On Nov 7th, 2017 Write In George Cushingberry Jr. Detroit City Council District 2

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

On Friday September 15th at 3pm Eastern, George Cushingberry Jr. filed a Declaration of Intent with City Clerk Janice Winfrey to run as a Write in Candidate for the office Detroit City Council District 2.  He will be joining candidate Nguvu Tsare as a write in for the position who just recently moved into the District to run as a Write In. His constituents have encouraged George Cushingberry Jr.  to give them an alternative choice instead of a near fascist or a ward of the court and, to vindicate my name from the false accusations and outright lies being told.

Affordable Care Act Information

All of the work to get Davis Aerospace HS and commercial service to Detroit City Airport will be lost if you do not re-elect George Cushingberry Jr.  Along with finally straightening out the City Information Technology structure the work done to repair the financial damage done to city retirees will be lost also. George Cushingberry is reading to children at Thugood Marshall Elementary School in District 2  and others in the District raising their literacy levels by over 50% in two weeks. 

Mr. Cushingberry has learned his lesson on the new electorate of the City of Detroit.  The legal system has taken a position on Virgil Smith's candidacy by shirking their legal responsibilities to the electorate to dictate the final result with their vote.

It is not a total mystery of why a Northwest Detroit neighborhood association leader would support Roy McAlister and Virgil Smith at the same time. First of all, Roy McAlister has spent over $30,000 in running for City Council which is four times the amount all the other candidates spent for the August primary election. Comparing his administrative background to George Cushingberry's 30+ years of knowledge, experience, and education in politics is more than overwhelming.  

Who's interest is Roy serving and, who is paying him off besides the anti-marijuana lobby and vested interests who want to keep Detroit dumb. Although being a police officer is a noble profession, is not a prerequisite to being an effective councilman. However we really do appreciate your service to the Detroit Police Department and after the election we can work together to restore the damage to retired police officers and firefighters with their health care cost. Thank you Roy for your service to the City of Detroit as a Detroit Police Officer.

For marijuana supporters  Virgil Smith is a better choice than Roy Mc Alister. As a part of the plea deal from Judge Talon, Senator Smith was allowed to retain and use Cannabis for medical needs as a licensed Medical Marijuana patient. This was upheld by the by the Michigan Supreme Court. 

Do you really want to give a fourth and fifth chance to someone who has skillfully used the talents of legal system lawyers to evade felony charges over the years, only to repeat the behavior again and again? 

Virgil Smith has successfully put the myth of a Medical Marijuana patient and gun ownership. This was always a myth and another falsehood promoted by special interests supporting his campaign. Therefore if you are possessing a Medical  Marijuana patient card you can own a gun, rifle, etc, without penalty. 

Another example of this erratic behavior is that on September 7th, 2017  Candidate Virgil Smith went on the record opposing Sativa Detroit on the intersection of Santa Barbara and 8 Mile road over the objections of the community. At the same time he  supported an un-open Marijuana Business center on San Juan and 8 mile road.  Sativa Detroit has been operating and employing people to work at their provisioning center. 

Winfred Blackmon and Virgil Smith
Working together to shut down all Detroit Marijuana Businesses

As demonstrated by Mr. Smith, you could shoot up the neighborhood, mis-manage female relationships,  and still get elected like Donald Trump. Whereas George Cushingberry and a passenger in the car are handcuffed on the hood of a Detroit Police Car without gloves and made to stand outside in -20 degree Fahrenheit (-28 degrees Celsius) weather for a failure to signal on a cold and miserable January night. Who really deserves a second chance?

With all of the progress Detroit has made over the last four years, to elect a Virgil Smith with all of the legal baggage would be a complete disaster.


George Cushingberry Jr is a better choice of candidate between Roy McAlister and Virgil Smith because of three things Education, Experience, and Demonstrated ability. This is not fake news but cold hard facts. Besides guiding Detroit’s finances into solvency, George Cushingberry has:

