Planning Commission Debate Becomes 'Racial' Dispute
West Bloomfield Township Supervisor lashes out with personal attack after resident accuses appointment nomination process as a charade.
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West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste lashed out Monday night at a resident who criticized the supervisor's repeated attempts to fill a Planning Commission seat, calling the monthslong debate over candidates a "disingenuous" charade.
Ureste made the comments during the West Bloomfield Township Board meeting to resident Sheryl Mitchell, taking Mitchell to task for making the tug-of-war over the Planning Commission seat a "racist" issue.
The supervisor's comments were an "embarrassment," Trustee Larry Brown said.
Mitchell spoke out against Ureste after the board voted down Ureste's latest nomination, 18-year resident Arnold Reed, to replace term-expired, eight-year commissioner Don Jackson.
"The seat that is held by Mr. Jackson on the planning commission has been unofficially designated as the black seat, since there is a parade of African-American candidates who have been brought forward by the supervisor," said Mitchell, who works as a senior analyst for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
"Apparently, they aren’t aware of the political situation they are going to be confronted with."
Mitchell was referring to the stance of the majority in this vote — trustees Brown, Howard Rosenberg, and Gene Farber, as well as Clerk Catherine Shaughnessy — who have repeatedly voted down candidates in a show of support for Jackson.
"Your comments were so cruel," Ureste said to Mitchell, who unsuccessfully ran against Shaughnessy for the clerk's office in 2008.
"I am very offended that you have made this racist. You did this in 2008 after you were unsuccessful ... you made it a racial issue for two months straight. That's not me."
The board has voted down seven different potential candidates presented by Ureste, all by a 4-3 margin.
"I really shouldn’t have responded like that. It’s not the person I am. I had to respond. I just didn’t expect that kind of attack right now," Ureste said.
Shaughnessy explained that her vote was "for" Jackson as opposed to being "against" Reed.
Reed, an attorney, responded tongue-in-cheek: "I guess I've never been voted down before I had a chance to get started — in 20 years of practice. I appreciate that ruse."
Jackson will continue as a commissioner for an unspecified period of time.
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Sheryl L. Mitchell
12:52 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The West Bloomfield Township Supervisor has mastered the prosecutorial two-step: If the facts don’t support your position, pivot and invoke a totally unrelated, impassioned, and unsubstantiated accusation...peppered with righteous indignation and outrage.
The facts, perhaps unpleasant to confront, remain unchanged. Mr. Jackson was first appointed to the Planning Commission in 2006. Two other members were first appointed in 1989 and. 2000 (one of which was just reappointed).
So, why is there an effort to remove ONLY him? And, why on earth are ONLY African American's being nominated to replace him? It appears that there is either a hidden agenda or a quota system in play.
Despite Economou's histrionics and misplaced allegations of a political agenda - my major points remained unaddressed:
1. Why has the seat that is held by Mr. Jackson on the Planning Commission been unofficially designated as the “black seat”, since there has been a parade of nominees - all African American - that have been brought forward by the supervisor.
2. If the Supervisor is so concerned about the diversity on our boards, then why aren’t there African Americans being brought forward to be appointed on the dozens of seats on various boards that are available for appointment?
I question the sincerity. I question the intent. But, I unquestionably speak the truth.
Sheryl Mitchell
Ronelle Grier
5:27 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
I agree with Ms. Mitchell. As happened when Ureste's husband failed a breathalyzer test and was given a ride home, the supervisor has turned the facts around in order to portray herself as the injured party. I am embarrassed for Don Jackson, who has to endure Ureste's attempts to replace him at almost every board meeting, and also for the candidates who seek the position in good faith, unaware of the political hornet's nest that awaits them. And can it possibly be a coincidence that the only qualified candidates for this position just happen to be African American?
If you're ready for a much-needed change, join me in voting for Jonathan Warshay for township Supervisor on Aug. 7! No drama....just good honest leadership!