Mayor No More: Craig Covey Sworn In as 25th District County Commissioner
Helping make Ferndale hip was great, but 'the biggest battles were reducing the city’s workforce.'
As Craig Covey resigned as mayor of Ferndale to take his new post on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, the 52-year-old Democrat was remembered for helping promote the city as a diverse, culturally hip community; his advocacy of gay rights and diversity; founding of the local blues festival; and his support of green initiatives.
What was less well remembered was the harder, nuts-and-bolts municipal stuff of the past decade: cutting the city payroll and budget.
“The biggest battles were reducing the city’s workforce,” Covey said last week about his tenure as a Ferndale councilman and mayor over the course of 11 years.
All of those experiences – acting as a proponent of a cool arts and culture scene to working to deliver municipal services in cost-effective ways – will almost certainly come into play in his role as commissioner for the county’s 25th District.
The district takes in Ferndale, Hazel Park and the southern part of Royal Oak. Covey was sworn in last week with his 24 colleagues on the county board as they started their new two-year terms.
Covey knows that because he’s been a very public proponent of gay rights, cultural diversity, ecological issues and other matters high on the progressive/liberal agenda, some perceive him as a liberal who is ready to raise taxes to pay for new programs. Not true, he maintains.
“I’m pretty moderate,” he said. “I’m fairly conservative when it comes to taxes and I’m not a knee-jerk liberal. Some of my battles have been with people on the far left.”
Covey grew up in Canton, OH (“Like Flint, without the glitter,” he joked) and bought a house in Ferndale in 1989, a time when the city had a reputation as a rather seedy, down-at-the-heels town with plenty of empty storefronts. He and other community and municipal leaders were part of the effort that slowly turned around the city’s reputation and quality of life over the last 20 years.
Ferndale traditionally had a relatively large number of employees, and Covey said it was clear that couldn’t go on, given the steady decline of the domestic auto industry, periodic recessions and other factors that struck southeastern Michigan hard. For example, he noted that the city had always had a sizable police force, but the fact was that it was a “Cadillac” department when Ferndale was only going to be able to afford a “Chevy” force. Reductions were sometimes controversial, but necessary.
“We knew we had to start the process of cutting and trimming the city budget, because 10 years ago we saw what was coming,” he said. “The recession just didn’t pop up. The council members took early action and it got Ferndale in better shape.”
Covey won the county board seat in November, gathering just more than 60 percent of the vote in a three-way race with Libertarian Andy LeCureaux, a Hazel Park city councilman who garnered a little more than 7 percent, and Republican Richard Parisi, also of Hazel Park, who got just more than 32 percent.
Covey said that while Oakland County is sometimes thought of as a big white suburb, people should remember there are thousands of gays, Asians, Arabs, Latinos and other minorities making up the community. As an elected official, he is also concerned about the lack of public transportation and the incredible developmental sprawl that has taken place.
“If I drive from Ferndale to Pontiac, I go by empty stores, gas stations, commercial properties of all kinds,” he said. “Do we really need to plow up more land for shopping centers and movie theaters, given all the empty stuff? We just can't afford to keep doing this.”
Sean House
8:32 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
I think it is deplorable that you referred to Ferndale in 1989 as seedy and down at the heels.
Ferndale in the 1980's was a family town, not known for its flashy nightlife and gay hangouts. Despite having a significant vacancy rate downtown the city was solid, had good leadership and was ran well.
I lived in Ferndale for the decade prior to the 1989 that you refer to and Ferndale was a family friendly town where everyone knew everyone.....that was its appeal. It was not the nightlife and glam that everyone is so proud of now. The same nightlife and festivals are the things that families and residents dislike about Ferndale now, and are why over 1000 people have left Ferndale since 2000.
Craig Covey
12:23 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Sean, as you know, I moved here in 1989. There were porn shops, strip clubs, and massage parlors in our downtown, on Woodward Ave. no less ! Hardly family friendly, I would say. Home values were very low. Then families were moving out, and going north. I think you sense of history is very incorrect.
T. Scott Galloway
8:59 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
According to a scientific study performed by Cobalt Research, street fairs and festivals and restaurants and nightlife in the city are very important to citizen satisfaction. Rather than drive people from the city this study suggests that it is a reason people move to Ferndale.
