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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Taking Democracy to the Hoop in Indiana - Peaceful Protest

by Richard Clement / The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.


"Time for a Party with Sparty! Go State!"  - Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr.

"Go Green!, Go White!"  - KB Stallworth

The recent actions by Lawmakers in Indiana to allow discrimination based on Sexual preference has created an opportunity to rebuke the War on Drugs.    A strong legal argument has been created for people who use cannabis as a part of their religion.   Yes discrimination is wrong and disrespectful to the person being discriminated against.  However, the law of unintended consequences has a silver lining of hope for people who want to put an end to it.

The case People of Guam vs Guerero (GSC Case #CRA99-025) upheld the right of an individual to use their religious sacrament without penalty of law. This 2000 decision by the Supreme Court of Guam affirmed the right of Benny Toves Guerrero to use cannabis as a part of his religious beliefs with the full protection of the Religious Freedom Act.   The starting paragraph from the legal brief affirms the basis of the decision:

“This is an appeal of the Superior Court's(Superior Case #CF0001-91) dismissal of an indictment upon motion of the Defendant, Benny Toves Guerrero. We find that the criminal statute at issue in this case, as applied to this Defendant, substantially infringes upon the Defendant's right to the free exercise of his religion as protected by the United States Constitution and the Organic Act of Guam. We conclude that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act may be applicable to Guam. Moreover, we hold that, even if it were not, in circumstances where a fundamental right is substantially infringed, the government must demonstrate both that the infringement is justified by a compelling interest and that it is the least restrictive means of achieving that objective. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's dismissal of the instant action.

The Citizens of the City of Detroit, State of Michigan, Michigan State University fans, Indiana Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Rastafarians, along with other organizations and believers, do not support Discrimination in any weight, shape, or form.

Fans of Michigan State University and citizens who are against selective treatment shall protest in a peaceful manner by using their religious sacrament in support of the protests against the true intent of the law to place harmful treatment of an individual or organization because of their lifestyle. Other methods include joining the 1st Church of Cannabis for a day while you are in Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, or East Lansing on Saturday April 4th for a day.  Finding a LGBT or person of a different race, culture, etc. to worship with this Saturday with their religious sacrament will send a strong message of disapproval.

The recent action by the State of Indiana affirmed the spiritual belief that good can come out of evil intent. The will of the people will prevail and with all of that farmland in Indiana, the farming community will rise up and grown industrial hemp for economic growth like Michigan. They will also wise up and make laws decriminalizing the possession and use at a State level and, prod their buddies of faith in Washington to remove it from the Controlled Substances List on the Federal level so that President Obama can sign it into law before he leaves office. 


When that happens, anyone who is in incarceration for cannabis in Indiana and the rest of America will be immediately removed from Federal, State, County, and Local institutions within 30 seconds after the act is signed into law. They must vacate the premises in one hour or be issued a ticket for loitering by a corrections officer.  This action will expunge a criminal record restoring voting rights and, will have the full effect of a Presidential Pardon.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Transportation Magic on 8 Mile and Woodward creating a new neighborhood in Detroit

by Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.




By clicking on this link, you will have a documented plan for the old Michigan State Fairgrounds from the Land Bank Authority.  This presentation will give you the actual 411 for the 157 acre location in Northwest Detroit. I along with the rest of my council members want you to have the actual plan for your records. The Magic Plus LLC group is strongly committed to hiring, training, and educating Detroit residents and like-minded citizens to improve the quality of life in our city. Councilmember Cushingberry is working with State and Federal agencies to construct a new AMTRAK station as an addition to the Magic Plus effort to redevelop the land.  

Future plans include the extension of the M1 rail line to 8 mile road and, construction of an east and west connection with the development of a M102 rail line going all the way from Lake St. Clair and points west to Livonia, Novi, and Wixom. It is high time for a regional rail system and places like the State Fair property and the old Northland Shopping center will make great hubs for regional transportation. This project will create 3 to 4 times more jobs than the current Meijer/Gateway project and, bring untold revenue to the County and City. Whereas we do not support the META group’s plan for the fairgrounds because it is rife with duplication of the Magic Plus group and does not serve the best interest of the City. 


