Metro Times 07-27-2022 by Chava Communications

2 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

NEWS & VIEWS Feedback We received comments in response to Kahn Santori Davison’s cover story on Detroit rapper Sada Baby. I have lots of thoughts about how the city’s music scene is covered by local media. Detroit’s sound is currently influencing the entire world— I often wonder if the [entertainment] writers at [Detroit] News and Freep even know that. Kahn’s work at Metro Times is vitally important. —Samuel J. Robinson, Twitter (@samueljrob) Over the last century or more, Detroit has produced some talented entertainment journalists documenting music in Black

Detroit. These days, the top dawg is Kahn Santori Davison, who has been on a tear covering the Detroit rap scene for the Metro Times. This year alone he has authored MT cover stories featuring Doughboyz Cashout, Peezy, Sada Baby, Babyface Ray, and Babytron! He not only asks the questions and writes the paragraphs, but he takes his own photographs as well. Kahn is a 1994 graduate of Detroit St. Martin de Porres High School and graduated with a guy named Darnell Lindsay. He would go to be known as Blade Icewood. Kahn earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Oakland University and is a proud husband and father of four. —@blackdetroiters, Instagram

Vol. 42 | No. 40 | July 27-August 2, 2022

News & Views Feedback ............................... 4 News ...................................... 6 Informed Dissent ................ 10 The Incision......................... 12

Cover Story Election Guide .................... 14

Publisher - Chris Keating Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief - Lee DeVito Digital Content Editor - Alex Washington Investigative Reporter - Steve Neavling Staff Writer - Randiah Camille Green

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen Regional Sales Director Danielle Smith-Elliott Multimedia Account Executive Jessica Frey Account Manager, Classifieds - Josh Cohen

BUSINESS/OPERATIONS Business Support Specialist - Josh Cohen Controller - Kristy Dotson

Sound off: letters@metrotimes.com.

What’s Going On

CREATIVE SERVICES

Things to do this week ........ 26

Creative Director - Haimanti Germain Art Director - Evan Sult Production Manager - Sean Bieri Graphic Designer - Aspen Smit

CIRCULATION

Food

Circulation Manager - Annie O’Brien

Review ................................. 28 Bites ..................................... 29

Culture Film ...................................... 30 Savage Love ......................... 32 Horoscopes .......................... 34

EUCLID MEDIA GROUP Chief Executive Officer - Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers - Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services - Stacy Volhein Digital Operations Coordinator - Jaime Monzon euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising - Voice Media Group 1-888-278-9866 vmgadvertising.com Detroit Metro Times P.O. Box 20734 Ferndale, MI 48220 metrotimes.com Got a story tip or feedback? Email letters@metrotimes.com or call 313-202-8011 Want to advertise with us? Call 313-961-4060 Want us dropped off at your business, or have questions about circulation? Call 313-202-8049 Get social: @metrotimes Detroit distribution: The Detroit Metro Times is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. The Detroit Metro Times is published every Wednesday by Euclid Media Group.

On the cover:

Illustration courtesy of Outlier Media

Printed on recycled paper Printed By

4 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

248-620-2990

Verified Audit Member

Copyright: The entire contents of the Detroit Metro Times are copyright 2022 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above. Prior written permission must be granted to Metro Times for additional copies. Metro Times may be distributed only by Metro Times’ authorized distributors and independent contractors. Subscriptions are available by mail inside the U.S. for six months at $80 and a yearly subscription for $150. Include check or money order payable to: Metro Times Subscriptions, P.O. Box 20734, Ferndale, MI, 48220. (Please note: Third Class subscription copies are usually received 3-5 days after publication date in the Detroit area.) Most back issues obtainable for $7 prepaid by mail.

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

NEWS & VIEWS Who’s who?

Get to know some of the candidates and issues in Michigan’s Aug. 2 primary election By Steve N eavling Here is a glimpse at some of the most exciting congressional races in metro Detroit for the Aug. 2 primary election. Below is a list of Democratic primary races for the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13 District congressional races. In all but the 10th District, Democrats are the heavy favorite in the general election. We also included the GOP gubernatorial race because the winner will take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 8.

10TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

C overs Rochester and Rochester H ills in O akland C ounty and a large swath of M acomb C ounty, including Shelby Township, Warren, Sterling H eights, C linton Township, St. C lair Shores, F raser, and E astpointe. S u m m ary: The winner of the Democratic primary will likely face two-time losing U.S. senate candidate John James, the overwhelming favorite to advance in the Republican primary. Polls show former Judge Carl Marlinga with a big lead, but with an e pected low turnout and e candidates, anything can happen.

D em ocratic candidates :

HUWAIDA ARRAF: The daughter of working-class immigrants, Arraf was born and raised in southeastern Michigan. She has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Michigan and a juris doctor from American University. She is an attorney and human rights advocate who co-founded the International Solidarity Movement, a global organization focused on ending human rights abuses, supporting freedom, and challenging government oppression. E ndors em ents : Ex-gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed; activists Amer Zahr, Medea Benjamin, Patrese ri n oger ater and ran Hammer; and more than 10 groups, including the Cannabis Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party. Platf orm : Clean air and water, affordable health care, safe and resilient communities, education for all, accessible and accountable leadership, and human and civil rights.

CARL MARLINGA: ormer circuit court and probate court judge and Macomb County prosecutor, Marlinga has plenty of experience winning elections. He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney and is a founding board member of Care House. Marlinga is a graduate of the University of Michigan and University of Detroit. E ndors em ents : Ex-Gov. James Blanchard, Ex-U.S. House Democratic hip a id onior acom ount heri nthon ic er ham terling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor, Roseville Mayor Robert Taylor, and other former and current local politicians. Platf orm : Abortion rights, goodpaying jobs, advanced manufacturing, protection of the Great Lakes and waterways, and ending dependence on foreign oil. RHONDA POWELL: A native of Mount Clemens, Powell is a fourthgeneration Macomb County resident. She has volunteered for Head Start, rotating homeless shelters, senior services, and community development. hi i owell r t time running for an elected position. E ndors em ents : Macomb County ommi ioner ntoinette allace Michigan Democratic Party Black aucu he ollecti e e the eople ction und ichigan i eration, and Eastside Slate & Progressive Organization. Platf orm : uita le pa a ordable health care, clean air and water, accountable government, labor unions, voting rights, and sustainable economy for all.

6 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

ANGELA ROGENSUES: Born and raised in Macomb County, Rogensues i er ing her r t term on the arren City Council. She is the president of Ignition Media Group, a brand and marketing agency, and co-chairs the ichigan I a or aucu . ogensues received a bachelor of science degree in health studies and psychology from Michigan State University and a master of arts degree in educating adults from DePaul University. E ndors em ents : Michigan LiUNA, emocratic unicipal cial emocracy for America, Moms Demand Action, Ironworkers 25, and Bishop Charles Ellis. Platf orm : Advocate for working and low-income families, abortion rights, civic engagement, arts and culture, voting rights, lower prescription drug costs, and animal welfare. HARRY YANEZ: Born and raised in Sterling Heights, Yanez has served on Sterling Heights City Council since . e wa a longtime re ghter and served in the state House from 2012 to 2018. He received an associates degree in re cience and general tudie from Oakland County College. E ndors em ents : Everytown for Gun Safety, International Association of ire ghter ichigan ociation of Police, Michigan Democratic Party Hispanic & Latino Caucus, Democrats Serve, Sterling Heights Councilwomen Deanna Koski and Barbara Ziarko, Utica City Councilman Brad O’Donnell, former state representative and current Roseville City Treasurer John Chirkun Platf orm : Veteran and senior services, acce i le and a orda le health care public safety, and equal rights.

11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

C overs a large section of O akland C ounty, including F armington, F armington H ills, Birmingham, West loom eld o ns i loom eld H ills, P ontiac, O ak P ark, F erndale, H az el P ark, M adison H eights, Royal O ak, Berkley, C lawson, Waterf ord Township, Walled L ake, Wix om, and A uburn H ills. S u m m ary: This race pits moderate Democrat Haley Stevens against progressive Democrat Andy Levin. Both are incumbents. The winner of this race is heavily favored to prevail in the general election under new redistricting boundaries. It was previously a toss-up seat. Levin currently represents the 9th District but decided to run in the 11th District after districts were redrawn. A recent poll showed Stevens with a igni cant to lead o er Levin.

HALEY STEVENS: A native of Rochester Hills, Stevens won the 11th District seat in November 2019, becoming the r t emocrat to carr the di trict ince anuar . he er ed a chief of ta to re ident arac ama . . uto e cue a orce. te en attended American University and received a bachelor of arts in political science and philosophy and a master of arts in social policy and philosophy. Stevens worked on the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Obama. E ndors em ents : U.S. Rep. Brenda awrence and other mem er of Congress, Hillary Rodham Clinton, tate ep. elle reen local elected o cial mil i t ichigan Democratic Black Caucus, Detroit F ree P ress, Detroit N ews, Detroit Regional Chamber, and numerous other groups and organizations. Platf orm : Raise minimum wage, impro e orda le are ct create new jobs, education, protecting the environment, LGBTQ+ equality, “common sense” gun laws, veteran services, abortion rights, and addressing drug addiction. ANDY LEVIN: Born in Detroit, Levin succeeded his father, Sander Levin, in the U.S. House in 2019. (His father er ed in the . . ou e for ear . rom to e in er ed a deputy director and then acting director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth under Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Levin received a bachelor’s degree from illiam ollege a ma ter degree in Asian languages and culture from the University of Michigan, and a juris doctor from Harvard Law School. Levin was arrested twice this month at protests supporting abortion rights. e currentl li e in loom eld ownship. E ndors em ents : U.S. Sens. Bernie ander and li a eth arren the uad an additional former and current members of Congress, state Rep. Jim Ellison, dozens of local elected o cial and leader la or unions, 14 climate and environment organizations, Planned Parenthood ction und and numerou other groups. Platf orm : Medicare for all, reducing prescription drug costs, environmental justice, jobs, education, peace and human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, protecting social security, abortion rights, and voting rights.

12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

C overs parts of west Detroit, Dearorn Sout eld

S u m m ary: Incumbent Rashida Tlaib is running in a new district against two opponents with a proven record of winning election . ith a national fanbase, Tlaib, a member of the Squad, has far outraised her opponents, but outside political action committees with ties to Israel have funded one of her rivals, Janice infre . lai i widel con idered the favorite, and the district is heavily Democratic.

D em ocratic candidates :

RASHIDA TLAIB: A congresswoman since 2019, Tlaib currently represents the th i trict ut decided to run for the 12th District seat after the districts were redrawn. Tlaib was born to working-class Palestinian immigrants, graduated from Southwestern High School, and received a bachelor of arts degree in political cience from a ne State University and a juris doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Tlaib served in the state House from 2009 to 2014. E ndors em ents : ichigan I merican ederation of eacher the lac late lean ater ction emocratic Socialists of America, Detroit F ree P ress, Sierra Club, and dozens of other groups, unions, and politicians. Platf orm : Environmental justice, universal health care, police reform, racial, immigration and LGBTQ+ u tice human right and a orda le housing. JANICE WINFREY: infre ha been the Detroit city clerk since 2005, and the Detroit native won her last election more than of the ote. A graduate of Cass Tech High School and Eastern Michigan University, infre ran for ongre in the th District against incumbent John Conyer r. in ut lo t. E ndors em ents : Detroit Council mem er ngela allowa and red Durhal III, state Rep. Tyrone Sanders, Bishop Charles Ellis, Pastor Spencer lli e . orace he eld and e . Jim Holley. Platf orm : Jobs, education, health care, a “one-state solution” for Israel, clean water, police reform, and better infrastructure. SHANELLE JACKSON: A former state representative who served from to o ac on wa the ounge t woman of color to get elected to the Michigan Legislature. In 2018, Jackson unsuccessfully ran for Congress in the th i trict. he u ine woman wa born and raised in northwest Detroit. E ndors em ents : N/A Platf orm : Jobs, education, pay equity, pro-Ukraine and Israel, supports cr ptocurrenc a orda le health care

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is running for reelection in Michigan’s newly drawn 12th Congressional district.

higher minimum wage, and veteran services. KELLY GARRETT: Currently the mayor of Lathrup Village, Garrett i the r t lac per on to hold the position. She served as mayor pro tem from to . arrett ha a hi tory of charitable work and serves on the Mothering Justice Board and is a subsidiary advisory board member for Community Health at St. John/Ascension Hospital. She also was appointed to the Michigan State Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in management from Rochester University and a master’s degree in information systems from the University of Phoenix. E ndors em ents : N/A Platf orm : Improved infrastructure, a orda le health care pu lic afet reform, increased funding for cities, and support for small businesses.

13TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

C overs much of Detroit, H amtramck, the G rosse P ointes, northern Downriver communities S u m m ary: This is bound to be one of the mo t competiti e race . ith ig name emocrat running it likely to be a close contest. State Sen. Adam Hollier has outraised his op-

ponents and is receiving more than $2 million from a pro-Israel political action committee. The district is heavily Democratic.

D em ocratic candidates :

STATE SEN. ADAM HOLLIER: A one-term state senator, Hollier previously worked in Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration. He was born and raised in the North End of Detroit and is a graduate of Detroit public schools. He received a bachelor’s degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University and a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan. The establishment choice, Hollier has picked up more endorsements than anyone else and is leading the pack in donations. E ndors em ents : Mayor Mike Duggan, U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson and Seth oulton a ne ount ecuti e arren Evans, four state senators including emocratic eader im nnanich community leaders, 11 faith leaders, and union and organi ation . Platf orm : Jobs, education, clean water, community investments, fair housing, and a orda le auto in urance. J O H N C O N Y E R S I I I : The son of the late U.S. Rep. John Conyers, who held the eat for nearl ear on er i an entrepreneur and political newcomer. Born and raised in Detroit, Conyers attended Morehouse College and The New School, majoring in philosophy.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Conyers ran for the seat in 2018 but was di uali ed o er pro lem with hi nominating petitions. E ndors em ents : Rev. Jesse Jackson, a ne ount heri and irport Police Retirees Association, former state ep. erric . alle omulu olice Commissioner Vonda Cooley, Southern Christian Leadership Conference Detroit Chapter, and others. Platf orm : Economic justice, housing reform, criminal justice and health care reform, social security and disability services. SHARON MCPHAIL: An attorney, former Detroit City Council member, past candidate for mayor, and ex-member of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s legal counsel, McPhail has plenty of experience in politics. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Northwestern University, where she also earned her law degree. She served as a U.S. attorney and wa a ta attorne for ord otor o. and is active in community organization and a a oard mem er of omen Empowered, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, and Orchards Children Services. E ndors em ents : Michigan Democratic Black Caucus and Detroiters United. Platf orm : Education, jobs, gun control, abortion rights, and improving services for children, senior citizens, and lowincome residents. PO R T I A R O B E R S O N : A lifelong

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

resident of the district, Roberson graduated from Cass Tech High School and received a bachelors of arts degree from the University of Michigan and a juris doctor from W ayne State University Law School. She is an attorney, CEO of F ocus: Hope, and chairwoman of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Roberson served in the administrations of President Barack Obama, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Platf orm : Civil rights, upward economic mobility, living wages, fair workplace environments, and higher taxes for corporations. E ndors em ent: U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, W ayne County Prosecutor Kym W orthy, former Mayor Dave Bing, W ayne County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Alisha Bell, W ayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree, The Detroit F ree P ress, and numerous others. SHERRY GAY-DAGNOGO: A lifelong resident of Detroit, Gay-Dagnogo received a bachelor of science degree and a masters in education instructional technology from W ayne State University. She’s a member of the Detroit Public Schools board, a former Detroit Public Schools science teacher, and served three terms as a state representative for the 8th District. In the state House, she wa the r t woman to er e a chair of the Michigan Legislative Detroit Caucus and was a passionate defender of equal access to justice. E ndors em ents : Detroit City Council members James Tate, Angela Calloway, F red Durhal II, and LaTisha Johnson, state Rep. Tenisha Yancey, state Sen. Betty Jean Alexander, and more than a dozen faith and community leaders. Platf orm : Education, forgiving student loans, job creation, criminal justice reform, crime reduction, environmental justice, equal pay for women, and free and fair elections. SHRI THANEDAR: An immigrant, scientist and entrepreneur, Shri Thanedar hit the political scene in 2018 when he ran for governor. He placed third in the Democratic primary, but beat his opponents in Detroit. He moved to the Motor City and was elected to the state House in 2020. His campaign is self-funded, and he says he’s driven by a desire to help people. E ndors em ents : Indian American Impact F und Platf orm : Universal health care, abortion rights, gun safety, voting rights, economic empowerment, and criminal justice reform. SAM RIDDLE: Sam Riddle is a longtime Detroiter who earned his GED while serving in the Army. He received

a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University’s James Madison College and a juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Riddle was sentenced to 3 7 months in prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to bribery. He’s the political director of the National Action Network. E ndors em ents : Rev. Charles E. W illiams II, New Black Panther Party Minister Malik Shabazz, Detroit City Councilwoman Mary W aters, artist and music producer The Black Man James Harris, and Michigan National Action Network. Platf orm : Universal health care, human rights, environmental justice, increase social security payments, student loan forgiveness, universal basic income, and abortion rights. MICHAEL GRIFFIE: The son of a special education teacher and school ocial wor er ri e too a path similar to his parents after graduating from W ayne State University. He was an English teacher, basketball coach, and after-school program director before becoming the founding principal of a charter school in Detroit. He was also a principal of a Michigan Reward School in Hamtramck. He’s currently a civil rights lawyer and senior managing director of e ternal a air at each for America. E ndors em ents : N/A Platf orm : Education, abortion rights, living wage, safe working environment a orda le health care lower prescription drug costs, and improved mental health care. LORRIE RUTLEDGE: Born in Detroit, Rutledge graduated from Cass Tech High School and is a recent graduate of Henry F ord Community College, where she earned an associate in business administration. After graduating from high school, she started a career at Detroit Edison in steam engineering and power generation and received a High Pressure Boiler Operator license. An advocate of organic health, Rutledge is a natural product manufacturer and distributor. E ndors em ents : N / A Platf orm : Safer environment, education, improved health care, collective bargaining, economic development, and abortion rights.

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR: S u m m ary: F ive Republicans are competing for the chance to face Gov. Gretchen W hitmer in November. All of the candidates have embraced conspiracy theories about widespread election fraud in the

8 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

2020 presidential election and have sought the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. They all are opposed to abortion rights, and most of them don’t support exemptions for rape or incest. The candidates have struggled to gain statewide name recognition, never served in elected o ce and ha e een unable to raise the kind of money that W hitmer has. TUDOR DIXON: Born in Pennsylvania, Dixon grew up in suburban Chicago and moved to Michigan in 2002. A conservative commentator and former steel employee, the Norton Shores resident portrays herself as a hri tian oldier ghting again t li eral causes. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky. She is considered the establishment candidate. E ndors em ents : DeVos family, former Gov. John Engler, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga and Lisa McClain, and Right to Life. Platf orm : Election security, antiabortion rights, public safety, reduced personal income tax, more workforce training, education, pro-Second Amendment, and anti-sanctuary cities. KEVIN RINKE: A millionaire and longtime businessman, Rinke made his fortune in auto dealerships. The fei t loom eld ill epu lican ha branded himself as an “outsider” who has the business smarts to “restore Michigan’s greatness.” He’s injected millions of dollars of his own money in the race ome of which nanced an ad that falsely claimed “dead” people vote for Democrats. Several lawsuits in the 1990s claimed he made racist and sexual comments to his employees. E ndors em ents : N/A Platf orm : Lower taxes, public safety, fewer COVID-19 restrictions, parents’ right to participate in education, anti-critical race theory, pro-Second Amendment, and election security. RYAN KELLEY: An Allendale real estate broker, Kelley made national news when the F BI arrested him for joining a mob that violently stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 , 2021. He was previously appointed to serve as an Allendale planning commissioner. He uilt hi political reputation ghting COVID-19 restrictions and spreading lies about widespread election fraud. He attended Grand Rapids Community College but dropped out. E ndors em ents : Ex-state Sen. Patrick Colbeck, former GOP House W hip Kevin Green, retired Lowell Police

Chief Steve Bukala, National F irearms Coalition, Bikers for Trump, and others. Platf orm : Election security, government accountability, pro-Second Amendment, private school vouchers, eliminate COVID-19 restrictions, reduce taxes, and anti-abortion rights. GARRETT SOLDANO: A chiropractor-turned-activist, Soldano became a leader in organizing protests against W hitmer’s COVID-19 restrictions. He routinely bashed masks and vaccine policies in near-daily videos on social media, drumming up support from people frustrated by the restrictions. Soldano received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from W estern Michigan University, where he also played football. He also attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa. E ndors em ents : N/A Platf orm : Anti-COVID-19 restrictions, anti-abortion rights, anti-cancel culture, election security, pro-Second Amendment, government transparency, and personal liberties. RALPH REBANDT: A recently retired F armington Hills pastor, Rebandt says he is all about reviving “Judeo-Christian values.” The 6 4-year-old founded and operated Oakland Hills Community Church. He supports Bibles in schools and wants to eliminate public universities. E ndors em ents : N/A Platf orm : Anti-abortion rights, government transparency, eliminate public universities, ban same-sex marriage, lower gas prices, and reduce government spending.

BALLOT PROPOSAL:

W ayne County residents will be asked to renew funding for the W ayne County Jail. The proposal reads: “To renew the millage authorized in 2012, shall W ayne County be authorized to continue to levy this millage at the 2021 rollback rate of .93 58 mills (about 94 cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation) for ten more years (2022 through 203 1) for any of the following previously authorized uses: “To acquire, construct, and/or operate jail, misdemeanant, or juvenile incarceration or detention facilities, and for adult penalty options such as work release, home detention and community restitution; with at least one-tenth of the millage used to acquire, build and operate a u enile o ender wor training institution? This renewal is estimated to generate approximately $45,07 4,507 in property tax revenue in 2022.”

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

NEWS & VIEWS

DING-DONG: If Biden plans to be a doormat for the new Republican House or the radical Supreme Court, he should bow out of 2024 now. SHUTTERSTOCK

Informed Dissent

Biden is playing by the rules of a game that no longer exists effre

On day 549 of his presidency,

Donald Trump had a net approval rating of -11.1. By far, that made him the least popular president since modern polling egan. e wa a out e time more unpopular than Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan were halfway through their second years — and like all of them, his party got clobbered in the midterms. Unlike those presidents, Trump didn’t win a second term (his lies and/ or delusions notwithstanding). On day 549 of his presidency, Joe Biden had a net approval rating of -19. According to the generally accepted rules of politics, such numbers presage a Democratic slaughter this November. Yet Democrats are even money to hold the Senate. And while they face longer odds in the House — geography and gerrymandering give Republicans structural advantages — they’ve been ahead or tied in most recent genericballot polls. Democrats have also posted huge fundraising numbers, which doesn’t suggest a party trudging to the gallows. Democrats’ improved position could e fleeting — a temporar reaction to the Supreme Court overturning the right to abortion. Most elections revert to the fundamentals. And when only

. illm n

13% of voters say the country is on the right track, the fundamentals aren’t good for the party in power. With three months until the election, circumstances can change. Falling ga price might cur inflation or the Fed’s rate hikes could lead to a recession. Most likely, though, the political cake is baked. So understanding what’s driving Biden’s unpopularity is important: his own party. As divisive and despised as Trump was, he kept his base happy. From 2018 on, Trump consistently drew the support of 90% of Republicans, and never dipped below 81%, while his overall ratings hovered in the high-30s and low-40s. By contrast, a e or imes poll earlier this month found that Biden has the support of just 70% of Democrats. Nearly two-thirds of his party wants a new nominee in 2024, including more than 90% of Dems under 30. This collapse has driven his approval rating to an abysmal 33%. Biden’s problem isn’t his agenda. It’s the perception that he’s too old and feckless to accomplish it. As a truck driver told the imes, “He’s just not aggressive enough in getting his agenda done. Trump wasn’t afraid to get his

10 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

people in line.” I could write a book on that quote. Let’s start here: Trump couldn t get his people in line — at least not when Republicans controlled Washington. e too o ce with epu lican senators and a 37-member Republican majority in the House. But his only major legislative accomplishment was a tax cut (which did nothing to stimulate growth). He famously failed to repeal the orda le are ct. e ne er uilt his wall. But Trump was er e ecti e at turning his supporters against Republicans he deemed disloyal. Apostates were forced to bend the knee or driven out of o ce. Ultimately, Trump’s support wasn’t wide, but it was deep and unfaltering. iden entered o ce with a Senate and a four-member majority in the House. With no room for error, he passed a massive stimulus and a biparti an infra tructure ill. ut he whi ed with Build Back Better, which after prolonged negotiations collapsed under the weight of Sens. Kyrsten Sinema’s ego and Joe Manchin’s coal greed. That episode exposed Biden’s inherent weakness and the frailty of his coalition. He had no leverage over Manchin or Sinema or inclination toward

browbeating. A creature of a bygone era, Biden is playing by the rules of a game that no longer exists; his enemies are swinging brass knuckles. And unlike Trump, his support is wide but shallow. In 2020, he drew votes across the spectrum, from the center-right to the far left, but he excited no one. He was supposed to be decent and competent, contrasting Trump’s malicious chaos. But shallow support evaporates quickly. The botched withdrawal of troops from fghani tan eroded con dence in his competence, establishing a narrative that Biden was in over his head. hen uild ac etter flatlined and inflation roc eted that narrati e olidi ed. o matter what happen it will be hard to shake. With two more Democrats in the Senate, Biden might be hailed as the second coming of FDR — the president who passed a huge stimulus, expanded the social welfare state, addressed climate change, protected elections from Republican attacks, and ensured abortion rights. (There are interesting alternate histories to be written where, say, Florida’s Bill Nelson didn’t phone in his 2018 campaign and North Carolina’s Cal Cunningham avoided a sexting scandal in 2020.) But this is the hand he was dealt. nd he need to gure out how to play it. And most important is conveying the sense that he has a plan and isn’t simply a victim of circumstances. Half-assed executive orders on abortion and the climate won’t do. Go hell for leather; let the Supreme Court strike the orders down (and further erode its own standing), but don’t act helpless. Give voters — especially young voters — a clear sense of what he’ll do with two more Democratic senators and two more years of Democratic control: tax the rich, fund clean energy, reform the Supreme Court, protect abortion rights, protect elections, end gerrymandering, eliminate student debt. Make the news. Don’t react to it. That’s not to say this strategy will allow Democrats to defy gravity this fall. eorge . u h wa the onl r t termer not to lose midterm seats in the last 40 years, and that required manufacturing a war. Even Dubya’s old man, in the middle of Desert Storm, got his ass handed to him. But it will enable Biden to show that he ha ome ght left in him. If he plans to be a doormat for the new Republican House — which will, without a doubt, impeach him for crimes real or imagined — or the radical Supreme Court, he should bow out of 2024 now. et more t illm n.su st c .com.

