Troy Zoning Board of Appeals - April 2014 Meeting Recap

City staff has posted the video recording of the 4/15/14 Troy Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to YouTube. At the bottom of this post is the video. (The meeting actually starts at around 4 minutes into the video.)

Click here to download the entire Agenda Packet from the April 15th meeting.

Troy 2014 Angiosarcoma Awareness 5K Road Race & Walk

Last year, I ran in the Angiosarcoma Awareness 5K Road Race and Walk in Troy. The race/walk was organized by Ryan Humphrey, a graduate of Troy Athens High School. The purpose of this race/walk is to raise awareness and money to fund Angiosarcoma research.

Check out the information below from the organization's news release announcing this year's race/walk...

Troy, Mich. – The Second Annual Troy Angiosarcoma Awareness (ASA): Steps Toward a Cure run/walk will take place 9 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2014, at Troy Athens High School. Proceeds from the race will be used to raise awareness and provide funds for research against angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The event will include a 10k, 5k, and Kids Superhero Dash. Further details, including registration and volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, can be found online at www.troyASA.org. Angiosarcoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer with a dismal prognosis of only a five-year overall survival rate of 30%. In light of being such a rare cancer, accounting for only 0.1% of adult malignancies, the disease is poorly understood.

Troy ASA Event Director Ryan Humphrey, age 32, is a Troy Athens High School graduate and angiosarcoma survivor. Humphrey has been fighting the disease for four and a half years. His battle has been no small feat. Diagnosed in 2009, Humphrey has gone through two lung surgeries, one in which his entire left lung was removed. He has also endured 37 rounds of chemotherapy; two recurrences of the diseases, including a brain metastasis; and gamma knife radiation. Through it all, Humphrey has been blessed with an amazing wife, two beautiful sons who were born during this fight, and an ever growing support group of amazing people.

“I am currently stable with the disease and am facing more harsh treatments in the near future,” states Humphrey. “However, I am here and alive, and it is all because of the support from those who are walking this journey with us. And events like these truly help lift the fighting spirit in every person.”

Last year, the First Annual Troy ASA 5k race was organized in just one month’s time and raised $25,000. More than 320 runners and walkers along with numerous volunteers were present to show their support for Humphrey, his family, and the battle against angiosarcoma. The funds raised were put to a good cause July 17, 2013, when a research grant was awarded to Dr. Vinod Ravi, M.D. at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. The Isabella Nicole Slot Angiosarcoma Awareness, Inc. Grant, in the amount of $25,000 is a direct result of the Troy ASA 5k that was held in 2013.

Angiosarcoma Awareness, Inc., is a registered 501(c)(3). All donations to the run are tax deductible. Proceeds from the event go directly to Angiosarcoma Awareness. ###

Media Contact
Laura Mastrangelo
248-885-4088
laurabmastrangelo@gmail.com

Click here for more information on this year's race/walk. Depending upon family commitments, I will attempt to run again in this year's event.

Detroit News Editorial on the Troy Transit Center Standoff

Click here to view the 3/21/14 Detroit News editorial "End Troy transit center standoff."

I agree with the Detroit News that...

The city and developer that owns the property must negotiate in good faith; they should seek independent appraisals for the land, determine the fair market value and make a settlement that will get passengers on trains and buses.

However, there are a number of statements made by the Detroit News editorial writers that are not completely true.

For example, the Detroit News states, "the city must address concerns the developer has related to the location of the transit hub in the midst of the shopping center." But, if Grand/Sakwa was concerned with the potential impact, why did they voluntarily enter into the consent agreement that allowed the construction of the transit center on the site? Could it be because at one time they saw it as an asset to their property?

Here's another Detroit News misstatement: "Eventually, a new council voted to proceed with the project." Wrong. The composition of City Council did not change. Councilman Wade Fleming changed his vote when a majority of his colleagues scaled back the cost of the project.

Contrary to the belief of the Detroit News, the City of Troy did have a clear title to the property until Grand/Sakwa filed a lawsuit and then won a reversal of a lower court's decision.

Come on, Detroit News... do some research before you place this kind of information in print!