Sherwood Forest

Tattler June 2000

Jun 18, 2000

ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

We were happy to see such a large crowd at the annual meeting of the Sherwood Forest Association on May 9 at All Saints Church.

Our special thanks to Catherine Mayberry and Florence Gantz, who organized the potluck supper which preceded the meeting. Thanks, too, to those who helped Catherine and Florence in the kitchen and to all who brought the delicious food.

The business portion of the meeting was chaired by President Lois Primas, who introduced several of Sherwood Forest's newest residents. She also introduced Willie Ray, the district manager of Pinkerton Secuity Services. Mr. Ray clarified that patrol drivers are not permitted to pick up mail or packages for residents when they are away from home. He urged residents to stop delivery of mail and papers when they are away, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up mail and packages.

Our special guest speaker was Pamela Scales, Deputy Director of the City Budget Department. Ms. Scales provided copies of the April 2000 Executive Summary of the Report of the Mayor's Revenue Task Force. Mayor Archer convened a task force of Detroit citizens early this year to come up with a list of recommendations for spending any extra revenues that may come to the city as a result of the new casinos. The task force has now completed its work, which resulted in the following "top three" spending recommendations: 1) after-school programs for our youth; 2) more programs for seniors, particularly in the areas of health and fitness, meals and transportation; 3) improved code enforcement.

Ms. Scales explained that only a modest amount of money (two million dollars) has been allocated in the next budget for these task force proposals. The city has yet to experience a casino windfall, and this is the reason: the gaming tax rate is 18% of the casinos' adjusted gross receipts, with 45% of that amount going to the state and 55% going to the city. Detroit's portion for the 1999-2000 fiscal year is expected to be fifty-one million dollars. The problem is that these casino revenues have been tied to a "self-sufficiency" plan for the city which includes placing caps on revenue sharing dollars and cuts in the city municipal income tax through a ten-year program of rollbacks that began in 1999. In other words, while we are gaining monies from the gaming tax, we are losing monies that we would otherwise be getting from other sources. Fiscal analysis predict that without significant accelerated economic development in the next decade, the state revenue sharing and city income tax revenue losses will more than offset projected gaming revenue gains.

We also heard from Curtis Dickerson, first vice-president of the Greenacres-Woodward Association and Co-Chairman of I-CARE, the group that is opposing the plan to build a racetrack at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. Mr. Dickerson urged all Sherwood Forest residents to become involved in the effort to fight the racetrack (see related story below).
Sherwood Forest Association board member and chair of its historic committee, Linda Jones, reported on our pending request to be designated an historic Detroit neighborhood. Ms. Jones introduced Melvin Williams, the president of the Detroit Neighborhood Historic Coalition and a resident of Boston-Edison. Mr. Williams explained the significant home improvement tax advantages for residents of historic neighborhoods.

Sherwood Forest Association board member Walter Shapero reported on the status of our attempts to get Detroit City Council to pass an ordinance authorizing the creation of special assessment districts for security patrol and snow removal services. A proposed ordinance has been drafted and introduced in the City Council. The ordinance was referred to the Finance Department for study. We are hoping for speedy passage and will keep neighbors updated on this important issue.

A tornado warning signal cut short the meeting and a planned discussion of new street lights for Sherwood Forest (for a report on street lights see the article below).

Thanks to all the residents who participated in this lively and informative meeting. It is your involvement that helps make Sherwood Forest a very special community.


NEW STREET LIGHTS FOR
SHERWOOD FOREST?

Most residents know that the city is in the midst of a multi-year program of street light replacement. As Linda Jones, the chair of the Sherwood Forest Association's newly-formed historic committee, had planned to report at the annual meeting, that program has hit a snag in some neighborhoods, especially those with historic designations. Although Sherwood Forest is not yet an historic neighborhood, we are being treated as one for purposes of this issue because our request for designation is pending and because we have become a member of the Detroit Neighborhood Historic Coalition.

The problem stems from the fact that the wiring for street lights in many areas of the city, including Sherwood Forest and other historic neighborhoods, is buried underground. We, and many other neighborhoods, would like to keep the wiring underground for reasons of safety and aesthetics. Historic Commission guidelines require that street light replacements be compatible with a neighborhood's existing lighting. Does that mean that if our wiring is underground, we have a right to keep it there? The city's position is "no." The Lighting Department says that it is much cheaper to string new wiring above ground, and that the cost differential is the only viable consideration.

The Detroit Neighborhood Historic Coalition is conducting its own investigation of the relative costs of above ground and underground wiring. It intends to present the results of its study to the Mayor's Office, the Lighting Department and the Detroit City Council.

Linda Jones will keep us informed about this issue. Feel free to call her or any member of the board of directors of the Sherwood Forest Association if you have strong feelings about street lights and street light wiring.


THE RACETRACK ISSUE:
WHERE WE STAND NOW

At the May 9 general membership meeting, our residents, by an overwhelming vote, passed a resolution opposing any redevelopment plan for the Michigan State Fairgrounds which includes a racetrack as a component. Copies of that resolution were sent to Congressman John Conyers, Mayor Archer, all the members of the Detroit City Council, State Representative Samuel "Buzz" Thomas, the Nederlander organization, and members of the media.

