He's the Mayor of Avon and Livernois; Can He Be Ousted?

The first thing Joe Cassidy wants everyone to know is that it takes him "about five seconds" to press the "check in" button on his iPhone Foursquare app when he's stopped at the light at Avon and Livernois roads in Rochester Hills.

It takes five seconds — even though he's probably there for five minutes or more.

With bridges on each road at the intersection in need of repairs, . Only one lane of traffic is allowed to pass through at a time; the bridge on Avon is set to be fixed in 2012; the Livernois bridge is not likely to see work until at least 2013.

So what's a motorist to do?

According to Foursquare, the social media site that allows its user to check in (similar to Facebook) at various businesses, 56 people have checked in a total of 215 times at the Avon and Livernois intersection. (It requires only the tap of a button or icon on a smart phone.)

Cassidy became the intersection's "mayor" this week (meaning he has had more check-ins there than anyone else.)

Here's his short story.

Who he is: Cassidy is 29 and was born and raised in Rochester Hills; he works in sales.

Why he can't avoid Avon and Livernois: He lives with his girlfriend  about 2 miles away at Auburn and Livernois roads; both his parents and his girlfriend's parents live just north of the Avon-Livernois intersection, so sometimes he drives that route two or three times a day.

Where else he is a Foursquare mayor: The station and .

Does he know the Rochester Hills Mayor, Bryan Barnett? "No; we have not met," Cassidy said.

What is his hopes for the intersection? "To have it done as quickly as possible; I hope it doesn't get pushed back," he said.

To join Foursquare and check in at area businesses, visit www.foursquare.com. Search "Rochester Patch" to follow us.