This scare flyer was distributed not long after the current CITCOM came into being. Text on the other side tells residents "Royal Oak politicians are scheduling cuts that will dismantle your Police and Fire departments" and encourages them to attend the "June 7th City Commission meeting." No contact information for either Police or Fire was provided. This year, 2010, the Firefighters distributed a similar message without explaining (either in clarification or justification) their refusal to grant concessions, as have all other unions of Royal Oak employees.

Can people who take this approach to persuasion and negotiation be trusted to behave reasonably if they have control over their own funding?
Next week, we'll begin the debate about a dedicated Public Safety millage.