www.michiganchronicle.com VOLUME 76 – Number 21
WHAT’S INSIDE Building better teachers for Michigan (Page A-3)
Jan. 30 - Feb. 5, 2013
479 Ledyard • Detroit MI 48201
Factoring the factors in Detroit’s mayoral race
Reading Works and the battle to address Detroit’s literacy crisis (Page B-1)
By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
Like the battle of Armageddon, the campaigns of the various candidates seeking to be Detroit’s next mayor are lining up support, build-
Sometimes, she would see books or magazines lying around at doctors’ offices or people’s homes. They looked interesting, so Barbara Brooks would open them and begin to read. Or at least she tried.
Congressman John Conyers writes that as gun violence continues to pervade our nation, he commends the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce for their continued focus on the issue.
Banks living up to Kronk boxing lore (Page C-1) The Motor City boxing scene has been on the international map for many years, starting with the Brewster Center and legends Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Emanuel Steward.
WSU, partners seek public input on bike share system (Page C-4)
COMMENTARY
ROGER PENSKE, chairman of M1-Rail, speaks at the briefing announcing the federal funding for the project. — Wayne State University photos
Regional leaders hail light rail as major step in Detroit’s revitalization By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
With each speaker from Michigan’s Congressional delegation to top business leaders in Detroit praising the much debated and anticipated M1-Rail project that will create a 3.3mile light rail along Detroit’s anchor avenue, Woodward, the project received a major boost recently with the announcement of $25 million in federal funding by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
ing political ammunition with zest and ready to duke Bankole Thompson it out in what is to become the most hotly contested mayoral race in decades. It’s political show time in Detroit this summer as the battle for the next leadership of a city in transition is decided by voters after listening to those who say they can steer the city Mike Duggan ship safely to shore.
With significant federal support in addition to the $100 million raised by Detroit’s major MAYOR DAVE BING chaired business leaders, corporations the briefing and the foundation community, the project is now moving forward in Detroit’s urban core, African American History, DeMidtown, the rapidly growing troit Institute of Arts and the area that is home to anchor in- Detroit Historical Museum. stitutions like Wayne State Uni- “I applaud Michigan’s leadversity, Detroit Medical Center, ers for coming together to supHenry Ford Health System and port a regional vision for public cultural institutions like the transportation that will imCharles H. Wright Museum of
RAY LAHOOD, Transportation secretary who has visited Detroit 13 times, announcing the $25 million dfederal funding for M-1 Rail prove access to jobs, education, medical care and other destinations for residents in the Detroit metro area,” LaHood said during a brief ceremony Jan. 18 at Wayne State University’s
See transition page A-4
Why?
Because for the first time in many years a White candidate, Mike Duggan, former CEO of the Detroit Medi- Benny Napoleon cal Center, with an expected unmatched campaign war chest, stands the chance of taking up residence in the Manoogian Mansion.
See mayoral
Belle Isle in limbo as council demands answers CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
The Detroit City Council voted Jan. 29 to suspend the vote on Belle Isle that would have converted one of America’s great parks into a state park on a 30-year l e a s e . M e a n w h i l e , Gov. Rick Snyder’s JoAnn Watson office announced immediately after the council’s refusal that it would withdraw its offer to manage the park.
DAN GILBERT (left), CEO of Quicken Loans, Matt Cullen, CEO of Rock Ventures, and others applaud remarks highlighting the economic impact of the M1-Rail project.
“As we stated in the past, the end of January is a crucial time for the DNR (Department of Natu-
See belle
The words and thoughts of “American Idol” alumna, A-list recording artist and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson continue reverberate throughout the television industry and beyond.
michiganchronicle.com
race page A-4
By Bankole Thompson
Wayne State University, in partnership with several Detroit businesses, organizations and institutions, is conducting a feasibility study to explore establishing a public bike sharing system in greater downtown Detroit.
Reflections: ‘Idol’ voice (Page D-1)
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A City in Transition
The best way to improve schools is to improve the skills of the person standing in the front of Michigan classrooms.
Time to address gun violence before another tragedy (Page B-4)
313.963.5522
isle page A-4
Ted Talbert, Detroit’s legendary documentary journalist, chronicled Black life By Patrick Keating CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER
A cross section of metro Detroiters, including political and business leaders, judges and media personalities, gathered Jan. 28 at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church to pay their last respects to documentary journalist Ted Talbert, whose films included a focus on the Michigan Chronicle’s 65th anniversary in 2001. Talbert died Jan. 22 at age 70. Talbert won several Emmy awards during his career and was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2000. His biography on the Hall of Fame’s website reads, in part, “His penetrating, well-crafted documentaries have made Ted
Talbert one of the best documentary television producers in the country... The common thread in all of Talbert’s works concerns the struggles and successes of African Americans— heroes, champions and ordinary people.” “Ted was a historical figure in that as a video journalist, his work will Ted Talbert live on,” said John Graves, president of PR Networks. “Basically, the archives tell the story of our past. So the archives tell the story of our history.”
He said Talbert will be truly missed because of the impact his work has had on the African American community. Talbert grew up in Royal Oak Township and was educated at Northern High School. While in high school, his love for Black history and journalism first blossomed. He subsequently attended Mt. San Antonio College in California. He worked at WDIV TV 4 since 1989, but over the years had produced documentaries for various stations. During his career, he made nearly 20 of those films, according to the Michigan Jour-
nalism Hall of Fame. In addition to his Emmy awards, Talbert was also honored with Ohio State University’s Achievement of Merit Award, as well as the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Detroit chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. Last February, Talbert cosponsored, along with the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, a special screening of his 1985 documentary about the Tuskegee Airmen, “An Eagle Should Fly.” Documentaries about African American history not only included the Tuskegee Airmen and the Michigan Chronicle, but also
See ted
talbert page A-4