As a dog owner and fellow supporter, I was pleased to learn last year that the Dearborn Animal Shelter is constructing a brand new facility capable of helping many more animals. Anyone who has visited the old shelter can easily see the benefits of a new one. Not only is this new project good for the animals and the workers, it also serves to enhance our city’s image.

Last year the Dearborn City Council unanimously passed a resolution to give the “Dearborn” Animal Shelter a substantial $600,000 cash contribution. The Council also generously donated the city-owned Amtrak Rail Station property, valued at $400,000.

These funds were designated for the construction of the new animal shelter in the heart of Dearborn. The city also chose to continue its relationship with the shelter and to renew its annual contribution of $75,000. 

So what do the taxpayers and the city of Dearborn receive for donating the land to build and for our generosity? The embarrassment of getting dropped from the shelter’s name and being removed from future marketing materials. As of February 19, the shelter is now the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, not Dearborn. It’s a dog-gone shame.

I hate to parrot Donald Trump, but who negotiated this deal? According to the terms of the deal, the shelter is under no legal obligation to offer the city of Dearborn naming rights or anything else for that matter, but to be dropped after donating more than a million dollars feels a little disingenuous to me and many others.

Rotarians use what is called the “Four Way Test” to gauge the authenticity and fairness of personal or business relationships. It’s a series of four questions we ask ourselves before entering into agreements.

One: Is it the truth?

Two: Is it fair to all concerned?

Three: Will it build goodwill and better relationships?

Four: Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

In my opinion, this deal does not pass the test. First, re-branding the shelter using Metro Detroit instead of Dearborn greatly reduces the positive impact for our city and creates the impression that the shelter wishes to distance itself from Dearborn’s image. Secondly, to my understanding, City Council was not made aware of the shelter’s intention to drop Dearborn at the time the resolution passed. And lastly, since I can no longer see any benefits for our city, I now have to question the use of taxpayer funds for this project.

From now on, every animal shelter business card, brochure, newspaper article, television commercial, ribbon cutting and fundraiser promotion will read “Metro Detroit” instead of Dearborn. Positive news is something our city needs. It’s crucial to attracting potential home buyers and investors.

Sadly, much of the news coming out of Dearborn these days is either about a shooting, a civil rights march or a video of our mayor cursing a Council member on the evening news.

If you disagree with me about our city’s image, stop reading this and do a Google search for Dearborn, Michigan. You are likely to find more stories on Islamophobia or “Sharia Law” than Greenfield Village or Henry Ford. How did this happen?

I learned about this decision from my friend and fellow Rotarian, Dearborn Councilman Mike Sareini, who is an animal lover and supporter of the shelter himself. He expressed his disappointment with the animal shelter deal at the February Southwestern Outer Drive Neighborhood Association meeting, where he was invited as a guest speaker. 

Councilman Sareini stated he voted to support the animal shelter because he believed it was a great project for Dearborn. Once he learned of the name change, he raised the issue at a Dearborn Committee of the Whole meeting.

The councilman stated he would not have voted yes to provide that amount of funding had he known the new name of the animal shelter did not represent Dearborn. Sareini also indicated that some of his colleagues agreed with him on the issue. He further stated that this issue is not about naming rights, but believes the move is disingenuous.

The bottom line is if Dearborn is to remain a viable option for potential businesses and homeowners in the 21st century, we must do a better job at molding our image and promoting our city.  

-Regan J. Ford is the founder and president of Dearborn-based VIVID Maintenance. He serves his community as the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Dearborn and president of the Southwestern Outer Drive Neighborhood Association.