I called Kevin Anderson and asked why the information was out back up and was told it was never taken down, which is incorrect.
At that time he said that Dearborn Heights provides the same information to its residents. We figured that because the towns mentioned at council were wrong we would give Dearborn a call.
We were told that they only put current billing on the Internet and do not show disconnects and late notices. Once again if you would like to call to find out that once again we were give incorrect information here is the number for Dearborn Heights. 313-791-3400.
Mr. Anderson said that the reason he feels this information is important to give out is it shows that the city is being transparent and not hiding anything.
Funny isn't it, they can be transparent with our personal information but when it comes to the city being transparent with their information it is a secret.
This is nothing more than the city trying to back peddle their way out of lies.
What are your thoughts?
Howard
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Dowagiac Michigan Removes Search Tool that Freely Gave Away Residents Personal Information
The City of Dowagiac removed an invasive utility look up off their webpage. This tool allowed anyone to type in a residents name and see their payment history. This included billing, any late notices, past due amounts and even disconnects.
At Monday's Dowagiac City Council meeting City Manager Kevin Anderson listed three towns that use the same software. When we contacted them they told the Informer that they do not use the software to allow the public to review residents bills.
We hope that the city removed the software because they were giving out personal information about residents and not because they got caught lying to residents.
If history has anything to do with it, they removed the software because they got caught one again lying to residents.
At Monday's Dowagiac City Council meeting City Manager Kevin Anderson listed three towns that use the same software. When we contacted them they told the Informer that they do not use the software to allow the public to review residents bills.
We hope that the city removed the software because they were giving out personal information about residents and not because they got caught lying to residents.
If history has anything to do with it, they removed the software because they got caught one again lying to residents.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Dowagiac Council Didn't Know That Personal Information Was Being Given Out On City Webpage
Great council meeting tonight. I found out that none of the councilmen knew that personal information was be given out on the city's webpage. Mr. Anderson attempted to mislead council by saying that other city's are doing the same thing.
What Mr. Anderson failed to tell council was the other city's are only giving out usage and not personal payment information. Once again Mr. Anderson only told part of the truth to make it appear that it was ok to give out this information.
Council is going to discuss the issue in two weeks at 8:00 pm.
When council voted for online bill payment they were not aware they we also allow this personal information to be given out. This was a lone decision made by City Manager Kevin Anderson.
Howard
What Mr. Anderson failed to tell council was the other city's are only giving out usage and not personal payment information. Once again Mr. Anderson only told part of the truth to make it appear that it was ok to give out this information.
Council is going to discuss the issue in two weeks at 8:00 pm.
When council voted for online bill payment they were not aware they we also allow this personal information to be given out. This was a lone decision made by City Manager Kevin Anderson.
Howard
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Dowagiac Michigan Puts Money Before Residents Privacy
I have no idea why the city just added an online payment search to their webpage. Yes, you can go online and type in the name of any utility customer in the city and get their account details, electric usage and payment history for the price of a dollar.
What public service is the city providing by allowing anyone to look into your payment history and account information online for a dollar?
What liability is the city going to have, for example, when someone's ex-husband is looking for his ex-wife, and he can go online and pay a dollar to obtain her address? What if a person had a Personal Protection Order issued, only to have their safety jeopardized because of the city's policy of releasing a victim's residential information? What is the city's response going to be if someone gets injured as a result of making this information public? What liability will they have?
This is clearly an invasion of privacy so the city can make a dollar each time somebody spies on their neighbor.
The city utility ordinance says that to have utilities in your name, you have to live at the address. If that is the rule for residents, why do some elected officials have electric in their names at other property in town, which according to the Cass County webpage, they don't own?
I can understand landlords wanting this information for their rentals, but they obtain this with the permission of the renter.
I am asking citizens to write in their opinion as to what public service the city is offering by allowing anyone in the world to pay a dollar to see residents' account information and payment history.
Please come forward and run for office this year. We all need to put a stop to ill-conceived, destructive city practices like this.
Howard Hall
What public service is the city providing by allowing anyone to look into your payment history and account information online for a dollar?
