Back To School Rally

Q: What's going on?
A: Back to School Rally

Q: Who's invited?
A: All ages invited from Pre-K to 12th Grade

Q: When is it?
A: August 2, 2014 8am-1pm

Q: Where is it?
A: Oak Grove A.M.E. Church 19801 Cherrylawn Detroit, MI 48221

Important Notes:
1. First come, first serve
2. Registration is from 8am to 9am.
3. Sign in required by parent or guardian upon arrival
4. Backpacks/Supplies will be distributed at the conclusion of the event
5. Children MUST attend all workshops to receive backpacks

FEATURING: Food, fun, games, and free school supplies to the first 450 students to register

Online Absentee Voting and Early Voting in person at Wayne County Community College with Free Parking!

DETROIT CITY CLERK WINFREY ANNOUNCES ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey and Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson have announced that for the first time in history, Detroit will accept online applications for absentee ballots. Winfrey and Johnson called the project historic, saying it would result in increased access to the ballot in Detroit in 2014. 

There are two ways in which voters can request an Absentee Ballot: beginning Thursday, July 17, they can go to www.detroitballot.com; and starting on Monday, July 21, they can go to the App Store and search Vote for Detroit to download the App.

"This is a proud day for Detroit and a historic day for Michigan," said Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey. "I'm thrilled to announce as clerk that I'll be broadening ballot access for Detroiters through this new program." 

"For the first time ever, Detroiters will be able to request absentee ballots online," said Lon Johnson, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. "Clearly voters of Michigan are adopting absentee voting as a way of casting their ballot - as evidenced by the fact that more than 27 percent of votes cast in Michigan's 2012 election were absentee ballots.”

Once residents request the ballot online the ballot will be mailed.  The last day to request a ballot is Saturday, August 2, at 2 p.m.

Currently it is common practice for many clerks across Michigan to receive requests to vote absentee through a number of secure options, including fax, mail and hand delivery.

Detroit Absentee Walk In Voting Information.

Dates: Monday July 21st until Aug. 4th

Time:  8-4pm Monday Through Saturday

Location:  Wayne County Community College:

5901 Conner  Detroit MI 48213   (313) 922-3311

8200 W. Outer Drive  Detroit MI 48219  (313) 943-4000

Parking: Free.

Cast your ballot in person or take it home with you and mail in.

You can drop off your filled out absentee ballot there also.  Save a stamp!

Water Access Volunteer Effort (WAVE) Fund Assistance

The Water Access Volunteer Effort (WAVE) Fund provides assistance to low-income families during a crisis by ensuring uninterrupted access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. Since established, WAVE has assisted over 9,100 families and households and has distributed over $2 million toward water bills in the area to help retain services.

Funds are earmarked specifically for payment of water and sewer bills. Contributions are tax deductible and no water and sewer revenues are used.
The maximum allowance for assistance is 50% of the bill up to $500. Customers may receive WAVE Fund help only once in any calendar year. The WAVE Fund assistance must restore service or assure service continuation for at least 30 days. To find out if you qualify for assistance from this program, call (313) 366-8535 or (313) 964-9094.

Detroit Recreation Department Swimmers fight Breast Cancer by doing laps around Belle Isle July 9th, 2014

Councilman Cushingberry Supports the Detroit Recreation Department Swim Team in the 15th Annual Motor City Mile race around Belle Isle to fight Breast Cancer

A swimming team based at the Coleman Young Recreation Center will participate in the 15th Annual Motor City Mile sponsored by the Different Strokes Swim Shop in Livonia Michigan. This is a 3.5 mile swim around Belle Isle for the purpose of help fighting Breast Cancer.

The July  9th, 2014 event will feature 6-10 swimmers from the Coleman Young Recreation  Center swim program representing the City of Detroit neighborhoods.  Current City of Detroit lifeguards are strongly urged to participate in this event.  Upon presentation of your credentials (Red Cross Lifeguard Card), all entry fees will be waived.

Registration starts at 7:15am.

The entry fee is $25 to swim and $15 for dinner at the Detroit Yacht Club.

Proceeds will go to fight Breast Cancer.  

If you can donate any monetary support to the team please contact:

Ms. Carolyn Green at (313) 891-3652, (313)450-3650, or Coach Peterson at the Coleman Young Rec Center.

