Troy - Internal Strife and External Meddling
Editor's note: The following is Dale Murrish's public comment given during the Feb. 20 Troy City Council meeting.
Mayor Daniels’ First Amendment Rights
Good evening. Tonight I’m speaking on behalf of the first amendment rights of an elected public official. Since she took office in November, she has been mercilessly attacked by her political opponents because she has different views. Her opponents preach tolerance but they are intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them. She’s kept her campaign promises and behaved admirably under fire, displaying gracious professionalism at one of the lowest paid jobs in Troy.
This “non-partisan” council is highly partisan, subtly from council members and viciously from some trying to nullify the last election. The mayor was elected by a majority of those who bothered to vote – the city clerk considered it a good turnout.
Recalls are for crimes or gross misconduct in office, not for embarrassing the city in liberal circles. The reasons for recalling our mayor boil down to two: her opposition to the transit center and using words that offend a certain group of people.
She campaigned on her opposition to the transit center and the debt we’re passing to the next generation. Supporters had ten years into planning it, and she’s criticized for allowing a patent attorney an hour to share his ideas. He presented lots of good data about the high subsidies for mass transit and trains in particular. His crime concerns were legitimate and could be interpreted by some as racist. However, there have been muggings on the Paint Creek Trail in Rochester, hardly an area known for minorities. Any deserted area is a risk for people traveling alone, especially women.
People alter their habits based on fear, regardless of crime statistics. No wonder the shopping center is concerned about a 24 hour bus station with no one around all weekend when no buses are running. And the elevators and stairs by the lonely footbridge that serves 6 trains and 66 people a day? Meanwhile, residents are told they have to accept lower police services but this won’t cost the city any extra patrol time.
Our mayor has apologized for her poor choice of words in June, before she was elected, and asked for forgiveness. If you have a strong stomach and can wade through the venomous comments on the Troy Patch, you can find her actual written apology and videotape pieced together from the exchange. The last part is obviously from later, after her apology was refused.
Her recent comments about those who choose a gay lifestyle are inconveniently true (statistics don’t lie – on average, it is more dangerous), regardless of what is currently politically correct. She respects all people regardless of their sexual orientation; why do people disrespect her? People are choosing to be offended by what was said, and sometimes the filters on their ears amplify certain things and ignore others.
Public comment at meetings is no longer limited to 3 minutes if more than 15 people sign up. The library is again open on Saturday, the busiest day, city wages and benefits are posted on line, and she answers emails. That's four promises kept - not bad for a first few months in office.
Her word choice in June proves she's inexperienced, but it doesn't prove she's a bigot. This firestorm of hate speech is very upsetting, and it’s not just from out of town activists or anonymous bloggers; it’s from adults who live here who should know better.
She’s been publicly criticized by a former mayor for changing the oath; when she explained that the city charter is covered under the Michigan Constitution there was no public apology. Mayor Daniels also explained the “whimsical” document comment, which made sense to me but not her opponents.
Brooks Patterson is a crusty dutch oven calling a teapot black. He is doing the same thing to Mayor Daniels that she did to the city manager, only worse, because he knows better, having many years of experience in government. Mr. Szerlag has already defended himself quite well (8 pages to her 5); many others have risen to his defense.
A sitting county executive rebuking a first term mayor while claiming to defend the honor of a public servant is the height of hypocrisy. Patterson's disdain for social conservatives is well known. Instead of viewing them as valued coalition partners, his big tent theory would like to be rid of them, leaving only country club Republicans. He doesn't realize they are the foot soldiers that help him win elections.
Patterson knows exactly what he's doing. He's throwing Daniels under the bus, giving fuel to her recall campaign. Some liberals in Troy are no better. They are criticizing her for her actions and doing worse themselves, yet are blind to it.
Anything she does is heard through their “I hate Daniels” filter, including her personal endorsement of Rick Santorum last Friday. At least that’s the way I interpreted her offering him the keys to the city. The polite applause and cheers were a welcome change from the way she’s treated by her opponents, who are twisting her comment about the budget woes into insulting our city. Most people heard that as times are tough everywhere and appreciated her sincere question about the health of his handicapped daughter. It also gave him a chance to tell how a parent of a special needs child feels to have the government making choices for him. Governor Snyder endorsed Romney; why can’t Mayor Daniels endorse Santorum?
