Ludington City Council in Early June 2026: Taxation More, Accountability Less

[XLFD]

The problem with career public officials is that they lose sight of the plight of those in the private sector who pay their salaries, believing their government agency better deserves the money that other people and businesses earn through risk and industry.  Witness what all happened at the June 8th meeting of the Ludington City Council and witness the callousness of those who would enrich city hall coffers at the expense of the people who pay their salaries through taxes on their private enterprise. 

Ludington councilors Kathy Winczewski, Cheri Stibitz, John Terzano, and Jack Bulger have several things in common.  These are the four councilors with longest tenure on the council, joining the group for the first time in 2013, 2018, 2021, and 2021 respectively, the latter three through an initial appointment, while Winczewski had an inside track advantage back in 2013 when her ward's former occupant ran a late campaign unsuccessfully for mayor. 

All but Terzano (the one at-large councilor) are even ward councilors meaning they were elected to their positions in 2022.  They all faced recalls against them in 2024 for four different votes in 2023 in regard to raising taxes, showing overt favoritism during competitive bidding, fraudulently portraying a playground as commercial property in order to subsidize a prospective developer who has since moved on, and approving the blatant intermingling of city enterprise funds.  Had Terzano not have been up for reelection in 2024, he would have faced recall too, as he voted along with them.  Longstanding elected officials have a tendency to become deaf to the voice of the electorate and receptive to the longstanding government tendency to lust for more money and power.

This group all acted together on the evening of June 8th, being the four votes needed to push the 1% Property Tax Administration Fee (PTAF, but really a tax upon a tax) through so that everyone's taxes will go up.  This 1% tax on you will actually become a 3%+ increase in property tax revenue for the city, as they will enact this surcharge onto the totals of all taxing jurisdictions citizens pay into.

This indicates that they will unempathetically vote yes again when their unlawful July truth in taxation hearings come around, allowing them to raise millage rates presuming we once again have Headlee Rollbacks, to grow revenues well above the inflation rate.  And still they are looking at deficits in the next few years.  This same meeting they would look to propose putting a charter amendment on November's ballot in order to allow for the position of a Finance Director under the control of the city manager, this position would likely cost about $100K per year in wages and benefits.

If you read City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews) headlines for your information, you would think that the charter was amended by a simple resolution, while our learned readers know that charters can only be changed by a vote of the people.  The voters should be able to discern that this charter amendment is just a terrible idea for the people, as it removes powers from the elected clerk and effectively gives them to the appointed city manager.  Unless they run a costly misinformation crusade trying to sell this as something it isn't, this should be doomed for failure.

Speaking of crusades, I would speak at the front and end of the meeting, little surprise there, on both of these topics.  From the meeting agenda packet, these were the main issues in front of the council in my view, other than the C-PACE vote, which I hoped would have spurred more opposition based on the voices heard at the C-PACE public hearing against the idea.  The pro- C-PACE forces amounting to a Texas COO of Great Lakes Casting came out instead, and the councilors predictably chose against the people's wishes.  While city leaders other than Councilor Mike Shaw ignored the hidden costs of running a C-PACE program, these are not hard to figure out to a reasonable person, especially if they consult AI.  Had as many people gone to this meeting as they came to the hearing, this might have went differently, or the fix may have been in.  My comment: 

XLFD: (20:30 in) "Prevaricatin' Kaitlyn keeps lying to us in order to market the first planned tax hike, with another coming next month with the Truth in Taxation hearings.  This first one is disguised as a property tax administration fee which will raise about $150,000 total in more property taxes this year for all Ludington citizens rich and poor.  This isn't a fee it's said to be, a fee as defined by the Michigan Supreme Court is a voluntary charge paid in exchange for a specific government service, this new proposed tax is placed on everyone who pays property taxes and many of you must be reminded that the act of paying property taxes is not voluntary, without the threat of government authority taking your property for not paying.  If this was a true fee for a service, one could choose to not have their property tax accessed, and I think you would have everyone not choosing to have this 'service'.

But we are told the city has imposed this tax before but not told that this was done unlawfully by an interim city manager one year who never got approval from this elected body as required by law, and so when the 2019 version of the city council was given the opportunity to pass such a resolution, they chose not to.  This was the same decision made back in 1983 when this first came before this body and was summarily rejected.  This 1% tax has never been lawfully imposed, and if this council has the audacity to pass it today, you will be known as failures: the first council in five decades who raised taxes in this manner, because for some reason they thought that city hall needed money more than our struggling families trying to find affordable housing, more than brick and mortar businesses having to pull up stakes because the taxes have become onerous.  

