Metro Times 07-13-22

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NEWS & VIEWS Feedback W e received a num b er of com m ents in resp onse to freelancer J oe L ap ointe’ s cover story on th e career of form er D etroit T igers p itch er M ark “ th e B ird” F idrych .

H e y Jo e , th a n k s fo r th e s to r y a b o u t th e B ir d . I r e m e m b e r 19 7 6 lik e it w a y e ste rd a y. Y o u r sto ry b ro u g h t m e to a s B ir d a n d I w e r e th e s a m e a g e . M a m a d e th e w o r ld a b e tte r p la c e . F e w s a y th a t th e y d id a n d I a m s u r e th a t w o u ld n e v e r th in k o f h im s e lf a s th a p e r s o n . T h a n k s , p a l.

— P ete G ruich , em ail

s te a rs rk c a n M a rk t

I u s e d to lo v e it w h e n h e w o u ld r u n around the field after a winning game. You

c o u ld fe e l th a t h e w a s liv in g h is d r e a m s a n d e n jo y in g e v e r y m in u te o f it . H is jo y w a s ju s t c o n t a g io u s . G o d B le s s H im .

— J oe K akos, F aceb ook L e g e n d . I re m e m b e r w h e n I w a s a D etroit N ew s h a d h i s i r o n - o n i n s e p a p e r. E v e r y k id in th e D e tr o it a r e w e a r in g th a t th in g o n a w h ite T - s h s u m m e r.

— @ sch m idt1 9 5 7 8 4 , I nstagram

k id T h e r t in th e a w a s ir t th a t

H e b r o u g h t a lo t o f fu n to th e g a m e . W is h h e ’d s t a y e d w i t h u s l o n g e r .

— @ ukej im , I nstagram A b s o lu te le g e n d ! T a k e n to o s o o n .

— @ x greenx cloverx , I nstagram

Vol. 42 | No. 38 | July 13-19, 2022

News & Views Feedback ............................... 4 News ...................................... 6 Informed Dissent .................. 8 The Incision......................... 10 Cover Story 30 years of the Concert of Colors ................................... 12

Publisher - Chris Keating Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen

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NEWS & VIEWS Detroiters call for environmental protections Hazardous-waste plant U.S. Ecology received two dozen violation notices for environmental contamination since 2014 SHUTTERSTOCK

B y S teve N eavling

Second case of monkeypox in Michigan confirmed in Detroit resident

STEVE NEAVLING

B y S teve N eavling

Dust, pollution, and n

o is e a w a y o f l i f e f o r D e t r o i t er s w h o l i v e r U .S . E c o lo g y , a h a z a r d o u s - w a s t e c e s s in g p la n t w ith a tr o u b lin g h is y o f en v i r o n m en t a l v i o l a t i o n s .

N o w r es i d en t s , en v i r o n m en t a l i s t s , and elected officials are calling on city l ea d er s t o d o s o m et h i n g a b o u t i t .

U .S . E c o lo g y is a s k in g t h e s t a t e t o r en ew i t s p er m i t t o o p er a t e o n D et r o i t ’ s ea s t s i d e a t E . K i r b y a n d S t . A u b i n .

B ef o r e t h e p er m i t i s a p p r o v ed , a c t i v i s t s a r e u r g i n g D et r o i t C i t y C o u n c i l t o en t er i n t o a h o s t c o m m u n i t y a g r em en t w i t h U .S . E c o lo g y .

T h e l eg a l l y b i n d i n g a g r em en t w o u l d a l l o w r es i d en t s t o d em a n d t r a n s p a r en c y , a c c o u n t a b i l i t y , a n d r ed u c t i o n s i n f u t u r e en v i r o n m en t a l c o n t a m i n a t i o n . “ T o d a y , w e ’ r e c o m i n g t o g et h er t o d em a n d a c c o u n t a b i l i t y a n d t r a n s p a r en c y . W e n ed a l eg a l a g r em en t , ” R ev .

S h a r o n B u t t r y , a v o l u n t er fa c ilita to r a re n ea p ro to r

f o r t h e D et r o i t H a m t r a m c k C o a l i t i o n f o r A d v a n c i n g H ea l t h y E n v i r o n m en t , s a i d a t a n e w s c o n f er en c e o u t s i d e t h e fa c ility . “ W e c a n n o t s ta n d b y a n d w a tc h o u r c h i l d r en a n d el d er s c h o k e o n f o u l a i r a n d d u s t o n e m o r e m i n u t e. ” B et w en 2 0 14 a n d 2 0 2 1, U .S . E c o lo g y r ec ei v ed t w o d o z en v i o l a t i o n n o t i c es f r o m t h e M i c h i g a n D ep a r t m en t o f E n v i r o n m e n t , G r ea t L a k es , a n d E n er g y ( E G L E ) fo r c o n ta m in a tio n . “ U S E c o l o g y h a s r e c ei v ed 2 4 v i o l a t i o n s f r o m t h e s t a t e f o r r ep ea t ed l y r el ea s i n g n o x i o u s o d o r s i n t o t h e n ei g h b o r h o o d a n d h a s p r o v en i n c a p a b l e o f o p er a t i n g t h i s f a c i l i t y i n a w a y t h a t p r o t ec t s t h e h ea l t h a n d w el f a r e o f t h e r es i d en t s w h o l i v e n ea r i t , ” s t a t e R ep .

A b r a h a m A iy a s h , D - H a m tr a m c k , s a id . “ W e ’ r e c a l l i n g o n t h e c i t y o f D et r o i t t o t a k e a c t i o n i m m ed i a t el y t o p r o t ec t r es i d en t s f r o m h a r m f u l p o l l u t i o n b y en a c t i n g a h o s t c o m m u n i t y a g r em en t

6 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

w i t h t h e o p er a t o r s o f t h i s f a c i l i t y . ” R ep u b l i c S er v i c es r ec en t l y t o o k o v er o w n er s h i p o f U . S . E c o l o g y .

P a m M c G h e, w h o l i v es n ea r t h e p l a n t , s a i d m a n y o f h er f a m i l y m em b er s suffer from asthma that is likely linked t o p o l l u t i o n i n t h e a r ea .

E n o u g h i s en o u g h , s h e s a i d . “ T h is is 2 0 2 2 . W h y is th is s o h a r d ? ” s h e a s k ed . “ W h y a r e o u r l ea d er s n o t a d d r es s i n g t h i s ? W e d es er v e b et t er p r o t ec t i o n f o r o u r w o m en , o u r y o u t h a n d o u r f u t u r e g en er a t i o n s . ” U . S . R ep . R a s h i d a T l a i b , D - D et r o i t , s a i d i t ’ s i n ex c u s a b l e t h a t c o m m u n i t i es i n D et r o i t a r e o f t en i n u n d a t ed w i t h c o n t a m i n a t i o n , w h i l e s u b u r b a n a r ea s a r e l a r g el y s p a r ed . “ W h a t k i n d o f s y s t em a llo w s th e sacrifice of Black and brown and lowi n c o m e c o m m u n i t i es f o r p o l l u t er s ? ” T l a i b a s k ed . “ I t ’ s a r a c i s t s y s t em — a s y s t em t h a t w e m u s t d i s m a n t l e. ”

A DETROIT RESIDENT i s t h e s ec o n d p er s o n i n M i c h i g a n t o t es t p o s i t i v e f o r m o n k ey p o x , t h e s t a t e h ea l t h d ep a r t m en t t el l s M etro T im es.

The first case was identified in a p er s o n f r o m O a k l a n d C o u n t y o n J u n e 2 9 . I t ’ s u n c l ea r w h et h er t h e t w o c a s es a r e c o n n ec t ed .

Officials from the Michigan D ep a r t m en t o f H ea l t h a n d H u m a n S er v i c es a r e i n v es t i g a t i n g b o t h c a s es a n d t r y i n g t o d et er m i n e w h et h er a n y o n e el s e w a s ex p o s ed .

M i c h i g a n i s a m o n g 3 4 U . S . s t a t es w i t h k n o w n c a s es o f t h e v i r u s .

W h i l e i t s s y m p t o m s a r e m i l d er , m o n k ey p o x b el o n g s t o t h e s a m e v ir u s fa m ily a s s m a llp o x .

M o n k ey p o x i s t r a n s m i t t ed th r o u g h c lo s e c o n ta c t w ith a s ic k p er s o n , t h ei r c l o t h i n g o r b ed s h et s .

T h e m o s t c o m m o n s y m p to m s a re f ev er , c h i l l s , a c h es , f a t i g u e, a n d c h i l l s . R a s h es a n d l eg i o n s a r e s en i n m o r e s ev er e c a s es .

E x p er t s b el i ev e m o n k ey p o x c a n b e f a t a l i n u p t o 6 % c a s es .

I t t a k es a b o u t t w o t o f o u r w ek s f o r m o s t p eo p l e t o r ec o v er .

M i c h i g a n h a s 2 4 d o s es o f t h e J y n n eo s v a c c i n e f r o m t h e S t r a t eg i c N a t i o n a l S t o c k p i l e, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U . S . D ep a r t m en t o f H ea l t h a n d H u m a n S er v i c es .

A vast majority of the confirmed c a s es o c c u r r ed i n g a y a n d b i s ex u a l m en , a c c o r d i n g t o N B C N ew s . M a n y o f t h o s e c a s es a r e t r a n s m i t t ed b y s k i n - t o - s k i n c o n t a c t d u r i n g s ex .

STEVE NEAVLING

Record number of signatures collected to put abortion rights on Michigan ballot in November The ballot measure would enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution B y S teve N eavling

Kwame Kilpatrick is under federal investigation for unpaid restitution The former mayor recently started a crowdfunding campaign to buy house in Florida IT SEEMS LIKE f o r m e r D e t r o i t m a y o r K w a m e K i l p a t r i c k j u s t c a n ’t g e t it to g e th e r. K ilp a tr ic k is u n d e r fe d e r a l in v e s t ig a t io n a g a in , ju s t o v e r a y e a r a fte r h a v in g h is 2 8 -y e a r p r is o n s e n te n c e c o m m u te d b y fo r m e r P r e s id e n t D o n a ld T ru m p .

F e d e r a l p r o s e c u to r s o p e n e d th e in v e s tigation Thursday in an effort to recover n e a r ly $ 2 m illio n in u n p a id r e s t it u t io n K ilp a tr ic k o w e s to th e C ity o f D e tr o it a n d In te r n a l R e v e n u e S e r v ic e s .

W e g u e s s K i l p a t r i c k d i d n ’t l e a r n m u c h fr o m h is tim e s p e n t in fe d e r a l p r is o n fo r r a c k e te e r in g c o n s p ir a c y in 2 0 13 , b e c a u s e h is b e h a v io r a fte r b e in g

r e le a s e d h a s b e e n s tr a n g e , to s a y th e le a s t.

Ju s t la s t w e e k K ilp a tr ic k a n d h is n e w w ife s e t u p a c r o w d fu n d in g c a m p a ig n to h e lp th e m p u r c h a s e a h o u s e in O r la n d o , F lo r id a . T h e in itia l fu n d r a is in g g o a l w a s $ 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 a n d t h e c o u p le a s k e d t h e p u b lic fo r d o n a t io n s o f $ 8 ,0 0 0 , D e a d lin e D e tr o it r e p o r te d .

T h e c r o w d fu n d in g p o s t w a s la te r modified with the 00,000 goal rem o v e d .

F o r m e r A s s is t a n t U .S . A t t o r n e y A n ja li P r a s a d to ld F o x 2 D e tr o it th e fe d s w o u ld i n t e r v e n e i f K i l p a t r i c k ’s c r o w d f u n d i n g c a m p a ig n w a s s u c c e s s fu l.

“ T h e fe d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t w ill tr e a t th is a s s o m e th in g k n o w n a s s u b s ta n t i a l r e s o u r c e s ,” s h e s a i d . “ A s u b s t a n t i a l r e s o u r c e is b a s ic a lly , y o u w in t h e L o tto , y o u g e t a n in h e r it a n c e , y o u g e t $ 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 ( in ) d o n a tio n ( s ) fo r w h a te v e r r e a s o n .

T h is is a s u b s ta n tia l r e s o u r c e , w h ic h th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e r ic a c a n th e n la y c l a i m t o .”

K ilp a t r ic k w a s ju s t in D e t r o it la s t w e e k e n d s ig n in g c o p ie s o f h is n e w b o o k o n th e A v e n u e o f F a s h io n a s if h e d id n o t o w e th e c ity o r p e o p le o f D e tr o it a n y th in g .

T h e D etroit N ew s r e p o r t e d K i l p a t r i c k s t ill o w e d $ 1.5 m illio n t o t h e c it y a n d $ 19 5 ,0 0 0 t o t h e I R S a t t h e t im e o f h is r e le a s e . G e ttin g h is s e n te n c e c o m m u te d d i d n ’t n e g a t e h i s d e b t s . A n d t h i s i s j u s t a s m a ll p a r t o f th e d e b t a c c u m u la te d b y K ilp a tr ic k fr o m o th e r c r im in a l c o n v ic tio n s , u n p a id ta x e s , a n d a tto r n e y fe e s .

E v e n m o r e p u z z lin g , th e fo r m e r m a y o r a n d s e v e r a l r e la t iv e s fo u n d e d nonprofits in Georgia shortly after his r e le a s e . R e m e m b e r, K ilp a tr ic k w a s a ls o p r e v io u s ly c o n v ic te d o f v io la t in g n o n profit laws and spending donations on e v e r y th in g fr o m p e r s o n a l v a c a tio n s to p a y in g h is r e la t iv e s ’ c o lle g e t u it io n .

SHUTTERSTOCK

B y R andiah C am ille G reen

i n g R o e v . W a d e, w i t h o n l y 1 9 % s a y i n g t h ey s u p p o r t i t . “ M ic h ig a n d e r s w a n t to b e a b le to m a k e th e ir o w n d e c is io n s r e g a r d in g th e ir h e a lth c a r e a n d th e y d o n o t w a n t p o lit ic ia n s o r ju d g e s s t a n d in g in t h e i r w a y ,” S o m m e r F o s t e r , e x e c u t i v e d ir e c to r o f M ic h ig a n V o ic e s , s a id . “ T h e v o lu n te e r s fr o m a ll o v e r o u r s ta te th a t h e lp e d c ir c u la te p e titio n s a r e in s p ir in g a n d th e y a r e g o in g to h e lp u s w in th is c a m p a ig n in N o v e m b e r. T h e p e o p le w h o s ig n e d o u r p e titio n r e a liz e th a t th is is a n a ll-h a n d s - o n - d e c k m o m e n t a n d w ill d o w h a t it ta k e s to p r o te c t r e p r o d u c t i v e f r e e d o m i n M i c h i g a n .”

A b o r t i o n c o u l d s o o n b ec o m e i l l eg a l i n M i c h i g a n . I n M a y , t h e s t a t e ’s 1 9 3 1 a b o r t i o n b a n w a s t em p o r a r i l y h a l t ed b y a M ic h ig a n C o u r t o f C la im s ju d g e w h o i s p r es i d i n g o v er a l a w s u i t b y P l a n n ed P a r en t h o o d t h a t a r g u es t h e s t a t e ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n p r o t ec t s a b o r t i o n r i g h t s . I n a s ep a r a t e c a s e, G o v .

G r et c h en W h i t m er i s u r g i n g t h e M i c h i g a n S u p r em e C o u r t t o w ei g h i n o n t h e i s s u e. “ T o d a y , w e a r e t a k i n g a m a j o r s t ep f o r w a r d t o r es t o r e t h e f r ed o m s a n d p r o t ec t i o n s o f R o e v . W a d e, a n d p l a c e t h e r i g h t t o m a k e a p r i v a t e d ec i s i o n a b o u t p r eg n a n c y , a n d a b o u t w h en t o b r i n g n ew l i f e i n t o t h e w o r l d , b a c k i n t o t h e h a n d s o f p r eg n a n t p eo p l e, n o t p o l i t i c i a n s , ” s a i d R en e C h el i a n , ex ec u t i v e d i r ec t o r o f N o r t h l a n d F a m ily P la n n in g .

