As seen by
As an era ends,
Monica Morgan
a sharing of highlights
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POWERED BY REAL TIMES MEDIA
Volume 80 – Number 35
michiganchronicle.com
May 10-16, 2017
Michigan legislators move to end emergency management Michigan Chronicle Reports
U.S. Representatives John Conyers (D-MI), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Dan Kildee (D-MI), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and 17 cosponsors, have reintroduced the Emergency Financial Manager Reform Act to address unchecked decision-making powers that appointed emergency financial managers have in financially distressed cities. Last week marks three years since the disastrous water switch that resulted in lead contamination in Flint, Michigan. Recently, Congressman Con yers, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond sent a letter to President Trump questioning the administration’s commitment to the Flint area in light of proposed budget cuts to EPA and other agencies. “Three years later, the people of Flint continue to suffer from the misguided and disastrous choices of an emergency financial manager they did not elect to represent them. We cannot undo the damage already done by the lead-poisoned water in Flint or fix the harm already caused by the hazardous conditions in Detroit’s public schools. But we must continue to stand together and make sure the unaccountable emergency financial managers responsible for these disasters — and the legal system that empowered them — are not permitted to inflict further harm on our citizens or our constitutional rights. I will continue to introduce the Emergency Financial Manager Reform Act until its passage. We must ensure that what happened in Flint will never happen again.” said Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13).
Former First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama
The expanding role of
political wives:
Wayne County First Lady Renata Evans puts her spin on difficult position By Roz Edward Contemporary political wives, although they vary in clout and influence, continue to play an increasingly critical role in federal administrations, state government and local legislatures. Like famous first ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, they share the responsibility of employing diplomacy and making their husband’s administrations successful. Wayne County First Lady Renata Evans, Wayne County Director of Community Engagement and wife of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, is one of the newest members of that growing club of first ladies who make significant contributions to their husband’s administrations. But with that distinction, Evans also joins the ranks of first ladies who sometimes find themselves embroiled in controversy for their influential roles and efforts to advance important causes. “Because I am the wife of Warren Evans, the CEO of Wayne County [and one of the most powerful men in Michigan], it’s harder for some people to digest me working at the Treasurer’s Office, even though it is for another elected official, Mr. Eric Sabree, and not the CEO’s office,” explains Evans. “What that allows me to do is go out into the community and give the message or the narrative from the Treasurer, which has nothing to do with the CEO and his daily work.”
“Our state’s emergency financial manager law has hurt Flint and families throughout Michigan,” Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) said. “Unelected emergency financial managers made the decisions that led to the Flint water crisis. Their failed governing philosophy is solely focused on the bottom line and cutting cost, often at the expense of people. Michigan families and their elected officials — not appointed and unaccountable emergency financial managers — should be in charge in the communities that they live in. This bill will help ensure what happened in Flint
See EMERGENCY page A-4
But Evans, who is both remarkably capable and competent, forges ahead with her mission to assist Wayne County residents caught up in the dilemma of foreclosure, and works to provide relief from the often intimidating process of negotiating agreements to keep their homes. The community engagement specialist, who has held the position since February 2016, is charged with the often daunting task of assisting the thousands of residents in the 43 municipalities that make up Wayne County avoid or find relief from home foreclosures. The general consensus is
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Renata Evans
See POLITICAL
WIVES page A-4
UAW-Ford’s ‘Debate in the D’ leaves positive mark on Detroit’s youth By Scott Talley Special to the Michigan Chronicle
#UAWFordDebate was trending across social media in Detroit on a recent Friday and with good reason, given that “Debate in the D” was a one-of-a-kind event. Proudly presented by UAWFord, “Debate in the D” gave 800 students from middle and high schools across Detroit a unique opportunity to witness an intercollegiate debate in the heart of their community. The event featured in-state debate teams from the University of Michigan-Flint and Central Michigan University in matchups against teams from two world-renowned historically African-American colleges — Spelman and Morehouse — that made the trek from Atlanta courtesy of UAW-Ford.
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“Debate in the D” even brought out legendary radio personality John Mason, which unequivocally stamped the occasion as big time. “This is a great day and a
Life-changing education: Thanks to UAW-Ford, students from across Detroit packed the Mumford High School auditorium for “Debate in the D,” an intercollegiate debate featuring two in-state universities in matchups with two historically African-American colleges. three-year dream for me,” said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles during a live broadcast of Mason’s 105.9 FM morning show, from Mumford’s sparkling auditorium, the debate site.
In what likened a pregame show before a major sporting event, Settles shared with Mason that a trip three years ago to Hartford, Connecticut (where Settles intently watched a debate
also featuring historically black colleges) was the inspiration for the program. “I said I have to bring this to
See DEBATE page A-4