Grand Rapids schools to be warm, safe and dry

On Election Day, voters Grand Rapids voted on a tax to keep Grand Rapids Public Schools warm, safe and dry, the tax passing with 52.9 percent of the vote.

            A 1-mill, 5-year sinking fund tax will help renovate the district’s oldest buildings, such as repairing air conditioning systems, roofs and window and brick repair. The tax will generate approximately $4 million annually and will cost the average homeowner, with a median house worth $108,000, an average of $54 a year.

            Buildings that will see renovations include City High Middle School, Central High School, Ottawa High School and Congress Elementary, which is over 100 years old.

            “I think the tax passed because people see the contributions GRPS has made to the community,” said Kyle Pray, campaign manager for Warm, Safe and Dry Schools. “The sell is not hard: warm, safe and dry schools for  kids.”

            The issue arose back in the spring during the 2011-2012 school year budget process with the board of education, board member Maureen Slade said.

 “The issue of repairs is always an issue as a result of loss of state aid and need to keep cuts away from the class room,” Slade said.

            Board member Jon O’Connor said by just replacing the boiler system in City High School that dates back in the 1960s, there is a potential of saving 10 to 20 percent of energy, which will reduce the city’s utility cost.

            “As education is priority no. 1,” O’Connor said, “we felt the prudent choice was to ask the taxpayers for a small millage that would ensure valuable dollars for the classroom repairs.”

            Pray said he felt optimistic during the whole campaign since he was hired in August.

            “We had bi-partisan support and endorsements, no opposition, and a group of committed individuals working to get the millage passed,” Pray said.

            The campaign launched on Sept. 19, once the issue was confirmed to be on the November ballot, Pray said several individuals, strategists, planners, community activists and advocates formed the committee.  The committee used multiple components to campaign for the tax. It held a launch at Congress Elementary, gathered endorsements, knocked on doors, sent mailings and used social media.  

            Now that city passed the tax, repairs will go into effect immediately. Not only will the tax provide Grand Rapids students with warm, safe and dry classrooms, but it will also invest in energy and water conservation, improve air quality and reduce waste sent to landfills. It also supports the community’s GRPS Five Year Strategic Plan to increase graduation rates and academic outcomes for students.

            Grand Rapids is no stranger to renovating its school buildings. The city passed a similar tax in 2004 that supported a $165 million bond issue to renovate 11 the district’s elementary and middle school facilities.  The only difference between the 2004 bond and the new sinking fund is that the sinking fund will only focus on repairs and replacement of capital improvements, not a construction of new buildings.

            Superintendent Bernard Taylor addressed the passing of the tax at the Nov. 14 board meeting. He said that it was a close election, but passing the mileage “speaks volumes of the willingness of this community to support the children in our schools by digging deep during very hard economic times.”

            There are still “house cleaning” issues the board and district have to deal with, Pray said. Initial meetings will happen throughout the school year to discuss process and procedures on how to utilize the funds in the best way.

            “Like the old adage ‘people will walk 10 miles through a snow storm to vote no, but won't walk across the street to vote yes,’” Pray said. “But if our grade schools are not up to snuff, then how can we expect our students to achieve all this city has to offer?  The voters agreed.”

What does it meant to be an American?

Photo from americansolidarity.org

An "American." People and politicians are throwing that word around left and right. Sophisticated presidential candidate, Michele Bachmann, defined two new vocabulary words for the country to learn. Pro-America and Anti-America. You can buy bumper stickers and shirts that say, "Don't blame me. I voted for the American."

What does that even mean? If you're democrat, you're anti-American? Just because people believe in different things, you're anti-American? Whatever happened to being born and raised in the United States and loving your country? Is that not the meaning of being an "American" is anymore? If we can change the 235 year old definition of an "American" why can't we change the 2,000+ year old definition of marriage. Would that be "anti-American" too?

