Downtown Newsmagazine | Birmingham/Bloomfield

INSIDE: PREPPING FOR VARIETY OF POSSIBLE SURVIVAL CHALLENGES

OCTOBER 2021

JUSTICE

ENVIRONMENTAL

EJ ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN POOR, NON-WHITE COMMUNITIES

VOTER GUIDE: THE BIRMINGHAM CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES ENDNOTE: SCHAFER, LONG, MCLAIN ARE BEST CHOICES ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM

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DOWNTOWN10.21

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Movement of those preparing for the worst While most people won't head downstairs forever, increasingly many individuals are preparing for various potential catastrophes, and the possibility they may need to survive off the grid, as part of what is now called the prepper movement.

LONGFORM

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Environmental justice is reckoning with the fact that most of the people who live in polluted or underserved communities are poor and people of color, and little over the decades has been done to rectify this plight.

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.

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

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Oakland GOP censure; sleazy Birmingham whisper campaign; jump starting Craig effort; another public safety figure in the campaign mix; paycheck despite absences; Soldano Big Tech battle; plus more.

MUNICIPAL

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THE COVER Cover photo: Industry in southwest Detroit neighborhood Cover design: Chris Grammer

Big Rock Chophouse to close; Manoogian filed abuse complaint; city police accredidation; senior services agreement; NOW deck maintenace; more lofts in Rail District; Dick O'Dow’s changes; plus more.

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Katie Romant

METRO INTELLIGENCER

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With the lifting of pandemic restrictions, the restaurant industry is starting to come back strong, so we have brought back our Metro Intelligencer restaurant column, with Gigi Nichols at the helm.

BIRMINGHAM VOTER GUIDE

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Check out the answers from the seven candidates vying for three spots on the Birmingham City Commission in the special Voter Guide produced by Downtown Newsmagazine.

ENDNOTE

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FACES

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Laura Teste

Charlie Burg

S. Kirk Walsh

Charlie Parkhill

Katie Romant

Our thoughts on the domestic abuse complaint filed by state Rep. Mari Manoogian against a Macomb County state lawmaker, and our recommendations on who we think are the best choices in the Birmingham election – Katie Schafer, Anthony Long and Elaine McLain.

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BIRMINGHAM | BLOOMFIELD PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Brody Anchill | Tracy Donohue | Kevin Elliott | Stacy Gittleman Austen Hohendorf | Jennifer Lovy | Jeanine Matlow | Gigi Nichols | Bill Seklar 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.

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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.

DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE GOALS/MISSION The personnel at Downtown Newsmagazine bring a special commitment to the publishing effort, reinvesting in the local communities and working to make sure the Birmingham/Bloomfield area reaches its highest potential.

Our mission dictates that we strive each month to provide a solid news and advertising product that local residents look forward to reading. Our goal is to build a community of informed citizens through the efforts of our passionate team. We are innovators producing products that go well beyond what others offer.

Downtown Newsmagazine captures life in the local communities through coverage of major municipal and school issues, personality profiles, the latest news from the business community and political gossip/news.

We also devote considerable effort each month to address major issues facing local residents through our longform story-telling efforts, further setting us apart from others competing for readers' attention.

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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 September 23, 2021.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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Best local magazine Your publication is one of the best local magazines I have ever read. Your reporters/writers are excellent and I say this having reporter friends who worked for the Free Press and Detroit News.

I am an Independent who leans Democratic. We certainly live in angry,volatile times, but I am amazed at the vitriol by some of our more conservative residents. It appears that many of these folks fear the “browning” of America, but not all. I would ask those who may have this concern to look back at their parents, grand/great grandparents and ask where they immigrated from.

The fear of government, indulging in maddening social media disinformation certainly contribute to these attitudes. Perhaps we all should take a refresher civics class.

Keep with your objective reporting in spite of this anger. Great job.

Timothy Kozak Birmingham

Voting rights article Thank you for such an extensive piece (Voting rights/September) on such an important topic.

Alberto Medina Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts

Dictatorship at the door

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The people are being lied to on so many levels; it’s overwhelming. There have been inexpensive, rapidly effective treatments the whole time during this manufactured influenza outbreak. These have been completely shut down by the propagandist main stream media with censorship all along the way. Name one point in history where censoring the people ended well…just one.

If you cannot see the fraud that took place in the 2020 election, you are not looking – it will be corrected as truth always gets exposed. If you think constitutional voter ID is racist, you’re fooling yourself. We all need IDs to rent an apartment, lease a car, get a job, file taxes, buy alcohol and so much more.

Requiring it – which has always been the case – to exercise a U.S. citizen’s most important right is hardly racist or prejudice. Preventing fraud is actually the road to free and fair elections.

Wake up before Australia/French/UK style fascism hits here under the guise of our “safety.”

This is how every tyrannical dictatorship in all of history has begun.

It’s at our door.

Thomas Werthman Bloomfield Township DOWNTOWN

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.

Wildlife concerns in bill As I drive across our state, I can’t help but notice all the dead wildlife lying on the side of the road. It’s common to see deer, raccoons, and rabbits -- but occasionally it’s a bobcat, bear, or eagle.

Michigan ranks fifth in the nation for most wildlife-vehicle collisions. As we continue to develop communities and the roads that connect them, this problem has worsened. The Federal Highway Administration estimates every year there are 1-2 million accidents involving drivers and animals on U.S. roadways. Sadly, it isn’t just wildlife that pays the ultimate price.

These devastating crashes cause 200 deaths and 30,000 injuries. Think of the families whose world is turned upside down in an instant just because an animal jumped in front of a car with little to no time to react.

Thankfully, there are ways we can reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions. For one, the bipartisan infrastructure bill in Congress includes investments in wildlife-friendly infrastructure – things like wildlife crossing bridges, tunnels, and culverts – which have a high success rate toward reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Another critical step is investing in wildlife migration corridors – linear routes used by fish and wildlife to move from one place to another in order to find sustainable feeding and breeding grounds throughout the year.

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Thankfully, Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow has helped lead the bipartisan effort in Congress to fund wildlife crossings in the infrastructure bill. It’s a great start that will undoubtedly save human lives, reduce damages and costs, and protect wildlife.

Christian Noyce Ann Arbor 10.21

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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 where you can sign up to receive updates via email.

THE 10-MONTH HANGOVER: The Oakland County Republican Party Executive Committee voted on August 20 to censure the three state senators – Sens. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), Lana Theis (R-Brighton) and John Bizon (R-Battle Creek) – who issued a report months ago that cast serious doubt on whether there were significant problems with the November 2020 presidential election, while at the same time calling on the Michigan Attorney General to investigate those who made false claims to the contrary, often for their own personal benefit or to raise political money. The report’s bottom line was MCBROOM that claims about a rigged election were “demonstrably false and based on misleading information.” The vote for censure was 40-7, with Oakland GOP Executive Committee member Max Rohtbart and six others voting against the motion. A few of those in attendance at the meeting claimed that at least one Republican had trouble voting remotely against the THEIS motion, so no telling if there were others unable to cast a ballot. Interestingly, and another sure sign that the state Republican party machinery continues to lean toward a pro-Tump position, Marian Sheridan, the Grassroots vice chair of the state party, was at the meeting and voted in favor of the censure. Noted one GOP member at the executive committee meet, there is a “faction of normal people still left” in the Oakland Republican party BIZON but they are often drowned out by a “very vocal” fringe element that follows in the footsteps of Milford state Rep. Matt (Mad Dog) Maddock and his spouse, state party co-chair Meshawn Maddock. This observer bemoaned that while it may grab headlines and embolden the ultra-conservative base foot soldiers, “politics is about winning elections,” a concern among Republican leaders as they head into the 2022 midterms with an increasingly divided party membership. The Oakland GOP committee vote followed a vote with a similar outcome in neighboring Macomb County a week earlier.

SLEAZY WHISPER CAMPAIGN: The upcoming November 2 election in the city of Birmingham for three open city commission spots has drawn out one of the more underhanded election tactics that surfaces periodically in the political realm – the whisper campaign. For the uninitiated, a whisper campaign is a tactic in which damaging falsehoods and innuendo are spread about a target in a campaign by sources who hope to remain anonymous. As the name would imply, rumors circulate orally, knowing full well that the misinformation could take on a life of its own and spread incrementally in a community. The first documented examples of whisper campaigns date back to the 1800’s when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson competed in a contest for president when rumor had it that the latter had fathered children with slave women and that he had stolen a trust fund from a woman and her children. More recently, in 2000, Senator John McCain was the target of similar rumor mongering. In the case of the current Birmingham election, the whisper campaign is targeting one of the newcomers to the election process by at least one political gadfly who has hung around the fringe of past elections and possibly one of the sitting city commission members who is not appearing on the ballot this year. The gist of the (totally false) rumor being circulated is that one of the candidates is a member of QAnon, a kiss of death in the realm of election politics in some social circles, downtownpublications.com

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especially in a community that leans more liberal, where such a tag could cost any candidate votes in a non-partisan election that generally draws a lower percentage of voters to the polls.

MISSING IN ACTION: In March of this year, Brittni Kellom, a Detroit Democrat member of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, was elected as chair of the panel created by voters in 2018 to redraw state House, state Senate and congressional districts following the recent census. The commission comprises four Democrats, four Republicans and five Independents. The non-profit news organization Bridge Michigan told us weeks ago that since being chosen to lead the commission, Kellom has missed 14 of KELLOM 53 meetings, and a total of 17 of 60 meetings since the group began its work last September. There is no requirement for how many sessions a member must attend to demonstrate they are fulfilling their jobs and an earlier effort to set a requirement failed to get panel support. Members of the commission are paid $55,755 annually for their work.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

SEE, DON’T TOUCH: After a summer of teasing Republicans, former Detroit Police Chief James Craig made his run for governor in 2022 official by literally… running from protesters from Detroit Will Breathe, who surrounded and outnumbered supporters at his announcement at Belle Isle. At a relocated announcement, he sort of answered a few questions from reporters before being whisked away, such as his stance on the pandemic and mask requirements – he was a staunch supporter when he was chief and instituted a firm mask requirement, but now, said it was up to parents of school children and that vaccinations should be up to individuals, and touted his CRAIG law and order record. He mocked Gov. Whitmer on her 2018 slogan, “Fix the damn roads,” but said infrastructure wasn’t one of his issues. At least he answered those questions, which is more than at a late August Oakland County press conference – the press was not allowed in the room, but separated by a glass window. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, another law-and-order aficionado, along with other law enforcement individuals from around the state, stood by his side as he said he would accept former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, and would not comment about whether or not he believed Trump’s 2020 election assertions.

ANOTHER TOUGH GUY: While waiting for Craig to finally announce his political plans, another law enforcement officer decided he didn’t want to continue to be a bridesmaid on the sidelines, and announced he too was seeking the Republican nomination for governor in ‘22. Captain Mike Brown of Michigan State Police, who is commander of MSP’s southwest Michigan’s district, said he sees a crisis of leadership in Whitmer’s handling of the pandemic, public safety, jobs and school closures, and he feels Michiganders need another choice from the law enforcement community. In a video announcing his candidacy, Brown said “radical Democrats embracing a full-on assault against the law enforcement profession” have contributed to what he said is a crime wave in Michigan and across the U.S. While he wouldn’t answer questions regarding fraudulent election claims for 2020, he did say he had election integrity questions regarding 2016 and Russian collusion.

EVEN STEVEN: A little more than a year out from the 2022 election, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who is anticipated to run for a second term in office, is in a statistical dead with Republican challenger James Craig, according to a Detroit Free Press/EPIC-MRA poll done in late August. The poll found that 45 percent of likely Michigan voters downtownpublications.com

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surveyed would vote for Whitmer, and 44 percent said they would vote for Craig. The one-point gap is well within the polls’ plus-or-minus four percentage points margin of error. Another 11 percent were undecided or refused to say. That should concern Whitmer, as many acknowledged they didn’t know Craig – but does show Republican antipathy to Whitmer, especially over her handling of the pandemic.

“We’re in a very polarized environment right now.

Republicans are voting for Craig right now even though they have no knowledge about him. I have no doubt both sides will educate about him, and he has a lot of vulnerabilities,” said Bernie Porn of EPIC-ERA. Craig is hardly the only Republican running in the primary BROWN election next August to represent the party, but he is currently the most well-known, and appears to have the GOP’s backing.

Also currently running is Garrett Soldano, a Kalamazoo chiropractor; Tudor Dixon, a conservative TV commentator from Muskegon County; Michigan State Police Captain Mike Brown; Oakland County Pastor Ralph Rebrandt; Ryan Kelley, an Ottawa County real estate agent; Bob Scott, a Livingston County evangelist and substitute teacher; Lansing businessman Evan Space; and Grand Rapids entrepreneur Austin Chenge. There are rumblings that others, such as Bloomfield Township’s Kevin Rinke, a former auto dealer who has launched an exploratory committee, may also jump into the race.

SOCIAL MEDIA SIDELINES: If it seems like the only Republican running against Gretchen Whitmer in ‘22 is former police chief James Craig, it could be because some of them use the equivalent of a dry erase stick on themselves. For example, take Garrett Soldano, of Kalamazoo, who describes himself in an email as “a chiropractor, small business owner, author, former football player, family man and proud Catholic.” He is also cochair of Unlock Michigan, which led a successful campaign, along with Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), to limit Whitmer’s emergency powers. In that same email, Soldano announced he had been permanently banned from YouTube and his account SOLDANO deleted, for violating community guidelines. Last year, he said, he had his Facebook group, Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine, shutdown by Facebook. Rather than acknowledging any wrongdoing, Soldano blamed “Big Tech oligarchs silencing conservative voices,” and that his campaign had been been “targeted repeatedly by liberal social media giants.”

JUDGE & JURY: Federal District Court Judge Linda V. Parker clearly doesn’t play games in court – or around election laws. In a scathing 110page decision, she wrote that the Trump lawyers who filed a lawsuit in Michigan to overturn the 2020 presidential election should be sanctioned, pay the city of Detroit and the state for defending the suit, take continuing education courses – and perhaps even be disbarred.

“This case was never about fraud,” she wrote. “It was about undermining the People’s faith in our democracy and debasing the judicial process to do so…Sanctions are required to deter the filing of future frivolous lawsuits designed primarily to spread the narrative that our election processes are rigged and our democratic institutions cannot be trusted.” In further spanking the attorneys, who included L. Lin Wood and former New York mayor and Trump personal attorney Rudolph Guiliani crony Sidney Powell, she wrote the suit seeking to overturn the election represented “a historic and profound abuse of the judicial process,” the judge wrote, and sought to deceive the federal court and Americans “into believing that rights were infringed, without regard to whether any laws or rights were in fact violated.” downtownpublications.com

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Laura Testé hen it comes to Laura Testé and her second career, the Bloomfield Township resident has clearly found the right fit. “I started out as an automotive engineer and plan to ‘go out as an artist,’” said the figurative sculptor, impressionist painter and poet.

Known for her bronzes identified with the female form in dance, Testé uses the lost wax method to cast her sculptures. She also writes ekphrastic poetry for each one to convey the deeper narratives of her figures.

Raised in Ohio, Testé earned undergraduate degrees in product design and mechanical engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

California would become a source of inspiration for her sculptures on more than one occasion. Testé credits her respect for female athleticism to the Stanford rowing team, an experience that gave her an unwavering appreciation for the energy and grace of the human anatomy. Years later, it would be the galleries along California’s Highway 1 that inspired her to pursue sculpting as a full-time profession.

Southern France, where her husband is from, has become another muse of sorts. “His passion for France became my passion for France,” said Testé. Her oil paintings often capture the light, color and atmosphere of the regions as she creates textured scenes with palette knives.

Though her sculptures tend to get the most attention, Testé has been painting for years and she also enjoys the mechanics of poetry. Her trio of talents has a distinct advantage. “I have various projects that I’m working on at the same time, so if I end up getting stuck, there is always something else going on in the studio,” she said.

After the mother of three spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, the time was right to make a shift. She and her husband were driving up California’s Highway 1 where they saw a number of statues in the galleries along the way. “My husband turned to me and said, ‘You could do that,’” said Testé. “He has a lot of support for me and he is my biggest fan.”

While Testé has only been a full-time sculpture for five years, she has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. For starters, she was selected as one of nine sculptors for an exhibition in Saint-Tropez, France. Closer to home, the Arthur Secunda Museum in Howell hosted a solo show of her VIM & VIGOR series that captures lithesome limb figures in mid-swirl with a bloom of fabric or a quiet gesture.

Her award-winning work is displayed in Reinert Fine Art Galleries in Charleston, South Carolina, J. Petter Galleries in Douglas, Michigan and Geca Galerie in Grimaud, France. Her pieces can also be found at laurateste.com.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum invited Testé to install her first life-size sculpture, Elyse et Le Chat, outside their front entrance for ArtPrize 2021, which runs through October 3 in Grand Rapids.

As Testé demonstrates, personal passions are definitely worth pursuing.

“People say, ‘If only I won the lottery…if only I had more time,’” she said. “If you’re not happy with what you’re doing, you are responsible for changing it. People sell themselves short thinking they can’t do something, but there are so many resources out there to show you how to do it.”

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Story: Jeanine Matlow

Photo: Laurie Tennent

DOOMSDAY ON THE PREPARING FOR

BY LISA BRODY

T

he last few years' global calamities sound like eerie passages straight out of from the Bible – a deadly world-wide pandemic, out of control wildfires, droughts, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, extremes of heat and freezing cold, blackouts, political upheaval in several countries, even the reawakening of millions of cicadas descending upon parts of the United States in their once-in-a-17-year cycle.

It's enough to make anyone want to hide away in their basement or under the covers and never come out.

While most people won't head downstairs forever, increasingly many individuals are preparing for various potential catastrophes, and the possibility they may need to either heed stay at home orders, similar to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to get ready to flee their homes for an unknown period of time at a moment's notice. Once referred to as survivalists who chose to live “off the grid,” today those who choose to arrange their lives for any eventuality are called “preppers,” and are not isolated individuals or loners, but everyday folk.

“Preppers come from all walks of life, all races, all ages,” said Anne Marie Bounds, PhD, a professor of sociology at Queens College in New York, who has written Bracing for the Apocalypse: An Ethnographic Study of New York's 'Prepper' Subculture. “It's much

CALAMITY HORIZON A CATASTROPHE

more mainstream. As climate collapse, concerns about the economy or government collapse, you have very young people, families, singles, couples, some senior citizens – all ages. The pandemic was the first thing many experienced. Unlike the perception, they're not loners. It's not an isolated thing.”

Once referred to as survivalism, the prepper movement is a social movement of individuals or groups of people who proactively prepare for anything that can happen, any kind of emergency, from natural disasters, to social, political or economic disruptions. Those who proactively prepare for any kind of disruption work to anticipate both short-term and long-term disaster scenarios, which could impact them and their families. Arrangements can be to anticipate shortterm disruptions of services, such as losing power for a couple of days, to preparing for an international or global catastrophe.

Preppers can, and do, prepare for personal emergencies, such as a job loss or to being stranded in the wild, or to adverse weather conditions related to where they live.

Their emphasis is on preparation, upon self-reliance, on the stockpiling of necessary supplies and having survival knowledge and skills while still living their everyday lives. Part of their preparation goes beyond first aid kits and water – it can include acquiring medical and self-defense training, stockpiling food and water, building structures such as survival retreats or underground bunkers, all in order to be self-sufficient in the event they need to be.

“The thing about an emergency – you don't want the first football game of the season to the Super Bowl,” commented Christian Schauf, CEO and founder, Uncharted Supply Company, a manufacturer of high-quality survival systems and products made to empower people with the proper gear and education to guide them back to safety in an unanticipated emergency. Their signature item is the Seventy2 Survival System, which they said contains all of the supplies a family could use for the first 72 hours in the event of a dangerous situation.

“Doesn't it make sense to prepare yourself for everything you need to survive for 72 hours for $400?” he asked. “The best first aid kit is the one at hand. If you have a great one, but it's at your house (and you're out), it does you no good. Make sure you're covered along the way. It's just smart.”

S

chauf grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, and was taught how to prepare for all kinds of emergencies. He said he began Uncharted Supply Company after a career as a musician which took him to more than 300 different military bases in Iraq to entertain troops, including in remote and dangerous locations. After his musical career, he then took a tech job in California which “I hated. It was only for a paycheck. I wanted to make a difference.”

Not long after, visiting friends in Colorado, he got stuck for eight hours on a highway after a freak snowstorm hit, “and I was prepared, but no one around me was.”

Schauf had an epiphany, he said. “The world is changing, with natural disasters, political upheavals, emergencies, car accidents,” he said, “and yet, people's life skills are diminishing. We've gone from being generalists to being specialists. People aren't getting experiences.”

He said the average person does not need a masters degree in wilderness preparation to prepare for the “what ifs” in life – but they do need some help.

“If you're in an emergency, you want someone to tell you what to do, that makes their situations better,” Schauf said. “We're the guiding voice and give you the tools you need when you're in uncharted territory. If you only have one without the other, you only have half the recipe,” which can help individuals in situations as drastic as earthquakes and fleeing severe wildfires out west to a dangerous cut, and what they need to take care of themselves.

Schauf's realization born from that snowstorm is not unusual, where a stressful event led to prepper awareness. Ryan Kuhlman, coowner and founder of Preppi, along with his partner Lauren Tafuri, began the company after realizing how ill-prepared they were after experiencing a small earthquake in 2014.

“It was only a 2.5 earthquake. What would an actual disaster look like?” he asked.

He and Tafuri went looking for an emergency kit, only to find there weren't very many options, “and those options were severely lacking in aesthetics. With that in mind, we decided to use our combined artistic backgrounds to create something people would actually desire to own… Preppi began because we saw a need in the emergency preparedness market for kits that were thoughtfully designed and curated with modern amenities that we have all grown to expect.

