Unbiased newsman Steve Pierce weighs in with the fair and balanced “facts”

I thought, when I did my last post about malicious and deceitful political ads, that we were done for now, but, according to AnnArbor.com, we have a late entry. It seems as though Ypsilanti’s Steve Pierce has been distributing handbills targeting Paul Schreiber – the man who defeated him in the race for Mayor four years ago. According to AnnArbor.com, the flyer being distributed by Pierce, “contains four statements about Schreiber’s record and actions as mayor. Fact-checking by AnnArbor.com shows three of those statements appear to be misleading or distort what happened.”

Here’s a clip:

…The flyer distributed over the weekend says a resident upset over water rate increases cursed at Schreiber and claims the mayor’s solution to the problem was to seek a personal protection order and demand a special police protection detail that cost taxpayers hundreds of dollars in police overtime.

Multiple phone messages in which the resident harassed the mayor were provided to AnnArbor.com. Documentation and e-mails with former Police Chief Matt Harshberger show several city staff also requested a restraining order. The resident is prohibited from entering city hall for the rest of the mayor’s four-year term, Schreiber said.

Schreiber said the resident made a threatening call in which he indicated he would show up at the next council meeting. That prompted Schreiber to request an officer at the next two meetings because he feared for his, residents’ and council’s safety.

The flyer also claims Schreiber “was told about problems with police dispatch, including dropped and misrouted calls since dispatch was taken over by the county.” It says Schreiber’s solution to a resident who was unable to reach police was to provide his personal cell phone number.

The flyer says the exchange took place during a June 18 mayoral debate, but a review of the debate’s video, available on MarkMaynard.com, shows Schreiber wasn’t suggesting residents call him if they have an emergency. Additionally, Schreiber wasn’t asked about problems with dispatch and was instead responding to a question about crime.

In his response, Schreiber said residents are key in fighting crime and can call the police upon seeing suspicious activity. He also said if residents encountered problems with dispatch, they should call the city manager and ultimately him if needed, and he provided his cell phone number.

“If it’s not working to somebody’s satisfaction then I want to know about it, and that was the point of my comment,” Schreiber said Sunday.

The flyer also says residents in the city’s public housing units lived in sub-standard housing during the 10 years Schreiber was on the Ypsilanti Housing Commission, with the bulk of units failing repeated rental inspections. Schreiber argues the housing commission had serious issues when he began working on it and improved during his tenure.

The flyer accuses Schreiber of cutting a deal to exempt public housing from all city rental inspections and forgiving $25,400 the housing commission owed the city for past due inspection fees.

Schreiber said the situation was much more complex, noting the housing commission can’t pay for the city’s inspections with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds if the commission has a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with the city. He said the housing commission was doing its own inspections, in addition to a HUD-approved third party.

Schreiber also pointed out the final resolution was approved by council…

For what it’s worth, Pete Murdock, whom Pierce is backing in the race, has told AnnArbor.com that he, “called Pierce and asked him not to distribute literature on his behalf.”

And, for the record, before anyone jumps in to say that I’m playing favorites, I covered the poorly written, offensive attack piece that went out against Murdock a few days ago as well. I try my damndest to stay objective about local politics, and keep my cool, but it bothers the hell out of me when people treat this stuff like a fucking game. Beating your perceived enemies is not all that matters. And bullshit like this isn’t what the City needs right now. There are significant issues that need to be addressed, and these kinds of baseless attacks only serve to further confuse the real issues at hand. I know both Pete and Paul, and I like them. I’m proud to have them both serving the City at a time when no one in their right mind would volunteer to do so. And I wish them both all the best in tomorrow’s primary. But there’s no place for this kind of behavior, and I would hope that each of these men would perhaps learn from this that there are forces at work within out City that do not have our best interests at heart. And I’ll leave it at that for now…

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30 Comments

  1. nammeroo
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 10:31 pm | Permalink

    Interesting that Steve Pierce’s piece on Paul Screiber was hand delivered, and included his actual street address on it, for anyone who wished to follow up. The Nixonian hit piece on Pete Murdock was anonymously mailed from an out-of-state bulk mailer, and included only a misleading group name and a very anonymous P.O. Box address.

