www.michronicle.com
VOLUME 73 – Number 25★ March 3-9, 2010
479 Ledyard • Detroit MI 48201 313.963.5522 $1.00
WHAT’S INSIDE
young History Makers
special supplement
The Michigan Chronicle
Minister
honors some of most promis-
ing young people in Metro
Detroit, sponsored by Fifth
Third Bank.
with a
Moving Detroit with the
spirit of volunteerism
(A-3):
Summer in the City, a non-
profit organization that brings
Mission
young people together to help
beautify and improve the city,
is seeking volunteers for next
summer’s efforts. Volunteers
Spivey tackles strip club
can come whenever they want,
choose from among various
politics, census, sloppy
projects, and need not sign
up in advance.
accounting practices,
Black epA boss
making a difference
neighborhoods
in needy communities
(A-3):
Environmental Protection
Agency head Lisa Jackson is
NEwLy ELEctED Detroit City Council member Rev. Andre Spivey. — Andre Smith photos
leading a massive clean-up
By Bankole Thompson
Unnerved, unrelenting and unmoved by the scare When I asked if the alcohol decision forced him to
training project at abandoned
CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
tactics, the Rev. Andre Spivey, the only ordained minis- think about his faith as a man of the cloth and if, in
gas stations, old textile mills, ter on the Detroit City Council, took the uncompromis- fact, he thought going against an alcohol ban in a strip
closed smelters and industrial The fracas last week about the existence
ing position that the city cannot ban alcohol in strip club was a one-way ticket to hell, Spivey laughed.
and commercial properties
of strip clubs in Detroit brought a lot to the
clubs.
“I didn’t go that far but I did feel I took the brunt
fore about how leadership in politics and re-
from coast to coast.
Not only did he think it was illegal to do so but the of the criticism which I understand is going to come.
ligion comes to bear on either the most im-
pastor of St. Paul AME Church had to walk a fine line I think all nine of us are going to have our day where
portant issues that shape the ordinary lives of
‘The prisoner’: an ap-
between the demands of political and religious expe- we are going to be thrown to the lion’s den and have
citizens, or the trivial matters that have less or
diency and the economic and legal realities of that fingers pointed at us,” Spivey said. “Yes, as the only
preciation (B-1):
no consequence on senior citizens scared to
action. clergy person I got a lot because it was said that “why
come out of their houses even during the day
Patrick McGoohan’s because of drug infested neighborhoods.
“I understand that I’m the pastor of my congrega-
is the pastor doing this?’”
landmark series was one of
tion. I’m not here to pastor the city of Detroit. I’m not Why the pastor did what he did, Spivey says, is be-
It was very telling to
just a City Council person to Christians in this city. I’m cause he understands that alcohol is not illegal and not
the best, most intelligent TV
PROFILE
watch and hear those
a City Council person for Christians, Muslims, Jews, banning it probably spared Detroit a barrage of lawsuits
shows ever made. Read a
individuals who were
those who have no faith at all and those of any other from strip club owners.
few reasons why, along with
oozing with sweat in
ethnicity or faith that may be represented in Detroit,”
comments about the remake
their unlimited desire to
Spivey told me Monday afternoon in his office.
See spivey page A-4
miniseries, coming to DVD this
dictate the operation of
sexually oriented busi-
month.
nesses in Detroit that
“I understand that I’m the
‘The pop-u-Lar view’
pay taxes.
pastor of my
Arriving on their own
(B-1): self-defined chariots, congregation. I’m not
The 80s have returned in
they came before the De-
troit City Council ranting
here to pastor the city
familiar plots as old movies
and raving, wagging their
take on new incarnations. It’s
of Detroit. I’m not just a
fingers, putting the city
one thing to bask in nostalgia, Bankole Thompson to a morality test and City Council person to
but is this going too far?
almost declaring Detroit
a Sodom and Gomorrah town because of strip
Christians in this city. I’m
Watkins Awards for
clubs.
a City Council person
scholars and athletes
In the face of burgeoning unemployment,
crime, escalating home foreclosures, the only
for Christians, Muslims,
(C-1)
declaration left out in the mounting opposition
against a business whose employees include
Jews, those who have no
The National Alliance of struggling single Black mothers with children
faith at all and those of
African American Athletes re-
to take care of, was to officially proclaim De-
cently recognized the nation’s
troit a theocracy. any other ethnicity or faith
best high school scholar ath- Despite the pressure unleashed on the City
that may be represented
letes during the annual Frank-
Council from those who say that their moral
lin D. Watkin Memorial Awards
calling against strip club activities is dictated in Detroit.”