A COALITION THAT l a u n c h ed a p et i t i o n d r i v e t o a m en d t h e s t a t e ’ s constitution to affirm abortion rights p l a n s t o t u r n i n a r ec o r d 7 5 3 , 7 5 9 s i g n a t u r es o n M o n d a y .

R ep r o d u c t i v e F r ed o m fo r A ll m u s t s u b m i t a b o u t 4 5 2 , 0 0 0 v a l i d s i g n a t u r es f o r t h e i n i t i a t i v e t o a p p ea r o n t h e N o v em b er b a l l o t . “ T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t ’s o v e r t u r n o f R o e v . W a d e w ill n o t ta k e a w a y th e r ig h ts a n d fr e e d o m s o f p e o p le in M ic h ig a n to d e te r m in e if a n d w h e n t h e y b e c o m e a p a r e n t ,” L o r e n K h o g a l i , e x e c u t iv e d ir e c to r o f t h e A C L U o f M ic h ig a n , s a id in a s ta te m e n t M o n d a y . “ W e w ill n o t a llo w fo r c e d p r e g n a n c y in o u r s ta te , n o r w ill w e s ta n d b y a s th e d e v a s ta tin g im p a c ts o f a p o s tR o e w o r ld d is p r o p o r t io n a te ly im p a c t p e o p le o f c o lo r, L G B T Q + c o m m u n itie s , y o u n g p e o p le , lo w -in c o m e p e o p le , a n d t h o s e liv in g in r u r a l a r e a s . T h is is y o u r b o d y , y o u r b a l l o t , y o u r c h o i c e .”

M o r e t h a n 6 2 , 0 0 0 p eo p l e h el p ed c o l l ec t s i g n a t u r es . N ea r l y h a l f o f t h em g o t i n v o l v ed a f t er a l ea k ed d r a f t i n ea r l y M a y i n d i c a t ed t h e U . S . S u p r em e C o u r t p l a n n ed t o o v er t u r n R o e v .

W a d e, t h e l a n d m a r k c a s e t h a t l eg a l i z ed a b o r t i o n i n 1 9 7 3 .

P o lls h a v e s h o w n t h a t a m a jo r it y o f M i c h i g a n v o t er s s u p p o r t a b o r t i o n r i g h t s . I n a D et r o i t N ew s - W D I V p o l l o f 6 0 0 l i k el y v o t er s i n J a n u a r y , t w o - t h i r d s o f r es p o n d en t s s a i d t h ey o p p o s e t h e S u p r em e C o u r t o v er t u r n -

T h e D etroit N ew s r e p o r t s K i l p a t r i c k a n d h is s e c o n d w ife , L a tic ia M a r ia M c G e e , a r e lis te d a s th e o w n e r s o f th e new non-profit, Movement Ministries, a n d th e r e g is te r e d a d d r e s s is fo r a U P S in a F a y e tte v ille s tr ip m a ll. A n o th e r nonprofit ministry was registered at th e s a m e a d d r e s s e a r lie r th is y e a r b y A y a n n a K ilp a tr ic k — th e s a m e n a m e a s h is s is te r.

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e N ew s, K i l p a t r i c k h a s n o t m a d e a p a y m e n t to w a r d h is r e s titu tio n o w e d to D e tr o it in n in e y e a r s .

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

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NEWS & VIEWS

th e E P A ’s a u th o r ity t o r eg u l a t e c a r b o n em i s s i o n s a n d s t a t es ’ a b i l i t y t o l i c en s e h a n d g u n s , n o t t o m en t i o n r u l i n g s t h a t s h r ed d ed w h a t ev er ’ s l ef t o f t h e w a l l b et w en c h u rc h a n d s t a t e. ( I f o u n d es p ec i a l l y g a l l i n g C l a r en c e T h o m a s ’ o p i n i o n a u t h o r i z i n g Arizona to execute an innocent man b ec a u s e h i s l a w y er s s u c k ed , a n d t h em ’ s t h e b r ea k s . ) N o c o u r t i n r ec en t h i s t o r y h a s u p en d ed A m er i c a n s o c i et y m o r e t h a n t h i s o n e d id in Ju n e — a n d a lm o s t n o n e o f it fo r t h e b et t er . T h r o u g h t h ei r a d h er en c e t o w h a t ev er v er s i o n o f o r i g i n a l i s m s u i t s their ideological needs, six justices rend er ed t h i s c o u n t r y l es s eq u a l , l es s f r e, a n d m o r e d a n g er o u s .

I t i s n o t h y p er b o l e t o s a y t h i s c o u r t c o n s t i t u t es a d em o c r a t i c c r i s i s .

N o r i s i t h y p er b o l e t o s a y t h e c o u r t h a s a l eg i t i m a c y c r i s i s : F i v e o f t h e six conservatives were nominated by p r es i d en t s w h o l o s t t h e p o p u l a r v o t e — three of whom were confirmed by senat o r s w h o r ep r es en t e d w el l u n d er h a l f t h e c o u n t r y ’s p o p u l a t i o n — a n d t h e sixth is married to a right-wing activist i n v o l v ed i n t h e i n s u r r ec t i o n .

B u t I d o n ’t w a n t t o t a l k a b o u t w h a t th e c o u r t d id . I w a n t to ta lk a b o u t w h a t the court’s going to do next.

I t ’ s n o t h y p er b o l e t o s a y t h a t b y t h i s time next year, five justices might have

It is not hyperbole to say this court constitutes a democratic crisis.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Informed Dissent

It’s time to panic y effrey . illman

In the early T

ru m p y e a rs, I w o r r i ed a b o u t b ei n g h y p er b o l i c — t h a t s o u n d in g th e a la r m a b o u t h is c o r r u p tio n a n d a u th o r ita r ia n is m w o u ld lo o k s i l l y w h en h e m a d e i t t h r o u g h h i s t er m w i t h o u t b r ea k i n g t h e w o r l d .

B y t h e en d o f t h e T r u m p p r es i d en c y , I w o r r i ed t h a t I w a s n ’ t b ei n g h y p er b o l i c en o u g h — t h a t I a n d o t h er p o l i t i c a l w r i t e r s w er en ’ t s o u n d i n g en o u g h a l a r m s a b o u t t h e d a m a g e h e ’d d o n e t o t h e r u l e o f l a w , a b o u t h o w d a n g er o u s l y i l l i b er a l h i s R ep u b l i c a n P a r t y h a d b ec o m e, a b o u t h o w o u r d em o c r a t i c i n s t i t u t i o n s w er e n ’ t s t r o n g en o u g h t o h a n d le h is fu ll-fr o n ta l a s s a u lt.

H a v i n g g o n e t h r o u g h t h e s a m e m en t a l r o l l er c o a s t er w i t h t h e U . S . S u p r em e C o u r t , I f el s a f e t el l i n g y o u t o h i t t h e p a n ic b u tto n .

Y e s , t h e d ec i s i o n o v er t u r n i n g R oe was horrific, though not unexpected.

T h e s a m e g o es f o r d ec i s i o n s c u r t a i l i n g

8 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

l a i d w a s t e t o ev en a n o m i n a l n o t i o n o f d em o c r a c y , a l l b u t g u a r a n t ei n g d ec a d se o f R ep u b l i c a n r u l e.

O n Ju n e 3 0 , th e c o u rt a n n o u n c ed t h a t i t w o u l d h ea r a c a s e c a l l ed Moore v. arper i n i t s f a l l t er m , w h i c h m ea n s — f r i g h t en i n g l y — t h a t a t least four justices didn’t d is m is s th e c ra c k p o t “in d ep en d en t s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e t h eo r y ” o u t o f h a n d .

Q u ic k b a c k s to r y : N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’s G e n er a l A s s em b l y h a s b en b a ttlin g w ith s ta te a n d f ed er a l c o u r t s o v er i t s l eg i s l a t i v e a n d c o n g r es s i o n a l d i s t r i c t s e v er s i n c e R ep u b l i c a n s t o o k p o w er i n 2 0 1 1 . I n 2 0 1 9 , o n e o f t h es e c a s es — ucho v. ommon ause — m a d e i t s w a y t o t h e S u p r em e C o u r t , w h i c h r u l e d 5 - 4 t h a t t h e f ed er a l c o n s t i t u t i o n d o e s not ban excessive partisan gerrymand er i n g b ec a u s e i t ’ s b ey o n d t h e c o u r t ’ s scope to decide what’s excessive.

Writing for the majority, Chief J u s t i c e J o h n R o b er t s s u g g es t ed t h a t r e f o r m er s l o o k t o s t a t es : “ T h e S t a t e s , f o r example, are actively addressing the iss u e o n a n u m b er o f f r o n t s . I n 2 0 1 5 , t h e S u p r em e C o u r t o f F l o r i d a s t r u c k d o w n t h a t S t a t e ’ s c o n g r es s i o n a l d i s t r i c t i n g p la n a s a v io la tio n o f th e F a ir D is tr ic ts A m en d m en t t o t h e F l o r i d a C o n s t i t u t i o n . … I n d ed , n u m er o u s o t h er S t a t es a r e r es t r i c t i n g p a r t i s a n c o n s i d er a t i o n s i n d i s t r i c t i n g t h r o u g h l eg i s l a t i o n . O n e w a y t h ey a r e d o i n g s o i s b y p l a c i n g p o w er t o d r a w el ec t o r a l d i s t r i c t s i n t h e h a n d s o f i n d ep en d en t c o m m i s s i o n s . ” T h a t ’ s w h a t h a p p en ed .

A h ea d o f t h e 2 0 2 0 el ec t i o n , a N o r t h C a r o lin a s ta te c o u r t s tr u c k d o w n th e p a r t i s a n g er r y m a n d er t h e S u p r em e C o u r t d i d n ’ t t o u c h . A f t er t h e G en er a l A s s em b l y r ed r ew d i s t r i c t s f o r t h e 2 0 2 2 el ec t i o n , t h e s t a t e S u p r em e C o u r t — w h i c h D em o c r a t s c o n t r o l 4 - 3 — b l o c k ed t h em a g a i n a n d u l t i m a t el y d r ew i t s o w n c o n g r es s i o n a l l i n es .

H o u s e S p ea k er T i m M o o r e a n d S en a t e l ea d er P h i l B er g er a s k ed t h e U . S .

S u p r em e C o u r t t o i n t er v en e. J u s t i c es T h o m a s , T h o m a s G o r s u c h , a n d S a m u el Alito voted for an injunction; Brett K a v a n a u g h s a i d h e m i g h t c o n s i d er o n e under different circumstances.

So no injunction, but the case lived o n — o r a l a r g u m en t s t h i s f a l l , a r u l i n g next spring.

T h e c a s e c en t er s o n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n ’ s E l ec t i o n s C l a u s e: “ T h e T i m es ,

P l a c es a n d M a n n er o f h o l d i n g E l ec t i o n s f o r S en a t o r s a n d R ep r es en t a t i v es , s h a l l b e p r es c r i b ed i n ea c h S t a t e b y t h e L eg i s l a t u r e t h er eo f . ” ( A n o t h er c l a u s e s a y s b a s ic a lly t h e s a m e t h in g a b o u t p r es i d en t i a l el ec t i o n s . ) I n es s en c e, t h e G en er a l A s s em b l y a r g u es t h a t s t a t e c o u r t s a n d c o n s t i t u t i o n s c a n n o t p r o t ec t v o t i n g r i g h t s i n f ed er a l el ec t i o n s — a v i ew t h a t w i l d l y m i s u n d er s t a n d s t h e F o u n d er s a n d h a s b en repeatedly rejected by the Supreme C o u r t o v er t h e l a s t c en t u r y .

T h a t , h o w ev er , w a s b ef o r e t h e F ed er a l i s t S o c i et y t o o k o v er . N o w , t h i s l o n g s t a n d i n g p r ec ed en t l i k el y r es t s o n t h e s h o u l d er s o f A m y C o m ey B a r r et t .

S o t h e q u es t i o n p r o b a b l y i s n ’ t h o w t h e court will rule, but how extreme its 5-4 r u l i n g w i l l b e.

I n t h e w o r s t - c a s e s c en a r i o , n o t o n l y w o u l d s t a t e c o u r t s b e b a r r ed f r o m b l o c k i n g p a r t i s a n g er r y m a n d er s , v o t er I D l a w s , a b s en t e b a l l o t s , o r ev en l a w s t h a t t o s s b a l l o t s f o r t h e h el l o f i t , b u t g o v er n o r s m i g h t l o s e t h ei r v et o o v er el ec t i o n - r el a t ed l a w s , a n d a n y l a w s o r c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n s r eq u i r i n g i n d ep en d en t r ed i s t r i c t i n g w o u l d g o o u t th e w in d o w .

A t th e r is k o f c o n fu s in g y o u : T h e a b o v e w o u l d a p p l y o n l y t o f ed er a l el ec t i o n s , n o t s t a t e el ec t i o n s . S o w h i l e a g o v er n o r c o u l d v et o a n d a s t a t e c o u r t c o u l d s t r i k e d o w n a v o t er I D l a w a s i t p er t a i n s t o s t a t e el ec t i o n s , i t c o u l d n o t d o s o f o r t h e f ed e r a l p a r t o f t h e b a l l o t — w h ic h is a lo g is tic a l n ig h tm a r e in th e m a k in g .

O f c o u r s e, v o t i n g r i g h t s c o u l d s t i l l b e en f o r c ed b y f ed er a l c o u r t s — t h o u g h t h e R o b er t s C o u r t h a s b en s y s t em a t i c a l l y d es t r o y i n g t h e V o t i n g R i g h t s A c t f o r a d ec a d e, s o g o o d l u c k . B u t m o s t s ta te c o n s titu tio n s , in c lu d in g N o r th C a r o l i n a ’ s , c o n s i d er f ed er a l r i g h t s t h e floor, not the ceiling. Republicans are a s k i n g t h e c o u r t t o m a k e t h e c ei l i n g the floor, all so they can circumvent the s t a t e ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r eq u i r em en t s a n d g r a b u n w a r r a n t ed p o w er f o r t h em s el v es .

T h e k i c k er : A N o r t h C a r o l i n a l a w s p el l s o u t t h e p r o c es s f o r c h a l l en g i n g l eg i s l a t i v e d i s t r i c t s i n s t a t e c o u r t s . I n o t h er w o r d s , t h e G en er a l A s s em b l y a l r ea d y p r es c r i b ed t h e m a n n er f o r d ea l i n g w i t h t h es e c o n t r o v er s i es .

T h er e ’ s n o r ea s o n f o r t h e S u p r em e C o u r t t o g et i n v o l v ed . U n l es s , t h a t i s , it’s looking for an excuse to make our d em o c r a c y l es s d em o c r a t i c .

I h o p e t h a t ’ s h y p er b o l e. et more at billman.substack.com.

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

9

NEWS & VIEWS

In the span of 10 days, the Supreme Court took us back 10 decades.

SHUTTERSTOCK

The Incision

Courting hypocrisy B y Ab dul E l- S ayed

The Supreme Court i s t h e o d d d u c k o f t h e A m e r i c a n g o v er n m en t .

T h e j u s t i c es a r en ’ t el ec t ed . T h er e a r e n o l i m i t s t o t h ei r a p p o i n t m en t s . A n d u p o n a p p o i n t m en t , t h ey ’ r e a l m o s t en t i r el y s h i el d ed f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l p r o c es s .

N i n e u n el ec t ed j u r i s t s w i t h l i f et i m e a p p o i n t m en t s g et t o m a k e b i n d i n g , f u n d a m en t a l i n t er p r e t a t i o n s a b o u t t h e U .S . C o n s t it u t io n .

