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DOWNTOWN
19
CRIME MAP
A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format, plus a reminder about our online interactive map with story details on public safety incidents.
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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL
Senate race digital divide; ethics issue clouds Woodward run; possible Rocky campaign trail return; Rogers now has primary challenge; Republicans jump into Dem congressional stronghold; karma for hard-right Schriver; plus more.
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MUNICIPAL
Hunter House changing location; city manager pay hike; birmingham’s new retailers; revamped digs for police department; township road advisory committee update; plus more.
Birmingham Next Executive Director Cris Braun writes about the approaching holidays as a time of year many of us look forward to — but what no one likes to talk about is the holidays hit different when you're older
THE COMMUNITY HOUSE
Alison Gaudreau, President of The Community House, writes about the value of collaboration among the nonprofit groups in the local community.
INTELLIGENCER
Gigi Nichols provides readers with quick takes on what is happening in the world of food and drink in the metro area.
We give our opinion on who we think voters should consider first from the field of candidates seeking office in November and our thoughts on the Bloomfield Hills Schools millage request We also comment on the proposed transparency effort at the county. 72
Photo by Laurie Tennent
PUBLISHER
David Hohendorf
NEWS EDITOR
Lisa Brody
NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS
Hillar y Brody Anchill | Cris Braun | Dana Casadei | Tracy Donohue | Stacy Gittleman | Austen Hohendorf
Grace Lovins | Jeanine Matlow | Katey Meisner | Gigi Nichols | Susan Peck | Carla Schwartz | Michael Scott | Mark H Stowers
PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS
Laurie Tennent | Matthew Cromwell | Theodore Michael | Mackenzie O'Brien
Laurie Tennent Studio
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
David Hohendorf
ADVERTISING SALES
Mark Grablowski
GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER
Chris Grammer
OFFICE
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MAILING PO Box 1630 Birmingham MI 48012-1630
DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE GOALS/MISSION
The personnel at Downtown Newsmagazine bring a special commitment to the publishing effort, reinvesting in the local communities and working to make sure the Birmingham/Bloomfield area reaches its highest potential Our mission dictates that we strive each month to provide a solid news and advertising product that local residents look forward to reading Our goal is to build a community of informed citizens through the efforts of our passionate team We are innovators producing products that go well beyond what others offer
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 To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (downtownpublications com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order 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 Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications com or mailed to Downtown Publications, PO Box 1630 Birmingham MI 48012-1630 If you are using the mail option, you must include a phone number for verification purposes
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DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE downtownpublications com
C R I M E M A P
w n p u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m . W a n t w e e k l y u p d a t e s o n p u b l i c s a f e t y s t o r i e s ? S i g n u p f o r o u r w e e k l y u p d a t e e m a i l n e w s l e t t e r a t d o w n t o w n p u b l i c a t i o n s c o m S e x u a l a s s a u l t A s s a u l t M u r d e r / H o m i c i d e R o b b e r y B r e a k i n g / e n t e r i n g L a r c e n y V e h i c l e t h e f t L a r c e n y f r o m v e h i c l e V a n d a l i s m D r u g o f f e n s e s A r s o n M a p k e y N O R T H
I N C O M I N G
Endangerment Finding
For the past few years, Michigan summers have been increasingly mar red by a haze of wildfire smoke a stark reminder of climate change that chokes our skies and our lungs
That is why the Tr ump EPA’s new proposal to rollback the “Endanger ment Finding” is so dangerously shor t-sighted For nearly twenty years, this scientific fact that greenhouse gases har m our health has been the basis of key clean air protections, upheld by the Supreme Cour t
This finding is the tool that empowers the EPA to restrict the pollutants driving climate change from major industries Weakening it would ignore decades of scientific consensus, putting polluters ahead of the health of our children, seniors, and communities
The American Lung Association war ns this would be a “dangerous setback for health ” For Michigan, repealing this finding means more lung-searing ozone pollution and more intense wildfires filling our air with smoke It directly leads to more asthma attacks and premature deaths for the most vulnerable among us
Beyond air quality, these climate impacts fuel more extreme weather across our state, causing unpredictable floods that over whelm our sewers, longer droughts that threaten far m yields and water levels, and stronger windstor ms that cause widespread power outages "
The EPA has a responsibility to protect all Americans from escalating climate threats
Liz Busch City Commissioner Mount Pleasant
SPEAK OUT
Clean energy regression
According to global energy think tank Ember, combined renewable energy sources over took coal as the world' s largest source of electricity this year While this is cer tainly encouraging, an in-depth look reveals a mixed picture
Developing nations, China in par ticular, led the way in transitioning to clean energy Although it continues to build coal-bur ning power plants, it has added more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined India also saw significant growth in renewables
Meanwhile, rich nations such as the United States saw a regression
The Inter national Energy Agency changed its prior prediction about renewable energy growth in the U S : in 2024, it predicted that it would add 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 a figure that has since been halved to 250 GW
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: the U S should follow China’s lead on the climate front
Luke Daniels
Rochester
CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION
In the Downtown longfor m in our October issue on federal financial threats to K-12 school districts that do not abandon DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies, our writer drew a conclusion that “ The Troy School District stated that it squarely stands behind initiatives and a culture steeped in DEI,” which can be viewed as as a quote from Troy Pubic Schools Director of Communications Kendra Montante It was not par t of a statement by the district but a conclusion of the writer The district, in an email to Downtown, had said: "We understand that DEI can mean different things to different people In Troy, our emphasis is not on politics but on creating welcoming environments where students from all backgrounds, whether cultural, religious, linguistic, or personal, feel connected and valued For example, our cur riculum continues to include a wide variety of course offerings, including world languages such as Spanish, Chinese, French and several others We also suppor t student-led clubs, which provide spaces for students to connect with peers who share common interests, including cultural and affinity groups " The response from Montante included: “As for federal or state policy changes, our approach is simple: we will always follow the laws and regulations in place At the same time, we remain committed to providing high-quality educational experiences that reflect the rich diversity of our community ”
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Oakland Confidential is a column of political gossip/news, gathered both on and off-therecord We welcome possible items for this column which can be emailed to: OaklandConfidential@DowntownPublications com All sources are kept strictly confidential
DIGITAL DIVIDE: State Senator Mallor y McMor row (D -Royal Oak, Bir mingham, Detroit), who is r unning for the Democratic nod for U S Senator, is the darling of Instagram and MSNBC, where she asser ts she is “closer to the ground” and Michigan constituents than her fellow candidates, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D - Oakland County) and for mer Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed “ We have to meet people where they are, not expect them to come to us, ” McMor row said to political commentator Chris Cillizza for his Substack series But on the ground level, whispers are getting louder that in real life, while McMor row is attending events – touring the state on brewer y tours seeking out younger voters, asser ting she is a young voice r unning for office, even though all three are roughly the same age – she is not only aloof when long-time volunteers and local media reach out to her, she just downright ghosts them for the brighter lights of the national spotlight “I volunteered on her past two campaigns, have seen her at numerous events, she knows me by name, and she just walked right past me at two recent events,” said one more mature par ticipant A fellow state senator expressed surprise that Stevens hasn’t gotten more media and social media traction, noting that she has passed significant legislation during her three ter ms in Congress, by far surpassing McMor row during her two ter ms in office We are hearing that the Stevens camp was adver tising for a social media position but no word on whether a hire was made Beefing up that par t of her campaign is long overdue McMor row has set the pace online as the “cool girl” when it comes to social media, even being featured in WIRED magazine in late September as one of the 22 “online upstar ts” in the nation changing the face of politics If you are over 50+, not to wor r y, McMor row still wants your vote as evidenced by the taxpayer-funded franking piece she recently sent out to households in her sprawling state Senate district
FAKING IT: In the “don’t believe what your eyes tell you ” categor y, as AI becomes more prevalent, political candidates are tur ning to ar tificial intelligence to craf t their own nar ratives, even if they are blatantly false Bir mingham attor ney Kevin Kijewski, who is r unning for the GOP nomination for attor ney general, must have thought he’d gain an upper hand with the MAGA base when he posted a ver y false video of Democratic U S Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on social media, alleging to show El-Sayed lighting a chair on fire in the beautiful lobby of Detroit’s Guardian Building In his initial post, Kijewski alleged that El-Sayed was as bad as the individual who assassinated the late Charlie Kirk “Lighting Fires, Walking Away: Abdul El-Sayed posts the same false inflammator y rhetoric that radicalized Charlie Kirk’s killer, on the eve of Charlie’s funeral No class, but not surprising - he just doesn’t care Abdul sets fires and walks away, fanning division without taking any accountability,” he wrote on X El-Sayed hit back against the spread of disinfor mation “ You’d think that someone r unning for attor ney general might want to respect the law regarding the use of fake imager y designed to incite hatred,” he responded Kijewski responded on social media that it was satire and “obvious fiction ” Sound familiar? Kijewski will face Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd and attor ney Matt DePer no at the Michigan GOP convention for the AG nod
CREATING A RACE: The open 11th District congressional seat, created when cur rent Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D - Oakland County) announced she was r unning for the open U S Senate seat that developed when Senator Gar y Peters (D -Bloomfield Township) announced his retirement, is getting busier While r umors have swirled for months (of ten self-generated) that Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair Dave Woodward would jump into the Democratic primar y for the seat, it’s looking less and less likely with an ethics controversy star ting to cloud his
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name State Senator Jeremy Moss (D -Southfield, Bloomfield Township, Franklin, Beverly Hills) had announced last spring he was r unning for the seat, and has generated great excitement – and funding – so far raising just over $627,000 since the star t of last May Despite r umors that Woodward had intimidated donors not to give to Moss pending his entrance to the campaign, Moss said that is absolutely not tr ue, and that no one he had approached had declined him “ With redistricting, between the two Senate seats I have ser ved half of the residents of the 11th District,” he noted “Anybody can throw bombs; anybody can get likes on social media; and anybody can introduce bills Not ever yone is a lawmaker like I am ” Moss is facing primar y opposition from Don Ufford of Bloomfield Township, a retired Ford engineer who said he raised about $350,000 since announcing his campaign in August “ The early momentum we ’ ve built shows that our message is resonating and that we have the resources to win,” Ufford said in a statement Also r unning for the Dem nomination is attor ney Aisha Farooqi of Sterling Heights, who has ser ved on the zoning board of appeals for the city of Sterling Heights and has been a member of the Macomb County Black Caucus and the MuslimJewish Advisor y Council of Detroit
NOT GIVING IN: While the 11th District is considered a Democratic stronghold, Republicans Anthony Paesano of Bloomfield Township and Mike Steger of Berkley have announced they are r unning to replace Haley Stevens in Congress A corporate and real estate attor ney, Paesano previously unsuccessfully ran for the 19th District of the Michigan House in 2022, losing to Democrat Samantha Steckloff to represent Bloomfield Township, par t of Bir mingham, Far mington and Far mington Hills On his campaign website, Steger says, “ We need to rebuild our nation’s manufacturing base, expand oour energy infrastr ucture, and reestablish our cultural commitment to honesty, hard work, and pride in America We are at a critical point in our nation and in our politics Decades of failed leadership have gutted our factories in places like Pontiac, shipped our jobs overseas, and buried us in debt from endless wars and banker bailouts To make this happen, we will invest in new infrastr ucture and new moder n factories so our industries and skilled trades can thrive We’ll revive the era where America leads in production, and we’ll invent the new technologies of the future right here in southeast Michigan ”
HOME TO ROOST: Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chair Dave Woodward (D) is facing strong headwinds thanks to a scandal of his own making, af ter fellow commissioners and some state lawmakers questioned his paid consulting work for the Sheetz gas station chain, which is locating in several Oakland County communities In early October, clearly in response to Woodward’s ethical debacle and some other ethical questions at the county level, highlighted by the two Detroit dailies, , Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter (D) took the bull by the hor ns and announced sweeping new ethics and conflict of interest refor m packages for all county elected and senior appointed officials, noting the county ’ s proposed refor ms go fur ther than the state law by closing loopholes, eliminating spousal exemptions and establishing an Ethics Ombudsperson All outside income sources greater than $10,000 must now be repor ted, where previously there was no dollar threshold “Oakland County is better than this I will not allow recent political discord and lack of transparency to under mine the tr ust our residents place in us and the progress we are making We have too much impor tant work to do,” Coulter said in a statement He said the county clerk’s office would maintain disclosure for ms online and be accessible to all residents “Let me be ver y clear: this refor m must happen,” Coulter said “Oakland County leads by
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example, and we will continue to lead by showing that gover nment can be open, accountable, and beyond question ” Woodward said he “fully suppor ts” Coulter ’ s proposal The brouhaha at the county has inspired state Representative and Senate candidate Donni Steele (R-Nor ther n Oakland, Bloomfield Hills and par t of Bloomfield Township) to also introduce an expansion of the state financial disclosure law from 2023 that would include financial repor ting for county commissioners and executive directors in counties with a population over 150,000 residents – all 16 of the 83 counties in the state, including the big three – Oakland, Wayne and Macomb
GOOSE AND THE GANDER: Bill Pulte, of the Pulte Homes family who is now the Tr ump-appointed director of the federal Housing and Finance Agency, recently created some waves when he accused Federal Reser ve gover nor Lisa Cook, from Michigan, of claiming a homestead tax exemption on both a residence in this and another state, which would result in lower proper ty tax rates Pulte tur ned his allegation, which is questionable, over to the attor ney general who has the Justice Depar tment investigating Tr ump, in tur n, used the claim of “fraud” to fire Cook, whom he wanted to replace with someone more aggressive in cutting interest rates Cook is now battling the issue in cour t Now we lear n, first repor ted in September by Reuters, that Bill Pulte’s father Mark and stepmother Julie have been guilty since 2020 of claiming both their house in Bloomfield Township, which is now rented out, and a residence in Boca Raton, Florida, repor tedly purchased in 2016 for $4 25 million, as their primar y residences When brought to the attention of Bloomfield officials, the news ser vice said the Michigan homestead tax exemption was immediately removed on the proper ty here, and a bill for revised taxes, interest and any penalties was on its way
GOP LEADERSHIP CONFAB: The September Michigan Republicans 36th Biennial Leadership Conference on Mackinac is usually fer tile ground for a number of gossip items from the get-together, star ting with the obser vation from several of those in attendance who said that unlike other gatherings in the past couple of years, the GOP seems to be more united, much like “the old days,” as one obser ver ’ s assessment put it As is standard practice at this confab, there was the straw poll of how Republicans viewed the par ty ’ s race for gover nor Congressman John (what am I r unning for this month) James came in four th in the poll with a repor ted 14 percent of the approximate 500 votes cast at the gathering
A number of par ty members were critical of the lack of effor t and early exit from the conference by James Coming in second in the straw poll was for mer House Speaker Tom Leonard at 23 5 percent, and in third place was for mer AG Mike Cox with 18 5 percent A number of lessor known candidates rounded out the polling Leading the straw poll was cur rent state Senator Aric Nesbitt with 29 percent One par ty insider pointed out that in the last two past straw votes held at the conference, the winner of the poll ended up being the primar y victor for the office of gover nor
MORE ON NESBIT T: A long-time Tr ump acolyte, Republican Aric Nesbitt has an established histor y in the House and Senate as a member of the anti-abor tion faction and a lawmaker who has not voted in suppor t of adding discrimination protection for members of the LGBTQ+ community He was among five Republicans voting against the most recent state budget And, to call into question the supposed kumbaya of the “united” par ty, Nesbitt is now pushing to rename the state gover nment Elliott-Larsen building, so named in 2020 to honor Detroit Democrat Rep Daisy Elliott and Republican Rep Mel Larsen of nor th Oakland at the time for their bi-par tisan civil rights act signed into law in Januar y 1977 by Republican Gover nor William Milliken The building was originally named af ter Michigan’s second gover nor, Lewis Cass, a slave owner who was instr umental in helping to remove indigenous Indians when he was in Washington D C The proposed new name? Yep – Donald Tr ump
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OF ROCKY: With Congressman John James giving up his 10th district seat (Rochester, Rochester Hills and most of souther n Macomb County) to make a r un gover nor, the r umor mill keeps spinning out possible contenders for 2026 Occasionally we hear mention of for mer Oakland County Republican chair Rock y Raczkowski as one still looking at getting into this contest, depending on what Bloomfield-area Republican Kevin Rinke, of Rinke Automotive fame, decides on either to r un for gover nor or this seat in Congress Rocky, considered a law and order state House member from 1997-2003, ran for Congress in 2002 but lost to Carl Levin (60 6 to 37 9) and he lost to Gar y Peters in a 2010 contest for Congress One obser ver still places Rocky as among the 2026 possibles, noting that the 10th district leans Catholic and has an estimated 133,000 people of Polish descent, which would play in his favor
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NEWS FOR ROGERS: Considerable energy was expended behind the scenes locally and in D C earlier this year to make sure that Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) had no primar y opposition in the U S Senate race next year That effor t included basically strong-ar ming west Michigan Republican congressman Bill Huizenga not to enter the race, and potential donors not to lend any suppor t, to the disappointment of some par ty members Now comes Genevieve Peters Scott of Royal Oak who has announced, once again, that she will compete with the Florida-transplant Rogers for the Senate seat like she did when the for mer congressman ran in 2024 Yes, Rogers only lost by 19,000 votes in the general election to Elissa Slotkin but there are many who were not impressed by his primar y election victor y numbers – 52 83 percent –against Peters Scott who took 42 45 percent She made an appearance at the recent GOP Mackinac confab with one attendee ranking a speech she made as “ so bad The woman is a disaster ” Peters Scott bills herself as the “America First Candidate” and is of ten labeled as the “Stop The Steel” leader who some say has past ties to the White Nationalist Proud Boys Think Januar y 6 mob action Even more concer ning, some prognosticators say, is the likelihood that her entr y will push Rogers even fur ther to the fringe right to appease the sycophant MAGA element in the par ty, noting that he had already star ted sliding to the hard right like a Tr ump disciple before she made her recent announcement
KARMA: Props to the folks at the Detroit Metro Times (metrotimes com) and jour nalist Steven Neavling for an expose ’ on October 7 about Oakland County state Representative Josh Schriver (R- Oxford), noted hard-right Christian Nationalist, who supposedly had years ago an account with a por n website The infor mation about the alleged por n website membership of Schriver was revealed in a data breach involving the por n site According to the Metro Times stor y, “ The leaked infor mation, verified by the cybersecurity database SnusBase, lists Schriver ’ s email address and a profile indicating sexual interests including “fetish” and “ groupsex ” The account was last accessed on September 11, 2010, according to breach data ” Schriver ’ s office has denied he ever had a connection with the por n website The Metro Times stor y says that the timing of Schriver ’ s use of the website coincides with his time in college at Michigan State University in East Lansing For those unfamiliar with Schriver, he is cur rently pushing legislation to ban por nography in Michigan, has been associated with Great Replacement Theor y postings, suppor ted making same-sex mar riages illegal, and opposed bills that would ban child mar riages Nuf said
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FA C E S
Jim DeWald
The Detroit Lions recently honored Seaholm High School physical education teacher and football coach Jim DeWald as the second week recipient of the 2025 Detroit Lions High School Football Coach of the Week Program, presented by Carhartt.