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

NEWS & VIEWS

President Biden’s fist bump with MBS takes a whole new meaning in light of Jan. 6.

RUETERS

The Incision

Dapping despots hits different after an insurrection By A bdul E l- Sayed

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden toured the Middle a t umping t and ha ing hand with leaders of foreign countries who actively commit human rights abuses — and whose militaries our country supports. f particular note wa an aw ward t ump iden hared with audi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin alman or whom iden la led a “pariah” on the campaign trail in 2020 for his role in the brutal murder and dismemberment of Washington P ost columni t amal ha hoggi. ut wasn’t the only despot Biden met. He al o e changed a warm hand ha e with g ptian dictator del attah el i i. i i came to power in a militar coup against Egypt’s only democraticallyelected president, Mohamed Morsi, who died in an Egyptian prison cell a few years later. And don’t forget the leadership of Israel who have been supporting the expansion of an illegal occupation of Palestinian land and who e ecurit force illed ale tinian merican ournali t hireen u leh. How uncommon is it for an American president to meet with a crown prince who murders and dismbembers journalists, a military dictator who

came to power in a coup d’état, or leaders of a government expanding an illegal occupation? Well, it’s par for the course for American presidents. The fact that Biden met with each is only odd in the context of his willingness to state that he would not while running for president. et that dap he ga e hit di erent this time. Because this time, the context here at home has fundamentally changed. In President Biden’s choice words, the “battle for the soul of America” is playing out in two-hour loc a the an. committee meticulously unwinds the events of the day Americans launched a full frontal attac on their own democrac . a e no mi ta e merican ha e een attac ing democrac for a long time now, whether the average American understood it or not. American largesse was built, in part, on the subjugation of national wills abroad. In hi e cellent new oo G angsters of C apitalism, journalist Jonathan M. Katz details the exploits of decorated arine a or eneral medle utler a he inflicted merica will on native peoples in Cuba, China, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti, Honduras, and beyond. Even early in his career he became jaded by the

12 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

role that American “wildcat” capitalists played in leveraging American politic to en ure their mone ma ing cheme were ac ed merica war machine. eflecting ac on hi 30 years, he said: “I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for ig u ine for all treet and for the an er . In hort I wa a rac eteer for capitalism.” Butler had become so adept at decimating democracies abroad that when a junta of business leaders hatched a plot in 1934 to overthrow FDR, they naturally approached him as the man to lead their e ort. merica own democracy was where he drew the line, and he did all he could to ultimately foil the plot. Get this, that “Business plot a it came to e nown wa to start with a fascist march on Washington. It too ear for u t uch a fa ci t march on a hington to ta e place. And right now, Americans are digging through the aftermath. or man merican the an. in urrection nall ro e the mental rewall that the had erected etween what America did abroad and what Americans did at home. They are, indeed, one and the same. As if to put the split screen American are watching in tar relief con-

sider a recent CNN interview: Donald rump er twhile ational ecurit Advisor John Bolton was discussing the an. in urrection on with anchor a e apper. apper remar ing on Trump’s foibles in planning the Jan. a ault on our democrac aid ne doesn’t have to be brilliant to attempt a coup.” To which Bolton interjected, “I disagree with that. As someone who’s helped plan coups d’etat — not here, ut ou now other place One of the most powerful former foreign polic o cial in the merican government admitted openly to helping plan coups d’état while discussing a coup against his own country by the very president under which he served! And then, only two days later, the president who unseated him was dapping a de pot he aid he d ma e a pariah. Americans are reeling from the toxic after e ect of the anti democratic poison we’ve been pushing for so long abroad. Watching our president peddle it now reminds us how vulnerable we — and the rest of the world — remain. O riginally published July 1 9 in The Incision. G et more at abdulelsayed. substack.com.

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

FEATURE

Vote with confidence A guide from the Detroit Documenters

IF YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE, ONE THING YOU CAN DO IS VOTE. oter turnout in the ugu t ma oral primar for etroit wa le than . e than of the cit regi tered oter turned out for the general municipal election the same year. Elections are your chance to decide who to hire for the job of public servant. We put together a helpful voting guide unlike most others to help you through. In tead of telling people who to ote for and wh we re here to help ou nd the resources to decide for yourself. ow do ou choo e where to tand on i ue a ecting ou ow do ou e t elect candidate that will upport our cau e hich candidate ha e the a ilit to actuall create change ur guide will help ou ta e it tep tep in an easy to understand way — written for Detroiters, by your fellow Detroiters, the Detroit Documenters. What’s in here and how to use it The purpose of this voter guide is to equip you to make well-informed decisions before you cast your valuable vote. It will help you understand: • The importance of a primary election • Your own values and priorities • Pitfalls to avoid • The power of a public official • How to research a candidate • How to cast your ballot By the end, you should have a better understanding of how to vote to support your interests and tips for how to stay involved after the election to make ure o cial are wor ing for ou. You can also check our Election Glossary (available online) if you’re unfamiliar with any of the terms in the guide.

14 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

By Outlier Media

HOW TO VOTE IN THE DETROIT PRIMARY AND KEY DATES TO KNOW

BY KATE ABBEYLAMBERTZ

Voter pitfall to avoid: Missing out on the election because you’re not registered. Not having the proper identification or mail delays can cause problems when registering to vote or returning your ballot. Transportation issues or work obligations can prevent you from reaching the polls on voting day. Avoid these pitfalls by planning where and when you’ll vote. THIS YEAR, MICHIGAN’S primary is ue da ug. . It i the nal da to ca t your vote, but you can also vote ahead of time. Before you think about who you’ll vote for, make sure you have the basics in check: know how to register to vote, how to receive and return your ballot on time and to the right place. First, keep the Michigan V oter Information enter it.l t l hand . You can use the site to check your regi tration tatu nd our cler of-

ce atellite oting location and our polling place; see your ballot; register to vote; and request an absentee ballot. Register and vote for the first time in Michigan If you have never voted in Michigan before, you will have to register. After July 18, you must register in person at our cler o ce. ou can regi ter and then immediatel ote an da the o ce is open, until 8 p.m. on Election Day – though you can save yourself anxiety, and possibly time, by registering sooner! In Detroit, you can also register and vote at 13 satellite voting centers, which maintain regular hours through Aug. 1. You are eligible to register and vote in Michigan if you are: • a U.S. citiz en, • you have been a resident of a Michigan city or township for at lea t da ug. ou will e ear old ug. and • you are not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison. Identification you’ll need when you register and go vote When you register, you must provide proof of residency, which is a document

with your name and current address. P aper or electronic documents are acceptable as are pictures of your documents or ID on your phone. Accepted proof of residency documents include: • a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card, • a utility bill, a bank statement, • a paycheck, • a government check or • any other government document. You will get a receipt of your voter registration. If you register after July 18 and don’t vote when you register, you must bring that receipt with you when you go to vote. You can register to vote without a photo ID or proof of citiz enship. You will be asked for a photo ID if you register in person, but if you don’t have one, you are allowed to register without it by signing a form. (You will still need another proof of residency as listed above.) If you are voting at the polls or a satellite voting center and have a photo ID or our oter identi cation card ring them with you. You’ll be asked to show a photo ID, but are not required to have one. If you don’t, you must sign an afda it that will allow ou to ote. If it our r t time oting in ichigan and you registered through the mail or a voter registration drive, you may need to show additional documentation when you go to vote at the polls. You can bring paper or electronic documents, either a photo ID with your name and picture (regardless of the address or with no addre or an o cial document with your name and address, including: • driver’s license or personal ID card from any state with name and photo, • high school or college ID with name and photo, • passport, military or governmentissued photo ID with name and photo, • tribal ID with name and photo, • current utility bill with name and address, • bank statement with name and address, • paycheck stub or any other government document with name and address Vote at the polls on Election Day The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you are allowed to vote. Find your polling place at mvic.sos.state.mi.us. Vote absentee Michigan election law allows any voter to cast an absentee ballot without giving a reason. V oting absentee may

be a good option for voters who have di cultie getting to the poll on Election Day for transportation, work, health or other reasons. You may also see absentee voting referred to as “voting at home,” “early voting” or “vote by mail.” These terms are sometimes used interchangeably in Michigan. Request and return absentee ballots by mail You can submit an online request to have an absentee ballot mailed to you or submit a written request to your cler o ce until ul a long a the request is received by 5 p.m. But both the ecretar of tate o ce and oting rights advocates recommend making your request as soon as possible to ensure your ballot is returned in time. ul i their la t recommended da to return your absentee ballot by mail, though again earlier is better. After that cuto date ou till ha e e eral option to vote without going to the polls. Other ways to vote before Election Day At any time up until 4 p.m. Aug. 1 (the day before Election Day), you can request an absentee ballot in person and then ll it out in the ame i it at our cler o ce or at a atellite oting location. If ou ll out a allot at home ou can also return it to a ballot drop box if your city uses them. In Detroit, all satellite oting center include drop boxes. There are seven additional drop boxes around the city. Your ballot must be in a drop box or received by your cler o ce p.m. on lection a . If you have an issue with your absentee ballot — it never arrives or comes too late, you make a mistake, you lose it, or something else — you can still vote! Before 4 p.m. Aug. 1, you can request to “spoil” your ballot with your cler o ce and recei e a new allot to ll out while ou re there. ou can al o spoil an absentee ballot by signing an a da it at our normal polling place

on Election Day. If you received an absentee ballot that you can’t use, keep it and bring it with you to spoil it. Other things to keep in mind • College and university students can register to vote at their home or school address. • If you are in pre-trial detention, if you were previously incarcerated but are no longer serving time and if you are on probation or parole, you are allowed to vote. earn more a out e ort to en ure voting access for Michiganders in pretrial detention, are about to be released from prison, or are otherwise impacted by the justice system from the V oting Access for All Coalition. • You have the right to an accessible polling place and voting machine. You can receive accommodations like curbside voting if your polling place is not accessible. he ecretar of tate o ce ma e

WHY A PRIMARY ELECTION MATTERS SO MUCH

BY MEG KRAUSCH

Voter pitfall to avoid: Not voting because “nothing ever changes.” Local elections can be decided by a small number of votes, and local officials make decisions about things that affect you everyday like schools, housing and transportation. Casting your vote and staying involved after the election is one way to make change. VOTERS IN DETROIT are about emocrat. hi mean that mo t of the competition for candidates in partisan races actually happens in the primary, within the Democratic party ballot. For many of the big races, the

some voting information available in multiple languages. In certain cities, you have the right to receive a ballot at the polls or absentee in other languages – Arabic-language ballots will be made available in Hamtramck and Dearborn for the r t time thi ear. engali language ballots are available in Hamtramck. Spanish-language ballots are available in Clyde Township, Covert Township, and the City of Fennville. If there aren’t ballots available in the language you read, you can receive assistance from an individual of your choosing who is not an agent of your employer or union. See more details about your rights and Michigan voting requirements in this guide from michiganvoting.org. If you have a problem voting, you can get help by calling 86 6 -OUR-V OTE (86 6 6 87-86 83), a national nonpartisan voter helpline administered by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. You can also access the hotline in languages other than English: pani h ngli h — dmini tered by NALEO Educational Fund ra ic ngli h — dmini tered by Arab American Institute (AAI) • Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu, V ietnamese or English: I — Administered by AP IAV ote & Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) n

election is more or less decided by the time the general election happens although there are de nitel e ceptions to this, and both the primary and general elections are important). The basics P rimary elections are the chance the voters have to decide who will be nominated by each political party to run in the general election. All the candidates appearing in the August primary can be found at mielections.us. In a partisan race, such as for U.S. Senate or Congress, primaries narrow the eld down to one candidate within each political party. or a nonparti an o ce — li e judges — the primary is used to narrow the total eld of candidate . hi primar election will e the r t one since the voter approved Michigan’s redistricting process to address gerrymandering. Because of this redis-