Your sexuality, religious beliefs, and upbringing doesn't determine whether you are "pro-America" or "anti-America." The whole idea of America was "freedom." In Lee Greenwood's song "Proud to be an American," he sings:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

Do we need to be reminded that America first started from a group of people who flocked to the New World to practice their religion without persecution? Remember that story you learned in elementary school called the Pilgrims and the Mayflower?

The Star Spangled Banner lyrics say

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The Preamble states

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence says

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Not everyone is free. African Americans weren't considered "free" until after the Civil War. Women weren't considered "free" until 1920 when their opinions suddenly mattered. African Americans fought again in the 1960s because they couldn't use the same doors as whites, had to sit in the back of the bus (exception: Rosa Parks), and even had different schools. Today, the LGBT community is fighting for their freedom, which they are slowly getting with baby steps.

Restricting rights on your own people where it clearly states in the Declaration of Independence that everyone is create equal? That's anti-American. Applauding that your own people are dying because they don't have health care? That sounds anti-American. Booing your own solider in uniform, overseas in Afghanistan, who is defending your country, just because he is gay? That's anti-American.

Are you anti-American because you have a different skin color than the majority of the population, a different skin color than your Founding Fathers? Are you anti-American because you were born in a different country, became a U.S. citizen, but still are proud of the country to came from? Are you anti-American because you are not a Christian but Muslim, Jewish or Hindu?

Are you anti-American if you don't believe in a god at all?

What if you just love America, what if you're proud of your country, support the troops fighting for you, and support your people? Isn't that what being an American is? America is a unique nation, we're all diverse. We all have different upbringings, different religious beliefs, we all look different--we all have a different story. The immigrants who came to this country from a half a world away build America's foundation. Not one of them were the same.

I can tell you that those firefighters and police officers who saved people's lives after 9/11 are all different. Some were white, black, republican, and democrat, but they teamed together to save lives and rebuild New York City. The Iwo Jima soldiers were all different with different backgrounds and stories, but that didn't matter when they raised the American flag. Soldiers fighting today are all different, but they still wear the American flag stitched onto their uniform everyday before defending our country.

Being a republican or democrat doesn't determine whether you are an American. Being white or black doesn't determine whether you're an American, and believing in God or Allah doesn't determine whether you're an American.

Living in American and have an constant love for your people and your country, that's what determines if you're "pro-America" or "anti-America." If you celebrate the Fourth of July, mourn on September 11th, Pearl Harbor and D-Day, you're an American. If you get teary eyed when an Olympic athlete stands on the podium, holding the American flag around them while they sing to the national anthem, you're an American. If you get goosebumps when you hear the Star Spangled Banner, you're an American.

If you get emotional when you hear, "America: land of the free and home for the brave," then you're an American.

Ohio public workers crush Senate Bill 5

Photo from clevelandleader.com

The Ohio people have spoken. They hate Senate Bill 5--so they killed it.

Senate Bill 5 is an anti-union labor law that would effect up to 350,000 workers including teachers, police officers, firefighters and nurses. The bill lost by 61 percent to 39 percent.

Republican Gov. John Kasich proposed the polarizing bill to limit collective bargaining, ban public worker strikes, eliminate binding arbitration, eliminate "fair share fees" that require payments for non union workers, place caps on three personal sick days,  12 paid holidays and would cap teacher's salaries to $32,000, eliminate automatic pay raises and enforce merit pay (pay based on standardize test scores, which not all teachers do i.e. art, music and physical education teachers), prohibits seniority for main reason in lay offs, and requires public workers to pay 15 percent of their health care costs and contribute 10 percent of their salary towards their pension.

Senate Bill 5 has been Gov. Kasich's main focus, causing his approval rating to plummet down to 33 percent in the recent Public Policy Polling poll. Because it was such a significant bill, Ohio saw a record in voting numbers for an off year election.