Preparedness was often associated with the outdoors, but city dwellers such as teachers or accountants, for example, aren't going to go off the grid and fish for their meals – everything should be in one kit ready for them.”

He describes a Preppi kit as a “modern take on emergency planning that aims to encourage and excite people about preparedness,” with 72-hour kits starting at $100 packed with food, water and first aid supplies.

Stephanie Hartwell, a sociologist and Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean at Wayne State University, noted that often that understanding comes from undergoing a traumatic event.

“It's based on trauma, on the chaotic world we live in,” Hartwell said. “Not everyone want to be the last one left on earth. It's logical based on the political arena, natural disasters, manmade disasters, how the world may be running out of water. How do we make

ourselves important in a chaotic world? There is often the seed of trauma, where they have been impacted by something of complexity.

There is an understanding of the likelihood of a disaster and the feeling of the need or impulse to prepare. This is a problematic world.

We need to prepare for the inevitability. Some of it is human nature, some of it is trauma and fear, and some of it is the inability to control life – like climate change and natural disasters, today's politics. It makes us feel hopeless.

“It used to be a loner guy with mental health problems living in the woods. But today, many are concerned about the world,” Hartwell continued. “Prepping is a way to try to instill control and safety into their lives. People aren't feeling safe.”

Prepping isn't a new phenomenon. The origins of the modern survivalist movement can first be traced to the 1930s to 1950s, in the United Kingdom and United States, where perceived threats included government policies during the Great Depression, religious beliefs, threats of nuclear warfare after World War II, and writers who warned, in both fiction and non-fiction, of social and economic collapse.

Readers began to not only read about, but to believe in a postapocalyptic world. Some early survivalists cite the Great Depression and the stock market crash of 1929 as examples of the need to be prepared for anything.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) has long directed its members to store a year's worth of food for themselves and their families in preparation for such possibilities, and current teachings, according to “Food Storage,” in the LDS Gospel Library, advises beginning with a minimum of a three-month supply.

“After World War II, the interesting thing is we had a very good civil defense system in this country. It was an all-volunteer, strongly community-centered civil defense system,” said Dr. Alex Bitterman, architecture professor, Alfred State College in New York, who studies how extreme events shape communities. “Everyone was involved. It was amplified by the early days of the Cold War, when the nuclear threat was very real and very nascent.

“There was a very big interest in building home fallout shelters,” he continued. “It's where the beginnings of what we call the 'prepper' movement began.”

B

ut with neighbors and community organizations looking out for one another, there was less of a sense that the bottom would fall out. Like today, people put away canned goods and paper products, but there was not a wholesale movement. Then, in 1973, Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) was created as part of the Department of Homeland Security, and in 1979, by executive action by President Jimmy Carter, FEMA was officially formed to centralize federal emergency functions.

FEMA's creation led to the gradual dissolution of the communitycentered civil defense system, Bitterman said. “The perception was the government had deeper pockets, it was better prepared and had specialized equipment.”

However, over time, FEMA became stretched thin as more and more emergencies, notably natural disasters, came to plague the system.

“It became apparent over time that FEMA does it's very best, but in a huge country like the United States, to mobilize itself from one end of the country to other, it is very slow and not very efficient,” Bitterman noted. “We see the disasters and their aftermaths on the nightly news. Eventually FEMA gets there, but until FEMA gets there, there's a huge gap and because there's no citizen mobilization, what happens is people see an armchair analysis of the disaster aftermath on TV. Those images leave a very indelible fear on our psyches – which is unfortunate.

“Whenever someone is confronted with a fear, their response is to prepare,” he noted. “So prepping comes out of that very real fear, that helplessness, of not being cared for or being prepared.”

The hippie era of the 1960s, where many began living in communes to separate themselves from what they viewed as a materialistic society, and the “Ted Kaczynski”-style of survivalist of the 1990s, living

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alone in the woods as they hoped to escape what they believed to be an increasingly oppressive government, were precursors of today's prepper movement, writer Jim Forsyth noted, whether they are on the right or left politically, are concerned about no government.

“With our current dependence on things from the electric grid to the internet, things that people have no control over, there is a feeling that a collapse scenario can easily emerge, with a belief that the end is coming, and that it is all out of an individual's control,” Cathy Gutierrez, author of The End that Does: Science and Millennial Accomplishment, commented.

John Ramey started the blog “The Prepared” in 2018, and it has ballooned to such a point that it now offers not only the basics of emergency preparedness and prepping checklists for all kinds of situations, “bug out bag” checklists, but a variety of emergency and survival courses, such as austere first aid, water essentials, prepping basics bootcamp, knife sharpening and maintenance, kits for purchase ranging in price from $96 for a simple firestarter kit to $2,762 for a 30-pound bug out bag – and loads of options in between.

The website also includes several reviews and guides on preparing for a variety of scenarios, on how to prepare and survive earthquakes and hurricanes, severe heat, a kidnapping, to how to prepare for and survive civil unrest. There is also a forum to communicate with others.

Ramey said the “number one time when people use their prepping supplies is after a job loss – they're tapping their rainy day fund, eating their freeze-dried food and other supplies, their medical, so their kids don't go hungry and they don't need to go to the ER.” What is a “bug out bag” and should you have one? A bug out bag, or go bag, is essentially an emergency kit of things you would need if you “bugged out” of your home. According to The Prepared, building your own bug out bag is “one of the most most important steps you should take to get prepared. These packed and ready bags serve as your 'I need to leave home right now!' kit, and as useful supplies if you’re sheltering at home.”

While sites like Preppi and Uncharted Supply offer prepared bug out bags, individuals can put together their own, and if they buy one, should personalize a purchased one.

A

ccording to The Prepared, an essential bug out bag is under 20 pounds, and covers the essentials of what you need to survive and recover away from home, such as portable water in a canteen, water filter, first aid kit, food that's ready to eat, your documents on a USB file, a field knife and multitool, lighter, tarp, toilet paper, a jacket, cash, hat, underwear, socks and pants, storage bags and ziplocs, and USB charging cable and wall plug, among other essentials.

A level 2 bag is under 35 pounds and contains a sleeping bag and pad, a second flashlight, a portable stove for boiling water, food that needs boiling, wet wipes, compass, pistol and holster, and other items.

A level 3 bag is less than 45 pounds, and in addition includes a tent, rod fire starter and striker, battery charger, hand sanitizer, hand saw, duct tape, whistle and carabiners.

At ready.gov, FEMA provides advice on how to build a basic disaster supplies kit, such as one gallon of water per day per person for several days for drinking and sanitation; a three-day supply of non-perishable food; a flashlight and extra batteries; first aid kit; dust mask; manual can opener; cell phone with chargers and back up batteries; local maps; moist toilettes, garbage bags and ties, for personal sanitation; plastic sheeting and duct tape, to shelter in place; and a whistle to call for help.

Bounds of Queens College advises to add necessary things that are personal for you, such as proper medications and prescriptions, extra glasses and contact lenses, pet food, diapers and formula, and determine a meeting place for your family if you can't go home.

“Also, determine if you have to leave home, where would you go?” she said. “These are serious plans to share with family members. If there's a serious situation, you either shelter at home, like during the pandemic, or you leave. You have to be prepared for either

contingency and what your needs might be for either. You need to think of your family as an individual. The general rule of thumb that preppers prepare for is one month, while most people just prepare for two weeks.

“Now that we've all sheltered in place, think about how you did it, what you needed, what you liked, and prepare for that,” Bounds said.

“The best advice I have is think about how your family actually lives, what they like, what they drink. What could they do if there was no TV or internet. Think ahead about doing a home garden and canning and preserving.”

“A lot of this is lifestyle,” explains Ramey. “I personally have been in emergency situations where this advice has helped me.”

R

amey said he was in high school when 9/11 occurred; he later became “a Silicon Valley guy. Back in that time, I was on of the first to be outed as a prepper, back in 2009, 2010. Now, more and more of my peers are coming to me to learn. But back then, it was like you were crazy if you were doing this.

“The rise of social media, back in 2008, used by those who were upset that Obama was elected, and they were very vocal – they were different from the traditional survivalists. Thankfully, that stereotype doesn't exist anymore,” Ramey said. “It's lifestyle thinking. It's not the hermit in the woods. I like modern life. But I want to be a capable, independent adult. I believe part of being a capable adult is giving my family CPR or flipping the break wires.

“When we talk about the modern prepping movement, we're not talking about Ted Kaczynski moving to the mountains in a bunker,” he said. “The old stereotype was it was old men who went off the grid. Not now. It's young, old. Fifty-fifty, men and women. It's everyone. Our largest age group is between 25-35. More and more it's normal people. Prepping is just being a mature adult.”

Several people in the prepping movement, like Ramey, compared prepping for an emergency to buying homeowner's or car insurance.

“We have homeowner's insurance if our home burns down. Just because you have car insurance doesn't mean you're going to drive like an idiot,” said Ramey. “Shouldn't we also make sure our family survive the fire in the first place? It's like having a rainy day fund.

You know what to do and are prepared.”

“There are two things that are very important,” Bitterman said.

“The Boy Scouts of America, their motto was always 'Be prepared.'

They've been teaching young people to be prepared for anything.

That's a very resonant piece of our culture. Prepping is part of being an American – part of being able to provide for ourselves. We take great pride in being a self-sustaining nation.

“The other thing, as we magnify the more extreme events from terrorism to hurricanes to wildfires to storms and flooding, snowstorms, and extreme heat and cold, the way we build in this country is for a very stable climate – not for these massive fluxes,” he pointed out.

So, in essence, we must prepare because the system itself is destined – in effect, it's designed – to let us down, whether because sewer systems cannot accommodate 100-year rainfalls every few weeks so flooding occurs; overhead electrical wires were not built to handle wind, rain snow and the growth that has occurred in our communities, so they break and plunge thousands into the dark, leading to extended outages; increased air temperatures leading to increased water temperatures, causing more frequent and more intense hurricanes; out west, increased air temperatures have led to droughts, which provoke and stress depleting water systems and intensify more frequent wildfires.

Add to that the world wide COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdown orders, and an uncertain political state and election concerns, complete with an armed uprising on the American Capital building on January 6, 2021, and many Americans feel unprepared for today's world.

Melissa McDonald, associate professor of psychology, Oakland University, said, “This threat to their health and well-being is one many people haven't experienced before, especially if you're from a

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privileged background, live in an affluent area. The pandemic and shift in their sense of stability in institutions, and the ability of institutions to protect them, really upended their sense of safety and security. In addition, there has been erosion of trust in police and other institutions.

“This fear in the lack of stability of their institutions, in combination with people who are having these fears having the means and mental bandwith to deal with it leads to them becoming preppers, to preparing for the worst,” she said. “If you're dealing paycheck-to-paycheck, you're not prepping – you're just trying to survive the day. It's a combination of a lot of fear, time on their hands and expendable income.”

Hartwell, the dean at Wayne State University, concurred.

“Prepping is an elitist movement – it's available to those who can afford to live off the grid for 30 days,” she said. “You don't have the luxury to worry about stockpiling when you have to get food on the table each day.”

However, Stephanie Preston, professor of psychology at University of Michigan, sees the behavior as primal.

“In my lab, we study how your emotions determine how you make decisions about your resources,” she explained. “People are so used to hoarding money in a bank account. Some part of your brain that you make that decision to hoard money in the bank or under your bed tells you to hoard food and prepare.”

She said it's seen in non-humans, too, where they hoard food to survive storms, droughts, or the winter. Look at squirrels at this time of year, busy acquiring seeds and nuts, and hiding them away to make it through the long winter.

“They have to be busy because seeds falling from trees are only available for so long, and they have to feed off of them for a very long time,” Preston pointed out. “Our research shows psychological stress can initiate this. The more worried you are about your environment and the abundance of your resources, the more people are to want to stockpile, just like money, with canned goods in the basement. But the more extreme the risk is in your environment, the more intensely you endeavor in this behavior – meaning stockpiling water, food to last months or a year.

“In animals, if they're worried something is going to steal from them, they could hide their resources in many places, like squirrels burying nuts in lots of different places, or a powerful animal could fight off intruders, like a bear,” she said, noting human behavior mirrors that of animals.

As fear grows and perceived threats intensify, the choice of what to stash away can grow, and change.

“People during COVID started buying guns,” Preston said. “They felt the need for the gun to protect from intruders, and to protect not only their families, but their stockpile.”

Those with the means, and a strong urge to protect themselves and their families, are doing more than just putting some things into a backpack and a storage cabinet. They are having underground bunkers built beneath their homes.

R

ising S Company of Murchison, Texas, offers “underground living for our clients who want protection for the uncertainties of the future. Our clients want fallout shelters for all sorts of reasons.

Some want to prepare for end of times, others want to prepare for the uncertainty of the country. They want a safe place their family can escape to in unthinkable situations.”

Made completely of steel, Gary Lynch, general manager of Rising S Company, said they have built shelters all over the country “and in many other countries,” ranging in size from 100 square feet to well over 13,000 square feet, ranging in price from $60,000 installed to well into the millions of dollars – all underground. “We can build as large as someone would like,” he said.

Their shelters are be built to be hidden, contain escape doors with tunnels, have surveillance cameras, and living spaces, depending upon size, which include built-in steel furniture, such as bunk beds, bench storage seating, tables with bench seating, shelving, kitchens

and working bathrooms. They have heavy-duty steel security doors, air filtration, solar panels, generators, water tanks, and other amenities.

“They can be as elaborate and as comfortable as your living room, or basic.”

L

ynch said that while in sheer numbers, the most they have built are in Texas and California, “per square mile, I probably have more in Michigan by land mass.

Two of the largest shelters I've done have been in Michigan.” He declined to reveal their locations.

Local municipalities said they're not around here. Bloomfield Hills City Manager David Hendrickson said there have been no requests for underground bunkers, although “some previous homes have had safe rooms built.”

In Birmingham, building official Bruce Johnson said, “Over the years, people who have finished their basements might have built a safe room with valuables, but nothing I would categorize as 'preppers' or bunkers.”

Birmingham planner Nick Dupuis pointed out that in Birmingham “homes are so close, neighbors could see if someone were building a bunker.”

Bloomfield Township planner Andrea Bibby said there have been none built in the township “that we're aware of.”

While for years rumors have run rampant that some wealthy homeowners in Orchard Lake Village have installed large underground bunkers, Gerry McCallum, director of city services, dashed those whispers.

“I'm not aware of any underground bunkers or structures, and I've been here for 22 years,” McCallum said.

Rumblings about a large bunker built at businessman Peter Karmanos' home several years ago, McCallum said, was actually for a 22,000-gallon underground liquid propane gas tank to fuel their generator if they lose power – which did not meet code at the time, but for which they did receive a variance.

Lynch said people who can afford to build an underground bunker do it for the same reason other preppers do – insurance.

“We're a company that sells preparedness, not fear,” Lynch said.

“It's an insurance policy, like auto insurance, travel insurance, health insurance. Insurance is one of the things we spend the most on and hopefully, we get the least from. Ours is like an iron-clad policy because our shelters are made of steel.”

Unlike many other preppers, who are concerned about climate change or immediate climate threats, he said the majority of those who buy and have a bunker installed are concerned about government collapse.

“The federal government is our biggest marketing partner – pushing the shape of our economy, forcing vaccinations,” Lynch said.

“Across the board, there's a concern about an economic collapse, which means no longer food stamps and welfare… Those people who are dependent on the federal government, who are parents – where is their next meal going to come from? By any means necessary. That means if you have to steal. It will start with looting, and those people will become desperate. Then when the grocery stores are empty, it could be people with great wealth. No one will be going to work – they'll be home protecting their loved ones. That's where we come in: we're for people who prepare for that option.”

“Prepping is flattening the curve – the more I don't have to go to the hospital and can be self-reliant, the more the system is able to manage,” said The Prepared's John Ramey. “If I have the ability to be self-reliant, it's my duty to do so.

“People ask if prepping is selfish. I say, no it's not. What's selfish is asking a volunteer to get up in the middle of the night to save your ass.”

Uncharted Supply's Christian Schauf views it as a return to helping others.

“It's coming from a place of abundance. It's people taking care of other people, communities taking care of others, so people aren't isolated in an emergency.”

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FACES

Charlie Burg s a child, Charlie Burg started singing in synagogue and taking piano lessons. Now the Seaholm High School graduate, who grew up in Birmingham, is a singer-songwriter and producer based in Brooklyn who recently signed a deal with Sony Music Publishing.

His road to success would have twists and turns, but no regrets. In 2014, Burg, now 24, went to Denison University in Ohio for his freshman year of college, where he began honing his writing and production skills and played in his first band. The following year, he transferred to the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) program at Michigan State University to study English and Humanities, before finally deciding he wanted to be in music school.

So, he transferred to Syracuse University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in music industry. “This three-year period was when I really put my head down and saw my music career taking shape alongside my schooling,” Burg said. “I met my two managers, Andrew Idarraga and Benji Sheinman, released music consistently and played shows around the world.”

After graduating alongside his managers in 2019, and after months of negotiating, Burg signed his publishing deal with Sony and a record deal with FADER, shortly after they all moved to Brooklyn.

“Also that spring, I began putting together my debut album, which two years later I am closing in on finishing, and will release next spring with an accompanying world tour,” he said.

His managers have been instrumental in his career. A couple of years after meeting them, he was playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Jakarta, Indonesia, with Charlie Burg and the Blue Wave Band (his band for concerts), all while juggling school.

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His organic sound is influenced by R&B, soul and indie rock. “It’s soulful, indie, rock and roll with a singer-songwriter skew,” said Burg, whose favorite artist of all time is Prince, who he discovered later in life after growing up listening to Motown.

He hasn’t forgotten his hometown roots. “I developed my chops being in front of an audience in downtown Birmingham and Royal Oak busking and performing at open mics,” Burg said.

The musicals at Seaholm with band director Tim Cibor helped him develop a strong stage presence.

Burg wouldn’t change his college path if he had it to do over again. “I am really grateful,” he said about his well-rounded education and degree.

“Many artists just write songs and don’t learn the legal language of the business. I wanted to really go full force and I took into account advice from trusted people in my life, like my old teachers and my mother.”

He consistently releases and writes and advises others pursuing the industry to do the same. “My favorite part is starting ideas from scratch with the inception of a musical idea, when I get to just follow my heart,” he said. The most difficult part is to finish a song, added Burg who writes music and lyrics.

Burg also believes in the benefits of uprooting yourself physically.

“If I didn’t transfer to different cities and schools, I wouldn’t have ended up meeting my managers,” he said. “At times it was scary, but I had a feeling in my gut that I had to finish and I landed in the right place.”

Story: Jeanine Matlow

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JUSTICE

ENVIRONMENTAL

EJ ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN POOR, NON-WHITE COMMUNITIES

BY STACY GITTLEMAN

ost Michiganders place a value on natural resources and environmental stewardship. They want to protect the environment so they can enjoy the great outdoors by swimming in a pristine waterway or hiking in the Upper Peninsula.

But that is not the focus of the environmental justice movement. Throughout the country, some communities have been historically wracked with disproportionate pollution levels and infrastructure deficiencies.

Environmental justice is the reckoning with the fact that most of the people who live in these polluted or underserved communities are poor and people of color, and despite some policy at the federal and state level that addresses the issue, little to nothing over the decades has been done to rectify the plight of environmental injustice.

The state of Michigan defines Environmental Justice (EJ) as “the equitable treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, ability, or income and is critical to the development and application of laws, regulations, and policies that affect the environment, as well as the places people live, work, play, worship, and learn.”

In addition to calling for accountability among industry and other polluters, Michigan’s environmental justice activists, government officials, and academic researchers also circle back to much of the environmental issues Downtown Newsmagazine has covered in the past year: water infrastructure, water and land contaminated by industry, and the urgent call to migrate towards greener

energy sources. Flint was always brought up in conversation, serving as the ultimate example of what can happen to an entire city when government fails to protect the most basic human right: access to safe drinking water.

Environmental justice also means reparations to the generations of Black and Brown communities who, not by the will of their own, but through antiquated redlining and segregation zoning laws, forced them to share their backyards with some of the country’s worst polluters.

A discussion about environmental justice would be incomplete without mentioning its roots in the Civil Rights movement. According to congressional reports, when North Carolina proposed dumping soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls into a landfill in tiny Warren County (population 20,972 source: 2010 U.S. Census) in 1982, there was a public protest led by the NAACP and outcry from residents there. The state ultimately went through with its plans – which ultimately contaminated the town’s drinking water.

In a famous photo, several men from the town are in the foreground, lying face down across a road with police in riot gear looking down at them. In the background is a fleet of trucks containing hazardous waste. Five hundred residents were arrested that day for protesting the contamination of their town. And just like those grainy photos from the civil rights movement and the digitized ones from the summer of 2020, the protesters were Black and the armed law enforcement officers were White.

Watching the story unfold from the days when he was an assistant professor at the University of Utah was Paul Mohai. now a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and one of the most sought after advisors for the environmental justice policy movement in the nation, he said the incident was the defining start of the environmental justice movement.

“When North Carolina permitted a hazardous waste dump to be

built in a predominantly African American community, I don’t think anyone anticipated the level of organization and protesting that took place from that community,” recalled Mohai. “Before that, people were not aware of the environmental problems African Americans and other people of color were experiencing. There was a perception that racial minorities were more concerned about equality, jobs, and economic opportunities. The other element that made it newsworthy was that the activists in Warren County received help from various civil rights organizations to organize their protests. The civil rights movement at the time was still not that long ago. And when I saw news coverage of that protest, it made me think, though this country passed the Civil Rights Act (in 1964), there are still some issues that have yet to be resolved.”

