Thanks to all who came to the debate last night

The debate is over. In the eyes of Ypsilanti Mayoral Debate Committee, the Ypsilanti Mayoral Debate is a success.

• Read the article in today’s Ann Arbor News.
• Audio from the debate is now available in high and low bit-rate mp3 form and also as a multi-part suitable for burning to an audio cd. Find it at Sam’s Thoughts.

YMDC wants people to know that it will continue to post questions received via email. The primary is fast approaching, and there are many questions that the candidates need to read and think about their answers and solutions to.

We’ve posted the questions that YMDC asked during the first part of last night’s debate. Notice, as well, that there are several questions we wanted to ask, but given our 60-minute time limit for the first part, we were unable to get to these.

Also posted on the blog are most of the questions submitted by audience members at the debate. Questions written by audience members and asked of the mayoral candidates are categorized separately from those questions we simply didn’t have time to get to, but both are included in the blog.

We knew Ypsi was packed with concerned citizens, but we on YMDC found ourselves commenting often on the concern, insight, and passion contained within the submitted questions, as well as in the comments. There is no apathy in Ypsi. We learned much over the past month as we prepared for the debate, but if we learned one thing above all else, it is that the city of Ypsilanti is even more than we believed (no small feat, given how many of us believed in Ypsilanti quite a bit before the YMDC began meeting).

As you may have noticed, www.ypsivotes.com is not “ypsivotes2006″ dot com. It is, rather, a site that will stick around, although its future utilization–as well as its actual domain name–is uncertain at this point. The community gathered much positive momentum from last night’s debate. It already had momentum, but when over 275 citizens pack a ballroom because they are concerned about their city, the message to the mayoral candidates needs to be clear: Candidates Take Note: the questions asked, the concerns raised, and the voices that you’ve heard will not go away once you take office.

Thank you,

YMDC

Challenge You’re Best-Suited For

Which of the current challenges that Ypsilanti faces are you personally best suited to resolve? Why?

Mistakes

In recent years, you have all been involved in city leadership. During that time you have certainly made mistakes. What was your biggest mistake and how would you now handle it differently?

Improving DDA

How would you use the power of the mayor to improve the ability of DDA to bring about the revitalization of Downtown Ypsilanti?

Technology in City Government

How will you use technology to run City government more efficiently and  increase transparency?

Gays and Lesbians

The City Charter presently protects gays and lesbians from employment discrimination. Do you support this?

New and Existing Business

What concrete steps would you take to recruit and foster new and existing business?

City & EMU

The City and EMU are forever intertwined. Explain two important and new ways that you as Mayor would work with the University to ensure mutual prosperity.

Negative Perceptions of Ypsi

Name two major issues of negative perception of the city and describe what would you do to counter each perception?

What “Democrat” Means to You

Since you are running in the Democratic primary, please tell us what being a Democrat means to you. How will this affect your choices as Mayor?

Recreation and Bus Service

Given recent and planned budget cuts in such things as recreation and bus service, DESCRIBE two creative ways you would ensure vital  services are still provided.

Townships and County

How would you IMPROVE the CITY’S WORKING relationships with surrounding townships and county government?

Racially Divided City

What in your past experience qualifies you to deal with the problems that arise in a racially divided city?

Poverty in Ypsi

Roughly 1 in 4 Ypsilanti residents live below the poverty line.  Name two core issues facing these citizens and describe how you would address them.

Water Street

If elected, what will you do to make the Water Street project a success?

Fiscal Health

What is your plan TO ENSURE the CITY’S future fiscal health and avoid receivership?

City Income Tax

City income tax – is it a good idea or not? Why?

Why You?

Why do you think you are the best person to be our next mayor?

Longest Question(s) to Date

I have a couple of questions for all of you.

Are you all aware of the fact that our property taxes are at a milage rate MUCH, MUCH greater than our surrounding neighbors?
Are you aware that our property values are significantly LOWER than our surrounding neighbors.
Are you aware of  how many rotting, decaying, vacant properties there are in this community.
Are you also aware of all the vacant property parcels there are – the remains after the decay is over, demolished and cleared away.
Are you aware, that with the current tax rates, there is little or NO incentive for property rehabilitation, or restoration.

Are you also aware of the tremendous reductions is sales prices property owners are suffering in order to sell their properties? HUGE reductions.

Why are all of you AVOIDING THE ELEPHANT in the livingroom.
When are you going to address the issue of OUTRAGEOUS property tax rates.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ATTRACT NEW FAMILIES, NEW BUSINESSES, PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY,TIME AND ENERGY TO ANIMATE THIS CITY…restore some of the glorious old homes, have their kids play and go to school here, when the Love Boutique is just around the corner, there is a liquor store at every bend, cars have been broken into more than once, vandalized, ONE HAS TO STORE ONES BICYCLES IN THE LIVINGROOM!!!
And for all this…you get to pay almost double the tax rate of other areas.

C’mon guys…will someone GET REAL and tell us HOW all this is going to change? and when?

Thanks in advance for your response

Pension Changes

Would you support the following pension changes:

Police = stays the same

Fire = stays the same

DPW = Eliminate the pension and offer a 5% contribution to their
individual 401k each year

Clerks / Secretaries = Eliminate the pension and offer a 5%
contribution to their individual 401k each year

Department Heads = Establish a vesting period which reflects their
tenure as department head

What Ain’t Broke

Some people will try to convince you that they can turn straw into gold. I believe you can renovate a 73 Chevy Vega but shoulld never call it a Cadillac.  No matter how hard you try.  It will still be a Chevy. Also, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Tell us very specificallly, what is not broken, and name two things that are right about Ypsilanti.

