concerns regarding Toast violating its special land use permit (SLUP) because “they're not operating in the evenings which is part of the SLUP.” Planning director Jana Ecker said that after repeated follow ups, they had requested a SLUP amendment that day to not offer dinner every day, but that the soonest the planning board could hear them would be the end of April.
Tony Minicilli, director of operations for Toast, said they had changed their hours in October, but were not aware that evening hours were tied to their SLUP. Further, he said, there had been a change of ownership, with original owners Thom and Regan Bloom having divorced, and Regan now owning it with investors. Commissioners noted that was another violation of the SLUP agreement, which requires any change in ownership to come before the planning board and city commission, and set the public hearing for March 25. Commissioner Rackeline Hoff pointed out that a number of bistros have discrepancies with more than the permitted amount of seats in their bistros. By ordinance, bistros can have no more than 65 seats, with no more than 10 of those at a bar. They made the example first of Bella Piatti, which was approved for 52 seats plus 10 at the bar. Ecker said when they were examined, they had 63 seats plus 11 at the bar, for 74 seats. “These liquor licenses are valuable to you and the city,” Bordman said. “They are one of the drivers of activity to the city. We view them just not so you can make money but so you can follow the rules of our city. To find out that at least eight restaurants have violated their SLUPs – so we're going to have you come before us for a public hearing on March 25 in order to get a renewal of your liquor license.” As for non-compliance in terms of seats, as of the city's last inspection, in addition to Bella Piatti were La Strada Caffe, Bistro Joe's, Luxe, Salvatore Scallopini, Forest, Tallulah's, Mad Hatter Bistro. The Townhouse was cited for having too few seats. Also needing to come back before the commission on March 25 for other violations are Adachi, for two A-frame signs with no permits; Fleming's, for sidewalk signs without permits; and 220 for a propane storage tank without a permit. “Most of us go to your restaurants and enjoy eating at them. By following the rules, it makes the atmosphere that much better,” Bordman said. “It may seem trivial to be concerned with three or five chairs, but having been involved with the development of the bistro license ordinance, it wouldn't exist if we didn't have a controlled and defined opportunity that was different than
loomfield Hills residents who have foregone land maintenance to the point that it creates potential safety issues may be nudged into taking action under an ordinance amendment approved on Tuesday, March 12, by the Bloomfield Hills City Commission. Bloomfield Hills City Manager David Hendrickson told commissioners in February that the city's tree and woodland ordinance gives the city's code enforcement department authority to address dead, diseased and dying trees and vegetation on private property only when they cause issues in right-of-way areas. However, he said code enforcement lacked tools to address those issues when they pose a threat to people or property outside of the right-of-way. Hendrickson said he and the ordinance enforcement department were working with Bloomfield Hills City Attorney Derk Beckerleg to draft an amendment to the ordinance to address the issue. “We need some language for dead, diseased and dying trees that could be a potential danger for falling on a home, property or a person,” Hendrickson said on Tuesday, March 12, when presenting the amendments to the ordinance to commissioners. “Code enforcement officer John Rogers brought it to my attention, who said he's having some difficulty with compliance. I brought it to Derk (Beckerleg) and he fashioned an ordinance amendment.” Rogers said there have been a handful of complaints regarding the issue, which mostly comes down to safety. “Most residents are reasonable and will handle it, but some are stand-offish,” Rogers said. “The biggest issue is personal safety. It's also – I hesitate to say the word – a blight issue, at least in my mind. It's not only trees, but brush, stumps and other vegetation.” If approved, Rogers said the city would take a “common sense approach” to enforcement, suggesting that large lots consisting of several acres that have fallen trees or brush that don't pose a danger or eyesore wouldn't be a concern. Commissioner Sarah McClure agreed, suggested adding language to the ordinance amendment that would exempt such areas noted by Rogers from enforcement. Commissioner Stuart Sherr said he was concerned that the amendments could encroach on private property rights. “I think it's vague, ambiguous and overreaching, and I question if it's constitutional,” Sherr said, asking whether the language considered compost piles, burn piles and other items that might incorrectly be construed as problematic. “The (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) even says some of these items are habitats. Tree stumps can hold the grade of land in place. I think this could promote arguments between neighbors. … I can't support it. I don't find it necessary.” Beckerleg said he considered compost piles when crafting the amendments and specifically left out any reference to leaves or compost. He also said there's no issues with the amendment's constitutionality, as municipalities clearly have the authority to enforce codes, and a process exists to notify a property owner prior to entering private property. “Our code enforcement is known for being reasonable, but on the occasion you have someone who doesn't respond, other than it being in the right-of-way, there's no course of action,” he said. “The idea isn't to require every dead tree be removed, but dead or decaying trees that pose a danger. That's what we are trying to address. The idea isn't to knock on the door and give a ticket, but to talk about the issue and be in a position that if they say they aren't going to do it, you have some kind of remedy.” Commissioner Michael Coakley said he didn't think the proposal was unreasonable. “If in the future the city becomes arbitrary in enforcement, it won't be upheld,” he said. “Neighbors don't want to talk to each other about issues, that's true. I think it's a good ordinance. It could be tweaked a little, but nobody is going to be heavy-handed about enforcing it.” The commission voted 4-1 to approve the amendment with additional language suggested by McClure, with Sherr voting against it.
B
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BIRMINGHAM 968 Arlington Street | $4,250,000
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Magnificent 5 bedroom, 5.3 bath residence boasts 10,000+ square feet of old world charm and every amenity you could imagine. A masterpiece beyond compare!
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ROCHESTER HILLS 271 Stonetree Circle | $404,900
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Beautifully constructed home in small enclave offers 3200+ SF and 1st floor master suite. Incredible features and upgrades! 3-car garage. Immediate occupancy.
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STERLING HEIGHTS Corkwood Drive, Lot 17 | $144,900
Beautiful and scenic 2.5-acre parcel on a rolling, forested slope. Mature trees on three sides with a grassed valley in the middle. Ideal for a walkout lower level.
Exceptional vacant lot in Ryan Woods sub, an enclave of 17 homes with average size of 3000+ SF and average price of $450,000+. Bring your own builder or use one in the sub.
10.61NEW ACRELISTING BUILD SITE OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 1450 Silverbell Road | $499,900 One of the last parcels (10.61 acres) on the Billion Dollar Mile! Enjoy a stocked spring-fed pond (1.7 acres), naturally flowing artesian well, walking trails and rolling terrain.
AVAILABLE FOR LEASE ROCHESTER HILLS 1530 Scenic Hollow Drive | $4,300/month North Oaks sub custom home in back of cul-de-sac. 5-6 bedrooms, 4.2 baths. Private wooded rear yard. Newer kitchen. Finished walkout lower level. Available furnished.
the Class C liquor license holder,” said commissioner Mark Nickita. “It's about keeping all of the relationships with the license holders, much less it's a legal license between the city and the (state liquor) licensing commission. It's about adhering to the agreement. All we ask is that everyone comply.” Commissioners approved the renewal for 2019, of all other Class B, Class C and microbrewery licenses, 6-0, with commissioner Stuart Sherman absent.
Hunter House site hotel plan postponed By Lisa Brody
The Birmingham Planning Board unanimously voted to postpone moving forward on a preliminary site plan for a new hotel for 35001 Woodward Avenue on Wednesday, February 27, which would include a new version of Hunter House on its current site, along with two other adjacent parcels, as board members felt there were too many issues that did not meet city standards and ordinances, including building encroachments into road right of ways, lack of proper glazing, traffic and valet concerns, as well as not meeting the size for residential units on the required fifth floor of the development.
A previous preliminary site plan had also been postponed by the planning board at their meeting on January 9, for too many problems with the plan, including traffic and parking issues. The proposed building, to be developed by Hesham Gayar of Grand Blanc, is located at 35001 and 35075 Woodward Avenue, would be called The Maple. It would have first floor retail and commercial uses, relocate a Hunter House restaurant, have banquet facilities, three floors of hotel rooms, and residential units on the fifth floor. Planning director Jana Ecker said the site is made up of three parcels: the city, she said, owns the northwest corner, while Gayar owns the other two parcels, one where the Hunter House sits and a gravel parking lot. They are zoned B-4 and D-4. She said the revised plans do not show detailed layouts for all the floors, as required, but just the first first floor. One issue Ecker pointed out is that the building as designed encroaches into the right of way on Woodward, which would need to receive variances from Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), as well as by 2-feet into the right of way onto Park Street. The building, she said, also has height issues. “It must be no more than 80-feet, with step-backs,” in upper units. “The issue is the eave height at the top of
Famed chefs to open Pernoi in former Cafe Via By Lisa Brody
ernoi, an Italian hybrid meaning “for us,” will take on its own definition as noted chefs Luciano DelSignore and Takashi Yagihashi join forces to create a unique fine dining restaurant in downtown Birmingham in the former Cafe Via location that will be their dream restaurant, and ultimately, a dream destination for high-end diners. The restaurant, located at 310 E. Maple Road, closed in March 2018. DelSignore, owner of white tablecloth Italian restaurant Bacco, in Southfield, and a chain of casual pizza restaurants, Bigalore Wood Fired Cucina, said that he and Takashi, as he is known, have been friends for almost 20 years, and “have joked about doing a project. This is a dream.” Takashi is the former chef of the restaurant Tribute, in Farmington Hills, as well as Michelinstarred restaurant Takashi in Chicago. Over the years, he also created more casual spots,
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the fourth floor cannot be more than 58-feet,” and it is 60-feet. Fifth floor units must be at least 600-square feet and have a kitchen, and these, she said, are not drawn to show compliance, appearing to be 300-square feet. Architect Kevin Biddison said units could open up to each other, and in that way could comply with the 600-square foot requirement, which did not satisfy planning board members. “The fifth floor also must be stepped back 10-feet and it is not,” Ecker said. The first floor has a restaurant on the southwest corner, with the main entrance to the hotel and the main entrance to the parking garage all on Park Street. In the northeast corner, Hunter House is carved into the building with 14 surface parking spots set aside for it. The building is designed with 2 levels of underground parking, inclusive of 71 spaces. As the building is in the parking assessment district, Ecker said they are not required to provide any parking for the hotel, banquet facility or restaurant, but only for the residential units on the fifth floor. “It looks like they would need 36 spaces, but I can't tell because there's not a complete floor plan of the fifth floor. But they're well overparked with 85 spaces.” The design, she said, also included
including Slurping Turtle in Chicago and Ann Arbor, and Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi in Chicago. If timing in life is everything, the closing of Cafe Via by landlord Ted Fuller provided the opportunity for the two friends to combine their talents and open their fantasy establishment. “I reached out to Takashi,” DelSignore said. “We're both at a point in our careers where we're ready to do something together. “As veteran chefs, we had done special events together,” he said, but “this is the place we'd like to find ourselves at.” How do you combine Italian and Japanese food into a new fusion? DelSignore said that while Yagihashi is more Japanese than Asian in his approach to cooking, he was classically trained in France, which opens them up to creating unique menus. But don't look for a Bacco in Birmingham. “Nothing will be the same as at Bacco,” he emphasized. With approximately 66 seats indoors and another 35 on the outdoor patio, open for dinner only Tuesday through Saturday, he said the menu will be revolving regularly, with something
a “stacking” scheme to represent how valets would park the cars for events. The hotel would have 108 rooms on floors 2, 3 and 4. The exterior design “has several areas of issues with blank walls,” Ecker said, noting the ordinance requires no areas of blank walls. “The number of variances requested here is staggering,” said planning board chair Scott Clein. “It's not our purview to determine hardship; that's the board of zoning appeals. But we are a hardship state, so you need to prove some form of hardship to get those approvals. I don't have any understanding why height and frontage, those requirements shouldn't be met, and any conformance with any other building in this area...600-square feet is the minimum requirement for a residential unit, so you're not going to get my vote for anything less than that. As for the rest of the project, this is a very, very difficult site, I understand that. This project is very troublesome to me. I have serious concerns about Park Street, vehicular operations, valet operations, pedestrian flow, the impact of the redesign of Park Street, which is intended to improve the pedestrian experience for those living on Park, and this seems to potentially do the exact opposite.” Board member Robin Boyle concurred. “This is the most
always fresh and new, “depending on the seasons. We'll be looking for the highest quality ingredients money can buy – not just for quantity, and not just locally.” Pernoi will not be another farm-to-table restaurant, DelSignore said, which has been done. “It's February. What is there?” he asked. Playing on the name, “for us,” DelSignore emphasized that Pernoi “is our dream restaurant. We'll be on location. At least one of us will always be cooking, and most nights, both of us will be. We're getting back to the kitchen. We're handson-deck chefs at this restaurant.” The two noted chefs are hoping for a springtime opening. The location is in the midst of a complete renovation, which is currently being designed by Kyle Evans of Royal Oak. Walls are staying put, leaving the restaurant an intimate, high-end place to dine. An April 1 bistro license application to the Birmingham city commission will help determine the exact opening of the new restaurant, which, if approved in concept sometime in April, will then need to go forward to the city's planning board for recommendation to the city commission for final approval.