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

tricting, there are fewer incumbents elected o cial running again to eep their eat and new candidate thin the might ha e a etter hot ma ing the primar more competiti e than u ual. ou can nd our di trict at bit.ly/3 ztOGnM. he winner of a primar in ichigan will be the candidate that gets the most votes, but a candidate doesn’t need to get a majority of votes to win. W h y s h ou ld I v ote in a prim ary? The candidate of your choice needs our upport in the primar to impro e their chances of being in the November general election. ewer ote o erall in the primar and in lower pro le race further down the ballot mean that each vote carries more weight. In 2018, about twice as man people oted in the o em er general election (194,26 0) in Detroit as oted in the ugu t primar . In ome primar race for the tate Legislature, under 10,000 votes were

cast. This also means that it’s easier for pecial intere t group or well nanced candidate to influence the election in the primar . ower le el race li e the e are important too ecau e the are often tepping tone to higher o ce. Michigan Gov. Gretchen W hitmer wa r t elected to the tate ou e of epre entati e efore going on to the tate enate and then the go ernor mansion, where she now has a national pro le. Even if the candidate you vote for doe n t win our primar ote till matter . olitical partie and candidates might decide to devote more or less attention and resources toward certain demographic policie and i ue a ed on oter turnout and primary results. Candidates who receive igni cant upport ut ultimatel don t win primar election can ometime till influence the winning candidate and the platform the ta e with them to the general election. n

‘HIRE’ THE BEST CANDIDATE: UNDERSTAND LOCAL POLITICIANS’ JOBS BY BYRON KEYS

VOTE WITH CONFIDENCE: START WITH THE ISSUES

BY DAMIEN BENSON, KAYLEIGH LICKLITER

Voter pitfall to avoid: Voting for a candidate you don’t agree with. Avoid the sense of unease that can come with voting by informing yourself on everything you’ll be voting on in the election. I T C A N B E O V E R W H E L M I N G to thin a out where ou tand on all the i ue a pu lic o cial might ha e influence o er. here are u t o man i ue o nd out where ou fall on the political pectrum ou can ta e thi ui pewr r.ch r from the ew e earch enter a nonparti an thin tan . You can also use this candidate scorecard we de eloped it.l to give yourself an organized way to write down the issues you care most a out and what ind of action ou want

elected o cial to ta e on tho e i ue . T ypical v oting is s u es W hile each election is unique, t pical i ue found in man election include a polic go ernment pending policing hou ing and health care. ow to nd out what candidate thin a and do a out our particular issues candidate campaign we ite and ocial media account t picall pro ide information about where they stand on e i ue including written tatements and videos of media interviews. earch online for a candidate name and add e word for the i ue ou care most about. You can also reach out to the candidate campaign directl ia email or phone. Incumbent congressional candidates ha e an o cial go ernment we ite and man of them po t regular update a out e i ue the are legi lating for and again t a well a their prioritie while in o ce. heir we ite al o pro ide contact information and lin to their social media accounts. n

16 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

C A M PA I G N S M I G H T B E “a race,” but after the election is won, candidates must get down to the business of governance, whether they are in the legislative, executive or judicial ranch. he e role can in ol e peciali ed ill or nowledge that aren t re uired to run for o ce. ere i more a out the re pon i ilitie of ome of the e po ition ou ll nd on the ug. allot which ma help ou a sess which candidate you want to vote for. o chec all the o ce ou ll e oting for pre iew our allot i iting ichigan.go ote and loo ing up your voter information. G ov ernor Michigan governors are elected in o ear election two ear after . . pre idential election . he go ernor mu t e an e ecti e administrator and someone who can ring di erent people and po ition together to go ern e ecti el and ma e good on their promi e to voters. The governor should also be omeone ou tru t to ma e decisions on their own because they can u e e ecuti e order to proclaim or end an emergency, or to reorganize tate agencie create ta force and cale ac pending the egi lature appro e .

o t go ernor come to the o ce with go ernment e perience ut management and negotiation ill can al o e gained in the pri ate ector. The governor does not need to be an e pert in e er a pect of running the state. The governor does need to e a le to delegate re pon i ilit ta e the coun el of e pert and come to an independent deci ion. epartment heads may disagree on a course of action and an e ecti e go ernor mu t e a le to par e the information and ma e the e t deci ion. The state constitution lays out the go ernor re pon i ilitie which include: signing into law or vetoing ill pa ed the egi lature commanding the tate ational uard reorganizing state executive agencies and department and appointing department head for tate agencie (but a majority of the state Legislature can ote to di appro e of one of the go ernor pic within da of the appointment . Candidates for governor or lieutenant governor of Michigan must be at least 3 0 years old and have been a registered voter in Michigan for the four years before they run for the o ce. he go ernor i limited to two terms of four years each. U nited S tates H ou s e of R epres entativ es em er of the . . ou e are part of the legi lati e ranch. he are re pon i le for writing and pa ing federal law the er e on committees, and they answer question from and pro ide er ice to

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

their constituents trying to navigate federal systems or issues. U.S. House members serve in a body where they are one vote out of 435, but even if they are not a member of the House leadership, they are a leader. House members should be able to work with others and be able to negotiate to get laws passed. ou e mem er maintain an o ce in a hington . . and an o ce in their district. lected o cial in the . . ou e of Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a citiz en of the United States for seven years before they run, and a resident of the state they represent at the time of their election. While it is not required, most members of the House live in their districts. Every state will have at least one member of the House, and the number of seats each state gets depends on population. Michigan has 14 seats in the House. Because the 2020 Census showed Michigan lost population, the state will lose one House seat, going from 14 to 13 House seats, starting with this election. There are currently seven Republicans and seven Democrats serving. Members of the House serve twoyear terms and are not term limited.

skills for state senators to have. To serve in the State Senate, candidates must be a U.S. citiz en, be at least 21 years old, live in the State Senate district they represent, be registered to vote in the district they represent, never have been convicted of subversion, and never have been convicted of a felony involving breach of public trust in the 20 years before they’re elected. State senators serve four-year terms and are limited to two terms.

M ich ig an S tate S enate State senators need to have similar qualities as their federal counterparts. Michigan has 38 State Senate districts. State senators have to write and pass legislation, collect taxes, propose the state’s budget, provide oversight of the executive branch and serve on committees that can investigate issues like the state unemployment system, the integrity of the 2020 election or the conduct of elected o cial . he hould e intere ted in getting things done and willing to work for their constituents. Leadership and the ability to work with people across political lines are great

W ayne C ou nty E x ecu tiv e Candidates for Wayne County executive have to be registered to vote in Wayne County and at least 18 years old. The county executive — a position introduced less than 40 years ago in 1983 — serves a four-year term, and there are no term limits. There have been only 4 Wayne County executives so far, William Lucus, Edward H. McNamara, Robert A. Ficano, and current incumbent Warren C. Evans. The county executive oversees all county departments and appoints unelected department heads. Leadership skills and the ability to negotiate are important skills for this relatively new position. n

M ich ig an H ou s e of R epres entativ es The requirements to serve in the State House are identical to those for the State Senate, but State House members serve two-year terms and they are limited to three terms. There are 110 house districts in Michigan and along with state senators, they make up the Michigan Legislature and participate in all the activities of Michigan senators. Once again a elected o cial tate representatives must be leaders in and advocates for their community. The ability to work with others to achieve the common good and compromise are necessary skills for legislators at any level.

GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES: HOW TO RESEARCH THE PEOPLE ON YOUR BALLOT

BY DAN IGNACIO, KAYLEIGH LICKLITER

Voter pitfall to avoid: Voting for someone you know almost nothing about. Voters sometimes rely only on name recognition or political advertising to pick a candidate. That can land a voter choosing someone they don’t really agree with or that they feel very invested in and are less likely to hold accountable after the election. A little bit of research will help you feel more confident when you cast your ballot. Y A R D S I G N S . O N L I N E A D S . Flyers. When election season comes, it’s hard to escape the deluge of campaign ads. But political ads might not make it an ea ier to gure out what each candidate on your ballot stands for. Well-funded candidates can pay for good advertising, but not everyone can a ord to flood our ocial media feed or mailbox. So, who are your candidates anyway? Let’s do some research. Y ou r b allot You can preview your ballot by visiting Michigan.gov/vote and looking up your voter information. You’ll see the same ballot that you’ll get at the polling station or in the mail. Ballot questions

18 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

like millages are also sometimes on the ballot. Now that you have a list of names and o ce up for election it time to start digging. I n a h u rry? Remember that local, county and tate race will a ect ou and our neighbors more directly. Lesser-known o cial li e our cit councilmem er county prosecutor or state senator can have a more immediate impact on your day-to-day life than the U.S. president. We suggest starting your research from the bottom of your ballot. And like any research, it’s important to read multiple sources. Everyone has biases and nobody can cover every detail. Read at least two sources on your candidates. V oter g u ides Research doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You might want to do your own online searches, but other people may have already done a lot of legwork for you. onpro t and new outlet a candidate to ll out ue tionnaire which are often included in voter guides. V ote411 is a well-known voter guide prepared by the League of Women V oters, a national nonpro t that ha a chapter in Detroit. V ote411 also lets you save a list of your chosen candidates, which you can print and take into the voting booth. (Yes, you can bring notes to the voting booth! It’s not a test! ) Detroit Documenters has also made a candidate scorecard based on the V ote 411 guide that you can use. Just go to bit.ly/3z 6 7sAa and click on “use tem-

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

plate” in the upper right hand corner to get a version you can use for yourself. Local publications also publish voter guides, including WDET and BridgeDetroit and Detroit Free P ress. If you want to see and hear your candidates, etroit i i erent record inter iew . E ndors em ents V oter guides are not editorial endorsements, which some news outlets also publish. Confusingly, some brand their endorsements as “voter guides.” If it pushes opinions instead of facts, it might not be a great voter guide for you. Endorsements are opinions. They may help you decide which candidates to support, but endorsements are an incomplete resource when you’re just starting your research. Campaign websites and social media Campaign websites can help you learn a out our candidate . peci call ou ll want to nd a page where candidates list political issues that mat-

HOW TO LOOK UP A POLITICIAN’S VOTING RECORD AND JOB PERFORMANCE BY KAYLEIGH LICKLITER

Voter pitfall to avoid: Voting for the candidates on faith when you can have information. Pay attention to past scandals or unethical behavior. Be aware that being a well-known “voice” in a community doesn’t guarantee that person will be effective if elected. Appearance and popularity don’t serve the people well — principled, intentional and productive officials do. W H E N A C A N D I D A T E has never held pu lic o ce oter ha e to ta e some of their promises on faith. But when a candidate has held public o ce efore or i currentl er ing there are a wealth of publicly available document ou can u e to nd out how much that candidate has achieved and how the interact with other o cial . W h at leg is lation or pu b lic policies h av e th ey introdu ced or h elped to g et pas s ed? Information about every bill U.S. Congress members have sponsored or co-sponsored is available on their pro le . You can look up bills in the Michigan Legislature by their sponsor. You can also look up your representatives’ pro le on their o cial ou e of ep-

ter to them and how the will tho e i ue . ou can u uall nd thi under the “issues” or “platform” page. Some candidates might not have a website, especially in races that have less competition or funding. These races are still important to research! Search for your candidates on social media, like Facebook and Twitter, and read how they discuss certain issues. If a candidate does not have a website, does not have a strong social media presence and does not answer questions for voter guides, that might be an issue for you. D ig g ing deeper If you want to look past what candidates say about themselves, check out allotpedia. It e actl what it ound like: An encyclopedia that covers many politicians and election races. Not all their article are fle hed out ut all of them include sources. Many of them link to campaign websites and social

media pages. Online searches are the most powerful tool when researching candidates. If you search for a candidate’s name, add keywords like “news,” “Michigan,” or the issues you care most about, or the pu lic o ce the re running for. periment with keywords until you feel like you’ve read enough. W h at to cons ider As you research, you might encounter a diz z ying array of candidates, all trying to hit major talking points and wide-reaching political priorities. Maybe all the candidates in a particular race sound great to you. To narrow them down, we suggest forming a concrete picture of what you would like to see in your chosen candidate. The candidate’s party might be a make-or-break situation for you. But their political background is just as important. If they’re a new candidate, what is

their campaign platform? What issues are they outspoken about? You can u uall gure thi out through new coverage, campaign websites and social media pages. You may also want to consider a candidate’s personal background: Their pa t wor e perience the communit where they live and their community involvement might tell you how they would govern. Or you might want someone who knows your community well because they live and work there. What is their character or personality? And how much should that matter? Certain qualities can make a leader more e ecti e. If an o cial i attempting to pass legislation but cannot gain the support of their colleagues, it may prevent them from doing meaningful work. If you want to rank candidates on the qualities you want to see in an elected o cial u e the etroit ocumenters candidate scorecard, available online. n

resentatives or Senate website. These often provide more information about bills they’ve sponsored or supported. What’s their voting record? . ou e of epre entati e recent votes can be found on the member pro le page of the ler of the . . oll all ote for oth cham er of Congress are tallied and posted online by bill number within one hour following the vote. ou can nd out how tate legi lator voted on a particular bill if you have the bill number. oes your public official seem e ectiv e in th eir cu rrent role? Nearly all business conducted by state and city governments must be done in meetings that are open to the public, per the Open Meetings Act. Michigan Municipal League provides a summary of the act’s requirements. Watching or attending public meeting allow ou to ee r t hand how elected o cial are oting. ttending public meetings is a great way to see our elected o cial in action and help ou decide whether the are e ecti e in their roles. For judges, you might be able to watch courtroom videos to see how the treat defendant and plainti . The 3rd Judicial Court and 36 th District Court, both based in Detroit, let you watch live and recorded court cases. To determine whether an elected o cial i e ecti e it important to consider what they’re trying to do and whether it accurately represents the community. Another consideration is whether they’re adequately representing all of their constituents. It’s

