Downtown newsmagazine | Birmingham/Bloomfield

NICHOLS: SOCIETY NOTEBOOK • CASADEI: METRO INTELLIGENCER

B I R M I N G H A M

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B L O O M F I E L D

MAY 2019

PLUS

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP

MAJOR CHALLENGES TO RECYCLING EFFORTS THE MOVEMENT TO SKIP ELECTORAL COLLEGE ENDNOTE: DECORUM, TIME LIMITS AT MEETINGS ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

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DOWNTOWN05.19

47

International tsunami ripples recycling market China, which has imported 45 percent of the world's exported plastic waste since 1992, has announced it will no longer accept recycled materials, which will have a major impact in Oakland County and the Birmingham/Bloomfield area.

LONGFORM

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The current system of electing a President through the Electoral College is coming under increased scrutiny from a movement seeking to change to a direct election of the nation's leader every four years.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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While Michigan lawmakers continue today with a tradition of disenfranchising voters, there's a growing push for what's known as “direct democracy� utilizing technology and the internet that could counter the voter suppression efforts.

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

27

First quarter congressional hauls; rumors of John James and former AG Bill Schuette run against Senator Gary Peters; Michigan's Justin Amash could throw Trump's game off in the state; how sausage (law) is made in Lansing, plus more.

CRIME LOCATOR

31

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format.

MUNICIPAL

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Woodward-Bates project moving closer to August vote; Panera leaving Birmingham; Bloomfield voters to decide fate of SAD bonds; bistro license renewal issue resolved; plus more.

THE COVER The clubhouse at the Birmingham Country Club, founded in 1916 by six local businessmen. The grounds of the country club sit on 161 acres of what was at one time the Case Farm. The current clubhouse first opened in 1930.

Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent.

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Michael Hodges

METRO INTELLIGENCER

86

Writer/reporter Dana Casadei helps us provide quick takes on what is happening in the world of food and drink in the metro Detroit area.

SOCIETY NOTEBOOK

95

Society Notebook reporter Gigi Nichols provides the latest news and snapshots from the society and non-profit circuit fundraising events.

ENDNOTE

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Communities may have to be willing to reopen recycling contracts to avoid a return to landfills. And our advice on public comment at meetings and a possible compromise on time limits.

FACES

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Ed Somerville Michael Hodges India Woll Michael Sinelli T.C. Cameron

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FROM THE PUBLISHER ichigan has developed a heritage the last few decades of restricting the rights of registered voters from fully participating in the workings of the state and local government.

agencies. But should she rule against the lame duck session rules changes, the issue will then likely move into the courts where there have been mixed rulings nationally as other states have attempted similar proportionate restrictions.

It's been a slow but calculated effort over a number of legislative sessions – think in terms of several attempts over the years to tighten restrictions on the rights of citizens to recall a public official, or lawmakers' trickery on more than one occasion to prevent state voters from launching initiative petitions to negate adopted legislation by attaching appropriations to the bills which, under the constitution, precludes citizen initiative efforts to overturn legislative action.

If these rules had been in effect years ago, one has to wonder whether we would have, for example, the term limitations amendment now in effect or the bottle deposit system, both of which made the ballot through citizen petition drives.

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The most recent, and egregious, example has to be the controversial bill passed during the lame duck session at the end of 2018 which basically made it all but impossible to place an issue on the statewide ballot via the citizen petition route.

Of course, the right of a citizen to initiate a ballot petition drive for voter approval on the ballot is enshrined in the state Constitution. But Lansing lawmakers are empowered to enact regulations to govern the petition process, and there appears to have been a collective reaction to the fact that critical issues, ignored by the legislature, made it onto the 2018 ballot thanks to the efforts of citizens and not those elected to handle such matters.

It was going to be tough enough in coming elections to gather the necessary signatures on any issue because the required number of signatures has greatly increased due to the heavy voter turnout in the 2018 election for governor, which in turn determines the number of petitions that must be submitted. But at the end of last year, the GOP-controlled state House and Senate enacted legislation, which then-Gov. Snyder signed, to severely restrict the citizen petition process. Among the changes, those circulating a petition must now file an affidavit with the Secretary of State and indicate whether they are a volunteer or paid circulator. An earlier deadline has been set to get an issue on the November general election ballot. And if the board of state canvassers ultimately rules against submitted petitions, then any court challenged must be filed with the Michigan Supreme Court within three days, a near impossible task for most organizations seeking to place an issue on the ballot.

Regardless of how the lame duck law plays out in the coming months, at some point in the near future the entire system by which initiative petition drives are conducted is destined to change, thanks to advances in technology, but you can bet the changes will take a vote of the people to put them into place if lawmakers think their ox is being gored.

Let's look for a moment at what is taking place in Boulder, Colorado. In 2018 voters in Boulder approved, by a 71 percent margin, to change the city charter to allow electronic and online petitions for “initiative, referendum and recall(s).”

A committee appointed by the city commission is now looking at a twophase implementation which would allow for further exploration of software for tablets and online efforts that would allow for electronic signatures and automatically check and verify voter addresses, saving state and municipal clerks the time and effort of having to verify petitions.

There is software already on the market that would link with voter data bases and would provide a cumulative total for those out gathering signatures but there are a number of issues still to be worked out.

Gone will be the days of having to go door to door to circulate a petition, or anchoring yourself at the local grocery store to gather signatures.

Colorado will likely be the test situation. Similar state-wide efforts were defeated at the polls in Nebraska, Arizona and Tennessee and the two companies that have developed software for citizen petition drives have run into resistance from opponents who are attempting to tie these companies up in court.

The biggest impediment to future citizen petition drives, however, is that the new rules contain a proportionate requirement which prohibits a petitioner from getting more than 15 percent of signatures from any one congressional district, which forces petitioners to work at least seven of the 14 current congressional districts and petitions must be separated by congressional district, as if signers even know the district in which they live.

Call it fear of a signifiant change for those who hold the power when direct democracy is within reach of the citizenry. But change is coming, probably at the same rapid pace that other technological advances have occurred. If you doubt it, just consider for a moment the online petition website change.org has 100 million users in 196 countries. The popularity of online petitions has allowed the masses to become accustomed to weighing in online and in many cases having an impact.

Republican supporters of the new law say this forces petition group to take their message to a broader audience across the state, which sounds good on the face of it. Snyder, signing it into law with hundreds of other bills from the lame duck session, said the new rules would bring “geographic diversity” to citizen ballot drives. Most others felt otherwise, like the ACLU, anti-abortion activists and current/former workers from the Secretary of State's office which must enforce petition drive regulations.

Even Brooks Patterson railed against the legislation.

If the 2018 lame duck petition legislation is not negated by the attorney general or overturned by the courts, then I for one would support a correctly-detailed ballot issue that brings modern-day technology into play when it comes to citizen petition drives. And while not a big fan of amending the state Constitution, we need the iron-clad protection this would provide from predaceous politicians whose main concern is retaining their power as we saw in the last legislative session.

As of this writing, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has been asked to render an opinion as to whether the new requirements are constitutional, although it will be months before we know the outcome, despite Nessel's early indication that she suspects the legislation is seriously flawed. An attorney general's opinion is binding on all state

When representative democracy fails – largely the result of those doing the governing – then power must be returned to those governed.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@DowntownPublications.com

PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Brody Anchill | Dana Casadei Kevin Elliott | Austen Hohendorf | Gigi Nichols Bill Seklar | Judith Harris Solomon | Julie Yolles PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Esme McClear | Laurie Tennent | Chris Ward Laurie Tennent Studio ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Birmingham/Bloomfield.

For those not receiving a free mail copy, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual charge. To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order online or scan the QR Code here.

INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community. The traditional “letters to the editor” in Downtown are published in our Incoming section and can include written letters or electronic communication.

Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 W. Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.

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442 South Old Woodward Avenue In Birmingham

INCOMING The Bates Street project Much like our own properties that eventually require some reinvestment due to an aging roof, failing furnace or crumbling driveway, cities also share in the need for reinvestment due to aging infrastructure and facility needs.

One such project is the planned parking expansion of the North Old Woodward parking structure and related site development along an extension of Bates Street. It is no surprise that parking in the downtown has been a hot topic over the past few years, but the reality is the North Old Woodward parking structure is over 50 years old and the costs to maintain and meet safety standards are escalating. The need to proceed with addressing this parking structure is growing and efforts to plan for its replacement while incorporating elements of the downtown master plan for this site development have been ongoing for the past few years.

Some might suggest that the city delay this project and wait to include this site in the upcoming city-wide master plan update. The current citywide master plan was completed in 1980 and has been updated over the years with the inclusion of subarea plans for the Downtown, Triangle and Rail Districts, just to name a few. The N. Old Woodward/Bates Street site is already included in the subarea plan for the downtown district and is the final component to be implemented under this existing downtown plan.

What has not been addressed since 1980, and is the focus and scope of the city-wide master plan update, is identifying the needs for the city’s residential neighborhoods rather than its commercial districts.

It has also been suggested by some that this project had a flawed process.

In fact, the city initiated a very specific process for this project with the intent of increasing parking and incorporating key elements of its downtown master plan. This process started with a parking demand study to assess future parking needs, then was supplemented by a massing study to assess how big of a development should be built on the site along with the incorporation of key elements in the downtown master plan that matched existing building heights in the area. These elements included the extension of Bates Street along with residential and mixed-use buildings adjoining the new street. A pedestrian connection to Booth Park was also identified as a key site improvement for the project.

When the initial massing and downtownpublications.com

design work began, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued with the provision that the firm selected to do this work could not be involved in the subsequent development stage of the project. The city received no proposals from this RFP as a result. Following a careful review by the city of this issue, it was determined that this provision be removed in order to solicit qualified firms to work with the city in identifying design alternatives for this site. Three firms responded to the revised RFP. One firm was selected and the initial design concepts were created and adopted for use in a subsequent selection process.

The city intentionally conducted a process that was driven by a preliminary design concept based on prior studies in order to meet key objectives for both parking and density rather than allowing developers to propose an open ended development plan for this site. The solicitation process for development proposals began in May 2016, with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify developer teams that had experience and sufficient financial strength to execute the project, as envisioned in its RFP. Four developer teams submitted their qualifications. In September 2017, an RFP was issued to those four teams to participate. In January 2018, three development proposals were received for consideration. One of the teams withdrew their proposal during the evaluation process. The two remaining development teams presented very different approaches in their proposals. Of the two development proposals that were considered, one matched the concept, objectives and terms of the city’s RFP and one did not. The unsuccessful bidder has since sued the city. While an unfortunate outcome, the city stands behind its process and ensuring the fundamental objectives of the RFP are met.

The city has initiated discussions with the selected development team with assistance from outside counsel at Miller Canfield specializing in real estate and public private partnership deals and with Jones Lang LaSalle to review and validate proposed budgets, underlying assumptions, and assess market demand for the project to support the on-going negotiations.

It has been suggested by some that this site is the wrong location for increasing parking capacity. The selection of the North Old Woodward site to accommodate increased parking capacity resulted from a couple of factors. First, this site was

originally designed to accommodate the North Old Woodward parking structure and a sister structure that would accompany it on the surface parking lot to the west. The second structure was never built and the adjacent site remained a surface parking lot. Second, following a review by a city study committee of the opportunities to expand parking in the downtown, it was determined the North Old Woodward site provided the greatest opportunity to increase downtown parking and could be done in a way that was context sensitive and didn’t impose itself on the downtown. Additionally, it could be hidden on the current site with surrounding liner buildings that would complement the downtown and promote walkability – meeting fundamental objectives of the downtown master plan.

It has been suggested by some that this project will not provide sufficient additional parking. The additional parking number identified in the parking demand studies represented a need for 278 spaces north of Maple.

This number was developed while contemplating potential future growth in the downtown based on the Downtown Overlay Zoning Ordinance, which allows for increased density in the downtown. Because the city has a parking assessment district in the downtown, commercial properties are not required to provide parking on-site but can use the city’s parking system to support their parking needs. These additional spaces would increase capacity from the existing 745 spaces that exist with the current parking structure and surface lot to 1,023 spaces at this site. The city increased this number to 1,150 when it issued its RFP for the project to further increase capacity. The current parking proposal for this site is roughly 1,260 spaces, subject to final design of the structure.

Costs of the new parking structure will be funded with revenues from the parking structure to retire bonds that will be let and there will be no cost to local residents.

While some will try to tell you what to believe and how to vote on the funding of the parking structure expansion and related improvements, it is important that everyone clearly understands the facts about this project and can make informed decisions accordingly. To assist in this effort, the city has created an FAQ page on it’s website at bhamgov.org/noldwoodwardparking.

Joseph A. Valentine Birmingham City Manager

doWntoWn

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Bates project direction wrong

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We write as co-authors from two dramatically different points of view.

For 18 years, we have disagreed with each other fundamentally on development issues facing the city of Birmingham. One of us is progressive, generally supportive of commercial development. The other is conservative, protective of our neighborhoods and insistent that development above all should benefit established residents.

But we agree on this: The process and direction the city is taking to develop the N. Bates St. area is wrong. The city commission should start over. If they don't, and move forward with a bond issue, we will vigorously campaign against it.

We agree not only generally, but on the specific reasons, any one of which alone for us is a deal killer: • The city is poised to revise its master plan, bringing Andres Duany back this spring to build on the success of his Birmingham 2016 Plan. Yet it is rushing ahead with the Bates project without benefit of a thoughtful planning process, the input of residents or its own planning director and planning board.

• The ad hoc committee and staff that brought us here, and the RFP they used to attract developers, were fatally flawed. The people were mostly naive and lacking in expertise, and the document was grossly ambiguous and legally tenuous. A lawsuit pending against the city is symptomatic of the inept process, and makes credible claims of inside dealing and conflict of interest against key players. In violation of widely accepted norms of public bidding, a party that had participated in the preparation of the RFP was not only permitted to respond to it, but is on track to be awarded the project!

The lawsuit was filed by a developer who enticed world-renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects to join his team, only to see the city dismiss them both with little regard.

• In a classic case of the tail wagging the dog, the desire for more parking is driving development of a prime piece of public property. As a result, parking dominates the proposed project at a time when other, more suitable sites for parking exist and should be exploited. The Bates site is prime public property, and should be respected as such. The Triangle District, by contrast, has struggled doWntoWn

SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities.

Although we do not have a fixed maximum length for letters sent to us, we recommend a maximum length of 175-200 words. We also reserve the right to edit letters for length if necessary.

Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.

to attract development precisely because it lacks parking.

• The city has agreed to work with a private development group whose public/private partnership expert has been accused repeatedly of opportunism. The city, on the other hand, naively failed to engage competent counsel at the outset, instead waiting until it had chosen a development partner and substantially agreed to the broad outlines of a deal. It made no attempts to negotiate with any developers prior to choosing its partner.

• By underestimating the amount of parking required by the new development, the city is overstating how much additional net public parking will be provided. The cost of that additional parking is astronomical, in terms of money spent, land surrendered and opportunities lost. Residents and city coffers would gain very little in return for the investment of $55 million or more, plus interest. The big winners would appear to be the private developers who seem to have been preordained.

The buck stops with the city commission, which should listen to the backlash coming not only from directly affected neighbors, but from citizensat-large as varied as us. The commission should wrestle control of this mismanaged project immediately from city manager Joe Valentine and order a do-over. If it does not, and decides unwisely to move forward as Valentine currently plans, voters, one way or another, will ultimately have their say.

Paul Reagan Clinton Baller Birmingham 05.19

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Politician PR handout It is literally amazing that you appear to be printing, without attribution, some PR handout from a politician, or something that must be very close to it (Oakland Confidential/March).

In your recent “Guru Speaks” (segment) in the Oakland Confidential feature that I received in my email box, I was treated to a glowing tribute to Elissa Slotkin, a minor Democratic party pol from Rochester, for supporting a routine Democrat bill that attempts to, no surprise, swing some electoral advantage to her party in the guise of what she might call, with a straight face, “good government” election and ethics laws.

These types of changes have frequently been proposed by both parties, depending on how they might advantage them, and are always couched in terms of patriotic fervor to hide their more truthful agendas. No big deal there, like “dog bites man.”

The kicker is, and the clue to the dishonesty that pretends this is news, rather than a mere press release, or some otherwise shameless cheerleading, is that the whole basis for even mentioning this is rooted in the description of the original author of the praise of Slotkin – Joe Scarborough. Using the straw man of Scarborough as “one of the country’s most influential Republicans,” the Guru (or whoever is the original author of this piece) attempts to sprinkle a patina of dramatic bipartisanship on Slotkin and her addition to the bill, basically a not so subtle way of keeping alive public attention to the Trump-Russia collusion narrative so loved by the main street media.

Scarborough has not really supported the Republican party or any members of it – other than those who have in some way denounced Trump – for many years, and if one could possibly infer his political leanings, they would certainly lie in the current Democratic party ballpark. His new wife and co-star is, and always has been, an extremely partisan Democrat, and he always agrees with her all of her on-air proclamations. He has been one of the loudest, most persistent, and virulently anti-Trump haters in the MSM. As with Trump, his hatred of the downtownpublications.com

SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities.

Although we do not have a fixed maximum length for letters sent to us, we recommend a maximum length of 175-200 words. We also reserve the right to edit letters for length if necessary.

Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.

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Republican party as it now exists has followed, as much as night into day.

Therefore, proclaiming bi-partisan bona fides, in an obvious attempt to gain trust among local Republicans, by quoting Joe Scarborough is, at best, laughable, and leads me to believe that this is merely a regurgitated PR release from her office.

Please try to do much better than this if you wish to really “report” on politics.

David Franklin (Publisher’s note: No press release from Slotkin or anyone else. Just an observation about what transpired on the Morning Joe show with Joe Scarborough.)

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Potential great harm I live in Birmingham and receive your publication. I really enjoyed David Hohendorf’s article on “Progressives” (April/Downtown).

Very informative from a historical perspective and I completely agree that these three members of the far left have the potential to do the Democratic party great harm (at least from a public relations standpoint).

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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL Oakland Confidential is a periodic column of political gossip/news, gathered both on and off-the-record by staff members at Downtown newsmagazine.

We welcome possible items for this column which can be emailed to: OaklndConfidential@DowntownPublications.com. All sources are kept strictly confidential. The gossip column can be viewed at OaklandConfidential.com.

SECOND CHANCE JAMES: Republicans are circling the wagon train over the possibility of flipping the U.S. Senate seat held by Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) in 2020. Republicans may underestimate Peters, who will be completing his first six-year term, though, because he’s not a flashy politician, and they assert he doesn’t have wide name recognition. That’s all true – but he has a long pedigree in Michigan politics, and that includes winning when others have counted him out, like beating former Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Township) in 2008 for the then-9th District seat. First quarter reports on fundraising for 2019 show contributions of about $1.89 million, as of March 31, with $3.1 million on hand.

That could buy a lot of recognition.

That hasn’t stopped speculation JAMES that Republican John James of Farmington Hills, who ran against, and lost to, Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2016. Republicans are clamoring for the handsome African American former Marine, even though his greatest accomplishment is his parents’ handing him a job in their company. Speculation is also brewing that former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is looking at the Republican race. One former Michigan legislator thinks Schuette is a no-go. “I think people are still pissed at him over that terrible campaign for governor. He and (Tom) SCHUETTE Leonard were living in their own worlds. I would have thought Trump would have given Schuette a federal judgeship by now.” Rumblings are Schuette is also considering a run for state Supreme Court.

CHA-CHING: Congressional candidates are gearing up for a fight in 2020, with two Oakland County Congresswomen leading first-quarter fundraising in 2019. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills, western Oakland, western Wayne County) is leading the fundraising class with cash for her 11th Congressional District, with $575,637 raised in the first quarter ($150,061 spent, $441,093 cash on hand); followed close behind by 8th Congressional District Democrat Elissa Slotkin (Rochester, Rochester Hills, north Oakland, part of Livingston and Ingham counties) raising $539,065 ($110,137 spent, $448,161 cash on hand). Other congressional incumbents in Oakland County include 14th District Rep. Brenda Lawrence (DSouthfield, Farmington, West Bloomfield, Pontiac), who raised $83,144 ($49,090 spent, with $630,146 cash on hand); and 9th District Rep. Andy Levin, who raised the least in the entire state of Michigan with just $19,743 for the first quarter ($14,894 spent, and $23,956 cash on hand).

PRAYERS AND PREPARATION: The announcement by L. Brooks Patterson that he is battling pancreatic cancer and won’t seek an eighth term as Oakland County Executive has intensified speculation as to who will run for the job in 2020 – as well as morbid preparation in case the GOP incumbent is unable to finish his current term. If a vacancy occurs, the county board of commissioners has 30 days to appoint a new executive. Board chair Dave Woodward (D-Royal Oak), already planning on running for the post in 2020, could get a leg up in next year’s election as the appointed incumbent – with an 11-10 seat Democrat majority on the board. Woodward, well liked even by some Republicans, could break a tie by voting for himself.

Woodward would then face Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner and possibly Oakland JOHNSON County Clerk Lisa Brown in a Democratic primary in 2020. Republicans hoping to retain the executive seat are said to be looking for a wellpositioned woman to run in 2020. Rumor has it former state legislator and current county commissioner (and lobbyist) Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) has already been approached – and has declined a potential run. However, some in the GOP could be praying former Michigan Secretary of State, county clerk and current state Senator Ruth Johnson (RHolly) could be persuaded to jump in. Word is she is considering it – a safe run because her Senate term is not up MCCREADY until 2022. Despite rumors, Oakland Sheriff Mike Bouchard has let word out he’s content to stay where he is. But former Rep. Mike McCready (Birmingham, Bloomfield), who now works as director of economic development at

downtownpublications.com

the county, is strongly considering jumping in, and may have the blessing and backing of Patterson. Another strong Republican possibility is Oakland County Commissioner Mike Gingell, who had been board chair. Word had been Gingell was too busy to consider running, with a young family and a demanding job. But that employer let him go a couple weeks ago. Stay tuned.

MOVIN’ ON UP: Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett (R) is currently preparing for his second write-in campaign later this year, but others are pushing ‘America’s Mayor’ to consider other offices in 2020, including for Oakland County Executive and Michigan’s 8th Congressional District currently held by Elissa Slotkin (DRochester, Rochester Hills, north Oakland, part of Livingston and Ingham counties). Barnett, who in 2015 took 53 percent of the votes with a write-in campaign for mayor, had been term-limited after winning twice prior. In addition to his local duties, Barnett also serves as the vice president of The United States Conference of Mayors, and in June will be named president of the bi-partisan organization. The mayor said that while he’s currently focused on the 2019 election, BARNETT he isn’t ruling out any future plans, acknowledging he would be able to pursue another office if re-elected again. Word around the county is he’s poised to announce for a congressional run.