Lori Mello
9:49 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
I moved to Ferndale in August of 1990. I liked the city then and I LOVE it now! There have been many MAJOR improvements. People have come into the city, bought homes, and fixed up their places. Many of the areas in the neighborhood that were run down I saw built up over the past 20 years. I think Ferndale is still a nice town, "family friendly" AND open, liberal and accepting of EVERYONE, not just folks with children. That's a nice and fair way to be. I often said that even if I suddenly came into a lot of money I don't think I would want to leave Ferndale because of its acceptance of everyone. Things could change in the future but for now, its my home and I love it.
Sean House
9:59 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
@ T SCOTT GALLOWAY - A study? Studies lump all cities and all areas together and average them. A true way to understand would be to talk to your residents.
The problem is that you were elected to serve the people. Instead, you find studies and hire consultants and waste our money. That is NOT why you were elected.
@ Lori - I am certain some moved into town for the bars and hoopla....but a vibrant nightlife does not have to be loud and rowdy packed bars. You can have nice restaurants and comedy clubs as you basis of nightlife....not endless strips of bars.
Michelle Foster
10:03 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
I moved to Ferndale in 2008 because the community is welcoming and inviting. It was the small town feel that brought me here, not the flashy night scene. Ferndale is still the same great family friendly neighborhood, with the advantage of a diverse population and strong commercial economy. The festivals bring people together. As volunteer coordinator of the DIY Street Fair last summer, I could not be more proud of the Johnston's and others for all the hard work put into providing free entertainment for the city. So many people expressed their love for the event.
Change is difficult sometimes, but in this instance I believe its obvious to see that it has been a change for the better. As for the comment made by Covey, I unfortunately wasn't around in the 80's to have an opinion on the state of the city then. However, it is not the first time I've heard of this 'seedy' history. I can imagine the presence of the Loving Touch (in its former glory) and a theatre for mature audiences could give a 'seedy' rep.
T. Scott Galloway
10:40 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
Actually Sean, Cobalt Research asked Ferndale residents only (through a customized survey commissioned by City Council) about what they liked and didn't like about their city to determine what drives "citizen satisfaction". While I don't doubt that you have talked to Ferndale residents who share your views, it is not accurate to equate your anecdotes with the general opinion of all Ferndale residents.
Although you may consider hiring consultants to gather actionable information to assist Council in making their decisions a waste of money, I think it is just the opposite - namely a way to save money by not making decisions that lead to bad outcomes and have to be fixed. As Republicans are so fond of saying, it is one example of running the City more like a business.
A Citizen
11:18 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
Re. T. Scott Galloway - The infamous survey that no one on our street ever acknowledged as having been selected to participate in. To whom was this survey sent that it reflects the opinion of all residents?
As far as hiring consultants, in some cases businesses hire consultants to affirm their own beliefs, and the outcomes are slanted to that end. In other cases, it is a way to place the blame for unfavorable actions on an outside entity, rather than take the heat directly. Much like the City's latest establishment of a Finance Committee to put forth a tax increase proposal.
We have been residents since 1978, and have seen all kinds of changes in Ferndale, and not all for the better.
T. Scott Galloway
11:48 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
The survey was sent to a statistically significant and diverse group of residents throughout Ferndale. You can learn more about the exact methodology employed by the researchers by doing a FOIA request as I no longer have a copy of those materials. I believe Cobalt's survey is the most accurate sampling of citizen opinion conducted in the history of Ferndale, but perhaps after reviewing the methods employed by Cobalt you will be able to point out errors in their approach that can be corrected if we conduct the survey again.
As for the Financial Advisory Committee, if Council seeks greater citizen input we are criticized about the same as if we don't seek additional citizen input. On the whole, I think more citizen input is better so for these significant decisions for Ferndale, I will continue to advocate for more citizen involvement.
