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Volume 76 – Number 41
June 19-25, 2013
michiganchronicle.com
Duggan dealt crushing blow by Appeals Court
Ellen Logan, wife of Detroit police chief dies Ellen Logan, wife of Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan, passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. Funeral Ellen Logan services were held on Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Detroit. Swanson Funeral Home handled all arrangements.
By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
Interfaith community honors King As part of the historic March down Woodward, commemorating the march that took place 50 years ago, the interfaith of community of metro Detroit will gather at Greater New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. There will be a gospel concert paying homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Various choirs will sing and remarks will be given by ministers and key members of the Detroit Branch NAACP. For more information, contact Rev. Kenneth James Flowers at (313) 595-9513 or RevKJFlowers@aol. com
WHAT’S INSIDE Big move for Coca-Cola exec (Page A-3) May 1, 2013 was a milestone date for Coca-Cola executive Percy Wells. It marked his first day as president of public affairs and communications for The Coca-Cola Company’s East U.S. Operations, in Atlanta.
Preparing today’s youth (Page B-1)
The Barrow Effect Could he possibly be Detroit’s next mayor? By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
First I received an email advertising a campaign fundraising event to meet “Detroit’s future first family.” The flyer came from the Tom Barrow campaign, touting the boisterous and audacious mayoral candidate who some say is “crazy.” But he is on a political crusade against his opponents, starting with Mike Duggan. None of the other candidates have sent out a flyer that was so blatant in its intent, and strongly claiming the mayorship of Detroit even before the votes are cast.
The number of times I’ve interacted with Barrow on the campaign trail, I’ve found him to be an affable and pleasant political pontificator who seems to have all of the answers to Detroit’s problems. Spending a few minutes talking to Barrow at any political event leaves you wondering and thinking you had just engaged a political science lecturer specializing in Detroit and race politics.
Bankole Thompson
So is Barrow’s path an example of deranged political narcissism? I don’t think so.
Barrow isn’t crazy. He is an intelligent man who knows and understands Detroit very well and has been through difficult times. In 1994, he was convicted by a federal grand jury for bank fraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns. Barrow spent 18 months in prison despite trying to get the conviction overturned.
See BARROW
See DUGGAN page A-4
By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
Riverfront progress (Page C-1)
U.S. Representative John Dingell, Jr., from the 12tth Congressional District, at 86 is being celebrated as the longest serving member of the U.S. Congress, a milestone not easily reached, one that climaxes Dingell’s more than five decades in public service.
The Detroit riverfront has spurred $1 billion in investment on or along the riverfront, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. It has become a top destination for thousands.
Celebrities seem to defy age (Page D-1)
All roads lead to March on Woodward Seen here are Rev, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,(left) and Rev. C.L. Franklin marching toward Cobo Hall in June 1963 at the conclusion of the March on Woodward, which was the prelude to the March on Washington for Jobs and Justice. On Saturday, June 22, a coalition of civil rights leaders, activists, community groups and individuals will be celebrating the anniversary of the march with a second march. – Tony Spina/Detroit Free Press LIVING
WELL
Creepy Condition Don’t let high blood pressure sneak up on you
Split Decision How to cope when one home becomes two with divorce
A Blind Eye Why diabetics can’t ignore diabetic retinopathy
Homeland Security There are times when hacking into your kid’s life is justified
$1.00
EFFECT page A-4
John Dingell Jr., civil rights crusader
Comerica Bank is fully committed in a variety of ways to helping Detroit area youth be prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Education is the key.
“Lookin’ good” are the perfect words to describe an array of celebrities who are past age 40 yet look as good, or better, than they ever have.
The majority on the Michigan Court of Appeals dealt a devastating blow to the Mike Duggan candidacy for mayor of Detroit by upholding a lower court decision that challenged the residency of the former Detroit Medical Center CEO, noting that he was unqualified to be placed on the Aug. 6 primary ballot. The challenge to Duggan’s candidacy was brought forth by his boisterous opponent, Tom Barrow. “This is the best solution for the city of Detroit. The court in upholding the new Detroit City Charter restores Detroiters’ faith in the objective rule of law and in treating all citizens the same regardless of wealth and stature,” Barrow said. “The Appeals Court has affirmed the wisdom of the people when they Mike Duggan approved the new City Charter last year with the requirement that a candidate must be, at a minimum, a registered voter and resident of the city for at least one year as was the intent of the Charter Commission.” The issue went to the Appeals Court after Wayne County Circuit Judge Lita Popke ruled that Duggan isn’t eligible to run. The majority on the appeals court agreed with Popke’s ruling. However, Appeals Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens provided the dissenting opinion stating, “I concur with the majority in all respects with regard to Duggan’s non-constitutional arguments. I write separately to respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion regarding the constitutionality of the Detroit City Charter provision’s residency requirements.” In her dissenting opinion Judge Stephens wrote, “The Charter’s residency requirements are unconstitutional, as they impermissibly classify Duggan and other candidates on the basis of the candidate’s exercise of the fundamental right to travel. I would reverse the trial court’s opinion and order that defendants place Duggan’s name back on the ballot.”
Elected to Congress at 29, to replace his father John Dingell, Sr., the younger Dingel, steadily built his public portfolio, becoming chairman of powerful House committees that have broad powers over John Dingell the environment, energy and the auto industry. He wielded incredible influence and for years almost single-handedly decided the fate of the American auto industry in Washington. One of
the watershed mo-
ments in Dingell’s political career came when he vehemently supported the 1964 Civil Rights Act, at a time when it was very unpopular to come out unequivocally in support of legislation to challenge Jim Crow. It was a decision that almost cost Dingell re-election to Congress. He told the Huffington Post that he “damn near lost an election over it. The Wall Street Journal gave me a 1-in-15 chance of winning that race.” The nation’s first African American president, Barack Obama, acknowledged Dingell’s crucial role and support for civil rights in the last 50 years. “John has always worked tirelessly for the people of his beloved Michigan and for working families across America,” Obama said. “He has helped pass some of the most important laws of the last half-century,
See DINGELL page A-4
LivingWELL
Look inside this week’s Magazine insert and discover what people are talking about. Creepy Condition
A Blind Eye
Don’t let high blood pressure sneak up on you
Why diabetics can’t ignore diabetic retinopathy
Split Decision
Homeland Security
How to cope when one home becomes two with divorce
There are times when hacking into your kid’s life is justified