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important site in southeast Michigan and this plan won't work,” he said. “It's all about the use of the ground floor determining everything, and it's not going to get through this board. If the applicant doesn't see it, then I don't think you're going to get this hotel built on this site. I'm going to say bluntly, I don't think this development is going to happen.” The preliminary site plan was postponed until April 24.
No rezoning vote on new hotel proposal By Lisa Brody
Birmingham city commissioners took no action on a request to rezone the former Mountain King and adjacent Talmer bank property on Monday, March 11, from D-4 to D-5, allowing a building which could be built to the same height as an adjacent one, and a request to have the advisory parking committee review the property to include in the city's parking assessment district was determined to not be relevant to the zoning request, and no action was taken. The rezoning request by property owner Doraid Markus came about because in 2017, the adjacent properties of Birmingham Place, to the north, and the 555 Building to the south of the proposed property, along with the Merrillwood Building, were included in a new zoning category, D5, which grandfathered in legal nonconforming mixed use buildings in the downtown overlay district, and permitted buildings higher than 5stories in height, up to 180 feet, as long as they are compatible with adjacent buildings. Planning director Jana Ecker said the D-5 zoning “anticipated such uses. The D-4 use is no longer appropriate,” for the small parcel between 2 larger properties. The proposed property, at 469-479 S. Old Woodward, at .42 acres, fronts on Haynes Street, she said, and goes from S. Old Woodward to “big Woodward.” She noted both sites had been vacant for about 4 to 5 years. “This zoning creates a more unified zoning. The rezoning is not detrimental because it does not extend the zoning either to the north or the south, and allows for the same zoning as the properties both to the north and the south, and puts it on equal footing,” Ecker said. “It allows it to be developed in harmony with properties both to the north and south.” She added that given the size of downtownpublications.com
BSD okays hiring retail tenant recruiter he Birmingham Principal Shopping District (BSD) board, at their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 7, approved a one-year contract with CC Consulting to act as a third party retail recruiter to assist them in recruiting national and regional retailers and to help them locate and establish a retail operation in downtown Birmingham. CC Consulting of Bloomfield Hills is a consulting firm specializing in offering retail attraction, marketing and public relations. Its principal, Cindy Ciura, has over 25 years in the real estate field, and has been involved with high profile retail developments and urban revitalizations locally and across the country. The contract with CC Consulting is dated February 27, 2019, for one year, can be terminated by either party with 30 days notice, and is not to exceed $25,000 annually, plus insurance. CC Consulting will not be paid any commissions, bonuses, fees or any other type of payments from any other parties involved with leasing spaces in Birmingham, although there is an incentive clause within the agreement, which varies, providing a premium to the recruiter if the tenant is a retail operation on a target list developed by the BSD that outlines categories of retail preferred for the downtown area. “Since the BSD's ambition is to recruit multiple tenants in a given year, a dynamic compensation structure was created that incentivizes the recruiter to close several deals,” BSD Executive Director Ingrid Tighe said. Prior to the hiring of CC Consulting, the BSD had retained The Buxton Company of Ft. Worth, Texas, in November 2017, for one year, to handle tenant recruitment for the downtown retail district, after seven years utilizing independent retail leasing consultant Julie Fielder. “The BSD hired Buxton to obtain data and analytics to identify strong prospective retailers for downtown. The BSD decided to use the relevant information we have and continue to gain traction on recruiting retailers from the initial list of prospective retailers provided,” Tighe said. “The next step in the BSD's strategy is to retain CC Consulting, which has a strong network and deep retail real estate expertise in the region. By leveraging CC Consulting's assets and Buxton's data, the BSD can proactively meet with potential retailers and make a strong business case for why a retailer would be a great fit in downtown Birmingham.”
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the parcel, and because it is not in the parking assessment district, the developer said he could not develop a 5-story building that would be consistent with the area and the “mass of residential of Birmingham Place next to it.” This was the first application for a D-5 rezoning request. “The only benefit to a D-5 is the extra height, but you have to go under a SLUP (special land use permit),” Ecker said. The rezoning request had come before the planning board in 2018; once it was denied, and after 2 postponements, it was revised, where it was recommended for approval to the city commission by a vote of 4-3. Commissioners were concerned as to what the actual height could be if it was rezoned – to the total height of Birmingham Place, inclusive of mechanicals, at 114 feet, which is its highest point, or 98.2 feet, which is where its eaves are. Commissioner Mark Nickita emphasized it should be where the eaves are, but that it was a loophole in the ordinance not to specify that.
“That's like including a chimney to a house,” Nickita pointed out. “The interpretation is a little gray. If we leave it D-4, they have an 80-foot building. Then the commission and the planning board have no ability to adjust it. It's very restrictive from our point of view. If we change the zoning to D-5, all of a sudden it's a SLUP and there's a lot more flexibility for the city to articulate the building the way we see fit.” Rick Rattner, Markus' attorney, concurred. “D-5 will allow a building that is compatible. If 555 or Birmingham Place owned this property, it would likely be zoned D5.” Mayor Patty Bordman pointed out the part of the 555 Building that is closest to the parcel is the office part that is 77-and-a-half feet tall, “which is lower than you are allowed.” Rattner countered they were adjacent to Birmingham Place at 114feet. “That is the one we are abutting.” Residents of Birmingham Place have consistently sent emails and
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letters to the city opposing a change of zoning, and attorneys representing them spoke in opposition to the project at the commission meeting. Fred Lavery, owner of several car dealerships across Woodward, and considered an adjacent property owner, noted “You are gaining control of this project by rezoning to D-5 and adding a SLUP, not losing control.” Preliminary drawings presented to the commissions showed a massive 80-foot 5-story building next to Birmingham Place, and a stepped in 114-foot building with air and better perspectives next to Birmingham Place. Commissioner Rackeline Hoff said she did not see much of a difference, and was concerned about setting a rezoning precedent. Commissioner Stuart Sherman was concerned that the whole block from Haynes to Brown has different zoning, and felt it should go back to the planning board to be reconsidered. Nickita agreed, as well as having the D-5 loophole closed. Bordman opposed sending it back, and a motion failed, 2-5. A motion to deny the rezoning from D-4 to D-5 also failed, 3-4, with Hoff, Bordman and commissioner Carroll DeWeese voting to deny. A motion to approve the rezoning failed to receive a second. Due to a petition from residents, a motion for rezoning had to receive 6 of 7 commissioner votes. After three hours of discussion and motions, the commission took no action, meaning there was no acceptance or denial, and the property remains zoned D-4.
Library to issue RFPs for youth room phase Birmingham city commissioners unanimously approved the issuance of request for proposals (RFPs) for construction for Phase 2 of Baldwin Library's improvement project, for the Youth Room, at their meeting on Monday, February 25. Doug Koschik, Baldwin Library Director, explained that Phase 1 was the completed Adult Services renovation, and Phase 3 will be for a redone entrance and outdoor area. He said that the library board had hired Luckenbach Ziegelman Gardner (LZG) Architects, the same firm which had done the Adult Services area, for conceptual/schematic design work for the expansion and renovation of the Youth Room, as well as to provide cost estimates. On February 18, he said, LZG presented 73
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its final plan to the library board, which endorsed the final plan and authorized the issuance of the RFP for the plan. He said they had presented the plans to the city's planning board and historic district commission as well, and both had approved them. The plan for the Youth Room “will expand the room approximately 40 percent, or about 2,000 square feet, toward the north, east and south, adding an aquarium and expanding the restrooms,” Koschik said. “It will be fully ADA-compliant. It will honor the original 1927 building by exposing the original brick (of the building).” In addition to increasing the size of the play area by 130 percent, the story room area by 160 percent and seating by 50 percent, the renovation will add a youth terrace and garden to the north of the building. “An atrium will be built, creating a mid-century glass pavilion,” Koschik described, and that is where the terrace and garden will go. “The 1938 WPA gate will be taken out of storage and put in as a gate to the garden.” Outside the Youth Room, an aquarium will be put in, as well as a cafe. Construction costs are estimated at over $1.5 million for the expansion and renovation, with furniture and fixtures at $485,645. Architecture and engineering costs are estimated at $168,498; landscaping, including the new terrace and seating, are estimated at $109,114. With computer wiring and a five-percent contingency, estimated costs by Koschik are approximately $2.4 million. Koschik said that library trust funds, fundraising and fund balance take it down by $425,210, with additional library millage for three years (declining each year), up to the Headlee cap, amounting to just over $2 million. Commissioners approved the RFP for construction by a 6-0 vote, with commissioner Stuart Sherman not in attendance, with bids due April 10.
