HOW I WOULD SERVE YOU IF ELECTED TO DEARBORN CITY COUNCIL

I am blessed in that I had a dad who hammered into my brain that life isn't much if you don't try to help others, and if you don't try to make wrongs right.  Dad, who passed in 2008, had a strong sense of right and wrong, and he could be tough when he needed to be, and kind when he needed to be.  While he was not a formally educated man, dad possessed a PhD in street-smarts and people smarts.  He was definitely my greatest teacher.  I miss him very much to this day.

Mainly due to dad, when I see injustice or something that is not right, I cannot seem to ignore it, and I have to get involved.  Thus, this is one major reason I have served on numerous City of Dearborn commissions, committees, and task forces, and have been involved as a volunteer on numerous other issues that impact Dearborn.   However, when others complain to their leaders and leaders don't listen, then I MUST get involved.  This is also one major reason why I decided to run in the 2013 Dearborn City Council election.

For the past 5 plus years I have supported our city leaders on numerous occasions, and always been a bridge-builder trying to make Dearborn as good as it can be, and believe that my interation with some city leaders has made a positive difference.

However, the past few years I have witnessed issues arising in Dearborn that were not handled in the manner that I would, which has resulted in the dismantling of some of our finest services and amenities.  I could be wrong about the reason for this, but it seems to me that some time ago, some city leaders stopped listening to the people they serve.  This has resulted in our beloved, highly utilized Snow Library being closed, Whitmore-Bolles and Hemlock pools being closed, our Historical Museums no longer being funded, the Henry Ford Centennial Library fountain not being repaired, and more.

Despite most of residents and business owners knowing that one major reason west Dearborn downtown is struggling and has more vacant suites that occupied suites is because of user-paid parking, it seems city leadership just doesn't get it.  Therefore, it is time I speak up and step up to the plate in an attempt to do something about it, and one way I can do that is to be elected to Dearborn City Council.  In addition, it seems to me that the voices of the people of Dearborn are speaking louder and louder about their dissatisfaction, and I would like to help lead those voices, and come up with viable solutions to the many issues facing Dearborn.

Any time I have sat on boards, commissions, committees, and other large groups, my attitude and my voting record is always highly influenced by the people I serve, regardless if my thoughts differ.  If I cannot convince the majority of the people I serve to agree with me, then I vote they way they expect me to vote, because I am a public servant.

The only way I would ever vote against the majority of the people I serve is if the vote resulted in something occuring that is immoral, illegal, unethical, or if it would bankrupt or do grave harm to the institution and people I serve.   Thankfully, I have never had to face issues where I had to vote the opposite of the people I served.

The first comment I always made when I served on boards was, "While I will do my best to bridge build with other board members, I did not get on this board to serve the board.  I got on this board to serve the majority of the people."  Therefore, you can "take it to the bank" that when I am elected to Dearborn City Council, I will do my best to build bridges with the mayor and other council members.  However, I will not serve the council or mayor.  I will serve the PEOPLE of Dearborn in every manner possible, and anyone who knows me well know that is true.

Since the Severstal Steel $8.5 million PILOT donation has surfaced it's been controversial, and I firmly believe that while our city leaders can choose to spend it where they want, this is money that is being donated to the PEOPLE of Dearborn.  In other words, it is OUR money, and we should have a LARGE say in how this money is utilized.  Any leader with 1/2 a brain should know that!

While I want to see ArtSpace succeed, city leaders proposing to give ArtSpace $1.75 million of OUR money, with ArtSpace paying $1.65 million for our existing city hall, which basically means taxpayers are letting ArtSpace make a $100,000 profit to buy our city hall just doesn't sit well with me.  In fact, it enrages me that city leaders would be so bold to do so after dismalting so many of the things the people of Dearborn cherish, and making little to no attempt to resurrect them.

It also grates on me to believe that some of our city leaders want to pour $5.5 million into our new Administrative Center, creating some type of Taj Mahal of a new city hall.  Since city leaders tell us they do NOT want us to visit city hall as much as in the past, and instead want us to call, email or use their website to conduct business with city hall, why do we need a larger space usage city hall, and why do we need a Taj Mahal city hall?

As far as I'm concerned, and some council members agree with me, the city can significantly cut down the cost to retrofit the new city hall, and they can use the HFCL auditorium for city council meetings.  Then they can use more of this $8.5 million towards reopening Snow Library, Whitmore Bolles and Hemlock pools, fixing our Centennial Library Fountain, restoring funding to our beloved Historical Museum, and more.  Since the mayor informed me that approximately 3/4ths of the $12 million note is paid off on the user-paid parking garages of a total of $16 million which includes the metered lots, why not use some of this money to bring back free patron parking in west downtown Dearborn as well?

In the meantime I have been meeting with citizens and businesses for their crucial input on what is working and what is not working in Dearborn, and plan to continue to do so when/if I am elected to Dearborn City Council.

Let's take the city back, and elect a majority of council members (4 of 7) at least that will serve the people of Dearborns needs, wants and desires.  Let's elect people that are available, approachable, and willing to listen to and address what we want addressed in the manner we want it addressed.  Let's elect leaders who will dilligently research issues and all options, and come up with solutions that please the people of Dearborn, instead of leaders whose only solutions seem to be to diminish or cut services and amenities.

Let's make sure we keep the pressure on city hall and council to do what we want them to do with our money - the $8.5 million proposed funding from Severstal.  To do less is not acceptable, and I will do everything I can to help now, and in the future.

I will be a very LOUD voice to serve the will of the people of Dearborn.

If you have comments, email me at mdalbano@yahoo.com.

To learn more about me, visit my official city council website at: http://www.albanoforcitycouncil.com/ and help if you can.

If you want to see my daily postings, and my thoughts on various issues, visit my Facebook city council site at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDAlbanoForDearbornCityCouncil, or my regular Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/michael.d.albano?ref=tn_tnmn

I have lots of opinions and thoughts, and thankfully most all of them agree with the majority of the people of Dearborn.

And don't forget, we CAN make a difference.  Therefore, don't be afraid to write, email or call our mayor and council to let them know what matters to you!!!

Remember, the true statement that the squeaky wheel gets the grease...