FridayMusings hope for the

new year in our hometown

Here is hoping. . .

. . . .that Livonia will take up the issue of the non-discrimination ordinance again and that it will pass the Council the second time around.

. . . .that Livonia will visit the issue of establishing within the industrial belt three medical marijuana dispensaries.

. . . .that Livonia will put on the community agenda the development of a true community performing arts center.

. . . .that Livonia move toward replacing the small recycling bins with the larger wheeled carts.

. . . .that Livonia explore compost pick up door to door, Weekly Residential Food Waste Composting

. . . .that Livonia take another look at the removal of the Alfred Nobel Library with the hope that a Dennis Wright Community Resource Center be opened in its place.

. . . .that Livonia set as a goal the enlistment of 1,000 volunteers for the Livonia Service Corps by Spring.

. . . .that Livonia create a position of grant writer whose sole purpose is to bring a revenue stream of grants into our hometown.

. . . .that Livonia name a facility or a park after the late John Dufour, the father of Livonia open space and the Parks and Recreation Department.

. . . .that the Tour de Livonia continues to put Livonia on the map of healthy communities with 1,000 riders in the second annual event.

. . . .that Livonia add the names of all art organizations and groups to the City website acknowledging the importance of art in defining quality of life.

. . . .that Livonia Public Schools identify a way to reduce the price of community groups using the three school performing art centers thus encouraging outside-of-education groups to use these wonderful buildings.

. . . .that Livonia consider placing on the ballot a long-term infrastructure bond proposal for the projects that have been put off for years and now need attention to continue defining Livonia as the go-to hometown.

. . . .that Livonia council folks looking for a way to communicate with residents turn to their own social media and start promoting community events to their followers instead of merely relying on others to promote quality of life activities in our hometown.

. . . .that the NCAA program, Name-Image-likeness, be eliminated. College sports is becoming too much like professional sports with students transferring or enrolling based on the money or cars being offered.

Should we hold off the move by

some to postpone the 2023 city election while moving the city

elections to the Presidential and Governor election years?

Laura Toy will be the odds-on favorite should she announce as she is expected, for Livonia City Clerk. Her name and years of service make her a prohibitive favorite.

One of her chief campaign ideas is to postpone the 2023 city elections until 2024, which is allowed for under state law. This would permanently move our city elections to the ballot on which we vote for President or Governor, the even-numbered years.

This move would provide a leg up in the election to incumbents or those with name recognition as a new candidate competing with a Presidential campaign would not be able to raise the money to reach the larger number of voters who turn out for President or Governor.

Livonia elections in odd-numbered years provide us with an opportunity to discuss local hometown issues without being overshadowed by national issues.

It is not the way to go to continue Livonia discussions on Livonia's needs and values, irrespective of what the national candidates are talking about.

Senior Center Book Club will share some cool books in 2023

I really enjoy the books we read and share at the Senior Center Book Club, started by Chuck Dardas and by invitation co-hosted by the typewriter. In the first quarter of 2023, date not firm yet, we will read and discuss The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. This video won me over. Check it out, get the book, settleback and enjoy. The video alone as Cate Strumbos says is "very cool."