According to the Detroit Lions’ website, each week through the 2025 regular football season, one coach is recognized for their commitment to team, school and community as well as success on the field and development of players’ character, discipline and football skills with an emphasis on player health and safety.
“I didn’t expect it I was shocked when they reached out to me,” he said, adding “Receiving this honor was very humbling It follows many years of hard work and being surrounded by a great coaching team It’s been a cool journey God works in mysterious ways, and I’ve been very lucky and blessed ”
DeWald is in his 24th season of coaching high school football and his 14th season as head coach at Seaholm High School. Earlier this season, DeWald became the winningest football coach in Seaholm’s history Prior to his current position, he coached at Andover High School and Pontiac Northern High School
“Teaching and coaching kids makes you stay young You see yourself and some of your friends at that age in certain kids – they are young, like to laugh, and have insecurities and innocence about them. I watch the development from freshman to senior years and I’m so proud of them It’s a joy watching them grow and helping to push each of them toward being a better person and member of society,” he explained
“My job as a coach is getting my players to take their training and use it to execute and learn from their mistakes and hopefully not repeat them They need to know that I’m trustworthy and have their best interests at heart.”
DeWald grew up in Tustin, California where he played several sports with football being his favorite He moved to Michigan to attend and play football for Western Michigan University (WMU) where he played on the offensive line and was team captain After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in physical education, he continued his education at the university by earning a master’s degree in athletic administration while launching his football coaching career as a graduate assistant
During his WMU years, he met his wife, Erin Keating DeWald, a Birmingham native and fourth generation realtor, which brought him to the Birmingham area instead of returning to California after graduation
“Seaholm is a special place, and I love teaching and coaching here. I live in the community, and my wife and kids went to Seaholm I was able to coach both of my boys, James and Caden, and that was really cool,” said the Birmingham resident
“Outside of school, I’m just a normal dude who’s addicted to golf when it’s not football season. I love to cook and sit outside with my wife listening to music with a glass of wine or to go on a date night with her,” he said. “I’ve come to really appreciate the simple pleasures in life ”
Through his decades of teaching and coaching, DeWald reflected: “My advice to other coaches is to trust your heart and gut and to be consistent – being consistent is hard but it’s so important Every single day, kids need truth, consistency and to know the expectations without any guessing games. They also need excitement and fun ”
He added, “Through the ups and downs, I appreciate what sports did for me I believe kids are still kids, but society has changed around them Kids still want to learn and do their best – they’re tough and resilient so parents don’t always need to jump in and do things for them They’ll step forward and figure it out ”
which flows into Lake Erie, was so polluted with toxic chemicals dumped from nearby industrial plants that it caught on fire in 1969 Shor tly thereaf ter, the oil-fouled Rouge River in Detroit also caught fire. Those events prompted the creation of one of the nation’s greatest federal institutions the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Decades of bipar tisan policies and regulations were passed, giving Americans cer tainty that the water they drank and swam in and the air they breathed would be cleaner than in previous generations and protected for generations to come
Now, the Tr ump administration is in full swing of dismantling key policies of the EPA It has put the gears of environmental policy in reverse, stepped on the carbon-emitting gas pedal, and is accelerating the nation backward at warp speed to the alar m of environmental exper ts and public health officials
The rollbacks and deregulations occur ring are too numerous to document, from deregulating the responsibility of greenhouse gasbelching industries to track emissions, incentivizing and ordering coal-fired electric power plants to stay open, easing restrictions for polluting industries and neutering or eliminating gover nment repor ting on environmental conditions The EPA and the Tr ump administration rationalize that these deregulations are necessar y to usher in “ The Great American Comeback” for American businesses, industries and manufacturing
This drastic U-tur n from generating decades of policies and funding to encourage the research and development of cleaner energy and products that slow the acceleration of climate change to unraveling it all in less than a year is causing chaos and disr uption in industries and businesses across the board
Michigan’s vital automotive industr y was already well on the way to long-ter m strategic plans with greener practices, such as developing automobiles that r un on cleaner energy like electricity, batteries or hydrogen fuel cells Energy companies building their wind and solar por tfolios to supply the grid with electricity have witnessed the elimination of funding for wind and solar research and development incentives
From a funding and personnel standpoint, environmental watchdogs lament that the EPA has been gutted Decades of policy precedents to preser ve and improve our air, land and water at the EPA are on the chopping block This includes setting emission limits for legacy polluters and encouraging the continuation of the use of coal, gas and oil to produce electricity
The Environmental Data and Gover nance Initiative, a group of volunteer academics, repor ted that beginning in September, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin fired one out of ever y three full-time employees at the agency The cuts were facilitated by executive orders such as the creation of the Depar tment of Gover nment
Efficiency (DOGE) and circumvented any discussion in Congress as to how these cuts and layoffs would impact the environment, public health and gover nment transparency
In May, Zeldin’s budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning in October 2025 included cutting 1,274 full-time-equivalent employee positions from a total of 14,130 in the year ending September 30, 2025 That is a nine percent reduction
In July, the EPA announced it had already cut 3,707 of 16,155 employees, 23 percent of its personnel Conser vatively, the Environmental Data and Gover nance Initiative estimates that the agency ’ s workforce has now been cut by one quar ter This does not include anticipated cuts to two -thirds of the EPA’s researchers
Ultimately, by Januar y 2026, the workforce at the EPA will be whittled down to under 10,000
To accelerate the “Great American Comeback” for industr y and manufacturing, the EPA in September scrapped its requirements for thousands of coal-bur ning power plants, oil refineries and steel mills to repor t the amount of greenhouse gases they release into the air
This data collection has been a key tool for tracking carbon dioxide, methane and other climate-changing gases since 2010 through the Greenhouse Gas Repor ting Program According to the EPA, the compliance savings to businesses from this deregulation would amount to $2 4 billion over the next decade In another move related to the mercur y-emitting coal industr y, the EPA also defended its decision to repeal the Biden Administration’s 2024 Mercur y and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) technology review
In a statement emailed to Downtown regarding the EPA’s decisions to repeal several longstanding policies, the agency said the proposed repeal of the 2024 MATS Amendments would save $1 2 billion in regulator y costs over a decade, or about $120 million a year
The EPA maintains that the original 2012 MATS requirement will remain in effect
“ The 2012 MATS r ule for coal plants provided an ample margin of safety to protect public health, which we retained in the Tr ump EPA’s proposal,” stated the EPA “ The 2012 MATS has driven sharp reductions in har mful air toxic pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants ”
Backing up this statement, the EPA said that industr y-repor ted emissions show that 2021 mercur y emissions from coal-fired plants were 90 percent lower than pre-MATS levels Since 2010, emissions that caused har mful acid rain that plagued the nation in the 1970s and 1980s have been reduced by over 96 percent, and emissions of the non-mercur y metals including nickel, arsenic and lead have been reduced by more than 81 percent
Oil and gas pipeline industries are not excused from repor ting emissions Those were mandated by Congress under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act However, the EPA is proposing to allow these facilities to postpone repor ting until 2034, and Congressional Republicans have delayed related methane fee requirements until the same year
Of all the rollbacks of regulations, environmental and healthcare professionals are most concer ned about the EPA’s proposal to completely rescind the landmark 2009 Endanger ment
Finding They describe this policy as the keystone for establishing and creating greenhouse gas emissions regulations to stave off climate change and protect public health
The 2009 Endanger ment Finding originated from a 2007 landmark Supreme Cour t Ruling, Massachusetts v EPA, which solidified the EPA’s authority under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the automotive industr y that threaten public health and welfare
It was draf ted during the George H Bush administration and codified into law in the Barack Obama administration
According to the Institute of Policy Integrity at the NYU School of Law, the EPA craf ted the policy from a vast body of peerreviewed science and thousands of public comments proving that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles har m public health
Since its enactment in 2010, it has catalyzed the creation of many standards for greenhouse gas emissions reduction for vehicles ranging from sedans all the way through industrial tr ucks and heavy-duty vehicles
By eliminating this landmark policy, the Tr ump administration has proposed to slash 15 years of environmental progress in one fell swoop
The Tr ump administration’s proposal to over tur n the Endanger ment Finding also coincides with broad cancellations of research grants that would have studied the health effects of heat and air pollution It defies a June 2025 EPA analysis, which found that the proposed repeal of carbon dioxide limits would result in a public health cost of $130 billion That figure includes premature deaths, lost workdays and hospitalizations for things like lung and hear t diseases or asthma caused by exposure to power plant pollution
(on vehicles and stationar y sources of gas emissions) ”
Remarks at this press conference drew the ire of healthcare, policy and environmental officials who argue that the reversals are not based on science or law but about giving kickbacks to the fossil fuel and big tr ucking industries, which financed Tr ump ’ s 2024 presidential campaign
The EPA gave its reasons for wanting to rescind the 2009 Endanger ment Finding: “ The Endanger ment Finding is the legal prerequisite used by the Obama and Biden Administrations to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines Absent this finding, EPA would lack statutor y authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to prescribe standards for greenhouse gas emissions ”
The EPA maintained that since the 2009 Endanger ment Finding was issued, “ The American people and auto manufacturing have suffered from significant uncer tainties and massive costs related to general regulations of greenhouse gases from vehicles and tr ucks ” By rolling back the 2009 Endanger ment Finding, the EPA said it is proposing to provide much-needed cer tainty and regulator y relief, so companies can plan appropriately, and the American people can have affordable choices when deciding to buy a car
“ The Endanger ment Finding only relates to greenhouse emissions from motor vehicles and does not relate to any traditional air pollution, and those standards would remain in effect if this decision is finalized,” stated the EPA
“Additionally, regulations from the previous administration imposed massive costs on coal, oil, and gas-fired power plants, raising the cost of living for American families, imperiling the reliability of our electric grid, and limiting American energy prosperity,” stated the EPA “ While accomplishing EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment, the Tr ump EPA is committed to fulfilling President Tr ump ’ s promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industr y, restore the r ule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions ”
Pulmonologists across the countr y are sounding off and raising the alar m bells at the proposed reversal of policies designed to keep the air cleaner and slow climate change
Dr Alexander Rabin, a pulmonologist and professor at the University of Michigan, shif ted his focus to climate change and air quality advocacy af ter noticing impacts on lung health during the Tr ump administration’s environmental policy changes His work now centers on promoting clean air policies
“I work mainly with veterans who receive care from the Veterans Administration,” Rabin said in an inter view with Downtown as he drove from Ann Arbor to Troy on his way to give a talk to a group of occupational health doctors “ With no exaggeration, I am hearing complaints about breathing issues from all my patients, and my colleagues across the countr y are hearing it too Especially the ones who have long-standing diseases such as COPD They experience elevated breathing issues all summer They tell me they cannot breathe because the air and the smoke are so bad ”
at a big tr uck manufacturing plant in Indiana, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in July proposed “the most comprehensive rolling back of environmental emissions stringencies in American histor y ” as he proposed to unravel the 2009 Endanger ment Finding because he claimed it was a gross distor tion of Section 202 of the Clean Air Act
“ We want to hear from the American public to finalize a regulation that not only proposes to rescind the Endanger ment Finding, but all greenhouse gas emissions regulations that followed it on light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles,” Zeldin said “ The EPA (of the past) made many mental leaps in its creative interpretation of Section 202 of the Clean Air Act That resulted in trillions of dollars of regulations
Rabin does as best he can to advise patients when breathing conditions get tough: watch out for air quality aler ts, invest in indoor air filtration systems and limit outdoor activity
“ The clinical realities of today are ver y wor risome,” Rabin said “ The Tr ump administration is taking a sledgehammer to vir tually all the impor tant air quality regulations that have been put in place over the last 50 years, since the EPA came into being, and that includes the Clean Air Act The call to rescind the 2009 Endanger ment Finding is the one that really sends a chill down my spine ”
Out on the West Coast, Erika Maria Mosesón is a pulmonologist in Por tland, Oregon She ser ves on the American Environmental Health Policy Committee of the Inter national Thoracic Society, comprised of 30,000 respirator y health professionals across the globe She also produces the podcast Air Health Our Health, where she discusses her obser vations on how air quality events impact those suffering from
chronic lung diseases such as asthma and COPD, and young children
As a clinician, she makes rounds in hospital intensive care units and sees an uptick in patient loads during wildfire smoke and heat dome events Mosesón said that rollbacks in environmental emissions standards, coupled with the Tr ump administration’s cutbacks in healthcare spending for the most vulnerable populations are “suicidal” in ter ms of the outlook for public health
“Most people want themselves and their kids to be healthy and breathe clean air, though they may disagree from a policy standpoint on how we get there,” said the mother of three “But the approach this administration is taking regarding emissions is ‘ we don’t want to measure it, and we don’t want to acknowledge it, and we don’t want to study it ”
In addition to the proposal for rolling back the 2009 Endanger ment finding, Mosesón is concer ned about the possibility of rolling back the National Ambient Air Quality Standards r ule
In Febr uar y 2024, the EPA strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Par ticulate Matter to protect millions of Americans from har mful and costly health impacts, such as hear t attacks and premature death But in March, Zeldin announced the EPA is revisiting the Biden PM2 5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards to ease bar riers for industrial per mitting
mosesón explained: “pm
2 5 par ticulate matter is this tiny air pollutant that is a fraction of the width of a human hair. It is the main par ticulate that comes from wildfire smoke It is dangerous to inhale because it is so tiny that it can slip through cell walls, enter the bloodstream, and cause the potential for disease in ever y organ as it circulates through the body It can cause cardiovascular disease, strokes, and har m to growing children who are growing up in areas notoriously polluted We were making such headway with EPA policies, and now we are at risk of losing all that ”
She continued: “ Wildfire smoke events can be perceived as one- off finite events, but they are becoming more commonplace So, if you lif t restrictions on pollution emitters on top of the increase of wildfire smoke events, you are going to have the public breathing unhealthy air all the time ”
Ultimately, Mosesón said healthcare professionals must speak up about what they are obser ving in their patients and how their health is being affected by the environment “I think as a general r ule, doctors are scientists and feel they cannot speak to an issue unless they are thoroughly knowledgeable in all the nuances of a topic But ever yone, especially healthcare professionals, should be speaking up and telling the gover nment that we can all benefit from safer, cleaner air and water ”