I n f a c t , t h e C o u r t ’ s l eg i t i m a c y i s b u i l t o n … w el l , i t s l eg i t i m a c y . I t c a n ’ t a c t u a l l y en f o r c e i t s r u l i n g s , a f t er a l l . I n s t ea d , t h e j u s t i c es h a v e t o s h o w u s t h e i r r ea s o n i n g , s h o w u s t h a t t h ey ’ r e a b o v e p et t y p a r t i s a n p o l i t i c s . C o n s i s t en t l eg a l r ea s o n i n g — a p p l y i n g t h e s a m e a p p r o a c h t o ea c h c a s e — i s s u p p o s ed t o d e m o n s t r a t e o v er t i m e t h a t t h es e a r e n o t p o l i t i c i a n s i n b l a c k r o b es — t h a t t h ey a r e, i n d ed , j u r i s t s . I t ’s t h e p l a c i n g o f t h e l eg a l p r o c es s a b o v e i t s o u t c o m es t h a t i s s u p p o s ed t o ea r n o u r t r u s t .

B u t w h a t h a p p en s w h en t h e j u s t i c es b et r a y t h a t t r u s t ? W h a t h a p p en s w h en t h ei r l o g i c i s s o p l a i n l y s u b j u g a t ed t o t h ei r i d eo l o g i c a l l y p r e f er r ed o u t c o m es ?

We’re about to find out.

C o n s i d er t h e C o u r t ’ s r u l i n g i n D ob b s v. J ackson W om en’ s H ealth O rganiz ation, t h e c a s e t h a t s h a t t er ed t h e p r i n c i p l e o f stare decisis a n d u p en d ed t h e C o u r t ’ s o w n p r e c ed en t t o s t r i k e d o w n th e r ig h t to a n a b o r tio n . Ju s tic e S a m u el A l i t o , w r i t i n g f o r t h e m a j o r i t y , s a id , “It is tim e to h e d th e C o n s titu -

t i o n a n d r et u r n t h e i s s u e o f a b o r t i o n t o t h e p eo p l e ’ s el ec t ed r ep r es en t a t i v es . ” A l i t o a r g u es t h i s s i m p l y i s n ’ t a m a t t er f o r t h e f ed er a l c o u r t s t o r u l e o n , i t ’ s a m a t t er f o r t h e s t a t es a n d t h ei r el ec t ed r ep r es en t a t i v es . E m p l o y i n g a r h et o r i c a l s l ei g h t o f h a n d , h e i m p l i es t h a t t h e f ed er a l g o v er n m en t h a d b en u s u r p in g r i g h t s s i n c e R oe v. W ade — a n d t h a t h e i s n o w “ r et u r n i n g ” r i g h t s … a n d r o b b i n g m i l l i o n s o f w o m en o f t h ei r s . H e u s es t h e g a r b o f l i b er t y t o c h o k e i t a t t h e th ro a t.

B u t w h a t o f t h e f u n d a m en t a l a r g u m en t , a b o u t t h e u s u r p a t i o n o f s t a t es ’ r i g h t s ? T h a t m i g h t b e b el i ev a b l e , ex c ep t t h a t l i t er a l l y t h e d a y b ef o r e, t h e C o u r t s t r u c k d o w n a c en t u r y - o l d N ew Y o r k s t a t e l a w r eq u i r i n g h a n d g u n p u r c h a s er s t o d em o n s t r a t e t h ei r n ed fo r a firearm. So states get to decide whether o r n o t a r es i d en t c a n h a v e a n a b o r t i o n — b u t n o t a d a m n g u n ?

T h e th r o u g h lin e in a ll o f th is is a l eg a l t h eo r y t h a t a t t em p t s t o g i v e c r e d en c e t o i t a l l . “ O r i g i n a l i s m ” a t t em p t s t o r ea d t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a t t h e t i m e i t w a s w r i t t en .

It manufactures historical fig leaves f o r j u r i s t s l o o k i n g t o j u s t i f y t h ei r en d s b y a l l o w i n g t h em t o c h er r y - p i c k f r o m h i s t o r y . A p p a r en t l y , a n o r i g i n a l i s t ’ s r ea d i n g d em o n s t r a t es t h a t g u n r i g h t s w er e u n d er s t o o d t o b e i n d i v i d u a l r i g h t s a t t h e t i m e o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n ’s ratification — but we can conveniently

10 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

ignore the fact that the firearms were u n d er s t o o d t o b e m u s k et s , n o t s em i automatic high-volume assault rifles.

T h er e ’ s a l s o a b r o a d er i m p l i c a t i o n . A t t h e t i m e t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n w a s w r i t t en , w o m en w er e c o n s i d er ed t h e p r o p er t y o f m en , a n d B l a c k p eo p l e w er e t h e p r o p er t y o f w h i t e p eo p l e. B y y o k i n g u s t o t h i s p a s t , o r i g i n a l i s t s d o o m o u r f u t u r e.

T o a p p r e c i a t e o r i g i n a l i s m ’s a b s u r d i t y , c o n s i d e r t h e C o u r t ’s d e c i s i o n i n W est V irginia v. E nvironm ental P rotection Agency. T h e c o n s e r v a t i v e m a jo r it y r u le d e n b lo c t h a t t h e E P A la c k e d th e a u th o r ity to w r ite s w e e p in g r u le s th a t r e g u la te p o w e r p la n ts . W h ile p r iv a te p r o p e r ty , b u s in e s s in te r e s ts , a n d p u b lic w e lfa r e a r e a s o ld a s tim e , h is to r y h a s ra is e d th e ir m a g n itu d e a n d t h e i r s t a k e s . T h e C o u r t ’s l o g i c w a s that, in effect, the EPA had usurped C o n g r e s s ’s p o w e r t o m a k e l a w s — a n d th a t if C o n g r e s s w a n te d to m a k e r u le s to c a p g re e n h o u s e g a s e m is s io n s it h a d to p a s s th o s e la w s its e lf. B u t c a r b o n e m is s io n s a r e u n b e lie v a b ly c o m p le x .

S o a r e fo o d a n d d r u g r e g u la tio n , w o r k place safety specification, and wildlife p r e s e r v a tio n — a ll th in g s le ft to fe d e ra l a g e n c ie s to r e g u la te in a w o r ld fu n d a m e n ta lly m o r e c o m p le x th a n it w a s in 17 8 8 . C o n g r e s s la c k s th e n e c e s s a r y e x p e r tis e o r tim e to r e g u la te a ll o f th e m d ir e c tly . S o a s k in g C o n g r e s s to r e g u la te a ll o f th e s e its e lf is s im p ly a b a c k d o o r p a th w a y to d e r e g u la tin g

t h e m b e c a u s e t h a t ’s f u n c t i o n a l l y w h a t w o u ld h a p p e n .

A n d t h a t ’s e x a c t l y t h e p o i n t — ev er y t h i n g C h a r l es K o c h h a s b en w o r k i n g t o w a r d f o r d ec a d es , a t l ea s t .

T h e b i l l i o n a i r e a r c h - c o n s er v a t i v e i s a c o g i n a m u c h l a r g er s y s t em th a t h a s b en w o r k in g to w a r p th e C o u r t in th is d i r ec t i o n . I t ’ s a l l p a r t o f a m u c h l a r g er , l o n g er p l a y i n w h i c h t h e C o u r t i s o n e o f s ev er a l c r i t i c a l p i ec es . A n d i t h a s n ’ t ev en p er f o r m ed i t s m o s t i m p o r t a n t b i d d i n g . N ex t t er m , t h e C o u r t w i l l h ea r a r g u m en t s i n a c a s e t h a t c o u l d u p en d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f o u r d em o c r a c y i t s el f .

M oore v. H arp er i n v o l v es a N o r t h C a r o l i n a S u p r em e C o u r t r u l i n g w h i c h s t r u c k d o w n t h ei r s t a t e l eg i s l a t u r e ’ s ex t r em el y p a r t i s a n g er r y m a n d er . N o w , R ep u b l i c a n s t a t e l eg i s l a t o r s a r e a s k i n g t h e U . S . S u p r em e C o u r t t o r ev i ew t h e c a s e. T h ey a r g u e t h a t i t w o u l d b e u n c o n s titu tio n a l fo r s ta te c o u r ts — o r s t a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n s , ev en — t o o v er s e f ed er a l el ec t i o n s , w h i c h t h e U . S . C o n stitution assigns specifically to state l eg i s l a t u r es t o d et e r m i n e t h e “ T i m es , P l a c es a n d M a n n er . ” I n s h o r t , t h ey a r g u e t h a t t h es e l eg i s l a t u r es s u p er s ed e t h ei r o w n c o n s t i t u t i o n o r s y s t em o f c o u rts.

I f t h e S u p r em e C o u r t r u l es f o r t h e legislators, it would offer carte blanche f o r ex t r em e g er r y m a n d er s a r o u n d t h e c o u n t r y , f u r t h er er o d i n g o u r el ec t o r a l s y s t em . W o r s e, b ec a u s e t h e U . S . C o n s t i t u t i o n a l s o a s s i g n s s t a t e l eg i s l a t o r s t h e t a s k o f d et er m i n i n g t h e “ m a n n er ” i n w h i c h a s t a t e ’ s el ec t o r s a r e a w a r d ed i n p r es i d en t i a l el ec t i o n s , i t p a v es t h e w a y f o r el ec t i o n s u b v er s i o n , t o o .

Ir o n ic a lly , to r u le t h is w a y , t h e s o c a l l ed o r i g i n a l i s t s w i l l h a v e t o c o n v e n i en t l y i g n o r e c l ea r ev i d en c e t h a t t h e f r a m er s o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n u n d er s t o o d s t a t es t o h a v e t h e p o w er t o c o n s t r a i n t h ei r l eg i s l a t u r es t h r o u g h t h ei r o w n s t a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n s . B u t s o i t g o es w i t h th is C o u r t.

W h i l e t h e f u l l c o n s eq u en c es o f t h e C o u r t ’s h y p o c r i s y w i l l n o t b e k n o w n f o r s o m e t i m e t o c o m e, t h ei r i n d el i b l e i m p r i n t i s a l r ea d y b ei n g l ef t o n A m er i c a n l i v es . A c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y r i g h t n o w , w o m en a r e a l r ea d y s ea r c h i n g f o r a l t er n a t i v es t o a h ea l t h c a r e p r o c ed u r e t h a t w a s s a f e a n d l eg a l t w o w ek s a g o . S o m e w i l l t r a v el t h o u s a n d s o f m i l es . O t h er s w i l l p u r s u e b l a c k m a r k et o p t i o n s t h a t could kill them. Many will not find a l t er n a t i v es a t a l l . I t ’ s p i t i f u l t o t h i n k that these were the ends that justified the means for which six justices defiled t h ei r o w n r o b es — a n d o u r c o n s t i t u tio n .

O riginally p ub lish ed J uly 5 in T h e I ncision. G et m ore at ab dulelsayed. sub stack.com .

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

11

CULTURE

Efe Bes at the Concert of Colors, 2017

How a free live music festival helped bring together metro Detroit’s ethnic groups ’ Photos by Doug Coombe

By Martina Guzman I n the 1 9 8 0 s, a group of community leaders from around m te r o D et r o i t b eg a n g a t h er i n g r eg u l a r l y t o t a l k a b o u t b u i l d i n g c o m m u n i t y c o a l i t i o n s . A t t h e i n v i t a t i o n o f N ew D et r o i t , t h ey f o r m ed a r a c i a l j u s t i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n i n r es p o n s e t o t h e 1 9 6 7 D et r o i t R eb el l i o n . L ea d er s g a t h er ed t o b r o a d en t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f c o m m u n i t i es o f c o l o r a n d a c t t o g et h er i n d i f ficult times or when there were social problems.

R o u g h l y 3 0 l ea d er s m et m o n t h l y , i n c l u d i n g r ep r es en t a t i v es f r o m t h e A f r i c a n a n d A f r i c a n A m er i c a n , A r a b , C a r i b b ea n , C h i n es e, a n d L a t i n o c o m m u n i t i es . A t ea c h m et i n g , a p a r t i c i p a t i n g et h n i c g r o u p p r es en t e d t h ei r c o m m u n i t y a n d g a v e a n update on art, culture, and the different socioeconomic issues a icting them.

12 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

“We were intentional about bringing people together.

Diversity doesn’t happen as organically as people would like to think.” “ W e t a l k ed a b o u t ev er y t h i n g , ” s a y s M a r s h a l l e M o n t g o m er y F a v o r s , p r o g r a m m a n a g er a t N ew D et r o i t . “ W e t a l k ed a b o u t s u r v ei l l a n c e o f t h e c o m m u n i t y i n S o u t h w es t D et r o i t , a n d t h e p r es en c e o f l a w en f o r c em en t . . . W e t a l k ed a b o u t d e ep i s s u es t h a t c o n c er n ed t h e c o m m u n i t y s u c h a s i m m i g r a t i o n a n d i s s u es r el a t ed t o b u s i n es s es , a n d t h e h i r i n g p r a c t i c es i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .”

A f t er ea c h p r es en t a t i o n , t h ey s o c i a l i z ed a n d b u i l t r el a t i o n s h i p s b y s h a r i n g f o o d f r o m t h e p r es en t i n g c o m m u n i t y . “ W e w a n t ed t o g et t o k n o w ea c h o t h er b e y o n d a s u r f a c e l ev el , ” M o n t g o m er y F a v o r s s a y s . “ W e w er e i n t en t i o n a l a b o u t b r i n g i n g p eo p l e t o g et h er .

D i v er s i t y d o es n ’ t h a p p en a s o r g a n i c a l l y a s p eo p l e w o u l d l i k e t o t h i n k . ” B y t h e ea r l y 1 9 9 0 s , D et r o i t h a d s u f fered from decades of white flight and financial disinvestment at the state l ev el . T h e r a p i d p o p u l a t i o n d ec l i n e l ef t t h e c i t y l i t t er ed w i t h a b a n d o n ed b u i l d i n g s , a n d h i g h l ev el s o f u n e m p l o y m en t l ed t o w i d e s p r ea d p o v er t y a n d c r i m e.

T h e r el a t i o n s h i p b e t w en D et r o i t a n d t h e m o s t ly w h ite s u b u r b s w a s f r a u g h t w i t h r a c i a l t en s i o n . T h i s f r i c t i o n w a s ex a c er b a t ed i n 1 9 9 2 b y t h e k i l l i n g o f M a l i c e G r en , a n u n a r m ed B la c k m a n , a t th e h a n d s o f w h ite p o lice officers. The incident gripped the B l a c k c o m m u n i t y a n d l ef t D et r o i t er s r el i n g . N ew s o f h i s d ea t h s p r ea d q u i c k l y a n d t h e i n c i d en t b ec a m e a n a t i o n a l s t o r y t h a t d o m i n a t ed n ew s c y c l es f o r w ek s .

W i t h t en s i o n p er m ea t i n g t h e c i t y , b u i l d i n g a n et w o r k o f c o m m u n i t i es o f c o l o r w a s i m p er a t i v e. A s a r es u l t , t h e p a r t i c i p a t i n g l ea d er s f o r m ed t h e C u ltu r a l E x c h a n g e N e tw o r k , fo c u s in g o n b u i l d i n g i n d i v i d u a l a n d p er s o n a l r el a t i o n s h i p s w i t h o t h er l ea d er s , a n d g o i n g t o o n e a n o t h er ’ s c u l t u r a l ev en t s . “ W e f el t t h e n ed to g a in m o r e p o w er a n d g a i n a w a r en es s a b o u t t h e c o m m u n i t i es , a n d w e k n ew t h a t u n i t ed t o g et h er , w e c o u l d h a v e m o r e i m p a c t , ” s a y s O s v a l d o R i v er a , m em b er o f t h e C u l t u r a l E x c h a n g e N et w o r k .

A t t h a t t i m e, D et r o i t ’ s d em o g r a p h i c s w er e r a d i c a l l y c h a n g i n g . B et w en 1 9 8 0 a n d 1 9 9 0 , D et r o i t h a d b ec o m e a m a jo r it y B la c k c it y , a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g s u b u r b s w er e ex p er i en c -

in g im m ig r a n t p o p u la tio n g r o w th .