20 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

important that elected o cial ma e decisions that are inclusive of residents who come from diverse backgrounds and uni ue e perience . oes your public official handle th em s elv es as a prof es s ional? uring meeting pu lic o cial follow rules to maintain “decorum,” or propriety. P rofessionalism in government indicates a level of competence required for a go ernment to e ecti el er e it citiz ens. Lack of professionalism can

make establishing good governance even more of a challenge than it already is. u lic o cial often face conflict opposition, and criticism. Namecalling and unprofessional language in re pon e onl add fuel to the re. It also takes away from the reason they are there — to best serve your needs. There are many ways to respond to conflict while holding pu lic o ce or running for election. Ask yourself if their response makes sense and is rational. n

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

WHO’S TRYING TO SWAY MY VOTE?

HOW TO FOLLOW THE MONEY IN CAMPAIGNS BY DAVID PALMER

Voter pitfall to avoid: Voting for “bought and paid for candidates.” Corporations and special interest groups spend large sums of money to back candidates they believe will be friendly to their concerns. If you notice one or two candidates in a race have sent you 10 times as many mailers as the rest, there is a reason — follow the money! B E C A U S E E L E C T I O N S matter, there are plent of people tr ing to influence how ou ote. roup of citi en and other elected o cial do thi endor ing candidate mall and large donor do thi gi ing mone directl to candidate and there are olitical ction ommittee that donate mone u ad erti ement or ponor e ent de igned to help get the candidate the fa or elected. ndertanding how thi influence wor and how to na igate it can ma e ou a more con dent oter. F ollow th e m oney one ma e it wa into our election through a num er of di erent a enue . here are direct contri ution to candidate and human intere t group and corporation . andidate ha e to di clo e contri ution made to them and thi information can e found on federal tate and count campaign nance we ite ut not all the group that donate to candidate ha e to di clo e who their donor are o it i till hard to now who i actuall gi ing mone to candidate . he e ind

of donation are called dar mone . In the . . upreme ourt ruled in iti en nited . that there can e unlimited and political contri ution to I organi ation al o nown a uper . uper can get donation from group that don t ha e to di clo e their donor to the pu lic. he don t contri ute directl to candidate ut pend mone on ad mailer or other communication in federal race in hope of electing or defeating a particular candidate. he ichigan ampaign inance ct of go ern how mone impact politic in the tate and what candidate ha e to di clo e. or e ample candidate for go ernor can recei e up to per election c cle from indi idual donor candidate for tate enate can get a ma of ma and candidate for tate ou e can get a ma of . nce people are elected to o ce and are no longer candidate the do not ha e to di clo e an nancial contri ution the get from lo i t or an one el e ma ing ichigan one of onl two tate with uch latitude according to the ichigan ampaign inance etwor . F ollow th e m oney fr om donations here are a wide range of ta e empt nonpro t organi ation that al o rai e and pend mone to influence election . ome nonpro t can t pend mone thi wa . etroit ocumenter i ho ted utlier edia a c nonpro t that cannot and doe not ee to influence election . hat wh thi oter guide i encouraging people

22 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

to ote in general ut not peci call for an candidate or propo al. c ocial welfare organi ation on the other hand can pend up to of it annual re enue to upport or oppo e candidate and other allot propo al . ther nonpro t li e c la or union and c u ine league can al o pend to upport or oppo e candidate and allot propo al . andidate running for the . . ou e of epre entati e enate and re ident ha e to le campaign nance report with the ederal lection ommi ion . ee ing to influence federal election mu t al o le with the . or e ample entering the name eorge loone into the o under nd contri ution from peci c indi idual followed o ngele in the cit eld ring up contri ution made etween and totaling more than . million. or tate le el race the ecretar of tate pu li he campaign nance report from all candidate ee ing o ce in a di trict or uri diction that include more than one count . complete li t of candidate for tate ofce in the ugu t primar can e found on the we ite. lic on an candidate name to e directed to their tate campaign nance we ite where ou can re iew their donation . he e di clo ure include the name addre and contri ution amount of each donor for the reporting period. ount cler recei e campaign nance report or intra count o ce li e count commi ion heri and for local go ernment o ce li e cit council or town hip cler . If ou re intere ted in who donate to candidate running in a ne a land acom count election go to the e ite and loo for campaign nance tatement . F ollow th e m oney in adv ertis em ents If an ad i paid for a candidate committee it need to a o. i ewi e if it i not authori ed an candidate committee it mu t al o a o. aluating the content of political ad erti ing i part art and part cience. If ou nd an ad erti ement reall trou ling or compelling ou can re iew the campaign nance record for the organi ation running the ad to learn a out their prioritie and contri utor . T h e w h o, w h at and w h y of endors em ents ndor ement of political candidate or allot initiati e are e pre ion of pu lic upport indi idual political partie intere t group and media organi ation . common ource for di co ering endor ement i the candidate them el e . andidate will

proudl li t their endor ement on their we ite in commercial and on their campaign literature. ho can ma e an endor ement Indi idual endor ement can e a imple a a per on ma e another elected o cial ta ing to ocial media to a the upport a particular candidate for elected o ce. olitical partie u uall ma e their endor ement at their con ention . hen a political part nominate a candidate oter can ta e that a an endor ement. ocal unit of political partie can al o ma e endor ement e en if the don t ha e the power to nominate candidate on their own. A ny informal or formal collection of human wor ing toward a peci c goal can e called an intere t group and man endor e candidate . Intere t group can e profe ional a ociation nonpro t or u t group of indi idual li e a parent teacher organi ation or a rec league hoc e clu . Intere t group determine their own criteria for endor ing or oppo ing candidate . ome intere t group al o di tri ute candidate ur e and pu li h their re ult . In ichigan intere t group or indi idual upporting or oppo ing candidate in an election are re uired to regi ter a a olitical ction ommittee once a per on or group recei e or pend or more in a calendar ear in order to influence tate or local election . pending mone pu lici ing an endor ement i an acti it that would ee to influence an election. In ome ca e the intere t group or will pu li h it li t of endor ed candidate perhap on a we ite or in their new letter. or e ample an intere t group li e a la or organi ation will end a range of communication to it mem er to ma e them aware of their endor ed candidate . he ma e en a mem er and upporter to fundrai e or olunteer for their fa ored candidate . ditorial oard of media organi ation can al o ma e endor ement pu li hing them efore the election. ther media organi ation li e ridge ichigan ha e clearl tated rea on for wh the do not endor e political candidate . H ow m u ch s h ou ld you pay attention to endors em ents ? ndor ement are made indi idual and intere t group with an agenda. Intere t group are tr ing to influence our ote in an election and their endor ement are a ig part of that influence. ow much weight ou gi e to an endor ement hould align with how much ou now a out and agree with the group doing the endor ing. n

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

STAY ENGAGED: WHAT COMES AFTER THE ELECTION

YOU HIT THE POLLS, NOW WHAT? BY PAUL WARNER, KAYLEIGH LICKLITER YOU HIT THE POL L S, now what? ou ha e done our ci ic dut . hether you went to the polls or mailed in a ballot our ote wa ca t. ere how ou can continue to stick to the path of the ci icall engaged citi en.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO THE POLLS IN DETROIT BY MALAK SILMI MAK E A PL AN TO VOTE! If you’re voting on Election Day, get your tran portation in order nd our polling place by looking it up here and learn more about what you will nd at the poll . If you aren’t voting from home and can’t drive to the polls, you can use public transportation like SMART and u e to get to the poll . o nd the uic e t route to our polling location or a ballot drop box, u e the ran it app. Who will be at the polling place? Election workers, also known as poll workers, are available to assist ou and an wer an ue tion at the poll . If ou ma e a mi ta e on our ballot or the tabulator machine isn’t working, an election worker should e a le to help. P oll watchers are people who wish to observe the election process, but they are not allowed to approach oter at the poll . oll challenger are appointed by a political party or a uali ed intere t group to o er e the election process and may challenge the actions of election workers or the eligi ilit of a per on to ote. owever, they are not allowed to directly approach voters and can only challenge through election wor er . Challengers aren’t allowed to take an picture in the polling location. he mu t ha e an o cial identi cation card from the party or organiz ation that they represent, and they can be expelled from a polling place if election workers deem them “disorderl . How straight ticket voting works ( don’t forget the nonpartisan section! ) There are three sections of the ballot: partisan, nonpartisan and propo al .

During the general election, straight ticket voting is available for the partisan section since the candidates are already narrowed down for each part . You can select a political party to automatically vote for the candidates of that party in each of the partisan race . ou can onl elect one part Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, . . a pa er or ing la reen or atural aw. r ou can ma e your selections individually for each race in that ection. You will still need to make individual selections even if you choose to vote a straight party ticket for the nonpartisan section and proposal ection of our allot. Some races, like for a school board, allow you to cast a vote for more than one candidate. hen that i the ca e your ballot will say that at the top of that ection. Accommodations and voting assistance ederal law re uire polling place be accessible to voters with disabilitie . oter can call the epartment of Elections at 313-876 -0190 to check if their assigned polling location is acce i le. P oll workers are obligated to provide whatever assistance is needed to facilitate the voting process for voters with disabilities, according to the law. he it of etroit ha hired disability activists in the past to train and sensitiz e poll workers to better er e oter with di a ilitie . Report problems or concerns If you have a problem voting, tell a poll wor er. If the poll wor er i the person causing the issue or cannot solve it, call the election protection hotline at . he hotline i al o a aila le for pani h pea er at and for ra ic pea er at and for engali antone e indi Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu, ietname e or ngli h I .n

24 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

How do you even know who won? Most major news outlets report election re ult ut man al o call race making a prediction on who won before all the allot are counted. e ult ma ta e ome time to nali e. e ure to nd re ult on either government websites or reliable news outlets, rather than checking the candidate we ite not e er one li e admitting the lo t . nce the election are nali ed the county clerk should have a list of local winner of race on their we ite. o nd information on local elections, go to Detroit’s Department of Elections website or to the Michigan oter Information enter ite. Research, cast and repeat Now remember, when it comes to oting the primar i u t the r t round. In o em er general election you will repeat the process, but there may be some more research to do on ballot initiatives or candidates from political parties whose primary you didn’t participate in. After the election, but before swearing in hen omeone win a general election, it will be at least a couple of month efore the ta e o ce in anuar . ow do ou ee what the are up to until that time? Social media is a great tool to track and interact with elected o cial . r ou can ic it old school and make them stick to their word contacting them directl . all email or write them at their campaign head uarter efore the mo e into ta pa er pro ided o ce . oe our pu lic o cial eep their word? Do they seem attentive to concerns?

hen a candidate run for o ce the often list priorities and actions they plan to ta e once elected. ou ma want to consider the candidate’s experience and plan to addre e prioritie . detailed plan indicates they are taking the desired position seriously and will be read to er e on their r t da of o ce. By providing residents the opportunity to share their experiences, public o cial can en ure program and er ice are wor ing e ecti el and are ed when the re not. ou ma want to consider how willing and/or hesitant they are to provide the public with this opportunit . hen concern are rai ed elected o cial hould nd an wer and create olution . or e ample if re ident have shared concerns about a particular program treating them unfairly, o cial can re ue t a legi lati e re iew on how the program was implemented or call for more o er ight. Continuous dialogue with contituent hould e a two wa treet. cial hould not u t deli er their me age the hould al o hear ue tions and input from their constituents and e ea to get in touch with. Getting your voice heard You can sign petitions or get directly in ol ed with an elected o cial olunteering for their o ce. ou can get involved in groups that deal with issues ou care a out. or nonparti an ci ic engagement, join a group like us — the Detroit Documenters — and cover meetings so the general public can stay informed on ci ic e ent . emem er our ta dollar pa for that o ce in a hington and an ing regardle if ou oted for a particular o cial. ta involved and have a say in how your hard earned ta dollar are pent. P olitics has a lot of specializ ed terms and candidates, talking heads, and o cial ometime u e the e term to make things seem harder to undertand. or an election glo ar ee it.l cI .