Despite all the cuts, the EPA describes its strategy as one of streamlining the agency to maintain levels of sustaining the environment while easing restrictions and regulations to make it easier to create paths of prosperity for the manufacturing and energy sectors of the economy
In the statement emailed to Downtown, the EPA said that the EPA under the Tr ump administration is working to advance its core mission of protecting human health and the environment while “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative
“ This includes ensuring that ALL American has access to clean air, water, and land regardless of regardless of race, gender, creed, or background,” read the statement “Likewise, EPA is bound by laws
established by Congress not what some would like the law to say including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act ”
Mike Shriberg is director of the University of Michigan Water Center at the university ’ s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Reflecting on the period since Tr ump was inaugurated for the second time, he said the EPA cuts have decimated the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Lab (GREL) to efficiently monitor the Great Lakes for contaminants such as har mful algal blooms that impact the health of the water for drinking, fishing and recreational purposes In the most acute example, a har mful algal bloom in Lake Erie in 2014 lef t 500,000 residents of the city of Toledo without clean tap water for two weeks
Since 1974, GREL has conducted vital chemical, physical and biological research on the Great Lakes It provides data on the state of the Great Lakes to water managers and policy makers for the eight Great Lakes states With collected data, lab researchers develop computer models to predict conditions such as waves, water levels, cur rents, ice cover, oil spills, and har mful algal bloom movement All this infor mation is made available to the public and policymakers to prepare for events such as stor ms and changes in water quality
The federal cuts have stripped away much of the lab’s research and forecasting abilities, Shriberg lamented
“Up until recently, I spent half of my time working at the NOAA lab, as it funded many programs and research on the Great Lakes,” explained Shriberg “Now, we have a third fewer people working there than we did in Januar y And this is before even more cuts and more staff reductions, which we know are coming ”
Shriberg said because of Tr ump ’ s cuts to the lab, the Great Lakes and, therefore, the communities that rely on them as a resource,are less healthy and safe For example, there are fewer employees to physically get out in the water and forecast har mful algal blooms or, when they occur, check on their severity
With Tr ump ’ s cuts, Shriberg said NOAA’s capacity to monitor the waters of the Great Lakes for har mful algal blooms is stymied by 80 percent
While there is satellite technology being developed and deployed to monitor and track har mful algal blooms from space, as Downtown repor ted in 2024, Shriberg said scientists still need to physically go out on the waters to take samples of the water, obser ve the characteristics of har mful algal blooms, and collect data from sensorrigged buoys far from shore Before the Tr ump administration, NOAA’s GREL lab maintained, tracked, and collected data from 17 buoys in Lake Erie to monitor the waters for har mful algal blooms Now they only have the budget to r un three
“ These cuts, therefore, are a direct threat to drinking water quality,” Shriberg said “ The Tr ump administration has degraded (the EPA’s) programs and policies and reduced the staff of the people responsible for protecting the Great Lakes so severely that the Great Lakes and the communities that live near them are more vulnerable today than they were at the beginning of the year ”
With fewer staff, GREL has less data at its finger tips to model and prepare for dangerous floods and stor ms, which are becoming more common with climate change
“Locally, we have lost some of our capacity to model where a rainstor m will hit and where localized flooding will occur, ” cautioned Shriberg “Arguably, the biggest impact of climate change in this region is the sudden heavy rain and flash flooding incidents we have recently experienced Our modeling data is receiving less attention That means we are less likely to know when and where a major flood will hit ”
Shriberg added that the Tr ump administration has also burdened the remaining researchers with red tape and bureaucracy All spending over $100,000 a small amount for an agency such as NOAA needs multiple sign- offs at ever y political level up to the Secretar y of Commerce’s office There is also added red tape and threats to longstanding inter national agreements, such as the Great
Lakes Compact Ultimately, all of these drawbacks will result in less safe and dir tier water in the Great Lakes, Shriberg said
If there is one silver lining for the Great Lakes, Shriberg said, it is that Tr ump reversed his decision to restore already congressionally allocated funding to prevent the spread of invasive species such as the sea lamprey and the Asian Carp from encroaching into Lake Michigan This was due to immense bipar tisan political pressure “ The two instances of restoring funding to the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission and the Ar my Corps of Engineers to control the invasive carp and sea lamprey from invading the Great Lakes are some of the rare circumstances I know about where the Tr ump administration came under fire from both sides of the aisle,” Shriberg said “ This money was already appropriated by Congress, so by law, the Tr ump administration was legally required to let those dollars be used But the law has not stopped the Tr ump administration from the many other cuts he has done Many of the other cuts have been car ried out not through congressional approval but through executive orders ” At the campus level, Shriberg said that SEAS this year has weathered cuts in federal research grants, and the school had to pull back on inter nships, research fellowships and projects
The news on funding changes from day to day, making it next to impossible to provide students with research or field work oppor tunities As it stands now, the education of their students is being funded mainly through their tuition dollars, Shriberg said
“Our students are still receiving an excellent education on campus and in the classroom,” Shriberg said “It’s just that there is a significant decrease in oppor tunities for students to get research experience out in the field ”
Other strides in drinking water safety being reversed under the Tr ump administration include placing limits on forever chemicals, or PFAS, most commonly found in the nation’s drinking water supplies
In April 2024, the Biden administration’s EPA, for the first time in 26 years, added new r ules and regulations setting threshold limits on the six most detected forever chemicals This r uling was modeled af ter Michigan’s state laws
But in May 2025, the EPA planned to dismantle some of these advances in PFAS monitoring and measuring It will weaken some par t-per-trillion (ppt) thresholds of some of the most commonly present forever chemicals while maintaining standards set by the Biden Administration for two other common ones
According to published repor ts, limits on three types of PFAS, including what are known as GenX substances found in Nor th Carolina, will be scrapped and reconsidered by the agency, as well as a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS
The Biden administration’s r ule also set standards for the two common types of PFAS, refer red to as PFOA and PFOS, at 4 par ts per trillion, effectively the lowest level at which they can be reliably detected The EPA will keep those standards but give utilities two extra years until 2031 to comply
Still, Michigan has set the bar for having the countr y ’ s toughest limits on forever chemicals in drinking water It has set the most stringent maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) at 8 par ts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 16 ppt for PFOS, the two most commonly present forever chemicals
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash assured that his water managers continue to use standards set by the state “ The 22 community water systems operated by Oakland County Water Resources comply with all applicable state and federal r ules,” Nash said “My office regularly monitors and tests for PFAS contamination Regardless of federal regulations, these monitoring programs will continue ”
In response to questions about relaxing PFAS standards at the federal level, the EPA wrote to Downtown: “ The EPA is tackling PFAS from all our program offices, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getting into drinking water systems, holding polluters accountable, and more This is just a fraction of the work the agency is doing on PFAS during President Tr ump ’ s second ter m to
ensure Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water ”
Up in Traverse City, the non-profit organization For the Love of Water (FLOW) has long focused its resources on fighting Enbridge’s Line 5 Project to transpor t oil from Canada to the United States in a tunnel that will r un on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinaw Right now, the case for the Michigan Public Ser vice’s per mit for Line 5 is under review by the Michigan Supreme Cour t
tis unrelated to the many cuts the Tr ump administration has made to environmental protection, FLOW Executive Director Liz Kirkwood is extremely concer ned about other per mits that are being issued that ignore the potential for environmental disasters and har m along the shores of the Great Lakes FLOW is also working with state gover nment officials to pass regulations for proper septic tank maintenance that threaten the health of inner lakes and tributaries, as well as the Great Lakes.
In June, FLOW filed a petition for review with the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board that challenged the approval of underground injection control per mits that would allow for the deep injection of millions of gallons of briny wastewater into wells in Osceola and Mecosta Counties The organization, along with local advocates and residents, argued that the per mitting fails to adequately protect the only groundwater resource for r ural communities
But among the grim outlook, Kirkwood said there are some silver linings
“ The good news is that our state gover nment and judiciar y are still leaning into enforcement, and that’s what is happening with the Line 5 tunnel per mit challenge,” Kirkwood explained “FLOW ’ s legal challenge is related to the Michigan Public Ser vice Commission and the Cour t of Appeals’ failure to recognize that the agencies in Michigan have a separate and independent substantive duty to apply Michigan’s Environmental Protection Act in their per mitting process ”
She continued: “ The state agencies are asking two impor tant questions First: Is a proposed action going to har m, impair, or pollute the natural resource that is about to be changed, be it a wetland or a body of water? The second question is, are there any viable alter natives to a proposed action? This analysis is critical for agencies entr usted by the public to protect our natural resources, who are evaluating proposals from businesses to find the best path for ward while protecting those natural resources ”
One natural resource Kirkwood is par ticularly concer ned about, by relaxing per mit standards are wetlands These marshy areas that hug our shorelines of the Great and inner lakes protect water infrastr ucture, provide habitat for native species, protect from flooding, and filter contaminants out of sur face waters
In March of 2025, the EPA rolled back federal protections that will lead to more pollution in the Great Lakes, critics contend “Rolling back wetlands protection lacks common sense, ” Kirkwood said “ We know that the economic benefits related to wetland preser vation include shoreline erosion and flooding ” Kirkwood said that FLOW is keeping its eye on the ramifications of the EPA’s rolling back the “ Waters of the United States” r ule The EPA argued that it rolled back this r uling according to its interpretation of the 2023 Supreme Cour t decision on Sackett v EPA, which r uled that “EPA’s authority extends only to wetlands with a continuous sur face connection to the rivers, lakes, and streams that are protected as navigable waters ” By doing this, environmentalists agree that the EPA has stripped away federal protections for areas prone to occasional flooding and
therefore endangered ecosystems that provide habitat for wildlife, filter out pollutants, and mitigate stor mwater
“For tunately, Michigan has the Michigan Wetlands Act,” assured Kirkwood “Af ter the Sackett decision came down, we know that Michigan and other states, such as Wisconsin, have some good state laws But other states like Indiana and Ohio lack local regulations are are much more vulnerable to wetlands degradation and loss, which can come in at billions of dollars ”
In addition to erasing regulations, the Tr ump administration has eliminated incentives for consumer and industrial markets to adopt greener practices and create and develop energy sources and products to stave off climate change
Bentley Johnson, federal gover nment affairs director for the Michigan League of Conser vation Voters, said his organization was concer ned by moves made in the first Tr ump administration, but they pale in comparison with Tr ump 2 0
Among his organization’s biggest concer ns are easing restrictions on greenhouse gas air emissions and incentives to create cleaner vehicles within the automotive industr y, as well as an about-face on phasing out the use of coal to fuel the electricity grid
Johnson understands the impor tance of consistent and steady environmental policy for the automotive industr y and the ramifications for Michigan’s economy Johnson said pivoting in policies on fuel economy and creating future fleets of greener vehicles independent of fossil fuels is har mful for the environment and longter m business planning
“Over the decades, the EPA has gone through multiple rounds of emissions and fuel economy standards for vehicles,” Johnson said “ That cer tainty provides the automakers with the r ules of how they will strategize for the next five or 10 years in designing the best products to meet standards that would have improved air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions We know that the over whelming consensus of the scientific body of evidence is that fossil fuels are causing climate change ”
Johnson said that the Michigan League of Conser vation Voters has heard from small and large businesses connected to the automotive industr y that uncer tainty in policy har ms their bottom line
“ This whiplash effect in policy changes between administrations makes it difficult for businesses to plan, secure supply chains, and develop long-ter m strategies,” Johnson said “ The Tr ump administration is creating chaos and recklessness, and confusion All it does is help enrich the fossil fuel friends whom Tr ump promised to hand out tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy, those who contributed to his reelection campaign
Johnson also touched upon all the green-energy incentives that went away for both consumers and energy makers under what he describes as Tr ump ’ s “Big Ugly Bill,” which was passed in July and went into effect in October
For example, Johnson said costs on electric vehicles will now rise by $7,500 af ter the incentive EV tax credit ended, and the average cost of a used EV is about to go up by $4,500
Pulling back consumer incentives to make greener choices in their next vehicle purchase is only the tip of a melting iceberg of money once allocated for green grants to fight and adapt to climate change
On October 1, the White House canceled $8 billion in federal funding for green projects Most of these projects were axed in 16 states where Tr ump lost the 2024 election
In Febr uar y 2025, the Tr ump administration rescinded or froze $21 billion for previously approved Michigan clean energy projects This includes $400 million for consumer energy rebates, weatherization assistance for Michigan homes, $102 million to for tif y the state’s electric grid against intensif ying stor ms, and $500 million for batter y manufacturing for electric vehicles For energy producers, the Tr ump administration froze or rescinded $20 billion in loans or loan guarantees for clean energy projects by Consumers Energy and DTE Energy This includes the delay of a $1 5 billion loan guarantee for reopening the Palisades nuclear plant
Michigan was on its way to replacing fossil fuels, especially coal, with renewable energy to supply its electricity demand As repor ted in Downtown in 2021, the state’s renewable energy por tfolio increased from 10 percent in 2015 to 15 percent in 2021 Consumers Energy in 2021 announced plans to increase its use of renewable energy to 35 percent by 2025, and 47 percent by 2030 DTE continued to build renewable energy facilities and planned to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2040
Consumers Energy ’ s J H Campbell coal-fired electric plant in West Olive was first slated for closure in May of this year and remains open via a series of presidential executive orders Tr ump issued them as an emergency directive under the Depar tment of Energy; the Tr ump administration ordered the plant to remain open until at least midNovember Tr ump reasoned the executive order was a necessar y decision to keep up with electricity demand in the heat of the summer, along with the onset of a more robust manufacturing sector and the exponential growth of ar tificial intelligence
The administration in September also announced it is going to open 13 1 million acres of public lands for increased coal mining
“Campbell was the last coal-fired electric plant Consumers had to retire, and the Tr ump administration forced it to stay open, ” Johnson said “It is old, outdated, and costly for the taxpayers to r un to the tune of one million dollars per day The (energy) market has made coal a thing of the past Consumers already had plans to replace Campbell’s capacity with other sources of energy, like natural gas
But at the last minute, Tr ump ’ s Depar tment of Energy said, ‘Nope We are forcing you to stay open ’”
now, Johnson explained,
Consumers Energy is scrambling to buy coal through a supply chain that is highly costly to the taxpayer
This rate is too much for Michigan rate payers to shoulder by themselves, so now the cost to buy coal is spread across 10 other states, he said
Amidst this dir ty laundr y list of rollbacks, deregulations, and defunding of decades of environmental progress, one has to ask: Is all of this legal?
