Something to Do in Detroit in August and September of 2016

By Richard C. Clement
Friends of Cushingberry


The following is a list of things to do in our City of Detroit in August 2016 and September. We have a lot of things going on to keep you busy and involved in our community.

Event Name Start  End  Beg. End. Place Woodbridge Merrick’n Summer Aug 12 Aug 14 5pm 2am Woodbridge Pub  5169 Trumbull Ave Detroit, MI 48208 Sonora Missionary Baptist Church Back To School Picnic Aug 13 Aug 13 1pm 5pm 7738 Sylvester Detroit, MI 48214 Corktown Criterium at Roosevelt Park Aug 13 Aug 13 8am 5pm Cadieux Bicycle Club Roosevelt Park Live Aug 13 Aug 13 4pm 10:30pm Roosevelt Park Detroit, MI 48216 African World Festival (34th Annual) Aug 19 Aug 21 11am 11pm 315 E. Warren  Detroit, MI 48202 MECCA Street Fair Aug 20 Aug 20 12pm 5pm E. Outer Drive between E. Warren and Chandler Park  Detroit MI 48224 Back To School Community Empowerment Rally Aug 20 Aug 20 12pm 4pm 8809 Schoolcraft Detroit, MI 48238 Crusin the "D" Aug 20 Aug 20 9am 9pm 8 Mile Road Palmer Park and perimeter  Detroit, MI 48203 Councilmember Spivey's Annual Family Fun Day and Community Health Fair Aug 27 Aug 27 12pm 12pm 14723 E. Warren Ave Detroit, MI 48215 Dally in the Alley Sep 10 Sep 10 11am 11pm Forest and Second Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 Detroit Mercy Midnight Bicycle Tour Sep 16 Sep 16 8pm 12am 400 W Mc Nichols Road Detroit, MI 48203

If you have any questions on any activity listed above, we recommend that you contact the event organizers.

Make Lives Matter by Showing up to Vote Early. Turn up the Turn Out this Summer in Detroit.

By  Friends of George Cushingberry  Jr.

Black Lives won’t matter if you do not show up to vote!  Councilmember Pro Tem Cushingberry is very adamant about that. If people want change they must speak up with their decision on who is going to run their government. The tragic events in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Minneapolis this weekend is collateral damage of failing to engage in the direction of the leadership of your community.  

When you vote, start from the back of the ballot so that you don’t miss out on the Judges, and ballot proposals that will determine where your money is going. Voting for judges is more important than voting for Presidents and Representatives because a judge has an immediate impact on your day to day life.

Issues of self-determination, education, law enforcement, and neighborhood economic empowerment can be settled at the ballot box. For instance we have one of the best County Prosecutors in the United States in Kym Worthy because she does not tolerate any B.S. in Wayne County from anyone. Therefore, we are on a mission to turn up the turnout for in August by encouraging people to vote early at the following locations:

• Detroit Elections Bureau on 2978 W. Grand Blvd
• Wayne County Community College East and West Campus at 5901 Conner or 8200 West Outer Drive 
• Coleman Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Ave  (2^nd Floor)

These locations are open right now until August 1^st, from 8am to 4pm to vote early and be done with it. If you are a Michigan resident and a felon, you can vote by just showing up TO VOTE. As long as you are not physically incarcerated you can vote early and be done with it. If you are 60 years old or more, you get a free pass to vote early absentee. Others people from ages 18 to 59 can vote early too.  For people who do not live in Michigan and require a picture ID, take your cell phone and shoot a selfie with your ballot in your hand and vote like your life depended on it. 

Finally we are encouraging you to Get it Right in Black and White by declaring July 21, 2016 get out and vote early day.  The headquarters for the day will be Desmond's Elegant Affairs Lounge on 12924 Puritan Detroit MI 48227. We will be organizing and taking people to vote early at Wayne County Community College West Campus at 8100 W. Outer Drive Detroit MI 48227. 

Then enjoy the evening at the White Party with Councilmember ProTem George Cushingberry Jr. and friends for an elegant evening of networking and socializing. Come and meet candidates who are running for office in while you are enjoying the elegant service of Business Owner Desmond Gibbons that has put time, effort, and money into his business.

Mr. Gibbons is the kind of business owner that we need in the City of Detroit and we strongly encourage you to support him and other entrepreneurs like the ones on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion and many more businesses in our city.

