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michiganchronicle.com
Volume 78 – Number 39
WHAT’S INSIDE
Call for diversity (Page A-3) It’s a good thing that an increasing number of organizations are posting jobs that encourage minorities (ethnic, sexual orientation, etc.) to apply. But what is needed are more conversations regarding how to maintain those employees.
June 10-16, 2015
Detroit is NOT a police state Four-day curfew cuts against access for children
By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
The last time I checked, Detroit was not Russia under the KGB. Detroit is not South Africa under P.W. Botha where Blacks were required to have a special pass before moving around. Detroit is part of the United States, a paragon of democracy and one
of the best in the world, despite the contradictions we often witness in this democratic experience called the U.S.A.
effect during both the Detroit River Days Festival and the Ford Fireworks.
The optics of having children in this city move This therefore begs the around with documentaquestion: Who in the Detion or permission slips, troit Police Department the way South Africa was came up with the idea of under Botha and how the Bankole implementing a draconiKGB ruled Russia is a Thompson very bad idea, and its iman four-day curfew from June 19-22 for all children in plementation is worst, plain and Detroit under the age of 17 not simple. At a time when conversaaccompanied by an adult? tions around race and economic This curfew, if passed by the access for Blacks are boiling up Detroit City Council, will be in to the center, we don’t need any
Lee A. Daniels notes that police mistreatment of Black and Hispanic citizens is rising. And while these incidents are widely documented, thanks largely to new technology, there are underlying mindsets that set the stage for these acts of violence.
M-1 Rail, leading the construction of the threemile streetcar system along Woodward Avenue, has announced the acquisition of six individual streetcars, all of them American-made.
A doctor with a cause (Page C-4) Dr. John W. Sealey saw things growing up in North Carolina during the civil rights era that had a profound effect on him. He became committed to doing his part to make quality healthcare available to all.
The realities of reality TV (Page D-4) Although reality television can be entertaining, informative and even uplifting, in so many ways it also represents appealing the lowest common denominator of society, showing adults at their worst.
See CURFEW page A-4
By Donald James SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Moratorium in
Wayne County? Conyers, others call for reprieve for 31,000 homeowners By Bankole Thompson CHRONICLE SENIOR EDITOR
C
ongressman John Conyers, the dean of Congress, is the latest to add his voice to a growing call for a moratorium on property tax foreclosures in Wayne County after Monday’s deadline. About 31,000 homeowners as of last month are facing foreclosure by the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office. “I remain gravely concerned over the fate of the tens of thousands of Wayne County residents that could lose their homes to property tax foreclosure. While I greatly appreciate the hard work done by the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office to keep people in their homes, including providing an exten- John Conyers sion, additional time is needed to protect our residents from being kicked out of their homes,” Conyers said. “Detroiters already suffered through a foreclosure crisis caused by the discriminatory lending policies and incompetence of our nation’s biggest lending institutions. We cannot tolerate another round of foreclosures and eviction, much less one carried out by our local government that has a duty to serve our citizens.” Out of the 62,000 parcels of land that were served, 17,000, representing 27 percent, have paid their 2012 taxes and are out of foreclosure. On top of that, there are 10,000 owners of land which represents 16 percent of the entire foreclosure list who are on a payment agreement. The deputy county treasurer, David Szymanski, said that as long as those respondents keep up their payments they can avoid foreclosure.
owe inaccurate and unreasonable amounts in property taxes. In some cases, the owed taxes exceed the actual value of the home.” In March, about 2000 homeowners were in the process of making payment arrangements, which accounted for 3 percent of the foreclosure list. The distressed owner occupant extensions, meaning individuals who have not owed any taxes prior to 2012, represents another 1000 homeowners, or 1.5 percent. Those individuals have been given a year to pay what they owe for 2012. The Treasurer’s Office at the time said it had 1000 owners in what is called hold status, basically homeowners who are facing dire financial issues like bankruptcy. About 400 of the 1000 are already in bankruptcy. Given the statistical breakdown, the Treasurer’s Office Raymond Wojtowicz noted that about 31,000 parcel owners are still facing foreclosure, which is 50 percent of Detroiters. But because of the canvassing Szymanski and the office have been doing, they discovered that 10,500 of the 31,000 parcels are actually vacant land with no structure which basically means 34 percent are vacant land. Another 8,000 of the 31,000 parcels are structures that have been abandoned, accounting for 26 percent. The occupied structures represent 12,500 parcels or 40 percent of the 31,000 foreclosure list. The Treasurer’s Office believes that among these numbers there are landlords who are collecting rent and not paying taxes.