The litigation against the Tr ump administration’s draconian cuts against the environment is playing out in multi-state lawsuits led by state attor neys general, including Mihigan’s Dana Nessel, and raising public awareness by environmental watchdog and policy groups
In May, Nessel joined a coalition of 18 attor neys general against the Tr ump administration over what they describe as an unlawful attempt to freeze the development of wind energy She also joined another multistate lawsuit opposing the possible rescinding of the 2009 Endanger ment Finding
In August, Nessel testified before the EPA and war ned that rescinding the 2009 Endanger ment Finding would exacerbate the ravages of climate change on the state’s economy, natural resources, and the health of its residents even fur ther
According to Nessel, Michigan is already experiencing increasingly severe drought conditions that impact the state’s $104 billion agricultural industr y This includes the state’s famed cher r y crop, which in 2024 saw a har vest loss of 75 percent due to rain, pests and harsh swings in temperature
She also remarked on how climate change is eating into Michigan’s cold winters, impacting a $3 billion tourism industr y built on skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling, and other coldweather spor ts
“I strenuously oppose the U S Environmental Protection Agency ’ s unlawful and ill-conceived proposal to rescind its 2009 greenhouse gas endanger ment finding,” Nessel said in her
testimony “In 2009, the EPA deter mined that greenhouse gas pollutants present a ver y clear and immediate danger to our environment, economy, and the world This finding was suppor ted by years of due diligence to evaluate the scientific consensus This proposed r ulemaking suggests we allow the federal gover nment to ignore its own scientific deter minations and abdicate its legal duty to act This simply cannot stand ”
Michigan’s Democratic delegation in Congress is also fighting the EPA’s dismantling of longstanding policy
In a statement emailed to Downtown, Rep Debbie Dingell (MI06) said the 2009 Endanger ment Finding is fundamental to our environmental and public health protections She craf ted a letter to Zeldin, signed by the Michigan Democratic Congressional delegation, and submitted it to the EPA’s public comment section
Writing to Downtown, she stated: “ The 2009 Endanger ment Finding is the foundation for legal enforcement of limits on the greenhouse gases that pose a danger to our climate and wellbeing ”
She continued: “Michiganders are already witnessing the impacts of climate change in worsening weather events that include extreme heat, devastating floods, an increase in tor nadoes, and dangerous wildfire smoke Michiganders are also dealing with toxic hazards such as the Gelman dioxane plume in Washtenaw County and other industrial pollutants that have yet to be cleaned up ”
Dingell said if the Endanger ment Finding is repealed, the ver y basis of the countr y ’ s most impor tant environmental protections will be stripped away, giving polluters a free pass at the expense of our communities
Dingell added “I cannot state strongly enough how impor tant it is to maintain the Endanger ment Finding and uphold the EPA’s duty to protect Americans’ health and wellbeing ”
The pains from federal cuts to the EPA have trickled down to the Michigan Depar tment of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
On October 7, Gov Gretchen Whitmer signed a long-awaited budget for fiscal year 2026 with several cuts to environmental funding Whitmer did, however, sof ten the blow to the sharpest cuts to EGLE While an earlier State House proposal suggested a 19 percent cut to EGLE, Whitmer reduced those cuts to seven percent
the department of natural
Resources will have fewer resources for fisher y stocking and maintenance Michiganders will see reduced hours and ser vices at state parks and museums. According to State Rep. Noah Arbit (DWest Bloomfield), his constituents say the cuts come at a cost to monitoring the waters of inland lakes for safe practices and training in boating, fishing, and swimming. Because of the lack of federal dollars, there is just $1 3 million to distribute among all county sheriff depar tments for marine safety patrols This could impact response time for marine emergencies.
“In the past, there have been grants that fuse state and federal funds to make sure people out enjoying the lakes are safe,” Arbit said “ The feds completely eviscerated that funding While our wealthiest counties, like here in Oakland County, will be okay individually providing resources for a while, eventually, all the counties are going to feel the cuts ”
From a regulator y standpoint, Arbit said that last year, a Democratcontrolled state House repealed a law put in place by Republicans that stipulated that no state law would be more stringent than a federal law
“ We repealed this law and can now make laws and regulations that are stricter than federal ones, ” Arbit said “One area where this may be beneficial is on the topic of forever chemicals in our drinking water I am hearing from my constituents a lot of concer n about PFAS levels in the drinking water, something which the Tr ump administration no longer seems to be interested in regulating On top of that, we still have some municipalities that still encounter lead in their drinking water The EPA is now delaying the distribution of allocated funding to communities to remove lead ser vice lines ”
Overall, Arbit believes protecting the environment through robust regulation should remain a bipar tisan issue
It is a shame that environmental issues and protection have become a hyperpar tisan issue,” Arbit said “Clean drinking water free of forever chemicals should matter to both Democrats and Republicans It is egregious that the Tr ump administration, Republicans in Congress, and the state House Republicans have decided that the environment is a Democratic issue It is an egregious way to, you know, go about policymaking and leaves so many constituents, both Democratic and Republican, in the lurch ”
The Chicago -based Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) has kept a sharp eye on the rollbacks and is keeping legal pressure on the Administration through issuing public comments on several rollbacks and filing lawsuits
In July, the ELPC teamed with 11 health, environmental, and community groups and filed a lawsuit that challenged the Tr ump administration’s delay of the 2024 methane standards for the oil and gas industr y standards that keep dangerous pollution out of our air and reduce wasted energy from oil and gas leaks
In October, ELPC attor ney Max Lopez testified in Congress against the EPA’s proposal to excuse industrial polluters from repor ting on their emission rates of greenhouse gases and urged the agency to abandon its plans to scrap the Greenhouse Gas Repor ting Program
Lopez said the program is vital not only to collect data on emissions coming from industrial sites but also a key resource for public utility commissions for making decisions, especially helpful in staying within the boundaries of state law climate initiatives and long-ter m planning to stabilize the electric grid Lopez stated that removing the mandate to repor t on greenhouse gases would make it more difficult for public utility commissions to make infor med decisions for consumers
Lopez added that without this repor ting, states, regulators, and communities lose a critical tool for holding polluters accountable
Callie Sharp, an associate attor ney with ELPC, said such rollbacks will fur ther degrade the quality of the Great Lakes with consequences such as continued extreme heat, er ratic weather patter ns that could lead to crop and fisheries destr uction, and the loss of lives and proper ty Sharp said the EPA’s cur rent stance on the 2009 Endanger ment Finding, for example, is in clear violation of the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, which are the overarching laws at the root of decades of protection policies and regulations She also war ned that the Tr ump administration could use the rescission of the Endanger ment Finding to repeal other types of greenhouse gas emission regulations
“EPA’s main argument in their proposal to rescind the Endanger ment finding is essentially an attempt to redefine what an air pollutant is under the Clean Air Act,” Sharp said “ This argument does not hold up with the language of the statute and contradicts Supreme Cour t precedents that date back decades The EPA has one job, and that’s to protect the environment and public health The agency ’ s core responsibility is to the public and is to the environment, but reversing the endanger ment finding is really betraying that mission and jeopardizing America’s future by prioritizing the deregulation of industr y ”
FA C E S
Christine Blackwell
Christine Blackwell, author of Remarkable Women of Oakland County, is a female trailblazer who sought to write a book that would provide role models for today’s young women Her pathway to authorship began at Lawrence Technological University
“I received a full scholarship to Lawrence Tech,” Blackwell said “I was the only woman in my classes I studied architecture for three years Then, I realized I wanted to be a book editor. I graduated with a bachelor’s of science in humanities, with a concentration in English and architecture ”
Blackwell went on to be an editor at the American Concrete Institute
“I was hired almost immediately after graduating and I stayed for two years It was a good place to work I segued into popular writing as a layout artist at the Oakland Press. But the only way to make the big time is to go to New York City.”
Blackwell traveled to New York City and was hired by Harcourt Brace, a large international publisher
“I was there for 30 years,” she said
Today, Blackwell teaches part-time at Lawrence Tech It was there that she came up with the idea to write Remarkable Women of Oakland County
“I asked the women in my class who their heroes were. Besides their mothers, they didn’t have any,” she said “I wanted to create interesting role models for the newer generation ”
Blackwell was surprised to learn how many exceptional women have come out of Oakland County
“It was actually really hard for me to limit the amount of women to put in the book,” she said. “There are many high-achieving women from Oakland County. I thought it was such a shame that all this history is being lost So, I decided to write a book There was Matilda Dodge W ilson, who co-founded Oakland University, and Mary Barra, who became the CEO of General Motors ”
From pioneers to modern day heroines, Blackwell profiled dozens of influential women.
“I started to create categories and I came out with 12 categories,” she said “I went as far back as pioneers and reformers The categories range from scientific areas to authors and artists ”
“More than 70 percent of the women were married with children,” she said “That amazed me. It has 39 biographies in it. I wanted to include some living role models and I interviewed quite a few of the women.”
Blackwell was inspired by her own role model, Genevieve Dooley Dooley took part in founding Lawrence Tech and the book is dedicated to her
“My parents had grown up in The Great Depression,” she said “They saved for my brother to go to college, but they weren’t thinking that women should go to college yet.”
As it happened, Dooley lived in the same apartment complex as Blackwell growing up She had a lasting impact on Blackwell’s life
“She (Dooley) asked why I wasn’t in college,” she said “She offered to help me if I’d consider going She was my mentor the whole way I’ve wanted to honor her publicly for decades ”
As a Bloomfield Hills resident, Blackwell appreciates the beauty of her surroundings
“I live not too far from Cranbrook,” she said “I love Cranbrook It’s beautiful And the city, itself, you feel like it’s a state park or something They’ve kept it natural and beautiful ’
In her retirement, Blackwell hopes to continue writing.
“I don’t have children of my own and I want to leave something for my family,” she said “My books will outlast me in my lifetime So, those will be my children ”
Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Laurie Tennent
B I R M I N G H A M FOR
THE HOLIDAYS
B I R M I N G H A M FOR THE
FASHION IS THE ARMOR TO SURVIVE THE REALITY OF EVERYDAY LIFE
B I R M I N G H A M FOR
THE HOLIDAYS
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Architect chosen for police department
By Grace Lovins
Several long-awaited updates to the Bir mingham police station inside city hall at 151 Mar tin Street are on the horizon af ter Bir mingham City Commissioners approved the selection of MCD Architects to begin designing a new and improved police garage, inter view room and dispatch center, along with a new sally por t, during the Monday, October 6, meeting
Renovations to the police station and city hall building have been brought to the commission’s attention at various points over the past few years As stated in the meeting packet, city hall has not seen any major renovations since 1993 The push for renovations to the city ’ s police station originated with concer ns over the police depar tment’s ability to remain accredited by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police
According to police chief Scott Grewe, assessors expressed concer ns over the safety and security of the depar tment during their 2024 accreditation process which they said, could impact their future accreditation Grewe said the commission had previously discussed the necessar y projects during longrange planning and the budget hearing earlier this year
The city issued a request for proposals (RFP) in July to hire an architectural fir m for design and constr uction ser vices Grewe said the RFP included design work for all four items, but the constr uction is split into four separate constr uction projects The police garage and inter view room renovations were included in the cur rent budget
Commissioners collectively agreed they were thankful to see updates coming to the police depar tment
Mayor pro tem Clinton Baller, on the other hand, brought up the commission’s previous discussions about the police depar tment and city hall as a whole
Baller noted that fur ther exploration of ideas on what could be done for both city hall and the police depar tment didn’t happen at the commission level He said the renovations to the police depar tment don’t address the issues for the city ’ s other depar tments inside the building
City manager Jana Ecker countered that during the meetings
Hunter House moving to new location
One of Bir mingham’s iconic businesses – Hunter House Hamburgers –will soon be moving from its original location at 35075 Woodward Avenue to the for mer home of a KFC at 33900 Woodward
The move was announced this past week in a release from co - owner Kelly Cobb, who said that Friday, October 31 will be the last day at the original location According to Cobb, Hunter House hamburgers will begin operations at its new locale on November 1
The new location, Cobb said will provide faster ser vice, more seating than the cur rent location and a larger parking lot for patrons First opened in 1952, the business at the new location plans to continue offering what has built its reputation for the past seven decades
The fir m of von Staden Architects has been retained to work on the new location which will be ready for full interior operations in early 2026, although effective with the November move customers will still be able to order food from Hunter House Hamburgers
Hunter House Hamburgers has been tangled up in a dispute, which also included a lawsuit, over a proposed development of its cur rent site at the cor ner of Woodward and Hamilton, considered an impor tant gateway to the downtown of Bir mingham A lawsuit involving Hunter House and the owner of the proper ty was filed in 2023 and was finally resolved in Febr uar y of this year
The city and its Bir mingham Planning Board have been dealing with proposals for development at the prime cor ner proper ty from about 2016 In 2018 plans were presented to the city for a five-stor y building on the site which included the Hunter House as par t of the new development The development was to also include first floor retail, a hotel and residential units on the top floors Design issues prompted the developers to scrap those plans and new plans were submitted to the city in 2019
The subsequent plans also called for a five-stor y building, this time with two levels of underground parking, first floor retail, commercial and parking; second floor office use; with the third through fif th floors used for 42 residential units Those plans were amended in Januar y and April of 2020 In June of 2021 the planning board approved site plans for development of the site to include retail, commercial and office and 25 residential units
when the topic was discussed, the commission did not seem ready to move for ward with one large, expensive project and instead thought breaking it down into smaller par ts would be better She said the city ’ s building official has been tasked with creating a comprehensive list of items to be addressed throughout the building and their priority level so the city can continue to renovate in small increments Commissioners voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve the agreement with MCD Architects for designing the police depar tment renovations and expansion
National retailers coming to Birmingham
Several noted national retailers are making plans to join the downtown Bir mingham shopping district, according to an announcement from Cindy Ciura, principal of CC Consulting
oncept store in the for mer Moosejaw pace on W Maple, adjacent to the Eileen Fisher store
News of the ar rival of the national etailers follows the recent word that Design Within Reach, the moder n ur nishings retailer, has signed on to occupy a majority of the for mer Anthropologie space at 214 W Maple Road
Ciura said that the November opening of RH (for merly Restoration Hardware) at Woodward and Brown n the city ’ s downtown has helped drive additional demand and momentum for Bir mingham’s retail ore
The national retailers include rag & bone, long represented in the state by retailers such as Saks and Neiman Marcus, which will open its first standalone Michigan store at 110 S Old Woodward Ave in a two -level, lof ted retail space cur rently under constr uction which will deliver a moder n, elevated shopping experience in nearly 2,000 sq f t It is expected to open in early 2026, Ciura said
Joining rag & bone will be Vuori, a fast-growing active and leisurewear brand which will open a nearly 4,000 sq f t signature flagship on the southwest cor ner of Woodward and Maple, in the for mer temporar y RH space at 100 S Old Woodward Ave according to Ciura who said constr uction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with opening expected mid-2026
Also coming to the downtown of Bir mingham in 2026 will be J Jill, the national women s apparel brand that is preparing to open a new -
“Bir mingham has always been a ewel in Michigan’s retail landscape, and these latest leases reaffir m its trength as a destination for national and luxur y brands,” said Ciura “ With exceptional retailers like rag & bone, Vuori, Design Within Reach, and J Jill oining the mix, Bir mingham ontinues to attract some of the finest names in fashion and lifestyle We’re proud to help bring this level of quality and diversity to the ommunity, fur ther enhancing Bir mingham’s reputation as the premier place to shop, dine, and gather – and there’s still more to ome ”
City manager Ecker gets salary increase
Bir mingham City Commissioners, n a split vote, have agreed to raise the base salar y of city manager Jana Ecker by seven percent
Commissioners took action on the proposed raise af ter a nearly two -hour closed executive session, allowed under the Michigan Open Meetings Act, on Monday, September 15
Ecker became city manger at the star t of July in 2023 as Tom Markus was concluding his most recent contract as city manager At that point Ecker had spent 21 years with the city, first as a city planner, then as planning director and then as assistant city manger She holds a bachelor degree in urban planning and environmental studies from University of Toronto as well as a bachelor of laws from University of Windsor Ecker is a licensed attor ney in Ontario and a licensed residential builder in the state of Michigan
City commissioner Clinton Baller attempted at the September 15 meeting to delay the review due to the 11:10 p m time when the agenda item was being addressed, citing the late hour and because he said the review was “not urgent ” But commissioner
THE RIGHT HOMES THE RIGHT REALTORS THE
Brad Host said it was “not fair to the employee” to delay the review Baller was the lone ‘ no ’ vote on conducting the per for mance review that evening
At the conclusion of the review in closed session, no details of the review were shared publicly and city commissioners voted 6-1 to implement the wage increase
Host was the lone ‘ no ’ vote on the motion for the pay increase In 2023 when the commission chose Ecker as the new city manager, Host said he was pleased with having Ecker as city manager but voted ‘ no ’ on her five-year contract, citing his position then that the star ting pay of $175,000 was too high
Forest Lake Country Club renovations set
By Dana Casadei
The Forest Lake Countr y Club will look quite different next summer thanks to the Bloomfield Township Board of Tr ustees vote on Monday, September 29, in favor of proposed renovations
Renovations will focus primarily near the pool of the countr y club, with plans to replace the nearly 35-year- old retaining walls; add some seating by the pool including ar tificial tur fgrass where people will be able to sit; and the addition of a pergola The pergola’s operable roof system will allow for shade and open-air use
“It's really the beautification of the back view of the countr y club,” said Andrea Bibby, director of planning, building & ordinance Bibby also noted that their renovations have a ver y extensive landscape plan too
While the entire countr y club, located at 1401 Club Drive, occupies over five parcels spanning 10 acres, the proposed renovations would only take place on one parcel, where the clubhouse is located
“ This is one of the final puzzle pieces of their improvement strategy,” said Jeff Klatt of Krieger Klatt Architects about the upcoming work at Forest Lake Countr y Club
That improvement strategy began in 2018, with the Forest Lake Countr y Club investing $12 million in proper ty renovation over the last seven years
Before coming to the board, Forest Lake Countr y Club’s plans had already been reviewed by the zoning board of appeals (ZBA) and planning commission Both the ZBA and planning commission were in favor of the plans, with the ZBA granting approval for multiple variances that were needed for the renovations
Due to the zoning ordinance that
requires at least 75 percent of retaining walls to be screened with evergreen plantings, the countr y club needed a variance approved to be able to use a variety of non-evergreen plantings, such as rose bushes and shr ubs, to screen the retaining walls
