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and you find out that they are in collaboration with a major corporation taking over your park-- and they won't even give "you"--or anyone in your community--say, environmental reports, or, maps, or give you time to speak at meetings,
I acknowledge the tone of anger in the message from which the above quote comes. I don’t have any proof that the lack of cooperation received was/is because of racism. But the lack of cooperation, whatever the cause, doesn't seem like a "baseless allegation" this appears to be first hand experience. It also seems like something the government should address even as we give the DEQ folks the benefit of the doubt on acting in good faith.
Kim Hunter
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------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enviro-Mich message from "Bonnie Shupe" <bonnies@CANNONTWP.ORG> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree. I have worked with staff from DEQ and DNR and I've never met one who hasn't been cooperative and gone out of his/her way to help me with what I need. I've found everyone to care very deeply about the environment and put in extra time (of their own) to get things done properly.
Bonnie Shupe Blackledge Cannon Township Clerk 6878 Belding Road NE Rockford, MI 49341 Phone: 616-874-6966 Cell phone: 616-204-0085 Fax: 616-874-8940 Email: bonnies@cannontwp.org Web site: www.cannontwp.org
-----Original Message----- From: owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net [mailto:owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Robert McCann Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 10:01 AM To: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net; Anne Woiwode; LuAnne Kozma Subject: Re: E-M:/ Shutting down Gov't: Who ya gonna call?
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enviro-Mich message from "Robert McCann" <mccannr@michigan.gov> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
LuAnne -
While having open discussions and airing our disagreements are both a healthy part of any public process, I'm very disappointed with the tone of your email. Today, the entire staff of the DEQ is wondering whether or not they will even be able to report to their jobs next week because of the budget impasse, and using this as an opportunity to attack them over the decisions that have been made on this project is completely inappropriate.
The DEQ is required to make difficult decisions based on what the law tells us. You may disagree with a decision, and you may even disagree with how that decision was made, but to make baseless allegations about why those decisions were made does not solve any problem nor does it help any cause.
I have worked with the DEQ staff for about 3 ½ years now, and during that time I have never ceased to be impressed by the dedication our staff has to doing their jobs and protecting Michigan's environment, often under difficult and thankless conditions. We of course have disagreements with the environmental community at times, but we have never been unwilling to listen to their concerns.
In the future, I would encourage you work with us instead of falsely attacking our integrity. If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them. I can't guarantee that we'll always agree with one another, but I can guarantee that we can all do more good by communicating with one another in an open and honest manner.
Robert McCann Press Secretary Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Phone: 517-241-7397 Fax: 517-241-7401 Email: mccannr@michigan.gov
>>> LuAnne Kozma <luanne_kozma@yahoo.com> 9/27/2007 10:43 PM >>> This assumes that when "you" call government, they might actually respond. I suppose if "you" had an ammonia leak at a school and "you" were in, say, Novi, you might get a speedy response.
When "you" call your trusty DNR and DEQ and senators and congressmen and other elected leaders you are black and live in Benton Harbor... and you find out that they are in collaboration with a major corporation taking over your park-- and they won't even give "you"--or anyone in your community--say, environmental reports, or, maps, or give you time to speak at meetings, or ....wait, your Congressman is in the family of the major corporation that gave money to the governor.... then "you" don't get government to work for you at all.
NOW who ya gonna call?
There has been plenty of money earmarked for pet projects that benefit Governor Granholm's campaign contributors like Whirlpool executives and state police complex landlords.
When will the rest of the State stand up to this outrage and get government to answer to and represent the people, especially communities like Benton Harbor, instead of corporations and special interests who pay their way to push huge boondoggles like the Harbor Shores Elite Golfers' Paradise? (Which isn't a done deal by the way).
We must save Jean Klock Park from a Michigan government answering to power, not the people.
Take a little time off guys, and think about who you truly serve.
LuAnne Kozma
Anne Woiwode <Anne.Woiwode@sierraclub.org> wrote: st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } By Monday we may be forced to test the theory posited by some pundits and electeds that government is over-rated. Who needs it?
So, think about "who ya gonna call?" when there is a pollution disaster in your neighborhood. How's about hydrogen sulfide from a sour gas well? What about an overflowing toxic waste lagoon spilling into the lake? And what about spills on the highways that drain into drinking water sources? Maybe an ammonia leak near a school -- oh, maybe the schools will not be open for long anyway.
State government IS shutting down. We hear that legislative staff have been told that they should not expect to show up Monday. Emergency meetings in the Administration have been deciding how to shut it all down -- prisons are staying open, but not much else.
So when the lights and the voting board in the House and Senate Chambers get shut off for non-payment of electric bills, will they be able to buy a chalk board and chalk to keep track of votes?
A
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anne M. Woiwode, State Director, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter - 109 E. Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906 517-484-2372 fax 517-484-3108 -- anne.woiwode@sierraclub.org Sierra Club Michigan Chapter celebrating our 40th Anniversary on September 9, 2007 Visit us at http://michigan.sierraclub.org/index.shtml
Act Today: Join our Legislative Alerts System! http://mackinac.sierraclubaction.org Act FOR Tomorrow: Support the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter - contact Wendi Tilden at wendi.tilden@sierraclub.org
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===================== ENVIRO-MICH: Internet List and Forum for Michigan Environmental and Conservation Issues and Michigan-based Citizen Action. Archives at http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/enviro-mich/
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===================== ENVIRO-MICH: Internet List and Forum for Michigan Environmental and Conservation Issues and Michigan-based Citizen Action. Archives at http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/enviro-mich/
Postings to: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net For info, send email to majordomo@great-lakes.net with a one-line message body of "info enviro-mich" ====================== |