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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

JPMorgan Chase Bank Invests in the City

JPMorgan Chase & Co recently unveiled a $100 million, five year commitment to support and accelerate Detroit's economic recovery and strengthen its communities. This investment is the JPMorgan's largest commitment to a city, as well as being one of the largest corporate commitments to Detroit.
Jamie Dimon, Chase Chairman and CEO, said, "We believe in Detroit's future, and we want to see the city recover its economic strength." Their commitment includes: Investing in Detroit's community development tackling blight, strengthening workforce readiness, growing small businesses, and seeding future economic growth.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Detroit Recreation Facilities Map

Senior Citizens Can Apply for Solid Waste Discount

City of Detroit homeowners who are at least 65 years old and have a household gross income below $40,000 may be eligible for a sold waste discount of $120.

The application period is July 1st through September 15th. Interested individuals can get applications in person at the Coleman Young Municipal Center, Suite 136, or online at Solid Waste Fee Information.

Eligible seniors must submit a new application every year during the filing period.

Detroit Senior Olympics

Senior citizens ages 50 and older are invited to participate in the 2014 Detroit Senior Olympics. The City of Detroit Recreation Department has scheduled the event to take place June 17th and 18th. This year's Olympis will feature arts & crafts, baking, billiards, horseshoes, bowling, swimming, basketball, tennis, track, table tennis, Frisbee toss and softball hit & throw.

For more information, please call (313) 224-1129

Eat Healthy This Summer

The Detroit Community Markets Program, DCM, is a coalition of of seventeen Detroit based farmers markets, farm stands, and mobile trucks that provide fresh, affordable, and healthy produce to the Detroit area. The majority of the markets accept Bridge Card and also participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program.

Call (313)833-9300 or you can visit Detroit Community Markets or Community Markets Facebook page

Monday, May 19, 2014

New Service Available for Detroit Residents

Optional Curbside Recycling Program

Curbside recycling will be available this fall for those without recycling now. To take part, residents will need to opt-in and request a 64-gal recycling container. There is a one-time fee of $25 for the container. Residents will receive additional recycling information in the mail. For those households that currently have curbside recycling, collection will continue.

Recycling Rewards:

Recycling service is only provided to customers who have registered for the recycling program. In addition, all recycling participants have the option to register online for the Reward$ for Recycling. The program offers discounts and coupons from local businesses.

How to Sign-up:

If you live east of Woodward Ave call Rizzo Environmental Services at 866-772-8900 and get details on signing up for Reward$ for Recycling.
Rizzo Environmental PDF

If you live west of Woodward Ave call Advanced Disposal at 844-233-8764 to request a 64-gal recycling container.
Advanced Disposal PDF

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

District 2 Job Fair

Community Help and Job Fair
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Northwest Activities Center
18100 Meyers Detroit, MI 48235
2-7 p.m.
Bring a résumé and a friend.

Follow the link below for more information.
District 2 Job Fair

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

District 2 Clean Up

Local business man and District 2 resident Greg Pawlowski has organized a city cleanup in the Ralston-Woodward-State Fair. As the head of 501c 3, Earth Community, Greg along with community supporters cleaned up a neighborhood lot.

Another cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 31st with a rain make up day for Sunday June 1st. This will help clean up the area for the neighborhood Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 14th.
The clean up starts at 2 p.m. on the corner of Woodward and Ralson to Lantz Street and will continue down Woodward to State Fair from Ralston Street.

Contact Greg at palowski.gregory@gmail.com for more information.

Reopening Riverside Park in Detroit for the People in 2014

by  Richard Clement



During a recent inspection of City assets, we went to Riverside Park in Detroit Michigan located next to the Ambassador Bridge(click here).  This park was shut down on the allegation of contaminated land.  After further review, the park has been shut down long enough.  Our plan to reopen the park is to remove layers of dirt and restore the land with natural compost and mulch.  Neighborhood experts in growing (mostly Senior Citizens) and consultants in the form of students majoring in agriculture will be tapped to lead the way in restoring this park.  Detroit residents attending schools with agriculture programs (example: Michigan State, Tuskegee, Tenn. St, Florida A&M, et al) will get preferences to work on this program for College Credit. In other words, this will be on of the greatest Brownfield Projects ever undertaken by the City of Detroit.


For too long this park has been a victim of politics, neglect and, used like a Knight on a Chess Board.  Benches are in disrepair, the garbage is not picked up at all and, the Boat Launch was shut down also.  Community participation and financial investment from grants will be considered to help restore this park into a place for the people to relax, fish and, play baseball on.    Meanwhile, the area that the mail boat occupies is very clean and properly maintained.  This park needs some help from the Federal Government along with City of Detroit citizens working as one to make this park viable again.