Redo of Kenning Park ball fields approved The first phase of a plan to renovate the ball fields at Birmingham's Kenning Park, in conjunction with Birmingham Little League, was approved at the Birmingham City Commission meeting on Monday, February 25. Lauren Wood, director of public services, informed commissioners downtownpublications.com
Sushi Hana seeking liquor license he Bloomfield Township Planning Commission on Tuesday, February 19, gave unanimous support for a site plan and special land use approval for Sushi Hana, 43656 Woodward Avenue, in order to clear the way for the restaurant to obtain a Class C liquor license. The restaurant, located in a strip mall plaza at Woodward and Millington Boulevard just south of Square Lake Road, is planning to transfer an existing liquor license from the Golden Crown Restaurant, 43239 Woodward Avenue, in Bloomfield Township. While Class C liquor license approvals are controlled by the state's liquor control commission, the commission requires a recommendation of approval from the municipality where the license will be located. Under the proposed operation, Sushi Hana would propose hours of operation, including alcoholic beverage services, as late as 10:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and up to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The township requires special land use approval by the board of trustees for hours past 9 p.m. Patti Voelker, director of planning, building and ordinance for the township, said in a memo to planning commissioners that the restaurant doesn't plan on modifying the exterior changes due to the proposed liquor license. Likewise, the restaurant's menu will remain the same, with the exception of alcohol. The plan were previously reviewed by the township's design review committee on February 6, which supported the request. The township's police, fire and planning department had no objections to the request. Planning commissioners unanimously approved a recommendation of support to the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees, which will review the request at an upcoming meeting.
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that the parks and recreation board had first had a concept master plan done for Kenning Park in March 2014, with phase 1 including a parking lot reconstruction and landscaping. “Now here we are in 2019, looking at the two easterly fields and shifting fields,” Wood said. There are currently four fields, and two other fields would be redone in later phases. In December 2017, a donation agreement was entered into between the city of Birmingham and Birmingham Little League of $303,000 for improvements of fields 2 and 3 at Kenning Park, both of which are on the easterly edge of the park, she explained. Birmingham Little League has offered another $12,000 donation for a total donation of $315,000. The city received 4 bids for the work, each for over $700,000, and chose the lowest, for $737,000, from WCI Contractors, leaving the city's portion at $422,000, in a public/private partnership, Wood explained. Commissioner Mark Nickita objected to the plan, noting the design was missing other information city plans typically included, such as trees and paths. “I'm reluctant to implement this without all the other details,” he said.
“Where are the trees, where are the paths? This is a piecemeal approach. This is inconsistent with how we plan anything. Can we get a revised drawing of the other plan that can show where we're going? It's part of the process and part of good planning.” “This is a concept plan. We're working within the established plan with minor deviation,” countered city manager Joe Valentine. “We're just putting it into a practical approach. This was precipitated by a grant from the private sector.” Valentine explained there was not enough money to do all the fields at once. “It's going about it backwards. You plan the whole site, and then do the phases you can afford,” Nickita said. “We're only looking at part of it, and then figuring out the rest later. The process has already gone through in a way I believe it shouldn't have. It's not the way we do things.” “If we don't go forward tonight, then the whole year is gone,” said commissioner Pierre Boutros. “We should be confident with the concept plan.” “If we bid it early, then we're on the contractor's docket early, for June,” Valentine said. Commissioners approved the bid,
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5-1, with Nickita opposing and commissioner Stuart Sherman not in attendance. “I have to disagree with the city manager,” Nickita said. “It's not just a pretty picture. We don't implement phase one without knowing what phase two is going to be.”
Township residential patio regs proposed An ordinance amendment proposed in Bloomfield Township would ease requirements for homeowners planning to install outdoor patio upgrades, such as masonry walls, outdoor kitchenettes and gas fire pits. Under the township's current zoning ordinance, all landscape elements associated with a patio or uncovered terraces must be approved by the township's zoning board of appeals (ZBA). All such structures must be at least 16 feet from all lot lines, or acquire a variance from the ZBA, in addition to permission approval, according to Bloomfield Township Deputy Director of Planning, Building and Ordinances Andrea Bibby. “In a review of the past 5 years, the zoning board of appeals has generally granted approval in both permission request cases and variance cases for these items under certain criteria,” Bibby said in a memo. “To establish the conditions by which such landscape elements may be permitted by right in certain circumstances, the proposed amendments identify the necessary planning criteria addressing: location, setbacks, visual impact and recent approvals.” The proposed ordinance amendment would modify the general exception section of the ordinance to: permit patios located in the rear, front or secondary front yard to project into the required yard for a distance not to exceed 10 feet or no more than 25 percent of the required setback, and may incorporate landscape walls and piers, not to exceed an overall height of 4 feet, and must maintain the minimum 16-foot setback from any side lot lines; patios that meet the requirements and are located in the rear or secondary front yard may also incorporate gas fire pits and kitchenettes; and illumination on structures is permitted but can't exceed an overall height of four feet, including the height of fixtures. The planning commission was expected to hold a public hearing at its March 18 meeting to discuss the proposed ordinance amendment. 75
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Edee Franklin pened a year ago this February, Sanctum House is the first facility in southeast Michigan to offer a full array of support programs to victims of human trafficking, utilizing a combination of mental health, physical support, education, training and a spiritual program. The organization is the result of five years of planning and development sparked by Birmingham-based Max Broock realtor Edee Franklin, founder and president of the non-profit sanctuary. The idea for the facility stemmed from a self-empowerment program with Landmark Education in which participants were asked to identify something that was missing in their community. “There was a lot of talk about human trafficking. We were hearing a lot of what was going on in the world with slavery, but we didn't know it was going on in our communities,” Franklin said. “We came to realize that there was nothing really being done for survivors when they come out. For many, they could go back to jail, or go back to their pimp. There was really nowhere to treat them.” Now in recovery for 31 years, Franklin had struggled with heroin addiction for a decade. Drawing on her own experience in treatment, she believed the same methods that helped her could apply to victims of human trafficking, as many must deal with addiction and other problems. “I had lived in a facility for a year-and-a-half,” Franklin said. “I feel longterm treatment is what really helps people. So, I went on a mission to start a longterm treatment program. “When I got clean, I knew there was a group of 'throw-away women,' and there wasn't anything that made these women different than anyone else, other than vulnerability. I was a throw-away woman, and I knew there were a lot of throw-away women out there that really weren't. It's not really the truth.” With no professional experience in the health field, Franklin threw
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herself into researching how to approach the idea, building support from those who would help it develop. “I had no idea what I was getting into. I was a realtor by trade, and a special education teacher,” she said. “I had this goal, and stepped into being a person that could meet that goal, and every day took an action step.” What developed is a two-year program for women who have been victims of human trafficking. The facility offers treatment to up to 12 women at a time who live at Sanctum House. The program uses a dualdiagnosis plan to address trauma and drug addiction. The experience builds self-confidence, teaches life skills and trainings based on intake and personal assessments. Since February 2018, Sanctum House has seen 16 women. While not all have continued with the program, several have stayed for nine months or more. “It's a two-year program, and some people come in and think they are ready and realize they have some work to do,” Franklin said. “They have to participate in a program. They have to learn to live in a community. Some aren't ready, but we always find them another place. Nobody leaves arbitrarily.” For those who do remain with the program, Franklin said the results can be life changing. “One just started college last week,” she said. “She had no idea. College wasn't even in her wheelhouse, and she got a scholarship to OCC… it's amazing the difference it can make, but it doesn't happen in a vacuum. It takes a lot of people to make it happen.” Story: Kevin Elliott
Photo: Laurie Tennent
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EDUCATION African American courses to get review
Superintendent responds to reports of slurs By Lisa Brody
By Lisa Brody
An opinion article in Bridge, an online news magazine, by writer Chastity Pratt Dawsey, criticizing her son's African American history class at Groves High School on February 19, is sparking discussion at the district level as to what the course should look like, who should teach it, and how best to inform while being respectful of various levels of knowledge, as board of education members listened to public comment at their February 26 meeting. In her opinion piece, titled, “The miseducation of Michigan: How state fails kids in black history,” Dawsey wrote that her son, a Groves student, had barely been in his African American history class for 15 minutes the first day of the trimester when he texted her part of the syllabus, which included “From Civil Rights to Today,” noting the film “Boyz in the Hood,” “Inside the Bloods and the Crips,” a documentary, and readings, including the new Jim Crow. “These were the planned classroom topics the teacher listed to cover the past 50 years of AfricanAmerican history: an R-rated fictional movie about gang banging, a documentary about gang banging and a reading on mass incarceration,” Dawsey wrote. She noted the fictional film “Do the Right Thing” was also included, and noted that American history classes didn't include “The Godfather.” “I had to wonder: Was this class being taken seriously? Or was this an example of why less than a third of students in Michigan pass the state social studies test?” She and other parents complained within the first two weeks of the trimester, and the teacher was reassigned. Superintendent Mark Dziatczak, who began as superintendent of the district on January 21 after serving the Troy School District as the deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, sent a letter out to all Birmingham Public Schools' parents on Thursday, February 21, stating, “It is clear that the district failed its obligation to provide an African American history course pilot that was both appropriate for our students and reflected the necessary input from our community, including the voices of many students, parents, teachers and administrators. We recognize that the resources listed in the course pilot syllabus failed to downtownpublications.com
r. Rob Glass, superintendent of the Bloomfield Hills Schools district, sent a letter out in March to parents in response to reports of hate speech and racial slurs at Bloomfield Hills Middle School and on a bus at Bloomfield Hills High School, condemning the language and emphasizing the district has no place for the language in any of its schools. Shira Good, district spokesperson, would not elaborate as to details of the reports of the hate speech and racial slurs used. “In recent weeks, we have had reports of hate speech, specifically racial slurs, used at BHMS and also on one of our buses with high school students,” Glass' letter stated. “We condemn the use of this harmful language. There is no place in our schools for hate or hate speech of any kind. It is not in line with who we are or what we teach. “We will not tolerate words of bias and hate in our schools and any reports or concerns about the use of such words will be taken seriously and addressed immediately,” he continued, encouraging parents to speak with their children to discourage their use of words of hate or bias, as well as reminding them there are consequences to their actions, with students accountable to the district's code of conduct. In addition, “the district may utilize restorative practices, which are processes that allow us to strengthen relationships and build respectful and safe communities. Through restorative practices, we look at misbehavior as an offense against people and relationships, not just rule breaking,” Glass explained. “Restorative practices allow all involved to see the harm that was caused and address the conflict or inappropriate behavior so that relationships and community can be repaired or restored.” Glass further encouraged students to report any and all incidents of possible bias and hate to a trusted adult, and said that the district had recently launched a poster series at the high school and middle schools to provide an option to direct personal reporting. “The poster encourages students to report incidents of bias and hate by capturing a QR code on the poster with a device and filling out a simple and quick form. The information reported on this form is then shared with building leadership and district administrators who can provide support.” The shared goal of all of the efforts to condemn hate speech, Glass said, is to ensure “our schools are a safe and welcoming place for all students, staff, and community members.”