T h o u s a n d s o f p eo p l e w er e m i g r a t i n g f r o m t h e M i d d l e E a s t a s w el l a s I n d i a a n d A lb a n ia . “ I n S o u t h ea s t M i c h i g a n , i m m i g r a n t c o m m u n i t i es h a v e t en d ed t o b e i n en c l a v es o n t h ei r o w n , b o t h d u e t o a h is to r y o f r a c is m a n d a ls o th e a b ility fo r n e w im m ig r a n ts to b e a b le to find affordable housing,” says Ismael A h m ed , d i r ec t o r o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o lo r s .

A c c o r d i n g t o A h m ed , a s t h e i m m i g r a n t p o p u l a t i o n s g r ew , t h er e w a s v er y l i t t l e i n t er a c t i o n b et w en th o s e c o m m u n i t i es , a n d a t t i m es t h e i n t r a c o m m u n i t y r el a t i o n s h i p s w er e h o s t i l e .

I s s u e s o f t e n a r o s e b et w en A ra b g a s s t a t i o n o w n er s i n D et r o i t a n d t h e B l a c k c u s t o m er s t h ey s er v ed . T h e l a c k o f s o c i a l c o n n ec t i o n , t h e l a r g el y t r a n s a c tio n a l n a tu r e o f g a s s ta tio n s , a n d r a c i s t a t t i t u d es t o w a r d B l a c k p eo p l e l ed t o r a c i a l t en s i o n . “ Y et t h er e w a s n o u p r i s i n g o r a n y t h i n g a r o u n d B l a c k D et r o i t er s , a n d t h e A r a b - o w n ed g a s s t a t i o n s . A n d t h e r ea s o n t h e r e w a s n ’ t w a s b ec a u s e o f t h e w o r k b ei n g d o n e b eh i n d t h e s c en es , ” s a y s S h i r l e y S t a n c a t o , m em b er o f t h e B o a r d o f G o v er n o r s a t W a y n e S t a t e U n i v er s i t y a n d t h e f o r m er p r es i d en t o f N ew D et r o i t . “ Y o u w o u l d b e a m a z ed a t t h e t h i n g s t h a t d i d n ’ t h a p p e n b ec a u s e w e w er e w o r k i n g t o g et h er b eh i n d t h e s c en es a n d h a v i n g d ep c o n v er s a t i o n s , ” S t a n c a t o s a y s . “ T h a t ’s t h e k i n d o f w o r k t h a t h el p s b u i l d c o m m u n i t y a n d d ev e l o p s r el a t i o n s h i p s . Y o u s u s t a i n t h o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h r o u g h t h e t o u g h t i m es , a n d t h a t ’ s a b i g , b i g p i ec e o f t h e c o n c ep t a r o u n d t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s . ”

The Concert of Colors at Chene Park A fte r y e a r s o f th e C u ltu r a l E x c h a n g e C o m m itte e w o r k in g to g e th e r to u n ify c o m m u n itie s , a n o p p o r tu n ity a r o s e to a d v a n c e th e ir w o r k a n d c e le b r a te c u ltu r e s th r o u g h m u s ic . N e w D e tr o it a n d c o m m u n ity le a d e r s s a w a c u ltu r a l e v e n t a s a m e a n s to ta k e th e w o rk o f th e m u lti-r a c ia l c o a litio n -b u ild in g o f th e C u ltu r a l E x c h a n g e N e tw o r k a n d c r e a te a c u ltu r a l e x p e r ie n c e th a t w o u ld p r o m o te a c t iv is m a n d c o n n e c t c o m m u n itie s th r o u g h m u s ic , a r t, a n d fo o d .

I n t h e ea r l y 1 9 8 0 s , M a y o r C o l em a n A . Y o u n g en v i s i o n ed a n a m p h i t h ea t er a l o n g t h e D et r o i t R i v er f r o n t n ea r d o w n to w n — o n e th a t w o u ld r iv a l o t h er v en u es a n d r ed ev el o p t h e c i t y ’ s l o n g - n eg l ec t ed w a t er f r o n t . F r o m l a n d h i s t o r i c a l l y u s ed f o r i n d u s t r i a l p u r p o s es , t h e c i t y b u i l t C h en e P a r k ( n o w k n o w n a s t h e A r et h a F r a n k l i n A m p h i t h ea t r e) . R o n A l p er n , t h e R i v er f r o n t P a r k s P r o g r a m C o o r d i n a t o r a t D et r o i t Recreation Department, offered the a m p h i t h ea t er t o et h n i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t h e C u l t u r a l E x c h a n g e N et w o r k , t o p r o m o t e d i v er s i t y .

W ith a lo n g h is to r y o f o r g a n iz i n g l i v e ev en t s a n d m a n a g i n g b a n d s , I s m a el A h m ed , s t i l l t h e p r es i d en t o f t h e C u l t u r a l E x c h a n g e N et w o r k , h a d t h e ex p er t i s e t o p r o d u c e j u s t s u c h a n ev en t . A h m ed t a p p ed i n t o t h e l ea d er s h i p o f t h e C u l t u r a l E x c h a n g e N et w o r k t o h el p c r ea t e a l i n e - u p o f m u s i c i a n s t h a t r ep r es en t ed t h e v a r i o u s c u l t u r es a n d et h n i c i t i es o f m et r o D et r o i t t o p r o m o t e w o r l d m u s i c .

Cultural impact Thirteen years after the first concert, c o m m u n i t i es a n d m u s i c i a n s a c r o s s m et r o D et r o i t c o u l d f el t h e i m p a c t o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s . T h e f r e e l i v e m u s i c ev en t b r o u g h t t o g et h er B l a c k , w h i t e, et h n i c , a n d i m m i g r a n t c o m m u n i t i es f r o m a c r o s s t h e r eg i o n , c r e a t i n g a d ep s en s e o f c o m m u n i t y a n d w el l b ei n g t h a t n o o t h er f es t i v a l o r m u s i c ev en t i n M i c h i g a n h a d . “ T h e C o n c e r t o f C o lo r s w a s t h e o n ly fe s t iv a l w h o s e g u id in g p r in c ip le w a s d iv e r s it y , w h e r e y o u c o u ld h e a r m u s ic a n d b e a b le to m e e t p e o p le fr o m a ll o v e r t h e w o r l d . I t w a s p r e t t y a m a z i n g ,” s a y s P h il C la r k , 7 2 , a life lo n g D e tr o it r e s id e n t w h o a tte n d e d t h e e v e n t y e a r ly .

O r g a n i z er s o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s u n d er s t o o d t h a t m u s i c b r i n g s p e o p l e t o g et h er i n p o w er f u l w a y s a n d c o u l d i m p r o v e p eo p l e ’ s u n c o n s c i o u s a t t i t u d es t o w a r d o t h er c u l t u r a l g r o u p s , a n d th a t w a s th e p o in t. In a d d itio n , l i v e m u s i c c a r r i ed o u t a r a n g e o f p s y c h o lo g ic a l a n d s o c ia l fu n c tio n s s h a p i n g p eo p l e ’ s em o t i o n s a n d b eh a v i o r s t o w a r d o n e a n o t h er .

“O n e o f th e th in g s th a t th e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s t a p p ed i n t o i s t h i s u n d er s t a n d i n g t h a t m u s i c i s o n e o f

the most effectively unifying cultural ex p er i en c es t h a t p eo p l e c a n h a v e, ” s a y s D et r o i t er O f el i a S a en z . “ T h a t i t ’ s a c o n d u it fo r u n d e r s ta n d in g a n d b r in g i n g p eo p l e t o g et h er . ” I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r i c h d i v er s i t y o n stage and off, one of the main compon en t s o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s ’ s u c c es s w a s t h a t i t w a s i n t en t i o n a l l y i n v i t i n g t o f a m i l i es . H a v i n g c h i l d r en a t a n ev en t d ep en ed a s en s e o f c o m m u n i t y .

A n d f o r a c i t y w i t h h i g h u n em p l o y m en t a n d s t a g n a n t w a g es , i t s h o u l d n ’ t b e l o s t t h a t C O C i s o n e o f t h e f ew ev en t s a f a m i l y c o u l d b r i n g t h ei r k i d s t o f o r f r e.

“The concert was a family affair b ec a u s e y o u t a k e y o u r k i d s t h er e. A n d t h er e w a s s u c h a s en s e o f f a m i l y t h a t w a s c r ea t ed b ec a u s e p eo p l e w o u l d g o ev er y y ea r a n d a s k , ‘ W h a t a b o u t y o u r c o u s i n ? W h a t a b o u t y o u r d a u g h t er ? I r em em b er w h en y o u r k i d s w er e ei g h t y ea r s o l d , a n d n o w t h ey ’ r e i n t h ei r ea r l y t h i r t i es , ’ ” s a y s R i v er a , w h o i n a d d i t i o n t o b ei n g a f o u n d i n g m em b er o f t h e C u l t u r a l E x c h a n g e N et w o r k , i s a l s o a L a t i n o c o m m u n i t y l ea d er i n D et r o i t .

F o r D et r o i t er a n d c o n c er t - g o er K a r l a R o b i n s o n , t h e c o n c er t b r o u g h t o u t t h e “ h u m a n i t y a n d g o o d n es s o f t h e p eo p l e ” w h o a t t en d ed .

“I w o u ld s it o n th e g r a s s y m o u n d b eh i n d t h e s ea t s w h er e a l l t h e m o m s h u n g o u t . O u r k i d s p l a y ed t o g et h er , a n d w e s h a r ed s n a c k s a n d w a t er , ” s h e s a y s . “ W h en y o u h a v e k i d s , y o u a r e a l w a y s o n g u a r d , a n d a t t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s , I c o u l d a c t u a l l y r el a x a n d en j o y t h e m u s i c b ec a u s e I k n ew t h e o t h er m o m s w er e w a t c h i n g m y k i d s j u s t l i k e I w a t c h ed o u t f o r t h ei r s . Y o u c a n ’ t g et t h a t f el i n g a n y w h er e. ”

Leaving Chene Park I n 2 0 0 6 , t h e C o n c er t O f C o l o r s w a s d ea l t s ev er a l d ev a s t a t i n g b l o w s . T h e p a r t n er s h i p w i t h C h en e P a r k a n d t h e C i t y o f D et r o i t en d ed l ea v i n g t h e f u t u r e o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s u n c er t a i n . “ T h e a m o u n t o f m o n ey w e w er e b ei n g a s k ed t o p a y ea c h y ea r c o n t i n u ed t o g r o w u n t i l w e c o u l d n ’ t p a y i t .

C h en e P a r k w a s o v er $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 d o l l a r s f o r t h e t h r e d a y s , j u s t f o r t h e s ec u r i t y , s et u p , a n d v en u e, ” A h m ed s a y s . “ T h e l a s t c o u p l e o f t i m es , t h e h ea d o f t h e D et r o i t ’ s r ec r ea t i o n d ep a r t m en t g o t o n t h e p h o n e w i t h m e a n d s t a r t ed c a l l i n g f u n d er s a n d c o r p o r a t i o n s t o t r y t o raise the difference, but it just became too difficult.”

D u r in g th a t s a m e p e r io d , D e tr o it b e g a n c r e e p in g in to th e G r e a t R e c e s s io n .

T h e d o w n t u r n d e v a s t a t e d D e t r o i t ’s

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D S O ’ s M a x M . F i s h er M u s i c C en t er .

F o r m o r e t h a n 1 5 y ea r s , t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s p l a y ed a t C h en e P a r k , a n o u t d o o r v en u e w i t h s w ep i n g v i ew s o f t h e D et r o i t R i v er , a n d a l a w n w h er e p eo p l e c o u l d s i t , w h i c h c r ea t ed a m i d s u m m er c u l t u r a l ex p er i en c e.

W o u l d h a v i n g a n i n d o o r c o n c er t l o s e t h e i n t i m a c y i t h a d a t C h en e P a r k ? W o u l d p eo p l e b e t o o d i s a p p o i n t ed t h a t t h ey w er e n o t o u t d o o r s o r n ea r t h e D et r o i t R i v er ?

While some were dissatisfied with th e n e w lo c a tio n , m o s t fo llo w e d th e music to Midtown. “The first year we w e re p re tty h a p p y w ith th e tu r n o u t ,” P a r s o n s s a y s . “ W e n e v e r h a d t o tu r n p e o p le a w a y , w e h a d a c o n s ta n t s tr e a m o f p e o p le c o m in g a n d g o in g t h e w h o l e t i m e .”

Concert of Colors, 2019

a lr e a d y fr a g ile e c o n o m y a n d w o u ld la s t lo n g e r t h a n in a n y o t h e r m a jo r c it y in A m e r ic a . A s a r e s u lt, a ll s p o n s o r s lo w e r e d t h e ir g iv in g a m o u n t , a n d C o n c e r t o f C o lo r s ’ m a in c o r p o r a te s p o n s o r, D a im le r C h r y s le r, s to p p e d g iv in g t h e ir y e a r ly c o n t r ib u t io n o f $ 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 . “ T h er e w a s d i s i n v es t m en t f r o m b o th c o r p o ra te a n d fr o m fo u n d a tio n s , a n d t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s h a d l es s t o w o r k w i t h , ” A h m ed s a y s . “ T h a t s a m e y ea r , N ew D et r o i t , w h o w a s p u t t i n g i n $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 , s a i d t h ey c o u l d n o l o n g er afford to do it.”

C o m m i t t ed t o t h e f es t i v a l ’ s l o n g t er m s u c c es s , o r g a n i z er s d ec i d ed t h a t i n s t ea d o f en d i n g t h e f es t i v a l t h ey would find a way to continue.

“They were all very, very different, with different cultures, gorgeous cult u r es , b ea u t i f u l c u l t u r es t h a t c o u l d b e s h a r ed , ” A h m ed s a y s . “ T h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s i s u n i q u e, i t r e l i es o n c o m m u n i t i es o f c o l o r a n d p r es en t s m u s i c a n d a r t t h a t n o b o d y el s e p r es en t s . I f el l i n l o v e w i t h i t — t h er e ’ s n o t h i n g l i k e i t , n o t o n l y i n D et r o i t b u t p r et t y m u c h c o u n t r y w i d e. I t w o u l d b e a t er r i b l e l o s s t o w a l k a w a y f r o m i t .”

New PERFORMANCE location and new partnerships I n l a t e 2 0 0 5 , w i t h N ew D et r o i t n o l o n g er t h e h o s t o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o v en u e, a n d l i t t l e m o n ey , C O C o r g a n i z er s h a d to restructure the festival and find a w a y t o c o n t i n u e.

The first thing Ahmed did was find a n ew h o s t o r g a n i z a t i o n w h er e t h e y ea r - l o n g p r o c es s o f p r o d u c i n g t h e f es t i v a l c o u l d t a k e p l a c e.

With tension permeating the city, building a network of communities of color was imperative.

“I b ro u g h t it in to A C C E S S , w h e re we could do it with our own staff. I w a s t h e d i r e c t o r o f A C C E S S t h e n ,” A h m e d s a y s .

W i t h a h o s t o r g a n i z a t i o n i n p l a c e, A h m ed b eg a n t o a p p r o a c h m u s i c a n d c o n c er t v e n u es , i n c l u d i n g t h e D et r o i t S y m p h o n y O r c h es t r a ( D S O ) , w h er e h e m et t h e n e w l y a p p o i n t ed p r es i d en t , A n n e P a r s o n s . I t w a s v er y ea r l y o n i n P a r s o n s ’ s t en u r e a t t h e D S O .

O n e a f t e r n o o n , K en d r a W h i t l o c k , t h e m a n a g er i n c h a r g e o f p a r t n er s h i p s a n d p r o g r a m m i n g , a p p r o a c h ed P a r s o n s w i t h a n i d ea . “ W e ’ v e h a d t h i s a m a z i n g w o r l d - m u s i c f es t i v a l o n t h e r i v er f r o n t f o r y ea r s a n d t h ey ’ r e f a c i n g c h a l l en g es , ” P a r s o n s r ec a l l s . “ A n d t h ey ’ r e n o t s u r e t h ey c a n c o n t i n u e o n t h e r i v er f r o n t . A n d t h ey ’ r e l o o k i n g f o r a v en u e. ” A t t h e t i m e P a r s o n a n d h er t ea m w er e l o o k i n g t o c r ea t e v i a b l e, s u s t a i n a b l e p a r t n er s h i p s w i t h c o m m u n i t i es that fit with the mission of the Detroit S y m p h o n y O r c h es t r a .

