A former Dearborn employee from the city’s Building and Safety Department has been charged with bribery in connection with allegations that she illegally issued work permits for money payments, according to the Detroit Free Press.

This is the second employee this year from the Building and Safety Department to be charged with issuing work permits for payments.

According to the paper, Wanda J. Smith, 42, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 if convicted on the charge. While acting as an agent in the city’s permit section, U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg said that Smith received $5,000 or more during various bribes between 2006 and 2008. She allegedly took the money in return for issuing permits on residential properties, the Free Press says.

The Building and Safety Department has been under investigation by the FBI Detroit office for some time now.

In July 2009, Leticia Bosemon, 38, of Inkster pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in return for issuing temporary certificates of occupancy for residential property in Dearborn.

Bosemon admitted in court that from the fall of 2006 until June, 2008 she accepted in excess of $63,000 from many individuals in return for preparing fraudulent performance bonds and issuing temporary certificates of occupancy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Under the terms of the agreement, Bosemon faces a maximum penalty of 37 months and a $250,000 fine.  Her sentencing date has been set for Dec. 3, 2009.

The recent charges against Smtih are yet another black eye for a city department that has long been a lightning rod for criticism. In February, Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly announced that the department would undergo a major reorganization to better serve the needs of residential and business customers. You can see that earlier story by clicking HERE.

The issues in the Building and Safety Department didn’t happen overnight and fixing it will take time. The changes by O’Reilly earlier this year were a step in the right direction but, unfortunately, theses types of stories further hurt the credibility of this department

In the event you missed it, former Dearborn Charter Commissioner Raymond Trudeau, in a letter to the editor of the Dearborn Press & Guide, writes that his hopes of an election this year free of “unnecessary games, and, with an emphasis on the best person winning a place on the City Council” were dashed when he received an unsigned letter a week ago that closed only with the name: “We care about Dearborn.”

The unsigned letter some residents have received.

The letter has appeared in many mailboxes around town, including here.

Trudeau raises some valid points about the attack letter on Dearborn Council President Tom Tafelski.

He points out in his letter that if these people really cared about Dearborn “they would come out from the shadows rather than hiding in the dark, and turn these accusations into issues that the voters of Dearborn could agree or disagree with in meaningful public discussion with the candidate they accuse.”

Whether people agree with the timing of Nancy Siwik’s actions questioning Councilman Doug Thomas and his residency, no one can accuse her of hiding behind an anonymous letter.

Below are excerpts of Mr. Trudeau’s letter to the editor of the Dearborn Press & Guide:

“ . . . when I opened a letter addressed to my family which accused a Dearborn elected official with paying fewer taxes than his neighbors, committing fraud, and for not paying a parking ticket, etc… it was hard to read every last word in the letter because of the dirt and mud which was soiled the entire piece of paper. BUT the strategy was clear: produce a libelous set of accusations that offered no proof whatsoever. Worse, the cowardly piece was sent without an individual’s name, closing with only the name “We Care About Dearborn.” The hell they do!

“The so-called, “We Care About Dearborn” has timed and worded its letter in the most blatant political fashion, keeping true to the sometimes- rough and savage spirit of Dearborn politics- especially when such persons target elected officials demonstrating integrity and independence. Let’s have an honest discussion about the issues that affect us all and our future: attracting real investment in our downtowns, equitable neighborhood services and responsible budget management – then let the voters decide.”

For Mr. Trudeau’s full letter to the Press & Guide, click HERE.

Planning a wedding may be the largest and most memorable event that a newly engaged couple and their families will undertake.

 To help make the sometimes “overwhelming” planning process much easier, The Fairlane Club is inviting couples and others to attend a “Bridal & Bachelor Bash” from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at its banquet and conference facility located at 5000 Fairlane Woods Drive in Dearborn.

The show will feature bridal fashions from Macy’s Somerset Collection Bridal Salon and other wedding vendors from throughout Michigan. According to Christine Bane, The Fairlane Club’s Sales and Marketing Director, there will be plenty of prizes, give-aways and activities for the men as well as for the ladies.

“We’ll have a separate area for the guys just to relax, watch football and enjoy some refreshments,” said Bane.

The Fairlane Club will also provide opportunities for attendees to tour The Fairlane Club and learn about its unique wedding collections and catering services that are available for a full range of parties from engagement announcements to a newlyweds’ brunch.

“Couples may also want to bring friends and family members who will be involved in any of the decision making about the wedding plans,” added Bane. “Our goal is make this a fun and relaxing event for all.”

The cost to attend the Bridal & Bachelor Bash is $10 per person or $15 per couple. Tickets may be purchased in advance at The Fairlane Club and will also be available at the door on the day of the event.

