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More than six decades after Grand Rapids became one of the world's first cities to fluoridate its drinking water (in 1945) and just a year after the city installed a riverfront monument celebrating its role as a fluoridation pioneer, Corky Overmyer -- Grand Rapids' Sustainability Coordinator -- has apparently opened a task force to look into ending flouridation.
It seems Mr. Overmyer has caved into some anti-fluoridation advocates after receiving "a lot of flak" from some flourophobia nuts.
Far-outside-the-mainstream opponents of fluoridation make the claim that it is a toxic susbstance that causes a myriad of problems from weak bones to thyroid problems to cancer.
Basically, this is the same stuff wwe've heard from John Birch Society folks for 60 years. It's akin to the world is flat, evolution is just a theory so dinosaurs used to live with Moses, the HIV virus doesn't cause aids, global warming is a socialist plot led by Al Gore to destroy capitalism, and other crazy pseudoscientific theories.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control describes fluoridation of drinking water as "one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century."
The West Michigan Dental Society is also skeptical. Chapter president Doug Killian, who practices in the rural community of Mecosta north of Grand Rapids, told the Press:
"The rate of tooth decay in this area is generally higher than areas where there is access to (fluoridated) city water. It's been well documented and well proven."
Despite the overwhelming scientific proof about the efficacy and safety of flouridation, Overmyer is "talking with scientists at Grand Valley State University about potential long-term effects of exposure to fluoride."
Overmyer even told The Press:
"Because we're trying to eliminate toxins in our community, I thought we should study this issue."
Thereby Overmyer seems to agree with the nutcases that flouride is a toxin. Exactly, how much money are we wasting on Corky's ludicris "fact finding" mission to discover what 99.9% of serious scientists already know?
Mayor George Heartwell has gone into damage control mode. Heartwell, who cites fluoridation when he boasts of Grand Rapids' progressive history, said he isn't convinced of a need to change:
"We're surely not considering dropping the fluoride from our water. We would not do that without really hard scientific evidence."
But, mayor, your own Sustainability Coordinator is indeed considering it!
So, who is Corky Overmyer and what does he do with his days?
Kent County Democratic Party Annual Spring Gala Saturday, May 17th from 5:00-8:00 pm
Speakers include: Gary Peters and Mark Shauer (the two major DNC-targeted Congressional candidates in Michigan this November) as well as Supreme Court Candidate Justice Deborah Thomas
TODAY is the deadline to file to run for Precinct Delegate! You've got just 5 HOURS to get down to your county clerk.
More information on how you can help the Party elect good Democrats and influence the direction of the MDP by becoming a Precinct Delegate ishere.
The last day for candidates running for Precinct Delegate (County Convention Delegate) to file the Affidavit of Identity for the August primary is on Tuesday, 13 May at 4:00 pm.
I've decided to just get this out of the way right now. I'm here for one purpose and one purpose only... and that is to elect more and better Democratic candidates in West Michigan.
The "more" of that phrase is pretty self explanatory and should go without saying for most of us, but I think the "better" is the more important of the two objectives.
You might find yourself thinking:
What exactly does "better" mean?
Here's my answer to you... "Better" means whatever we think it should mean. For me it's kind of like porn... I might not be able to explain it, but I know it when I see it.
So the next question is how do we elect more of these better Democratic candidates?
That's an easy question that we all already know the answer to... We build up our county parties.
The question isn't what we need to do, but how we do it?
So how do we build up our county parties? How do build a permanent infrastructure that can be utilized from election to election, campaign after campaign and by candidate after candidate?
Well... Therein lies the problem.
None of our county parties on the Western side of the state are as strong as they could be and very few of our county parties have the manpower necessary to carry out party building activities.
Most of us are lucky if we are able to scrape together enough volunteers that are willing to come out during the election season proper to conduct a decent GOTV effort.
Generally the Democratic county parties of West Michigan do not have the manpower and resources needed to conduct effective and efficient party building activities... and our county parties never will be as strong as we should be as long as we all continue to go it alone.
I know we all like to joke that there are no Democrats in West Michigan, but it's simply not true....
