A Proven Leader for Grand Traverse County
Running a positive campaign is important to Brad, so we've laid out a neutral, factual, non-dramatized summary of the two actual policies Fern Spence has proposed, in an otherwise vague campaign based on general issues, many of which, Brad is proud to have already been making great strides in.
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These concepts are pulled directly from her urban planning project and social media post
Fern Spence's 15-Minute City Sounds Great— But She's Not Telling You the Whole Story.
Fern Spence's
15-Minute City Might Sound Great—
But She's Not Telling You the Whole Story.
Fern Spence is pushing policies that sound nice on the surface, but don’t be fooled. She’s carefully hiding the true costs of her radical agenda. Cities across the world have had demonstrations and marches vocalizing segregation and inevitable progression into an oppressive surveillance state. Beneath the slogans of “sustainability” and “accessibility,” Spence is pushing policies that will cripple small businesses, increase taxes, and make life harder for working families and seniors in Grand Traverse County.
Don't Be Fooled:
Fern Spence’s Radical Agenda
Is Hiding in Plain Sight
The True Costs of Spence's Agenda
Spence is using phrases like "sustainability" to push ESG policies that will directly hurt working families, seniors, and small businesses. Here’s what she’s not telling you:
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Carbon Credits & Tax Increases:
Her policies will increase costs for small businesses, forcing them to buy expensive carbon credits while large corporations escape the real impact. That means higher prices for you at local stores.
Impractical 15-Minute City:
This plan ignores the realities of Northern Michigan’s winters. Forcing people—especially the elderly—to walk or bike for everyday needs in snow and ice is simply dangerous and impractical.
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The Real Agenda:
Spence is hiding behind these policies to serve corporate interests and wealthy developers. Her plan isn’t about helping local families—it’s about pushing a radical national agenda.
Who Will Be Affected?
Seniors and Retirees:
Spence’s impractical plans will make it harder for you to access the services you need, especially in the winter.
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Working Families:
Increased costs at local businesses and higher taxes will hit you hardest. Spence’s policies favor the wealthy, not working families.
Small Business Owners:
You’ll be forced to either buy expensive carbon credits or face fines and penalties. Spence’s plan is anti-business, plain and simple.​
Fern Spence’s plan for a 15-Minute City sounds like an ideal vision, but the reality is far different. By pushing for ESG-compliant policies and heavy infrastructure investment, she’s ignoring the practical challenges facing most of the residents in Garfield Township
Here’s why her plan is not only impractical but potentially harmful:
Hidden Costs:
Spence is glossing over the tax increases and maintenance fees that will be necessary to sustain her grand vision. The cost of implementing carbon-neutral policies will fall on small businesses and residents, many of whom are already struggling.
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Out of Touch with Reality:
Northern Michigan winters make walking or biking nearly impossible for months out of the year. Expecting the elderly or low-income residents to navigate in snow and icy conditions for everyday needs is unrealistic and dangerous.
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Disproportionate Impact on Working Families:
Her plan will make commuting harder for blue-a workers and residents who live outside the affluent downtown areas. With limited public transport options and longer travel times, the plan benefits only a small segment of society while burdening the rest.​
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Serving Special Interests:
While it’s packaged as a community-friendly initiative, Spence’s agenda appears to be more about satisfying environmental activists and big-money donors. Her approach ignores the economic realities of Garfield Township’s working-class residents and retirees, who will bear the brunt of increased costs.
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Undermining Local Jobs:
Similar policies in liberal cities like Portland and San Francisco have shown that businesses, especially small ones, suffer under heavy regulation and carbon-neutral mandates. Spence’s plan risks driving out local businesses, reducing jobs, and pushing prices higher for everyone.
The 15-minute city model in Traverse City focuses primarily on creating dense, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. However, for residents living outside of downtown or in more rural parts of Grand Traverse County, the transition could present both opportunities and challenges.
Access and Equity Issues:
Residents in rural or suburban areas may find that investments are concentrated downtown, potentially leaving them underserved unless the transportation improvements effectively connect their areas to the urban core.
Property Values and Taxes:
As downtown becomes more attractive with new amenities and infrastructure, surrounding property values and taxes could increase, potentially impacting affordability for those on fixed incomes or with limited transportation options.
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Shift Away from Car Dependence:
For those in rural areas accustomed to driving, the city’s push toward reduced car usage might not align with their needs, particularly if public transit options remain limited outside the urban center
Don’t be Fooled by Buzzwords—Fern Spence’s Policies Hide Harmful ESG Agendas That Hurt Small Businesses and Working Families!