CREDITS | Concept, research and outline: Sonja Stuckey, Detroit Documenters | Published by: Outlier Media in collaboration with Detroit Documenters | Written by: Detroit Documenters Damien Benson, Dan Ignacio, Byron Keys, Meg Krausch, Kayleigh Lickliter, Gina McPherson, David Palmer and Paul Warner | Additional writing by: Kate Abbey-Lambertz, Lynelle Herndon, Noahaz Kincade and Malak Silmi at Outlier Media | Edited by: Sarah Hulett and Lindsey Smith at Michigan Radio, Sarah Alvarez, Erin Perry and Kate Abbey-Lambertz at Outlier Media | Detroit Documenters Media Partners are: WDET, Detroit Free Press, Planet Detroit, BridgeDetroit, Detroit Metro Times and Chalkbeat Detroit.

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

WHAT’S GOING ON

Imani Ma’at AnkhmenRa Amen’s An Unmasking of Thyself series is on view at Playground Detroit.

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.

FRIDAY, 7/29 Unmasking Daddy Imani Ma’at Ank hmenRa Amen’s interactive exhibit at Playground Detroit combines African dance, drumming, photography, and ritual in a call to the ancestors. A n U nmasking of Thyself is part gallery exhibition and part performance art that includes four one-night performances. On Friday, July 29, the artist will present Act II in the performance series, “U nmask ing Daddy,” a communal ritual honoring her father Baba Tahuti Ank hmenRa Amen, AKA Edward L ee Taylor Jr., by celebrating his life, legacy, and teachings. The corresponding exhibit of photos and prayer altars is on view at Playground Detroit until Aug. 12, and performances are scheduled for every Friday through its duration. Other performances in the series to follow include “U nmask ing Heartbreak ” on Friday, Aug. 5 and “U nmask ing Joy” on Friday, Aug. 12. The exhibit opened on Friday, July 22.—Randiah Camille Green Starts at 7 p.m. on F riday, July 2 9 at P layground Detroit; 2 8 4 5 G ratiot A ve., Detroit; playgrounddetroit.com. Tickets f or the perf ormance are $ 1 0 and can be purchased online in advance. The ex hibition is on view by appointment during gallery hours, noon- 5 p.m. Thursdays- Saturdays.

FRIDAY, 7/29 The O’Jays People all over Detroit, join hands. L egendary R& B and soul group the O’Jays are bringing their farewell tour to Detroit this week end. “The L ast S top on the L ove Train” tour will be pulling into the Aretha Frank lin Amphitheatre on Friday, July 29. The trio announced the tour back in May. L ead singer Eddie L evert told V ibe magazine his plans were to retire without a tour, but later changed his mind. “I was think ing that I would q uietly retire, but our fans and my body weren’t having it,” he said. “The love and physical ene t of performing eep u on the younger side of our age.” The O’Jays won’t be coming alone. Joining the OJays on stage is soul songstress Gladys Knight. —Alex Washington Doors open at 8 p.m. on F riday, July 2 9 at the A retha F ranklin A mphitheatre, 2 6 0 0 A twater St., Detroit. Tickets begin at $ 5 4 .5 0 and are available at ticketmaster. com.

SAT-SUN, 7/30-7/31

“We’re excited to announce Washed Out to the S aturday lineup!” the festival wrote on Instagram. “Due to circumstances out of our control, Kaytranada will no longer be joining us.” On Twitter, Kaytranada wrote that the reason for the cancellation was due to a cheduling conflict with fellow anadian The Week nd’s “After Hours Til Dawn” tour. The Week nd announced Kaytranada was added to that tour after his original opener Doja Cat had to drop out due to tonsil surgery. “S uck s man. I really wanted to do MoPop ut there chedule conflict etween that and the AHTD tour and i can’t do those two cities in one day,” he wrote. “I promise i’ll be back soon Detroit.” Washed Out joins a bill that includes Detroit rapper Big S ean as a headliner, along with acts lik e Glass Animals, Jhené Aik o, Khruangbin, and more. Other Detroit artists on the bill include Tiny Jag, Charity, Gabriel Duran, and DJ duo Haute to Death. —Lee DeVito Doors open daily at 1 p.m. at 1 H art P laz a. G eneral admission weekend passes are $ 1 9 9 plus f ees and are available f rom mopopf estival.com.

THROUGH 7/31

Mo Pop

Hastings Street

With a little more than a week before it starts, Detroit’s Mo Pop music festival lineup went through a bit of a shak eup. Festival organizers announced that Haitian-Canadian producer and DJ Kaytranada has canceled his appearance, and will now be replaced with Atlanta-based performer Washed Out.

Detroit’s Black Bottom was a bustling predominantly Black neighborhood in the 1940s until it was razed to mak e way for the I-37 5 highway and L afayette Park housing development. A new musical explores the storied hi tor of thi neigh orhood lled with music, culture, and Black -owned

26 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

COURTESY PHOTO

businesses and its dismantling to mak e way for white residents. H astings Street made its debut on July 21 and runs until July 31 at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. It’s being presented by Plowshares Theatre Company, which is Michigan’s only African American professional theater company. This is the group’s r t production ince hutting down in 2019 during the COV ID-19 pandemic. S et in 1949, H astings Street introduces audiences to the Carson family, who moved to Detroit from the S outh to build a new life just as congress passed the Housing Act. Black Bottom is one of the neighborhoods targeted for “urban renewal,” which will ultimately leave its Black residents displaced and disenfranchised. H astings Street tells a familiar story of lac etroiter ghting for their livelihood and community as they’re pushed out in the name of “revitalization,” all accompanied by a jazzy soundtrack . ( Nope, that doesn’t sound lik e present-day “New Detroit” at all.) The actual Hastings S treet in Detroit ran through Black Bottom and the adjacent Paradise V alley, another dismantled neighborhood k nown for its historic music scene and abundance of Black -owned businesses. In presentday Detroit, plans are underway to remove I-37 5 and replace it with an “urban boulevard” in an attempt to address the unjust legacy. —Randiah Camille Green See website f or showtimes at M usic H all C enter f or the P erf orming A rts; 3 5 0 M adison A ve., Detroit; musichall.org; 3 1 3 - 8 8 7 - 8 5 0 0 . Tickets start at $ 2 9 .

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

FOOD

A breakfast sandwich from Detroit’s Promenade Artisan Foods.

TOM PERKINS

A grand cafe By Jane Slaughter

The Fisher Building, where

Promenade Artisan is housed, is reason enough to visit. Be sure to wander the halls of Albert Kahn’s Art Deco masterpiece before and after. Why don’t we mak e buildings lik e this anymore? It seems no one wants intricate mosaics with thousands of colored tiles and 40 k inds of marble. Or maybe we’ve lost the craftspeople who could devote their sk ills, or the rich people ( in this case the Fisher family) who would lavish such cash and attention. Of course we still have plenty of rich people living in luxury, but would they mak e a public building this special today? I saw a building named for Bill Gates at Cornell U niversity that look ed lik e an open mouth with unattractive teeth. “It is grand,” says Promenade coowner ( with husband Jono) Chelsie Brymer, referring to the Fisher. “We all get giddy about it.” In any case, break fast and lunch at Promenade ( open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. week days) are not as opulent as their urrounding ut till might ne. Everything is made from scratch in the building’s basement k itchen. Most customers are tenants of the Fisher, so service is q uick . Break fast items are made ahead and then warmed as needed; you’re not ordering a custommade over-easy but rather grabbing

and, mostly, going, though there are tables for eating in. I particularly lik ed a big break fast sandwich, two crisp halves, grilled and buttery, cheesy and spicy. It’s a better buy than the bacon-tomato-feta q uiche, which is also delicious but maller with lot of fla cru t oft innards, and prominent tomato. The large Promenade cinnamon roll is called the Rolls Royce ( ignoring the building’s A merican auto heritage) and it’s good warmed, though not out of the ordinary. I preferred the blueberrylemon scone with some icing drizzle; dry, as scones are meant to be, but full of tart fla or. nother cone i acon and cheddar o ering ar . n apple cinnamon mu n hit the right spice notes and sports a thick crumble topping. Another break fast possibility is vegan, gluten-free overnight oats, which are made by soak ing buck wheat groats, orghum fla e pepita and oat in coconut milk , then adding maple syrup and a generous topping of pecans and blueberries. It’s a large amount, and den e a lot to con ume r t thing in the morning, but tasty. Many more pastries populate a rotating list, not all of them traditionally for break fast: Dutch chocolate brownies, chocolate zucchini bread, lemon bars, rosemary shortbread, a

28 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

vegan lemon cupcak e ( $ 4) , to name a sample. It may be odd to compliment a restaurant on the q uality of its toasting, but Promenade merits it. For the “Z eb” sandwich, corned beef was stack ed high on buttery rye, with lots of purple pick led cabbage slaw. A vegan “Cass Avenue” put some spicy sweet potato, spinach leaves, and red cabbage between crunchy slices. Other options are turk ey-cucumber-basil, grilled cheese, or a classic jambon beurre, ham and butter in a baguette. Diners can pick ingredients from the salad bar, including pasta salad and fruit, or ask for the top seller, a k ale Caesar. Espresso drink s abound; the house co ee come topped with chilled cream, for a temperature sensation that Brymer swears by. My companion wasn’t thrilled with his cold brew au lait ecau e it wa fla ored with maple syrup; a matter of taste. On Thursdays patrons can order ahead and tak e home prepared dinners for four — salad, entrée, dessert — for $ 40-$ 45 . ( That service is on a summer break right now, however.) Past menu themes have included Mexican and Korean bulgogi. The Fisher Promenade is a 2021 o hoot of the original romenade at . e er on e. in renton

Promenade Artisan Foods 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 115, Detroit 313-462-8166 promenadeartisanfoods. square.site Salads $3.75-$11.25, sandwiches $7.75-$12.50, pastries $2.25-$4

( 7 34-307 -7 06 1) , which serves a similar menu. My single complaint about Promenade, a moan that readers have heard me mak e about so many restaurants, is the vast amount of plastic and paper waste created when everything is triple-pack ed for carry-out, even when you’re eating in. ( To be fair, most of Promenade’s business is carry-out.) I don’t need a bag to tak e my items a few feet to a nearby table. I don’t need to have my utensils wrapped in plastic, only to be thrown away. It feels lik e disrespect to the food to insist that it be eaten from a clamshell. Oh to dine from a real plate, with a fork that rests heavy in the hand! Are there no dishwashers in today’s restaurants? And are there no billionaires who will hire artisans to create mosaics of eagles in peacock hues? At least at Promenade, you get the mosaics.

FOOD

Ryder says he takes pride in his bar having served as a stop for rock bands who have gone on to outgrow the 200-person capacity venue.

The James Oliver Coffee Co. has expanded, with a patio that includes an Airstream trailer. It could soon include PJ’s Lager House. LEE DEVITO

Detroit bar PJ’s Lager House moves to sell to James Oliver Coffee Co. building owner Owner PJ Ryder listed the rock ’n’ roll bar for sale for $2.2 million in 2019 By L ee DeV ito

Long-standing Corktown rock ’n’ roll bar P J’s Lager House is

moving to sell its building and business to the owner of the next-door building that hou e the ame li er o ee Co., M etro Times has learned. That’s according to bar owner P J Ryder, who listed the building at 1254 Michigan Ave. for sale for $ 2.2 million in 2019. Speaking by phone, Ryder declined to discuss a sale price. He says the deal ha not een nali ed ut e pect it to close by the end of September. “I’m not getting any younger,” Ryder says. “I’m 6 8 years old, time is moving on, and I want to do some things before I leave this planet. … I never intended to be there for my whole life.” He adds, “I’m just an advocate of ‘ lead, follow, or get out of the way.’ And I’m going to get out of the way. I’ve been leading for a long time, and I think it’s time for me to get out of the

way, and let someone else lead.” Ryder originally purchased the building for $ 350,000 in 2007, but since then Corktown has changed dramatically. The nearby abandoned Tigers Stadium has since been demolished, Ford Motor Co. is rehabbing the long-derelict Michigan Central Station for a new autonomous vehicle laboratory, and plenty of new restaurants and businesses have joined the Lager House as neighbors. Reached by phone, Alex Riley, the owner of ame li er o ee o. building, declined to comment by our deadline. But Ryder says if the deal goes through, he believes the new owner would continue to operate P J’s Lager House much as he did, as a music venue with a kitchen. The Lager House has also become known as a brunch spot, with New Orleansinspired fare and vegan and vegetarian options.

