Week in Review: Pizzagate
“You can take our tent, but you will never take the Hope”
Week in Review
City Council, Monday, October 20
Public Comment
Shelby Hubert, on the absence of Councilmen Bruns and Socha, and the end of the Camp Harbor yurt: “I assume Bruns and Socha probably have diarrhea.”1
Addressing the absent Socha: “By choosing to destroy Camp Hope, you gave your middle finger to all the wraparound services working in this community2. . . Then right after your decision. . . you vote to add another extension to the Keefer project.”
Jack McClain: “I commend Council for trying to enforce their zoning. . . Let’s start enforcing the laws.”
Predicting (and dreading) a Bentley victory in the upcoming election: “If the election goes the way I think it is, it’s going to be a travesty to the people in this City. The actual people that live in this City. Not the ones that are going to be here for three or four years and move on.”
On the college students: “When you’re taking people that aren’t fully mentally developed and using them to vote you in—that’s a travesty.”3
James Edward Thomas, breathless: “Councilman Socha in the Public Safety meeting had expressed there had been forty-two fire/EMS calls and twenty-eight police calls to Camp Hope since. . . May 25, 2025. . . Who else consumed emergency services at that rate?”
Airport Update
Airport Manager Travis Stebelton delivered a report that ought to have humiliated the Council majority on account of their routine density concerning all things Airport.
Stebelton: “Hangar rentals: effective October first, I increased the rate from $100 to $150 per month for the T-hangars. . . That will be an additional $10,800 of revenue per year going forward. . . so a nice bump in T-hangar revenue without the money that was associated with those repairs.”
Paladino asked how much Stebelton expects to spend on renovating the T-hangar doors. The answer: “Under $5,000. . . There were some doors made by previous staff that I don’t feel to be worth the effort to hang. We can repair the existing doors with much less labor cost.”
Bentley asked if the price raises drove anyone away. The response: “A few people left. . . I could probably fill [the wait list] with twenty-five people tomorrow. . . I don’t have any concerns with having empty spaces.”
Stebelton, on raising revenue: “Corporate Hanger 2. . . That was previously not leased. It is now leased. . . that will be $19,800 per year in additional revenue.”
Stebelton, on cutting costs: “Another item on the to-do list is moving all the utilities to the tenants and off of the City. . . Credit card processing fees: I found that we weren’t charging for them previously.”
Recall, reader, Council’s January meetings, at which the County Economic Development Partnership, known as the EDP—a partisan group that skims money off the budgets of public entities to advance the noble cause of ED—joined forces with the managerial class and the Council majority to screech and squawk about how the Airport must necessarily run a large annual deficit due to the cash it flushes into our “local economy” via the Multiplier Effect. The City has got to spend money so the shareholders can make money, so the logic runs.
At the time, the Airport was bleeding $150,000—thirty SADs—per year from the City’s coffers for its annual operating budget, using the money from its own revenues, conveniently kept in a separate account, to leverage expansion projects. Even more egregiously, the Airport requested in January an additional $105,000—twenty-one SADs—to build new hangar doors. Mackie, who claims repeatedly that he runs the City lean, insisted at the time that the $105,000 must be spent—
“This is something the Council has been interested in, getting the Airport to be more self-sufficient. . . In order to achieve that, you’ve got to invest in the facilities.”4
Council voted to make the purchase, but out of the Airport Improvement Fund, and not General Fund, as requested. This moment—restricting free access to the General Fund for expansionary projects—was ground zero for Negativity Theory, which would be formally rolled out on March 17 when then-Airport Director Ginger Moore resigned, on account of the Drama of the Negative. But Stebelton, it appears, is going to minimize the General Fund draw while completing the hangar work for less than $5,000—one SAD! Even Bitchin’ Bob—admittedly no math major—cannot deny the arithmetic.
So, you can see—plain as day—that all of Negativity Theory is built on a series of lies: the lie that operating the Airport requires heavy General Fund subsidization; the lie that voting No on Airport spending constitutes a moral wrong; the lie that such a vote would cause our entire ED regime collapse; the lie that Mayor Pro Tem Paladino wished to eliminate the Airport. It turns out that very few of the parties who consider themselves important ever knew what they were talking about. These citizens were happily deceived and disgruntled by the latest salon gossip, because, they agree, “appearance is everything.” No, the public burden could be eased in the course of a few short months, by virtue of Mr. Stebelton making a handful of commonsense tweaks. It really is that easy, people. It requires no frightening radicalism—just basic accountability. There’s plenty more to do.
Share the Warmth Update
Penny Myers attended the meeting to provide an update for Council.
Myers: “Our mission has been to provide a warm, safe, clean place for the unhoused in Hillsdale County to come and stay during the coldest winter months, November 1-April 1.”
“I love this County. I love this City. . . The people have supported us for eight years. . . We still are determined to not take any federal or state funding.”
“We were approached by the Community Foundation. . . to participate in the Great Give. . . It is our hope that we will be able to raise $750,000, because we are determined to have our own facility so that we can be open year-round.”