For more details about attending the Bridal & Bachelor Bash, call Christine Bane at 313-982-1752 or email cbane@fairlaneclub.com

About The Fairlane Club

For more than 30 years, The Fairlane Club has served as Dearborn’s premier private club for social, fitness, business and family activities. As one of the largest and finest private social, business and sports clubs in southeast Michigan, The Fairlane Club is the venue of choice for many elegant wedding receptions and parties, business conferences and charity galas. For more information about The Fairlane Club facilities, services and membership opportunities, visit www.fairlaneclub.com or call 313-336-4400.

Dearborn residents looking to dispose of confidential papers, tax returns, check stubs, etc., can safely dispose of them through a free event sponsored by the city of Dearborn on Sat., Oct. 31.

The free event takes place from 8 a.m. – noon at the Department of Public Works (DPW) Yard, 2951 Greenfield Road, just south of Rotunda Drive.

This event is open to Dearborn residents only. Proof of Dearborn residency will be required in order to participate. Please note that the limit is a maximum of 50 pounds or five bags/boxes of papers per resident.

Morris Goodman, a Dearborn attorney, past president of the Dearborn Democratic Club, a longtime political activist and observer and regular reader of Deepsaidwhat.com, provided us with a column today on his thoughts about Dearborn’s mayoral race.

His column begins below:

Morris Goodman

Mayor O’Reilly has been confronted with the perfect storm of economic woe – (1) plunging residential values leading to plunging property taxes; (2) increasing stress on neighborhoods due to foreclosures; (3) huge cutbacks in state revenue sharing; and (4) visibly growing commercial vacancies. He has led the city in a fiscally prudent way to maintain as many of the quality services Dearbornites have grown to expect, with a shrinking workforce due to a hemoraging budget.

If ever there was a person literally born to be Dearborn’s Mayor now, it is Jack O’Reilly. Not only was his father Mayor, but he spent his professionally formative years after graduating from law school absorbing what government is all about working for Congressman Dingell in Washington and as a committee staffer in Lansing. Moreover, as we all know, prior to becoming Mayor, he learned everything there is to know about Dearborn by serving on the City Council for nearly 2 decades, mostly as President.

Of equal importance to his education to be an effective at Dearborn’s helm is the decade Mayor O’Reilly spent as the CEO of SEMCA (Southeast Michigan Community Alliance) prior to becoming Mayor. He administered tens of millions of dollars in federal and state workforce development and substance abuse prevention and treatment funds. With Dearborn’s unemployment problems and resulting substance abuse spin off, isn’t it fortuitous that our Mayor is so familiar with the relevant programs and agency heads.

Also as SEMCA’s CEO, Mayor O’Reilly worked with a governing board composed of the region’s business, labor, and civic leadership. Certainly knowing these people and his way around Lansing and Washington has been invaluable in his efforts to build on and develop Dearborn’s assets. The proposed new Amtrak train station at Greenfield Village on the new high speed rail link from Detroit to Chicago and the proposed new convention center at Fairlane Town Center are both due to the Mayor’s drive, vision, and contacts.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr.

While I am a long time supporter of the Mayor and worked with him as a consultant for several years at SEMCA to leverage combining the 7 regional Michigan Works agencies, I am no apologist for him. He clearly does not need to be lauded by me to secure a huge re-election victory. What is important however is that Dearborn residents understand that Jack O’Reilly is not your usual politician. So many voters are turned off by the constant bitter partisan state and national battles. In 2009 the choice here simply is not “the lesser of two evils” or “we could have done worse.” No, in Dearborn on November 3 when we re-elect Mayor Jack O’Reilly, we can truly feel, “We could not have done better.”

Dearborn school officials say they are canceling the flu shot clinic scheduled for Friday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 20, because of vaccine shortages.

Due to the increased number of people getting the seasonal flu vaccine, the City of Dearborn Health Department will not have enough doses available to supply the flu shot clinic scheduled for those two dates, Dearborn schools said in a release Thursday.

School officials say when the City’s Health Department has a new supply of seasonal flu shots the District will work with them to reschedule a seasonal flu shot clinic.

If the public turnout Wednesday night at a council forum is any indicator of voter interest in Dearborn’s city council race, election night could favor incumbents.

The forum, hosted at Bryant Middle School by Dearborn Council of the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), drew about 16 people, counting program moderator Thomas Trimble, the PTSA’s legislative chair, and this writer, who arrived with the program already in progress.

