www.michronicle.com
VOLUME 73 – Number 16 December 23-29, 2009 479 Ledyard • Detroit MI 48201 313.963.5522 $1.00
Special Report
Pick Cherry in 2010, meet your Waterloo?
WDET’s enhanced
By Bankole Thompson
graduates out of the Wolverine state.
program and CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR The Democrats, who are hoping to
public service
ask Michigan voters in the fall for a
The Michigan Democratic Party is
mandate to occupy the offices of gov-
initiatives
in deep trouble in
ernor, attorney general and secretary
2010.
of state, will have to make a compel-
Building on a successful
ANALYSIS
year-long community engage-
Yes, I said
ling case other than just been labeled
ment strategy, WDET-FM
that.
a Democrat. They will have to show in
clear terms what will be done different
(101.9) — the public radio sta- I am not a
from the last eight years.
tion owned and operated by soothsayer, but
Wayne State University — has I can say to the
Historians will decide if Democratic
announced an enhanced pro- Democrats who
governor Jennifer Granholm will go
gramming are hoping to hold
down in history as one of the worst
line-up on to the guber-
governors for failing to use the bully
and two natorial office in
pulpit when it was necessary, or as one
high- 2010 to “beware
of the well-intentioned governors who
John Cherry Andy Dillon Virg Bernero
impact of the Ides of
encountered a dismal presidency and
Cherry, by all standards, is not
public March.”
economy under George W. Bush.
Granholm recently on my television
program, the media savvy governor was charismatic. I’ve bumped into him a
service
th confidence and at times couple of times at political functions
initiatives,
They stand to
Bankole Thompson
But her top assistant, John Cherry, beaming wi
winking at me, saying that Cherry will and most recently at the home of Dem-
Support
have their guber-
the lieutenant governor, is gladly wait-
be the gubernatorial nominee for the
The Arts
natorial ambitions killed under a fail-
ing in the wings for his turn in the
Democratic Party next year.
(STAR)
ing Michigan economy that is driving
succession line. When I interviewed See 2010 GOVerNOr’s rACe page A-4
J. Mikel Ellcessor
and
WDET-
TV, that give Detroiters more
opportunities to connect with
each other and the world.
The program schedule
Better road ahead
change goes into effect Dec.
26; WDET-TV and STAR
launch officially on Jan. 4.
According to J. Mikel Ellces-
sor, WDET’s general manager,
WDET’s schedule change and
the launch of these related
initiatives dramatically im-
prove the station’s ability to
have a positive effect on the
region’s quality of life. WDET-
TV is a comprehensive, online
Web destination for Detroit
tagged video. The STAR initia-
tive provides on-air promo-
tion and air time to small,
nonprofit arts and cultural
organizations at no charge.
According to Ellcessor,
Southeast Michigan news
consumers are underserved,
and there are too few oppor-
tunities for curious adults to
stay informed. Ellcessor also
said these changes will make
more relevant, high quality
news and information avail-
able and create many more
opportunities for people to
engage in the Detroit conver-
sation locally and nationally.
o
r
s
o
t
WDET’s shift to a Detroit-
M
centric public radio format
began in 2008 when Ellcessor
e
r
a
l
assumed leadership of the
e
n
G
station. The 2009 addition of
veteran public radio program
director Ron Jones expanded
and accelerated the station’s
public service agenda with
substantive, issue-oriented
programming that included
h
o
t
o
c
o
u
r
t
e
s
y
o
f
P
town hall meetings on health
—
care reform and the future of
Detroit Public Schools with
GOV. GRANHOLM drives a Chevrolet Volt following GM’s announcement that the new electric car will be built at the Detroit Hamtramck plant.
