Heroin is on the rise says DEA....

This is not good...http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dea-finds-heroin-use-skyrocketing-n457336?cid=par-time_20151104

Gun Control, Max Garbarino Opinion

Gun control, one of the hottest topics we have today.  Whether your for or against there are many passionate people on both sides of this argument.  I am generally for gun rights, less governmental intervention, or any infringement on our Second Amendment.  However, with that said, keeping weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill and criminals should be our highest priority.  Unfortunately, keeping them out of the hands of criminals generally is going to be a never ending battle and I rather not see it more difficult for regular people to access firearms because we are making unrealistic laws or regulations to do little or nothing to prevent criminals from getting them.  I do believe we can do something with preventing the mentally ill or at least help to prevent the mentally ill from getting access to them.  The best part of President Obama's announcement is  "the Administration is proposing a new $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care" and "the President has directed the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology."  There was talk about closing loopholes in purchasing from gun shows and the like but I think this is the most important part of it.  Hopefully the remainder of the actions don't unnecessarily hinder regular people from purchasing but only makes it safer.  We shall see....

Link to Newsweek Article http://www.newsweek.com/obama-speech-gun-control-gun-violence-411640?rx=us

www.maxgarbarino.com

Congratulations Mayor Pro Tem Anam Miah

Last night at the Hamtramck Common Council Meeting second term councilmen Anam Miah was elected Mayor Pro Tem.  This is well deserved and long over due.  There is no doubt in my mind that he will continue to do good things for the residents of Hamtramck!  

"Chicago shootings" Training & The Proper Tools Need to be supplied to avoid these Tragedies Max Garbarino Opinion

“You don’t blame the officers; you blame the training they receive,” Wexler said. “It is every police officer’s nightmare to have an outcome like what happened in Chicago this weekend. It really is. It’s not what any good officer wants.”

I think Wexler hit this right on the nose.  Our police officers need to be supplied with proper training and the right tools or these tragedies will keep happening.  When we invest in our police we have better results, you cut it to bare bones and this is what happens....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/12/29/why-police-calls-involving-the-mentally-ill-often-end-in-tragedy/

"Mich. officials push back as feds recall military gear" Max Garbarino Opinion

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/23/mich-officials-push-back-feds-recall-military-gear/77865306/

Every time I see this it amazes me how ridiculous it is.  The Departments losing these have always used them responsibly, they clearly preserve life by enhancing officer safety, and have been in these departments hands for years without problems.  Now they have to go out and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace them for what reason?  Because its satisfying some political agenda.....

www.maxgarbarino.com

"Police in Michigan using automatic license plate readers, raising controversy" Max Garbarino Opinion

So this may be raising controversy only because people don't like it.  License plates that are visible to the public are checked everyday all day by officers on the streets.  The only difference is that this is automated and allows officers to quickly locate stolen cars, wanted fugitives, and vehicles of interest.  This is not retaining the information but simply used to scan what's around the officer.  Bob Stevenson is completely correct.

http://www.wwmt.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Police-in-MIchigan-using-automatic-license-plate-readers-raising-controversy-244624.shtml#.Vnt7S7DSmUk

Emergency Managment in Lincoln Park...... Max Garbarino Opinion

The best part of this is "Lincoln Park officials will run the city, but have to go through the transition board for major contracts “to make sure things don’t go off the rails." If history is any indicator from the other emergency managment municipalitys they will not run anything even with the EM gone. At least until the TAB board and state are gone.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2015/12/22/lincoln-parks-financial-emergency-state-says/77758476/