Priorities for Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr

Kevyn Orr, Detroit's new state-appointed emergency manager, began his 18-month tenure late in March, says Click on Detroit. What are the priorities of a state controller in such a large city? Priorities for Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr The Detroit Free Press reports that some have only one task for the emergency manager: Leave leadership to elected officials. Rev. Charles Williams II of Michigan's National Action Network led a sit-in at City Hall last Thursday. The group filed a lawsuit against Michigan's new emergency manager law, Public Act 436, saying it violates voter rights. With Detroit's mayoral slot opening up, candidates must consider how they'd operate under a state-appointed controller, too. ABC Action News 7 WXYZ says Mike Duggan, a contender for mayor, wants the emergency manager gone ASAP and says he's ready to take over turnaround.

Organizing Ford Motor Company: Black Detroit Autoworkers, Communism, Cadillac Square

For the last 100ish years, the word "communism" has held negative connotations. Even now, saying you're a Communist will quiet the room fast. In 1930s Detroit, being a Communist wasn't necessarily considered a bad thing, though -- at least not for 60,000 black American autoworkers.  Sadly, Michigan government has turned back the hands of time and progress by passing an anti-union"right-to-work" bill. Organizing Ford: Black Detroit Autoworkers, Communism

Detroit Muslim Group Opens Food Pantry

With the onset of winter, resources at missions and homeless shelters are always stretched thin. This is particularly true in Detroit, where residents suffer from high rates of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness. To meet these rising demands, many organizations in Detroit provide food via pantries and soup kitchens to residents in need. Recently, a new cooperative was formed to assist with the burgeoning needs. The Islamic Shura Council of Michigan (ISCOM) is providing a food pantry to locals that kicked off on December 6, 2012.  Detroit Islamic Group Offers Food Bank

Right-to-Work Not Right for Michigan, Now or Ever

Protesters opposing right-to-work legislation rallied at Michigan's Lansing capitol earlier this week, says WXYZ. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has been flirting with right-to-work since Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ousted collective bargaining in his state last year. In fact, the Washington Post dubbed Gov. Snyder "the Scott Walker of 2014." However, when lawmakers forwarded right-to-work, Gov. Snyder said it wasn't the right thing for Michigan then. Operative word: then.  Read more

Detroit Debates Proposal 1, Michigan's Emergency Manager Referendum

A hotly contested item on Michigan's November 6, 2012, ballot is Proposal 1, a referendum on Public Act 4 of 2011. PA 4, passed by Gov. Rick Snyder last year, is the state's emergency manager law. PA 4 places pro tem managers in charge of financially struggling cities and public entities like school districts. This is an are of concern particularly for Detroit area residents. Six of the eight Michigan EMs are located in Detroit burbs and entities. If Proposal 1 passes, another 60 Michigan cities could get EMs. EMs don't come cheap. Entities that are assigned an EM have to pay salaries ($180,000-$435,000 a year), expenses, transportation, etc. If the city is already in financial trouble how is an overpaid exec going to help? EMs can and do cut jobs and vital services. Unemployed and underemployed residents can't pay taxes. They have to rely on social safety networks that drain financial resources. EMs are a lose-lose proposition. Detroit Debates Proposal 1, Michigan's Emergency Manager Referendum

Rainbow PUSH Detroit Obama-Romney Debate Watch Fight Night

This article was written about the Rainbow PUSH Michigan's August crusade. RPC-Michigan is gearing up for debate watch between President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney. Here are Facebook event details and here's the website.  The Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) is a grassroots collective action group that was formed by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in 1996. Rainbow PUSH refers to itself as a "multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international membership organization," and the goal is to work non-violently for social justice. Rainbow PUSH Michigan staged a protest march called "Crusade for America Parent and Youth March" downtown Detroit on Saturday, August 25. Here are some of the goals of this effort and why Detroit is a particularly important staging ground.Rainbow PUSH 'Crusade for America' Marches on Detroit 

Concerns About Mitt Romney

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has a poor memory, at least regarding some pranks from his days at an all-boys Michigan prep school, says ABC OTUS News. I'm concerned. He's being asked to recall high school, not memories from babyhood. Is one with so poor a memory fit to run our country? And now his choice of running mate Paul Ryan--further concerned. Not only for the 99%, but everyone. I just got a "paid for by the GOP" call saying Romney would put people back to work. Wow--now that's audacious. You can't cut and create simultaneously. And what kinds of jobs will these be? Patchwork, part time, minimum wage Mcjobs? Read on Mitt Romney's Memory, Conscience Need Jogging