Steve Pierce for Mayor, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Pierce's vision is not to look at things as they are but how they can be. This seems to have been lacking for the past few decades. The main issues facing Ypsilanti, besides fiscal, are those of crime and slumlords. They are related. Why does it take decades to make real progress against these problems? At least Pierce says, "If it doesn't work one way, you do it another." In other words, we need to change direction!

If you want things to limp along, vote for the status qou. If you want growth, vote for Pierce.

On August 8th, we will be going to the polls to vote in the primary election. There is an element of urgency for those of us who live in Ypsilanti, as all three mayoral candidates are running as Democrats. The one who wins the majority of the vote on August 8th will become our next mayor.

Ypsilanti faces a daunting financial future. The reasons for this are many and include a substantial loss of much of our manufacturing tax base, a reduction in funding from Lansing and the fact that we are encircled by surrounding communities and cannot add to our tax base through expansion. Our current council and mayor should also accept part of the responsibility for our perilous financial shape because of their decision two years ago to extend the TIF for the Downtown Development authority. This diverted a portion of our tax dollars out of the general fund into the DDA - a situation that we are now committed to for many years, thanks to the bonding of those funds. Council is also responsible through their initial promotion of the Water Street project as residential (on a brownfield site!) Years after this project was initiated, we still do not have a developer contractually committed to Water Street (although hopefully, such an agreement will be signed with Joseph Freed and Associates by October). At the same time, we are paying almost $80,000 per month in interest on the loans we took out to buy the land for the project and to refinance it. This money is coming out of our general fund.

I believe all three of the mayoral candidates care deeply about the future of Ypsilanti. But I also believe that we must, as citizens, select as mayor the person best suited to get our city on a stable financial footing.

As a councilperson, Lois Richardson has had the opportunity to make an impact in this area; I cannot see where she has made a significant difference in a financial picture that was beginning to look bad four years ago, so I cannot give my vote to her.

Paul Schreiber has promised to improve Ypsilanti's finances by wresting money from Lansing and by putting an income tax up to a vote by the citizens. He is not the first to advance these ideas, which have come directly from Mayor Farmer and our current council. There are reasons that these suggestions have not been successfully implemented.

We cannot get money from Lansing because Lansing does not have it to give. The State of Michigan is in a serious financial crisis and, as was reported in the Ann Arbor News last Thursday (7/27/06), Lansing will not be giving increased funding to cities this year. We cannot continue to waste time and energy on an illusory hope that Lansing will bail us out of our troubles.

Mr. Schreiber has stated verbally and in his campaign literature that even though an income tax is bad, it is better than cutting core services. I agree. But is it a core service to have a City Manager AND an Assistant City Manager in a city of approximately 21,000 people? What is this costing us in salaries and benefits? This is just one example of several I’ve thought of where we are not using our limited resources wisely.

I suggest before we spend additional time, energy and money trying to convince people to support more taxes (in a community that pays the highest property taxes in Washtenaw County and where a vote on an income tax stands a very good chance of going down in flames) that we really make sure we are spending our resources in the wisest possible way. I have yet to hear Mr. Schreiber address this, and because I have not, and for the other reasons just stated, I cannot give him my vote either.

I will be voting for Steve Pierce on August 8th. Steve is committed to getting Ypsilanti back on track through a combination of regional cooperation, continued examination of our current spending practices (with an eye to cutting back on excesses and non-core items), growing the downtown area through bringing in additional businesses (which could also improve our tax base) and by getting the Water Street project going in a meaningful way. Because of his background and experience as a successful businessperson, Steve has the expertise necessary to bring these plans to fruition. He was also on the Blue Ribbon Commission that examined in depth whether we needed to have an income tax or not. Steve is opposed to such a tax and believes that it would drive businesses away at a time we need to be bringing them in. I am voting for Steve Pierce because it is imperative that we change how we do things in Ypsilanti and believe that he is the person best suited to bring about these changes.

I worked for the City of Ypsilanti as the City Assessor for the past 15 years and recently retired, hopeful that there will be changes soon. As someone who had an inside view of what the current policies have done to our City, it is my opinion that we need new leadership as soon as possible. Our City needs to take a new direction. That is why I will be voting for Steve Pierce as the next mayor of Ypsilanti.

