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Topic: Woodrow Stanley-Monday morning political talk

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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

State Rep. Woodrow Stanley to host coffee hours to talk with residents

Sarah Schuch | sschuch@mlive.com By Sarah Schuch | sschuch@mlive.com
on April 19, 2014 at 8:00 AM, updated April 19, 2014 at 8:02 AM



FLINT, MI -- State Rep.Woodrow Stanley invites residents to meet with him to share ideas and concerns about the state budget, proposed plan for Flint city water and the Education Achievement Authority.

Stanley, D-Flint, will host coffee hours from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 21, at Golden Gate Restaurant, 3105 Flushing Road.

Stanley is currently serving his third term in the Michigan House of Representatives representing the 34th District, which includes most of Flint.

On Dec. 31, Stanley will reach his term limit of three terms in the state House of Representatives and his seat will be up for grabs during this year's election.
Post Sat Apr 19, 2014 12:52 pm 
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twotap
F L I N T O I D

Hoodrow Stanley why would anyone want to hear what he has to say? Rolling Eyes

_________________
"If you like your current healthcare you can keep it, Period"!!
Barack Hussein Obama--- multiple times.
Post Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:36 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

You were right on this one. It was like the politician in the "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" when he danced around and sang about side stepping the issues. Got no answers.
Post Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:17 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

This relates to yesterdays discussion with Stanley. Stanley first blamed the whole Genesee Towers fiasco on Former mayor Don Williamson and did not want to admit the whole fiasco started under his administration. He then said Wlliamson dropped the ball. I disagree.

Binding arbitration is often used in trials. The problem, as Former City Attorney Trachelle Young and I discussed at the time, was the arbitrator Val Washington started working for the State Treasury Department weeks before a decision was made. Conflict of Interest maybe? Pressure from state officials to make the decision he did is another possibility as I see it.

The author below believes Snyder influenced and brought about the planned bankruptcy of Detroit.







No Bid Contracts, Pay to Play Contracting and Conflict of Interests

by Henry Teutsch • November 28, 2012 • Detroit, Government, Legal


Not the Kilpatrick Trial, But the Bing and Snyder Administration

Politics in Detroit is dirtier than ever and the various special interests are breaking all the rules. Double standards have become the new standard and the belief where the ends justify the means is alive and strong within the state of Michigan. Mayor Bing is proposing a contract to the law firm Miller-Canfield that is reported to be worth an initial value of $300 thousand dollars. The state of Michigan, represented by Treasurer Andy Dillon and Governor Rick Snyder has stated that if this contract is not approved that the state will attempt to force the city into bankruptcy. Dillon claims it’s a withhold of money, but the reality is a push towards bankruptcy. The only money the state can withhold from Detroit is the monthly revenue sharing funds that the state provides schools and local governments. The Detroit City Council, on advice from the city attorney, the city corporate counsel, has not voted on Bing’s proposal for various reasons including,
•A potential violation of state law, The Open Meetings Act
•A potential violation of the city charter
•A conflict of interest and by voting on the contract the council would be adopting a conflict of interest
•The corporate counsel has not provided a recommendation for a vote as required within the city charter.



With these reasons and others for voting not voting or voting no, why is there such a fight over this relatively small contract? On one side is the mayor and the state of Michigan, all republicans. On the other side are most of the city council, and the labor unions who represent large portions of the city workers. This contract has not been stated to impact any worker or union contract however the unions having been misled by Bing many times in his short tenure as mayor and are standing up for the process. The rules of government cannot be violated even if it appears that the contract itself is may be harmless. This is a fight over principle.



What does this contract mean?

The city enters into many contracts each year. There isn’t a firm rule that all contracts must be open for competitive bidding. The use of competitive bidding is employed at times by the city. However during the past ten years (which includes the largest high profile contracts, those contracts or contractors who are or were the focus of corruption charges or those contractors who have strong political allies in government) no bid contracts have been the typical manner for contracting. This proposed contract is also a no-bid contract.



