HELP NEEDED in Keeping Historic Fort Wayne Open

[Jeremy Bevard]

PLEASE HELP in voicing your opinion about the proposed budget cuts for Detroit Parks and Recreation that may result in the closing of Historic Fort Wayne as of July 1st. I cannot express the urgency or the need for your support in this matter whether you are an active member of the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition or not. Please help keep this history alive and open. Below is an e-mail link to send a message to the president of Detroit City Council. As better contact info becomes available it will be posted.

CouncilPresidentPugh@detroitmi.gov

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: HELP NEEDED in Keeping Historic Fort Wayne Open

Hopefully those of us who show up to your event will put a good enough living history to save the place.

[ColdSteele]

Re: HELP NEEDED in Keeping Historic Fort Wayne Open

Urgent Message from the Chairman, Historic Fort Wayne Coalition:

- Message from the Chairman, Historic Fort Wayne Coalition with related A.P. articles at conclusion of message.

Regards,

Thomas Steele
Secretary, Historic Fort Wayne Coalition
toms@historicfortwaynecoalition.com


"Good Evening to All,



As Chairman of our Organization I am asking you to assist our partners the City of Detroit Recreation Department in their struggle to maintain an efficient operational budget. On Friday, June 4 at 7:00 pm the Detroit City Council will be voting on over-riding Mayor Bing’s veto of the City Council Budget. I have petitioned the City Clerk’s office today to be allowed to address the Council at this meeting pertaining their purposed budget cuts to the Recreation Department and how it affects the operation of Historic Fort Wayne.

I am asking you all to contact the City Council Members to consider that their budget recommendations to cut another $1 million from the Mayor’s budget for the Recreation Department will have adverse effects on many programs provided through the existing Recreation Centers and Historic Fort Wayne. This additional cut to this department will greatly affect the standards of programming for the kids of the City of Detroit. Since FY 2004 the Recreation Department has experienced close to 1/3 of it operational budget to date declined.

The vote on Friday will determine the fate of Fort Wayne. I have spent the last 9 years working with the different City partners to keep the Fort operating to achieve sustainable levels of revenue. The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition was founded to keep the Fort open, operating safely for visitors through proper restoration and preservation programs and to bring first class events to the site. The City of Detroit Recreation Department was given site control without additional budgetary funding for the site. They have relied on us to assist them in keeping the Fort operational and providing a positive image for the City. We have accomplished those tasks given many difficult times. I have attached below for you news reports and a statement of what the City Council Budget will do to our partner but I also want you to see the cuts that are being proposed to other City of Detroit Departments. I do not live in the City of Detroit but I am proud to tell people I am associated with the City of Detroit through Historic Fort Wayne. I urge you all to contact City Council Members to deter them from over-riding the veto. The City Recreation Department cannot provide the programs to the kids of this City with the closing of two more recreation centers, cut back in additional educational programs, the loss of youth programming.

Remember, when the Fort was closed in 1991, it took until 2001 for us to get it back open! We need to voice our concerns to this issue with council even if you do not live in the City. We are committed to keeping open one of our State’s greatest historical gems- Historic Fort Wayne. Please step up and contact the Council and voice your concerns. Also please forward any of this information to anyone that you know.


HERE is the Link to City Council: http://www.detroitmi.gov/legislative_old/complaints/complaints.asp

This is an online form you’ll need to fill in. Be sure to fill in at least the spaces with text titles in red. In the column “Send Complaint To” please choose “All Council Persons.” In the next box below, “The Complaint is about” choose “Other” and then fill in your thoughts on closing Fort Wayne. Encourage them not to over-ride the Mayor’s veto. Let them know you want to see the Fort stay open!


Yours in the Fort,


Thomas G. Berlucchi

Chairman Historic Fort Wayne Coalition"

__________________________________________________ _________________________________


DETROIT (AP) -- Mayor Dave Bing has vetoed a proposed budget by the Detroit City Council. Bing says Wednesday in an e-mailed statement that the council's budget "would impose service cuts that run counter to the priorities of" his administration.

The council wants to cut $32 million more from the budget than Bing has recommended, including $6.7 million from police. General services also would have gotten $9 million less in funding than what Bing has proposed. The budget has to be approved by the start of the fiscal year July 1.

A super-majority of the 9-member council is needed to override Bing's veto.

Bing says his budget reduces a $300 million deficit to $85 million. A council analyst says that figure will be closer to $125 million.




Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has vetoed the Detroit City Council’s changes to his proposed budget.

Bing’s $2.9 billion budget, down from fiscal 2009-2010’s $3.7 billion budget, didn’t go far enough, the council said.

Bing said his budget cuts the city’s ongoing deficit to $85 million from more than $300 million. The council’s fiscal analyst says the number is closer to $125 million.

Bing said that the council’s proposed changes don’t line up with his administration’s priorities.