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meet the depth and breadth of African American history. The syllabus that was distributed to students in our African American history course pilot should never have reached our students’ desks ...Part of my 100-Day transition plan for the district includes analyzing district operations leading to the design of better systems for new course considerations, approvals and reviews. Furthermore, I committed to outlining opportunities to produce curricular and instructional clarity including the district’s procedures related to approval of new courses. I also made a commitment to our Board of Education to deliver a summary report following the expiration of this important transition period. After the transition period expires, recommendations related to
this subject for public review will be included in that report near the end of the school year.” At the February 26 school board meeting, Arthur Jack, parent leader of the Birmingham African American Family Network, spoke both in response to Dziatczak's letter and Dawsey's opinion, and noted that he had had two of his children take the course; his son, two years ago, who enjoyed it, and his daughter, this year, “her expectation is more aligned with BET – Black Entertainment Television. “This is a complex issue...The letter and note conveys more of a reaction, more in line with pacifying versus some actionable results since the first days in which it was brought up,” he said. “I think the root cause is centered around expectations and
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human nature followed by lack of internal acknowledgement of the syllabus… That's why, BPSBD, we have to take this seriously, this syllabus and this education plan. It's not about African American history – it's really about educating our students – all kids, not just African American kids. Teach the fullness of black history. Let's have a qualified teacher.” He stated that the Birmingham African American Family Network parents would be available to assist. Parent Hammy Dogan told the board. “There has to be a mentality of change within the district. The demographics is changing – meaning we're coming. We're gonna be here. We do not plan on going anywhere. When it comes to educating, we have to look at educating the whole individual, and educating from the ground up...exposing our young people to as many differences that make up this community, but make up this world, because we're all gonna be a part of it. When I looked at his particular syllabus, it was not only disrespectful, it was hurting. To have the temerity to put together a syllabus of that nature and present it to a classroom of young people to educate them, that's a mentality problem and it needs to change.” He turned to Dziatczak and said, “You're the new man, the new man in charge, so we expect you to take the bull by the horn and perform a very good rodeo with it and wrap it up good and get it on the right path. We're here to work with you and help you.” Scott Craig, the Seaholm teacher who initiated the course and initially taught it at Groves this year, said he “felt thrown under the bus by the letter sent home by the superintendent,” and that he had a lifetime understanding and commitment to civil rights. “I looked at the best possible materials – most were written at a college level, and kids don't always want to read,” Craig said. “We used a lot of primary materials. It's a tragedy. It was a damn good course. I don't agree it needs to be a black teacher.” Dziatczak spoke at the end of the meeting, “To those who spoke tonight, I am very grateful. I feel a very deep obligation to work with our community, our students, in a way that befits our school district, and I appreciate all the offers from parents who offered to walk with us as we make this happen. We're going to do the work, and I'm going to do the work.” 79
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International Academy faces controversy By Lisa Brody
Oakland County's International Academy is now embroiled in a controversy involving a disgruntled former employee and principal Lynne Gibson over her involvement in the establishment of a private school in China known as Qingdao Okma International Academy. The International Academy is a public, tuition-free high school of choice for students from 13 Oakland County districts whose main campus is in Bloomfield Township; additional campuses are in White Lake and Troy. Enrolled students are required to earn both high school and International Baccalaureate (IB) degrees. The school was founded at the initiative of Lambert Okma, a former economics teacher at Lahser High School, who became the school's first principal when it opened in 1996. Okma retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year, when Gibson took over as principal. The school is run by a consortium of 13 districts – the joint steering committee. It currently has about 1,554 students. Gibson, as principal, is the chairwoman of the joint steering committee. Bloomfield Hills Schools is the fiscal agent, but does not run the school. At issue isn't the academics in Bloomfield Township, but potential open meeting violations by the joint steering committee, and Gibson's involvement in the establishment in 2015 of a now-defunct International Academy in China established by Bert Okma, Gibson's husband. It was closed in June 2017, according to records, after it failed financially to do well enough to stay open. A former teacher at the school, Steven Eschrich, sued Okma and IA China in Oakland County Circuit Court, alleging Okma fraudulently induced Eschrich to leave his teaching position at IA and move to China to help open that school. The suit was dismissed in November. A former student of the Bloomfield school has also started a petition at change.org calling for the removal of principal Gibson over her involvement in the establishment of the private school in China. All allegations against Gibson were investigated by the joint downtownpublications.com
steering committee, which found the principal had done nothing wrong, according to district communications director Shira Good. In a letter to the Bloomfield Hills School Board, Gibson responded through her attorneys, Jackie Cook and Mike Cox, that in October 2016, “China IA, LLC, terminated Mr. Eschrich for cause from his position at China IA's school in China, the Quingdao International Academy (QIA), and since then, he has directed his anger at Mr. Okma and his wife, Principal Gibson, by unleashing an endless stream of personal attacks and defaming statements against them.” The attorneys noted that all of his claims had been dismissed by the Oakland Circuit Court in 2018. Despite that, the attorneys noted that Eschrich had repeatedly come before the school board to continue his complaints and allegations against Okma and Gibson, including at January and February 2019 meetings. “We respectfully request that this Board follow suit (of Civil Court and) cease giving him a platform for lodging personal attack and publishing defamatory statements against Principal Gibson and Mr. Okma,” the letter continued. “We request that this Board accord his allegations no basis in fact or consideration in interactions, employment or future relations with Principal Gibson or Mr. Okma in the future.” According to minutes of the February 2 Bloomfield Hills school board meeting, board president Paul Kolin addressed the issue, noting they were reviewing the practices of the joint steering committee and were committed to transparency. “From this point on, all JSC meetings will comply with Michigan's Open Meetings Act and include posted agendas and minutes, public comment, and proper notice of time, date and location. In addition, we are in the process of posting all previous JSC minutes,” he stated. “One issue that arose due to a formal 'chain of command' oversight structure is that of a 'China school' (also known as QIA) exchange program which was not well communicated to all the home districts' boards, and hence to the home districts' communities,” Kolin continued.
Kolin stated that in 2014, BHS sent Gibson and Laurie McCarty, then co-superintendent for curriculum, on a trip over a school break to China to look at facilities, geographic area and other logistics for a potential IA school in China – with no taxpayer funds utilized. “The purpose of the trip was to build a pillar of the IB program that Mr. Okma had always intended to include...a global perspective by immersion into a different culture,” Kolin stated. “The China school opened and ran for two years before financial difficulty necessitated its closure...No member of the BHSD or administration was ever asked to invest money in a private school venture. We were not asked to recommend students or teachers...As a board, we were part of a system that left parents, students, teachers and staff with an insufficient oversight chain.” He ended his statement by assuring the community they would “learn, grow and improve together.”
Program launched to feed hungry students In an effort to eradicate hunger from Oakland County schools, on Thursday, March 7, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, in partnership with Oakland Schools and United Way for Southeastern Michigan, launched the Oakland County Better with Breakfast initiative to bring universal breakfast to thousands of students across Oakland County. “Oakland County will be the first county in Michigan to launch a universal breakfast program of this scale, so students don’t start school hungry,” said county board chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak), who led the creation of the initiative. “Learning is harder when you’re hungry. We’re going fix that problem for thousands, so they all have better opportunities in school.” “All students, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have access to breakfast,” said President & CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan Dr. Darienne Driver. “The Better with Breakfast initiative is a model that works, which is why we’re committed to partnering with municipalities, school districts and others to remove barriers and ensure
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more children across the region may benefit from this alternative breakfast program.” Studies consistently show that child nutrition and academic performance are linked. The goal of the initiative is to expand free breakfast to students in eligible schools across Oakland County through this collaboration. Oakland County Schools will partner with United Way to create a custom breakfast plan for each targeted school in the county. Woodward pointed out that it is the largest countywide effort to expand school breakfast in the state, and it applies proven best practices already in place in some area schools. The initiative is being launched with funding from Oakland County and Oakland Schools. It will be phased in over the next three years. Participating schools will receive new equipment, technical assistance for implementation and funding for non-reimbursable meal costs. Nearly 70 schools across the county are being targeted with the goal of providing more than 3,500 students with access to free breakfast at school every day. At full implementation, the program is expected to draw down $1.2 million in additional funding through federal reimbursements, with that money going directly back into these schools. “Oakland Schools is proud to support the Oakland County Better with Breakfast program. Through this unprecedented partnership, expanding breakfast access to eligible schools across the county will enable students to focus on learning. The Oakland County Better with Breakfast program is a necessity and Oakland Schools is delighted to be a partner,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. “We’re investing in our kids today so we can all enjoy a better future,” Woodward said. Woodward and the other key partners say they hope the success of the Oakland County Better with Breakfast model will engage state lawmakers and prompt support from the Michigan legislature, making it possible to scale this program statewide. 81
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Jason Orley ason Orley’s first narrative short film took place at his cousin’s bar mitzvah. It only seems fitting that his directorial debut had a similar coming-of-age theme. The film, “Big Time Adolescence,” follows a teenager coming of age under the guidance of an aimless college dropout (played by Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson), who happens to be his best friend. And it just premiered to positive reviews at the Sundance Film Festival. “I just wanted to throw up the entire time until they showed the movie because I was so anxious,” said Orley, an Andover High School graduate. “It played in front of an audience of like 1,500 people…when you’re in a theater that size hearing the laughter, it was pretty special.” Especially considering Orley had made peace that the film – his first screenplay, written in 2013 – would never be made. Now it's in the middle of negotiations to lock a deal and distribute. Originally, Orley hoped the screenplay – which started as a collection of short stories about growing up with 2 older brothers in Michigan – would lead to writing jobs and being signed to an agency, which it did. But then it made The Black List, a yearly round-up of Hollywood’s best scripts that didn’t get made that year. Then came the turmoil of the script getting optioned, only to end in something falling through. This happened a few times before a company found it last year via The Black List and wanted to make it. “Every step was this weird surprise…getting a deal to direct it, them saying yes to Pete,” Orley said. Once on set Orley – who has years of experience working with directors in film and TV – was afraid he wouldn’t have any idea what he was doing. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. “All of a sudden I got there and it was like I was speaking a language I didn’t know I learned,” he said.
