LSJ Blogs: Derek Melot is Just Asking

More on campaign flier

A couple of final points on the odd campaign flier in support of Carol Wood:

1. Rich Robinson of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network added to his previous info that "If the (donor) gave the mail piece in-kind, it can't be worth more than $1,000; for independent expenditures, there's no limit."

2. Carol Wood sent a statement last night -- "The piece of political literature Derek Melot commented on in his LSJ column was initiated and developed by a group of young African-American men interested in my campaign. During a discussion with young adults about the closing of the computer lab at the Hildebrandt Community Center, several individuals indicated their frustration with the lack of activities for city youth. These young adults asked if they could get involved with my campaign. Having heard their conviction to make a difference regarding jobs and the future of young people in Lansing, I wanted them involved with our campaign.

Tractor-pulling to the mayor's office

I was going to write today about the WILX mayoral debate, but a doozy of a campaign flier was dropped on my desk this afternoon.

It’s listed as an in-kind donation to the Carol Wood campaign. Under the header of “Remember ...”, it asks “How would you like to have major record label A&R’s come to our city and receive your demo first hand ...

And “Have an MMA and tractor pull mud bog in the same event?”

What in the heck does that mean?

Is the Wood campaign saying that the mayor’s office, under her regime, will have some influence with record companies so that they will scour the streets of Lansing for their next stars?

Is it really a pressing issue for the capital city to have an “MMA” — mixed martial arts? — and a tractor pull?

On the flip side, the flier seeks resumes from “young individuals with creative minds” to create a committee to bring  “positive entertainment” to Lansing. So the mayor should be the city’s cruise director ... “On the Lido deck today, enjoy the uplifting stylings of ...

Maybe these are all good ideas ... but the stuff of late-in-the-game mayoral campaigning?

Odd.

Detroit as urban opportunity?

One of the most disappointing of all the disappointing things at the Capitol right now is the utter lack of innovative thinking. Michigan has to start doing things differently, yet the pols are fighting their traditional political wars over traditional topics.

Contrast what you see and hear in Lansing with what you read at this post at a site devoted to the future of Midwestern cities. A small taste: “It may just be that some of the most important urban innovations in 21st century America end up coming not from Portland or New York, but places like Youngstown and, yes, Detroit.”

IBEW seeks court help on donation

IBEW Local 665 is not taking “no” for an answer from Mayor Virg Bernero about its $5,000 contribution to Bernero’s 527 fundraising account.

On Monday, the union filed a lawsuit in Ingham County court against Bernero, the “City Administrative Account” and Charles L. Moore (the man who handles its books) alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraud. Strong words.

Wood keeps campaign budget low

If Carol Wood becomes the next mayor of Lansing, she is going to get major value out of each dollar she has raised.

The councilwoman and challenger to Mayor Virg Bernero reached Oct. 23 (11 days to the election) having raised less than $50,000. In 2005, Bernero won the office when about 21,000 people voted. If Wood won 50 percent plus 1 vote in a similar election (10,501), she would have raised about $4 for each vote.

By contrast, Bernero had raised about $280,000 by the start of September. He would be paying $25 a vote to win this hypothetical squeaker. Actually, he would be paying even more, since I’m sure he’s raised more money, but he failed to meet last Friday’s deadline to file a report.

Wood’s latest report shows the mayoral race is a truly regional contest.

Bernero has raised plenty of money from outside Lansing environs. But of the $9,107 in cash that Wood raised in the last month, $6,255 came from people who live outside Lansing — according to my rough math and the addresses provided on her reports. That’s $2 out of every $3 raised this time.

If Wood is going to carry the night Nov. 3, she will need her grass-roots supporters to do a better job at the ballot box than they’ve done in materially supporting her campaign so far.

Hotel deal was really a mess

I’m glad that Virg Bernero brought up the 2005 Radisson giveaway for one reason: Most voters probably don’t know just how bad the deal is.

I’ll have more on this in my column next Tuesday. But, for now, ask yourself this:

You are the city of Lansing. You are owed $17 million by the Radisson. As part of the original deal, you promised the Radisson that you wouldn’t give help to any other hotel project in downtown Lansing.

Out of fear, you agree to take pennies on the dollars in 2005. Now, would you expect that this deal would eliminate or keep the promise to keep your hands tied, betting all the city’s downtown hotel hopes on the Radisson?

Consider your answer and check out next Tuesday’s column.

Last one in the boat

Sometimes I think the state of Michigan is getting a lesson in what it would be like to be in an overcrowded lifeboat. Cooperation may benefit the greatest number, but no one wants to get dumped into the shark-infested waters.

Case in point: The surprisingly bitter fight over a “doctor’s tax” to capture more federal Medicaid dollars to pay ... doctors.

Radisson ally funds Bernero

I had to chuckle when perusing Virg Bernero’s latest piece of attack lit. It centers on the Radisson Hotel deal agreed to by a City Council in 2005 that included his opponent, Carol Wood.

As I stated at the time, the Radisson deal was a terrible mistake by the city. Bernero reproduces a column I wrote on the subject in his piece.

What he doesn’t tell you about is one of the key players in the deal is a contributor to ... Bernero.

Be right back

This blog will return Tuesday Oct. 20.

(Not) learning in absentia

I believe I heard Lansing Superintendent T.C. Wallace say today that 20 percent of Lansing students missed at least 21 days of school. (See Wallace’s interview here; the attendance comment is around the 35-minute mark.)

Since a school year is now only 170 or so days, what exactly do parents and patrons of the Lansing School District expect Wallace and Lansing teachers to achieve with these kids? I know my answer: practically nothing.