Letter to the Editor: 'Crybabies & Bullies'
"When the results come back in November and you (Janice Daniels) are still here, it will be interesting to see how many of these malcontents will continue to berate, harass and bully you," writes Troy resident Nicholas Cherasaro.
The following letter, submitted by Troy resident Nicholas Cherasaro, was read aloud during the public comment portion of Monday evening's Troy City Council meeting.
Dear Editor:
In late July 2011, there were two candidates for Mayor of Troy: Mary Kerwin and Robin Beltramini, both of whom were then members of the Troy City Council. In August of that year, Janice Daniels decided to enter the race as Mary and Robin were both of the same political spectrum. When this occurred, Mary decided she would drop out as she did not want to split the vote and allow Janice to win. They were in for a big surprise as Janice worked very hard and won the election.
Seeing that they lost, ... (a) group of caring and tolerant people decided to look into the new mayor's background to see what dirt they could dig up on her.* Eureka! Someone went into her Facebook account and discovered that she had used the word "queer." They then decided to go to the media and also to broadcast this information across the internet, creating a desired loud protest from the LGBT groups in the area, most of whom do not live in Troy.
Fortunately, we have a mayor of tolerance who sat quietly as she was vilified for more than four hours. They then started to blame this mayor for having this city become a laughing stock when it was they who broadcast this across the nation with the help of the local media and the internet.
Council meeting after council meeting, these same caring and tolerant people come into the chamber to castigate this mayor. Berating her again and again and demanding she quit. These bullies are the same people who are disturbed there is bullying in the schools. They do not realize that it is they who are setting the example for the children who bully.
These are the same people who came into the City Hall chamber to support a transit center, which is an obvious boondoggle. To get the transit center approved, they discussed new business coming to Troy and how the city would benefit by it. With the current condition of the city being put forward in the latest city budget, the outgoing city manager stated that the city would go into default in 2017. He based that on the projection that the business tax base would not recover until 2034. I would like to know which it is: either the new transit center will benefit Troy or it will not. Someone is lying.
Some of them come into the chamber and talk of the fine city we have (they are right about that). They brag about the low tax rate and one, who is imitating Warren Buffet, even states that we are not paying enough taxes. I don't know where he has been, but he obviously has not talked to the people in Troy who have lost their homes. We are in a serious recession brought about by a similar tax-and-spend group in Washington, and he obviously does not understand this. This is the same person who does not understand that the tax for your property is calculated by multiplying the tax rate (which is no longer the lowest in the area) by the State Equalized Value (SEV) of your home. Currently, the total SEV for Troy is either the second or third highest of all cities in the state (depending on which rating system you source). Of course our tax rate is low – it better be. If this gentleman is undertaxed, I suggest that he can write a check for $40,000 or $50,000 to be put into the city coffers on his own. I am sure he can afford it.
Stand fast, madam mayor. I realize they are going to try to recall you in November. Just remember, we are the people who elected you. We will go out into the streets in support of you. When the results come back in November, and you are still here, it will be interesting to see how many of these malcontents will continue to berate, harass and bully you.
Incidentally, for those who read Troy Patch, I am not the Nicholas C. who wrote so eloquently.
Thank You,
Nicholas Cherasaro
*A portion of this sentence containing names of residents was removed.
Troy Patch accepts letters to the editor. Send yours to jen.anesi@patch.com; please include your full name and hometown. Letters may be edited for clarity.
Daffy Noodnicks
8:24 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Standing up to someone who exhibits bullying behavior does not make someone a bully. Some voters will not sit idly by while the mayor continues to prodcast ignorance, such as she did on the radio. I cannot believe her views represent the city and believe my view is supported by the fact that many more people signed the recall petition than voted for her. Apparently signers included people who voted for her. If the voters of Troy have woken up some people might not be too happy they have.
Gary Wayne
5:34 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
What type of bullying behavior has she exhibited?
Daffy Noodnicks
8:36 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Bullying is when someone in a perceived position of power exerts that power unfairly against someone with less. So, an adult, who is a mayor, speaking to children and saying things which are inaccurate and promote stereotyping; or going on the radio and saying the same nonsense about a group of people who has been socially marginalized; a mayor uattacking a city employee in a council meeting which was completely debunked point by point. These are examples of being a bully.
9,300 Residents saying this behavior is not acceptable or representative of the fine City of Troy is something that gives me a great deal of admiration for my neighbors in the city where we chose to raise our children.
Sue Martin
9:34 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
If Mr. Cherasaro chooses to write fiction, that is his choice. However, the electorate at large should not have to read it. The recall team DID NOT dig up the reprehensible statement by Ms. Daniels. That was sent to the Keep Troy Strong blog team anonymously and placed quietly on the blog. It was then picked up by local media. It grew from there, mainly because the mayor chose to leave it up after it was discovered and then chose NOT to issue an appropriate and sincere apology that could have made it go away. She followed it up with her statements to the teens at a civic engagement meeting that flamed the fire SHE STARTED. She continues now to lie about the details of THAT meeting, which is making it worse and worse.