“Council’s budget would impose service cuts that run counter to the priorities of this administration, leaving me no choice but to exercise my veto power,” Bing wrote in a statement.

“I remain committed to cooperating with our City Council to attack our fiscal crisis however we must do so without compromising our ability to provide public safety, support job creation and maintain financial stability in the City of Detroit.”

The council can override Bing’s veto with a six-vote super-majority.




Detroit Mayor Dave Bing vetoed the City Council's 2010-11 budget on Wednesday, warning further cuts to the spending plan would jeopardize city services.

"Council's budget would impose service cuts that run counter to the priorities of this administration, leaving me no choice but to exercise my veto power," Bing said in a statement. "I remain committed to cooperating with our City Council to attack our fiscal crisis, however we must do so without compromising our ability to provide public safety, support job creation and maintain financial stability in the City of Detroit."

Bing, who presented his $3.1-billion proposed budget to the council on April 13, trimmed $101 million from the city's financial plan. The mayor insisted that his budget was a well thought out and strategic approach to addressing the fiscal instability that has long plagued the city.

Still, council members said Bing did not make deep enough cuts. The body approved its version of the budget on May 21, cutting an additional $31.8 million from what Bing proposed. On Wednesday, Bing exercised his line-item veto power for more than 65 items in the council's proposal.

The council, among other cuts, defunded the 311 call center, and reduced appropriations of $9.1 million from the General Services Department; $6.7 million from the police department; $3 million from the fire department; $2.39 million from the Department of Health and Wellness Promotion; $500,000 from the subsidy for the People Mover, and $216,000 in car stipends and cell phones.

Council members had anticipated a standoff with a Bing veto when it sent the budget back to the mayor last month.

In recent weeks, before and after the council sent its budget amendments back to the mayor, council President Pro Tem Gary Brown has said the council would have the votes to override a veto.

On Wednesday, Brown said he still planned to vote to override the veto, but didn't "have a sense of whether or not we have the votes."

He said the council's cuts are part of a four-year strategy to pay off the city's $124-million deficit, a figure projected by the council's fiscal analyst. He also said the council is willing to adjust the budget if the $40 million in revenues projected by the Bing administration are realized.

"We just don't think he cut (the deficit) enough," Brown said. "The council is being a little more conservative in our approach."

In his veto letter to council, Bing charged that the body made the reductions with "no apparent rationale or substantive data."

"The items of greatest concern are the drastic reductions made by your honorable body in our public safety and frontline departments," he wrote. "The police and fire departments justifiably represent the largest portions of our budget... To compromise that at a time when we need it most undermines our basic responsibility and ignores our reality."

Administration officials said the council's cuts could require layoffs in the police and fire departments; the closure of some recreation centers, and the elimination of youth and senior programming. Council is to hold a special session Friday to decide whether it will override the veto. It would need a super-majority of six votes to override any veto.


Thanks for reading about this important topic to many a Michigan living historian.

[Will Eichler]

Re: HELP NEEDED in Keeping Historic Fort Wayne Open

I had a problem getting the City's website form to work to file my complaint. I sent mine in using Jeremy's email to Council President Pugh.

I'd appreciate any of you who have time to do the same! Perryville asked for the help and we came out. Gettyburg asked for the help and we came out. Please, give us a hand in Michigan!

Thanks all!

Yours,

Will

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: HELP NEEDED in Keeping Historic Fort Wayne Open

Update:
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your efforts in helping to voice your opinions to the Detroit City Council about the recently proposed budget cuts. I am aware that there was difficulty for some of you to get through the complaint link on the City of Detroit website. Many were able to get their messages through to support the Fort we love so much and our partners in the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department. Thank you again for all of your time and efforts doing this.

Unfortunately, Tom was not able to speak directly to the City Council as hoped. Tom did run into several friends and supporters along the way which helped get him as close to the Council chambers as possible.There were very few people allowed into the Council chambers before the voting had taken place. Rest assured Tom did his very best to represent your voices and Fort Wayne.

Equally unfortunate, the Detroit City Council had the majority votes needed to override Mayor Bing's veto of the proposed FY2010/2011 City Budget. This included the additional $1 million reduction in funding to the Parks and Recreation Department. Without much choice left to be had, cuts will be made and Fort Wayne Detroit will most likely be closed to the public as of July 1, 2010.

Now this is certainly saddening news for all of us. We will be seeking further guidance and clarification of our role on site at Fort Wayne. Maintaining a positive relationship with our partners in the City of Detroit, we do not anticipate to be asked to vacate the site due to this imminent closure. However, we intend to continue to offer our services on site in helping the City maintain Fort Wayne.

We must keep our chins up and stay the course. It is important now, more than ever, to not give up hope. I will continue to keep you updated with further news and information as I receive it.

Regards,

Thomas Steele
Secretary
Historic Fort Wayne Coalition


I ask that you still voice your opinion to keep Fort Wayne open. This can only help our cause of continuing to operate events there.