NOMINATED, NOT CONFIRMED: NBC News, the first week of April, took a look at the stalled nominations for ambassadorships made by the Trump administration, including two residents from the Birmingham - Bloomfield area of Oakland County. The NBC piece raised questions about a possible inauguration donation-to-ambassadorship pipeline (certainly nothing new) and whether the lack of diplomatic experience was one possible reason for the unusually high number of unconfirmed nominees. Among those, David T. Fischer, Suburban Collection auto dealerships’ chairman and CEO, nominated to represent the USA in Morocco. Federal records show Fischer gave $250,000 to Trump’s FISCHER inauguration and close to $2 million to GOP campaigns from 1989-2017. Also cited was John Rakolta Jr., chairman and CEO of the Walbridge Aldinger Company, a major engineering/construction outfit that can count among its projects the proposed massive WoodwardBates project in Birmingham. Nominated as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Rakolta donated $250,000 to the inauguration, has given $1.13 million to GOP candidates from 1989-2017, and has paid his dues in a number of RAKOLTA Republican campaigns and Detroit revival efforts. For the uninitiated, these inauguration donations may seem staggering, but get ready to be gobsmacked – one confirmed ambassador donated $1 million to the Trump event.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE: Michigan Congressman Justin Amash (R-Grand Rapids) is rumored to be toying with a bid for U.S. President on the Libertarian Party ticket in 2020, and some third party ticket leaders believe the nomination is his for the taking.

Amash, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, told The Detroit News that while he hasn’t ruled out a presidential run, he said “considering is too strong a word.” While Libertarian Gary Johnson in 2016 took less than four percent of the vote in Michigan, there is the possibility in a battleground state as Michigan is forecast to be, Amash could take enough votes away from Trump in 2020 to cause problems for the President, who won Michigan by just 10,704 votes in 2016. Of course, all of that speculation hinges on whether Amash – a self-proclaimed independent Republican – will even decide to declare himself a Libertarian and seek the nomination.

FLEXING HER MUSCLES: The 91 Democratic women now in the House of Representatives are organizing as a power center within the majority party, creating a formal caucus from their working group – from the Democratic Women’s Working Group to the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Oakland County’s Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Southfield, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, eastern Detroit) is the co-chair of the new caucus, along with California Rep. Jackie Speier and Rep. Lois Frankel (FL). Lawrence will focus on issues relating to health care and women of color, while Speier focuses on sexual violence and women’s safety, and Frankel takes on economic issues facing women. In addition, Lawrence also co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s LAWRENCE Issues with Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), indicating the skyrocketing House profile of the Representative from Oakland.

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REVOLVING DOORS: Term limits on various officials in Rochester Hills could open new opportunities, as incumbent state Rep. Michael Webber (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township) will be ineligible to run for re-election to his 45th District House seat.

The opening has Rochester Hills City Council President and fellow Republican Mark Tisdel seriously considering a run at the seat. Tisdel, who has served two four-year terms on city council, also will be term limited when his current term ends in November.

A partner in a Rochester Hills-based medical insurance firm, Tisdel said the seat would be a logical step if he decides to remain active in politics. However, he has yet to make that determination. “In my eight years in this position, about 90 percent of it has been a good experience. And after that amount of time, it does become part of your identity,” he said. Yup, he’s caught the bug.

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HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: In a political version of “Where’s Waldo?” we’re playing “Where’s Andy Levin?” The first-term Democratic Congressman (Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Macomb County), who took over the 9th District seat that his dad, former Congressman Sander Levin, sat in for 38 years, seems to have gone MIA since he went to Washington, save an occasional tweet. While us media folk receive continual communications from Reps. Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin, touting their activities, committee appointments and bill sponsorships, there’s been nary a word – not one email – from Levin since January 1 and few local sightings. That is until late March, the final week of the fundraising quarter, when we were sent not one but two fundraising emails, called “Andy’s Adventures in Congress.”

The email didn’t really detail what he’s been up to in his first 90 days, but it did seek support “to help me keep pushing back LEVIN against Trump.” Hope he’s started – but we have no idea.

ROWING BACKWARDS: State Rep. Jason Sheppard (R-Temperance) appears to be easily confused by language in legislation he introduced last month that would severely restrict inland lake boating in Michigan. The bill, House Bill (HB) 4362, would restrict all public boating at inland lakes with access sites to between the hours of 8 a.m. and sunset – effectively killing early morning fishing, sunset cruises and other activities outside of the proposed hours. The bill, which was co-sponsored by Rep. David LaGrand (D-Grand Rapids), quickly caught the attention of boating and fishing organizations around the state, leading Sheppard to walk back the bill. “I recently introduced legislation that has caused some concern among the boating and fishing communities...I introduced HB 4362 to allow for more time to enjoy on Michigan’s inland lakes – unfortunately, the way the bill was written does the opposite,” Sheppard wrote on his Facebook page. “Please know that I’m in the process of drafting alternative language to more clearly attain my goal of making our state’s waters more accessible to all.” The post now has been shared 135 times and has more than 325 comments, including those questioning the source of the legislation. “Can’t believe you’d write a bill then not read what you wrote,” one comment stated. “How about a bill where legislators cannot introduce legislation under the influence,” another wrote.

CARRYING ON: Former state House Rep. Vicki Barnett (DFarmington Hills), who was House Minority Whip during her third (and last) term, 2012-2014, is planning on returning to her roots. Word is that Barnett, recently stepping down as chairperson of the Oakland County Democratic Party, is planning on running for mayor of Farmington Hills in 2019, which is where she began her political career. Barnett served on the Farmington Hills City Council from 1995 to 2003, when she was elected mayor, where she reigned until 2007.

She then moved on to the state House, where she never received less than 60 percent of the vote. Her most recent electoral move was to challenge Oakland County Executive BARNETT L. Brooks Patterson in 2016. While she lost, it can be noted it was Patterson’s tightest race – 53 percent to 46 percent. Here’s to homecomings.

HOW SAUSAGE IS MADE: More than 20 percent of laws introduced at the state level across the country are based on “copycat” or model legislation written by special interest groups. Examples of copycat legislation includes Michigan’s Asbestos Transparency Act, which actually shields some asbestos manufacturers from potential liability. The finding was part of a two-year investigation by USA TODAY, the Center for Public Integrity and the Arizona Republic that analyzed eight years of state legislation across the country, with 2,100 of 10,000 laws having nearly identical language that was written by special interests groups. Of the 50 legislators interviewed, half said they had sponsored copycat legislation, with 20 admitting they didn’t even know the source of the bill. Five insisted the bill was their own work.

Michigan Republican Senator Joe Haveman of Holland, who sponsored the copycat asbestos legislation, told USA TODAY he worked with a Lansing lobbyist firm to craft the bill, even though it was nearly identical to bills in other states intended to shield Crown Cork & Seal from asbestos liability, a company not even based in Michigan.

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FACES

Edward Somerville rom the get-go, the first track meet of Edward Somerville’s second career seemed cursed.

First, there was the cancelled flight, which led to him taking multiple connecting flights to get to the Florida Senior Games. Then, there was the weather. The sunshine state was only 41 degrees with pouring rain and 31 mph winds when he and his wife landed.

But then, Somerville’s race began. At the meet – his first time competitively sprinting in 45 years – Somerville won the 400 meter dash and placed second in the 200 meter dash.

“I thought, maybe I can do this,” Somerville laughed.

Seems like he wasn’t cursed after all.

That was in 2017, and since then he’s competed, and won, multiple races, both in the Senior Games and the USATF Masters.

He’s also learned a lot along the way that could prove helpful for those looking to start running. One, strengthen your body, especially your core. Two, get enough sleep and water. Three, pace yourself. And if you’re an older athlete, be sure to give yourself recovery time in between races and workouts.

“You have to be patient with yourself...You’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll become stronger and feel better,” he said.

Somerville knows all about the importance of patience, especially given his journey to becoming one of the country’s top runners in the men’s 65-69 age bracket, as he's turning 68.

Somerville’s first track career started in middle school, before competing in high school and at Western Michigan University.

After college, Somerville stopped racing competitively, and began distance running to stay in shape from the ‘70s until the ‘90s, when he first heard about the USATF Masters.

“I was in my forties and I very naively thought after 20 years away from

F

sprinting that I could run over to a track and get in shape,” he said.

Somerville tried that, and as to be expected, it didn’t go well. This would start a cycle of him running, hurting himself, stopping, then trying again, before he ultimately decided to just stick with distance running. He had a family at that point and was growing a business – Somerville is a financial advisor – and he didn’t have time to get back to where he once was.

But then one day at the gym he noticed a man doing what looked like a track workout. Turns out said gentleman was a USATF Masters athlete. The two would train together on and off for a few years.

“I was so tight and so stiff and everything hurt. It was so painful to try to get my body to go fast again,” he said. “But I just kind of stuck with it.”

Eventually – after more injuries and making the decision to train alone – he started noticing improvements. His times were getting better, but he knew he had to enter a meet to really see where he stood. So he entered the only one left for the outdoor season, the Florida Senior Games, and we know how that ended.

The rest of that outdoor season was followed by the USATF Southeastern Regional Meet and the USATF Masters National Championships. He medaled at both.

Even though he’s won a lot since this started – including being a part of the 4X400 meter relay team in the men’s 65-69 age bracket that set the new American record during this year’s USATF National Masters Indoor Championships – he still has a few things to check off his accomplishments list.

“My goal is to win the world championship. Might as well set high goals, right?” Somerville said.

Story: Dana Casadei

Photo: Laurie Tennent

ONE-MAN, ONE-VOTE CONCEPT CHALLENGED THE DEBATE OVER GETTING RID OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

BY LISA BRODY

oday, we live in an era where we are bombarded by constant communication, with 24-hour cable news channels, emails flooding us with advice and information, and social media coming at us from every side, providing us with news, images and details, factual and some that are less-than, at all times of the day and night. Imagine back a couple of centuries, a time when only a portion of the population was not only educated, but informed about politics, world events, literature, mathematics, arts and other civil discourse. The nation's leaders creating our country were concerned that the population as a whole (meaning white males) were not prepared or knowledgeable enough to be trusted to pick their leaders, and feared a demagogue, similar to a king or tyrant, resulting in our three separate, but equal, arms of government – the executive branch; Congress, with two houses, one which the public chose, the other chosen by elites; and the Supreme Court. The ultimate goal: checks and balance of power.

Remember back to your eighth grade government class, where you learned all about the Electoral College, which was established by the founders of the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in order to make sure only qualified people would be elected President, and because they believed it was an ironclad way to prevent anyone from being able to manipulate the citizenry. “Hamilton and the other founders believed that the electors would be able to insure that only a qualified person becomes president. They believed that with the Electoral College no one would be able to manipulate the citizenry” who often did not receive news and information for weeks or months, said Marc Schulman, author, historian, educator and host of Historycentral.com.

T

Reading that sounds pretty crazy today, in 2019, with Donald Trump – a former reality show host and New York real estate baron with no previous experience in politics, and almost 20 people of various backgrounds and experiences running to represent the Democratic party as its presidential candidate in 2020. Since the 2016 election – the second in less than 20 years where the popular vote and the Electoral College vote – the one state's delegates vote for as a block for winner of the state's popular vote, at least in 48 out of 50 states – have differed, and there are heightened calls for changes to the Electoral College – or for it to be gotten rid of completely, a relic of another time.

In the 232 years since the Electoral College was created, there have been five times where the popular vote has not been reflected

by Electoral College votes – 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016.

The reasons the framers sought to have electors, or informed proxies, for the public was two-fold.

“The Electoral College was created for two reasons. The first was to create a buffer between the population and the selection of a president. The second, as part of the structure of the government that gave extra power to smaller states,” Schulman explained, noting that the founding fathers were afraid of a tyrant who could manipulate public opinion and come to power.

“The Electoral College was put in place for a reason. The framers knew they wanted a democracy – but not too much of a democracy,” said David Dulio, professor and chairman of the political science department at Oakland University. “They wanted the elites to have a big role, and didn't have a ton of trust for everyday Americans, which is clearly reflected as they started the House of Representatives as the house that is elected by the people, and the Senate, which was chosen by electorates,” or state legislatures, until the 17th Amendment was proposed in 1912, and ratified in 1913, when senators were chosen for six-year terms by popular vote. The members of the Constitutional Convention considered the Senate to be equivalent to the British House of Lords, and an “upper house” of Congress, containing the “better men” of society, versus the House of Representatives, which they viewed more like the British House of Commons, the House of the People.

“As the framers envisioned it, in 2016, Michigan would have had 16 elites – really smart people who were going to debate Clinton versus Trump and then choose (who the electors would go to),” Dulio explained. “And we've gone from that to where 48 out of 50 states (only Maine and Nebraska give proportional votes to the Electoral College) vote in blocks where the winner-picks-all – by voters. It's totally different from what they envisioned.

“But we can't forget that states at that time were important political entities,” he said. “The framers (of the Constitution) looked at states as just as important as countries – or more so – and wanted to maintain that importance,” Dulio noted.

“By giving states that role, it maintains their relevancy. Part of the issue with still having the Electoral College is most people lack the perspective of the framers.”

“The framers didn't want a pure majoritarianism,” said Norman Williams, law professor and associate dean for academic affairs at Willamette University School of Law in Oregon, explaining that majoritarianism is a form of government where a president has a majority mandate. “They wanted to balance with federalism. They wanted to aggregate populism with federal concerns. It was, 'We want a president who is not just popular in a particular region, but popular across the nation.'”

In developing the Electoral College, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison also struck a compromise between the larger and

smaller states, who wanted equal representation, as well as between northern and southern states, which were willing to remain their own nation/states in essence, rather than join the fledging United States of American.

The settlement between large and smaller states is one we continue to live with today – it's the reason each state has two senators, equally. Similarly, under the Electoral College, each state receives the same number of electoral votes as senators – so each receives two, as an equalizer – as well as the number of seats in the House of Representatives – the compromise with larger states to recognize their population. No state can have fewer than three electoral votes. “The result of this system is that in this election (2016) the state of Wyoming cast about 210,000 votes, and thus each elector represented about 70,000 votes, while in California approximately 9.7 million votes were cast for 54 votes, thus representing 179,000 votes per electorate,” Schulman explained.

“Obviously this creates an unfair advantage to voters in the small states whose votes actually count more than those people living in medium and large states.”

In 1787, the population of the southern states were filled with plantation owners who were slaveowners, who needed to be appeased in order to create “a more perfect union,” via the Electoral College.

“The founders felt they had to compromise with those they felt were an uninformed electorate – the amount of the population who did not even know who to vote for, the people who were completely ignorant – and the compromise with southern states to not count black men as a whole man,” said Bernie Porn of EPIC-MRA. “They counted black males as three-fifths of a man, and women not at all.”

The Three-Fifths Compromise was reached among state delegates at the Constitutional Convention to determine whether, and if so, how, to count slaves in determining a state's total population for determining the number of seats in the House of Representatives as well as for taxing purposes. The compromise was to count three of every five slaves. Following the Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment repealed the compromise in 1868.

The takeaway on the Electoral College is that the founders of this country created it to help ensure that states with a variety of interests and preferences would be willing to come together and fuse as a united federal government.

Today, when federalism surpasses regionalism, with the results of the Electoral College failing to match the popular vote twice in less than two decades, there have been rising calls to either abolish the Electoral College or replace it. In March of this year, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) argued that Americans should elect their president by a national popular vote.

“We need to make sure that every vote counts,” Warren said during a CNN town hall. Since then, she has said, “I believe we need a constitutional amendment that protects the right to vote for every American citizen and makes sure that vote gets counted. We need to put some federal muscle behind that,” noting that most presidential candidates never campaign in Mississippi or her home state of Massachusetts during a general election because they are not battleground states in the Electoral College.

There are many other states across the country, big and small, that never see candidates, either because they are solidly Democrat or Republican, or political consultants have determined they are not significant in Electoral College votes.

Other Democratic candidates for president have begun to echo Warren, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who said she is “open to the discussion” of doing away with the Electoral College, telling late night host Jimmy Kimmel, "There's no question that the popular vote has been diminished in terms of making the final decision about who's the president of the United States and we need to deal with that."

Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont running again in 2020 as a Democrat for president, has been calling for its

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abolishment since December 2016, following the 2016 presidential election, where Donald Trump prevailed over Hillary Clinton, despite her having won over three million more popular votes. Other presidential candidates who have expressed openness to abolishing the Electoral College are Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), Pete Buttigieg, the Democratic mayor from South Bend, Indiana, and former Housing Secretary Julian Castro.

In early April, Gillibrand was among several leading Democratic senators who introduced a Constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), introduced the Constitutional amendment on April 3, which would provide for the direct election of the president and vice president. Under the proposed amendment, Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates would still run as a pair on a ballot slip. The pair that receives the most popular votes would win. To take effect, the amendment would first need a two-thirds approval vote in the Senate and House of Representatives and ratification by threefourths of the states. It is unlikely to pass, at least in time for the 2020 election.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Gillibrand noted that they all supported it because the Electoral College system deprives American’s of a “one person, one vote” election, and a democratic electoral system should not make one person's vote count for more than another's.

“Every four years, Californians are under-represented when they cast ballots for president of the United States because of the Electoral College,” Feinstein said. “Each elector stands for 712,000 California residents, but a small state like Wyoming gets the same vote for only 195,000 residents. That’s simply not fair and needs to be fixed, particularly given that twice in the last two decades the popular victor hasn’t become president. The best solution is to eliminate the Electoral College.”

Dulio of Oakland University said that Constitutional amendments to change or alter the Electoral College “go around every four years.

There might be a little more than usual this time. But I think the prospects for changing it are between slim and none.”

He said the “efforts to change it are because there enough people who just don't like it. The Electoral College is a strange system – to say the least – and every four years, a lot of people who don't pay a lot of attention to politics say, 'What the heck? What do you mean I don't get to pick the president?' But the Electoral College was put in place for a reason.”

Dulio noted that today, Americans have a million different things to do rather than study the Electoral College. “It's foreign to us, because it's the only political race we do that way – it's a little goofy,” he said.

Another option is to work around the Electoral College – and it is a bill that is increasingly gaining traction. An organization called National Popular Vote interstate compact, is considered less radical than changing the Constitution, but the goal is the same – to make every individual person's vote count.

The compact works by having individual states passing laws to join that would pledge to deliver all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of the tally

of their individual state. Once enough states pass the compact and reach 270 electoral votes – the number needed to win a presidential election – then the presidency would go to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“The effort to retool how we apportion Electoral College votes, from winner-take-all to congressional apportionment, I'm not much of a fan of that. It just raises the stakes with gerrymandering,” asserted political science Professor Marjorie Sarbaugh-Thompson of Wayne State University. “Whoever gets to draw the maps will still control who gets the Electoral College votes. I think it's less democratic to have it divided up by Congressional districts. Other than in 2016, Michigan gave its Electoral College votes to Democratic candidates. 2016 was an outlier, because a ton of people stayed home, and the Green and Libertarian candidates did extremely well – so well, in fact that the Green candidate (Jill Stein) got more presidential votes (about 50,000) than the margin that Trump won by (about 10,000 votes) – it was less than five percent, and that's unusual. In 2016, third parties were spoilers, a lot of people didn't like Hillary Clinton, the African American vote in Detroit was historically low, and the city didn't work to turn it out. A lot of people thought Trump couldn't win, so they did a protest vote – it was the perfect storm.

“But this National Popular Vote is just ghastly,” SarbaughThompson continued. “It just makes a bad situation worse.”

Joshua Tucker, professor of politics at New York University, isn't in complete agreement with Sarbaugh-Thompson. “The idea that we're going to change the Constitution is very remote, because you need three-quarters to pass, and need a quarter of the small states to get there,” Tucker said.

The other structural impediment is the state of political polarization the country is in.

“If we had been living in a world where Hillary Clinton had won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote, then both parties would have felt they had lost an election,” Tucker said. In 2000, Al Gore narrowly won the popular vote but lost the election when George W. Bush prevailed in the Electoral College after a recount in Florida and decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Matthew Dowd, ABC News chief political analyst and native Michigander (he graduated from Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School) worked as a political strategist on George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 campaigns, among others. “The divergence between Electoral College results and popular votes are problematic for governing. It raises questions about legitimacy,” he said, while acknowledging that he didn't think a Constitutional amendment could get passed.

Dowd said that when he was on Bush's 2000 campaign, “I wrote a memo that we had to get the popular vote in the next election for legitimacy's sake. Part of the strategy was to win the popular vote.

We won both the popular vote and Electoral College in 2004, and it was all about legitimacy.”

Dowd said he is a fan of the National Popular Vote compact, as well a form of expanding the number of electorates to the Electoral College that derives from expanding congressional districts – which is actually a requirement in the Constitution.

“We haven't expanded Congressional seats since 1911, when each Congressional seat had about 200,000 people. Today, they average about 765,000 people. When Congress was created, there were 37,000 people in each (House of Representative) district,” he explained.

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1911 to set the number of congressional seats in the House of Representatives at 435, regardless of the growth of the population, according to each U.S. Census. Article One, Section 2, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution required that seats in the United States House of Representatives be apportioned among the various states according to the population disclosed by the most recent decennial census, with the first number of members at 105 in 1792.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau, as a result, the average size of a congressional district has tripled in size over the years, from 210,328 people based on the 1910 census, to 710,767, according to the 2010 census. There is also a wide disparity among congressional districts, they noted, with Montana having the largest district, with 994,416 people, and Rhode Island, the smallest, with 527,624 people.

Dowd said increasing the size of the House of Representatives – which would then increase the size of the Electoral College, “would bring us much further along to where the Electoral College would have much less weight and put much more weight on the popular vote.”

A proportionate increase would permit the number of members of congress to increase from 435 to 560 or 570 members.

NYU's Professor Tucker agrees.

“The more representatives you add the more you dilute the disproportionality,” he said, pointing out that every state begins with two senators.

Currently, Wyoming has three – one representative and two senators. Tucker said they may still have three, or perhaps four. But rather than 54 total for California, as they currently have, they would have 78 total. It is uncertain how many Michigan, currently with 16 electoral votes and representatives (two senators and 14 congressional seats), would have, as in the 2020 census, it is anticipated the state will continue its streak of losing a House seat each decade as the state continues to lose population to southern and western states.

Tucker said there are questions about how well the House of Representatives will function if it is one-third bigger, but others feel the question is moot.

Wayne State's Sarbaugh-Thompson, who agrees this is a preferable way to make the popular vote and Electoral College vote reflective of each other, said, “If you look at parliamentary systems, this is how they operate. Take Great Britain, which is much smaller than us – if we let the House of Representatives get to 630 members, it would be very similar to the British House of Commons.

“Four hundred thirty-five seems chiseled in stone, but only because we've gotten used to it,” she noted. “Keeping it at a set size is clearly not what the framers had in mind – both for the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. The Constitution talks about constantly having the House of Representatives growing, which it did until 1911.”

Sarbaugh-Thompson said it would more successfully address the lack of representativeness in both Congress and the Electoral College.

“Two senators (from each state) then become less important if the House of Representatives gets bigger,” she said of the proposal, called the Wyoming Rule. “In the art of the possible, if someone had thought to do this when President Obama had both houses (of Congress), it could have been passed, because it only takes a simple majority vote.

“Why isn't anyone talking about this more? It makes complete sense,” Sarbaugh-Thompson said.

Tucker noted that before 2016, National Popular Vote was actually not as partisan and divisive a proposal as it has become since the

2016 election, with currently only Democrats supporting it.