    It’s not hard to see which of the two independent campaign pieces is more trustworthy. Also interesting is that I’ve heard or seen nothing from Mayor Schreiber disavowing the Populist Caucus mailer. He’s a nice guy and a good neighbor, but he’s made an ugly habit of letting others do his dirty work. That’s unfortunate.

  2. notoneofthecoolkids
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 10:33 pm | Permalink

    print media is dead…
    and it really sucks
    scratch that…
    it really really really sucks

  3. What's In A Name
    Posted August 2, 2010 at 10:50 pm | Permalink

    nammeroo,

    “It’s not hard to see which of the two independent campaign pieces is more trustworthy.” You’re judging the credibility between two smear pieces? Unbelievable! How about neither appear to be credible as show by the chicken shit nature of the Populist piece and the AnnArbor.com article that quickly poked holes through Steve’s piece.

    And just because Steve Pierce puts his address on it and has the gall to hand it out in person doesn’t make it more factual. Steve has put his name and face on all sorts of malicious, twisted and baseless stuff over the years (such as the tattler).

    Thanks Mark for calling out those who need to be called out. Hopefully someone can get to the bottom of this as well as the Populist piece and they can be called out as well.

  4. Posted August 3, 2010 at 12:16 am | Permalink

    I’ve met Pete a few times, and he came off as a smug son of a gun….and he talked trash about a few people in the conversation. Not a man I’d want as Mayor…Mayor Mc Cheese maybe, but that’s about it. I “Grimace”at the thought. Robble-Robble and good night, fry guys and gals.

  5. John Gawlas
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 5:35 am | Permalink

    Rodney Nanney (nameroo),

    It is remarkable that you are weighing in on smear pieces and disclosure. During the 2008 campaign, you personally penned and distributed an anonymous smear piece against me throughout Ward 2. During that primary, both you (Nanney) and Dave Kircher circulated smear pieces in support of the Bodary campaign.

    ps. How’s your campaign for 54th district State Rep coming? I saw you gave yourself the designatedconservative’s endorsement. (Pat Lesko has got nothing on you.)

  6. Knox
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 6:12 am | Permalink

    I’m sure that Steve will eventually leave a comment asking you to come over to his place for a beer to discuss all of this, Mark. What’s up with Ypsi and guys who think they can buy friends with free hot dogs and beer?

  7. First time caller
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 9:13 am | Permalink

    One wonders what Steve’s wife makes of all this, as it would appear that she funds these activities.

  8. Edward
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 9:45 am | Permalink

    Mr. Gawlas,

    Are you saying that Mr. Nanny is “Designated Conservative” and that, as said online character, he endorsed himself?

    How can you NOT love Ypsi politics?

  9. Steph's Dad
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    Pathetic. Pete should demand more from his “friends”. Or, better yet, he should find new ones.

  10. Brackinald Achery
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:46 am | Permalink

    I’m sure that Steve will eventually leave a comment asking you to come over to his place for a beer to discuss all of this, Mark. What’s up with Ypsi and guys who think they can buy friends with free hot dogs and beer?

    Hahaha!

  11. notoneofthecoolkids
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

    first time caller: WTF?

  12. Tball
    Posted August 3, 2010 at 6:41 pm | Permalink

    Does anyone really believe that Pete told Steve not to distribute them? And, if he did, why was Steve seen distributing them, against Pete’s wishes?

  13. First time caller
    Posted August 4, 2010 at 8:49 am | Permalink

    notoneofthecoolkids,

    Someone a while back had mentioned here that Steve’s socalled businesses paid no tax. I took that to mean that his activities were being financed by his wife. Maybe he inherited money though.

  14. Ken
    Posted August 4, 2010 at 9:17 am | Permalink

    It would be funny if this last minute bullshit of Steve’s cost Murdock the election. I don’t think it did, but I’m sure it didn’t help.

  15. lorie thom
    Posted August 4, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    a) @notone and first – Steve’s business is structured to avoid Michigan taxes. Don’t know where his money comes from but he clearly shows he has some waste.

    b) @ken…i don’t think it tossed the entire thing but I have been debating on making a comment on A2.com to thank Steve for sucking up all the air time for the 36 hours before the election with his now badly bashed flier and maybe even offer him a beer to cry in….but this comment is more fun.

