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Volume 76 – Number 47

WHAT’S INSIDE Support for community center (Page A-2) For a great number of years the Northwest Activities Center has been a popular meeting place for Detroiters. But like so many other institutions, it is having its share of financial challenges. However, the center will continue to thrive, thanks to the support of Mayor Dave Bing, the City of Detroit and the community.

Outrage continues over discarded books (Page A-3) Linda G. Wheeler, an educator and Highland Park resident, and others were stunned upon learning that 10,000 Blacvk history schoolbooks had been thrown out. Wheeler subsequently founded an activist organization called Citizens For Highland Park Public Schools.

For improved computer skills (Page B-1) By way of a combination of workshops and field trips, an organization calling itself Black Girl Code is working diligently to provide new skills in computer to girls. This will help prepare them for bright futures.

Architectural firm soars (Page C-1) Hamilton Anderson Associates, with Rainy Hamilton Jr. and Kent Anderson at the helm, has risen to become one of the nation’s most successful architectural firms. Examples of the company’s work can be seen all over Detroit and beyond.

Will: ‘Blame bankruptcy on unmarried mothers’ By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR

George Will, the mega-conservative ideologue and ABC analyst who hosted President Obama at his house in 2009 for dinner attended by other conservative columnists, became the latest right wing intellectual parading as a self-appointed moralist to link Detroit’s gigantic financial problems on moral failure and collapse of the family system.

George Will

— right wing evangelicals in particular — because whenever these socalled leaders run out of any ideas or simply rational way of thinking, they play the “moral card”, as if we’ve not had a litany of major right wing evangelicals who have been exposed for serious moral failures as it relates to their sexual indiscretions and other activities they had earlier denounced in their ministries.

During a July 28 taping of ABC’s “This

See BANKRUPTCY page A-4

We Endorse Napoleon for Mayor

D

etroit is in the midst of an unprecedented municipal financial collapse. An $18 billion mountain of debt is a staggering number that is shocking for anyone who lives, works or is invested, in this great city. To continue to deny that we have a financial crisis is to live under a rock. Furthermore, city services in Detroit are nowhere close to the standard they should be and public safety has become the number one issue every Detroiter is concerned about.

moving the city forward. However, in our view, the issues that we face as a city require a mayor who is not only prepared in a professional sense, but also has a long history of involvement in this particular community. It demands of mayor who has the passion and empathy as well as the requisite professional background and experience to tackle issues that we will together confront as a city. Given where the city has been and where it is now, Detroit cannot afford a leader who does not bring this entire package to the office of mayor.

We have elected officials who simply have not done what they should have, long ago, when the opportunity was there to make government work. We are paying the price for that now. If our elected leaders had done what needed to be done, there would be no need now for an emergency manager or the state of bankruptcy that our city must endure.

Out of all the candidates, we believe Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon meets those criteria. He brings with him decades of commitment and service to Detroit and his love and passion for this city is undeniable. There are many reasons why we believe Napoleon should be the next mayor. But four reasons stand out. We urge voters to consider them as they head to the polls on August 6.

So, with these facts as a backdrop, we face an important question: Who should be Detroit’s next mayor? The primary campaign has seen a healthy offering of good candidates seeking to be the chief executive of Detroit. They have canvassed the length and breadth of this city, pounding every pavement speaking to the issues that matter to Detroiters.

Benny Napoleon on the leadership of a city that is in Chapter 9 bankruptcy is far beyond what we typically ask of our public leaders.

an interest in bringing needed change to our community. It is not an overestimation to say that Detroit voters have good choices among most of the candidates. Their backgrounds, experiences and passions are impressive and, for the most part, they are devoted to creating change and to

It is a blessing that so many good people have stepped forThe Michigan Chronicle has ward to offer their leadership. spoken to the candidates inWe know public service requires depth and we believe that all of sacrifice. And to offer to take the candidates have, at the core,

James Tate

Saunteel Jenkins

Brenda Jones

1. Familiar with Detroit’s Pain — Napoleon is a son of this city and has lived here all his life. His mother spoke movingly, on radio commercials, about the home she has lived in for six decades and why her son would make a great mayor. But beyond the tribute of a mother is the fact that Napoleon has dedicated his entire public service life

See NAPOLEON page A-4

Andre Spivey

Promise of new city council begins with these faces

One of the strongest components of our local government is the Detroit City Council. That is because of the crucial role this legislative body has played in the past and continues to play. Despite sometmes facing harsh criticism, it still has an important function in making government work for all of us. Because this is the first time in 100 years that Detroiters will be represented by districts, making government accountability the hallmark of this system of legislative government, it is important that those who would be elected are armed with the skills and knowledge to address the challenges the city faces. And those challenges are even greater now, in the era of an emergency manager and state of bankruptcy. But we believe that Detroit will move beyond this seemingly financial cataclysmic state and a new city council will be needed to

John Bennett

Scott Benson

LIVING

WELL

ng condition ing a debilitati Eras transplant surgery is safe and New research shows that skin effective for treating vitiligo

Care Take of Greater Detroit urge men BCBSM and the 100 Black Men gs

to step up healthcare screenin

Food? Food? Badchoices Good Swap out bad foods with better Great Outdoors! to Pass FreeGym initiative opensthe a Green GetMI Big up free access The to endless activities at area parks

$1.00

Bankole Thompson

But, of course, this narrative is so familiar among Republican Christian leaders

An amazing life and career (Page D-1) As the first Black Miss America, Vanessa Williams was assured a place in American and Black history. Near the end of her reign, she was sidetracked by a disaster, but she refused to give in. Instead, she became a major star, as recording artist, actress and dancer.

July 31 – August 6, 2013

michiganchronicle.com

not only maintain the order of business, but get our local government moving in a forward direction. After carefully looking at the backgrounds and experiences of all of the candidates we believe that the followingpass the test of leadership and are therefor capable of serving Detroit in this way. They should be given the opportunity by Detroit voters on Aug 6. to move on to the general election. District 1. James Tate: He has served on the Detroit City Council showing steady leadership and at times has been in the crosshairs of other members, but maintains the composure needed of our political leaders even in the face of adversity. Tate should return to the council to continue to serve Detroit and especially District 1.

See CITY

COUNCIL page A-4

Vince Keenan

Brian White

Leslie Love

LivingWELL

Look inside this week’s Magazine insert and discover what people are talking about. Erasing a debilitating condition Good Food? Bad Food? New research shows that skin transplant surgery is safe and effective for treating vitiligo

Swap out bad foods with better choices

Take Care

Get a Free Pass to the Great Outdoors!

BCBSM and the 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit urge men to step up healthcare screenings

The MI Big Green Gym initiative opens up free access to endless activities at area parks


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