Another variance that was approved will allow for the retaining walls to exceed four feet in height The new retaining walls will be made of better material than the cur rent ones, and will be placed in a more cohesive pathway compared to how the walls are set up right now, which Klatt called chaotic
Klatt said there will be good horizontal buffers between the walls, with the planned landscape set to break up the walls and create a sof ter looking landscape The retaining walls will be modular block in a natural stone color and texture
The new retaining walls will make the area more walkable and in general a lot safer for people to walk through due to the removal of the cracked concrete
“I agree that this was definitely needed,” said tr ustee Neal Bar nett “ You did a great job ” Tr ustees Chris Kolinski and Mark Antakli, as well as township super visor Mike McCready, echoed their excitement about the project, and said it’ll be a beautiful, and stark, comparison to what’s cur rently there
The board of tr ustees voted 7-0 in favor of the site plan and special land use for the countr y club There were also no comments during the public hearing
City private/public partnership plan
Bir mingham officials are getting closer to implementing a city policy allowing for private/public par tnerships that could prove of benefit to the city in the future
Discussions about allowing private/public par tnerships first began in June of this year when city commissioners were infor med that a developer had inquired whether the city had any interest in possibly entering such a relationship involving city proper ty
At its August 11 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to have city staff bring a proposal back to the board that could involve hiring of a professional owner ’ s representative (POR) who could field proposals for private/public par tnerships
On Monday, September 15, commissioners were presented with the first draf t of a proposal to regulate
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private/public par tnerships as par t of creation of a request for proposal (RFP) in seeking to hire a POR on a one-year contract that could be extended up to two additional years
City officials were also given a list of potential positive and negative aspects of entering into a private/public par tnership on development projects
According to what was presented to commissioners, the possible benefits for the city in pursuing a private/public par tnership include access to capital and cost savings; sharing of risks on constr uction projects; tapping into specialized exper tise and innovation from the private sector; and ultimately increasing the tax base of the city
On the down side, potential negatives include the fact that private investment takes into consideration such items as profits margins and other items that could increase the cost o a joint project; loss of complete public control; and possible loss of transparency and accountability
City commissioner Clinton Baller raised concer ns about possible conflict of interest on the par t of the POR if that person shopped private/public par tnerships, a concer n that was echoed by other commissioners
The commission did not take a for mal vote on what was proposed by city staff but it was generally agreed that the RFP proposal would be changed to include the ethics policies o the city and to remove any references suggesting that the POR would solicit private/public par tnership ideas Instead a revision would include Baller ’ s recommendation that the city simply announce that it was accepting proposals for private/public projects and the POR would handle analysis of proposals and recommendations to city officials
The city attor ney also recommended that revisions also include reference to the state Open Meetings Act which allows for closed meetings for negotiations on purchases and agreements
Although generally development of RFP documents are not brought back to the city commission before they are issued, commissioners agreed that because this is a new under taking by the city, any changes to the related documents would be brought back to the commission for final approval
Birmingham elementary schools eLabs
eason why the Road Advisor y Committee was for med in the first place arlier this year
Bir mingham Public Schools on Tuesday, October 21, along wit the Southfield Public Schools unveiled state- of-the-ar t Volkswagen eLabs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at West Maple Elementar y School
The event marked a significant milestone in expanding access to STEM lear ning through digital fabrication and innovative lear ning oppor tunities that help prepare students for success and the in-demand careers of tomor row
The VW eLabs, also given to the Southfield Public Schools, are made possible through a $1 8 million contribution from the Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in par tnership with Volkswagen Group of America The STEM facilities are modeled af ter the pioneering labs first developed by the Public Education Foundation The initiative has since grown into the largest network of registered FabLabs in the world These are the first VW eLabs in elementar y schools in Michigan Michigan Lt Gov Garlin Gilchrist II helped commemorate Tuesday ’ s landmark event
“STEM education helps kids unleash their curiosity, hone new skills, and see themselves as scientists, doctors and explorers pushing the boundaries of what we understand,” Gilchrist said “ These new eLabs will help more students dream big and practice hard for the careers of tomor row with cutting-edge technology They build on our recent education budget that delivers record funding, free breakfast and lunch, and expanded career and tech education Let’s keep working together to invest in students and build a bright future for Michigan
“At Bir mingham Public Schools, we are committed to providing innovative STEM lear ning oppor tunities and we are excited to par tner with PEF and Volkswagen to provide these state- of-the-ar t facilities for our students,” said Dr Embekka Roberson, Bir mingham Public Schools superintendent “On behalf of our district, I would like to personally thank PEF and Volkswagen for this generous investment that will help prepare our students for success and the in-demand careers of tomor row ”
VW eLabs are digital fabrication laboratories equipped with high-tech tools like 3D printers, laser cutters and robotics systems Students use these technologies to move seamlessly from digital designs to physical creations with a specific focus on environmental sustainability This hands- on model builds technical fluency while cultivating essential skills such as creativity, adaptability and collaboration skills in high demand across Michigan’s economy
At Bir mingham Public Schools VW eLabs have opened at: Beverly Elementar y, Bingham Far ms Elementar y, Covington Middle School, Greenfield Elementar y, Harlan Elementar y, Pembroke Elementar y, Pierce Elementar y, Quar ton Elementar y, and West Maple Elementar y
primarily of volunteer residents – held their inaugural meeting and in September they brought their first update to the board to present all they had found out about township’s roads during the last six months
“ We won’t be hearing solutions tonight, this is simply fact finding,” said chair man Jeff Salz
Township road advisory committee update
By Dana Casadei
Last April the Bloomfield Township Road Advisor y Committee – made up
The overall verdict is that Bloomfield Township roads are in poor condition, with over 80 percent receiving a poor condition score from the most recent Pavement Sur face Evaluation & Rating (PASER) taken in 2024 PASER ratings come out ever y three years so even if a few of those roads that were rated poor
have been fixed there’s a high probability that some of the roads that were in fair condition are now poor
Even though the subdivision roads are primarily in poor condition, the main roads in the 2024 PASER repor t showed that many of them were in fair to good condition Main roads are par tially funded by federal and state aid, while subdivision roads don’t get any of that funding, and only receive funding from the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) budget
To those residing in Bloomfield Township, knowing their local subdivision roads are in poor condition is nothing new, and a large par t of the
Their mission is to suppor t the ommunity through reviewing cur rent oad conditions, identif ying problem reas, discussing practical solutions for mprovement, and researching methods f promoting self-autonomy of local oads They are also working to explore easible repair and maintenance trategies, research legislative funding ppor tunities, and develop creative, ost-effective recommendations, all while acting in an advisor y role to help he board of tr ustees make decisions
At the beginning of the nearly hourong presentation on Monday, October 3, Salz showed a photo of the latest PASER repor t of Bloomfield Township oads that was covered in red roads
“ There’s two big takeaways from this picture,” he said “One is all the red The second thing is that ever y one of hese roads is owned by Oakland County Bloomfield Township has no wnership or authority over these roads o do anything ”
The township can provide, and are esponsible for, maintenance of the 213 miles of subdivision streets, which ncludes 37 miles of unpaved roads, but hat only allows for so much work they an do, officials said
“ We’re ver y lucky to have a depar tment of public works to do hings,” said super visor Mike McCready Ever y little bit helps ”
Bloomfield Township’s road division maintains all of the roads and provides er vices that include include snow plowing, roadside mowing, street weeping, asphalt and pothole patching, and crack sealing
But when it comes to those roads in poor condition those that receive a one r two from the PASER repor t, there’s nly one solution to fix the roads -econstr uction
“ We can maintain those roads, but an’t replace them, put signage up, or change a speed limit,” said John Cer venak, one of the evening’s speakers from the Road Advisor y Committee The committee has nine members in total, representing areas from all over the township
With no federal or state funding, subdivision street improvements necessitate the approval of a special assessment district (SAD), which can not only be a financial burden for residents but also is not sustainable, officials said Residents are cur rently being assessed $50,000 - $60,000 per household for the cur rent SAD improvements for roads they don’t even own
M U N I C I PA L
miles in Bloomfield Township that cost $4,249,756 per mile in 2025, and the cur rent outstanding balance is $56,524,500
“It doesn’t make sense to have to pa for something you don’t even own it becomes a debt to your proper ty,” Cer venak said
One of the reasons SADs come to be is because of Michigan Public Act 51 o 1951, which established the Michigan Transpor tation Fund (MTF), where specific fees on motor vehicle registrations and motor vehicle fuels were then allocated to provide funding for roads and road maintenance
Those funds, once robust, are now desolate, and have led to basically a non-existent level of assistance for those at the local level
What is within the funding from the Michigan Public Act of 1951 only covers funding for state, county, city, and village roads, not townships
There’s also the issue of a lower millage rate for townships
“ Why is this impor tant? Because townships are gover ned differently than other gover nment institutes; we ’ re tapped out at a milage rate If we were a city char ter our mil rate could be up to 20 You’re caught in a Charlotte's Web,” said Gar y Assarian who represented the county and state subcommittee, one of four subcommittees of the road panel
Cur rently, Bloomfield Township’s millage rate is at 9 9571, with road millage revenue for fiscal year 2025 being $3,403,014 The max mill rate is 10, leaving little room for any additional mills even if residents were to vote in favor of adding more
The road millage rate is one par t of funding for township roads with the other two funding sources coming from Bloomfield Township’s general fund and RCOC reimbursement
In fiscal year 2025 the RCOC reimbursement was $810,165 That amount has historically increased by two percent each year, officials said Over the past 10 years, the general fund has suppor ted the road fund with transfers totaling $11 4 million In 2025, it was $1 9 million, and expected to be $2 7 million for fiscal year 2026 That $1 9 million transfer from the general fund was considerably high; most years it’s under $1 million
For fiscal year 2025, those three main funding sources under wrote $1 5 million of contracted paving, $200,000 of patching, $200,000 of salt on local roads, and the $2 4 million in personnel and retiree costs
“ Through this budget we ’ re able to fix and repair about two miles of roads a year where we have over 200 miles of
Baldwin, city still talking about charges
Baldwin Public Librar y officials and officials from the City of Bir mingham are continuing discussions star ted this past spring about the librar y possibly tur ning to third par ty providers of ser vices that are now supplied by the city and charged to the independent librar y organization
The issue of city provided ser vices first arose in late Febr uar y, prompted by a debate over ser vice charges from the city that were increased substantially The city provides and bills the librar y for human resource ser vices, payroll ser vices and financial ser vices, along with levying a charge for collection of the librar y millage and a por tion of proper ty assessment costs
The charges from the city, which have not been updated in over 15 years, according to city officials, were at $105,000 annually and in the new proposal have been raised to $219,000
Officials from the librar y and the city along with legal counsel for both have met in recent weeks to discuss a number of issues that include the ser vices charges and agreements between the two par ties
In May of this year city officials agreed that the Baldwin Public Librar y is a wholly independent organization, an issue that has lingered for decades and has in the past been an issue when it came to the librar y board setting its annual millage rate
Faced with a possible substantial increase in ser vice charges from the city, Baldwin Librar y Director Rebekah Craf t was charged with the task of investigating what the costs would be if some or all of the ser vices were per for med by a third par ty rather than the city Craf t sur veyed third par ty ser vice costs and what other librar y organizations were paying for similar ser vices
In late September city and librar y officials continued to meet The meeting was attended by Baldwin Librar y Board President Danielle Rumple, librar y director Craf t and librar y attor neys Mike Bloom and Anne Seur ynck of the Foster Swif t law fir m Attending on behalf of the city were Bir mingham Mayor Therese Longe, city manager Jana Ecker and city attor neys Mar y Kucharek and Tracy Gaudenzi
At a special librar y board meeting on Friday, October 3, both Rumple and Craf t described as “productive” the late September meeting with city officials at which they were able to raise a number of questions, the answers to which will allow the librar y board to decide on ser vice provider issues in the coming weeks
Infor mation provided at the October 3 meeting of librar y officials showed a considerable savings by moving some ser vices now provided by the city to third par ty providers For example, the city proposes a cost of $22,358 annually for payroll ser vices while the librar y has a third par ty quote of $8 544 For human resource ser vices the city would charge $70 653 and an outsourced rate from a private company would be $13,008
No action was taken by the librar y board at the special session on Friday but it was agreed that as soon as the city supplied answers on some questions raised at the late September meeting, then the librar y board would call either a late October or early November special meeting to make final decisions on the ser vice agreements with the city and outside fir ms
road,” said McCready, who is also a par t of the road advisor y committee
“ This isn’t even a bandage ” Outside of financial issues and the roads not being in good working condition, there’s also a safety element to consider when it comes to the poor road conditions in the township
With no sidewalks on most of the subdivision streets owned by Bloomfield Township, people are riding their bikes or r unning on streets with massive potholes
“It’s not just an eye sore we had a young child fall off their bike and break
their ar m because of the roads When you see the kids coming down the street it’s a safety issue,” said Assarian
Given all the was discussed during the meeting, what happens next?
New human resources director post added
By Dana Casadei
The employee agreement for Jennifer Haring, Bloomfield Township’s new human resources director, was approved -0 by the board of tr ustees at their meeting on Monday, September 8
Multiple tr ustees expressed their xcitement that she’ll be joining the eam, filling a much-needed position or Bloomfield Township, according to fficials
“It’s cer tainly a position I’ve been er y much in favor of and have been r ying to get here for the past several ears, ” said tr ustee Neal Bar nett “I hink it’s great for the professionalism f the township; I think it puts us in a much safer legal position than we have been in the past without this person in place ”
Out of the candidates who were nter viewed, clerk Mar tin Brooke said hat ever yone was thoroughly mpressed with Haring, who comes to his role with over 25 years of human esources experience, and that many were looking for ward to working with her Haring will be responsible for verseeing all aspects of human esources management within the ownship, and she will repor t directly o the township super visor She’ll also be able to fill some much-needed gaps or township employees, who cur rently don’t have an onboarding program for new hires or an exit inter view program, among other areas
Super visor Mike McCready is already working on an outline of items hat he’s noticed Bloomfield Township s missing in regards to human esources, and seemed eager to get her n board to get star ted
A 30-, 60-, 90-day plan will be mplemented for her position that will be put together with input for McCready, Haring and other township employees
The next phase is analyzing the data and impact of the new state budget then consider options for the township Since it’s a blank sheet of paper, nothing’s off the table, according to Salz From there, they ’ll give their recommendations and suggestions to the board, with the hope to present their findings in early 2026 “ Then we ’ re going to put it in your ap, ” Salz said “ You have to stay uned ”
“I think this is a great thing and I’m looking for ward to having this professional person – you can see they have so much experience, and going to bring a wealth of knowledge to the township, and continue to help us move for ward,” said tr ustee Chris Kolinski “I really appreciate you taking the time and waiting to find the right person to fit this job I think this is going to be a great addition to our team ”
Zoning consultants topic of joint meeting
By Grace Lovins
Bir mingham City Commissioners and Planning Board members held a joint workshop meeting on Monday, September 29, focusing on the hiring of a consultant to assist the city in updating the existing zoning ordinance
The city ’ s existing zoning ordinance was created roughly two decades ago and over time city staff and board members have noticed inconsistencies and complexities that they state should be addressed Both city commissioners and planning board members met in June to discuss updating the ordinance, which was also included as an action item in the city ’ s 2040 master plan
Since the June workshop, the city issued a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant to assist in updating the ordinance City planner Leah Blizinski said the RFP listing closed on Tuesday, September 30, and Monday night’s workshop was an oppor tunity for commissioners and board members to touch base about
the scope of work
Blizinski explained the scope of work was divided into seven steps in the RFP: Star ting the project and background review; public engagement and stakeholder involvement; diagnostic repor t and recommendations; draf ting an updated ordinance; zoning map revisions; administrative and procedural improvements; and final ordinance and adoption suppor t
Several board members and commissioners emphasized the impor tance of public engagement and clear communication throughout the process They noted that most residents are not familiar with the complexities and language of zoning ordinances, which can cause confusion or cause residents to potentially fear changes to the zoning ordinance Commissioners and board members also shared their hopes for the end result such as creating a more ‘user-friendly ’ document for residents and eliminating discrepancies Board member Daniel Share added he is hopeful that the consultant will help make the ordinance adaptable
“ The 2040 plan has lots and lots of stuff in it Some of them are land planning things Some of them are not,” he said “ With respect to the land planning goals, which, if any of those require some modifications, new language, new concepts in the zoning ordinance and how can we best adopt a revised zoning ordinance that enables those things that are not explicitly there now or not incentivized there now in the best way to become more achievable ”
According to city manager Jana Ecker, once the RFP closes, city staff and the planning board will review the submitted proposals, whittle the applicants down to the top candidates and send those candidates to the city commission which will make the final decision on the hiring of a consultant No for mal action was taken during the workshop, but both the planning board and city commission will soon review proposals and inter view candidates to ser ve as consultants during the updating process Planning board members Stuar t Jeffares and Ber t Koseck were absent from the workshop
Changes for Jax Kar Wash site plan okayed
Af ter a 7-0 vote on Monday, October 13, from the Bloomfield Township Board of Tr ustees in favor of the new site plan, the existing Bloomfield Car Wash at 4025 Telegraph Road in the township is on its way to becoming an improved Jax Kar Warsh
There will be no changes to the building’s footprint but there will a few updates such as the removal of exterior vacuums and the installation of two pay stations with canopies along the south elevation of the proper ty Removing the vacuums will actually put this space more in compliance by moving all operations inside
Jax Kar Wash’s site plan also includes minimal cosmetic work through moder nizing equipment to keep up with industr y standards; new metal coping, new tile, and new metal panels on the façade; and the LED lighting at the pay stations will be directed downward Despite the changes, the overall aesthetic will remain similar to what’s cur rently there
DOLLARS– LET US HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT.