For five decades, Ludington City Councils have managed to live within their means without going for this added tax, so what has changed?   I'd say the perfect storm of incompetency: a city manager who cannot be truthful, one who creatively finds new ways to spend money, but with absolutely no desire to rein in spending, adding and enhancing more administrative positions and costly programs.   All that coupled with a city council that as a unit is willing to follow this insane way to run a city without a second thought.  This is your chance to cement your legacy either as a heroic figure who voted with their conscience for their constituents, or as a villain who was deaf to the pleas of the populace.  Choose wisely. [END comment]

I had an alternative first paragraph for my second comment, had the council chose to exercise restraint in taking extra money from the people.  But four decided that they could not do that, and so they will wear this tainted mantel forever.

XLFD: (1:42:00 in) "Two of my most favorite personal achievements against my tyrannical city government was first, bringing up the illegally imposed property tax administrative fee tax hike back in 2019 and getting the council to refund the illegal taxes when those councilors did not have the political will to officially impose them under the disinfectant of daylight.  City hall's disdain for the people finally overran the reservoir tonight and the despots who voted for this tax hiking measure after being lied to by city administrators will have their name asterisked for time immemorial in the annals of Ludington infamy.

The second personal achievement was winning a quo warranto lawsuit in our circuit court that negated an election result that would have led to a full-blown charter revision.  The court said this council did not fulfill its statutory duties to the people in order for them to understand what they were voting for and how much it would cost.  While this decision would be eventually reversed on appeal, the delay in the process was enough to prevent the revision from happening, which was the goal.  The reasons city leaders wanted the charter revised was in order to make it less restrictive on city officials in many ways, this was always evident by the changes they wanted and were working for.  

Witness tonight, city leaders want to introduce charter amendments for a vote that would create a new officer, and rather than have that new position fall under our elected clerk, who has a mandate to the people, they want the new position to answer to the appointed city manager, not the elected clerk.  Prevaricatin' Kaitlyn answer me two questions:  1) why should citizens want a new city official that has less accountability to them than say a deputy clerk with that official's same powers?  and 2) Why waste many, many, thousands of our tax dollars on a special election that is unlikely to get this change, once citizens learn that the new position is working for you in order to expand your power and reduce overall accountability?  [END comment}

For years the mayor has prefaced public comment periods with the statement from the city's promulgated rules for meetings:  "If the time limit expires during any comment, I ask that the speaker respectfully finish their sentence and yield the floor."  He did so at the 8:40 mark of this meeting.  He respects that rule for all other people, but for this reporter he talked over me for most of my last comment, as he has done before.  

Timer goes off after I started the first question, "Thank you, Mr. Rotta", Thank you, Mr. Rotta", "Thank you", "Thank you, Mr. Rotta", "Thank you, Mr. Rotta", (sharp retort of the gavel) "order" (looks over to police chief, starts to say something as I finish the sentence).  

This incivility and explicit violation of the rules of meeting conduct are regularly condoned by our seven representatives during the Barnett era, who allow this to continue to happen with tacit approval whenever a critical comment is in front of them and the timer goes off midsentence.  in all that time, I and others have never went beyond finishing that last sentence, as instructed to do at the beginning of each meeting. 

By the rules, we are in order, we have the floor, we don't deserve to be talked over, we don't deserve to have our voices silenced by the staccato of a banging gavel.  I have formalized a complaint against the lame duck mayor, I expect nothing will be done-- this isn't a city councilor questioning the protocols of the police and getting disciplined, as Angela Serna was.  This is a mayor who regularly violates the First Amendment rights of the people acting within the rules of the meeting approved by the Filthy Four this last term.  

The filthiest of those, the one who has yet to vote against a tax increase over the last 13 years of her three terms, would have the last comment.  Well after the public had a right to speak at this meeting of our representatives, this one decided to take cheap shots at this reporter, undoubtedly because of her being reminded of her failure to get a charter revision done in order to emasculate the document in the ways that are part of the record, thanks to the commission starting their tasks for seven months. 

Councilor Winczewski:  (1:49:40 into the video):  "Mr. Rotta, we have been on this council for almost 13 years now, and, I do hold respect for things that you say, I don't agree with a lot you have to say, the way that you say things is... not necessary.  You can say what you feel, but still have a bit of humanity with you, and you don't do that; you need to practice that.  