(I put this table together with information from the Michigan Secretary of State website. The numbers are from the 2006 Governor's race. I chose the governor's race, because that's the race that the most people were willing to vote for the Democratic candidate in. Full image is here)
As you can see there ARE Democrats in Western Michigan... thousands of us in each county as a matter of fact.
(we'll get y'all more information on Obama's visit as we learn it! - promoted by philgoblue)
(bumped at 6:18 pm for obvious reasons)
The Updated Evening Skinny
Barack Obama Campaign Rally
Wednesday, 14 May
Doors Open: 5:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 7:00 p.m.
Van Andel Arena in downtown GR
130 Fulton West
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Free and open to the public on first-come-first-served general seating basis, there are no tickets. You can RSVP here at the website More information at theKent County Democratic Party website where you can join the County Party and sign up for Saturday's fundraising Gala (afterall there's much more to the Democratic Party than Barack Obama)
"The Van" seats 12,000, but for concerts, so for the likely Obama setup, it's probably more like 8,000. Given the level of interest and the hunger Michganders have for a candidate visit, expect a full crowd -- come early!
The original post with updates
From a 10:08 am email from the Kent County Democratic Party:
Barack Obama is coming to Grand Rapids!
Barack Obama will be in Grand Rapids at the Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, May 14th at 7:00 pm
This will be a great rally!
Update (Adam, 5:30 pm): Wood TV reports the event is free and doors open at 5pm.
Update (phil, 1:30 pm): The Press has picked the story up:
Kent County Democrats are "thrilled" at the prospect of a Wednesday campaign rally at Van Andel Arena for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
Kent County Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Levy, got a call from an Obama campaign official announcing the rally. She told the Press:
"I am thrilled to death. I am hoping it will really energize Democrats around here. There's been some discouragement with all the confusion about seating the Michigan delegation."
Sue is absolutely correct, Michigan will be a battle-ground state in November (though it really shouldn't have been, but that's another story that we'll have to put behind us ASAP). Up and down the November ticket, we can score big wins state-wide (think Peters and Schauer) and in West Michigan (in state-house races think Valentine, Rogers, Scripps, Huckleberry, Truesdell, Hawley, and in county-wide races). Obama's reaching out to Michigan, and doing it here in West Michigan, should help us erase the fiasco of January and move us forward to victories in November.
Like all three leading Democrats, Obama didn't campaign in Michigan before the 15 January presidential primary because the Michigan Democratic Party had broken national party rules by moving up its primary (Obama and Edwards supporters voted Uncommitted since those two candidates took their names off the ballot).
By coming to Michigan at such an important juncture in the campaign, Obama seems to mostly be in General Election mode. The Wednesday visit will come the day after the West Virginia primary (which Hillary is widely predicted to win) and just six days before important contests in Kentucky and Oregon (where Obama might be able to score wins that could convince Hillary Clinton to leave the race).
The Press reports that at Kent County Democratic headquarters, volunteer Dorothy Scott said the phone was ringing continuously:
"I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to see him."
Sue Levy told the Press that arrangements for tickets to the event are being finalized.
Doors open at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are NOT required, but an RSVP is encouraged. To RSVP, members of the public can visit www.barackobama.com (but I can't find where exactly) For security reason, people attending should not bring bags, and should limit personal items. No signs or banners will be allowed.
Third District Democratic chairperson Ida DeHaas told WOOD:
"I've had calls from the Upper Peninsula this morning, asking the same questions because they're getting information off the Internet. So that tellls me the level of expectation is really exciting."
Obama will also make a stop in Macomb County that same day and will be having a high-dollar fundraiser in GR before the rally.
This week Dan Scripps' 2008 Campaign for the 101st State House District will hold gatherings across Northwest Michigan for his official county kickoffs. The celebrations start Tuesday at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay, MI. The following day, Wednesday, May 14th, Dan will be in Ludington, MI at the Jamesport Brewery Company. The kickoffs will wrap up in downtown Manistee, MI on Thursday at the Manistee Democratic Party's headquarters for the grand opening of their new office.
