<< Community Revitalization Program Gets First Hearing | League CEO Dan Gilmartin is Keynote Speaker at Annual Citizens Research Council Meeting Friday in Detroit >>

Firefighter Comment Heartfelt During Press Conference on Personal Property Tax Issue

September 9, 2011 14:39 by author

Matt Bach

Dave Weisenberg of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union.

LANSING, Michigan - The Michigan Municipal League was part of a coalition of organizations to take part in a press conference Thursday in Lansing about the Michigan Personal Property Tax (PPT) issue. The message was “Replace Don’t Erase” (go to replacedonterase.com). The speakers explained how state lawmakers need to find a full, guaranteed replacement should they cut the PPT as some people are expecting. It was a great news conference chalk full of great comments by some excellent speakers – admittedly I’m biased as the communications director for the league. But one comment by Dave Weisenberg really got my attention – and the attention of many others. It’s too good to paraphrase so here it is. (Remember this press conference took place on Sept. 8, 2011, to give you some perspective of what he’s talking about):

"Holding this press conf today is a bit of irony for me,” said Weisenberg, representing the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Association Union. “Today we are on the cusp of remembering the events of 9/11 and we have so many politicians – quite frankly and I’m going to speak honestly – that are just clamoring for photo ops with firefighters and with police officers. They all want to have their picture taken with us today, but they are going to forget about us tomorrow. We are not a drain on the taxpayers. We are a resource. As the firefighters rushed into those towers, as the police officers and other the other first responders did what they could, we continue to remember how many people died. And I would suggest to you remember instead how they lived. The fact that we lost 3,000 people is tragic and horrific. The fact that we saved thousands more is what should be remembered. We all know it’s not a question of if it’s a question of when we’re going to be hit again. And when those times come are we going to have firefighters and police officers available?"

Weisenberg and several of the others speakers explained that cutting the PPT without a full replacement would devastate Michigan cities, libraries, counties, schools and, yes, even fire departments and police departments.

Other speakers at the news conference were Tom Mullaney, president, Michigan Association of Counties, Alpena County Commissioner; Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO, Michigan Municipal League; Richard Notte, Mayor of Sterling Heights; Christine Berro, Director, Portage District Library and past president of the Michigan Library Association; Gretchen Couraud, Executive Director, Michigan Library Association; Howell Police Chief George Basar, Legislative Chairman and Past President, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police; and Stan Kogut, Superintendent of Ingham Intermediate School District, member of the Michigan Association of School Administrators; Tim McGuire, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, Deena Bosworth, legislative coordinator for the Michigan Association of Counties and Summer Minnick, director of state affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.

Go here to view a press release from the event. And go here to the Replace Don’t Erase webpage. The press conference resulted in several news articles about this important issue, including stories in the Chicago Tribune, Muskegon Chronicle, Gongwer news service, mlive.com, Detroit Free Press and even on CNBC.com. View the articles here on this web page.

Coming soon will be a video from the news conference. You will be able to find ind the video once it’s posted at mml.org.

Matt Bach is director of communications at the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.