According to Mohai, the protests in Warren County prompted a study by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in 1983. It concluded that three of four hazardous waste landfills examined were situated in areas that were majority African American and where families’ incomes were below the poverty line.

By the time Mohai arrived in Ann Arbor in 1987 as an assistant professor at what was then known as the School of Natural Resources, there still were not many studies on environmental racism. Though the GAO report was out, it mainly focused on the South.

Mohai wondered, is this a southern problem or one that is more pervasive?

He began his work researching the environmental attitudes of African Americans. He soon realized little data had been collected on the topic. That was when he first met now U-M Professor Emeritus Bunyan Bryant, who is one of the founding members of the environmental justice movement. He suggested that Mohai read Toxic Waste and Race in the United States. The landmark study, compiled by United Church of Christ in 1987, drew a direct line between the

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placement of toxic waste facilities and communities of poverty and/or color. It also coined the term “environmental racism.”

“Back in 1987, that paper was a life changer for me,” said Mohai, who continued this research and was one of the authors of Toxic Waste and Race at Twenty (2007). “At the time, there was little being written about the possibility that environmental pollution and contamination were impacting some communities more than others. Back in those days, we tended to talk about environmental problems affecting everybody equally. But this report refuted that notion by saying that some groups of people are more affected than others.”

The 2007 revised study revealed that little change or progress had been made in improving the lives or the surrounding conditions for the people who lived in the nation’s most polluted hot zones.

The report stated: “Twenty years after the release of the Toxic Wastes and Race report, racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in the distribution of the nation’s commercial hazardous waste facilities.

People of color are found to be more concentrated around hazardous waste facilities than previously shown… Unequal protection places communities of color at special risk. And polluting industries still follow the path of least resistance, among other findings.”

According to the reports, in 1987, 66 percent of the people living near commercial hazardous waste facilities in Michigan were people of color. The percentage of people of color living in all other areas of the state is 19 percent. Michigan’s disproportionality was found to be the most severe in the entire country. Twenty years later, 65 percent of the people living within three miles of a commercial hazardous waste facility are people of color, despite being only 25 percent of Michigan’s total population.

In 1990, Bryant and Mohai organized the Michigan Conference on Race and the Incidence of Environmental Hazards. That event, and the toxic waste study, were credited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the key two milestones to bring the issue of environmental justice to the attention of the agency.

From there, there were a string of environmental justice legislative actions at the federal level. The George H.W. Bush administration in 1990 established the Environmental Equity Work Group, which determined that “racial minority and low-income populations experience higher than average exposures to selected air pollutants, hazardous waste facilities, contaminated fish, and agricultural pesticides in the workplace.’’ In 1992, Bush established the Office of Environmental Equity, now known as the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, at the EPA. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, which mandated federal agencies to incorporate environmental justice into their work and programs. By 2004, however, a report from the Office of the Inspector General at the EPA noted that the “EPA has not fully implemented Executive Order 12898 nor consistently integrated environmental justice into its day-to-day operations.’’

In 2005, the GAO released a report concluding that “the (EPA) has failed to consistently consider environmental justice in making rules that protect families from environmental degradation and pollution.”

In 2008, Congress passed the Environmental Justice Renewal Act. It stated, “The purpose of this bill is to ensure that every federal agency takes environmental justice into account when carrying our activities and programs; establish an Interagency Working Group on environmental justice; expand and create new grant programs to help communities and states address environmental justice, and increase training and accountability regarding environmental justice at the EPA.” The legacy of environmental grievances here in Michigan and around the country have disproportionately fallen on communities of color. While there have been several pieces of legislation, mostly ineffective, they have attempted to resolve the issue.

Though there are many polluted hotspots in the state, the most notorious, before the Flint Water Crisis erupted, is zip code 48217 in southwest Detroit. At the turn of the 20th century, the rise of the automotive and manufacturing industries and the promise of goodpaying jobs in northern cities free of southern racial persecution attracted many African Americans to move to Detroit and other Michigan cities during the Great Migration. Eventually, city redlining rules segregated black residents into certain neighborhoods, which also

became zoned for industrial and commercial uses, as illustrated by 48217.

In 1959, Marathon Petroleum purchased land in that area. Over the decades, it expanded its tar sand operations to encompass 250 acres, producing 140,000 barrels of oil a day. According to 2011 research by Mohai and his colleagues at U-M, southwest Detroit is home to 10 major polluting factories. Though they emit tons of cancer-causing chemicals, such as manganese, sulfuric acid, nickel, lead, trimethylbenzene, and chromium annually, the factories are considered in compliance with state and federal regulations. Yet, these chemicals are associated with increased risks for cancer, asthma, neurological, cardiovascular and developmental disorders.

The community of zip code 48217 is dissected by I-75 leading to the Ambassador Bridge, on which up to 13,000 trucks travel every day, which residents allege causes respiratory illnesses to those who live nearby. The diesel toxins cause 280 deaths and 380 heart attacks annually in Detroit, according to the grassroots organization Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments.

The median income in zip code 48217 is $42,043 and its five-year unemployment rate is 13 percent. Marathon Oil has invested $350 million in facility improvements in the past decade and has reduced emissions by 80 percent in the last 20 years. In 2020, Marathon paid an $82,000 fine to the state of Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) Department for illegal and toxic emissions and paid $539,000 in community safeguards. With $5 million, it bought out hundreds of homes of homeowners to create buffers of green space between the tar sands and adjacent neighborhoods. Lingering problems from decades of toxic emissions have taken their toll, and residents still suffer grave illnesses.

Instead of taking grievances against polluters on a case by case basis, New Jersey, in 2020, passed the country’s most stringent environmental laws by considering a polluter’s history of violations and its impact on a surrounding overburdened community, defined by the state as communities in census tracts that have high rates of poverty, where at least 40 percent of residents are a minority and 40 percent of households have limited English proficiency. According to the state, New Jersey has 310 municipalities that fit into this category.

It has been touted as the strongest law of its kind in the nation.

Critics of the law, such as state business associations, say the law is too broad and could be a detriment to certain industries.

Environmental justice also means reparations to the generations of Black and Brown communities who, not by the will of their own, but through antiquated redlining and segregation zoning laws, forced them to share their backyards with some of the country's worst polluters.

As a first test for the legislation, the town of Piscataway, New Jersey, considered an overburdened community, is looking to block a largescale development of a warehouse facility close to a public elementary school. Residents there fear the operation of such a facility, which would increase the traffic of diesel-emitting trucks, could be a health hazard to schoolchildren.

The EPA under the Biden Administration appointed its second African American EPA administrator, environmental justice veteran Michael Regan. He was most recently head of the Department of Environmental Equality in North Carolina. Under his watch, the state agency held Duke Energy accountable as it conducted the biggest coal ash cleanup in the country, according to reports from the National Resources Defense Council.

In June and July, the agency announced the availability of two, separate $50 million allocations, part of the American Rescue Plan that will be allocated for environmental justice initiatives. Half of the funds would go to enhance air pollution monitoring in environmental justice communities. The next $50 million would be divided into the following programs, among others: $16.6 million for grants to help cities, states, tribes, and territories to fund education on pollution’s impacts on the environment and public health; $7 million for the Diesel Emissions Act rebate program to address environmental justice issues for reducing diesel pollution; and $5 million will be used to expand civil and criminal enforcement to include monitoring low-income communities and drinking water sources for pollution.

In May, Regan spoke over Zoom at Michigan’s first conference on environmental justice, run by the newly-formed Michigan State Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate, a new post created by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, among other environmental justice policy initiatives.

“Environmental Justice is finally taking the rightful place in the federal government,” said Regan. “It is part of our obligation to empower the people long left out of the conversation.”

In the first days of his administration, President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders to address climate change, build infrastructure and deliver on environmental justice. Among them was Executive Order 14008, or the Justice40 Initiative. It assures that disadvantaged communities that experience a disproportionate amount of unemployment, racial and ethnic discrimination, poverty, and shoulder a lion’s share of environmental degradation should receive 40 percent of climate and clean energy investments through federal grant funding.

However, experts interviewed say it is not clear how or when the administration plans to allocate funding. Both the 1987 and 2007 studies from the UCC prove that programs from governments are largely unsuccessful.

On August 25, the Justice40 Accelerator, a non-profit partnership organization independent of the federal government announced 52 cohort organizations from around the nation it would help facilitate receiving Justice40 funding. Michigan organizations include Detroit Future City, a think tank that looks to advance equity for all Detroiters, and the Highland Park Community Crisis Coalition, an organization formed initially to provide immediate needs and economic relief to Highland Parkers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis which aims to become a long-term source for resilience and equity for residents.

U-M’s Mohai, who has worked for decades on a myriad of state and federal advisory councils and committees about environmental justice, said he is not sure of the timing or mechanisms of how Justice40 funding will make it down to the local government or grassroots level, but above all, when people express what they need in terms of environmental justice, they speak in terms of public health.

“The need that comes up most is improvements in public health.

Whether it’s putting in air filtration systems in the public schools located nearby to industrial sites, retrofitting school busses to reduce diesel emissions, and replacing lead pipes in homes and schools, people generally want funding that will enhance public health.”

At the state level, Gov. Whitmer has put into place several environmental initiatives initiatives first recommended by a 2018 report from the Michigan Environmental Justice Work Group, a body of 33 activists, academics, business and civic community and tribal leaders put together by former Gov. Rick Snyder in 2017, amid the wake of the

The Michigan Conference on Race and the Incidence of Environmental Hazards. That event, and the toxic waste study, were credited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the key two milestones to bring the issue of environmental justice to the attention of the agency.

Flint Water crisis to study environmental inequities.

Under the guidance of the report, Whitmer has initiated an air quality assessment in the school buildings impacted in environmental justice communities, a mobile air monitoring project that visits the hardest hit environmental justice communities to study the particulate matter of pollutants in the air.

Above all, the Whitmer administration passed an executive order for the creation of the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate.

A department within EGLE, the office, headed by environmental activist veteran Regina Strong, oversees interagency communication and roundtable and policy.

Strong, since April 2019, has acted as a statewide point of contact for the public to raise concerns regarding potential environmental justice issues. Her work, guided by the 22-member Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice (MAC EJ), not only focuses on hearing external complaints from the public about environmental problems but also guides and advises government officials across multiple agencies within an Interagency Environmental Response Team. The purpose of this team is to grow awareness of how the complex policies create within individual government agencies and impact the individual living in a region that has disproportionately borne the brunt of pollution caused by industry and infrastructure neglect.

The Office of the EJ Public Advocate, along with community partners in southwest Detroit, also oversees a two-year pilot resiliency project for southwest Detroit funded through a grant from the EPA. Strong said she has long held a passion for wanting to make communities of color, those hit hardest by environmental degradation, to become more resilient as the state works to leave behind its dependence on fossil fuels and the history of pollution that it created.

“It is my job to connect them with the right resources, especially those that have been hardest hit by environmental injustices,” said Strong. “It is my responsibility to give a voice and a seat at the table to those who did not have much of a voice in directing state policy.”

Another part of Strong’s job is to educate and train the EGLE staff to the needs and sensitivities of the environmental justice movement, understanding just what that is and how to implement environmental justice concepts into the workings of EGLE and other state policymakers in transportation, infrastructure, housing, and healthcare – all areas where people living in those communities face additional inequalities.

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“For those working in a regulatory capacity in government, the ongoing challenge for (my office) will be to make them think beyond the regulations,” said Strong. “The folks who are implementing the regulations are not the same who can make changes to the regulations.

The challenge of my role is helping these people see differently.”

Strong held the first in-person meeting with MAC EJ as well as representatives from different government agencies in February 2020.

Then the pandemic hit.

In the earliest days of COVID-19, one of the first issues her office addressed was getting the water turned back on to the poorest people in the state so they could wash their hands.

“That instance was the first evidence that proved the MAC EJ had value. We had water justice warriors right there at the table. Suddenly, access to running water became a real priority. So, right out of the gate, our office had to triage how to help people who suffered from water turnoffs in Detroit and called upon the state to remedy the problem.”

In 2021, Strong formed four areas of focus on research, data planning, training, and communications outreach. Strong also organized several regional listening roundtables for different parts of the state, with Flint having its own separate roundtable. From these roundtables, Strong said much of the concern from the grassroots level revolves around the issues of water: access to clean, drinking water; the quality of water in internal structures like homes, apartments, and schools; PFAS contamination in natural waterways; as well as underserved infrastructure that causes persistent flooding and destruction as Michigan begins to experience the impact of climate change.

Then, there is the issue of the proximity to industrial sites. Some areas have unique problems, Strong said. Those living near active or defunct military training bases fear for their waterways that are contaminated with the forever chemicals of PFAS. Tribal communities in the Upper Peninsula spoke about contamination from mining operations.

Though Strong said she is in communication with federal and White House environmental officials, she has not yet seen a timeline for how funding from the Justice40 Initiative or the infrastructure bill will play out to reach the communities that need them the most.

“I am hopeful that a lot of that funding (proposed by the Justice40 Initiative) is made available and gets to where it is needed to build healthier, more resilient communities.”

When the time comes though, to apply for the funding, nothing speaks more to illustrate cases of environmental injustices in a specific area than robust data.

Another recommendation from the Snyder administration’s Environmental Working Group was the creation of a statewide online mapping tool that pinpoints and ranks where the hardest hit areas are located that is based on statistical data collected across multiple agencies.

In 2017, University of Michigan alumni Michelle Martinez, who graduated in 2008 from School of Environment and Sustainability with a masters in environmental policy and was serving as the statewide coordinator for the grassroots Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, reconnected with professor Mohai with an idea to work with his current students to create a mapping tool to identify the state’s hotspots of environmental racism and injustice. Through in-depth interviews with environmental activists and rigorous quantitative data collecting, Martinez and the students created an environmental justice mapping tool modeled after those created by the USEPA, California EPA, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Scoring was compiled on 11 environmental indicators, such as lifetime cancer risk from breathing in toxins, exposure to lead paint, levels of diesel particulate in the air from commercial vehicle emissions, proximity to hazardous waste facilities, and respiratory hazard index as well as social indicators that looked at statistics such as education levels, employment, poverty and employment rates and households where members had a less than proficient understanding of English. Unlike the mapping tools used in California and Minnesota, the Michigan environmental justice tool did not include public health indicators.

The study then color-coded and ranked each of Michigan’s 2,813 census tracts on an index of environmental injustice. The tracts that scored in the lowest percentiles, meaning they were minimally

impacted by poverty, pollutants, and toxins, were colored green, including Birmingham, which is in the 21st percentile. Those ranking in the highest percentiles – meaning they experienced the most extreme incidences of environmental injustices – showing up as deep red – were found in expected cities like Detroit, Flint – but also ranking high were many tracts in Kent County, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and other less expected areas.

Mohai said the purpose of the mapping tool is to better illustrate the layers of complex data so that funding for these communities can be expedited.

“The map is very informative as a visual way to present statistical data that otherwise stays abstract,” said Mohai, who has served on advisory committees for creating such data tools both at the state and the federal level. “There are tens of thousands of census tracts in the country – how do we know which ones need the most help? The map provides a complete picture and indicates where the concentrations (of environmental injustice) are located.”

The study is the first comprehensive assessment of the status of environmental justice in Michigan. It is providing the basis for EGLE to create an enhanced version of this mapping tool to include other data that was not accessible to students, such as public health statistics.

Strong said that the state has been building the mapping tool for the last 18 months and is close to being released for public comment.

Looking back at her graduate work as she steps down from her post as MECJ’s acting executive director, Martinez hopes that for future generations, the legacy of environmental racism can be a thing of the past.

“The tool helps create a pathway to reduce toxic pollution in Black and Brown communities in Michigan,” said Martinez. “Now, we need policy makers to ensure its success, and get on that road – because no matter what you look like or where you live, access to clean air and water is fundamental to life.”

Martinez is passing the torch to the next environmental justice leaders in the coalition, such as Jamesa Johnson Greer. A native of southwest Detroit, Greer is the coalition’s climate justice director. From an early age, she has witnessed the issues of what happens when a community is overburdened with industry, traffic, and pollution.

“I never realized just how much my family was impacted by pollution on a day-to-day basis until I went away to college,” said Greer. “By the time I started law school, I began to understand how

The legacy of environmental grievances here in Michigan and around the country have disproportionately fallen on communities of color. While there have been several pieces of legislation, mostly ineffective, they have attempted to resolve the issue.

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important it was to utilize the law, and how much knowledge that folks who are living in an environmental justice community could offer through their lived experience.”

Her work has sent her driving around the state to cities and towns in Kent County, which received some of the highest percentile rankings on the environmental justice map. These are communities living with legacy polluters: industries like long-defunct paper and logging mills that left behind their toxins for decades to come.

“The reality is, in Michigan, environmental justice is not just a Detroit issue,” said Greer. “And when we bring the statistics up to legislators, they are a bit reluctant to deal with it because Michigan prides itself on being industry friendly. We need to challenge this a bit and say, we want to be friendly to industries, but they need to be friendly and responsible to the towns and communities in which they do business.”

In addition to disproportionate exposure to pollutants, Greer said those living in environmental justice communities live in neighborhoods that are more prone to flooding.

“Every time it rains, and your basement is flooded, that is hurting your generational wealth investment of homeownership for many Black and Brown families,” Greer said. “We are glad to see that (persistent flooding problems) in environmental justice communities are being viewed as a problem where President Biden will focus some Justice40 and other climate policy funding, because these are communities that are often left behind. And oftentimes, the same communities which are dealing with flooding are dealing with the presence of industrial smokestacks and unreliable power from utilities.”

Greer said that success in the environmental justice movement will depend upon what happens after the polluters stop polluting. She wonders, when the air is cleaner, will there also be investment in education and union jobs that will help build the infrastructure and create a more localized energy economy with more choices than just two utilities? Yet she understands that training and jobs and a better infrastructure will not make a difference if industrial polluters are still allowed to pollute and degrade the air that people breathe.

“For environmental justice to happen, polluters need to change their ways,” she said. “The problem is that the regulatory framework looks at polluters on a site-by-site, case-by-case basis. They don’t take into account the total cumulative amount they have polluted an area, they don’t take into account the real, tangible outcomes that have damaged the health of generations of people. And then (the law) continues to permit them to pollute more. If we stop the pollution, then people can continue to maintain their communities right. They can continue to live and thrive.”

Understanding the problem and taking action are often two different sides of the same coin. The first complaint filed with the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate was by the nonprofit Great Lakes Law and Policy Center in July 2020, on behalf of the residents who live near the U.S. Ecology Plant on the border of Hamtramck and Detroit.

The 59-page Title IX Civil Rights complaint opposed EGLE approving a nine-fold increase to activities of the U.S. Ecology North to handle PFAS forever chemical remediation at their facility in January 2020. The census tract of Hamtramck is in the 93.4th percentile on the EJ mapping tool, the 92nd percentile for low-income housing, 70th percentile for minority populations and the 94th percentile for the national Air Toxics Cancer Risk score.

The complaint stated the following: “EGLE (approved the permit) even though the facility is in a densely populated low-income community of color that already includes another commercial hazardous waste facility just to the south as well as a number of other industrial sites that have caused nearby residents physical and mental harm. In doing so, EGLE is continuing a history of discriminatory practices that has plagued this neighborhood since the 1940’s.”

Great Lakes Law and Policy Center Executive Director Nicholas Leonard said his organization is still in negotiations with EGLE to settle the complaint.

Regarding the office of the Public Advocate, Leonard said giving people a voice is a good start, but the question is how that voice is going to translate into measurable improvements for environmental justice communities.

Though there are many polluted hotspots in the state, the most notorious is zip code 48217 in southwest Detroit…City redlining rules segregated Black residents into certain neighborhoods, which also became zoned for industrial and commercial uses, as illustrated by 48217.

“It’s one thing to listen to people when they say their community bears an unfair burden of pollution, to listen to people express the health hazards environmental degradation has on their community, it’s another thing to act on them,” said Leonard, who was served as a member of Gov. Whitmer’s Environmental Justice advisory council. “In the case with U.S. Ecology (where the expansion permit was granted), we are waiting to see how this listening is going to turn into action.”

Leonard summed up what is needed – money to address the historical inequities, and policy and regulations to stop future inequities.

“Will the money (proposed by the Biden Administration) address the residents’ concerns?” Leonard pondered. “Maybe. Those living near U.S. Ecology want to upgrade their air filtration systems and they are unwilling to be relocated away from their community. But grant money only gets you so far. They can address historical inequities but they cannot stop future inequities from happening. What is needed is future laws and regulations that will make it incredibly difficult for corporations and the siting of industries and industrial waste facilities to continue to site activities in communities of color. Otherwise, in 30 years from now, the same communities will have the same concerns. “ One neighborhood in Flint is battling yet another threat to the quality of the environment they live in. Last January, Troy-based Ajax Paving Industries proposed to build a new asphalt facility just over city lines in Genesee Township, near a Flint neighborhood that scored in the 82nd percentile on the EJ map and applied for an EGLE permit. The air use permit would mandate the asphalt plant follow emission limits, meet testing requirements and monitor and keep records of the fact that they are meeting permit requirements, according to a proposed project summary from EGLE. Yet Flint residents, backed by Michigan United and a coalition of citizen organizers, feel that they have borne enough of the brunt of the state’s polluting industries. The neighborhood also scored 75th percentile on the National Air Toxics Assessment Cancer Risk Score, 75th percentile for low-income housing, and 99th percentile for unemployment.

Michigan United’s environmental lawyer Eric Ini is the organization’s environmental justice director, who said he was pleased he was able to extend the public hearing and comments with the EPA through September 22.

In 2020, the organization was victorious against Marathon Oil Refinery and won $5 million for buyouts for Black homeowners in

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southwest Detroit. Now, they want to accelerate the pace of such victories for others suffering in the state, such as in Flint.