• Never been convicted of any crime
• Abused by a legal system and stood up to the test of time by a jury of his peers.
• Never accepted a bribes
• Un-bought, Un-Bossed, with nothing but integrity!
• Does not accept a City Car, Credit Card, or phone
• Added committees on Ethics and Appropriations
• Implementing a city tax on provisioning centers to help repair the financial damage to City of Detroit Retirees pension system.
• Vigorous participation in the South East Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) for Organization for region-wide resource sharing
• Elected by his peers as the President Pro-Tem of the Council 
• Reads to Children in the Detroit Public Schools to increase their reading scores
• 4 straight years of balanced budgets
• Believes in regulation with fairness of Medical Marijuana facilities with sale proceeds to shore up Detroit City Retiree pensions
• Has the option of restarting a lucrative law career again but chooses to finish the work started in turning around our city from the financial ashes of mismanagement, fraud, and deceit, to become a great city again for our young citizens to carry on.
• Some jobs are done not for money but for the love of the City of Detroit
• Has the record to demonstrate that the other candidates could not have accomplished what he has done in public service to the City of Detroit, County of Wayne, and the State of Michigan.

As soon as you get your absentee ballot, or show up in person on November 7th, take the time to write in George Cushingberry Jr., the man for you in District 2.

Restitution For City Retirees Under 65 are on the Horizon - Detroit Police get $3.8M in Drug Fighting Equipment - New Housing Projects for Homeless

By Richard C. Clement 

At the Detroit City Council Budget, Audit, and Finance committee meeting held on September 6, 2017 at the Coleman S. Young Municipal Center, the committee set in place the plan to help repair the financial damage to the retirees on health care costs. Committee members Gabe Leland, Janee Ayres, and Committee Chair George Cushingberry Jr  reviewed a possible solution. The proposal is to help all retirees under 65 because they are not eligible for Medicare. The committee discussed the best way to help with health care cost is to get group rate health insurance by adjusting the Voluntary Employee Benefit Agreement (VEBA) that was negotiated in the bankruptcy.  

City of Detroit Auditor General
Mark Lockridge

The end result would be lower health care costs for retirees and, that would be a major step in the road to financial recovery for Detroit.  On December 31^st, the City of Detroit will exit all State of Michigan financial control and that will give city leadership the power to negotiate fees to sustain and elevate a better quality of life for Detroit residents.

City of Detroit Financial Team

This action was a result of a letter from Council President Brenda Jones on behalf of the Retirees to use the budget surplus as a funding source to restore the cuts suffered by them in the Bankruptcy Proceedings. The letter was sent to the Legislative Policy Division and sent to the BFA committee for their detailed review. Other funding sources are not off the table and will be brought up in committee meetings before November. On other news the Detroit Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Program was appropriated $3.8 million dollars to purchase police equipment or services that are eligible to use in Local Forfeiture funding. 

New and Livable Housing in Detroit

Finally homelessness and affordable housing issues were addressed by three projects authorized by the committee.  The first one was for Kamper and Stevens to rehabilitate the exiting Kamper building and Stevens building containing 165 units of senior housing with 145 one bedroom units and sixteen two bedroom units. The next project was by Norstar development USA to create the Gardenview estates on the former Herman Gardens Housing Projects. This project will create 97 one and two story townhomes units. The final project is by Detroit Central City CMH, Inc. to develop the Saint Rita Apartments. Project. This development will consist of 26 units of rehabbed living conditions.

For more information please contact the members of the Budget Audit and Finance committee and Stay tuned for more information.

Progress on The Avenue, New Business In District 2 - Questions and Solutions

By Richard C. Clement

With the addition of the Bucharest Grill on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion, parking has become an extreme priority. To solve that problem a building or two can be removed, including the median in the middle of the road.  What are your thoughts on a pilot project to allow for parking in the middle of Livernois with a bike lane protected with a smaller median? 

The next issue is traffic enforcement to control the speeding and parking violations.  What are your thoughts on installing traffic strips connected to a camera to control the excessive speeding?  

The camera would photograph licenses plates of offending vehicles for processing by the law.  The tactical use of technology would accomplish the goals of controlling excessive speeding, increase parking spaces, and generate foot traffic while revitalizing empty buildings at the same time.

If you are interested in doing something like this for the Livernois Avenue Of Fashion, please contact Council President Brenda Jones At Large, City Councilmember Janee Ayers At Large, and Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr District 2. The first three votes are very crucial to the cause of improving the quality of life of the neighborhoods.  

With two or more additional Councilmembers supporting this effort, this project would be given a chance to address the needs of the business owners and the surrounding community.  

Please contact a Detroit City Councilmember at www.detroitmi.gov/Government/City-Council by voice, email, and In-Person on this important matter.

2017 Endorsement News For George Cushingberry Jr. - Press Relase

By The Friends Of George Cushingberry Jr.