Camp Millie is Michigan's homegrown campaign/activist training workshhop (similar to Camp Wellstone, the DFA Trainings or the MDP/Team Granholm's Impact Trainings. Camp Millie is arranged by the Justice Caucus, Michigan's Democratic Progressive caucus. They are getting in gear for the 2008 elections by holding a training 17-18 May (Saturday and Sunday) in Grand Rapids.
Camp Millie is a 2-day intensive training program designed to give you the tools for effective progressive political action in your community. Our faculty of experienced political organizers will share their gifts on subjects grass roots activists, campaign managers and candidates must know to succeed, including: Framing your issues and Message Development; Volunteer Recruitment; Democratic Party Structure and the Importance of the Precinct Delegate; Techniques and Strategies to Get-Out TheVote; Door-to-Door Canvassing; Phone Banking; Fundraising and Campaign Finance Law Compliance. Sessions will include practice exercises so you can hone your new skills. Your $35 tuition fee includes training materials and box lunches on Saturday and Sunday.
Editorial from Today's Kalamazoo Gazette, with which I wholeheartedly agree:
Want to be a public servant? Deadline is Tuesday
Have you ever watched or read about the state Legislature, your county board or township board and thought: I could do a better job than that?
You have until Tuesday to decide whether to try to do it.
...
We'd like to see people from all walks of life -- attorneys and small-business owners, college professors and union members, farmers and pastors, parents of young families and retirees -- file to run for office.
We'd like to see people of all races and both genders on ballots this year.
We'd like voters to be excited about their choices. That's the best way to increase participation and ensure a healthy democracy.
If you think you fit the description and would like an important job for little pay and lots of work -- and the satisfaction of knowing you've served your community -- the filing deadline is Tuesday.
Ten days ago, we started collecting signatures for Don Cooney, who had just decided to put his hat in the ring for the 6th US House seat. We needed to collect 1000 signatures to put him on the primary ballot. Doable, but not much time to get this done.
Today, we learned that in ten days we have collected over 2,400 signatures.
There are a lot of folks who want to support Don and elect new leadership for the Sixth, and this is just the first indication of it. Don joined us at noon today at the weekly vigil for peace in front of the Federal Building in Kalamazoo:
Steve (left) and Don at today's vigil
At the same time, we welcomed back to the weekly vigil Steve Senesi, the convener of Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW), who had a stroke in mid-April, then carotid artery surgery, and is back with us looking great already!
So we have several reasons to be thankful today in the peace community of Kalamazoo. At some point, I'll want to write a short history of KNOW, which has to be one of the most active peace groups, for the size of the city it's in, in the whole country.
Last week I got a call from Mary Valentine. She called me to figure out why I had bothered to bring up letters she might occasionally send to National Elected Officials. I explained that I was merely responding to an article critical of her for spending too much time on sending letters to Lawmakers in DC. To set the record straight, this isn't a big portion of her time. In fact, it's very rare. Though I can't imagine why somebody would be critical of a candidate who wants to be involved in EVERYTHING that affects our state and county, from DC on down.
This touches on an important part of Mary Valentine's character, which is apparently in question...Work Ethic.
This is a BEWILDERING accusation. And here's why.
1) Check out Mary's Voting Record. Go down the list. You'll see Y or N under each proposed vote. Y is for Yes. N is for No. An ABSENT vote is marked NV. Let's see if you can find NV in Mary's list. I'll wait. Find it? No? Neither did I. That's because she showed up to vote for everything. EVERYTHING. Now let's try this. Find your favorite state representative and see if he or she has as perfect a voting record as Mary Valentine.
2) She's in six committees. SIX. The Commerce Committee, the Great Lakes and Environment Committee, the Health Policy Committee, the Retiree Healthcare Reforms Committee, the Subcommitee on Nursing Shortage...AND she's the Vice Chair of the Education Committee. Now see if your favorite state representative is on as many committees, and is as involved in your well being as Mary Valentine is. Best of luck.
3) Mary Valentine tries to personally respond to E-mails that ask unique questions. I met Mary Valentine when she was going Door to Door campaigning. I don't know her any better than YOU do...and yet she personally responds to my questions. In FACT...Notice how I don't show my actual name in these blogs? The only reason she was able to call me after reading my article was because she REMEMBERED the interpersonal exchange I described in the article. She remembered me, some random voter. She remembered me as an individual.
