D. Joseph Buys

1016 High Street

Marquette, MI 49855-3609

November 26, 1999

The Mining Journal

Attn: Editor

249 W. Washington St.

Marquette, MI 49855

Dear Editor,

A November 24^th Mining Journal front page article cited the City of Marquette was applying for emergency Federal money to move Lakeshore Blvd. I feel this article represents the convoluted thinking of "the City", not its residents’ wishes. It reeks of another county airport move where elected officials made decisions adversely affecting nearly all of us instead of following the wishes of the vast majority of their constituents. The approval process for the 12-story high rise comes to mind. To this day I don’t recall talking to anyone who wanted the airport moved or wants to see a 12-story high rise. Furthermore, I don’t recall talking to anyone who wants Lakeshore Blvd moved. Whatever happened to representation?

I feel this "spin doctor’s delight" distorts numerous facts, presents flawed arguments, and once again does not represent the interest and desires of the majority of our residents. It appears to represent another government institution becoming almost completely unresponsive to the taxpayers and residents whom they are supposed to serve. I feel these are all fake arguments to support what the City has long wanted to do. Let me address some of these issues more specifically:

• Why is the City pursuing moving this street? I attended two public hearings by the Planning Commission looking for public input on this subject where nearly everyone stated they did not want the road moved? Improved yes, but not moved. Why waste our time with hearings that don’t matter? People also stated they generally did not want Wright Street to go through but do you want to bet that will be done? That would give further access to the business park along the Lake that was expedited by our City with almost no public input. Not that input would have mattered.
• The article stated the road is pretty much a mess and sometimes closed because of weather and waves. Also, it "has a history of problems." If my memory serves me, it was closed a total of a few hours during the past three years. Incidentally, there is an easy alternate route via Presque Isle Avenue for those rare occasions it’s needed. Perhaps one should apply for emergency hazard funding for M-28, which also borders Lake Superior, but is closed a lot more than Lakeshore Blvd and affects many thousands more people.
• The article cited this emergency money was for hazard mitigation projects. One has to wonder what is the hazard? What is the emergency? To me it looks like an emergency to ram another project through before anyone can object.

I love Lakeshore Blvd where it is and feel most other residents, and non-residents feel the same. I ask the City to knock those cursed rocks the City piled there down a few feet so we can see our beloved Lake Superior, improve the existing road, and otherwise leave it alone. I also ask our residents make themselves heard on this issue, and quickly.

Sincerely yours,

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