Farmington voters will return three incumbents in November, unless somebody’s got a write-in campaign in mind. The Farmington Observer story cited two possible reasons for a lack of challengers to Tom Buck, Mike Wiggins and David Wright: “either the city council is doing a good job and people are satisfied, or no one cares enough to throw his or her hat into the ring.”
As someone who has thrown her hat into the ring, I submit there is a third reason – a third rail, in fact, in Farmington politics.
There are all kinds of ways people lose an election, and mine was that I worked, but I didn’t work hard enough. I didn’t knock on virtually every door in the city, and I didn’t encourage enough people who had note voted in a long time to get to the polls. And the reason was silly. The reason was that a few people in town didn’t like me very much and spoke up about it. I knew those same people would work very hard to elect my opponents. I allowed myself to become discouraged and intimidated – a deadly combination.
The third rail in Farmington politics IS Farmington politics. It requires one of two things: Support from people who have been involved in it for a long period of time, or a level of bravery that one only acquires with persistence.
–JH-G
I think you nailed it, Joni. Too bad that just a few people can affect things like that. Guess it makes them feel like they’re the Big Fish… albeit in such a little pond.
Meanwhile, they hold Farmington back from fully realizing it’s enormous potential – because any hint of change frightens the bejesus out of ‘em.
Streetscape or no, as long as this is the way things operate in this semi-urban backwater, this town will continue to lose ground against surrounding communities who have leaders of vision and action. Five years from now, when the streets of Farmington are prettier, but still sport empty stores and suffer from lack of traffic, it’ll be these folks that will be mostly to blame.
Run Bob, run………
Terry,
As a recent resident of Farmington Hills, I am no longer eligible to run for Farmington’s city council.
Which leaves the openings on the FPS board and you, and the ripe opportunity to show us your expertise in running a school system. As grandma used to say…”Put up, or…”
Joni,
If I listed the things I would like to see changed in Farmington and weigh it against what can be done as a City Council member, I don’t see the point of running for City Council. I don’t believe the City has the legal right to enforce half the things I hear that people want changed.
One example:
I hear people point to the city as a reason that we don’t have better restaurants. We complain that restaurant food is not consistent or Fresh, service is bad or floors and bathrooms are not clean. Patronizing a restaurant and not letting the business owner know what is wrong is perpetuating the problem. When enough consumers raise their standards for restaurants in Farmington and speak up to the owner or stop spending money we will increase the chance for change.
Until then the only change City Council could make in the restaurant business is to work day or night shifts at the restaurants.
P.S. In the past the lack of liquor licenses was said to be a problem bringing in new restaurants . I hear we now have a few available.
Of all the things I’ve heard people complain about, restaurants would be pretty far down on the list. Maybe I just don’t hang around with the right people. The complaints I’ve heard are about zoning code enforcement (cleaning up outdoor storage, fence repairs, lawn care, etc.), traffic regulation (apparently very few people who travel west on Grand River understand “no left turn”) and a tendency to ask citizens what they think, and then put those findings on a shelf.
Like…. oh… say… that enormously expensive branding study, which was supposed to give our city an identity. A very hard-working group of citizens poured a lot of time and energy into that project, which has yet to be “rolled out” to the community. How can we go on if we don’t know who we are?
–JH-G
I would love to see all those things taken care, but I think some head will have to roll in city departments also.
Oh, woe to Farmington for being strung along all these years – without knowing who we “are”!! All this wandering in limbo has got to be taking a toll upon our general psyche. We’re all lost in the Land of Uncertain Identity.
The reason the branding thing hasn’t been “rolled out” yet is most likely what’s plagued the DDA for years now…they spend money indiscriminately in an attempt to say that something’s being “done”. There is virtually no oversight as to whether or not they’ve been successful at achieving significant progress. They don’t have the expertise nor the political will to either create or direct professionals to create effective, progressive and efficient solutions to what ails the very town they’re charged with improving. They shout “Streetscape, streetscape!!” as proof of their accomplishments. What they fail to acknowledge is that the streetscape is “happening” in spite of all of their screw-ups, and with considerable help from grass-roots efforts by a great many citizens, many of whom contributed their own time and money to getting it done. The DDA was part and parcel to the delay and extra costs associated with this project.
There is sooo much money is squandered by this group, and very, very little accountability. Ad infinitum, ad nauseam.