Detroit

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/9094030

Editorial: The People Mover. The QLine. Two proof-of-concept tram systems that cover about as much ground as the kiddie-car train at The Detroit Zoo. How is it that Detroit—city that used to be mentioned in the same breath as New York, London or Paris—just can't get an effective mass transit system. One bus per hour per line.

I distinctly remember a bus ride from MCC South Campus to the Cass Tech area that took, beside the Gen. Patton-like coordination between various bus schedules, three hours including the transfer at the Royal Oak Transit Center. A trip that would have generously taken 45 minutes by car.

It's not for lack of trying, as the linked article elaborates. Even Cleveland has a functional public transit, for the love of Colman! Chicago can connect the surrounding cities, why can't Detroit? Yes, I'm familiar with the plethora of ~~excuses~~ reasons of varying veracity. Only recently Detroit's [saviour|plunderer] and QLine namer Dan Gilbert has seen the light but I'm compelled to question his motives after his near-total silence on the matter until now.

Sorry for the rant but this is a subject that has stuck in my throat like a small fish bone for longer than I care to remember. And now back to our regularly scheduled program…

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/9043928

The museum is hosting a job fair to fill open positions from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Hitsville NEXT, the educational center of Motown Museum’s newly expanded campus.

Open positions listed online include archive intern, information services manager, events manager, and assistant retail manager. More may be posted soon, according to a press release, as available roles, some seasonal and some permanent, include jobs in administration, retail, guest services, programming and education, and archive and collection management.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/9043909

BRRRRRR!!! Feel like struttin' yer stuff down Woodward Ave.—at a brisk pace AND temperature—in only a Speedo? I don't know if you'll actually beautify the streets but you'll be doing it to raise funds to benefit The Greening of Detroit and the Ruth Ellis Center. Halo Detroit proudly presents the 8th Annual Detroit Santa Speedo Run.

More information at the Halo Detroit website or on their Facebook page.

Noel Night is an open house of the Midtown Detroit and Cultural Center districts that celebrates diverse holiday traditions amid the state’s premier arts and cultural institutions, historic churches, galleries, and a growing circle of small businesses. Noel Night provides the perfect backdrop for an evening packed with performances and other holiday experiences with family and friends—all free of charge

From the local press…

• The Detroit Free Press: Noel Night lights up Detroit's cultural district this Saturday
• The Metro Times: Noel Night returns to Midtown Detroit for a magical evening of food, music, and holiday shopping

Tomorrow evening in Midtown. Check the official site for exact times and other details.

And if you go, how about some reaction here afterwards, eh?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8952017

Police surveillance tools have multiplied in the two years since the council adopted a Community Input Over Government Surveillance ordinance. The 2021 law, created in partnership with civil rights groups, requires public disclosures before the council can approve technology contracts. Advocates say loopholes in the law and a lack of data reporting have undermined efforts to inform residents about how their information is being collected.

Tawana Petty is a fellow with the Social Science Research Council and Detroit activist who was working with the council and ACLU to draft an oversight ordinance. Petty pulled her support for what ultimately passed in 2021, saying input from the Detroit Police Department resulted in “too many carve outs” for police to avoid disclosures.

“Even a cost analysis would be helpful,” [said Council Member Gabriela] Santiago-Romero [Public Health and Safety committee chair]. “If you tell me something is going to lower crime, I need a benchmark. It’s the same with our garbage, we have expectations of when it gets picked up and if it’s not you’re not doing your job and we’ll find another company. What I’m seeing with DPD is we’re not as stringent, and we should be.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8950831

“The problems with internal combustion engines are mostly sorted,” Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports senior director of testing, told me. “The new problems are mostly associated with electronics: Electric vehicles that use brand new platforms and power trains.”

EVs in model years 2021-24 suffered about twice as many reliability problems as internal combustion engines, or ICE, according to CR’s survey of about 70,000 vehicles.

Hybrids were the big winners, with an average 26% fewer problems. Faring worst were plug-in hybrid vehicles, an extremely promising technology that features a bigger battery than a regular hybrid, so the vehicle can go farther on electricity in daily driving, but also has a gasoline engine for long trips. PHEVs had 146% as many issues as ICE vehicles.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8932907

The Michigan Transportation Department and city of Detroit on Wednesday opened the segment on 14th Street between Marantette and Dalzelle streets near Michigan Central Station, where Ford Motor Co. is building an electric- and autonomous-vehicle campus. The road is equipped with inductive-charging coils from Israel-based Electreon Wireless Ltd. to test the technology's efficiency and potential for public transportation opportunities. Only EVs equipped with a special receiver can be charged from it.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in September 2021 announced a pilot initiative to develop the nation's first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road in Michigan. MDOT and Electreon have a five-year agreement to develop an electric-road system to test the technology in the state, including 1 mile in Corktown.

