WEST MICHIGAN POLITICS

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Boonstra Orders Major Flint Lawsuit Against Walling And Earley Back To Genesee County For Jury Trial

Judge Boonstra

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Court of Claims Judge Mark Boonstra says a lawsuit against former Flint Mayor Dwayne Walling, former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, and others involved in the Flint Water Crisis will proceed to a jury trial in Genesee County.

Walling and co. are appealing the ruling...

According to Gongwer:

"The city of Flint, former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, former Mayor Dayne Walling and two top former Flint water officials are appealing a Michigan Court of Claims ruling sending seven lawsuits against them for their conduct in the Flint water crisis back to the Genesee Circuit Court.

Court of Claims Judge Mark Boonstra returned the cases to the Genesee court after ruling the Court of Claims lacked jurisdiction because the case involved city officials, but mainly because the plaintiffs had requested the right to a jury trial, which the Court of Claims cannot have (See Gongwer Michigan Report, August 26, 2016).

He said an emergency manager, as a state-appointed officer, would appropriately be sued in the Court of Claims, but the right to trial by jury means the case must return to the Genesee circuit. The appeal was filed Friday."

Image result for earley walling

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__________________________________________________________________
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Friday, September 16, 2016

Schuette Says Snyder Administration Is Like A "Fox Guarding The Henhouse" In Flint As McLaren Hospital Claims MDHHS Cover Up

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c39215ee13cf08786702ecdeebb5104b84731d49/c=1-0-799-600&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/07/10/DetroitFreePress/DetroitFreePress/636037391059967935-snyder-schuette-composite.jpg

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

McLaren Hospital in Flint says the Snyder administration is attempting to cover up crimes related to the Flint Water Crisis...

Attorney General Schuette said the Snyder administration going through medical records at McLaren is like a "fox guarding the henhouse" as the AG tries to keep a Genesee County Judge's controversial "secret" court order banning MDHHS employees from the the hospital in place...

>>>Snyder Furious As Genesee County Judge Issues Secret Court Order Limiting State Activity In Flint

According to Chad Livengood of the Detroit News:

"Attorneys for McLaren Hospital allege that state health department workers engaged in a “cover-up” of a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in 2014 and 2015 in Genesee County that is linked to Flint’s water crisis.

In a court filing, the Flint hospital is asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to uphold a Genesee County judge’s order barring Michigan Department and Health and Human Services employees from being involved in investigations of new and old cases of Legionnaires’ while a criminal probe remains underway.

“Upon further investigation of materials related to the Flint water crisis, McLaren-Flint firmly believes the institution was a victim of numerous crimes and cover-ups by state employees including the MDHHS employees” investigating the bacterial outbreak, McLaren’s attorneys wrote in a legal brief filed Friday.

In the 18-month period, the Flint area had 91 Legionnaires’ cases that resulted in 12 deaths. This summer, there has been a small resurgence of Flint-area Legionnaires’ cases.
Acting at the behest of Gov. Rick Snyder, the state health department is embroiled in growing legal battle with McLaren, the Genesee County Health Department and Attorney General Bill Schuette’s team investigating the Flint water crisis...

Special prosecutor Todd Flood and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton warned in a court filing Friday that allowing the state health department to be involved in Flint water matters while agency employees are under criminal investigation is akin to the proverbial fox guarding the henhouse.

Flood and Leyton defended their decision to cut state health officials out of the process of investigating new cases of Legionella bacteria and lead in Flint’s water.

“Given the scope of the investigation, the Office of Special Counsel and the Genesee County Prosecutor concluded the only way to ensure an unbiased and independent investigation of any issues relating to the Flint Water Crisis was to take the ‘fox out of the henhouse,’ ” Flood and Leyton wrote in a Friday court filing."

As WMP previously reported, Mr. Schuette has a fox in his own henhouse and would do well to act soon before the investigation is even more tainted... Stay tuned for developments...

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Sam Riddle BLASTS Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, Praises Trump's Visit, Says Dems "Take Black America For Granted"

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

While the media focused on everything but the people of Flint, playing up the "Trump not welcome," "Trump interrupted" angle, controversial political consultant Sam Riddle and activist praised "The Donald's" visit to the beleaguered town, grateful Trump was putting the spotlight back on a City many people-like Hillary Clinton-have forgotten.

Riddle did not have positive things to say about Flint Mayor Karen Weaver...

According to MIRS:

"(P)olitical consultant Sam RIDDLE, whose family is from Flint, said Trump coming to Flint is "not a bad thing" because "by simply rolling in, I don't care what his motives are, he refocuses the world and national spotlight on Flint."

He argued Democrats still take Black America for granted because "we're in their political hip pocket. The Republicans, for the most part, can afford to write us off because we don't support them.

"So where is the political leverage for a city of Flint, when the mayor of the city of Flint gets ahead of the pack early to get behind Hillary?" Riddle asked. "What has she done for Flint? Not a damn thing. The people of Flint are still in pain and that pain is going to continue until America says, 'Help the people of Flint."

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Disabled Vet+Black Trump Supporter Frank Brooks DESTROYS Forest Hills Superintendent Dan Behm

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

After the Forest Hills Superintendent Dan Behm said that American and Trump flags symbolized "exclusion and hate," Frank Brooks, a disabled Veteran (and a black Trump supporter-yes, they exist!) blasted Behm in an email shared with WMP.

"I am personally insulted by your comments," Brooks wrote. "Your generalization of how "Black People" feel about a version of our National Flag is itself a form of racism."

