Brian Clark
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On the article Pete's Place in Ferndale Closes Its Doors
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On the article Ferndale Residents Discuss Crime, Neighborhood Group at Digital Learning Center Meeting
Brian Clark
1:33 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I appreciate the response! I think it's an idea worth discussion. It may be a great way to raise awareness and communication. I don't think you want to organize a mob. I hope no one wants to organize a mob, but I'm not so sure.
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On the article Ferndale Residents Discuss Crime, Neighborhood Group at Digital Learning Center Meeting
Brian Clark
12:34 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Before posting addresses (or pictures, names, etc.) maybe first indicate evidence that this is actually a drug house. If the Ferndale police are ignoring serious drug dealing activity, that is an issue. If there are just a bunch of "people from Detroit" living in a house in Ferndale, that's not a reason to call in the SWAT team or accuse the police of failure.
This tread may be an indicator of the possible benefits and negative results of a "community awareness" page. Any social media site for reporting problems in the city should be balanced with or focused on solutions, community building, and constructive discussions. If it's simply a place to anonymously post fears and assumptions about people possibly doing things we don't like or looking like people we don't like, we don't need it.
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On the article Ferndale Residents Discuss Crime, Neighborhood Group at Digital Learning Center Meeting
Brian Clark
3:11 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
At least one is: "Ferndale City Council member Melanie Piana, who is also a resident of the Dales and helped organize the meeting..."
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On the article Ferndale Residents Discuss Crime, Neighborhood Group at Digital Learning Center Meeting
Brian Clark
10:21 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
ReplyLots of people seem to be dancing around the subject of why we have the Digital Learning Center or other alternative education programs. We need an answer to the this question: If we closed the Digital Learning Center and did not host any similar alternative education program in Ferndale, what would be the impact on our budget and other educational programs?
I expect the new "BOLD" group of school board members to address this issue directly.
I'm not saying we should close the program, and I'm not saying money is the only factor or even the most important factor, but I think residents need to know what impact such a decision would have. If closing the program means we either find more revenue or start cutting other educational programs, this needs to be part of the discussion.
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On the article State Proposal Asks Voters if Collective Bargaining Should be Added to Constitution
Brian Clark
5:52 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
ReplyWhy do people believe teachers should sacrifice so much for the love of their profession? Do they not have a right to fair compensation? Why do we think it's reasonable to pay executives who run companies into the ground, ship jobs overseas, and pollute the air and water well into the six-, seven-, or eight-figure range, but the thought of one of those greedy, self-interested teachers getting $50,000 is an abomination? What's more important to a healthy society? Our teachers or our executives?
This proposal may not be the best way to accomplish worker protections, but with the antiunion fervor demonstrated here and throughout the country, it's no wonder unions are trying to protect themselves. They are clearly under attack.
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On the Blog Post Student retention - my perspective
Brian Clark
4:37 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Jennifer: On the statement about tying salaries to retention, there is this line:
"Sharpen administrative focus and responsibility
•Set specific retention targets and build achievement of these into future evaluation and compensation packages of top administrators."I'm not sure if that's the extent of CLEAR's plan for linking compensation to retention.
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On the article POLL: Who Won the Presidential Debate?
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On the article POLL: Who Won the Presidential Debate?
Brian Clark
11:09 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Bush cut taxes repeatedly. By 2008, we had the worst economy in decades. Obama continued the Bush tax cuts. The economy is growing, but slowly. If tax cuts = job creation, why don't we have those jobs?
I'm not saying there is no truth that cutting taxes can stimulate investment, but people keep saying cutting taxes is the magic solution that will lead to massive job creation. The wealthy saved billions over the last decade. Where are the jobs?
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On the article POLL: Who Won the Presidential Debate?
Brian Clark
11:09 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
I don't know why he didn't point that out, but the fact-checkers at CNN and the Washington Post did. Look at the reports. Romney lobbed several softballs to Obama and he let them go.
Brian Clark
10:27 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Boo!