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Still unsatisfied with golf numbers Jerry Ambrose has now written a column that purports to correct my flawed analysis of the financial impact to Lansing of the Groesbeck golf course. I fully acknowledge that my analysis was based on the limited information provided to me by a laughably incomplete response from the City to me FOIA request. Moreover, I am still awaiting documents promised by Mr. Ambrose to me before my original column ever ran.

In his column, Mr. Ambrose uses a different allocation of administrative costs assigned to Groesbeck than those that I discussed. I am ready, willing and able to show anybody who is interested the document I received from the City that supports my assertion as to allocated expenses. Indeed, if there is a different breakdown of allocated expenses, these would have been responsive to my FOIA request, but the first I ever heard about them was in Mr. Ambrose’s column.

Of course, Mr. Ambrose can make up whatever numbers he wants for public consumption. The bottom line is that under accepted accounting principles there should be work papers, detailing every figure which found its way into the “expense” line for Groesbeck. These clearly fell within the scope of my FOIA request, and were not provided or explanation given as to why they were not provided.

Even now, all we have is Mr. Ambrose’s assertions about the both direct and indirect expenses of running Groesbeck. If the City is properly tracking its finances, it should have been an easy matter to supply me copies of all documents, including the supporting work papers, relevant to the ultimate question of whether Groesbeck loses money. Since no work papers have ever been provided, Lansing’s citizens are yet again being asked to simply believe the Bernero administration’s assertions about the financial impact of Groesbeck through Mr. Ambrose, yet another loyal lieutenant of the mayor. If I had that much trust in the Bernero administration I would never have made the FOIA request. I didn’t have that level of trust before my FOIA request, and the new unsupported assertions of Mr. Ambrose do nothing to change that.

Tim Knowlton — Lansing


Where’s Bingham coverage?

As a resident of the eastside of Lansing, I have come to regard the City Pulse as THE source for information and news for the eastside as well and Lansing as a whole for several years. As a small business owner who has advertised in this paper and a parent of a Bingham student, I find it incredibly insulting that the City Pulse, (who’s offices have been located on the eastside of for years) has chosen to ignore the plight of the last, true eastside elementary school, Bingham Elementary. No mention of the impending school closings has been made within the pages of the City Pulse since the LSD announcement on 4/12/11.

For decades Bingham Elementary has been a safe haven for the students and families who attend as well as those who surround its borders. The teachers, staff and volunteers of Bingham have not only impacted our children’s lives with an outstanding education proven by higher MEAP scores, but they also act as advocates within the community. Providing aid such as food, rent and utility bill assistance, transportation and unlimited social services is an everyday occurrence and necessity carried out by Bingham staff and volunteers.

While yet another Sparrow parking lot may be gained, the closure of this school will leave a gaping hole within the heart of this community.

Colleen Cook — Lansing

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