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During filming, Orley said the story became less about his own life and more an amalgamation of everyone else's, making it a more universal story. Orley chuckled that if you squint really hard you can see his life in the film. Speaking of his life, his mom and dad were next to him at the premiere. Orley said having them, former teachers and directors he’s worked with watch it was far more nerve-wracking than showing it to total strangers. “For them to finally see something I’ve written get made and see it on the big screen was very exciting and emotional for all of us,” he said. “I think they were very proud. I hope they were.” This was the culmination of everything they had watched Orley create since high school. Growing up he got what he described as a full film school education, thanks to a program at Lahser High School, where students from Andover could learn about editing and film in their TV studio. That program helped him get into New York University’s Summer High School Program. After high school he attended film school. Then he went off to Los Angeles, where he currently resides. Considering he’s now directed and written a screenplay – what’s next for Orley? Currently, he’s reading scripts, writing, and spending time with his wife and newborn. But where does he hope his career goes from here? “I’ll say this out loud so you can remind me later. I want to keep making things that are original and in this kind of funny, heartfelt tone,” he said. Story: Dana Casadei
248-421-2670 nancykarasrealty@gmail.com 4130 Telegraph Road / Bloomfield Hills / MI 48302 / www.nancykaras.maxbroock.com
Selling at all price points | Lakefront & Luxury Estates | Executive Relocation
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Tobocman Forest Lakefront on Peninsula 1424 Lochridge | Bloomfield Twp | 4,780 SF | $1,749,000
1299 Porters Lane | Bloomfield Twp | 3,766 SF+ | $1,274,000 MAGNIFICENT LAKE VIEWS and access to 3 lakes! 3,766 SF Ranch on .6 Acre, 140' lake frontage. 4 beds, huge master suite, exercise room, some hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, stone fireplace, 2 car garage, plus tandem garage, massive deck across the back, large dock, finished lower level with sauna. Quiet cul-de-sac location. B H Schools. Have accepted an offer but taking back ups.
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SOPHISTICATED 2003 REBuILD! .74 Acre, approx 640' of water frontage, entry lev master, 3.1 baths, 4 beds, 4 car gar. extensive glass, maple and bamboo floors, grand ceilings, open concept, 2-way FP, 2 decks, spacious kitchen w island & built-ins: double sub zeros, double dishwasher, wine cooler, gas range, oven, steamer, microwave & coffee maker. Access to 3 lakes: Forest, Lower Long and all sports, upper Long Lake, Bloomfield Hills Schools.
Raised Ranch Lower Long Lakefront
Clark/Carroll Island Lakefront
Curb Appeal, Good Bones
5987 Venice | Commerce Twp | $219,900
212 W Hickory Grove | Bloomfield Twp | $259,900
ALL SPORTS LAKE, 1.25 Acre Vacant Site on an island, approx 668' of water frontage! Over the bridge & down the winding road to your sandy beach! Breathtaking views and water wrapping all around! Idyllic, private setting. The purchase of the vacant parcel could include a first right to buy 6001 Venice, to own the entire 3 Acre island and existing home!
Curb appeal, good bones, open floor plan, vaulted great room ceiling, gas fireplace, 3 season room, circular drive, walk-up lower level to a mostly fenced yard. .52 Acre lot in prime neighborhood, 5 minutes from downtown Birmingham. convenient to shopping, freeways and walking path. Bloomfield Hills Schools.
COMPLIMENTARY MARKET ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOME • Staging Consultation • Do's & Don'ts Before Selling • Vetted List of Contractors, Handymen, Painters, etc. • Options for Your Next Home with Comps & Counsel • Professional Photography, Videography & Marketing
Easter Worship Services
Holy Week Palm Sunday April 14 Traditional Worship 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 a.m. Contemporary - 11:00 a.m.
Maundy Thursday March 18 - 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday Concert March 19 - 7:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Concert March 20 - 7:00 p.m.
EasterApril Sunday 21
Sunrise - Outdoor Worship 7:15 a.m. Traditional Worship 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship 11:00 a.m. Birmingham First 1589 West Maple Road Birmingham, MI (248) 646-1200 www.fumcbirmingham.org
APRIL 14 | PALM SUNDAY
Holy Eucharist: 8 & 10 am Recital: 5:30 pm Choral Evensong: 6 pm
APRIL 15 | HOLY MONDAY
Holy Eucharist: 7 pm
APRIL 16 | HOLY TUESDAY
Holy Eucharist: 7 pm
APRIL 17 | HOLY WEDNESDAY
Tenebrae: 7 pm
APRIL 18 | MAUNDY THURSDAY
Service of Foot-Washing and Holy Eucharist*: 7 pm APRIL 19 | GOOD FRIDAY
Solemn Liturgy*: Noon Choral Stations of the Cross: 7 pm APRIL 20 | HOLY SATURDAY
First Sunday of Easter: 7 pm Paschal Feast to follow | Guild Hall APRIL 21 | EASTER SUNDAY
Holy Eucharist: 7 am | Resurrection Chapel Easter Egg Hunt: 10:30 am | Front Lawn Festal Holy Eucharist*O: 9 & 11:15 am Nursery care available for children under the age of three years old.
Brass & Organ Recital: 5:30 pm Easter Choral EvensongO: 6 pm
Services and events are in our main Church unless otherwise noted. * Services will be livestreamed. O Services with full choir and brass accompaniments.
Christ Church Cranbrook &KXUFK 5RDG %ORRPÀHOG +LOOV (248) 644–5210 ? www.christchurchcranbrook.org
Easter Worship Services
Holy Week at the Kirk Welcome Home
Palm Sunday | April 14
Good Friday | April 19
8:00, 9:15 & 11:00 AM Palm Sunday Services – Rev. Dr. Nate Phillips 9:15 AM Children’s Processional with Palms 7:30 PM Annual Palm Sunday Concert With Excerpts from Messiah – Chancel Choir & Orchestra
1:00 PM Good Friday Service – Rev. Dr. Nate Phillips 7:30 PM A Service of Readings and Music – Chancel Choir
Easter Sunday | April 21 Maundy Thursday | April 18 7:00 PM Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar Rev. Dr. Nate Phillips
1340 W. Long Lake Rd. Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
7:00, *9:00 & *11:00 AM Sanctuary Festival Services – Rev. Dr. Nate Phillips 10:30 AM Easter Egg Hunt Front Lawn (weather permitting) *nursery care available, birth to age 3
Kirk in the Hills
kirkinthehills.org (248) 626-2515
PLACES TO EAT BIRMINGHAM
FARMERS
2019
MARKET MAY 5 TH - OCT 27TH
SUNDAYs
9 a.m.-2 p.M.
Special EvEnts:
OpeniNg Day Sun, May 5
Chef ClasH Sun, JUNE 23
Corn Festival Sun, AUg 11
Harvest FEST Sun, Sept 15
End of SeasOn CElEbration Sun, Oct 27
6 6 0 N . O l d Wo O Dwa r D Bank of ANN arbOR BloOmfieLd HIlLs DentaL ASsociAteS Caruso CARUSO CIBC LuigI BrUnI Luxe Bar & GRilLe and SALvAtore scalLOpinI Power HOmE REModeling RenEwal by ANderson B I R M I N G H A M FA R M E R S M A R K E T. O R G
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The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown.
Birmingham/Bloomfield 220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.2220. 5th Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9607. Adachi: Asian. Dinner daily. Liquor. Reservations. 325 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.540.5900. Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.865.9300. Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42805 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.499.6867. Beau's: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.2630. Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110. Beverly Hills Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355. Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7078. Big Rock Chophouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 245 South Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774. Bill's: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Daily. Reservations, lunch only. Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.9000. Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880. Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor. Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984. Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.645.6879. Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6690. Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Call ahead. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township. 248.642.4000. Cameron’s Steakhouse: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.1700. China Village: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1655 Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.758.1221. Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555. Cityscape Deli: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Beer. 877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7220. Commonwealth: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.9766. Dick O’Dow’s: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.1135. Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095. Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch,
DOWNTOWN
daily. No reservations. 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.258.9939. Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420. Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.645.1033. Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134. Forest: European. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham 48009. 248.258.9400. Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222. Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations. Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham. 248.712.4050. Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3633 W. Maple Rd, Bloomfield, MI 48301. 248.203.9111. Hunter House Hamburgers: American. Breakfast, Monday-Saturday; Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.7121. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4369. IHOP: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. 248.333.7522. Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner daily; Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 39475 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.792.9609. Kaku Sushi and Poke': Asian. Lunch & Dinner. Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. No Liquor. 869 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.480.4785, and 126 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.885.8631. Kerby’s Koney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.1166. La Marsa: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner daily. Reservations. 43259 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.5800. La Strada Dolci e Caffe: Italian. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 243 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.480.0492. Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.9707. Also 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.646.8568. Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.647.3400. Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing. No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6051. Mad Hatter Cafe: Tea Room. Brunch, Lunch & Dinner. No reservations. Liquor. 185 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.0000 Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, Daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025. 248.723.7960. Market North End: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 474 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.712.4953. MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.723.0800. Nippon Sushi Bar: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor.
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ember’s deli 2079 S. Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9581. Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500. Original Pancake House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5775. Panera Bread: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7966. Also 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.253.9877. Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.3122. Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.6999. Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.988.8941. Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.874.1876 Red Olive: Middle Eastern/American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.7767. Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270. Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 250 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6200. Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977. Sidecar Slider Bar: Burgers. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 280 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham 48009. 248.220.4167. Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 5 or more. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200. Stacked Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Delivery available. No reservations. 233 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.5300. Steve’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301. 248.932.0800. Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. Reservations, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123. Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887. Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830. Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American. Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.731.7066. The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600. The Gallery Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313. The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688. The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999. Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278. Tomatoes Apizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner daily. Carryout. 34200 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham 48009. 248.258.0500. Touch of India: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.
downtownpublications.com
No reservations. 297 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7881. Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241. Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951. Vinotecca: European. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.6600. Village Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 653 S. Adams. Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7964. Whistle Stop Diner: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.566.3566.
DELI-FRESH, DELI-DELICIOUS Nearly 45 years in business Recently remodeled
BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
ember’s deli
WE DELIVER WITH
Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary's: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 316 South Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917. Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680. Assaggi Bistro: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.584.3499. Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.0082. The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 545 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.547.6699. Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.4749. Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069. 248.544.2675. Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017. 248.288.0220. The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Ave., 48220. 248.399.5150. GreenSpace Cafe: Vegan. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 215. W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.206.7510. Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22949 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145. Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.543.9500. KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500. Kruse & Muer on Woodward: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 28028 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.965.2101. Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.591.5459. Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.4227. Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947. One-Eyed Betty: American. Weekend Breakfast. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220. 248.808.6633. Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch &
DOORDASH.COM
APRIL PARTY TRAY SPECIAL
Take 10% off trays for over 15 people
M - F: 8am - 8pm Saurday - Sunday - 8am - 3pm
3598 W. Maple Road Bloomfield Hills 48301 Maple and Lahser in the Village Knoll shopping center
248.645.1033 • www.embersdeli1.com
ST. DUNSTAN'S THEATRE IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS – PRESENTS –
March 22, 23, 29, 30, April 5, 6 at 8 pm and March 31 and April 7 at 2 pm.