Mayor Daniels and the conservative majority were elected because people were tired of having their money wasted. People should wait until the next election to vote her out if they don't like the job she's doing, not mount a recall. They have the right to do that, but now the mayor’s supporters will be forced to encourage people not to sign the petition and to get out the vote if they gather enough signatures. This wastes more time and money.
America was founded on the principle of representative government and regular elections. This is typical of liberals when they don’t get their way: they use bureaucratic edicts, like Obama is doing now, liberal activist judges, or they recall elected officials for keeping their campaign promises, like the Wisconsin and Michigan governors.
This is Troy, Michigan, 2012, not Salem, Massachusetts, 1692. It’s time to end this modern witch hunt and get on with the city’s business. Thank you.
Dale Murrish
10:24 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Here are some missing links:
http://www.ricksantorum.com/why-rick
for regular elections:
http://www.heritage.org/search?query=constitution
Jen Anesi
10:26 pm on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thanks, Dale. We're having problems with hyperlinking in our system lately. I tried to add them for you, but it obviously didn't work. Hopefully it will be fixed soon!
Sharon MacDonell
9:01 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
What is a "gay lifestyle?"
Matt Binkowski
12:47 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Dale Murrish wrote, "Brooks Patterson is a crusty dutch oven calling a teapot black. He is doing the same thing to Mayor Daniels that she did to the city manager..."
I will assume by this reasoning that Mr. Murrish agrees that Janice Daniels was wrong in her unwarranted and misinformed attack on John Szerlag.
Julie Sigler
1:16 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Re: endorsement of candidates by public officials. Offering keys to the city is not something any one person can do w/o a mandate from the city. I believe that Janice Daniels' words to Mr. Santorum sought to imply that she could endorse one candidate on behalf of all residents of Troy, which is of course not a tenable position for any city's mayor. Ms. Daniels and her supporters need to realize there are times an elected representative of the people can only speak for him/herself, and that includes endorsing political candidates. Surely she realized, as she spoke her endorsement, that her disrespect of Troy's residents was opening herself to further criticism. She has only herself to blame, either for lack of personal preparation in understanding the limitations on anyone holding the position of mayor, or unwillingness to accept these limitations. Whichever is the reason, I hope for Troy's sake that we can look forward to a time when Janice Daniels demonstrates she has finally grown into the position to which she was elected.
neighbor
5:07 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Dale, thank you. Well said. I think you've captured exactly what is going on. Unfortunately, this recall effort will be an expensive and time consuming activity perpetrated by a loud few who will never give the Mayor credit for anything. She has done exactly what she said she would do and what she campaigned on. I hope she stays strong.
Abbey
2:40 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
For whom will it be expensive?
Dale Murrish
6:59 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Just to clarify, my analogy was limited to the public criticism of a subordinate, not whether its content was justified. There are many ways to accomplish the same good ends. I suspect there was a legitimate policy disagreement that will eventually be worked out. “Unwarranted and misinformed” is a strong judgment call that cannot be proven. It’s another example of unnecessary escalation of hostilities.
I was also commenting on why Patterson was rebuking Daniels, given his long history of hostility to social conservatives. Daniels said she met with Szerlag and they have a good working relationship again; she has a meeting scheduled with Patterson and hopes for an improvement in their relationship.
It’s interesting that opposition to the transit center has been blown into a huge issue by the left. It’s morally no different than objecting to buying a new car because the one we have is working OK with a few repairs. We have a perfectly functional train station in Birmingham a quarter mile away that could have been renovated for ~$200k, perhaps none of it from taxpayers.
http://troy.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-improve-current-transit-center-don-t-build-new
including photos
A policy disagreement is no reason to recall a mayor.
Abbey
8:16 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Why are you so convinced that it is a "left" or "liberal" who is always opposed to the Mayor? I find that to be so immature and silly. It makes me disregard everything you say because if you are so naive as to simplify that, the rest of your argument won't even stand up to reason.