Miller-Canfield has been doing contract work for the city for many years. What makes this contract different is recent history. Miller-Canfield has been strongly supportive of Governor Snyder and the republican anti-people platform over the past two years. The law firm helped draft or provided consultation in the most controversial laws in the recent history. Miller-Canfield supported the state law that was just repealed by the voters, Public Act 4 of 2011 and the Financial Stability Agreement, also known as the Consent Decree, a contract between the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. These laws and contracts have been highly criticized as violating the principals of a democracy and a free society. These also have been criticized as violating the constitution of Michigan and the city charter. A law firm, who makes money from the knowledge and practice of the law taking a position that allegedly violates the law should be scrutinized to determine if the company has violated any ethics rules or other rules governing lawyers and the practice of law.



The truth is that this contract provides no benefit to the city whatsoever. The money will be provided to Miller-canfield in exchange for one or more reports or some other form of consultation. Miller-Canfield, and any law firm is prevented by performing work as a legal representative to the city by the city charter. Thus the city council and mayor is therefore prevented in contracting city legal work to any law firm. The city has a law department and by the rule of the charter, this department is the only law group that can represent the city, provide legal advice and review legal papers. What the city can do, and has done in the past, is hire individual lawyers, as temp workers, to work in the law department. This has occurred since Mayor Archer was in office. The city may hire temporary workers (temp employees) by contract to support the mayors administrative staff. This may include legal consultants, but this is non-binding and does not hold to the attorney client privilege. This privilege only extends in a client relationship and the only lawyer the city can legally have by the charter is the corporate counsel.



The fact that this contract is a no-bid contract is troubling since legal work could be handled by any law firm in the city, as well as the city law department. Therefore this contract is partially presented due to favoritism and political influence. The fact that the state of Michigan, Governor Snyder and Andy Dilon are threatening the city if this contract is not approved provides a window into probably corruption. Typically this activity is done behind closed doors. These types of votes by council are red flags for corruption in government. Yet the media is promoting the republican position and vilifying the council as well as the citizens who oppose these types of contracting arrangements.



Mayor Bing has stated that he no longer trusts the city corporate counsel and that he needs an independent lawyer to represent him. IF these allegations are true and the city lawyer is not trustworthy, this is grounds to dismiss the city corporate counsel. The mayor would only need to document the instances that have led him to these conclusions. The council would be forced to vote to dismiss the head of the law department based on Bing’s investigation. But this is not the true meaning of Bing’s words. Mayor Bing is indicated that the city lawyer won’t rubber stamp his proposals. Additionally the Michigan Bar Association would investigate to ensure that the rules for lawyers practicing in Michigan are being followed. Bing only need ask to being this process.



Krystal Crittendon, the city corporate counsel, has indicated in various forms and at various times that the schemes devised by or participated in by Bing are either not allowed under the city charter or simply not in the best legal interest of the city of Detroit. There has not been a case where Crittendon has stepped outside of her role as a lawyer and provided advice not solely based on the law. Disagreement over the law is common place. This is partially why the city employs many lawyers that can review and can freely give advice on all city legal matters.



Mayor Bing’s desire to hire Miller-Canfield is being done for political reasons. His intentions are not justified. His statements are unproven and are suspected not to be true. Bing has failed to explore all options as mayor. This is his prerogative, but his pattern is to only employ his desired outcome and then bully those in opposition until they agree. This worked in the past with Council. Its unknown if it will work again.



About Henry Teutsch

Henry Teutsch is a member of Hood Research. An interest in writing, with a love for programming databases and web sites, allows Henry to do both on The Thinkers Report.

http://www.facebook.com/hbteutsch
Post Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:58 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

There has to be at least one Republican in the know with loose lips that has talked about plans for Flint. Why are we in the dark?
Post Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:00 am 
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