You did a terrible job ruining our committee with the charter amendment.  There were some people in this room that were on that charter amendment... we had a wonderful committee with that charter amendment to move forward on.  And you did a real nice job totally taking that out of commission.  And that was, you, you used a lot of city money doing that, we spent some money, that was just gone.  You took these people's time, they put their time and efforts trying to make our city better, not worse.

You need to get on the side of doing things for good, instead of doing things for bad-- you only have a few more months while I'm here to show me that you can do that.  I would appreciate it." 

While the only part of her comment that was relevant was the part where she said "You did a real nice job", the pretentious and elitist attitude was exactly what we've come to expect over these last 13 years by the honorable councilor, who says she holds respect for what I say but allows the mayor to unlawfully silence me at the end of my comments.  The two questions in that last comment would not be answered by the councilor or the city manager, but they are two questions that strike at the heart of what else she said.

No citizen in their right mind would look to take key financial powers away from an elected official and give them indirectly to the appointed city manager, unless the city spends quite a lot on marketing misinformation.  Winczewski fails to admit that the council's inability to follow relevant statutes was the reason why the trial court correctly found that the council never fulfilled their duties.  And while they could blame Attorney Ross "Sewage" Hammersley for the oversight and be correct, none of the councilors involved have ever had the courage to admit that they should have read the law they were operating under and passed a resolution telling the pubic what the cost of the effort would be rather than lead them to believe that it would be free.  

They will now be guaranteed several significant costs in getting the governor's approval for their new proposal, getting the measure on the ballot, and paying a portion of the election costs.  This is considered good by the councilor's standards; this correspondent is definitely bad.  And yet, one could go back as many meetings as they want that this humble reporter has attended and contrast what I earnestly fight for with what the council led by Councilor Winczewski strives to do, to determine for themselves who is fighting for the good of the people more.  For simplicity's sake, let's just look at the main topics of this meeting.

I came out against taking by force more money from the people through the PTAF, she stridently voted for it.  I came out before against using city resources to administer a C-PACE program, a program ripe with fraud, favoritism, and hidden costs to the people.  She eagerly voted for this.  I questioned the wisdom of putting something on the ballot that would be an almost assured failure, she said full steam ahead and questioned my virtues, knowing that I would not be able to answer her spurious allegations.

For deep in my heart, and with honest humility in this month celebrating pride, I know that what I'm doing is fair and in the spirit of helping our citizens overcome the mistakes being made all of the time by Ludington officials, and to have those officials act transparently and accountably no matter how hard they fight against it, as the councilor has done quite frequently and unabashedly.   

She has a half year to undo 12.5 years of a legacy that is execrable to anyone who reviews it who believes in the ideals of a small, open, and responsible government.  She always operates against these ideals when given the opportunity, so if she can justify to herself that it makes her a good person for doing so, I will let her retire with that delusion rather than browbeat her as she did to me.

Be sure to review the meeting's public comments with pithy stuff from Marco Iafretti, Jefferson Henry, Ray Karboske Jr., Tom Sanders (at 1:40:00 in, an instant classic), Daniel Jensen, and others.   We need to stop these Ludington pirates from plundering more and more of our money and taking away more and more of our rights; we invite more to show up in July when they go at it again.

[Aldon Maleckas]

The Quest for Community                                  February 13, 2026

 

The only reason evil triumphs is that good men (and women) do nothing.

Most men and women do not understand that many of our most pressing social problems can be solved only by the resurrection of such institutions as the family, neighborhood, church, and local community.  Many successful schools that still manage to teach, even in the toughest neighborhoods, are those that develop a community of learning; with firm, shared standards of conduct; high and rigorously enforced expectations; instruction in moral values; and the cooperation and involvement of families and neighborhoods.  Is it happening?  I would suggest one attend a school board meeting and find out.   Community does not mean state or federal.

The community has allowed elected officials (servants), the rich and famous, and the media to apply pressure to solve the community’s problem.  Anyone who objects is prosecuted or persecuted.  Eventually, the few that care give up and allow the servants to take over.  The state’s bureaucracies and courts disparage and assail the moral and cultural standards of local communities as they manifested themselves in local laws and customs, suggesting that they were parochial, narrow-minded, reactionary, and even unconstitutional.  Thus, local communities were told they could not have their children pray in the local school, erect religious displays in public places, enforce standards of sexual conduct, define the circumstances in which abortion might be proper, or enforce the law in such a way that genuine justice was accorded criminals and victims.   