“Prior to 2015, there was support for National Popular Vote by lots of Republicans and Republican states,” Tucker said. “Immediately after the 2016 election, any critiques of the Electoral College became critiques of Trump's legitimacy.

“It didn't have to be that way. Prior to 2016, National Popular Vote had been picking up steam because it's hard to go against one vote, one person. But now, it's totally become politicized – it is now completely partisan. For it to pass, it has to come out of states that are Democrat.”

“We started doing research in 2005, and introduced a book and a bill in 2006, and then started lobbying states, beginning in Maryland, about a year later,” said Dr. John Koza, CEO of National Popular Vote, Inc. “This year, we have had three states that have acted already – Colorado, Delaware and New Mexico.”

Currently, the National Popular Vote bill has been enacted by 14 jurisdictions which possess 189 electoral votes, including five small states – Rhode Island, Vermont, Hawaii, Delaware, and Washington D.C. – six medium-size states – Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico, Maine and Washington – and four large states, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California. Prior to 2016, the bill passed in at least one chamber of eight more states that have a total of 72 more electoral votes.

All of the states that currently have passed the National Popular Vote bill are majority Democrat states.

The irony, Koza said, is that during Obama's administrations, “It was fairly difficult to get Democrats to vote for this. We couldn't get it through because enough Democrats bought into the blue wall theory” – referring to a theory used by political scientists between 1992 and 2012 which referred to 18 states (including Michigan) as well as Washington D.C. that the Democratic Party consistently won in presidential elections, establishing a significant advantage in the Electoral College. George W. Bush, the only Republican to win the presidency during this period, was able to narrowly win in the Electoral College only by winning states outside the blue wall.

“That was part of why Clinton lost,” Koza continued. “She thought she had 242 electoral votes in the bag. But many were hairline blue, and 2016 went the other way. Now, after 2016, Republicans think the Electoral College is good. It's all about very short-term political memories. Whoever won the last election thinks they'll be in power forever.”

Koza said that with the National Popular Vote compact, “we're not trying to abolish the Electoral College – we're trying to change the way states choose their members of the Electoral College. Under the Constitution, the states choose the members of the Electoral College.”

How each state chooses their electorates for the Electoral College is not in the Constitution, but in state law. National Popular Vote is trying to change to a winner-takes-all law, from whoever receives the most votes in any one state to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Currently, Michigan has 16 electoral votes, with 16 electorates, to reflect the number of senators and representatives in Congress.

There are a total of 538 electorates nationally. Each party – both Republicans and Democrats – choose electors per district at their annual state party convention to represent the district at the Electoral College, whose meeting takes place on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December after the presidential election. While voters think they're voting for a candidate for president, they're actually choosing electors when they vote for president and vice president. According to the National Archives and Records Administration, electors meet in their own states,

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casting their vote for president and vice president on separate ballots. Each state's electoral votes are then counted in a joint session of Congress on January 6th of the year following the meeting of the electors.

“The Vice President, as President of the Senate, presides over the count and announces the results of the vote. The President of the Senate then declares which persons, if any, have been elected President and Vice President of the United States,” according to the National Archives and Records Administration.

Besides that individual votes would more directly count with the National Popular Vote compact, another rationality behind changing towards it and away from the Electoral College is in the current method of campaigning, a majority of the country is left out of the conversation as the emphasis is focused on a few “battleground” states – states which can potentially turn one way or another in the Electoral College.

“In 2020, under the Electoral College vote model, candidates will basically spend 90 percent of their money, time and field operations in five to six states, and will totally ignore all of the other states,” pointed out ABC News' Matthew Dowd. “It's very disturbing. Where campaigns no longer compete – 44, 45 states are left out. That's a huge swath of Democrat and Republican states, large and small, that are left out of the conversation. Only letting five or six states decide (the election) isn't good for our country – and it raises a question of legitimacy. Is this the president representing all the people? The Trump campaign has admitted he can't win the popular vote in 2020. If you expanded the presidential race to more akin to the popular vote model, and open it up to many more states, you have to operate in all 50 states. Then every vote matters – rural, city, exurban, suburban. You have to campaign in areas where currently Democrats and Republicans don't go. Democrats would have to campaign in Texas and Republicans would have to go to New York.

Michigan would still be important – it would just expand the map.”

Dowd said it would not necessarily be more expensive for campaigns to campaign this way.

“They're going to spend what they raise,” said Dowd, the veteran of several campaigns. “They would spend it more nationally, rather than in five or six states. They're not driven by a budget. They spend what they have.

“It would be better to move toward a popular vote.”

David Dulio concurs. “Trump is coming to Michigan because electoral votes are important. We're going to see a steady stream of candidates for the next 18 months talking about issues important to Michigan, and that's a good thing.

“But if it was changed, candidates would change their strategy, and they would go where the votes are versus where the electoral votes are – so instead of Iowa, Michigan and Ohio, the I-95 corridor from Washington DC to New York City – places with a lot of people – would become a lot more important, and places like Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, with less density, become less important. What keeps Ohio important is that it has a lot of electoral votes. If it disappears, then swing voters in Ohio are less important, swing voters nationwide are more important. You can make a case that this is appropriate – it's just different.”

A concern about changing the system away from the Electoral College is that rural voters would be ignored as candidates focus on large cities. Koza said that wouldn't happen – the percentage of rural and urban voters is actually equal, with 16 percent of the country living in each location.

Two-thirds of the country lives in suburbia, Koza said – “and those people vote 50/50” Democrat and Republican. “Why would they

ignore a majority of the country? The country as a whole is equally divided, so it can't be said that Los Angeles and New York City run the country.”

But other scholars disagree.

John Chamberlin, professor emeritus of political science at University of Michigan, said that while he's not a particular fan of the Electoral College, “It was designed for a time and for purposes that seem to me to no longer have much of a hold on who we are as a nation...but I'd like to see it replaced with something that is likely to be seen as legitimate and have solid grounding. Plurality voting isn't a good choice in my view. It doesn't perform well when multiple candidates run. This often leads to the plurality winner getting less than 50 percent of the vote,” he said. “In that case it is possible that one of the losing candidates would be preferred to the plurality winner in a head-to-head comparison. It seems undemocratic to elect someone when another candidate in the race would defeat the plurality winner in a head-to-head race...A system that is probably better than plurality is ranked choice voting.”

Williams of Willamette University Law School sees many similar holes.

“National Popular Vote would just spawn nightmare litigation and create Supreme Court litigation that would make Bush v. Gore look like nothing,” he predicted. “There would be no legitimate national president.

“The compact would root out federalism from our presidential election process – they want a purely majority rule. But there's no federal election. They're all done by state officials who tabulate votes.

How do you conduct a recount if it's National Popular Vote?” Williams asked.

“There's no national agency. It would be left up to Michigan. What if Michigan says yes to a recount – but California says no. There's be no trust in the legitimacy of the election and the recount, and it would end up in litigation.”

Williams succinctly points out that recounts are an example of federalism. “If you had a Constitutional amendment abolishing the Electoral College, then the federal government could set up a federal election system.”

Further, Williams drew attention to the fact that there have been elections – as recently as 2016 – where no candidate actually received the majority of the popular vote, but has received plurality.

“Hillary Clinton received 48 percent of the vote; Donald Trump received 46 percent. Neither received a majority. If we modeled our system after France, there would be a runoff without third party candidates – between just the two of them,” Williams said. “The likelihood of this happening? Zero.”

Looking ahead to 2020, it's unlikely there will be a change in our electoral system. Farther out? It's impossible to prognosticate. If the Electoral College vote and popular vote are once again at odds, all bets are off.

“With George W. Bush, it was the first time it happened in anyone's lifetime, and it seemed completely idiosyncratic,” NYU's Joshua Tucker said. “But the Trump election – where it was millions of votes – it was the second time in 20 years, and it could happen again in 2020. It was the same party, which is also getting a boost in the Senate. We have to worry about issues of legitimacy and people on the left questioning and feeling disenfranchised.

“But the likelihood of anything happening is very low.”

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Michael Hodges ichigan journalist and author Michael Hodges has covered the fine arts beat for The Detroit News for nearly three decades, but it's his books that have allowed him to showcase his photography, research and writing through his fondness of architecture.

Hodges, who grew up on a dairy farm in Rochester Hills and attended Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, released his first book, “Michigan's Historic Railroad Stations,” in 2012 with the Wayne State University Press. His follow-up, “Building the Modern World: Albert Kahn in Detroit,” was released in April 2018. Each of the books feature more than 100 illustrations, including historic postcards or pictures, as well as striking photographs taken by Hodges. In 2019, Hodges' latest book garnered a Michigan Notable Book Award from the Library of Michigan.

“What lifted me through both of my books was the photography,” Hodges said. “I write books about architecture so I can take pictures, and my publisher is obligated to use them.”

Hodges said the art and architecture throughout the Cranbrook campus helped to instill an appreciation for the subjects. Likewise, the constellation of outbuildings at his father's dairy farm helped to build a sense of place from a young age. Yet, it was politics that initially interested Hodges, leading him to earn a degree in political science and government from Tufts University. He later spent four years as a teacher before earning a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University.

“I've never written about architecture for the paper. Buildings tend to fall to the development writer, and that's never been my beat. My beat is fine art. Fine art and museums, principally,” he said. “I was always good at writing. I decided I could try to make a living writing while in graduate school in New York City when I was hired part-time by (former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs) Richard Holbrooke, who went on after I worked for him to be Ambassador for Germany (and US Ambassador to the United Nations).

He had hired me to help with some speechwriting while in New York. I thought I might be good at political writing, but I fell into journalism instead.”

Hodges wrote feature stories for the New York Post for a year before moving to the Ann Arbor area and covering the fine arts beat for The Detroit News. In 2008, Hodges was in Chelsea, outside of Ann Arbor, when he came across a historic little train station, sparking the idea for his first book. The photographic survey of old train stations across the state led him to submit more ideas to the university press, and his second book.

While other books about Albert Kahn exist, they have tended to be more academic in nature and geared toward those with architecture backgrounds. Hodges instead traces Kahn's beginnings in poverty to his rise as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, including friendships with Henry Ford and his son Edsel. The book also details for the first time Kahn's influence to save the Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts, as well as his role in the industrialization of the Soviet Union.

“It was fun, but sort of a challenge,” he said of his train book. “In many cases there wasn't that much information. I used old historical newspaper articles. If a crime occurred in relation to the station, it got in the book… I found writing a biography easier because there was actually a story and narrative arc. You don't have to cobble together something like with the train station book.”

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Photo: Laurie Tennent

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eeks before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing began, factories in the city and surrounding areas were ordered closed in an effort to reduce air pollution. Automobile restrictions were put in place more than two weeks before the Olympic flame was lit. The measures were some of the first notable efforts by the world's most populous country to acknowledge its growing pollution problem.

Less than a decade after the games, China took new measures to clean up its act by banning the import of virtually all non-industrial waste, rejecting recyclables with contamination rates higher than .5 percent. Previously, China had accepted recyclables with contamination rates as high as three to five percent from around the United States.

As the largest importer of recyclable materials, China had the majority of domestic recyclables, and had imported 45 percent of the world's exported plastic waste since 1992. Today, the country takes in about five percent of the United States domestic recyclables.

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The policy has sent a tsunami wave-sized ripple effect through plastic commodities markets and the recycling industry throughout the world, including Oakland County and the Birmingham/Bloomfield area.

“Markets have collapsed. They've just collapsed,” said Joe Munem, director of government affairs and public relations for GFL Environmental Inc. “The time of looking at this from a distance is over. If people want to continue to recycle as previously, they are going to have to pay more to do that. This isn't like a bad day on the stock market where everything gets better the next day.”

As one of the main waste haulers in the metro Detroit region, GFL contracts with at least 65 communities in the tri-county area to provide curbside recycling services.

In February, GFL sent letters to about 65 communities for which it provides curbside recycling services, including Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, outlining the situation and proposing an increase in fees.

The letters reveal the new policy has less to do with China's efforts to reduce pollution and more to do with political trade wars.

“For decades, North American collectors and processors have relied almost exclusively on China to be the end market for many recyclables collected from local residents, businesses and institutional generators, including mixed paper and post-consumer plastics (including difficult to recycle types number 3 to number 7),” the company said in a letter from GFL Regional Vice President Lou Berardicurti. “Triggered by the escalating trade actions taken by the USA against China, in March of this year, China adopted a contamination limit (.5 percent) that effectively prohibits the import of most of the types of plastics and mixed paper that have historically been shipped there. China has made it clear that they do not intend to reverse these policies anytime in the near term. Alternate markets in South Asia, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, do not have the capacity to accept volume or types of materials that were previously shipped to China.” ontamination Berardicurti is referring to could include other materials that gets mixed into a bale of specific recyclables which can spoil the whole bale – for instance, food waste and liquids touching recyclable material, as well as nonrecyclable plastic bags, styrofoam or other materials. That can mean if there is grease or cheese stuck to a pizza box, and it gets mixed into a bale, it contaminates the entire bale and cannot be recycled. Paper that becomes moldy from moisture is also considered contaminated.

Locally, material recovery facilities (MRFs) – pronounced murph – that process recyclable materials are designed to remove up to 97 percent of contaminants, but have trouble removing the 99.5 percent, as required by the new Chinese policy.

Further, local MRFs don't have enough capacity to take on all the excess materials that had previously been shipped to China. While GFL hauls both trash and recyclables, the company doesn't operate MRFs in the metro Detroit area. That means processing services are contracted out by GFL, specifically in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. As such, the company is grappling with increased costs for processing that will soon, if not already, be passed along to the customer communities.

“In an effort to produce recyclables that are capable of being sold to an end market, these MRFs have hired more employees and are running their sorting equipment at a much slower rate to be able to pick out more contaminated and non-recyclable materials from those being processed,” GFL said in the letter. “MRFs have passed on their resulting higher operating costs to collectors like GFL, resulting in an over 60-percent increase in processing fees, as well as the rejection and/or landfilling of a significant volume of materials that are collected and delivered to these MRFs.” The letter concluded by proposing changes to existing municipal contracts based on the market shifts and contamination rates responsible for increased processing fees. For communities that wish to keep recyclable materials headed to MRFs for processing, GFL is proposing a rate increase of $2.09 per household per month. The hauler also offered to continue collection of recyclable materials without any rate increases, but with those items to be diverted to the Detroit Renewable Power's Incinerator.

“The incinerator, which uses waste to generate both steam heating/cooling and electrical energy, offers a green disposal alternative to landfills,” GFL said in the letter. “There would be no increase in the rates charged to your community under this alternative.”

Munem said about half of the communities approached indicated they were leaning toward the incinerator option.

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“In talking with the majority of communities, some have gone with paying more and some have gone with waste energy. It's sort of an ongoing process,” Munem said. “Most communities understand that recycling markets are in crisis. I know there's nobody out there arguing that point.”

In approaching communities, the intent was to keep waste from entering landfills. However, it's doubtful many officials familiar with the Detroit Renewable Power Incinerator consider burning of waste intended for recycling to be an environmentally-friendly alternative, even when considering some recapture of energy. That point was made evident on March 27, when Detroit Renewable Power announced the incinerator would close that day, after years of violations and complaints. The closure was expected to impact about 150 workers.

The abrupt announcement left GFL and other companies and communities scrambling to find new options for their trash disposal. However, as of the publication of this article, no solution had been identified.

“It's a major disruption. This has been a huge fly in the ointment,” Munem said. “Since this has happened, we have been working very hard to find an alternative.”

Meanwhile, news of the closure was praised by environmentalists and others, including Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit, Romulus, Westland, Dearborn Heights) who joined residents in Westland and Detroit in February to oppose Westland's intent to send its recyclable materials to the incinerator in the face of steep increases.

“Burning trash hurts us all,” Tlaib said in a February 19 Facebook post.

“Tonight's Westland City Council will be voting to have their recycling sent to Detroit's incinerator to be burned. WE MUST STOP THIS!! Our community's health depends on it.”

Tlaib, whose office failed to respond to multiple requests for comment, tweeted to express her pleasure with the closure of the plant.

“After years of hard work and grassroots organizing by some of Detroit's most committed activists and environmental warriors, the incinerator is shutting down,” Tlaib tweeted. “Celebrate this victory, and BREATHE FREE DETROIT!” Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said the township has about four years remaining on its contract with GLF for curbside recycling services.

“We were contacted about three or four months ago. … knowing our community and the feedback we have gotten from a number of people, we value the recycling of waste products as much as possible,” Savoie said.

“From an elected official perspective, we understand the position that GFL is in, but we have a contract and feel if we hold to it that GFL will hold to it.”

Municipalities holding existing contracts with waste haulers may have additional leverage to negotiate long-term contracts that would soften increases in future service rates.

“Looking at the bidding, there's only been two companies that are bidding on these contracts,” Savoie said. “If we can work on something to extend the contract, we think the board might consider it. The last thing we want is to be caught with a major provider going out of business, then when it comes to renew this four years from now, everyone is held hostage to economic conditions.”

Residents in Bloomfield Township pay for recycling services through a quarterly service fee. Savoie said township residents are strong supporters of recycling, and would likely be opposed to diverting those materials to an incinerator or landfill.

Bloomfield Hills City Manager Dave Hendrickson also said the city was contacted by its waste hauler, GFL, in February in hopes of discussing its existing contract regarding curbside recycling, which expires in 2023. He presented the information to the city commission on March 12 for direction. loomfield Hills City Attorney Derk Beckerleg (who also represents Bloomfield Township) said at the time that it appeared GFL was approaching several communities to seek an equitable approach to minimize harm to themselves.

However, he said Bloomfield Hills doesn't have to agree to change their contract. The city commission directed Hendrickson to meet with a representative from GFL in the future to see if any benefits could be gained on the city's behalf.

Recycling data provided to Bloomfield Hills by GFL showed the net value of recyclable materials collected in the city dropped from about $13.62 per ton in 2017, where they were receiving a credit, to incurring a cost of $52.41 in 2018. Costs continued to increase in early 2019, with the average cost per ton being about $86.33. Those values are based on both diminished values per ton collected and processing costs. For instance, the gross value per ton

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in 2017 was listed at $85.22 per ton, with processing costs averaging $71.60 per ton, for a net value of $13.62. In 2018, the gross value per ton was $40.62, with processing costs rising to $93.03, for a net value of negative $52.41.

Overall, the curbside recycling program in Bloomfield Hills collects about 393 tons of materials each year. Based on the data provided to the city from GFL, the program, which includes 1,356 homes, went from providing an annual rebate of $5,351 in 2017 to costing $20,597 in 2018. Under the proposed rates by GFL, that cost would increase to about $33,929 in 2019 for the city as a whole.

The proposed increases are essentially a passthrough fee for the company to cover increased costs it is paying to dispose of the recyclable materials it hauls, as GFL doesn't own or operate any materials recovery facilities in Michigan.

“We used to get paid (for materials) and now we are paying them to take it. We used to get $40 or $20 per ton, but now we are paying $80,” Munem said of GFL, which contracts with Republic Services for recyclables in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties. “When we go to these communities to talk about this stuff, we aren't trying to capitalize on the situation.”

Birmingham Communications Director Kevin Byrnes said the city is a member of the Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority (SOCRRA), which operates its own materials recovery facility. He said there have been no discussions of increased fees for curbside recycling in Birmingham.

Jeff McKeen, general manager of SOCRRA, said the authority hasn't suffered any major disruptions from China's new policy that would cause materials to be sent to landfills or other facilities.

“We are able to recycle everything we receive,” McKeen said. “We aren't getting the prices I would like to get, but we are having no problems moving materials. Nothing we process has gone to China, but the China market does effect domestic markets, and it has had an adverse effect on markets.”

SOCRRA provides curbside recycling to Birmingham, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Troy. In January 2018, the authority opened an updated facility on Coolidge Highway in Troy. The new facility allows for faster processing of materials, as well as the capability for customers to use larger recycling carts, rather than smaller bins.

“The new facility allows the use of a larger bin, and that goes into a single stream that is co-mingled with other materials,” McKeen said. “The old facility had a dual stream system where truck drivers were doing sorting at the curb. Now our facility is designed to do that.”

McKeen said the larger bins have led to a volume increase of about 30 percent in the amount of materials received.

“It was a significant improvement,” he said. “The carts have a lot to do with that. The more capacity customers have, the less chance of stuff being thrown away once the bin is full.” aterials entering the facility are sorted into individual types of materials. For example, milk jugs and laundry detergent jugs are both #2 plastics, with clear jugs kept separate from colored plastics. Once processed and compressed into bales, number 1 and number 2 plastics are sold to Clean Tech Recycling, in Dundee. Some other mixed plastics are sold to a manufacturer in Sarnia. Paper, which can be sorted into mixed products and other categories, are typically sold to Royal Oak Recycling.

“It's a commodities market, so it's a commodity-by-commodity basis,” McKeen said. “Steel prices have been good, plastic does well, paper not so well. Glass: we have to pay to get that recycled at the moment, and that goes to a place in Indiana for recycling.”

General commodity prices provided by GFL to local communities show descriptions by McKeen hold true across specific markets. For example, a ton of old newsprint paper in 2017 fetched an average of $87.41 per ton.

That same ton in 2018 was selling for about $33.20. Old corrugated container and kraft pulp sold for about $152 a ton in 2017 and dropped to $75 a ton in 2018. Mixed papers dropped from about $66 a ton in 2017 to $9.74 in 2018. Meanwhile, plastics rose from about $264 a ton to $319 a ton.

Clean Tech Recycling in Dundee was founded in 1989 and has since become one of the nation's largest recyclers of post-consumer plastics and packaging, specializing in polyethylene plastics, specially high-density polyethylene (number 2 HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Nearly all recycling centers in Michigan sell plastic to Clean Tech, with

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the company using PET and HDPE bales from more than 350 recycling centers across the country.

“Our business is to convert bales back into bottle grade material, and we produce a post-consumer resin, which includes high-density polyethylene and PET,” said Jim Kulp, operations manager for Clean Tech's facility in Dundee. “The high density goes back into soap and detergent bottles. The PET we take back to a food grade product. That's used for post-consumer resin content for beverage bottles and other food products. We supply bottle manufacturers across the United States.”

Jim Kulp said the Chinese policy hasn't had much of a dramatic impact on the local market for plastics. However, the business has seen an increase in the amount of product lost due to cross contamination and other unacceptable materials included in bales.

“For PET and high-density polyethylene, if anything, it has held down bale prices a little, but those are fairly good markets and there are plenty of people looking for those products,” Kulp said. “The real problem it created is that some of the lower end quality items are more difficult to get rid of. And it has increased some of the loss rates we see coming through the bales we purchase.” ulp said that prior to the Chinese restrictions going into place, Clean Tech would see a loss rate of 20 to 30 percent.

That has since increased to 30 to 40 percent. Loss rates, he said, are due to contamination, labels, caps and cross contaminants, like paper, cardboard and other plastics that have to be removed to make the next product.

“If the rate is too high or there's too much contamination, we try to work with the material recovery facility to make changes, or we would stop purchasing from them,” he said. “There have been occasions we have stopped purchasing because their quality wasn't high enough, more in the past couple of years.