>>>Here is the full message from Cl. Frank Brooks to Dan Behm:

"Subj: Black, 34 year Vet, retired Colonel

Mr Behm,

I am personally insulted by your comments. Your generalization of how "Black People" feel about a version of our National Flag is itself a form of racism. I fought for our nation. More importantly, I led graduates of High Schools across this country---under our flag. Just come out in the open and plainly say that you did not like the Trump sign. The tone of you statement seems to call this display of patriotism a racist action. So, essentially, you believe this was the work of deplorable and nonredeemable students? Generalizing, it seems we demean these young adults and then expect them to volunteer to defend this country, our Constitution (read this as 1st amendment), and our flag!?
I hope you open your heart to all Americans in the future,

Colonel Frank Brooks, USAF, Retired"

>>>WOW: Forest Hills Superintendent Says American+Trump Flags "Symbolize Exclusion And Hate"

__________________________________________________________________
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Shady As Hell: Lon Johnson Claims He Lives In This $36k "Crack House" For Tax Purposes

Lon Johnson (Freep)

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Lon Johnson has held fundraisers worth more than the house he says he lives in.

Johnson, the Democrat running for U.S. House against Jack Bergman in Michigan's 1st Congressional District, "lives" in the house pictured below, possibly for tax purposes only...

The house is worth $36,000, less than some fundraisers Johnson held for his State House campaign in 2012, while the Chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, and his Congressional campaign in 2016...

The building-reminiscent of a crackhouse by Lon's standards-is also allegedly worth close to the same amount as Johnson's car, as well as his wife's. Johnson, known for his fundraising acumen, is married to prominent Obama ally Stephanie Cutter.

Johnson has paid less than $1,500 in taxes on the property over the last 2 years...

Johnson has attacked Bergman for alleged residency issues-looks like Lon Johnson has some big housing issues of his own...
__________________________________________________________________
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

Facebook
Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver Tells Trump He Can't Visit Flint Water Plant

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

As Donald Trump prepares to visit Flint, Mayor Karen Weaver, a Hillary Clinton supporter, says he can't visit the water plant as he had planned.

According to Kathy Gray of the Detroit Free Press:

"Trump's travel schedule initially included a tour of the Flint water plant. But Mayor Karen Weaver nixed that plan.

"Flint is focused on fixing the problems caused by lead contamination of our drinking water, not photo ops," she said in a statement Tuesday evening, adding that the employees and staff at the water plant "cannot afford the disruption of a last-minute visit."

Trump's visit, his second in the last 10 days aimed at reaching out to communities with large populations of African American voters, was also supposed to include a meeting with pastors to talk about the problems facing the city..."

Trump said today that he will act swiftly to address the crisis and believes the recovery process is taking far too long.

According to FLint 25:

"In an exclusive interview with NBC25-FOX66 in Detroit, Trump says more needs to be done to restore safe drinking water to the city’s nearly 100,000 residents after lead contamination. He says it was a failure of elected officials and public servants to make sure the public water utility was run properly.

"First of all, it would have never happened, because it was so ridiculous. In order to save a small amount of money, they re-do the whole thing and now it's a disaster,” Trump told NBC25-FOX66 news anchor Dave Bondy. “I will say this, my administration, we'll get very much involved, and we're going to get the problem solved. But it’s still not solved and it’s hard to believe - but it’s really harder to believe that they did it in the first place, should have never happened."

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Developing: ANOTHER "Inside Job" Break In At Flint City Hall?

By Brandon Hall
(Email WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)

For at least the second time, documents related to the Flint Water Crisis were put at risk as an intruder was spotted earlier this week at Flint City Hall.

According to Flint 25:

"The Flint Police Department is reporting it is investigating a suspected break-in at the Mayor’s Office in Flint City Hall. The incident happened Monday afternoon while Mayor Weaver and her staff were at work in the office.

An employee discovered an unfamiliar man walking down the hall of the Mayor’s executive suite, according to Flint Police Chief Tim Johnson. When asked what he was doing and how he got in, he apparently had no answers.The man was escorted from the office without further incident and staff then called police.

Upon arrival, officers found evidence of forced entry at a back door. Police are now reviewing footage from security cameras hoping to identify the suspect."

WMP reported last January about the break-in that occurred between Christmas and New Year's, and the Flint Police Chief believes that was an inside job, a targeted hit designed to steal Flint Water Crisis docs...

According to MLive:

"As of Friday, March 18, there were still no suspects in the case, and officials say it may never be known what -- other than a TV -- was taken.

But the city's new police chief Tim Johnson says it's too suspicious that there was a break-in where important documents were kept, just as investigations began heating up and decision makers were beginning to be held accountable.

"It was definitely an inside job. The power cord (to the TV) wasn't even taken. The average drug user knows that you'd need the power cord to be able to pawn it," Johnson said.

The office was not assigned to any city employees at the time of the break-in, city officials have said.

"It was somebody that had knowledge of those documents that really wanted to keep them out of the right hands, out of the hands of someone who was going to tell the real story of what's going on with Flint water," he said."

Stay tuned...

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Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson

Pages

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Boonstra Orders Major Flint Lawsuit Against Walling And Earley Back To Genesee County For Jury Trial

Friday, September 16, 2016

Schuette Says Snyder Administration Is Like A "Fox Guarding The Henhouse" In Flint As McLaren Hospital Claims MDHHS Cover Up

Sam Riddle BLASTS Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, Praises Trump's Visit, Says Dems "Take Black America For Granted"

Disabled Vet+Black Trump Supporter Frank Brooks DESTROYS Forest Hills Superintendent Dan Behm

Shady As Hell: Lon Johnson Claims He Lives In This $36k "Crack House" For Tax Purposes

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver Tells Trump He Can't Visit Flint Water Plant

Developing: ANOTHER "Inside Job" Break In At Flint City Hall?