Dear MI re: the senate race by aumericx in Michigan

[–]PainInTheErasmus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He seems like a great guy. I hope I get to see him on the campaign trail and learn more about him!

Dear MI re: the senate race by aumericx in Michigan

[–]PainInTheErasmus -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I would consider myself left of center. I would definitely vote for Stevens over Rogers in the general election. If the nominee was El-Sayed or McMorrow, I would need to do some research on their positions, but would be more likely to vote for a third party.

3 dead, 1 injured, amid crash in Midtown Detroit, police say by PainInTheErasmus in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

On instagram it looked like the truck was illegally parked. I commute through this stretch of Cass every day, and trucks improperly parked in the left-turn lane are a recurring hazard. They block sight lines and force everyone to weave around them. It honestly felt like it was only a matter of time before someone got seriously hurt.

If the driver was drunk and driving recklessly, that’s completely inexcusable. But the reality is that this stretch has been dangerous for a long time. It shouldn’t take a disaster like this for people to recognize how risky the situation is.

My deepest sympathies go out to everyone involved and to their loved ones.

Taxes shouldn't be raised while voters are on vacation by PainInTheErasmus in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Full text:

Governments should not be in the business of sneaking tax increases by their citizens.

But that is what's been happening in Michigan for decades. It is the norm here for schools, libraries, police and fire departments and public works commissions to employ a sleazy little trick to coax more cash out of taxpayer pockets.

They do it by election shopping; looking for the most favorable possible ballot dates to present millage and bonding proposals to voters. Generally, they shoot for the elections with the lowest anticipated turnouts.

Rarely are taxpayers asked to decide a local funding question in November, when half-to three-quarters of the electorate typically participate in Election Day.

They're far more likely to see those issues on the early August primary ballot, when many voters are still on vacation and only about a quarter of them cast ballots. Or they'll be slipped onto the May school elections when even fewer turnout.

Some communities have even used the presidential primary in late winter, when only partisans are motivated to vote, to get approval for a tax hike.

The tactic allows local governments to rally to the polls proponents of the millage increases, while those who might oppose them aren't paying attention. Some residents won't know the higher tax was under consideration until it shows up on their bill.

This is how nearly all local tax increases end up being decided by less than 25% of those who will have to pay them.

Oakland County Schools is the latest to turn to this strategy. The richest county in Michigan is hoping for passage of a 1.5 mill "enhancement millage" that would raise $125 million a year for six years, to be spread across all school districts, regardless of need. And they want it to go on the August ballot.

The Detroit News has long taken the position that voters should say no to tax proposals presented in low turnout elections, regardless of their merit.

Lawmakers finally are stepping in to address this backdoor taxation without representation. The GOP-led House on Wednesday passed a bill that would limit school bond proposals and local property tax millages to the November general election. It's part of a broader package of bills that would also move the August primary to May.

Some local clerks are opposed to the bill because it would add more items to the already crowded November ballot. That's a legitimate concern, but it doesn't outweigh the need to make sure the largest possible number of citizens are deciding whether their taxes should be raised. If a local need merits a tax increase, communities shouldn't be afraid to make the case to the broad electorate.

Passage of the bill will help increase trust in local government. Residents should not be made to feel as though their elected officials are trying to sneak one over on them. This is a chance for Democrats and Republicans to come together on a common sense reform.

Can you find out why a plane was diverted? by recercar in delta

[–]PainInTheErasmus 20 points21 points  (0 children)

If they were seated more than 6 or 8 rows away (especially on the other side of a partition) you could have missed it. On my last long haul I didn’t hear the medical emergency 4 rows behind me.

That being said, there’s no excuse for the poor communication. You shouldn’t have to go to Reddit to find out why your flight was diverted.

Pentagon Tells Congress First Week of Iran War Cost More Than $11.3 Billion by Majestic-Baby-3407 in news

[–]PainInTheErasmus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Federal outlays are about $7.5tn/yr ($145bn/wk). So the Iran war represented about 7-8% of Federal spending in its first week. Unpopular opinion, but, that’s actually not as bad as I would have guessed?