Yet, a growing number of men and women understand that many of our most pressing social problems can be solved only by resurrecting such institutions as the family, neighborhood, church, and local community.  More and more men and women are coming to realize that the problem of poverty, the threat of a permanent underclass forever dependent on welfare, cannot be solved simply by providing more welfare.  They feel this cycle of poverty can be broken by vibrant families, churches, and neighborhoods.  During the depression, my grandparents told of people moving through the community looking for work.  These people were taken in, fed, cleaned up, and given a place to stay while looking for work or moving from job to job.  Is this happening today?  The community has abrogated this responsibility to their elected servants who the community allows to freely borrow money in order to give grants to localities in order to help these people victimized by the same servants doling out the money.  What a disgrace. 

When are we going to learn that the business of educating can no longer be based on mandates by government servants and funding.  We should not allow our educators to be bought by these grants and funds.  All this does is give the government servants control on what is taught in our schools.  The grants and funding are mostly federal funds used to buy state government servants and increases the Union’s debt.  Remember, we are the Union.  We will eventually have to pay the debt.

The men and women that started this country were not ashamed that they were Caucasian, Christian men and women who based their culture on the Geneva Bible.  They understood, as stated in the Bible, it was their job to punish as needed.  The Bible states punishment could be quick, final, and publically administrated.  Hangings were public affairs where all the community attended.  We have heard of the posse.  These were men and women ready to take matters in their own hands to capture criminals and keep the community safe.  The sheriff was a peace officer required by the community to step in, call a jury, and make sure that the jury’s judgement was carried out.  The sheriff was part of the Town Meeting where the community gathered to discuss how their community was to be administered.    

Community is, basically, the same thing as democracy.  We have been told that democracy is mob rule.  We have been indoctrinated into believing that we do not want mob rule.  We are told that all matters should be decided by a few, strong hands.  This is just the king thing the Israelites decided they needed over the objection of Jesus’ desire for community rule using his commandments. 

Presented by:  aldon: maleckas, 3011 East Wilson Road, Custer, Michigan, 231-757-3970

[Daniel Jensen]

This below is a copy and pasted sections of an email I sent out to enlighten those still in darkness. I commend Mr. Rotta, and Mr. Maleckas, in their efforts. We still need more men and women to stand in the gap. The link is to an 18 page Playbook, a tool, a guide. That deals with taxpayers money, via bonds, schools etc. The Achilles Heal, to the Tyrants of today.

March 16 2026
Texas Homeowner’s Legal Case Challenges Property Tax Valuations and Appraisal Methods
https://communitysentinel.media/2026/03/16/texas-homeowners-legal-c...


March 25 2026
The+Privilege+to+Know+032526.pdf
https://irp.cdn-website.com/39439f83/files/uploaded/The+Privilege+t...


Wyandotte County Property Tax Protesters Facebook
Property Tax Protests And Criminal Conplaints In Texas
https://www.facebook.com/groups/677921707281561/posts/1183963480010...


The Local Advocacy Playbook
A Street Fighter's Creed
You can download the 17 page pdf booklet from link below.. already attached.
https://irp.cdn-website.com/39439f83/files/uploaded/local_advocacy_...

Download the attached Playbook.. get involved.. TAKE BACK YOUR SOVEREIGNTY.. the time is NOW! This CRIMINAL SYNDICATE is about to IMPLODE.. and were only days away. THE FRAUD FIGHTER SUMMIT STARTS TOMORROW. Trump ain't playing.. this isn't a game!


LUKE 8:17
FOR NOTHING IS SECRET, THAT SHALL NOT BE MADE MANIFEST.
NEITHER ANYTHING HID, THAT SHALL NOT BE KNOWN AND COME ABROAD.


DEUTERONOMY 31:6
BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE,
FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEM:
FOR THE LORD THY GOD,
HE IT IS THAT DOTH GO WITH THEE:
HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.


ST. LUKE 10:19
AND THE LORD SAID BEHOLD, I GIVE UNTO YOU POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU.


PSALM 75:7
BUT GOD IS THE JUDGE: HE PUTTETH DOWN ONE, AND SETTETH UP ANOTHER.


ISAIAH 33:22
FOR THE LORD IS OUR JUDGE, THE LORD IS OUR LAWGIVER, THE LORD IS OUR KING; HE WILL SAVE US.


May God Bless This Great Republic!

NCSWIC.. WWG1WGA..


FORT BENNING GA
DELTA COMPANY
5TH BATTALION
2ND INFANTRY REGIMENT

Warhawks Out!