“Some of that did have to do with China. Some were selling the lower grade products to China and their systems aren't as robust as others. For them to compete without having that market available, it's more difficult for them.”

While the virtual closure of the Chinese market has brought new challenges to the recycling centers accepting curbside recycling, Kulp said there is opportunity in domestic markets.

“There's a lot of potential for growth in the marketplace,” he said. “A lot of consumer product companies have announced high rates of usage for our post-consumer resins. For that to be successful, there has to be more collected. That's the message that needs to be out there. We need more material of the right kind back into the market. As more people pay attention to what is going into the system, there is going to be opportunity for growth.”

On April 4, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced it was making $2 million in funding available to support the growth of recycling markets in Michigan. The money is part of the department's 2019 Recycling Market Development Grants available to nonprofit and for-profit businesses and organizations in Michigan.

The grants will support research of new uses for recycled materials, commercialization of technologies to replace materials with recycled content and increase the demand of recycled materials needed for manufacturing or other uses. Projects may include, but aren't limited to, materials testing and specification development, market analyses, marketing of products, usage guidance, research and development of new products using recycled content, processing equipment, use trials and other activities that will increase use of recycled materials.

Matt Fletcher, recycling market development specialist with the DEQ, said materials aren't truly recycled until they are transformed into a new product for use. Those uses, he said, save energy, reduce water consumption, decrease greenhouse gasses and conserve resources while creating jobs and growing the economy.

“There are two main things we are doing at the DEQ to weather the storm,” Fletcher said. “First, the primary cause of why China said 'no more' to our stuff is that it was just too dang dirty. It had too much stuff in it that they didn't want. They were trying to clean up the environment ahead of the Olympics. There was really a feeling of harm that was being done by global pollution and developing countries exporting pollution. That tells us that we need to make sure that we are putting only the right things in the bin, and making sure residents know what goes in the bin and what doesn't. The second thing is that we are growing local markets. Why are we sending our resources halfway around the world when we can support the economy here in the United States and in Michigan?”

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The answer to the export question goes back to the original entry of China into the recyclable materials market, and the impact it had on domestic markets.

“About 15 years ago, not a lot of material was going to China,” said Kerrin O'Brien, executive director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition. “In the past 15 years, the market in China increased by a factor of seven. That caused us to move our investment from domestic market development and making sure we were getting high volumes of diverse material, and that's how the single-stream process started to dominate the market place.”

In single-stream recycling, all kinds of recyclable products are put into single bin by consumers and picked up at the curb by a hauling company.

Those materials, including paper, plastic, metal, glass and others, are sorted in a single stream at the materials recovery facility.

“Previous to single stream, everyone had an open bin at their house, and the truck would come by and those would get separated on a recycling truck,” O'Brien said. “That was kind of inefficient and took longer. Those were 18 gallon or 30 gallon bins.

“When the Chinese market took off, the larger companies realized they could make more money. They focused on larger collections, like those 90gallon carts, and the material is dumped into one compartment, so you can expand the number and types of materials. They can accept more plastics and different metals, and bigger plastic items. It allows us to expand the volume of materials and the stop at each house is about 20 or 30 seconds.

The efficiencies at the curb also benefitted municipalities.”

O'Brien said that when China entered the market, it wasn't very picky about the items they were accepting, so MRF's were able to move the items quickly through a facility, focusing on quantity of materials, rather than quality, which in turn led to an increase in contamination.

“In the heyday when prices were good, those revenues weren't shared with the municipalities,” O'Brien said. “But now, when prices get depressed and there are no revenues, there are costs to share, and the municipalities weren't prepared for the bottom to fall out of the market.”

As municipal recycling programs are caught paying for new costs, some communities are harder hit than others.

Mike Garfield, executive director for the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, said communities holding long-term contracts with service providers and those that have pooled resources with neighboring communities are better suited to rising costs to recycling programs.

“The recycling business, like many businesses, has its ups and downs, and the market right now is in a down cycle,” Garfield said. “The communities that haven't planned for this are feeling the brunt of the recycling downturn. The ones who have are going through it OK.” In Westland, recycling has had a 78-percent participation rate among residents. The city had been paying about $18 per ton to RECommunity, of New Boston. That company was later purchased by Republic Services. In February, the city announced the cost of recycling would spike to $80 per ton.

“We were under a long-term contract to landfill trash, but we had a month-to-month contract on recycling,” said Westland Mayor William Wild.

“We got a 30-day notice back in February. On an annual basis, that increase would be $310,000.”

Wild said the increased cost would easily exceed the city's budget for waste removal, which is based on a dedicated millage for all solid waste, including recycling.

“The additional cost would have exceeded our millage, and that would have had to been subsidized by the general fund,” he said. “We were hit harder than other communities because on the recycling side we had a month-to-month contract, while a lot of others have long-term contracts. We contracted directly with the MRF.” Wild said the city had previously had a longterm contract with the MRF owner. Republic continued to honor the contract, but only on a month-tomonth basis.

“I don't think it's in anyone's best interest to have a month-to-month contract,” he pointed out. epublic Services currently operates two MRFs in southeast Michigan, including the New Boston facility, which it owns.

The other facility is located in Southfield, which is owned by the Resource and Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC) and operated by Republic. The company also owns a third facility in Roseville which has been taken offline and closed for operation.

Founded in 1989, RRRASOC member communities include Farmington, Farmington Hills, Milford Village, Milford Township, Novi, South Lyon,

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Southfield, Walled Lake and Wixom. Those communities make up about a quarter of the MRF's capacity, with Republic Service municipal contracts making up the remaining capacity.

Scott Cabauatan, municipal services manager for Republic said a third facility in Roseville was recently closed due to “operational synergies.”

Those synergies, he said, arose after heavy restrictions in the Chinese market and increased costs to operate MRFs. “As an industry, we are reliant on global markets for recyclables. Locally, the sourcing is more domestic than global, but overall the industry is based on the global market,” Cabauatan said. “So when the market in China decided to change residual specifications – they changed from about three or five percent to a half percent (contamination) – there is increased processing time that is required to meet that specification. More materials that are going in have to be scrutinized and rejected, and contamination rates have gone up.

“To meet that challenge of a half percent, as people demand high quality materials coming out of the MRFs, we are now forced to spend more time and labor costs doing that quality control activity. That involves slowing down the lines, and maybe not processing as much material in an eighthour shift. And, you have communities that are bringing more materials into the facility, so you may need to add some extra shifts in order to process the same amount of material.” abauatan said as costs to process materials increase, lightweight materials are being more often utilized by packaging companies, resulting in more materials needed to make a single bale of a commodity. “Water bottles have been a heavy grade plastic, but now those have become paper thin,” he said. “That goes back to cost. There's a cost associated with processing that. When baling water bottles, what used to be 45,000 bottles in a bale is now about 96,000. So, the light weighting efforts by manufacturers in the packaging community also impact the cost.”

To deal with the increased prices in Westland, the city initially considered sending recyclable materials to the incinerator in Detroit.

However, public opposition to fueling the controversial facility led city council members to opt to landfill the materials until a solution could be found.

Wild said the city is encouraging residents to continue separating recyclables, even though they will go to a landfill until a solution is found for the issue.

“We wanted to be transparent, and we have asked the community, while it will go to a landfill in the short term, we asked them not to change their behavior,” Wild said. “We will continue to pick up with separate trucks. To their credit, they have done that that. Volumes have stayed about the same.

We are fortunate for that behavior.”

Wild said Westland is able to continue with the curbside pickups, in part, because the city owns its own trucks and buys its own fuel each week. He said by continuing the curbside recycling practice, it's hoped that residents won't fall out of habit with the practice.

“It will cost more than just landfilling until the market corrects itself, but we think it's still a worthwhile effort to pursue an avenue to recycle.”

To address the issue, Wild said the city is looking at different options, including talking with other communities to possibly pool resources.

Mike Csaspo, executive director of RRRASOC, said the authority began seeing disruptions in the market about two years ago.

“It's an old story for those of us who are close to it,” he said. “Recycling organizations are talking with (news organizations) and pinning the problems on contamination, which is part of the problem.

“We spend a lot on labels, cards and social media, mobile apps, cable, news and print stories. We've been trying to share the message of recycling, and recycling right for years. In some communities it does very well, in others maybe they aren't doing as good as a job as others. In some cases, that could be the hauling company.”

In terms of the amount of material diverted to recycling MRFs that would otherwise be landfilled, Csaspo said SOCRRA is a top-notch organization.

“They probably stack up with the best programs in the country, and I like to think ours is very much the same,” he said. “We both have low contamination rates from the community. We still get plastic bags and styrofoam and things that wrap up our equipment and cause delays, and that effects maintenance costs. Those are some of the challenges we are confronted with.

“Consumers are somewhat stuck in the middle. Homeowners are presented with an ever-changing mix of products and product packaging, and many are labeled as recyclables when they aren't recyclable.”

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As an example, Csaspo said resin-coated paper products may have arrows with a number in the middle that resemble recyclable materials, when it's not actually recyclable by most MRFs. “When you have a capital intensive system with $6 million in equipment, that gets designed with a certain mix of products in mind,” he said. As products change, we have to accommodate that with updates to equipment.

The best example is print media. Years ago, we had a lot of newspapers coming in that were made into new newspaper. We don't get as much newsprint now, but we still get a high level of paper material.”

Mike Garfield, with the Ecology Center, said the packaging is a big challenge for recyclers.

“If you were designing this system from scratch, you would make sure the packaging would be reused or recycled. In other countries they do that, but not in the US. In the United States, we have stuck local units of governments and households with getting rid of the trash, and it's an expensive proposition in general,” Garfield said. “Recycling has been integrated fully into the way communities deal with this in some parts of the country, and some states have been proactive to promote recycling.

That's not the case in Michigan. We have some of the worst laws on the books when it comes to recycling, and how we deal with trash.”

Solid waste disposal in Michigan is guided by the state's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, created in 1994, specifically Part 115 and Part 175. Elizabeth Garver, recycling and waste minimization specialist with the Michigan DEQ, said state law regulates only some items that are restricted from entering landfills, including refundable beverage containers and yard clippings. The state doesn't prohibit items collected by recycling programs from entering landfills.

“It's really up the landfills to enforce what's coming in,” Garver said. “It's not unlawful for them to accept it completely, but it can't be more than a 'de minimis' amount, under the law. They have their own procedures for inspecting that. We have inspectors also, and we look for items like yard waste, which are easy to find. There could be other items, like asbestos or other things they could be looking for.”

Garfield said the problem in Michigan is that there has been more emphasis and investment in landfills than recycling centers because landfills are far more profitable to run.

“We have far more landfills in Michigan than we need. The proof of that is to compare the price to dispose of trash in Michigan compared to other states,” he said. “We are a lot cheaper than other states, and that's the primary reason Toronto and other Ontario communities have sent their trash here. At one point, all of Toronto and all of its suburbs were sending us their trash. The financial incentive is strong. If you're a business in the waste hauling industry, you have an incentive to dump trash in a landfill.

“As a result of that, there have been very few commercial recycling facilities developed in the state of Michigan. In other areas of the country, you'll find many other MRFs that are commercial MRFs. In some places they compete for business. We don't have any competing. The comparative price for landfilling makes it unfavorable. Communities that want to recycle have essentially gone and done it themselves. … if you don't have one in your region, you'll really be at the mercy of the market, and the market isn't good right now.”

In terms of trash being sent to landfills, Michigan landfills in 2018 reported taking in 52,445,215 cubic yards of waste, an increase of about 1,840,523 cubic yards (3.6 percent) from 2017, according to the DEQ's annual solid waste landfill reports. Of the total amount, 39,932,328 cubic yards were generated in Michigan in 2018, with the rest imported from other states and Canada. Canadian waste accounted for 18.6 percent of all waste disposed of Michigan landfills, with other states and Canada accounting for 23.9 percent. verall, municipal waste is the largest category of trash imported by Michigan landfills, accounting for more than 8.1 million cubic yards of the total waste sent to the state.

Other waste includes industrial waste and commercial and development waste. In all, Michigan in 2018 imported waste from Canada, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Counties that imported the most out-of-state waste include Macomb, Wayne, Monroe and Genesee. Oakland County didn't import any out-of-state waste.

The DEQ report shows that not only is Michigan importing a large amount of solid waste to its landfills, but the practice is common between counties. For instance, 4,314,899 cubic tons of waste that were disposed of in landfills in 2018 came from Oakland County, with landfills in the county taking in 2,454,559 cubic tons.

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Trash from Oakland County in 2018 was sent to Advance Disposal Services Arbor Hills landfill in Washtenaw County; Brent Run landfill, in Genesee County; Carelton Farms landfill, in Wayne County; Citizens Disposal, in Genesee County; Eagle Valley, in Orion Township; Granger Grand River landfill, in Clinton County; Matlin Road landfill, in Monroe County; Oakland Heights landfill, in Auburn Hills; Pine Tree Acres in Macomb County; Riverview Land Preserve, in Wayne County; Sauk Trail Hills landfill in Wayne County; Tri-City Recycling and Disposal, in Sanilac County; Venice Park Recycling and Disposal in Shiawassee County; and Woodland Meadows, in Wayne County.

Local area facilities that took in the most waste in 2018 include Advanced Disposal Services Arbor Hills landfill in Northville (4,990,699 cubic yards); Carleton Farms Landfill in New Boston (6,154,116 cubic yards); and Pine Tree Acres in Lenox (6,178,232 cubic yards).

Landfills in Oakland County include Eagle Valley Recycle and Disposal Facility in Orion Township (1,528,130 cubic yards), and Oakland Heights Development in Auburn Hills (926,429 cubic yards). abauatan with Republic Services said while some communities have opted to landfill their recyclables, there has yet to be an influx of materials with Republic communities in Michigan. However, the closure of the incinerator in Detroit and upcoming contract negotiations may change that.

“Many communities are out to bid or in discussions in the next 12 months. We have also had communities that don't recycle that have looked into it and chosen not to because of the current dynamics of recycling. They are finding it cost prohibitive to them,” he said. “The closure of the incinerator does have an impact. It was a large waste consumer in the metro Detroit area, so it does create an impact on the transportation side, as there are haulers in the area that thought that was an appropriate means for disposal.”

Looking forward, Cabauatan and others are stressing the importance of recycling education – that is knowing what should and should not be recycled in their specific community.

“For those that have recycling programs in place, there needs to be a continued emphasis on education,” Cabauatan said. “That goes back to residuals. We are battling materials every day and the ill-effects of goodintended people.”

To help, Republic has launched its “Empty. Clean. Dry” campaign, which focuses on reducing moisture content and food contaminants in materials that can effect cardboard and other papers. That includes old or spoiled food that gets tossed with recyclable packaging. Overall, the goal is to have customers empty recyclables of all contents; clean them of any residue; and dry them before placing them in a recycling container.

Republic has also launched a website – www.recyclingsimplified.com – to better help their customers. Likewise, GFL and SOCRRA provide information on their websites about what items are acceptable and what are problematic, such as thin plastic bags and plastic grocery bags, which are considered some of the most problematic for MRFs. Katie Deska, education coordinator with Michigan State University's Recycling Center, said the on-campus center has a 55-percent diversion rate, meaning that 55 percent of waste is diverted from landfills to the recycling center. Michigan as a state has a diversion rate of about 15 percent.

“Everything on campus goes through the MRF,” she said. “We work with staff and faculty because they are a constant here, whereas students are coming and going. We are also starting a 'waste warriors' program to recruit staff and faculty to sign up for services.”

Deska said while the program focuses on campus facilities, off-campus recycling is more of a challenge, as it's harder to reach students and residents. The most challenging and important part of education is knowing whether or not a particular recycler takes the materials you're trying to dispose.

“Most curbside recycling programs don't accept plastic bags. The mechanical sorters at the MRFs can't handle plastic bags and they jam up the sorting equipment and get stuck in the rollers,” she said. “So, the people operating them have to shut it down and cut them off. That takes time and resources to stop the line and deal with something that shouldn't be in there in the first place.

“The education piece is a challenge. It's taken years to get people to recycle these items, so to up and tell people to stop – when it's just a phase – isn't desirable. All that education can be lost.”

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695 ToTTEnham road | Birmingham 2508 sq. ft. / 4 bed / 2.1 bath a stately Colonial privately tucked in desired Poppleton Park neighborhood on an oversized lot. a grand foyer entry leads into an elegant formal dining and living room. Updated kitchen with granite island, custom cherry cabinets and updated appliances. Kitchen opens to eat in breakfast area and family room with charming built ins. both kitchen and family room flow to the brick paver patio to enjoy the spacious yard. all new windows with transferable warranty. Newer roof. Newer furnace/aC and newer h2O. Living room with wall to ceiling windows and natural fireplace. all hardwood floors throughout. beautiful custom moldings, built-ins shelves and cabinets. 4 spacious bedrooms with ample closet space. finished basement with newer carpet and plenty of storage. attached 2 car garage. Property feels like your in Northern Michigan but close to downtown birmingham amenities!

3955 LahsEr road | BLoomfiELd hiLLs 6,000 sq. ft / 5 bed / 6.2 baths Presenting a stately colonial estate overlooking prestigious bloomfield hills Country Club's Golf Course. this stunning home has been completely renovated and designed to perfection. this home features a custom gourmet kitchen. first floor master suite with luxurious master spa inspired bathroom. his/her walk in closets. family room with custom builts/moldings/trim/ fireplace overlooking pool, wrap around deck, patio and golf course. elegant spacious dinning room. first floor laundry. all bedrooms are suites. finished lower level features a new kitchen, basketball court, gym, wine cellar. beautifully renovated pool with flagstone patio, custom pergola. situated on almost two acres. designed and renovated to incorporate views of the golf course and the open layout is perfect for entertaining!

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1101 nakomis TraiL-inidanwood LakE | LakE orion 3,195 sq.ft / 4 bed / 3.1 baths a private estate situated on a secluded peninsula overlooking Indianwood Lake! a true masterpiece built with quality, custom details and a floor plan incorporating views of the lake from every room. a spacious gourmet kitchen with all new appliances, custom cabinets, large island and viking stove. a spacious breakfast room with a bay window overlooking the brick paver patio leading to the lake. a hickory ash wood library with leaded doors and bar refrigerator for entertaining. a luxurious master suite with a marble spa inspired master bathroom, a custom walk in closet and a cozy area to enjoy the views of the lake. a beautiful living room with stone fireplace and french doors leading to patio. New roof/gutters, new aC, new boiler, added insulation, ample storage, first floor laundry/mudroom, 2.5 car heated garage.

1530 n. cranBrook | BLoomfiELd hiLLs 5765 sq ft. / 6 bed / 6.2 baths a private estate situated on over one acre in bloomfield Village. elegant charm, custom details, timeless features are incorporated with modern updated amenities for todays living lifestyle. the entry leads into a beautiful spacious living room with limestone fireplace, beamed coffered ceilings, detailed wainscoting and french door leads to the estate sized yard and pool. a newer gourmet kitchen incorporates a large marble island, custom cabinets, elite ss appliances, large breakfast room with gas fireplace also overlooking yard and pool. this home has been updated with refinished dark hardwood floors throughout. the home incorporates dual staircases, 1st master suite-steamed shower and heated floors.formal study/office, second floor bonus/living room. this estate has been professionally landscaped within last year.3 new ac units. Recently painted exterior. basement includes a work out room, bedrooms/bath.full house generator. a rare opportunity to buy one of bloomfield hills landmark estates.

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543 E LincoLn | Birmingham 2850 sq ft / 4 bed / 3.1 bath absolutely exquisite architectural masterpiece in downtown birmingham. solar powered operated home=no electric bills. 3 zoned furnace-each floor energy efficient. solid red oak skeleton staircase encased in glass walls.

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FACES

India Woll hile watching a video about Me to We trips, India Woll decided she wanted to do one. So, she did.

Woll and her family then found themselves in a rural village in India over the winter holidays, building part of a school – specifically the stairs.

“Almost every day we got to work on the site with pickaxes and shovels and rocks, and we made cement out of sand and water,” said Woll, who goes to Bloomfield Hills Middle School, which has a Me to We club.

Once the school was completed her family attended a ceremony to celebrate. Woll said it had all the kids at it, and they were given a marigold necklace, a significant item in Indian culture.

The evening consisted of dancing, music, and prayers.

“It felt really special. It’s nothing like anything I’ve ever done before,” Woll said.

The project was part of Woll’s bat mitzvah project of giving. “Once you turn 13 you’re responsible to do good deeds,” or mitzvahs, said Woll.

While some kids probably pick more local community service projects, Woll got to travel to the other side of the world.

During her time in India, Woll not only worked on the school but was able to spend a day with a local woman and help with her chores.

Woll said they helped her get water from a local well, which Woll mentioned is not close by. They all took turns carrying the bucket on their heads, the way it’s done every day in India. Side note: it is apparently very, very heavy.

That wasn’t all they did that day. There was cooking with the woman in her one-room home as well, and help with a crack in her wall.

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“The houses, the walls are made out of cow poop,” Woll explained. “One of the walls was cracking on her house so we got to help her put cow poop on her wall.”

Inspired by her recent trip Woll, an avid rock climber, hopes to set up a climbing shoe donation at the Planet Rock she attends.

When she was bouldering at Hampi – a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the top bouldering sites in the world – Woll noticed kids trying to climb without climbing shoes. She wants to change that.

“They would climb a lot better if they had climbing shoes,” she said.

Getting to meet all of these different people was Woll’s favorite part of the trip, and she learned a lot from them.

“I think we learned that it doesn’t really take much to be happy,” she said.

“You don’t need a lot of things – you just need friends, family, and love.”

Even though her trip wasn’t that long ago, Woll is eager to do the other youth trips Me to We offers in Ecuador and Kenya.

That isn’t all she’s working on. Woll had recently met with a member of the Bloomfield Hills Food Service Department when we spoke. Why? She’s trying to get them to use sugarcane lunch trays instead of the current styrofoam ones.

Woll said the schools are going to try to switch by the next school year.

When asked if she had any idea what she wants to do when she grows up, Woll said no before hesitating and changing her answer.

“I might want to own a climbing gym and help people,” she said.

Seems like she already has a head start on that second part.

Story: Dana Casadei

Photo: Laurie Tennent

CHRIS

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A s s o c i a t e B r o k e r

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over $59 million closed in 2018

372 Barden - Bloomfield Hills - $2,799,900

275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham

765 Vaughan - Bloomfield Hills - $1,999,900

Magnificent 2001 built estate home on 1.4 acres. Expertly constructed with gorgeous finishes and quality throughout. 5 bedrooms, 5.2 baths.

Incredible 2 acre estate property on gorgeous grounds just blocks from Cranbrook. Expansive floor plan with spacious rooms. 6 bedrooms, 6.2 baths. 3 car side entry garage.

1222 Fairfax - Birmingham - $1,499,900

30 Cabot Place - Bloomfield Hills - $975,000

2000 custom built Quarton Lakes Estates colonial. Excellent floor plan with lavish updates throughout including beautiful white gourmet kitchen. 4 bedrooms, 4.2 baths .

Spacious 5 bedroom, 3.2 bath home with first floor master suite. Large 1.2 acre professionally landscaped lot. In-ground pool. 3 car garage. Birmingham Schools.