George Cushingberry Jr. welcomes the support of the following organizations for his re-election to the Detroit City Council in District 2. We appreciate the work they do very much.  

Michigan Regional Council of Millwrights and Carpenters  

www.hammer9.com

Local 24 Hospitality Workers Union

www.local24unitehere.org

Laborers Local 1199 

www.laborerslocal1191.org

13th District Congressional Democrats

Wayne County Democratic Black Caucus

Metro Detroit AFL-CIO

www.metrodaflcio.org

The Black Slate of Detroit (Facebook Page)

UAW Region 1A 

www.region1a.uaw.org

Teamsters Joint Council #43
www.teamstersjointcouncil43.com

Fannie Lou Hammer PAC

WWW.FLHPAC.ORG

www.miafscme.org

'

www.michronicleonline.com

Virgie Rollins
14th Congressional District

We are thankful for the support in removing Virgil Smith from being endorsed as the candidate over George Cushingberry Jr. for Detroit Council District 2 by the 14^th Congressional District. While we do support felons getting jobs and getting first, second, third, and fourth chances, this is not the job for him.

We are on a path to undo the damage of Emergency Managers and State Supervision of our city. Neighborhoods are composed of a community of schools and recreation centers that serve children and senior citizens.  Experience and knowledge is a crucial element in leadership and for the Detroit City Council, George Cushingberry has been a team player and catalyst for change.

We cannot afford to go back to the days electing carnival barkers and puppets manipulated by State and Federal legislators who don’t give a damn about our city. Doing this would be a fatal mistake if you do not re-elect George Cushingberry. He has demonstrated that he will fight for the people through measured protocol and tactical implementation of plans. Some of the overt examples of what has been done already are Recreation Centers and City Airport expansion.

Join us as we reflect 50 years after the Detroit Riots on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion by attending one or more of our events listed on our website starting June 1^st

If you would like to support the Re-Election of Councilmember Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr. with an endorsement, please visit our website at www.cushforcitycouncil.com  and click on the Endorsement page link. 

Commercial Air Service At Detroit City Airport May Be Closer to Becoming A Reality At KDET

By Richard C. Clement
Legislative Aide to Council President Pro Tempore George Cushingberry Jr.

The recent plans advertised to shut down Detroit City Airport has created a world-wide uproar in the aviation industry. Now a grown up, former Johnson Center, 8 Mile Road youth and resident wants to give back to his home town by bringing commercial air service back to Detroit City Airport. Marcus K Channey CEO Metro Airways has a plan to install Commercial Air Service at the Airport by November 2017. As a result of the hearing conducted by the City Council's Budget/Audit and Finance committee, some good things have happened. 

Website: Metro Airways

Website: ARLIT.CO - City Airport Support

He has guaranteed that %2.5 of revenue generated by his airline will be reinvested into the City in the form of improved infrastructure like recreation centers and aviation education. The Benjamin O Davis high school will become a feeder program for the Airline to hire pilots and mechanics for lucrative careers.

Metro Airlines 

The airport has drawn interest from international carriers like Al Qatar, Virgin Atlantic, and Southwest that want to have an alternative choice and provide additional service to the tri-county region. The relocation of 5 professional sports teams in the City Limits will substantially increase the value of this land. Team owners and Very High Ranking Government Officials have already made City Airport the place to be because of the close proximity to the stadiums and downtown. The plan to reconfigure the Airport with an additional runway has the support of many aviation professionals and Team Owner Dan Gilbert of Quicken Loans.

Richard Clement and Dan Gilbert Discuss City Airport 

City residents will not have to drive so far to catch a flight, airlines will not have to overbook flights and forcefully drag people off of their aircraft because of their draconian policies. A joint project with developers like Magic/Redico LLC, and Rock Ventures would include assistance in building a new Benjamin O Davis High School.  Less that 2% of all people who participate in sports ever make it to the professional level from high school. Students would have a better chance of getting an S.T.E.M. career job then trying to be the next Beyoncé or LeBron James.

Detroit City Airport Real time Air Traffic Report from FlightAware.com  

New Runway  33L/15R in RED 

People who can afford to fly into Detroit on corporate jets do not need to be run out of town with a shuttered airport.  The new aircraft engines and technology has enabled pilots to fly non-stop from places as far as France on a single tank of gas. The airport’s current configuration will allow for passenger planes that can carry up to 130 people to come and go as they please.  