Ms. Daniels wants to look outside of herself to place the blame for a situation she started, nurtured and grew. Growing numbers of residents are engaging in the political process and seeing that, and for that we are grateful. Her supporters, like Mr. Cherasaro, are helping reveal the true picture of this mayor. So I thank him, too.
Jen Anesi
10:00 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
To clarify where Troy Patch found the mayor's Facebook comment (and we were the very first news organization to find it and run the story on Dec. 2, 2011): I first saw it on Facebook after it had been shared by about a dozen different people and groups, including Michigan Equality. I then went to the mayor's Facebook page (which was still open to the public), found the comment and wrote the story, which was quickly picked up locally and then nationally by many other news organizations. I found out a day or two later that it had first been posted on Keep Troy Strong, though writers from the blog never contacted Troy Patch regarding the comment.
I hope that clears up from where Troy Patch, and then the rest of the media, got the comment.
Jennifer Griffith Hilzinger
10:03 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Isn't he the one who admitted he submitted false proposals for petitions? Why wasn't he fined or at least demanded that he reimburse taxpayers for the good faith effort to uncover his 'joke'? Why does he think it is funny to waste taxpayer money?
Dale Murrish
7:45 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The extra petitions were an obvious joke and provided a laugh for a day or two for people reading the paper. They were making the point of how biased the claims in the real recall petition are. That was stated in an interview with the press. The total cost to the taxpayers and society was far less than this misguided but well-intentioned recall effort.
The bigger issue is what the recall attempt could do to our system of government: the cost of running an extra campaign and the chilling effect it may have on future office-holders who dare to be outspoken against sacred cows of the Left.
Michigan needs to reform its recall process to make it more difficult or at least make sure recall petitions are truthful and neutrally worded. At least the joke petitions were both.
Helen Rieland
8:53 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Dale I don't understand your concerns about the recall. How can it hurt the system? It's part of the system. The recall effort is a lot of work and it takes a lot of committed individuals to make it happen. I don't think there is much risk of a bunch of willy nilly recall efforts in the future.
Sue Martin
8:43 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Dale, you may not be aware that a recall is PART of our system of government. It's one tool the electorate has under a little system known as "checks and balances."
Those supporting and working on the recall are exercising their Constitutional rights. Why are they less entitled to do so than you or Mayor Daniels, in your humble opinion?
As to cost...again...the recall vote will occur on a regular November election ballot at NO ADDITIONAL COST to taxpayers. Try as you might, repeating your point about the cost every single time this comes up will not result in any charge to taxpayers. I must ask you again to stop misleading readers.
Daffy Noodnicks
9:05 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Dale:
The idea that it is inappropriate for a mayor to engage in gay bashing is not a "sacred cow of the left". It cuts across the political spectrum.
John David
11:11 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Mr. Cherasaro states in his letter that "the tax for your property is calculated by multiplying the tax rate (which is no longer the lowest in the area) by the State Equalized Value (SEV) of your home." Actually isn't the tax calculated by multiplying the Taxable Value by the tax rate, not the SEV. Prior to the recession, due to 1994's Prop A, didn't our taxes stay lower since the TV was much lower than the SEV homeowners who didn't sell their home over time? And shouldn't the comparison be between average or median SEV and TV not total, since the total SEV measures all value and Troy has a large population and is blessed with many quality and valuable properties? On the whole, Troy remains a prosperous and fortunate community. Or would you complain less if our properties were more depressed and decaying but a lower SEV and TV?
Jeff S.
1:02 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I'll just leave this here: http://youtu.be/kMi2KsJhnx4
Cathy Fucinari
1:12 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Shouldn't someone remind him that Janice refused to support the Troy City Charter, in its entirety, when she failed to include it in her oath of office???
Helen Rieland
4:43 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Who's the cry baby?
Wiley Coyote
3:58 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Well come on Nick, which is it, are we crybabies or bullies?
Seriously, like all bullies, you and your mayor-worshipping friends are the classic definition of schoolyard bullies. You and Mayor Daniels and company spent week after week at the podium excoriating the mayors, council and staff for their "perks and pleasures," non-existent slush funds, etc. Now when 9,300 of your fellow citizens decide enough is enough, and that we're not going to let our city go to pieces without fighting for it (against you and your TCU brethren) you come even more unglued than usual and cry foul.