“Michigan United and its coalition members have been campaigning relentlessly to stop Ajax from getting a permit to build an asphalt plant in a predominantly Black community, already overburdened with pollution from other factories located in the area,” said Ini. “(Our) goal is to present facts and evidence to EGLE to urge them not to grant the permit to Ajax. Where is Governor Whitmer in this? She has the power to override decisions by EGLE. If she is passionate about environmental justice, then she must use her power to do these practical things. Yes, Whitmer campaigned on fixing roads, and we all need roads, but why does yet another factory need to be put in a Black community? That’s what we call environmental racism.”

Strong of Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate knows that as the state’s environmental justice ombudsman, her job comes with criticism. She acknowledged that her office staff needs to grow.

For now, the office consists of herself and Environmental Justice and Tribal Liaison Katie Kruse. Though Strong said her two-person office is working to their capacity to best advise about the needs of residents to state and local government agencies as well as to be in constant conversation with the EPA, she acknowledges her office needs to expand to meet the needs and to adequately hear out the petitions from those at the grassroots level.

“We need to expand and we know that. There is so much we can do in terms of influencing policy and getting responses to the people and communities that need them. As much as our capacity allows, we are engaged in as many places we can be.”

An example is recently, one of the places requesting Strong’s attention is Benton Harbor in Berrien County. According to the EJ mapping tool, the four-square-mile city with a population of about 10,000 people scored in the 95th percentile. In other environmental justice indicators, it ranked in the 91st minority percentile, 89th housing burdened low-income households percentile, and 99th percentile for poverty.

On September 9, activists there filed a petition with the EPA for emergency help after enduring high levels of lead in their drinking water for the past three years. The 35-page petition states that residents “continue to live with significant and dangerous levels of lead contamination three years after the contamination was first discovered with no immediate solution in sight.”

One grassroots organizer who feels that Strong’s office could be doing more is faith leader Rev. Edward Pinkney, president of the grassroots Benton Harbor Community Water Council. Though he said he is encouraged that Governor Whitmer on September 8 announced she had allocated $20 million to remove every lead service line in Benton Harbor and $200 million to remove lead pipes throughout the state within five years with an expansion to the MI Clean Water Plan, citizens need immediate help in receiving shipments of bottled water and assistance in properly installing water filters on their home faucets.

He also believes the city would have received more attention if not for the fact that 85 percent of the residents there are Black.

“Until the lead lines are replaced, we need a better distribution and education plan from the Berrien County Health Department. We know that the water filters are just a band-aid to the problem. But the right outreach, education and information, especially to our elderly residents, would help the community.”

According to a 2020 Consumer Confidence Water report filed with Benton Harbor regarding water quality, recorded lead levels were at 23 parts per billion (ppb). But Pinkey said lead levels taken from other water samples in some homes tested much higher. Under the state’s current lead and copper law, the safety threshold is 15 parts per billion.

“For the last three years, Benton Harbor has had extremely high lead levels – between 489 and as high as 605 (parts per billion),” said Pinkey.

Pinkey said that Whitmer, with her announcement to speed up the lead line replacement process, finally proved what Benton Harbor residents have been saying all along: It should not take 20 years to remove the lead pipes.

Regarding the increased attention and funding the EPA has proposed for underserved communities poisoned with lead pipes, Pinkey was encouraged by the developments at the federal level and said that is why he reached out beyond the state for help. Even with

Whitmer’s announcement to boost funding, he is still skeptical she can deliver.

“We didn’t want to file a petition, but (the state) left us no choice because they were not moving in the right direction,” said Pinkey. “But we still have to wait to see if Whitmer is going to do what she said she would do in that announcement. She still has to go through the state Republican legislature, and I don’t believe for one second they will give her this victory.”

In a response statement released to Downtown Newsmagazine by EGLE, spokesperson Hugh McDiarmid Jr. said that EGLE has been working diligently with the city of Benton Harbor to reduce lead in their drinking water in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, while the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services works with the residents and local health department to minimize any potential health impacts while the water infrastructure needs of the city are addressed.

EGLE said Benton Harbor, with the agency’s supervision in March 2019, installed corrosion control treatment technology at its water plant to reduce the amount of corrosivity in the water. EGLE also helped Benton Harbor secure $5.6 million in EPA funding for lead service line replacement and a corrosion control study, which is currently underway to improve the effectiveness of the corrosion control program. Benton Harbor has also begun the process of replacing an estimated 6,000 service lines – many of which are suspected to be lead – still in service.

By September 12, Strong was on her way to meet with Pinkey and other Benton Harbor residents to assess the immediate needs for bottled water distribution and assistance with water filter installations.

“Rev. Pinkey is a fierce advocate for his community,” Strong said in an interview on the road back between Benton Harbor and Lansing. “I understand the sense of urgency he has for the people he represents. I have had many conversations with Rev. Pinkey about building that sense of urgency internally (within state agencies). I think the governor’s announcement in terms of the investment is all part of that internal working to try to make sure that we help as quickly as possible to correct the lead service line issues in Benton Harbor. But it will still take five years, and in the meantime, we need to address the fact that people will need bottled water and education in installing those water filters.

“And for right now, that’s where we are.”

The problem is that the regulatory framework looks at polluters on a siteby-site, case-by-case basis. They don’t take into account the total cumulative amount they have polluted an area, they don’t take into account the real, tangible outcomes that have damaged the health of generations of people.

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S. Kirk Walsh t is hard to publish a novel,” states S. Kirk Walsh. The writer, who has made a career as a journalist, book reviewer, and now, with the spring release of The Elephant of Belfast, a published author, dispels the notion of a young graduate writing a book and seeing it on shelves within a few years.

Walsh says that writing “didn’t come naturally to her.” As someone who struggled with dyslexia as a child, the former Birmingham resident and Cranbrook Kingswood alum recalls finding her footing on the tennis court and lacrosse field as opposed to on the page. Yet while she says that she discovered her passion for writing during her junior year of college when she spent a semester abroad in London, she also remembers writing weekly stories in her fifth grade class at Birmingham’s Quarton Elementary School, as well as lessons from her teacher, Mrs. Weiner at Kingswood, who taught her to “always read with a pencil or pen in your hand to underline passages. I’ve been a book reviewer for a long time, and you mark up the book a lot when you’re reviewing, so I think of her a lot.”

For Walsh, writing and reading are fundamentally intertwined. As a student in the graduate creative writing program at New York University, she says that “I definitely felt like I got my education around literature and writing.” Again citing the influences of her teachers, she continues that “probably my most influential teacher was E.L. Doctorow, who taught me that reading is just as important as the writing part. To be a fiction writer, you have to be reading a lot to build an understanding of narrative and character.”

When Walsh is not writing, she, too, is an educator, running an adult fiction workshop in Austin, Texas, her home since 2004.

The Elephant of Belfast is Walsh’s third finished novel, but she believes that there is a reason it is the first one to reach a wide audience.

“We traveled to Belfast, and I interviewed survivors of the Belfast Blitz and zookeepers at the zoo. I got a lot of great material that I built the narrative around, but over time, I also trusted my imagination to make things up,” she said.

Readers are clearly connecting with the story despite the book’s release in the midst of a global pandemic. “One thing I wasn’t expecting was the book ecosystem on Instagram. There’s a lot of book-grammers out there, writing little reviews, and I’m getting tagged,” from as far away as Australia. She also saw readers in person at the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book in September, as well as during a class visit to Cranbrook's Upper School in late September.

Walsh’s next novel will take her back home to metro Detroit, where she grew up and where she still has family. “I feel a wind at my back now as I work on my next book, a little more support, it feels a little less daunting. I know Detroit in my bones, so it’s a little easier. … It feels nice to be thinking about home. There’s a nice connection to place.”

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City accepts District Lofts impact study

By Kevin Elliott

reliminary plans for a four-story, mixed use building in Birmingham’s Rail District were lauded by the city’s planning board on Thursday, September 9, as the board reviewed plans and a community impact study for a third and final phase of the District Lofts.

The building, which would replace the site of The Reserve, 325 S. Eton, with a 59,077-square-foot building consisting of a mix of commercial and residential space on the first floor and room for nearly 50 residential units on the upper three floors. The development is part of an overall 143,593 square-foot campus that encompasses the area from Villa Street to East Maple, between S. Eton and the railroad.

Because of the overall size of the development, the applicants, Birmingham Lofts LLC, is required to submit a community impact study.

While a study was submitted for the original project, it was required to be updated to include the third phase of the project.

Planning board members unanimously approved accepting the study with four conditions. Those conditions include: providing a public access easement between the sidewalk and street; indicating an area for collection of recyclables in a dumpster enclosure; and indication on the plans for a fire lane on the east side of the building. The board also approved a preliminary site plan and design review for the site, which included the conditions.

“This is a beautiful submittal,” said Birmingham Planning Board Chairman Scott Clein about the proposal and plans submitted. “We appreciate all the hard work, and I’m thrilled about the smaller units and parking on-site, and no transportation issues.”

The overall campus consists of five buildings, including the Big Rock Chop House, The Reserve, a four-story private parking deck, District Lofts building A and District Lofts building B. Both of the existing District Loft buildings account for about 90,000 square feet of commercial space, live-work units and residential units. The third building will include 74 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units.

Planning board member Bryan Williams said the residential units are smaller than those in the other buildings — a push that coincides with the city’s master plan, which calls for more affordable housing options in the city.

Architect Victor Saroki, who is on the development team for the project, said the smaller units are a direct result of market demand for more affordable housing in the city.

“We are seeing the need for smaller units,” he said. “The smallest in the other buildings are 1,400 square feet, and they go to 1,800 square feet and some are 2,000 square feet or bigger. The bulk of our (new) units are 700 square feet. We are seeing a need by younger, professional people that want to live in Birmingham, who want to live in this area — this is an exciting part of town — but we want to make it more approachable. We are seeing a need for it. We are always getting requests for something smaller, and this is the time to deliver it.”

While the existing building housing The Reserve will be replaced by the new project, Saroki sought to address concerns about the future of the Big Rock Chop House, which is housed in the historic train station.

Big Rock owners Bonnie and Norman LePage announced the day prior to the Sept. 9 meeting that they would be closing the restaurant at the end of 2021. The building is listed in the city’s historic properties, with changes required to be reviewed by the Birmingham Historic District Commission.

“There is some interest in the train station,” Saroki said. “The train station is the crown jewel of this site, and it’s going to remain. We are working with Wakefield and there is some local interest and some national interest. It may be a restaurant, it may be something else. We really don’t know right now.”

In terms of design, the building will be similar to the existing District Lofts buildings, but will vary in some of the texture and aesthetics, including a variations to the windows and balconies.

“We did two buildings that are pretty much identical, and we are intentionally changing the materials, including changing the windows and balcony details,” Saroki said. “We want it to be a companion building, kind of like a sister building, but not just another District Lofts building. We think that adds more interest to the campus.”

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Big Rock Chophouse to close end of year

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham's Big Rock Chophouse, set in the iconic Birmingham Train Station, will close for dinner and private events at the end of December, owners Norman and Bonnie LePage announced on Wednesday, September 8.

Big Rock Chophouse is located at 245 S. Eton Street in the historic Birmingham Train Station. Prior to opening as Big Rock Chophouse, the train station was restored in 1984 and converted into a signature restaurant called Norman’s Eton Street Station by restaurateurs Norman and Bonnie LePage, who began their long tenure in hospitality when they quit their jobs in 1969 and opened a doughnut shop.

Their career includes more than 40 years of experience managing and operating some of the area’s most popular dining destinations, including The Squires Table and Nifty Normans in Walled Lake, to overseeing events and the opening of The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham in 1988.

Big Rock Chophouse has offered classic steakhouse fare with innovative twists, and became a popular dining destination, along with its Got Rocks, A Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge, located upstairs from the main dining room.

Big Rock Chophouse will be open for dinner and private events through Friday, December 31, 2021. The restaurant building will reportedly be available for lease after that date.

“We’ve been in this location for almost 40 years and the time has come for a changing of the guard,” stated Norm LePage. “We’re hoping all of our valued customers will want to enjoy dinner with us a few more times before we close. Our entire loyal and dedicated staff are planning on staying with us until the end. We will be working on placing them at some of our other restaurant locations including Lumen Detroit and Griffin Claw Brewing Company.”

To lay to rest unconfirmed reports circulating for the past month that the site will eventually become live/work units like those already in the Rail District, the restaurant building is not planned for removal, according to a spokeswoman for Big Rock Chophouse but will remain for lease. However, the neighboring events space, The Reserve, could well end up as a site for live/work units, a topic now that was discussed by the city planning board.

The Birmingham Train Station was

first opened on August 1, 1931, as the Birmingham Grand Trunk and Western Railroad Depot. Often compared to being a scaled-down imitation of the Birmingham, England, train station, the building is old Tudor Revival style and, at the time of its opening, was considered “modern” in every aspect. The roof was made from Vermont slate using a blended multicolor design. The structure’s herringbone pattern brick construction with half-timber in the gables became a recognizable trademark. This train depot was the third built to service the city of Birmingham and was a stop on the line between Detroit and Pontiac.

Eventually maintenance costs and lack of use resulted in the closing of the railroad depot in 1978.

The building sat empty until 1984, when it was restored and converted into a signature restaurant by Norman and Bonnie LePage. It was named Norman’s Eton Street Station until 1997, when the LePage’s and their partners, Ray and Mary Nicholson, officially transformed it into Big Rock Chophouse. Today, much of the train station can still be found in the décor.

The chandeliers hanging in the main dining room and entrance area are the same chandeliers displayed 80 years ago. All the restaurant’s windows are the original train station windows backed on the inside with new double pane windows. Many of the booths used throughout the restaurant were original seating found in the train station that was redesigned. Even the canopy at the entrance of the restaurant is the same one the train station used.

Planners suggest delay of part of road project

By Kevin Elliott

Part of the plans to break ground next year on the southern portion of S. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham should be put on hold, according to several members of the city’s planning board at their meeting on Wednesday, August 25.

The South Old Woodward Reconstruction Project Phase 3 is scheduled to begin in 2022, running from Brown to Landon streets. One of the key goals of the project is to improve safety for pedestrian and vehicles, with many of the same streetscape and traffic calming elements installed along N. Old Woodward and S. Old Woodward north of Brown Street.

Planning board members on Wednesday, August 25 were presented with a preliminary design concept by

MKSK Landscape Architect and project manager Haley Wolfe. Though board members were receptive of the design, they questioned the timing of the project.

“I question the timing with what is happening in the south end,” said board member Bryan Williams. “We have RH (Restoration Hardware) – a major construction project, which they estimate is going to take two years to complete, at the corner of Brown and S. Old Woodward. We have another project further south. And we have the master plan (Birmingham 2040 master plan), where the planning board was almost united in that we needed to do something south of the 555 Building.

And, I think the master plan suggests traffic be rerouted at that point over to Woodward and not go down to Landon.

“My point is real simple: I think we have a great potential here to waste a lot of the city’s money by doing this right now, then changing it two years from now when the master plan is adopted,” Williams continued. “I think the south end needs attention. There’s no question that many of the proposals are really good and I like them. My question is timing. I think this should be

put off for two or three years and study what develops at the south end before we spend a lot of money and then have to rip it up three years from now.”

Wolfe said the plan improves walkability and safety; adds green space and seating; reduces vehicle conflicts and speeds; eases convenience for bus stops; provides parking for scooters and bicycles; and considers electric vehicle parking.

Among the elements are diagonal parking, which improves safety and visibility; updated ADA parking spaces; three additional pedestrian crosswalks; and curb bump-outs, which provide shorter road crossings, slower traffic and increased visibility.

However, improved safety comes at an additional cost: parking reductions.

The plan calls for reducing on-street parking from 154 spaces to 98 spaces.

Wolfe said the utilization rate is expected to go from 36 percent in June 2021 to 57 percent when completed.

Planning board member and architect Bert Koseck noted that parking is a concern that should be considered when drafting and discussing the plan.

“My fundamental concern is that utilization rates are a snapshot in time,”

Koseck said. “If you build this, we are stuck with this for 50 years, so we have to think about the future, and in this area, to the best of my knowledge, there won’t be any additional public parking… I’m less concerned about utilization and more about parking loss and what is there today.”

Koseck said each parking space represents thousands in potential revenue to adjacent businesses.

“Please be aware of the fact that parking is so precious,” he said. “This is the cheapest way the city can provide parking. We need to make sure we are finding that proper balance between beauty, pedestrian safety and finding a place to park.”

Board member Janelle Boyce said she was happy to see considerations taken for improved safety, such as reducing parking close to intersections to increase visibility. “It’s nice to see this much thought into that piece of it,” she said.

Board member Jason Emerine concurred with the need to increase pedestrian safety, pointing out curb bump-outs to shorten walkways across Old Woodward. “It’s dangerous to cross in the south end,” he said.

Part of the challenge in slowing traffic pertains to vehicles entering Old Woodward from Woodward, said board member Robin Boyle. Vehicles speed across Woodward to beat oncoming traffic, then must slow down as they enter Old Woodward.

“If you come off of big Woodward, you’re faced with a very wide road that needs to slow down coming north into downtown,” Boyle said. “We must deal with this canyon of a road, which is supposed to be a slow road coming into downtown.”

Boyle suggested the possibility of taking on a partial construction project, with part of the Phase 3 project being completed after the city’s master plan is complete.

Emerine agreed. “It would be awful to spend a boat load of money in the south end there and then have to tear it up two years later,” he said. “Maybe it is possible to do what Robin said, to do part of it or not. Then I guess my question is, who decides that? The commission? Do we voice this concern to the commission and tell them what we think of this?”

“I think we just did,” planning board chair Scott Clein said.

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City to maintain North Old Woodward deck

By Kevin Elliott

Birmingham city commissioners on Monday, September 13, approved a contract to repair the N. Old Woodward parking structure, seemingly settling questions about the longevity and place of the facility in the city’s future.

Commissioners unanimously approved the contract with Smith’s Waterproofing for $891,303 for parking structure repairs throughout the city's system, with the majority of work in 2022 focusing at the N. Old Woodward deck. The structure underwent emergency repairs in early 2020, after pieces of concrete fell off the facade and damaged a vehicle exiting.

Commissioner Mark Nickita said he was reluctant to approve additional repairs for the structure, which he said may better serve another purpose in the future.

“This is our oldest (garage) in the group of five that we have, and I have always felt that there is a higher and better use for that site,” he said.

“Given the fact that there is now a million-and-a-half dollars invested – and I understand that some of that was required based on safety issues because the deck was literally falling apart, and I think it continues to be in that position – adding another million now with what seems to be an additional few million that will potentially happen, we are essentially saying this deck is going to be here for a long time.”

Commissioner Clinton Baller also questioned the logic of putting money into the parking deck, which he said may be better suited for other uses.

“I think it’s imperative to begin a process of planning for that parcel,” Baller said. “We aren’t doing that, yet.

We would know a lot more if we are throwing good money after bad if we had a good plan for that parcel and knew if we wanted to keep the N. Old Woodward deck for another 20 or 30 years or tear it down in five and do something different.”

Birmingham Police Commander Scott Grewe, who oversees the parking operations under the police department, said a recent assessment of the parking decks noted the deck could withstand another 10 to 30 years of operation with proper maintenance.

Nickita said while the city should plan for the future of the site, those plans appear to be developing by the necessity of the repairs.

“By the investment we have 72

City police receives MACP accreditation

By Lisa Brody

ollowing an extensive accreditation process, the Birmingham Police Department has officially obtained the status of an accredited agency through the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

Birmingham Police Chief Mark Clemence was awarded the official certificate of accreditation by Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) Director of Professional Development Neal Rossow, MACP Executive Director Robert Stevenson, and MACP President Ronald Wiles at the Birmingham City Commission meeting on Monday, August 23.

Accreditation is a progressive way of helping law enforcement agencies assess and improve their overall performances. A thorough selfanalysis was completed to determine which existing operations already met some of the accreditation standards, and how procedures could be adapted to meet the standards and professional objectives.

Once procedures were in place, a team of trained state commission assessors verified that applicable standards were successfully implemented. A hearing was held by the accreditation commission to review the assessors’ report and conduct an interview with Clemence and the accreditation team. The accreditation commission voted unanimously to approve the Birmingham Police Department accredited status.

The Birmingham Police Department is one of only six percent of all law enforcement agencies, along with the Bloomfield Township Police Department, in the state that have reached this accreditation status.

“As chief of police it is my duty to ensure we deliver the highest quality standards, transparency with the public, and meet the needs and expectations of our citizens. This program goes a long way to ensure we do all of those things,” said Clemence. “The men and women who serve this department work extremely hard and I could not be more proud of them.”

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already put into this, and the amount we would potentially put into it now and going forward in the next couple years, it would be beyond the point of return,” he said. “I think it would be difficult to tell the public that we spent $6 million on a deck and now we are going to reevaluate the deck for redevelopment of some sort or tear it down. I think that decision has already been made, unfortunately, because we have invested a notable amount of money, and frankly if we don’t invest in it now, it’s going to start to be detrimental to potential safety issues.”

Commissioners unanimously agreed to approve the contract. A competing contractor and labor union representatives encouraged the commission to reconsider the contract with Smith’s and choose a unionsupported contractor.

The N. Old Woodward parking structure had been proposed for replacement in recent years as part of a larger development plan to add retail development to the site, including RH, which is now scheduled to be built on S. Old Woodward, but voters rejected a bond proposal that would have funded the parking deck replacement.

Birmingham parking garage contracts set

By Kevin Elliott

Although no emergency repairs are needed at any of Birmingham’s five parking structures, work will commence at four of the facilities following approval on Monday, September 20, by city commissioners.

The city’s police department took over parking management responsibilities last year. That move was made following emergency repairs made at the city’s N. Old Woodward parking deck after pieces of the structure’s facade fell off and damaged a vehicle.

