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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, 2010 Page A-4
Governor’s race From page A-1
It was the highest form of his supporters say Archer has ALMA WHEELER SMITH,
political insult I witnessed cov- an appeal that cuts across the state representative, is a veter-
ering the 2004 statewide cam- business community in the an of the Michigan legislature
paign of a candidate who was region. At a time when the who is actually running for
not only a Vietnam veteran but Dems are in such political dire governor in 2010. She brings
an accomplished lawyer and straits, they can make use of an enormous amount of leg-
police officer. him. islative experience and un-
It was evident that Williams HARVEY HOLLINS, vice
derstanding of inside Lansing
could win because he secured president of government af-
politics that few have, accord-
the floor nomination from fairs at Wayne State Universi-
ing to those who support her.
every constituency around the ty, is considered a good candi-
They believe she will be a tire-
state, not only African Ameri- date for the Democratic ticket
less advocate for those who
cans. So he was not just a because of the educational
are most needy.
Black candidate. He was com- crisis the state is facing. Hol- DENISE LANFORD
petent and had the appeal. lins’ supporters believe an ed- MORRIS has served as a cir-
But perhaps Wil-
cuit court judge in Oak-
liams’ defeat of the “Mark Brewer, the chief high
land County since 1992,
so-called favorite
the first African Ameri-
Democratic candidate,
priest and commanding scribe
can elected to the bench
Scott Bowen, the judge
there. Because of her
from Grand Rapids on
of the Michigan Democratic stellar legal background
the nomination floor,
mixed with community
Party, should welcome this
must have dried up
advocacy, Morris’ name
the wallets of the party
idea. The party should have
has been tossed around
donors.
for the Michigan Su-
a minority on the ticket who
preme Court. Her sup-
Did the Dems refuse porters also said she will
to release the fundrais-
will be well supported and not
make a great addition to
ing dollars because the Democratic guberna-
Williams was an Afri-
subjected to the kind of political torial ticket because of
can American whom
trickery former candidate for at-
her wide appeal in Oak-
Facing Down Cannonballs:
they suspect may not land County combined
win despite his nomi-
torney general Amos Williams,
with her strong Detroit
nation? Even though roots.
he had a statewide
appeal were the party
an African American with cross
A Haiti Reflection
BRENDA LAW-
chiefs still thinking he
appeal, suffered.”
RENCE, the current
By Ron Scott
was not viable?
and first African-Ameri-
can mayor of Southfield, Little children rummage
If the Dems are se- will be an interesting
among wreckage strewn over
rious about having a minor-
ucation leader with an exten-
candidate on the ticket given miles and centuries. Their
ity on the ticket they need to
sive knowledge of government
the geographical proximity of bright eyes capture the broken
demonstrate that with action
and how the legislative pro-
Southfield in Southeast Michi- glass, the charred body parts,
oriented efforts.
cess works will be an advan-
gan as a hub for business. and the ever-increasing ten-
tage for the ticket to address
Gov. Howard Dean said a
Lawrence on the Democratic sion between the need to sur-
the myriad of issues that are
couple of years ago at a Demo-
ticket could place the future vive and the loss of hope.
forcing graduates to leave the
cratic function in downtown
of businesses at the center of
Wolverine state.
Peace is a long-lost possi-
Detroit that it is time for the
the gubernatorial race. She is
bility, juxtaposing 200 years
party’s ticket to reflect its
HANSEN CLARKE, a state a go-getter, as her supporters
of desire for liberation against
voting communities. That is
senator from Detroit, is no reminded me. After being fired
the heartfelt pain of an erup-
one sure way to energize the
stranger to politics in the city up from the Obama change
tion of concrete, capitalism
vote.
and in Lansing. Clarke is ad- energy, she took on the Re-
mired for his boldness and ag- publican darling, Oakland
and militarism. As our eyes
It’s foolhardy to think that
gressive attitude toward what County Executive L. Brooks
and hearts turned over these
cultural inclinations and ex-
government ought to do for Patterson, in 2008 and made
past two weeks to the people
periences have nothing to do
the least of these. Those who an impressive showing.
of Haiti, we were really looking
with how people vote. Find out
back his candidacy for the
at our history.
from the Tea Party.