What liability is the city going to have, for example, when someone's ex-husband is looking for his ex-wife, and he can go online and pay a dollar to obtain her address? What if a person had a Personal Protection Order issued, only to have their safety jeopardized because of the city's policy of releasing a victim's residential information? What is the city's response going to be if someone gets injured as a result of making this information public? What liability will they have?
This is clearly an invasion of privacy so the city can make a dollar each time somebody spies on their neighbor.
The city utility ordinance says that to have utilities in your name, you have to live at the address. If that is the rule for residents, why do some elected officials have electric in their names at other property in town, which according to the Cass County webpage, they don't own?
I can understand landlords wanting this information for their rentals, but they obtain this with the permission of the renter.
I am asking citizens to write in their opinion as to what public service the city is offering by allowing anyone in the world to pay a dollar to see residents' account information and payment history.
Please come forward and run for office this year. We all need to put a stop to ill-conceived, destructive city practices like this.
Howard Hall
Dowagiac Michigan Finds Another Way to Get Money Out Of Residents
WOW are people complaining around town about the city secretly forcing resident to pay a 3% surcharge to use a debit or credit card to pay your utility bills. Just when you think they have used every way to squeeze a dime out of residents, they find another way.
When was the last time you went out to eat and paid with your debit card an was told we have to add an additional charge?
We contacted over 15 credit card processing companies and was told by many that it is against their contract with companies for them to charge an additional charge to customers that use a credit or debit card, but not in Dowagiac.
What makes it worse is that they added the charge without informing residents of the surcharge.
The city is telling angry customers that it was in the DDN and the response from residents is they don't read the DDN. They are then told that it will be included in next months bills. Well isn't that nice, you add a surcharge and inform residents a month later.
Out of all the companies we contacted NONE of them charge a 3% fee, the fees ranged from 1.5-2%, if the city is charging 3% that means they didn't shop around for the best deal or they are paying a lower percent and adding a little to it so they can make a few bucks.
After all why would they shop around for a better deal, they don't have to pay the fee we do.
Write in and tell us when the last time you used your debit or credit card and was charged a fee to use it.
Add this to you list or reasons to vote in November.
Howard
When was the last time you went out to eat and paid with your debit card an was told we have to add an additional charge?
We contacted over 15 credit card processing companies and was told by many that it is against their contract with companies for them to charge an additional charge to customers that use a credit or debit card, but not in Dowagiac.
What makes it worse is that they added the charge without informing residents of the surcharge.
The city is telling angry customers that it was in the DDN and the response from residents is they don't read the DDN. They are then told that it will be included in next months bills. Well isn't that nice, you add a surcharge and inform residents a month later.
Out of all the companies we contacted NONE of them charge a 3% fee, the fees ranged from 1.5-2%, if the city is charging 3% that means they didn't shop around for the best deal or they are paying a lower percent and adding a little to it so they can make a few bucks.
After all why would they shop around for a better deal, they don't have to pay the fee we do.
Write in and tell us when the last time you used your debit or credit card and was charged a fee to use it.
Add this to you list or reasons to vote in November.
Howard
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Dowagiac Rapist is allowed to plea his way out of rape charge
On Friday January 7th 2011, Mr. David Donley was sentenced in Cass County Circuit Court by Judge Michael Dodge to a prison term of 12 ½ to 40 years. This sentence is the result of a plea bargain between Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz and Donley.
Donley was arrested by Dowagiac Police after a rape complaint was received from a Dowagiac women in June of 2010. According to Court records, 8 charges were authorized against Donley. The charges include: 2- First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1- Home Invasion, 1- Third-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1- CCW Concealed Weapon, 1- Felonious Assault and 2-Resist and Obstruct charges.
According to testimony, Donley forced his way into the victim’s apartment at knife point and raped her twice. During Donley’s stay at Cass County Jail, three additional charges were added for criminal behavior while in custody. Donley was designated an Habitual Offender by the prosecutor. Mr. Fitz also asked that Donley be required to wear restraints to protect people attending the hearing.
Prosecutor Fitz agreed to drop the 3 Criminal Sexual Conduct charges and the 3 charges added while Donley was in jail. In exchange, Donley would enter a No Contest Plea relating to the five remaining charges. Certainly a dangerous criminal is off the street for a very long time, but is it long enough?