“This is not within the (police) mission, but they have willingly picked it up, and they do whatever I ask in terms of getting this stuff done,” said Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus about the department’s oversight of the parking system. “I want to commend them for their teamwork and willingness to step up and help out the situation.”

Birmingham Police Commander Scott Grewe said structural assessments have been done at each

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of the five structures, along with a review of operations and service contracts. He said the contract with SP Plus Corporation, which manages day-to-day operations of the structures, had several areas of concern.

Grewe said the review showed the city’s contract with SP Plus was “fraught with paragraphs and provisions whereby it would appear as though the employees of SP Plus were acting more as and assuming responsibilities as though they were Birmingham employees.

“Therefore, it became necessary to rewrite and rework this contract so as to make it very clear that the employees of SP Plus are not under the domain and umbrella of the city of Birmingham, and, thereby not assuming any responsibilities and liabilities for SP Plus employees.”

Commissioners on September 20 approved an updated version of the contract with SP Plus. Grewe said the changes related to the issues regarding employees, not the cost of the contract.

The city operates five parking structures, including the Pierce Street parking structure, 333 Pierce Street; Park Street parking structure, 333 Park Street; North Old Woodward parking structure, 333 N. Old Woodward; Chester Street Parking Structure, 180 Chester; Peabody Street parking structure, 222 Peabody.

Grewe said structural assessment reports have been completed for four of the city’s parking structures, including a five-year plan to address all repairs needed. Repairs were broken into three categories: immediate recommendations, or those needed within a year; nearterm recommendations, or those needed within one to two years; and long-term repairs, for those needed within three to five years. While no emergency repairs were found to be needed, there were several items in the immediate category.

City commissioners also approved contracting with Pullman SST for maintenance work at the city’s Park, Peabody and Chester streets structures in the amount of $436,500.

The approval comes on the heels of a $891,303 contract approval for work at the N. Old Woodward structure.

The funds are budgeted from the city Automobile Parking System Fund, which has a balance of about $18,575,611. The company has done repairs for structures owned by the city of Detroit and Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Grewe said most of the repairs 10.21

relate to joint seals, waterproofing, clearing clogged drain lines and removing and replacing damaged drains and covers.

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff questioned whether work was needed for the Pierce Street structure this year. Grewe said the assessment of the Pierce Street structure is “ongoing” and will be addressed in the spring.

The Morrie expansion of outdoor dining set

By Kevin Elliott

Outdoor dining at The Morrie, 260 N. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham, will be expanded by 32 seats in 2022 following special approval on Monday, September 20, by the Birmingham City Commission.

Commissioners approved a special land use permit, site plan and design review for a 600-square-foot dining platform with a short list of exceptions, including a sunset provision intended to allow for adjustments for future changes to the city’s outdoor dining regulations.

Restauranteur Aaron Belen and his AFB Hospitality Group opened The Morrie in 2019, which included an outdoor dining patio for 14 tables.

However, Belen, along with many other restaurants in the city, were permitted to expand outdoor dining during the pandemic to compensate for state-wide dining restrictions. Those restrictions were withdrawn at the end of June, requiring restaurants to return to preCOVID outdoor dining restrictions.

The Birmingham Planning Board is working with city staff to rewrite the city’s outdoor dining ordinance to provide expanded dining opportunities throughout the year. In order to permit some expanded dining, planning board members recommended placing a sunset provision on current outdoor dining approvals so that they can be adjusted to align with the new ordinance when it’s complete.

Belen, who appeared before the city commission on September 20, said the expanded dining was well received by customers and is an important part of the restaurant's business model moving forward. Likewise, he said nearby businesses have enjoyed the increased foot traffic spurred by outdoor dining.

City commissioner Mark Nickita concurred, saying that outdoor dining is a clear benefit to the area. However, he said he saw a necessity to place a sunset on the approval as the city is in the process of rewriting its outdoor dining ordinance to provide more downtownpublications.com

opportunities to local restaurants.

“I encourage outdoor seating beyond (the existing season), but if we approve this for the long term, there are issues with that,” Nickita said.

“The sunset provision allows us to recognize that deviation.”

The provision was recommended by members of the Birmingham Planning Board, which reviewed The Morrie’s request for expanded outdoor dining.

The planning board worked with Belen to reduce the size of the proposed platform, reducing the number of public parking spaces utilized for the platform to four spaces, down from five.

City commissioners debated whether the deck could be reduced or expanded to further manipulate the number of parking spaces used for the platform, but settled on four.

“I think parking spots are in demand and I think they are important,” commissioner Rackeline Hoff said, suggesting additional spaces should be made available.

“Usually, I want to make decks smaller, but I would rather see us using more space to activate this area more than it is already,” said commissioner Stuart Sherman, who wanted to expand the deck to provide more dining area.

Commissioners approved the outdoor dining platform through November 15, 2022, at which point The Morrie may need to reapply for the platform if it doesn’t comply with the future ordinance. Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve, with commissioners Hoff and Brad Host voting against the approval.

Dick O’ Dows to redesign storefront Longtime Birmingham pub and restaurant Dick O’ Dows intends to redesign its storefront to include a recessed dining area into its facade, following recommended approval from the city’s planning board at their meeting on Wednesday, August 25.

The restaurant has undergone several changes that started prior to the pandemic, renovating its interior and adding an open air aspect with a bay door that opens in the rear to Willits Alley. In 2020, the city fast-tracked an outdoor dining patio in the rear alley, as it temporarily lost it's dining platform along Maple Road to road construction.

In June 2020, the restaurant was approved for an outdoor dining expansion in the rear to allow for nine tables and 36 chairs, as part of the emergency COVID dining regulations.

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Birmingham City Planner Nick Dupuis said the restaurant is looking for permanent approval of the rear dining patio, as well as a redesign of the front facade.

“They plan on doing a bit of a remodel, taking the storefront back about 12 feet to create a recessed, outdoor dining area,” Dupuis said. “They want to create a new space in what is sort of a dark, front indoor area and open it up.”

The new space will contain five tables and 20 chairs. The front door will be moved to the existing, second door inside the vestibule area. Sliding doors will be used along the front facade, which will open it up to allow for an indoor/outdoor experience.

Planning board member Stuart Jeffares praised the plans.

“I noticed the front of the building is getting a little old, and I think this is so cool,” he said. “We kind of rate our outdoor dining spaces – some are primitive or what-have-you – this is the Cadillac. This is the Birmingham of outdoor seating, in the front. And the back – I just love the back. I think this is a home run.”

Board members unanimously

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recommended approval for the special land use permit, site plan and design review. The matter will go before the Birmingham City Commission for final approval.

Birmingham updates public notice signs

By Kevin Elliott

The Birmingham City Commission on Monday, September 20, approved changes to it's zoning ordinances to clarify regulations regarding public notice signs at construction sites throughout the city.

Birmingham Planning Director Nick Dupuis said the changes were prompted by issues the city encountered with the placement of public notice signs within the 15-day public notice period.

The issues came to light in June when a notice at the upcoming Restoration Hardware site along S. Old Woodward had failed to be placed appropriately and commissioners were forced to delay a public hearing on the project.

“We’ve had a couple of notice sign

issues, and we felt there was room in the zoning ordinances to make it abundantly clear what the responsibilities are for applicants and what our responsibilities are in regard to public notice signs, specifically,” said Dupuis.

He said the current ordinance requires signs to be placed in a “conspicuous” location. He said that language was changed to make locations more clear.

“Conspicuous can mean different things to different people, so we changed it to say it must be clearly visible from a public right of way so there’s a little more clarity there so people know where to post it,” he said.

Notice signs must also stay posted until after the final public hearing, ensuring the sign is visible for the entire public process. Additional changes include listing all of the approving bodies. Dupuis said staff is also working with the planning board to redesign the on-site public notice signs to make them easier to understand.

Dupuis said the new signs will include a QR code that can be scanned to provide the public with additional information about the project. Designs

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were previously presented to the public through Engage Birmingham, which included 55 participants. Of those participating in the survey, 61 percent said they had used public notice signs to learn more about a project in the city.

About 64 percent said signs should have just enough detail to understand what is being proposed, but not too much that it can’t be read.

Commissioners unanimously approved the changes.

City eyes 2022 work on unimproved streets Birmingham is known for its walkable lifestyle and active downtown district, but few outside the city are aware of there are 26 miles of unpaved, unimproved roads throughout the residential neighborhoods.

While uneven gravel roads may add a bit of a rustic atmosphere, the city is pushing to have all city streets improved in the next 10 to 15 years. However, with a total price tag of $118 million, and residents on the hook for 85 percent of the costs, the project may be a hard sell to some homeowners. The project was

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the focus of a special city commission workshop on Monday, September 13.

Currently, residents who want their road to be paved must petition the city with at least 51 percent of adjacent neighbors agreeing to share the cost through a special assessment district (SAD). Residents benefitting from the improvement are assessed for 85 percent of the costs, while the city covers 15 percent.

Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus said changes to the way special assessment districts are initiated for unimproved streets will allow the city to initiate the process on high-priority streets. Those changes include gauging residents for an “expression of interest,” he said at the commission workshop.

“Many people will say they don’t want to be assessed. They want the road improved, but they don’t want to be assessed for it,” Markus said. “We are trying to get that information and are going to use it as a vehicle to introduce the project and get some feedback on it.

That’s what the 'expression of interest' is.”

Markus said the goal isn’t necessarily to foist a project on residents, but to gather feedback before spending resources on design work. However, he

said proposed changes to the ordinance will allow for the city to initiate the process. Further, the proposed changes would allow for city-initiated projects to be approved with less than a majority in favor.

“Eventually, you’re going to have to pull the trigger with 80 percent opposition on some of these streets, if you really want these streets improved,” Markus informed commissioners. “You’re going to have to have the wherewithal and the intestinal fortitude to make those decisions. They won’t be popular.

They aren’t popular now. My experience is, even when you have opposition, about a year later or two years later, it kind of evaporates. But if you want these streets improved, that’s what it’s going to take. I will tell you that in my humble opinion, that is why these 26 miles of streets have not been improved over the years, it is because we have relied on people to petition.”

The changes come from a recommendation from the city’s ad hoc unimproved streets committee, which began looking at the issue of unimproved streets in 2018. The committee issued a report to the city commission in 2020, which found that water main replacements and sewer system

upgrades should be factored into a ranking system of which streets to prioritize for improvements. The city since developed a ranking system that incorporates three overall rankings, including street conditions, sewer conditions and water system conditions.

Those ranking the highest are where the city intends to place priorities.

Birmingham consulting city engineer Jim Surhigh said the process had led to three tiers of prioritization in the city.

“In the highest tier… I would consider all of those as your highest priority, not go in order,” Surhigh said.

“The idea here is that as we start off on city-initiated projects, that we look at the list for a series of blocks that would make a logical project and start the process off of this. As we work on it year by year, we would be looking toward eliminating the highest tiered streets, even though we may include streets from the next lowest tier.”

Looking at the highest priority projects includes about three miles of road, including portions of Bloomfield, Wimbleton, Oxford, Shepardbush, Torry, Henley, Taunton, Bradford, Warwick, Abbey, Larchlea, Tottenham, Humphrey, Westwood, Stanley, Fairway and Greenlawn. The rankings reflect water,

sewer and road ratings, not just street conditions.

“That’s representing about 10 percent of the (unimproved) road system,” Surhigh said. “The three miles that this includes is also a feasible number to try and tackle during a five-year plan.”

City funding for unimproved roads are put into the city’s five-year capital improvement plan, with the road budget coming from general fund transfers and water and sewer improvements.

Residents may finance their assessment over 10 years.

Birmingham Mayor Pierre Boutros said while the initiation process may cause some residents to direct their frustration at the city, he said the current process tends to pit neighbors against neighbor.

Markus said the next steps in the process is to have the city attorney make changes to the ordinance, then start the process on tier one priorities. More specifics on policies will be determined as the process moves forward.

“The objective is to get this in place this fall so we can get construction started next year,” Markus said. “We need to get back to the routine of getting some of these streets knocked off the list.”

Onstage with

JOSHUA HENRY Performance sponsored by Joanne Danto & Arnold Weingarden

October 9, 2021 The Crystal Ballroom in the Masonic Temple Acclaimed Broadway star Joshua Henry makes his return to Cabaret 313! Henry most recently starred as Billy Bigelow in Scott Rudin’s Broadway revival of Carousel. Previous to that role, he played Aaron Burr in the national touring production of Hamilton. He began the role in Chicago before moving to San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles.

First Performance: Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m.

Second Performance: Doors open at 8:15 p.m., show at 8:45 p.m.

Tickets: $200 Front & Center | $125 Preferred | $60 General | $25 40 & Younger Cabaret 313 brings premiere cabaret performances to metro-Detroit for intimate evenings of song and storytelling. Visit www.cabaret313.org to purchase tickets or learn more.

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Birmingham senior services agreement

By Kevin Elliott

Birmingham City Commissioners on Monday, September 13, unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin Village to provide funding for senior services through Next in Birmingham.

Next is a 501(c), private non-profit organization that has provided senior service for four decades, including educational programming, art, fitness and other services. Next is funded through grants, donations, fundraising and participation of the four communities in the agreement. The facility is located at the former Midvale School, 2121 Midvale, which is still owned by the Birmingham Public Schools district.

The agreement is a formal commitment by the communities to continue a minimum of funding to the non-profit service provider. Birmingham commits about $122,944 annually to Next for senior services, or about 70 percent of the organization’s programming.

“We are putting $123,000 into the program – that’s 70 percent of the budget,” commissioner Mark Nickita said, pointing out the city’s commitment to senior services “We have been doing that for quite a few years.”

Despite the city’s funding commitment, concerns about the future of Next have been raised, as the nonprofit is currently housed in the former Midvale School. Some commissioners have speculated that the school may be sold in the future, leaving the future of the non-profit in question.

Birmingham’s former ad hoc joint senior services committee had attempted to broker an agreement to potentially provide services through the communities directly, but failed to garner public support for such a project.

The agreement approved on September 13 can be built upon in the future, but essentially maintains the current levels of funding. However, the agreement permits any of the communities to withdraw from the agreement or change funding amounts, said Birmingham City Attorney Mary Kucharek.

Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement.

Additionally, city commissioners at the meeting decided not to reform the city’s ad hoc joint senior services committee, which had been disbanded.

However, the commission agreed that it would revisit the issue in the future.

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Police remove person at school meeting n individual who gestured and uttered a Nazi salute after another individual made public comment at the Birmingham Public Schools board of education meeting on Tuesday, August 17, was removed by Beverly Hills police at the direction of board president Lori Ajlouny and superintendent Dr. Embekka Roberson, they reported to the school community on Wednesday, August 18.

“Last evening at our regular board of education meeting, a member of the audience gestured and uttered a Nazi salute after an individual made public comment. This occurred in the presence of audience members, including people of color and the Jewish faith. At our direction, the Beverly Hills Police Department immediately removed this individual from the building during the meeting,” Ajlouny and Roberson wrote.

“Birmingham Public Schools emphatically denounces and will not tolerate any act of racism, disrespect, violence, and/or inequitable treatment of any person, including actions and statements made at board of education meetings.”

They said the incident was also erased from the video recording on the district's YouTube channel.

“Board of education meetings are held for the board to conduct district business, and to give members of the public the opportunity to share their thoughts with trustees. However, this must always be done in a climate of mutual respect, recognizing that there will be differences of opinion, especially on issues as complex as the current pandemic,” they communicated. There had been information discussed regarding mandatory masking for students while Oakland County has a substantial amount of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

The Beverly Hills police department is investigating the incident.

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Committee member Gordon Rinschler said it would be best to form the committee after the other communities have approved the agreement. When reformed, he said the committee should focus on realistic plans to assist Next.

“We probably are not going to come back to that committee until you have other communities approve the agreement and you have consensus on what the next steps might be,” Rinschler said. “There is a need to focus on the existing facility, not pie in the sky ideas.”

Mayor pro tem Therese Longe agreed.

“Now may not be the time to resurrect that committee, but I would like to comment that although the partner communities didn’t sign the interlocal agreement that they developed, I would like to commend the committee for doing the work they were charged to do, which was taking a longterm look and evaluation at the necessary funding and governance models to effectively provide adequate senior services to participating community residents,” Longe said. “The commission asked them to do that work in 2018, and they did it ably. But now is not the time for that.

“The new agreement we approved tonight is a good start to provide financial stability to Next, but as we all

agree, I think we need to move forward in fulfilling the city’s interest in fulfilling the needs of our older residents,” she continued. “Next does a wonderful job in providing these services to our residents and neighboring communities, but if we are to depend on Next to meet this need for our city, we still need to address concerns about the long-term availability of Next’s space at Midvale, and their ability to make lease-hold improvements there. Next needs stable space so they can plan for growth and improve space to accommodate for growing number of users.”

Ecker promoted to assistant city manager With an eye to succession planning, Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus has promoted planning director Jana Ecker to assistant city manager, following a national search.

“We did go out and did a national open process” looking for an assistant city manager, Markus said. “Jana was the best choice for the city of Birmingham.”

Ecker has been with the city of Birmingham for 17 years in the planning department.

“She has a history here. She knows our culture and process, and is good engaging with the public,” he said.

Furthermore, he said, “She was a

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practicing attorney before she became a planner,” in her native Canada, noting she is a citizen of both the United States and Canada. “Her research is always top notch and she can present so well.”

Ecker was on vacation, and could not be reached for comment on her promotion.

Also moving up the ladder in the city manager's officer, Markus announced that Melissa Fairbanks, assistant to the city manager, will be taking on additional responsibilities.

Fairbanks came to the city of Birmingham as a management intern in October 2019, after being a teacher for several years and earning a masters of public administration degree in addition to her masters in secondary education and teaching.

“With Jana and Melissa teaming up, we could be well-prepared for the future in the manager's office,” Markus said.

“Their unique skill sets and wealth of knowledge make them excellent candidates for these positions.

Nina McLemore closes in downtown National women’s apparel retailer Nina McLemore has closed its doors at 227 S. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham.

Earlier this month, the location had been emptied out of all merchandise.

Nina McLemore had been in downtown Birmingham since 2014, first at 550 Merrill Street, in the former Birmingham Schools administration building, prior to its renovation.

“Many Detroit area customers said 'You need to be in Birmingham,'” McLemore said in 2014.

A former department store and specialty buyer who later worked in finance, McLemore grew up designing and sewing many of her own clothes.

Over the years, through professional organizations, she said she kept hearing from women “that I can't find clothes to wear, really well-made, tailored clothing out of fine fabrics,” she said. She said she'd go into meetings, and every woman would be in an Armani black suit or a St. John suit. “I wanted to sell directly to the consumer, where there would be better value to them.”

Today, Nina McLemore is a designer women's clothing company known for dressing professional women seeking to look polished without looking too trendy and high fashion, and has other boutiques in New York City, Aspen, Vail, Palm Desert, Nantucket, Sarasota, Charleston, San Francisco, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, among other locations around the country. All items are special ordered and delivered to shoppers’ homes.

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FACES

Charlie Parkhill t 24, Charlie Parkhill began an illustrious career first as president of a venture capital created publishing company, then as a financial officer at an architectural firm. The Bloomfield Township resident went on to establish several companies of his own, primarily offering financial and project management consulting services to architects and engineers nationwide.

However, everything changed following a tragic accident while he and his wife vacationed in Mexico, leaving him a quadriplegic at 43.

“I was in the ocean, walking toward the beach, when I looked back and saw a large wave approaching.”

The water level, recalled Parkhill, came somewhere between his waist and knees.

“I could have ducked under it or jumped over it. Whatever choice I made was the wrong one. It picked me up and dropped me on my head, which bruised my spinal cord,” said Parkhill. “I went dark. I was underwater facedown and realized I couldn’t move anything. Somehow I got myself flipped on my back. The last thing I remember was seeing the sky. That must have been enough time to get oxygen, and then I washed up on the shore.”

The accident could have crushed his spirit and success, but it didn’t.

Parkhill stopped working and dedicated the next three years to his rehabilitation, including physical therapy five days a week.

There, he met Polly Swingle, a physical therapist who admired Parkhill’s drive and determination. At the time, she was putting together a highintensity treatment program to help patients with spinal cord injuries.

“Polly did things with me that had never been done with spinal cord injuries before because then it wasn’t considered effective,” said Parkhill.

“Around that time, Polly was going to start her own PT practice, and I didn’t want to lose her. I had the business background, and I had some resources, so I asked if we could partner.”

In 2004, they founded the Recovery Project, now one of the largest non-

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hospital based outpatient neurological rehabilitation facilities in Michigan.

With locations in Livonia, Clinton Township, and Lansing, the Recovery Project has worked with approximately 10,000 patients, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and functional movement disorder.

In 2007 Parkhill, his wife Mary and Swingle created the Mary and Charles A. Parkhill Foundation for Spinal Cord Rehabilitation. So far, they’ve raised over $700,000 to award grants primarily to individuals with spinal cord injuries who are in the critical stages of recovery and lack the resources to either obtain or continue therapy.

Parkhill decided to establish the foundation after observing a patient learn that he had exhausted his insurance benefits and would have to self-fund treatment or give up therapy.

“The client and his family were devastated,” said Parkhill. “If things are improving and you’re getting thrown out, it’s devastating. I’ve seen it happen around me, and I began to think about starting some sort of charitable outlet so this doesn’t have to happen.”

It’s been 23 years since his accident, and Parkhill continues his own physical therapy. He has no functional use of his hands or feet. He can move most of his body and walk short distances without assistance but still relies on a motorized wheelchair. Parkhill said he is relatively independent and very active, particularly in running his business and foundation.

