RIVER RAT STUMPS FOR SECOND MILLAGE VOTE

With self-important chest-thumpers like Boss Logie and Big Sister as mayor, Commissar Kimball at the helm of the city manager's office, the string of duds who have presided as superintendent over the incredible shrinking Grand Rapids public school district, and a panhandling billionaire like Rich DeVos lauded as the epitome of community spirit, it probably isn't much of a wonder that River Rat Gary Schenk is the chairman of the Grand Rapids Community College.  We sure know how to pick 'em in River City.

Of course, a man who knows how to tell a tall tale is just the fellow GRCC needs to rationalize putting a millage request back on the ballot only three months after the voters had rejected it the first time.  Two weeks ago GRCC's request for a 0.56 millage hike was narrowly defeated, mostly on the no-vote from suburbanites.  Now GRCC is going back to the well with a new millage request in the August election which, curiously, will not have many primary races or other issues likely to bring a lot of suburban voters to the polls.  Schenk assured the Grand Rapids Press that the board had not even considered the likelihood of a low suburban turnout in its decision to put the new request on the August ballot.  Trust me, folks, a man who will lie to the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will lie to you too.

But even if Schenk were telling the truth, he and his fellow board members are thumbing their noses at the spirit of democracy by forcing us to immediately vote again on a measure that was contested and decided in a fair election.  The fact that the GRCC's millage request on the May ballot was narrowly defeated makes no difference.  In an election, no means no, whether the margin was 10,000 votes or a single vote.  Would Schenk and the gang have given us a second chance in August to defeat the millage if it had narrowly won two weeks ago?  Of course not!

The recent election reform by the state legislature was supposed to put an end to these serial demands for new millages by our schools.  Apparently it is not enough to prohibit them from scheduling millage elections on oddball dates.  They need to be prohibited from going to the well more than once a year.  The voters are entitled to some finality when they make a decision on a millage.  If reprobates like Schenk cannot accord that respect to the voters, it's time our legislators in Lansing force him to.

Comments

[B Post]

Here I am commenting once again at the outrageous behavior of our local schools and government. My blood pressure went up a number of points last night as I read the story in the GR Press about how they plan to come back at us again. The following quotes really got me going:

Schenk: "If people are interested one way or the other, they vote," he said. "And 'no' voters always vote."
My Translation: The wrong people voted, and the result wasn't 'really' what the public wants (as interpreted by him).

Juan Olivarez: "Not growing, not expanding our services, it's not acceptable," said Olivarez, adding he had a message for those wondering whether the college should go back to voters so soon. "I would say to you: We cannot waste any more time."

My Translation: "We" are sending this back to you voters because you didn't get it right...this is unacceptable.

GRCC Student:"It won't affect me huge, but it will affect me and other people who are just trying to get their education," said XXXXXX, who works part-time to pay for school. "It's still the cheapest school around, but I think we should keep it that way so people will come."

My Translation: I have more sympathy for the students, but they also have to learn to understand that it's the taxpayer who is funding this, and to ask whether it's really easier for them to fund it, or if it's easier for us to fund it. Maybe they should take a long drive through big parts of Grand Rapids before they make that decision so that they understand the implications of higher taxes on struggling homeowners.

[The Editor]

Hello B Post,

I enjoyed your reply to Bill's comments on the 2nd vote due soon for GRCC.

You did an excellent job translating the language of Grand Rapids school and public officials versus that of us, the little people.

You hit the nail on the head!

Spread the word - everyone get out and vote - if we don't - they'll keep putting it on the ballot until they get the result they want. More for them, much less for us.

Regards,

Bridget

[Eric Larson]

As the only organized effort against the GRCC millage, please visit our (rather crude) website and email us to help in the campaign. We are working a literature drop and can use as much help as people can offer.

Unfortunately, it's very hard to mount a response to these millages when they come up so quickly (and repetitively). It is my hope that our organization, Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility, will just such a home base for those interested in good governance and fighting unfair tax policies/proposals.

Email at info@kcffr.org and/or visit the website at www.kcffr.org.

[Bridget Dupont-Tingley, Editor - L.A.W.]

Hello Eric,

We will look at your website that is in response to the GRCC mileage and pass the info. along if we feel it will support the cause.

We are all against government waste - that includes our public schools.

Keep up the good fight!

Regards,