FA C E S
Jenna L epley
Jenna Lepley, entrepreneur and baking extraordinaire, first opened Jenna’s Cakes at 14-years-old, but her affinity for baking began when she was just a little girl
“I always baked with my grandmother,” Lepley said. “I’d cook with my mom all the time, but I’d bake with my grandmother We would make cookies and cupcakes My grandmother loved baking It was a very special memory I had with her ”
During the Covid pandemic, Lepley, now 17-years-old, took the opportunity to hone her baking and decorating skills.
“During Covid, a lot of people started their own businesses and it got me thinking,” she said “I baked a lot during that time Originally, I’d just make them for the girls who worked in my mom’s office My mom is a doctor and she has her own family practice in Highland Township ”
Lepley’s confectionery creations were wildly successful So, with the encouragement of her mother, who is also an entrepreneur, Lepley decided to open her business and try selling her cakes
“My mom was like, ‘Why not charge for them?” she said “In my freshman year, I had a lot of time to start the business So I decided to start Jenna’s Cakes ”
Word of Lepley’s beautiful, meticulous cakes, and baking acumen, spread quickly.
“When I started my business, I was a little scared to advertise,” Lepley said “But, I started advertising on the Next Door app I also have a Tik Tok account and an Instagram account that I advertise on Now there’s a network of people who know Jenna’s Cakes The majority of my customers are from my school ” Lepley makes birthday cakes, cakes for baby showers and even wedding cakes
“I also make cakes for the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas,” she said “Last summer I was really busy with graduation cupcakes ”
Although the talented young baker concocts beautiful, professional baked goods, she had never had any formal training
“I’ve always been very artistic. That's my favorite part of baking cakes. I love decorating,” she said “And, I think I watched every cake show on the Food Network I used to watch all the cake-off shows But, mostly I practiced That’s how I got good at making cakes I had to learn how to get it precise and straight That took a lot of practice There was a lot of trial and error ”
Currently, Lepley is keeping her business small so she can focus on school.
“I am planning on advertising my second semester of senior year and the summer before I go to college ”
In addition to running her business, Lepley volunteers as an assistant teacher for the underprivileged
“I volunteer for Brilliant Pontiac,” she said “I also do Bound Together That's a tutoring program for students in Pontiac. I really love the kids there and it’s so much fun ”
Lepley is in the National Honor’s Society at Bloomfield Hills High School She has been a Bloomfield Hills resident for 12 years and loves her community
In terms of the future, it is her dream to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a physician.
“I want to go into pre-med,” she said. “I want to go into pediatrics and own my own practice just like my mom ”
Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Laurie Tennent
B U S I N E S S M AT T E R S
Eton Market reimagined
Eton Market, located at 221 N Eton Street, has been a neighborhood staple in Bir mingham for decades The market was recently purchased by Bir mingham residents Valant and Shantel Jaddou The couple is also behind the popular Daycap Café at 930 E Maple Road With a commitment to quality and community, the Jaddous have refined Eaton Market’s original concept to better ser ve the tastes of today ’ s discer ning shoppers while still honoring the store’s roots With deep family ties to the grocer y industr y and over 15 years of experience in the wine and beer sector, Valant Jaddou brings both passion and exper tise to this revitalized venture While traditional items like candy, snacks, and sof t drinks remain, the new Eton Market is centered around a carefully curated selection of exceptional wines from around the world, craf t beers, ar tisan cheeses and charcuterie, gour met pantr y items, and an impressive assor tment of 30 cigar brands “ We are a specialty market and we focus on boutique and niche brands We tr y to bring in brands that are hard to get at other places We want to make grocer y shopping fun again and what’s the
point if I am car r ying the same items that can be found at Kroger or Meijer,” said Valant “ We also focus on Michigan-made brands that the owners put a lot of love into It’s what we pride ourselves in ” Looking ahead, Eton Market has even more in store for customers, including made-to - order sandwiches custom gif t baskets charcuterie boards, and fresh-brewed coffee from Fer ris Coffees
New city bookstore
Read My Lips, a new romancefocused bookstore, has opened its doors at 768 N Old Woodward Avenue in Bir mingham, founded by Nikki Odom A metro Detroit native and for mer neonatal nurse practitioner, Odom moved with her husband and family to Marquette, Michigan, seeking a quieter pace of life It was there that she launched the original Read My Lips a community-centered space dedicated entirely to fans of the romance genre “Romance is the number one selling genre, ” said Odom “ This was a trend that I saw it before I opened the shop It’s embracing the fact that woman always had to kind of hide the fact that they love romance books (The shop) celebrates that genre, and that
we don’t need to hide anymore ” From steamy contemporar y love stories to sweeping historical epics, the bookstore’s shelves are stocked with titles that celebrate love in all its for ms Odom is passionate about showcasing the genre ’ s range, noting that romance includes ever ything from historical fiction and fantasy to the classics, paranor mal tales, and moder n-day love stories The Bir mingham location, housed in the for mer home of The French Lady restaurant, features a cozy front lounge and a char ming outdoor space ideal for community events The store plans to host author signings, themed par ties, and meet-and-greets all centered around a shared love for romance An upcoming event “ The Midnight Release Par ty for Brimstone, ” will celebrate the highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling novel Quicksilver by New York Times bestselling author Callie Har t The event will be held on November 17, with full details available on the bookstore’s website: readmylipsbookshop com
Jarbo closing in Birmingham
Jarbo, the women ’ s luxur y fashion boutique located on East Maple
Avenue in Bir mingham, will be closing its doors by October 31 Founded by fashion industr y veteran Sharon Roth, Jarbo began as a wholesale brand supplying high-end boutiques and retailers across the countr y With a background in wholesaling and private-label design for major retailers, Roth launched the first Jarbo retail store in Bellevue, WA, in 2010 Today, Jarbo operates three remaining brickand-mor tar stores in Beverly Hills, CA, Newpor t Beach, CA, and Bellevue, WA The Bir mingham location has ser ved the community for 13 years The boutique recently reached out to loyal customers via email to express gratitude for their suppor t and to remind them that, while the Bir mingham store is closing Jarbo remains accessible online Shoppers can continue to explore new ar rivals and timeless staples at shopjarbo com, available to ship anytime
Business Matters for the BirminghamBloomfield area are reported by Gigi Nichols Send items for consideration to GigiNichols@downtownpublications com Items should be received three weeks prior to publication
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Publicity
N E X T N O T E B O O K
Making room at the table
As the holidays approach, it’s a time of year many of us look for ward to but what no one likes to talk about is the holidays hit different when you're older While the rest of us are caught up in the chaos of shopping, decorating, and planning, there's an awful lot of people in our community who might be watching it all from the sidelines
We talk a lot about holiday spirit, but what does that actually mean?
Speaking with many people around Next, it’s not uncommon to hear that the holidays are just another set of days to get through Holidays of ten bring up mixed emotions due to the memories of earlier days when we were sur rounded by family and friends Next offers many distractions during the holidays, but we can’t totally compensate for the over whelming sense of nostalgia that sur faces this time of year
Belonging isn't just a nice feeling it's essential, especially during the holidays when ever yone else seems wrapped up in family traditions and celebrations Imagine watching the world abuzz with excitement while you're sitting alone Isolation cuts deep, and for many older adults, the holidays amplif y that isolation tenfold
But the good news: lessening the feelings of loneliness doesn't require grand gestures It really is the little things that make a difference Checking in with a senior neighbor, dropping off cookies and staying for a visit, or offering to help hang holiday lights, are simple acts that can transfor m ordinar y days into something special
Last year I invited my widowed neighbor over for a holiday meal She brought her famous dumplings and shared such interesting stories from her past Getting to know our neighbor in a casual, relaxed setting, instead of over the backyard fence, was a real treat for all of us and the star t of a close friendship Having at least one “ go to” neighbor provides a sense of security, and more impor tantly, that sense of belonging
That's the secret to opening your hear t, and sometimes your home it enriches ever yone involved When we invited our neighbor to dinner, I thought I was doing her a favor It tur ns out, we were the ones that gained wisdom, perspective, and connections that you can't easily find elsewhere
This is what Next is all about; fostering friendships, offering suppor t, and being a reliable resource But all of us in our own way can make a difference for someone feeling a bit melancholy
This holiday season, look around you and reach out to someone who might other wise spend the holidays alone The holidays aren't just about hosting an extravagant dinner par ty or r unning around town for one last gif t The holidays are about genuine compassion for others and tr uly sharing the spirit of the season
Our neighbor has already asked what she should bring to this year ’ s holiday dinner I told her just herself But knowing her, she'll show up with those dumplings anyway And honestly? We can't wait
Cris Braun is Executive Director of Birmingham Next
In challenging times, it is easy to reflect on how things used to be and focus on the resources we lack For many of us in the nonprofit sector, those times are now Budgets have tightened, federal grants are in question, resources are stretched thin, and we face difficult choices Yet one tr uth remains: nonprofits are the hear t of our community
Here in Oakland County, nonprofits large and small provide vital ser vices that touch nearly ever y household They inspire us through ar ts and culture, provide essential health and human ser vices, offer critical mental health resources, and create oppor tunities for people to lear n and thrive When one strand of this nonprofit fabric weakens, the entire weave is at risk
In 1923, Ruth Shain had one simple but profound desire: to help others in need From the ver y beginning, she envisioned a nonprofit that would ser ve the Bir mingham area including sur rounding communities For more than a centur y, The Community House has lived out that vision not only through its own programs, but by suppor ting countless other nonprofits in our region For much of our histor y, we were known as “ a hub for charitable endeavors,” a role we are committed to reclaiming today as we continue to reimagine how we can broaden and deepen our impact
We are proud to stand alongside and suppor t fellow nonprofits like FAR Therapeutic Ar ts & Recreation, Cranbrook Schools Horizons Upward Bound Summer Program, Bir mingham Area Youth Assistance, The Friendship Circle, Women of Tomor row, Project 2, and United Community Family Ser vices These par tnerships remind us that when nonprofits work together, we move closer to Ruth Shain’s vision of a community built on care, belonging, and ser vice
At The Community House, we see the difference that collaboration can make By offering our resources, we aim to strengthen this network and help ensure local nonprofits are positioned to thrive A vibrant community is one where people feel cared for, inspired, and empowered, and we are committed to being a par tner in making that vision a reality
When neighbors choose to volunteer, donate, or attend a program or per for mance, they help sustain the nonprofits that make our community such a remarkable place to live In doing so, we all can ensure these organizations remain strong for the next generation
Together, we can continue to evolve to address the realities and challenges of the moder n era and ensure that our community remains a place of oppor tunity, care, and connection for all
Cris Braun
Alison Gaudreau is President of The Community House in Birmingham
Alison Gaudreau
P L A C E S T O E AT
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 Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 220 E Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 646 2220 220restaurant com
5th Tavern: American Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302 248 481 9607 5thtavern com
Adachi: Japanese Lunch & Dinner daily Liquor Reservations 325 S Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham 48009 248 540 5900 adachirestaurant com
Andiamo: Italian Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301 248 865 9300 andiamoitalia com
Beau’s: American Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301 248 626 2630 beausbloomfield com
Bella Piatti: Italian Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 494 7110 bellapiattirestaurant com
Bell Bistro: American Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Liquor Reservations 185 N Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 829 7900 bellbirmingham com
Beverly Hills Grill: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025 248 642 2355 beverlyhillsgrill com
Dinner, Monday-Saturday No reservations 877 W Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302 248 540 7220 cityscapedeli com
Commonwealth: American Breakfast & Lunch, daily No reservations 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009 248 792 9766 gocommonwealth com
Dick O’Dow’s: Irish Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday Reservations Liquor 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 642 1135 dickodowspub com
Eddie Merlot’s: Steak & seafood Dinner, daily Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248 712 4095 eddiemerlots com
Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli Breakfast & Lunch, daily No reservations 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301 248 258 9939 einsteinbros com
EM: Mexican Lunch, Saturday, Dinner, TuesdaySaturday Reservations Liquor 470 N Old Woodward Ave, Birmingham, 48009 947 234 0819 embirmingham com
Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli Breakfast & Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday Dinner, TuesdayFriday No reservations 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301 248 645 1033 embersdeli1 com
Flemings Prime Steakhouse & W ine Bar : American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 323 N Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 723 0134 flemingssteakhouse com
Greek Islands Coney Restaurant: Greek Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009 248 646 1222 greekislandsconey com
Beyond Juicery + Eatery: Contemporary Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 270 W Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009; 221 Cole Street, Birmingham, 48009; 3645 W Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301; 4065 W Maple Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301; 1987 S Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302 beyondjuiceryeatery com
Big Rock Italian Chop House: Steakhouse. Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 245 S Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 275 0888 bigrockitalianchophouse com
Bill’s: American Breakfast, weekends, Lunch, Wednesday-Sunday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 248 646 9000 billsbloomfieldhills com
Birmingham Pub: American Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 885 8108 thebirminghampub com
Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009 248 593 8880 birminghamsushi com
Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 34244 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 594 0984 bistrojoeskitchen com
Bloomfield Deli: Deli Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 248 645 6879 bloomfielddeli com
Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza Lunch & Dinner, daily Liquor No reservations 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 258 6690 thebrooklynpizza com
Café Dax: American Breakfast, daily, Lunch, daily No reservations Liquor 298 S Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009
248 283 4200 daxtonhotel com
Café ML: New American Dinner, daily Liquor Reservations. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township 248 642 4000 cafeml com
Café Origins: Global Breakfast and Lunch, daily, Dinner, Monday-Saturday No reservations 163 W Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009 248 742 4040 originsbirmingham com
Casa Pernoi: Italian Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 310 E Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009 248 940 0000 casapernoi com
Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar : Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 647 4555 churchillscigarbar com
Cityscape Deli: Deli Breakfast, Lunch and
Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American Lunch, Thursday-Sunday, Dinner, TuesdaySunday No Reservations Liquor 575 S Eton Street, Birmingham 248 712 4050 griffinclawbrewingcompany com
Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, daily No reservations 3633 W Maple Rd, Bloomfield, MI 48301 248 203 9111 honeytreegrille com
Hudson’s Place: Pizza/Coffee/Takeout Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations 1087 W Long Lake Road, Bloomfield, 48302 248 540 2266 hudsonsplacepizzeria com
Hunter House Hamburgers: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 646 7121 hunterhousehamburgers com
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 201 S Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 594 4369 hydeparkrestaurants com
IHOP: American Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily No reservations 2187 S Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 248.333.7522. Ihop.com
Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Brunch, Sunday, Dinner daily Reservations Liquor 39475 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 248 792 9609 joemuer com
Kaku Sushi and Poke’: Asian Lunch, MondayFriday & Dinner daily No reservations 869 W Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302 248 480 4785, and 126 S Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009 248 885 8631 kakusushipoke com
Kerby’s Koney Island: American Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 2160 N Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 248 333 1166 kerbyskoneyisland com
La Marsa: Mediterranean Lunch & Dinner daily Reservations 43259 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302 248 858 5800 lamarsacuisine com
La Pecora Nera: Italian deli Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations 135 Pierce St. Birmingham, 48009. 248.940.5613. lapecoraneradetroit.com
La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar : Italian Dinner, Monday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 243 E Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 480 0492 lastradaitaliankitchen com
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 leosconeyisland com
Lincoln Yard and Little Yard: American Little Yard take-out hours: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily Lincoln Yard hours: Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations Liquor 2159 E Lincoln Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 653 5353 eatlincolnyard com
Little Daddy’s: American Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 248 647 3400 littledaddys com
Luxe Bar & Grill: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 525 N Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 792 6051 luxebarandgrill com
Madam: American. Brunch, weekends. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner daily Reservations Liquor 298 S Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 283 4200 daxtonhotel com
Market North End: American Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 474 N Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 712 4953 marketnorthend com
