Since only the people running on the Blue Slate frequent this forum these questions are directed at each of them individually. If the other candidates wish to answer please feel free to do so, these questions are for all candidates not just the Blue Slate:



What is your stand on the proposed US Canada bridge?

What do you intend to do to make your stand known to the agencies involved with the bridge project?

If the governments of Canada and the United States build a bridge where would you prefer it to be located and why (and I don't mean Ohio, but where in our community)?

What input would you like to have in the design of the ramp that will be in our community?

Would you prefer to see a raised ramp from the interstate to the bridge or a clover leaf approach that rises at the bridge and is at street level the remainder of the way to the interstate?

Would you want traffic to be prohibited from the streets from the bridge to the interstate or would you want traffic to travel on an improved city street with businesses on either side.

What programs would you like to see funded to take advantage of the traffic that would be coming through our community (businesses, hotels, convention centers, malls, civic centers, etc.)?

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TheGirlNextDoor (09-01-05), Rocky (09-01-05)

Good questions, Lupin.

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Excellent questions Lupin I look forard to the canidate's answers.

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As I have said and will keep saying this bridge must not happen . You have my word I will fight it so it does not happen.

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Veritas Scriptor (09-01-05), Rocky (09-01-05)

these are very good questions great job lupin i could not have came up with better ones. i just hope they answer them

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Just so everyone knows...it is just not Councilman Murphy; Councilwoman Brady; Treasury Candidate Mike Myers; Council Candidate Mike Lemuel that frequent this site.

Councilman Higgins is here regularly and Councilman Disanto does read the posts and addresses some at the meetings.

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"Sometimes we must serve in order to lead"
by Unknown

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Unfortunately, our city leaders will have no influence one way or the other on this issue. I believe, unofficially, the decision has already been made, both at the State & Federal level.
After a long period of Grandstanding and Foot stomping by numerous politicians, & protesting by numerous citizen groups that bridge will go where certain high level politicians have been paid through political contributions to their committees, to put it.
It wouldn't surprise me to see it at the end of Southfield, because bridge traffic and commerce will have better access to all major freeways, 96, 75, 94, & Southfield Freeway. Add the fact that Ecorse wants it. From a logistical perspective it is the most natural fit. I guess we'll have to wait & see.

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I don't think that location would be that bad for LP. Aside from the heavy toll it would take on Southfield Road...it might actually help us there. Imagine all the traffic passing through the north end of LP on their way two and from Canada. It could definately draw some retailers into those empty buildings on north Fort.

But I think such a location would destroy Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte. As it stands, they have an excellent set up down there...moderate traffic, pedestrians, low speed limit, etc. With a bridge at the end of that road, Biddle would become like Fort Street.

I agree with you, though, that it appears to be the "logical" location (based on the factors you have considered).

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What do you intend to do to make your stand known to the agencies involved with the bridge project?

If the governments of Canada and the United States build a bridge where would you prefer it to be located and why (and I don't mean Ohio, but where in our community)?

What input would you like to have in the design of the ramp that will be in our community?

Would you prefer to see a raised ramp from the interstate to the bridge or a clover leaf approach that rises at the bridge and is at street level the remainder of the way to the interstate?

Would you want traffic to be prohibited from the streets from the bridge to the interstate or would you want traffic to travel on an improved city street with businesses on either side.

What programs would you like to see funded to take advantage of the traffic that would be coming through our community (businesses, hotels, convention centers, malls, civic centers, etc.)?

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Here is a link to Mdot there is a lot of information about all of the proposals.
http://www.partnershipborderstudy.com/

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Well I think the bridge going down southfield would ruin LP. I understand they want an 8 lane highway at the end of the bridge. so,there goes all the Southfield businesses. Including City hall,Police dept,roller rink Fire Station. And here come all the squatters under the bridge too.

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I hope it will not ruin Biddle Ave in Wyandotte. I love to go window shopping on Biddle.

It will effect Allen Park, also. Bummer.

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Accountability for all, big or small, is what's needed this fall.