  16. Sylvia
    Posted August 4, 2010 at 2:57 pm | Permalink

    Geez Lori, you are just one bitter ass person. I thought your candidate won?
    People like you is the reason this city doesn’t work. You are as bad as Steve P. Maybe we could just put boxing gloves on you and Steve, sell tickets to that event and donate the money to Growing Hope? Whoever loses has to shut the fuck up.

  17. Telly
    Posted August 4, 2010 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

    I feel kind of sorry for this guy. I know “his side” controls the City Council now, and I’m sure he finds some pleasure in that, and hanging out with his friends at Pub 13, but he seems kind of sad, like a giant, insecure little boy who has to buy his friends. Maybe if he could find a job, he’d be happier.

  18. Posted August 4, 2010 at 8:43 pm | Permalink

    Steve’s done some good things in the city, like getting the Kresge building back in play, and working to organize the historic south side of town. And, even though there’s some confusion over Wireless Ypsi’s organization, I think that for-profit venture is a good thing for the City. While I certainly didn’t approve of Steve’s contributions during the primary, I do think that he has demonstrated in the past that he has the capacity to accomplish good things. And I’d like for people to keep that in mind.

  19. Posted August 4, 2010 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    Is this the same Steve Pierce that owns and runs the mortgage/investment company in Ann Arbor, or is it just a coincidence with the name? Sorry…I just know him as the Segway Guy.

  20. Posted August 4, 2010 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

    I’m not sure if it’s still the case, but there were two Steve Pierces in the area, and one, I believe, was in the investment business. He is not Ypsi Steve Pierce, however, who rides a Segway.

  21. Tim
    Posted September 27, 2010 at 8:38 am | Permalink

    Let’s all take a moment and pray for Steve Pierce’s safety.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-11416654

  22. xoxo
    Posted February 3, 2012 at 3:53 pm | Permalink

    Read a story in LA Weekly that reminded me of Steve for some reason.

    http://www.laweekly.com/2012-02-02/news/dino-m-zaffina-southern-california-darts-association/

  23. wetdolphinmissile
    Posted February 4, 2012 at 6:13 am | Permalink

    funny I had been just thinking about Steve this week too, thinking what a better mayor he would have made…

  24. Watching Laughing.
    Posted February 4, 2012 at 7:41 am | Permalink

    ? In what ways would he have been a better mayor?
    Just curious?

    WL.

  25. anonymous
    Posted February 4, 2012 at 8:22 am | Permalink

    Off the top of my head, I can come up with a few ways he would have been better.

    • We could cut down on cops as he’d be on the streets at night again, atop his trusty Segway, dispensing justice.

    • City Hall would have high tech butt cleansing robots, like Steve has in his house. Just imagine the impression that would have on foreign dignitaries.

    • Water Street would be the new home of the Detroit Tigers, and we’d have a thriving baseball-based economy.

    • He looks impressive in rented revolutionary war costumes, even if he does choose to take the side of the British.

  26. KKT
    Posted February 4, 2012 at 4:02 pm | Permalink

    And, working with his friend Dave Curtis, the former manager of DejaVu, Washington Street would be a thriving entertainment district.

  27. wetdolphinmissile
    Posted February 5, 2012 at 7:35 am | Permalink

    WL…every meeting and event I have been to that he has lead or been involved in is well planned and organized, he sees the bigger picture and the details, he gets things done, he is professional and thinks much faster than some peeps representing us. I had this impression before we had even met, due to just what I had observed. He knows and respects the police officers of Ypsilanti. I mean no disrespect to our current Mayor who is a very nice man.

  28. Citywatch
    Posted April 27, 2012 at 8:12 am | Permalink

    May God protect all of us from Steve Pierce. He can write it, but we DO NOT have to read his ridiculous rants.

  29. Knox
    Posted April 27, 2012 at 8:23 am | Permalink

    I thought that Steve moved back to Arizona, or New Mexico, or something.

  30. Big Brother
    Posted March 19, 2016 at 5:09 pm | Permalink

    MLive: DDA to continue discussing resident’s ‘disturbing’ downtown Ypsilanti webcam system in April

    http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/03/dda_to_discuss_residents_distu.html

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  1. […] it’s despicable… but, to be honest, not altogether unexpected. As you’ll recall, we’ve seen stuff like this before in Ypsi.Anyway, here’s some of what you’ll find if you visit SaveYpsilantiYes.com.The folks […]

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