According to Mr. Cheney Detroit City Airport is a Public Use Airport and a FEMA designated facility in case of an emergency. In addition State and Local law enforcement frequently use the airport because of the public use designation.  The upgrades to the airport will cost the City of Detroit zero dollars because all of the funding is restricted FAA funds.  Finally the biggest beneficiary of the Airport will be the Detroit Public School Community School District and the children who want to study aviation as a career.   

Detroit Marijuana Business Owners Team up to Challenge Harassment of Patients by Wayne County Sheriff Deputies

By Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napolean

The Wayne County Sheriff's offices has decided to attempt an end run around the Detroit Medical Marijuana ordinance and arrest anyone with a Medical Marijuana Card that has visited a Herbalists place of business. Victims are being stalked and stopped by a 4 car team of deputies asking very intrusive questions.  Then their car and property is seized arbitrarily, and the victim is made to walk or catch a taxi home. .

If you are stopped by a team of Wayne County Deputies and, they take your vehicle after leaving a Medical Marijuana compassion center, you are strongly recommended to fight the charges.  You will be given two choices.

1.  Pay the Wayne County Sheriff up to $2500 to get your car back

2.  Pay $250 bond money and wait for up to 3 days to get your car back

Advantages/Disadvantages.

• If you choose option 1, then you will never receive a court date and get your money back. This is a shakedown of the highest order. They are taking advantage of your need for transportation. In too many cases to be mentioned here, charges are never brought against the victim, the victim is bullied into giving up the money and getting their car back.
• If you choose option 2, then you  WILL receive a court date and given the opportunity to get your property back (including confiscated medicine) by going to trial. 
• At that time you have the choice to ask for a jury trial. You may be able to instruct a Jury on Nullification procedures and responsibilities to you as a Juror. For any Marijuana case brought before a Jury, jurors can vote not guilty to anyone being charged with a Marijuana possession crime and not be in violation of a judges instruction to a jury.

This issue is ongoing and currently being looked into by legal agencies and advocates and, we are appalled at the conduct of Wayne County Sheriff Deputies who have chosen to disregard the card and choosing to continue the 80 year drug war as designed by Harry Anslinger, a racist civil servant that hated the ground African Americans walked on and, the first CEO of the Drug Enforcement Agency in 1929.

Meanwhile, you are strongly encouraged to get legal counsel and fight for the following:

1. Return of Vehicle ASAP
2. Return of Confiscated Medicine 
1. This may include compensation from the Wayne County Sheriff to replace damaged or destroyed medicine that was illegally confiscated by Wayne County Deputies..
3. Refund of all collected “fines" and Court Costs.
4. Dismissal of all charges and expungement of all arrest records for Marijuana Possesion.

Make sure to use your cell phone to document the harassment when your car is getting seized and, please obtain badge numbers of the deputies. 

Save all receipts from the Wayne County Sheriff!!!

In more than one case, the car and the medicine were returned to the victims, when it was determined that the plaintiff had valid reason for entering the establishment. You want your vehicle and medicine returned at once.

There is nothing illegal about visiting a Medical Marijuana facility in the City of Detroit, especially if you have a Medical Marijuana card. Pursuant to the Home Rule Act Section 117-3 of 1909 , these facilities are recognized by the City of Detroit as a valid place of business. 

Currently Detroit's Marijuana Ordinance is suspended until a court evaluation is performed by the 3rd Circuit court in January of 2017. (click here to view the case status (Case# 16-004201-CZ Jones, Ronald, et al v City of Detroit))  The Plaintiffs have successfully argued before US District Court Judge Avery Cohen that the ordinance is discriminatory and will shut down dispensaries owned by indigenous citizens of Detroit.

Judge Cohen ruled in favor of the Sons of Hemp and remanded the case back to the 3rd Circuit Court for re-hearing of valid plaintiff claims.

Both Sides have until September 23, 2016 to exchange Witness briefs in support of their positions.  Plaintiffs have until November 11, 2016 to present ANY discovery information to the court.

However, both sides can reach an agreement in a settlement conference that can happen 42 days after the January Case Evaluation date. The first available date for the conference is February 13, 2017. Both sides have a chance at settlement before it reaches the full court with a jury. Court cases cost a lot of money and time.

If NO settlement is reached, then the plaintiffs will be headed to court.

