The agenda packet for the September 30, 2024 special meeting of the Ludington City Council showed that it was for one purpose only: to formally hire and approve the contract for who would be the next city manager of Ludington, Kaitlyn Aldrich.  The venue for this meeting was the 'Community Room' in the city hall basement for some reason and held at 7:30 PM, and yet about ten members of the public, including Ms. Aldrich (shown below), attended.

Knowing that this meeting would likely not be recorded and deal primarily with the city manager recruiting issues, the Ludington Torch took this not only as a transitional moment in city leadership, but in the way we address the council from here on, or at least until they figure out that they need to respect the voice of the people once again, to earn the respect they feel they deserve, as expressed by Councilor Stibitz and Mayor Barnett at the last meeting.  

This will be a notable demarcation from how I've addressed the council over the past 14 years, where I have been critical at times, firmly set in opposition to policy and corrupt actions, but respectful of polite decorum in hope that officials would solve problems rather than create or worsen them.  As part of that, I used stronger language than usual and didn't bother to try and fish for their empathy or sympathy for our citizens; they have shown over the last two years they have neither, just antipathy, apathy, and some sociopathy. 

Why the change in address?  For one, the current regime needs to be challenged, at all levels they have created a climate that is totally inconducive to public debate and progress; it's not only undemocratic it's unrepublican.  For another, their decision to use baseless lawfare against me in order to threaten my freedom and reputation.  Their own version of Fanny Willis is set to charge me with two misdemeanors on Thursday, and with the corruption at the courthouse in full flower, the outcome may fall outside the bounds of justice.   The infamy needs to be broadcast and met with the contempt it deserves.

So as the meeting convened and they dispensed with the normal order of business, this reporter rose first and addressed the officials in this new era of communication.  I was definitely wearing "the shirt":  

XLFD:  "At your last meeting, Mayor Karl Marx Barnett asked me to consider wearing a different shirt than this to the next meeting, and I seriously considered it-- until the last part of that meeting.  First, a councilor ignored the content of my two comments in a totally passive aggressive manner, by mentioning how she appreciated the three other citizens who spoke at the meeting.  I'm so glad she's not teaching civics to my child, they would wind up a neutered sheep like her if I didn't take corrective action.

Then Mayor Marx got out his chocolate cake and figuratively tried to shove my face into it while admitting he was so triggered by this shirt that he couldn't even remember my first comment but for two words, while saying how wonderful the First Amendment was.  One should not hug the First Amendment while at the same time telling it to shut the Hell up. 

My shirt printed to celebrate a failed assassination, shows Donald Trump with his middle-finger extended saying "You missed, bitches."  I've wore it many places, it always gets a laugh and starts positive conversation, except in this chamber.  It echoes my message to city leaders who almost had me killed when they hired, without a contract in place, USDA sharpshooters to take out deer at Cartier Park in the middle of the night-- at least that's what we were told on multiple occasions.  In broad daylight, against multiple park rules, they started shooting in close proximity to me while I was in the park.  I was lucky, this city was lucky, that I did not get shot that day due to the USDA and city's gross negligence.  

Yet I can't help feeling that several city officials are saddened by the fact that their pest removal squad failed to bag THIS magnificent stag, so I feel the need to regularly remind you that you had your chance, and you missed-- bitches.  [Turning around] Welcome to Ludington, Kaitlyn."  [END comment]

Former Councilor Jeanne "Hoax" Oakes, serving unlawfully as 'interim city manager', asked me whether I wore 'the shirt' to church.  I replied no-- but maybe if it had a collar...

Chuck Sobanski fully relishing his Fourth Ward mayor status. went next, after I dropped the mike to him, and welcomed the new hire also and noted she had big shoes to fill.  Honestly, those shoes contracted in size over the last year, so hopefully her feet will be too big for them.  Jefferson Henry finished out, letting the council know that he supported their choice whatever that might be.  

And it wasn't a guarantee; Aldrich wasn't a unanimous choice in the sept 14 special meeting where three candidates were considered.  Councilor John Terzano and Wally Cain both voted against her then, Terzano did the same on this occasion, later explaining that he accepted the rest of the council's decision and affirmed his vote would not affect his future relations with her in achieving the best for the city.

They would all approve the $120,000/year contract which was made to end in about fourteen months after beginning on November 11th, 2024.  More details are found in the meeting packet, but it all seems to be a bit tentative and one wonders why it doesn't go at least until the end of 2026, since she would be dealing with the same council she would deal with in 2025 (barring vacancies).  

After they patted themselves on the back for clearing out the southbound lane of Rath Avenue then adjourned, I was able to meet for a short time with the future city manager in a pleasant visit where I told her my youngest daughter had the same name as her, and she shared some of her own child-rearing stories.  I couldn't help but wonder if our mayor hadn't chosen her above others because he thought that he could easily dominate her as far as Ludington's power structure is set up.  

One strong perception behind what made former city manager, Mitch Foster, move on was the power struggle happening behind the scenes (and sometimes openly), which made Foster buy into unpopular projects (like the deer cull, for example) he would not otherwise support as an intelligent use of resources.  Wiil the new city manager be able to survive 14 months of being bludgeoned by the mayor flexing his mandate with a continued disregard for the laws when applied to the city?  Will her character survive given all of the political infighting and outfighting at city hall?  Stay tuned.