Hidden Costs in Detroit's Marijuana Ordinance May Force a Re-Write by Concerned Citizens

By Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

The Medical Marijuana Ordinance drafted by the City of Detroit will cost the taxpayers an additional $100,000 to enforce and, is in conflict with provisions of the Federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). The law firm of Lewis and Munday in Detroit Michigan has been awarded this contract for costs by City Council to defend an ordinance that is violation of US Constitutional 1^st Amendment rights regarding the freedom to worship and practice a religious faith without persecution. The RLUIPA protects individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and land marking laws. The enforcement of this ordinance places an unlawful burden on citizens and business owners that are not members of the church or, practitioners of the religion.  This ordinance may be struck down in a Court of Law because of the 1000ft requirement from a Church or Religious institution.  A defendant may prevail before a jury of their peers based on the legal ramifications of federal law violations.

Business Owners are strongly encouraged to develop a citywide licensing plan that will be fair to everyone and, can be voted upon by all of the citizens.  This includes the use of drive through services just like Rite Aid and McDonalds, Burger King, and Walgreens. There are many examples of churches and liquor stores right next to or, across the street from each other.  There are many examples of day care centers near liquor stores, and drug free zones in Detroit. With the proliferation of charter schools, business owners will face a undue burden of having to relocate because of being near a charter school with NO regulations. The business could have been there before the school was established but, that issue does not matter according to the ordinance as written.  Concerned owners should contact the City Council and Mayors Duggan's office regarding this concern. All interested business owners are strongly encouraged to inform their customers about Jury Nullification and VOTING in August and November for candidates who will bring a sensible solution to the people on Marijuana reform.

Field Report - The Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Site Plan Review from District 2

By Richard C. Clement  - Friends of Cushingberry

In a meeting with Project Leader Timothy Miles of the DetroitEconomic Growth Corporation and Malik Goodwin of Goodwin Management Group, we discussed the progress being made on the construction and completion of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in Southwest Detroit. The area will be forever changed and, money will be invested into restoring Historic FT Wayne as a National landmark. A Request for Quote for construction was issued by the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority who are the primary owners of the Bridge. The project is scheduled to start in 2017 and, be completed by the year 2020.  The Canadian Government is footing the entire bill at the tune of $2.5 billion dollars.  This loan is scheduled to be paid for in tolls over a 90 year period in 30 year increments.

Website Link Gordie Howe Bridge by the Windsor/Detroit Bridge Authority

       Coming very soon the formal request for jurisdiction of the land (Right of Way) will come before the Detroit City Council. This will enable the start of condemnation and preparing the area needed to build the bridge with Customs and a Toll Plaza for Cars and Trucks. With projects like this coming into the city, there should be a lot of opportunity for contractors to apply for these jobs and, getting a new career in the skilled trades if someone desires to. Therefore, it is imperative to elect people who will fight for workers who need jobs, can perform the duties of the job, and has the community’s best interest at heart. It is also important to have oversight over the contracts being let for this project.  If it takes a real time, online financial display of a summary balance sheet for public viewing of the project then so be it.

Windsor/Detroit Bridge Authority Org Chart

With this investment we can have our children swinging hammers on nails instead of on each other and going to jail.  The construction trades are awesome if you like to work with your hands and build things.  If there is any leftover cement, a new line of the people mover could be extended from Downtown to places like Motor City Casino all the way up the Lodge Freeway to Farmington Hills, Novi, and Wixom. After viewing the construction of the current Detroit People Mover, the raised rail along the Lodge is the way to go because it is not that difficult to build a raised rail line that rides OVER the road. The people in the Train can look at everybody stuck in traffic while they take their ride home or have to drive to work in the same direction. Councilmember Pro Tem Cushingberry is demanding that Detroit Residents get a fair shot at working on these types of projects.

Site Plan for Gordie Howe International Bridge
Detroit Side.

If we want this bridge paid for within our lifetime, then additional funding sources need to be considered.  The election of Prime Minister Justin Tredeau has changed the ballgame on Marijuana because on April 20^th, 2017 recreational Marijuana will no longer be a crime. This will give an opportunity for settlement to the Ambassador Bridge Company by allowing Duty Free Cannabis sales on both sides of their Bridge with an exclusive contract between both countries. This action will allow the bridge owners to invest into replacing the 80+ year old span with a new one and pay for Gordie Howe Bridge with a one time exclusive license fee. Products imported and exported across the border made from Industrial Hemp will pay for the $2.5 billion dollar loan in 30 days instead of 90 years.  This would take one signed agreement between the Canadian Prime Minister and the President of the United States to allow trade across the border.

Otherwise we are encouraging citizens to stay abreast and be aware of opportunities for economic growth and stability with the construction of the new Gordie Howe Bridge.