Radio Commercial Calls Bernero A "Bully"
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Updated: 7:24 PM Mar 31, 2008
Radio Commercial Calls Bernero A "Bully"
The ad introduces a contest to create videos poking fun of Mayor Virg Bernero
Posted: 5:27 PM Mar 31, 2008
Reporter: Lauren Zakalik
Email Address: lauren.zakalik@wilx.com
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If you listened to the radio on your Monday morning commute, you might have heard something a little out of the ordinary.

A commercial debuted Monday morning, calling out Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero for being-- quote-- a bully.

And the ad, now playing on three different local radio stations, urges people to create videos poking fun of the mayor-- and to send them to the Local 580 Teamsters Union to win a prize.

It's called "Purge Bernero," and though it's in jest, they mean what they say.

"Basically we're calling it what it is," says Local 580 Secretary-Treasurer Mike Parker. "We're having fun doing it, standing up to a bully we think is unfair to people-- not only to his workers but members of the public."

Bernero is asking city workers to pay 5 percent of their health care costs-- something Parker says is unreasonable. But he says Bernero won't budge, so they've gone to the airwaves. Parker says it's a different approach than usual, but it's in their legal rights, he says.

The mayor heard the commercial bright and early Monday morning. Bernero chuckled, he said, but is standing by his budget.

"You gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette," Bernero explains. But he says everyone is making sacrifices, and he's not willing to burden taxpayers with the city's budget problems.

But until he convinces the union of that, the commercials are going nowehere.


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  • Posted By: Sandito all of you who voted for Virg. Well most of the jobs went to out of town workers, like the guys who did the streets, from OHIO!, the workers down town who are from all over but Lansing. The people who have tried to work with him in neighborhoods know that its either his way or his way. He does not care what was told or promised to you, he makes sure it's his way. If you don't like it TOO BAD FOR YOU!! If you opossed him on something gee something is not right in you neighborhood and it is not the citys fault. You and your neighbors are doing something ilegal. How do I know? I have one of the letters they sent to my neighborhood. Good Luck Lansing
  • Posted By: Congradulations to the City of Lansing! You re-elected someone who is totally beyond belief. A man who thinks if your a developer your the best thing to happen to the city, even it your less than honest. But if your a home owner who lives here... So you wanted him and we are now stuck with him for another 4 years. A man who went into QD for donuts, and had to have the clerk put them in a box for him because he did not know how. What a great guy for the mayor. Most of you have never had to try to deal with him, for fight him and his people for what was promised to them and then changed. You wait your turns are comming.
  • Posted By: BradBOY THATS JUST GREAT. I GUESS I'LL NEVER WORK IN LANSING THE NEXT FOR YEARS,BUTIM SURE VIRG WILL HIRE THE SCABS FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND HEAR HOW GREAT THE CITY IS DOING. THANKS VIRG FOR YOUR GREATGUIDENCE AND FABULOUS LIESD
  • Posted By: kI think you people are neglecting the real culprit for Lansing's troubles as well as the state of Michigan.Look who we have in the capitol sitting there in her office,telling us all a bunch of lies and making promises that she knows she can't keep. Don't be so hard on our Mayor when it's our governor who needs to be scrutinized.
  • Posted By: BillMy condolances to the residents of Lansing. You had your chance to rid yourself of your major embarrasment but chose not to. I hope it does not come back to haunt you in the next 4 loooooong years.
  • Posted By: BillGREAT! ! ! Michigan is still going to end up downhill. Why dont we just re-elect Granholm for Governor? Better off, why not elect Jim carry for president?, since this all seems to be such a comical situation... GO MICHIGAN! ! ! Move here!, NO JOBS! but it is such a pretty state.. Keep up the good work VIRG! ! Why cant you people making thousands take a cut? I personally think because taking from the middle class and the poor puts so much more in your pockets 2 thumbs down for you and our Govenor. Best wishes on continuing to bring down our state.
  • Posted By: BillThank GOD that Carol Wood did not win! Anyone who thinks that neighborhoods generate revenue needs to get their head out of the clouds and take an introductory economics course. Jobs come BEFORE better neighborhoods, not the other way around.
  • Posted By: Shocked...Congrats Virg...and I mean that with the utmost sarcarism...I do not live within the city of Lansing, thus could not vote but had I been able to I would not have voted for him. I am a city of Lansing employee and Virg has done NOTHING for the cities employees but cut jobs, benefits...take take take. Nor for the city in general...His motto in the last election was "Lansing Works" ironic that ALL of the construction on Michigan ave was done by scab's from Grand Rapids, and let's mention all the mums he planted along that road to the tune of $30,000.00 that only lasted one year and then died because they were not properly winterized, so the next spring they all got dug up, thrown away and more were planted to the tune of another $30,000.00. Tax payers money hard at work there. City employees have been working without a contract for nearly three years, no raises in site but his staff got a 20% increase last year alone...WAY to GO Virg...shame on you and your corrupt misguided politics...
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