Why I am Running for Dearborn City Council - Michael D. Albano

I am running for Dearborn City Council because we need approachable, creative, problem solving leaders like myself who will address and resolve issues in the best interests of the people they serve, and who will save our services and amenities.

I have immense gratitude for all that the City of Dearborn has contributed to my life, and my lifetime goal has always been to pay the city back, which is one of the main reasons why I have filed to run for Dearborn City Council in the 2013 city election.

We need "New Leadership - New Perspectives - New Solutions".

In my opinion, we need some new leaders who are visionary, out of the box thinkers, and problem solvers, leaders who are willing to “go the extra mile” to find and implement those solutions, rather than hiring outside firms at a high cost to taxpayers, which would allow this funding to be directed instead towards other pressing city issues.

We need some new leaders who will also examine expenditures more closely, leaders who will make sure they direct expenditures towards an agenda focused upon the desires of the people they serve – Dearborn residents and businesses.

In any past leadership or board position I have served on, I have always solicited the opinions of the people I serve, and I vote for and focus upon doing what the majority of the people I serve request, because being a council member means being a public servant.

I plan on meeting with groups of Dearborn residents and businesses brainstorming to find out what they envision for Dearborn's future, and to obtain their assistance in finding solutions to save what we cherish from the past, making sure we do not neglect longtime assets that have made Dearborn one of the greatest, unique cities in America.

The most recent Dearborn Master Plan showed that the overwhelming majority of respondents want pools and libraries kept open, vacant homes and businesses filled, and west downtown Dearborn user-paid parking eliminated, and I am among that majority.

While city leaders seem to locate funding for projects like a new city hall, Amish cabins in Camp Dearborn, and a possible new convention center, to name a few, I believe they are neglecting some areas that make Dearborn attractive to current and new residents.

Such as closing two neighborhood outdoor pools, and possibly closing all outdoor pools except for Dunworth and Ford Woods, permanently closing Snow Library, and not rebuilding our beautiful, yet inoperative Henry Ford Library fountain.  Since the city has grant writers, and numerous grants are available for pools, libraries and more, it just baffles me as to why the city is not putting serious effort into obtaining grants to save these cherished Dearborn treasures.

I also believe that the city cutting off funding June 30, 2013 for the Dearborn Historical Museum is a mistake and that we should do everything we can to support such a cultural treasure.  Our museums house some of our most important artifacts and papers, and they have played a huge part in the history of Dearborn, Michigan, and America.

These are all crucial parts of Dearborn’s DNA, which have made Dearborn the great city it has been since the 20th century, and not being able to fund them leads me to believe that our city priorities are not in the order that the people of Dearborn request.

Since neighborhoods and homes are one of the most important factors in choosing a residence, I also believe our city should place more focus on our Dearborn Federation of Neighborhood Associations, and other neighborhood associations, which help maintain safe, attractive neighborhoods, which also helps keep existing residents and attracts new residents.  I believe these associations should have a much larger voice in the direction of Dearborn.

I would also like to work with businesses and residents to see that we bring a wider variety of desirable business types to downtown west and east Dearborn, thus giving people a reason to go to and stay in these two once thriving shopping areas.

Another large priority for me is to come up with some viable solution to downtown west Dearborn’s user-paid parking system, and our two underutilized garages, all which have become a financial drain on our budget, and in my opinion, have also played a significant part in the reason why downtown west Dearborn has so many vacant suites.

I truly believe all of these goals are achievable if we have the right leaders working together as a team and following the agenda of the people they serve, and I would like the honor of your vote and support so I can become one of our new leaders representing your best interests. 

If you want change in Dearborn with "New Leadership - New Perspectives - New Solutions" and you want to preserve what had made Dearborn great since the 20th Century and want to prepare Dearborn for a successful future then go to my official City Council website, read what I stand for, my biography and I'd appreciate it if you'd donate to my campaign at:

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDAlbanoForDearbornCityCouncil

Here is my link to my Facebook Dearborn City Council website as well:

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDAlbanoForDearbornCityCouncil