Welcome to the City of Bloomfield Hills

 Some say Cranbrook is the jewel of Bloomfield Hills. I would say it is but one of many jewels  in the city. Bloomfield Hills is a great placed to tour on foot, on a bicycle, or even via a blog. My name is Mark Kapel and my blog is your guide to all things in the City of Bloomfield Hills.

Imagine if you will one of  those tourist trolleys sitting in the parking lot of the Bloomfield Hills City Hall. It is painted black and gold, the city's colors. The trolley  barker  offers many enticements. Easy on. Easy off. Repeats available 24-7. No need to pay the driver, conductor, or anyone at all ! Departures and returns three days a week. Sometimes more !

Imagine me talking through a microphone, answering questions and explaining the rules of the road. No ma'am we don't do Bloomfield Township, Birmingham, Troy, or West Bloomfield. We just do the five square miles that is the City of Bloomfield Hills. We may talk about other cities but in a City of Bloomfield Hills context. We will, on occasion, travel around the world  to cities which are remarkably similar to the City of Bloomfield Hills in important ways. Savannah Georgia would be one example.

Initially we will  be staying put in the parking lot  of City Hall. There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, the people of Bloomfield Hills are an interesting lot but they value their peace, quiet, and  privacy. If this were a real  trolley instead of an imaginary one, eye brows would be raised, and the loud speaker would be in violation of a city ordinance.  So the easiest people to meet in the city of Bloomfield Hills are the politicians and the residents who either seek or hold public office.

The second reason was best said by James Baldwin the author of The Fire Next Time and If Beale Street could talk.  He was an avowed atheist  who religiously attended Sunday church services  in Harlem. When asked why he bothered he said,"because it's the best show in town."

 In the City of Bloomfield Hills politics rivals one's home as the best  show in town. This year's spring season was  quite the affair. A  long ignored  section of a chapter of the almost eighty year old City Charter, was revived at the last minute. The mayor apparent  did not become mayor. Instead  the City Commission elected  another person  mayor in the first "legitimate"  mayor election  in the last nine years. By legitimate, I mean the it was an election in keeping with all precepts of the city charter, offered more than candidate and was decided by a margin other than an unanimous vote.

This blog is intended  for both City of Bloomfield Hills resident and non-residents. The  resident  familiar with many of the attractions the city has, hopefully will benefit from up to date and detailed information on City government and what's going on around town. For the non resident such information ( hopefully presented in an entertaining manner )will provide insight into his or her own community. As always your suggestions and comments will be appreciated.