Watch senior editor
ticket think that he can make
Bankole Thompson’s weekly
The cannonball struck
Six names are circulat- a strong push for reform.
show, “Center Stage,” on
the gallant Gen. Toussaint
ing for potential candidacy
ALBERTA TINSLEY- WADL TV38, Saturdays at
L’Ouverture in the face in the
for lieutenant governor in the
TALABI, a veteran of the De- 1 p.m. This Saturday’s pro-
1790s as he defeated the most
Democratic camp so far.
troit City Council, has experi- gram, Jan 30, will feature an
powerful military machine
DENNIS ARCHER, the ence in municipal government in-depth look into the crisis in
in the world led by Napoleon
former mayor of Detroit, has that can add a strong impetus Haiti with interviews with a
Bonaparte to gain their free-
led many major efforts in to the ticket given the prob- Haitian political economist,
dom on the island of Hispan-
Southeast Michigan, is an ac- lems that cities across the the Red Cross of Southeast
iola, known now by its indige-
Haiti is a metaphor for our lost dreams, our
complished lawyer, former state are facing. As a former Michigan, the African Medi-
nous name, Haiti. L’Ouverture
president of the American Bar member of the city council, cal Student Group at Wayne
was signaling the battle that
current hopes, our future realities. We have
Association and public policy Tinsley-Talabi’s supporters State University, and the De-
was to come with European
thinker. Despite his earlier see a strong Detroit connec- troit Council of Baptist Pastor
and American invaders who
a chance to correct what has gone wrong
expression of not being inter- tion on the ticket if she is se- &Vicinity. E-mail bthomp-
would never let ex-slaves be
for these people during the past 200 years.
ested in running for governor, lected. son@michronicle.com.
truly free.
The battle for the continued
survival which we fight today is than one dollar per day. Isn’t it it be significant to see the U.S.
a reflection of a centuries-long ironic that after the departure military act in the long term as
struggle across oceans and of Aristide, it was discovered it has in the past week, for hu-
beneath mountains of pain. that Haiti has a possible large manitarian instead of military
Americans, Spaniards and the oil deposit right off its coast? purposes?
French have collectively at-
Perhaps, during these past Just prior to the Aristide
tempted to partition the will,
two weeks, as Zora Neale Hur- coup, political activist Ron
the economic structure, and
ston says, “Their (that is, the Daniels and the Congressio-
the governmental integrity of
citizens of Haiti) Eyes Were nal Black Caucus had planned
the Haitian people over these
Watching God.” Perhaps, to attend the 20th anniver-
many years.
during these past two weeks, sary celebration of the found-
In fact, the United States has His eyes were watching them ing of the Republic of Haiti.
invaded Haiti on no less than as the earth opened up to reveal There were dances and other
three occasions in the past the degradation and opportun- festivities planned. This year,
200 years. The most recent ism which people around the we have a chance to rekindle
such action was taken when world have now rallied to help the hope generated by that
the democratically-elected Hai- the Haitians fight. planned activity.
tian president, Jean Bertrand
In March of this year, the Haiti is a metaphor for our
Aristide, was removed from
Haitian government will speak lost dreams, our current hopes,
power in a questionable coup.
to an assembly of the United our future realities. We have
His life was only saved when
Nations and numerous non- a chance to correct what has
such notable political leaders
governmental organizations gone wrong for these people
as former Congressman Ron
from across the world. The during the past 200 years.
Dellums and California Con-
current government will pres- We, the sons and daughters of
gresswoman Maxine Waters
ent its plan for the rebuilding those who sacrificed for free-
put pressure on former Sec-
of this ancient, proud coun- dom in this hemisphere, must
retary of State Colin Powell to
try. continue the vigilance against
extract Aristide to the Central
African Republic and subse-
Wouldn’t it be nice to see
the corporate cannonballs
quently to South Africa, where
President Aristide return to
filled with weapons so much
he remains in exile.
participate? Wouldn’t it be im-
more devastating than those
portant to see the departure of
faced by Gen. L’Ouverture
Prior to the U.S. and United
the U.S. and European mega-
more than 200 years ago.
Nations interventions, Aris-
corporations that have been Ron Scott is spokesper-
tide had presided over a nation
clawing into Haiti’s soil and son for the Detroit Coalition
whose citizens worked making
its people for years? Wouldn’t Against Police Brutality.
