The Obama Administration and Census 2010: A commitment to reverse the act of "Digital Injustice" by undercounting citizens.

Now that the Obama Administration has decided to move this department to a Cabinet Level position, extra attention will be paid to processes that determine the “final” number count.

Since the 1960's the census has undercounted cities and counties by %3 to %14 percent. A traditional method used against a city is the definition of a home or a structure. You may know that there are some boarders who are occupying a home in the neighborhood. The census has a map of your neighborhood and knows that something is there. Your neighbors all agree that someone is living there and have proof by looking at them everyday going in and out of the home.

When the Census Takers come through the neighborhood, they count that home and the people in there. As the numbers are passed up through the chain of processing, someone decides that the home is not a structure and those numbers are removed from the final count. The City loses out on the count because some Washington appointed bureaucrat decided that it should happen like that.


With the Obama Administration elevating the Census to a Cabinet level position, more attention will be paid to the processing of information. Even more intriguing, the administration will have final say over the analysis of the information. This effort will require that citizens that have technology skills are essential to the achievement of fair counting of Cities in our Country.

Just imagine people like Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi as the Chief Information Officer for the Census with a staff full of database administrators and computer programmer/analysts who think like him. This man believes that segregation in the 1960’s would have been better for America. Dr. Martin Luther King would have been in a Guantanamo Style prison and Nelson Mandela would still be in Jail. The applications that the staff would design would count citizens as darkies with other ethnic categories to dilute the true count of people. They would add other ethnic categories and, add so many variables that by the time the data was official, you would have an undercount/over count situation.

The following table shows what Detroit’s 2000 Census Population would have looked like based on the adjustment correction of 3 to 14 percent. (Note at a %6 adjustment, Detroit’s reported population of 951,270 would have been 1,008,346)

Table 1 Detroit 2000 Census Figures Adjusted %3 to %14.

                  Pct. Population
                   0%     951,270 
                   3%     979,808 
                   4%     989,321 
                   5%     998,834 
                   6%   1,008,346 
                   7%   1,017,859 
                   8%   1,027,372 
                   9%   1,036,884 
                   10%  1,046,397 
                   11%  1,055,910 
                   12%  1,065,422 
                   13%  1,074,935 
                   14%  1,084,448

(Source 2000 Census – click here to go to US Census Bureau data for Detroit)

Resources would be re-directed to populations that would be inflated for the purpose of weakening the voting voice and the financial resources of a group of people. Gerrymandering is the establishment of state and federal congressional boundaries to give one party a voting advantage over another. For example the Michigan’s US 8th congressional district includes the area of Lansing, Clinton County, Livingston County and, parts of Shiawassee and northern Oakland County. (Click here to view map of Michigan's 8th congressional district). You end up with congress people who consistently vote against President Obama and do not have to worry about losing an election. The resulting damage appears in the area of race, finance and economics. The continuation of this process will contribute to a 21st century style depression that will cause massive damage to the national security of America.

We at the Friends of Cushingberry are calling for total transparency of the Census process. This will include the fair processing of data using accountable and certified methods and procedures. The advance of technology and the improved processes from the 1900s makes the actual process of counting citizens obsolete. However, the process has a purpose because it can be used as a benchmark to determine the accuracy of collected data from 3rd party sources like moving companies, utility companies, and private businesses.

Herman Hollerith was a former Census Bureau employee who quit government work and founded IBM. Every punch card and mainframe was the result of a birth of an idea to improve a process. With President Obama elevating the Census to a Cabinet level Agency, technology and accountability will take on an increased importance to citizens of Michigan. Our final word for today is that the Census is hiring! (Click here to apply) The President and Rep. Cushingberry are urging all city and county residents to apply for jobs with the US Census Bureau today. Your community’s future depends on it.

 

Reprocessed Waste Saves Money and Clears the Air Space.

Meloganite is a by-product of processed solid human waste. The largest producers of material are municipal water sewage systems. The City of Detroit has been collecting solid waste from citizens and burning it in a large incinerator for years. By converting this process to a Meloganite re-processing operation, a municipality can generate revenue for development and maintenance of their community.


The final product can be packaged and sold as fertilizer for people to use on their lawns and gardens. For example the city of Milwaukee Wisconsin currently sells their Meloganite at retail outlets like Home Depot and Menards. With all of the available and abundant land in the State of Michigan due to foreclosures and abuse of financial bearing products by hedge fund managers, Meloganite will help restore the land for producing food, medicine, and better looking lawns for property owners.