Tickets are $20 each for adults and $18 each for students and seniors.
St. Dunstan’s is located at 400 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Hills. www.StDunstansTheatre.com 1-844-DUNSTAN (1-844-386-7826)
DOWNTOWN
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METRO INTELLIGENCER Metro Intelligencer is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening on the restaurant scene in the metro Detroit area. Metro Intelligencer is reported/created each month by Dana Casadei who can be reached at DanaCasadei@DowntownPublications.com with news items or tips, on or off the record.
Chefs cook for charity The line-up for Chef’s Schoolyard reads like a who’s who of Detroit’s hottest chefs. The charity event returns May 8 and 9, after last year’s success, and will take place at Great Lakes Culinary Center in Southfield, again benefiting Detroit Prep. Check out their website – that’s where tickets are currently being sold, “When they came to me this year and said we want to do two days, I was like, of course you want to make two days out of this thing – why wouldn’t you?” laughed John Vermiglio, chef at Grey Ghost, who helped with the event both last year and this year. “But it was like, all right, challenge accepted.” Chefs participating – Vermiglio said everyone asked said yes as long as their schedule allowed for it – hail from restaurants like SheWolf and Selden Standard to Takoi, Lady of the House, and Wright + Co. Oh, and every chef from last year is returning. “This particular event stuck a cord with us at Marrow because of its connection to community,” said Sarah Welch, Marrow’s executive chef who is participating on Thursday, May 9. “It’s also not terrible to cook alongside some of my friends and idols in the food industry of Detroit, right?” While Vermiglio isn’t sure what anyone is creating, each evening will have seven courses, with every chef assigned a course based off what they are known for and known for doing well. Other than that, all bets are off as to what they may create, but since it will be spring by then, hopefully, expect to see some green things on the plate. Vermiglio, the son of an educator, sees this event happening for years to come and said he has no plans to stop. “Plus, it would be cool if they like, named the cafeteria after Grey Ghost,” he laughed.
They got game They’ve only been open two years but Red Dunn Kitchen – 331 Trumbull Street, Detroit, adjacent to the Trumbull & Porter Hotel – is already making big changes. As of March 8, the Corktown restaurant had a newly appointed executive chef, Mike D’Angelo, and a new menu focused on poultry and game. “Michigan has always had a rich culinary history when it comes to game, yet it is noticeably missing from the current restaurant landscape,” said D’Angelo, who worked at iconic restaurants like Coach Insignia and Capital Grille prior to Red Dunn. D’Angelo’s menu includes many locallysourced items and dishes created with preparations that guests will be familiar with, like Irish Pheasant Stew made with Irish stout, coffee-rubbed Elk Chop, and a roasted Wild Boar Porchetta. Don’t worry – for vegans and vegetarians, there are plenty of options for you as well, like the RDK Fried Cauliflower. And if you aren’t up for the adventurous food but want red meat, Red Dunn still has their signature burger on the menu.
Lunchin’ at BESA Craving BESA for lunch? You aren’t alone. “We’ve had a lot of requests from guests wanting to dine with us during their lunch break or for a mid-day business meeting, and we’ve answered that by now offering lunch service every weekday,” said Mario Camaj, managing partner of BESA. Located at 600 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, the restaurant’s new lunch hours are from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Rice Flour & Coconut Udon, Wild Ahi Crudo, Steak Frites, and a Fried Chicken Sandwich – along with an array of salads, soups, and more entrees – grace the new lunch menu designed by Executive Chef Kyle Schutte.
Prentice back in kitchen Chef Matt Prentice — formerly of Shiraz, Coach Insignia, and Detroit Prime, among others – is finally heading back to the kitchen after a temporary non-compete order from a former employer. This time he’ll be in Clawson, at Three Cats and a Cook – 116 W. 14 Mile – and partnering with Leon & Lulu shop owner Mary Liz Curtin. The space will seat about 100 people and expand on the cafe that’s already there, adding a state-of-the-art, up-to-date kitchen. Curtain said they are shooting for a late spring opening of the restaurant/retail space, which is right next door to Leon & Lulu. Guests can expect a constantly changing small plates menu with a Michigan focus, all at a low price point with the highest price right now being $20. There will also be a full bar with cocktails, Michigan beers, and American made wines.
Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7900. Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.850.7420. Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073. 248.549.0300. Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888. Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.1141. Strada: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday - Sunday. Liquor. No reservations. 376 N. Main Street. Royal Oak, 48067. 248.607.3127. Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444. Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.541.1186. Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7300. The Morrie: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.216.1112. Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 415 S, Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.4444. Twisted Tavern: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22901 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.545,6750. Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072. 248.548.7711.
Troy/Rochester Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300. Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831. Cantoro Italian Trattoria: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy 48083. 248.817.2424. CK Diggs: American & Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2010 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.853.6600. O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 324 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537. Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083. 248.619.9060. Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 327 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.652.9400. Loccino Italian Grill and Bar: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 5600 Crooks Road, Troy, 48098. 248.813.0700. McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.637.6400. The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825. Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5371. Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083. 248.689.2332. Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845. NM Café: American. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.816.3424. Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester
Hills, 3176 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200. Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500. Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085. 248.524.1944. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.816.8000. Recipes: American/Brunch. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 134 W. University Drive, Rochester, 48037. 248.659.8267. Also 2919 Crooks Road, Troy, 48084. 248.614.5390. Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266. Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424. Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, 48306. 248.652.4500. Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085. 248.817.2980. Too Ra Loo: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 139 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.453.5291.
West Bloomfield/Southfield Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.356.6600. Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680. Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034. The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334. 248.626.2982. The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.851.8782. Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081. Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 25485 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, 48034. 248.358.1310. Nonna Maria’s: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323. 248.851.2500. Pickles & Rye: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890. Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463. Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.865.0500. Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.626.8585. Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248. 538.8954. Stage Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.855.6622. Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.8282.
West Oakland Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean. Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner. Reservations. Liquor. 340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381. 248.684.4223. It's A Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390. 248.360.4150. The Root Restaurant & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390. 248.698.2400. Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.7771.
North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346. 248.620.6100. Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442. 248.634.5208. Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346. 248.795.2077. The Fed: American. Lunch and Dinner daily, Brunch, Saturday and Sunday. Liquor. 15 S. Main Street, Clarkston, 48346. 248.297.5833 Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500. Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346. 248.625.5660
Detroit Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2684 E. Jefferson, Detroit, 48207. 313.965.3111. Cliff Bell’s: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.961.2543. Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214. 313.469.0976. Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110. The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180. El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070. Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun. Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600. Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122. Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216. 313.962.5588. Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318. Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, MondayFriday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837. Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216. 313.309.7946. Mario’s: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616. Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.974.7669. Motor City Brewing Works: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700. 1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday
Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221. 313.863.1917. Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226. 313.309.2499. Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.2100. Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900. Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.438.5055. SheWolf Pastifico & Bar: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 438 Selden St, Detroit 48201. 313.315.3992. Sinbad’s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214. 313.822.8000. Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216. 313.962.9828. Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702. St. CeCe’s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216. 313.962.2121. Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234. Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668. The Block: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.0892. Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.964.4010. Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201. 313.831.9470. 24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226. 313.964.3821. Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.831.3965. Vince’s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857. Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American. Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207. 313.393.1711. The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700. Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646. Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1411. Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711.
“Most of the furniture is for sale, so you could take home not just a doggy bag but you could buy the whole table,” Curtain said.
Royal Oak brewhouse Washington Township’s Brown Iron Brewhouse is going to have a second location come fall as part of the upcoming development adjacent to Beaumont Hospital’s Royal Oak campus. “I’m just very excited to be at that corner, to be part of Beaumont’s vision...I can’t wait to get there,” said Patti Eisenbraun, who co-owns the brewhouse and smokehouse with her husband, Tim. Since opening the brewhouse – which specializes in American craft beer – they have been voted Best Craft Beer Bar in Michigan from 2016 to 2019 by CraftBeer.com, and have donated over $85,000 to local charities, like Fallen & Wounded Soldiers. (This hits close to home, as Tim is a veteran.) So what can people expect when they open at 13 Mile and Woodward in Royal Oak? Beer, obviously, and a menu from Chef Deni Smiljanovski that features not only smoked meats but more vegan BBQ recipes than their other establishment. The Royal Oak location will also have private dining and conferencing abilities.
Gather for coffee For owner Emily Steffen, the Gathering Coffee Co. has been years in the making. With plans to open late this summer Steffen hopes its much more than just a coffee shop, she wants it to be a place for the community and one where they can craft change for the area. Located inside the Eightfold Collective space – 2831 E Grand Blvd., Detroit – there will be a pretty traditional drinks menu, think everything from lattes to cappuccinos, but they’ll also have additional syrups like chocolate, caramel, and a whiskey simple syrup to add some punch. They are working with multiple local partners, including the anticipated bakery and restaurant, Poppies, and coffee roaster, Populace Coffee. One of the most interesting elements is a pay-what-you-can menu that will offer three drinks sold at-cost, including hot chocolate and tea. “To me, if we’re truly a community shop we have to be able to accommodate to everyone within our neighborhood,” she said. Expect a lot of black and white photography on the walls – the 2,500-square-foot space will include a community darkroom – and a mural by Detroit-based artist Gisela McDaniel.
Pizza homecoming Kristen Calverley and Nate Peck are coming home. The co-owners of Michigan & Trumbull – which started in Pittsburgh – are moving their Detroit-style pizza place to well, Detroit, at 1439 W. Elizabeth Street. With the hopes of opening as early as August Calverley knows you can get the infamous style pizza on all over Detroit, but it was after they started receiving positive feedback about their toppings and dough that they began to seriously consider a move to the mitten. The menu will include lots of pizza, including the Packard Pepperoni, which has red sauce, mozzarella, pickled chiles, pepperoni, and hot honey, as well as some additional sides, like wings, onion rings, and they’re thinking about adding fried calzones, called Boblo Boats. As for the atmosphere, Calverley said, “We’re going to try to make it feel like it’s a bar that’s essentially been there and shuttered and we kind of came in, added furniture, and set up shop.”
Late night charm Inside Fort Street Galley – 160 W. Fort Street, Detroit – the bar has transformed into a cocktail lounge, Magpie, as of March 15. The space will be open when the restaurants are but once they close it will serve as a more intimate bar, with its own private entrance, and stay open until midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends. “Because it has these four different food contents, and it’s tucked away in a food hall...it’s a little bit of an odd circumstance, it gives us a little bit of the freedom to really do whatever we want,” said Marlowe Johnson, bar manager. As for the brand new cocktail menu – which is unlike any of the other bars by the Galley Group – expect whimsey and many drinks with an element of visual trickery. A few cocktails Johnson thinks are the coolest are the Toasted Rice Highball, a mixture of Suntory Toki, Hojicha, toasted rice, and honey; and the White Butterfly, which Johnson was working on for five months before perfecting the recipe of Watershed Four Peel Gin, Cocchi Americano, Bittermelon Cordial, Salers, and Cucumber.