Marrow: American Butcher shop and eatery Breakfast and Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations 283 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009 734 410 0405 marrowdetroit.com/restaurant
MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar : Mexican Brunch, weekends Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301 248 723 0800 mexbloomfield com
Middle Eats: Mediterranean Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield, 48093 248 274 328 middleeats com
Nippon Sushi Bar : Japanese Lunch, MondayFriday, Dinner daily No reservations Liquor 2079 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302 248 481 9581 nipponsushibar com
Olga’s Kitchen: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 2075 S Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302 248 451 0500 olgas com
Original Pancake House: American Breakfast & Lunch, daily No reservations 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 642 5775 oph-mi com
Phoenicia: Lebanese Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 588 S Old Woodward Birmingham, 48009. phoeniciabirmingham com
Roadside B & G: American Brunch, weekends, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 1727 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48302 248 858 7270 roadsidebandg com
Salvatore Scallopini: Italian Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Beer & W ine 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 644 8977 salsbirmingham com
Shift Kitchen & Cocktails: Small Plates Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 117 W illits Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 452 1355 shiftbirmingham com
Sidecar : American Lunch and Dinner, daily Liquor 117 W illits Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 792 2380 sidecarsliderbar com
Slice Pizza Kitchen: Pizza Lunch and Dinner, daily Liquor 117 W illits Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 792 3475
slicepizzakitchen com
Social Kitchen & Bar : American Lunch & Dinner, daily Brunch, Saturday & Sunday Reservations Liquor 225 E Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200. socialkitchenandbar com
Steve’s Deli: Deli Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday Breakfast and Lunch, Sunday No reservations 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301 248 932 0800 stevesdeli com
Sushi Hana: Japanese Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations. Liquor. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 248 333 3887 sushihanabloomfield com
Sy Thai Cafe: Thai Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily No reservations 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009 248 258 9830 sythaibirmingham com
Sylvan Table: American Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 1819 Inverness Street, Sylvan Lake, 48320 248 369 3360 sylvantable com
Tallulah W ine Bar and Bistro: American Dinner, Monday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 55 S Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 731 7066 tallulahwine com
Terra Kitchen & Cocktails: New American Lunch and Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 260 N Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 556 5640 dineterra com
Teuta: Diner. Breakfast and Lunch, daily. No reservations 168 W Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009 248 590 2113 teutabirmingham com
Thai Street Kitchen: Thai Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday No reservations 42805 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304 248 499 6867 thaistreetkitchen com
The Franklin: Oyster Bar Brunch, weekends, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 32760 Franklin Road, Franklin, 48025 248 771 4747 thefranklinmi com
The Gallery Restaurant: American Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301 248 851 0313 galleryrestaurant2 com
The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 2395 S Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302 248 858 7688 moosepreserve com
The Rugby Grille: American Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 642 5999 rugbygrille com
Touch of India: Lunch, Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday & Sunday Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations 297 E Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009 248 593 7881 thetouchofindia com
Townhouse: American Brunch, weekends
Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 792 5241 eatattownhouse com
Whistle Stop Diner : American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Liquor No reservations 501 S Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009 248 566 3566 whistlestopdiners com
W ilder’s: American Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 458 N Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 771 0900 wildersbirmingham com
ZANA : Modern American Dinner, TuesdaySunday Reservations Liquor 210 S Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009 248 800 6568 zanabham com
Zao Jun: Asian Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248 949 9999 zaojunnewasian com
Royal Oak/Fer ndale
Ale Mary’s: American Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 316 South Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067
248 268 1917 alemarysbeer com
Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 22651 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220
248 548 0680 anitaskitchen com
Bella Limone: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday No reservations Liquor 100 S Main Street, Floor 2, Royal Oak, 48067 248 955 5725 bellalimone com
Beppé: New American Lunch, Saturday and Sunday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 703 N Main St, Royal Oak, 48067 248 607 7030 eatbeppe com
Bigalora: Italian Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 711 S Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 544 2442 bigalora com
Blind Owl: International/American comfort Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 511 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.216.1112. blindowlrestaurant.com
Blue Goat: Mediterranean Lunch, FridaySunday, Dinner, Wednesday-Monday Reservations Liquor 321 S Main St, Royal Oak, 48067 248 965 9955 bluegoatroyaloak com
Cafe Muse: French Breakfast & Lunch, Wednesday-Monday Reservations Liquor 418 S Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067 248 544 4749 cafemuseroyaloak com
Coeur : New American Small Plates Brunch,
Sunday, Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 330 W Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, 48220 248 466 3010 coeurferndale com
Crispelli’s Bakery and Pizzeria: Italian Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 28939 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, 48072 248 591 3300 crispellis com
The Fly Trap: Diner Breakfast & Lunch, daily Dinner, Thursday-Sunday No reservations 22950 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale 48220 248 399 5150 theflytrapferndale com
Grand River Brewery: American Brunch, Saturday & Sunday Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 1 E 14 Mile Road, Clawson, 48017. 248.607-3631. grandriverbrewer
Gus’ Snug: Irish Lunch and Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 38 S Main Street, Clawson, 48017 248 607 3631 gussnug com
HopCat: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 430 S Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 744 2544 HopCat com
Howe’s Bayou: Cajun Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday No reservations Liquor 22949 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220 248 691 7145 howesbayouferndale net
Imperial: Mexican. Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations Liquor 22848 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220 248 691 7145 imperialferndale com
JINYA Ramen Bar : Contemporary Japanese Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 129 S Main St, Royal Oak, 48067 248.955.4692. jinyaramenbar.com
Kacha Thai Market: Thai Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations 205 S Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 942-4246
KouZina: Greek Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 121 N Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 629 6500 gokouzina com
Kruse & Muer on Woodward: American Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 28028 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067 248 965 2101 kruseandmuerrestaurants com
Lily’s Seafood: Seafood Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067 248 591 5459 lilysseafood com
Masala: Indian Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations 106 S Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 850 8284 food orders co/royaloakmasala
Mezcal: Mexican Bruch, Sunday Lunch and Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 201 E Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, 248 268 3915 mezcalferndale com
Noori Pocha: Korean Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No reservations. Liquor. 1 S. Main Street, Clawson, 48017 248 850 7512 nooripocha com
Oak City Grille: American Dinner, TuesdaySunday Reservations Liquor 212 W 6th Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 556 0947 oakcitygrille com
Oak Parker : American Brunch, weekends Lunch & Dinner daily No reservations Liquor 13621 W Eleven Mile Rd, Oak Park, 48237 oakparker com
One-Eyed Betty’s: American Breakfast, weekends, Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor. 175 W. Troy Street, Ferndale, 48220. 248 808 6633 oneeyedbettys com
Pastaio: Italian Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 208 W 5th Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 565 8722 eatpastaio com/royal-oak
Pita Post: Mediterranean Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday No reservations 2520 W 14 Mile Road, Royal Oak, 48073 855 535 5588 thepitapost com
Pop’s for Italian: Italian Brunch and Lunch, weekends, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations. Liquor. 280 W. 9 Mile Road, Ferndale,48220 248 268 4806 popsforitalian com
Redcoat Tavern: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 31542 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, 48073
248 549 0300 redcoat-tavern com
Ronin: Japanese Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 326 W 4th Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 546 0888 roninsushi com
Royal Oak Brewery: American Lunch &
Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations Liquor 215 E 4th Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 544 1141 royaloakbrewery com
The Modern Vegan: Vegan Brunch, weekends, Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations 304 N Main St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.206-7041. tmvrestaurants.com
Three Cats Café: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday, Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 116 W 14 Mile Road, Clawson threecatscafe com
Tigerlily: Japenese Brunch, weekends Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 231 W Nine Mile Rd Suite A, Ferndale, 48220 248 733 4905 tigerlilyferndale com
Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American Breakfast & Lunch, daily No reservations 23144 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220 248 398 0444 eatattoast com
Tom’s Oyster Bar : Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 318 S Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 248 541 1186 tomsoysterbar com
Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian Dinner, TuesdaySunday Reservations Liquor 415 S, Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067 248 542 4444 trattoriadaluigi business site com
Vinsetta Garage: American Lunch and Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 7799 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, 48072 248 548 7711 vinsettagarage com
Antica Nova: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations Liquor 1695 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48083 248 422 6521 anticanova com
Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian Lunch, Tuesday-Friday, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 1933 W Maple Road, Troy, 48084 248 280 1831 cafesushimi com
Capital Grill: Steak & Seafood Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 2800 W Big Beaver Road, Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084 248 649 5300
CK Diggs: American & Italian Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor 2010 W Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309 248 853 6600 ckdiggs com
The Dime Store: American Breakfast and Lunch, daily No reservations Liquor 6920 N Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306 248 963 0941 eatdimestore com
Ernie’s on the Creek: Modern Mediterranean Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 543 N Main St #201, Rochester, 48307 248 710 8808 erniesonthecreek com
Grand Castor : Latin American Lunch and Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 2950 Rochester Road, Troy, 48083 248 278 7777 grancastor com
The Jackson: Modern American Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 184 N Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309 248 709 9453 thejacksonrestaurant com
Kona Grille: American Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 30 E Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083 248.619.9060. konagrill.com
Kruse & Muer on Main: American Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 327 S Main Street, Rochester, 48307 248 652 9400 kruseandmuerrestaurants com
Loccino Italian Grill and Bar : Italian Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily Liquor Reservations 5600 Crooks Road, Troy, 48098 248 813 0700 loccino com
The Meeting House: American Brunch, weekends, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations Liquor 301 S Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825. themeetinghouserochester com
Mon Jin Lau: Nu Asian Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 1515 E Maple Road, Troy, 48083 248 689 2332 monjinlau com
Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 888 W Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48084 248 404 9845 mortons com
NM Café: American Lunch, Monday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 2705 W Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48084 248 816 3424
M E T R O I N T E L L I G E N C E R
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 Gigi Nichols who can be reached at GigiNichols@DowntownPublications com with news items or tips, on or off the record
The Beverly to open
in Berkley
The Beverly, a New American comfor t restaurant from Travis Four mont and Executive Chef Nor man Valenti, is set to open in November Four mont and Valenti are the acclaimed duo behind Detroit’s Bar Pigalle Located in the hear t of Berkley at the cor ner of Beverly Boulevard and Coolidge, The Beverly is designed to reflect the community it calls home casual, unintimidating, and a beacon of good times “ When I think of Berkley, I think of family and a strong sense of community,” said owner Travis Four mont “ This city has been my home for over 13 years I ve always wanted to open something nearby that felt welcoming to ever yone, whether it’s a quick burger af ter the kids’ soccer game or a special night out ” From sourcing bread from Crispelli’s to collaborating with Casa Amado and Bombshell Tea Bar, The Beverly is all about local par tnerships Executive Chef Nor man Valenti, whose culinar y background includes Plum Market and Bar Pigalle, as well as years in Oakland County kitchens, brings his vision of far m-to -table comfor t food to life “ The food will reflect time and neighborhood,” Valenti shared “ We’re working with local far ms and companies like Stoney Creek, Motor City Seafood, and Stonehedge to bring fresh, thoughtful ingredients to the table ” Diners can expect weekly rotating specials with a supper club spirit, an innovative yet unfussy beverage program curated by Four mont, and a design that feels bright and vibrant The team describes Bar Pigalle as “the evening speakeasy, and The Beverly as the daytime version less moody, more alive ” Beyond food and drink, Four mont and Valenti are deeply committed to creating a space that suppor ts and celebrates the Berkley community “Ultimately, we ’ re building something that’s meant to last,” said Valenti` “I want The Beverly to feel timeless like it’s always been here and always will be ” The Beverly also offers a private dining room, and a spacious patio Br unch and dinner ser vice will be available, along with a full bar highlighting regional wines, craf t cocktails, and locally inspired drinks 3180 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley beverlyrestaurant com
A passion for brewing
Easter n Market’s newest addition, Full Measure Brewer y, is the result of decades-long passion and friendship among three seasoned brewers Dr Dennis “Skip” Elmer Jr, and husband and wife team, Mike Bardallis and Annette May “ We’ve dedicated much of our lives to lear ning ever ything we can about beer and beer culture around the world,” the trio states on their website “One thing we know for sure beer is for sharing We’ve tried to use our knowledge to present you with the best experience of ever y aspect of our beers, beginning with recipes and process, to conditioning, temperature, glassware, and ser vice ” Cur rently, Full Measure features 12 rotating beers on tap including selections like: Uncle Dave’s Rye Peppercor n Pale Ale; Helles Keller (Munich Helle); Atmospherium Saison; and Emerald Ale Irish Stout Joining the team is Chef Mario Maniac who leads Full Measure’s culinar y program, craf ting menus that pair local, seasonal ingredients with the brewer y ’ s diverse beer lineup The Cor nmeal Fried Catfish, with Creole remoulade, rice and beans pairs per fectly with the Venerable Pils (Ger man Pilsner) or the Miracle Mild (British Mild Ale) while the Flatiron Steak & Fries with red chimichur ri, house fries, garlic-aioli and seasonal vegetables can be accompanied by the Old Reinheitsgebot Dunkel or the Rye Peppercor n Pale Ale Easter n Market shoppers will be happy to lear n Full Measure Brewer y is open for br unch on Saturdays at 9 a m and Sundays at 10 a m The inventive br unch menu includes options such as Kimchi Peanut Butter Waffles, Ham and Brie Omelet and Blueber r y Lemon Ricotta Pancakes 2700 Orleans Street, Detroit fullmeasurebrewing.com
A modern Romanian bistro Bar Gabi, a moder n Romanian restaurant from husband-and-wife chefs Gabriel and Gabriela Botezan, will debut this fall in Hazel Park Located in the space for merly home to Frame and FRAMEbar where the Botezans first made their mark with a series of inventive pop-ups Bar Gabi marks the couple’s first per manent restaurant and their most personal project yet Though the Botezans built their reputation locally with Italian cooking at
neimanmarcus com/restaurants
Oceania Inn: Chinese Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309 248 375 9200 oceaniainnrochesterhills com
O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 324 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537. oconnorsrochester com
P F Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor Somerset Collection, 2801 W Big Beaver Rd , Troy, 48084 248 816 8000 pfchangs com
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 recipesinc com
RH House: American Brunch, weekends, Lunch and Dinner, daily 2630 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309 No reservations Liquor 2630 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.586.1000. rh.house.com
RH Social: Pizza/Sports Bar Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 6870 N Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306 248 759 4858 rochesterhillssocial com
Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 306 S Main St , Rochester, 48307 248 651 2266 kruseandmuerrestaurants com
Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 755 W Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48084 248 269 8424 ruthschris com
Sedona Taphouse: American Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 198 Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083 248 422 6167 sedonataphouse co
Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48306 248 652 4500 silverspoonristorante com
Stumblebum Beer Co.: American Lunch, Friday-Sunday, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations Beer 1965 W Maple Road, Troy, 48084 248 307 7204 stumblebumbeer com
Too Ra Loo: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 139 S Main Street, Rochester, 48307 248 453 5291 tooraloorochester com
West Bloomfield/Southfield
Aurora Italiana: Italian Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 6199 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp , 48322 248 782 3000 auroraitaliana com
Aurora on the Lake: Italian Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382 248 360 6650 auroraitaliana com
