Written by John Face

September 30, 2021

Editorial

As Richard Lindsey who is an attorney with the firm Abbott, Thomson, Mauldin, Parker, Beer and Rick out of Jackson MI worked his social media campaign supporting Albion College and its President Mathew Johnson there was one thing he was failing to do and that was disclose his relationship to Albion College.  I am not talking about his being an alumnus of Albion College as that is one thing he has long been proud of, as he should be. 

I am talking about his law firm representing Albion College in matters of purchasing property around the campus and around Washington Gardner.  I am talking about Lindsey as being the attorney personally doing the leg work so to speak for the firm trying to buy property. 

Lindsey has made a point to prove what is “fact or fiction”, even to the point of invoking my name in one of his rants.  All the while he was being super champion of Johnson and the college he did not publically disclose the financial relationship between himself, his firm and the college.  That disclosure only came after he must have heard that I was looking into his connections with the college.  I mean literally hours after I was asking questions about this connection with an individual who is selling their property.

So Lindsey got on social media, specifically Facebook and spoke of many things that are legal, fact or fiction and giving examples of legal precedent to back up his legal claims, and oh yeah he mentioned without much fanfare that he was gaining financially representing the college.

Now that last point has gone quietly to the side and it should be front and center.  Let me state this it appears it is legal for Lindsey to do this and I certainly don’t begrudge a man making a living.  The issues are much larger and let’s state them.

Richard Lindsey is the President of the Marshall Public School Board of Education.  Richard Lindsey is an alumnus of Albion College.  Richard Lindsey is a big supporter of Albion College President Mathew Johnson.  Richard Lindsey is an attorney with Abbott, Thomson, Mauldin, Parker, Beer and Rick out of Jackson MI, the firm making money off the college acquiring property for the college.   Richard Lindsey supports the Bond issue that will be on the November Ballot, we know this because he voted to put it before the voters.

Read the previous paragraph again.  Is this ethical?  That’s a good question.  It appears that it is legal for Lindsey to represent the college but ethical?  Ethics are more than rules set up but professional organizations and Boards.  Ethics are in your own heart.  Ethics add to your moral compass that we all should have, most certainly someone who has been entrusted with leading our school district.  Is Lindsey being ethical?  You decide.

Complete disclosure:  I have known Richard Lindsey for around 6 years.  I met him during the yes campaign for annexation and he was a fountain of information for me then.  We have continued to have a friendship since and have enjoyed meeting with each other socially as well.  Richard represented me as my attorney during the City of Albion’s investigation that included the Cities attempt to get information from me about my sources.  Of course the city got nothing but still Richard sat with me and guided me legally during my interview.  I do not have an axe to grind regarding Richard but I will not sit still and have him imply that I have been dishonest and incomplete in my reporting.  That is not going to happen.  I walk the streets knowing I have been ethical in this entire situation regarding Albion College and Mathew Johnson.  The fact is folks I considered Richard Lindsey a friend.  Apparently that friendship was one sided.  Lesson learned.

Comments open on this article.

Written by John Face

September 16, 2021

This morning City Watch NEWS spoke with two signers of the change.org petition drive that asks for the removal of Mathew Johnson as President of Albion College.  Both students requested to remain anonymous for fear of retribution and City Watch agreed with this request. 

Student #1 a Senior, said that the petition drive was needed to try and remove the President.  They said “the fact that students and people of the community have to stand up to a bully like this is sad”.  They said that real change can only occur “when the Board of Trustees listens to us and does their job in removing him”.  The student said there are legitimate concerns regarding his ability to lead and to make change.  This student claims the administrations “attack via social media since the petition began” is an example of telling “just enough of the truth” to make his story look good.

I asked as a Senior would they compare Dr. Johnson to former President Dr. Ditzler? Student 1 said “there is absolutely no comparison. Dr. Ditzler wasn’t perfect but at least he treated people with respect and you felt like he cared for us where Dr Johnson does not”.

Student # 2 is a Freshman at the college and came to Albion because of its efforts to diversify its student body and its history as a strong academic institution.  They said their impression of Dr. J was very good at the start of the school year. That would change quickly as they shared their concerns as “Dr. J  tends to talk down to people and is quite mean”. 

The student claimed they experienced first hand how Dr. J could be on how he dealt with a friend, “he made them feel like a second class person as he criticized the friend in front of them”.  I asked what the topic was that caused this interaction. They said they “won’t say because he could figure out who I am”.

When I asked if real change will come from the petition both stated likely not.  Student 1 said “it’s falling on deaf ears” it appears as far as the Board of Trustees go.  I asked if there is any plan for an organized protest this week for the Presidents inauguration.  Both replied none that they were aware of. I asked them both if there was a protest would they participate and both said yes, there is “safety in numbers” student 1 said.

I asked the students if they have tried to speak directly to the President, both said no. Student 2 stating “I am afraid of him so the last thing I want to do is put myself out there like a target”.  

I asked them what message would they want to get out to the Trustees and community at large.  They both agreed with Student 1’s statement, “tell the Trustees to help us, please remove him before he bankrupts the College and ruins its standing in the country”. 

Again a message to students and staff, feel free to reach out to me at facej781@gmail.com if you wish to talk.