Ed Lambert
8:24 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Abbey, you reveal yourself as a liberal in your post of 23 February when you characterize Daniels as a bigot. For one thing, "queer" is found in virtually every episode of "Will & Grace," and it is part of the title of more than one gay-oriented website. Google it for yourself.
I'll cut to the chase: I suspect that, as a liberal, you are dissatisfied with the November vote and will support any effort to overturn it. After all, two conservatives were added to the Council. That galls liberals.
Dave W
10:18 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Ed, you can also find the "N" word in many rap songs and certain cartoons. So because it's found in music and on tv, it would be ok if the mayor had used that word instead on her facebook page, right? I'm guessing not.
I'd also venture to guess that there are many Republicans/Fiscal Conservatives who are ashamed of this mayor's actions, and from one of your other posts it looks like you may have written her regarding just that. (You don't have to be a "Liberal" to speak out against hateful speech.) I also don't think that it's only "Liberals" who are dissatisfied with what's been happening over the past few months. What "galls" me is that the Mayor, as well as Council members, should work for and support the City of Troy in a non-partisan way, and that is not what is happening. I realize most people lean one way or the other, but being non-partisan means not strictly adhering to one side or the other. Their decisions should be based on what is good for the city and the citizens, not based on their opinions at the Federal level. They need to leave that to the Federal Government and focus on the local level.
Dale Murrish
10:09 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Gay lifestyle includes monogamous people living quietly together and promiscuous people. Most Americans are tolerant of what other people do in their bedrooms and are sympathetic towards visitation in hospitals, transfer of property and are respectful of others’ lifestyle choices. That can all be accomplished today without gay marriage.
Some draw the line at being forced to believe that it is a normal alternative lifestyle and many object to sitting by quietly while their children are indoctrinated by books like “Heather has Two Mommies.”
If we’re all going to get along and quit fighting with each other, we have to have constitutional protection for the rights of gays in the first paragraph by punishing actual crimes against gays and keep the thought police away from those who disagree in the second paragraph.
90% of the people in the room took her “I’d offer you the keys to the city, but we have budget problems” comment as a cute way to say “I support you, Senator.” It’s just another example of her opponents choosing to be offended by everything she does. Mayor Daniels knows that to do anything official in Troy requires a vote of the council and she is only one vote of seven.
Dave W
12:51 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Mr. Murrish,
A promiscuous lifestyle is more dangerous than a monogamous lifestyle, regardless of sexual orientation That would be a more statistically accurate statement. I would really like to see the statistics that you based your statements on (that gay relationships are more dangerous than straight relationships), and I hope they are not from the 80s and 90s, as many of those studies have been found to be flawed. As far as marriage, it's as simple as a civil vs religious definition, and I still don't understand why people don't see this. When it comes to the civil definition, no one seems to be able to present a legal argument for denying same-sex couples the right to marry. The Prop 8 trial in California displayed this when those against same-sex marriage couldn't rely on "it's in the Bible" as their defense, and they had no case. People have the right to believe what they want to believe, but they don't have the right deny other people the same rights that they themselves enjoy. It's warming to hear you say that gays should be protected, but they should also be treated as equal citizens. On that note, there are over 1,000 rights granted to married couples that are currently denied to gay couples who have been living in monogamous relationships for years or even decades, but a man and woman who just met can go get married after 30 mins. When examined closely, rejection comes down to religious intolerance, not the recognition of love, and that is the true shame.
Calan
6:04 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Dale, I have some stats for you:
1) LGBT youth are 2 to 6 times more likely to attempt suicide then hetero youth.
2) 30% of all teen suicides are reported as committed by LGBT Youth
3) Suicide is the #1 cause of death amount LBGT Youth; while car crashes are the leading cause & homicide being second cause of death for hetero youth.
4) 27% of LBGT youth are kicked out of their home by their parents for being LBGT.
5) In a Study of LBGT youth, 25% of LBGT youth were verbally abused by their family for being LBGT and 12% were physically abused by family members for being LBGT
6) In a study of Bi/Gay Male Teens, ALmost half had run away from their home at least 1 time as a result of conflict between parents/siblings.
