Make Detroit Public Schools Great Again by Removing State Oversight with a Federal Court Order

By Friends of Cushingberry

     If you were a manager of a business that has over 8 years of losses and you keep going to the banks for more loan money, pretty soon the bank will want their money back. This is common in business to have banks repossess property to recover their assets.  In the case of the Detroit Public Schools and public education, the bank is being managed by people who are not acting in the best interests of the shareholders.

“Burger King Franchises are run better than DPS Emergency Managers from the State of Michigan" - A customer at the Burger King in District 2 on Livernois Ave and Florence Street 48221.

     The recent actions by legislators in Lansing regarding the creation of a debt free district and leaving the old one with a massive debt should inspire children to grow up to be auditors, accountants, lawyers, and Information Technology specialists. DPS math teachers are strongly encouraged to train their children how to use math to insure that justice will prevail when it comes to the legacy investment in our future.

       To allow the dumbing down of our students by hiring un-certified teachers, moving classes to buildings that are inaccessible to the local community, and using only test scores as a measuring standard to move money is detrimental to the learning environment.  Detroit taxpayers have given their hard earned money to consultants, closed buildings, and the wild, west of education in the name of charter schools.  There will be more charter schools than Medical Marijuana Caregiver Centers with NO accountability. There is more regulation on Marijuana related businesses than charter schools. The Detroit Education Commission is necessary and will serve as a watchdog for the people for questionable practices with taxpayer’s money.

       The looting of Detroiters through its school system is deplorable and in some cases prosecute-able by Federal law and it must stop. Make sure you vote in August and November for candidates who are committed to change and defending the children of Detroit from financial Ponzi Schemes that has brought results like the Flint Water Crisis, and the blatant sabotaging of public education by special interests.  The only difference is the head poisoning from Micihgan Department of  Education and the Lead Poison from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality with the same damaging effects.

Before President Obama leaves office, the children of Detroit are asking that organizations like the Security and Exchange Commission and, the FBI investigate where all the money went when Dr. Robert Bobb started his job as the Emergency Manager and, all of his successors. The children are asking where is the Court Order from a Federal Judge suspending the duties of all Emergency Managers in Michigan until a complete and forensic audit of the entire budget of Public Education has been thoroughly reviewed.  If criminal prosecution is warranted, then let it rip on Darnell Early and, anybody else who stole from the children for their own personal gain.

What Does Take to Make a Great City? Home Repair and Restoration Training Programs

by Richard Clement 

Councilmember ProTem Cushingberry is pleased to report that 16 homes in District 2 have been selected to participate in the Detroit Neighborhood Repair Program. Beginning in the Fall of 2015 the Detroit Land Bank will sell these homes to the program using an investment of  $30 million dollars into the program from the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust Fund. The City of Detroit Housing and Revitilization Department will provide up to $850,000 in start up costs from a special escrow account.

A partnership with the AFL-CIO, Detroit Land Bank, and financial institutions are teaming up to purchase 200 homes in the City of Detroit for restoration and occupation. The target area will be the Bagley Neighborhood in Northwest Detroit.  Then the project will expand to the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood and other neighborhoods as selected by the program.

The core of a city is its neighborhoods.  Decades of disinvestment and high levels of foreclosures have devastated Detroit's neighborhoods. All neighborhoods are plagued by thousands of vacant and vandalized homes in need of extensive repair.  The net result of these negative actions makes it difficult for potential homeowners to obtain financing.  To reverse this trend, the Detroit Neighborhood Home Repair Program will create a business model with the following:

1.     A sustainable business model to acquire, repair, and finance abandoned homes and properties in the Detroit Land Bank Inventory

2.     Rebuild in three to five years between 250 to 300 abandoned homes using union labor and, employing Detroit residents in the repair program

3.     Securing funding from foundations, governments, and other private sources to bring cutting edge mortgage, finance, home owner counselling and, pre-apprenticeship training into the program.

4.     Create home-ownership opportunities, generate workforce training opportunities, provide union construction jobs and, foster neighborhood stabilization.

Target home buyers are those earning between 80% and 150% Area Median Income (AMI) of $26,325 for the Detroit Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or a program range between $21,060 and $39,488. Incentives will be given to municipal workers including teaches, firefighters, and police, as well as UAW members, and current and former neighborhood residents. This program is an opportunity for anyone who wants a career in skilled trades. Targeted individuals like homeless veterans who need a second chance the opportunity will be made available also.