The electric road is safe for drivers, pedestrians and wildlife, according to the project leaders. There are two Electreon static inductive charging stations in front of the Michigan Central Building, which is different from the former train station. The stations can charge parked EVs equipped with receivers.

94 years old today! Record executive, producer, songwriter, film and television producer, the founder of an enormous and integral part of not only Detroit history but of modern pop music.

I personally can't imagine a world without Tamla/Motown Records, without The Miracles, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha and The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5…oh, the list goes on and on, all that wonderful music originating from that little house at 2648 W. Grand Blvd.

A most warm and Happy Birthday to veteran, ex-auto worker, ex-boxer and King of Hitsville, USA, Mr Berry Gordy Jr.!

Bonus Music Geek link: Can We Recreate The Motown Sound? -- reverb.com's Will Kurk and Joe Shadid present a short super-technical history and analysis of the Motown Sound plus their recreation challenge. It's absolutely amazing that huge sound came out of that tiny room!

Coast Guard officials are presently dumping tons of salt, butter and barrels of milk in the surrounding waters to prepare the world's largest international gnocchi alla romana party.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8784735

The man's fingerprints are all over American jazz…and then some! One of jazz's only euphonium soloists, Kiane Zawadi has played with the likes of Sonny Stitt, Art Blakey, Yusef Lateef, Artie Shepp, McCoy Tyner…man, I'm tired just listing these cats! The list just goes on and on!

So, Mr Zawadi, we wish you a most happy 91^st^ birthday!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8740485

Kinyon, co-owner of Detroit Outpost outfitters at Grayhaven State Harbor, was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, an extremely aggressive and rare form of cancer that ravaged her body and took her from the world in just five weeks, her husband, John Roberts-Kinyon, 44, told the Detroit Free Press. The mother of two died at home surrounded by family.

"Missy has left an indelible wake for everyone," said Jason McGuire, 47, CEO and operator of Riverside Marina in Detroit. "Kayaks don’t leave wakes. Wakes are what happen when you go through the water pretty fast and it leaves a ripple. Kayaks don’t do that ― but Missy, her life, did that."

"Missy opened her arms to everyone and made you feel as if you were the only one. She would say yes and do whatever needed to be done, especially for the underdog, said Lila Lazarus, a longtime friend and Detroit TV personality from Orchard Lake. "She had an open door, open heart policy. She saw the magic in everyone."

~Photo~ ~courtesy~ ~of~ ~Barbara~ ~Johns~

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8723838

Developer MHT Housing Inc. sought to dedicate most of the 200 units as affordable housing, but Brush Park residents were not on board due to a recent uptick in vehicle vandalism in the area, and asked for market-rate options. The resolution approved by City Council on Tuesday calls for the four residential developments to contain a mix of affordable and market-rate housing, one of which will provide housing for those who have aged out of foster care, along with a renovated indoor recreation facility.

Tuesday's meeting stretched through the evening, primarily due to a long line of public commenters who urged officials to call for a cease-fire in Gaza after violence broke out on Oct. 7 between Israel and Hamas. City Council weighed a resolution for weeks, calling for various changes in language, and passed it in a 7-2 vote.

See this earlier link regarding the City Council vote.

Advocates of reforming the city's property tax ordinance say changes are expected to provide residents with greater transparency in the assessment process. City Council would hire an independent evaluator to create an annual study of assessments for council's review, in which they could take no action or request an appeal to the Board of Review.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8723586

Residents usually seek more help around the holidays because of food-centered celebrations, but this is a surge unlike any other year, [Gleaners' Kristin] Sokul said.

Gleaners has seen a 30% increase in requests for support over the past year, Sokul said.…Forgotten Harvest also saw that 30% jump in demand in 2023 alone, said Chris Ivey, a marketing and communications director at the nonprofit.

An estimated 17 million American households reported problems finding food last year, according to a USDA report released in October. That was up from 13.5 million households in 2021.

If you're reading this, it's not a given but I'd guess you're not missing many meals…voluntarily, anyway. You know the drill: make like it's Christmas every day (regardless of denomination) and give. You pick the organization. Time and/or financial support is always welcome.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8721787

…however, as it has been vacant for years and likely needs significant repair.

