October 27, 2020
Public Comment
Frank Hammer, State Fairgrounds Development Coalition
Dear Honorable President Jones and City Council,
For those of us who worked for a positive outcome to the Fairgrounds development, we know how Amazon operates in compelling majority black cities to accept their distribution warehouses on their terms.
Crain’s Detroit Business quotes Pontiac’s mayor as follows:
Amazon’s “… scrutiny of Pontiac was to determine our capability of handling the project they wanted and the speed they wanted. the only ask was to move the project along at the rapid pace they required.”
This pressure was in effect here as well, although our mayor wasn’t as transparent as Pontiac’s mayor.
It’s demeaning for the city council to succumb to the pressure by ratifying the deal with Amazon’s front men.
Now you are being asked in resolution 14* to betray your own recently passed “community outreach ordinance” which requires community engagement during the negotiation process -- a process Detroiters were denied regarding the fairgrounds.
The council should reject waiving its own ordinance on its first significant opportunity to implement it. Please vote no.
*Tate, amended reso. Autho. Waiving any public hearing or other requirements of the community outreach ordinance with respect to all such sales of property or amendment of the city of Detroit’s master plan of policies approved during formal session of October 20, 2020.
October 20, 2020
Mayor Duggan & Hillwood Enterprises representatives at Detroit City Council, Oct. 20, 2020 (photo: F Hammer)
Public Comment
Frank Hammer, on behalf of the State Fairgrounds Development Coalition
City Council 7 PM Zoom Call meeting
A word of thanks to all the councilmembers who weighed in regarding the fate of the Fairgrounds, even if we remain with significant disagreements. It is through discussion that we gain further clarity, even if some try to steer it away into confusion.
We want to thank Council President Jones, and members Castaneda Lopez, Sheffield, Gabe Leland and District 2 councilman McCalister, Jr. for meeting with us and hearing us out, as time permitted.
We thank President Jones and Councilwoman Castaneda Lopez for championing some of the concerns we advocated for, especially getting written guarantees for hiring Detroiters, for championing a robust community fund, and for a robust health impact study. We regret these items were not embraced by the rest of the city council.
We are disappointed, of course, with the outcome because we’re convinced Detroiters deserved better from the future tenant of the fairgrounds. First and foremost, Detroiters were entitled by the Detroit CBO to a CBA agreement. We will continue that fight.
We can be glad to have been impactful, although we had to put up with a lot of hostility which was not warranted, nor did we deserve it. We have maintained respectful relations throughout and feel that the outright attempt to intimidate those of us in the community who dared challenge the Mayor’s preconceptions does a disservice to all who want to express their opinions.
We’re disappointed with elected leaders willing to incite neighbors to harbor ill will towards other neighbors, a tactic we are too familiar with emanating from the White House. Detroit is better than that. We are, after all, one Detroit.
If the mayor had his way, this process would have been completed within a 21-day window. It wasn’t designed – originally - to get much input from residents and we’re glad to have insisted more time was needed so that the time spent was actually doubled.
While the resolution is too much about words and short on substance, the words used wouldn’t have been included were it not for the efforts of transit riders, historic preservationists, state fair boosters, community input advocates, environmentalists, neighborhood associations, and ourselves: the State Fairgrounds Development Coalition.
By way of example, we’re glad that the City Council included mention of the Detroit Sustainability Action Agenda because just a few days ago the Mayor’s office, a representative, said it didn’t apply to the contemplated development.
We feel these are great advances that we were able to make. It shows that the city council members were listening and, therefore, we feel that there should be a word of gratitude for all the folks who spent their time in all the public comments and all the letters for having given you the input that helped to shape the resolution that was passed - even though we may ourselves at this moment in time be dissatisfied with it.
We thank you very much for this opportunity and we thank all the folks that put in all this hard work - and for the community engagement that Detroit, our city, is all about. Thank you very, very much.
Oct 15 2020
Public comment
City Council Planning & Economic Development Sub Committee
Frank Hammer, SFDC
I’m urging your committee and the council to reject the amazon deal because it is riddled with misinformation. First, 1,200 jobs were promised FOR Detroiters. We know that’s not true. The jobs will be IN Detroit but are not promised FOR Detroiters.
Second, the deal claimed Detroiters could become “Amazon partners” with their own fleet of vans. Problem is, there won’t be any vans at this warehouse. You’ll have to go to Shelby or Romulus to do that.
This deal is beginning to stink. If the carrot doesn’t work, they begin to use the stick.
Last night Councilman McCalister Jr said on Fox 2 that if the deal isn’t approved, Amazon can go to Northland Mall. Problem is, all of Northland has already been sold for mixed use development.
80 acres there sold for $8 million. How can our centrally located 142 acres sell for only $1 million more?
Oct 13 2020
public comment, Detroit City Council
Frank Hammer, sfdc
Amazon committed to 1,200 jobs in the purchase agreement regarding the Fairgrounds. That says they precisely know the level of economic activity that’s anticipated at the site. That tells us Mr. Bezos can also tell us how many 18-wheelers will drive in and out of the Fairgrounds.