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1023 Bennaville - Birmingham - $719,900

3755 Brookside - Bloomfield Hills - $699,900

2940 Masefield - Bloomfield Hills - $399,900

590 Riverside/596 Riverstone - $399,900 - Birmingham

Newer, quality construction in Birmingham. Move-in ready. 4 bedrooms, 4.1 baths. Hardwood floors throughout main level. Finished basement and flexible 3rd floor finished space.

Four bedroom, 2.2 bath tri-level on a half acre lot in Bloomfield Township. Spacious eat-in kitchen with island. 3 car side entrance garage.

Renovated colonial on a .76 acre lot. Updated kitchen opens to nook and family room. Spacious master suite. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths. Great yard and grounds.

2 vacant sites remaining in Riverside Place. Fantastic opportunity in an exclusive detached condo development steps from downtown. Design and build your dream home.

CHRIS

PERO

A s s o c i a t e B r o k e r

248.797.0784 | cgPero@yahoo.com

275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham

over $59 million closed in 2018

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2375 Tilbury Place - Bloomfield Hills - $1,675,000

336 Suffield - Birmingham - $1,499,900

Newer construction in Bloomfield Village. Nearly a half acre lot. 4 bedrooms, 4.1 baths.

Gorgeous white kitchen with center island, mudroom, finished lower level. 3 car attached garage.

Wonderful Quarton Lake Estates colonial on a 120 foot wide lot. Spacious floor plan with beautiful remodeled kitchen & butlers pantry. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths.

10 Vaughan Crossing - Bloomfield Hills - $799,900

1189 Foxwood Court - Bloomfield Hills - $724,900

High quality built condo in a great area. First floor master with 2 additional ensuite bedrooms upstairs. Wonderful floor plan with spacious rooms and high ceilings.

Gorgeous home on a wonderful acre plus lot built in 1990. 5 bedrooms, 4.3 baths. Move-in ready.

First floor master suite and beautiful finished lower level.

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4205 Valley Forge - Bloomfield Hills - $649,900

Three bedroom, 2.1 bath cape cod in Foxcroft on a gorgeous .64 acre lot. Great curb appeal and nice updates throughout. Back family room addition. Three car garage.

832 Davis - Birmingham - $375,000

Land opportunity - hard to find 60 foot wide lot on a great street of many new builds. Home currently exists on lot.

623 Bloomfield Court - Birmingham - $599,900

Tucked away on a quiet street just blocks from downtown Birmingham. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths. Private lot, 2 car garage.

3632 Pheasant Run - Bloomfield Hills - $350,000

Beautiful wooded views from this light-filled ranch condo in Wabeek. Spacious living with high ceilings. Master with attached bath & outdoor access. 2 additional ensuite bedrooms.

INTRODUCING THE BLOOMFIELD COLLECTION O M O D E R N A R T S & C R A F T S H O M E S B U I LT F O R A B E A U T I F U L L I F E a±ųĩ eÚĬåų BŅĵåŸ ĜŸ Ïųå±ƋĜĹč ŅĹåěŅüě±ěĩĜĹÚ ÏƚŸƋŅĵ ĘŅĵåŸØ ƵĘĜÏĘ ÏĬåƴåųĬƼ ųåĜĵ±čĜĹå ƋĘå eųƋŸ ±ĹÚ ų±üƋŸ ŸƋƼĬå ƵĜƋĘ ± ÏŅĹƋåĵŞŅų±ųƼ ā±Ĝųţ Ęå ƚĹĜŧƚå ĬŅŅĵĀåĬÚ ŅĬĬåÏƋĜŅĹ ĘŅĵåŸ ±ųå üųåŸĘØ ĬĜčĘƋ ±ĹÚ ŅŞåĹţ ƵŅ ĘŅĵåŸ ±ųå Ĺå±ųĜĹč ÏŅĵŞĬåƋĜŅĹ Ņų ÏĘŅŅŸå üųŅĵ Ÿåƴåų±Ĭ ŅƋĘåų ŞųåĵĜƚĵ ÏƚŸƋŅĵ ÆƚĜĬÚ ĬŅƋŸţ eĬĬ Ņƚų ŞåųŸŅűĬĬƼ ŸåĬåÏƋåÚ ŸĜƋåŸ ±ųå ĬŅϱƋåÚ ĜĹ ĘĜčĘĬƼ Ƶ±Ĭĩ±ÆĬå ĹåĜčĘÆŅųĘŅŅÚŸØ Ĺå±ų ƋĘå ÆƚŸƋĬĜĹč ĜĹƋåųŸåÏƋĜŅĹ Ņü a±ŞĬå ±ĹÚ X±ŸĘåų Ņ±ÚŸ ƵĜƋĘ ĜųĵĜĹčʱĵ ŸÏĘŅŅĬŸţ a±ųĩ eÚĬåų BŅĵåŸű ĬŅŅĵĀåĬÚ ŅĬĬåÏƋĜŅĹØ üå±ƋƚųĜĹč ʱĹÚÏų±üƋåÚ ±ųƋĜŸ±Ĺ ÚåƋ±ĜĬŸ ±ĹÚ ĘĜčĘěåĹÚ ±ŞŞŅĜĹƋĵåĹƋŸØ ±ųå ųåĵ±ųĩ±ÆĬƼ ŞųĜÏåÚ üųŅĵ âŎ ĵĜĬĬĜŅĹţ

D ESI G N | BUI LD | EN J OY ĬŅŅĵüĜåĬÚ ƵŞţ ó 8ų±ĹĩĬĜĹ ó åŸƋ ĬŅŅĵüĜåĬÚ ó åųĩĬåƼ ó 8±ųĵĜĹčƋŅĹ BĜĬĬŸ

a±ųĩeÚĬåųBŅĵåŸţÏŅĵ or contact Mark Adler directly at 248-284-4000

MUNICIPAL

Development pact reviewed for new project

By Lisa Brody

Woodward/Bates project presented

By Lisa Brody

The Birmingham City Commission and the public, at a special meeting workshop on Tuesday, March 26, saw a presentation of the N. Old Woodward and Bates Street parking and redevelopment project from both staff and Walbridge/Woodward Bates Partners, the development group chosen to do the project.

In June 2018, following a request for proposal (RFP) process, the city commission chose Walbridge/ Woodward Bates Partners to redevelop the N. Old Woodward parking lot with more parking, an extension of Bates Street, a liner of retail along the new street, a mixed use building comprising residential and office space, and a park.

Woodward, Bates, LLC consists of Victor Saroki of Saroki Architecture in Birmingham; Paul Robertson of Robertson Brothers Homes in Bloomfield Hills; John Rakolta Jr., of Walbridge in Detroit, and Ron Boji of Boji Group.

City manager Joe Valentine explained that “there is an ongoing and exhaustive process to get us to this point to provide more parking,” which began all the way back in 1996, with the 2016 Plan, which first proposed the Bates Street extension, to bring Bates Street around N. Old Woodward and Willits, “and in the interim we began to see a tremendous daytime parking demand increase.”

The city conducted a survey of business and property owners, looked at how often the parking decks were full, and in 2014 created the ad hoc parking study committee to look at current and future parking demands with the priorities of addressing shortfalls in the north and south ends of Birmingham.

While at the time the city was 278 spaces short in the north end and 427 spaces short in the southern end, “the N. Old Woodward structure was coming closer to the end of its life,” planning director Jana Ecker said, versus adding onto the Pierce Street structure. At the same time, 2016 Plan designer Andres Duany “came to town and said, 'great master plan.

You've done everything but the Bates Street extension.”

Ecker said the extension adds a vehicular connection to the northern end of Birmingham; provides more parking; aids in stormwater management; and connects with the Booth Park Trail.

The city then hired a consultant for redevelopment for a plan to gain a minimum of 1,150 spaces in a new parking structure; a new mixed use building adjacent to the structure; service drive access, a new mixed use building facing Willits Street; and residential units.

A request for qualifications (RFQ) and then a request for proposal (RFP) were issued. The city initially had four development groups submit proposals, which included parking consultants, developers, architects, designers and consultants, but only three ultimately submitted completed proposals to the city by the January 3, 2018 deadline: REDICO, TIR Equities and Waldbridge/Woodward, Bates, LLC. REDICO withdrew from consideration. After reviews, staff felt the proposal submitted by TIR Equities, a Birmingham-based limited liability company incorporated by Ara Darakjian, did not comply with the RFP, as it has a 15-story building as its centerpiece, and the group has requested a tax increment finance (TIF) district to help finance the development, which staff labeled, in essence, a subsidy by the city, which the RFP specifically said would not be part of this development.

City attorney Tim Currier explained that the city and the city manager, along with one commissioner, had been sued by TIR and Darakjian, asserting his constitutional rights to due process had been denied. Currier said the city, along with Woodward Bates LLC, had responded, and requested the court dismiss the amended complaint; deny the defendant's injunctive relief; issue a declaratory judgment for the defendants; deny the plaintiffs any sort of damages; and grant them all costs and attorney fees, stating that there is a 1983 civil rights case disproving Darakjian's claims.

A first phase, to redevelop and rebuild the parking structure, create the new street and then the public plaza, is currently beginning the permit approval process.

As for costs and financing, assistant city manager Tiffany Gunter said $7 million would come from parking system revenues; $3 million from a parking structure special assessment district; and the balance from bonding, which requires voter approval. The city would like to put it before the public at a special election in August.

“No public funds are to be spent on the parking structure project,” Gunter said.

irmingham city commissioners held a special meeting workshop on Monday, April 15, to review the proposed development agreement for the N. Old Woodward parking structure and Bates Street extension project between the city and Walbridge/Woodward Bates Partners, the development group chosen to do the project.

Joe Fazio, development counsel, with law firm Miller Canfield, noted the last time he had met with the city commission on January 11, 2019, they had approved a non-binding pre-development agreement between the city and Walbridge/Woodward Bates Partners as well as an engagement and cost reimbursement agreement for design schematics for the parking deck and extension of Bates Street, for a cost of not more that $575,000.

He said the date for the final development agreement had been informally extended to April 22, “when it will hopefully be approved.”

The point of the special meeting workshop, Fazio said, was to explain the development agreement, which will establish critical deadlines for the city and the developers, as well as identify key documents going forward.

“What it does not do is bind the city to proceed with the development,” Fazio said. “It just provides the outline and timeline of the project. There will be numerous approvals along the way. This development agreement lays the groundwork to move forward.”

He pointed out it provides an express contingency for the issuance of bonds for the building of the parking garage, the first building that is planned to be built. “It confirms that each party is responsible for its own costs,” he said, as well as having sections that detail what each party needs to do to move beyond predevelopment.

Among the proposed dates are May 6, when the guaranteed maximum price to build the parking deck will be given; around June 15, when preliminary site plans for the entire project are planned to be submitted to the planning board and other commissions; and July 3, when a parking mitigation plan the developer has been working on with the city will be submitted.

It is estimated it will take 18 to 24 months to redevelop and construct a new parking garage. Other buildings would not be built until after the parking garage is completed.

City manager Joe Valentine said that since a previous meeting on March 26, at which several neighboring residents and businesses spoke out about the size and scope of some of the buildings, “both the city and developer have reached out to neighboring buildings and developments in the last two weeks and participated in discussions. In followups to those meetings we had with the development group, they said some sites, especially sites four and five, accommodations would be made in scale. There is additional time to make changes to structures outside of the development agreement for buildings four and five.”

“These buildings are not scheduled to be built for three or four years,” noted mayor Patty Bordman, who also said she thinks the developer should be “contributing substantially to the public plaza and the bridge to Booth Park,” both of which currently are part of the city's obligation.

After a resident question, Valentine confirmed that the special bond approval election in August would be paid for by the developer, up to $20,000.

Commissioners Carroll DeWeese and Rackeline Hoff said that people had asked them why it would be on the August ballot rather than November's, when there will be a city election.

“Because time is money,” Valentine responded. “The longer you wait, the more it costs for construction costs.”

During public comment, former commissioner Gordon Rinschler said, “I know there's been a lot of trolling on the internet that you've handled it ineptly – that's all BS. I have problems with how the development agreement is structured...the question is should (we) do it – is it the best use of the money and can I explain it? I think the problem is you need to take a big chunk of time and discuss why you're doing it, and if you can't answer 'Should we take this trip,' pull the plug.”

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JU ST LIS TE D

STUNNING 11.47 ACRE ESTATE

2.25 ACRES ON ENDICOTT LAKE

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City of Bloomfield Hills | 330 Lowell Court BR 5 | BATHS 5.2 | SF 5,879 $2,795,000

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ENGLISH ESTATE ON 2.48 ACRES Franklin Village | 31370 Baffin Drive BR 5 | BATHS 5.3 | SF 10,400 $2,950,000

TREMENDOUS VALUE

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Franklin | 27740 Lakehills BR 4 | BATHS 3.2 | SF 5,045 $1,099,000

Bloomfield Village | 390 Waddington Street BR 4 | BATHS 3.2 | SF 3,084 $799,000

Birmingham | 544 Wallace Street BR 3 | BATHS 3 | SF 1,986 $550,000

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Birmingham | 587 Stanley Boulevard BR 4 | BATHS 4.1 | SF 2,533 $824,900

Bloomfield | 1265 Club Drive BR 3 | BATHS 4.1 | TOTAL SF 5,571 $1,898,000

Bloomfield Hills | 1375 Scenic Court BR 4 | BATHS 4.3 | TOTAL SF 14,046 $1,695,000

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2018 COMPLETE RENOVATION

In response to questions from the public, the special assessment district would only tax commercial and business properties, not residential.

Bonds would be repaid from revenues from the parking system, not from residents.

Victor Saroki, architect and partner with Saroki Architects, gave a presentation of the project, noting, “Overall, the site plan is similar to the concept of what we submitted. There are some small differences and refinements. We are in the early stages. We've been given approvals for schematics for the public structure.”

They are currently designing the public components for the parking structure, which will have 1,250 parking spaces, with three floors underground, the public plaza, and a bridge over the Rouge River to Booth Park. Saroki said that Waldbridge will be the general contractor and Mike Dul and Associates will be the landscape contractor.

“There will be all flat floors,” Saroki said. “Aesthetically, we like it and it's better for adaptive re-use.” There are also provisions for electric car chargers and bike rack storage. In addition, along the interior street, the first floor of the parking structure would be ringed with retail stores.

Private components are a mixeduse five-story building fronting on N. Old Woodward in front of the parking structure, “which we've had a lot of interest in this building, a lot of national interest,” Saroki said. “This piece will fit in nicely with the Brookside Terrace and 325 (Fleming's) buildings.”

To the rear of the site will also be a five-story mixed use building designed to have retail on the first floor, office users on the second and third floors, and residential on the fourth and fifth floors, as well as about 70 parking

understand the request for more office over residential, how is this going to provide more parking?” asked commissioner Rackeline Hoff.

Saroki noted that the city currently has 745 spots in the structure and surface lot; they will be providing between 1,364 to 1,370 when they are finished.

Mayor Patty Bordman said the entire presentation is on the city's website and Next Door. The presentation is also accessible at the website for Downtown newsmagazine, downtownpublications.com.

Moosejaw opening second store

spaces underground.

“We've had a lot of interest in this building also,” Saroki said.

A five-story mixed use building with retail and residential would be the final piece built on the lot, currently a flat parking lot, would be utilized as a staging area for construction and a shuttle pick up location for parking mitigation while the Old Woodward lot is knocked down and under construction, which is still being worked out.

“There has been this goal to have

residential units that are accessible,” Saroki said, noting that over the years many units that have been built have been large and very expensive.

“There haven't been rentals built in downtown since Birmingham Place, the 555 Building. It was the intent from the outset with our team that all of the units will be rentals,” running approximately $3,000 to $4,500 a month, at 1,000 to 2,500 square feet.

“That's approachable for a lot of people.”

“With these buildings, and I

Moosejaw has opened a second store in downtown Birmingham, in the former Backcountry North location at 284 W. Maple, which will focus on equipment such as bicycles in the summer and snowboards and ski equipment in the winter months.

Moosejaw, located at 34288 Woodward Avenue, in the Papa Joe's plaza, is staying in that location, where it has been for years, selling outdoor, camping, backpacking, hiking, biking and activewear clothing, shoes, jackets, accessories and snowboards.

“We're not going to close,” said a manager when called.

The store on W. Maple will be a specialty store based on hard goods, such as bikes in the spring and summer, and snowboards and ski equipment and accessories in colder months, as well as accessories for those sports.

“It's a little bit of a gear shop,” the manager said.

Moosejaw carries The North Face, Arc'teryx, Marmot, Fjall Raven, Bogner, Patagonia, and many other brands.

artisanal casual-luxe jewelry & accessories 266 E. Maple Road | BarbaraBozBoutique.com

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MUNICIPAL Township voters to decide proposed tax

By Kevin Elliott

Bloomfield Township voters this August will determine the fate of a proposed 2.3-mill tax intended to help fund retiree benefits over the next 15 years through the creation of a special assessment district (SAD) dedicated to public safety operations.

Billed as a public safety tax, the SAD would ultimately shore up unfunded liabilities in the township's Other Post-Employee Benefits (OPEB) trust fund related to retiree costs, such as medical, dental and life insurance costs. If approved, the SAD would provide about $9 million a year to police and fire operations, which would provide $1.5 million to OPEB liabilities. The township would also be required to let a 10-year general millage approved in 2010 which is set to expire at the end of 2019, thus eliminating $4.85 million in current tax revenues. The measure would provide an overall increase of 1.05 mills to public safety, decreasing the township's general fund contribution to police and fire by $1.9 million each year.

The SAD is being proposed in response to a 2018 Michigan law, Public Act 202, intended to ensure local retiree health care and pension plans are adequately funded. Under the new law, the township must provide at least 40 percent of the OPEB Trust is funded within 30 years.

Previously, local municipalities were permitted to fund OPEB costs as they came due, called pay-as-you-go funding. With about $164 million in unfunded OPEB liabilities, the township must provide the state with a plan to fill a $65 million gap over the next three decades.

If approved, the board of trustees would hold a hearing on August 26, 2019, to pass a resolution approving the SAD. By law, the board would be required to hold public hearings each year to continue the assessment for up to 15 years. The board could also decide to lower the millage amount assessed each year, with the maximum amount set at 2.3 mills, or eliminate the SAD before it expires.

By state law, charter townships can only levy up to 10 mills, which is part of the reason the township is seeking a higher amount through the SAD. In December, the township announced the change in OPEB funding would result in a structural budget deficit of roughly $5 million to $7 million annually. downtownpublications.com

To address the issue, the township worked with financial advisors Plante Moran to devise a list of potential cost-cutting and revenue increasing measures. Those measures include, but aren't limited to, eliminating the township's animal welfare division ($170,000 to $200,000); outsourcing police and fire dispatch services ($375,000 to $700,000); reducing police patrols in the township ($1.3 to $1.6 million); ceasing fire services at the township's Fire Station 4 ($800,000 to $900,000); instituting tax administration fees ($1.5 million); contracting out property assessing services to the county ($140,000 to $400,000); cutting general fund support for the township's road division ($1.4 million); eliminating some township programs, such as gypsy moth control and hazardous waste disposal ($300,000 to $340,000); and other reductions in services and/or increased fees ($400,000 to $500,000). Advisors also included the possibility of a bond issue to bring the unfunded OPEB liabilities to the 40percent funded mark.

In addition to the work with Plante Moran, the township contracted with the Glengariff Group, a professional survey and research firm, to conduct a formal resident survey to gauge the public's desire on how best to move forward.

The proposed SAD was one of several funding plans presented to the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees. Other plans considered included the issuance of OPEB bonds that would be paid directly into the OPEB Trust. However, that option failed to gain support with the board, as the maximum amount of bonds permitted to be sold would establish a one-time fix and fail to provide long-term funding for OPEB liabilities.

A third funding scenario, which included about $560,000 in service cuts and proposing a SAD of .9 mills, also failed to gain support from the board as a whole.

While the board as a whole supported requesting additional taxes from the public to close the gap, two of the seven board members were insistent that budget cuts be implemented prior to putting any tax increase before voters. Those in favor of putting the issue before voters prior to committing to any specific cuts said amendments could be made to the township's current budget after voters decide the SAD issue.

The board voted on Monday, April 8, to approve the ballot language for an August 6 special election by a vote

of 5-2, with trustees David Buckley and Dani Walsh voting against the motion and trustees Neal Barnett, Michael Schostak, supervisor Leo Savoie, clerk Jan Roncelli and treasurer Brian Kepes voting in favor.

The April 8 meeting followed several months of heated debates among board members, as well as vocal concern from about two dozen residents who oppose any tax increase. About 100 members of the public attended two different council meetings. The issue also drew support from Bloomfield Township Police Chief Scott McCanham and Bloomfield Township Fire Chief Mike Morin.

A motion to pass the ballot language in March was tabled by the board, following a long and contentious meeting. The issue was revisited at the board's April 8 meeting, which included a question and answer session with Scott Patton, of Plante Moran, who worked with the township to identify various cost cutting and revenue generating options to address OPEB liabilities.

However, even permitting that discussion to move forward was a matter of contention, as trustee Walsh made a motion to adjourn the meeting before allowing Patton to answer questions. The motion, which was supported by Buckley, failed by a vote of 5-2.

“I find it sad that we have a room full of residents and people watching on television, and we have a representative who authored the study from Plante Moran, and there was a motion made by a trustee and seconded to adjourn the meeting,” Kepes said. “It's sad. We should want to hear from the paid professional and have a dialogue on this matter.”

The board then voted unanimously to bring Patton into the conversation with the board.

Patton, who previously addressed the board in December, said the unfunded liability issue is one that several municipalities in southeast Michigan are facing.

While residents surveyed were generally in support of eliminating the township's animal welfare department, township Supervisor Leo Savoie said he believes from calls he receives from residents that the department is highly valued. Roncelli also said the same service from the county is generally considered much slower than providing the service inhouse.

“I would say that's an accurate description,” Patton said.

“All of these cuts change services

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to people,” Roncelli said. “Cutting the person who does vehicle repairs in the road division would effect fleet services. Roads wouldn't be plowed as soon as they are if we didn't have a road department. Roads wouldn't be repaired as quickly.”

Buckley, who indicated he didn't oppose asking residents for a tax increase, said that measure should only be done after making cuts.

“Clearly, as indicated by public comments and the survey, budget reductions are expected before the SAD,” he said. “Let's start by looking at 20-percent of what the ask is. Let's find a million in cuts and ask for $4 million, that's if we ask for $5 million.”

Among possible cuts, Buckley suggested all township staff, other than police and fire, take cuts in compensation, including elected officials.

Township attorney Derk Beckerleg said state law prohibits reducing the compensation of any elected official during their current term in office.

Following additional discussion, the board voted 5-2 to remove the proposed SAD language from the table for discussion, with trustees Walsh and Buckley opposing.

Opening the discussion, Walsh questioned Kepes about previous statements he made about $600,000 in savings and $600,000 in additional revenues made at the township as part of an ongoing culture of value engineering at the township.

Regardless of who had the floor, Walsh continually interrupted in attempts to prevent them from speaking and making their points and clarifications.