Gala. The finalists, including
by a higher power, the opposition met another
person whose calling is equally authorized by
Detroiter Devin Gardner, were
a higher power.
— Rev. Andre Spivey
acknowledged for their schol-
arship, athleticism, community
awareness and volunteerism.
Pancakes & Politics
Top National Charter
school brings proven
returns with
program to Detroit
(C-6)
Robert Bobb
Two nationally recognized With the Detroit Public Schools having received up-
charter school organizations
wards of $152 million in technology grants and funds
are opening a new, tuition-free
through Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
secondary school in Detroit
cation Act, gaining approval for a half-billion dollar fa-
that will offer families the most
cilities fund, and talk of $800 million more in federal
stimulus funding being pursued, there is much specu-
demanding college prep pro-
lation on how the funds will be disbursed throughout
gram in the region.
the district.
Robert Bobb, the emergency financial manager ap-
pointed to oversee the operations of the DPS, returns
as a featured panelist for the
first session of the Pancakes
& Politics 2010 season on
March 19 at the Detroit Ath-
letic Club to address these
issues and more.
Titled “Education 911: The
Image is everything
Conversation Continues,” the
forum will touch on the prog-
General Holiefield (left), vice president, United Auto Workers, director, Chrysler Department, and
ress of DPS in addressing its
event sponsor, shares a light moment with Mo’Nique moments before she won Best Supporting
financial, administrative, and
curriculum challenges; other
Actress at the 41st Annual Image Awards at the Shrine Theater in Los Angeles. – Monica Morgan photo
strategies being considered
to confront shrinking bud-
gets and declining resources;
Andy Dillon
Detroit radio loses Dawn Spencer
and how the Bond Program
Manager Joint Venture Team
House speaker running
Dawn Spencer, a highly re- Toledo, she began her profes-
is expected to allocate the
for governor
garded personality in the world sional career in radio. After
funds for the district’s $500.5
of Detroit radio, died Feb. 23. relocating to Detroit, she con-
million School Construction
House Speaker Andy Dillon She was 55. tinued to pursue a successful
and Modernization Program.
(D- Redford Township) has
Robert Bobb
She was born Jan. 16, 1955
career in media, marketing, ad-
“Robert Bobb has made
announced his candidacy for
in Cleveland, educated in the
vertising and sales.
tremendous strides during his tenure so far but we’ve
governor. Dillon made his an- Shaker Heights School District Mrs. Spencer, a creative vi-
got a long way to go,” said Sam Logan, publisher of
nouncement Feb. 28 at Detroit
in Cleveland and was a member sionary, focused on and un-
the Michigan Chronicle. “The Detroit Public Schools
Diesel. He does not plan to
of the 1973 graduating class. derstood the importance of
system is in the midst of an education crisis of unprec-
give up his position as house
She subsequently earned a preparation, perseverance
edented proportions and we are excited that Robert
Bachelor of Arts degree in Com- and opportunity. She had a
Bobb has again chosen Pancakes & Politics as an
speaker, according to reports.
munications from Ohio State unique flair for her work and
outlet to discuss in more detail his future plans to re-
University. excelled in every position she
vitalize the district.”
In 1975, she married Roder-
held. From 1982 to 1988, she
The four-part Pancakes & Politics series is present-
ick Spencer Sr. of Toledo. They
worked in Toledo for both WVOI
ed by the Michigan Chronicle and Real Times Media
were married for 27 years and
AM Radio and WMHE/WOHO
and moderated by Carol Cain, host of “Michigan Mat-
6 89076 06419 4
had two children, Roderick
Dickey Broadcasting as an ac-
ters” on WWJ-TV. Title sponsors for the event include
www.michronicle.com
Jr. and Brooke. While living in
Dawn Spencer
See speNCer page A-4
See eDuCATioN page A-4
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