Michigan sinks further

[layoutshooter]

No State Fair in Michigan. This State just continues to die. High taxes, anti-business climate and a total loss of our agricultural identity. How sad. When are we going to bottom out so we can start back up? I think we need to empty Detroit first. Detroit and a couple of other of the bigger cities are killing the State.



Tradition ends: No Michigan state fair this year


DETROIT — Rabbit breeder Rob Usakowski typically spends the week before Labor Day helping his daughters show their Jersey Woolies and Holland Lops at the Michigan State Fair.


This year, he and his family are home after Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm canceled the fair, saying debt-ridden Michigan could no longer afford to subsidize it. Granholm's decision makes Michigan the only Midwestern state and one of few nationwide without a state fair.


The Michigan State Fair had been a state tradition for 160 years and held at Eight Mile and Woodward, within Detroit city limits, since 1905. But the fair had been running deficits and needed $360,000 from the state in 2008 to cover losses. Fewer than 220,000 people passed through last year. At its peak in 1966, the fair drew 1 million.


Usakowski, 44, who lives in St. Clair County, northeast of Detroit, called the fair's closing "a bummer" and said it had given his daughters a grand stage on which to compete. This year, they have been limited to county fairs and competitions run by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.


"It takes some emphasis in our state off agriculture," Usakowski said. "The state fair was unique and special in what it does."


Like those in other states, the Michigan fair had its roots in agrarian fairs in Europe, where farmers met to discuss farming techniques and equipment. As waves of immigrants came to the U.S., they influenced the fairs, which added ethnic foods and other attractions.


One thing that hurt the Michigan fair was the state's economy. Michigan's unemployment rate of 15.2 percent led the nation in August 2009 when the last fair was held. Detroit's jobless rate is about 30 percent.


But part of the problem also seems to have been the fair's inability to successfully marry its agrarian roots with money-making entertainment as other state fairs have done.


"State fairs, like the one in Iowa, attendance is up or steady because they have been made as major tourist attractions," said Pam Riney-Kehrberg, professor of agriculture history and rural studies at Iowa State University. "In states where they haven't been able to cultivate a special ethos for the fair, numbers are going down."


The 11-day Iowa State Fair drew about 970,000 this year. Along with typical fair fare, including 4-H livestock judging, a cow sculpted from butter, and chicken and husband calling contests, it had a musical lineup led by country music star Keith Urban and pop singer Sheryl Crow.


In contrast, the Michigan fair's top entertainers last year were the aging rockers in Starship and Survivor, along with Billy Squier. Several little-known country acts also performed.
"The Michigan State Fair being canceled, that's just tragic," said Jerry Hammer, general manager of the Minnesota State Fair.


He thought one problem was the fair's reliance on state subsidies because when those ended, the fair essentially collapsed.


"We don't have any government support here, and that is critical to our success," he said.


The Minnesota State Agricultural Society controls the fairgrounds in St. Paul, approves the $36 million budget, sets rates and raises money for the event. Last year, the fair drew 1.79 million people and made $1.5 million in profit.


While the event has become known for unusual foods, such as chocolate-covered bacon and deep-fried pickles on a stick, Hammer said its focus on family farms and agriculture is still the main draw.


"This is where you come face to face with the people who grow your food," he said. "These are the people who feed you. Where else can city folk go to see this stuff?"


In Michigan, agriculture remains the No. 2 industry behind manufacturing, and the state is among the nation's leaders in production of sugar beets, cherries, apples, corn and other produce. Smaller fairs continue to celebrate that heritage, and at least one appears to have benefited from the state fair's closing.


The Armada Fair, held in northern Macomb County in mid-August, drew about 57,000 people — 2,000 more than in 2009.


"We were up in exhibitors by a few hundred, especially the livestock," said Mary Straubel, an employee of the Armada Agricultural Society, which runs the fair. "We had far more horses this year, beef cattle and dairy cattle."


But that's no consolation to people like Annette Ellis, who grew up going to the Michigan State Fair and continued the tradition with her two daughters.


"We would get together and enjoy the state fair, the rides and some of the performances," said Ellis, 49, a former pharmaceutical worker from Detroit. "It was a nice family get together."


Smaller community fairs don't have the same rides and cost too much for what they offer, she said.

[greg334]

I don't know what the complaint is all about there Layout. I mean they tried to get a race track in the adjoining property but Ferndale and Palmer Park raised h*ll about the noise - seeing we were the motor city, may be it was the right thing to forget about.

Then someone tried to get some other investors involved to bring something else there but you see there is no water park, no amusement center or anything like that.

So they did what they have done all along - shopping center. Jenny has some of her and McNamara's cronies involved in building a mall of sorts, and developing it into a shopping area - the signs are already up and I understand the state will be kicking in some tax incentives. The property is promised to one or two people who have direct ties with the democrats here in the state. Dillion already said the house is on board and the senate will be soon.