Finally, please remember to show up and VOTE for positive Judges, State Legislators and President in 2016 and 2017.  This is the proper and only way that you can make effective change in your neighborhoods. Vote for the candidate that will best represent your beliefs and values.  

Early voting for the November General Election starts on September 24th, 2016!!!!!

The last day to register to vote in the November General Election is October 11, 2016 at 4:45pm. Don't miss this date!

The last day to vote early in the November election is November 7th, 2016

This is NO time to be sitting on the sidelines because too many people have sacrificed for us to do the job.   Women got punched out on a bridge in Alabama by men who did not want them to vote at all. However and for the better, times have changed and you have NO excuse not to show up and vote. You DO have something to vote for!

The well being of everyone will be in complete jeopardy if the wrong candidate wins the election in November.. 

State of the Bud - Marijuana Businesses in the City of Detroit Status Report April 2016

by Richard C. Clement - Marijuana Policy Analyst

                Inspections of Medical Marijuana facilities will continue with employees from BSEED and the Detroit Police Department to assist in gaining access to the property in question. According to City of Detroit Building Inspector Wayne Wilkins (wikinsr@detroitmi.gov), by law they are required to enter the premises, shoot pictures of a business, advise the owners of a Drug Free Zone violation and exit the premises quickly.  BSEED inspectors are not interested in and have NO DESIRE to be concerned with how much marijuana that you have at your facility. During this time of litigation, BSEED will enter a place of business with the assistance of the Detroit Police Department because their only job is to make sure that the building is up to code.

Meanwhile, there are two separate lawsuits that were filed in Wayne County Circuit Court on the behalf of the business owners and concerned patients.  The first one was filed by the citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform (Case# 16-004185-AW Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform v Janice Winfrey, Detroit Election Commission, City of Detroit) that has 3 named defendants in: The City of Detroit, Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, and the Detroit Election Commission.  This suit is in regards to the filing of the petitions to allow the citizens of Detroit Michigan to vote on the ordinance that was implemented by the City Council in the August 2^nd, primary.  A large majority of Detroit residents signed petitions to halt the ordinance and develop a new one that is less restrictive on Detroit Business owners.  It seems that the current license and zoning ordinance was designed to benefit a few owners at the expense of other owners who are Detroit residents that want to be a part of a growing Marijuana industry.

The second lawsuit was filed by the Sons of Hemp, a Pro-Cannabis group of African American business owners who will be adversely affected by this new ordinance (Case No. 16-004201-CZ JONES, RONALD, ET AL. V THE CITY OF DETROIT). There are 10+ named plaintiffs who all own stores, and grow operations who want a voice and a place in the growing Marijuana industry.  Their hearing is scheduled on July 1^st, 2016 with Judge John Murphy of the 3^rd District Wayne County Circuit Court. This lawsuit addresses the inequities of the ordinance regarding African American business owners in Detroit who will be getting shut out of the market because of the ideology of the 1939 mandate of Harry Ainslinger, the first head of the Drug Enforcement Agency. This man promoted the current drug war on the back of Billie Holiday because he hated African Americans that played Jazz music and had any kind of talent. (The Hunting of Billie Holiday by the USA)

As the late University of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant put it when he found out he needed African Americans to win football games,

 “If you have a fast negro running the ball, you have to hire another negro to catch them”. 

In Billie Holiday’s case, Harry Ainslinger hired his first black agent Jimmy Fletcher to specifically take down Ms. Holiday.  Quoting the article 

"Jimmy Fletcher follows her around for two years, and she was so amazing, he fell in love with her. And he felt ashamed his whole life for what he did. He busts her. She’s sent to prison. The trial—she said, "The trial was called The United States v. Billie Holiday, and that’s how it felt."  

"And when she gets out, exactly what happens to addicts all over the United States today happens—what’s happened to those women I met in Arizona: She can’t get a job. You needed a license to be able to perform anywhere where alcohol was sold, and they wouldn’t give her the license. So, you know, her friend Yolande Bavan said to me, "What’s the cruelest thing you can do to a person is to take away the thing they love." She sinks back into addiction."

In 2016 we have a few African American pastors who use this same ideology to eliminate the business owned by African Americans by continuing to promote the sick and racist policy of Harry Ainslinger’s DEA.  Marijuana is a 1 billion dollar a year industry to states like Colorado, Oregon, Washington State, and so on. Less that 1% of Marijuana business are owned by African Americans.  

