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2020

Detroit Housing for the Future Fund launches with $48M, goal is $75M

2020

Money. A5

Preparation Awaits Opportunity

Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 84 – No. 4 | Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2020

Powered by Real Times Media | michiganchronicle.com

This November, We Have To Vote! One on One with Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed the House in June, languishes in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s graveyard and legislation that could help America persevere through the pandemic await action from the Kentucky Republican, according to Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (DMich.). Lawrence blasted McConnell, President Donald Trump, and GOP leaders during an interview with BlackPressUSA that streamed live over several social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube. Lawrence said McConnell and many of his Republican colleagues in the Senate have sought to avoid voting on bills only as a political ploy. “[U.S. Attorney General] Bill Barr denies there is systematic racism in policing in America,” Lawrence said. “We are so excited that we have the majority in the House, and we were able to pass Brenda Lawrence the George Floyd Justice in Policing bill, but it goes to the Senate, and it’s in McConnell’s graveyard which also has gun reform, violence against women, and the Voting Rights Act.” Lawrence is convinced that the measures don’t align with the Republican agenda. She determined that GOP members would instead prevent those pieces of legislation from coming up for a vote because they could then deny they’re against the bills. “We’ve never had this happen before. The way democracy is supposed to work with checks and balances is that the House passes a bill and sends it to the Senate for action,” Lawrence noted. “They have taken no action. The bills are literally in Mitch McConnell’s graveyard, and he’s only focused on judgeships. He’s appointing judges at record amounts. They blocked President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, and now we are going to be subjected to these judges, some of whom are lifetime appointments. We have to keep our eyes on the prize.” Lawrence has lived in Michigan’s 14th Congressional District all of her life. The District includes a portion of Detroit and the City of Southfield and 16 other cities in Oakland and Wayne counties. Re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November of 2018, Lawrence serves as a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues and 2nd Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

See VOTE page A2

WHAT’S INSIDE

How Will Detroit Bars And Restaurants Survive The COVID-19 Cold Weather?

By Donald James Special to the Chronicle

O

n March 23, 2020, Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-21, instructing all non-essential businesses in the state to close temporarily and for Michiganders to “stay home, stay safe.” The aggressive action was to protect people and communities throughout the state and further mitigate the spread of COVID-19. While all industries in Michigan were negatively impacted in all aspects of their operations, the hospitality industry, comprised largely of bars and restaurants, was hit extremely hard. They were forced to go several months either totally closed or implement an online ordering, delivery, and/or curbside pickup system for restaurants. Massive layoffs ensued, and for some restaurants, the future of never reopening was a stark reality. “A restaurant closing for any length of time, longer than a week, can be catastrophe, quite frankly,” said Stephanie Byrd, co-owner of downtown Detroit’s Flood’s Bar and Grille, and Midtown’s The Block restaurant. “And when you are talking about small businesses, black businesses that don’t have the type of capital or that type of cushion to withstand a temporary closing, it’s very difficult.” According to Byrd, Flood’s and The Block were closed from March to June. Byrd, after monitoring what the pandemic was doing in other countries, knew the seriousness of COVID-19 before it hit Detroit. After shutting down and as time passed to consider how, when or if to reopen, Byrd was patient in her decision making. “We wanted to open immediately, but we also knew that we had a responsibility, especially as black business owners to keep the black community safe,” Byrd said. “That safety wasn’t looming in the back of our minds, it was at the forefront. We were not going to put profits above the safety of our customers, employees, and the broader community.” Flood’s, said Byrd, reopened for carryout only services in May, followed by The Block in June. Operating decisions are moving slowly while abiding by what health officials are reporting and the governor’s directives for bars and restaurants.

Whitmer partially lifted the stay-home order, which allowed dine-in restaurants and bars to reopened by June 8. The reopening of these establishments came with restrictions: keep tables at least six feet apart and adhere to a 50% maximum capacity. While a significant number of people were apprehensive about returning to in-restaurant dining, even with safety guidelines, many restaurants in Detroit opened outdoor dining on sidewalks and in patio areas, which became a silver lining for many restaurants to sustain. Yet, according to the Michigan Restaurant Association, while expanded outdoor patio seating, great weather, and federal stimulus funding helped to sustain the industry through the summer, nearly a quarter of the state’s restaurants do not anticipate being in business in six months. As temperatures begin to slowly descend to align with normal fall and eventually winter seasons, bars and restaurant owners are actively looking for ways to continue outdoor dining to augment limited indoor seating. This is uncharted territory for the majority of restaurant owners who never thought about seating customers outside in the brutal winter months of December, January, and February, with temperatures stuck in the teens or below for long periods, all while waves of cold winds, freezing rains, and the appearance of the “s” word – snow - are significant parts of the equation. “That’s the biggest thing that we are trying to figure out when it comes to creatively serving our customers in safe and warm ways in cold weather,” said Godwin Ihentuge, founder and chief villager of Yum Village, a food takeout, dine-in, and marketplace venue inspired by West African and Caribbean traditions and dishes. “We have looked at seeing if we can get Milwaukee closed off so we can put up outdoor shelters and provide things like heated tents. We also have a great patio that we will heat.” According to Ihentuge, Yum Village, located on the corner of Woodward Ave. at Milwaukee St. in Detroit, is making a marketplace transition, which will lower the number of indoor seats. The natural flow of the traffic of customers at the indoor marketplace, said Ihentuge, will be more of customers coming in and going out. Congregating will be more outside than inside.

See BARS

AND RESTAURANTS page A2

NCAA, Lawmakers Reach Agreement On Federal Bill To Allow Athlete Compensation By Cole Lauterbach

of the educational institutions who are providing that education for those student athletes, but at the same time, doesn’t let institutions take advantage of those athletes that they’re using to make a lot of money,” he said.

(The Center Square) – A bipartisan push in Congress, led by a former collegiate star and NFL player, seeks to lift the ban on college athletes getting compensated.

Enabler vs. Emotional Mooch: Girlfriends Analysis

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U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio, introduced the Student Athlete Level Playing Field Act Thursday, sporting the endorsements of several other veteran Republicans, including Taylorville Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Illinois, and Democrats Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, Colin Allred, D-Texas, Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, and Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio. If enacted, the bill would give student athletes the right to compensation for the use of their name, image or likeness. The sponsor said it also implements “guardrails” for recruiting athletes.

“This bill has strong bipartisan support, highlighting that Congress can find a way to reach a bipartisan agreement on this important issue,” Gonzalez said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to keep the momentum going and continuing our bipartisan work to provide NIL rights to student

athletes and improve the college athletics system that Americans across the country know and love.” Davis told The Center Square that he signed on in support of the measure after meeting with Gonzalez and deciding the bill struck the right balance. “It still protects the integrity

Gonzalez was an All-American wide receiver for Ohio State University. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, only to retire in 2012 after multiple knee injuries kept him sidelined. Duncan also played football for Clemson. Short careers like his often spur the conversation about colleges making millions of dollars while players spend their formative years showcasing their talent for no pay. “I want to be unequivocally clear: This is a civil rights issue,” Cleaver said. “For far too

See COMPENSATION page A2


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