“But you didn't make cuts to your department,” Walsh asked.

“Actually, we did,” Kepes said.

“Did your department go up or go down in what you asked for in the budget,” Walsh questioned.

“There are two full-time – ” Kepes said.

“No, just the up or down,” Walsh said interrupting as she turned to the audience and smiled.

“I'm answering your question,” Kepes said. “There were two full-time treasury clerks. We now have one fulltime clerk and one part-time clerk.

On that position, we have saved both salary and benefits. In terms of the budget, it still is budgeted for two (full time), but we haven't incurred it.

When you look at the budget and compare it to prior years, there were additional items put into the budget this year for all the departments because of the Central Service Cost 75

Allocation Study. So, if you're just looking at bottom line budgets of all the departments, you're going to see them increase because they aren't applicable to the prior year.”

“So, something was taken away, but it's still there to possibly spend?”

Walsh asked. “You're saying you don't have these people, but you're leaving the line item there to possibly bring them back in, so it wasn't a cutsavings, it's a, 'right now we are not doing it, but we might do it.'”

“Do you want me to answer the question,” Kepes said before explaining that the full-time positions were retained in the budget to evaluate the cut before making it permanent.

“That's a good way of doing business, rather than just cutting to cut,” he said. “What we've seen in a lot of these cuts is that they weren't just cuts. In some of them we are saving money and we are actually providing better service and getting better value to our residents and to the employees.

“That I think is the goal of what we are trying to achieve. It's not just a cut here and a slash there, it's thoroughly thinking it through and making sure we get the best value for every dollar we spend, and I think that's what the residents expect us to do.”

Others board members also took time to address statements Walsh had made both in public meetings and online. For instance, Walsh said the cost of the proposed SAD was being misstated by the township, going so far as give a specific estimate on social media to a specific resident. However, the amount was about twice as much as the actual millage would cost the resident, as the estimate was based on the home's market value instead of its taxable value, something she repeated several times. Walsh said after a board meeting in March that she didn't actually calculate the estimate herself, but instead claimed she provided the address to a realtor, who then passed the information back to her.

For residential millages, one mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 dollars of a home's taxable value, which is generally about half as much as a home's market value.

Schostak at the April 8 meeting noted the information posted on social media was incorrect. Further, he provided a detailed breakdown of taxable values and estimated assessments under the proposed SAD. 76

Changes to improve Maple/Eton intersection he Birmingham City Commission unanimously approved recommendations from the city's multi-modal transportation board to install a pedestrian island to improve the crosswalk at S. Eton at Maple roads, along with other sidewalk and landscape enhancements, at their meeting on Monday, April 8.

The intersection was reviewed by the multi-modal transportation board following the opening of a new Whole Foods grocery store at 2100 E. Maple Road, just east of Eton, last summer. City manager Joe Valentine said in a memo, “Given that the new store would have a driveway entering into the Maple Road and N. Eton Road intersection, it was anticipated that there would be an impact on traffic flows and demand in this area.”

Following the June opening, in September 2018, traffic data collected by the city's traffic engineer, Fleis & Vanderbrink, determined that vehicular traffic had not changed a lot, other than westbound through traffic, which was not attributed to Whole Foods. However pedestrian traffic to and from the Pembroke Park subdivision did increase measurably for the crosswalk crossing at Maple and N. Eton, they noted, and they provided options on how to increase walkability.

After looking at the entire intersection, including areas east and west of the CN railroad, commissioners approved a resolution directing staff to proceed with pedestrian enhancement improvements for the block of S. Eton from Maple to Yosemite roads, that will include the installation of a landscaped pedestrian refuge island at the S. Eton Road pedestrian crossing across Maple, as well as the relocation of the west side curb in order to allow for an eight-foot wide sidewalk on S. Eton on that stretch.

At the southeast corner of the Maple Road intersection, enhanced sidewalks will be put in along with a handicap ramp.

The cost for the improvements, according to city engineer, is approximately $76,000, which he said would be part of the 2019 concrete sidewalk program. Commissioners unanimously approved the appropriation as an amendment to the 2018-2019 fiscal year major streets fund budget.

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff said to city planning director Jana Ecker, “You're hearing about a lot of chaos at this intersection, but the data does not bear that out.” Ecker concurred.

In addition, commissioners unanimously approved an $8,550 resolution to have the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) improve the traffic signal timing for northbound traffic at the intersection.

T

The average parcel's taxable value in the township is $215,234, which would equate to $226 per year, while the median taxable (or middle point) is $158,220, which would be assessed at $166 per year, according to Schostak, who said the higher average value than median value is due to so many commercial properties in the township that have higher taxable values, which skew the average higher.

Schostak went further and broke down the percent of properties in the township by category. For instance, about 24 percent of parcels have a taxable value less than $100,000; 41 percent are between $100,000 and 199,999; 17 percent are between $200,000 and $299,999; seven percent are between $300,000 and $399,999;

and four percent are between $400,000 and $499,999.

“We have a $4 to $5 million bogie that we have to make each year, or roughly 10 percent of our governmental funds' budget,” he said.

“There is no feasible option to reach that without some kind of revenue increase and when we look at cutting services that people use and like, we should see what the marginal cost of those items are and decide if it's worth it.”

Savoie also addressed what he deemed misinformation that has been stated, indirectly pointing to Walsh's statements.

“I expect that from a local watchdog group, but not from one of our trustees,” he said.

Savoie clarified that the board was

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not voting to raise taxes that evening, but rather to put the issue on the ballot and allow voters to determine the issue. He said the issue is clearly a public safety issue, as two-thirds of township staff are police and fire employees, with retiree benefits primarily coming from those employees, and the fact that both the fire and police chief supported sending the issue to voters. He also took issue with statements by some in the public that they believed SAD funds wouldn't be used for what it was being proposed, which would be a violation of state law.

Walsh said she wouldn't respond to the comments, instead insisting that OPEB liabilities aren't related to police and fire funds.

Barnett motioned to pass the motion to approve the ballot language, with the motion being supported by Kepes. That motion passed 5-2 with Buckley and Walsh opposing.

Update of Mobil gas station gets approval Plans to demolish the Mobil gas station at the northwest corner of Maple and Telegraph in Bloomfield Township and replace it with an updated building were unanimously approved on Monday, March 25, by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees.

Owners BP of White Lake and Bloomfield Mobil plan to combine the existing properties at 6490 and 6450 Telegraph into a single lot and construct a new 2,340-square foot building in the Hogan's Plaza.

The new building will operate under extended hours, moving from 5 a.m. to midnight to a 24-hour gas station. The proposed building was recognized by board members as an improvement over the existing station, which will also remove some existing zoning variances that were previously granted to the property.

The new station will include screening material to block out rooftop mechanical equipment.

Landscaping includes the addition of Boston Ivy on the rear trellis of the building, in order to provide a more pleasing view from all sides.

The station's existing fuel pump canopies will be retained in the front of the building.

The plans were previously approved on Monday, March 4, by Bloomfield Township Planning Commission.

05.19

Master plan process open to the public

By Lisa Brody

Pierce Street Alley redone this summer Birmingham city commissioners passed a resolution to create a special assessment district for improvements to the Pierce Street Alley, which runs from Pierce to E. Merrill streets, at their meeting on Monday, March 25.

City engineer Paul O'Meara said the “Pierce Street Alley is the one the staff nominated as most needed for repair.”

It was decided to do the project this construction season as it is between the Old Woodward reconstruction project last year, and the proposed reconstruction of Maple Road, between Southfield Road and Woodward Avenue, in 2020.

The city has an ongoing project of improving the alleys and passageways. O'Meara said the project would consist of construction of an 18-foot wide concrete pavement with exposed aggregate concrete accents, to be paid for through levies in a special assessment district against the public and private properties in the adjacent district.

“Our experience with exposed aggregate and trash compactors is that it doesn't hold up and gets dirty,” commissioner Stuart Sherman pointed out. “Maybe we can design something a little better.”

Commissioner Mark Nickita said he had similar concerns about the aggregate concrete.

“I think there's too few of the enhancements there,” he said.

Commissioners voted 5-0, with Andy Harris and Carroll DeWeese absent, to create the special assessment district. On Monday, April 8, a public hearing was held by commissioners, where they unanimously confirmed adding the assessment roll for the paving of the alley.

All liquor licenses renewed for this year

By Lisa Brody

Several Birmingham bistros initially not in compliance with aspects of the city's bistro ordinance and its special land use ordinance were found to have met the necessary terms at a public hearing at the Birmingham City Commission meeting on Monday, March 25.

The public hearing was held to consider the renewal of liquor licenses for the 2019 licensing period.

At the earlier meeting on February 25, clerk J. Cherilynn Mynsberge informed commissioners the city commission is required by Chapter 10, Alcoholic Liquors, of the Birmingham Code of Ordinances to review the licenses of establishments which sell intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises in the city and to consider the renewal of those licenses. As part of that process, investigations of each licensed establishment were conducted by the building, planning, police, fire and finance departments to determine whether the licensees were in compliance with all applicable city and state codes.

Prior to the February 25 meeting, 22 establishments were found to have issues that necessitated a public hearing. At the meeting on March 25, city manager Joe Valentine said that 21 of 22 restaurants were confirmed as having corrected their violations.

Among the violations were too many seats in the bistro; signage issues; outstanding taxes; propane storage tank without a permit; garbage and fencing issues; non-permitted hour changes; and ownership changes.

Bistros and Class C liquor holders who had corrected their violations were: 220; Adachi; Bella Piatti; Bistro Joe's; Cameron's Steak House; Fleming's Steakhouse; Forest; La Strada Dolce e Caffe; Luxe Bar & Grill; Mad Hatter Bistro; Rojo; Sidecar; Salvatore Scallopini; Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro; and Townhouse.

Commissioners approved their renewals, 5-0, with commissioners Andy Harris and Carroll DeWeese absent. Commissioner Mark Nickita recused himself from voting on 220 as he has a business relationship.

The one establishment with outstanding issues was Toast. Mayor Patty Bordman said, “Toast has been in non-compliance for a number of violations – too many seats, an ownership change, a change in hours.”

Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker said they were in compliance for a change in operating hours. For the change in ownership, “they've submitted a special land use permit amendment application to the planning department last week to remove dinner and to change the owners.”

Ecker said the department first received the change of hours request on February 25, and the change of ownership request on March 21. The first opportunity for the planning board to hear it is April 25.

he process of creating a new citywide master plan for 2040 for Birmingham has begun, with the city developing a website, B2040, which will detail the process, history, documents and how residents can participate, with the first of three surveys for residents and property owners scheduled to be issued in April.

The Birmingham Plan is the city's primary way to comprehensively learn and evaluate its present condition and recent past, and determine how to shape the future of the city. Birmingham has utilized citywide master plans since 1929, as well as area-specific plans, such as for the Rail District, or topic focused plans, such as the Multi-Modal Transportation Plan. City leaders are looking for the participation and input of residents and those who use the city throughout the 2019-2020 planning process.

In late October 2018, Birmingham city commissioners approved the contract of DPZ Partners, LLC, to provide professional services to prepare an update to the city's comprehensive master plan in the amount of $298,000. Commissioners said this plan will be separate from the 2016 Plan, and leave it in place.

From April through October, online and hard copy surveys will be made available to residents and property owners. The surveys will begin with a focus on general topics related to planning to give the DPZ Partners ideas of strategic issues for further analysis and exploration. The next surveys will pay more particular attention to targeted topics that arose during the prior survey(s) and in-person engagement activities.

In addition, in April and May, roundtable discussions will be held with neighborhood groups, high schoolers and other identified groups who will be invited to participate in discussions on how they envision Birmingham for the future.

“The centerpiece of the public engagement program is a week-long Charrette from May 14th through the 21st. Residents won’t want to miss this exciting event with public presentations, meetings focused on specific topics, targeted stakeholder meetings, and other methods of engaging Birmingham residents and property owners,” the website stated. “These activities will be recorded for those who aren’t able to participate in some or all of the scheduled events. Charrettes are periods of intense design and public engagement, during which future plans are developed with stakeholder input and review. This design process has been used with great results worldwide, including during the development of the Birmingham 2016 Downtown Plan in 1996," also developed by DPZ Partners, formerly known as Duany Plater-Zybeck.

The results of the Charrette will be available when the planning team reassembles in June for a two-day clinic, with specific dates and location to be announced.

The goal of the master plan process is for DPZ to have a foundational understanding of the characteristics of Birmingham, from neighborhood physical characteristics to demographic trends likely to be realized in the ensuing years. The study and analysis of “what makes Birmingham, Birmingham” is an important process element and allows the planning and design team to appropriately craft plans and recommendations for locally-appropriate future development, whether public or private.

They will then move on to focus on implementation. The master plan will contain plans and designs covering the entire city broken down into neighborhoods, corridors and nodes. “Birmingham’s downtown is an example of a node while the Rail District running parallel to S. Eton St. is an example of a corridor. As the city’s nodes and corridors have received significant attention since 1980, this master plan will specifically address Birmingham’s neighborhoods while also updating the nodes and corridors,” the city stated. To function as a tool for future zoning decisions and regulations, the master plan will include a Future Land Use Map which guides how individual parcels may be used over time.

DPZ and its representatives will regularly meet with city officials and attend planning board and city commission meetings, giving careful consideration to alternative concepts, creative ideas and potential problems to be solved during the master planning preparation effort.

For regular updates, visit thebirminghamplan.com.

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78

DOWNTOWN

05.19

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff asked if their only choices were to approve or not, or if commissioner could wait to approve their liquor license renewal until after the planning board made their determination. Valentine said that was not possible because recommendations to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) must be made by March 31.

“It seems to me to be extreme to deny them renewal; however, they haven't been in compliance in quite a while,” said commissioner Stuart Sherman, noting they had removed dinner hours in October 2018, which is a condition of their special land use permit, or operating contract with the city, and had received several notices of non-compliance.

“I think we should renew the liquor license and put them on notice that we're not happy with their noncompliance with lack of dinner hours,” Sherman said. If they continue to disregard the city's laws, he said, they can pull the special land use permit. “They can't operate without a special land use permit.”

Attorney for Toast, Kelly Allen, said that primary owner, Reagan Bloom, had gone through a divorce, brought in new partners, and gone to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission in February with ownership changes.

That caught the commission off guard.

“The fact that they knew to go to MLCC and ignored the city is very disappointing, when they've come before us for changes in the special land use permit many times,” said Bordman.

Sherman noted they had always previously dealt with Thomas Bloom, Reagan's ex-husband, “and in most communities there are no special land use permits.”

Hoff spoke to Toast's general manager, Tony Minicelli. “But Mr. Minicelli, you have been in contact with our planning department for three months. It was about the hours, and if it had been done in a timely manner, we would have discovered the ownership issue.”

Bordman pointed out the notice of the special land use violations goes back to December 17. “Does that mean it was ignored?” she asked. “I don't want to shut down this restaurant, but we have a bistro ordinance that was designed to enliven the streets at night. To approve a bistro license that isn't open at night goes against the whole idea of the ordinance. It seems to be downtownpublications.com

Panera Bread exits downtown Birmingham anera Bread, located for over a decade at 100 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham, has announced it will leave downtown Birmingham sometime this summer and relocate to Royal Oak to the new Beaumont Woodward Corners development.

While corporate officials did not respond to repeated requests, Birmingham store general manager Christina Preston confirmed the closing. She said she did not know when they would be leaving the prime location at the corner of Old Woodward and Maple, although Birmingham Shopping District (BSD) Executive Director Ingrid Tighe said their lease expires in August 2019.

The new location, at 13 Mile Road and Woodward, is about the same size, at 5,300-square-feet, but will offer more parking, which is a constant complaint for shoppers and tenants in downtown Birmingham.

“The lease was expiring in August,” Tighe said, and while some Panera servers said that rent was also an issue, Tighe said that “there were no conversations that rent was escalated. Panera was looking to move for a new opportunity.”

Tighe said there is a national retail tenant that is interested in the location that is currently doing its due diligence.

“It (the Birmingham Panera Bread) always did a chunk less – about a half-million dollars less – than those with close parking and drive throughs,” said one local leasing expert. “Right now, downtown Birmingham is commanding such high rents that don't justify the sales.

Everything is predicated on, do the economics work?”

P

denying the opportunity for some other establishment to operate.”

“I concur with your comments. I would have great concerns with a special land use permit showing closing hours at three,” Sherman said.

Initially Allen said the owners do not intend to stay open past 3 p.m.; however, after hearing commissioner comments, she said, “If they have to stay alive, they will have dinner.”

Commissioners voted 4-0, with Nickita recusing himself as he has business interests, and Harris and DeWeese not in attendance, to approve renewal of Toast's liquor license for 2019.

DCD school under contract with church

By Lisa Brody

Troy-based Kensington Church has entered into a nearly $3 million contract with Detroit Country Day School to purchase the private school's 3.5-acre Bloomfield Village Campus, at 3600 Bradway Boulevard, where the church is hoping to establish a new community church campus.

Detroit Country Day School in October 2017 broke ground on a $30 million expansion project to combine the junior and lower schools into a single campus on Maple Road, thus

eventually leaving the Village Campus vacant near Maple and Lahser roads. Meanwhile, Kensington Church has been renting space from the Birmingham School District for the past decade at nearby Groves High School for Sunday services, said Don Kegley, CEO of Cunningham-Limp Co., which is under contract with both Detroit Country Day School and Kensington Church.

“That has worked, but it is a situation that is a bit of a gypsy, where they (Kensington Church) have to go in early Sunday morning and set up, then take it down and clean it up. It doesn't really permit a campus or community life beyond Sunday morning,”Kegley said. “The idea is to hold worship services on Sunday morning, and also to have a facility for the services that we currently band aid together. It could be bible study, recovery groups, book clubs and new member orientations.

There are smaller groups that meet at coffee shops or YMCAs around town because we don't really have a home there. The idea is to be part of a community and fit in that community for those that already go to Kensington, and those who may be interested in exploring Kensington.”

Kegley met with Bloomfield Village officials and members of the public on Tuesday, April 16 at

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Hackett Hall at the Bloomfield Village Fire Department to hear concerns from the community. More than 100 members of the community attended the meeting, with those in attendance overflowing outside of the hall, said Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie, who attended the meeting.

“The crowd was fairly vocal in their opposition to it,” Savoie said.

Kegley acknowledged strong opposition from members of the public in attendance on Tuesday.

“There was a great deal of passion and anxiety, but it was mostly respectful, and we feel we were treated fairly,” Kegley said.

“The reality is, we only have the land under contract. The designs haven't progressed to the point where we can answer a lot of specific questions.”

Overall, the church is proposing to keep the majority of the historic 36,000 square-foot building, which was constructed in the 1920s for the Birmingham School District and renovated in 2003 by CunninghamLimp. Preliminary plans call for razing about 19,000 square feet of two arms built to accommodate classrooms. About 16,000 square feet would then be added to accommodate an auditorium and lobby for services and pre-functions.

Parking would be located to the north of the building. The auditorium would house about 450 people for worship services. Construction costs would range from about $5 million to $6 million.

Kegley said a parking study and traffic studies at both existing and proposed facilities would be conducted as part of the 120-day due diligence period that started on March 22. The project will go before the village board in about a month, at which time additional information is expected to be available.

“Traffic flow, noise, parking, and off-campus parking – those are the understandable concerns of the neighbors,” Kegley said. “We want to solve those problems. We recognize we won't get unanimous support, but we want to create something that the majority will be happy to have as part of the neighborhood. We want to be transparent and have them be part of the process. The collective determination would be something that would complement and assimilate into the neighborhood, or it won't. If the community decides they don't want it, we won't build it.”

79

Michael Sinelli he mask might have been Michael Sinelli’s first, but one was all it took for a decades-long passion to begin.

Sinelli was on a trip with his wife in Mexico when their bus stopped by the highway. Sinelli noticed locals selling folk art and he spotted a Cortes Mask from a Conquest Dance Drama. He liked it, so he bought it.

“I so loved that mask that every time we went back to Mexico I pursued masks,” he said.

Almost 30 years later, Sinelli’s collection of Central American tribal dance masks now nears 40 pieces. Many will be featured at the Bloomfield Township Public Library this October.

On display will be small masks – one is about six inches tall – Sinelli said it was probably for a child celebrating Carnaval in Mexico – to giant masks used for the Dance of the Giants.

There’s also a few Day of the Dead masks, some resembling those worn by Mexican wrestlers when they enter the ring.

This will be the first time Sinelli has these items on display, at least in a library. Anyone who visited his Birmingham home – he and wife recently moved to a condo in Bloomfield Hills – saw the masks around the walls of his living room, with the African masks in the living room.

“I think it’s nice to finally be able to share them with the public,” Sinelli said.

He’s shared other collections with the public recently, including his collection of Caldecott award-winning children’s books at the library in February.

That collection has over 600 items and is full of first printing, first editions, and began after Sinelli read a book review on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

What caught his eye was a particular review about the illustrator, who studied the physical anatomy of dwarves to complete the illustrations.

“It started my road to ruin,” he laughed. “Here I am, a full, grown, male adult buying children’s books for the artwork. Who does that?

Well, there are a lot of people who do that.”

Like those hoping to collect Caldecott Medal winners. Last time he checked, Sinelli had eight Caldecott gold medal winners and around 15 silver winners.

Even though it’s great to have award-winning items in his collections, to him collecting is more about the beauty in the items.

He collects everything from photographic portraits, with a collection in the thousands, to musical instruments and ethnographic art pieces.

“It’s nice to feather your nest with beautiful things, whatever that beautiful thing is to you,” he said.

Sinelli – who began collecting as a child during trips to the antique shop with his mother, who collected Victorian Brilliant Period Glass – emphasized that point again and again: collect what you love.

“Start with what grabs you, what moves you, what sings to you,” Sinelli said.

Also, do lots of research if you’re going to start collecting, that way you can find items everywhere. Sinelli said items worth finding are everywhere, not just at antique shops.

One of his most recent finds is a perfect example. While in central Michigan, Sinelli found a Steuben Glass cup for 50 cents in a thrift shop. Now, he drinks water out of it.

“I often tell friends who collect that you never buy a piece of glass or china from someone who specializes in it because you’re going to pay too much for it,” he said. “You want to know what it is...you want to find that plate at a store that sells fishing gear.”

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PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown.

Birmingham/Bloomfield 220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.646.2220.

5th Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9607.

Adachi: Asian. Lunch & Dinner daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 325 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.540.5900.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.865.9300.

Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42805 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.499.6867.

Beau's: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.2630.

Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Beverly Hills Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355.

Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

No reservations. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.7078.

Big Rock Chophouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 245 South Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

Bill's: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Daily. Reservations, lunch only.

Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.9000.

Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880.

Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor.

Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984.

Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.645.6879.

Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.258.6690.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

Liquor. Call ahead. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township.

248.642.4000.

Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.723.1700.

China Village: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1655 Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.758.1221.

Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

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116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555.

Cityscape Deli: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Beer.

877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7220.

Commonwealth: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.9766.

Dick O’Dow’s: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.1135.

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.258.9939.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420.

Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.645.1033.

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134.

Forest: European. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham 48009.

