Farmington Official Says Bond Opposition Led to Restaurant Boycott

Farmington city council member Greg Cowley said Monday that a parent who came to his family's restaurant for a school fundraiser told him she felt like she "crossed a picket line".
 

Cowley charged that some members of the (PTA) Parent Teacher Association have apparently issued a "code red", asking people to boycott John Cowley & Sons over his opposition to the Farmington Public Schools (FPS) August bond election.

On Sept. 6, the restaurant gave 10 percent of Longacre Elementary School supporters' meal tabs to the Longacre PTA. Cowley declined to identify the parent who spoke to him and did not say whether the PTA parents calling for the "code red" were from Longacre Elementary. 

The $222 million referendum was defeated on Aug. 6, and officials have put a 2-part bond question on the November ballot. Cowley said he will oppose that one as well. 

"Frankly, I'm a supporter of public schools. I'm a supporter of teachers and education," he said. "It's because I'm sitting up here that I'm against this bond." 

His position, Cowley said, is based on his opposition to raising taxes. He said the city's overall taxes are among the highest in Oakland County. 

Farmington PTA Council president Jenn Garland in an email said there is no organized boycott of the restaurant by the district or the PTA Council. 

"I am aware of some FPS parents who are upset with Cowley due to his vocal opposition to the August bond proposal," she wrote. "I have even had parents say in my presence that they resolved not to patronize Cowley’s any more."

Garland noted that she contacted the Longacre PTA president before the fundraiser "to warn her that they might not have the attendance they desired due to this feeling in the community."

She said Longacre PTA plans a number of fundraisers at other Farmington restaurants, and "felt confident going forward with this one. Cowley has been a good supporter of Longacre PTA."

To close his remarks Monday, Cowley shared an Irish proverb: "Really understand the breed of the dog you're about to strike, because that dog may bite down just a little bit harder." 

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