Knock off ‘nonsense’ at meetings

The last two meetings of the Warren City Council have concluded with a vocal minority trying to bully the City Council into approving a resolution that has nothing to do with the business of serving Warren residents. This vocal minority asks the Council to pass a resolution supporting a ceasefire in the Israel/Gaza conflict. A council focused on doing the job it should be focused on would make clear that they have no intention of entertaining this as it’s not an issue in the purview of the Warren City Council.

Instead, Council President Rogensues and Council Secretary Moore are sticking taxpayers with a bill, at over $200 per hour, to have the council attorney “research” this. A resolution that the minority mob seeks would disenfranchise Jewish residents in Warren. It further would ignore the fact that a ceasefire could happen immediately if Hamas would release the hostages taken during their murderous incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023. A more appropriate resolution would be one condemning Hamas for that attack, but that would also be outside of the purview of City Council and also inappropriate as a result.

Some residents have also asked the City Council to pass a resolution supporting the efforts of State Sen. Stephanie Chang to increase the water bills of every Michigan resident. This bill would effectively tax water customers to finance a slush fund purportedly to help lower income households. Water customers in Warren already fund such programs through their payments. Both Candice Miller and Mark Hackel recognize how awful this proposed bill is and have advocated that it be rejected. City Council should follow their lead and not support the gouging of Warren water customers.

Warren has more than enough real work for Council to focus on. I implore Council President Rogensues to stop this nonsense from being considered further on any agenda.