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Volume 76 – Number 40
Mayoral shakeup: Duggan off ballot By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
Despite the 2-1 vote of the Detroit Election Commission to retain mayoral candidate Mike Duggan on the ballot, his challengers succeeded in the Mike Duggan first round of a court battle to disqualify him from the August primary ballot.
June 12-18, 2013
michiganchronicle.com
With jail fiasco, can Ficano win?
CRUNCH TIME
By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano is riddled with so much controversy and scandals emanating from his administration that once was the most powerful political administration in the county. But as some of his former lieutenants are reported to be under federal investigation while one of his former top aides, Michael Grundy, is falling under the sword of the federal government by pleading guilty to fraud in a kickback scheme that the feds say took thousands from needy county residents, it is plausible to conclude that the scandals are taking away Ficano’s political fortunes.
Wayne County Circuit
See DUGGAN page A-4
WHAT’S INSIDE Fifth Third Day (Page B-1) In celebration of Fifth Third Day, May 3, Fifth Third Bank continued its tradition of celebrating the good works in the community by its employees.
Twists and turns in Black-Jewish alliance (Page B-4) When Rev. Louis Farrakhan diluted — yet again — his recent message of hope for Black Detroiters with blatantly anti-Semitic and homophobic rants, it exposed the complex underbelly of Black-Jewish relations that has existed since the late 1960s.
Kevyn Orr
Detroit faces uncertain future
By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
What will survive and what will be left of Detroit as Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr meets with creditors this week?
Dave Bing
From the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department , and Belle Isle, that question drives the debate about the future of the city under an emergency manager charged with creating a roadmap to financial solvency.
Added to this political conundrum is the $200 million downtown jail construction project that would include 2,200 beds but later cut to 2000 beds. Already the projWilliam Wild ect has spent $100 million in public money amidst rising costs.
All of these city assets and Bankole others are facing crunch time Thompson and the fate of the city itself hangs in the balance as residents battle crime, struggle with inefficient city services and other amenities that shouldn’t be an issue if you are paying high taxes to live in Detroit. Which is why the race of mayor underscores how crucial this moment is and why the next leadership after the era of an emergency manager will have a difficult task.
See CRUNCH
For critics of the jail project and those who disagreed with its construction downtown, this latest fiasco that has forced Ficano to put a halt o the project for at least 60 days, the project was flawed from the beginning.
TIME page A-4
“I agreed in 2010 to a facility that would address my officers’ safety, inmate population needs and cut operational costs dramatically,” Sheriff Benny Napoleon said in a statement. “What has transpired is unacceptable as none of the aforementioned goals will be met by the facility presently under construction. If terminating the construction of the new jail project will eliminate cost overruns and moving to Mound or any other location is in the taxpayers’ best interests I will support that, as long as the facility has critical technology and security systems and does not compromise public safety.”
$100 million in federal funds to fight city blight (Page B-6) Gov. Rick Snyder announced that five Michigan cities have been approved to receive $100 million for blight elimination efforts under a pilot program approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Ficano’s office fired back at media reports last week that the $220 million cost for the jail was for “hard construction costs only.”
Like father, like daughter (Page D-1) When it was learned that Kori Withers, daughter of the great singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Bill Withers, had stepped into the entertainment industry as a singer/guitarist, on occasion performing with her dad, it came as no real surprise. It happens often in the music industry, and in Hollywood.
CONCERNED CITIZENS listen attentively to Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr at the first public hearing. — Andre Smith photos
His staff said the current estimates provided by construction and program managers project the total cost of the project to be $391 million — $91 million more than what they say the original cost was — $300 million.
See FICANO page A-4
Civil rights heavyweights coming to Detroit for March on Woodward By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
Several of the nation’s prominent civil rights activists are expected in Detroit next Saturday, June 22, for the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Woodward, the prelude to the June 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Justice, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesse Jackson Sr.
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Robert Ficano
A report last week revealed that Ficano was seeking a clearance letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office that would suggest he is not a target of the federal probe that has engulfed Wayne County government and netted some pleas involving top executives who worked for him. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not conceded to Ficano’s request and offered no explanation.
Martin Luther King III
At a June 10 media conference at the United Auto Workers Solidarity House on E. Jefferson, members of the Freedom Walk coalition, including labor and civil rights leaders, announced plans for the march. Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch NAACP, leading the group at the press conference, said many deputies of the Civil Rights Movement are planning on joining with Detroiters in the March on Woodward where thousands are expected to commemorate the anniversary that set the stage for the acclaimed “I
Have a Dream,” speech given by Dr. King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. But celebrations will begin on the eve of the march with events, receptions and activities for those attending as well as leaders of organizations arriving in Detroit the day before., On Friday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the International Training Center of the UAW at 151 West. Jefferson, there will be Voices for Action panels that will tackle topics such as racism, Islamaphobia, anti-Semitism featuring Victor Muhammad of the Nation of Island, New Detroit Inc president and CEO Shirley Stancato and Arthur Horwitz, publisher of the Detroit Jewish News.
Rev C.T. Vivian
“In 2013 it is not they, but it is all of us. Faith-based, NAACP labor, community, city, state and nation who continue to Walk to Freedom. The names may be different but the cause is still the same.
See NAACP page A-4
Dick Gregory