Michigan- News from the Front - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

strelnik · #1 03-04-2010, 08:02 PM

Just in case you wanted to know what's occupying the Motor City and the state which surrounds it these days, here is a compilation of info from various sources. Not enough room to cut+paste all the particulars.

Michigan lost its piece of the $4,000,000,000 first round money for education, call "Reach for the Top" requiring innovative teaching and management. Sec of Ed Arnie Duncan declined to address it directly, but it leaked that there were a few particulars which came to the attention of the committee. Two in particular:

1. Detroit Teachers' union officials refused to allow the teachers to consider a measure in which they would have an end of the week meeting to discuss one or two key issues that impacted their students. The 30 minute max meeting (the idea: keep it simple) could not be discussed unless the teachers were to get minimum overtime of 34.00/hr for the half hour, which would actually be paid as an hour.

2. The vice president of a small suburban state school called Oakland University makes $259,000 annually. He has lobbied for the past several years to keep getting these increases. Apparently he was asked what his plan was for 2010-2011. The answer, allegedly: obtain a 9% raise for this year

The mayor of Detroit has announced that work should begin, if all goes well, on a 178 million dollar rapid transit from downtown, going north eight miles to the edge of the city. Aside from the fact that this train runs on a well-covered bus route and does not link the downtown area with anything, it has just been discovered that no one ever guaranteed the funding. This might be the "if all goes well" caveat that might slow things down.... Someone in the administration was asked why the train doesn't connect the airport and suburbs, since it would have a better chance of attracting passengers. The city declined comment.

Hatterasguy · #2 03-04-2010, 08:18 PM

Have fun, when are you guys going to vote these jokers out of office?

The train is a good idea for Detroit, will give whoever is left in town a fast escape out.

sd300td · #3 03-05-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The train is a good idea for Detroit, will give whoever is left in town a fast escape out.

Nah, they already have the "people mover".

Besides, mass transit in Detroit never really had a chance historically. The fact that three of the largest companies in the area, if not the world, produce hundreds of thousands of cars annually, while giving steep employee discounts to buy said cars, means that rails don't have a chance.

Of course all this might very well change given recent circumstances.

pawoSD · #4 03-04-2010, 10:13 PM

I just pretend detroit is not there. Things are pretty nice around here.

Fulcrum525 · #5 03-04-2010, 11:28 PM

All in favor of selling Michigan to Canada raise your hands now

stimpy451 · #6 03-05-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

All in favor of selling Michigan to Canada raise your hands now

Normally I would say "Hells yeah, eh" but after that olympic closing ceremony....nuh uh.

Pete
(just north of detroit)

aklim · #7 03-05-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stimpy451

Normally I would say "Hells yeah, eh" but after that olympic closing ceremony....nuh uh.

Pete
(just north of detroit)

What exactly are you talking about that was that bad? Child sacrifices?

pawoSD · #8 03-09-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

All in favor of selling Michigan to Canada raise your hands now

Fine with me, then the people would be nicer, there'd be less murdering, and I'd have health care!

TheDon · #9 03-04-2010, 11:54 PM

or trade it to them for one of the nicer providences.. not that snooty french one

strelnik · #10 03-05-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

or trade it to them for one of the nicer providences.. not that snooty french one

But wait, maybe den you get da good hockey players, non?

Besides, Quebec girls are very friendly.

Carleton Hughes · #11 03-05-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

Besides, Quebec girls are very friendly.

They're Bi-Lingual. They understand different tongues.

retmil46 · #12 03-05-2010, 03:00 PM

"Train to Nowhere" - gee, that sounds familiar. Charlotte NC has a light rail project as well for the past few years. 2 or 3 times over budget, only 3 rail cars, doesn't run to or from any place to significantly affect highway commuting or attract customers, etc, etc - and they're determined to keep pouring money into it.

About 4 years ago the mayor of Charlotte and the city council came up to our county to try and persuade our county commissioners to be part of the project - nice little media event when he was tossing around a football and make inane sports references, asking our reps if we were "up for the game". They just wanted to extend the rail line 15 miles into our county to the first town - and oh by the way could you pick up the cost for those 15 miles and also build all the maintenance shops and facilities in your county as well so we don't have to pay for them?

To their credit (at least IMHO) our county commissioners, both D's and R's, unanimously told them where they could stick their choo-choo train.

4x4_Welder · #13 03-05-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

Besides, Quebec girls are very friendly.

Friendly, but don't shave.
I'll take BC. It's like Washington, just cleaner.

aklim · #14 03-05-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4_Welder

Friendly, but don't shave.
I'll take BC. It's like Washington, just cleaner.

Actually, I think they are way more European where they don't shave there either, from what I hear. Oh, BTW, lets not forget the legs too, while we are at it.

strelnik · #15 03-05-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Actually, I think they are way more European where they don't shave there either, from what I hear. Oh, BTW, lets not forget the legs too, while we are at it.

Might keep you warm in those long winters...