Mayor Coleman Young always felt that the best thing for the City is working at a well-paying job with the City Services to match. Now that City employees and retirees can purchase property at %50 less than others, we want to encourage the re-investment by carrying it forward. Group purchase of homes on a block and people in them working in our Schools, Firehouses, and Police Precincts will contribute to the renaissance of Detroit.

Rapid Transit on Grand River and Gratiot will enhance the region’s growth and two bridges on the Detroit River will only add to the mix. Suggesting that a passenger light rail track be built on the old or new Ambassador Bridge may be a peace offering to settle the dispute with Mr. Maroun and everyone. Connection with DDOT and, VIA is a strong possibility if the details can be worked out. In the end it is time to stop bickering and start putting shovels in the ground to create jobs and prosperity for everyone to get the job done.



Tuesday, March 17, 2015

State Fair Property Blight Removal Project in District 2 Magic Plus LLC/REDICO and the Land Bank Authority

By Richard C. Clement

Meet the Developers of the old Michigan State Fairgrounds Land and the Detroit Land Bank Authority to view the plans to turn the area into a retail and transportation hub for rail and bus transportation. The plans also call for a new residential neighborhood and, educational complex that will serve the entire region. Make sure to get there so that you can be a witness to progress.

Magic Plus LLC/Redico group is committed to hiring and training people who live in the community to achieve a better quality of life. Council member Pro Tem Cushingberry supports this project as it will be a major job and revenue creating enhancement for District 2, the City of Detroit and, the Tri-County region of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. The plans call for an Amtrak station with service to Ann Arbor all the way to Chicago.  The completion of this project will eventually spread development all the way between 8 Mile Road to Mc Nichols, between Woodward Avenue and John R. For more information please attend this meeting:

Wed. March 18th 6-8:30 pm

Cadillac Place (old GM HQ)
Detroit, MI  48202

The team of Redico, Beatty, Ferguson and Johnson are fully committed to the future of Detroit’s growth. Between Dan Gilbert and Roger Penske, these gentlemen will work together to make a great city. To stay updated with the progress of this project please click here. Otherwise If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call  Councilmember Pro Tem at his office (313) 224-4535 or cushingberryg@detroitmi.gov


Sunday, March 15, 2015

George Cushingberry has declared a No Elrick Zone, No Interviews

by The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

“Don’t be Confused, by watching Fox News“– Council member Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr.


It is the position of Council member Pro-Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. that he will never grant an interview or feed into the sideshow dressed up as “news” with M.L. Elrick.   Mr. Cushingberry is joining a long list of public servants who will not interview with this reporter. Mr. Cushingberry has declared a No Elrick zone and, will not participate in his side show of degrading and humiliating public officials for profit.

ML Elrick will continue to be an unwilling participant in Mrs. Obama’s Lets Move Program by chasing him down for buffoonery interviews. We do understand that Mr. Elrick needs a job and is doing it well. The last thing we want is another unemployed white man blaming a black man for losing his job. Mr. Elrick is always welcome in Detroit like any other citizen to party, and work here. In 2016 we will be getting faster tax refunds to the citizens and, be able to collect missing revenue from people who work but do not live here. This and other things like music enhancement with the people through training and education.

Incidents like sponsoring insubordination of Detroit Police Officers to supervisors, trespassing, slandering the name of Sgt. William Carter, and bearing false witness with Debra Gooden as a client of his law services is a growing list of improper acts by an employee of a news agency. We hope that officer Officer Ibrahamovic gets sensitivity training instead of being dismissed. To toss a 62 year old man around like a rag doll invokes memories of Selma, and the struggle for civil rights that Mr. Cushingberry vehemently fought for all of his life. 

Until then, I will be working with my colleagues on the following:
  1. Restoring the cuts to City retirees and making sure that their fund is financially sound and that it never happens again
  2. Improving Information Technology and communication
  3. Getting opportunities for those who want work and need a job
  4. Encouraging young people to consider public service as Police and Firefighters
  5. Restoring City Airport as a commercial/international port of entry
  6. Regulation of Medical Marijuana businesses in the City through an ordinance that is fair and equitable to citizens, per the actions taken in Lansing.
  7. And many other things that are needed.