Consolidation of School Districts

As Mayor, would you be interested and trying to broker a consolidation of the 5 schools districts and bus services within the greater Ypsilanti area ? Do you feel this could have a positive effect on the financial condition of the schools and do you feel it would work?

Enticing Townships

Exactly HOW does each mayoral candidate plan to entice the TWP boards (specifically Superior and Ypsi) to actually join forces? It is all well and good to speak of “Regional Partnerships” but if they don’t want to play we can’t force them.

City Services

People are leaving the city and moving to areas out in the country where they do not have public services. Why does the city put so much emphasis on city services?

Unicameral Michigan

What do you think about a unicameral Michigan? Should we do away with the Senate?

Behind Closed Doors

Mr. Pierce commented that decisions had been made “behind closed doors” by the city. Which ones?

Staff Concerns

Ms. Richardson said we should aggressively pursue new business development for Ypsilanti. With what staff? There’s nobody there.

Why Not Yet

Mr. Pierce stated [that] regional cooperation would solve our budget problems. If that were true, wouldn’t it have already happened? (We don’t have a payroll dept. that costs us $800K.)

Republican? Y/N

Have you worked for the Republican party in the past; if so, how would you implement a Democratic doctrine to the city of Ypsilanti?

Assuring Us Regarding Big Business

Critics regard Democrats as being “tax and spend.” Within the party, through, many see that we have actually become beholden to “big business.” What assurance can you make that you won’t make decisions based on the “highest bidder,” i.e., a chain store moving into downtown?

Marketing, Regionalization, Water Street: blah blah

There have been many common answers provided by all candidates throughout recent weeks. We all agree on “marketing the city, regionalization, water street.” Please, each candidate, provide a couple of specific details on how you intend to use these issues to provide positive benefits to the city.

Why Stay in Ypsi

With high property taxes, high crime rates, and dwindling city services, why should residents stay in Ypsilanti?

Parks & Rec

With recent budget cuts and dwindling funds, how does the city plan to address the loss of the Parks and Recreation Department, particularly what will happen with Parkridge Rec Center?

Council

We need business experience on council, people with financial experience. Please share your specific experience in business and finances and how you believe it can help.

Economic Viability

As mayor, what, specifically, can you do in order to increase economic viability in the city?

Grocery Store (more)

A downtown grocery store needed. Citizens like myself without a car need help. The Water Street program stores would be too far away. I live at Towne Center 401 MIchigan. Ne need a near-by grocery store.

Generating Revenue

Approximately 1/3 of Ypsi is not generating revenue, including EMU/nonprofits and churches. How can the city generate more revenue?

Grocery Store

Citizens like me without a car need a downtown grocery store. Water Street is too far. What would you do to address this?

Govt. and Youth

What is your platform on youth and their involvement civically with Ypsi government?

Questions for Schreiber

Two questions for Paul Schreiber: (1a) Will you renounce the letter sent out from the Ypsi Campaign for Equality which told lies about Steve Pierce’s support for that campaign? (1b) Will you send out a retraction letter correcting these lies? If not, why? (2) Were the mayor’s letters paid for in any way by your campaign—be it a direct donation or an in-kind? Was any help provided by your campaign in getting these mailings out? If so, these letters had no indication that such help/donations were provided.

Racial Relations

Can you address racial relations in Ypsilanti? Do you believe such relations impact the city’s economy?

Attracting Families to Ypsi

I agree that improving Ypsilanti’s financial situation is important, but will doing so be sufficient to attract new families to the city? What role does crime play, and how can we prevent it?

Selecting Committees and Commissions

If elected, what criteria would you use in slection of members of commissions and committees?

City Management

Many city problems result from poor management and bad business. The new mayor will need to be both a good manager and also know their business. What from your personal experience will you bring to the table that prepares you to deal with these matters?

Heritage and Cultural

How can we market and capitalize on Ypsilanti’s unique heritage and culture?

Public Schools

What role do you see the public schools playing in your economic development plans?

Google

Google. How do we attract them, and if not them, their employees?

Buildings

Throughout downtown and W. Cross St. there are bsinesses – successful, struggling, and long-ago closed – in buildings that are in terrible condition or at least eyesores. What measures can be taken so property owners and/or tenants take care of what’s theirs?

DDAs

What should be the role of the Downtown and Depot Town Development Authorities? Should we cut them to save general revenue funds?

Gays and Lesbians

Where did you stand when the city was going through the fight over the city charter related to discrimination against gays and lesbians and where would you stand today if that issue came up again?

Managing the Role of Mayor

The city is facing financial and social challenges. How do you propose to maintain a full-time job and being a full-time manager? Is this even possible?

Racial Divide

I look around this room and see a disproportionately large white/caucasian audience, which I see as a problem. What would you do to help better “integrate” the city so that all ethnicities and races care about the city (and are equally cared for)?

Property Taxes

Ypsi has the highest property taxes in the state. Do you have a plan to make the city more appealing to prospective home purchasers and businesses?

Water Street

The Water Street redevelopment is back on track with a highly qualified developer. What will you do as mayor to help assure the success of this important project?

Nonprofits and Ypsi

Many nonprofits in the community have felt unwelcome by city leaders. How do you feel about the role of nonprofits in the future and success of our community?

Ypsi’s Youth

Young people in Ypsilanti are underutilized as valuable resources. (1) How would you, in your candidacy, address that? (2) How would you include the youth of this community in decisions that affect their everyday lives?

EMU & City

You just heard the president of EMU say that he wanted to actively work with the city. What would be the first thing you would recommend?

Ypsilantians and Food

The ability of our community to access fresh, healthy, and affordable food is a real concern for many of our residents. How do you feel about allowing people to provide for their own food by allowing laying chickens (not roosters)?

Attract Business Downtown

How do you plan to attract businesses downtown? What do you feel about locally owned businesses vs. chains?