Calls for Recall are Premature

"Enough with the praise already!" and "Have you sold out?" are typical reactions of fellow-conservatives who are dismayed that I have not criticized the "all things alcoholic are good" crowd. They are especially angry that I agreed with Mayor Jim Ellison in praising CITCOM's handling of the Hamlin Corner matter.

At the same time, readers have expressed impatience at my not commenting on the performance of the three newbie commissioners. But they certainly have been offering their impressions.

Finally, readers want to focus more on the group I have previously called the Dem4, who seem to be voting as a bloc  - especially re matters entertainment/alcohol. Even residents who have not previously given much thought to the downtown debate were startled when an obviously coached spokesman for a bar ignored all policies and procedures and was instantly granted a Special Events permit for Cinco de Mayo.

And street talk about a bar-sponsored Bikini Run thrills some, embarrasses a few, and irritates many.

Residents' reactions range from praise to criticism, including suspicion of the motives of city officials and of bar owners and of each other.

This is going to be a long debate, lasting years unless those prematurely calling for recall prove successful.

No Recall
Talk of recall is fortunately unfocused so far. The targets are scrambled: The three newbies. Just the two newbies who ran openly as Democrats. Rasor and his two acolytes. Rasor alone. Some disappointment in Mayor Ellison is voiced, but no serious talk about recalling him.

It would be unfair to attempt to recall any of the newbies until they've served at least 18 months. True, the two Dems made it a point during their campaign to declare they were not going to be automatically voting with Rasor. I don't think, though, that in their first four months that they have voted differently than their mentor.

The 3 Newbies
Most comment from readers and residents falls between the polar statements of criticism and praised profiled in the column at right. For the first couple of months, the three were mostly quiet, properly listening and observing. As they have become more active:

Kyle DuBuc surprised city hall observers by remaining the quietest of the three newbies. He has chosen so far not to demonstrate the breadth of his Lansing experience. No personality trait as yet characterizes his performance at The Table.

Mike Fournier increasingly participates in dialogue and presents dissent politely, even gently. Occasionally his comments seem a bit off-target and pompous, and I am  tempted to say that he would be a more effective commissioner if he didn't wax philosophical so much.

Peggy Goodwin had a running head start, because of her  years of working with DDA and her familiarity with civic and political leaders. She is the only one of the three newbies who has initiated substantive activity in the community. Her votes at The Table have not been predictable, which pleases some and worries others.

The Hamlin Corner vote
Praising civility is not the same as agreeing with the result of the vote. I agreed with Pat Capello that there is nothing unique about another Sports Bar.

Uniqueness is one of the 30-plus characteristics, which a plan of operation must have to earn approval of a liquor license.

The praise came because reaching that decision was done without visible anger or shouts across The Table. Jim Rasor continues to irritate some people, and amuse others, because he so obviously enjoys contentious debate. Although Pat Capello and David Poulton and Peggy Goodwin occasionally show irritation, their anger rarely is directed at an individual. The Hamlin debate would have been loud and ill-mannered during the previous commission's meetings, with Rasor enjoying and encouraging the anger of his opponents.

The Four
DuBuc, Ellison, Fournier, and Rasor can fairly be considered a bloc of like-minded progressives, but so far that has been a problem about only alcohol or  entertainment matters. On other agenda items, one or more lone votes have been cast by Rasor, Ellison, Poulton, Goodwin, and Capello.

On the one 4-3 vote so far, DuBuc, Fournier, and Rasor were the three.
On the one 3-4 vote so far Ellison joined the three.

But one has to reach to identify a progressive, or reactionary, mindset when the agenda item is:

• Change Budget Work Sessions to Special City Commission Meetings, to permit formal decision-making
• Approve or Reject Traffic Committee resolutions
• Acknowledging a memorandum re a Proposed Woodward Avenue Tribute
• Encouraging renewal of Crime Prevention activity
• Scheduling a Hearing re the sidewalk Improvement Program

Philosophical predispositions may have a bearing on such matters as dealing with Health Care programs.

Civility in Meetings
Civility need not breed cavalier non-compliance with policies and procedures. And that seems to be happening in these cordial and generally productive meetings.
Permitting a petitioner/bar owner, who obviously hadn't been paying attention about Cinco de Mayo developments, to add his petition to the agenda by making a first plea during Public Comment then orally answer a few questions based on the formal petition application is to make a mockery of policy and procedures.
Somewhere far short of the rigidity expressed as " A rule ignored is no longer a rule" is the minimum requirement that at least some portion of the policy and procedures be adhered to.

Arbitrarily extending Central Business District privileges outside the CBD is another cause for concern for those residents who complain that the city's Master Plan does not recognize the CBD as an "Entertainment Destination" or some such. Resident Debbie Campbell's Public Comment presentation at the 16 April CITCOM meeting provided food-for-thought even for us pro-development types. [See]
Some of us are puzzled at the acquiescence of City Staff to some of these developments. Then we remember being told by diverse appointed officials over the years, "It only takes four," referring to the number of CITCOM votes required to discharge an appointed city employee.

Frank Versagi is the editor of Versagi Voice.