Everyone wants a level playing field and there are so many uses of the Marijuana plant that the time has come to get real and end this drug war on the people with the lack of resources to fight. We simply cannot support a policy of putting more men in jail that creates a shortage of males and allow some females to have a bigger selection of partners to pick from. This policy is counterproductive and supports a for profit prison system that gets its revenue from failing children in schools that have been looted by private profiteers.  The current situation with public education everywhere indicates that money is being diverted into the for profit prison system building new jails and tearing down public schools.

This must stop at once and, If you are a interested in becoming a plaintiff please contact the following sources;

Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform   Attorney Kevin Lynn (248) 693-2300

Sons of Hemp:  Ronald Jones  sonsofhemp420@gmail.com

1,2,3,4. It’s time to end the Drug War.

Council Member James Tate Supports Historically Black Colleges on Sat. Feb 20th

By  Richard C. Clement

The Detroit Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University is pleased to have Detroit City Council member James Tate of District 1 as our guest speaker at the 66^th Annual Founders Day Luncheon on Saturday February 20^th at 11:30am.  Council member Pro Tem Cushingberry is an ardent supporter of Dr. Gwendolyn E. Boyd and her leadership as the President of Alabama State University. Council member Cushingberry supports the existence and importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  

The Chapter will take care of your breakfast/lunch with a hearty menu so don’t cook, come hungry and prepared to eat good meal.  Council member Tate was chosen by the membership because of his leadership on issues concerning the City of Detroit. A direct quote from his City of Detroit webpage explains his leadership style.

“He is known for making the tough decisions when they have to be made and believes in accessible government. Councilman Tate consistently seeks ways to forge and cultivate neighborhood partnerships within the district. Hosting monthly meetings in District 1, Tate ensures that residents are up to speed on the latest issues that affect their lives. His bi-weekly Satellite Hours at the Motor City Java and Tea House further extends Councilman Tate into the community. He’s on the ground and on the run in District 1. “

Council member Tate is primarily responsible for creating a task force on Black Male Engagement along with fellow Council member Andre Spivey to address the growing pressures put on Black Males growing up in this ever changing complex world. Council member Tate has been instrumental in shaping the future of the growing Marijuana Industry in the City of Detroit by introducing legislation to place the entire process of licensing online instead of mailing in paperwork. 

Council member Tate is an esteemed member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity that has committed to help shape the future of our children who choose to attend HBCU for a solid education.  

The donation of $40 for this event will go toward scholarships, and expenses for current and prospective students attending Alabama State University.

To purchase a ticket please call the office (313) 224-4535 and ask for Richard C. Clement or contact Mrs. Lorinette B. Clark at (313) 418-8489

Cruise Woodward Avenue on the M1 in District 2 During Cruise Weekend Aug 12-Aug 16

by Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

“Paying Homage to the Automobile from Highland Park to 8 Mile”

We are strongly encouraging all lovers of the Automobile to converge on Woodward Avenue from August 12th, 2015 until August 16^th, 2015 on Cruise Week along Woodward in Detroit and Highland Park.  Highland Park will be paying homage to the Automobile at the Old Ford Plant Site on Woodward Avenue. This site was the home of the plant that build Ford’s first car, the Model-T coupe. In Detroit the main event will be the Crusin the “D” event around Palmer Park.

1965 Dodge Challenger
Owner Name: Diamond

In the Main event, cruisers and City Vehicles such as Fire Trucks, Police Cars, form a big D loop around the Park on Woodward between 8 Mile and McNichols.   Last year Chief Craig headlined the Parade and the Detroit Fire Department, especially Engine 44 represented very well. This year will be even better because locations along Woodward between 8 and 6 Mile are available with permission of the property owners in advance.  Vendors and tables located at the intersection of Woodward and Goldengate will be there to greet cruisers on the road.  While you watch the Crusin the "D" you can eat some of the best Vegan food at the Golden Gate Cafe. Under the leadership of Gregory Reed, the Crusin the D event is a highlight of the District.  Currently we are waiting on approval from MDOT/State of Michigan to use the vacant State Fair Parking Lot for Cruise purposes. Talented people who love to build cars from scratch are strongly encouraged to participate in this event that pays homage to the City and Region that built a nation. 

