What does your water taste like?

How would you describe the water from your tap? Metallic, fresh, tasteless, chlorinated, bland, clean...? 80% of water taste testers preferred the taste of our bottled water samples at UM Dearborn's Water Expo. We hosted a blind taste test as part of their Sustainability Week. Along with bottled natural spring water, we had a sample from the bottle refill station at a local grocery store and the campus tap water. Last year we had a similar event where the preference was about tied, so we were surprised at the overwhelming preference for bottled water this time around. Sometimes tap water wins, sometimes it doesn't. If you don't like the taste of your tap, do you filter it, put up with it, or pay for another source?

At what cost?

With our cultural emphasis on hydration and effective marketing, many have just gotten in the bottled water habit. See this 20/20 episode on the impact of marketing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3QBZac3MSY - which also mentions that some bottled water is just tap water conveniently packaged.

If you watched the movie "F.L.O.W.", you might recall the dispute between commercial access to cheap water, the transfer of water out of a local watershed and the differing regulatory oversight of municipal vs bottled water. Here's a trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGd9D4J0lag.

Objections about bottled water also include the production and disposal of the plastic bottle itself, the environmental burden caused by trucking water across the country, and the comparatively high price per gallon.

Visit this website to learn about the energy-intensive production of bottled water and other important factors: http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/bottled_water_university_edition/social_environ/

To avoid the plastic problem, the convenience of bottled water can be met by refillable containers. UM Dearborn has a bottle-filling adaptation on the drinking fountain at the University Center, so students can refill any container with chilled tap water. It does taste better cold. The UMD Student Environmental Association is working to get rid of all plastic bottles on campus with an emphasis on sustainability, but refillable containers help budgets as well. The current decline in bottle water sales are most likely related to the economic downturn. http://moneyland.time.com/2010/02/01/bottled-water-taste-test-challenge/

Tap Water vs Frack Water

This particular taste test included 'natural spring water' from a region threatened by fracking. What will be the results if fracking fluids impact the source? With complaints about water quality coming out of these regions, it may be even more important to know where our drinking water has been and what has been done to it. Start your studies by reading here: http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/fracking/?gclid=CPGH-Lyw8KsCFYlM4AodWBRpIg

SMART changes? Transportation Cuts Ahead

Due to the significant decrease in revenue and increased fuel and healthcare costs, SMART is seeking public input on proposed service changes. SMART encourages its riders and any citizen to attend the public hearings to better understand the issues at hand. Citizens will have the opportunity to contribute their comments. The public hearings are scheduled for: November 3rd, 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. City of Dearborn Ford Community & Performing Arts Center 15801 Michigan Avenue, Club Room #1 Dearborn, MI November 7th, 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. City of Pleasant Ridge Community Center 4 Ridge Road Pleasant Ridge, MI November 9th, 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. City of Roseville Council Chambers 29777 Gratiot Avenue Roseville, MI For those who are unable to attend the hearings, written comments will be accepted through November 10, 2011. Send written comments to: SMART Administrative Offices 535 Griswold Street, Suite 600 Detroit, MI 48226 Attention: Public Hearings Send email comments to: publichearing@smartbus.org To review proposed service cuts click here. For more details, please visit SMART's website at www.smartbus.org. For further questions, please call Customer Information (866) 962-5515.

Forum Showtimes (updated)

Candidate Forums and Millage Proposals were taped in Dearborn Hts and Dearborn.

note: This article will be updated as additional viewing times are scheduled.

Bookmark this link if you want to check times as we will be updating the viewing schedule as needed. http://lwvddh.blogspot.com/2011/10/forum-video-showtimes.html

Dearborn Hts Forums

> City Council Forum - 1 & 7 am/pm Daily

> Headlee Override Forum - 2:30 & 8:30 am/pm Daily

> D7 School Board Forum - 12:30 am/pm on Saturdays & Sundays

> The City Clerk Forum - 6 & 12 am/pm Daily

Dearborn Forums

Millage and Civil Service Commission Proposals, Dearborn School Board

>>Dearborn Ballot Proposals online forum video. Click to watch.

>>Dearborn School Board Forum is available online. Click to watch!

Times listed below are for CDTV WOW channel 10, Comcast channel 12

Millage and Civil Service Ballot Proposals

Mon. 6 & 10 am, 2, 6, 10 pm

Tue. 7 & 11 am, 3 & 11 pm

Wed. 6 & 10 am, 6 & 10 pm

Thu. 7 & 11 am, 3 & 11 pm

Fri. 6 am, 2, 6, 10 pm

Sat. 8 am, 12 & 4 pm

Sun. 8 am, 12 pm

Dearborn School Board Forum

Mon. 11 am, 3 pm

Tue. 12 & 4 pm

Wed. 11 am, 7 pm

Thu. 8 am, 4 pm

Fri. 6 am, 2, 6, 10 pm

Sat. 9 am, 9 pm

Sun. 8 am, 12 pm

Comcast Customers Only - Additional viewing times on Public Service Channel 18
October 15 and 16 at 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm

Nov 5 and 6 at 8am, 12:30pm, 5pm NEW TIMES

Privatization Study - Nov 17th

If you are interested in forming an educated opinion about this issue, you will find that it is not a simple topic. The shades of gray become apparent when ones studies the history of government and business collaborations. From the company town to corrupted townships, there are extreme cases on either side.

The Seattle LWV has done extensive research in preparation for a national study. Their published report is a great place to start. The last pages of this lengthy publication includes a list of references.

http://www.seattlelwv.org/sites/default/files/privatization2009.pdf

You are invited to add links and suggested reading to this post or on our facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/lwvddh.org. You can also email comments, links and references to lwvddh@gmail.com.

Additional links will be added here, so please check back.

November 17th, Thurs @ 7pm.