House Appropriations Chairman Rep. George Cushingberry Jr(D-08) and Agriculture Chairman Rep. Mike Simpson(D-65) urge Mayor Bing to stop burning solid waste and spare the citizens health from polluting the air with cancer causing carcinogens. Therefore we are urging Mayor Bing to complete the contract to send solid waste to Michigan agricultural applications instead of burning it in the Detroit incenary. Air quality is a priority and the completion of this action would help end the pollution of our environment.

Meloganite equals a new word($) for an old turd.

What it takes to Have a Good City: A new commitment to Transportation and a New Cobo Hall

Since the days of Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, and Dave DeBusschere, the Cobo Hall arena is now a non functional use of space. We the friends feel that in the design of the new Cobo Hall Convention Center, the area that is now the arena should be removed and replaced. The new facility would encompass Joe Louis Arena, be 3 times larger and, %50 taller than the current facility. The area will be large enough to have Joe Louis Arena accessible from inside of the new facility without patrons having to go outside.

Additional routes and the expansion of the Detroit People Mover will allow more people to park farther away and have rapid transportation to the North American International Auto Show and Detroit Red Wings games and other events. Expansion of rail service from Downtown Detroit to Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, Chicago, Cleveland, and places beyond is an attainable goal. With a commitment from Amtrak and the Detroit People Mover, this new project will give Detroit and Michigan the Stimulus it needs by creating jobs for its residents.

We remember all of those people walking around the neighborhood who used to work in concrete for a living. Fathers like Mr. Hall and Mr. Clement Sr. would have a few friends over and put in sidewalks and driveways for customers, neighbors, and friends. Young people were always willing to learn and do something for compensation if you taught them how to do it. Some of them liked it so well that they went out on their own. With all of this empty housing that need to be repaired or re-built, opportunities for City Residents will increase.


The way to have a good City is to fix the roads in a timely and fair manner. And Rep. Cushingberry is in Lansing making sure that this is a priority. New revenues in fuel will fund the repair of the roads. Cellulosic Ethanol and Industrial Hemp all grown in Michigan, by Michigan farmers in every county will create jobs and new revenue for the exclusive maintenance of State and Local highways. Contract opportunities for disadvantaged and small businesses will increase by %50 over 2 years. In laypersons terms if you are building a road in my city, then you better be committed to hire city residents or don’t bother signing up for the job.

Empty lots in Detroit will be prime candidates for conversion into growing fields producing food, fuel, and medicine for City residents. Lots can be leased by owners by the yard with a tax stamp from the State of Michigan, similar to the labeling currently on tobacco and liquor. This would include the revenue from Duty Free approved business selling Michigan grown food and medicine. International visitors would be allowed to purchase these home grown products on their way home.


Mayor Bing and Rep. Cushingberry are very interested in the future of the City and will pledge to get local residents hired for this massive project. It is time to come into the 21 Century and have a facility that will be superior to McCormack Place in Chicago and any other comparable facility worldwide.


The opportunity to design the facility will be given to students in Detroit Public Schools and the Tri-County area using the latest technology from leading edge technology based companies. The winning design will be chosen by a team of designers and civic leaders. The result of this effort would be a true gift of the people to themselves and others to come afterwards.


Can anybody say legacy to the people?

Congratulations to Mayor Bing. You have 3 months to “Do Your Thing”.

We offer our congratulations to Dave Bing and the successful race for Mayor of Detroit. Now that the people have made their voices heard (%15 of you), Mr. Bing has 3 months to make effective change. If he is successful in becoming one of the two final candidates for the November election, Detroit will truly have a new vision and a direction for the next four years.

Will Chief Barren stay or go? Will others survive or assimilate to accept the new leadership changes from the Bing Administration? Can the Department of Recreation become a driving force in the City again? Besides Police and Fire, the Recreation department has been one of the most influential departments in the city. The way to support the youth is for the youth to have something to do. There are opportunities where young people can participate in rebuilding the city in the form of rebuilding homes, cutting grass, and summertime swimming in City pools.

The City swimming pools are a hiring ground for lifeguards and play an important part in helping Detroit residents learn how to swim. Drowning is a sin that can and should be avoided at all costs. Training youth how to swim is essential to having a great city. Mr. Bing can make a strong impact in this area if he can pull off a “two minute drill” knocking down ‘three pointers from the arc’ in organizing departments.

Mr. Bing would be guaranteed re-election in November if he could restore the functionality of Coleman Young International Airport for commercial flights again. This area of the city has suffered from total benign financial neglect. Hiring security for the parking lots and working with Delta/Northwest, a small hub in the city will employ numerous City residents and, restore the neighborhoods that surround them. Airport management needs the support of the Mayors office and council to make effective change.

Mr. Bing would also re-vitalize the City by supporting same day voter registration for Detroit Residents. The Current City clerk is very open to the use of streamlined technology. With the current technology this process would be very easy to implement.

