Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Livonianeighbors.com. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. To ensure your privacy, never use personal information in your screen name or email address ("janedoe@hotmail.com" or "Billysmom" for example).

Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Next Up: CC Candidate Joe Laura; What Do You Want to Know?
Topic Started: Jul 19 2009, 09:48 AM (835 Views)
Ms. AK
Veteran
CC candidate Joe Laura has agreed to sit for an interview, and I will be posting an article about him soon.

What questions would you like Mr. Laura to answer? What do you want to know?

PM or post. I hope to be interviewing him next week.

Anna Krome
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LPS Reformer
Member Avatar
The schools exist to educate, not employ.
Is he happy with the current level of transparency in Livonia city government, and if not, what would he like to do about it?
“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Thanks, Loyd.

I will ask him and put his answer in the article. Anyone else?
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Does Joe support Kirksey's plan to eliminate ALL funding to the library system? This would result in the destruction of our libraries. People are now using the libraries more than they have in many years.

Also, how does he feel about, and what could he do about the city employees that do not live in the city taking our tax dollars back to their city to spend? Is it possible to tax non resident city employees a small amount like 1%? Wouldn't this help balance our budget without taking so many services away? I've worked in Detroit and had to pay a non resident income tax.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Otis B.
Veteran
riley1
Jul 20 2009, 04:42 PM
Does Joe support Kirksey's plan to eliminate ALL funding to the library system? This would result in the destruction of our libraries. People are now using the libraries more than they have in many years.

Also, how does he feel about, and what could he do about the city employees that do not live in the city taking our tax dollars back to their city to spend? Is it possible to tax non resident city employees a small amount like 1%? Wouldn't this help balance our budget without taking so many services away? I've worked in Detroit and had to pay a non resident income tax.
WHAT?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
riley1
Jul 20 2009, 04:42 PM
Does Joe support Kirksey's plan to eliminate ALL funding to the library system? This would result in the destruction of our libraries. People are now using the libraries more than they have in many years.
Hi Riley, I have not read about an elimination of all funding to the libraries. Can you provide a link to a reputable news source so that I may do more research? Or, do you have some sort of other information?

I will ask Mr. Laura about the residency issue. I appreciate your feedback.

Thanks,

AK
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

I don't have a reputable news source, but when I was in the library this past weekend I overheard several of the employees talking about a memo they had received from "Kathleen", the city librarian is Kathleen Monroe, so I'm assuming its her.

They were talking about how the library was supposed to get less money from the millage and no general fund contribution.

Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Thanks. I will ask Mr. Laura about the library funding.
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Interviewing Mr. Laura tomorrow. Any more questions?

AK
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Xena
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Anna could you ask him what he thinks about the library parking lot. Will it be repaved? Does he support that? Also what are his feelings about revamping the citys Master Plan. Many of the zoning changes are not in line with the Master Plan. The zoning board and CC seem to rezone land no matter what is on the Master Plan.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Yes.
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
iknowbetter
Member
[ *  * ]
please ask Mr. Laura why he put up roadblocks to other cable companies setting up in Livonia. I understand that when Comcast wanted to set up in Livonia, it was Laura who
in a round about way put up obstacles until they got disgusted with the process and moved on to other communities--I think Livonia would be a better place to get cable if the choices were more than brighthouse and ATT. From my friends in Northville, get good service from
Comcast and another local company would be good competition and maybe lower the rates
of cable tv.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mrs.M
Veteran
I thought it was ATT about 5 - 10 years ago and at the time there were 2 or 3 council people questioning the would be new company. The others council members, just said "ok", no questions asked. Laura took the most grief from the residents and admirably (imho) didn't point the finger and say this council person challenged ATT and that one did too.

I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
IDK
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I watched that meeting and I walked away feeling that Joe Laura was the one who offended the cable company. His attitude struck me as arrogant and his tone of voice seemed disrespectful of those he questioned. IMO
I will never vote for him for anything.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
iknowbetter
Aug 3 2009, 03:14 PM
please ask Mr. Laura why he put up roadblocks to other cable companies setting up in Livonia. I understand that when Comcast wanted to set up in Livonia, it was Laura who
in a round about way put up obstacles until they got disgusted with the process and moved on to other communities
Thanks for your question.

I interviewed Mr. Laura last Friday and I did ask him about the cable competition rumors. This is what I came away with:

1. The December 1999 meeting (not a public CC meeting) was neither taped nor minutes taken.

Whenever you hear this rumor about Laura, ask yourself who was actually there? What is the political or financial gain for the person perpetuating this rumor?

2. Mr. Kirksey viciously perpetuated this rumor in a smear campaign in 2007, bumping Laura out of the mayoral primary. On Kirksey's website, it still states that Laura "killed" cable competition. However, there is no proof provided. No link to anything impartial. No nothing.

3. There IS cable competition in Livonia. It's AT&T (formerly Ameritech New Media).


4. The decision for Ameritech to not set up here in 1999 has to do with their own business decisions and company reorganization. They decided that setting up shop here was cost prohibitive at that time.

Shortly after the 1999 meeting, Ameritech New Media ceased to be a company in January 2000. Their spokesperson for that meeting was fired in December, 1999, which is interesting.

According to Laura, during the meeting, the rep was very abusive, telling members in the audience to "shut up" many times.

5. Look at who voted AGAINST AT&T coming to Livonia most recently:

McCann, Taylor & Knapp

Voting FOR AT&T being our second cable company:

Laura, Meakin, Morecki, Robinson.

FYI: McCann’s cousin runs Bright House and his wife is in charge of the city’s cable operation.

Take it as you will, but these are the facts according to my research.

Edited by Ms. AK, Aug 4 2009, 04:17 PM.
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
See the "Cable" thread for more details and clarifications.

AK
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Monkfish
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Anna Krome
Aug 4 2009, 07:42 PM
See the "Cable" thread for more details and clarifications.

AK
Did this interview ever take place?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Yes.
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Monkfish
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Did I miss this interview? Is it posted on this website?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
It'll be up soon.
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Livonia Neighbors Forum · Next Topic »
Add Reply