248.258.9400.

Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222.

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations.

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3633 W. Maple Rd, Bloomfield, MI 48301. 248.203.9111.

Hunter House Hamburgers: American.

Breakfast, Monday-Saturday; Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.7121.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.4369.

IHOP: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. 248.333.7522.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner daily; Sunday brunch.

Reservations. Liquor. 39475 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.792.9609.

Kaku Sushi and Poke': Asian. Lunch & Dinner. Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. No Liquor. 869 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.480.4785, and 126 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.885.8631.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.333.1166.

La Marsa: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner daily. Reservations. 43259 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 48302.

248.858.5800.

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La Strada Dolci e Caffe: Italian.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 243 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.480.0492.

Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.9707.

Also 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.646.8568.

Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.647.3400.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing.

No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6051.

Mad Hatter Cafe: Tea Room. Brunch, Lunch & Dinner. No reservations. Liquor.

185 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.0000 Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025. 248.723.7960.

Market North End: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 474 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.712.4953.

MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.723.0800.

Nippon Sushi Bar: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2079 S. Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9581.

Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500.

Original Pancake House: American.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.5775.

Panera Bread: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7966.

Also 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.253.9877.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.3122.

Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.6999.

Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.988.8941. Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304.

248.874.1876 Red Olive: Middle Eastern/American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302.

248.481.7767.

Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 250 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6200.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch &

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Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977.

Sidecar Slider Bar: Burgers. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

280 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham 48009. 248.220.4167.

Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 5 or more. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200.

Stacked Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Delivery available. No reservations. 233 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.5300.

Steve’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301.

248.932.0800.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.9123.

Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.333.3887.

Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.731.7066.

The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600.

The Gallery Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313.

The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302.

248.858.7688.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999.

Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278.

Tomatoes Apizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner daily. Carryout. 34200 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham 48009.

248.258.0500.

Touch of India: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 297 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.7881.

Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241.

Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951.

Vinotecca: European. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009.

248.203.6600.

Village Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 653 S. Adams.

Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7964.

Whistle Stop Diner: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.566.3566.

05.19

ember’s deli Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary's: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 316 South Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917.

Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680.

Assaggi Bistro: Italian. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.584.3499.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067.

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.542.0082.

The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 545 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.547.6699.

Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.4749.

Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069.

248.544.2675.

Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Ave., 48220. 248.399.5150.

GreenSpace Cafe: Vegan. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 215. W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.206.7510.

Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 22949 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145.

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220.

248.543.9500.

KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500.

Kruse & Muer on Woodward: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 28028 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.965.2101.

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.591.5459.

Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.584.4227.

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947.

One-Eyed Betty: American. Weekend Breakfast. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220. 248.808.6633.

Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7900.

Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

downtownpublications.com

248.850.7420.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073. 248.549.0300.

Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888.

Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.1141.

Strada: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday Sunday. Liquor. No reservations. 376 N. Main Street. Royal Oak, 48067.

248.607.3127.

Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.541.1186.

Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.7300.

The Morrie: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.216.1112.

Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.

415 S, Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.4444.

Twisted Tavern: American. Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 22901 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220.

248.545,6750.

Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072.

248.548.7711.

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ST. DUNSTAN'S THEATRE IN BLOOMFIELD HILL PRESENTS

Troy/Rochester Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300.

Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831.

Cantoro Italian Trattoria: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy 48083.

248.817.2424.

CK Diggs: American & Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2010 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.853.6600.

O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 324 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537.

Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083.

248.619.9060.

Kruse & Muer on Main: American.

Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 327 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.652.9400.

Loccino Italian Grill and Bar: Italian.

Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily.

Liquor. Reservations. 5600 Crooks Road, Troy, 48098. 248.813.0700.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.637.6400.

The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825.

Nearly 45 years in business Recently remodeled

St. Dunstan’s is located at 400 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Hills.

1-844-DUNSTAN (1-844-386-7826)

DOWNTOWN

85

METRO INTELLIGENCER Metro Intelligencer is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening on the restaurant scene in the metro Detroit area. Metro Intelligencer is reported/created each month by Dana Casadei who can be reached at DanaCasadei@DowntownPublications.com with news items or tips, on or off the record.

Another Asian adventure The hospitality team that includes partners Kenny Koza and Clint Mansour, with Executive Chef Lloyd Roberts, have plans for an early May opening of their new restaurant, Zao Jun, 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township. Unlike their other restaurant, the Japanese-focused Adachi – 325 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham – Zao Jun will be Pan Asian, and have a more casual, familyfriendly feel. The price point will be less expensive and the large, open space ideal for large parties. General Manager David Kraus said the menu is about 50 to 60 percent Chinese, with Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and yes, Japanese flavors, including sushi. Most of the sushi at Zao Jun will be simpler than Adachi – think shrimp tempura and spicy tuna. “We just thought with the casual atmosphere we could touch a lot of bases,” Kraus said. Zao Jun’s menu will have kid-friendly options, such as tempura chicken and dumplings. “Things that are kind of easy to win a child over,” he laughed. Even though they’ll have some “greatest hits” of Asian cuisine – almond boneless chicken, spring rolls, lettuce wraps – it doesn’t mean there won’t be more whimsical items, too. Kraus said a few selection are a little off the radar, including lamb chops marinated in Gochujang, a Korean red chili paste, currently being served at Adachi. Drinks include popular hits from Adachi, like the Origami, and classics, such as Singapore Sling and Mai Tai. As of April 11, they’ve passed all of their inspections and acquired their liquor license.

Como’s ready to roll On May 6, a Ferndale staple, Como’s, will re-open its doors, this time with new ownership, Peas & Carrots Hospitality. The company bought the restaurant at 22812 Woodward Avenue last summer after it closed due to health code violations in 2017. Peas & Carrot’s head of business development Ramza Saruna said that very little will be the same about the restaurant.

“The only thing that’s going to remain the same is that the concept is pizza, it’s at the corner of Nine Mile and Woodward, and it’s Como’s,” she said.

Chef Zack Sklar’s pizza will be Detroit-style, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and won’t use commercial yeast. There will be other Italian dishes as well, along with the build-your-own-salad popular at their other restaurants. Saruna said the aesthetic has a vintage, throwback feel, with elements made from natural materials, including the brick lettering on the front of the building, made from sawed off brick ends. The long bar in Como’s will now be Traverse City Whiskey Co.’s tasting room. Saruna said that will open closer to when the outdoor patio does, which will seat 250 and constantly have live music and DJs.

Under the big tent Mark Zarkin’s latest restaurant endeavor – he owns Steven Lelli’s Inn on the Green in Farmington Hills – is going to have some unconventional hours.

Open from 6 a.m. until 4 a.m. the circus-themed restaurant, Grand Circus Diner, at 1570 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, will be ideal for those looking for a late-night option. Open since mid-April, the menu includes steaks, burgers, spaghetti, soups, salads, vegan options, and homemade desserts. Then there’s the bar, with five liter mules, fish bowls, craft cocktails (described as circus meets tiki), and a few frozen selections. There’s also a kiosk with coffee and doughnuts made-to-order. As for the name, that was inspired by their location in Grand Circus Park. “We want to make this a really fun atmosphere and a great dining experience,” Zarkin said. “Everyone’s welcome.” The family-friendly restaurant is full of circus elements, like glass balloon chandeliers, glitter embedded in the floor, and the waiters’ attire.

Pop-up finds home While on vacation from his job at Detroit Diesel, Esteban Castro, the owner of popular pop-up Esto’s Garage, went for coffee when he came upon it – a space for his next adventure, a brick-and-mortar by Sister Pie and Red Hook. “The biggest question I’ve had in this business for the past seven years is, where can I come to your space? And I finally have an answer for that,” he said. Located at 1811 Parker Street in Detroit’s West Village, the space is small, about 750-squarefeet, but the flavors will be big and complex, especially in the sauces. His simple menu will include tacos, tostadas, rice bowls, stew, and nachos. Even though the

Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.453.5371.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845.

NM Café: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084.

248.816.3424.

Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.375.9200.

Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500.

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.524.1944.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084.

248.816.8000.

Recipes: American/Brunch. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

134 W. University Drive, Rochester, 48037. 248.659.8267. Also 2919 Crooks Road, Troy, 48084.

248.614.5390.

Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424.

Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, 48306.

248.652.4500.

Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.817.2980.

Too Ra Loo: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 139 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307.

248.453.5291.

West Bloomfield/Southfield Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.356.6600.

Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034.

The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334. 248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.851.8782.

Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine.

6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield

Township, 48322. 248.538.7081.

Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 25485 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, 48034. 248.358.1310.

Nonna Maria’s: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323.

248.851.2500.

Pickles & Rye: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890.

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.865.0500.

Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.

538.8954.

Stage Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.855.6622.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.737.8282.

West Oakland Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean.

Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner. Reservations. Liquor.

340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381.

248.684.4223.

It's A Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.360.4150.

The Root Restaurant & Bar: American.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390.

248.698.2400.

Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.7771.

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.620.6100.

Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442.

248.634.5208.

Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346.

248.795.2077.

The Fed: American. Lunch and Dinner daily, Brunch, Saturday and Sunday.

Liquor.

15 S. Main Street, Clarkston, 48346.

248.297.5833 Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500.

Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday –

Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.625.5660

Detroit Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2684 E. Jefferson, Detroit, 48207.

313.965.3111.

Cliff Bell’s: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.961.2543.

Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214.

313.469.0976.

Cuisine: French. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202.

313.872.5110.

The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180.

El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun.

Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600.

Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122.

Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.5588.

Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday- Friday, Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837.

Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216.

313.309.7946.

Mario’s: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616.

Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.974.7669.

Motor City Brewing Works: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700.

1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221.

313.863.1917.

Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226.

313.309.2499.

Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.2100.

Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900.

Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.438.5055.

SheWolf Pastifico & Bar: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 438 Selden St, Detroit 48201.

313.315.3992.

Sinbad’s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214.

313.822.8000.

Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.9828.

Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702.

St. CeCe’s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216.

313.962.2121.

Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234.

Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668.

The Block: American. Sunday Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.0892.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.964.4010.

Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.9470.

24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.964.3821.

Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.3965.

Vince’s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American.

Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207.

313.393.1711.

The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646.

Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226.

313.465.1411.

Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711.

fast-casual restaurant won’t open before late summer, Castro has plans for community events prior to opening, including a chili contest on Cinco de Mayo.

Public House menu changes Chef Nick Erven – who helped shape the menu at Ferndale’s Antihero, 231 W. Nine Mile Road — has launched a brand new menu at another Working Class Outlaws restaurant, Public House, 241 W. Nine Mile Road. What have guests thought so far? “People have been really stoked on it. It’s been really positive.” Erven said. Inspired by his Los Angeles roots, Erven wanted the menu to evolve, grow, and become more focused. Now there are more seasonal dishes with locally-grown produce, like the Beet Salad. Other new items include bacon-wrapped dates – Erven said those are flying out the kitchen – and a burger Erven compared to those at In-N-Out Burger. Going forward Erven hopes to keep the menu more seasonal and less stagnant.

Expect salads and lighter fare as it gets warmer outside.

Casual Shinola options Open since late March, Penny Red’s and The Brakeman (named after one of the first watches Shinola made), are bringing fried chicken and an American beer hall to the Shinola Hotel Annex at 22 John R Street, Detroit. “I really love this corner now,” said Josh Pickard, one of NoHo Hospitality Group’s partners, along with chef Andrew Carmellini and Luke Ostrom. “It’s kind of fun to be coming off the Woodward track and doing this here.” Pickard said guests can expect a very casual environment at both places, which are connected. The Brakeman has, for the most part, Midwest central beers, which will rotate and be paid for via tokens (guests can buy tokens at the entrance) and what Pickard called “a basic call bar.” So don’t expect anything fancy. Inside there are two tap tables, where you can pour your own drink, they can be rented out (there’s a time and drink limit so guests don’t go too crazy), beer pong, and shuffleboard.

During the summer, the alleyway will open and guests can order beer through a side window in the beer hall, like a drive-through. Penny Red’s – the food can be brought into The Brakeman – will also have a quick and casual feel, and a menu from Chef Carmellini, with buckets of fried chicken, five different sauces, sandwiches, and sides like coconut carrots and honey butter biscuits. “These honey, butter biscuits he makes are killer,” Pickard said.

Beer, coffee & tacos Flint-based Tenacity Brewing is expanding to Virginia Park, at 8517 Second Avenue, Detroit. Co-founder and partner Jason Caya said they hope to open mid-summer, and this location will not only focus on their beer – they will offer at least nine beers on tap, mixed in with a few ciders – but coffee as well, roasted on site. If all goes well Tenacity will also expand to wine and cocktails, currently pending state licensing approval. “We know a little bit about a lot, and plan to offer a lot,” Caya said. “We’re really excited about that.” Tenacity will have pastries and a similar food menu to their Flint location for lunch and dinner, with tacos, burritos, and nachos. Another element they will continue in Detroit is their partnership with Feelgood Tap, a statewide initiative where breweries/restaurants pick one beer from their menu and donate part of their proceeds to that month’s selected non-profit.

Family friendly shop Proving Coffee Grounds co-owner James Courtney said once he and fellow owner Daman Auvenshine found the space in Royal Oak at 417 S. Washington Avenue, they jumped all in. It was the perfect spot for their second location of the ice cream/coffee/pastry shop. The 6,000 square foot space – three times their Milford shop – is shooting for a summer opening. Big renovations are planned, including a giant ocean-themed kids structure going in the second floor, which will have only one point of entry and exit for safety purposes. Party and conference rooms are available to rent in the space. Their main focus, naturally, is the coffee, which will be roasted on site. “We really focus on producing a cup of coffee that doesn’t need cream or sugar in order to taste good,” Courtney said.

The family-focused shop will provide eight different single origins and four different proprietary blends, French presses, and nitro cold brew. Sixteen ice cream flavors and macaroons will be provided by Browndog Creamery. Other selections include muffins, scones, doughnuts, breads, danishes, and sandwiches and snack packs for kids. As in Milford, they plan on helping the Royal Oak community by partnering with local schools and organizations. Oh, and they are hiring.

FACES

T.C. Cameron veryone loves the story of an underdog. Or in the case of Miracle Maples, an entire team of them.

“Maples is that season in time where this magical thing happened that you would see in a movie,” said T.C. Cameron, author of the book, which was released in January. “It really was this little, niche story that kind of took everyone by storm for a few months in ’88.”

Including Cameron, who watched the Maple's season unfold from a rival high school, Royal Oak Kimball, where he was a senior. Like many, he thought the Birmingham Seaholm Maples wouldn't be able to take the state title.

Then they did.

To tell the full story, Cameron’s book is split into sections on five Seaholm players, one Kimball player, and both school’s coaches at the time.

Like most good stories, if Seaholm is the hero then who becomes the villain? For Cameron – who now lives in Maryland but grew up in Royal Oak and Birmingham – that was, somewhat ironically, Kimball, a huge rival that Seaholm had to overcome in order to continue their success and get to the state title.

Now, 30 years later, Cameron has published a book that not only focuses on that miracle season but its aftermath. What happened to a group of 15 young men after they won a state title and felt like they were on top of the world at all of 18?

“My core requirement was you had to be brutally honest about everything, the good and the bad,” Cameron said. “This couldn’t just be your 'greatest hits album.'”

Turns out some would be chasing that high of winning for years – they did, after all, win the school’s only state championship in baseball, a title they still hold – while others went off the mountaintop with more ease.

Cameron said the reactions were mixed from the people he interviewed

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after he told them he wanted brutal honesty. Some were fine with it, others were hesitant, and a few were willing to open up after hearing their teammates had.

“It wasn’t exactly, 'lets jump in off the dock with two feet,'” he laughed.

“There was some trust that had to be built...and then I think I had to be willing to make good decisions on what belonged in the book and what didn’t.”

It seems he made the right call with what he wrote, though. He said at least seven or eight of them have read the book so far, and given him positive feedback.

This isn’t Cameron’s first time writing about sports, or even writing an entire book about them. He’s published two books on metro Detroit’s high school football and basketball rivalries, as well as one book about Navy football. He was also a reporter at the Capital Gazette in Maryland, where he worked from 2009-2015 and covered sports. Currently, he’s working on books about the Baltimore Orioles under Peter Angelos’ ownership and another on the June 2018 shooting at the Gazette.

Like most authors, Cameron hopes people leave with a few takeaways after reading Miracle Maples.

“The number one takeaway for me is that school sports and activities still matter,” Cameron said. “The second thing is I hope people realize the lessons learned in high school can be transformative for adults if you allow them to be.

“The third thing is we have some great stories in our communities that we should celebrate. Stories matter,” he continued.

Especially when they involve an underdog – or 15.

Story: Dana Casadei

248-421-2670 nancykarasrealty@gmail.com 4130 Telegraph Road / Bloomfield Hills / MI 48302 / www.nancykaras.maxbroock.com

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COMPLIMENTARY MARKET ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOME • Staging Consultation • Do's & Don'ts Before Selling • Vetted List of Contractors, Handymen, Painters, etc.

• Options for Your Next Home with Comps & Counsel • Professional Photography, Videography & Marketing

FA N I G IO CT IN IT SE M D O E SS C LY N E JU SI IN :BU ES

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LOCAL ES: SS BUSINE O RY OUR ST T E L L Y C I A L J U LY E IN A SP Y STOCK S S GLO N IN SECTIO WN O DOWNT

BUSINESS NAME Name of Owner(s) Street Address and Phone Number of Your Business Your Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

WE WILL TELL YOUR UNIQUE STORY IN THIS SPACE FACES:BUSINESS will be a special section printed in full color on a heavier glossy stock and run through the center of our July issue of Downtown newsmagazine. Our photographer will come to your location to capture you as the business owner or manager and our writers will work with you to refine your story.

You will be featured in a full page photo, with prominent display of the name of your business, your name, business address and phone, along with your business website, Facebook and Instagram address if you have them.

And then a 250 word story that tells our readers something about you and your business.

To participate, contact Mark Grablowski: Office – 248.792.6464 Ext. 601 | Cell – 586.549.4424 | Email: MarkGrablowski@DowntownPublications.com

BUSINESS MATTERS Luxury resale After 10 years with a property management and investment group, India Shepherd decided it was time to partner her love of business and fashion and create Rotate Boutique, 4076 W. Maple Road in Bloomfield Township. Rotate is a luxury consignment boutique born out of Shepherd’s frustration when she tried to sell some of her own items to consignment shops, and found the experiences less than satisfying.

Determined to bring excellence to the consignment experience and add a twist of new and sophisticated retail items to the boutique, Shepherd wants to create a special shopping experience for her customers.

Opening Saturday, April 27, Rotate accepts luxury consignment items from Alaia, Aquazurra, Balenciaga, Burberry, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Chloe, Christian Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik among others. The shop is even offering an exclusive line of doggie gear.

Coffee roaster and cafe Feeling unfulfilled with a medical career, Maryam Razak took her biochemistry knowledge and began to apply it the field of coffee. “I got into coffee seriously, joining the Global Coffee Association, and now we’re bringing specialty coffee to Birmingham,” she said, opening Seven Daughters Coffee to 163 W. Maple Road in downtown Birmingham. Razak said Seven Daughters, which she hopes to open in June, will be a roasting company, selling wholesale and retail coffee along with a cafe. “We will have a small coffee shop with seating, coffee and sandwiches, salads, pastries – typical cafe fare.” The main focus of the store will be on the coffee roasting, and the two sections will be separated by a glass wall. “People will be able to see us roasting while they enjoy their coffee,” Razak said. To clarify – she’s not one of seven daughters, but was inspired by the Barbara Cohen book, “Seven Daughters and Seven Sons,” a retelling of an Iraqi folktale she read as a child of two brothers, one who had seven sons and one who had seven daughters. “It talks about female bravery and resourcefulness. It was one of the first stories I read, and it really resonated with me,” she said.

Yoga studio opens Practice Yoga Studio has opened at 2227 Cole Street in Birmingham’s downtownpublications.com

Rail District focused around Tommy Mack Yoga, according to Lexa Leatherdale, one of the studio’s cofounders, along with Mack and his wife Tiffany. Mack, who taught at Center for Yoga for eight years and Red Lotus in Rochester, “has a strong connection in his own practice and a great following and is excited to open his own studio,” Leatherdale said. The goal with Practice Yoga is to create a welcoming community for beginners to those with an experienced practice. “They really care that yoga is something that allows you to have a strong mind, strong body, while it allows you to have a great workout and connect with your true self on your mat,” Leatherdale said. At Practice Yoga, there are no bright lights, mirrors or external distractions. The studio has infrared heat to protect muscles.

“Candlelight floods the space to allow you to get into your own journey on your own mat for 60 minutes,” she said. Three types of classes – practice flow, power flow and hot flow – are offered seven days a week, with the first class attended free.

Creating chemistry one home at a time.

Lynn Wiand has been dedicated to helping her clients achieve their homeownership dreams. Whether you’re planning to buy or build a new home, or refinance your current mortgage, let Lynn and Chemical Bank help you find the loan option to fit your needs.

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Join the many homeowners who have relied on Lynn’s committed service. Contact Lynn today!

Lynn Wiand VP | Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #394920 T: 248.228.4805 Lynn.Wiand@ChemicalBank.com ChemicaBank.com/LynnWiand

Mediterranean move out 2941 Street Food, a fast casual food spot located at 176 S. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham, which offers a variety of fresh meal selections, is moving out of Birmingham and into Royal Oak in May. The Birmingham location is one of several in the metro area – there’s also one on Telegraph just north of Maple Road in Bloomfield Township. 2941 Street Food is the brainchild of Chef Jacques Van Staden, whose fine cooking pedigree extends from the South African Embassy in suburban Maryland to the Jean-Louis restaurant in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C., among others.

2941 stands for the latitude and longitude coordinates of the Middle East and Mediterranean, the flavors the dining locations highlight, where diners can select spices, sauces, proteins and meats, and if they want it in bowls or sandwiches.

Business Matters for the Birmingham Bloomfield area are reported by Lisa Brody. Send items for consideration to LisaBrody@downtownpublications.com.

Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

DOWNTOWN

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248-674-3937

www.changingplacesmovers.com

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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew I read recently that “with busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family, and your community. The right match can help you reduce stress, find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health.”

At The Community House, there are scores of volunteer opportunities that await those that are interested. Helping hands are always needed.

Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce: Mission: To serve our six communities as their leading resource for advancing business interests and building relationships. Contact: Joe Bauman, President, 248.644.1700 x 6135, joeb@bbcc.com Birmingham Lions Club: Mission: Service to Others – Lions Clubs are recognized for their service to the blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness” during the 1925 Lions Clubs International Convention. Contact: Bob McCready, President, bobmclassic@aol.com

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This certifi cate is val id at one par (BSD) busine ticipating Bir ss. Please mingham Sho note most certificate. pping Distric (but not all) Gift certificat t BSD busine es without sses accept embossed this logo are inv alid.

