LSJ Blogs: Derek Melot is Just Asking

Surprise: Bernero is ambitious

What a difference a day (or two) makes. After telling the Detroit Free Press he was not seriously looking at the governor’s race next year, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said he is “seriously considering” the race, according to MIRS, a legislative news service.

The surprising answer was his first pseudo no. What’s the downside for Bernero here?

He can run while getting paid to be mayor of Lansing. The Democratic field is weak. And if he loses, he still has a couple of years to make up with a Lansing electorate he told he would serve out his full second term as mayor.

And maybe he could win. Stranger things have happened in politics. I once had a front-row seat to an election in which a retiree who knew squat about national issues won a Democratic primary over one of the smartest members of Congress I’ve ever met. And he did it without really even trying.

Bernero actually knows quite a bit about issues — and he would certainly be trying. His energy is his No. 1 asset.

I wouldn’t bet on him to win. And I’m not sure what kind of governor he would make if he did.

All I would advise is that if he’s going to be an absentee mayor in 2010, he might want to give his top deputy, Jerry Ambrose, a raise.

A tour of linky-land

Some interesting links for the long weekend (if you are lucky enough to have one):

This chart offers a scary look at negative equity in the home market.

This link leads to the good news that housing here is most affordable.

This link shows that “user fees” (read fuel taxes) have a shrinking role in financing road work. It’s good fodder for rail advocates to use at holiday parties.

And this link leads to a fine discussion on a term I don’t think I’ve repeated here: “security theater.” (Be warned, if you don’t want to think or stress any of your presumptions, don’t click through.)

Enjoy -- and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

City's budget future is upon us

The future is here, Lansing. Unless something major changes in how the city generates revenue, public safety services will be pinched, just like non-safety services have been for years.

Mayor Virg Bernero’s plan to close a $3 million gap (thank you, state lawmakers) is supposed to include $1 million in savings negotiated with police and fire unions. Meanwhile, the city’s non-union workers will take nine unpaid furlough days. Those moves, along with various other cutbacks, are supposed to get the city to the $3 million mark.

Some fishy news

Here's some sour information to start the weekend -- the invasive Asian carp is probably already in the Great Lakes. This is a bad fish and it likely will wreak havoc with the lakes' ecosystem.

Aren't you glad our federal lawmakers work so hard to conserve the nation's natural assets for future generations?

Mr. Cox, meet Mr. Brown

If Mike Cox wants to be governor of Michigan he should be more like Jerry Brown. How does a Michigan Republican attorney general benefit from being like a flaky former Democratic governor of California? Read on.

Finding $3 million

Finding $3 million out of a $115 million or so general fund budget might not seem that hard — until you actually look at the options facing the city of Lansing.

If anyone has a smart idea, get it over to City Hall quick.

First, not all spending is equal. For example, if your goal is to save people and jobs, you need to know that about 75 percent of the budget goes to people and their benefits. So, you would be cutting $3 million out of, what, $35 million or so. That’s much more daunting.

The strings strike again

In government, there’s money and there’s money.

Case in point: Ingham County is in the process of accepting a state grant that will fund a  sheriff’s deputy. Great news for crime prevention in the rural areas, right?

What's the lowdown on shootout?

The shootout over on Lenawee Street near MLK was eight or so blocks from house. Not surprisingly, I was curious as to what was going on. Is this a typical situation of violence — a drug deal gone bad, a domestic violence situation, etc. — that usually never touches those citizens who don’t deal drugs or wallow in violence.

If it’s typical, no worries. If it’s not, what should I and other neighbors be worried about?

Alas, everyone will stay in the dark for awhile.

No, I'm not kidding

Call this a quick weekend snack of outrage.

Click on this link at the Ingham County Web site. Scroll down to Item 9 of the County Services Committee agenda for next week. Gnash teeth.

I aim to have more on this in my column next week.

Being big on garage sales

When I saw a sign downtown advertising a big garage sale at the Lansing Center, I thought back to this piece at governing.com regarding a growing trend around the land.

That isn’t exactly the case, as I learned from one of the organizers, Penny McConnell.