P a r s o n s a g r ed t o m et w ith A h m ed . “ D u r i n g o u r m et i n g , I d i d a l o t o f l i s t en i n g t o I s m a el , ” P a r s o n s s a y s . “ A n d w i t h o u t h es i t a t i o n I s a i d , ‘ W e w o u l d l o v e t o b e y o u r p a r t n er . ’ ” I n t h e ea r l y 2 0 0 0 s , t h e M i d t o w n d i s t r i c t h a d m u l t i p l e p er f o r m i n g a r t s v en u es b u t f ew o t h er a t t r a c t i o n s . A f t er 5 p . m . , t h e a r ea w a s d es o l a t e. S u b u r -

14 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

b a n i t es a t t en d i n g c o n c er t s c a m e a n d i m m ed i a t el y g o t o n t h e f r ew a y a n d w en t b a c k h o m e w h en t h e c o n c er t o r ev en t w a s o v er . “ I w a s s o ex c i t ed b y t h e i d ea t h a t w e c o u ld a c tiv a te M id to w n th r o u g h o u r b u i l d i n g a n d t h r o u g h a p a r t n er s h i p w i t h s o m eo n e l i k e I s m a el a n d w i t h a f es t i v a l t h a t w a s a l r ea d y es t a b l i s h ed , ” P a r s o n s s a y s . “ I t w a s a n en o r m o u s o p p o r t u n i t y f o r u s b ec a u s e w e w er e t r y i n g t o c h a n g e t h e p er c ep t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e D et r o i t S y m p h o n y O r c h es t r a i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .”

P a r s o n s , l i k e A h m ed , u n d er s t o o d t h e p o w er o f m u s i c . T h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s n o t o n l y b o o s t ed c u l t u r a l p r i d e, b u t h a d a p o s i t i v e s o c i a l , a n d ec o n o m i c i m p a c t o n t h e c o m m u n i t y . “ M u s i c w a s t h e l a n g u a g e t h a t ev er y o n e c o u l d s p ea k , ” P a r s o n s s a y s . “ I t w a s a c o n n e c to r. It b r o u g h t p e o p le to g e t h e r a n d i t p r o m o t ed u n d er s t a n d i n g . ” The partnership meant a significant financial commitment on behalf of th e D S O .

“I th in k o u r c o s ts w e r e s o m e th in g lik e $ 7 5 ,0 0 0 fo r t h e w e e k e n d , a n d s o s t a g e h a n d l a b o r w a s a b i g p a r t o f t h a t ,” P a rso n s sa y s. “T h e re w a s a w a y o f c u tt in g t h e c o s t d o w n , a n d s o w e ju s t k e p t whittling away at that trying to figure o u t h o w t o m a k e i t m a n a g e a b l e .”

O n e o f t h e c h a l l en g es f a c i n g o r g a n i z er s w a s c h a n g i n g t h e l o c a t i o n t o

Midtown In 2011, three years after the official s t a r t o f t h e G r ea t R ec es s i o n , D et r o i t still suffered from a crippling housing c r i s i s a n d a 1 2 % u n em p l o y m en t r a t e, d o u b l e t h e n a t i o n a l a v er a g e. C o n c er t o f C o l o r s o r g a n i z er s s t i l l s t r u g g l e d t o r a i s e m o n ey a n d m a n y s a i d t h ey should charge an entry fee to offset t h e c o s t . B u t k ep i n g t h e c o n c er t f r e w a s i m p er a t i v e f o r o r g a n i z er s . “ E v er y b o d y s h o u l d b e a b l e t o en j o y ea c h o t h er ’ s c u l t u r e a n d m u s i c a n d a r t , a n d ev en s m a l l f es t en d t o u n d er m i n e t h a t , ” A h m ed s a y s .

T h e a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e D S O u s h er ed i n a n ew er a f o r t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s a n d s er v ed a s a c o n d u i t t o o t h er p a r t n er s h i p s . A h m ed a p p r o a c h ed o t h er v en u es i n t h e a r ea a n d f o r m ed c o l l a b o r a t i o n s w i t h t h e D et r o i t I n s t i t u t e o f A r t s , C h a r l es H . W r i g h t M u s eu m o f A fr ic a n H is to r y , a n d th e S c a r a b C lu b .

B y 2 0 1 1 , s i x y ea r s a f t er t h ey c h a n g ed lo c a tio n s , C O C h a d g r o w n in to a tw o d a y ev en t . “ W e d i d n ’ t h a v e a l o t o f m o n ey , b u t w e h a d a l o t o f f r i en d s , ” A h m ed s a y s .

T h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s w a s a r eg i o n a l a t t r a c t i o n , a n d b ec a u s e o f t h e n ew p a r t n er s h i p s , C O C n o w h a d a l a r g er g eo g r a p h i c f o o t p r i n t , w h i c h a l l o w ed a t t en d es t o w a l k f r o m v en u e t o v en u e, en j o y i n g l i v e m u s i c f r o m a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , ex p o s i n g m a n y s u b u r b a n v i s i t o r s t o r es p ec t ed c u l t u r a l institutions for the very first time. “ I t w a s a n h o n o r t o b e a s k ed t o b e i n v o l v ed w i t h t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s , ” s a y s L a r r y B a r a n s k i , d i r ec t o r o f p u b l i c p r o g r a m m i n g a t t h e D et r o i t I n s t i t u t e o f A r t s . “ I t w a s a n ex p er i en c e o f j o y t h a t w a s d es i g n ed f o r ev er y o n e. I t r es o n a t ed i s t h e t h i n g , t h er e a r e a l o t o f c o n c ep t s t h a t a r e t r i ed a n d t h e y

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Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue with Mick Collins, 2018

j u s t d o n ’ t r es o n a t e, ‘ C o n c er t o f C o l o r s w a s s o m et h i n g t h a t w o r k ed a l m o s t i m m e d i a t el y . ’ ” M id to w n In c . a ls o c a m e o n a s a p a r t n er a n d t h r ew i t s w ei g h t b eh i n d t h e e v en t , a d d i n g N ew C en t er P a r k t o t h e l i s t o f v en u es . S u e M o s ey , ex e c u t i v e d i r ec t o r o f M i d t o w n D et r o i t , I n c . , u n d e r s t o o d t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s w a s a n i m p o r t a n t a d d i t i o n t o M i d t o w n ’s c u l t u r a l l a n d s c a p e. “ P eo p l e o f t en o v er l o o k t h a t f es t i v a l s c a n b e v eh i c l es f o r f o r m i n g c o m m u n i t i es a n d s h a p i n g t h e i d en t i t y o f a c i t y , ” s a y s M o s ey . “ I n t h i s c a s e, m u s i c i s t h e g l o b a l l a n g u a g e t h a t b r i n g s a l l t y p es o f p e o p l e t o g et h er t o ex p er i en c e j o y , h a p p i n es s , a n d f u n . ”

Don Was All-Star Revue and Detroit’s music scene T h e liv e m u s ic p e r fo r m e d a t th e C o n c e r t o f C o lo r s e x p o s e d g e n e ra tio n s o f m e tro D e tro ite r s to m u s ic th e y w o u ld h a v e o th e r w is e n e v e r h e a r d , a n d in th e p r o c e s s in fu s e d a n a lr e a d y m u s ic a l c ity w ith b e a ts fro m a ro u n d th e g lo b e . “ I w a s l u c k y en o u g h t o h ea r ev er y b o d y fr o m R a y C h a r le s to K in g S u n n y A d é a n d g r o u p s t h a t I w o u l d n o t ev er h a v e h ea r d o f i f i t w er en ’ t f o r t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s ” s a y s P h i l C l a r k , w h o l i v es i n S o u t h w es t D e t r o i t . “ I s a w t h e P a r i s C o m b o a n d I s t i l l l i s t en t o t h em . ” F a m ed A r a b m u s i c i a n C h eb K h a l ed p er f o r m ed o n t h e m a i n s t a g e i n 2 0 0 5 .

P l a y i n g b a s s w i t h K h a l ed t h a t y ea r w a s m u s i c i a n D o n W a s , a l eg en d i n t h e m u s ic in d u s tr y , a n d o n e o f th e m o s t s o u g h t - a f t er p r o d u c er s i n c o n t em p o r a r y m u s i c . W a s h a s w o r k ed w i t h t h e R o l l i n g S t o n es f o r 3 0 y ea r s , a n d p r o d u c ed a l b u m s f o r B o b D y l a n , W i l l i e N e l s o n , B o b S eg er , A l i s o n K r a u s , a n d d o z en s o f o t h er s .

W a s s a y s t h e m i d - s u m m er c u l t u r a l ex p er i en c e o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s l ef t a n i n d el i b l e m a r k o n h i m . “ I w a s ju s t b lo w n a w a y . It fe lt lik e h o m e , y o u k n o w , a n d I r e a lly fe lt th a t c o m m u n it y . T h e r e w a s ju s t a fe e l to it t h a t w a s n o t o n l y f a m i l i a r , I t h i n k i t ’s u n iq u e to D e tro it. T h e re is a u n iq u e

k in d o f c u lt u r a l ja m b a la y a g o in g o n h e r e a s a r e s u lt o f th e a u to b u s in e s s a n d i t w a s j u s t t h e b e s t o f i t ,” W a s s a y s . “ T o s e e e v e r y k in d o f p e r s o n hanging out, eating different foods a n d g e tt in g a lo n g a n d ju s t h a v in g t h e b e a u tifu l d a y s ittin g in th e g ra s s a n d h e a r in g m u s ic , a n d I w a s r e a lly ta k e n b y i t .”

D u r i n g t h a t v i s i t , D o n W a s f o r m ed a n en d u r i n g f r i en d s h i p w i t h C o n c er t o f C o l o r s o r g a n i z er , I s m a el A h m ed . “ I m et I s m a el t h a t n i g h t . W e h a d d i n n er a f t er w e p l a y ed . A n d t h en I l ea r n ed h i s h i s t o r y o f a c t i v i s m , w e h a d a w h o le lo t in c o m m o n p o lit ic a lly a n d m u s i c a l l y , ” W a s s a y s . “ W e b o n d ed o v er a lo v e o f th e M C 5 , a n d u n io n o r g a n iz in g a n d th a t k in d o f th in g . A n d w e j u s t b ec a m e r ea l l y g o o d f r i en d s f r o m t h a t .”

A f ew y ea r s l a t er , W a s s a y s h e w a s t h i n k i n g b a c k o n h i s ex p er i en c e a t C o n c er t o f C o l o r s a n d r ea c h ed o u t t o A h m ed w i t h a n i d ea o f p r o d u c i n g a s h o w t h a t d i s p l a y ed D et r o i t ’ s r i c h m u s i c a l t a l en t . “ I ’ m p r es i d en t o f t h i s r ec o r d l a b el , B l u e N o t e R ec o r d s , w h i c h i s a r g u a b l y t h e m o s t f o r m i d a b l e j a z z l a b el i n h i s t o r y . A l l t h e g r ea t s , f r o m M i l es D a v i s a n d T h el o n i o u s M o n k a n d S o n n y R o l l i n s , t h r o u g h H er b i e H a n c o c k a n d W a y n e S h o r t er … t h er e ’ s a n i n o r d i n a t e n u m b er o f D et r o i t m u s i c i a n s f ea t u r ed

FINANCES C oncert of C olors organiz ers started with a budget of $ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 .

1997 C O C budget had grown to $ 7 0 0 ,0 0 0 .

2002 Ten years after the first concert, organizers ended the decade with a budget of $ 1 .2 million.

2006 C O C ’s op erating budget shrinks to $ 3 5 0 ,0 0 0 and continued to decrease.

1993

16 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

“We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot of friends.” o n t h es e a l b u m s t h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y , i t ’ s s t a g g er i n g , ” W a s s a y s . “ T h er e ’ s s o m et h i n g v er y s p ec i a l a b o u t D et r o i t , a n d D et r o i t ’ s m u s i c t o m e. ” O r c h es t r a H a l l , t h e s t u n n i n g B ea u x - A r t s b u i l d i n g w i t h w o r l d - c l a s s a c o u s t i c s a n d h o m e o f t h e D et r o i t S y m p h o n y O r c h es t r a , b ec a m e t h e p er f ec t l o c a t i o n f o r w h a t w o u l d b e a n a m a l g a m a t i o n o f D et r o i t m u s i c i a n s f r o m v a r i o u s g en r es o f m u s i c c o m i n g t o g et h er u n d er t h e d i r ec t i o n o f D o n W a s t o p er f o r m a f r e c o n c er t f o r t h e p eo p l e o f t h e c i t y .

C h r i s t en ed t h e D o n W a s D et r o i t A l l - S t a r R ev u e, W a s a n d t h e b a n d p l a y ed m u s i c m a d e i n D et r o i t — a n h o m a g e t o t h e c i t y ’ s m u s i c h er i t a g e, a n d p a i d t r i b u t e t o D et r o i t l u m i n a r i es s u c h a s J o h n L e H o o k er , G eo r g e C l i n t o n , a n d B o b S eg er . T h e c o n c er t b ec a m e a n i n s t a n t h i t . A n d ev er y y ea r since, people flock to Orchestra Hall o f t en w a i t i n g i n l o n g l i n es t o g et a s ea t , t o h ea r i n c r ed i b l e m u s i c m a d e i n D et r o i t b y t h e c i t y ’ s m o s t t a l e n t ed m u s ic ia n s .

Y et , a s m u c h a s t h e c r o w d s en j o y t h e c o n c er t , t h e ex p er i en c e i s eq u a l l y u n f o r g et t a b l e f o r t h e m u s i c i a n s . “ I t ’ s a g r ea t h o n o r , ” s a y s L a u r a R a i n , l ea d s i n g er f o r L a u r a R a i n a n d t h e C a es a r s . “ T h e h i g h c a l i b er o f m u s i c ia n s h ip w ith D o n W a s , a r o c k s ta r, a n d a l l t h e c a t s o n t h e s t a g e, y o u w a n t t o b r i n g y o u r b es t a n d s h o w ev e r y b o d y t h a t y o u ’ r e t h er e t o p l a y t h e m u s i c . W e a r e a l w a y s i n a w e w h en w e g et a s k ed t o c o m e b a c k .”

F o r O s c a r - w i n n i n g c o m p o s er L u i s

R se t o , i t ’ s a b o u t t h e m u s i c c o m m u n i t y . “ T h a t m o m en t y o u ’ r e p er f o r m i n g , i t ’ s w o n d er f u l , t o b e a b l e t o b e w i t h c o l l ea g u e s o n s t a g e f o r t h a t m o m en t in a song, you know, the unification a n d th e c o m m u n ic a tio n th a t h a p p en s , s o m et i m es w i t h o u t w o r d s a n d t h e en er g y a n d t h e s u p p o r t a n d l o v e t h a t c o m es t h r o u g h p eo p l e p l a y i n g t o g et h er . ” R es t o s a y s b ei n g c h o s en t o p er f o r m with Don Was is an affirmation “that m u s ic ia n s a r e a b le to h a v e th is m o m en t b ec a u s e o f w h a t t h ey ’ r e d o i n g .

T h a t i t i m p a c t ed s o m eo n e ’ s ea r s t o g u i d e t h em t o t h i s m o m en t . A n d i t h a p p en s t o b e w i t h D o n W a s . A n d I t h i n k t h a t i n i t s el f g i v es t h em a r ea l i m p et u s t o d i g i n a n d m o v e f o r w a r d i n w h a t ev er p a t h t h ey ’ v e b en d o i n g .”

D o n W a s D et r o i t A l l - S t a r R ev u e h a s p er f o r m ed f o r 1 5 y ea r s a s p a r t o f t h e C o n c er t o f C o l o r s , a h i g h l i g h t i n a f r e m u s i c f es t i v a l t h a t b r i n g s a l l c u l t u r es t o g et h er . “ I t ’ s l i k e a f a m i l y r eu n i o n , ” W a s s a y s . “ I ’m g o n n a d o i t ‘ t i l l I d r o p .”

