Get Ready for Another Busy Week!

[John Helge]

MANISTEE COUNTY DEMOCRATS:

I hope you are still feeling the positive vibes from the in-person visit by Dr. Abdul El Sayed at the Outsider restaurant in Manistee last Tuesday.  I know that I am still feeling the buzz of hearing from a progressive thinking candidate who is not afraid of upsetting conventional wisdom and sharing his personal commitment to get stuff done in Washington as our next US Senator.  The local paper said we had 200 people packed into the building, and I know from looking out on the engaged, smiling faces that those attending were also glad to be experiencing what should be the future of Democratic candidates and their campaigns.  

A lot of us also attended the Stronach Township Board meeting last Tuesday night to let them know our thoughts and feelings about data centers.  Give credit to the elected trustees of Stronach Township for holding an open meeting and enabling residents and voters to express our opinions about this important issue.  The public comments made it quite clear that data centers as they currently exist will not be welcome in Stronach Township without some really detailed and enforceable regulations that preserve our environment and desired rural lifestyle well into the future.  In an effective democracy, voters must remain vigilant in holding our elected officials accountable to their constituents on this and other important issues. 

On Tuesday, May 19 from 4-6pm in the Outsider restaurant on River Street in downtown Manistee, you can join the Manistee Indivisible Group to write postcards to our elected officials.  This is one more way you can take action to let the folks we elect to represent us in Washington and Lansing about your concerns and important issues. This is also a great opportunity to join and get to know a group of like-minded activists who are working together to improve the quality of life for everyone in Manistee County. 

On Wednesday, May 20 at 6pm in the West Shore Community College building on River Street in downtown Manistee the League of Women Voters will be holding a community conversation about Transparence in Local Government.  Manistee County Commissioners Jeff Dontz and Karen Goodman will share how the commission engages with residents of Manistee County to ensure they have access to accurate information regarding the county’s operations, fiscal health and economic growth.  

On Thursday, May 21 at 7pm in the West Shore Community College building on River Street in downtown Manistee, the Manistee County Democratic Party will be holding their monthly information meeting.  The featured speaker will be Sabrina Ceresia, Assistant Director of the Manistee Friendship Society.  Sabrina will be providing information on the programs provided by the Manistee Friendship Society to help people recover from the challenges caused by mental illness and addiction.  This meeting will also feature updates from regional candidates Rebecca Amidon for S32 state senate, Angel Coon for H102 state house, and Mitch Distin for H104 state house.  Please plan to attend and learn more about the resources available to help those in need and how you can help these candidates working hard to earn your trust, your support, and your vote.  

On Saturday, May 23 from 9am to noon, the Manistee Farmers' Market opens their 2026 season. The Manistee County Democratic Party will have an information table just outside the market space providing information on candidates and issues.  We will also be there to provide voter registration forms, absentee ballot request forms, and answers to questions you may have about this election cycle.  Please stop by and check out our selection of buttons that you can wear to show your personal feelings about the chaos, corruption, and cruelty happening in both Washington and Lansing. 

Check out this link to watch our most recent POLITICS IS LOCAL podcast:

Politics Is Local - Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Speech Recap  

Please consider contributing to help us pay for two billboards that will go up on US31 in Manistee from July 1 through October 31.  Even a $5 donation will help! Here is a link to the GoFundMe page:  Fundraiser by John Helge : Support Manistee's Remember in November Billboard Campaign

Save the date!  Saturday May 30 11:30am - 1:00pm at the Outsider restaurant on River Street in downtown Manistee we will be hosting US Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow to enable voters in Manistee County to listen and question her to help them make more educated decisions in the voting booth at the August 4 primary election.  

As always, we welcome your feedback on this weekly newsletter.  Please feel free to let us know how we can improve and make this more valuable to you.  

John M. Helge

johnm...@gmail.com

616-915-2403

[Schindler]

I just sent this email to each member of Manistee City Council:

It concerns the city Clerk's proposal to stop publishing notices of board and committee vacancies in the Manistee News Advocate and only put those notices on the city's web page.

jrad...@manisteemi.gov wsm...@manisteemi.gov ela...@manisteemi.gov jsul...@manisteemi.gov kk...@manisteemi.gov jgrab...@manisteemi.gov lro...@manisteemi.gov

Dear Council Members;

This is concerning agenda item IX d), the proposed change to city council policy concerning newspaper notices for vacancies to various city boards and commissions.

The cost of publishing such notices is a cost of democracy.  Savings money in the form of this element of democracy should not be considered.  The key difference between a notice in the newspaper and a notice on the city web site follows:  A newspaper notice is in a publication (both on paper and on line) which is looked at by people on a regular basis.  It will be seen by someone who is not actively looking for such notices.  It does not require a person to actively seek out the information by taking steps to go to the city website and search for a possible notice.  Such city notices are not published with a known schedule (at least not known to the general public).  How would one know when to go to the city web site to look for a notice?  How many people will actually remember and make it a habit to constantly check the web site?

Far fewer people will see, or be aware of vacancies if only posted on the city website.   This will reduce the probability of city council having as many quality candidates applying for appointments.

People reading the newspaper are far more likely to look at it daily, see notices they are interested in, but not otherwise actively looking for. 

Council might wish to review this proposed policy change in terms of a system of providing the best, broadly based, tennants of an equal opportunity selection system.

It may help to remember "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is the right thing to do" (said by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart).  President Abraham Lincoln said something similar: "You must remember that some things legally right are not morally right".

-----kurt

---

Kurt H. Schindler, FAICP
Pine Knolls

schi...@kaltelnet.net

231 VIking 8 4784

[gregg king]

Left a voicemail or rather, I text to Liz Lasky about not posting volunteer positions on city boards in the News Advocate. When I volunteered for the ad hoc committee for the tree commission , which became a committee permanent, i saw it in the News Advocate. Imagine that. 

--
To Email the Group: manist...@googlegroups.com
 
Website http://www.manisteecountydemocrats.us
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[wi...@jackpine.com]

Thanks, Kurt for taking the time to do this!

I so agree - I do not want to check several websites to get updates on
various things - I like going to the newspaper and finding it there!

Mary BW

On 2026-05-19 8:21 am, 'Schindler' via Manistee Dems wrote:
> I just sent this email to each member of Manistee City Council:
>
> It concerns the city Clerk's proposal to stop publishing notices of

> board and committee vacancies in the _Manistee News Advocate_ and only

> -------------------------

>
> Kurt H. Schindler, FAICP
> Pine Knolls
>
> schi...@kaltelnet.net
> 231 VIking 8 4784
>

> --
> To Email the Group: manist...@googlegroups.com
>
> Website http://www.manisteecountydemocrats.us
> facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1711070132463223/
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Manistee Dems" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
> an email to manisteedems...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/manisteedems/243645553.143055.1779193272248.JavaMail.zimbra%40kaltelnet.net

> [1].
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1]
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/manisteedems/243645553.143055.1779193272248.JavaMail.zimbra%40kaltelnet.net?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer