Hitting the streets
statenews.com | 7/22/13 | @thesnews
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Follow ELPD through a night of arrests, fights and broken windshields
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN WAN/THE STATE NEWS
MOTOR CITY MELTDOWN Campus reacts as Detroit makes history as largest U.S. city to declare bankruptcy
ECONOMY
Michigan unemployment rate rises for 1st time in year By RJ Wolcott
be responsible for the increased numbers. “Unemployment can rise just because more persons are looking for work who were not looking for work before,” Conlin said. “This could be because discouraged workers who had quit looking for work are now more optimistic and looking to re-enter the labor force, or June might be a time that students enter the market looking for work,” she concluded. With a decrease in government jobs and a growing economy, Kurt Weiss, the public information director of DTMB, said these new figures are not a concern. “This is the kind of movement we’d anticipate, the economy is slowly growing,” Weiss said. Pointing to an increase in manufacturing jobs throughout the state, as well as a renewed effort to attract businesses, Michigan has a bright economic future, Weiss said.
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kabdilla@statenews.com
GOV. RICK SNYDER:
W
“We are in a comeback state here in Michigan, but to be a great state, we need to get Detroit on the path to being a great city again.”
After Orr fi led the city of Detroit’s Chapter 9 bankruptcy application Thursday, Gov. Rick Snyder drove
home one point in a news conference the next day: it’s time to start over — not just for the city, but for the entire state of Michigan. “This is the day to solve this debt problem, this service problem,” Snyder said
THE STATE NEWS ■■
ith a $18 billion debt perched at the city of Detroit’s doorstep, state-appointed emergency city manager Kevyn Orr had one fearful vision: a once-bustling city, fresh out of options.
Friday. “The growth of Detroit is incredibly important for all of us, but most importantly for the hardworking citizens of Detroit. We are in a comeback state here in Michigan, but to be a great state, we need to
get Detroit on the path to being a great city again.” The first step Detroit’s case has until Aug. 19 before it could become eligible for bankruptcy. If the application is approved, it would make the city the largest in U.S. history to do so. The city’s many creditors, including General Motors, might go without their money. The future funding for more than 23,000 retired city employees hangs in the balance. But at MSU, the effect on students only scratches the surface. MSU alumnus Deon’ta Bailey, who grew up on See DETROIT on page 2 X
It’s been a rough month for Michigan. Just one day before the city of Detroit declared bankruptcy, prompting a visit from Gov. Rick Snyder, new unemployment figures from June revealed the first increase in 12 months. However, determining whether this spells disaster or redemption for the state depends on whom you ask. June’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 8.7 percent, an increase of three-tenths of a percent from May, but more than half a percent lower than June 2012, according to a report from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, or DTMB. Phil Gardner, the director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute, or CERI, said month-to-month chang- See UNEMPLOYMENT, page 2 X es don’t necessarily say much about Unemployment rates the health of Mich- June 2012 - June 2013 igan’s economy. He added that while 10% Michigan the numbers are less than ideal, it U.S. may not signal impending doom for college graduates entering the 9% workforce. “There are a lot of factors, but there is no earthshattering crisis in the state,” Gardner said. 8% While there may not be enough jobs for each graduate within Michigan, Gardner hopes the next few years will 7% be kind to young adults seeking a career within the mitten. MSU economics professor Stacy Dickert-Con6% lin said renewed hope amongst the SOURCE: BUREAU OF L ABOR STATISTICS unemployed might INFOGR APHIC: DREW DZWONKOWSKI | SN
JUNE 2012 JULY 2012 AUG. 2012 SEPT. 2012 OCT. 2012 NOV. 2012 DEC. 2012 JAN. 2013 FEB. 2013 MARCH 2013 APRIL 2013 MAY 2013 JUNE 2013
DANYELLE MORROW/THE STATE NEWS
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit emergency city manager Kevyn Orr speak to the press about the filing of a Chapter 9 bankruptcy on Friday at the Maccabees Building, 5057 Woodward Ave., in Detroit. “There were no other viable alternatives,” Snyder said, who spoke of the 60-year decline of the city.
By Katie Abdilla
CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 5
F E S T I VA L
BUSINESS
Taste of Downtown brings local food, music Ariel Ellis
Lansing resident Steven Edgerly pours a drink during the Taste of Downtown event on Saturday on South Washington Square in Lansing. Edgerly, whose wife works for the city, volunteered at the event for the evening.
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WESTON BROOKS/THE STATE NEWS
MSU graduate student Brent Keaner, left, and Ferndale, Mich., resident Lauren Dillon look at clothes on Sunday outside Moosejaw, 555 E. Grand River Ave.
Heat advisory affects Sidewalk Sales turnout By Derek Kim
dkim@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS ■■
A heat wave that scorched East Lansing last week forced more than 180 local businesses, art galleries and restaurants to persevere through the Sidewalk Sales throughout the weekend. Merchants and customers alike anticipate specials and sales during this annual event,
however, a more diluted downtown was apparent as temperatures flirted with the 90s. Sales and specials quickly changed to sweat for Moosejaw employee Audrey Chamberlain, who couldn’t help but notice a lesser turnout. “It hasn’t felt as busy as I thought it would,” Chamberlain said. “It seems that peoSee SIDEWALK on page 2 X
A s L a n si ng r e side nt Sonya Lang indulged in the sweet and savory treats of local eateries and listened to upbeat melodious live bands, she couldn’t help but compare Saturday night’s Taste of Downtown excitement to a lively street in Memphis, Tenn. “I turned to my sisters and said, ‘This reminds me of Beale Street,’ but it’s exciting because it’s in Lansing,” Lang said. “You get to enjoy the people, the taste of the food, enjoy entertainment and just being out and in Lansing … I love it.” Cathleen Edgerly, communications and marketing manager of Downtown Lansing Inc., said the idea for the “feel-good summer event” came after brainstorming ideas to further the revitalization of downtown Lansing. “We came up with this idea to really feature our dow ntow n businesses because there are over 40
DANYELLE MORROW/THE STATE NEWS
restaurants. So why not have a food-tasting event, coupled with wine tasting and live music?” Edgerly said. “It reintroduces people to downtown if they haven’t been here for a while, or, if they’re new, it really gives them a chance to get the fl avor of what downtown Lansing has to offer.” Edgerly said the goal of the event was to ensure that it of fered somet h i ng for
everyone. “It was a really different mix this year, which was great,” Edgerly said. “We had things from sliders to ribs to fancier chilled soups, Jimmy Johns sandwiches … sushi, Mediterranean cuisine from Aladdin’s. Juice Nation is always a hit with their frozen custard and smoothies, and Edmund’s is great with finishing out the night … with apple pie
sundaes.” Roaming into the food lineup this year were two new Lansing restaurants: P Squared Wine Bar and Bistro and Wandering Waffles. Uniquely satisf ying taste buds, Wandering Waffles owner Samantha Wilbur offered an unconventional take on waffles with her burrito shooters, See TASTE on page 2 X