At a community-wide meeting on May 17 at St. John's Church, sponsored by I-CARE, hundreds of residents of Sherwood Forest and surrounding Detroit neighborhoods, as well as Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and other effected South Oakland communities, came together to hear about the racetrack plan and what we can do to stop it. Although this space is inadequate to summarize the remarks of all who spoke that evening, Sherwood Forest residents will be interested to know that Gil Hill, Kay Everett and Alberta Tinsley-Talabi were there on behalf of the Detroit City Council, which has passed a public resolution in opposition to a racetrack. Greg Bowens, the press secretary to Mayor Archer, said on behalf of the Mayor that the city is fully committed to litigation if that becomes necessary to stop the racetrack. Our state representative, Samuel "Buzz" Thomas, spoke in opposition to the racetrack, as did a representative from Congressman John Conyers's office.

There were also strong statements of opposition from the mayors of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge. The mayor of Pleasant Ridge cautioned that when I-696 through Pleasant Ridge was in the planning stages, the city received all sorts of assurances from the State of Michigan about noise abatement. Residents were repeated assured that they would not even hear expressway noises, but none of those assurances proved reliable. The mayor said that today Pleasant Ridge residents tell the time of day by the intensity of the noise levels and the rattling of the windows in their homes.

A local realtor predicted that property values in this area could drop by as much as 20% during the first year of racetrack operation.

I-CARE co-chair Curtis Dickerson urged neighbors who are concerned about the racetrack issue to do the following:

?· Stay informed. Call the I-CARE hotline at (248) 545-5550.
?· Volunteer to engage in peaceful picketing.
?· Write to city and state officials and ask them to support us in our efforts.
?· Write to Joseph Nederlander at: Nederlander Theatrical Corp., 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48201. We have not given up hope that Mr. Nederlander may still be swayed by a strong community voice.
?· Write letters to the editor of local papers and call local talk shows.
?· Inform your friends and neighbors about the issue.


PLANT A TREE AND BEAUTIFY THE FOREST

One way your Sherwood Forest Association dollars work for you is through our tree planting program. Now is the time to order a tree for the strip between the sidewalk and street in front of your home. The foresters from the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department will come out to examine the strip in front of your home to see if planting is possible on your property. The foresters will decide on the variety and location of the trees to be planted.

The city charges $50.00 for a parkway tree. For each tree you plant, the Sherwood Forest Association will pay $25.00 of the $50.00 cost. The deadline for requesting a tree for spring planting is August 1, 2000.

Send your request and your check to Florence Gantz at 19621 Canterbury. Enclose your name, address and the number of trees you wish to order. Make your check payable to the Sherwood Forest Association, and remember that Florence Gantz must have your check no later than August 1, 2000.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE CITY

METER CARDS FOR PARKING: We all know how annoying it is to have to hunt for quarters to put in Detroit's electronic parking meters. It is now possible to buy meter cards that are sold in denominations of $10, $15 and $20. They are the size of a credit card, and the Municipal Parking Department hopes that they will make it easier to park in the city. Meter cards can be purchased in the Central Office of the Neighborhood City Halls on the first floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building. For information, call 967-1600.

SENIOR OLYMPICS: The 2000 Detroit Senior Olympics will be held June 26-29 at the Belle Isle Casino. Sporting events will include golf, tennis, bowling, basketball, volleyball. softball, horseshoes, a one-mile run and an two-mile walk. An awards banquet is scheduled for July. If you would like to participate, call the Detroit Recreation Department at 877-9077.

"INFO JOE"
PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN: The city has launched a public information campaign to help Detroiters and visitors navigate around construction sites and development projects. Street and sidewalk closings, rerouting of buses, detours and other changes made necessary by improvement programs will be identified by distinctive informational signs featuring a cartoon character called "Info Joe." For information on traffic lane reductions, street closures, People Mover station closures and bus stop relocations call the city's hotline at 628-INFO or visit the website at www.detroitinfojoe.com.


CENSUS 2000 REMINDER

Census workers are still counting Detroit residents. Until at least July 7, census enumerators will be out on the streets counting Detroiters who did not mail in their census forms. Keeping our population count above one million is vitally important to the financial health of our city. If a census enumerator comes to your door, please cooperate and provide the information requested.


RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE PATROL

Living in a neighborhood as save as ours is no accident. Pinkerton Security Service is vital to the safety and tranquility of Sherwood Forest. The new fiscal year for the patrol begins on June 1. A billing form was sent to every home in Sherwood Forest in mid-May. If you have not yet returned your payment, please do so today. If you have questions about the status of your membership, call Gordon Rodwan at 342-5827.


ADDITIONS TO THE "THIS OLD HOUSE" LIST

Please add the following recommendations to the list you received with your last Tattler:

Case Handyman Services-- Southfield, (248) 799-0129. Carpentry, drywall and plaster repair, painting, electrical, plumbing, heating, doors and windows; licensed and insured. Comes highly recommended by a neighbor who is currently using the service.

Precious Paws Pet Home Care - This pet-sitting service is owned by a Sherwood Forest neighbor. She will come to your home daily to walk, feed and play with your pet. Her business is bonded and insured, and she is a member of Pet-Sitters International. Precious Paw provides an alternative to boarding a pet in a kennel. Various discounts are available. If you would like more information or a copy of her brochure, call Kimberly at (248) 318-9409 and tell her that you are a Sherwood Forest resident.