The addresses of the properties in District 2 are:

Addr#		Street Name	Zip	NBHD
19205		Greenlawn	48221	Bagley
18689		Ilene	48221	Bagley
17547		Mendota	48221
18087		Mendota	48221
17132		Monica	48221	Bagley
18265		Monte Vista	48221
18220		Ohio	48221	Bagley
18461		Ohio	48221	Bagley
17184		Prarie	48221	Bagley
18964		Prarie	48221	Bagley
18200		San Juan	48221	Bagley
17165		Santa Barbara	48221	Bagley
17527		Stopel	48221
8700		W. Seven Mile	48221	Bagley
17180		Wisconsin	48221	Bagley
18506		Wisconsin	48221	Bagley

These properties have been identified as the show properties for a program that will help create opportunities and restore structurally livable homes with future homeowners. This will be an opportunity for someone to build their own home and learn a skilled trade at the same time. So if  anyone who wants to pursue carpentry, plumbing, cement masonry, bricklaying, or any other skilled trade please contact Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones Office and ask about the skilled trades task force and the Office of Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr regarding bank finance information.

A Historic August Weekend in Detroit on 8 Mile Road

By Richard C. Clement

Like a fine bottle of Wine
Getting better with Age

The Office of District 2 Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. wants to commend all of the participants of People for Palmer Park, The Annual 8 Mile Gathering Fellowship, Crusin in the D, and all the people at Peterson Park who partied in the Spirit of Detroit this August. I want to give a special shout out to the 40^th year reunion of the Mumford Class of 1975.

Some of the Class of 1975

WMUM Radio Personalities
Gerald Mc Bride and Richard Clement

It was an extreme pleasure to see old friends, classmates, neighbors, and the reason that all of us became who we are now. It was good to know that some of us are still alive and well.  To those of my Mustang classmates who are resting in heaven, I was honored to be your friend, teammate and drinking partner.  It has been 40 years graduated from Mumford High School and, to all of you all may the Spirit of Detroit inside you live on.

More class of the Class of 1975

Clement and Lake

The Annual 8 Mile reunion on the grounds of an old civil war camp was an extremely awesome event of unity. Old and new neighbors get together and fellowship in the most awesome manner at this location. There are never any acts violence here and it is nothing but love and respect for each other.

Pasteur School in the House

It was an extreme pleasure to introduce some of my friends to current Detroit Fire Department employees of Engine 44, with a brand new door. We were glad to see the support from Wayne County Sheriff, Detroit Fire and Police Departments.  They should feel good about covering a District with a strong history and a great future for the children that live there. Everyone knows the Neighborhood Police Officer but very few know the Neighborhood Fire Fighter. Want to give a big shout out to Sheriff Benny Napolean for his support and he is a proud product of Pasteur School.

Stop The Violence

The Gathering at Peterson Park was a true blessing of the neighborhood again in the Spirit of Detroit. This large city park accommodated three different groups who all played together in harmony.  A Winship Junior High School reunion, a Stop the Violence Rally, and a church group all used the park to fellowship together.  A deputy sheriff from Wayne County came to Stop the Violence and speak about the importance of education and reading. 

Wayne County Sheriff & Cush

Most of the prisoners in Wayne County Jails have the same trait in common regarding their reading skills. They are the most repeat offenders and the deputy sheriff did a wonderful job in communicating with the audience about police and community relations. This is another shout out to Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napolean and the employees that work under his command.

Cush and the Church
Working Together in District 2

Cruisn the D at Palmer Park

The effort to make Woodward South of 8 Mile road a part of a Cruise weekend was a smashing success. The span of Woodward between 8 and Mc Nichols (6 Mile for Native Detroiters) was populated with by the Crusin the “D” event that went around Palmer Park, 7 Mile, Woodward, 8 Mile and back.  This area has its own uniqueness because there are few restaurants and a park with a lot of trees where people parked their cars, stayed cool and watched the other cars go by.  It was a pleasure to welcome cruisers to the area.  

Crusin at Palmer Park

Participants at Woodward and Golden Gate drank cool vegan lemonade at the Golden Gate Café and watched the cars go by. Our office wants to send a thank you to Jerry White, Ms. Litita White and LG Graphics for participating in the inaugural classic car show held on the parking lot at Woodward and Golden Gate.  This location is a prime property for watching cruisers, especially the motor bikers go up and down Woodward.

Thank you Mejiers 

In 2016 a cruise from Campus Martius and Back is very doable. In collaboration with bikers, cruisers, and track clubs, this annual event will morph into an international celebration of the automobile.  Is a Cruise weekend marathon with runners running from 26 miles out to a finish line located at Campus Martius possible? This would have to be done before the Saturday of the event maybe on a Friday morning. Otherwise, the bikers and automobile group can do the cruise from Campus Martius to Pontiac in 2016 with proper time, planning and, support.

Cruiser(Left) with Organizer/CEO
Gregory Reed(Right)

Detroit is coming back and we are helping to keep it on track to progress.

We thank you all for your participation in these events in the Spirit of Detroit.

Keep up the good work in Detroit!