T h e 3 0 th Anniversary of th e C oncert of C olors w ill b e h eld from S aturday, J uly 1 6 - S unday, J uly 2 4 at various venues across m etro D etroit. T h is year’ s lineup features U krainian folk q uartet D akh ab rakh a, Alej andro E scovedo, M arth a R edb one, th e B urnt S ugar Arkestra w ith V ernon R eid of L iving C olour, and th e D on W as D etroit AllS tar R evue T rib ute to I ggy P op & th e S tooges. S ee concertofcolors.com for th e full sch edule.

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

17

EMPLOYMENT

Wed 7/13

PATIO BAR OPEN @5PM Mizz Ruth’s Grill @5pm Happy Birthday, Konrad M! Thurs 7/14

PATIO BAR OPEN @5PM FULL MOON GLOW PARTY pres by JOHNNY MALIK & TONY NOVA music - art - tarot Doors@9pm $5 Cover Fri 7/15

PATIO BAR OPEN @3PM Carbon Decoy/ Caveman Bam Bam/ Corevalues Doors@9 $5 Cover Sat 7/16

PATIO BAR OPEN @2PM The DeCarlo Family/Goods/ Elephant Den Doors @9pm $5 cover

Topp Dogg Food Truck @7pm Sun 7/17

PATIO BAR OPEN @2PM Mon 7/18

FREE POOL ALL DAY Happy Birthday, PT! Tues 7/19

B. Y. O. R. Bring Your Own Records You Can DJ! 9pm NO COVER! Happy Birthday, Eric Waters!

Coming Up In July:

7/22 THREE SPOKE WHEEL/ DUDE/Tiger Lily 7/23 DJ JEFF TABB (soul/funk) 7/24 HAPPY 320th BIRTHDAY DETROIT! 7/28 WDET Comedy Showcase (wdet.com/events) 7/29 FUNK NIGHT (monthly) 7/30 Something Elegant (monthly) JELLO SHOTS always $1

18 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

Solutions Architect, United Wholesale Mortgage, Pontiac, MI. Evaluate new technologies. Work within an enterprise architecture team to establish dvlpmt principles &processes, &infrastructure to support enterprise. Architect, dvlp, create, &modify extensible enterprise grade cptr apps SW &specialized utility programs for Loan Origination System (EDGELOS), online broker portals, loan estimate generation, Underwriting Sys, loan servicing syss, &mortgage payoff calculators, &follow Agile methodology. Design &dvlp .NET Core Microservices &Microservice Architecture using Agile methodology. Analyze, architect, &dvlp n-tier (multi-tier) syss w/ Microsoft C# .NET Framework &NET Core, Kafka, MongoDB, SQL Server, Redis, XSLT, Azure Web Services. Collaborate w/ project team members &Solutions Architects to create project pipelines using Octopus, Jenkins, Bitbucket, &TeamCity. Create Proofs of Concept to enhance SW functionality for Microsoft Azure cloud-based SW integrations, internal knowledgebase app using Confluence APIs, &integrations w/ ServiceNow APIs. Identify, automate, implement &track scalable coding mechanisms incldg distributed caching, stateless decision services &declarative programming. 60 mos exp as Systems Developer, Systems Analyst, Software Developer, Computer Operator, or related, designing or dvlpg workflow tools to automate or track scheduled batch processes, &tools for monitoring apps using C#, .NET Framework, &SQL, on Windows &Unix based servers, or related. Mail resume to Ref#3718, UWM, Human Resources, 585 S. Blvd E., Pontiac, MI 48341.

EMPLOYMENT

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

counsel/strategy in legal/reg fwk in Holy See (Postulation Saints/mgmt relics). Negotiate agrmts/ liaise w/ Holy See/Rome/ US. Req: knowl. Catholic doctr.; dipl Studium Cong Causes of Saints, canonization; JD (Italian preferred) & min 5 yrs exp in Canon Law & Tax; ITA, ESP. Email: treasures.ofthe.church. inc@gmail.com

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

19

WHAT’S GOING ON

Brunch is back, baby!

Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Submit your events to metrotimes.com/calendar. Be sure to check venue websites for COVID-19 policies.

SAT, 7/16 United We Brunch For the first time since 2020, Metro Times United We Brunch is back!

This boozy, brunchy extravaganza is slated to return to Detroit’s Majestic Theatre and Garden Bowl on Saturday.

It includes unlimited tastings from more than 15 restaurants and bottomless bloody marys, mimosas, coffee, bowling, and much more.

Participating restaurants include Aroma Creperie and Cafe, Cafe Muse, Chef T. Gary Catering, Coop’s Max Hardy, Edo Ramen, Imaginate, Oak House Deli, and others. As a sweet treat, indie rock singer-songwriter Anna Burch will return as the headline entertainment.

—L ee D eV it o F rom 1 1 a.m .- 2 p .m . on S aturday, J uly 1 6 at th e M aj estic T h eatre C om p lex ; 4 1 4 0 W oodw ard Ave., D etroit; 3 1 3 - 8 3 3 - 9 7 0 0 ; m aj esticdetroit.com . T ickets are $ 5 0 .

SAT, 7/16-SAT, 7/24

DONTAE ROCKYMORE

every genre imaginable. It’s going down July 16-24 across several venues including the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Burnt Sugar, The Arkestra Chamber will be performing with Vernon Reid on Sunday, July 24. That’s th e Vernon Reid, the guitar player from Living Colour. An Alice Coltrane tribute with Marion Hayden and harpist Brandee Younger is set for Saturday.

The Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue will return as per usual, this time with a tribute to Iggy Pop. Other acts include Nafada: Arab Women in Hip-Hop, Texas-based rocker Alejandro Escovedo, Afro-Caribbean group Battle of Santiago, jessica Care moore, and Mollywop!

There’s also a whole host of other events planned like a Low Riders Regional Cruise-in, a Caribbean Carnival Day, a laser light show, and the debut of a documentary on the longstanding festival’s history. Did we mention this is all free?

—R a n d ia h C a mil l e G reen F rom J uly 1 6 to J uly 2 4 . L ocations and set tim es vary. S ee concertofcolors.com for m ore info.

SAT, 7/16

Concert of Colors

Oddities and Curiosities Expo

Detroit’s free multicultural music festival, Concert of Colors, is heading back to Midtown this weekend with international and local acts spanning

Freaks and lovers of the macabre, this one’s for you. The Oddities and Curiosities Expo is heading to Novi on Saturday. The traveling show is essentially a

20 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

cross between a horror movie convention, Halloween party, and taxidermy expo. We aren’t sure how much actual partying there will be, but the convention is boasting more than 150 vendors.

Expect creepy wares like preserved animal specimens, bone jewelry, Halloween- and horror movie-inspired artwork, and antique medical instruments. You can also make your own two-headed duckling taxidermy piece (for 235) and check out “the world’s largest traveling freak show” for a touch of the dark arts in summer.

—R a n d ia h C a mil l e G reen F rom 1 0 a.m .- 6 p .m . on S aturday, J uly 1 6 at th e S ub urb an C ollection S h ow p lace; 4 6 1 0 0 G rand R iver Ave., N ovi; odditiesandcuriositiesex p o.com . T ickets are $ 1 0 in advance or $ 1 5 at th e door. T h e tax iderm y class costs $ 2 3 5 and includes adm ission to th e ex p o. Adm ission to th e freak sh ow is an additional $ 7 or $ 5 in advance.

FRI, 7/15-SUN 7/17 African World Festival We’re dubbing 2022 as the year of “return to Hart Plaza,” first with the Movement Festival and now the African World Festival. After being hosted at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for the past several years, Detroit’s biggest celebration of African culture will return to Hart Plaza this summer.

The 3 th annual African World Festival will also take place a bit earlier

this year on July 15-1 (it’s typically in August). The museum announced the new dates and glorious return to Detroit’s riverfront venue.

“We have wanted to bring the Annual African World Festival back to Hart Plaza for several years now to accommodate the many vendors and performers who want to participate,” Neil Barclay, the Wright Museum’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “Plus, this year our members will be admitted for free. It just made sense to bundle free admission to the weekend festival with all of the great programming we have year-round.”

Over 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival over three days, with more than 150 vendors selling Afro-centric art, handcrafts, food, and other wares. There will also be a fashion show, African drum and dance performances, live music, and a family-friendly area called Watoto Village.

“AWF is a special time in the Detroit community — and a favorite destination for thousands of visitors who travel from around the world and across this nation to celebrate with us.

I am grateful to support the Museum in continuing this treasured tradition,” said festival director Njia ai.

—R a n d ia h C a mil l e G reen F estivities start daily at 1 1 a.m . F ridayS unday at H art P laz a, 1 H art P laz a, D etroit; th ew righ t.org. T ickets are $ 1 5 ( $ 1 0 for ch ildren under 1 3 , and free for ch ildren under 3 and W righ t M useum m em b ers) .

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

21

FOOD

Breadless 2761 E. Jefferson Ave., Suite A, Detroit (entrance on Larned St.) 313-474-2870 eatbreadless.com Sandwiches $10.19-$11.29

At Detroit’s Breadless, sandwiches come wrapped in leafy greens rather than slices of bread.

MARC KLOCKOW

The greatest thing since sliced bread?

B y J ane S laugh ter

“Time to Turn O v er a N ew Leaf” read the staff T-shirts at Breadless. Turn it, then wrap a “leafy supergreen” around an array of gluten-free deliciosities.

Breadless came about because of co-founder Marc Howland’s own bad experiences with fast food growing up, including bread. His then-fianc e, now co-founder L.C. Howland, reacted with fire emojis to his rants about restaurants that treat gluten-free offerings as afterthoughts. Now the couple, with third co-founder Ryan Eli Salter, who brings the culinary experience, aim to offer healthy low-carb options to “everyone in every neighborhood,” starting with metro Detroit. Potential franchisees, take note.

Breadless got its start with pop-ups at gyms and with catering for student clubs at U of M. The downtown Detroit store opened in March, around the corner, Marc says, from where L.C. grew up (he’s from Cleveland, by way of

Harvard Business School). The subtext is that the trio wants to bring healthy food to Black neighborhoods.

Healthy it is, though vegetarians could disagree. Pastrami, turkey, and chicken from Boar’s Head and local halal turkey are popular ingredients, but the stars, in a way, are the four wraps, since they’re what makes Breadless different from other sandwich shops: a big leaf of collard, dino kale, Swiss chard, or turnip green, They enclose six sandwiches, each of them quite distinct in part because of their dressings.

Marc Howland worked for a bit in a sandwich shop to learn the “quick service environment,” but Breadless has obvious differences with fast food beyond flavor and nutrition. I think of fast food as something you can eat with one hand while driving, though I realize the bigs have expanded far beyond those offerings. A Breadless sandwich will require more attention as you eat,

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just as inventing it and preparing it did.

Instructions on the paper covering say, “ eep wrapped, peel as you eat,” and that’s good advice, to maintain some semblance of order. Another option is to pay 2 more for the same ingredients in a bowl, and just use a fork.

That’s what I did with “What the ale?”, a big bowl of spicy chicken, dino kale (less tough than curly kale), Monterey Jack, caramelized onions, tomatoes, saut ed red peppers, tomatoes, and pickles. The bowl was briefly warmed in a convection oven, wilting the kale a bit to good effect (but you can order it cold). I was skeptical of warm pickles but they fit right in, as did the sugar-free but traditional-flavor barbecue sauce.

I liked all five of the sandwiches or bowls I tried, even when somewhat slippery to eat; I went through several napkins. They each have their own sauce, which serves to bring the ingredients together. “Bird Is the Word,” for

example, drizzles Champagne vinaigrette on lots of sliced turkey, white cheddar, and plenty of avocado spread, all inside a turnip green. No lettuce, Marc emphasizes. More flavor.

“Garden of Eatin’” can be a vegan option, with a collard green around roasted eggplant, tomato pesto, saut ed red and yellow peppers, and red onion. I found the taste great but the eggplant skin tough to bite through. In the collard-wrapped “Cloud Pastrami,” spicy mustard was the forward flavor. With the vegan “Detroit Oyster Club,” Swiss chard with a sinewy rib encloses roasted portobello and oyster mushrooms, avocado spread, and an assertive balsamic dressing.

Best name: “Chardi B,” with Swiss chard, chicken, and cilantro avocado sauce.

Diners are encouraged to ignore all these options and build their own sandwich or bowl.

Breadless makes two cold teas inhouse, a sweet pomegranate green tea and an unusual matcha agua fresca that I particularly recommend, with a vanilla bent. It sells cold-pressed organic juices from Midwest Juicery, such as carrot and beet; I liked celery-forward “Green with Envy,” which is supertransparent about its ingredients, in line with the store’s vibe: it’s an apple, a head of romaine, a quarter each of a cucumber and bunches of celery and kale, and some lemon and parsley. Feel Good brand sparkling water in a can is available, with only fruit juice added, and various claims for your health and mood. My only beef with Breadless: boxed water for sale. For 3.4 . Has anyone ever bought this, or is that the original box from back in March sitting there? I have to think Detroiters know better.

For snacks, dehydrated cauliflower has to be the ugliest “chip” around, sort of like tiny dried ears, but it tastes good, because it’s covered with garlic salt, at 26 of your daily sodium and 3.4 for a 1.23 oz. bag. Carrot chips are sweet, jicama chips from Mexico are a chili-lime that didn’t work for me. All are vegan.

Staff are friendly and they don’t evangelize; this healthy food is good enough not to need it. Breadless has indoor and outdoor tables and was doing steady business when I visited.

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

23

FOOD New restaurant Petty Cash opens on Detroit’s historic Avenue of Fashion BLACK WALLS, GOLD accents, stylish light fixtures, and portraits of musical legends flow throughout the dining area of Detroit’s newest restaurant, Petty Cash.

Described as a “moody, elevated and soulful,” the restaurant on Detroit’s west side is owned by Art Hicks, elly McBride, Rufus Bartell, and former NFL player Ron Bartell Jr., who also owns nearby uzzo’s Chicken Wa es.

The restaurant on the historic Avenue of Fashion opened its doors on Thursday, offering indoor and outdoor dining and a locally sourced menu that caters to a variety of dietary needs.

There is indoor seating for 2, including bar seating offered on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Garage-style doors open to an outdoor patio with 42 seats. The restaurant will start out as reservations only.

“I am a chef by trade,” McBride says.

“I wanted to see a variety of good foods at our restaurant.”

For McBride, his once summer job turned into a career. At the age of 15 he started off in the hospitality restaurant business at Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield. He began his career as a dishwasher for only 30 days, and moved up to a sous-chef by the age of 16. The country club soon paid for his culinary schooling at Oakland Community College. That summer job led him to many opportunities along the way.

“I took interest in food, because I can make food look pretty,” he says.

McBride currently lives in the neighborhood, not far from the restaurant.

As he was driving one day, he realized that there were only fast-food restaur a n t s i n t h e a r ea .

“I had to go to Midtown or Birmingham or Royal Oak to get food that I liked,” he says. “I wanted to put what we like in our neighborhood. Why should we have to travel outside our neighborhood to get what we like?”

Petty Cash on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion opened its doors last week.

He adds, “I decided to open a restaurant in Detroit because I’m a Detroiter.

Why not build in your own neighborhood and community? I wanted a restaurant in the neighborhood where it’s upscale casual, not white linen, but it is that medium level where I feel good about this place. We are not a bar, but you also do not have to put on a tie.”

The small plates restaurant will feature a menu with vegan and vegetarian options, smoked meats, unique

Ima Izakaya now open in Corktown LOCAL JAPANESE-INSPIRED noodle chain Ima has officially opened its newest location in the former Gold Cash Gold space at 2100 Michigan Ave. in Corktown, not far from where it opened its first location in 2016.