As Mr. Fitz pointed out in his recent presentation at the Rotary Club in Dowagiac, Michigan’s Department of Corrections are trying to solve their budget problems by letting out more violent criminals. Mr. Fitz asked the question; “How does releasing more murderers, armed robbers, and CSC offenders make you safer?."
The problem with not prosecuting Donley’s CSC charges has its own set of consequences. First and foremost, the victim has not received justice for the rape crime committed against her. If Donley didn’t commit the rape, most of the other charges would have never been lodged against him. The second problem is with the plea agreement. When Donley gets out of prison, he will not be required to register as a sex offender. It is as if the rape never happened. How will this keep us safer?
According to the Prosecutor, Donley is a Habitual Offender. Donley’s sentence is 12 ½ to 40 years and, if I understand Mr. Fitz’s article correctly, the truth-in-sentencing legislation will require Donley serve at least the minimum. If Donley had been prosecuted and convicted of 1st Degree CSC, the penalty could have been as much as imprisonment for life.
In an April 25,2008 article in the South Bend Tribune, Linda Baechle, then Exec. Director of the YWCA, wrote; “Rape should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The victims are humiliated, embarrassed, frightened. When the perpetrator is not prosecuted and sent away, the survivor is fearful of being alone and always looking over her shoulder for the rapist. The rapist is still out there. She may encounter him at the market or dry cleaners. She will never feel completely safe again.”
Criminal Sexual Conduct cases, involving adult women, are just not a priority for area prosecutors. According to the Michigan State Police website, their Michigan Incident Crime Report (MICR) for Cass County, lists 38 complaints reported in 2008 with only 3 arrests. The same report shows 25 complaints reported in 2009 with 3 arrests. Arrests do not mean there are prosecutions. The Prosecutor’s office must authorize charges before anything happens. So very little is done in Cass County in regard to these complaints.
Danny Inman of DASAS told the Rotary Club in December of 2010 that sexual assault is the number one under-reported crime in the country. Only 5% of the victims tell police, and 15 of 16 perpetrators walk away free. According to Inman, statistically, 94% of assault victims are telling the truth, but it is hard to get a conviction.
If a person is raped at knife point, and she is asked about her assailant’s sentence, which excludes rape charges, what do you think her answer would be? With so few prosecutions of CSC cases involving adult women, justice is hard to come by. Counseling, mood-altering drugs and time are the only options for most victims.
Donley was arrested by Dowagiac Police after a rape complaint was received from a Dowagiac women in June of 2010. According to Court records, 8 charges were authorized against Donley. The charges include: 2- First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1- Home Invasion, 1- Third-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1- CCW Concealed Weapon, 1- Felonious Assault and 2-Resist and Obstruct charges.
According to testimony, Donley forced his way into the victim’s apartment at knife point and raped her twice. During Donley’s stay at Cass County Jail, three additional charges were added for criminal behavior while in custody. Donley was designated an Habitual Offender by the prosecutor. Mr. Fitz also asked that Donley be required to wear restraints to protect people attending the hearing.
Prosecutor Fitz agreed to drop the 3 Criminal Sexual Conduct charges and the 3 charges added while Donley was in jail. In exchange, Donley would enter a No Contest Plea relating to the five remaining charges. Certainly a dangerous criminal is off the street for a very long time, but is it long enough?
As Mr. Fitz pointed out in his recent presentation at the Rotary Club in Dowagiac, Michigan’s Department of Corrections are trying to solve their budget problems by letting out more violent criminals. Mr. Fitz asked the question; “How does releasing more murderers, armed robbers, and CSC offenders make you safer?."
The problem with not prosecuting Donley’s CSC charges has its own set of consequences. First and foremost, the victim has not received justice for the rape crime committed against her. If Donley didn’t commit the rape, most of the other charges would have never been lodged against him. The second problem is with the plea agreement. When Donley gets out of prison, he will not be required to register as a sex offender. It is as if the rape never happened. How will this keep us safer?
According to the Prosecutor, Donley is a Habitual Offender. Donley’s sentence is 12 ½ to 40 years and, if I understand Mr. Fitz’s article correctly, the truth-in-sentencing legislation will require Donley serve at least the minimum. If Donley had been prosecuted and convicted of 1st Degree CSC, the penalty could have been as much as imprisonment for life.