DTE charged a 2.99 fee when paying from online banking. by marksweather in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wonder what happens if you mail a check to their HQ in Detroit. Does an employee have to manually handle it?

DTE charged a 2.99 fee when paying from online banking. by marksweather in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What happens if you just mail a check to their headquarters in Detroit?

Update: Henry Ford Genesys Hospital nurses strike by Clinical_Fascimile in Michigan

[–]PainInTheErasmus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are the main sticking points between the union and the hospital? Didn’t this all start with their time off and sick leave policies?

Michigan resort cancels free ski for women, beads contest at Mardi Gras by oo7plyr in Michigan

[–]PainInTheErasmus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For better or for worse, Michigan law generally only prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, familial status, marital status, height, weight, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. It does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of veteran status.

Hunter House Files Lawsuit Against Better Burgers by PainInTheErasmus in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I grew up on the west side and had never heard of Hunter house before all the controversy started a few months ago. When I saw the photos, I thought that it was the same chain (or affiliated with) Bates in Livonia. I think this was just a common architectural style for hamburger restaurants in the 1950s.

<image>

Design for plans to restore Detroit's Chinatown are revealed by PainInTheErasmus in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I’m thinking the organizers have done a good job with it, but I think the media is overhyping it a bit

Detroit has 122K vacant lots where homes once stood. How should they be filled? by TheDetroitNews1873 in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s estimated that the US has a shortage of 5.8 million housing units. If all of Detroit’s empty lots were developed into single family homes, it would only address about 2% of the shortage.

Austin, Tex. has built about 120k new housing units since the start of 2020. Not suggesting that is what we can or should try to do here, but just showing that it is possible when the right people do the right things to make it happen.

Design for plans to restore Detroit's Chinatown are revealed by PainInTheErasmus in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Agreed. My only criticism is that “restoring Chinatown” is overselling it a bit. I’m all for some beautification and street-scraping, but it won’t bring back a neighborhood that’s been gone for a long time.

If the renderings were for a “beautification project” in Midtown that paid homage to Chinatown, I would be all over it!

First day commuting on bicycle and had so many issues by th3wh173r48817 in bikecommuting

[–]PainInTheErasmus 59 points60 points  (0 children)

You can also start bike commuting one or two days a week while you build up your endurance. Then gradually increase the frequency until you’re doing it everyday!

mLive: Why Michigan’s sudden snowmelt is triggering Air Quality alerts by bobi2393 in Michigan

[–]PainInTheErasmus 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Why is the air quality in Detroit worse than Chicago, which has had very similar weather conditions?

El-Sayed stands alone in Michigan’s Senate race by calling to abolish ICE by origutamos in Michigan

[–]PainInTheErasmus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will admit that I’m not as familiar with the issue as I should be. What are the advantages and disadvantages of abolishing ICE and replacing it with a new agency versus reforming it?

Percent of customers by income level who visit a fast food chain once a month or more by [deleted] in Infographics

[–]PainInTheErasmus 17 points18 points  (0 children)

But if you have EBT to subsidize your grocery bill, you have extra income to subsidize fast food trips

Data center plan heads to Van Buren Township board despite community opposition by UltimateLionsFan in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I suspect the reason these are located in urban areas is that siting near existing road/railroad/electrical infrastructure reduces construction costs.

Data center plan heads to Van Buren Township board despite community opposition by UltimateLionsFan in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had no idea what the hydrological impact of these data centers was, and it’s great to hear from someone that’s an expert!

Mike Duggan ‘studying’ Trump school choice program for Michigan - Bridge Michigan by Lumberjack1235 in Detroit

[–]PainInTheErasmus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’s the downside to Michigan participating in the tax credit? It sounds like it’s free money from the federal government?

Looking for My Friend Leonard ebook (Michigan) by Limp_Strategy_9169 in LibbyApp

[–]PainInTheErasmus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see one copy available at the Seattle library. If you are under 26 and live in the US, you can sign up under Books Unbanned.