7) 40% of homeless youth are LBGT Youth
8) Approximately 28% of LBGT Youth drop out of high school because of verbal and physical abuse because they are LBGT.
9) LBGT Students hear as many as 26 anti-gay slurs a day at school--only 3% of those result in Staff/Administration intervention.
10) 27% of LBGT youth have been physically hurt/assaulted by a fellow student
11) Here in Michigan, 28% of school personnel surveyed said their school was emotional unsafe for LBGT students.
12) 75% of crimes against LBGT's go unreported.
Unfortunately, sincere apologies do not come with conditions, and if you look at Daniels apologies, you will see each time she "tried" to say she was sorry, there were conditions.
Calan
6:35 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
What is inconvenient is that a person who is elected to be the 1st representative of Troy has put forth, on more then one occasion, comments and ideas that the public has not been happy with and they are holding her accountable. When she mentions psychiatrists for a panel to discuss LGBT "dangers", she is talking about professionals who deal strictly with mental, emotional or behavioral issues, not the so called health aspect that she later tried to spin it into. (btw, she really should have looked up the APA's stance on LGBT's before putting that comment out there anyway) No one has prevented Mayor Daniels from exercising her rights, what they have taken offense to is that her words, actions and deeds; as an elected official; now represent more then just citizen Daniels. She signed on to be Mayor, she needs to start acting like a mayor, plain and simple. Inexperience or ignorance--time will only tell, but so far, my confidence in her being able to represent Troy in a dignified manor is pretty low, her ability to bridge different views in Troy is greatly compromised, and her integrity as a Mayor and a person have been called into question. Bang Up Start!
Sassafrassy
10:11 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Mr. Murrish, on January 15th, you wrote a blog piece called "Residents Should Support City Council's Decisions". On January 17th, the Troy City Council approved the Troy Transit Center. Just two weeks later, on February 4th, you wrote another blog piece that didn't support City Council's decision -- you were advocating that City Council eliminate the footbridge from the Transit Center design (a suggestion, which I believe, would violate federal safety regulations and the terms of the grant money).
My question to you, Mr. Murrish is this: if you can dissent with City Council / Mayor (as you often did with the previous administration), why can't others dissent with this City Council or the Mayor? You can't ask people to stifle their differing opinions, if you aren't going to do the same.
Dale Murrish
10:21 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
You missed the main point of both articles. The first was "Let's move on to the next issue" and the second was that litigation costs our society more than we realize.
We all should keep dissenting when necessary; hopefully we can find common ground and start agreeing more. A good start is admitting that there are multiple ways to achieve the same good ends.
I believe that in most cases smaller government is a better way to achieve those ends; Troy's transit center is an extreme example. $8.5M or $6.3M vs. the ~$200k alternative that was ignored by the council majority.
http://troy.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-improve-current-transit-center-don-t-build-new
Sassafrassy
12:21 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Transit Center got approved for $6.3M because that was the cheapest it could be built while still meeting all safety regulations.
You don't agree with the safety regulations? That's fine. That is your opinion and you certain have your right to that opinion. But, it doesn't mean you can ignore the regulations. Heaven knows that the City Council can't ignore them -- I imagine that is why the $200K "alternative" you keep proposing was dismissed.
I don't think you realize it, but your continually bringing up the unfeasible $200K "alternative" is preventing you from "moving on". You keep bringing it up, with the hope that it can happen. The reality is the Transit Center is going to be built, it has to meet all pertinent regulations, the regulations aren't going to change between now and October 2013, and the Transit Center budget has been value-engineered for $6.3M to meet these regulatory requirements. Let's all move on together, OK?
Sassafrassy
10:43 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A heterosexual lifestyle also includes monogamous people living quietly together and promiscuous people. That must mean that the heterosexual lifestyle is no better and no worse than a homosexual lifestyle, right?
And how could Ms. Daniels say “I’d offer you the keys to the city, but we have budget problems"? According to her, Troy doesn't have budget problems, which is we could afford a 7-day library. So, is she now agreeing with what the financial experts have been saying -- that Troy's finances are and have been managed wisely and that there is no "slush fund"?