I think the state, or the people of this state are pretty ****ing stupid to fall for all of her and her friend's sh*t, even after the state police fiasco, where the state is now leasing at a million dollars a year instead of using MSU property at a buck a year, this deal with be as good as junior Levin's appointment to head some employment office - the state will get what it deserves.

[layoutshooter]

I don't know what the complaint is all about there Layout. I mean they tried to get a race track in the adjoining property but Ferndale and Palmer Park raised h*ll about the noise - seeing we were the motor city, may be it was the right thing to forget about.

Then someone tried to get some other investors involved to bring something else there but you see there is no water park, no amusement center or anything like that.

So they did what they have done all along - shopping center. Jenny has some of her and McNamara's cronies involved in building a mall of sorts, and developing it into a shopping area - the signs are already up and I understand the state will be kicking in some tax incentives. The property is promised to one or two people who have direct ties with the democrats here in the state. Dillion already said the house is on board and the senate will be soon.

I think the state, or the people of this state are pretty ****ing stupid to fall for all of her and her friend's sh*t, even after the state police fiasco, where the state is now leasing at a million dollars a year instead of using MSU property at a buck a year, this deal with be as good as junior Levin's appointment to head some employment office - the state will get what it deserves.

Can't blame me, I didn't vote for that witch.

[greg334]

Can't blame me, I didn't vote for that witch.

But did you vote for your state rep or senator?

If so, you are part of the blame - we all are.

[layoutshooter]

But did you vote for your state rep or senator?

If so, you are part of the blame - we all are.

Voted against them both. VOTE ALL THE BUMS OUT!! I know Randy, sorta, don't trust him. Elby or what ever here name is is an Obama/Jenny bum. Useless.

[Critter Truckin]

And if you love the UAW/other unions of the world running this place into the dirt, then that poor excuse of a Lansing slob, Virg Bernero is your man. I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired. This place has become a drain on my psyche.

[layoutshooter]

And if you love the UAW/other unions of the world running this place into the dirt, then that poor excuse of a Lansing slob, Virg Bernero is your man. I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired. This place has become a drain on my psyche.

I have not yet seen the ballot. All I know is that I cannot vote against an incumbent for governor. Ruins all my fun!! I have to get my absentee ballot while home this time. It is sad to watch our State just wither on the vine.

[Critter Truckin]

Granny isn't on the ballot... her term limit is up.

[layoutshooter]

Granny isn't on the ballot... her term limit is up.

That is such a WONDERFUL thing!! She is just another Obama type bum. They ruin everything that they touch.

[copdsux]

The state of Michigan is running commercials, on Charlotte TV, talking about how Michigan is ripe for businesses to relocate there.

[layoutshooter]

The state of Michigan is running commercials, on Charlotte TV, talking about how Michigan is ripe for businesses to relocate there.

It should be and will be IF we elect a governor and state government that will change our tax code to be business friendly, long term, not just "tax incentives" that expire down the road. We need a real work ethic in the State, ours has been destroyed by welfare and the "I am entitled to everything crowd". That includes the unions for the most part.

Land is cheap here now. It SHOULD be booming but, as always, government is the problem.

[greg334]

I think the entire state needs term limits from the cities to the state. There has been this awful dumba** argument that we need experienced legislators to run the state but maybe what we need is uncompensated part time people who are more in tune with the needs of the state.

As much as I think he would be a good governor for this state, the gateway guy may not win with the same crap that happened in the last election - outsourcing. It is like WHO cares! we can't outsource the state. And if we could, would it be a bad thing?

[layoutshooter]

I think the entire state needs term limits from the cities to the state. There has been this awful dumba** argument that we need experienced legislators to run the state but maybe what we need is uncompensated part time people who are more in tune with the needs of the state.

As much as I think he would be a good governor for this state, the gateway guy may not win with the same crap that happened in the last election - outsourcing. It is like WHO cares! we can't outsource the state. And if we could, would it be a bad thing?

Outsourcing a State is not possible, but moving out the welfare rangers and medicade Mammas GREAT start! Send them to California. Just leave those of us who WANT to WORK in Michigan. The population gets cut in half, we can restore marshes and farm land, improve our agriculture AND manufacturing businesses.

[greg334]

Well if the gateway guy gets in, he has to cut the amount of employees the state has to start with, a 50% reduction is what is needed, 65% is better and this is across the board. Then deal with the teachers, maybe cutting their pensions, shifting some of that funding back into the students and dealing with moving school management out of the hands of the employees into private businesses. Then dealing with some of the other big ticket items but if he can get some of these taxes under control, we can actually have some hope.

Even though we have an attitude in this state that chases businesses away, and an ignorance within the region that prevents us from letting go the old bad crap and accepting new stuff, we still have a chance to actually attract new businesses that will actually bring jobs to the state instead of shifting them around.