news Debate


have just one debate is almost criminal.


And while we’re at it, the


candidates need to engage in a real debate, none of those one- minute-to-answer questions, 30 seconds for rebuttal.


What can a current or po-


tential small business owner in Detroit or any other part of the state expect from either a Bernero or Snyder administra- tion?


In what specific ways will


the next governor work with Mayor Bing?


What sort of relationship


will the next governor have with the Detroit schools?


How, exactly, would a Gov.


Snyder be a partner? Bernero said we need to “look at eco- nomic development policy, education policy, transporta- tion policy, yes, revenue shar- ing policy.” What, specifically, would that mean to Detroiters with a Bernero administration in Lansing?


How will the needs of Detroit


— its citizens, its businesses, its infrastructure — factor into the next state budget?


How much time will the


next governor spend in the city, working out of Cadillac Place?


Clergy United for a Detroit


Debate, a coalition of 44 men of the cloth, has addressed a


letter to Snyder, dated Oct. 8, stating that any candidate seeking support from Detroi- ters should do so only after sharing his ideas and vision on such critical issues as home foreclosures; curriculum, funding and leadership of the Detroit Public Schools; resiz- ing Detroit; insurance redlin- ing; crime; and city finances.


They have gone on to say


that they’ll utilize their collec- tive resources to “build a city- wide Detroit-specific debate” to be held Oct. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Renaissance High School. Both candidates are invited to appear and share their specific plans for Detroit. They’re promised equal time.


Whether or not Bernero and


Snyder take up these clergy on their offer, the candidates need to answer the above and other questions to an audience of Detroiters in Detroit. Snyder has held a town hall meeting in Detroit, which is good, but it’s not enough. Both candi- dates need to appear before the people of Detroit — togeth- er — and explain what specific steps they’ll take to move both the state and Michigan’s most important city forward.


The candidates must debate


in Detroit. The city’s too im- portant for them not to do so.


The following ministers


from the region are demand- ing that the candidates hold a debate in Detroit:


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE From page A-1 Bishop P. A. Brooks, Rev.


Dr. Carlyle Stewart, Bishop Isaac King, Rev. Dr. Oscar King, Rev. Dr. Kevin Turman, Bishop Alfred Knight, Bishop Charles Ellis III, Bishop James Jennings, Rev. Dr. James Per- kins, Bishop Clifford Dunlap, Bishop John H. Sheard, Rev. Michael Nabors, Bishop Elton Lawrence, Bishop Edgar Vann, Rev. Everett Jen- nings, Bishop Alfred Smith and Bishop Wayne T. Jack- son.


Also, Rev. Marvin Miles,


Bishop Earl Wright, Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Rev. Skip Waschman III, B i s h o p Samuel Duncan, Bishop Milton Woods and Rev. Edwin Rowe, Rev. Dr. Charles Adams,Bishop D. M. Eu- banks, Rev. Horace Sheffield, Rev. Christian Adams, Bishop Michael Jones, Father Norm Thomas and Rev. Dr. Jim Holley.


In addition, Bishop Clar-


ence Haddon, Rev. Spen- cer Ellis, Jaramogi Menelik Kimathi from the Shrine of the Black Madonna, Bishop- elect Marvin Winans, Rev. Dr. Robert Brumfield, Rev. V. Lonnie Peek, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Rev. Michael Cun- ningham, Rev. Mother Norma J. Pender, Rev. Robert Sykes, Rev. Kenneth Flowers, Rev. Tellis Chapman, Rev. Nicholas Hood III and Cardinal Mbiyu Chui.


Designing women decorate tables for charity Designing women, led by


the Daughters of Penelope, Thamyris Chapter #272 of Grosse Pointe, are pleased to present their upcoming fund- raiser, the 8th Annual Fes- tival of Tables, on Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Along with Liggett Breast Center at the VanElslander Cancer Center, the group will be partnering with local area business’ to expand on the event’s out- reach to the community for Breast Cancer Awareness.


Shores resident Sandy


Moisides, chair of this year’s event, says attendees can expect some new and exciting surprises.