Steve Pierce is the only candidate that has a plan for our City and the experience to prove that he can make the plan a reality. While all of the candidates may have said that we need to bring development to our community, Steve Pierce is the only candidate that has already done it. When most people in Ypsilanti said that the Kresge Building couldn't be redeveloped, Steve Pierce jumped in with both feet and made it happen. Now, because of Steve's work, the building has beautiful loft apartments upstairs and a new restaurant scheduled to open on the first floor this fall.

Steve Pierce is also the only candidate with a business background and, therefore the only candidate who understands the principles of fiscal responsibility. In recent years, our leaders have ignored dissention and avoided input from experts inside and outside City Hall. In the case of Water Street, the former City Planner was practically forced to leave her position with only 3 years left until retirement because she projected that the Water Street project would send Ypsilanti into receivership. Here we are trying to avoid receivership now!

None of this would have happened if Steve Pierce were our mayor. Steve seeks solid information from trusted sources. He does his research before making decisions. He was one of the few individuals that warned City Council and the Mayor in early development that Water Street would go over budget and that they were not planning properly. Now that the project has sat without movement for over a year, Steve is the only candidate that has a plan to get it moving again and completed, without sending the City into receivership and without implementing an city income tax.

Finally, it should be said that I have spoken with many business owners in Ypsilanti who support Steve Pierce. Unfortunately, most of them have chosen not to display signs or otherwise publicly support Steve because they are afraid of retaliation from City hall. But they agree with me that Steve has what it takes to lead our City into a renaissance. I would like to see the City rebound and flourish again. That's why I'll vote for Steve Pierce on August 8th.

Since coming to Ypsilanti in 1993, we have spent countless hours restoring our historic home in Depot Town. We know that commitment to historic preservation equals commitment to our community. Through his extensive commitment to the restoration of historic buildings, mayoral candidate Steve Pierce has demonstrated his devotion to Ypsilanti and our citizens.

Steve has taken on some of the toughest projects in Ypsilanti and transformed them from lonely shells to majestic, welcoming structures. He is responsible for freeing the Kresge building from the lease with Kmart that kept it empty for decades. He also restored the Glover House at the corner of Washington and Woodward with stunning results.

Steve Pierce's contributions to historic preservation in Ypsilanti are living examples of the vision Steve has for our city to reach its potential. Combined with his common-sense plans for economic growth and the nurturing of relationships on all levels, Steve Pierce's understanding and respect for the past will be yet another asset in propelling Ypsilanti confidently and energetically into the future.

Please join us in casting your vote for Steve Pierce in the Aug. 8 mayoral primary.

There are individuals in Ypsilanti utilizing the Republican political playbook and are attempting to "Swift Boat" mayoral candidate Steve Pierce via innuendo and falsehoods. Several missives have been sent out urging people to elect Paul Schreiber as mayor. One letter was sent out under the letterhead of the officially dissolved "Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality," but paid for by the Schreiber for Mayor committee. This is a highly questionable mailing.

Mr. Pierce strongly supported the campaign, including providing space for a Web page.

Other mailings have gone out from the current mayor and from the wife of a standing member of City Council. Through carefully selected verbiage, these mailings attempt to distort or ignore Steve Pierce's work within the community.

I ask you, do we want our City Council candidates to be hand-picked by members of the current City Council, who've been at the helm while Ypsilanti sank into the difficulties we face? Neither Mr. Schreiber nor Rod Johnson offer up any ideas or solutions to our current troubles except to trumpet the city income tax and the pipe dream that Lansing will pay our city its fair share.

I wholeheartedly endorse and encourage the citizens of Ypsilanti to elect Steve Pierce for mayor, and Brian Robb for City Council on Aug. 8. I feel these two independent-minded candidates will bring fresh ideas to steer our city out of the financial mess we face.

Off and on over the years there has been talk of the benefits that regionalization would bring to both the City of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township. With our community in its current fiscal crisis, we find this discussion beginning in earnest yet again. Some believe it may be the best solution to keep our town afloat.

Regionalization could be a tremendous boost to our town, but only if it is guided by a knowledgeable and savvy Mayor. I believe that Steve Pierce is the only candidate for Mayor that possesses the experience and level-headedness to guide the city of Ypsilanti through these very tough financial times.