Christ Episcopal Church, 120 N. Military at Cherry Hill.

Dearborn Forum this Tuesday, Oct 4.

Attend our next forum in Dearborn's Council Chambers this week. Tuesday evening, October 4th, we will have a school board candidates forum at 7pm and presentations about the 3 millage proposals at 8pm.

Dearborn School Board – Elect 2 of 4

Stephen Stanley Dobkowski Jr.

Joseph A. Guido

Roxanne McDonald

Mary K. Petlichkoff

Proposal 1 OPERATING MILLAGE:

The City of Dearborn has cut 35% of its non-Police and Fire workforce and reduced spending by $12 million annually. Lower tax revenues will require more reductions and impact services and programs further. An additional 5-year millage will allow Dearborn to maintain core services while permanently reducing operating costs.

Shall Section 13.2 of the Dearborn City Charter be amended to temporarily allow the City to levy an additional ad valorem tax up to $3.50 per $1,000 in taxable value (3.5 mills) which will raise approximately $12,250,000 in the first year it is levied, for no more than 5 years?

YES or NO

Proposal 2 LIBRARY MILLAGE:

State law allows citizens to authorize that 1 mill be dedicated to offset the costs of providing library services. Due to declining revenues, library services have been reduced. Additional revenues will be used to support greater technology so that the City of Dearborn can provide effective and efficient access to informational, developmental, and entertainment-oriented materials in order to meet current and future user demands.

Shall the City of Dearborn in accordance with State law MCL § 397.201 levy an additional ad valorem tax in an amount not to exceed $1 per $1,000 in taxable value which equals 1 mill or approximately $3,500,000 in the first year it is levied for no more than 10 years dedicated to fund the ongoing operational and capital costs of a library system?

YES or NO

Proposal 3 ELIMINATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM:

The Civil Service System as defined in Chapter 11 of the Dearborn City Charter was created before City employees formed 8 different labor unions to represent them in negotiating contracts covering wages, benefits, and work rules. The provisions in these contracts take precedence over Civil Service policies. Dearborn is one of a few Michigan cities that still has a Civil Service System. If necessary, the City Council could create a Human Resources Commission by ordinance to oversee any employment issues for City employees.

Shall the Dearborn City Charter be amended to eliminate the Civil Service System by repealing Chapter 11?

YES or NO

Dearborn Heights Candidate Forum Sept. 28

On Wednesday, September 28, candidates for the Dearborn Heights City Clerk, City Council, and the District 7 School Board will participate in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Dearborn – Dearborn Heights.

The evening will begin with an explanation of the one ballot proposal on the November 8 General Election in Dearborn Heights, the Headlee Override Millage Proposal. Speaking will be Eric Lupher, Director of Local Affairs for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, who will give a broad overview of what the Headlee Amendment is and what an override means, and Daniel Paletko, Mayor of Dearborn Heights. This portion will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

At 7 p.m. the candidates for City Clerk, Janet S. Badalow and Walter J.Prusiewicz, will participate in a 30-minute forum. There will be an opportunity for written questions from the audience, asked by the moderator, Jenni Dunn, a member of the League.

The City Council candidate forum will be held immediately following, at approximately 7:30 p.m. There are 5 people running for 3 openings. It is scheduled to last 1-hour and there will be an opportunity for written questions from the audience, asked by the moderator.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. the candidates for the District 7 School Board will participate in a forum scheduled to last for one hour. There are 4 candidates running for 2 positions on the school board.

The forum will be held in the City Council Chambers at the Dearborn Heights City Hall, 6045 Fenton. The public is invited to attend.

In addition to the moderator, Jenni Dunn, the president of the League of Women Voters, Mary Bugeia will welcome the speakers, candidates, and members of the audience. The evening will be videotaped by WDHT for rebroadcast on local access government cable television channels on WOW, Comcast and AT&T.

Betsy Cushman chairs the Voters Service Committee. Members include Chris Sullivan, Dennis Kirchoff, Joe Borrajo, Judy Carty, Judy Patrick, Mary Bugeia, Carolyn Buell, Barb Adams, Jenni Dunn and Kathy Gapa.

Bullets and Ballots - Remember Sept 11th

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was home with 3 children as we watched the videos from New York and worried about what’s next. The screen presents fiction more often than facts, so it took awhile to understand the reality of this attack. Meanwhile many had to leave the TV and take care of the day’s work. On that day, election workers were handling Dearborn’s Mayoral Primary. Sometime later I was in the voting booth when my husband called with alarm. He had heard a radio report about rioting in Dearborn and worried about our safety.

The fear from that day has echoed through the years with a patriotic fervor and a decade of war, but I wonder why the pledges of patriotism haven’t produced civic engagement. Voter turnout is embarrassingly low for a nation so proud of its legacy. At great risk others demand a voice in dictatorial nations, while we dismiss our own democratic process.

Proponents of 2nd amendment rights tout the value of a well-armed citizenry to protect against tyranny, but I’d like to call on a well-informed citizenry to practice democracy. Sergeant Molly carried the water and loaded the cannon because she had no other recourse for liberty. Now she has the right to vote so that her first line of defense is the ballot box. Hold the line with this basic right and restore voter turnout as a patriotic duty.

LWV began 90 years ago to arm new voters with information about candidates and issues. Our heritage continues with a busy Voter Service Committee, a League hallmark in our own community for 60 years. Candidates and voters are urged to participate fully in the campaign process and on election day. One vote can sometimes make a difference, but when the majority of potential voters sit it out, do you wonder that a motivated minority gets more of a say? From one election to the next, we have basically told candidates to “call someone who cares”, so they do. What will our city and nation be like 10 years from today if we amped up our fervor for making democracy work at home? Let’s find out.

By Jenni Dunn