Basement flooding

My comments on past basement flooding unfortunately are still relevant.  Click on the "basement flooding" link for more details.

Livonia City Council Campaign

I am in the race for council with 12 other candidates. Primary is August 6th and I will be participating in all of the forums.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions? Steve King answers. Laura Cox? Candidate has not yet responded.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingI support trade schools and apprenticeships for building and technical skills.

Over the next decade trillions will be spent on infrastructure and there is already a shortage of workers to operate the equipment to do those jobs.

Skilled machine operator is another job that goes begging. Many trades are experiencing shortages and it takes years to fill the pipeline so those jobs will go to non residents or the work will be shipped overseas.

We have to stop the treadmill to college that no longer guarantees a job but does result in huge student loan debt. This debt is now in the trillions and bigger than all consumer debt for the first time in history.

Work is the most important vehicle to a better life and that is why the process of background checks forces so many to go into the underground economy.

When childhood indiscretions follow you for the rest of your life it is time to re-examine the process.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions? Steve King answers. Laura Cox? Candidate has not yet responded.

Economy: What policies do you support to increase jobs and help Michigan residents improve their economic positions?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingI support trade schools and apprenticeships for building and technical skills.

Over the next decade trillions will be spent on infrastructure and there is already a shortage of workers to operate the equipment to do those jobs.

Skilled machine operator is another job that goes begging. Many trades are experiencing shortages and it takes years to fill the pipeline so those jobs will go to non residents or the work will be shipped overseas.

We have to stop the treadmill to college that no longer guarantees a job but does result in huge student loan debt. This debt is now in the trillions and bigger than all consumer debt for the first time in history.

Work is the most important vehicle to a better life and that is why the process of background checks forces so many to go into the underground economy.

When childhood indiscretions follow you for the rest of your life it is time to re-examine the process.

What policy changes do you support regarding campaign funding and voting rights for Michigan voters? Find Steve King's answers below. Laura Cox? Candidate has not yet responded.

Elections: What policy changes do you support regarding campaign funding and voting rights for Michigan voters?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingIn a representative Democracy it should be easier to vote not harder. I support same day registration, no reason absentee voting, multiple day voting and weekend voting. Other States are exploring many options to increase voter turnout and it is time for Michigan to do the same.

The reporting waiver limit for campaigns should be raised to 10,000.00 dollars for local elections and 100,000.00 for State elections. The process we have now is extremely cumbersome and favors the career politicians with their paid staffers and lawyers filing ridiculous reports that do nothing to keep the wealthy from having undue influence.

League of Women Voters asks What actions or policies do you support to meet Michigan energy needs while protecting our water, air and land for current and future generations? Steve King answers. Laura COX? "Candidate has not yet responded.."

Energy & Environment: What actions or policies do you support to meet Michigan energy needs while protecting our water, air and land for current and future generations?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingI support energy independence for the State. Currently we import billions of dollars of energy every year. It is time to fully embrace alternative energy that comes in many forms.

The State is embracing wind but needs to add much more solar and bio fuels to the mix. The future is electric and the very long process of transitioning from fossil fuel has already started.

There are millions of miles of pipelines transporting oil and natural gas throughout the country. This is an efficient way to move large volumes of materials but it is unwise to run pipelines through the great lakes, our most precious resource.

More must be done to protect this resource - Great Lakes Water - from an environmental catastrophe or from the drought weary regions of the country.

Our recycling efforts must be improved and a carbon tax is inevitable so we must prepare for the greening of our industries by leading. Many States are way ahead of the curve and they along with other countries are going to seize the new green collar jobs.

What policy changes do you support regarding campaign funding and voting rights for Michigan voters? Find Steve King's answers below. Laura Cox? Candidate has not yet responded.

Elections: What policy changes do you support regarding campaign funding and voting rights for Michigan voters?

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingIn a representative Democracy it should be easier to vote not harder. I support same day registration, no reason absentee voting, multiple day voting and weekend voting. Other States are exploring many options to increase voter turnout and it is time for Michigan to do the same.