Emergency Financial Manager
Robert Bobb; an online H1N1
flu portal featuring up-to-the-
2010: Here’s to brighter days
minute news and informa-
tion; and two newsmaking
broadcast series, “Facing
the Mortgage Crisis: Home
for Detroit auto industry
is More Than Our House,”
and “The Detroit Agenda,”
By Marcus Amick
pumps some much needed cash into the area’s
WDET’s community-based
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
economy. But the viability of this region has
and will continue to hinge on manufacturing
See Briefs page A-4
Chances are, if Michiganders could col-
with the Detroit car industry making some
lectively have one wish answered for the new
sort of comeback.
INDEX
year, it would be for the
It’s a harsh reality that this region has had
rebound of the Detroit au-
COMMENTARY to come to grips with over the past year with
tomobile industry.
EDITORIALs. ...........................................A-6
everything from the unemployment rate, which
Not that the troubles of
now ranks as one of the highest in the country,
DIRECTORY OF RELIGIOUs
the American automobile
to home foreclosures. Not to mention what the
sERVICEs..................................B-4 and B-5
industry haven’t impacted
decline in the automobile industry has done to
AT YOUR sERVICE.................................D-6
other states and regions in
the morale and spirit of the region.
the country because they
ENTERTAINMENT....................D-1 and D-2
To put it simply, the American automobile
have. But for Michigan-
is the bloodline of Michigan and nothing would
sPORTs...................................................C-1
ders, it’s been especially
help this region more than the car industry
troubling.
CLAssIFIEDs..........................................D-5
getting a major boost in 2010.
Even with talks and
PRIME POLITICs.....................................A-3
Marcus Amick
UAW VICE President General Holifield (left) and Chrys-
hopes of diversifying the BRIGHTER DAYS ler Group LLC Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne
state’s economy, so much of what we do and
Over the past couple of years, Ford has made
celebrate Chrysler’s announcement to invest $179 million
INSIDE
depend on for our livelihoods in this area
some significant strides in positioning itself
to launch a fuel efficient engine at the company’s Global
hinges on the success of the automobile. Sure,
Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Dundee,
visions of Michigan bustling with film crews
See BeTTer rOAD AHeAD page A-4
Michigan. — Photo courtesy of Chrysler Group LLC
Comerica Bank to invest $18 million for Michigan headquarters
Comerica Bank will invest Detroit employees together in office furniture from a Michi-
$18 million in its Detroit 411 one location.” gan-based furniture manu-
W. Lafayette building, which facturer and will support its
it owns and will rename Com-
Comerica joins others, in-
erica Bank Center. Comerica
cluding the hospitality, tour-
sustainability initiative by in-
plans to relocate its Michigan
ism and entertainment indus-
corporating additional green
headquarters to that building
tries, in helping revitalize the
features into the building.
Dodge ram
in 2012, upon expiration of
west side of downtown De-
Additionally, Comerica con-
its lease at Comerica Tower at
troit.
tinues to be one of the larg-
est employers in Detroit and
One Detroit Center, located at
“Comerica played an im-
Southeast Michigan.
Heavy Duty
500 Woodward Ave.
portant role in revitalizing
the east side of downtown De-
The relocation of the
“Comerica is proud of
troit,” saidLinda Forte, senior
Michigan headquarters is
stakes claim
its 160-year history of serv-
vice president of Business Af-
expected to be seamless to
ing the residents and busi-
fairs for Comerica. “We look
customers. For the comfort
nesses of Detroit and
forward to focusing now on the
and convenience of custom-
See page B-1
Michigan,” said Thomas D.
Linda Forte Thomas D. Ogden
revitalization of downtown’s
ers, two banking centers – Re-
Ogden, resident, Comerica
west side.”
naissance Center and Fort-
Final_Mrs._Robinson_Broadsheet.pdf
Bank-
/
M
Michigan
ichigan.
Chronicle
“Our i
-
n
Broadsheet
vest-
heHALF: adqua 6 rtcol ers 11 re7/16" affirmx 10.5"s Com- ment to this community and
ment in our new Michigan
Comerica’s investment will
erica’s longstanding commit- brings most of our downtown
include the purchase of new
See COMeriCA page A-4
6 89076 06419 4
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