This whole question of Mary's work ethic is insane. It's fabricated. Made up. It's malarky. Bologna. Hogwash. There's nothing, NOTHING, out there to suggest Mary Valentine is anything but a tireless soldier working for our interests every single day.
P.S. This article was Not Paid For. I didn't get squat for writing this thing.
I'm here, plugged into a borrowed (and slow) laptop. We're set up in a nice area right next to the speakers and the new banner is flying high!
Senator Levin has already spoken about how the election will soon turn to a public battle in the Senate over the issues since both nominees will be in the Senate (and Democrats control the Senate).
Amy Goodman is speaking now about the need for a new media without corporate ties.
(brilliant stuff, we are extraordinarily lucky that peter is here. this is your mandatory reading assignment for the weekend. quiz on monday! - promoted by philgoblue)
Introduction
After writing a few weeks ago about the status of state legislative races across west Michigan, I went back to tinkering with some of the piles of data that I have collected from a number of sources. Since all politics is local (with a strong national undertow), I figured that it might be worth analyzing some precinct level data in Kent County. Before I go further, I should mentioned that I do not have GIS precinct level data for other counties in west Michigan, although a number of GIS folk (your's truly included) are starting work on creating such a file in hopes of being finished in the early summer.
Kent County voters might be asked to renew a tax that funds jail improvements and operations.
The County Board fast-tracked a plan Thursday to vote on the issue by mid-May to meet deadlines for the Aug. 5 primary election ballot.
The 20-year, 0.7893-mill jail levy would continue one approved by voters in 1990 that expires at the end of 2009. The renewal would generate about $17.6 million a year and continue to cost the owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 about $40 a year....
The decision comes even though county leaders have yet to resolve a year-long stalemate with mayors in Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville, Walker and Kentwood [sic] who have threatened to oppose a jail levy because they believe their residents are being "double taxed."
Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell believes a jail millage is necessary but could not support it if the fee issue is not resolved.
"We're very clear this is a matter of economic justice for us," he said....
The millage renewal still must be approved by the full 19-member County Commission.
This is a matter of basic tax fairness. Residents of the 6 cities mentioned pay the same county taxes the rest of the county does, but they have to pay again for each resident sent to the county jail (a perdiem). Again, the outer-countryside Republicans are sticking to Grand Rapids and the neighboring cities. If you live in Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville, or Walker and your County Commissioner supports the proposal in August for the new jail and taxing you twice, you ought to throw them out in November.
Update, 9:30 pm: It looks like negotiations are continuing on eliminating the city perdiems. But, the County Commission is going to have to vote to put the proposal on the ballot in a few days and before it looks like a compromise can be reached. So, given that the county does need to update facilities and even have money to run the jail, it does make sense for commissioners to put this on the August ballot (though really it should be on the November ballot when far more people vote) and give the negotiations time to play themselves out. But, if outlying Republicans continue to stall past early June, then County Commissioners and residents from the cities should oppose the millage proposal in August.
Let's all do our best to keep each other updated on this key issue of fairness that'll also serve to save Grand Rapids alone $1 million dollars which given the budget shortfalls, is an important sum of money.
UAW Local 730, representing workers at the General Motors Co. stamping plant in Wyoming, reached a tentative agreement Thursday with GM.
Workers are expected to vote May 21 on the proposed agreement, Local 730 president Barb Henderson said. The tentative agreement was "great news" for workers who, like everyone else, have concerns about jobs, the economy and rising gas prices, she said.
"This is one thing they can put behind them," Henderson said. If the agreement is ratified, it would also help guide workers who are deciding whether to accept early buyouts.
Congrats to Local President Barb Henderson. Forward to the ratification vote.
Today is Victory in Europe Day -- marking the date when the the armed forces of Nazi Germany gave their unconditional surrender and silenced their guns against the World War II Allies -- led by the Soviet Union, England, the United States of America and France.
Thank you a million times over to the brave men and women who struggled and died to defeat fascism and save Western civilization.