Wiley Coyote
4:30 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
BTW, a friend found this interesting section in the Troy City Charter the other day and emailed it to me. Now I'm wondering if Janice is really even mayor, given that she didn't swear to uphold it when she took the oath. Look for yourself:
Section 6.9 - Oath of Office and Bond:
Every officer, elected or appointed, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take the oath of office and shall file the same with the clerk together with any bond required by statute, this charter, or by the Council. In case of failure to comply with the provisions of this section within ten days from the date of his election or appointment, such officer shall be deemed to have declined the office and such office thereupon shall become vacant unless the Council shall, by resolution, extend the time in which such officer may qualify as above set forth.
Dale Murrish
7:31 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The Troy City Charter is covered under the Michigan Constitution and subordinate to it. Mayor Daniels explained this in November when she took office and swore an oath to uphold Michigan's Constitution.
So yes, she is the duly elected mayor and by definition is upholding the Constitution and the Troy City Charter. This explanation has been ignored by her political opponents.
Daffy Noodnicks
10:15 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wowee Dale. That is an interesting little dance you did. Let me get this straight, she is upholding the charter by refusing to abide by it, and referring to it as whimsical. Sorry, if I don't buy that explanation, because it does not make logical sense. Biased half truths you say?
Dale Murrish
7:47 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Nicely written letter pointing out some little known facts, Nicholas. Once the truth comes out, the majority will vote for regularly scheduled elections. Some who voted for Mayor Daniels’ opponent will vote to keep her because they respect our Constitution. Some who voted for Daniels will vote to recall her because she is too outspoken; in my opinion this is shortsighted and undermines our system of government.
Regularly scheduled elections are a hallmark of American democracy. Misleading petitions should not be used to recall officials for policy matters, especially issues they campaigned for (opposing the transit center); the ends never justify the means.
http://troy.patch.com/blog_posts/election-nullifiers-to-circulate-misleading-petition
I predict the outcome will be the same as that of Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin: Mayor Daniels will be retained by a bigger margin than she won by in 2011. The only good thing for our town coming out of all this division and wasted time, effort and money is more people are engaged in the process.
Sue Martin
9:47 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
It occurs to me that the reason some of Mr Cherasaro's facts are so "little known" are because they are, in fact, fiction.
Linda
9:09 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I don't think there is a highly qualified fiction writer who could come up with what Nick and Dale do. Like I said last night, no matter how many times you repeat something, that doesn't make it a fact. The constant regurgitation from Janice and her supporters is nauseating, not funny. Janice may think she is kidding at times, but enough is enough! The voters thought they were electing a Mayor, not hiring a comedian!
It's interesting that Nick didn't sign up to speak last night (as usual), but had his talk written (as is evidenced by this blog entry.) Do you ever wonder why Janice's supporters wait until everyone else is done making public comment and then they appear??? What's wrong with this picture. Janice even pronounces their names correctly! I guess it's being part of the "good ole boys" gang that allows this to continue. Just like the reappointment of a Zoning Board of Appeals member after numerous concerns were voiced by the public regarding his less than reputable background. Integrity, knowledge and professionalism just don't matter to those "good ole boys" and let the city be damned in the process.
Dale Murrish
9:34 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Helen, you're right that the recall is a lot of work, and I admire the dedication of the people doing it. I just think it's founded on some biased half-truths. I've only tried to point them out. Some people either will not or cannot see that. I know I won't convince everyone; I'm writing for the people in the middle who are only getting one side of the story.
People say I'm writing fiction; I've had a few facts corrected and thanked people for the corrections, but my basic analysis has not been refuted despite what they say.
Daffy Noodnicks
9:55 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Dale:
You cannot or will see your basic analysis is founded on biased half truths.
CC
10:24 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Calling the misinformation Dale repeatedly spreads (and then graciously apologizes when corrected) half truths is being a bit too generous. For every one reason listed on the recall petition there are a dozen other reasons to recall the mayor. It's gotten to the point where it is almost comical. Last nights meeting is a perfect example...she votes AGAINST renewing our membership to the Michigan Municipal League and then votes FOR attending the Michigan Municipal League conference. That makes absolutely no sense. That by itself would not be a reason to recall, but the fact that things like that happen so frequently IS a good reason to recall.
You can't just rewrite the purpose of a recall. A recall is available as a means to remove someone from office who is not upholding their responsibilities. They are being fired. Sometimes people get fired because they did something wrong and sometimes people get fired because they didn't do anything right. This mayor qualifies for both. Why does an elected official have a "right" to keep their position in office no matter how bad they are at their job?
Sharon
10:12 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The basic truth is this -- if people deem Janice Daniels' behavior to be unworthy and that she indeed is unworthy to continue being Troy's mayor, they will vote her out.
This half-truth of your side that only a handful of folks feel this way is not true, considering the 9,300 signatures received by Troy volunteers.
canseeallsides
3:02 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
It's not just her.
http://boycotttroy.com