In an April 25,2008 article in the South Bend Tribune, Linda Baechle, then Exec. Director of the YWCA, wrote; “Rape should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The victims are humiliated, embarrassed, frightened. When the perpetrator is not prosecuted and sent away, the survivor is fearful of being alone and always looking over her shoulder for the rapist. The rapist is still out there. She may encounter him at the market or dry cleaners. She will never feel completely safe again.”
Criminal Sexual Conduct cases, involving adult women, are just not a priority for area prosecutors. According to the Michigan State Police website, their Michigan Incident Crime Report (MICR) for Cass County, lists 38 complaints reported in 2008 with only 3 arrests. The same report shows 25 complaints reported in 2009 with 3 arrests. Arrests do not mean there are prosecutions. The Prosecutor’s office must authorize charges before anything happens. So very little is done in Cass County in regard to these complaints.
Danny Inman of DASAS told the Rotary Club in December of 2010 that sexual assault is the number one under-reported crime in the country. Only 5% of the victims tell police, and 15 of 16 perpetrators walk away free. According to Inman, statistically, 94% of assault victims are telling the truth, but it is hard to get a conviction.
If a person is raped at knife point, and she is asked about her assailant’s sentence, which excludes rape charges, what do you think her answer would be? With so few prosecutions of CSC cases involving adult women, justice is hard to come by. Counseling, mood-altering drugs and time are the only options for most victims.
Dowagiac Resident Looks Into City Managers Contract
After reading in Wednesday's paper about the city manager's contract being extended, and some newer data about Dowagiac being found on the Internet, I thought I should share some of what I found. So here goes
The U.S. unemployment rate stands at 9.4 %
The Michigan unemployment rate stands at 11.7 %
The Cass County unemployment rate is 11.3%
The unemployment rate of Dowagiac stands at 11.4%
The median family income in the U.S. is $62,363
The median family income for the State of Michigan is $45,254
The median family income for Cass County is $45,799
The median family income for Dowagiac is $36,706
The poverty rate of the U.S. stands at 14.3%
The poverty rate of Michigan stands at 16.1%
The poverty rate in Cass County stands at 15.9%
The poverty rate in Dowagiac stands at 22.6%
There are 2757 total housing units in Dowagiac of those 438 or 18.3% are vacant
The lucky people who are employed are traveling an average of 20.2 minutes to work ,how far away from Dowagiac can you get in 20 minutes? So you see my point is this, These numbers arent the numbers that a successful City Manager should be proud of, and I think that the City Council should have did their homework before extending this over inflated contract. These numbers appear to me that someone must not be doing their job. On any job that I have ever had if I didnt do my assigned job correctly , I would have been fired not rewarded a contract extension. these numbers may not be up to the minute fresh but trust me you wouldnt want them any fresher. In case everyone doesnt know the City Manager now makes $154,776 or just over 4 times what the average FAMILY makes in Dowagiac.Just thought that this might open a few eyes of the residents.
The U.S. unemployment rate stands at 9.4 %
The Michigan unemployment rate stands at 11.7 %
The Cass County unemployment rate is 11.3%
The unemployment rate of Dowagiac stands at 11.4%
The median family income in the U.S. is $62,363
The median family income for the State of Michigan is $45,254
The median family income for Cass County is $45,799
The median family income for Dowagiac is $36,706
The poverty rate of the U.S. stands at 14.3%
The poverty rate of Michigan stands at 16.1%
The poverty rate in Cass County stands at 15.9%
The poverty rate in Dowagiac stands at 22.6%
There are 2757 total housing units in Dowagiac of those 438 or 18.3% are vacant
The lucky people who are employed are traveling an average of 20.2 minutes to work ,how far away from Dowagiac can you get in 20 minutes? So you see my point is this, These numbers arent the numbers that a successful City Manager should be proud of, and I think that the City Council should have did their homework before extending this over inflated contract. These numbers appear to me that someone must not be doing their job. On any job that I have ever had if I didnt do my assigned job correctly , I would have been fired not rewarded a contract extension. these numbers may not be up to the minute fresh but trust me you wouldnt want them any fresher. In case everyone doesnt know the City Manager now makes $154,776 or just over 4 times what the average FAMILY makes in Dowagiac.Just thought that this might open a few eyes of the residents.
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