Paul Levendoski
11:30 am on Monday, January 10, 2011
@Sean House you just hate to hate...Ferndale was a hole in 89 along with the whole 80's Decade which I lived here also, graffiti up and down Hilton,just wig and nail shops on 9 the other stores locked doors so there was only one way in and out for fear they would get shop lifters easier ways out,whore houses poseing as massage palors at the same corner as our police department don't forget what was going on @ Deja vue (now magic bag).it was seedy, alleys up and down woodward with used needles laying around just bad bad bad!!!!,I stayed here and I am raising my kids here too because of what the city has become not what it was
Sean House
12:43 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
What you consider a useful survey (nobody I know answered it either...and I know alot of people in Ferndale) I consider another example of wasted money. Why survey the residents and PAY FOR IT when you can hold town hall meetings or visit neighborhood groups to find the same thing. Stop paying other people to do your jobs and stop increasing your own pay while paying others to do your jobs.
@ Paul - Why is it whenever anyone has an opposite view to yours it is called hate?? No....it is simply a differing opinion. Backed by facts that I can prove and I do not have to pay someone to tell me. What you consider seedy I would diagnose as problems that took a while to solve. I did not like the massage parlor, deja vu or the needles outside of the Gotham City coffee shop either. Unfortunately I consider some things happening today to be just as seedy. Shall we take the "Pride Fest" for example? Since its inception there have been reports of lewd behavior, simulated sex acts, public nudity and public urination. All while being promoted as a family event? That to me is seedy as well.
Craig Covey
12:29 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Yikes, Sean, your true feelings come out. Having attended all of the pride events, there are tens of thousands of people, who eat, and drink, and meet, and talk, and learn and dance and sing. It's called culture. There is no nudity or simulated sex acts...Give me a break !
And public urination is certainly no limited to this event...that can happen at football games, and straigt bars too.
Greg Pawlica
12:12 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I find it interesting when people can read a story and not pay attention to the words. Commissioner Covey said "...the city HAD A REPUTATION AS a rather seedy, down-at-the-heels town...". He didn't say that was his opinion.
As someone who didn't live in Ferndale in the 1980's or early 90's, I have to agree that Ferndale did have that type of reputation. When I would drive down 9 Mile or Woodward, I wondered what kind of people would want to live in this ghost town, filled with empty buildings and empty streets.
It's easy for some people to live in a dump and not notice the garbage around them.
Mike
1:06 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ferndale's night life and sparkliness might be important to its reputation, but (and I didn't live in Ferndale in the 1980s so I'm going by, as Covey said, its "reputation") it sure seems more like a family-friendly town now than it did back then. The storefronts are mostly full, with varied businesses, the place is clean, it's thriving when the rest of southeast Michigan seems to be closing up businesses one after the other. There's finally a real library. All in all, it's a great place to raise a family and that's not at all the reputation it had before. I only have anecdotal evidence, but I don't know anyone here who isn't satisfied with Ferndale.
As for this other argument happening in the comments, I think "more family-friendly" in this case is coded language for "less gay-friendly."
Craig Covey
12:32 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
You got it Mike. One of the larger subsets in our population here now is Gay women. And half of them have kids...just another type of family. I will always remember the six year old boy on Leroy, Diego, who sold lemonade with his friends during the pride fest, and he gave the money to charity. THATS family friendly.
Sean House
4:45 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
If you haven't noticed by now I do not mince words nor do I speak cryptically. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. You don't have to try to figure out what I mean because I will just tell you. I did not use more family friendly as coded language for anything.
I find it curious that the only person who did not include his last name was the one above with the inflammatory suggestion.
I will not have this debate turned into what it is not. It certainly is not a debate on gay residents.
Sean House
4:47 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
It is nice to know that Mr Pawlica insinuates that Ferndale was a dump and us longtime residents just failed to notice.
I know it may be hard to believe but Ferndale's identity does exist outside of the downtown area. We do not need a "wild" downtown to be a great city. I am however thankful for many of the business' downtown for what they have done for the community.
Craig Covey
12:35 pm on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Sean, Im thinking you don't go out a lot, and that is okay...but I do, and most of the clubs are not crowded, they are usually mellow, with people talking, listening to music, having a few
drinks, and yes, maybe some of them flirt...(mostly straght people, and a few gay). Last time I checked, that is still legal in Michigan, at least for those of us that are single.