(The Policy Summit is this Saturday -- register now and avoid the lines - promoted by philgoblue)
Everyone on the West Side,
You're invited to the Michigan Policy Summit!
The Michigan Policy Summit -- coming 10 May, Saturday -- is the annual gathering of Michigan's progressive community. The summit will bring together labor, environment, civil rights, social justice and other groups together to move Michigan forward. The summit will provide forums on key issues like health care, 21st century energy, education as well as movement building activities for individuals and organizations. The summit will also provide numerous opportunities for leaders to network and share ideas and best practices.
The year's keynote speakers are popular radio talk show host, political activist and author Jim Hightower -- dubbed the nation's No. 1 populist -- and top radio commentator Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! The Summit will also feature numerous advocates, policy experts, elected officials, and other members of the state's progressive community.
The Michigan Policy Summit takes place Saturday, 10 May from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm At the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.
Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Registration is just $30 and you can register today at: http://www.mipolicysummit.org/...
Some part of the West Michigan Rising team will be there liveblogging, interviewing from our table, and ... of course ... schmoozing.
This is also a great opportunity for West Michigan electeds and candidates to get to know the important players in the state-wide progressive community -- the kinds of organizations that want you to know their issues if you want to seek an endorsement (and maybe the fundraising that comes with it). For $30, it's a steal. So throw on that Candidate Lapel Pin and get over to Lansing.
Tim Nendorf (SH-62: Battle Creek...)
Mark Eagle (SH-71: ...)
James VanderZouwen (SH-89: ...)
Nate Heffron (SH-102: ...)
Clay Stauffer (SH-90: Ottawa)
Greg Grieves (SH-87: Barry, Ionia)
Bill Richards (SH-100: Oceana, Newagyo, Lake)
County Commissions, Mayors, City Commissions
Allegan County
Fritz Spreitzer (ACCD-9)
Benzie County
Jeffery Sandman (BCCD-3)
Anne Damm (BCCD-4)
Berrien County
Marletta Seats (BCCD-3)
Mamie Yarbrough (BCCD-4)
Andrew Vavra (BCCD-10)
Cass County
Ed Goodman (CCCD-1)
Bill Steele (CCCD-4)
David Taylor (CCCD-7)
Minnie Warren (CCCD-12)
Johnie Rodebush (CCCD-13)
Debbie Johnson (CCCD-14)
Ionia County
Lynn Mason (ICCD-1)
Mark Vroman (ICCD-4)
Kalamazoo County
Jack Urban (KCCD-1)
Carolyn Alford (KCCD-2)
Robert Barnard (KCCD-3)
John Taylor (KCCD-4)
Brian Johnson (KCCD-5)
Franklin Thompson (KCCD-6)
David Buskirk (KCCD-7)
John Nieuwenhuis (KCCD-12)
Leroy Crabtree (KCCD-15)
Candidates
Patricia Kramer (KCCD-2)
Fred Clowney (KCCD-4)
Michael Francis (KCCD-7)
Brian Bosak (KCCD-10)
Russell Duffin (KCCD-11)
Pete Hickey (KCCD-12)
Bret Dorman (KCCD-13)
Bob Synk (KCCD-19)
Manistee County Manistee County Commission
Allan O'Shea (MCCD-2)
Glenn Lottie (MCCD-3)
Ervin Kowalski (MCCD-4)
Kathy Fenstermacher (MCCD-6)
Carl Rutske (MCCD-7)
Mason County
Jerome Rybicki (MCCD-5)
Candidates
Norma Muyskens (MCCD-6)
Muskegon County
Kenneth Mahoney (MCCD-1)
Charles Buzzell (MCCD-2)
James Derezinski (MCCD-4)
Lew Collins (MCCD-6)
Don Aley (MCCD-7)
Bill Gill (MCCD-8)
Louis McMurray (MCCD-9)
Roger Wade (MCCD-10)
Oceana County
Evelyn Kolbe (OCCD-2)
Van Buren County
Thomas Erdmann (VBCCD-1)
Lake County Lake County Commission
Unknown
The following counties appear to have no Democratic County Commissioners: St. Joseph, Barry, Ottawa, Newaygo, Wexford, Grand Traverse and Leelanau.
