By: Tony Dearing
AnnArbor.com Staff
Posted: Jul 25, 2010 at 10:12 AM [Jul 25, 2010]
Ypsilanti is a community with serious issues, but opportunities as well. Its small tax base and lean budget challenge its ability to provide necessary services. But its affordable housing and emerging arts scene have given it increasing appeal, particularly to millennials.
Against that backdrop, first-term Mayor Paul Schreiber faces a challenge in the Democratic primary from Peter Murdock, the former mayor who now serves on City Council in Ward Three. Between these two able candidates, there are clear differences.
Schreiber supported the proposal for a city income tax that was put before voters in 2007, while Murdock led the opposition against it. The request was soundly rejected, and both men now agree that an income tax is “off the table.’’
Paul Schreiber
In the effort to attract development to the Water Street property, Schreiber favors creating zoning districts that call for multiple-story buildings with a mix of business and residential use. Murdock prefers to keep the city’s options open for what developers might propose. Either way, development is likely to be a ways off in this tight economy.
A more immediate issue is the fate of the Thompson Block. Schreiber supported an agreement negotiated between the city manager and developer Stewart Beal to make the fire-damaged building safe, but Murdock voted with the council majority that rejected the agreement. The city and Beal are now in court, with no resolution pending. We editorialized previously on this issue, and continue to believe the proposed agreement was reasonable and that the city would be further along if City Council had adopted it at the time.
Schreiber’s stance on the issue reflects the pragmatic approach he takes to city issues, as one might expect from an electronic engineer. He’s provided steady leadership, has worked to involved citizens in city government, and has avoided the political tumult that at times characterized Murdock’s tenure as mayor in the 1980s.
Murdock, meanwhile, has been a solid member of council, bringing experience and institutional knowledge to the role. In this case, we don’t see a compelling case for turning over the mayor’s office. We endorse Schreiber for re-election. Ypsilanti would benefit most by both men continuing capably in their current roles.
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ypsidog
Posted 6 days ago
As a long time resident of the City of Ypsilanti, I frankly don't care what annarbor.com thinks about our mayorial race. A2.com never fails to degrade my city every opportunity it gets by plastering every little incident all over their banner. If you don't know better, there is plenty of crap, that goes on in Ann Arbor too, that doesn't get addressed on this site. You would think that a police department in A2 would be unnecessary by reading this site. A2.com, worry about your own mayorial race and leave ours to be reported on by The Ypsilanti courier.
tdw
Posted 6 days ago
@ypsidog Amen I could'nt have said it bettrt
lorie
Posted 6 days ago
@ypsidog: I am please they at least kept up with the current stuff.
I am bothered that BOTH papers have amnesia: Nothing about how bad Pete was as a mayor before - secret council meetings before the public meetings, terrible relationships with EMU, the surrounding townships, developers of all kinds. No mention his Pete's brushes with voter fraud (charged not convicted in 1985, campaign manager for Lois Wells in the early 90s - she was convicted) Nothing about using his public position on Council in the 90s to push for the creation of a city department he thought he should run...and when the city didn't hire him, he sued.
These are all things our voters should be reminded of and talk about because its clear he hasn't changed at all - springing stuff on council at the last minute, wrangling a majority of votes ahead of time outside of the open meetings act. This isn't someone who will come up with consensus and we need to have some level of consensus in our city to survive.
Midtowner
Posted 6 days ago
@lorie
There's no mention of Paul's disasterous 10 years on the Ypsilanti housing commission when residents were forced to live in sqallor in apartments that weren't up to code. Kircher properties were in better shape. Paul forced people to live in apartments worse than Kircher!
lorie
Posted 6 days ago
@at Midtowner, are you aware of the history there? Paul spent his 10 years, along with a series of other commissioners cleaning up the mess that happened under Pete's watch where those places were allowed to be run in a way found to be corrupt, complete with missing money, and had hallowed those units to rot for years.
It was under Pete's watch when the entire housing commission was replaced by city council because it got too bad to ignore.
When Paul arrived on the Housing commission, it was pretty bad but slowly starting to make a slight recovery. Paul worked long and hard to make it better. It takes someone with Paul's persistence to see something like that through. Same with his persistence with Parkview - $12M in redevelopment and the jobs to go with it.
Are you saying we should return to letting those places rot again?
Cash
Posted 6 days ago
Ypsidog,
I read your earlier post and I agreed completely.
And I honestly have never voted based upon a media endorsement.
Designated Conservative
Posted 6 days ago
Yes! There is nothing better than an endorsement from the Ann Arbor (News).com to ensure a healthy victory margin for the other side....
The same folks who (in their now defunct guise as the AANews) once opined that Ypsilanti should have a local income tax, while Ann Arbor should not are now happy to endorse the only remaining Ypsilanti City Council member who voted and campaigned for that failed tax scheme and has the temerity to run for re-election on his record.
Pete Murdock has been the driving force on City Council for the types of conservative fiscal reforms our city needs to survive the Water Street debacle that Mayor Schreiber and his mentor Cheryl Farmer have left for future generations to pay for....
Vote Murdock for Ypsilanti Mayor on August 3rd!
Glen S.
Posted 6 days ago
@ Midtowner
Quite simply, your post is a blatant distortion of the truth.
As both a Housing Commissioner, and as Mayor, Paul Schreiber lead what ended up being a years-long battle over Parkview that only recently resulted in a positive resolution to this deplorable situation.
Largely as a result of Paul's tenacity over many years (along with the efforts of Congressman John Dingell, and many Parkview residents, themselves) Ypsilanti will soon enjoy $12 million in new investment at Parkview -- which, for those who don't know, is the public housing development located at the intersection of Hamilton Street and I-94.
As a result, ALL of the units soon will be completely renovated, the City will receive several years worth of deferred tax revenue from the property, and Parkview will be privately managed, and back on City tax rolls.
In fact, the outcome is so positive, and Mayor Schreiber's role in making it possible so instrumental, that Councilmember Murdock acknowledged exactly that at a recent City Council meeting, thanking Schreiber, and leading a round of applause for Schrieber's efforts in making it possible.
ypsilistener
Posted 5 days ago
Beal is a polarizing figure here. By reading this opinion piece, it seems that the election may really be about whether or not one supports Beal and his projects. Vote accordingly, fellow Ypsi citizens.