State Representative Cushingberry will be very supportive of the people’s choice for Mayor. He will do everything he can for Detroit from the Capitol providing stimulus for the City with support from Senate Democrats and Governor Granholm. Accounting transparency is a must for the school system and Rep. Cushingberry supports allowing parents to purchase books for their children from publishers and receive a tax credit for %110 of the value of the books purchased when they are donated to the school system.

Mayor Bing will have 3 months to do his thing if he wants the job for the next 4 years.


We wish him and our city well.

What it takes to have a good City: Good Citizens who make having a good neighborhood an obligation.

Who are these people? They are your next door neighbors and residents who live on your block. They are the neighbors who keep their property up by cutting the grass, planting gardens, and watching out for each other’s property. Your neighbor may be of a different political party, religion, age group, and gender. Each of them have their own world they live in but as a collective group they were concerned about each others general health and welfare. These neighbors formed a block of concerned citizens who brought up issues of city services, property taxes, fire and police protection to proper government officials.

Another service these groups perform is making sure that the children are in school if they were of school age. One of the obligations to a good city is to make sure the residents get quality education. These community groups were also members of the school PTA who helped with student issues and the management of the educational system. When you are a part of a neighborhood adopting an attitude of “I can be an Island by themselves” is counterproductive.

And in honor of good citizenship, I am starting my Cush's Hats Off Award program for groups or individuals who conspire to perform acts of mass kindness and goodwill towards their fellow neighbors.


The first Hats off Award goes to: Blackstone Community Organization

This group is responsible for the Schafer & 7 mile area in Northwest Detroit. They have a 30 year history of goodwill toward neighbors. They work to make sure that the residents get information on Government Services at the Federal, State, County, and Local level. This group serves as a model prototype for Associations of Block Clubs.


If you have a block club or organization that you feel deserves the Cush's Hats Off award, please contact us via our website or by email at georgecushingberry@house.mi.gov

Take back Detroit: Rep. Cushingberry favors expanding Law Enforcement resources from Washington and Lansing for Citizens of Detroit.

Our Friend George will sponsor legislation to expand law enforcement services support to Detroit residents. The support will benefit agencies such as the Detroit Public Schools Public Safety and the Wayne County Sherriff Department. To help support the Detroit Police Department, Mr Cushingberry will push for the establishment of a State Police Post within the City Limits. Detroit Police Chief Barren will get additional stimulus for the department for funding the Mini Stations that are spread out between the precincts of the city. With Law Enforcement spread out into the neighborhoods, police resources are located closer to the community. For high crime and special circumstances that require the approval of the residents on that street, security cameras will be mounted on that street with a history tape to record movements and to secure homes.


The Detroit Public Schools will benefit from the increase funding because it will allow the schools to open opportunities for interaction between the youth and Police and Fire Departments. Apprentice cadet programs for Police and Fire careers would be sponsored by community officers in both departments. Programs like EMT, Underwater Rescue and recovery, Detective work, and Arson Investigation will allow Detroit youth to explore careers in public service.



Facilities like empty school buildings and other abandoned structures could be re-furbished with Stimulus funding to have public services closer to the residents. These facilities in the communities can house Federal agencies such as the US Marshals Office, FBI, DEA, and ATF could share these facilities. Rep Cushingberry will also support a study that will analyze response times by call types over a two-year period. From this study a guideline will be developed for Police to respond to calls based on emergency type. A base required response time of 15 minutes on all calls will be a goal of the department and Rep Cushing berry will assist from Lansing with funding, organizing meetings, and other duties that the Fire and Police Departments together can solve.


Having an advocate for the people in Lansing is a gift of gold, especially to Detroit residents who faithfully live in the City despite this economy. George is really concerned about his people and will do whatever he can to help the City residents. As President Obama has stated, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is shining bright with opportunity for all. Rep Cushingberry has the same compassion for his fellow citizens and is a zealot when it comes to their needs. Being down is a temporary condition that can be fixed over time through determination and monetary support from Banks and other Venture Capitalists.

Hang on because our time is coming….

Take back Detroit: Improving Response Time for the Police and Fire Departments. Incentives for City employees living inside the City of Detroit

A conversation between Retired Detroit Police Officer Sgt. Roscoe L. Thomas and State Representative George Cushingberry Jr.

Mr. Roscoe L. Thomas served as a Sergeant, Chief investigator for the Homicide Division and Steward to fellow officers. He is a lobbyist for the Michigan Association of Retired Police Officers. He has over 25 years of experience with the department and retired with full honors.