But it wasn't just Republicans voting "yes" on the bill (a "yes" would be supporting the limitations on unions) and Democrats voting "no." In the PPP poll released Nov. 6, which indicated that 59 percent of likely voters would vote "no" for the bill, 43 considered themselves conservatives, 27 percent considered themselves liberals and 31 considered themselves moderate. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Ohio teachers, police officers and firefights can rejoice. They won the battle and went straight for Kasich's most prized possession, his Senate Bill 5.

RIP Senate Bill 5.

Michigan under scrutiny for "anti-bullying" law

According to Bullypolice.org, a site that rates states' bullying laws, forty-seven states have anti-bullying laws. Michigan is the only state that seems to encourage bullying.


Senate Republicans gave the Mitten state a surprise smack in the face when they signed Matt's Safe Law, after 14 year old Matt Epling committed suicide in 2002 because of anti-gay bullying in school. The law passed the senate with 26 Republican votes and 11 Democrat votes, and has moved on to the lower house. The bill "does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held belief or moral conviction."

In other words, if the bully finds a moral or religious reason for tormenting his/her victim that's OK under Michigan law.

Senator Gretchen Whitmer responded to the passing of the bill, saying that the bill "has set us back farther, creating a blue print for bullying." Epling's father, Kevin Epling, is outraged at the law and is "ashamed" of it. He uploaded a Youtube video on Nov. 3 to express his opinions about the law that uses his son's name. He has also called the bill "government-sanctioned bigotry."

Whitmer wrote in a release that, "the Senate Republicans chose to play politics with this critically important issue that resulted in a bill that would actually leave Michigan’s students less protected than they already are."

Since the bill has passed on Nov. 2, Michigan Republican's are willing to compromise. Speaker of the House, Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, plans to "bring everyone in the middle of the road and provide protection to all students." Bolger even wrote on his Twitter to say, "Bullying is wrong & the reason for bullying should not make it worse nor excused."

Gay, transgender, straight, white, black, Native American, Jewish or Christian, no matter who you are or what you believe in, no one deserves bullying. End of story.

Nickelback to ruin Detroit's Thanksgiving

Photo from sports.espn.go.com

Nothing says “Happy Thanksgiving” like a table filled with America’s favorite feasting foods, reuniting with your favorite dysfunctional family members and hearing the sweet sounds of Nickelback, serenading you as you munch away on a plateful of turkey.

That’s how Detroit might celebrate Thanksgiving, at least. Just when you thought sitting with your family and/or your in-laws was bad, the Motor City found a different way to torture you on the holidays.

The band known for their overplayed music and horrendous voices, that make Rebecca Black and Miley Cyrus sound like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, are not occupying Wall Street, but plan on occupying Detroit’sThanksgiving game half time show.

Come on, Detroit. You’re already known for being the worst team in football history (once upon a time), your 0-16 record engraved on the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the rest of eternity. You really need to punish your 6-2 team and your excited fans with Nickelback? Really? Do you have ears? Go out and celebrate that awesome record with.

Fans are so upset, they are signing an online petition to have the Lions boot the band back to Canada.

Can’t you please your city with Eminem, Kid Rock, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper or show a little respect with Aretha Franklin?

This is America. Nickelback doesn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving! Reason 23135 why they should come.

Maybe Baby Jesus will bless the city with an early Christmas miracle. Let’s celebrate America with football, food and good music—with a band that actually celebrates Thanksgiving and that doesn't sound like an elephant slowly dying.

The Maury Show: The Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift edition

Photo from billboard.com

Just in a couple days of each other, celebrity good girl and good boy have rumors circling around them.

Maury asked Justin if he was the father of a four month old baby, claimed by a 20 year old fan, Mariah Yeater. Of course, he said no--or tweeted it.

It is the 21st century after all.

What happens in the Staple Center, stays in the Staple Center...sometimes. Yeater claims she and Justin had a thing after one of his shows last year and now claims he his the father of her baby.

She is taking legal action against him, demanding that he take a paternity test.


