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Attorneys for Animals response to Detroit Free Press article glorifying Northville Downs closing
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Attorney Beatrice Friedlander's response to article sent into Free Press
"Northville Downs closes after 80 years: How horse track outlasted others in Michigan (Feb. 8, 2024)
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"You did a disservice to your readers with this one-sided, biased paean to horseracing and Northville Downs.
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The demise of horseracing in Michigan cannot be blamed on casinos, online gambling, or lotteries. It is a brutal industry that abuses horses. It promotes gambling. It changes traffic patterns and the character of neighborhoods. You report the attempt to move the track to Plymouth Township "was met with opposition from the township and its residents" with no analysis of why; and no mention of "Stop the Racetrack" coalition whose members attended Township meetings for about a year, speaking out about all the industry's negatives.
Instead, your sympathy is reserved for the "fans and harness drivers forced to travel out of state to find the nearest racing track." The print version of this story (on page one), actually refers to Northville Downs as a "victim."
You can do better than this, Freep.
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Beatrice Friedlander, Canton"
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[NOTE: the author is Board President of Attorneys for Animals, a nonprofit located in Canton, which opposed efforts to relocate the racetrack to Plymouth Township.]"
Great turnout for Senator Bayer on November 16th.
Plymouth Township represented well with respectable conversation about resident concerns! Senator Bayer came to listen and share and we are being heard. This is how it should be done! She has acknowledged the numerous communications received from residents opposing the racetrack and the horse racing bills that will negatively impact the state's school aid fund. A sincere thanks to both residents and Senator Bayer. We are encouraged and must continue to fight this racetrack.
Horse Racing - CBS' 60 Minutes - Click CBS' 60 Minutes link and watch and learn about the ongoing atrocities associated with this 'so-called' sport.
Read about growing grassroots opposition at MIBETS.com dated August 10th (click on link to article below)
Heise Comments about deferred Tax Benefits in The Rock, Feb 2023, pg4
"Northville Downs at Plymouth Township could generate another $500,000 a year in tax revenue, Heise said. However, that money would go into the Michigan International Technology Center Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Fund for the first 10 years."
Economic Development Coordinator Planning Commission Feb Mtg
Comments referencing being able to put something worse in location.
Breakage Fees offset by required staffing in Public Safety
Project Narrative (PC#2478) Benefits of Proposed Project #2
"Construction of the development as a racetrack with its associated amenities will take place in a known and immediate timeframe unlike the previously proposed industrial park which could have taken years to full development and full tax paying status. Also, immediately upon commencement of operations, breakage will be generated from wagering and will go directly to Plymouth Township to pay for the additional public safety costs incurred during events. Northville Downs currently provides approximately $200,000 per year in breakage fees to the City of Northville from wagering operations."
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Heise Comments About Landfill and Traffic on 5 Mile in Dec. 2020 "The Rock" Article
Cautious Optimism, The Rock 2020
"Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise has been a frequent critic of the landfill in the past. He said thousands of people in the northwestern corner of Plymouth Township were getting some of the landfill’s breeze. He said it wasn’t just about the smell, either. He has also been particularly vocal about the traffic issues it has caused on township roads as garbage haulers make their way to and from the landfill in Salem Township.
“It’s about the truck traffic and the damage to Five Mile Road,” Heise said. “If you run into congestion at Beck and M-14, it’s probably a stalled garbage hauler.”"
5 and Ridge, morning, June 2023
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Landfill/traffic a problem Heise states in 2020.
How will this development make those risks go away?
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Soccer fields in the middle of the racetrack?
Public Benefit - Really? How is the racetrack surrounding the soccer fields going to stay immaculate from horse manure and urine?.
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View site plan on Township site located here showing location of soccer fields.
Hometown Life Article, 2/20/2023
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Plymouth Twp residents have been objecting to this development since initially becoming aware when Planned Unit Development (PUD) came before Planning Commission in February 2023.
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However, property by Northville Downs owners was purchased in October 2022 prior to PUD being made known to public. The PUD, if all conditions are met, would allow for a change in use of this property other than what is intended by the MITC.
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Very minimal support being expressed which mostly centers with those involved in this industry.
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Plymouth Twp economic developer tells residents he can put in worse things.