Read the Proposed Macomb County Charter. Election November 3, 2009 Posted by wisears

Posted 10/30/09 Last updated 10/30/09

You have a chance to read the Proposed Macomb County Charter to be voted on this Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at this link: http//:macombgountymi.gov/clerksoffice/htm/Macomb_County_Charter_for_Governors_Review.htm 

Uncle Jay Explains Congressional Recess Posted by sharpsteve

Posted 07/30/09 Last updated 07/30/09

It's Uncle Jay's first-ever rerun! Here's his educational "vacation" episode, explaining why Congress needs so many vacation days. If you missed it the first time, here's another chance to miss it again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0FJhOMc-vA

Local Coordinators Needed Posted by wisears

Posted 05/27/09

Hello to Macomb County members. The Campaign for Liberty is a Grassroots organization that needs your help. Nothing can be more grassroots than a local person speaking with friends and neighbors about Liberty on front porches and over the back fence. In that manner, I see every member as a "local coordinator" of some kind.

What the Campaign for Liberty needs, especially in Macomb County, is for more members to 1) become a paid member and 2) when you become a paid member to mark to agree to not use any information from the Campaign for Liberty site fro any purposes other that for the Campaign for Liberty (Confidentiality agreement). When you have done these 2 things you have completed the minimum requirement to be a Local Coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty. If you are a paid member and have not marked the confidentiality agreement, please do so.

You may ask, "Why should I do this?" First it will show that you are willing to support the Campaign for Liberty on a local level. Second, It will help the State Campaign for liberty to become eligible for a Charter from the National organization. To get that charter we need to have over 300 Local Coordinators and we currently have less than 100. There are also a large number of paid members who have not marked the Confidentiality Agreement. If you are a paid member, please take the time to confirm that you have marked that agreement.

We need to start by building with the people we already have on board, before we go out and find others who want to join in the battle fro freedom.

I hope to see you on Monday June 1 at the Beat Cafe at 7 PM for our monthly meeting.

Bill

Commission meeting "events" Posted by wisears

Posted 02/23/09

I am going to try to get all the Commission Full Board and Committee meetings posted as events in the next day or so. I will then post a blog with the agenda when it comes available to let you know about any particular items of interest when they come up. Again, you can get the info at: www.macombcountymi.gov  The Charter Commission link is on the left, 4th from the top.

2-18 Charter Commission Meeting Posted by wisears

Posted 02/20/09

A number of members of our group attended the meeting. Thanks to all. During the Public Participation, a number of members of the audience spoke. Mostly, people spoke in support of Harry Awdey's "English only Macomb" proposal. Other issues discussed were: Supporting the Commissioners only be paid for meetings that they are a member of that committee, The proposed size of the new commission, and encouraging the commission to include a proposal following the Mackinac Center for Public Policy's "Transparency in Government" proposal for all Government entities in Michigan. The general response (other than blank stares) was "Thanks for your input, feel free to bring them up at the Committee meetings." I have to say that after I spoke, Skip Maccerone (? sorry), Executive Director of the Commission,  asked for information about the Mackinac Center proposal. 

Almost all of the official business was 4 Committee reports. The Budget and Finance and Executive Committee's had spent time getting input from outside sources. The current Treasurer had told them most of his responsibilities are set by Michigan Law and what the responsibilities are. The Ethics Committee is struggling with what they should do and who should enforce any ordinance they establish. The Departments Committee is looking at the current County structure and how a new Charter should have them structured. The meeting lasted about 55 minutes and more than half was the public comments.

I listened in on a portion of the live audio of the Budget and Finance Meeting on Thursday. They are moving through a number of proposals and seem to be referring a great deal to the Wayne County Charter.

I encourage people to listen to the audios of the meetings and keep up with what is happening. 