American baseballs for less
Briefs From page A-1
in fraud schemes victimizing and in such need of food and that bring meals to the el-
“The big thing with us — and also with our benefactor
Detroit and Wayne County companionship.”
derly. Once inside the homes
seniors. As a result, Detroit
“We are doing everything
of the victims, one of the sus-
— was that the kids be able to get the coats with some
Area Agency on Aging (DAAA)
we can to warn all seniors pects would create a diversion
is issuing a warning to the
and disabled residents, espe-
senior and disabled commu-
while the other searched for
kind of dignity,” — Denise Dody Johnson
cially the over 3,500 Detroit
nities about fraud schemes.
personal checks, credit cards,
Meals on Wheels clients we
Bridge cards and other items
From just eight Detroit deliver meals to daily. We are
Coats
and Wayne County residents
cautioning them about indi-
of value. The defendants were
From page A-1 ranging from 58 to 87 years
viduals pretending to be asso-
difficult to trace because they
of age, it has been reported
ciated with Detroit Meals on
would rent apartments or
winter coats to the kids. at them and off they went.” Each family had a “personal that they were robbed of
Wheels, and assuring them homes and would move after
“He just asked that he be The children came in, were
shopper” to help assist them almost $20,000 in cash, ATM
that we are here to provide
three months over a multi-
able to remain anonymous,” fitted and picked out their own
with picking out the right size
withdrawals and credit card
assistance and services.”
year period. It is anticipated
she said. “But he gave us a coats
coats for their children. One
purchases.
These alleged criminals are that there are many more
check for thousands of dollars
was Swifty McVay, a member
The coats were given to
A communication is im-
a mother and daughter team
victims preyed upon by the
for coats. He wanted it done
of D-12, Eminem’s back-up
school-age children who might
mediately being issued by the
who posed as workers from
women.
right away. He wanted the kids
group.
have to walk to school; young-
Detroit Area Agency on Aging
Detroit Meals on Wheels,
to have the coats.”
er pre-school age children
“We had some of the ‘Dance to warn all clients of Detroit
Focus: HOPE and the Social
All seniors are being urged
Johnson then approached were not part of the focus. The
Party’ dancers; they were per-
Meals on Wheels. The agency
Security Administration. to be careful about allowing
Kmart, asking what kind of parent had to bring the chil-
sonal shoppers,” she said.
is working with staff and
They now face stiff felony
strangers into their homes
pricing it can give. In response, dren with them, and needed Johnson also noted that
service providers to assist
charges as a result of the
who do not have identifica-
Kmart came up with the idea ID, including a Medicaid or Kmart also provided some
in informing and assisting
investigation by the Detroit
tion, and take care not to
to give the coats away and family services medical card adult sized coats because
seniors with tips on how to
Police Department and the
share their personal informa-
offered the use of the Super to qualify. some kids are big enough to
avoid these types of scams,
Wayne County Prosecutor’s
tion. DAAA will never ask for
Kmart store on Telegraph.
and fraudulent schemes.
Office.
Johnson said they delib-
wear those sizes. PIN numbers, bankcards or
“That’s a unique store be-
erately chose to conduct this She emphasized that the
“We thank Wayne County
The Prosecutor’s Office
credit cards. Seniors who
cause it borders Southfield,
giveaway on Martin Luther people who came weren’t
Prosecutor Kim Worthy and
described the incidents as
have been victims of Devon
Detroit and Redford,” she said,
King Day because they knew looking for a second coat, but
the Detroit Police Department
follows:
adding that Kmart turned its
the children would be out of
a coat as a necessity in winter
for their excellent work in
Larae Page and Kenyatta Page
The women allegedly
Christmas and gardening area
school.
weather.
charging the alleged criminals
would dress in hospital
are asked to call Assistant
into a mini shopping center.
who preyed upon defenseless scrubs with stethoscopes and
Prosecuting Attorney Robert
They didn’t want adults
She told of one family in
seniors with a long-term fraud go into homes of Detroit and
Spada, head of the Elder
“The big thing with us —
showing up without any chil-
which the 14-year-old daugh-
scheme over the last year,” Wayne County senior citizens Abuse Unit, at (313) 224-5758.
and also with our benefactor
dren, saying they were picking
ter would wear her mother’s
said Paul Bridgewater, Detroit offering medical assistance.
— was that the kids be able to
up coats for their kids.
coat to school, then have to Area on Aging president and
They would also have contact
For information on other
get the coats with some kind “We wanted the children to come home by a certain time CEO. “This is tragic victim- with victims by coming to
senior issues, please contact
of dignity,” Johnson said. “Not actually be with the parents,” so the mother could go to her ization of the elderly and their homes saying they were
the Detroit Area Agency on
that the coat was just pitched she said. job in a restaurant. disabled who are homebound associated with organizations Aging at (313) 446-4444.
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