“The new owner, as far as I know, intends on not only keeping P J’s as a music venue, but actually expanding it a lot more,” he says. “I think he kind of wants to combine the whole thing into one large entertainment complex.” he ame li er o ee o. ha expanded, with a patio that includes an Airstream trailer. In addition to the next-door building at 1236 Michigan Ave., where the ame li er o ee o. opened la t year, Riley also owns 2000 Brooklyn St., located behind P J’s Lager House. he ame li er o ee o. uilding was previously home of the Detroit In titute of agel co ee hop and a the ame li er o ee o. it ha expanded, with a patio that includes an Airstream trailer. P J’s Lager House has long been known as a music venue in Detroit’s rock ’n’ roll scene, hosting both upand-comers and established acts in

genres like indie rock, punk, and Americana, including artists as varied as indie rock darlings Thee Oh Sees and outlaw country cult hero Billy Don Burns. Ryder says he takes pride in his bar having served as a stop for rock bands who have gone on to outgrow the 200-person capacity venue. “That’s one of the biggest thrills for me over the years, is to watch bands that start out — like, ‘ Man, these guys are not very good,’” he says. “And then, you know, six months or a year later — ‘ They’re getting better.’ And two years later — ‘ Man, these guys are really good! ’ That’s one of the nicest things that I’ve experienced over the years, being there long enough to see this deelopment of o man di erent and over the years. And I will miss that.” He says he attended the Concert of Colors over the weekend and was thrilled to notice that many of the performers had played at P J’s Lager House at one point or another. der ha een open a out the nancial di cult of running ager House. In 2009, he was the subject of a CNN Money story, “How to lose money fast: Open a business.” Ryder told CNN he sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into the bar, and said he did not pay himself for years. Ryder converted the upstairs apartments into two Airbnb rental units, which he aid helped eep him afloat and al o opened a record store in the venue’s basement. If the sale doesn’t go through, Ryder says he’ll continue to serve as owner until a new o er come . nd if it doe sell, he says you’ll probably still be able to catch him at the bar as a customer. “I think it’s still going to be a rock ’n’ roll music bar, or a music bar in general,” Ryder says. “And I think he just wants to make it bigger, and he’s in a better position to do that, so I’m happy to let him do it. We’ll see what happens.”

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

CULTURE

Nope Rated: R Run-time: 131 minutes

Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Brandon Perea in Nope.

UNIVERSAL PICTURES

In ‘Nope,’ film history and a great cast messily collide By G eorge E lkind

Since delivering an instant

hit with 2017’s G et O ut a ne tuned horror atire who e en e of ea e and arti tic uret pro ed o palpa le that it direction almo t felt o and ordan eele ha truggled to recapture that ame almo t ca ual air in hi arti tic la or . m itiou and in enti e a he i fa cinated the pa t the writer director ha pu hed him elf in di er ent direction with each of hi la t two lm del ing further into political allegor in admira le ometime clum il wo en U s and tu ng hi wor with reference and uotation a in N ope hi third and newe t olo fea ture. ut hi wor po t G et O ut ha e maintained their alance of l ne and weight etter than the e wedded their re pecti e cenario to theme and with N ope the mu ing eem to float through tri ing frame and cene without e er uite rooting them el e . u pen e dri en wor oining we tern ci and horror trope and imager — ifting con ciou l a it doe through the hi tor of each genre – N ope i ea il the mo t patient of eele feature to date. focu ed tor featuring echoe of te en piel erg C lose E ncounters of the Third Kind and . ight h amalan Signs, thi i a lm on ome le el a out watching and waiting with character ga ing at the cloud tarting or thrill

ing to the flic er of mo ement that the ee. nnouncing it elf a dealing with pectacle with a title card featur ing a i lical uote at it tart N ope’s metate t feel in ome en e o iou at time tated plainl . ealing in the action method aim and e ect in ol ed in oth capturing and con um ing image it preoccupied throughout with the hi tor of lm it elf. et largel at a wood oll wood or e ranch out ide o ngele a lac owned legac u ine who e root in lm production tretch ac to the dawn of the form N ope opening nd it e pla er truggling to recre ate pa t ucce e . hen ti r. aniel aluu a and hi i ter merald e e almer lo e their father and the ranch longtime proprietor eith a id in a m teriou accident the ee out opportunitie an where the can. hether on white dominated lm et who e crew conde cend to oth i ling and their li e toc or haw ing pri e animal to a minor local cele rit and theme par owner granted a practiced air of mug elf con dence te en eun the a wood nd them el e caught up in the fum ling and em arra ment which o commonl characteri e gig wor . mid their fa tigued earching the nd omething urpri ing an o ect in the which appear at nighttime darting ehind

30 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

cloud and often poo their hor e . ith thi new ighting the a wood nd a glimmer of hope if the manage to capture ome credi le image of an alien pre ence the could net not onl fame ut a heft pro t. eele let their ue t unfold with a cript that alternate etween moment of fearful pectacle and wor ada deli eration with e ening pent going to tore for upplie and etting up camera that rh me with tending of hor e at morning and night. hi alance lend a harpne to the lm more o iou wide creen e uence climactic mo ment that accumulate and inten if in a undle toward N ope ni h in omething clo e to the traditional ol l wood mode though unfortunatel the for a e omething of the pa tience that di tingui he the lm r t half. hot o te an o tema each ighting of a fl ing aucer feel clear credi le and unadorned amid the richer ac drop of the a wood ranch du t hill if till hard for the lm earth ound ca t to elie e in for a time. ome portion of the lm pre ailing waiting air i urel due to the pre ence of eele pre iou colla orator aluu a. ut etween hi rea out role leading G et O ut and now aluu a ph icalit and techni ue ha hifted. ow hi face and form ha e ecome

hea ier hi mo ement and e peciall tare now ac uiring a gra it the had le when he wa ounger pro ecting a omething more li e an e er man then. hi performance though till totall tran ing i made up largel of c nical half hearted muttering and tare . he weight of aluu a pre ence here i complemented if not uite matched almer emotional agilit and uo anc . re ed in ummer tan er e and hort in contra t to her rother who often eem uried eneath hoodie all cap and a ram l goatee almer m can eem determinedl li el wor ing ardentl to ll ome ort of oid that ho er near her. en e of polarit in e ect etween the i ling ecome ea il the lm tronge t animating force a con nection e pre ed more richl through performance than in an e change of word . ore than t pe than to the trength of chemi tr and ca ting the two manage to hold down e en the lm mo t demanding cene whether together or alone. In light of thi it that much tranger that the lm clima e — the I flattered confrontation in which character face o again t ri to elf pro perit and home — eem li e harder ell than tho e in which the re talled waiting in car and parlor . e pite all the la ing of intriguing eccentric thematic ground work in N ope’s r t two i h hour the moment at which thing come to a head feel chematic and familiar compari on. hile fun enough ome part of that urel tem from it feeling di connected from what came efore the rule and per onalit tic pre ented earlier ha ing hifted more a a matter of con enience than e olu tion in character or tale. hematic and i ual contra t etween tradition and modernit analog and digital watch ing and ma ing and fa er and realit eem wheeled out and u e uentl dropped rather than full engaged with and thought through. N ope’s end it character can feel reduced to role a pluc pro lem ol er wor ing in a piel ergian mode that eem di continuou with the people the d een r t the ecome impro a l a it anon mou . or all that here o much in N ope feel lo t or undermined in the tew of man thing eele a an arti t eem hungr and eager to do. ut we re luc to ha e him e en when the fact tand a a lia ilit eele reall want to do it all.

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

CULTURE Wed 7/27

Nation Korean War Veterans Armistice Day PATIO BAR OPEN @5PM MIZZ RUTH’S GRILL @5pm Modelo PROMO @6pm Thurs 7/28

WDET FM COMEDY SHOWCASE “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” Hosted by Culture Shift’s Ryan Patrick Hooper Feat. 6 Detroit Stand-Up Comics! INFO&TICKETS@ WDET.ORG/EVENTS Doors@6:30pm/Show@7:30pm

PATIO BAR OPEN @5PM PROMOS Sponsored By Espolòn Tequila & Sam Adams ALSO feat. Long Drink Can & Slushee! TOPP DOGG FOOD TRUCK @5pm Fri 7/29

PATIO BAR OPEN @3PM FUNK NIGHT (monthly DJ’s) Doors@9 $5 Cover Mizz Ruth’s Grill @7pm Sat 7/30

PATIO BAR OPEN @2PM Something Elegant (monthly) Lady DJ’s DANCE PARTY Doors @9pm $5 cover Topp Dogg Hot Dogs @4pm Sun 7/31

PATIO BAR OPEN @2PM Happy Birthday, Colette! Mon 8/01

FREE POOL ALL DAY Happy Birthday, Ariel! Tues 8/02

B. Y. O. R. Bring Your Own Records You Can DJ! 9pm NO COVER! Coming Up In August:

8/05 Winestone Cowboys/Beauville/ Jackamo Girls 8/06 First Weekly DETROIT YOGA in the YARD!@12:30p 8/11 FULL MOON PARTY feat.TONY NOVA 8/12 PARKHOUSE NIGHT 8/14 Strictly Fine feat. Strictly Sunday’s on the Patio 8/20 PUNK ROCK BBQ 8/21 Vintage Market on the Patio JELLO SHOTS always $1

Savage Love Pound for Pound By Dan Savage This is a preview of this week’s Savage L ove. The full version is now ex clusively available on Dan’s website Savage. L ove.

Q: A

f riend hooked me up with a much younger guy f or weed. L et’s call him “ P retty Boy.” H e knew something about me — P retty Boy had been to a party at my house — and I knew something about him: he’s a burner, like our mutual. C onsent is supposed to be a core burner value and bef ore we hook up, P retty Boy asks if he can bring his paddles. So, we had a talk and I tell him I’m open to a little pain, but I’m mostly meh about it. (E x cept love bites. I love me some love bites.) L ong story short: P retty Boy thinks he’s a great f uck cuz he’s got a great big one and can pound long and hard. M y pussy ain’t been touched in almost three years but so f ar as I know “ O U C H ” is the universal saf e word! M aybe I should’ve picked a better one because I had to say it so many times! I ured it s e t o t e moment stuff so I wasn’t mad, and agreed to hook up again. M uch more O U C H , but on both sides this time. (L ove bites! ) N ex t day m urin out o to m n e t is. nd t in c lled n nut nd tell P retty Boy I’m willing to plunk down the money. Whatever it takes to make his P IV pounding less O U C H . A nd then we have this conversation: Sore L ady: “ So, surely this has happened bef ore, yes? ” P retty Boy: “ O f course it has. L O L .” N ow I’m mad. This motherf ucker knew! H e did it on purpose! I ask him oint l n i e ot off on it nd e won’t answer. Which means he did. N ow nt to set im on re. ut ere s t e t in : rett o is t e nest t in e ever had the pleasure of putting my hands on in my entire lif e. I warned him that I have a history of channeling my rage into intricate revenge plots, most too craz y to carry out. I did rat him out to the dude who hooked us up. A s f or P retty Boy, I could tell him to sit down, shut up, and hear my truth, but I already delivered that message. (See: O U C H .) I should probably slam the door and lock

32 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

it ut e is t e nest t in nd e never had a hookup that wasn’t a little bit sketchy. But this is too much, right? RIG H T? —B oy s Are S u p p osed T o Ask Right, Dan? P .S. I didn’t even cum either time!

A: So, P

retty Boy doesn’t care if you come or not, he ignores your feedback during sex, and he engages in rough sex knowing it’s sometimes painful — in a bad way — for his sex partners. Fuck that guy. By which I mean, of course, don’t f uck that guy. But you’re obviously tempted to fuck that guy again, BASTARD, as you make clear in your letter. (A letter I spent an hour editing for, um, clarity.) You wanna fuck P retty Boy again ecau e he the ne t thing ou e ever gotten to touch. P retty Boy is so hot, BASTARD, that you’re tempted to fuck him despite wanting to set him on re — in a ad wa — after ou po e to him about the sex being painful. Look, BASTARD, having a hot FWB is great, but having a hot FWB — or boyfriend or girlfriend or enbyfriend — who a hitt el h incon iderate lover is a lot like owning a house with an amaz ing view that happens to be right next door to a trash incinerator. Sooner or later you get used to the view and start taking it for granted, BASTARD, and the only thing you really notice after that is the stench. Still, if you’re inclined to extend P retty o the ene t of the dou t it wouldn’t be hard to whip one up. He’s young! It’s entirely possible all the women he’s fucked up to this point in his short life liked his style, i.e., long and hard pounding! It’s also possible the woman he’s fucked hated his style and, like you, hoped P retty Boy would hear top olicit their feed ac and correct course. Seeing that’s not something he’s either able or inclined to do, you’re gonna have to use your words and the actual leverage you have over him — your pussy, not your mutuals — to get him to fuck you without physically hurting you.

