As we roll into another election season, I was recently reminded of the famous quote by Ott Von Bismark:

People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.

The shifting sands of political posturing have never been more evident than in the current Democrat primary race. Both candidates are trying to define and differentiate themselves in a very tight race. Their positions on NAFTA, the War in Iraq, International relations and a host of other subjects seem to morph continually. I suspect the Senator Clinton will ultimately withdraw, but not until after she is able to extract promises in several key areas.

I can hardly wait for McCain vs Obama. It will certainly provide for many opportunities for commentary.

This past Friday, I attended the a District Final basketball game between Novi Catholic Central and Novi High School in a packed gym at Novi High. It was an awesome atmosphere as CC came from behind for a 4 point victory.

Bernie Fratto has written an outstanding piece on Novi.org about the game and other related issues. His observations during the past several weeks have been right on.

A few observations about the game:

Best Cheer - During the game, the extremely vocal CC student section had some excelent cheers. But the one I remember the most came from the Novi side - “We have girls” made me laugh and briefly quieted the CC guys.

Mike Martin - I like to sit in the front row near mid-court to watch folks during the game and have plenty of space (I am not a small guy). Before the game, Michigan bound CC football player and defending 285 state wrestling champion Mike Martin walked past me. This guy is an impressive human being!! At about 6′2″, 260, he has a thick and massive body and I predict we will see him in the NFL after a great career at Michigan.

Thrown Items - During the game, I only saw two things thrown on the floor. After a tough call, a cowboy hat flew out of the stands. The official handed to my wife and she gave it to a school administrator. At the end of the game, somebody threw a banana at the CC bench from Novi side. One of the assistants picked it up and looked disgusted.

Post game - As I was leaving the game, I had a chance to chat with one of the CC assistance coaches. I congratulated him on a great game and we talked about the electric atmosphere and how much fun it must have been for the kids. He was a classy guy.

Awesome night of HS sports.

I woke up this morning, walked outside to get my Sunday paper, started a pot of coffee, scanned the headlines on the front page and dove into my favorite part of the paper - Local News.

My eye caught the headline for an article “Burbs seek convention cash“. The article describes a common theme that the region is lacking in adequate convention space and that there is some activity in the suburbs to address that need. Dearborn appears to be considering using public funds (tax dollars) to build a convention center and is asking for a feasiblity study to be done. There is also mention John Bowden (I am assuming they are talking about John Bowen) of Rock Financial Showplace, about the number of events held and the new hotel being considered.

As I neared the end of the article, I was drawn to a comment by Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs Director Doug Smith. The comment reads “But its location — described by Smith as being “in the middle of nowhere” — is an issue. Its space is also geared toward exhibitions, rather than conferences.” Excuse me, did I read that right Mr. Smith? Is this same City of Novi that in the last several years, one out of every four people who have moved to OAKLAND COUNTY has moved to? The same Novi that is the fastest growing area of the county, and one of the fastest growing areas in the state. The same Novi that is home to Twelve Oaks Mall, ITC, Ryder and a host of other corporate headquarters? The same Rock Financial Showplace that his boss Brooks Patterson continually uses in his speeches as a glowing example of what a private business can accomplish with support from the community and region?

First, I want to make something very clear: I like and respect Doug Smith very much. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve with Doug on the Business Roundtable for Oakland County Economic Development Committee and on the Board of Directors of the Woodward Avenue Action Association. He comes from a long background of Economic Development and has generally had a very favorable opinion of Novi.

I was compelled to fire him off this email:

In a Detroit Free Press article Sunday regarding the need for convention space in the region, you are quoted as describing the Rock Financial Showplace as in “the middle of nowhere”. What is that all about?

I certainly hope that this is a comment taken out of context and that Oakland County’s Economic Development leader doesn’t consider Novi or the Rock Financial Showplace to be in “the middle of nowhere”. The article seemed to use you to make make counterpoints against the Rock Financial Showplace. While I don’t disagree that it is a exhibition driven facility, I am not sure why that point needs to be driven home by you.

I was also pleased to hear that Oakland County has no plan to build a convention center. Blair Bowman has proven that a privately funded facility can fill that need at a far lower cost. While I strongly agree we need additional conference space in the region, I would encourage its creation using private investment and not taxpayer dollars.

I hope you have an opportunity to publicly clarify your comments at some future opportunity and that Oakland County will continue its strong support for the City of Novi and Rock Financial Showplace.

The long and short of it is that this is a boneheaded comment that I hope was taken out of context. To call one of the county’s crown gems (and largest taxpayers) “in the middle of nowhere” serves no purpose. I hope Mr. Smith comes to Novi to either apologize or explain the context the comments where made.

== This week the “National Conference of Black Mayors” cancelled its conference scheduled for April, in Detroit ==

Recently I enjoyed a vacation in the California Desert. Unfortunately, the only discussion about our region focused on “text messaging”.

Right before leaving I heard Attorney Sharon McPhail explain that this was the business of citizens of Detroit, not those in the suburbs. It’s simply a matter of trust with the Citizenry of Detroit.

“Who’s Mayor is it anyway?”