“Finally, foreclosing on occupied homes actually hinders the goal of raising revenue. Selling these homes at auction only gathers a tiny fraction of the revenues owed in taxes, while the eviction of families from their homes increases blight, depresses surrounding prop “Despite the economic hardship faced erty values and destabilizes neighborhoods,” by many Detroit families, too many Detroit Conyers said. “For these reasons, I strongly homeowners are being obligated to pay taxes urge Wayne County Treasurer Raymond Wowhen they are eligible for a statutorily-manjtowicz to immediately implement a moratoridated poverty exemption. Furthermore, the um on property tax foreclosures until there is City of Detroit has not carried out its duty an appropriate remedy for these families and under Michigan’s Constitution (Art. IX, § 3.) our community.” to assess the actual value of properties on an annual basis,” Conyers explained. “The failure Szymanski, the deputy treasurer, said a of local authorities to fulfill these two legal moratorium will not be granted. requirements means that many homeowners
See FORECLOSURE page A-4
$1.00
We just came back from Mackinac where race was a topical issue on the minds of business leaders. The leaders that I talked to on Mackinac Island the ones who often serve as patrons to the Detroit Police Department are concerned about the factors
Nation’s Black publishers heading to Detroit for NNPA 75th convention
America’s true crime problem (Page B-4)
American-made vehicles for streetcar system (page C-1)
policies or actions that further create a racial powder keg and gives the false notion that Black children are so bad that they should be quarantined for several days from the public in their own city.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), America’s largest and most influential Black-owned media trade organization, will hold its 75th Annual Convention June 16-20 in Detroit. Convening under the theme “Empowering a New Generation of Leadership,” all convention events will be held at the downtown Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, with the exception of the International Day of African Youth Pro- Benjamin Chavis gram (Wayne County Community College Atrium), the Presidential Reception (Charles H. Wright Museum of African Americans History) and the Chairman’s Reception (MotorCity Casino). The Michigan Chronicle, a longtime member of NNPA and the state’s largest Black-owned newspaper, will serve as the convention’s host publisher. “It is a tremendous honor to welcome this historic body of Black-owned newspapers to Detroit,” said Hiram E. Jackson, publisher of the Michigan Chronicle, who also sits on NNPA’s national board of directors and chairs its digital committee. “NNPA has been a strong voice of Black America for 75 years and it continues to address issues that impact every element of everyday life in the nation’s Black communities and beyond. Detroit is evolving on so many fronts, so to have the storied NNPA meet in our city, as the organization reaches new heights, is incredible for both Detroit and NNPA.” “We are extremely excited about holding the 75th Annual NNPA Convention in Detroit,” said Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA president and CEO. “Detroit has had a long tradition of publishing outstanding African American-owned newspapers. The Michigan Chronicle is one of the most important newspapers in America. It’s wonderful that we are coming to a world-class city that’s experiencing a comeback. We are looking forward to being there to help celebrate its comeback as we celebrate and reflect on the present and future of the NNPA.” The five-day conference will feature a series of workshops, training sessions, informational forums, interactive panels, speeches and other presentations that will proactively address print, digital and social media platforms used by the membership of NNPA. Additionally, other presentations will focus on economic development and sustainability in the Black community, as well as hot-button issues confronting the Black community, including deadly police violence, high unemployment, the need to improve education, among other topics. The convention will also hold its Legacy Awards, NNPA Foundation Merit Awards Dinner, swear in new board members, and salute Black church leaders at a gospel brunch, which will feature gospel recording artist Vickie Winans. The history of the NNPA dates back to 1940, when John H. Sengstacke, owner and publisher of the
See CONVENTION page A-4