By Steve Neavling, Editor The grumblings of revolution and civil disobedience in Detroit are hard to dismiss as hyperbole. “Before long, I think there’s going to be a class or race riot,” Councilman Kwame Kenyatta told me over the phone. “People are angry.” No doubt. Police and firefighters are losing jobs. Bus routes are less […]
Dear Detroit Council President Charles Pugh, When your constituents feel under siege by the state takeover and the rapid loss of services, it’s time to stop locking the door on Detroiters. As president of the Detroit City Council, you were elected to hear from your constituents, no matter how much you dislike their message. Once […]
Thank you everyone for your support throughout our inception. A migraine rudely took me out of commission for the past few days but I am back and excited to bring you new columnists, daily doses of Detroit-related news, exclusive investigations as well as photos and videos of all sides of the city in the weeks to […]
Greg Murray, Editorial columnist Around this time several years ago, a group of so-called captains of industry (see former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick separation fund managers) gathered at an annual organizational meeting – or what some would call a strategy meeting – to determine who would run Detroit. Their champion then was a “transitional” figure with a […]
The great desire to breathe life into the country’s oldest-operating aquarium was on full display at the well-attended Race to Reopen the Belle Isle Aquarium Fundraiser Gala over the weekend. From the gentle melodies of a strolling violinist to flaming balls of fire, the everyday appearance of the Aquarium and Conservatory was transformed. Tents burst […]
By Steve Neavling Leave it to Detroit City Council to turn a peaceful apple orchard into a heated, divisive issue. Forget the city’s other problems, like chronic poverty, high illiteracy rates, tens of thousands of vacant homes and a budget shortfall that could land Detroit in bankruptcy court. When council members learned Tuesday that volunteers […]
By Editorial Columnist Greg Murray Over the last several weeks, I have made several calls to the Michigan Tax Association regarding the potential violations of the Headlee Amendment within the so called “consent agreement” between the state and the city of Detroit. I have gotten zero response from this “advocacy” organization. Leon Drolet, the chair […]
by Rev. Charles E. Williams II In the year 2000, I was a college student at Eastern Michigan University where I developed and had my first taste of engaging in electoral politics. Strange as it seems, I wasn’t a part of a GOTV machine, nobody was paying me to campaign, but I had a decent […]
If Detroit is consistent about anything, it’s the city’s failure to find good leadership. From the segregationist mayors and city councils of the first half of the 20th century to the ineffective leaders of today, Detroit is a stark example of a city damaged by its own leadership. So as the 2013 mayoral election nears […]
By Editorial Columnist Greg Murray On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, I appeared before the Detroit City Council to share my belief that the so-called “consent” agreement between the state and Detroit actually violates the Headlee Amendment. It is my position that the “consent” agreement included unconditional terms Detroit had no choice but to acquiesce to. One […]