The next episode of Dreamland Tonight will be taped before a live audience on the evening of Friday, June 18, in Ypsilanti’s historic Dreamland Theater. This show, among other things, will feature a mayoral debate moderated by Puppet Mark, between incumbent mayor Paul Schreiber and his challenger, former Ypsilanti mayor Pete Murdock, who currently serves on City Council. If you have ideas for questions, please leave them here… Tickets will be $7, with all proceeds going toward the ongoing operations of the not-for-profit Dreamland Theater. Doors will open at 7:30, and the show will begin promptly at 8:00. In addition to the mayoral debate, we will also have a surprise musical guest, and a few other fun things… If you have an extra podium, or feel like building a couple for our use, please let me know. It would also be great if someone out there could make a mayoral debate graphic featuring images of the two men, but I can draw something myself, if no one comes forward… The plan is to air the debate on Ann Arbor Community Access shortly after taping.
Speaking of mayors, it looks like Kwame Kilpatrick, the disgraced former mayor of Detroit, will be serving the next few years in prison. This, for those of you who don’t live in the Detroit area, is a very good thing. And here, in case you missed it, is footage from earlier today of Kwame’s sentencing.
And, Kwame’s bullshit statement that preceded sentencing, about how he now wanted to take responsibility for his actions and “make it right with the community,” can be found here.
[note: I am in no way equating Schreiber or Murdock with Kwame. Either one, in my opinion, would make a fine Mayor.]
18 Comments
Giant kudos to both Mr. Murdock and Mr. Schreiber for engaging in this historic event. And here I worried that nothing would replace ypsivotes…
I have to say, I think Mayor Schreiber has the incumbent’s advantage as he’s already acquainted with puppet Mark. Will Mr. Murdock be given a little one-on-one with the stringed instrument prior to the debate to level the field?
More importantly, do you have a moderator? If not, I’d like to strongly recommend you contact the hungry cat.
Thank you for mentioning Ypsi Votes. I was involved in those community events, and I’m really proud of what we did. What we’re doing here isn’t meant to be a replacement for that. This is one of many public forums in which Schreiber and Murdock will be debating the issues. My hope is that this particular venue, however, will raise the awareness of a whole new demographic than we’ve reached in the past. I think it’ll be fun, but I don’t intend for it to be any less serious. If you read this site, I think you know that I take this stuff seriously. And, I hope you also know that I strive to be fair. I may be talking through a puppet, but it’s still me.
As for Ypsi Votes, I’m not against the idea of hosting another, bigger event later in the summer under the banner of that organization. It’s just a matter of how much time I have available between the show, the Shadow Art Fair, the Cycle Powered Cinema project, and all the other things that I’ve presently got going on.
Mark, for those who haven’t been paying attention, are there any other events coming up this summer, ie when’s SAF? Any dates for CPC? Thanks.
I like living in a town where politicians aren’t afraid to talk with puppets.
Sidetrack/Frenchie’s has a podium you can use..
I would ask about how we as a community recruit good, tax-paying families when our public schools are in disarray. I would also ask what can be done about the development of Water Street.
Trains. What can we as a community do to help make the local train stop happen?
I’m with Eric!
Trains!
There are so many good questions. These would be at the top of my list:
The Thompson Block: please compare and contrast your positions on the Thompson Block and your efforts to resolve the situation, taking into consideration a Judge’s recent decision to throw out the City’s suit and Beal’s counter-suit and referring the two parties to mediation.
The Parks- Last spring the City took maintenance duties in Riverside and Frog Island Parks away from a private non-profit and returned the responsibility to Ypsi DPS. At the time, we were told that there was money that would set aside for this task and that we would see no change in the parks, yet already this year there is tall grass and weeds growing in places that were kept trim and maintained by the non-profit. Please explain your position on this vote, and how you feel about it a year later, given our worsening budget situation. Any numbers you can provide on maintenance costs would also be helpful.
Water Street- Please explain your stance on zoning for Water Street, and how you think that position effects development.
Transit- Since both candidates supported placing a transit millage on August’s ballot, it would be great to see them take a moment to support it together.
There is lots of other stuff to talk about too, and I’m interested to see what else comes up here in the run-up to the next DLT.
I just came up with that, abbreviating the name of the show. You can have it, Mark. Makes it sound all cool like SNL, or maybe more like MTV TRL. mm.com presents DLT! Brought to you by Haab’s and their Friday Fried Chicken Special.
How do you think Kwame would do if he ran in Ypsi against Pete and Paul? It’s an interesting question. Even with everything that’s come out against him – the perjury, the corruption, the sexting, the violence – he’s still got fans in the area. He’s a dynamic guy, and some people buy his new “born again” persona.
Mark –
I didn’t realize this was a paid admission event, begging the question of who would pay to see this stellar event, I have a proposal…
I or my campaign committee (if permissible) will donate $250 to the Dreamland Theatre if Paul would match it and we’ll have a free event.
What sayeth you Mark? Naia? Paul?
Very cool, Mr. Murdock.
The bid is $300 to you, Paul.
Pete, that’s an awesome idea, but I’d hate to take money from either campaign, when I know that you need it for yard signs and stuff. What if, instead of taking your money, we just ask people to make a donation to the Dreamland Theater for this special program? That way, people could come in for free if they want to, or, if they want, they could contribute a few dollars. I asked Naia, who runs the Theater, and she said that she’d be fine with it. And we’ll do our best to get the recording of the show online and on Community Access TV as soon as possible, in case there are people who can’t make it, or, more likely, can’t fit in. (I think it’ll be pretty crowded.)
And thank you for the offer of the podium, Sidetrack. Now I just need to track down one more.
Isn’t this that lecturn vs podium thing again?
Would you settle for a rostrum and a pulpit?