State Representative George Cushingberry Jr. is serving as the chairman of the House Appropriations committee and has served in the legislature for over 20 years. We sat down and had a conversation regarding maximizing police response time to incidents and keeping Detroit safe with Detroit’s finest. On this one Thursday evening, we talked about the New Detroit we see that will revitalize the community. We begin the question and answer conversation below:

Rep. Cushingberry:
How can we decrease the response time from Detroit Police and Fire Departments to its citizens? I get constituent complaints regarding this issue. Do you have any ideas that can improve this situation?

Sgt. Thomas:
I am always the optimist and believe that things can get better when we work on innovation and ideas brought forth by concerned citizens and Law Enforcement personnel.

When I started we had 5000 officers under Coleman Young and at one time we were considered the murder capital of the world. The department has evolved over the years and has flexed well given the current economic times.

Restoring the Police precincts in the neighborhood is a good idea from Chief Barren because it puts the Department closer to the community. As an incentive to live in Detroit I would propose to the Chief and the City Council to allow city employees a property tax break of %15 when you live within the City Limits. Police and Fire department members will get an additional %5 property tax break for living in the City. When we have a lot of empty homes and thinking about re-vitalizing the City, welcoming Polices and Fire Department members with a financial incentive will re-vitalize the neighborhoods.

I would even consider the placement of Cameras in high crime areas and, encourage a program to have residents purchase and install security video equipment on their property. Residents will be able to monitor your property from anywhere they have access to the Internet. This program will help residents keep track of the activity on their property when they are not there.


Rep. Cushingberry:
That sounds very technical to the average person Sgt. Thomas. And what about the legality of having a camera on your property pointing out the window?

Sgt. Thomas:
Actually, some of the children with high tech phones don’t think so and can’t wait to operate the equipment. For us “Senior Citizens” it is a slightly different story. The ideas that I am proposing will allow the heat temperature to be monitored with sensors and, if it gets too hot (flame conditions, smoke density, etc...), the Fire Department is notified of a potential hazard and will take steps to avert a potential problem. The steps will include the installation of video equipment mounted on existing Radio Towers and tall buildings in the City to allow them to zoom in on a home to see what the Fire Emergency is before sending additional equipment.


Rep. Cushingberry:
You know how our parents and neighbors used to do it in the backyard. Now I see First Lady Michelle Obama with a garden in the White House lawn. I am considering running for State Senate in District 4, Police and Fire department response is one of my top priorities, along with Urban Farming. What can I do to help my fellow Detroit Citizens from Lansing?


Sgt Thomas:
Currently, the Homicide Division is currently handling 800 murders a year and does a good job given the number of personnel remaining in the Department. We have discussed your position on the Senior Citizens in Detroit regarding response time and community involvement. When I meet Chief Barren, I ask him about restoring the Community Block Club police and citizen participation program. If one exists I will express your concern to him regarding our golden citizens. We have worked together to get the standards and statistics for police response time placed on the Department’s website and updated each month.

When the residency requirement was in effect, the servants of the city lived in the city. The city became an investment to a property owner and the neighborhood was a little safer. Police officers drove City Cars home and when that happened, NOBODY did anything stupid on that street, that day. By their presence in the city, the response time would be decreased because your neighbor was always looking out for you.


Rep Cushingberry:
Sgt. Thomas, I have asked the Department of Community health to produce numbers regarding the addiction comparisons between, Marijuana, Heroin, Cocaine, and Meth. When we take these numbers and compare them to arrest records of the Detroit Police Department, what kind of results do you think that we will get?

Sgt. Thomas:
I believe that those numbers will show some interesting results in the area of addiction and law enforcement. With the passing of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Law of 2009, the usually high numbers of marijuana arrests will be reduced by up to %50. A large number of arrests are for people who belong in mental hospitals and are in need of continued medical treatment. Closing mental facilities and pushing the burden onto Local Law Enforcement resources at the City and County level may bankrupt an entire city or county if not checked and managed properly.

I am extremely concerned at the gun violence because no one is considering the path of the stray bullets that unfortunately hit innocent citizens that had nothing to do with the altercation. I would encourage Firearm education to children so that they are taught the consequences of using and firing a weapon. They have the N.R.A.; we have the memory of Harriet Tubman who was a responsible gun owner.

Finally I would encourage all citizens to report crime and testify against it. The only way to put crime to an end is to show compassion and the passion to persecute the few people who drag down the quality of life.


Rep. Cushingberry:
Well Sgt. Thomas, thank you for this moment to have this conversation. I will consider your thoughts and strive to implement some of your ideas. Blending the wisdom of the Older Detroiters with the freshness and youth of the Young generation will be the beginning of a new day. I feel that Detroit will be the first City to come back from this depression that we are in. Thank you again.

Sgt. Thomas:
Thank you for the opportunity to share this vision for the City of Detroit with you.