The new spot, dubbed Ima Izakaya, soft launched in May for a Movement Music Festival-related party. Last week, it announced on Instagram that it was officially open for lunch and dinner six days a week.

The Ima Izakaya menu appears to be larger than the chain’s other locations, with a robata grill section, or a Japanese style of cooking similar to barbecue. It also has a “market cut” section featuring Chilean sea bass and grilled NY strip steak.

M etro T im es stopped by on Thurs-

24 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

seafood, as well as one-of-a-kind craft cocktails.

“Our waitress staff will explain to our guest why we created a certain dish to help in placing their order and explain what type of spices are in that dish.”

McBride says. “We are doing the same things with our cocktails.”

The menu is described as “soulful upscale and approachable” according to a news release announcing its opening.

Prices range from 15 to 45. Meal and

day and could not get an interview with owner Mike Ransom, but an Ima employee told us the company plans to keep the original location at 2015 Michigan Ave. for pop-up events.

The new location is 3, 00 square feet, about three times larger than the original Ima, which allowed it to expand its indoor seating.

The original Ima followed with additional locations in Madison Heights in 201 and Detroit’s Midtown in 201 , where it introduced a spicy karaage fried chicken sandwich to its menu. Earlier this year, Ima opened a related restaurant in Midtown called SuperCrisp that expanded upon the karaage fried chicken sandwich concept, adding other Japanese-infused, Americanstyle comfort food items like hot dogs and fries.

Gold Cash Gold closed in 2020, with its former executive chef Bren-

LEE DEVITO

bar checks come with 20 gratuities added.

Diners visiting the restaurant are required to pay a 20 reservation deposit in the dining room and 200 deposits for groups at a 10-seat patio table or in two lounges, each with space for six guests.

Bookings can be rescheduled up to a day ahead, but deposits are kept for shorterterm cancellations.

Dominic McCord is Petty Cash’s executive chef, previously working at Leila in

Ima Izakaya.

LEE DEVITO

don Edwards headed to the former Craft Work spot in Detroit’s West Village to open the new Metropolita n V a r ie ty s to re .

— L ee D eV it o M ore inform ation is availab le at im aiz akaya.com .

guest,” McCord says. “I want them to say that, We shop at Petty Cash because we try things that we never had before, and the staff are going to make things well.’”

To keep up with all the new trendy changes with food, McCord says he reads and eats a lot of different meals.

“I am out of town at least one a month or in another country trying new foods,” he says. “I am eating my way around the world.”

Hicks says he looks forward to the grand opening of Petty Cash.

“I am excited to for our guests to experience new foods and enjoy their time away,” he says.

—D a rl en e A . W hit e P etty C ash is located at 2 0 0 5 0 L ivernois Ave., D etroit. R egular h ours w ill b e W ednesday th rough S unday. F or reservations, see p ettycash detroit.com .

LIZA LAGMAN SPERL/ FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS

downtown Detroit. He is also the creator behind the restaurant’s menu.

“I had full control, creating the menu,” McCord says. “The creativity was all on me. My goal is just to introduce different cuts of meat, introduce different vegetables, introduce different cooking techniques.”

McCord says everything is fresh at t h e r es t a u r a n t .

“It’s so much thought into the dishes on the menu, even with the simplest things like a French fry,” he explains.

“My French fry is not regular. I am not buying frozen anything. Everything on the menu is thought out.”

The chef utilizes Southern cooking techniques but incorporates pomegranate molasses for his barbecue sauce or toasted cumin and turmeric instead of the more traditional dry rubs diners might be more accustomed to.

“I want to be that safe spot for our

Detroit’s Cass Cafe to close CASS CAFE HAS b e en a h u b f o r l o c a l a r t i s t s s i n c e t h e e a r l y 1 9 9 0 s . W h en influential Detroit artist Gilda Snowden died in 2014, her repast was held there.

A posthumous retrospect for Rico Africa was held there after his passing earlier this year. It was known as a place where the Detroit art community could gather and mingle, and now it’s closing for good on July 1 .

A worker confirmed the closing during a call to the restaurant on Thursday but said they were too inundated with calls and the daily lunch rush to provide any further details at this time.

Detroit artist Senghor Reid was devastated by the news.

“Businesses come and go, but damn, that was one of the last vestiges of Cass Corridor,” he tells us over the phone.

“One of the things that made Cass Cafe so special was the fact that you could go there to eat and see very purposeful art

exhibitions at the same time whether it be an up-and-coming artist or established artist. There’s no other place like it. So many places throw some art up on the wall, but Cass Cafe had real exhibitions and artists took it seriously.”

The beloved local restaurant was also a hotspot for vegans and vegetarians due to several meatless options on the menu.

Reid’s fondest memory of the cafe was Snowden’s repast where he says the local arts community partied all night.

“All of Detroit, like the whole art community, was there and it was so special,” he says. “To have a place like that where you can have those kinds of memorial and pivotal, wonderful gatherings, close is just terrible. You’d see all types of other artists and writers all there converging at the same time.”

The cafe was opened by Chuck Roy in 19 9 3 .

—R a n d ia h C a mil l e G reen

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competitive is keeping customers happy by offering a unique experience with plenty of specials, giveaways, and consistently high quality products.

It means going beyond cannabis, he explains. Millen plans to sell doughnuts and coffee out of an enormous old truck he recently purchased. He’s also considering hosting concerts and poetry readings, as well as cannabis education nights.

“You have to find a niche and find a way to keep customers happy,” Millen says. “I want to be the Samuel Adams of cannabis. I don’t want to be the Budweiser.”

On an average day, the Greenhouse serves between 1,100 and 1,600 customers. But those customers are spending less each visit.

The goal, he says, is to remain vigilant because it’s a cutthroat business.

“The big guys are coming for us. I’ll put up a hell of a fight.”

WEED

Greenhouse of Walled Lake owner Jerry Millen stands in front of a mural on his dispensary that reads, “Greenhouse vs.

Corporate Weed.”

FRANK MARRA, GREENHOUSE OF WALLED LAKE

Too much weed?

An abundance of growers and plummeting marijuana prices are smoking out small cannabis businesses in Michigan B y S teve N eavling

Prices for legal m

a r iju a n a h a v e h i t a l l - t i m e l o w s i n M i c h i g a n , ev en a s inflation is driving up the costs of most other products, like gas and food.

For now, the trend is great for cannabis consumers, who can find deals on flower, edibles, and concentrates that are comparable or better than what’s on the black market.

But for small growers and dispensaries, the plummeting prices are making it difficult to stay afloat.

The average price for an ounce of recreational flower dropped from more than 512 in January 2020 to 131 in May, a 4.4 decline, according to the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

During the same period, an ounce of medical flower dropped from 26 to 11 .

The market is oversaturated with marijuana. There are more than 1,000 dispensaries in Michigan, and nearly half of them sell recreational cannabis.

Every week, the state is approving new permits for cannabis businesses, and more cities and townships are allowing recreational dispensaries to open. If all goes as planned, an additional 100 recreational dispensaries will open in Detroit, the state’s largest city.

To compete, dispensaries have been steadily decreasing their prices since r ec r e a t i o n a l s a l es b ec a m e l eg a l i n D e -

cember 201 .

And that means cultivators are getting less and less for their products.

Struggling growers When Mark Marion first opened his small grow business Med IQ Pharm to Pharm in awkawlin Township in March 2021, he was charging dispensaries about 2, 00 a pound. Now, some dispensaries expect to pay less than 1,000 a pound, which barely covers the cost of production.

“We have our overhead like everyone el s e, ” M a r i o n t el l s M etro T im es. “License fees, taxes, power, infrastructure — it’s outrageous.”

Marion says large companies are running down the price. He likens the price squeeze to Lowe’s and Home Depot underselling local hardware stores.

“The smaller shops are getting hammered,” Marion says. “All the bigger ones want to do is push out as much flower as they can. We want to make sure we produce good flower, and they are running everything down.”

Med IQ Pharm to Pharm produces 10 different strains and up to 120 pounds a month. By comparison, some of the bigger cultivators produce more than 10 times that amount.

For growers like Med IQ Pharm to Pharm, price isn’t everything. Marion’s

28 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

son works at the grow facility 15 hours a day to ensure the highest quality product, he says.

“There’s nothing that goes on here that he doesn’t know about,” Marion says. “Our focus is on good quality flower.”

Smaller grow operations like Med IQ Pharm to Pharm depend on dispensaries that value local businesses and high quality flower.

Corporate weed One of those dispensaries is the Greenhouse of Walled Lake, which prides itself on its local roots. On the side of its building is a mural that reads, “Greenhouse vs. Corporate Weed.”

Owner Jerry Millen says he prefers smaller growers, even if the prices are higher.

“I’m trying to help the mom and pop o w n er s , ” h e t el l s M etro T im es. “I’m paying some of them more than I can get from other places.”

Millen worries that the plummeting prices are going to force smaller dispensaries and growers out of business.

“The big guys are trying to crush the little guy,” Millen says. “They have the money to do it. What happens when the little guys are pushed out? Do the prices go back up?”

Millen says the trick to staying

Taking a bite out of edibles The fastest-growing product at recreational dispensaries is edibles — cannabis-infused gummies, candy bars, baked goods, mints, chocolate bars, and brownies.

The average monthly sales of edibles increased more than three-fold, from 53,000 in January 2021 to 1 0,000 in May. In March, a company called Ripple opened an ,000-square-foot manufacturing and processing facility in Dimondale near Lansing to produce quick-acting edibles.

Since then, the small company has lowered its prices by a third.

The price drops are “affecting not just cultivators and retailers, but everyone in the food chain that is cannabis,” Rachel Reed, Michigan sales director for Ripple, tells M etro T im es. “It’s wild.”

Amid the heated competition, Ripple’s products continue to stand out because they’re unique, Reed says.

The products are water-soluble, and the company touts studies that show a measurable amount of THC enters the bloodstream within 10 minutes, compared to 30 minutes to two hours from fat-soluble products sold by other companies.

Reed says she can’t imagine prices getting much lower. If the prices don’t rebound soon, the big companies have the advantage, she says.

“They have the deep pockets to ride this out, but unfortunately a lot of the homegrown, local guys are really feeling the crunch and that sucks,” Reed says.

For now, though, there’s one clear winner in the industry.

“If you’re a Michigan cannabis c o n s u m er , i t i s a g r ea t t i m e t o b e a l i v e because you have desperate retailers,” Reed says.

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

29

CULTURE

Aris Servetalis in Apples, one of the most original, if understated, movies of the year.

COURTESY PHOTO

Peeling back the power of personal loss B y E ileen G ’ S ell

A gray skyline, a n em p t y c o u c h , l o n el y b ed p i l l o w s , a c l u t t er of coffee cups, the antique lace that a d o r n s t h e b u s t o f a w o m a n ’ s n eg l i gee. The first five, five-second shots of C h r i s t o s N i k o u ’ s Ap p les m a r c h f o r t h t o t h e s t a c c a t o b ea t o f w h a t s o u n d s l i k e a drum, but — as we find out in the sixth s h o t — i s a c t u a l l y t h e t h u d o f a m a n ’s f o r eh ea d d el i b er a t el y k n o c k ed a g a i n s t a wall. For a film overtly devoted to t h e m y s t e r y o f w h a t g o es o n i n s i d e o u r m i n d s , t h e t er s e m o n t a g e f el s er i l y apropos, launching questions that the rest of the narrative slowly, and only s p a r i n g l y , s ek s t o a d d r es s .

O n e o f th e m o s t o r ig in a l, if u n d e r stated, movies of the year, Nikou’s d ir e c to r ia l d e b u t r e lie s u p o n th e potency of the image above ponderous d ia lo g u e o r s h o w y c lo s e -u p s . B e r e ft o f c e le b r ity m y th o s o r d is c e r n ib le s e ttin g , the movie follows Aris (Aris Servetalis), a pensive loner who, after falling asleep on a city bus with a bouquet of flowers, can’t recall who he is or where h e ’s f r o m . “ W h e r e w e r e y o u s u p p o s e d to get off?” asks the driver gently. “ W h a t ’s y o u r n a m e , d o y o u r e m e m ber?”

Transported via ambulance to the “D is tu r b e d M e m o r y D e p a r tm e n t o f

the Neurological Hospital,” Aris soon finds himself in the clueless company of other amnesiacs, each the victim of s u d d e n m e m o r y lo s s , e a c h d r e s s e d in a b lu e u n ifo r m th a t r e s e m b le s g ra n d p a p a ja m a s . B a s e d o n h is d o c to r s ’ — a n d n e w r o o m m a te s ’ — n o n p lu s s e d affect, it would seem that the entire r e g io n is e n d u r in g a p a n d e m ic o f lo s t identity. Unclaimed by relatives, Aris i s e n r o l l e d i n t h e c i t y ’s “ N e w I d e n t i t y Program,” aiming to retrain patients to fo r g e la s tin g m e m o r ie s a n d s ta r t a n e w life .

Though taciturn and skittish, Servetalis cuts a striking figure — a more elegant, resigned Greek version of a bearded Joaquin Phoenix — and his befuddled expressions across the film can be as equally anguished and they a re fu n n y . M a tc h in g a p ic tu re -b o o k image of a man in a sombrero to “Swan Lake” blasting from a speaker, Aris’s e y e s s in k in d e fe a t w h e n h is m e d ic a l te a m m a r k s h is a n s w e r a s in c o r re c t.

Placed in his own flat as part of t h e h o s p i t a l ’s p r o g r a m , h e i s a s k e d t o c o m p le te a s e r ie s o f h u m a n m ile s to n e s a n d d o c u m e n t th e m w ith a P o la r o id c a m e r a . F r o m r i d i n g a c h i l d ’s t i n y t w o speed at a skate park to receiving a lap dance at a local strip club, Aris calmly

30 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

fo llo w s d o c to r s ’ o r d e r s , p la c in g e a c h Polaroid into his official scrapbook, fo r m in g a c h r o n ic le o f n e w m e m o r ie s o f w h ic h to b e p r o u d . G r a d u a lly r e a liz in g th a t h is n e w fr ie n d , a n d fellow “New Identity” student, Anna (Sofia Georgovassili) is more invested in checking off assigned milestones than building a relationship, Aris finds c o m p a n io n s h ip in a d y in g o ld m a n , whose bedside visits are yet another event to capture and archive. “I would like a homemade pastry,” the old man confides, as Aris serves him spoonfuls o f h o s p ita l g r u e l, “lik e th e o n e s m y wife used to make.”

D u b b ed b y c r i t i c s a s b o t h a n “ e s o t er ic black comedy” and “gentle absurdist drama” (both are true), Ap p les r ef u s es t i d y c a t eg o r i z a t i o n i n t h e s a m e w a y a s B o o t s R i l ey ’ s S orry to B oth er Y ou, o r a poem by the late John Ashbery. With minimal camera movement and an Academy ratio, the movie maintains a quiet stillness at odds with the seemi n g d r a m a t i c s t a k es o f t h e p l o t . T h e conspicuous lack of digital devices, advertisements, and screens lends each scene a meditative quality, tempering w h a t w o u l d o t h er w i s e s em a d y s to p ia o f m a s s a m n es i a a n d l o s t i d en t i t y .

Ap p les’ s d el i c i o u s s t r a n g en es s m i g h t

Apples Rated: NA Run-time: 90 minutes ea r n N i k o u c o m p a r i s o n s t o G r ek a u t eu r Y o r g o s L a n t h i m o s , w h o s e D ogtooth w o w ed a n d d i s t u r b ed i n 2 0 0 9 l o n g b ef o r e s t a r - s t u d d ed h i t s l i k e T h e F avorite. B u t i f Y a n t h i m o s ’ s d a r k s en s e o f h u m o r c o m es w i t h t h e c o s t o f o c c a sional cruelty, Nikou’s is suffused with a l m o s t s h o c k i n g k i n d n es s . T h r o u g h Aris’s patient eyes, we piece together his life prior to amnesia, which proves just as devastating as his memory’s a b r u p t d i s a p p ea r a n c e. B y t h e en d o f i t s t a u t n i n et y m i n u t es , Ap p les t a k es o n a n el eg i a c t o n e t h a t r em i n d s u s o f t h e incredible gift — and burden — of havi n g a p a s t t o b eg i n w i t h .