Dave W
12:37 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
You started by saying: "Tonight I’m speaking on behalf of the first amendment rights of an elected public official."
I'm curious how the Mayor's First Amendment Right has been violated?
The First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Did Congress pass a law prohibiting the Mayor's speech? No. Does Congress have any interest in the Mayor? No.
If we take a less limited look at this statement, we could imply that the Government (the Mayor) will take no action to prohibit the public from speaking, the press from reporting on the Government's actions, or prohibit the public from peaceably assembling for a redress of grievances (a slur, a major policy disagreement, damaging the image of the citizens). The Mayor has every right to use any slur she wishes, and has every right to her personal opinions. No one has said that she doesn't have those rights, but the public has basically stood up and said that they don't want their elected officials using slurs and degrading groups of people. Perhaps if the elected officials didn't make such inflammatory statements, they wouldn't receive such a backlash.
Abbey
6:51 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
The simple fact is that her rights have not been violated. But people like Mr. Murrish love to frame it that way to defend the bigotry of people like Janice Daniels to take the onus off of her behavior.
Dale Murrish
8:25 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Dave, she did say some things that have offended some people; she has also apologized graciously, which was refused quite ungraciously (did you read the blog comments?)
She campaigned on this major policy disagreement (transit center), so I see that as a non-issue. Damaging the image of the citizens depends on your vantage point.
I realize there are many good people who wanted the mayor to resign and will work to recall her; I just think they are misguided and judging her too harshly. She was a critic of the previous liberal administration, which is a major part of why she's being attacked now. It's her behavior as mayor that is the issue. I've not seen anything that comes close to an impeachable offense.
But absolutely the people have the right to recall her. Just don't expect her supporters to be quiet and go away. It's very unfortunate that this will only draw our city further into disagreement, but you can be sure that she will be strongly defended until she does something that warrants removal.
Dave W
10:30 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Dale, I did read the blog comments, but I also watched the apology debacle first-hand. There was no gracious apology offered. She started by saying “I may have said something like that...I probably shouldn’t have used that kind of language, but I do believe marriage should be between one man and one woman.” (Oakland Press) This is not a "gracious" apology. She went on the radio and said "It was meant to be a joke, silly, a funny thing." (Charlie Langton) Then she told protesters "I said one word that you don't like. One word." Her attitude, demeanor, and language in this clip on Patch illustrate why her "apologies" were not accepted: http://troy.patch.com/articles/troy-mayor-to-protesters-it-was-one-little-word#video-8628927
Following the Dec 5 Council meeting, she gave maybe the closest thing to an actual apology, but I still wouldn't classify it as gracious. By that time, it was hard to believe it was sincere based on her earlier explanations.
I wouldn't expect her supporters to "be quiet and go away", but I'm not going to have them tell me that I should just be quiet and go away either. We all have a say, and we should all voice our opinions. While a disagree with her politics, that is not why I would support the recall. I would support the removal of any politician (Rep or Dem) who openly degrades groups of people, acts unethically in their position (I haven't seen this from the Mayor yet), or seeks to enact laws that create social inequality.
Wiley Coyote
2:28 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Dale: A couple of things...
First, why people like me, who have a strong sense of right and wrong and fair play are angry with Janice Daniels and refuse to cut her any slack:
As one of the leaders of Troy Citizens United, she:
1) Spearheaded a lie-based campaign to defeat a city wide millage back in February of 2010, using a phony "29% tax increase" platform to frighten voters when she and her math-whiz cronies had to know that number was wildly incorrect.
2) Was part of the successful TCU effort to defeat the dedicated millage Proposal for the library in November of 2010, which if you recall involved TCU members putting three almost identical proposals on the ballot for the sole purpose of confusing voters. She also fully supported another confusion tactic rendered by her buddy Ed Kempen with his "Friends of the Library with no new taxes" campaign, which was complete crap as even she must now admit.
3) Spent years going to city council meetings berating the mayor, city manager and council with made-up falsehoods about imaginary budgets, slush funds, perks and pleasures, benefits, etc. She was merciless, and even though wrong, would never back down from her phony assertions, or stick around after opening her big mouth to hear any response to public comments from council.