For more information on the Cruise go to www.cruisinthed.com

If you are going to have a real regional transportation, going East and West is a priority. The eventual crossroad for the M1 and M102 Rail System is ground zero for the redevelopment of the neighborhood, including the Old State Fairgrounds. Eventual plans for the property are a new neighborhood, retail shopping, theater complex, and transportation center.  The transportation center will include a new stop for AMTRAK trains heading to Chicago. This station will replace the station on Woodward making AMTRAK people friendly and easy to park. Detroiters will not have to drive to Dearborn to catch the AMTRAK train.  To view the complete site plan for the Michigan State Fair, please visit Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr’s website by clicking here. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Councilmember Pro Tem Cushingberry's office at (313) 224-4535                                                                                                                              

A YES Vote for Riverside Park is a YES Vote for Detroit

by Richard Clement

"Mayor Duggan, Detroit City Council and The Moroun family push for peace on the Riverfront".

The vote to accept the land deal with the Morouns is a positive benefit to the Citizens of Detroit and Windsor Canada.  This investment trade off will give the City of Detroit an additional Boat Launch new playing field and a larger area to host neighborhood jazz concerts and other events.  The fishing is awesome at this location and to that effect investment in park infrastructure will increase opportunities for fishermen and fisherwomen.  This vote puts the Department of Natural Resources and the US National Park Service on notice that Detroit is ready to get to work right now instead of later. 

These two governmental agencies have known about the situation at the park for years. Both of them should not have any problem finding old paperwork to create an approval letter.  DNR’s objection to the vote is the kind of butt dragging bureaucracy that City of Detroit is eliminating from its vocabulary through; sound decision making and leadership by Mayor and City Council. The resulting development of the Park will create a new play field for Baseball and Soccer. On certain days, the river is full of people trying to catch fish and this will give the Michigan Department of Natural Resources opportunity to sell more fishing licenses

The Morouns have committed land and resources to make the park a viable park once again without the drama.  While the park issue is being resolved, the entrance ramp to the Bridge from W. Grand Boulevard and the Fisher Service Drive is suffering from poor road sign markings by the Michigan Department of Transportation. (View the Site)

Some of our American Citizens are forced to go across the Ambassador Bridge because they made a turn thinking that they were getting on the freeway.  No American leaving the park should be subjected to a full body strip search by the Canadian Border Security Agency and US Customs Agency for having “contraband” that is otherwise recognized as legal to have. To fix this situation we are strongly urging the Morouns to direct MDOT to place eye level signs at this Entrance with the Canadian Flag emphasizing that a driver will be leaving the Country if they turn, instead of the big green overhead sign that they have now. Some drivers have thought that this overhead sign is a part of the freeway and ignore it. Other driver's GPS units have told them to make a turn here to get on Interstate 75. This is a small fix from the State of Michigan that can easily resolved.

It is now time to get shovels into the ground and start getting to work on improving one of Detroit’s hidden assets on the Riverfront. The leadership of Detroit has clearly stated this is what we want for our citizens. All the Moroun haters out there will be happy once the Gordie Howe International Bridge is finally up and running. While truck traffic will decrease, personal car, bike and walking traffic will increase on the Ambassador Bridge.

(Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Gordie Howe International Bridge Project)

Eventually, the old span has to be replaced by a new one. Before that new span is built, the old one has to stay open until the new one is completed. We anticipate that The Morouns will hire local labor because they want to come right to the City of Detroit after all of the conflict.  They have to live here like everyone else and we foresee a peaceful accord will be reached between the dissenters like Attorney Rashida Tilab and supporters like Malik Shabazz.  When this bridge of understanding is reached between the parties, there will be peace, profits, and prosperity on both sides of the Bridge for years to come.

Mr. Cushingberry is Demanding a Retraction from Rashida Tilab regarding the Comparison with Synargo and the Ambassador Bridge Settlement

By Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

Councilmember Pro-Tem Cushingberry is demanding an immediate apology and retraction from Rashida Tilab for accusing him of committing a Federal Crime like former City Councilmember Monica Conyers 

(Click Here to Read The Synargo Story)

Mr. Cushingberry is extremely pissed off about Rashida’s public statement about the Council saying; “This Riverside (Park) deal is just like Synargo” and “I will expose the crime” comparing the Riverside Park project to the Synargo Scandal is deplorable and reprehensible. Councilmember Cushingberry Jr. and his colleagues are working very hard every day to insure the transparency of City Business to the people of Detroit.  

