Warren Mayoral Race: Blinded By The Gaslight.

What is the political landscape for Warren now that Jim Fouts has no chance of holding on tightly, as he did to his power as mayor. Now that he has lost his ability to alter the rules of engagement, thankful to judges that uphold the laws as they are written and not interpret them. What does this race look like, and how does it look for the citizens of Warren? Well from the perspective of this lowly journalist, it has the appearance of the same vicious cycle as all campaign runs. A pugnacious lot, combative and belligerent in their propaganda of what folks need, and why they are needed by the people.

I am not sure how or what to feel about the current disheartening, desolate state of affairs in this city, and across the nation. We have current Warren City Council President Patrick Green in the race. His name recognition will help carry him to win the day. However, his unwavering support as a straight partyman is very concerning in my opinion. If he is able to support Joe Biden, I am not sure he has a clue that his party has become unraveled. This breed of partyman is a strange organism, grown with an inclination to protect the party ideology over their own personal principles, of which they have none. This is the most lethal mental state and unmatched rival to liberty we have ever been able to ascertain.

Green is also endorsed by Warren Police and Fire. Green will be looking to keep pushing on the blight patrols that actually don’t help out the elderly at all. Our aging population is struggling on fixed incomes. The youth don’t pay them no mind, so there is no one to help them out with the chores they are not able to do. We have crews of Warren City workers cruising the south end of the city constantly ticketing the poorest and oldest members of our city. While the real problem is and has been city owned property, only being cut once or twice monthly. It is nurturing the menace and nuisance of mosquitoes and rats in our neighborhoods. Carry on ticketing your population for grass not as high as those properties held by the city. I identify these fines as a new age way of ‘taxation without representation.’ Unfairly targeting our most vulnerable people, those we swore to protect and serve, especially as a civil servant.

Besides the blight fines that hinder our aging population, Green is also looking to put more police presence on the streets. Surprisingly, we have seen only a slight rise in crime the past two years. Most crimes have decreased, depending on the poll and study you read. I would be cautious about a bigger police presence. The modern day police create hostility more than subdue it. I, like any citizen, want a safe place where our children can play. What concerns me as a true believer, lover and fierce protector of liberty is this; will this increase in police patrols be on the lookout for crime or will they be looking out to create criminals?

Green’s proposed idea on the creation of a Department of Neighborhoods, to identify the needs of each District and neighborhood. Well I do like the sound of this, but if he's anything like his predecessors it will all be lip service with no real action, another insubstantial gesture. The biggest problem Warren faces daily, is the fact that nobody in the leadership seems to remember or care about the south side of the city. But then, the south side is full of low income residents; like most impoverished citizens, they don’t get out and vote. They chalk it up, the system has broke-down so why bother?

Next up is Michelle Nard, Macomb County Commissioner. I was leaning towards her, the rhetoric about helping the south end of Warren had me hopeful. Then I see her taking a perplexing stance against bringing dispensaries to Warren. While other cities all around reap the harvest of tax revenue. Warren, four years ago did in fact get it incorrect. Under the leadership of Nard or Green I doubt we will see any real change to get it right. No, it will be more of the same, and ‘We The People’ have had enough.

One who does not even know their constituency is not able to properly represent them. More people smoke marijuana than not these days, here in Warren and all over the country. Is Michelle Nard out of touch with the average voter and citizen in her city? Or is she catering to those special interest groups that help finance her campaign? I will never know because the honesty I approach writing with won’t allow for a political agenda to pass through unscathed. In turn I will be respectfully declined by any and all politicians running for anything.

What about former Warren City Councilman Scott Cameron Stevens; he spent three 4-year terms on Warren City Council (at large) and now feels it’s time to become Warren’s mayor. He has great ideas to establish a fund for veterans, to help them purchase homes here in Warren. While that is a fantastic goal, I am curious to see how his platform will unfold after the primary election on August 8th.

George Dimas Chairman of Warren Zoning Board of Appeals; 32 years on Warren City Council (14 as President and Mayor Pro-Tem) so what we have here is another career politician. He was part of the Mark Steenbergh administration, yes Dimas has a career that reached back several decades. Whatever inadequacies or deficiencies our government in Warren has, those that the people are up in arms about will not end or change with the election of another professional politician like old George Dimas. I’ll give Dimas the credit for his vision to redevelop the Van Dyke corridor between 8 Mile Road and Stephens, the south end of Warren needs and deserves funding from the fines and tax dollars made off its peoples back.

State Rep. Lori Stone, is relatively a newcomer in the political landscape. As a former teacher with more than 14 year’s experience, she should be able to handle the council; if you’ve ever witnessed a Warren City Council meeting it’s a collection of adolescents interrupting, over talking, and ambushing people. Whether a Council member or a citizen it is free for all! I hope she is ready to roll up her sleeves and take charge, since the rules of engagement have been adjusted to keep the folks outraged, outbursts away from the first couple rows nearest the microphones.

The playing field has been set, Warren residents will be considering who will lead them to change in the upcoming primary election on August 8th. But how does one expect change from candidates that appear to be carbon copy’s? Politics, the politicians, the campaigns, all a revolting, stomach churning, nauseating situation met with suspicion.

The people demand change! However, none will be considering Alfonso King, not seriously anyway. Here is a guy retired from the Air Force and Chrysler, he is different, he could be about the change. But he neither has the financial backing or the name recognition that it takes to win in election cycles today. That is the harsh realities of the landscape that is the mayoral race of Warren.