“We are determined to get our own facility. . . We appreciate the support of this community.”
“We have thirty bunk beds on the men’s side, and ten beds on the women’s side. . . We can house, right now, forty people comfortably.”
Hillsdale Renaissance OPRA
HR asked for a twelve-year tax abatement for a downtown property.
smafry, Assistant (to the) City Manager: “The City of Hillsdale’s [ED] Corporation did meet last week. . . they did unanimously recommend approval for this property.”
Calm Lanes, COO of HR: “Our expected completion is the end of the month.”
James Edward Thomas, skeptical of the decade-plus tax abatements: “He’s earned twelve years, but maybe you guys alone deciding on twelve years is a bit presumptuous. And maybe there should be some sort of structure. . . to abstain from votes where you know that you’re not going to serve out twelve years.”
Paladino: “I agree with you. It always bugs me, binding future Councils with things.”
Gerg, jaw clenched with rage (despite the good-natured exchange): “You’ve got to keep a business-friendly atmosphere. And you put these wishy-washy theories out. . . That kind of talk is a little scary for people.”5
James Edward Thomas, later on, in response: “Talking about things in an open Council meeting and proposing ideas is what the Open Meetings Act is about. So, maybe it’s not the worst forum, and there are far more wishy-washy things you can do than have conversations.”6
Council unanimously approved.
Further Tax Abatement Chatter
A manufacturing firm also requested a tax abatement. Gerg, whose “whole psyche is efficiency,” was comforted by it.
Gerg, on his machine-like mind: “I’m a General Manager as well with CMC Machines.” Getting. . . personal?: “Personal question: what kind of CMC machines do you have?”7
Camp Harbor Update
The local (and state) media worked itself into a frenzy over what the intrepid Corey Murray called the “demolition” of the yurt that was once known as Camp Harbor.
Mackie: “At 8 AM on October 16th. . . [the City] removed the tent.”
DPS Director Jason Blake: “The staff we had there were professional through it.”
Bentley: “Were there protestors or any ugliness?”
Blake: “The comments ranged from your vulgar profanity to ‘I wish you were dead’ to we should be shot. . . that was steady throughout the day.”
Blake, it seems, understated the degree of vitriol faced by City employees, and the mainstream media naturally refused to acknowledge it, instead rage-baiting pro-homeless liberals and other pathological empaths. See the footage for yourself.
BPU EDP Sponsorship
The Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities apparently “gifts” $15,000 per year in customer dollars to promote County-wide ED.8 City Manager David Mackie said that we are very proud of the extensive ED in this County, and so it must continue.
Mackie: “We have been a member of the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership since its inception fifteen years ago. . . This is an entity that’s County-wide.”
On the proliferation of ED: “They’re working on a housing study. . . They’re working with MEDC for state grants. . . They do a lot of technical training with robots. . . They help coordinate State projects. . . It’s been a very Positive organization for the County.”
All in favor. . . and the next day Mackie—donning an “EDP” jacket—gave an amusing interview at the opening ceremony for Hillsdale’s new KFC: “we’re really being found by many businesses.” Welcome, all oligarchs: bring forth the slop trough and purify us!9
Public Comment
Melissa DesJardin, on the future of Camp Harbor: “We’re going to move forward with sober-transitional housing.”10
On the Decorum (allegedly) shown during the yurt removal: “We have three people who were standing around filming.”
Threatening the City: “What got spread across this nation—Michigan Coalition is going to use this as an example.”
For the cameras: “You can take our tent, but you will never take the Hope.”
Shelby Hibbert, now vitriolic: “You can’t grow a City from the top. You build a City for the most vulnerable to receive the services.”
On the yurt’s quality: “Bragging how hard the City had to work is just sad. . . I think it’s just proof how well the tent was put together.”
With feces still on her mind: “There’s a truth I learned as a child. . . your shit still stinks.”
Howard Spence, of Apple Run: “There’s no truth to what was just said. . . None of this happened before that Camp arrived. . . Now they’ve moved into that second building without their permits. . . How long is it going to be this time?”
On Positivity and Hope: “I heard the verbal taunts, I heard the profanities. . . The same stuff’s going to keep happening. . . It was a close call a week or so ago with the attempted carjacking in the parking lot.”
Joseph Hendee: “I don’t think the City took any pleasure in shutting Camp Hope down, but I think it was the right thing to do.”
James Edward Thomas, musing on the local media scene: “The coverage from the local media around Camp Hope—especially from the Collegian—was horrendous. . . Normally when I go to look for news, I go to Adams Times, I go to Hillsdalian, I go to Penny Swan, and I go to Joseph Hendee, and I kind of mix that all together to try to figure out what’s going on. Sprinkle in a little Jeff King comment, and I think I’ve got a good picture of what’s going on around here.”11
City Manager’s Report
Mackie, on the devastation of all Hope: “Some of the things you heard here, the City Staff would not agree with public comments that were made—that everything was peaceful, that there were no signs of rodents. Some of those comments, the City Staff would say, were opposite.”