Bigalora: Italian Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily No Reservations Liquor 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034 248 544 2442 bigalora com
The Fiddler : Russian Dinner, Friday & Saturday Reservations Liquor 6676 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248 851 8782 fiddlerrestaurant com
Mene Sushi: Japanese Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Beer & W ine 6239 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248.538.7081. menesususi.com
Nonna Maria’s: Italian Dinner, TuesdaySaturday Reservations Liquor 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323 248 851 2500 nonamariasbistro com
Pickles & Rye: Deli Lunch, & Dinner, daily No reservations 6724 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248 737 3890 picklesandryedeli com
Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 6545 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48322 248 737 7463 prime29steakhouse com
Redcoat Tavern: American Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday No reservations Liquor 6745 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248 865 0500 redcoattavern com
Shangri-La: Chinese Lunch & Dinner, Wednesday-Monday Reservations Liquor Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248 626 8585 dinesangrila com
Stage Deli: Deli. Lunch, & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No reservations. Liquor. 6873 Orchard Lake Rd , West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248 855 6622 stagedeli com
Vive: American Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 33080 Northwestern Hwy, West Bloomfield Township, 48322 248 406 8065 viverestaurantmi com
W itch Topokki: Korean Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations 300 John R Rd suite a, Troy, 48083 248 307 7587 witchtopokki com
Yotsuba: Japanese Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday Reservations Liquor 7365 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48322 248 737 8282 yotsuba-restaurant com
West Oakland
Volare Ristorante: Italian Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393 248 960 7771 ristorantevolare com
North Oakland
Clarkston Union: American Breakfast, Sunday, Lunch, & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 54 S Main Street, Clarkston, 48346 248 620 6100 clarkstonunion com
Kruse s Deer Lake Inn: Seafood Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346 248 795 2077 kruseandmuerrestaurants com
The Fed: American Brunch, Saturday & Sunday Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 15 S. Main Street, Clarkston, 48346. 248 297 5833 thefedcommunity com
Rudy’s Steakhouse: Steak Dinner, TuesdaySunday Reservations Liquor 9 S Main Street, Village of Clarkston, 48346 248 625 3033 rudysprimesteakhouse com
Via Bologna: Italian Dinner, Monday-Saturday No reservations Liquor 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346 248 620 8500 joebologna com
Union Woodshop: BBQ Lunch, Saturday & Sunday, Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 18 S Main Street, Clarkston, 48346 248 625 5660 unionwoodshop com
Detroit
Adelina: Italian Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 1040 Woodward Ave, Detroit,48226 313 246 8811 adelinadetroit com
Mario’s: Italian Lunch, Saturday & Sunday, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 4222 2nd Avenue, Detroit, 48201 313 832 1616 mariosdetroit com
Mezcal: Mexican. Brunch, Weekends, Lunch and Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 51 W Forest Avenue, Detroit, 48202 313 974 7441 mezcaldetroit com
Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 4710 Cass Avenue, Detroit, 48201 313 974 7669 midtownshangril-la com
Motor City Brewing Works: American Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations Beer & W ine 470 W Canfield Street, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700. motorcitybeer.com
Oak & Reel: Italian Seafood Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 2921 E Grand Boulevard, Detroit, 48202 313 270 9600 oakandreel com
PAO Detroit: Asian Fusion/Pan Asian Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 114 W Adams Avenue, Suite 200, Detroit, 48226 313.816.0000. paodetroit.com
Parc: New American Brunch, Saturday & Sunday Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48226 313 922 7272 parcdetroit com
Prime + Proper : Steak House Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 1145 Griswold St, Detroit, 48226 313 636 3100
primeandproperdetroit com
Prism: Steak & Seafood Dinner, ThursdaySunday Reservations Liquor 555 E Lafayette Street, Detroit, 48226 313 309 2499 greektowncasino com
Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave , Detroit, 48226 313 962 2100
Selden Standard: American Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 3921 Second Avenue, Detroit, 48201 313 438 5055 seldenstandard com
Sexy Steak: Steakhouse Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 1942 Grand River Avenue, Detroit,48226 313 403 1000 sexysteakdetroit com
SheWolf Pastifico & Bar : Italian Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 438 Selden Street, Detroit 48201 313 315 3992 shewolfdetroit com
Sinbad’s: Seafood Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 100 St Clair Street, Detroit, 48214 313 822 8000 sindbads com
Soraya: Japanese. Lunch, Tuesday-Thursday, Dinner, Monday-Saturday Reservations Liquor. 160 W Fort St, Detroit, 48226. 313 262 6078 sorayadetroit com
Sullivan’s Steakhouse: Steakhouse Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 1128 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226 313 591 2495 sullivanssteakhouse com
Supergeil: Berlin Doner Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday No reservations Liquor 2442 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, 48216 313 462 4133 supergeildetroit com
Tap at MGM Grand: American Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226 313.465.1234. mgmgranddetroit.com
The Apparatus Room: New American Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 250 W Larned Street, Detroit, 48226 313 800 5600 detroitfoundationhotel com
The Block: American Brunch, Weekends, Lunch & Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 3919 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201 313 832 0892 theblockdet com
The Dime Store: American Breakfast & Lunch, Thursday-Tuesday No reservations Liquor 719 Griswold Street #180, Detroit, 48226 313 962 9106 eatdimestore com
The Peterboro: Chinese American Lunch, Saturday, Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 420 Peterboro Street, Detroit, 48201 313 462 8106 thepeterboro com
Townhouse Detroit: American Lunch & Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 500 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201 48226 313 723 1000 townhousedetroit com
Vertical Detroit: Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday Reservations Liquor 1538 Center Street, Detroit, 48226 313 732 WINE verticaldetroit com
Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American Lunch & Dinner, daily No reservations Liquor 2460 Market Street, Detroit, 48207 313 393 1711 viviosdetroit net
The Whitney: American Tea Service, Friday & Saturday, Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Reservations Liquor 4421 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201 313 832 5700 thewhitney com
Wright & Co : American Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Avenue, Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711. wrightdetroit.com
Zuzu: Asian Fusion Dinner, daily Reservations Liquor 511 Woodward Ave suite 100, Detroit, 48226 313 464 7777 experiencezuzu com
places like Bacco and Adelina, Bar Gabi represents a retur n to the foods they grew up eating in Romania For Gabriel, who grew up in Bucharest and began his career cooking alongside his uncle at a resor t on the Black Sea, and Gabriela, who hails from Transylvania and discovered her passion for pastr y while raising their daughters, the restaurant is both a tribute to home and a vision of the future “ This is some of the food of our childhood, but elevated with the techniques we ’ ve picked up over the years, ” Gabriel says “It’s r ustic, but it’s refined Like Gabby and me, the roots are Romanian, but we don’t want to call ourselves traditional or even limit ourselves to just Romania in what we ser ve ” Bar Gabi isn’t about recreating your grandmother ’ s recipes; it’s closer to eating in Bucharest today, where centuries- old dishes share the table with global influences Diners will still find tradition in mititei, Romania’s answer to Balkan cevapi, and in Transylvanian goulash, a hear ty stew layered with peppers and herbs But there are also depar tures: a tomahawk pork schnitzel finished with smoked paprika, or Michigan rainbow trout paired with char red lemon, fennel, and gremolata A rotating selection of handmade pastas a nod to the Botezans’ years cooking Italian food anchor the menu in the cosmopolitan spirit of moder n-day Romania And from Gabriela’s pastr y kitchen: her signature focaccia and her spin on tiramisu for desser t “ This is so personal and just us, ” Gabriela says “ We always dreamed of opening our own restaurant because if there’s anything we love more than cooking, it’s people We love hosting people and making them feel at home And we already have so much histor y in this space that it already tr uly does feel like our home We hope people feel that love and authentic energy in ever y dish ” 23839 John R Road, Hazel Park bargabi.com
Cibo Detroit new concept menu
Cibo Detroit, located at 600 W Lafayette Blvd , has debuted a bold new “Social Dining Experience” menu Curated by Executive Chef Richard Williams, the revamped menu embraces shareable plates and family-style dining to foster conversation and connection Known for its inventive, seasonal dishes and hand-craf ted cocktails, Cibo now offers a more curated menu that highlights global flavors and local ingredients The experience encourages guests to enjoy a lively, communal meal one plate at a time “ This menu was created with connection in mind,” stated Williams “From dips and breads to fresh seafood and bold meats, ever y dish is designed to be passed, shared, and enjoyed together ” Highlights include Ominamiyaki Cor nbread with sambal honey butter, Norcina Alla Pane Pizza with tr uffle, and vegetable-for ward plates like Stoney Creek Mushrooms and Vegan Scallop Far rotto Seafood lovers can indulge in Frito Misto or soy-cured salmon, while hear ty options like the Cowboy Cut Ribeye and Butter milk Kan Kan Chop deliver bold, satisf ying flavors Cibo also introduces a refreshed bar program featuring dramatic, seasonal cocktails including “Social Cocktails” designed for sharing 600 W Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit cibodetroit com
Popular restaurants close
The new version of Lady of the House, located in Detroit’s Core City, has shuttered af ter just 11 months in business The establishment’s financial backer, Jason Singer, is cur rently in a legal battle with Lady of the House’s award-winning Chef Kate Williams The original Lady of the House operated from 2017 until 2021 in Corktown, where Williams ear ned many national accolades over the years, including: James Beard Award finalist, 2019; Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America, 2018; Food & Wine Best New Chefs, 2018; and GQ’s Best New Restaurants in America, 2018
Chef Jordan Smith has announced the closure of his restaurant, Coeur, on social media The eater y, which opened in the summer of 2023 in the for mer home of Fer ndale’s Assaggi Bistro, specialized in New American small plates “ When we opened Coeur, we had noble ideals: to cook with the best products, to pay our team fairly, and to create a tr uly special dining experience here in Fer ndale that was welcoming to all However, the reality of this economic climate is less than ideal Simply put: We can’t keep to our mission without raising prices beyond what makes sense for our guests So, af ter a lot of painful reflection, we ’ ve made the tough decision to close Coeur Our last ser vice will be Sunday, October 19 Thank you for all the memories, Fer ndale We’ll miss you, ” stated Smith via Facebook
E N D N O T E
Our recommendations for November ballot
Voters in Bloomfield Hills will be deter mining the fate of city commission candidates in the Tuesday, November 4, election, while voters in Bir mingham will cast ballots for the city commission and the librar y board At the same time, voters in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district are being asked to approve a sinking fund millage These elections are non-par tisan Downtown Newsmagazine sent questionnaires to candidates in both communities, the answers to which appear in the Voter Guide presented in this issue and online at downtownpublications com Candidate answers and other factors deter mined our endorsements appearing here
BIRMINGHAM CITY COMMISSION
A field of five candidates, all respectable, are seeking three four-year ter ms on the Bir mingham City Commission Two cur rent members of the commission – Katie Schafer and Jason Emerine –did not file for election this year
The only incumbent in this race is ANDREW HAIG who has been on the commission since 2021 Although we have not always agreed with Haig on some issues, there is no denying his analytical approach to decisions facing officials is a benefit to the city We suppor t his position that cost sharing on the unimproved streets program is in need of review and we tr ust his concer n about logical use of city resources Although he has his detractors, we think his years of institutional knowledge will prove an asset and he should be given another ter m on the commission
For the remaining two spots on the commission we think voters would be best ser ved by KEVIN KOZLOWSKI and DOUG WHITE Both candidates are knowledgeable when it comes to what is facing the commission and both bring some cur rent experience to the commission – Kozlowski on the Advisor y Parking Committee and White from the Multi-Modal Transpor tation Board Those positions at least give them both some insight into how the city operates as they begin ser ving ter ms on the commission
BALDWIN PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
Three four-year positions on the six-member librar y board for Bir mingham will be decided in this election Melissa Mark, cur rently on the board, did not file for election She was par t of the board, along with incumbents FRANK PISANO and DANIELLE RUMPLE, who helped guide the Baldwin Public Librar y through an impressive, multiple-stage redesign in recent years
We think Pisano and Rumple have ear ned new ter ms on the librar y board And we were especially impressed with Pisano’s position now that the long-standing legal issue of the librar y board’s independence from the city has been finalized, that the board should be willing to work with the city in the interest of taxpayers if the librar y board exceeds its fund balance policy, and can afford to lower its millage at times
For the remaining board position, we were tr uly tor n between candidates Pamela Graham and OMAR ODEH, who had ser ved on a librar y development committee We liked what we heard from Odeh when it came to addressing the issue of possibly finding a new source for some of the ser vices provided to the librar y by the city –making sure that there would be no lessening of benefits for staff at the librar y Odeh would be a good addition to the board
As a final side note, we asked each of the candidates whether they believed the results of 2020 presidential election were valid, which all five accepted This question, posed to candidates in past elections, is our ongoing litmus test to make sure that a non-par tisan board is not negatively impacted by hard-right contenders who might not buy into the concept of a librar y ser ving the entire community and will bring the Baldwin Public Librar y into cur rent day culture wars
BLOOMFIELD HILLS CITY COMMISSION
Six local residents for mally filed by the deadline to r un for five two -year ter ms on the city commission in Bloomfield Hills Incumbent
commissioner David Fisher did not file for another ter m
Four incumbent commissioners – BRAD BAXTER, ALICE BUCKLEY, LAUREN FISHER and SUSAN MCCARTHY – are seeking new ter ms, and for voters this should be an easy decision All four have ear ned an added ter m on the commission
For the remaining open spot, two noted attor neys have filed for the commission Although both could no doubt handle city business on behalf of residents, we think that ALAN ACKERMAN, with his past experience representing local municipalities, has an edge in this contest For full disclosure, Acker man twice in the last five years has made small donations to the Downtown Newsmagazine public funding drive which did not influence our endorsement
BLOOMFIELD HILLS S CHOOLS MILLAGE
Taxpayers in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district first approved in 2005 what is commonly known as a sinking fund millage and have renewed it three times since then
Sinking fund millage revenues are highly regulated by law and must be used for constr uction and/or repairs on school buildings, technology purchases, school security issues and acquisition and repair of student transpor tation vehicles Such funds cannot be used for staff salaries
If approved by voters, the sinking fund millage will be 1 5 mills annually, which equates to $1 50 for each thousand of taxable value on a home or business building The ballot issue is being billed as a replacement for the cur rent sinking fund tax last approved in 2023, and would be levied for 10 years, from 2026 to 2035
We think school district officials have a good game plan for this sinking fund tax and we recommend a YES vote on the November ballot issue
Don’t delay on financial disclosure at county
Oakland County officials – specifically the county board of commissioners – would be wise to make as a priority in coming weeks the ethics and financial disclosure proposal recently introduced by Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter
In early October Coulter put for th a financial disclosure proposal that would apply to all county elected leaders, including members of the county board The financial transparency regulations would also apply to “senior appointed” officials Also required to file disclosure infor mation would be other elected officials like the county prosecutor, clerk, water resources and others
To enact the disclosure r ules, the proposal must be adopted by the county board of commissioners
Coulter ’ s push is a direct response to recent allegations of conflict of interest and possible ethical violations by elected county officials, including board of commissioners chair Dave Woodward, that have been highlighted in repor ting by the Detroit Free Press Oakland County is has no ethics code like neighboring counties
The work of the Detroit Free Press jour nalists has
also prompted state Representative Donni Steele (RBloomfield Hills, par t of Bloomfield Township and nor ther n county municipalities) to introduce a bill that would basically extend the state financial disclosure law to include, based on population, 16 of the 83 countries in the state
But there are deficiencies in what state lawmakers enacted af ter state voters in 2022 over whelmingly approved financial disclosure The state requirements do not include disclosure by spouses and other dependent household members which means elected officials intent on circumventing disclosure requirements could just transfer assets There is also no indication that state lawmakers would move this legislation Don’t forget, House and Senate members refused to deal with this issue until it was put on the ballot, and then produced something far less stringent than what was first proposed by an outside group
Two Democrat county commissioners, Kristine Nelson and Charlie Cavell, earlier this year had proposed an ethics plan for county officials but that has gone nowhere ar t this point in time
Coulter ’ s proposal would require repor ting of
financial interests and be placed online so the public has access to the infor mation If changes or improvements are needed at some future point, it would be much easier to make them at the county level
Financial disclosure would be required of county officials as well as spouses and domestic par tners Fur ther, the transparency regulations would apply to adult dependents in the same household Aside from income and assets, also required to be disclosed are the interests of any tr ust related to those filing Additionally, those covered by the transparency r ules would be required at each mid year to file fur ther disclosure if they had any new outside income of $10,000 or more
To help with enforcement Coulter ’ s proposal includes the addition of an independent ombudsperson who would field tips on any possible ethical or conflict of interests on the par t of public officials
What has been proposed by the county executive is pretty solid and should be adopted by county commissioners without delay