Well - -

- Clearly, the mayor is elected by the citizens of Detroit, not by those of us in Novi.

- When you receive your Water Bill, you are a customer of Detroit’s Water Department. The Water Department says they have the regions best interest in mind and fights local communities in court. As a customer, your City of Novi Government has no say in the issue.

- Then of course, there is the current Cobo Issue. As a citizen of the region you are asked to extend taxes to pay for this structure. Detroit City Government is portesting giving up any portion of “control” of this facility even though Detroit and Wayne County retain a majority interest in the proposal.

- Beyond the Tri-Counties Cobo Taxes are levied as well on a state-wide basis. The Detroit facility is supported all the way to the Wisconsin border. Visitors to the Tri-Counties are taxed as well. They don’t have a Mayor in Detroit either.

- Still on Cobo, Wayne County and Detroit is supporting it being a “state tax free” region. If you buy a 40,000 boat at a Cobo Boat show, that would save you $2,400 at 6%. The savings would be in comparision to a purchase at a dealer or perhaps at the Rock Financial Showplace. The Tax Free zone would be subsidized by the state and communities with other convention centers. As a citizen of Novi, you will be asked to pay taxes, and your local businesses will be at a competitive disadvantage. You will have little or no representation.

Alas, Mayor Kilpatrick’s leadership position in this State effects everyone to some extent. It’s especially true in the Tri-County area.

Mayor Kilpatrick will tell you he has the regions best interest in mind and that’s why he’s successful fighting for the City and the North American Auto Show. Supposedly this show is the magnet that attracts other convention business to our area.

Who’s Mayor is it anyway?

There are two annouced candidates for the Republican primary for the 9th District County Commission seat this fall. Incumbent Hugh Crawford is running for the term limited seat of House Republican Leader State Representaitve Craig Deroche.

Current Novi City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Kim Capello will be running against Former Mayor Lou Csordas. Both are fiscal conservatives with deep roots in the community. Capello, an attorney, and Csordas, an insurance executive, are going to provide for a very interesting race.

I have committed my support to Kim Capello. I feel that he has a very strong understanding of the issues facing the county and will continue Mr. Crawford’s conservative approach to government. A County Commissioner play an important role in assisting the local community with Road Projects, Parks & Recreation and Public Safety. These are all areas that Kim has shown a keen understanding and commitment to as a City Council member.

Recently my friends Lori and Brian Burke realized their dream of opening a first class “bar” (Brian’s phrase) in the Main Street area. The SMOKE FREE envirnoment has something for everybody. Great wine, a full bar, tap beer and food that is out of this world.

Please click onto the logo above to reach the website. When you stop by, please let them know Dave sent you.

One day after an article in the Detroit News painted a bleak picture of the MHSAA’s finances as a result of its decade-long fight against changing girls sports seasons, the following quote appeared in a article about the Association failure to accomodate a schools request not to play on the sabbath during state tournaments.

“We will appeal this decision,” John Johnson, a representative for the association, said Friday. “We have a history of appealing every adverse decision that comes our way. The membership expects it of us.”

I think whomever the membership of the MHSAA is should reconsider their policy of appealing ALL adverse decisons. With a $5.1 million dollar legal bill hanging at the end of a judges pen, the organization is facing financial ruin. Who do they expect to bail them out? Are they going to ask for a special assessment from their members? Will that money come from taxpayers? We will watch for the answer to that question very carefully.

If you are not yet addicted to YouTube, you have not really tried it yet. There is something for virtually everybody. Some nights I watch unknown kids doing amazing note for note guitar solos of the greats, other nights I watch 20 different version of Hotel California played live over a 30 year period. There are samples of great TV shows moments, remember the “Turkey Drop” on WKRP or the Little Miss Dangerous episode of Miami Vice.

YouTube, the creation of three, young former PayPal employees has revolutionized video sharing on the Internet. If you have not seen it yet, here is the #1 YouTube Video of all time as your introduction.

It never ceases to amaze me the kinda stuff the floats around the internet by email. The legend of the fish above is that it is a man eating “catfish”. In fact, it is a small whale shark that eats plankton and would never even try to eat a human. Every day something new comes by that is proported to be some factual thing or another. Most are completely bogus.

The recent article in the NY Times regarding Sen. John McCain’s affair with a lobbyist is a form of “urban legend” that has made the mainstream. Anybody with Goggle can find this website and this article and spread it like a virus through the internet.

I recently sat in on a meeting where somebody made a comment that was outrageously false. Sitting behind them was a reporter who was taking very careful notes. Had that information been reported as fact, it could have spread on the internet and nobody would have known that it was completely fabricated. Every day I learn a new lesson on the power of the web - for good and bad.

Update: Here is the link to the new LIVE area of the City of Novi website.

The City of Novi recently announced that they are joining the Novi School District in making all televised City meetings (Council, Planning, ZBA, Library, PR & F) available via a live feed on the internet. Community Information Director Sheryl Walsh spearheaded the effort and it required only a small additional cost to the City.

For those of us that have recently switched to ATT U-Verse, that is great news. I am looking forward to SWOCC working out an arrangement with ATT to provide that programming on their service as well.