“I think I’m boring outside of this stuff because I’m so absorbed. It’s my whole life. The clinic, the clients, my own therapy, the foundation, it totally consumes me,” said Parkhill, later adding, “The injury was a bit of a lifechanger, but you just pick up from there and don’t worry about what you can’t do and go after what you can do.”

Story: Jennifer Lovy

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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BUSINESS MATTERS Another Beyond Juice The popularity of Beyond Juicery + Eatery and its healthy offerings continues to grow, as the 35th location of the health-focused, fastcasual restaurant opened at Maple and Lahser near Plum Market on September 10. Founded in 2005, Beyond Juicery + Eatery has fresh food that tastes good. Offering a wide variety of made-to-order juices, smoothies, wraps, smoothie bowls and salads, its commitment to fresh ingredients are what set the restaurant apart from other fast casual concepts. Additional menu items include homemade salad dressings, hummus, salsa, and 100 percent USDA organic bottled juices and wellness shots. “I’m so excited to be a part of this new Bloomfield Hills restaurant and help the brand reach another milestone of 35 locations,” said Bethany Snell, the store’s general manager. “The team behind this new restaurant is filled with longtime Beyond fans and given the brand’s existing customer-base in Bloomfield Hills, we’re confident this location will be equally as successful as our other two in town.” Beyond Juicery was created by husband-and-wife duo Mijo Alanis and Pam Vivio in Birmingham. According to their reps, the couple recognized the gap in healthy food options, and started Beyond Juicery + Eatery to provide their community with the freshest smoothies, salads, juices and wraps, and began franchising in 2019.

Fitness and fries The Village at Bloomfield in Bloomfield Township continues to grow, with the recent additions of a 30,000-square-foot Planet Fitness, 1935 S. Telegraph Road, which opened in July. “The entire team at Planet Fitness is looking forward to opening our brand-new facility in Bloomfield Hills,” says Bryan Rief, co-owner and CEO of PFMG. “Although we experienced a few delays due to COVID-19, we are happy to begin serving the residents of Bloomfield Hills and the surrounding area this summer.”

Planet Fitness memberships start at just $10 per month and feature a wide array of cardio, strength, and core training equipment along with a designated spa area for PF Black Card members, which feature HydroMassage beds, massage chairs, Total Body Enhancement booths, and multi-level tanning. Also in the development, Five Guys has opened, 1979 S. Telegraph Road, downtownpublications.com

offering its specialty burgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, milkshakes and peanuts. Delivery is available at this location.

Nursing assistance Helping Hand Nursing Services, a family-owned business established in 1973, opened their fifth location in August at 43750 Woodward Avenue, Suite 103, Bloomfield Township. “We believe that all of our clients are entitled to live with dignity, and that it is our job to ensure that they are able to do so in an environment of utmost health and respect.” Their dedicated home health care professionals have the goal to maximize independence, dignity, and quality of life by providing a caring, professional, dedicated staff to those in need. The accredited private duty nursing program is designed to meet the special needs of each individual client. They provide a customized plan of care that assists each client to remain in the comfort of his or her own home.

“Our personalized care plan is designed to promote safety, independence and dignity while providing services in a cost effective manner.” Services are available for hourly up to 24-hour care.

Art, jewelry on Maple After 32 years in his own building on Southfield Road in Lathrup Village, Anthony DiMaggio has moved DiMaggio Fine Art & Jewelry to downtown Birmingham, where he has opened up at 175 W. Maple Road. “It’s just a different environment. There’s nothing like it,” he said. DiMaggio Fine Art & Jewelry offers high-end Italian and German one-of-a-kind created platinum and 18 Karat jewelry, bridal and wedding rings, “and lots of imported, non-treated and nonheated exotic colored gemstones,” he said. He also only sells all natural diamonds. He is a master goldsmith and GIA-certified gemologist, he said. In addition, the location sells unique artwork by Warhol, Banksy, Picasso, RETNA, Ben Eine, and Peter Max, among others. Walk ins as well as appointments are welcome.

150-year-old church The historic 150-year-old First Baptist Church of Birmingham, 300 Willits, returned to in-person worship on Sunday, September 12 with not only a renewed sense of purpose, but with a new name. The church, in its iconic English gothic

sanctuary, is now known as Sanctuary, Pastor Scott Runyon announced a name chosen to reflect the congregation’s identity as a “safe place to explore faith.” Runyon said the new name was chosen to reflect the congregation’s core commitments and values. “We want the community to know that this church is a safe place for all people to explore the important questions of life including faith and spiritual matters, in the context of a supportive and loving community, and we believe that makes a difference.” The church continues its long-standing commitment to social justice in its support of a variety of humanitarian, diversity, economic empowerment, environmental conservation and disaster relief efforts through its associations with Judson Center in Royal Oak, Friendship House in Hamtramck, and Freedom House in Detroit, while also expanding its involvement with and support of innovative local, national and international organizations.

New travel assistance After 18 months holed up at home, many of us are itching to get out and explore the world again. With that in mind, Kamala Cummings has opened Lux Girl Travel, 114 S. Old Woodward, Suite 3, in downtown Birmingham. Cummings has over 15 years of experience in the luxury travel market with a focus on entertainment, leisure, and sports travel. She said her niche has always been offering clients an “experience,” not just a service.

Cummings has worked with high profile clients from the sports arena to Wall Street. “Lux Travel Girl was created to offer existing and future clients an outlet to capture the luxury of fashion, spiritual, culinary and entertainment travel. Working for some of the top domestic travel agencies such as Brownell Travel and In the Know Experiences has afforded me the opportunity to establish direct relationships with top hoteliers and hospitality management first across the globe.

Whether on a world-wide music tour, or skiing in Courchevel, your travel experiences will never be the same!”

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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE A NEW ERA OF UNCERTAINTY Last week, it was reported that Michigan tracked 7,185 new cases of COVID-19 and 35 virus-related deaths – an average of 2,395 cases over the past three days. That update brings the total number of confirmed COVID cases in Michigan to 995,910, including 20,700 deaths. These numbers are up from 988,725 cases and 20,665 deaths as of the prior week. Testing has increased to around 20,000 diagnostic tests reported per day on average, with the seven-day positive rate at 9.22 percent as of Friday. The positive test rate has been steadily climbing since the end of June. Hospitalizations have been steadily increasing for several weeks -– and as the positivity rate continues to rise, the historic Community House and its Foundation, made the Bill Seklar difficult, but prudent decision to postpone its signature friend and fundraising celebration – The Bates Street Society Dinner and Awards Ceremony – from September 11, 2021 to April 30, 2022, and to limit large gatherings in the interim.

Based upon what we know now, and in close consultation with health experts, epidemiologists and the Oakland County Health Department, we believe it is prudent and responsible to put the health, safety and welfare of others, especially our seniors and children, above all else.

We recognize that many of our clients, supporters and nonprofit/civic groups are disappointed that The Community House has remained partially closed. So are we. We have valiantly battled forced closures, mass layoffs, two pandemics, loss of family members, illnesses, an unstable economy, fear amongst our loyal donors, staff, clients, and supporters – yet we continue to rise to the occasion. We remain hopeful, optimistic, and courageous.

Some have suggested that The Community House is no longer “open to all” based upon shortage of staff and our ability to serve or our need to increase our prices – unavoidable challenges directly related to COVID – including skyrocketing labor costs, food and beverage costs, utility and supply costs, fuel costs, employee burn out, not to mention two fiscal years of 50 percent plus revenue losses. Unimaginable. Almost insurmountable.

At the same time, let us be reminded that The Community House, now

in its 98th year, is a 100 percent self-supporting, self-funded organization which relies solely on the kindness and generosity of others. We do not receive tax dollars, government support or regular outside funding. For nearly a century, we have relied on the kindness of others – supported by our few profit centers. But COVID has hurt everyone, including our generous donors. Our old business model before COVID is no longer sustainable.

Each year, The Community House strives to break even. We are a nonprofit. We give back all that we receive, after expenses. We are not in the business of making a profit. But we must steady the ship before we can help others.

Yet we remain proud and humbled that throughout the last 18 months, The Community House found financial and other ways via its fledgling Foundation to give back, support and/or provide grants to other “community” institutions also struggling throughout the pandemic including our city, our library, our Early Childhood Center families in financial desperation, local hospitals, essential workers, area restaurants, struggling hometown publications, our staff, volunteers and fellow nonprofit charitable organizations. We donated food and began wellness checks to our seniors. Charity comes in many forms.

COVID called us to broaden our support beyond a few exclusive organizations. COVID challenged us to help the many, not just a few.

It’s a noble change from old paradigms.

Our mission is to serve. Nothing less, nothing more. Short of an unexpected lifeline, we will continue to struggle. Unlike so many historical institutions, universities, medical centers, noble causes – many donors do not think of The Community House as a place to make large transformational gifts to. But we pray that they take a second look, we’re worth it. The 38 Community Houses across our nation are rare cultural, educational and philanthropic gems. They fill a need; they fill a gap that so many depend upon. Pre-COVID, over 200,000 people entered through our doors annually. After nearly a century of service we must be doing something right.

On top of all of the challenges we have faced over the last 18 months, postponing our largest, most significant fundraising event, The Bates Street Society Dinner and regular large gatherings will hurt. But, not as much as it would be to place the health, safety and welfare of those that are entrusted to us in jeopardy. Please stay safe and be well.

William D. Seklar is President & CEO of The Community House and The Community House Foundation in Birmingham.

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FACES Katie Romant atie Romant envied her fellow mothers who could create Pinterestworthy arts and crafts with their children at the drop of a hat. A busy mom of two, the Birmingham native knew that she “wasn’t that mom. I didn’t have the time to prep and prepare all of these activities that you see all over social media, and I kept beating myself up about that. I knew I couldn’t be the only mom out there who’s trying to balance it all.”

In the fall of 2019, she took matters into her own hands and – despite claiming she wasn’t crafty – created TinkerTots Boxes, a monthly subscription box that includes five hands-on activities for those ages three to six.

“We had subscribed to cooking subscriptions like Blue Apron and I loved how organized it was, how they gave me everything I needed and nothing that I didn’t. I said I needed this delivered right to my doorstep for children’s activities.”

Acknowledging that there are other subscription boxes for kids out there, Romant said that none really catered to the preschool age group, which includes her own three- and five-year-olds. She contracted her friend, former kindergarten teacher, and mother of two Ashley Bahr of Grosse Pointe, to guide the activities and put an “educational stamp” on it, and Romant launched her business from her Birmingham home. The boxes have seasonal themes, and include activities that teach numbers and letters, as well as sensory and fine motor activities. There are also single-themed boxes that can be ordered as a one-time purchase.

TinkerTots Boxes was already taking off when, less than a year into the business, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leaving families quarantined inside their homes, away from caregivers, extended family, and educators.

“Families couldn’t be together, and parents were working from home.

Grandparents were sending them [TinkerTots Boxes] to their kids to help with their grandkids and around the holidays.”

Romant says that grandparents continue to be consistent customers, buying the boxes for when grandchildren visit, as they don’t have a craft closet and all the miscellaneous supplies needed for entertaining young children. This same principle applies to parents, who are constantly learning what activities pique their little ones’ interest. “It’s a sampling of five activities to do with your children. Some are a hit, some are a miss, and you don’t want to run to the craft store and spend all that money on something your kid might not like.”

While TinkerTots Boxes are shipping nationwide, Romant’s company is firmly entrenched in the local metro Detroit community. Romant hired area high school students to help her prep the activities from the comforts of their own homes in between school and sports. TinkerTots has also rolled out fundraisers with local schools, including Kirk in the Hills Preschool in Bloomfield Township and First Kids Preschool in Birmingham. Twenty percent of every box sold through these fundraisers goes directly back to the school to use towards educational programming, a program she hopes will be rolled out nationwide in the next year.

The best part of all, though, for Romant, is that her kids have fun with the boxes.

“They are the best testers, and they are the most critical testers. So yes, it has resolved those times when you need an activity – now we have them coming out of our ears. It’s so convenient. I know it’s my own product, but it’s so easy for parents. They feel like they’ve actually done something instead of just handing over the iPad. We still do that, of course, but it makes me feel better about things as a mother.”

K

Story: Hillary Brody Anchill

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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10.21

PLACES TO EAT 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, Monday- Saturday. 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. Lunch & 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, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Beverly Hills Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations.

31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355.

Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, MondaySaturday. 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. Lunch & Dinner, Daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.9000.

Birmingham Pub: American. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Weekend Brunch.

Reservations. Liquor. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham.

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.

Expice the

RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM

Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. 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.

Casa Pernoi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 310 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009.

248.940.0000.

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, Monday-Saturday. 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, 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, MondaySaturday. 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

Indulge in a wonderful variety of restaurants and cuisines from around the world, sure to satisfy every food enthusiast. With over 60 restaurants, downtown Birmingham offers many dining options including in-person and outdoor, curbside pickup, carry-out and delivery. View the full dining directory at www.ALLINBirmingham.com/dine Enjoy free 2-hour parking in all structures BIRMINGHAM SHOPPING DISTRICT @BHAMSHOPPING

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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 Gigi Nichols who can be reached at GigiNichols@DowntownPublications.com with news items or tips, on or off the record.

An outa the park hit The restaurant group Union Joints, which also owns and operates numerous eateries including Clarkston Union, Union Woodshop, Gran Castor and Vinsetta Garage, has opened what they are deeming their flagship restaurant – Union Assembly at 2131 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Spanning two stories, this 14,800-square-foot mega establishment has seating for 500, which includes a second-floor lounge, indoor/outdoor bar and a three-season terrace that overlooks Woodward and Comerica Park. Union Assembly recruited Philip Vernier to serve as chef de cuisine for the operation. Vernier returns to Michigan after hitting Portland for culinary school and overseeing a myriad of highlyrespected kitchens in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Vernier describes the Union Assembly menu as “New American.” “Our location is unique in that we will be catering to people who are visiting us from many different avenues – from Comerica Park to the Fox Theatre,” said Vernier. Look for a wide variety of dishes from game day classics such as burgers and ribs to join healthier options such as a triple grain salad featuring quinoa, sorghum and brown rice with mint, vegan feta in a roasted shallot vinaigrette. Sounds like a homerun!

Update: Lincoln Yard and Little Yard Speaking of Union Joints, there is an update on their long-anticipated opening of Lincoln Yard and Little Yard in Birmingham’s Rail District. Curt Catallo, owner of Union Joints, says the time off from COVID-19 has given their team time to fine-tune the project and secure their liquor license. He anticipates an opening in 2022. His wife and business partner, Ann Stevenson, owner of Ann Stevenson Studio, is leading the design plans for the interior space. “The challenge is turning a dark voluminous garage into a space that’s light and inviting. This will be accomplished through plush booths, natural woods and additional garage doors to bring in light,” she said. Lincoln Yard will have seating for 135 inside with a patio that will accommodate 73. In addition, “Little Yard,” on the same premises, is a grab-and-go cafe concept that will offer busy families quick food options. The menu will feature comfort foods as well as healthier choices geared toward Birmingham customers. The property sits on the former Birmingham School District bus yard at Lincoln and Eton and will certainly create a vibrant anchor to the Rail District.

New menu and spaces debut Oak & Reel is a contemporary seafood-focused Italian restaurant where Chef Jared Gadbaw combines local ingredients with bright, clean, bold flavors to offer a high-end dining experience in a welcoming setting. Gadbaw, who is a graduate of the renowned French Culinary Institute, captured two Michelin Stars for Marea in New York City and maintained a two Michelin Star ranking for nine straight years. He moved back to his native Detroit to open Oak & Reel, and after a year of operation, they have added a new menu, finished an outdoor patio addition, and created a private dining space for 36 guests. “Occupancy and curfew restrictions (in 2020) pushed us to try and offer an enhanced experience, which resulted in a tasting menu only. Once those restrictions were lifted, we switched to offering the menu with a la carte options in addition to our prix fixe so we could appeal to more guests,” said Gadbaw. New menu highlights include bucatini with preserved lemon, walnuts, oregano, pecorino; octopus with stracciatella, radicchio, grilled grapes and gremolata; prawns with citrus marinade, spaetzle, cabbage, walnut agrodolce; and risotto with coconut, cherry, lime sorbet, and basil. “Our goal has always been to reach as many people as possible, and we are thrilled to be able to do so now,” concludes Gadbaw. Oak and Reel is located at 2921 East Grand Boulevard, Detroit. oakandreel.com

TGC keep you coming back Sam Abbas, president of restaurant group Afor Concepts, describes The Great Commoner as “a boutique break café that’s affordable and easy – designed as a comfortable everyday spot that will keep you coming back.” And that being said, there’s certainly plenty to come back for – from French pressed coffee featuring locally roasted beans from James Oliver Coffee, to an amazing array of delectable pastries and gourmet-style breakfast and lunch fare. The menu is a collaborative effort between Chef Matt Knio, of Cannelle Patisserie and Chef

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 Italian Kitchen & Bar: Italian.

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.

Madam: American. Breakfast, MondayFriday, Brunch, weekends. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 298 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.283.4200 Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. 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.

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.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.3122.

Planthropie: Vegan. Dessert and Cheese. 135 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.839.5640.

Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304.

248.874.1876 Roadside B & G: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8977.

Shift Cocktail Bar: Small plates. Dinner.

Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.2380.

Sidecar: American. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.2380.

Slice Pizza Kitchen: Pizza. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.3475.

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.

Stateside Deli & Restaurant Deli.

Breakfast, Lunch, Sunday-Monday.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. No reservations.

653 S. Adams Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.550.0455.

Steve’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301.

248.932.0800.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Dinner, daily. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123.

Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 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.

Sylvan Table: American. Dinner daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1819 Inverness Street, Sylvan Lake, 48320.

248.369.3360 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 Morrie: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 260 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009.

248.940.3260.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999.

Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; 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.

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.

Whistle Stop Diner: American.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Liquor. No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.566.3566.

Zao Jun: Asian. Lunch Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.949.9999.

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, TuesdayFriday. 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.

The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. 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.

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, MondaySaturday. 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.

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.

The Morrie: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.216.1112.

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.

Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. 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.

Zane Makky of Brome Modern Eatery. Abbas points out that, internally, they have dubbed the restaurant “Cannelle 2.0” and says that the Birmingham and Detroit Cannelle locations will soon have grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and soups from TGC. The Great Commoner’s location, at 22001 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, started out as the Wagner Hotel building over 125 years ago. The space sat empty for many years before being transformed into a light and bright interior which offers seating for 144 and a front lounge area with comfortable contemporary couches juxtaposed against exposed brick walls and original flooring. Abbas said that the interior space is truly a marriage of old and new. greatcommoner.com

James Beard Awards winner The 2021 celebration of the James Beard Awards was held September 27 and was entitled “Stories of Resilience and Leadership.” This year’s event saluted the independent restaurant community by showcasing some of the organizations, leaders, and businesses that have made a significant impact in the industry and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Included in this special tribute was Chef Omar Anani, owner of Saffron De Twah, Detroit. Saffron De Twah is no stranger to these prestigious culinary awards. In 2020, the James Beard Awards also honored this small and casual Moroccan bistro as a semifinalist in the category of Best New Restaurant.

“The pandemic opened my eyes to another layer of hospitality that I didn’t know existed,” Anani said in a special tribute video. “We started creating these meal kits for displaced restaurant workers and then that led into frontline workers and then snowballed. During our peak, we were serving 1,400 meals a day to people in need.” Currently, the eatery is closed for renovations, however customers can visit their website for Table 22 monthly subscriptions as well as pop-up events. Saffron De Twah is located at 7636 Gratiot in Detroit. saffrondetwah.com

Come for sushi stay for sake Clawson has added another unique restaurant to its already lively restaurant scene. Newcomer Sozai offers sustainable sushi and is owned and operated

by Chef Hajime Sato. Sato was born and raised in Japan. His sense of adventure led him to leave Japan for a year as an exchange student in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He later relocated to Seattle, where he opened his awardwinning restaurant Mashiko in 1994. In 2009, Sato became one of the first sushi chefs to commit to using only sustainable seafood. Today, Sato estimates only about ten restaurants in the entire nation are dedicated to utilizing sustainable sushi. When asked about his commitment, Sato is passionate. “When people ask why, I say why not! Everyone should be doing it. It’s responsible. It’s done to protect our oceans and save us from global warming.” In addition to being an expert in sushi, Sato is certified by Japan’s Sake Institute. “The sake culture is missing here and I would like to change that. I would like to introduce people to really good sake,” he said. Sake can be ordered to pair perfectly with the Sozai’s sushi. The dining experience at Sozai is intimate and offers just 25 seats, mostly at the sushi bar, where guests receive personal attention. Sozai is located at 449 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson. sozairestaurant.com

More beer please Craft beer aficionados can rejoice! Eastern Market Brewing Co (EMBC) will add a third taproom at 330 E. Lincoln Avenue, Royal Oak, joining their flagship location at Eastern Market and the Ferndale Project in Ferndale.

The new space was the former home of Roak Brewing Company which closed in late 2020. The property was initially acquired by EMBC as a warehouse for their Peddler delivery service, a venture that was launched to bring craft beer directly to consumers’ doors during COVID-19. Peddler has since grown to include partnerships with dozens of local craftspeople looking for new venues to sell their products directly to consumers, in lieu of brickand-mortar stores. Shalyn Getz, president of Eastern Market Brewing Co., says that E. Lincoln Avenue will become a new brewery concept. “We will always be taproom-focused and it’s important to us that each location reflects the neighborhood. I’m proud that both our Eastern Market and Ferndale locations share our mission of fostering human connection through craft, but the spaces and products are uniquely their own. We’re still building the strategy for what that looks like in Royal Oak. But I’ll give a hint: lots of barrel-aging,” claims Getz. The new location could be open to the public by the end of the year.

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.

The Meeting House: American.

Weekend Brunch. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4825.

Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5371.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, MondayFriday. 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, MondaySaturday. 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, MondayFriday. 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, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, 48306.