Yeater pulled a January Jones. Not only did she leave the father's name blank on the birth certificate, she's claiming a successful celebrity (who just so happens to have release his Christmas CD yesterday) is the father of her baby--like how the press thinks Ashton Kutcher (who just so happens to be Charlie Sheen's replacement on "Two and a Half Men") is the father of Jones' baby.

Because Bliebers, the way to Justin's heart is to announce to the world he is the father of your baby. Yeah, he'll get right on that.

Justin tweeted, "So I'm going to ignore the rumors...and focus on what is real. an opportunity to help by doing what i love. Judge me on the music! Love yall!"

Don't worry, Justin. Your fans belieb you.

Wonder how his girlfriend Selena Gomez feels. He did, after all, rent out the Staples Center so the two could watch Rose letting go of Jack. Guess the Staples Center is his wingman.

And then there is Taylor Swift who may or may not have pulled a Vanessa Hutchins. Over the weekend, Celebrity Jihad posted a nude photo of the country singer. The site is known for being a little bizarre. It says its a satirical website, given a disclaimer on the page.  Despite Swift threatening to take legal action against the site, Celebrity Jihad still has the photo up, but will only take it down under one condition.

If Swift converts to Islam, and if she sacrifices a goat and "devour its entrails."

It's like The Onion gone wrong.

Swift is currently on tour, wearing kitten shirts and singing songs with no profanity in them. Her monologue song for her first ever hosting gig on SNL was about how she loves things that smell like winter and glitter. Singing songs about Joe Jonas and John Mayer are the most scandalous things she has done.

Guess you're not considered a celebrity until someone starts a rumor about you. Welcome to Hollywood.

Rick Snyder not on Michigan's list of favorite things

Photo from teapartytribune.com

Michigan voters dislike Gov. Rick Snyder almost as much as American voters dislike Barack Obama.

              Snyder might have won governor by a landslide, sweeping 58 percent of the votes against Virg Bernero, but now, Michigan voters regret their decision. An EPIC-MRA poll discovered that 59 percent of voters gave Snyder a negative rating. Twenty-eight percent said he was doing a fair job when 31 percent said he was doing a poor job.

              Fifty-two percent of Michigan voters said in the same poll that they believe Michigan has seriously gotten off on the wrong track.

               As for Obama, 61 percent of American voters said gave him a negative rating, 26 percent said he was doing a fair job and 35 percent said he was doing a poor job. The number of voters drastically increased when talking about the country's direction. Seventy-one percent believe that the U.S. has gotten off on the wrong track.

               People might be occupying Wall Street, but some Michigan voters, also known as the Committee to Recall Snyder, occupied city streets throughout the state, holding up signs to persuade pedestrians to sign a petition to recall Snyder. Protesters collected over 800,000 signatures. The hunt for signatures ended last month. The committee hoped to get enough signatures for the November ballot. In order to get on the ballot, the committee needed more than one million.

               Among protesers, the Michigan Education Association teacher union fought to recall Snyder. Votes by lawmakers threatened to take away collective bargaining rights from public employees, like what other states, such as Wisconsin and Ohio, are currently going through.

              Snyder isn't the only Michigan governor who had people protesting against him. Michigan's previous three governors, Jennifer Granholm, John Engler and James Blanchard found their names on cardboard signs throughout the streets of Michigan. None of the three petitions made it to the ballot.

             A Public Policy Polling survey found that 45 percent of registered voters said if they could do last year's election over again, they would vote for Bernero. Another 45 percent said they would stick with Snyder, with the remaining 10 percent not sure.

            PPP polled 593 Michigan voters from July 21 to July 24. The poll was conducted on July 29, 2011. Thirty percent of the poll takers mostly considered themselves as moderate, 40 percent said they were conservative while 30 percent said they were liberal. The margin of error was +/- 4 percent.

           EPIC-MRA polled 600 likely and active voters from Oct. 1 through Oct. 4. The margin of error was +/- 4 percent.