If he wants back in your pussy, tell him he ha to do it thing ou di erently. More foreplay, going slower, using lube, not going all the way in (with or without an Ohnut) — whatever he needs to do to make sex more comfortable and pleasurable for you, that needs to be a clearly-stated (by you! ) and enforced (ditto! ) condition of him getting anywhere near your pussy ever again. nd if he laugh it o et him on re . P .S. What happened to the paddles?

Q: I’m a cis woman in a relationship

with a cis man f or eight years. The sex is f antastic, mostly because we prioritiz e connection, play, and pleasure rather than penetration or orgasms, though we have plenty of both. M y partner lasts a long time and only comes about a third of the time. A bout half the time we do P IV he outlasts both my own orgasm and the lube, meaning that I’ll stop things when the f riction becomes painf ul and e ll eit er nis outside o me or on t come at all. These options work f or us and the sex is consistently great! The dilemma is that we’ve decided to start trying to conceive, which req uires him to come inside me. I’m worried that the emphasis on this one act will put so much pressure on him that sex will become less f un. I’m also worried it will make ejaculation e en more di cult. o ou e n suggestions on how to make this more playf ul? M aybe a suggestion on how to get the lube to last longer? Is there a way to eroticiz e the whole process more? O r is subpar sex just an inevitable part of trying to conceive? —Conc ep tion Really I mp eding M y P leasu res

A: Subpar sex while you’re trying to

conceive kindasorta comes with the territory, CRIMP , and it may be the least of your worries… Go to Savage. L ove to read the rest. A sk: q uestions@savagelove.net. L isten to Dan on the Savage L ovecast. F ollow Dan on Twitter @F akeDanSavage.

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

CULTURE

Free Will Astrology By Rob Brezsny

ARIES: March 21 – April 19 Fiction-writer John Banville tells us, “There are moments when the past has a force so strong it seems one might be annihilated by it.” I suspect that’s sometimes true for many of us. But it won’t apply to you Aries anytime soon. In fact, just the opposite ituation will e in e ect during the coming months: You will have more power to render the past irrelevant than maybe you’ve ever had. You will wield an almost indomitable capacity to launch new trends without having to answer to history. Take full advantage, please! TAURUS: April 20 – May 20 Researchers have proved that lullabies enhance the health of premature babies being cared for in hospitals. The soft, emotionally rich songs also promote the well-being of the babies’ families. I bring this to your attention because I believe you should call on lullaby therapy yourself in the coming weeks. Listening to and singing those tunes will soothe and heal your inner child. And that, in my astrological opinion, is one of your top needs right now. For extra boosts, read

War, famine, another pandemic, wild fires, inflation, low wages, rampant cynicism, lines being drawn, waning of rights. I’m sure I forgot a few, oh and hurricane season hasn’t even kicked in. …So Friendo, you sure you don’t wanna make that a double??

Happy Hour 3-6pm

fairy tales, eat food with your hands, make mud pies, and play on swings, seesaws, and merry-go-rounds. GEMINI: May 21 – June 20 Dancer and singer-songwriter FKA Twigs has taken dance lessons since she was a child. In 2017, she added a new form of physical training, the Chinese martial art of wushu. Doing so made her realiz e a key truth about herself: She loves to learn and practice new skills. Of all life’s activities, they give her the most pleasure and activate her most vibrant energy. She feels at home in the world when she does them. I suspect you may have similar inclinations in the coming months. Your appetite for mastering new skills will be at an all-time high. ou will nd it natural and e en exhilarating to undertake disciplined practice. Gathering knowledge will be even more exciting than it usually is. CANCER: June 21 – July 22 Cancerian author Laurie Sheck writes, “So much of life is invisible, inscrutable: layers of thoughts, feelings, and outward events entwined with secrecies, ambiguities, ambivalences, obscurities, darknesses.” While that’s an experience we all have, especially you Cancerians, it will be far less pressing for you in the coming weeks. I foresee you embarking on a phase when clarity will be the rule, not the exception. Hidden parts of the world will reveal themselves to you. The mood will be brighter and lighter than usual. The chronic fuz z iness of life will give way to a delightful acuity. I suspect you will see things that you have never or rarely seen. LEO: July 23 – August 22 It’s always advisable for you Leos to carry on a close personal relationship with mirrors. I’m speaking both literally and metaphorically. For the sake of your mental health, you need to be knowledgeable about your image and monitor its ever-shifting nuances. And according to my analysis of the astrological omens, you are now authoriz ed to deepen your intimate connection with mirrors. I believe you will thrive by undertaking an intense phase of introspective explorations and creative self-inquiry. P lease keep it all tender and kind, though. You’re not allowed to bad-mouth yourself. P ut a special emphasis on identifying aspects of your beauty that have been obscured or neglected. By the way, Leo, I also recommend you seek compassionate feedback from people you trust. Now is an excellent time to get reflection a out our ue t to ecome an even more amaz ing human.

34 July 27-August 2, 2022 | metrotimes.com

JAMES NOELLERT

VIRGO: August 23 – Sept. 22 t our e t ou are a fle i le purist, an adaptable stickler for detail, and a disciplined yet supple thinker. Maybe more than any other sign of the z odiac, you can be focused and resilient, intense and agile, attentive and graceful. And all of us non-V irgos will greatly appreciate it if you provide these talents in abundance during the coming weeks. We need you to be our humble, understated leader. P lease be a role model who demon trate the nel crafted, well-balanced approach to being healthy. LIBRA: Sept. 23 – Oct. 22 In my Astrological Book of Life, your life purposes as a Libra may include the following: 1. to be beautiful in the smartest ways you can imagine and smart in the most beautiful ways you can imagine; 2. to always see at least two sides of the story, and preferably more; 3. to serve as an intermediary between disparate elements; 4. to lubricate and facilitate conversations between people who might not otherwi e under tand each other . to nd common ground between apparent contradictions; 6 . to weave confusing paradoxes into invigorating amalgamation . to ne er gi e up on nding the most elegant way to understand a problem. P S: In the coming weeks, I hope ou will ma e e tra e ort to call on the capacities I just named. SCORPIO: Oct. 23 – Nov. 21 Author Clive James loved the Latin term o l cium, meaning “treasure chamber.” He said that the related Italian word, o l cio, referred to the stash of beloved poems that he memoriz ed and kept in a special place in his mind. In accordance with astrological omens, Scorpio, now would be an excellent time to begin creating your own personal o l cium: a storehouse of wonderful images and thoughts and memories that will serve as a beacon of joy and vitality for the rest of your long life. Here’s your homework: Identify ten items you will store in your o l cium.

SAGITTARIUS: Nov. 22 – Dec. 21 Tips to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Keep your interesting options open. Let your mediocre options shrivel and expire. 2. Have no regrets and make no apologies about doing what you love. 3. Keep in mind that every action you perform reverberates far beyond your immediate sphere. 4. Give your fears ridiculous names like a e and hee and ump . . Be honest to the point of frankness but not to the point of rudeness. 6 . Don’t just run. Gallop. CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 – Jan. 19 Capricorn poet Richard Hugo wrote, “It doesn’t bother me that the word ‹ stone’ appears more than 30 times in my third book, or that ‹ wind’ and ‹ gray’ appear over and over in my poems to the disdain of some reviewers.” Hugo celebrated his obsessions. He treated them as riches because focusing on them enabled him to identify his deepest feelings and discover who he really was. In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend a similar approach to you in the coming weeks. Cultivate and honor and love the peci c fa cination at the core of your destiny. AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 – Feb. 18 Author V iolet Trefusis (1894– 1972) and author V ita Sackville-West (1892– 196 2) loved each other. In one letter, V iolet told V ita, “I want you hungrily, frenz iedly, passionately. I am starving for you. Not only the physical you, but your fellowship, your sympathy, the innumerable points of view we share. I can’t exist without you; you are m a nit . In the coming wee dear Aquarius, I invite you to use florid language li e that in addre ing your beloved allies. I also invite you to request such messages. According to my reading of the planetary omens, you are due for eruptions of articulate passion. PISCES: Feb.19 – March 20 I’d like to honor and pay homage to a past disappointment that helped transform you into a beautiful soul. I know it didn’t feel good for you when it happened, but it has generated results that have blessed you and the people whose lives you’ve touched. Would you consider performing a ritual of gratitude for all it taught you? Now is an excellent time to express your appreciation because doing so will lead to even further redemption. T his w eek ’ s homew ork : en it s im ossi le to do t e tot ll ri t t in ou c n do t e l ri t t in . m le

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

CASHIER/CLERK WANTED

MOVING

UPTOWN ADULT SUPERSTORE

LONG DISTANCE MOVING

AUTOMOTIVE

(DVD’s, Toys, etc) Detroit area, must be 18yrs old. Cashier, stock & cleaning Benefits-Hol/Vac/Health Call (313)869-9477 or come in to apply

EMPLOYMENT DRIVING MR.DAISY ELDERLY MALE SEEKING G MALE FOR OCCASIONAL DRIVER. EMAIL: NORMANFLA@GMAIL.COM

EMPLOYMENT Engineering Supervisor, Electrical Systems, Lordstown Motors Corp, Farmington Hills, MI. Responsible for establishing, validating, &maintaining elec. Systems architecture & overseeing vehicle network strategy. Req. incl.: Bach. Degree in Elec. Eng’g or rel.+ 36 mo. automotive electrical systems devpmt. exp. also req.: high level of oral & written communication skills; familiarity w/requirements documentation tools (e.g. Polarion/Doors & JIRA); hands-on exp. w/CAN & LIN protocols (Vector CANalyzer); knowledge of functional safety (ISO-26262); & problem solving or troubleshooting exp. where issues are unusual & difficult. Email resume to recruiting@lordstownmotors. com; ref# Job 148.

SERVICES HOME REPAIR

NEVER PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN!

Call today for a FREE QUOTE from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a Relocation Specialist, call 855-947-2919 (AAN CAN)

HEALTH

VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! 0 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW! 888-531-1192 (AAN CAN)

TRAINING / EDUCATION / MISC.

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS

PUBLISHING

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

HIRING SEXY WOMEN!!!

We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836. (AAN CAN)

TV/CABLE/INTERNET

MASSAGE

CABLE PRICE INCREASE AGAIN?

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ONLY

Switch To DIRECTV & Save + get a $100 visa gift card! Get More Channels For Less Money. Restrictions apply. Call Now! 877-693-0625 (AAN CAN)

TV/CABLE/INTERNET

HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET

Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/ mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-416-7147 (AAN CAN)

HEALTH

TV/CABLE/INTERNET

Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order prescription required. Call 1-855-750-1612 (AAN CAN)

ADULT

Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too! Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not - 24 Hour Response - Maximum Tax Donation – Call 877-266-0681 (AAN CAN)

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-554-4616 (AAN CAN)

STILL PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MEDICATION?

SERVICES

4G LTE HOME INTERNET NOW AVAILABLE! Get GotW3 with lightning fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/ mo! 1-888-519-0171 (AAN CAN)

Hiring sexy women (& men). Highly Paid Magazine, Web, and Movie/TV work. no experience needed, all sizes accepted. 313-289-2008.

(INDEPENDENT) DRAPING IS REQUIRED INTAKE FORM is given COVID -19 READY Enjoy a calm and soothing massage HEALTHY BENEFIT HEALTHY MASSAGE 734 447 7895 Early and late appointments are available must be left on Credit Card on file.

MASSAGE

RELAXING NURU MASSAGE for the quarantine must not be sick. Must be clean and wear mask. Outcalls only incalls are at your cost Hey I’m here to help. This is Candy melt in your mouth so try my massages they’re sweet as can be!!! (734) 596-1376

TO ADVERTISE IN METRO TIMES CLASSIFIEDS CALL (313)961-4060

Complete Care Home Warranty COVERS ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE. $200.00 OFF + 2 FREE Months! 1-877-6730511. Hours Mon-Thu, Sun : 9:30 am to 8:00 pm Fri : 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (all times Eastern) (AAN CAN)

HOME REPAIR

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES

in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-877-6495043 (AAN CAN)

metrotimes.com | July 27-August 2, 2022

Metro Times 07-27-2022

Articles inside

Horoscopes

Election Guide

Review

Savage Love

Things to do this week

Informed Dissent