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BUSINESS MATTERS Barre movement Relevé Barre Studio, a fitness studio offering challenging barre classes, among other classes, has moved after 7 years located on Elm Street in Birmingham’s Triangle District. It is now located at 515 S. Eton Street in Birmingham’s Rail District, right next to the Whistle Stop restaurant. Relevé is an intimate studio owned by instructor Donna Gross, who offers a workout technique designed to improve and enhance balance, posture, long and lean muscle tone, flexibility and core strength. Barre is a unique and vigorous combination of ballet and pilates, and Relevé offers classes including Basic Barre, Cardio Barre, Barre Bands Power Barre with heavier weights, and Classic Ballet for adult ballet students as well as personal training. Gross is a certified fitness and personal training instructor with more than 20 years of classical ballet training. The studio is also available for private classes and parties for all ages.
Bridal option Upcoming brides looking for their special wedding day attire have a new place to shop with the opening of Luxe Bridal Rack, 700 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham. Master bridal stylist Maria Rubino opened her first Luxe Bridal Rack in Chicago’s up-and-coming Logan Square neighborhood in 2017, with the Birmingham location a quick second stop. Rubino said she spent years cultivating relationships with international designers and salons worldwide to make her stores a reality because “No one has time for disinterested employees looking for the highest commission, selling you a dress outside your budget.” Upcoming designer trunk shows at the store include Yaniv Persy, Maina Hughes and Pronovias. “Our store is intimate, immaculate and always warming,” Rubino said. “Let’s ditch the stress and nerves. Let’s have some fun.”
Boutique changes Birch Roots recently opened in the former White Birch location, 141 W. Maple Road, Birmingham, owner Jessica Estes announced. Jessica, who opened the store with her mother-in-law Jennifer Estes, said she owns White Birch in Plymouth, along with her mother and sister. “The former owner, Chris Mash, didn’t want it any more, so we bought it back,” she said. Why the name change? “Birch root is the root of the birch wood, and it’s symbolic for us downtownpublications.com
because it’s the second location,” Jessica said. The boutique features women’s clothes, accessories and home décor. “We’re trendy and very casual,” Jessica said. “Women always comment that it’s very comfortable clothes but that it looks great.” Flowing dresses and tops, jeans and leggings, jackets, scarves, earrings, purses and other items share space along with flex steel furniture that Jessica is excited to add to the mix. “People think of this store as urban rustic. I always wanted to own a store in Tennessee – instead I opened my dream store in Plymouth and Birmingham,” she laughed.
a variety of fashion items, gifts, home décor, a unique bath salt bar set up in vintage glass apothecary jars, and aromatherapy. With bleached wood floors and vintage iron and wood furniture, including a sales counter that is a 100-plus year old train depot center, the shop is a mix of a store and a place to hang out. The boutique invites visitors to pick up a gift for a friend, or themselves. Among the other creative items Blazier is featuring are lots of handmade jewelry, including the Magnolia Pearl line and earrings by local artist Siri, owner of OMA Jewelry.
Deli options expand
Art gallery closes
Looking for a corned beef sandwich? As of March 20, those in the vicinity of Square Lake and Telegraph have another dining option to choose from with the opening of Rye Guys Deli, 2442 Franklin Road in Bloomfield Township. Owned and operated by a deli guy who wants to go by “Max,” he said Rye Guys Deli is a modern twist on a classic deli, “serving great food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. At Rye Guys, our emphasis is on delivering a fantastic overall experience through a warm family atmosphere and serving some of the traditional deli foods we all know and love.” Rye Guys makes all their own soups, salads and sauces in house, and feature the best quality meats and cheeses by the pound. Besides offering service when you come in the door, they are inviting guests to order online as well.
Reyes Project, we hardly knew you. The art gallery, located at 100 S. Old Woodward at Maple in downtown Birmingham, shuttered at the beginning of the year, with its final show having closed in late November 2018. Terese Reyes, the gallery’s owner, announced she had closed her solo gallery to reopen Reyes Finn in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood with friend and gallerist Bridget Finn. A contemporary art gallery, Reyes Project featured several shows at its Birmingham location before relocating in March to Detroit.
Family restaurant opens In the same strip center at Square Lake just east of Telegraph, Tina’s Kitchen, 2398 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Township, opened on March 1, offering a wide selection of breakfast and lunch items. Tina’s offers a generous selection of sandwiches and hamburgers, salads from the popular Greek to Cobb, chicken Caesar, Michigan Cherry and a Strawberry Chicken salad, as well as 35 different omelets. Kids are always welcome, as there is a kid’s menu available.
New Birmingham boutique Vicki Blazier, who was a former aromaspa owner in Keego Harbor and is a Reiki master teacher, has taken the plunge in a new endeavor, opening Willow and Fernn Boutique, 528 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham, in the former Level Multisport location. Open since March 16, Willow and Fernn features
New health option Looking for an alternative therapy to aid in your health and well being? Drip IV Therapy and Hydration, which opened recently at 105 Townsend Street in Birmingham, could be just the answer. Drip IV Therapy and Hydration is a holistic provider of nutritional intravenous therapies and booster shots, and offers its therapies in a spa-like environment. Located across from the Townsend Hotel, it offers infusions and booster shots to treat ailments such as dehydration, inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, cold and flu symptoms, hangovers and menopause. It is also designed to help ease stress and exhaustion, weight loss, boost energy and athletic performance, combat aging and detoxification. In addition, IV therapies offers a mobile concierge service to provide its assistance to you at home or in your office.
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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew At The Community House, there are scores of volunteer opportunities that await those that are interested. From reading to a child, answering phones, stuffing envelopes, tending to our summer gardens or volunteering at a Community House function. If you are looking to meet friends, share ideas or be a part of something bigger, look no farther than the 11 highly respected non-profit and supported groups that also call the historic Community House “home.” Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of commerce: Mission: To serve our 6 communities as their leading resource for advancing business interests and building relationships. Contact: Joe Bauman, President, 248.644.1700 x 6135, joeb@bbcc.com Birmingham Lions Club: Mission: Service to Others – Lions Clubs are recognized for their service to the blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” during the 1925 Lions Clubs International Convention. Contact: Bob McCready, President, bobmclassic@aol.com
Bill Seklar
Birmingham Optimist Club: Purpose: To develop optimism as a philosophy of life; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for the law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; and to aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of man, his community and world. Contact: Bill McConnell, President, billmcconnell@hotmail.com Birmingham Shopping District: Mission: We actively work to promote a district that is exciting, clean, safe and pedestrianfriendly and ensure that the district continues to serve as a center for business, service, social and community activities. Contact: Ingrid Tighe, Executive Director, 248.530.1200, itighe@bhamgov.org Rotary Club: Purpose: To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. Contact: Chris McLogan, President, chrismclogan@maxbroock.com Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers Club: Purpose: For women from all over the world, BBNC has made it easy to meet women and participate in countless activities & events throughout the year. Our international members represent over 40 nations. Contact: Fatima Koenig, President, 248.613.5787, bbnc.president@gmail.com Birmingham Teen Council: Mission: The mission is to bring together students from local schools and provide an opportunity for community service, as well as teen leadership. We hope to institute an environment where students from the area can collaborate and form bonds they otherwise would not have been able to. Contact: Chase Seklar and Sophie Roth, Co-Founders, 248.310.0582, birminghamteencouncil@gmail.com President’s Advisory Council (PAC): Mission: The mission is to advise and give counsel to the TCH President on a wide range of issues. Contacts: Dustin Hennigar, Chair, k06dh01@gmail.com, Matt McCormick, Vice Chair, mmccor10@gmail.com Senior Men’s Club of birmingham: Purpose: An organization of active senior men devoted to the promotion of fellowship, cultural interests and the rendering of community service. Contact: Tim McGee, President, 248.643.0971, tsmcgee1@hotmail.com StoryTellers Guild: Mission: To enrich the lives of children through the art and love of storytelling. Contact: Linda Lambert, Council Co-Chair, 248.642.5837, lindaleelam1@hotmail.com; Shirley Oleinick, Council Co-Chair, 248.544.8968, shirleyoleinick3@gmail.com The Women’s Club: Purpose: The purpose shall be to provide fellowship, programs, and activities for the membership. Contact: Ann Duncan, President, 248.514.5290, billduncan11@comcast.net.
William D. Seklar is President & CEO of The Community House and The Community House Foundation in Birmingham. downtownpublications.com
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SOCIETY NOTEBOOK/GIGI NICHOLS
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Beyond Basics Gala
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Beyond Basics celebrated its 20th anniversary with a “Coming Together for Children” Gala at the Detroit Athletic Club. Recognition was given to the Farbman Group for Partner of the Year and to Susan Wilhelm and Susan Galambos for Volunteers of the Year. Judge Geno Salomone received the Literacy Chair Award and President and Executive Director of Beyond Basics, Pamela Good, was also honored for her contributions to the organization over the past 20 years. Thanks to generous sponsors and patrons, the evening raised $342,000, which will be used to fund Beyond Basics, a literacy non-profit dedicated to one-on-one reading intervention. 1. Caroline and Robert Dempster of Bloomfield. 2. Pamela Good of Rochester Hills and Jack Krasula of Bloomfield. 3. Vito and Heather Gioia of West Bloomfield. 4. Bob Koval of Bloomfield and Drew Peslar of Birmingham. 5. Gina Coleman of Beverly Hills and Janine Krasicky Sadaj of Rochester Hills. 6. Judy Wallace, Katie Wallace and Rick Wallace of Bloomfield. 7. Tom Callan of Bloomfield and George Vutetakis of Birmingham. 8. Heidi Brandewie of Bloomfield, Sue Wilhelm of Birmingham and Sue Galambos of Bloomfield.
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Eton Academy Gala and Auction
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“Unmasking the Art of Learning” was the theme for the 2019 Eton Academy Gala and Auction, chaired by Marcy and Richard Ford. Over 300 masquerade-masked school supporters packed the Academy to enjoy a silent and live auction, seated dinner and raffle. Founded in 1986, Eton Academy in Birmingham is a full-curriculum, independent school for students who learn differently, serving over 220 students in grades 1 through 12. The successful event raised nearly half a million dollars. Proceeds will go towards scholarships, classroom resources and teacher training. 1. Elle Cannon of Birmingham and Stephani Strunck of Oak Park. 2. Tim Wagerson of Birmingham and Denise Ulrich of South Lyon. 3. Denise and Jim Barker of Bloomfield Hills. 4. Angel and Jeff Lau of Birmingham. 5. Bobbi and Stephen Polk of Bloomfield. 6. Bruce and Linda Aikens of West Bloomfield. 7. Paul and Patsy Hartmann of Bloomfield. 8. Frederick Acomb and Mandy Fishburn of Birmingham.