"Fixer-upper" my patoot! It was built only 37 years ago and hasn't been vacant all that long. What did Ms Baker do, leave the tub running? Maybe she left the windows open? Forgot to empty the fridge? Look at that view! I'm taking up a collection to buy. All donors are invited to the housewarming for a beer.

The actual listing.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8598743

The nine-member council voted 7-2 near the end of Tuesday's formal session after weeks of contentious debate. Council Pro Tem James Tate and at-large member Coleman A. Young II voted against the resolution.

Coleman A. Young II said he voted against the resolution because it did not condemn Hamas' actions, recognize Israel's right to exist as a state or recommend a two-state solution.

"My heart breaks for the children of Palestine," Young said. "I'm not a fan of how (Prime Minister of Israel) Benjamin Netanyahu or what he is doing. I think it's anti-democratic and I don't agree with the settlements in the West Bank. We didn't even mention what Hamas did. It's an important and monumental event in the Middle East. We need to get it right and be accurate about it. Palestine is not Hamas and we didn't do a good job in communicating that. There's a difference between war and war crimes."

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/5714115

~Gov.~ ~Gretchen~ ~Whitmer~ ~signs~ ~the~ ~Reproductive~ ~Health~ ~Act~ ~at~ ~Schoolcraft~ ~College,~ ~Nov.~ ~21,~ ~2022~ ~|~ ~Photo:~ ~Jon~ ~KIng~

“Across the nation, the American people are standing up for abortion rights,” said [Michigan Governor Gretchen] Whitmer. “We’ve seen it again and again. They’ve looked to Michigan because we showed the world. When you speak truth to power, when you fight for the issue and fight for the people, you can win on this issue.”

What was not included were provisions that included eliminating the mandatory 24-hour waiting period before getting an abortion and allowing Medicaid to cover the cost of an abortion.

Those two measures, which were key priorities for several advocacy groups for abortion access, were cut from the original legislation, after Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) stated she wouldn’t vote for measures that she said allow Medicaid resources to be used for those seeking elective abortions rather than senior citizens living in poverty.

As for the missing elements, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has already said it would continue to advocate for their passage.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8556282

Does this woman never sleep?

Actress, author, feminist, activist, philanthropist.

Ann Marie(That Girl), Rachel's mom (Friends), Judge Mary Conway Clark (Law & Order: SVU).

St. Jude's Childrens' Research Hospital.

Free To Be…

Emmy(s), Golden Globe, Grammy, Peabody, Women In Film Lucy Award, AWMF Gracie Award, not to mention a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Be it television, stage, audio or the written page, there almost isn't territory in which Marlo Thomas hasn't made her mark. Hers is a familiar presence to four generations. Today we celebrate this amazing, multi-faceted lady on her birthday.

Happy Birthday, Ms Thomas!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8526892

~Photo~ ~courtesy~ ~Bill~ ~Goodman~

“Bill was a legal legend and a true People’s Lawyer,” Michael J. Steinberg, director of the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative at the University of Michigan Law School and former legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, wrote on Facebook, saying Goodman “litigated some of the most important civil rights cases in the country.”

Goodman spent his career as a tenacious advocate of racial justice and a zealous defender of human rights. He was involved in landmark cases and represented prisoners charged in the Attica Prison riots of 1971. He fought for women’s rights to access health services in the 1980s and 1990s, and more recently, represented victims of the Flint water crisis.

On Monday, a memorial service for Goodman will be held from 4-8 p.m., with religious services at 6 p.m. More information about the service is available at the Ira Kaufman Chapel website.

Rest in peace, Mr Goodman.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8511879

~Photo~ ~courtesy~ ~of~ ~Detroit~ ~Free~ ~Press~ ~archives~

The parade runs three miles down Woodward Avenue from Kirby Street to Congress Street. Beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, the parade will run for about an hour and a half. The parade will feature three new floats this year...with an additional seven floats in 2024.

A long-standing parade staple, the Big Head Corps features large papier-mache heads in the parade...including some marking local celebrities like Aretha Franklin. This year's parade will feature a new addition with a Big Head of Pistons point guard Isaiah Thomas.

The grand marshals for this year's parade will be former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown and broadcast journalist Huel Perkins.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/5641117

While Lambert, 42, had little to no experience in election-related cases before 2020, according to a Detroit News review of her Wayne County personnel file, Trump supporters picked her in December 2020 to work on a lawsuit to try to overturn Democrat Joe Biden's 154,000-vote victory in Michigan.