External Links
“When those who would like to have more self-governance try to make that happen, it looks like negativity to many.” Matthew Bentley.
“I do believe it’s discrimination if you go back now and change things. But at least you could form a committee to look at it.” Scott Sessions regurgitates the same answer he slaps onto every issue: “form a committee.”
“What I see is that by making [Staff] accountable, it’s contributing to the Negative culture.” From the same Mayoral candidate, on the necessity of an unaccountable City Staff.
“As for road repairs, Sessions says he sees no real way to pay for them except for Special Assessments.” Fox47 reports on the Sessions-Swan campaign.
“I’m proud of G[er]g Stuchell.” Penny Swan.
“I personally bought nine pizzas and some crazy bread for everyone. Scott, who’s running for mayor, simply offered to drive and help carry everything — he did not purchase or fund any part of the meal.” Penny Swan, on the brewing scandal known to many as Pizzagate.12
“Camp Hope now Camp Harbor is the only place in Hillsdale that requires drug testing to stay there.” Swan swipes at the more popular Penny, Mrs. Myers.
“Truth is, AI has saved me.” The Swan-Sessions campaign promises to deliver that same salvation to Hillsdale.
“‘Enhancing existing facilities and planning for expansion of additional recreation spaces.’ I don’t have any objection to expanding trails, but I wonder if we can do both, if we can really expand, and also maintain.” Matthew Kniffin {19:10} goes Neg on the City’s proposed Recreation Plan.
“We want to use our resources to help our people.” Penny Myers.
“My research points to one conclusion: she’s a fictional character, likely cooked up to mock certain folks or attitudes around here.” Swan goes Negative on an esteemed local lady, Cheryl Louis Reynolds-Dolba.13
“For a moment, time reversed as the 1944 locomotive No. 795 chugged into view.” Collegian on the bourgeoning Rail Tourism industry.
“Last week, I had a realization that my residential lease is potentially missing a clause.” Hillsdale Renaissance takes on the “depopulation crisis.”
“Wokeness is not a new ideology, an outgrowth of Marxism, or a result of post-Obama disillusionment. It is simply feminine patterns of behavior applied to institutions where women were few in number until recently.” Helen Andrews describes the Process.
“Mr. Hegseth’s insistence that the Pentagon will embrace a color- and gender-blind meritocracy is at odds with reality inside the Defense Department.” Washington Times.
We heard that they attended the Portland No Kings rally with Penny Swan and Jeff King.
Camp Harbor boosted GDP?
Or was he referring to Sessions’ use of Swan, and JarJar’s use of both?
Steve—Airport handyman who we haven’t heard about in months—called the six-figure repair “a win-win.” He also threatened Council: “It’s something that you guys cannot keep putting off, ok? It’s something that we need to start working on, ok? Another thing to consider is, if I’m not there, who else is going to do it, ok?. . . If there’s no projects, I’m not staying.”
Why did Steve leave? Did the projects dry up?
Timorous Gerg is, like Sessions, scared of accountability. Maybe he should worry less about Developers getting max-term tax incentives and more about residents getting hit with SADs. Or does his “win-win” calculus not account for ordinary residents?
How about that time Gerg voted to let Camp Harbor continue to violate the law? Is that wishy-washy?
Does Gerg werk?! We hadn’t herd.
The feminists and allies among our readers will be thrilled to hear this! Walkability and ED are our top priorities in Hillsdale County.
(Don’t worry, we only mean the third-wavers.)
LifeWays megafactories, sushi, Aldi, “being found” by KFC—we really are on our way to becoming the New Jackson.
Don’t worry, though: the City’s transformation will make it less painful when it comes time for you to “liquidate your ass/ets.”
We were under the impression that Mrs. DesJardin was moving away on account of “the Darkness” in this town.
We all know you’re reading this, JET, even if you snubbed us in your comment.
But Jeff King? Have some self-respect, man. Swan’s non-AI spasmodic rants have a certain appeal—like watching a Socha monologue go off the rails. But with ChatGPT, who even needs to read King? His basic message is the same every time: I left Hillsdale and made a modest bit of money in the private sector, therefore I am wise in all things. Do Better. I did.
How do we know that Sessions didn’t give Swan—his Campaign Photographer—campaign cash for the pizza party? Is Sessions secretly funding pizza parties for anyone else? Did Scott sneak a slice of pizza on the way? (If so, did Flynn get any?) What political promises has Scott made to Camp Harbor? Will he spend SAD money for their pizza parties? Will he give Camp Harbor a twelve-year OPRA? Will the pizza parties continue if/when Swan moves to Camp Harbor?
I cannot eblive that the city would take away a yurt. Thos humble, honorable, and numinous mongolian pastoralists should be free to meander through micghigans great plains and milk their yaks to the furthest extent of the law.
"...Negativity Theory is built on a series of lies."
Fact Check: 100% accurate.
The veil always gets lifted eventually.