And now she's mayor, and exhibits a cluelessness, tone-deafness and stupidity weekly that is breathtaking, parading bigots like David Wisz out as an expert, nominating Shepke, etc. Need I go on?
Ellen Hodorek
8:42 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
For me, the clincher was the 20-minute manifesto/tirade against city staff. That five-page paper was grossly irresponsible. It left me speechless. It was the pinnacle of poor judgment and a horrible misuse of her position. Such an unwarranted attack does not represent small government thinking; it was small minded and incredibly damaging to our city manager, the staff and the city, itself. On top of the Transit Center debacle (not the vote itself but the handling of the discourse), word of that event spread like wild fire. And you wonder why outsiders are getting involved? If it's ok for "FedUpUSA" and small government enthusiasts across the country to get involved and make campaign donations with no first-hand knowledge of our city, it's certainly ok for those with a vested interest in its success and actual knowlege and expertise -- Governor Snyder and members of his administration, Oakland County Executive Patterson, our own Chamber of Commerce -- to speak up. For crying out loud. I, too, would like to get back to the business of running the city. It's too bad this woman and her supporters have been thwarting that effort not only since she was elected, but for several years preceding that election just as the comment above indicates.
Ed Lambert
9:50 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Wiley Coyote, something else must be mentioned regard the general campaign to defeat the library millage, an important concern for Daniels, admittedly: Not a month went by following the approval this past summer of a millage increase than the city "found" money in the current city budget that could have been used to prevent library closure or cutbacks.
Daniels and other critics are right about one thing: that the previous City Council, headed by a liberal majority, wanted more revenue from the taxpayers. That's what liberals in government always want, and that is one reason why Beltramini did not win in November.
There are valid criticisms of Daniels, and I'm certain I'm not the only one to have written to her about them. Nothing in her tenure so far is grounds for removal, but liberals need no grounds. All they need is valid petition signatures and then an election in which they hope to replace a conservative with a liberal. It is that simple.
Politics is war, and conservatives would do well, as they recently did, to permanently keep this in mind. It is the first article of faith among liberals.
Sassafrassy
12:33 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Mr. Lambert, that money wasn't "found". It was GIVEN BACK to the community because of the concessions that Troy Police Officers made WILLINGLY and well before their contract expired. To claim anything else is revisionist history.
Wiley Coyote
7:04 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Ed: I'm not a liberal. I'm an independent who just won't put up with lying by politicians or those in leadership positions. If I can't trust someone to tell the truth when they're not in office, why should I trust them when they're in? And the sad fact is, Janice lied, repeatedly, to gain her position and wound the city along the way. Here's the other thing--she was in close contact with former councilman Martin Howrylak, who should have been able to uncover any so-called slush funds, undiscovered money, hidden revenue, you name it. He never did, instead skulking around behind the scenes, sending out false anti-millage campaign literature, all to apparently feather his own political future nest. Sorry, they deserve all the abuse they get now, because they've dished it out like nobody's business for years.
Ed Lambert
1:40 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Today, 15 April, we learn that Granite City Breweries is planning to open a unit in Troy. So much for the screaming ninnies who tell us that the new mayor is driving away business.
Meanwhile, with Szerlag no longer on the payroll, there's money to be saved, if only by hiring a competent replacement at more realistic costs.
This, of course, is all water off the daffy-duck recallers' backs.
Daffy Noodnicks
2:03 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
Ed Lambert:
Of course you don't allow for the fact that there may be many business who may not have chosen to move to Troy, although this one fortunately did. Don't let that stop your juvenile name calling. You have found a new sweeping generalization. Real creative this time.
Oh, and the place has been under construction for quite some time. It's right at Big Beaver and 75. Did you not notice it before? The construction is pretty far along. So obviously, this is a business decision which was made quite a long time ago.
Daffy Noodnicks
2:29 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012
A 2 minute search for actual facts on this very website reveals Granite City purchased the property before the recession, and announced plans to open in October.
In light of the facts Ed Lamberts' use of 'ninnies' and 'daffy duck' are revealed as false and unfair. I expect his answer will be to call me a 'liberal' or something. Which will not change the facts.