Prophetic Word to Mayor John Hieftje of Ann Arbor

The vision that I saw, Hieftje was as Pharaoh. I saw a vision of Hieftje's right hand with five rings on each finger. Each ring had a name. One was named Public Opinion. 2. DDA (Downtown Development Authority) 3. DNA 4. UofM 5. False Peace/Safety according to 1 Thessalonians 5:3 And the voice which spoke to me said: "I have hardened Hieftje's heart for my glory".

Watch for our first historic campaign sign to appear at one of Ann Arbor's busiest intersections 1031 Broadway Street next week!

Rare blog comments by former Ann Arbor Mayor Lou Belcher: Downtown Development Authority

4:19 PM on 9/18/2012

I very rarely comment on current A2 issues as I had my 11 elected years of comments but there seems to be some questions on the DDA and its mission. As I, and my fellow colleagues on council, wrote the law over 30 years ago , I am in a position to give some intent and purpose to its creation. It has certainly changed missions over the years and it has changed for one reason and one reason only.....MONEY and who controls it. As it began its life, the DDA board was to be made up of "downtown" residents and business owners. The only council participation was ONE NON-VOTING liasion member. It was to be administered from the planning department....we said we did not want to create another bureaucracy outside of city hall and we were determined not let it become another core wasteland like so many other Michigan cities. Please remember the DDA began with no money,no staff,no parking responsibilty and no one paid much attention to its existance. This all changed when this "orphan" started to generate (guesswhat) MONEY. No DDA funds can be spent outside the set bountries of the DDA and the DDA cannot buy or sell real property for the city....only the city council by a 3/4 majority vote can do that. The DDA was never intended to be another government. It has so because of MONEY and the Power MONEY brings. The council has abtacated responsibilities to the DDA because it could not balance its operating budget without the DDA's MONEY. The DDA has become the ATM for the city government. Look at the make up of the DDA board...it's a sub-committee of city council...really....the mayor, council members, former council members, county commissioners....follow the money. The DDA has worked!!! and if left alone to do its original mission it would work even better. ... the government, is only there to support the vitality of the all important core. Affordable housing and projects outside the DDA boundries should not be funded by DDA funds. Citizens....WATCH THE

The Ann Arbor Chronicle -- Ann Arbor Mayoral Race: Howard, Hieftje

Ann Arbor mayoral race: Albert Howard accuses Mayor John Hieftje of running 'shadow government'

Ann Arbor mayoral race: Albert Howard accuses Mayor John Hieftje of running 'shadow government'

WATCH FULL MAYORAL DEBATE VIDEO: JOHN HIEFTJE VS. ALBERT HOWARD (CLICK BELOW)

WATCH FULL MAYORAL DEBATE VIDEO: JOHN HIEFTJE VS. ALBERT HOWARD

Dominick Lanza, Former Fire Chief AAFD

This is smoke and mirrors 3 stations at 4 people equals 12, 5 stations at 3 people equal 15 so there is a reduction in the firefighters on duty of 3. Also add to that the 2 man wonder truck( no water or hose) responding instead of an engine on any given day it drops to 11. I dont work in Ann Arbor anymore because I refused to go along with the city's desire to dangerously reduce fire fighting capabilities and risk firefighter and citizens lives. I also wonder why the city can spread "propaganda" on this matter but the firefighters have a gag order? Perhaps the city doesnt want educated oposing opinions or factual information out so the public can make an informed decision. This problem could be solved easily if the University paid their fair share of the cost instead of being shielded by the state. Dominick Lanza, Former Fire Chief AAFD