The reporting waiver limit for campaigns should be raised to 10,000.00 dollars for local elections and 100,000.00 for State elections. The process we have now is extremely cumbersome and favors the career politicians with their paid staffers and lawyers filing ridiculous reports that do nothing to keep the wealthy from having undue influence.

Steve King and Education

League of Women Voters asks about Education:  Steve King's thoughtful answers are featured in this blog post.  Laura COX? "Candidate has not yet responded."

Laura CoxCandidate has not yet responded.

Steve KingCharter Schools have not been the panacea the State had envisioned and need to be held accountable moving forward. The Free Press report spells it out very clearly.

I also support the consolidation of districts business operations.We have 552 school districts and that is far too many central office fiefdoms that have little to do with helping teachers teach and students learn. Pushing every kid into college is also a mistake.

Trade and technical education is the smart choice for millions of young people and needs to be supported long before high school. Local control must be returned to local elected officials.

See http://mibrightfuture.org/ for an example of progressive and innovative approaches to education and training focused on the needs of local businesses.

This can fuel business growth.

Steve King wins 19th District Michigan State House Primary - Was endorsed by Detroit News

"In the 19th state House Democratic primary, Steve King defeated political newcomer Jon Smith 2,606-1,881. King, a former school board member of Livonia Public Schools, will now move on to the general election in November, where he will go against current Republican state Rep. Laura Cox, who is looking for her second term in Lansing."

- Livonia Observer 8/2/2016

District 19 (Livonia): Democrat Steve King is the better choice in this race. He believes the current taxation level is too high, and would examine the budget closely for waste, fraud and other inefficiencies.

- Detroit News 7/15/2016

Press Release: Steve King Endorsed by Home Town Life - Vote Steve King for Livonia City Council - Tuesday 8/4/2015

Steve King launches YouTube channel - 1st video features Steve King and the Dittilies in 1988 Emmy winning WXYZ TV Channel 7 St. Elsewhere promo

Addressing Basement Flooding with Education, Retention & Insurance

Addressing Basement Flooding with Education, Retention & Insurance

EDUCATION
I have attended every public forum afforded me during my run for Council. Unfortunately the forums are structured in such a way to allow for 60 second responses to often complex issues. The following is a more detailed response to the question of the basement sewer backups that affected so many of our neighbors. Events such as the flooding were devastating but also provide an opportunity to educate the public on flood risks, and how to minimize them through the use of sewer back flow valves and sump pumps.

What the city can do: Prepare a map showing relative risk for basement flooding, so residents can determine their own course of action based on their level of risk. Offer local businesses space at city hall to provide information on those products.

RETENTION
Water backs up into basements because the amount of water entering the storm system is greater than the system can move. This water can be managed by mandating low flow gratings on storm drains. This affects the speed at which water enters the system allowing more time for the system to purge. The downside is additional street and parking lot standing water, but water on the pavement beats water in the basement.

What the city can do: Install these grates in higher risk areas. If already installed, monitor them to make sure that they are kept free of debris to help keep standing water to a minimum.

INSURANCE
Flood insurance does not cover water coming up from the drain, nor does standard homeowners insurance. However, some companies offer a sewer and drain endorsement that does. Coverage can be expensive, in excess of $5.000, but losses can be far greater than that.

What the city can do: Research which companies offer this insurance and the cost for an average household. Provide this information to the public via the city’s website and the Livonia Observer. Hold a flood “open house” and offer those companies the opportunity to show residents the policies they have to offer.

Livonia Observer: Voting records, cutting waste discussed at council forum

Eight candidates for City Council highlighted their voting records as well as how they would work with their council colleagues and cut waste from the budget in a candidate forum sponsored Thursday night by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce at City Hall. ...


King said he will listen, learn and lead. He also read a quote taken from a Chinese proverb to reflect his philosophy on the council.


“A man who asks a question is a fool for a minute; the man who asks no questions is a fool forever,” he said. ...


Candidates were also asked about cutting waste in the budget.


King said he didn't look at studying the budget as cutting waste, but more of what he called a “more effective use of resources.” He thought the city should look at car usage. 


King questioned the purchase and installation of a new boiler in the old courthouse. “I thought we built a new courthouse because the old one was so bad,” he said. “And here we are, putting money into the court.” [more]