Afternoon viewing tick-


ets are $10 and benefit the Liggett Breast Center at the VanElslander Cancer Center. Dinner tickets are extremely limited at $55 and include viewing, gift boutique, dinner, fashion show by Bobbee


HOST COMMITTEE: Iris Graves (left), Penny Khorraminia, Elena Kerasiotis, Dori Daskas, Sandy Moisides, Kathy Papa- panos, Olga Tecos, Jennah CichockI, “Marilyn Monroe” (Ber- nadette Milligan).


Schott of Carlisle, and Furs by Lazare and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit local and national charities. Tickets are also available at LaModa


Orion plant


this resurgence in this market in America.”


The announcement was


made as part of a comprehen- sive investment package. The current retooling of the facil- ity will retain 1,550 hourly and salaried jobs at Orion, along with 120 jobs at Pontiac Metal Center. Orion will also build the next generation of Chevro- let’s new small car.


The total investment for that program is approximately $600 million, which includes the Verano. The improvements to the Orion plant are expect- ed to be finished by summer 2011.


GM has worked closely


with the United Auto Workers to create new and innovative contractual language that will allow this facility to be flexible and lean – essential elements in the highly competitive small car market segment.


“The UAW welcomes the


news of an additional vehicle being allocated to the Orion Assembly Plant. Building


Pasky “It’s an honor to be chosen


to be the new chair at a time when Detroit is moving for- ward in a very strategic and comprehensive way,” Pasky said. “It’s a special honor to be chosen to succeed Roger, who has played and continues to play such a significant role in the life of the city. “


Penske said, “It has been a


privilege to lead a great group of civic leaders and serve the city of Detroit through the ef- forts of such a dedicated orga- nization. I am proud of what the Downtown Detroit Part- nership has accomplished. Cindy, along with Tony and the DDP leadership team, have the wealth of experience and the strategic insight neces- sary to take the organization to the next level.”


Under Penske’s leadership


the DDP has partnered with the City of Detroit on public space maintenance and spurred the organization’s signature Clean Downtown program with Goodwill Industries as an outgrowth of preparations for Super Bowl XL. Additionally,


the DDP has provided support to help implement the initial segment (Downtown to New Center) of the Woodward Light Rail project that will run from downtown to Eight Mile Road as the first phase of a regional transit system.


“Clean Downtown will con-


tinue to be a core program for the DDP, in addition to doing all we can to support the City of Detroit in advancing Wood- ward Light Rail,” said Pasky. “Programs such as these un- derscore our significant pri- ority moving forward, which is to find solutions that help increase usage and improve perceptions of downtown De- troit.”


Pasky has been on the


board of the DDP for more than three years and worked with the organization and Penske to spearhead “2-1-1 On the Go!” — a homeless out- reach program. It utilizes re- sources of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1- 1 program and brings them to the streets of Detroit to help secure permanent housing


small cars in the United States is very important to the UAW, Oakland County, and the state of Michigan,” said Joe Ashton, UAW vice president of the GM Department.


“Given the opportunity, our


members can use their exper- tise and experience to build high-quality, affordable vehi- cles for American consumers. I would like to extend my con- gratulations to the members of UAW Locals 653 and 5960 for all their hard work to make this important project a suc- cessful one.”


Gov. Jennifer Granholm


praised the Verano announce- ment, highlighting the part- nerships between GM, UAW and public and community of- ficials that worked to keep the Orion plant open.


“If we are going to manufac-


ture in America we have to em- brace public/ private partner- ships,” said Granholm. “We have to have a manufacturing industrial policy in America that creates jobs here rather


Salon, (313) 886-1650, and Aretee Spa, (313) 423-0087.


For further information,


call Sandy Moisides at 313- 882-6332.


From page A-1


than somewhere else. This is an example of reversing the trend — small cars, being built in America by American work- ers.”


Oakland County Executive


L. Brooks Patterson, also on hand for the event, said the county’s investment of $1.5 million for job training for the project represented the larg- est investment that the county has made in job training to date.