Furthermore, when Council member Benson completes his stint in jail, the 9 of us will continue our work with the executive branch to take our city to the next level. Therefore, until a retraction is issued, Mr. Cushingberry will not interview with Fox 2 Reporter ML Elrick.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Question is: Is George Cushingberry Jr. Practicing Law right now?

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

“Getting by with a little help from his friends”- John Lennon

Q: Is George Cushingberry Jr. practicing law?
A: NO.

           George Cushingberry Jr. is not practicing law at this time. He does not own the website domains as it is maintained by Friends of George Cushingberry  Jr. who always remembered the struggle that he took to get his law license.  The numerous amount of clients that he has successfully fought for and won, the community work he has performed as a lawyer, teacher, and pastor strongly outweigh the side show of ineptitude that a news network wants to portray. People who contact the websites are referred to an active lawyer/associate who can handle their case.

The U of D law professor, Larry Durbin (Fox 2 News) was right if, Mr. Cushingberry has ownership the domains. Given the fact that 98% of lawyers are not tech savvy, the probability that Mr. Cushingberry maintained the websites is extremely low. All good law firms have excellent technical consultants who bail them out when their computers crash and need help.

The appearance of Debora Goodner in the television report is a false and misleading piece of information by Fox 2 reporter ML Elrick.. 

Elrick statement:  “Cushingberry's license was suspended again this year, after Debora Goodner complained that he took her case, then blew her off.” 
DEBORA GOODNER: He says Ms. Goodner, I promise you I'm going to get that money to you soon. I never heard a word from him. “

Fact Check:

Debora Goodner was never a client of Attorney George Cushignberry Jr.  Ms. Goodner only spoke to Mr. Cushingberry twice over the phone and never retained him as an attorney.

With the current situation, Mr. Cushingberry has more time on his hands now to handle the detailed matters of the City of Detroit as the City emerges from the bankruptcy.  Regarding the pay adjustment for Detroit City Council Members, if there is any group of employees who deserve a raise it is the Detroit City Council under the leadership of President Brenda Jones. The City has elected a group of Council members who are delivering what the people want, despite their differences.

Everything is being managed in a most professional way by the council and, the communication with Mayor Duggan is excellent. City leadership is closely working together to make the City of Detroit right for its citizens, including restoring some of the cuts with claw back provisions in the pension to retirees health care costs an cost of living changes. Forcing senior citizens back to working a 5 day, 8 to 5 job after 30+ years for our city is outrageous and disrespectful. It is time to restore the promises and benefits back to our City retirees with a fair and equitable claw back. Future plans for our city include Re-developing City Airport for commercial use, and restoring neighborhoods through teamwork.

Finally, the license suspension is under appeal at this time and, Mr. Cushingberry is confident that he will have it back by the end of the year. When he gets his license back, he will not be taking cases as much because he will have to spend more time Working for you in District 2 promoting, reading, writing literacy,  math and, technology in our schools to our babies.

Please don’t feed the trolls.

Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Coming January 2016 Changes in Processing Income Tax Returns will lead to increased revenue for Detroit

by Richard C. Clement


Beginning January 1, 2016, an agreement between the City of Detroit and the Michigan Department of the Treasury will allow city residents to e-file their City of Detroit tax return as a part of their State Tax return. The combined e-filing of the State and City return will benefit City Taxpayers by,

1.       Improving the accuracy of the return
2.       Providing Faster Refunds
3.       Increasing taxpayer options as more software developers support a city return
4.       Allowing access to Treasury’s online services to confirm receipt of the return and the date the refund is issued.

This change will allow you or, your representative to file for a return online and get a refund much faster than you do now.  The City will be able to monitor funds and collect taxes from people who do not file local returns that work in the city. If a paper return is sent to the City, they will be manually entered into the Treasury Computer also.  All paper returns files will be scanned into an image and, the paper copy destroyed. If you owe the State of Michigan and due a refund from the City, by law your City refund cannot be seized.

The Information Technology function of the City Detroit will be re-distributed from data entry to visual monitoring of reports and daily cash flow in real time.  The City of Detroit will have a Tax fund set aside to cover the refunds being issues that will be funded by daily collections of City Taxes throughout the year.  With software upgrades, taxpayers statewide will see a reduction in the number of forms filed to get a local refund as software modules are developed for additional cities.