If we are going to come back as a City, Parks and Recreation must be fully funded to sponsor programs and activities like a fishing derby or, something similar to it for Senior Citizens and youth.   We are encouraging you all to show up in person every Thursday at 1pm on the 13th floor of City Council and address your concerns to Councilwoman Mary Sheffield (click here), chair of the Neighborhoods and Community Services Committee (click here).   Emails and phone calls work well too and, your voice will be respected, evaluated and, heard.  Citizens are allowed to speak during public comment for 2 minutes.     The famed two minute drill is a standard procedure for public speakers, unless you write a request to Council President Brenda Jones(Click Here) to speak.  If approved you will be granted 4 minutes to speak.



Otherwise it’s time to re-store and repair one of Detroit’s hidden assets for the good of the Citizens of Detroit. Especially the ones on the riverfront who live there.




Otherwise, please show up to Vote in 2014 to keep Detroit moving!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Resolution

Resolved: The Detroit City Council supports the renewal of the operational millage to fund the Detroit Public Library. They also approved the proposed ballot language submitted by the Detroit Library Commission for forwarding to the Detroit Election Commission for placement on the August 5,2014 primary ballot.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

PNC Branch Scheduled to Close

The PNC bank branch office located at Livernois and Margareta is scheduled to close on Friday, June 6, 2014. A new branch will open in the Gateway shopping area. In the 48221 zip code, there are no PNC locations within a five mile radius in the city of Detroit. At this time, PNC has no plans to have a freestanding ATM in or near the area.

Residents who are unhappy about this decision and wish to lend their voice can contact:
Josephine Henyard, PNC Regioanl Manager, josephine.henyard@pnc.com
Jason Paulateer, PNC Community Banker, jason.paulateer@pnc.com

Delinquent Water Bills

The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department has a policy of shutting off water service when bills are 45 days past due, but the majority of residential balances are over six months old.

Roughly $1 million of the biggest delinquent water bills belong to:

City of Detroit Public Fold Course at Palmer Park (owes $422,295)
VA Hospital (owes $131,096.28)
Joe Louis Arena(owes $80,255.25)
Apartment Building on W.Chicago (owes $71,621.87)
Eastern Market (owes $60,911)
Ford Field (owes $55,803)
Abandoned Homes (owes $47,075.09)
Properties on Coyle (owes $41,200.10)

In addition to these delinquencies, more than $20 million is past due on commercial and industrial accounts. Detroit Public Schools is responsible for about 20% of that figure; they owe $3.8 million.
According to the emergency manger, Kevyn Orr, Detroit was losing an average of 24,000 residents a year between 2000 and 2010. Consequently, many of these previously lived in homes are now vacant. Abandoned properties account for nearly 20% of houses in the city of Detroit, so it is very possible that thousands of accounts represent tenant free homes.

As a resident of the City of Detroit if you cannot afford to pay your water and sewer bill, the Detroit Residential Water Assistance Program (DRWAP)may be of service. To qualify for financial assistance, customers need to:
be a Detroit resident
be faced with shut off or pending shut off of their water or sewer service
be at or below 200-percent of current Federal Government Poverty Levels
need to be living in a single-family dwelling and responsible for paying their water bill on a monthly basis

Please contact the DHS Community Service Center in your area for more information on this program.

Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.: Economic Development Contracts Up for Bid

Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.: Economic Development Contracts Up for Bid

Monday, May 5, 2014

Economic Development Contracts Up for Bid

The purpose of the Economic Development Corporation is to maintain landscape services at various vacant lots located on the east side of the City of Detroit.
The Site Areas are as follows:

1) Vacant lots in the East Riverfront (Riopelle Park & Atwater Sites) area, generally bounded by Woodbridge on the north, Jos Campu on the east, Atwater on the south, Riopelle on the west.

2) Several lots in the Jefferson Village Subdivision, generally bounded by Marquette Drive on the west, St. Jean on the east, Freud on the south, East Jefferson on the north.

3) St. Jean Berm, which is located on St. Jean (west side of St. Jean only) from East Jefferson (south) to Mack Avenue (north).

The scope of services for this bid package includes, but is not limited to, all necessary and incidental labor, equipment, tools, material, supplies, and supervision to properly perform and complete all work required for keeping the landscape features in a well maintained and groomed condition.

There will be a Pre-Proposal Meeting planned for Monday, May 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the corner Riopelle & Atwater Streets. The next meeting for the Jefferson Village Project, located at Harding and Lysette Streets at 10:30 AM.

Complete Proposals shall be received by the EDC no later than 4:00 PM, Monday, May 12, 2014.

All Bidders shall comply with the prevailing Equal Opportunity and Labor Standard Provisions of the City of Detroit. Each Bidder must demonstrate its ability to obtain Human Rights, Tax Clearances from the City of Detroit, W-9 and a Certificate of Liability Insurance as a condition of award ability.
If additional information is needed regarding this Request for Proposal, please contact Ms. Colona, Project Manager at (313) 237-4624, Cell: (313) 850-7338 or e-mail @ dlcolona@degc.org

Thursday, May 1, 2014

District 2 May Happenings

Stay informed on important city news and events with our monthly newsletter.

May 2014 Newsletter

"Prospector Reveals" has been moved to a different time. It is now every Saturday 2-3 p.m. on 1440 AM WDRJ Detroit.