The push by Lambert and others to access voting equipment has played out as they staked their reputations on unproven assertions that something improper happened in November 2020. Within 33 days of the presidential election, Lambert claimed in a court filing there had been "massive" fraud. Three years later, she and others have provided no evidence that supports the claim.

Attorney David Fink represented the city of Detroit in the Powell-backed suit to reverse Michigan’s 2020 election. Fink said he was shocked by Lambert’s willingness to sign court filings that included blatantly false information.

“It was clear that she did not understand the basics of election law,” Fink said.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8484942

An article by Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist ML Elrick, who co-authored (with Jim Schaefer) the Detroit Free Press exposé on Kilpatrick and his administration in 2008.

But it's tough to get 600,000 people to agree on anything. And memories of Kilpatrick's mendacity and misappropriations are fading, even among the 32,000 retired city workers whose pensions were slashed as a result of Hizzoner's crooked deals and the mismanagement that contributed to Detroit's dubious distinction as the largest city in American history to declare bankruptcy.

When it comes to predicting what someone will do, actions speak louder than words. So, before we take a refresher course on the laws Kilpatrick absolutely did break and try to add up all the money he still owes Detroiters and every other taxpayer in the United States, I'm going to share a few stories you haven't heard that may provide insights into whether one of the most talented and charismatic cats I've ever met really is the rare leopard who has changed his spots.

Of the $1 million in restitution he agreed to pay the City of Detroit as part of his plea deal to resolve perjury and obstruction charges brought against him for lying during a whistle-blower trial, he still owes more than $854,000.

Crossposted from https://lemmy.world/post/8459953

The action taken by General Motors came a day after the Free Press first reported the allegations, which date back as far as 2011, against the private security force, Renaissance Center Management Co., and its white officers. Multiple federal lawsuits describe a pattern of white officers assaulting, targeting, harassing and unlawfully detaining Black people in a basement cell of the Renaissance Center that has gone unchecked for years.

Dear readers: to avoid overload damage, please deactivate your Bullshit Detectors™ before continuing.

"Allied Universal has zero tolerance for discrimination and use of force of any kind," the security company said in a Friday statement.

...alleged examples of untolerated "discrimination and use of force" such as...

• [a] Black woman who...says officers illegally held her in a cell...so long that she urinated on herself
• ...passed around a photo of the decapitated head of a Black man, laughing and making racist jokes
• ...a white officer struck her in the face and beat her after an argument over whether she could bring her bicycle inside the building
• ...he was maced, handcuffed, beaten and dragged...to a small room where water was poured over his nose and mouth, choking him
• ...pushed through the doors with such force that glass shattered

(Crossposting in Jerboa is hard!)

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8386494

“It’s probably the best kept secret in Detroit,” said Elana Rugh, president and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society.

~Photo:~ ~Eric~ ~Seals,~ ~Detroit~ ~Free~ ~Press~

With 50 vehicles in the warehouse, each stored for protection inside large inflatable plastic bubbles, there is so much history inside each one. Like a 1905 Cadillac, the first closed-body Cadillac ever built, that was the personal car of Henry Leland, the founder of Cadillac and Lincoln. Or a 1934 Stout Scarab, one of six remaining in existence, that was made at Scott Street and Telegraph in Dearborn.

Learn more at the Automotive Showplace exhibit at The Detroit Historical Museum.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8385334

~Image~ ~provided~ ~by~ ~the~ ~city~ ~of~ ~Detroit~

It’s the second redistricting effort since voters passed a referendum in 2009 to elect the council by districts. The first district maps were drawn in 2012. The changes for 2025 elections won’t affect two “at-large” seats on the nine-member council. Candidates run for the at-large seats separately, and the top two vote-earners serve on the council.

“We need to be clear with residents that the City Council boundaries are changing and not neighborhood boundaries,” said Renard Monczunski, a transit advocate who lives in District 6. “The fact that you failed to provide maps to the public so we could properly deliberate about this, the city is late on this process.”

“Despite the expressed concerns with the census numbers and challenges the city put forward, it is undeniable the city has lost population,” [Planning Department Director Marcell] Todd said. “With any change in population, redistricting will be necessary to ensure there is fair proper representation across those districts.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/8382396

Ooh and aah your way into the holiday season! Like yesterday's reminder, tonight's the 20^th^ Anniversary Detroit Tree Lighting at Campus Martius, plus the Cadillac Square street market and nearby Light Up Beacon Park.

For those who can't get to Campus Martius to see the festivities, the linked article offers up other Metro-Detroit fun things to do this weekend, holiday-related and not.