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GigiNichols@downtownpublications.com 248.515.6105
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St. Hugo Auction
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The newly renovated DoubleTree Hilton in Bloomfield Hills served as the venue for the St. Hugo of the Hills Annual Auction. Three hundred and sixty supporters of the school attended the “One Team, One Dream” fundraiser chaired by Anita Hakim and Zaina Elia, which included cocktails, strolling dinner, musical entertainment and an auction. St. Hugo parent Don Kowalewski along with Brad Galli, sports reporter for WXYZ-TV, emceed the event. Proceeds from the energetic evening are earmarked to build an official football field on St. Hugo’s campus. 1. Ryan and Michelle Murphy of Bloomfield. 2. John and Julie Giudici of Bloomfield. 3. Zac Vaupel of Bloomfield and Suzanna Cerroni of Bloomfield. 4. Erica Thurman of Clarkston and Yasmine Najor of Bloomfield. 5. Matt and Reena Herstein of Bloomfield. 6. Jennifer and John Morgan of Bloomfield. 7. Tracey Jacob of Bloomfield, Suzanna Cerroni of Bloomfield, Dante Cerroni of Bloomfield and Larry Jacob of Bloomfield. 8. Jennifer O’Neill, Birmingham and Anne Vachon of Troy.
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SHINE Fashion Show
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Variety, the Children’s Charity, hosted an inspirational fashion show at the Somerset Collection to benefit the camp programs of FAR Therapeutic Arts and Recreation and Variety 4-H Horseback Riding. Children and young adults, who are served by the two children’s charities, modeled clothing from Somerset Collection retailers. The event was co-chaired by Ruthie Seltzer and Brooke Kircher. Over 200 people attended the show which raised approximately $20,000 for the causes. 1. Connie Palmer of Birmingham and Jeffrey King of Birmingham. 2. Jennie Cascio of Bloomfield and Felicia Palazzola Shaw of Birmingham. 3. Ruthie and Marty Seltzer of Birmingham. 4. Denise and Robert Moore of Birmingham. 5. Suzie and Fred Phillips of Bloomfield. 6. Rhonda and Paul Sabatini of Bloomfield. 7. Laini and Melissa Seltzer of Birmingham. 8. Pamela Ayres of Bloomfield and Michelle Murphy of Macomb Twp.
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Erin Go Bra(gh)
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Kathy Broock Ballard invited her girlfriends to the Village Club in Bloomfield Hills for the sixth annual Erin Go Bra(gh) event. Those who attended donated hundreds of new bras and undergarments to help women served by CARE House of Oakland County. Blythe Spitsbergen, executive director of CARE House, was on hand at the event to thank the 80-plus women for their generosity and to convey the mission of CARE House, which is a non-profit children’s advocacy center, providing first rate services to victims of child abuse and neglect. 1. Helen Reasoner and Dana Brophy of Bloomfield. 2. Kathy Broock Ballard of Orchard Lake, Cheryl Bournias of Birmingham and Lynn Novak of Bloomfield. 3. Patti Prowse of Bloomfield and Renee Godin of Farmington Hills. 4. Amy Webberly and Susan Harvey of Birmingham. 5. Sandy Czako and Amy Seneski of Birmingham. 6. Janet Boitos and Carol Mitri of Bloomfield. 7. Cheryl Rossman of Detroit and Tracey Parker of Birmingham. 8. Cindy Penrod of Bloomfield and Jane Smitt of Birmingham.
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Leader Dogs for the Blind, Dinner in the Dark
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Leader Dogs for the Blind empowers people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel. The non-profit’s second annual “Dinner in the Dark,” held at the MGM Grand Detroit, presented over 400 patrons with many different experiences, including eating the evening’s 3-course meal blindfolded as well as a blindfolded guided walk through an obstacle course with a leader dog. Thirty dogs, in various stages of their training, attended the event which raised nearly $200,000 for programs and services for people who are blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind. 1. Melissa Weisse of Rochester and Susan Daniels of Livonia. 2. Dan and Kyle Markey of Rochester. 3. Julie and John Reed of Bloomfield. 4. Sarah and Marc Wisniewski of Bloomfield. 5. Lauren Brady of Clarkson with Ambassador Dog Drago, trained in Birmingham. 6. Margaret and Christopher Dimond of Beverly Hills. 7. Kathie Davis of Rochester Hills, Marilyn Kelly of Bloomfield and Sylvia Whitmer of West Bloomfield. 8. Tom and Jennifer Dluzen of Birmingham.
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ENDNOTE
Tax, funding formula overhaul to fix roads lowback from Governor Gretchen Whitmer's proposed fuel tax increase to “fix the damn roads” is expected in a state that has long championed tax cuts while neglecting to address serious – and downright treacherous, in some places – infrastructure needs to the point of creating a crisis. But pushback on the proposed 45-cent-per-gallon tax increase is nothing compared to decades of opposition from lawmakers to address the state's antiquated and inefficient road funding formula that must be changed in order to send money to where it's needed most. In terms of revenue, an increased fuel tax is reasonable and appropriate. The proposal calls for raising state gas and diesel taxes by 15 cents on October 1, 2019; 15 cents on April 1, 2020; and 15 cents on October 1, 2020. The governor has said the plan would raise about $2 billion annually for roads. The proposed fuel tax would cost the average driver about $6.30 more per tank of gas, based on a gas tank size of 14 gallons. Based on usage of one or 2 tanks per week, the increase would cost users between $327 and $650 more per year. Compare that to the average cost of the vehicle's wear and tear related to road conditions of $824 a year for metro Detroit drivers, as determined by the National Transportation Research Group. In total, the group found Michigan's poor road
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conditions cost residents about $14.1 billion a year. Considering the price residents are already paying to use Michigan's roads, an increase in fuel taxes to fix those roads would be money well spent. While the proposed fuel tax increase is reasonable and appropriate, the $2 billion a year it would raise by the end of 2020 is only one part of the equation. The revenue raised won't be enough to address the state's road crisis without fixing the flawed funding formula. Michigan lawmakers who have the guts to have motorists pay the highest fuel tax in the nation (after being one of the lowest taxed in the nation for years, let's remember, which got us into this situation) must also find the political wherewithal to finally change the state's road funding law that to date has been considered political suicide. Enacted in 1951, Public Act 51 determines how state-raised motor fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees are distributed across Michigan. In general, 39 percent of funds are given to state highways, 39 percent to county road commissions and 22 percent to cities and villages (townships don't actually receive direct road funding from the state). When passed, the formula was intended to strike a balance between urban and outstate areas. From there, the formula takes into consideration miles of
road in a community, its population and the number of vehicle registrations. While intended to provide fairness in road funding, the formula ultimately fails to reflect the different needs across the state. It also is no longer relevant for a state where, in the almost 70 years since the legislation was enacted, residents have moved to cities at the expense of rural areas. Providing Otsego County, with a total population of 24,164 residents, with the same dollars as Oakland County, with 1.25 million residents, is not only out of balance – it's currently absurd. And it helps to explain why many of our roads and bridges are in crisis. No matter what amount of money lawmakers ultimately decide to throw at the problem, the formula guarantees that no more than 39 percent will go toward fixing crumbling roads and bridges that are used the most. Therefore, it's mandatory that any discussion of road funding should start with a commitment to address that formula. So far, the mere mention of changing Act 51 is enough to shut down discussions as outstate lawmakers refuse to give up any portion of the pie. It's understandable they want to keep the dollars flowing to their communities. But that doesn't make it right. And it's long overdue to change the formula for the good of all drivers in Michigan.
Bistros a city asset that must be protected irmingham in 2007 created a bistro liquor ordinance with the goal of invigorating the city's streets and creating greater walkability. The current ordinance permits unique restaurants to obtain a liquor license if they have no more than 65 seats, including 10 at the bar, and low key entertainment only. The bistro regulations adopted also included requirements for storefront glazing, seating along the storefront windows, and a requirement for outdoor dining. The city commission approves the concept for each bistro license to be given out, with no more than two bistro licenses approved each year. Since its inception, the bistro ordinance has been a huge success, doing just what it was intended – it has helped revitalize the downtown retail area of Birmingham, and their outdoor dining patios are a destination for the metro area. Pedestrian foot traffic increased exponentially following the opening of bistros such as Toast, Townhouse, Luxe, Bella Piatti and numerous others. In fact, the ordinance, the first of its kind, has done so well that other municipalities have mimicked it. But no one should ever forget that it is, at its roots, a liquor ordinance, which must be approved by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, and
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was created as an economic incentive tool. Yet, following the February 25 Birmingham City Commission meeting, where renewal of their 2019 liquor license was reviewed for every Class B, Class C and microbrewery license holder in the city, it became clear that many bistro license holders have become not only complacent, but cavalier in their approach to maintaining their license. Numerous bistros – about 15 – had infractions that caused commissioners to order them back for a public hearing March 25, which will determine whether they retain their liquor licenses for the upcoming year. The renewal date for the liquor control commission is April 1. At issue for most of the bistros is violations of their special land use permits (SLUPs), which are operating contracts with the city which govern all aspects of their business, from their name, ownership, hours of operation, design of the restaurants to number of seats in the establishment. To change the name of the restaurant or the ownership group necessitates a permit approval before the city commission. Problem is, for many restaurants, they've just gone ahead and done it. Another big issue is the number of seats. The
bistro ordinance is tightly controlled, and there can be no more than 65 seats, inclusive of bar seats, or the Michigan Liquor Control Commission can decide to yank the licenses. Too many bistros, for way too long, have been adding seats and no one from the city had been monitoring them – or holding them accountable. Finally the commission ordered enforcement of bistro regulations. Just as bistro owners know how to count, so do Class C liquor license owners – the ones who have paid in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for their licenses, rather than $20,000 to operate in the city. Those owners have complained for years about violations of seating restrictions. For too long the city has turned a blind eye to excess interior and exterior seats, Eisenglass enclosures and other “skirting” of the bistro ordinance. If the city had done its job from the start, perhaps bistros like Bella Piatti, La Strada Caffe, Bistro Joe's, Luxe, Salvatore Scallopini, Forest, Tallulah's and Mad Hatter Bistro would have complied with seating requirements from the beginning, as well as other ordinance requirements. The bistro ordinance is the city's golden goose. It's imperative that everyone works to protect it.
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