248.652.4500.

Too Ra Loo: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 139 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307.

248.453.5291.

92

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 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.

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.

Cuisine: French. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. 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, TuesdayFriday. 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, Monday- Friday, 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.

DOWNTOWN

Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700.

Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. 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.

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.

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, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. 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.

Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226.

313.962.7711.

10.21

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10.21

BIRMINGHAM CITY COMMISSION

VOTER

GUIDE NOVEMBER 2, 2021

SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE

november 2 election voter guide

BIRMINGHAM CITY COMMISSION Seven candidates are competing to fill three four-year seats on the Birmingham City Commission in the Tuesday, November 2, election.

The names of candidates David Bloom, Andrew Haig, Stephen Konja, Anthony Long, Elaine McLain, Katie Schafer and Lynda Schrenk will all appear on the ballot.

Candidates were asked by Downtown Newsmagazine to address a number of issues facing the city and their responses appear below.

DAVID BLOOM

called for increasing housing downtown by incentivizing residential on the top floor, but in part because of parking requirements, what we got were large and extremely expensive housing units affordable to only a very few. Stand alone multi-family housing such as the bankrupted Forefront development on South Old Woodward, The Pearl at Oak and Woodward with rents starting at $5,300 a month for a one bedroom unit, and The Bristol at the corner of Frank and Ann being offered at $738 per square foot for a 4,000 sq foot unit are also examples. As I have publicly expressed during the planning process increasing housing density along “seams” may be good for developers, but risks harming our neighborhoods unless it is done on a very limited basis and with extremely careful planning and controls.

Unimproved Streets Plan A special committee has been studying the many unimproved streets in Birmingham and the committee report has been accepted by the city commission but elected officials still need to vote on whether they approve of the report in order for the plan to move forward. Do you support what has been submitted to the city council? Please explain.

Bloom earned his undergraduate degree in economics and international business from University of Michigan, and an MBA in marketing from Michigan State University, and is a purchasing analyst at Ford Motor Company. He is a member of Birmingham Citizens for Responsible Government.

Birmingham 2040 Plan City officials and an outside planning firm have been working on what is known as the Birmingham Master 2040 Plan, envisioning what the city may look like in future years. Among the assumptions are that 2,000 new residents will occupy approximately 1,000 new living units. The Master 2040 Plan calls for the introduction of alternative housing concepts beyond just single family, allowing for more housing diversity. Have you been following the Master 2040 Plan?

What is your position on diversity of housing types suggested so far? What about the concept of “neighborhood seams?”

Yes, I have been following the 2040 Master Plan. Birmingham has had difficulty with increasing housing diversity. It has been decreasing at the lower end with attainable housing and expanding to what could be termed unattainable housing. The 2016 plan 96

Our neighborhoods have been suffering and need quicker action. This plan takes too long to implement. We have a AAA bond rating for putting up parking decks downtown to support developers, but we won’t bond to get the job done sooner in the neighborhoods. That said we have some beautiful neighborhoods with unimproved streets and residents may prefer the look and character of streets without curbs and gutters and a place to park on the easement between the street and sidewalk that are absent on streets with curbs.

Outside dining year around During the first year of the pandemic the city relaxed some of the restrictions on dining out-of-doors at restaurants but has now returned to what city ordinances provide. The city is asking the public to offer their opinions on how outside dining should be handled in the future, including whether year around outdoor dining should be allowed. Tell us how outdoor dining changed during the pandemic and what you would support for the future.

It would be nice to have more outdoor dining in Birmingham and for longer duration. We also should take into consideration the availability of on street parking and noise if the dining is near residential units. I think we should

also experiment with allowing outdoor dining to take place on weekends at Shain Park on a rotation schedule and that the city look into building a pavilion along the Bates Street extension area that Birmingham restaurants can rent/use on a rotating or lottery basis.

Experimentation with food trucks at our neighborhood parks, at the Farmer’s Market lot, and adjacent Shain Park lot are also a worthwhile endeavors to try out.

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking As new buildings have arrived and some buildings have expanded, there has been growing concern regarding the past practice of automatically allowing these buildings to become part of the current parking districts in the downtown area. How should the city be addressing this concern?

Should there possibly be an impact fee on new and larger buildings to cover future parking needs in the downtown area? Can the concept of “shared parking” address some of the increased demand from new developments?

This is a great question and I am glad Downtown is asking it. One of the reasons for building and density growth downtown is that we have been giving away parking that doesn’t exist. This is continuing right now at an alarming rate. The issue is being ignored. We should not be permitting new development downtown without a required understanding and acknowledgement of where sufficient parking will be and who will be paying for it, preferably the developers. The shared parking concept – which has been discussed in terms of utilizing the same spaces for daytime commercial and nighttime residential uses - made a lot of sense pre-COVID. In a post-COVID world it may not work as well and needs to be carefully thought through.

Triangle District There has not been much movement on the plans for the Triangle District in the city. Can you tell us how familiar you are with the Triangle District plans? As part of what is proposed, the plan includes two parking decks for the Triangle District.

First, are they needed now and, if so, how should construction be funded? If assessing businesses is part of the funding, should businesses in the downtown area be assessed for parking deck construction on the other side of Woodward? Should the fund balance for the existing parking structures be used for the Triangle District?

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Given that downtown is already overdeveloped, shifting to the Triangle District makes sense. This has been stalled for a several reasons. If taxpayers are going to fund or prefund more deck construction in Birmingham it should be in the Triangle. Having one or more decks in the Triangle could also relieve pressure on the Peabody structure and would be very useful when we need to repair or replace a downtown structure.

Businesses on the downtown side of Woodward could possibly be tapped to help fund a Triangle garage where they are in proximity and it makes sense, but they should also get something in return like preferred permit pricing in the Triangle. Developing the Triangle also offers opportunity for mixed-use buildings and attempting to build attainable multi-family housing with higher density. Given the various property ownership issues in this area development will be tricky. Finding ways to connect to downtown with bridging walkways should also be explored.

Engaging in one or more public private partnerships where everyone – especially the public – benefits could lead to a desired outcome. Advantages and disadvantages of using the existing parking fund for Triangle deck construction need to be thoroughly evaluated.

City of Birmingham budget As property values rise, municipalities are prevented by the Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment from increasing revenues from property taxes beyond the rate of inflation or five percent, whichever is less.

Birmingham in recent years has remained below the Headlee cap by about .3 mill. If the city does approach the Headlee cap in the future, do you think the budget should be reduced or would you favor asking voters for an over-ride on the Headlee cap?

We should do everything we can to spend carefully within our means and only consider an override as a last resort.

What do you consider your top three issues facing if elected to the city commission?

Focusing more time and effort on resident and neighborhood issues.

We should be more open, accessible, and transparent to residents. We can do better. Managing the aftermath of the uncontrolled downtown building spree that was not supported with sufficient infrastructure.

What makes you qualified I have a long and deep involvement in 10.21

our community. I grew up here and attended Birmingham Schools. My involvement on the Citizens Sewer and Ad Hoc Sewer Committees resulted in improving infrastructure policy, saving homeowners millions. My analysis of the Plante Moran Police Consolidation Study revealed shortcomings that led to keeping our police department independent and our downtown station open. In 2009, I led the effort to save the Birmingham Eccentric from closure. Then I volunteered as a photojournalist and writer for several years. In 2014, I co-led the defeat of the $21.5 library demolition and reconstruction bond and spent the next six years working on the $2 million Birkerts and $2.5 million Youth Wing renovations and expansion improvements at a fraction of the bond cost. In 2019, I again helped protect taxpayers by working to defeat the $57 million NOW bond, and in Federal court successfully defended our rights to speak at city meetings. I am currently organizing and sponsoring a large art project with 40 artists from around the country to create a collaborative, 185foot mural at the Library overlooking Shain Park. I have regularly participated in city commission, longrange planning, and budget hearing meetings.

ANDREW HAIG

affordable houses are being demolished and replaced by large homes on small lots. These demolitions are happening at an alarming rate. Twenty-four percent of Birmingham is already condominiums and apartments. A push to create rental units is out of balance where I think we should be going. The first draft called for multi-family attached (apartments) along neighborhood “seams.” The resident reaction was almost unanimously in opposition. Birmingham is a small city that draws residents to well-established neighborhoods, each with its own character. Homeowners do not expect to have parts of their neighborhood rezoned to allow apartment buildings nearby.

Unimproved Streets Plan Our city’s 26 miles of unimproved roads and the flooding that plagues many of them remain a nagging problem for Birmingham homeowners. There was a multi-year study into the issue that culminated in a lengthy report. However, the city still lacks a firm direction and funding mechanism to expedite the paving of these streets. Residents often differ on whether to pave with asphalt or concrete, with or without curbs. The city’s current one-size approach may not be the best approach.

We need a solution that shares the cost equitably. Property taxes for residents living on unimproved streets are assessed at the same level as taxpayers on improved streets.

Residents on unimproved streets endure flooding, lack leaf pickup, and must pay for maintenance (cape-seal) of their streets. Meanwhile, their property tax dollars contribute to the repair and replacement of improved streets. Any solution needs to consider fixed-income seniors who would otherwise be saddled with expenses when they’re least able to afford them.

I live on an unimproved street destroyed by construction equipment and trucks. This issue is one I would make a priority. We cannot keep kicking it down the (wrecked) road.

Outside dining year around

Haig, North American Operations Strategy and Program manager at Continental Automotive, received a bachelor’s degree mechanical engineering from University of Sussex and masters in science in automotive engineering management from University of Hertfordshire. He currently serves on Birmingham’s Multi-Modal Transportation board.

Birmingham 2040 Plan The original draft of the plan contained a vision, but not one reflecting that of the city and its residents. Residents made their sentiments clear with their feedback to the first draft. The summary of changes for the second draft as presented to the commission in April was a significant step in the right direction. Currently, smaller, more downtownpublications.com

Current zoning ordinances support outdoor dining, and the city has encouraged it for many years. I have no issue with restaurants operating outdoors year-round. To do so, they must continue to comply with ordinances that address safety, ADAaccessibility, street clearing and maintenance, fire codes, etc.

However, the interests of other downtown businesses also need to be considered. Parking downtown is limited. If the city were to allow additional permanent structures, less parking would be available in the parking district, and parking revenue would decline. It seems equitable that restaurants wanting an additional parking spot for outdoor dining should offset that loss in revenue to the city.

Otherwise, restaurants would be unfairly subsidized by the parking fund while other businesses would not

receive the same benefit.

Lastly, any expanded outdoor dining needs to be harmonious with the streetscape. Unfortunately, a blanket policy will not work because enlarged decks in some areas may be suitable, but not others.

city’s overall taxable value.

If these trends continue and Birmingham continues to exercise fiscal responsibility, we can maintain a healthy buffer against the “unknown unknowns” of the future.

Top three issues

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking The parking system has a finite number of spaces, and that number is about to be reduced with the phase three reconstruction of S. Old Woodward.

There is little shared parking, and very few buildings have on-site parking. The vast majority of businesses within the parking assessment district rely upon street or deck parking. Assessing a fee on new development may not be a solution. Instead, we may have to start requiring more on-site parking with each new large structure to alleviate the situation.

The city lacks a convenient connection between downtown and the Triangle District, where more parking decks are proposed. Any solution to the parking crunch facing the downtown cannot include encroachment into adjacent residential areas.

It is not a simple answer, and it needs more study as part of the revised plan for our future growth. It begs the question, “How much downtown growth is enough and what sort of a town do the residents want to see and sustain?”

Triangle District I am somewhat familiar with the Triangle plans, but mainly in the context of the 2040 plan. The idea of two new parking decks in the Triangle and no real plan to connect them with Downtown requires further examination.

Downtown is where the parking demand will be most significant in the foreseeable future. The proposed new development at 770 Adams indicates that self-parking development in the Triangle District is possible.

There are incremental steps underway to try to realign standards in the Triangle to enable growth. The 2040 Master Plan is still unclear what to do in this area. The Adams Square site merits careful consideration from the planning board for appropriate development. I will be a firm supporter of this investigation by our highly qualified planning board members.

Infrastructure. I have already inquired about applying for funds from the new federal infrastructure bill to address flooding and sewer backups. But flooding is a regional issue, and acting alone as a city will not resolve the wastewater system issues. Any sewer upgrades will involve unimproved streets.

The 2040 Master Plan. We must account for the impact on existing residents and homes to help us retain our quiet charm and character while permitting appropriate development.

Seniors. According to SEMCOG, the number of Birmingham homes with seniors over 65 will continue to grow through 2045 and will push to nearly 40 percent of households. Our senior center, NEXT, requires investment to accommodate this growth. Zoning updates are needed to promote ground floor remodeling and attached alternative dwelling units, also known as in-law suites.

What makes you qualified I have attended nearly every city commission meeting for over three years. My understanding of the many issues facing the city today will allow me to step into the role of commissioner and contribute immediately. In my experience on the multi-modal transportation board, I have demonstrated my commitment and willingness to listen so that I can help solve issues for the benefit of Birmingham residents. I am hopeful and positive about the future for our community.

STEPHEN KONJA

City of Birmingham budget The city receives about one-third of the property taxes residents pay – the balance goes to public schools.

Currently, I do not see a need for a Headlee override with the current rate of property value appreciation and home sales.

Property tax increases are capped at the lesser of inflation or five percent.

The “reset” in taxable value following the sale of a home and the continuing pace of teardowns/new construction has provided the city with a steady stream of permit revenue and growth of the

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Konja, the regional sales manager for Guaranteed Rate, has a finance degree from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.

Active on the Brother Rice Alumni board and Saint Regis Booster board, 97

he has no previous government experience.

entirely equitable. They should be reviewed and revised in the near future.

Birmingham 2040 Plan

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking

Birmingham’s history of thoughtful planning has made our community one of southeast Michigan’s gems. I commend our city leadership for continuing that practice and ensuring the public’s ability to follow the process.

For all of us, the age of COVID has put a greater emphasis on the importance of finding all we need close to home. I believe most residents want Birmingham to remain an amenity-rich, safe, walkable community while simultaneously growing our diversity of businesses and people.

I am intrigued with a number of aspects of the Master 2040 Plan, including the concepts of intentionally creating spaces to live, work and play that “stitch” together particular areas of the city. As well, I am concerned that living in Birmingham remains accessible to young people and new families.

Offering a variety of housing options is one way to support that priority.

It is important to keep in mind the purpose of the Master 2040 Plan is to provide a vision and an array of possibilities for the future, rather than a set prescription. As always, community engagement is fundamental to ensuring that any prospective development or project will be a good investment and a success for future generations to enjoy.

Unimproved Streets Plan I support the Unimproved Streets Plan.

Generally, myriad problems persist with gravel roadways from erosion (made worse by major rain events), ecologically troublesome run-off, and unreliable road conditions posing public safety and access issues.

Our residents who live on these roads are denied amenities other residents currently enjoy like leaf removal and street cleaning. Moreover, gravel roads pose challenges for future mobility improvements like bike lanes.

I am a strong proponent of smart, sustainable infrastructure investments.

Improving our gravel roadways is a good idea for the public safety, our residents and the environment.

Outside dining year around I am in favor of continuing the option of outdoor dining in the future. COVID demanded quick action by leaders on so many fronts; it simply was not possible to craft a comprehensive, detailed and entirely equitable plan for outdoor dining.

Clearly, some establishments were able to take greater advantage of it than others. Moreover, COVID reduced patronage to other businesses, allowing the city to compromise some parking or other service areas to accommodate the new structures.

Simply put, the current “rules” were an attempt to rapidly adapt in a crisis.

They are not sustainable nor are they 98

Our parking infrastructure needs a comprehensive plan to address our challenges in a fair, effective and sustainable way. In the long-term, a broad mobility strategy will support our downtown with greater patron density so our businesses can thrive while ensuring our residents and visitors will be able to park with relative ease.

In the short-term, it is clear that we cannot continue to rely on development-driven parking solutions, and adding more business and residential density to our current parking district is unsustainable.

I believe we need an enforceable policy with clear priorities that considers any strategy, whether shared parking, timed permitting, or another approach.

The right strategy in the right places will ensure we retain the aesthetic of our downtown and neighborhoods, the value of walkability of our city, and certainty for future development investment.

Triangle District Building cohesion between “east and west” is a major priority. The lack of parking has stymied business growth and improvement in the Triangle District and further fostered a “divide” in our city.

I do believe it should be a city priority to address the underutilization of this area while retaining the integrity of the district’s residential areas.

Not surprisingly, parking is a chief concern, and I do believe it should be a priority we address. It has been a number of years since the plan for the Triangle District was first drafted. A refresh of that plan to update assumptions and priorities could help guide common sense solutions that are equitable for all stakeholders.

City of Birmingham budget I am not opposed to asking voters to fund programs or projects that are critical to our city or fit with the priorities of our residents, whether through a fee, tax or other revenuegenerating proposal. That being said, as a homeowner and taxpayer myself, I am keenly aware of the tax burden borne by our residents. I am committed to both ensuring the public has a voice on revenue proposals and keeping our budget and finances in check.

Communities across the state of Michigan have seen their portion of state revenue-sharing cut dramatically.

For some, retaining a great quality of life for their residents has been a challenge. Our “public goods” – parks, schools, public safety, libraries, infrastructure – are all funded in one way or another by taxpayers.

I believe that Birmingham’s residents want leaders who govern not through dogma but through a considered and

balanced process. Sometimes that means leaders need to ask voters if they are willing to pay for the public goods and services their community needs or desires.

Top three issues

am committed to transparent and common-sense public service that will keep Birmingham a premier community in southeast Michigan.

ANTHONY LONG

I anticipate that the top three issues facing the city of Birmingham and the next commission will be: COVID recovery and our “new normal”: Many restaurants, retail and service provider businesses are still working to recover from the economic blow dealt by the pandemic. Moreover, our future planning and decision-making must necessarily contemplate that COVID may be with us for years to come.

Meeting our parking challenges with equitable and sustainable solutions: Parking is and will continue to be a challenge on a number of fronts. The city will need to look at a variety of strategies to craft a comprehensive plan that addresses short-term critical needs and provides a basis for long-term sustainability.

Smart infrastructure investment: More than ever, the federal and state governments are focused on infrastructure investment and Birmingham needs to be ready to leverage those priorities. Whether investing in green infrastructure to manage changing climate events, improving roadways, or addressing lead water service lines, we will need to coordinate these critical capital improvements to limit disruption to our residents and businesses. These next decades will see tremendous advances in mobility, “smart” utilities, and other infrastructure innovations. Birmingham needs to be ready.

What makes you qualified Attending Brother Rice High School, Birmingham was my “second” hometown next to Farmington Hills.

After graduating from Michigan State with a business degree, I began my career in Chicago. When I had the chance, I came back home. I had no doubt Birmingham was where my wife and I wanted to raise our two daughters, now 9 and 12.

I believe it is critically important for everyday citizens to engage with their community. For me, that means volunteering my time and expertise.

I have no interest in making politics my vocation. I am proud of the work I do, managing a large team of mortgage specialists who help families realize their homeownership dreams.

My background in finance and management, combined with my granular understanding of the real estate market and what makes communities great, will be useful at the commission table. I have a pragmatic approach to problem-solving and won’t need to play “catch-up” on fundamental issues like budgeting and the basics of development and planning priorities. I

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Long is a partner at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC, and the firm’s general counsel. He has a BA in economics and management from Albion College and a law degree from Michigan State University. He has been a coach/manager for Birmingham Little League teams. He has no prior government/political experience.

Birmingham 2040 Plan I have studied the 2040 Plan, which contains thoughtful analysis and many suggestions that I support. The plan references information from SEMCOG, which projected that regional growth by 2040 may lead to 700 to 900 more families wanting to move to Birmingham. If this growth does occur, we must manage it in ways that bring the city together, rather than cause a divide or feelings that certain parts of the city are more important or desirable than others. I support the need for alternative housing concepts within the city in appropriate areas. Birmingham has successfully implemented alternative housing concepts for senior citizens (Baldwin House, All Seasons, etc.) to ensure that they have choices once they decide to move from their longtime Birmingham residences. I understand the consultant’s thought process behind neighborhood seams, but implementation as outlined thus far would be challenging, and for that reason, I understand that the planning board is not recommending moving forward with the plan. I think that the city commission can and should explore different options to achieve more housing diversity within the city, including as outlined in my discussion of the Triangle District below, and I look forward to being part of that process if I am fortunate enough to be elected as city commissioner.

Unimproved Streets Plan I applaud the Ad Hoc Unimproved Street Study Committee (AHUSC) for 10.21

the effort that they put into this report. I support the report, as well as the need to move away from unimproved streets to improved streets with curbs and updated sewers within the city. One recommendation I support is that residents would no longer be responsible for initiating this process. In 2015, I spearheaded a petition drive with residents and worked with the city commission to implement the paving of Cummings Street located in the St. James area of Birmingham. The street was the last unimproved roadway in that square mile area and had poor drainage, pooling water and large potholes at the edges. The result was a vast improvement to the area, property values and safety of the residents. The difficulty remains in how we pay for improving the 26 miles of unimproved streets and associated water and sewer infrastructure in Birmingham. I recognize that the city will have to do so in stages. I support the city commission’s effort to prioritize streets in the worst condition for improvement.

A report is being completed which will assign a score to each street based on the condition of the sewers, water mains and road surfaces should help define next steps and a timeline.

Outside dining year around I fully support exploring a year-round outdoor dining option in Birmingham.

The pandemic brought many challenges to the city, its residents and businesses.

