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Beacon Square 2022 Winter Newsletter
Posted on Mar 3rd, 2022 Comments (0)
Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) Notice
Posted on Mar 2nd, 2022
 
Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF)
 
WHITMER - Governor Whitmer Launches Program for Michigan Homeowners Experiencing Hardships
 
The Homeowner Assistance Fund was established under section 3206 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the ARP) to mitigate hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing funds to prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosure, loss of utilities or home energy services and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship on or after January 21, 2020 or for those homeowners who experience a coronavirus pandemic financial hardship that began before January 21, 2020 but continued after that date.
 
The U.S. Department of the Treasury notified MSHDA on April 14, 2021 that it will allocate $242,812,277 to the State of Michigan. This number was based on unemployed individuals and the number of mortgagors with delinquent mortgage payments.
 
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has designated the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (the Authority or MSHDA) as the operating agency to set up the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) program in accordance with the guidance provided by the Treasury.
 
MSHDA opened the MIHAF program to the public on February 14, 2022
 
 
Garage Sale Permit Fees WAIVED
Pride Awards
Posted on Jun 1st, 2021 Comments (0)
Southfield Job Opportunities
Posted on May 28th, 2021 Comments (0)
COVID Hotline
Posted on Feb 6th, 2021 Comments (0)
2021 Winter Newsletter
Posted on Feb 1st, 2021 Comments (0)
IMPORTANT - Public Input
Southfield Community Notice Letter
Posted on Feb 1st, 2021 Comments (0)
  Also see Public Input
 
Southfield Good Fellows
Posted on Sep 22nd, 2020 Comments (0)
RESPONSE LETTER TO CITY
Posted on Aug 16th, 2020 Comments (0)
The Beacon Square Homeowners Association appreciates the opportunity to meet with the insensitive landlord and Dollar Store owners, who plan, over strong community objections, to further concentrate low end retail stores in our community.
To be clear, we object strongly and will press our viewpoints at any meeting.  We will do so respectfully, but forcefully.  We believe that the concentration of 3 dollar stores within a 100 yard radius is the reverse of “gentrification” in that it will result inn a negative perception of our community, and further the ghettoization, (to coin a phrase) a form of red lining, of our neighborhood of solidly  middle class homeowners, the majority of whom are African Americans.  We refuse to become a dumping ground or magnet for undesirable retail concentrations.  NIMBY adequately summarizes the community’s determination to preserve our quality of life, and property values.  We understand that while the zoning code may permit the concentration of undesirable low-end retail, the code does not mean we have to like, or even tolerate it.
 
We have expressed our NIMBY feelings to the Mayor, council members and other elected officials.  And will do so at the meeting if, and when, it occurs.
We have the recent Walmart example to demonstrate the power a community can bring to bear when it objects to a retailer locating in an area where it is unwelcome, or its presence will impair the quality of life of residents.  The area of 12 Mile and Southfield Road was zoned for Walmart, but it is not there.  Walmart, one of, if not the largest, retailers in the world understood the power of a community organized around NIMBY.  It was wise enough to realize it should not locate where it was not wanted.  Does the owner have multiple dollar stores in his community?  Or elsewhere?  The Dollar Tree is filthy, the carpet is disgusting, the store is junky, and boxes are always in the middle of the store floor.  The outside is even worse.  There is nothing about it nor, frankly, code enforcement’s blind eye to its disgusting lack of sanitation that supports locating another in our community.  The existing stores are hardly glowing recommendations for another dollar store in our neighborhood.  The existing store has the aspect of a ghetto store that disrespects its customers.
 
We have worked too hard to attain the lifestyle we enjoy in Beacon Square to permit it to be destroyed by someone who could care less about the preservation of our neighborhood.  While it may not be apparent to an unobservant eye, Beacon Square residents are well educated, politically savvy, sophisticated people.  Succinctly put, we know how to exert power and influence to protect our interest.  Many of us come from activists’ backgrounds and know how to organize communities and sustain demonstrations.  If necessary, and, in order to protect our investments and preserve our quality of life, we will dust off the old playbooks.
 
I hope our position is clear.  We are willing to meet with whomever you wish, but our bottom line remains NIMBY.
 
Very truly yours,
 
Samuel V. Thomas
President
BSHA
Winter 2020
Posted on Jul 9th, 2020 Comments (0)