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The whole city of L.P. will be affected. Not just the "North end" of town. That's the problem here every one keeps refering to the area as the "North end." It will grossly effect the whole city in an adverse way. Obviously some parts of the city will be gravely impacted more that others but, the roadway would wipe out half of the residential areas on either side of Southfield all the way down to the city limits into Ecorse!!!! What kind of property value would you have with constant TRUCK traffic along with the NOISE POLLUTION in your back yard? I for one do not want it here and form most of the feedback at the meetings I think that not one of the cities along I-75 want it to be exiting form there prospective cities either.

What would be some of the benefits of having the International Bridge built here, if any?

I hope that this is not offending anyone. I don't want to turn this into a fight amongst the rank and file of this sight!!!

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TheGirlNextDoor (09-03-05)

Speaking of back yards..........can the City now take your property if you are in the way of this bridge???
(new ruling by Supreme Court on domain)

This sequence of events is disturbing.

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Veritas Scriptor (09-03-05)

dont our city leaders come on here and answer questions?

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My old house is three blocks off Southfield...talk about messed up....either it would be in the way or it would have a highway scenic view in the back-yard. It is already noisy down there let alone a supposed eight-lane highway going down Southfield. It would be enough to drive anyone insane.

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Quid est veritas? Pontius Pilate

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Ok, I'm working on my end of preventing this bridge in LP because we have historic buildings that would be impacted. I've been in contact this week with Ellen Thackery, Field Rep, with the Michigan Historic Preservation Network which is based out of Lansing. Ellen lives in Dearborn and has come to LP on several occasions for LPPA.

Ellen has given me the name, email of someone to contact at MDOT who has a degree in Historic Preservation from EMU.
The reason that it is important to contact this person is that when federal funds will be used for a project and that project will negatively impact resources nearby that are either eligible for or listed on the National Register, there is a mandatory review process of the project, called a Section 106 review. This review gets interested parties to the table to figure out how to mitigate damage to the resources, or avoid it altogether, if possible.

We've got two National Register listed properties in Lincoln Park; Lincoln Park Historical Museum (historic name LP Post Office) and the Mellus Newspapers Building. There are several others along Southfield Road that are eligible.

From what I see on the plans on the Grosse Ile site, this proposal will wipe out businesses such as our roller rink, A & W etc. along Southfield Road.

From what I've been told a Section 106 Review would through a lot a red tape on a project!

The Veterans Administration did not do this for the old VA Hospital and got fined pretty hefty. There was a series of meetings that I was invited to that involved the Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Ford Land, etc. People from the National Trust flew in from Washington D.C. I could not attend since they were to be several hours long each time and sent the president of LPPA at the time. I understand that the outcome was that the fine was given to the City of Allen Park for the years of not receiving city tax on the property.

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TheGirlNextDoor (09-03-05)

Also, back in February, while at the historical museum a man came in inquiring about National Register listed properties on behalf of this bridge project. He was an Historical Archeologist with Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group, Inc. (CCRG) of Jackson, MI. His company was hired by someone (forgot spelling) for the bridge project to evaluate any National Register properties Downriver so that they could design a bridge around it. I do not consider this a Section 106 because I believe that the SHPO in Lansing has to conduct the Section 106 review.

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TheGirlNextDoor (09-03-05)

Historic buildings?????? Whats with this garbage yeah the Mellus building is historical allright..... HISTORICALLY EMPTY!!!! How about this get me an old historical Bulldozer and I'll give it a good old fashion Historical tear down...... What posseses a person to spend so much time saving something that no body obviously wants, Not that Iam in favor of the Bridge, but to allow a building like the Mellus to stand in the way of any other kind of development in the North end is INSANE!!!!

My God buidling huggers, tree huggers, I am suprised their isn't a group that wants to keep small pox alive " AFTER ALL IT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY"


Rocky

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The Village Idiot (09-03-05)

It isn't that no one wants buildings like Mellus as much as it is that no one has tried in the past. You gotta market these types of buildings to developers interested in Historic Preservation. There's a group of them in downtown Detroit as well as some other cities doing it.
I had shown the building to several people during the winter who were interested in it but then I found out that AIS were interested in it and that we had lost the building. Once we lost it the city no longer had access to it for me to show it.

FYI - Mellus Newspapers Building National Register of Historic Places nominatin was approved in May by the State Historic Preservation Office. In June it was approved by the National Park Service.

No building hugger here . . . just a lover of great architecture!

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Veritas Scriptor (09-03-05)