Here is a link to the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/albion-college-remove-dr-mathew-johnson-from-albion-college

Written by John Face

City Watch NEWS

September 14, 2021

The petition that was started three days ago asking for the removal of Albion College President Mathew Johnson had 15 signatures and three comments yesterday morning now has 678 signatures and many comments. The petition asks for Johnsons removal based on many issues the petition starter feel is cause for his removal. City Watch will be monitoring this in the coming days. Below is a direct link to the petition.

https://www.change.org/p/albion-college-remove-dr-mathew-johnson-from-albion-college

Written by John Face.

City Watch has learned that a Change.org petition has been started seeking the removal of Albion College President Mathew Johnson. The petition was started by an anonymous individual.

Many of the issues in the petition mirror what City Watch will be reporting later this week. City Watch has nothing to do with this and only shares it to allow the public to make an informed opinion.

Follow this link:

https://www.change.org/p/albion-college-remove-dr-mathew-johnson-from-albion-college

Here We Go Again

Council Shenanigan’s Part 2

Editorial

Written by John Face

City Watch NEWS

September 4, 2021

At the Tuesday September 7, 2021 meeting of the Albion City Council our council members are bringing another resolution to be considered and located deep inside this resolution is another attempt to slam and blame the City Manager in a very back handed but obvious way.  The resolution, which is below in this story, is primarily focused on decorum. 

The guess of this writer is that the council didn’t like the large turnout of citizens the last time they tried to suspend the City Manager.  This resolution basically addresses the alleged lack of control of the Mayor and that everyone needs to play nice, especially citizens who disagree.  Apparently lack of control means people getting at them, the council that is, for their sneaky actions.  Nowhere in the resolution does it address Council member Nora Jackson yelling at residents who called her out for her actions.  Everyone in Albion knew what the Jackson/Reid resolution was about apparently except one of the people who brought it forward, that being Council Member Jackson who insisted that there is no attempt to fire the City Manager.

The fact is this resolution really shouldn’t be on the agenda.  Everything in the resolution is already a rule.  If council members have an issue that the Mayor allowed people to speak passionately they can go talk to her privately.  No this resolution is about the very last whereas that is aimed at Haley Snyder and no amount of yelling at the audience will change that fact.

This new Resolution again uses too many “whereas” similar to the resolutions former Mayor Garrett Brown was famous for.  The resolution is a thinly veiled attempt to neuter the City Manager and any other members of council who disagree.  There appears to be a hidden agenda with these council members, one that makes this writer question what’s up. 

So here we are again, if you support the City Manager you better show up and stand with her and shut this down again.  It is hoped that Council member LaNoue will have the guts to show up in person this time.  She along with Council member Clark are the ones bringing this forward to council.  Read the resolution carefully, because citizens being passionate and against the council is considered bad.  So here is the resolution, whereas and all:

City of Albion

RESOLUTION #2021 –

City of Albion’s Commitment to Ensure Preservation of Order and Civil Discourse

Purpose and Finding: The City of Albion held a special meeting for city council members on August 24, 2021. During the meeting, confusion and discord spun out of control, causing harm and further concern that continues to negatively impact city officials’ ability to operate on one accord.

WHEREAS, the city council deserves to be treated with respect and dignity throughout the course of its duty as the legislative body of the city;

WHEREAS, Section 1-28 – “Ethics” of the City of Albion’s Charter and Code of Ordinances states that it is the sworn duty and primary responsibility of all city council members and the mayor to ensure that they understand and meet the standards set forth in the Ethics ordinance, that the public can continue to have full confidence in the integrity of government;

WHEREAS, the chair of the council must be consistent in ruling over the decorum of city council meetings to ensure the preservation of order in the council chambers. Furthermore, city council members have the power to create a resolution, call a special meeting, and ensure that the processes of the city are functioning properly. Yet, when misinformation is spread from members of the city council, this can cause people to react in a hostile way that incites malice toward the City and damages relations amongst city officials and the public at-large;

WHEREAS, private discourse and electronic communication while council is in session are not allowed, per the City of Albion’s Rules of Procedure. Furthermore, secrecy within the decision-making process and regular, unrecorded private meetings with three of the city’s foremost leaders, all undermine the ability to build trust amongst the City of Albion’s governing body;

WHEREAS, a lack of necessary information for decision-making, particularly when specific information has been requested, also creates the atmosphere for a hostile working environment.

WHEREAS, an ongoing unwillingness from city administration to initiate engagement with city council members and the public at-large, after requests for this have been made, creates additional cause for concern by council members to question: what is preventing necessary engagement at this pivotal time in the city’s history? Additionally, this leads residents to ask, if the leaders of city hall do not have the time to develop solutions for the city’s conflicts, who else in the city does?

RESOLVED, that the city council directs the mayor to preserve order during city council meetings, pursuant to the city council Rules of Procedure and Ethics Ordinance; be it further

RESOLVED, that the entire city council recommits to its duty to act in accordance to the City Council Rules of Procedure and Ethics Ordinance.

Date:     September 7, 2021

Ayes:     _______

Nays:     _______

Absent: _______

I certify that this resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Albion on September 7, 2021.

______________________________

Jill Domingo

City Clerk