GOLD 151 Ends

[XLFD]

Our GOLD 151 team is sad to announce that we have suspended our operations which were conducted in order to democratically get every council seat up for election in 2024 with real choices for candidates in Ludington's 151st year.  When a loose band of citizens started Grassroots Operation:  Ludington Democracy 151 in March, with taking out three recall petitions against Ward Councilors Winczewski, Stibitz and Bulger, it seemed we had some momentum; we had at least two citizens in each respective ward capable of getting petition signatures and even more importantly, willing and qualified candidates to run in each ward presuming we were able to get enough signatures. 

At the inception of GOLD 151, we understood that the only thing worse than not getting enough signatures was getting enough signatures approved then not having a good alternative candidate run in the ensuing recall election, ensuring that the incumbent would continue their term of poor governance unabated.  This would make everyone involved look silly, and the action itself seen as futile-- pretty much like the City's appealing of the charter revision decision and then determining that the tens of thousands they spent getting that decision was all for naught, as their efforts ran out of time.  Fortunately, the costs of GOLD 151 in total were under $20, mostly for photocopies.

The petition had four reasons as to why they should be recalled, we included two other reasons to help those reluctant to sign with just those four.  Through the experiences of our petitioners we found out that the general public actually didn't have much idea about what was going on with the city, a majority weren't even aware of who their ward councilor was.  That's sad but not totally unexpected, I didn't become aware of who my city representative was until shortly after eight years of being on the LFD, and only because I was looking for help in dealing with corruption issues that made me resign.

For the petition crew, this made it extra hard to get some of the undecided people to sign, since we were in agreement that we would be focusing on the sins of the official, and not our opinion of the sinner.  On the other side of the ledger there were a few that knew exactly how corrupt the city can be and didn't want to sign out of fear that they might be singled out. 

I could not totally allay that fear, because I and others associated with the recall seem to have been targeted by the City in retaliation for our impudence:  either by code enforcement, city police, or in my case, by deer cullers in broad daylight.  Not to mention the barrage of letters to the editor either coming directly or indirectly from the city council assaulting my character and those who chose to agree with me that the six reasons for recall were reasonable.

Like any grassroot effort, populated by volunteers who needed to get up to 200 signatures by going door-to-door, we expected there to be some unforeseen issues.  Our first happened when one of our crew who would have been a great councilor had to drop out because a death in the immediate family necessitated them to move.  My only alternate person in that ward had another commitment in conflict; so even though they may have been able to get signatures, they couldn't run.  

The decision was made to abort any further efforts in that ward.  In my ward, there had been some progress made, but once again, another higher commitment drove off my first choice, and their wavering replacement begged off after I gave them the opportunity after having that third slanderous letter printed in the local media about me.  I was always the Plan C candidate should we get enough signatures and the other two faltered, but shortly thereafter, I decided to pool my energies towards the last remaining ward.  

And after we divided the ward in half between us and started afresh after the council once again raised taxes by $300,000 unlawfully in early July, my partner received some good news about a property that they and their spouse had wanted so they wouldn't have to rent anymore.  As luck would have it, that property was outside of that ward.  My alternate was unavailable and being sorely harassed by city officials.

GOLD 151 had failed in its ambitious objective, and I must and will accept that fact on this, the evening before the last day we could hand in signatures and get it on the November ballot.  I refuse to assign any blame on anyone other than myself, and I'd love to give credit to those who helped and to the many people who listened to our patter and signed the petitions that I will store in an oversized folder forever, but the reason why we began GOLD 151 is the reason why I won't.

We have a very corrupted city hall, and I agree in part with those paranoid citizens who refused to sign solely on the basis that they were worried about being singled out.  Chances are, you probably will, as I and my family have been.   But if we don't want to feel that way, fearful of our local government, we must do something to change that.  I have done so by using my modest talents over the last 15 years to expose the corruption and raise awareness of what should be changed so that the local government will not completely act like your masters, when our federal and state Constitutions, our local charter, reminds us all that they are our public servants.  

They need to be the ones experiencing fear that they have not complied with their duties under law when they are called out for their transgressions by reasonable people.  My failure in reaching the goals of this project will not deter me from holding these people to account for their actions in the future.  And if this failure to combat sinful acts of government officials is God's will, city hall better be afraid of what He has in store for them in the future.  

[Willy]

Sorry to hear the recall and alternate candidates for the Council did not work out but it was not unexpected because of the way the City officials have treated you and others when their misdeeds were uncovered. Living in a small town and being a force pushing back can cause real problems not only for those who are outspoken but can also cause problems for their family and friends. It's a sad day when those in a position of authority can intimidate people into submission instead of taking the appropriate action to correct their corrupt  behavior. In a small town this can affect peoples employment and put them in a survival mode of trying to make a living. Very sad.

I am pleased that you will continue your quest for a fair and responsive Government.

[XLFD]

An 'informal exit poll' with those involved with GOLD 151, showed them more disgusted with city officials after going through this.  Whether it was because they raised taxes once again by $300,000 without a care or because they corruptly elevated Jeanne Oakes to her current position as Interim City Manager Hoax, the council is only getting bolder in their indifference to the people, and our inability to fulfill our goal is sad and shows why the three incumbent councilors ran unopposed in their 2022 elections.