Eleven of the 14 people running for the seven open seats on Dearborn City Council were in attendance. Mr. Trimble said Dearborn Council President Thomas Tafelski was unable to attend because of a work commitment and candidate George Hart left after complaining of not feeling well. Mr. Trimble said candidate Patrick Kiernan did not respond to the PTSA’s forum invite.

The event was not videotaped so there will be no future broadcast. Mr. Trimble said the PTSA will consider taping future forums for broadcast.

In other election news, the Dearborn Democratic Club and the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) recently released their endorsements for mayor, city council and school board.

The Dearborn Democratic Club endorsed eight candidates (even thought there are just seven seats) for city council; four incumbents and four non-incumbents. Jane Ahern, the club’s president, said eight were chosen to “highlight the fact that equal parts incumbency is as valued as equal parts new candidates.”

The Dearborn Democratic Club endorsed:

Dearborn Mayor

Jack B. O’Reilly Jr.

Dearborn City Clerk

Kathleen Buda (running unopposed)

Dearborn City Council

Bob Abraham

George Darany

Suzanne Sareini

Mark Shooshanian

David Bazzy

Sharon Dulmage

George Hart

Brian O’Donnell

Dearborn School Board

Pam Adams

Hussein Berry

The AAPAC endorsed:

Dearborn Mayor

John O’Reilly

Dearborn City Council

Robert Abraham

David Bazzy

George Darany

Brian O’Donnell

Suzanne Sareini

Ali Sayed

Thomas Tafelski

Dearborn School Board

Hussein Berry

Juat a friendly reminder that today the Dearborn Council of the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is hosting a city council candidate from 7-8:30 p.m. at Bryant Middle School, 460 N. Vernon.

This is a good opportunity for residents to hear from the 14 people running for Dearborn City Council.

Separately, the Dearborn Democratic Club’s guest speaker this month will be Jocelyn Benson, who officially declared her candidacy to run for Michigan Secretary of State.

The event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the UAW Local 245, 1226 Monroe Street in Dearborn. Doors open at 6:45 p.m, and the event begins at 7:00 p.m., says Jane Ahern, president of the Dearborn Democratic Club.

For more information about Benson, you can visit: www.votebenson.com

The Dearborn Democratic Club’s guest speaker this month will be Jocelyn Benson, who officially declared her candidacy as of last week to run for Michigan Secretary of State.

The event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the UAW Local 245, 1226 Monroe Street in Dearborn. Doors open at 6:45 p.m, and the event begins at 7:00 p.m., says Jane Ahern, president of the Dearborn Democratic Club.

For more information about Benson, you can visit: www.votebenson.com

In a letter to parents on the district’s website, Dearborn School Supt. Brian J. Whiston said Monday afternoon that a student at Edsel Ford High School has a confirmed case of the H1N1 flu. It is the first known case in the district.

Below is the letter from Supt. Whiston:

The H1N1 flu has received a lot of attention and therefore the district felt it was important to tell the community about the first confirmed case in the district. However, because health officials are less worried about the severity of this flu and are unable to predict how widespread it will become, the district will not be sending home a letter each time they receive notice of a confirmed case. If further reports indicate that the H1N1 flu would impact the operation of school, then the district will provide relevant information to the community.

 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is not recommending school closure in the event of a single case or even mild outbreaks of the H1N1 flu. School closures will only be considered if a large number of students or staff members are absent. District administration will inform parents in the event of a school closure.

If a school or schools need to be closed for any reason, the district reminds parents to please plan ahead and have a family discussion to decide who would care for their child if his/her school were closed. Remember if school is closed, students should not gather at another location, but rather stay home to avoid continued spread of flu outside of school.

Earlier in the year the district sent home a “Frequently Asked Questions” document to help answer questions and provide accurate information about the H1N1 flu. Parents and community members can access that information on the district’s website, www.dearbornschools.org. There are many actions everyone can do to keep schools open and functioning in a normal manner this school year and the District is asking for parents help.

 — Teach your children how to reduce the risk of getting and spreading flu viruses by:

● Washing hands often. Wash with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.

● Using hand sanitizer. Gels and rubs with at least 60% alcohol are effective.

● Coughing or sneezing into their sleeve or elbow – not their hands!

 — If you suspect your child is getting or has the flu, it is important s/he does not attend school or go anywhere else. If your child is sick, keep him/her home for at least 24 hours after being free of fever, without fever reducing medication.

 — Please remember that you must notify the school when your child will be absent. If you are keeping your child home due to flu or flu-like symptoms, please share that information with the school when reporting the absence.

Please know that the district will make decisions based on the recommendations of city, county, and state public health organizations as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Dearborn Public Schools will provide parents and the community with new information as it becomes available.