The necessity of outdoor dining during the pandemic had an unintended benefit. It demonstrated how much the residents and non-residents enjoyed the outdoor dining option, and not just from a pandemic standpoint, but from a consumer standpoint. I have many fond memories of dining outdoors under heaters while it was snowing outside during the holidays, and after talking to residents, I know I’m not alone. By continuing to allow outdoor dining, we’re helping our restaurants appeal to wider audiences and increase their business while offering residents from Birmingham and neighboring communities another way to enjoy the city. The city commission has asked the planning board to investigate and fully explore best practices regarding possible year-round outdoor dining, taking into consideration the needs of adjacent retailers and also balancing private and public benefit. The planning board is also looking at other communities with regard to best practices for implementing an all season outdoor dining option within the confines of current ordinances, liquor license regulations, ADA requirements and fire codes, including possibly making responsible changes to allow for outdoor dining year round.

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking Ensuring adequate parking in any city has always been a challenge and Birmingham is no different. The fact downtownpublications.com

remains that Birmingham cannot continue to add additional buildings and development that require in excess of the available parking that the city currently has available. If the city continues to do so, we will reach a critical mass of available parking, which will, in turn, drive away residents and consumers to other areas that have readily available parking. I believe that we need to strike a balance between encouraging responsible retail development that includes plans for additional parking decks, via a fee charged to new developments that will utilize those parking spots and/or a requirement that new and expanded buildings include or add additional parking spots that the development will demand. Shared parking should be explored as a potential way to support new residential development downtown.

Keeping in mind that not all parking is the same. The city has historically prioritized parking for businesses and offices. Perhaps we need to consider changing that thought process and prioritize parking for residents and consumers.

Triangle District Property owners in the Triangle District have commented that the biggest impediment to new development of that area is having adequate parking. I believe that the Triangle District is a good location within Birmingham to build new housing and multi-family housing options. I believe that development within the Triangle District could help link downtown Birmingham to the Triangle District which would further benefit the city and its residents.

I have read the current plans for the Triangle District and its proposal to revamp that area and bring it into align with the rest of downtown Birmingham.

The plan calls for one of the two parking decks to be built as part of the initial phase, with the other deck to be built later in the plan. Assuming the plan as a whole is approved and the city is committed to fully implementing all phases of the plan, then I would be in favor building a new public parking structure in the Triangle District.

Historically, properties were assessed to pay for a portion of the construction for our existing parking decks by a formula which considered distance from the proposed deck, property size, building size, distance from downtown, and parking demand from the type of business. These formulas changed over the years, but they assumed all the buildings in an assessment district would have some benefit.

Address infrastructure issues leading to sewers and basement flooding; solve the parking challenges in the downtown; 2040 Plan revisions and implementation What makes you qualified I have lived in Birmingham for 26 years, and I have been an active community member throughout this time. For the past few years, I have been talking to my neighbors about the challenges the city faces, and I’ve realized many of us have the same concerns. Rather than just talking, I would like the opportunity to represent the voices of the community and help address the concerns I’ve heard time and time again, including property taxes, parking downtown, city sewers/flooded basements and new development. I’ve been fortunate to raise my two sons in Birmingham, and during my 12-year tenure as a manager and coach of their Birmingham based sports teams, I taught my players about fairness, trust, teamwork and problem-solving. In my 26 years as a practicing attorney, my clients and firm have relied upon me to represent them, advocate on their behalf, solve their problems and seek a fair resolution to their dispute. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to the Birmingham City Commission, residents can trust me to ensure fairness and use my background in problem solving and teamwork to represent the best interests of the Birmingham residents.

ELAINE MCLAIN

Top three issues

Unimproved Streets Plan The Ad Hoc Unimproved Street Study Committee included citizens, leaders and field experts from all over our community. I support and have read the 145-page document. It is full of historical perspective, data and infrastructure information. In order for the city commission to move forward, it must be approved and an action plan put in place. Recent floods, health and safety concerns and tax base issues all apply. We have to be frank that it is both a critical issue for our residents, businesses and rights of way. There is never a good time for difficult decisions like these, but there is no time like the present to get something actually done right with complete transparency.

Outside dining year around The expansion of outdoor dining during the pandemic was critical for safe public engagement with dining establishments. Now, during this transition period when indoor dining may have risks and businesses are still recovering, there is a reasonable accommodation of partial outdoor spaces that still allow for on street parking.

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking It seems clear that avoiding the challenges of adding parking to the already confusing inconsistent infrastructure is a complex and emotionally charged issue. We have a series of committees and independent experts weighing in, but no answers yet.

I personally need much more information and objective data from the city to assess future commitments.

Triangle District

McClain is a lifelong resident of Birmingham who has been the chair of the Birmingham Area Cable Board for 15 years. She is a registered nurse with RN and BSN degrees from Mercy College. She is currently an independent Medicare producer with Integrated Insurance.

City of Birmingham budget I am not in favor of asking the city of Birmingham residents, who already pay some of the highest property taxes in the state of Michigan, to override the Headlee cap and the protections that it affords to taxpayers.

planning jargon or buzzwords. These can be misconstrued. The key is a balance, inclusion of all interested parties (residential, commercial, municipal) and respect for boundaries of all kinds.”Seams” seems to have devolved into a divisive terminology.

Birmingham 2040 Plan I am familiar with the 2040 plan and have been following closely, long before the charrette postings. It is clear that we all need to appreciate the nuances of specific recommendations for housing options before defaulting to

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I need much more specific data on the multiple Triangle District parking proposals. I am incredibly familiar with the area having been born in the heart of it. Traffic and congestion are of concern. The revenue stream is clearly confusing for residents and commercial properties alike.

City of Birmingham budget We have been able to responsibly manage and reserve. I do not favor asking voters for an override of the Headlee cap. We have always been able to line item review and streamline.

Again, this is the time to shine a light on all we do in municipal government to serve all citizens. Our choice of a long term city manager is key.

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Top three issues Professional municipal teamwork with transparency, responsible urban planning consultation and action oriented problem solving.

What makes you qualified I am an independent candidate in this nonpartisan election. I am proud of my record as an appointed chairman of the Birmingham Area Cable Board for over 15 years. As a consumer and business advocate, I’ve led with civil and respectful discourse solving communication problems for all, with inclusion and distinction.

KATIE SCHAFER

Schafer is a pediatrician and partner at Bloom Pediatrics in Birmingham.

She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Michigan and her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has served the city of Birmingham on the Ad Hoc Unimproved Streets Committee, 2018-2020, and on the Multi-Modal Transportation Board, 2017-present, as a pedestrian advocate.

Birmingham 2040 Plan The 2040 Master Plan is an essential endeavor for the city. While this is truly a first draft, it is inclusive of the many ideas gleaned from hours of meetings with engaged residents, workshops, and public board meetings. The inclusion of multi-family housing in the “seams” was a proposal by the consultant team, but the city commission and the planning board have communicated that such extreme plans are not appropriate for our city. Due to suggestions that these defined areas be significantly reduced or eliminated, further study is needed. I expect the second draft of the master plan will be further revised to define this concept more accurately in line with our city. To keep Birmingham as a thriving community, we will need to develop housing arrangements and programs that allow the aging in place of our 100

seniors while simultaneously attracting young professionals and families. While the master plan has an intense focus on neighborhoods, its integration with past planning efforts in the Triangle District, the Rail District and the 2016 Downtown Master Plan will create a unified outlook for our future. I look forward to the opportunity to develop this document as one that will guide Birmingham’s future.

Unimproved Streets Plan I was a member of the Ad Hoc Unimproved Streets Committee. I am very proud of the document we curated over the course of nearly two years during which time we received extensive education and background to aid us in drafting a plan. What resulted was a robust recommendation for addressing the 26 miles of unimproved roads with a methodical and thorough approach that was long overdue. The previous process by which a road could become improved that relied mostly on resident initiative was one of the main reasons I wanted to be on this committee.

Keeping the city’s aging infrastructure updated, not just to today’s standards but much beyond, needs to be a citydriven initiative. Road improvements need to serve residents in this city for many years to come. This is a monumental task that will take time and significant funding to accomplish but its adoption and execution are paramount. I believe that the recommendations in our report should be approved so we can finally move forward on this long overdue and important undertaking.

Outside dining year around Expanded outdoor dining allowed during the pandemic was well received by the residents and restaurant owners alike. I am pleased to know that the planning board is diligently working on a recommendation for the city commission to expand the current parameters and create standards for year-round outdoor dining. I expect that these recommendations will (1) keep residents, business owners and visitors safe; (2) meet the residents’ needs; and (3) meet the restaurants’ needs to remain creative and flexible. I hope this work will be completed as soon as possible. With cooperation, we will find the right balance. Paramount is ensuring the safety of our residents, business owners and visitors – making sure the sidewalks are barrier free, being mindful of taking over street parking with platforms, and defining design standards for the expanded dining. Things that I would hope to see in a planning board recommendation include the structure of these outdoor dwellings (ceilings, wall, heat – especially in the colder months), limitations on outdoor dining exceeding store frontage, and balancing indoor and outdoor seating so as to fulfill the promises made to the legacy license holders when the bistro ordinance was adopted.

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking As our current system utilizes a “shared parking” approach, I would encourage new businesses that utilize the system during the off hours when demand is lighter so as to maximize the use of our existing decks. We are seeing this approach with the addition of RH as they demonstrated that they are busiest during the hours that our decks are at their lightest. I am very concerned about “impact fees” or additional assessments on new developments as they could very likely jeopardize future investment opportunities for our city. It is important to remember that all of our current parking decks are fully paid for and our system is debt free. All of the money for these decks came from the downtown property and business owners and users of the system. Tax dollars were not used to build the existing decks. Further, maintenance is paid by the user fees that are charged for permits and hourly parking. If a new structure were needed, these same people would be required to pay for it — not the taxpayer. As such, it would seem unfair to charge new development for prospective structures that they will again pay for when built.

Triangle District The stagnation of the Triangle District Plan is not the result of disinterest by the city but a matter of challenging economics. Implementation of the Triangle District Plan will require parking. However, funding the purchase of property, along with the construction of any decks, requires further study.

Instead of being able to capture some of the taxes that would have been paid to the county and related taxing authorities, the city will need to find a different method to fund these decks.

Further, as the Triangle District is not part of the current parking authority, we should consider the utilization of a Corridor Improvement Authority to fund the parking needs in this area.

Purchase of the property and construction of the decks should be funded using a combined funding strategy of special assessments of Triangle District businesses along with permit and user fees. It is not equitable to take money from the current parking system when the system was originally funded by the downtown businesses and they will not directly (or even indirectly) benefit from parking in the Triangle District (until there are easier ways to cross Woodward to make parking on one side and crossing feasible).

City of Birmingham budget Managing the budget is one of the most important duties of the city commission.

It is imperative that we continue to project what the city’s needs will be utilizing a five-year projection. From this projection, we can plan for issues years in advance. Each year, we are then able to make adjustments to keep our

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budget stable and prevent substantial year-to-year fluctuations. It also requires us to stick to our budget once it is adopted. While there are expenses that can arise that are unanticipated, it is important to limit fanciful wish list projects that haven’t been budgeted for in the current year. Instead, these types of expenses should be included in future budgets when they can be properly accounted for so as to prevent exceeding the budget and requiring increased taxes. Birmingham has been able to stay under the cap while taking good care of our city, and I see no reason why that practice won’t endure.

Top three issues While the incoming city commission will face many challenging issues, I believe the overriding focus should always be on the continued maintenance, improvement, and beautification of our city. First, by improving infrastructure like that which is intended by the implementation of the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Unimproved Streets Committee.

Second, to keep Birmingham the beautiful, safe and walkable community it is, ensuring that we maintain a high level of service to our residents while remaining fiscally aware. Third, ensuring and expanding these same services to our senior population to make certain they have the opportunity to age in place in the town they’ve proudly called home.

What makes you qualified As a 14-year Birmingham resident, I understand why Birmingham is a special place to everyone who lives here. I’m deeply invested in the community where I’ve built a business and am raising my family. My energy and passion will help to shape Birmingham’s future for those proud to call it home. I will ensure homeowners have the opportunity for their concerns to be heard and addressed. As a parent, I will ensure Birmingham remains safe, fun, and diverse for children to grow and thrive by keeping parks and community events a high priority. As a physician and business owner, I am skilled at listening and problem-solving. At my medical practice, we focus on our community – our patients and employees, while we balance budgets and future planning.

That experience will prove useful as I work with elected officials and city employees to keep Birmingham vibrant.

As a committed member on city boards, I developed an understanding of the processes and procedures that make Birmingham a thriving city. And, as an independent thinker I will best be able to listen to issues I am presented and make sound decisions with my allegiance toward the city, its residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

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LYNDA SCHRENK

was on the forefront of actively petitioning the city to bring improved streets with curbs and proper drainage to my neighborhood. I recognize the financial concern residents have regarding the cost of improvement as I too had those concerns. The decision to improve the streets should be collectively decided by the voices of the neighbors on a given block. I would also like to explore options to defray the costs and assessments on the homeowners for this project. The poor state of our roads does not reflect the high taxes residents pay to the city of Birmingham and they should be a top priority.

Outside dining year around

Schrenk has a degree in marketing from Oakland University, and is a realtor with Hall and Hunter in Birmingham.

Birmingham 2040 Plan Being a real estate agent for Hall and Hunter, a resident and parent with children who attended Birmingham Public Schools, I have been extremely interested in the Birmingham 2040 Master Plan and the future of our community.

I am enthused about the opportunity to increase the inventory of affordable homes for buyers who would like to live in downtown Birmingham and experience the walkability of our city, with the cultural array of art galleries, premium restaurants, along with our vibrant parks, library and Community House. Presently, the demand out paces availability. I continually get requests from buyers for reasonably priced condos at the center of town with one floor living, but the demand is hard to meet with the present supply.

The Rail District was a new concept which has been a great success with mixed use living and work spaces. I would like to see that kind of creativity expanded into the other areas of Birmingham. The “seams” continue to be controversial and I am not an advocate for them in our mature neighborhoods, however, there are some other areas where they could be implemented.

Another movement gaining momentum is the initiative to pull zoning out of our local municipalities and let the federal government decide what is best for the design of our suburbs. I believe the voices of our citizens should decide our zoning and not a distant bureaucratic agency that is not attuned to our local needs.

Unimproved Streets Plan I have been a homeowner in Birmingham for over 30 years. My initial experience with unimproved streets surrounding my house was extremely poor due to excessive flooded roads and sidewalks after even a mild rain. I downtownpublications.com

I was hugely supportive of outdoor dining for our restaurants this past year.

It was a creative way to help them survive continual state-mandated restrictions. I was a frequent patron of this outdoor concept and really enjoyed the new perspective. Considering the demand to dine in Birmingham, I think we should allow for year-round outdoor dining provided it doesn’t impede access to surrounding stores and businesses. The variety of dining venues in Birmingham is a great opportunity to attract a diverse clientele to our town to not only enjoy our premiere restaurants but, also our unique shopping district.

grown exponentially. This, along with attracting new businesses to our town, gives me confidence the city can meet the demands of the budget without increasing taxes.

Top three issues Keeping our voice at a local level.

Developments that support our local businesses creating vibrancy and relevance in our downtown.

Fiscal responsibility.

What makes you qualified Having lived and invested in Birmingham for over 30 years, along with my experience as a real estate agent, I understand the expectations that bring buyers to our town and why they choose to stay. This gives me keen insight into city plans that will affect our property values and tax revenues while maintaining the viability and relevance of our town. I believe community involvement is important and have enjoyed working on the Community House Tour fundraiser, being part of the team that built Booth Park, and implementing our much needed improved streets in my neighborhood.

Vote for me as your city commissioner and your voice will be heard.

Expanded buildings/new buildings’ impact on parking Adequate parking is a challenge in Birmingham as we balance growth and development of new buildings at our center. In many cases it is cost prohibitive for new or expanded developments to incur the expense of underground parking. I understand the concern of surrounding residential neighborhoods that fear parking will spill over onto their streets. I would be open to a potential impact fee for these buildings to help fund our present and future parking demand. Also, the concept of shared parking should be explored as should partnering with private lots that have underutilized space.

Triangle District I have followed and reviewed the Triangle District Plan and support the varied options and improved livability of that area. It will be an attractive destination with well organized gathering spaces and an enriched synergy with the surrounding neighborhoods. It will enhance our city’s affordability for first time buyers and Birmingham residents who wish to downsize, offering them a premiere lifestyle available in major cities. I’m excited to see this project unfold.

City of Birmingham budget I believe in fiscal responsibility. As functionally obsolete houses are replaced with new homes that have increased values, our tax base has DOWNTOWN

SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER It does little good to sit on the couch and complain, then not exercise your voting rights.

Registered voters have the power to decide who will make the policy decisions that set the public agenda.

Your vote is the most direct way to communicate with those in power.

So if you are not registered to vote, then call your local municipal clerk today.

Make sure you speak truth to power this election.

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ENDNOTE

Our choices for Birmingham commission esidents in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills are being asked to choose candidates to fill seats on their city commissions this election day, Tuesday, November 2. In Bloomfield Hills, there are five candidates to fill five open seats. In Birmingham, seven candidates are seeking to fill three open seats.

Downtown Newsmagazine invited all seven of the candidates in the Birmingham nonpartisan race to answer questions via a questionnaire which our editorial staff felt were important and relevant to the job of city commissioner. They are available in this issue in our Voter Guide as well as on our website, downtownpublications.com, to allow residents of Birmingham to read and review as they make their determinations for either absentee ballots or at the polling places.

With some candidates we conducted Zoom meetings to ferret out further the answers that were submitted because we have done this for decades and know the inherent failings of the questionnaire process.

We offer our endorsements on this page, reached after thorough, thoughtful and careful deliberation with the acknowledgement that we are just one voice of opinion in the community, although one backed up by an inordinate amount of time covering city issues.

Among the criteria we sought was knowledge of the issues confronting the city at this point in time and the ability to work collaboratively with six other commissioners, rather than just acting as a disruptive force, as

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well as with members of the administration who carry out the daily business of the city.

At this point in time, with three long-term commissioners retiring, we also believe it is a time for new vision and new blood, those who can bring independent voices to the commission table, which unfortunately has a couple of very weak members. We looked for voices who will not be part of a coalition or established voting block. While much institutional wisdom will be lost with this election as three long-term members did not seek another term, it is also an exciting opportunity to vote for individuals with fresh personal viewpoints, talent and skills.

Also taken into consideration was the fact that not everyone who actively participates in city meetings as a resident or currently holds an appointed board spot is qualified to be a commissioner, nor are individuals who have not yet served on a committee or board less competent or qualified to make city decisions.

Lastly, we don't always agree completely with recommended candidates on all issues but this is the best field from those appearing on the ballot.

KATIE SCHAFER, a pediatrician who is managing partner at Birmingham's Bloom Pediatrics, whose passion for issues in her own neighborhood led to her involvement with the multi-modal transportation board as a pedestrian advocate and the ad hoc unimproved streets committee. Her inquisitive mind reflects an understanding of the critical issues Birmingham is facing, from the master

plan process to development surrounding the city's Triangle District, as well as the latest issues the city is facing with parking. We were most impressed with Schafer.

For our second choice, we are excited to recommend ANTHONY LONG, an attorney with 26 years legal experience who is a partner and general counsel at a Royal Oak law firm.

Long demonstrated both a command and logical approach to the issues in his written answers and our follow up discussion with him.

He has the basic listening and communication skills once elected to productively participate in presenting his viewpoint and negotiating compromise when necessary. Long has the potential to be an independent voice and a strong addition to the commission, one that would not involve a long learning curve once elected.

Our third choice was a bit tougher to make but we think voters would be to cast their lot with ELAINE MCLAIN, who has served well on the Birmingham-Bloomfield Cable Board, although we have some reservations, as we did with the other remaining candidates, so we make the following recommendations. McLain has the underpinnings of knowledge relative to the issues facing the city today. Her written answers to our questions lack specifics, although she improved in a follow up Zoom session. If she can master the art of listening, then she could well prove an asset on the commission.

Domestic abuse can take many forms, all legit

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victim of domestic abuse doesn't need to receive a black eye or a ribcage of bruises to nonetheless be the target of what the United Nations terms “intimate partner violence.”

Domestic abuse can be physical – but it can also be psychological, emotional, economic or sexual.

As the United Nations states, it “can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner… This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.”

In mid-September, state Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield), filed a complaint of domestic abuse against fellow state Rep. Steve Marino (R-Harrison Township). Marino confirmed the two previously had a personal relationship which he said ended about a year ago, and he has denied any kind of abuse.

Manoogian has not divulged the nature of the

abuse by Marino, as is her prerogative and privilege. There have been reports from court documents that Marino allegedly sent text messages to Manoogian threatening physical harm.

The Michigan State Police is investigating the complaints, and Manoogian has obtained a personal protection order (PPO) against Marino, which her attorney said was to ensure her safety and well-being. While we await the results of the Michigan State Police examination, we do know PPOs are not given without evidence.

And therein lies an important point – while some people may discount allegations of domestic abuse because purportedly no physical violence took place, they would definitely be mistaken.

Domestic abuse can take many forms, and affect not only women and girls, but men and boys as well, of any race, religion, class, sexual orientation or age. Domestic abuse is about power – and can take the form of intimidation, shame, either private

or public, embarrassment in front of others, make you feel less about yourself, blame you for their deficits, treat you roughly, tell you you are nothing without them, and many other forms. But it is always about the abuser, and not the victim. You can't necessarily spot an abuser, which is why it is critical to trust the voice of a victim when they gain the strength to report it or leave an abusive situation.

If left unchecked, experts warn domestic abuse almost always escalates.

Manoogian is wise beyond her 29 years, because whether her alleged abuser threatened her by text or email, she took action before it could damage her further, whether to her reputation or through physical violence. While the incidents undoubtedly harmed her emotionally, by reporting them to the Michigan State Police and informing the media, thereby taking control of the narrative, she hopefully prevented a situation from turning far darker than it already has been.