I n h i s l et t er f o r L a n d m a r k T h ea t r es , which Nikou addresses to “all beloved cinephiles of the world,” he implores readers to “return to theaters and give a chance to be moved in a dark room with other people.” At its heartfelt core, Ap p les is a film fully worthy of the big screen; we should count ourselves lucky to get a taste of Nikou’s vision during its b r i ef t i m e i n w i d e r el ea s e.

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

31

CULTURE Savage Love Dick Down B y D an S avage

Q:

I ’ m a cis w om an in h er 3 0 s w h o lives on th e E ast C oast. I ’ ve b een in an L T R w ith th e sam e cis m an for 1 2 years.

N o issues th ere at all! B ut w e are considering op ening up our relationsh ip and I h ave a q uestion ab out m y sex uality.

B asically, I ’ m attracted to p eop le w ith p enises. P I V is only sex th at really arouses m e — th e only kind of sex I like to h ave or fantasiz e ab out — alth ough I do enj oy everyth ing th at leads up to it. I ’ m th at rare w om an w h o com es easily during P I V and h onestly p refer it over all th ings.

S o, alth ough I am attracted to p eop le regardless of w h at th ey look like, if I w ere to h ook up w ith som eone w h o didn’ t h ave a p enis, I w ould b e disap p ointed.

I h ooked up w ith tw o w om en during group sex and I liked th eir b reasts and kissing th em , b ut I q uickly realiz ed I do not find vaginas sexy at all.

S o, w h at am I since not all p eop le w ith p enises are m en? I ask b ecause I don’ t w ant to use a lab el on h ook- up ap p s th at’ s transp h ob ic in any w ay. I ’ m m ostly attracted to p eop le w ith p enises, b ut I w ant non- b inary p eop le w ith dicks to slide into m y D M s too. S o, I am attracted to all m en and non- b inary p eop le w ith p enises ( no m atter h ow th ey p resent th em selves) . I s th is m essed up ? I don’ t know . I h ave search ed for a term th at describes this fixation on specific genitalia, but I have yet to find any. So, am I just straigh t? I t seem s som e p eop le th ink attraction and sex uality are sep arate from genitalia and anyth ing else is transp h ob ic, b ut for m e, it’ s th e op p osite. D ick or b ust.

I ’ ve also never b een on a dating ap p , so I am not sure if classifying m yself as straigh t w ould still leave m e visib le to non- b inary folx looking for w om en.

Maybe that’s true, and finding a nuanced lab el doesn’ t really m atter.

— L imit s A b ou t B od ies E x p ressed L ov in g l y & S en sit iv el y

A: Y

o u c o u ld Y o u c o u ld d e s c ( a s s ig n e d fe m a (n o t tra n s ), fe m w h a t it s o u n d s o f a s e x u a l) p h a E N M ( e t h ic a lly ( lo n g -te r m r e la p r e s e n tin g a n d

32 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

m a k e th is c o m p lic a te d . r ib e y o u r s e lf a s a n A F A B le a t b ir th ) , c is - g e n d e r m e - p r e s e n t in g ( ju s t lik e ) a llo s e x u a l ( o p p o s ite llo p h ile ( d ic k lo v e r ) in a n n o n -m o n o g a m o u s) L T R tio n s h ip ) s e e k in g m a s c / o r n o n -b in a r y a llo s e x u a l

A M h a b y y o

A B ( a s s ig n e d m a le a t b ir th ) p h a llu s v e rs -a n d -w a n n a -u s e rs fo r P IV . (A n d th e w a y , “ p h a llo p h ile ” w a s th e te r m u w e r e s e a r c h in g fo r.)

O r y o u c o u ld k e e p it s im p le , L A B E L S , a n d j u s t s a y y o u ’r e s t r a i g h t . W h i c h i s w h a t y o u a r e . Y o u ’r e a h e t e r o s e x u a l w o m a n — y o u ’r e a c i s w o m a n w h o ’s a ttr a c te d to m e m b e r s o f th e o p p o s ite s e x — a n d w h ile y o u r e q u ir e d ic k a n d d i c k i n g , y o u ’r e o p e n t o s e x p a r t n e r s w h o d o n ’t i d e n t i f y a s m e n s o l o n g a s t h e y 1. h a v e d ic k s a n d 2 . w a n t to u s e th e m .

A n d w h o k n o w s ? In a d d itio n to g e ttin g d ic k e d d o w n b y c is m e n a n d n o n -b in a r y A M A B p e e p s , y o u m ig h t e n jo y g e tt in g p e g g e d d o w n b y c is w o m e n o r A F A B n o n -b in a r y p e e p s w h o 1. h a v e a s tr a p o n , 2 . k n o w h o w t o u s e i t , a n d 3 . w o n ’t a s k y o u e a t o r to u c h th e ir v a g in a s / fr o n t h o le s . A ll o f th e a b o v e c o u ld b e in c lu d e d in y o u r b io o n w h a te v e r h o o k -u p a p p y o u ’r e u s i n g .

O h , g e e . L o o k a t th a t. T h e le s s c o m p lic a te d o p tio n to o k lo n g e r to e x p la in th a n th e m o r e c o m p lic a te d o p tio n .

W h a t a w o r ld .

A n y w a y , L A B E L S , t h e r e ’s n o t h i n g t r a n s p h o b ic o r g y n o p h o b ic a b o u t c le a r ly a n d r e s p e c t fu lly s t a t in g w h o a n d w h a t y o u ’r e l o o k i n g f o r . U s e a p o s i t i v e f r a m in g ( w h a t y o u w a n t ) , n o t a n e g a t iv e o n e ( w h a t y o u d o n ’t ) . I n d e e d , l e t t i n g p e o p l e w h o d o n ’t h a v e p e n i s e s k n o w n o t to w a s te th e ir tim e o n y o u — c is w o m e n , n o n -b in a r y A F A B p e e p s , tr a n s m e n w h o d i d n ’t o p t f o r b o t t o m s u r g e r y , tr a n s w o m e n w h o d id — is a c o u r te s y , n o t a n in s u lt. Y o u m ig h t h e a r fr o m s o m e p e o p l e w h o a r e n ’t w h a t y o u ’r e l o o k i n g f o r , L A B E L S , b u t y o u a r e n ’t o b l i g a t e d t o re sp o n d .

Q: I

h ad an “ argum ent” w ith m y w ife recently. I ’ m a 4 8 - year- old straigh t cis m an. I ’ m also p oly and kinky. M y w ife is a 4 2 - year- old cis b i/ p an w om an. W e’ ve b een m arried for 1 2 years. W e are active in our local B D S M scene. T w o w eeks ago, a m utual friend ap p roach ed m e for a scene at a kink club . S h e’ s a trans w om an. She wanted me to flog her. It was a great scene and w e b oth ( I h op e) enj oyed ourselves. L et m e state th at it w as p urely an im p act scene and th ere w as noth ing sex ual ab out th e scene on m y end, b ut I did p rovide som e b asic aftercare in th e form of snuggling afterw ards.

T h e day after th e scene, th is friend tex ted m e, th anked m e for th e scene, and th en asked m e to dinner. I said I w ould need to ch eck w ith m y w ife, assum ing th e invitation w as for b oth of us. S h e th en m ade it clear sh e w as asking m e out on a date. M y p rob lem is I am not attracted to h er. T h e p rim ary reason, to b e h onest, is

JOE NEWTON

because she is trans — or more specifically, b ecause sh e h as a p enis. I th ink sh e’ s a great p erson and I ’ m totally dow n to get to know h er b etter as a friend, b ut th ere’ s no attraction on m y side. I f sh e w as p ost- op , I ’ d b e m ore op en to it, b ut know ing sh e h as a p enis is a dealb reaker for m e. I declined p olitely, saying I w ould b e op en to h anging out as friends, b ut I w asn’ t interested in dating. S h e asked if it w as b ecause sh e w as trans and I told h er th e truth . S h e said sh e w as disap p ointed, of course, b ut sh e understood and ap p reciated m y h onesty.

W h en I told m y w ife ab out th is, sh e said I w as transp h ob ic b ecause I ’ m not interested in our friend rom antically or sex ually. I w as insulted. I ’ ve never h eld any p rej udice against p eop le w h o are transgender! A cousin w h o w as trans com m itted suicide in th e late 1 9 9 0 s and th at really op ened m y eyes and I ’ ve h ad a girlfriend for m ore th an a decade now w h ose daugh ter is trans and I love th at girl. M ayb e th at sounds like, “ I can’ t b e racist! I h ave B lack friends! , ” b ut th ese are facts! ( And I ’ m b lack! ) M y w ife, h ow ever, th inks th at it’ s discrim inatory and transp h ob ic for m e to rej ect our friend sim p ly b ecause sh e h as a p enis. S h e insists th e p resence of a p enis sh ould b e a non- issue for m e. I th ink th is is unfair and, in all h onesty, it’s really pissing me off. I like our mutual friend as a p erson, D an, and I literally j ust p layed w ith h er at a p ub lic event! I ’ m j ust not interested in dating h er! W h o’ s in th e w rong h ere? ! ?

— E x t remel y N ot I n t o D ic k The full version of Savage Love is now exclusively available on Dan’s website Savage.Love! To continue reading this week’s column, go to savage.love/savagelove!

Ask: q uestions@ savagelove.net! L isten to D an on th e S avage L ovecast! F ollow D an on T w itter @ F akeD anS avage!

metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

33

CULTURE

Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19 With a fanciful flourish, Aries poet Seamus Heaney wrote, “I ate the day / Deliberately, that its tang / Might quicken me all into verb, pure verb.”

I’d love for you to be a pure verb for a while, Aries. Doing so would put you in robust rapport with astrological rhythms. As a pure verb, you’ll never be static. Flowing and transformation will be your specialties. A steady stream of fresh inspiration and new meanings will come your way. You already have an abundance of raw potential for living like a verb — more than all the other signs of the zodiac. And in the coming weeks, your aptitude for that fluidic state will be even stronger than usual.

TAURUS: April 20 – May 20 According to Arthurian myth, the Holy Grail is a cup that confers magical powers. Among them are eternal youth, miraculous healing, the restoration of hope, the resurrection of the dead, and an unending supply of healthy and delicious food and drink. Did the Grail ever exist as a material object? Some believe so. After 34 years of research, historian David Adkins thinks he’s close to finding it. He says it’s buried

This is the best time of summer, if not the year, when nothing is going on except for what you want to be going on.

Warm People, Cold Beer.

beneath an old house in Burton-onTrent, a town in central England. I propose we make this tantalizing prospect your metaphor of power during the coming weeks. Why? I suspect there’s a chance you will discover a treasure or precious source of vitality. It may be partially hidden in plain sight or barely disguised in a mundane setting.

GEMINI: May 21 – June 20 I’m pleased to authorize you to be extra vast and extensive in the coming weeks. Like Gemini poet Walt Whitman, you should never apologize and always be proud of the fact that you contain multitudes. Your multivalent, wide-ranging outlook will be an asset, not a liability. We should all thank you for being a grand compendium of different selves. Your versatility and elasticity will enhance the well-being of all of us whose lives you touch.

CANCER: June 21 – July 22 Your memory is SUBSTANTIAL. Your sensitivity is MONUMENTAL. Your urge to nurture is DEEP. Your complexity is EPIC. Your feelings are BOTTOMLESS. Your imagination is PRODIGIOUS. Because of all these aptitudes and capacities, you are TOO MUCH for some people. Not everyone can handle your intricate and sometimes puzzling BEAUTY. But there are enough folks out there who do appreciate and thrive on your gifts. In the coming weeks and months, make it your quest to focus your urge to merge on them.

LEO: July 23 – August 22 I love these lines by Leo poet Conrad Aiken: “Remember (when time comes) how chaos died to shape the shining leaf.” I hope this lyrical thought will help you understand the transformation you’re going through. The time has come for some of your chaos to expire—and in doing so, generate your personal equivalent of shining leaves.

Can you imagine what the process would look and feel like? How might it unfold? Your homework is to ponder these wonders.

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22 A British woman named Andie Holman calls herself the Scar Queen.

She says, “Tight scar tissue creates pain, impacts mobility, affects your posture, and usually looks bad.” Her specialty is to diminish the limiting effects of scars, restoring flexibility and decreasing aches. Of course, she works with actual physical wounds, not the psychological kind. I wish I could refer you to healers who would help you with the latter, Virgo. Do you know any? If not, seek one out. The good news is that you now have more personal power than usual

34 July 13-19, 2022 | metrotimes.com

JAMES NOELLERT

to recover from your old traumas and diminish your scars. I urge you to make such work a priority in the coming weeks.

LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22 Ancient Roman philosopher Seneca wrote, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” But a Spanish proverb suggests a different element may be necessary: “Good luck comes by elbowing.” (Elbowing refers to the gesture you use as you push your way through a crowd, nudging people away from the path you want to take.) A Danish proverb says that preparation and elbowing aren’t enough: “Luck will carry someone across the brook if they are not too lazy to leap.” Modern author Wendy Walker has the last word: “Fortune adores audacity.” I hope I’ve inspired you to be alert to the possibility that extra luck is now available to you. And I hope I’ve convinced you to be audacious, energetic, well-prepared, and willing to engage in elbowing. Take maximum advantage of this opportunity.

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21 Many Scorpios imagine sex to be a magnificent devotion, a quintessential mode of worship, an unparalleled celebration of sacred earthiness. I endorse and admire this perspective. If our culture had more of it, the art and entertainment industries would offer far less of the demeaning, superficial versions of sexuality that are so rampant. Here’s another thing I love about Scorpios: So many of you grasp the value of sublimating lust into other fun and constructive accomplishments. You’re skilled at channeling your high-powered libido into practical actions that may have no apparent erotic element. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to do a lot of that.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21 A Sagittarius reader named Jenny-Sue asked, “What are actions I could take to make my life more magical?” I’m glad she asked. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to raise your delight and enchantment levels, to bask in the blessed glories of alluring mysteries and uncanny synchronicities.

Here are a few tips: 1. Learn the moon’s phases and keep track of them. 2.

Acquire a new sacred treasure and keep it under your pillow or in your bed.

3. Before sleep, ask your deep mind to provide you with dreams that help generate creative answers to a specific question. 4. Go on walks at night or at dawn. 5. Compose a wild or funny prayer and shout it aloud it as you run through a field. 6. Sing a soulful song to yourself as you gaze into a mirror.

CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19 Being able to receive love doesn’t come easy for some Capricorns. You may also not be adept at making yourself fully available for gifts and blessings. But you can learn these things.

You can practice. With enough mindful attention, you might eventually become skilled at the art of getting a lot of what you need and knowing what to do with it. And I believe the coming weeks will be a marvelous time to increase your mastery.

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18 “If I don’t practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.”

This quote is variously attributed to violinist Jascha Heifetz, trumpeter Louis Armstrong, and violinist Isaac Stern. It’s a fundamental principle for everyone who wants to get skilled at any task, not just for musicians. To become a master of what you love to do, you must work on it with extreme regularity. This is always true, of course.

But according to my astrological analysis, it will be even more intensely true and desirable for you during the coming months. Life is inviting you to raise your expertise to a higher level. I hope you’ll respond!

PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20 In May 2021, Jessica and Ben Laws got married on their dairy farm.

The ceremony unfolded smoothly, but an unforeseen event interrupted the reception party. A friend who had been monitoring their herd came to tell the happy couple that their pregnant cow had gone into labor and was experiencing difficulties. Jessica ran to the barn and plunged into active assistance, still clad in her lovely floor-length bridal gown and silver tiara. The dress got muddy and trashed, but the birth was successful. The new bride had no regrets. I propose making her your role model for now. Put practicality over idealism. Opt for raw and gritty necessities instead of neat formalities. Serve what’s soulful, even if it’s messy.

This week’s homework: Ask a friend or loved one to tell you a good secret.

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metrotimes.com | July 13-19, 2022

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