Rashida's childish comparison of Cushingberry to Monica Conyers with her allegations is something that she needs to address verbally and in writing at the next regular session of the full Detroit City Council including Sam Riddle. Mr. Cushingberry strongly states that there is nothing to hide regarding the business of the Ambassador Bridge, Maroun Family and, the City of Detroit.

On behalf of the Detroit Water and Sewage Department, the Council and Mayor’s Office are looking at ways to save the City money by re-purposing the solid waste into fertilizer that will be sold at places like Home Depot and, Eastern Market for consumer use. This will be much better than the current process of burning the waste at the City incinerator and polluting the environment.

The Riverside Project will be a benefit to the City of Detroit by providing a new baseball/soccer park and reopening the Marina that was closed during the 9/11 days. The old Detroit News Warehouse and the railroad tracks will be removed by the Maroun family as a tradeoff for the Marouns building the second span next to their old span.  Mr. Cushingberry is a fan of Gordie Howe and supports a fair settlement with the Maroun family regarding the issue of a Government buyout of privately owned property.

When this happens, Ms. Rashida and her hate Maroun friends are more that welcome to; play in the new park and, participate in the construction of the Gordie Howe and New Ambassador Bridge once the financials are worked out.

We are demanding a retraction by Rashida Tilab esq.

Solutions to Water Operating Expenses and Rates - Public Meeting July 7 & 8 2015 - City Hall

by Richard Clement

DWSD Master Plan for Detroit

Meetings regarding Detroit's water rates will be held on July 8^th and 9^th at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on the 13^th floor.   Time will be 2pm Wednesday and TBA on Thursday. While addressing the budget shortfall regarding the water rates, other alternatives and construction projects needed that will improve the public good will be discussed. Suggestions like turning liquid waste water into drinking water and creating fertilizer from solid waste products are some ideas that will offset the expenses of providing clean water. Cities in Michigan like Lansing Michigan has a sewer/rain water separation project that has cleaned up the environment. (Lansing Michigan CSO sewage separation project)

Examples are Cities like Milwaukee Wisconsin that create a  fertilizer project by the name of Milogranite (Wiki Definition)  that they sell at the local Home Depot,  and other hardware stores.

Cash from Sewer Waste: Milwaukee's Best! www.milogranite.com 

If we can have water filtration systems in the Space Station for Astronauts, we can use this same technology in Detroit.  There is a company in Israel that has a process of converting water from air (click here to see water from air).  Otherwise, they convert their liquid waste into water because they live in a desert that is not near a fresh water source like the Great Lakes. (click here to see water created from waste) The Great Lakes has 40% of the worlds fresh water and people in Texas and California would love to build a pipeline to Michigan to use it.

Water is an issue so much that the old Johnson Recreation Center in Detroit MI has to be rebuilt because of the 1950’s plumbing inside of it that cost the City of Detroit one million dollars a month to operate.

Therefore, If you want your voice to be heard, stay tuned to Council member Pro Tem Cushingberry, and the Detroit City Council for more information or watch City Council live stream on Demand (Click Here to watch City of Detroit TV)

Chief James Craig Answers Questions Regarding 2015/2016 Budget from Pro-Tem Cushingberry

by Richard Clement

DPD 2015/2016 Proposed Budget recommendations. 

Councilmember Cushingberry cares about the Detroit Police Department so much that he is closely watching operations. He wants to make sure that citizen concerns and needs are addressed, 

On June 3,2015, Mr. Cushingberry asked the following questions of Police Chief James Craig.

List of Questions

1. In light of neighborhood/community policing, what are the efforts to encourage police offices to live in the City of Detroit?

2. How much have collected in the last three years from the various forfeiture programs?

3. Please provide details relative to new efforts in Information Technology ?

4. What steps should be taken to request Federal and State funds for a Blight Task Force and Quality of life blight deterrence?

Summary of Answers by Chief James Craig

1. Officers are being encouraged to live in the City by coordinating with the Detroit Public and Charter schools to provide education to Officer’s families.

2. We have collected a total of $6,045,732.02 dollars with $1,210,172.71 from Federal and $43,648.07 from the State  of Michigan collections divisions.

3. We are collecting more information from new fingerprint machines and other data requiring that we upgrade to 450TB of storage. We are upgrading hardware with 100 new units that have the Microsoft System Center Configuration and Operation Manager.

4. The Office of Grant Management can assist with providing information on seeking grants for this cause

We hope that the answers provided by Chief Craig will further enhance the transparency that the Department and the Council wants and the public demands of their public servants.