To be clear, it’s going to be only 18-wheelers and not any delivery vans. This mega-warehouse will deliver to other warehouses and not be for home delivery.
Mr. Bezos knows the exact amount of pollution the 18-wheelers powered by diesel fuel will produce, 24/7, 363 days/yr. That pollution will dramatically increase health hazards for those living and working in Detroit, not to mention the impact of diesel emissions on the growing climate crisis.
No amount of environmental studies will address the real life threats the trucks will pose for Detroiters. We need proactive solutions.
Much has been made of Amazon deploying 100,000 electric vans. That won’t have any bearing on the Fairgrounds site. Just 1 month ago, Amazon deployed its first ten battery powered 18 wheelers as part of its “climate pledge.” City Council can take leadership by requiring Amazon to deploy exclusively battery powered trucks at the Fairgrounds site.
Oct 8 2020
Public Comment
Detroit City Council, Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee
Frank and Karen Hammer, SFDC
Our stand is clear: the community-based 21st century META eXPO development vision at the Fairgrounds was aimed at enhancing Detroit’s ability to compete with the world’s great cities, and at making the fairgrounds the unique destination the rest of the world would be eager to see. The Mayor’s plan will do none of this. His deal sacrifices long term vision for what’s expedient.
Duggan says he’s a climate mayor, and yet he ignores the city’s own Detroit Sustainability Action Agenda.
That Agenda mentions a 2020 Transportation Master Plan aimed at reducing impacts to public health and ending environmental justice inequities. Yet hundreds more diesel 18 wheelers will flood the fairgrounds 24/7, 363 days/yr. There’s been no mention how that aligns with that master plan.
The Sustainability agenda calls for more opportunities for local entrepreneurs, which this plan mocks. We’re told there will be opportunities for independent Amazon delivery partners. How so - if this warehouse is designed exclusively for over-the road, truck trailer deliveries to other warehouses, with no vans?
There are no green building guidelines as mandated by the Sustainability agenda – not for Amazon, which should be easy, and not for the other factories slated for the site.
The agenda requires a doubling of the City’s solar generation capacity by 2024. Does anyone know whether this deal will do that? Where’s the analysis?
The agenda calls for an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. Wayne Co was cited in for violating ozone pollution standards due to emissions from industrial facilities and motor vehicles. Shouldn’t the city be demanding that Amazon’s 18-wheelers be electric powered?
If the deal isn’t held to these and other sustainability mandates, there’s no choice but to vote NO
aug 14 2020
State Fairgrounds Development Coalition Statement on Mayor's Fairgrounds deal
While the announcement of jobs for Detroiters is welcomed, the State Fairgrounds Development Coalition has serious concerns about the Mayor’s plan for the Fairgrounds which includes an Amazon distribution warehouse.
Jun 22 2019
Power to the People! On to Renewable Energy!
Remarks at “Rally and Festival for a 21st Century Fairgrounds” - Frank Hammer, co-chair, SFDC
FEB 5 2018
2018: A Pivotal Year for the Michigan State Fairgrounds
According to Director Josh Burgett, the Michigan Land Bank “Fast Track” Authority (MLBA) hopes to make a decision about its fate before its March 21, 2018 Board meeting.
OCT 24 2017
Let's Talk About Climate Change in Detroit...
Do you know about the grassroots climate action efforts underway for a sustainable development at the Michigan State Fairgrounds?
AUG 12 2017
May 29 2014
May 26 2014
May 17 2014
Mar 18 2014
Jun 24 2012
A NOTICE TO “THE HUB DETROIT” READERS
The glowing report about the Magic Plus LLC – beginning with the frontpage headlines, “Magical Transformation,” and “$1 billion vision” is, however, undeserved.
Frank & Karen Hammer
What’s YOUR Vision for the Mi State Fairgrounds?
The ORIGINAL Magic Plus plan had an asphalt parking lot taking up 43% of the property – typical of car-based “power centers.”
Frank & Karen Hammer - GWCA Newsletter
State Fairgrounds: Land Grab Under the Radar
A recent statement by a “privatization” advocate at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy put to rest one of the enduring myths about why the State Fair at Woodward and Eight Mile had to be shut down after 162 years of operation.
Karen & Frank Hammer – Michigan Citizen
Powerpoint: Meta Expo
In 1996, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy began recommending that the state should get out of the state fair business in its entirety.
Frank Hammer - GWCA Annual Meeting
Is a “Power Center” what we need at the Fairgrounds?
Just when “Power Centers” are in decline, why are Magic Plus LLC and the Michigan Land Bank Authority planning one for the State Fairgrounds?
Frank Hammer - FAC
SFDC Letter to Governor Snyder
This letter is meant to highlight pertinent issues of the Fairgrounds development not necessarily considered or understood, and to put before you options we think are viable.
Karen Hammer - SFDC