Over its more than 27-year


history, the Orion plant team members have built more than four million cars for GM, while setting an industry record of ten million man hours of con- tinuous operation without a work day lost to injury. The plant also was the first GM fa- cility to receive the Clean Cor- porate Citizen designation by the State of Michigan.


No announcements have


been made regarding the production or timing for the Verano and Chevrolet’s new small car.


From page A-1


and employment for homeless individuals.


“I think Detroit is moving


forward in a very strategic and comprehensive way,” said Pasky. “We are creating jobs in Detroit and doing it in a very challenging economic situa- tion, whether we are support- ing major corporations such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Quicken Loans, or my company, S3’s success in moving professionals to De- troit or putting individuals back to work through “2-1-1 On the Go!” and Clean Down- town. Plus, General Motors is back on its feet and is commit- ted to stay here.


Pasky is actively involved


with several civic and chari- table organizations, including on the boards of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Sym- phony Orchestra, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the Detroit Medical Center and Business Leaders for Michi- gan, for which she co-chairs its urban strategies commit- tee with Tony Earley.


October 13-19, 2010 Page A-4


Riverfront


Milwaukee and San Antonio,” Nelson said.


“Developed waterfronts


have provided tremendous benefits, an example of which can be seen from the attraction of visitors/tourists who spend money at local businesses, providing a public space for the use of the community, boosting property values. Cre- ating a more walkable environ- ment, enhancing environmen- tal and health benefits such as encouraging walking or biking instead of using a car, creat- ing a more natural landscape that not only beautifies but also helps our environment by cleaning the air and managing urban storm water runoff.”


Nelson said developed riv-


erfronts serve as conduits for tremendous benefits that foster a more sustainable com- munity, socially, economically and environmentally, all of which are of vital important as Detroit plans for its future.


Whenever talk of public/


private partnership comes up for discussion, there is strong reservation in some quarters as to what the public benefits really are from such projects.


In the case of the Detroit


Riverfront, Nelson says the project is an example of a meaningful and efficiently and properly run public/private partnership. The riverfront benefits everyone and is not restrictive.


“The riverfront development


project is a tangible example of how a public and private sector community, working together, can chart the course of its future,” said Nelson. “Be- cause of three main entities, the City of Detroit, General Motors and The Kresge Foun- dation, the non-profit Detroit RiverFront Conservancy was established and we now have over 3 miles of public acces- sible developed riverfront with pavilions, plazas, green space, and parks, connected by way of a riverwalk that the com- munity is enjoying. All while we work towards a vision of


Book


ring to them as “community advocates” putting the Obama administration under the mi- croscope on a range of issues that have long plagued the Af- rican American community.


“Obama and Black Loyalty”


is reputed to be the first book to exclusively look at the pres- ident and Black voters. Issues discussed include health care, education, Black youth train- ing, mentoring and develop- ment, the state of the Black family, micro finance and poverty alleviation, Michelle Obama’s impact on Black women, and Black-owned businesses and disabilities.


“The Obama administra-


tion can design a public rela- tions campaign encouraging Black Americans to support scholarly excellence and in- crease parent and community involvement. African Ameri- cans excel in sports and en- tertainment despite poverty because we practice sports and entertainment,” said Dar- leana McHenry in a chapter devoted to education and glo- balization.


On health care, an area in


which the Obama administra- tion claims victory, health care practitioner and nursing educator Shanita Michelle said the fear most African Americans have today about visiting the doctor comes from


the Tuskegee experiment. “Fear and mistrust were


deeply associated with the Tuskegee experiment,” Mi- chelle says in the book. “Many people, especially African Americans, would be surprised to know that this experiment was not the sole proprietary of a ‘White government.’ There were several African Ameri- can institutions, doctors and nurses that participated in the experiment with full knowl- edge of what was taking place as well.


“So, President Obama


would not necessarily dismiss the fear associated with what was truly an abuse of power and misinformation given to the subjects in question.”