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Bill Seklar

Birmingham Optimist Club: Mission: To develop optimism as a philosophy of life; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for the law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; and to aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of man, his community and world. Contact: Bill McConnell, President, billmcconnell@hotmail.com Birmingham Shopping District: Mission: We actively work to promote a district that is exciting, clean, safe and pedestrianfriendly and ensure that the district continues to serve as a center for business, service, social and community activities. Contact: Ingrid Tighe, Executive Director, 248.530.1200, itighe@bhamgov.org Rotary Club: Mission: Is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

Contact: Chris McLogan, President, chrismclogan@maxbroock.com Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers Club: Mission: For women from all over the world, the Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers Club (BBNC) has made it easy to meet women and participate in countless activities & events throughout the year. Our international members represent over 40 nations. Contact: Fatima Koenig, President, 248.613.5787, bbnc.president@gmail.com Birmingham Teen Council: Mission: The mission is to bring together students from local schools and provide an opportunity for community service, as well as establish a source of teen leadership. We hope to institute an environment where students from the area can collaborate and form bonds they otherwise would not have been able to. Contact: Chase Seklar and Sophie Roth, CoFounders, 248.310.0582, birminghamteencouncil@gmail.com

Give the Gift of Birmingham Birmingham Shopping District Gift Certificates make a great gift for family, friends and teachers! Keep them in mind for Mother’s Day, end-of-year teacher gifts, Father’s Day, graduation parties, birthdays and more.

Visit www.ALLINBirmingham.com/Gift for details.

President’s Advisory Council (PAC): Mission: The mission is to advise and give counsel to the TCH President on a wide range of issues. Contacts: Dustin Hennigar, Chair, k06dh01@gmail.com or Matt McCormick, Vice Chair, mmccor10@gmail.com Senior Men’s Club of birmingham: Mission: An organization of active senior men devoted to the promotion of fellowship, cultural interests and the rendering of community service. Contact: Tim McGee, President, 248.643.0971, tsmcgee1@hotmail.com StoryTellers Guild: Mission: To enrich the lives of children through the art and love of storytelling. Contact: Linda Lambert, Council Co-Chair, 248.642.5837, lindaleelam1@hotmail.com; Shirley Oleinick, Council Co-Chair, 248.544.8968, shirleyoleinick3@gmail.com The Women’s Club: Mission: The purpose shall be to provide fellowship, programs, and activities for the membership. Contact: Ann Duncan, President, 248.514.5290, billduncan11@comcast.net.

BIRMINGHAM SHOPPING DISTRICT

William D. Seklar is President & CEO of The Community House and The Community House Foundation in Birmingham.

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CHRISTINE DRINKWATER Associate Broker c. +1 248 318 4745

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3763 LEDGE COURT, TROY | 4BR/3.1BA | 2,770 SF Set on a gorgeous cul-de-sac, this home is perfect for entertaining! Large spacious kitchen with loads of cabinetry, exquisite hardware, stainless appliances, granite and large pantry.

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4712 PIER DRIVE, TROY | 4BR/2.1BA | 3,241 SF Wonderful flow for ease of living. Large bedrooms including master suite with spacious bath and large walk in closet. Finished basement space for additional living area! Newer roof and mechanicals. Schroeder, Boulan, Troy High.

HALL ANDHUNTER.COM | +1 248 644 3500 | 442 S. OLD WOODWARD BIRMINGHAM

SOCIETY NOTEBOOK/GIGI NICHOLS

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Belle Isle Boat House Monte Carlo Night

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Since its inception in 1839, the Detroit Boat Club has had a rich history in the city of Detroit.

The facility’s name has been changed to the Belle Isle Boat House and now functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Well over half a million dollars has already been invested in renovations.

A Monte Carlo Night fundraiser offered 150 attendees the opportunity to explore the beauty and grandeur of the Boat House renovations while enjoying casino games, silent auction, strolling dinner and cocktails. The $25,000 raised will not only support the renovation of the Boat House, but also promote rowing as a lifelong sport. 1. Robert and Kim Bloink of Birmingham. 2. Paul and Ericka Stefanuti of Birmingham; Bill and Janeen Fetterman of Huntington Woods. 3. Kristen McLennan of Royal Oak and Patricia Fleck of Berkley. 4. Melissa Schreiber of Dearborn and Andrew Schoen of West Bloomfield.. 5. Mike Gentile of Grosse Pointe and Natia Tremonti of Grosse Pointe. 6. Jeff Young and Nicole Rachmaninoff-Young of Bloomfield. 7. Mark and Therese Paneta of Birmingham. 8. Shedrick and Ryan Abney of Birmingham.

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Impact100, Oakland County

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Impact100, Oakland County works off the power of collective decision-making and collective philanthropy. Members and guests of the non-profit met at Birmingham Country Club for a social event featuring sake, sushi and performances featuring Asian martial arts and dance. Impact100 will reveal their grant finalists on April 30th, and final selection of the grant recipients will be announced on October 23rd. Last year, Impact100 awarded three grants of $90,000 each to Oakland County non-profits. 1. Marci Kelkar and Shaina Allen of Birmingham. 2. Molly Conway of Bloomfield, Dora Sokolowski of Holly, Valerie Clark of Bloomfield. 3. Rosanne Siegal of Birmingham, Nina Weina of Birmingham and Erin Chritchfield of Troy. 4. Francine Nesti and Nadia Amiel of Birmingham. 5. Mary Pat Posen of Bloomfield and Colleen Miller of Birmingham.

6. Jackie Adray of Bloomfield and Mindy Hajjar of Bloomfield. 7. Nikki Schwartz of Bloomfield and Jodi Iacco of Birmingham. 8. Sarah Bubb of Bloomfield and Samantha Ruma of Birmingham.

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Nearly 400 attended ORT Michigan’s annual WINGO (Women only BINGO) fundraiser held at Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield. This high energy “girls-night out” included a strolling dinner, signature cocktails, a silent auction, raffles and of course BINGO. The event was co-chaired

by Joy Levran, Lisa Rothberger and Carly Sanfield. Proceeds will benefit ORT’s global network of schools, colleges and international programs that provide training to underserved students, equipping them to meet the demands of the current job market. 1. Paula Lynn of W. Bloomfield and Robbie Sherman of Bloomfield. 2. Julie Hirch of West Bloomfield and Melissa Kahn of Bloomfield. 3. Carlie Sanfield of Birmingham, Maddi Ishbia of Birmingham, and Rachel Devries of Birmingham. 4. Debbie Chasnik of Waterford and Mindy Markle of West Bloomfield. 5. Stacey Silverman of Bloomfield and Amanda Madgy of Huntington Woods. 6. Julie Marx of Bloomfield and Kyley Kaplan of West Bloomfield. 7. Sigal Levine of Waterford, Elsy Baron of Okemos and Jody Denenberg of Bloomfield. 8. Marla Wujczyk of West Bloomfield, Dana Ishbia of Birmingham, Ilene Einstandig of West Bloomfield and Dana Abrahams of West Bloomfield.

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Eighty-five Birmingham Rotarians, guests and sponsors attended the second annual Masters of Madness Gala at the Village Club in Bloomfield Hills. The highlight of the evening featured a grand prize raffle drawing for a trip for two to the 2019 Masters Tournament. The trip was won by Joe Bauman and Bryan Frank, who split a raffle ticket. The evening was co-chaired by Regan Gilshire and Vic Pooler. Over $20,000 in proceeds will support Rotary’s literacy programs at Owens Elementary School, the Birmingham Rotary Endowment Fund, and the construction of a new water well in Uganda. 1. Carol and David Peterson of Birmingham. 2. Donna and Dave Zimmer of Bloomfield. 3. Tim and Tina Flint of Plymouth, Andrea Foglietta and Bryan Frank of Beverly Hills and Dave Smyk of Birmingham. 4. Fran and George Stern of Birmingham. 5. David Smyk and Molly Swart of Birmingham. 6. Chris McLogan and Liz Luckenbach of Bloomfield.

7. Chris McLogan of Bloomfield and Vic Pooler of Berkley. 8. Charles Wickins of Birmingham, Nave Grewal of Oxford and Kelly Finley of Troy.

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Brother Rice Irish Nite

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Katie and Ron Gantner served as the Leadership Chairs for the Brother Rice Irish Nite. Prior to the dinner, a VIP reception paid special tribute to Honorary Chair Brother David MacIntyre CFC (1939-2019), for his more than 60 years of dedication to the mission of Edmund Rice. Thanks to the 400 generous donors and sponsors, the evening raised over $300,000. The funds will be utilized to enhance the education and advancement of the young men of Brother Rice.

1. Tara Reidy, Jessica and Chad Perry of Bloomfield. 2. Julie Dilworth of Sterling Heights, Suzanne Okuniewski and Tara Reidy of Bloomfield. 3. Jim and Pat Delvin of Bloomfield and Debbie and Allen Pyc of Rochester Hills. 4. Katie and Ron Gantner of Birmingham.

5. Brian and Carol Roney of Bloomfield. 6. Brother Tim Smyth of New York City and Liz Manganello of Bloomfield. 7. Ron Gantner of Birmingham, Tim Manganello of Bloomfield and Mark Hogan of Birmingham. 8. Julie and Matt Kunz of Birmingham.

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An Evening Uncorked Appropriately held at Vinotecca in Birmingham, “An Evening Uncorked,” a Pierce Elementary School Benefit was attended by 140 Pierce Elementary School parents to raise funds for the beautification of the school’s courtyard. Festivities included a California wine tasting, an online auction and music. The successful community-building event, which was co-chaired by Pierce parents Kelly Guffey and Janelle Boyce, raised $26,000. 1. Kelly Guffey, Sarah Muzzin and Janelle Boyce of Birmingham. 2. Tina Yancey, Stacey Peiser and Tiffany Michael of Birmingham.

3. Kevin and Tina Yancey of Birmingham. 4. Stacey and Craig Peiser of Birmingham.

5. Tiffany and Matthew Michael of Birmingham. 6. Sheila Chaudhary, Purvi Arora, Katie Sullivan and Ronniccia Heining of Birmingham. 7. Jill and Kevin Stress of Birmingham.

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Junior League of Birmingham Little Black Dress Event

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The Junior League of Birmingham held its third annual Little Black Dress Luncheon at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. Co-chaired by Kristin Hall and Melanie Esland, the Little Black Dress Initiative is an awareness campaign that aligns with the Junior League’s efforts to aid women in crisis in the community through the development of leadership and effective volunteerism. Two dynamic speakers, Blessing Adesiyan, founder and CEO of Mother Honestly, and Amy Peterson, cofounder and CEO of Rebel Nell, shared their own inspiring journeys and stories of empowerment.

Proceeds from this year’s sell-out event were almost double over last year. 1. Kristin Hall of Rochester, Anne Nechal (JLB President) of Ferndale, Melanie Esland of Farmington Hills. 2. Megan Murray of Bloomfield, Karissa Zorn of Royal Oak, Katie Perkins of Birmingham. 3. Sherri Gordon of Beverly Hills and Devon Cook of Bloomfield. 4. Karen Cresap of Bloomfield and Kate Hoin of Royal Oak. 5. Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield and Anne Nechal of Ferndale. 6. Catherine Balmisano of Shelby, Alaina Trivax of Royal Oak and Megan Avesian of Birmingham. 7. Jacqueline Wehbi of Birmingham and Erin Burns of Royal Oak. 8. Natalie Zuccaro and Nikki Braddock of Birmingham.

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Leadership Oakland A Taste of Leadership Oakland

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Leadership Oakland is a 501 (c)(3) organization focused on business and community leadership development. Over 200 professionals from the region attended “A Taste of Leadership Oakland” at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. “Leader of Leaders Awards” were presented to Kristin Rohrbeck, Joanne and Ted Lindsay Foundation Autism Outreach Services (OUCARES); Kendra Corman, H2H Consulting; and Faris Alami, International Strategic Management. A portion of the evening’s revenue will support the organization’s programming. 1. Byron Corman of Troy and Hannah McPeak of Bloomfield. 2. Tracey Retting of Berkley and Donna Smith of Troy. 3. Kristin Rohrbeck of Farmington Hills and Nancy Isken of Rochester Hills. 4. Joe Bauman of Livonia and Nancy Mauer of Rochester Hills (Executive Director of Leadership Oakland. 5. Nicholas Wellan of Bloomfield and Michelle Cantor of Huntington Woods. 6. Tammi Shepherd of Clarkston, Kristin Hartig of Troy, Stephanie Stieber of Macomb and Joellen Shortley of W. Bloomfield. 7. Joshua Richards of Oakland Township, Mike Decker of Birmingham, Bernie Fuhs of Livonia. 8. Angela Cromar of Beverly Hills and Steve Dobbs of Warren.

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The Community House, HOPZ

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Bell’s Brewery served as co-host for the first annual HOPZ event at The Community House in Birmingham. Entertainment for the spirited event was provided by the electro-pop sensation, NUCLASSICA. Over 270 beer aficionados tasted an array of craft beers from Bell’s and sampled pub fare from Stage Deli, Triple Nickle, Mt. Chalet, Souperbowl, Sidecar Slider Bar and The Community House. Funds raised from HOPZ will benefit the Youth Programs and Initiatives of The Community House. 1. Al and Kerry Mart of Illinois, Cody Mart of Royal Oak and Jordan Grant of Bloomfield. 2. Jennifer Yert of Birmingham and Katrina and Kevin Desmond of Birmingham.

3. Gail Callaghan of Troy, Sharon Hosea of Bloomfield and Irma Restaino of Birmingham.

4. Christopher and Michelle Hollo of Birmingham. 5. Kim Lupienski and Nada Nakhleh of Birmingham. 6. Susan and Bill Seklar of Bloomfield. 7. Joe and Luanne Campbell of Bloomfield.

8. Alex Papa of Royal Oak, China Burke of Troy and Andy Hartman of Bloomfield.

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Girl Scout Cookie Gala

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Eight of Metro Detroit’s finest chefs competed in the Annual Cookie Gala, an elaborate bake-off at the MGM, Detroit. The Gala, organized by the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, supports leadership development programs and activities for girls. Gala attendees sampled and voted on cookie creations while sipping signature Cookie Cocktails and bidding on silent and live auction items. The winning cookie concoctions were: Girl Scout’s Choice – For the Love of Sugar; Judge’s Choice – Big Rock Chophouse; CEO’s Choice – Fifty-One O One, Henry Ford College; and People’s Choice – Holiday Market. The event grossed over $174,000. 1. Denise Dalrymple, CEO of GSSEM, of St. Clair Shores and Liz Austin of Ann Arbor. 2. Chelsea Schwartz of Oak Park, Lauren Roumayah of Ferndale, Maureen Paul of St. Clair Shores and Genevieve Mundy of Troy. 3. Sue Crysler of Northville, Elizabeth CallahanMorris of Franklin and Lisa Panah of Birmingham. 4. Brad and Diane Cromwell of Rochester.

5. Mary Travis of Huntington Woods and Kelly Hauson of Eastpointe. 6. Sharon Berke and Judy Bell of Huntington Woods. 7. Julie Dawson of Birmingham and Marc Berke of Huntington Woods.

8. Nikki Horn of W. Bloomfield, Ryan Warsh of W. Bloomfield and Abi Berlin of Ferndale.

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SOCIETY NOTEBOOK/GIGI NICHOLS

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Holy Name School Ladies Luncheon

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Oakland Hills Country Club served as the venue for Holy Name Catholic School PSO’s Ladies Luncheon. Just over 100 women attended the event which included socializing, shopping with local vendors and a Chinese Raffle. Guests also enjoyed the opportunity to receive a mini makeover by Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue or hair styling courtesy of Blo Birmingham. The community building event was chaired by Lauren Marougy and Elizabeth Mitchell. Proceeds will fund and support the education of Holy Name students in preschool through eighth grade.

1. Co-chairs Lauren Marougy of Commerce Twp. and Elizabeth Mitchell of Birmingham.

2. Susan Vincenti of Birmingham and Amy Frasco of Birmingham. 3. Michelle St. Andrew of Beverly Hills and Kirsten Galayda of Bloomfield. 4. Tammy Freitag and Nancy Fullerton of Birmingham. 5. Kirsten Barnds of Birmingham and Marsha Riess of Fort Wayne, IN. 6. Sally Najor of Troy, Rita Ankatcha of Troy and Wendy Shamoon of Birmingham.

7. Jill Sesplankis of Birmingham and Stephanie Lazar of Bloomfield.

8. Allison Larson, Bloomfield, Mitzi Melstrom of Rochester and Lynn Melstrom of Birmingham.

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Alternatives for Girls

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Over 350 people attended Alternatives for Girls annual Role Model Dinner which was held at the MGM, Detroit. Honorees included Dr. Althea Simpson, Director of Discipleship, Franklin Community Church; Lashinda Stair, First Assistant Chief of Police, Detroit Police Department; and Linda Taliaferro, Vice President of Global Quality, Meritor, Inc. This year’s event was co-chaired by Faye Nelson and Pam Rodgers, and raised $287,000. The funds will be used to support crucial programs and educational assistance for homeless and high-risk girls and young women. 1. Natascha Barney of Saline, Christine Stesney-Ridenour of Troy and Lauren Ridenour of Ferndale. 2. Beverly Archer of Auburn Hills and Michal Turner of Oak Park. 3. Jodi Nicholson of Canton and Sue Conway of Bloomfield. 4. Amanda and John Bussa of Beverly Hills. 5. Kim Ray of Brighton and Marlene Martel of Bloomfield. 6. Co-chairs Pam Rogers of Detroit (left) and Faye Nelson of Grosse Pointe (right) with event emcee, Rhonda Walker, WDIV (middle) Photo credit: Jenna Belevender. 7. Rebecca Sorensen of Bloomfield, Muriel Van Dyke of Beverly Hills, Laurie Horvath of West Bloomfield and Rachelle Nozero of Novi.

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ENDNOTE

Civic duty of recycling comes with a cost or years municipal recycling programs operated under the sentiment that “one man's trash is another man's treasure,” but times have changed, and local municipalities and their residents need to recognize those changes, and the costs they bear.

We've grown used to recycling, and the benefits they reap. The items we throw away each week have had value to others – but now, politics and trade wars are playing a hand in our recycling habits. Recyclable materials like used milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, tin cans and old newspapers are suddenly being held hostage somewhere halfway around the world.

Today, the old cliché might be revised to read “one person's trash is another's increased fees.” The change reflects policy changes in China that have essentially stopped the flow in the Asian market which had previously bought nearly half the world's recyclable paper and plastics.

As waste haulers and material recovery facilities serving as recycling centers make adjustments to their operations to adjust to the market collapse caused by China's new policies, some of the companies are asking local residents to shoulder the increased costs. For those that receive curbside recycling services from GFL Environmental, including Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, the company is asking for an additional $2.09 per household per month.

Township and city administration have said they aren't obligated to accept any increases for years, as both are locked in long-term service contracts prior to the market changes. Both expressed reluctance to

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alter their existing contracts, but said they are open to discussions.

Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills officials – as well as other communities with longterm contracts – should be encouraged to be open to negotiating with GFL or other service providers, as doing so now not only gives communities leverage in discussions, but ensures recycling programs remain healthy and receive continued participation into the future, something residents increasingly value.

Local communities must be honest about the role they play in the waste stream. As waste haulers are caught paying more for moving recyclables, refusal to accept increased costs could ultimately lead to those materials ending up in landfills in southeast Michigan. Landfills that are already permitted to have massive amounts of capacity beyond that of many neighboring states and have led to Michigan being a dumping grounds for other's trash.

GFL had given communities the option to pay additional costs for recycling or send those materials to the massive incinerator in Detroit, which is no longer an option –having suddenly closed in late March.

While GFL officials said they are looking for alternatives, we don't need a crystal ball to know those communities unwilling to pay will end up seeing their trash go to landfills. Likewise, it's unlikely GFL or other providers will continue to eat the increased costs for long before simply ending recycling services.

At the same time, municipalities should take steps to find long-term solutions and encourage

their service providers do the same. Partnering with neighboring communities and service providers not only helps to keep costs under control, but to support domestic markets instead of relying solely on overseas markets.

The success of municipally-owned waste hauling and recycling authorities, such as SOCRRA, which provides service to Birmingham, along with 11 other communities, and the Resource and Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County, the latter which is operated by Republic Services, is a strong model. Those partnerships have helped to keep member communities from taking on large service fee increases. Likewise, both authorities have continued to invest in their facilities and improve operations.

Residents in the Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills and surrounding communities have long fostered a culture of recycling, with Birmingham being one of the top recycling communities in SOCRRA. While community demographics, such as income and education have long been believed to be determining factors on residential recycling rates, an ongoing study by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) suggests those factors are less important than recycling education on the part of the service providers.

Residential support of recycling programs in those communities with the highest rates has taken decades to achieve. We don't want communities to lose such important support by sending their oncerecycled materials to landfills.

Keys to consensus: civility and compromise n the last few months, both the Birmingham City Commission and Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees have been dealing with significant issues in their communities – and in each, there are factions of the public who disagree with the government bodies, which is their right. What isn't appropriate is the amount of civil discord and downright rudeness that is taking place at meetings.

For some individuals or groups, respect has become a word with no recognition. Whether in our own homes, places of business or government meetings, nothing productive can be achieved when we don't treat others with respect.

In Birmingham, the city and commission are wrestling with a long-developing crisis with the city's parking, and have the opportunity to rebuild one of the city's existing parking structures, the N. Old Woodward garage, and to also develop the site around it with mixed use buildings of retail, residential and commercial buildings, a public plaza, and a bridge over a Rouge River stream to Booth Park. Another long-desired goal would hopefully connect the downtown business district with the N. Old Woodward shopping and dining area. It would be developed in a public/private partnership with a group chosen after a long process, Woodward Bates,

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LLC, and the city is in the midst of public meetings where they are reviewing the development agreement, design reviews, site plans, costs and timelines.

Bloomfield Township is facing a predicament due to unfunded liabilities in the township's Other PostEmployee Benefits (OPEB) trust fund related to retiree costs. Contrary to what a few vocal residents contend, they do not have a budget problem due to mismanagement of daily finances, but a dilemma because over decades the township had not funded retiree benefits, choosing pay-as-you-go. However, in the last year, Michigan enacted a law, Public Act 202, intended to ensure local retiree health care and pension plans are adequately funded following the bankruptcy of the city of Detroit. Under the new law, the township must provide at least 40 percent of the OPEB Trust is funded within 30 years. Bloomfield Township is in the same boat as several other Michigan municipalities.

However, now they have to find the money up front to fund their benefits, to the tune of $5 million to $7 million annually. After studying a number of options, the township board recently approved putting a proposed $2.3 million tax in the form of a 15-year special assessment district before voters in

August which would be dedicated to public safety operations, replacing the township's public safety millages. The reason is a majority of the unfunded liabilities are for police and fire employees, and it will provide enough money for the benefits and to fund public safety operations. They also anticipate making some cuts after the vote.

In both communities, the vitriol and lack of decorum and civility is not only inappropriate but counterproductive.

Public forums deserve public behavior, so vitriol must be left at home.

Meanwhile, as a side note for public officials, we understand the need for established rules for operating public meetings, hence the two- or threeminute time limits on those wishing to speak at public sessions. But on major, critical issues facing a municipality, sometimes the suspension of time limits on citizen comment could make sense, providing that the public input is not just a steady stream of speakers repeating the same concerns as prior speakers. A temporary suspension of the rules on critical issues – on a trial basis at some meetings – might be a good compromise that could help restore civility.

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