May 8-14, 2013 Renewal at the Symphony Music Director Timothy Muffitt Stays in Lansing See Page 10
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May 8-14, 2013 Renewal at the symphony Music director Timothy Muffitt stays in Lansing See page 10 Special Pet Section Lansing vet helps pet owners make tough decisions Pooch-less restaurant patios may soon be a thing of the past SEE & a full list of pet services and supplies PAGE 14 2 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • May 8, 2013 Give Mom the gift of great hair! 1221 Turner St., Old Town, Lansing (517) 999-3303 BellaRioSalon.com % 50OFF PATIO COLOR HANGING Mom loves flowers BASKETS — READY TO GROW OR READY TO GO — through Mother’s Day Come visit our expanded retail and gifts or let us deliver for you. (517) 327-1059 theplantprofessionals.com [email protected] 16886 Turner St., Lansing City Pulse • May 8, 2013 www.lansingcitypulse.com 3 Download the Web App today! Read the entire issue on your iPhone or iPad* Download it from the Apple App store *Not on an iPhone or iPad? Go to www.lansingcitypulse.com on any mobile device! 4 www.lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • May 8, 2013 VOL. 12 Feedback ISSUE 39 Music is part of the core curriculum tation. If an employee objects, they are (517) 371-5600 • Fax: (517) 999-6061 • 1905 E. Michigan Ave. • Lansing, MI 48912 • www.lansingcitypulse.com “There is science in sound, math in given, in advance, any deductions that do ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: (517) 999-6705 composition, poetry in lyrics and there is not go directly to the cost of representa- PAGE CLASSIFIED AD INQUIRIES: (517) 999-5066 a long rich history to music. What’s more, tion. “Forced unionization”? Hardly. More or email [email protected] students of music learn to take direction, like democracy and checks and balances. 6 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER • Berl Schwartz to come together as a group to collaborate. But that was not good enough for our leg- [email protected] • (517) 999-5061 Everything core education subjects are islature. MANAGING/NEWS EDITOR • Andy Balaskovitz supposed to prepare you for is inherent in Now, employees who choose to work at Week-long visioning sessions for Grand River/Michigan [email protected] • (517) 999-5064 the arts from day one.” a unionized place can choose to freeload. corridor come to a close ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • Allan I. Ross These are the words of Kevin Eubanks The Union is required to represent them [email protected] • (517) 999-5068 former director of the Tonight Show, music and spend money on their behalf but free- PAGE PRODUCTION MANAGER • Rachel Harper educator and now director of Jazz for the loaders do not have to pay their share. [email protected] • (517) 999-5066 CALENDAR EDITOR • Dana Casadei Theolonius Monk Institute of Jazz which There never was forced Unionization”. 13 [email protected] • (517) 999-5069 enriches many public schools. Eubanks There was only a system that allowed STAFF WRITERS said recently in an interview that he was Unions and employers to bargain a con- Lawrence Cosentino passionate about public school music. tract that did not allow freeloaders. The English Inn tour peels back secrets of a 1927 country estate [email protected] • (517) 999-5063 I can tell you as a music educator that the legislature decided this gave working peo- Sam Inglot [email protected] • (517) 999-5065 “revolutionary model” that is planned for ple too much power so they passed “right MARKETING/PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR/ the Lansing Public Schools is “laughable.” to work”. It had only one purpose, weaken PAGE SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT • Rich Tupica In the ‘60s, I taught in the Hightstown, working people and their Unions. Let’s call [email protected] • (517) 999-6710 N.J. public schools where classroom teach- it what it is. 26 ADVERTISING MANAGER ers were instructed to teach music K-4th Shelly Olson grades. I wrote lesson plans and hopefully — Joe Marutiak [email protected] • (517) 999-6705 supported the teachers as best as I could. Lansing World class food and drinks make Gracie’s the place to be ADVERTISING Parents should demand better for their Jill Bauman [email protected] • (517) 999-6707 children. Keep certified music teachers. No reason this can’t work Denis Prisk This building (“Eyesore of the Week,” COVER [email protected] • (517) 999-6704 — Carolyn Henderson 5/1/13) is non-descript and non-historical Contributors: Justin Bilicki, Bill Castanier, Mary C. Cusack, Tom ART Helma, Terry Link, Kyle Melinn, Dennis Preston, Paul Wozniak, Amanda Lansing and the city should have made them clear Harrell-Seyburn, Ute Von Der Heyden, Judy Winter, Shawn Parker and maintain that lot YEARS ago. When Delivery drivers: Richard Bridenbaker, Dave Fisher, Karen Navarra, Noelle Navarra, Brent Robison, Steve Stevens ‘Call it what it is’ you allow this blight, it discourages home- Interns: Hannah Scott, Darby Vermeulen I had to cringe at Steve Miller’s (“Failing owners in the surrounding neighborhood MUFFITT by VINCE JOY the test,” 5/1/13) description of Michigan’s from maintaining and/or improving their Editor & Publisher so called right to work laws. In his other- own properties...and that is EXACTLY CITY PULSE ON THE AIR Berl wise insightful article he referred to them what has happened. There is no reason Schwartz as the laws “which struck down forced with other active businesses literally right Timothy Muffitt, Lansing Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor 7 p.m. Wednesdays unionization”. This is so inaccurate it bears across the street that this site couldn’t be a Aaron McCright, MSU professor of sociology State Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor reviewing how a workplace ends up with successful business. John A. Baker III, addiction psychiatrist, Sparrow Behavioral Center a Union security clause in the first place. THIS WEEK Kim Thalison, Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition A majority of employees must first — BiddleCityGuy decide to form a Union. They then must from LansingCityPulse.com run a gantlet and spend vast amount of time, energy and money to get the gov- Have something to say about a local issue ernment to run an election. Then at that or an item that appeared in our pages? election a majority of the employees must 1.) Write a letter to the editor. vote for the Union. Then, in bargaining, • E-mail: [email protected] • Snail mail: City Pulse, 1905 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912 the employer must voluntarily agree to a • Fax: (517) 371-5800 Union security clause. Then a majority of 2.) Write a guest column: the employees must vote for that contract. Contact Berl Schwartz for more information: [email protected] After all that, no one is forced to join or (517) 999-5061 the union. Employees who decide to work (Please include your name, address and telephone number so we can at that Unionized place are only required reach you. Keep letters to 250 words or fewer. City Pulse reserves the right to edit letters and columns.) to pay their share of the cost of represen- This week on lansingcitypulse.com … KIDS IN THE HALL, MAY 7: The Lansing City Council got a taste Monday during budget discussions of a new countywide millage that may surface. The Council also passed an ordinance that would prevent Niowave-like pole barn situations in the future. VALU LAND MOVING IN, MAY 6: After two-and-a-half years of vacancy, the former site of an L&L Food Center will become the new home of Lansing’s second Valu Land grocery store. MARKET PLACE GETS A TIMELINE, MAY 3: After a six-year delay and recent news that there could be some legal trouble, developer Pat Gillespie now has a timeline in place for when he’ll finish his Market Place development in downtown Lansing. ON LSD, MAY 2: At a recent meeting, the Lansing Board of Education voted to pink slip 175 district employees, 140 of which are teachers. The move could save the district $6.4 million. Check out these stories and more only at lansingcitypulse.com City Pulse • May 8, 2013 www.lansingcitypulse.com 5 PULSE NEWS & OPINION particularly with the presumption that tested assessments from the 2007, 2008 Jackson National is there to stay? Didn’t and 2009 tax years: “As unemployment JNL’s the company’s argument before the tax goes up, the demand for office space tribunal leave that prospect open? Last goes down and purchasing power for C week, company President and CEO spending within a region or community money grab Mike Wells, joined by Gov. Rick Snyder also diminishes, which has a definite OF THE WEEK and Bernero, announced a $100 mil- influence on market value.” Lest we forget when Jackson lion expansion at the site, bringing with Meanwhile, the city’s appraiser said National Life successfully argued it 1,000 new jobs. With that will come the headquarters was worth more than its new headquarters was “obso- a renewed tax-sharing agreement with the $48.4 million true cash value in lete” to lower its property tax pay- Alaiedon Township (the JNL property 2009. The company thought it should ments. On Tuesday, a compromise is on Lansing property in the township) have been $19.5 million, while the city was reached with the city. and tax incentives, though we don’t thought it was $67.2 million. The tribu- know how much or for how long those nal found it had a true cash value of $37 As the local media drank up good will be. A variety of state grants and million after the company’s petition. jobs news last week like an alcoholic at federal Community Development Block The city’s appraiser, Raymond a Christmas party, there’s been no men- Grant money will also likely be part of Bologna, cited at the time a “flexible” tion of the fact that less than three years the package.