Thanks for your attention. Bill

Charter Commission Action Item Posted by wisears

Posted 02/13/09

I spoke with Harry Awdey late yesterday regarding his "Macomb English Only" proposal for the Macomb County Charter (item posted previously by Danielle). We need to take some action NOW to let the Charter Commission what we think. Please take time to read the Free Press Article and watch the video on the C4L (Macomb) site on this issue.

Commissioner Awdey's proposal was simply to send the proposed "Macomb English Only" to Committee for discussion and it was voted down 25-1. I am told Macomb County currently spends about $500,000 printing items in multiple languages and/or providing interpreters for residents. The issue is a money issue, nothing else. People choose to come to our country and county but chose NOT to learn our language and we have to pay to help them. How many Sheriffs Deputies or how many tons of road salt would we have with that money?

What we need to do is call your Charter Commissioner and the Chairman of the Macomb County Charter Commission, Jacob Femminineo at 586-954-9500. Your Charter Commissioner info can be found at www.maconbcountymi.gov/chartercommission. People outside of Macomb County can call the Chairman to voice your opinion. As of late yesterday they had received over 1,000 calls and e-mails. Let's more than double that. Let other people know about the issue as well so they can add to the heat.

Macomb County Charter Commission Posted by wisears

Posted 02/04/09

Hello,

I have taken on the task of keeping Macomb County (and others) C4L members about the Macomb County Charter Commission. I will include a preliminary poll to see how many people are aware of the existence of the Charter Commission. My feeling is that this is an issue we can follow and have influence on that will have long term effect on how the county will operate.

First some background. On the ballot in May 2008 was a County Ballot Proposal asking if voters wanted to form a Commission with the purpose of writing a Charter for Macomb County that would require a County executive. The proposal passed. On the August  Primary ballot there was a primary election for 26 Charter Commission candidates (1 for every existing County Commission district) and on the November ballot the 26 Charter Commissioner were elected. There are 22 Democratic and 4 Republican Charter Commissioners.

The Commission is in the process of writing a proposed Macomb County Charter. This Proposed Charter will be placed on the Ballot in the future and will be a straight up or down vote by the Voters of all of Macomb County.

The Charter Commission meets in a number of different sessions. Basicly the Executive Committee meets every Monday at 5:30 PM, the Department and Full Commission meet every other Wednesday at 5:30 and 7 PM. The meeting schedule can be found on the Charter Commission website: http:/www.macombcountymi.gov/clerksoffice/charter/index.htm

Also available here are recordings of the proceedings, Commission Contact info, and meeting agendas. I have been told that the Commission is fairly open to input. They have taken a suggestion from a meeting guest and adopted a rule that makes it that they must post the agenda 24 hours in advance for people to see. I seems that if even a small number of citizens show interest in what the Commission is doing, they will have some influence for a long time to come.

I will continue to post information as it happens as much as I can.

Michigan Campaign for Liberty Member Running for Office. Posted by Tony DeMott

Posted 01/30/09 Last updated 06/01/10

One of the basic principles of this organization is to get involved locally.  Without like minded people in local politics, we will have a very hard time establishing this movement. 

One of our very own members, John Cruz, is leading the charge here in Michigan.  John has answered the call to duty and is running for Mount Clemens school board. 

I have had many occasions to chat with John and there is no doubt he's an honest man who wants the best for his community.  He has long been a voice for limited government, parental choice in education, and individual liberties.  I will be proud to spend my free time helping his campaign. 

John has taken the first step and now we must do our part.  Liberty activists from all over the state should sacrifice a little time and help John's campaign out.  You can visit his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Cruz/56417281678 and his campaign page at http://www.electjohncruz.com/.

The election will be held on May 5th.

Poll: Location of Second Michigan Liberty Summit Posted by Adam de Angeli

Posted 01/21/09

Michigan members, please let us know which location you prefer for the second Michigan Liberty Summit to take place in late February.

Michigan Liberty Summit: When Shall We Meet? Posted by Adam de Angeli

Posted 01/22/09 Last updated 02/06/09

Please vote in the following poll; the results will dictate when we have our next state meeting.