Like many residents, I was surprised and concerned to learn that the Birmingham City Commission authorized the expenditure of $5 million in taxpayer funds to purchase The Community House and its property without meaningful input or agreement from voting residents. This action raises several important questions. It is not clear that operating such a facility aligns with the core responsibilities of city government, particularly given that the property has historically hosted p

My family’s business operated in Birmingham for more than sixty years, and although I no longer live in the city, I still care deeply about its future. The Community House has always been one of Birmingham’s most important gathering places, a space where people of all ages and backgrounds could come together. That purpose matters now more than ever. The current conflict surrounding The Community House is troubling, not only because of the legal and financial issues, but beca

Stacy Gittleman's recent piece (June/Downtown) on the digital curriculum in Oakland County schools named something many of us have been watching with growing alarm, and something we are no longer content to simply watch. I am a VP of Product at a technology company. I build the platforms, design the engagement systems, and understand the mechanics of how digital products capture and hold attention. I say this to make one thing clear: my concern about how technology is being u

I have some questions for the Birmingham City Commission and city staff: NEXT/YMCA: a) The city owns the YMCA facility. What is the one-year operational cost to run the YMCA building and grounds? Heat, electricity, snow removal, cleaning, landscape, maintenance, etc.? b) What are the foreseeable major expenses for the next five years: roof, HVAC, repair, maintenance? c) What are any large capital costs expected in the next five years? d) Is there any plan to make Next facilit

On Veterans Day, the citizens of Birmingham gathered at Shain Park to honor those who served our nation — a solemn and unifying occasion meant to rise above politics. Unfortunately, our new mayor, Clinton Baller, used the platform not only to honor veterans, but also to deliver comments that veered into partisan political commentary, diminishing the spirit of the event and the dignity of the office he holds. The Birmingham City Charter is clear: the mayor’s role is ceremonial

The recent bombshell announcement from The Community House (TCH) is the loudest wake-up call imaginable. The venerable Community House, center of Birmingham for over 100 years, is going to close and the organization morphed into a fundraiser-foundation for good causes. This follows the catastrophic era of the current board and former director William Seklar. But the collapse of TCH is just one of several issues barreling down on Birmingham like freight trains. The newly elect

I would like to clear up a few misunderstandings in the narrative put forth by Ms. Jayne and Ms. Gaudreau in a recent Downtown article. Setting up a new foundation to serve other non-profits and selling the House to fund it is a complete departure from The Community House’s original mission. Since the beginning, all charitable activities were either carried out on the House premises or by other non-profit, philanthropic/and or civic organizations that met on the premises.

Birmingham has long been known for its civic pride and community spirit, for neighbors who show up, volunteer, and work together to make this city an extraordinary place to live. That’s why the recent debate surrounding the future of 400 East Lincoln, the former YMCA building, has felt so disheartening. Somewhere along the way, the conversation has shifted from collaboration to competition, from “how do we build this together?” to “who wins and who loses?” But anyone who has