Female team members stated that they could swim across the width of the Detroit River to Canada and back. All of these swimmers are from Detroit and, this is a moment to be proud of them. Team Members have competed against schools like Cass Tech and come in first place without a lot of effort. These students will be able to pursue careers that require water skills like underwater rescue and research.

Your support is greatly appreciated and thank the Detroit Recreation Department  for their good work.

Councilman Cushingberry Supports The Affordable Care Act Tax Credit that lowers monthly rates by as much as %800

Health Care in Detroit 

By Richard C. Clement

Did you know the tax credit is still available under the Affordable Care Act?  If your income falls below the limit based on family size, you may qualify for a significant tax credit for health insurance. This credit may have the ability to lower your monthly payment to under $1.00 per month. 

You still have time to sign up for the plan because having health insurance is now the law.  A lot of insurance companies are offering their own version of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to compete with other insurance companies.  Organizations like Blue Cross, Humana and others offer similar plans because they all will have to comply with the law and, competition is a part of  being in business. 

The Following table is from Health Care Marketplace literature.

Household Size	Income Limit	Alaska
1	$45,960	$57,400
2	$62,040	$77,520
3	$78,120	$97,640
4	$94,200	$117,760
5	$110,000	$137,880
6	$126,360	$158,000

Unfortunately, Michigan Attorney General, Bill Schuette has decided to fight this benefit by joining in on a law suit to eliminate it altogether (Detroit Free Press Article – Click Here). If they are successful, your ACA monthly insurance rate will increase over %800 percent.  For a household of one person, your Bronze Insurance plan will go from $0.38 cents to $312 per month. You can still register for ACA coverage by logging onto www.healthcare.gov and sign up.

Finally, if you support this benefit, you must Vote in August and November for a change in U.S. Congress, State Legislature and, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

Councilman Cushingberry Supports The Re-Development of the Old Michigan State Fairgrounds.

By Richard C. Clement

Conceptual Design from the Magic Plus Group

Councilman Cushingberry supports the efforts of Mr. Beatty, Mr. Ferguson and, Mr. Johnson to create jobs and revitalize Detroit through the development of the State Fair Property.  Community Input Regarding the State Fair Project by the Magic Plus Group was taken on June 26^th, 2014 at the Northwest Activities Center.  Suggestions from the community were collected on cards for review by everyone involved to be incorporated into the final plan.  The Magic plus group has an Amtrak station in the plans that will be a vast improvement over the current AMTRAK station in Midtown Detroit. Currently, the AMTRAK station in Midtown has NO parking available and is a total embarrassment to the City of Detroit.

Preliminary Design Plan

The meeting gave everyone time to present their ideas, like preserving something that was the old State Fair like the Band Shell.  The meeting allowed the leadership to decide what type of housing will be placed there.  The City of Detroit has lots of land and empty homes right now that need to be redeveloped and rehabilitated.  The REDICO/Magic Plus Group is responsible for only 157 acres of the City.

There is no monetary commitment from Michigan Department of Transportation and, the Regional Transportation Authority to enhance the current Transportation situation. This attitude will change when the AMTRAK part of the property is re-designed. This will force the enhancement and upgrade of the current bus and rail situation at the Fairgrounds.

A monetary commitment from the US Department of Transportation will foster the development of a regional transportation hub.  A rail system similar to the City of Miami Florida would tie in Amtrak, DDOT, SMART,  M1, M2, M8, M102, M3, and M5 on a regional rail system funded with Transportation revenue from creating and growing alternative fuel energy.  Solar Panels, Wind Turbines and, growing fuel like Industrial Hemp and other plants will redefine the energy needs for a region and a nation. 

The Obama Administration has two years left to serve and can leave a lasting legacy at the old State Fair property with a construction project to assist in the re-development.  This is possible if the people vote at the ballot box to re-direct the leadership this August and November 2014 in Lansing, Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. The RTA is an organization with NO funding or public financial support.  The alternate proposal by the META Tech Expo Group is based on the area being bigger than the size of Downtown Royal Oak Michigan.  Detroit is much larger than Royal Oak and, the size issue is a totally insignificant fact. The need for regional rail is clearly demonstrated when you drive the Lodge Northbound at 5:30pm Monday through Friday.  This is an issue that has to be addressed at a State and Federal level.

The next meeting regarding the State Fair Project will be posted in the near future. 

M-1 Rail Line