As a member of the Blue Ribbon Finance Committee, Steve spent a substantial amount of time studying regionalization and how our community might benefit from it.

Steve has shown an exemplary record of willingness to reach across borders of all kinds and bring people and their communities together. One of his most notable accomplishments was orchestrating a meeting between the City of Ypsilanti and the City of Ann Arbor, the first meeting of its kind in a 150-year history. This meeting resulted in the formation of the "Smartzone", which made the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area a desirable location for Internet businesses.

My family and I put down roots in the City of Ypsilanti 10 years ago. We are completely invested in this town and its people. I recognize this same love of Ypsilanti in Steve Pierce. I believe his pursuit of the office of Mayor stems from a deep commitment to helping our community thrive while giving voice to all of its citizens.

Without question I believe Steve Pierce is the best qualified candidate for Mayor and that his strong leadership and compassionate spirit will lead Ypsilanti back to prosperity.

As I've heard people talking about the upcoming mayoral election in Ypsilanti, many people have been speculating about what it would take to secure the future of our downtown business district.

I take a special interest in the topic because of the work that my husband Eric and I have done to restore the Kresge building. People want to see businesses succeed in downtown. We want to see empty storefronts come to life with shops and restaurants. And what I hear people say time and time again is that we won't have a thriving downtown until we have some business-minded leadership in city government.

Steve Pierce is the only candidate running for mayor that can make our visions of a vibrant downtown become a reality. As a successful entrepreneur, Steve understands the challenges that small businesses face and he knows how to overcome them. Steve has been active in the Downtown Development Authority and Central Business Community (two organizations committed to strengthening the business district) and was even appointed by Mayor Cheryl Farmer to chair the DDA for over two years. He is the only mayoral candidate who has been attending these meetings for several years so he has a firm grasp on what is going on and what needs to be done.

That is exactly the kind of person that should be our mayor. I'm supporting Steve Pierce because the future of our downtown depends on it!

Over the years, many people have come to me and asked why I am supporting one candidate or cause or another. They tell me they have confidence in my opinion because I "do my homework." I am not typically one to offer an unsolicited opinion; but in the case of determining our next mayor, I feel compelled to speak up.

Most of you know me as an advocate for the public schools. Thanks to your support last year, I now serve on the school board of the Ypsilanti Public Schools. I am not, however, speaking as a YPS representative; but instead, as an involved community member. My husband and I have been active in Ypsilanti since we moved here in 1990, even before I became immersed in school district issues.

Steve Pierce, my longtime neighbor and friend, invited me last fall to join his campaign committee. I accepted, and I most enthusiastically support him. I'd like to share some of Steve's attributes with you. Thorough. Steve, too, "does his homework." I have never met anyone with the kind of perseverance and determination that he has. Whether the problem is large or small, Steve will find a way to solve it.

Inclusive. He seeks out those whose voices have often gone unheard. He gathers the information he needs and talks to the people who can give the perspectives to form a comprehensive opinion. His excellent outreach and communication skills encourage citizen participation.

Open-minded. Steve understands and respects the past, but is not bound to it. He searches for new solutions to fit our changing world.

Collaborative. Steve understands that we will succeed together or fail separately. He has experience teaming with other entities and will use those skills to Ypsilanti's benefit.

Constructive. Steve questions things and expects accountability from our government. When he has a criticism, he always offers suggestions for alternatives. He is an optimist, he loves our city, and he will promote it without reservation.

Flexible. Steve will reassess his position if the information or situation warrants it. There is nothing to be gained by digging in one's heels when it's clear that a new approach is needed. Steve will do what is best for Ypsilanti as a whole, whether or not it is in his own best interest. These attributes are important in any leader, and, especially, in the kind of leader we need in Ypsilanti. I urge you to vote for Steve Pierce for Mayor in the primary on Tuesday, August 8.

I'd like to share with you my enthusiastic support and endorsement of Steve Pierce for Mayor, and I encourage you to vote for him in the upcoming primary on Tuesday, August 8, 2006.

