What's the State of Muskegon County? Not pretty

By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle
February 04, 2010, 12:23AM

MUSKEGON — As Gov. Jennifer Granholm dealt with the collapse of Michigan’s economy and the budget crisis Wednesday during her last State of the State address, a similar pall was felt in greater Muskegon’s “state of the community.”

But despite local unemployment, schools threatened with huge cutbacks and local government services declining because of reduced revenues, a hint of optimism remains.

The “state of the city” in the community’s largest municipality is “not a pretty picture,” Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington said. A decline in state revenue sharing along with a reduction in local income and property tax collections has city officials worried about future budgets and maintaining basic services.

“For next year and the 2011 budget, it’s going to be extremely tight,” agreed Muskegon County Board Chairman Ken Mahoney, a commissioner from Montague. “But Muskegon has weathered tough seas before, and I’m confident that we will get through this.” FULL STORY

Watch the Michigan State of the State 2010 Here

State of the Citizen Rally

A video summary of the protest outside the Michigan Capitol building while the governor delivered her State of the State address inside. Organized by Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and Common Sense in Government, more than 700 people turned out to send a message to elected officials that they will now be held accountable for the decisions they make on behalf of the citizens of Michigan.



As I sit here listening to Jennifer Granholm deliver her final State of the State speech, I am struck by her Progressive Marxist agenda that she is laying out.

Granhoms said that any trips she will be taking to bring new jobs to Michigan will be to Washington, DC, to lobby for more Federal Grant Money. I can't help ask myself is all this Grant Money which comes out of our pockets to begin with, will be used in the same manor that Muskegon County 60th District Court employees use Federal Stimulus Grant Money.

After all, Muskegon like most of Michigan today, is a predominantly Progressive Democrat elected government. Even the majority of elected Republicans who come out of Muskegon County are Progressives and vote with the Progressives in Lansing like Gerald VanWoerkom.

One might even describe Muskegon as a mini-Detroit, run by government employee unions.