“Obama and Black Loyal-


ty” also delves into Obama’s Africa policy. Alice Mukabane, a leader of the Kenyan com- munity in Washington, reveals that the White House rejected a request from a delegation of Kenyans living in the U.S. to visit Obama after his inaugu- ration.


President Obama’s father


is from Kenya, and since his election, questions have been raised about what possibilities (if any) his presidency holds for Africa.


Featured in the book from Michigan is Yusef Shakur,


five-and-a-half miles of devel- oped waterfront, from bridge to bridge and beyond.”


She continued, “Because


of these three entities, the Conservancy has been able to leverage the initial investment made by these three partners to raise additional dollars from corporations (Compu- ware leading the way), founda- tions (including Community Foundation, Kellogg, Ford, Skillman, Hudson Webber, and McGregor, to name a few), and all levels of the public sector (county, state, federal), all of which have been applied towards the development and sustainability of this project.”


She said while more money


needs to be raised and more development needs to occur, because of these three enti- ties, the Conservancy’s activi- ties have been able to serve as an example of how public/pri- vate partnerships can be suc- cessful in sustaining and revi- talizing communities.


“It breathes an air of confi-


dence that we can better our- selves, that we can collaborate through a public/private part- nership,” Nelson said. “ It em- bodies the spirit of our com- munity and substantiates the fact that we can work together for the good of the region. People are surprised that we can do this.”


With a new administration


in city hall and a charter com- mission under way looking at how to restructure local gov- ernment, Nelson said she sees Detroit evolving into a better place.


But that will depend on an


aggressive and earnest exami- nation of the city’s future use of land, a focus on the need for efficient and effective transpor- tation, and the transformation of the public school system, she said.


Nelson repeatedly credits


her success in running the Conservancy to a board that understands the critical need of meeting the demands of a


From page A-1


growing and challenging city like Detroit.


In the next five years she


expects Detroit to become more attractive for people to live and visit. That optimism is certainly not far-fetched, es- pecially at a time when there is talk of a new basketball sta- dium in the horizon should the Detroit Pistons finally call Detroit home proper under a potential new owner like Mike Ilitch.


Cheryl Lynn Pope said the


riverfront is helping with the remaking of the city’s image.


“It is a great family destina-


tion,” Pope said. “It is a beau- tiful sight for the residents of Detroit. My daughter espe- cially likes to play in the floor waterfalls. I recommend the Riverfront as an attraction for residents of other cities. Come out and see what Detroit has to offer.”


Another Detroiter, Donald


Philips, said that he too likes what is happening on the riv- erfront.


“It helps promote the city,”


Philips said adding that the “Detroit river is gold to me.”


Christianne Sims, a youth


leader and an independent consultant said, “I’m glad to see that Detroit is finally taking advantage of our water- front. I think there are many opportunities for entrepre- neurs and vendors to have a stronger presence there. It is very diverse. When you walk along the riverfront you see people from many different backgrounds.”


Sims would like to see more


programming for teenagers who visit the waterfront as it becomes a “major non-motor- ized pathway along the river.”


Nelson said a lot of program-


ming plans are under way. “I’ve enjoyed many years of


exciting activities at the river- front and also many calming and reflective times,” said Ylet Noelle of her riverfront experi- ence.


From page A-1


a reformed ex-convict, gang member and now a commu- nity leader talking in-depth about how President Obama should revamp the criminal justice system.


Shakur reveals that he


will vote for Obama in 2012, but advised the president to engage the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the agency that sets federal sentencing guide- lines.


“I never talked with a judge


until he was sentencing me to prison, I never talked with a lawyer until he was helping me to go to prison. And I never talked with a doctor until he was treating me for a gun- shot wound. That experience is still being recycled in Afri- can American communities across this country,” Shakur said in the chapter devoted to the criminal justice system.


“One concrete way that


President Obama can influ- ence the criminal justice system is by becoming more involved with entities such as the U.S. Sentencing Commis- sion, which establishes sen- tencing policies and practices in the federal system,” Shakur said.


New York R&B and neo-


soul recording artist Koleurz, who will be attending the re- lease event, wrote the theme song for the book.


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