There are many reasons why a vote for Steve Pierce is a vote for Ypsilanti's future. Steve shares my values, the very values I advocated for when I ran for the Ypsilanti School Board two years ago. Favoring transparency in government, he endeavors to include all stakeholders in our community in an ongoing dialogue prior to making decisions as a leader. Steve is a team builder and a consensus builder, and he is strong Democrat, committed to progressive leadership. Steve knows that real leadership requires humility as well as a keen ability to listen, and Steve has proven himself to be a great listener.

Steve recognizes that our schools are some of our most important and valuable community assets. Strong schools make up the centerpieces of strong cities. Steve is committed to working closely with our school district to make our community even better than it already is. Steve understands that making our City a more attractive place in which to work and live calls for positive and creative leadership as our community faces tough financial times.

Though I am not permitted to speak on behalf of the Board of Education when endorsing candidates and do not intend to do so with this letter, I do want you to know that my personal faith in Steve's leadership has motivated me to join his campaign and donate my time and effort to getting him elected. I believe Steve is the right man for the job.

I've taken the liberty of including one of Steve's brochures. Please feel free to call, email, or visit Steve's web site at www.VotePierce.com for more information. And keep in mind, voting day this year is on Tuesday, August 8!

As a citizen of Ypsilanti for over 50 years, I am deeply concerned about our present financial situation. Having served on City Council for over 13 years, I have been well aware that successful councils over the years have had members with business backgrounds and skills. Sadly, these talents have been lacking on recent councils.

The Water Street Project is an example of poor cost monitoring and lack of proper contracts which resulted in astronomical extra costs. We will need a vigilant mayor with a business background to lead City Council in its negotiations with the new developer.

Another example of poor planning was the street repaving and water-main replacement program. Besides other costs an 80% surcharge was added to our city water bills to help pay for the project.

The downtown parking lot improvements are still not finished after almost two summers, placing a great burden on local businesses. The delays were blamed on the "surprise" finding of underground storage or receiving areas behind stores. Long time citizens, except the city and their planners knew they existed.

Steve Pierce is the only mayoral candidate with a business background. He purchased the Kresge building downtown making its redevelopment possible. To his credit, he was able to sort out the complicated ownership-lease arrangements of Kresge ownership which had prevented potential developers from purchasing the building since at least 1970.

Our historical buildings and district define Ypsilanti and give us character and identity. Mr. Pierce has a strong commitment to historic preservation which is critical for the future of our city. For his own home he restored one of the finest 19th century houses in Ypsilanti.

Steve Pierce has innovative ideas and the keen business sense needed to lead us into better economic times. I shall be supporting Steve Pierce in the August 8th primary election.

I am supporting Steve Pierce for Mayor and Brian Robb for City Council, Ward Three.

I've known Steve since he moved here. He is both smart and savvy, is a good leader, and gets a whole lot done because of his abilities and passionate love of Ypsilanti.

Steve and I have talked many many times about our city, always about how to improve it. He is energetic, and has already accomplished more things than most of us. I'm sure you've already checked his Ypsi "resume" for the specifics.

As with other areas of Ypsilanti, Steve has been very helpful to the South Depot Town neighborhood. We are located between the Water Street project and the restoration of the Thompson Block in Depot Town. We are a small area, with a mix of use which goes from small single family homes to manufacturing. Being close to Michigan Avenue, we have persistant drug and prostitution problems. We struggled through a rezoning proposal, of which only one section was passed. The rest of the proposal, which we worked on for almost three years, was gutted by our own council member, Barry Larue. I've been told by current candidates that rather than holding the city responsibility for failures of decision and enforcement, we need to "get over it and move on."

Steve Pierce knows that much of the success of Ypsilanti comes from supporting strong and active neighborhood organizations. He knows that as a City, we need to redirect our energy and money to successful projects and regional sharing of costs. He is not stopped by the "nay sayers" who persistently say that "we can't share services because 'they' don't like us."

Steve Pierce for Mayor, and in Ward Three, Brian Robb for City Council, are the two candidates this year who have already shown that they look forward, not backward. Their successful election will insure that our city will also begin to look forward.

Steve Pierce for Mayor
Leadership for Ypsilanti's Future
118 South Washington Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 864-4050 Fax: (734) 864-4050

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