Marijuana Management in Motown - Showtime is Tue. Feb 2nd, 2015 @ 10am

by Richard C. Clement - Marijuana Policy Analyst

        On Tuesday Feb 2^nd at 10 am, the new Detroit Marijuana Ordinance and Licensing procedure will be demonstrated before a full body of the City Council.  When implemented, this will significantly reduce the number of Marijuana Compassion Centers in the City of Detroit.  Currently there are over 150 places of business operating in the city. When this ordinance takes effect On March 1^st, there may be a little as 5 of them in the City with restrictions so tight that you will be able to get a Gun much easier than some Ganja.

        Supporters and owners of Compassion Centers who object to provisions of the ordinance feel that this should be a ballot question placed to ALL of the people. One of the major objections is the provision of 1000 feet from a church or religious institution. Some religions use Marijuana as holy sacrament as a primary part of their religious practice. In this case an owner can get a use permit from BSEED as a religious institution in zones B1, B2, B4,B5, B6 business districts as a matter of right. In other cases the occupancy permit of a church can be challenged in a hearing at the Zoning Board.  There are a number of churches that are improperly zoned and do not qualify under Ordinance #61.

         Supporters of drive through and other marijuana services also feel that this issue should be decided by the voters. Therefore, and at the request of Council member Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr, the Law Department was directed to develop ballot language so that voters can decide the issue in November of 2016 at the ballot box. With the gathering of the signatures of 5000 registered voters in the City of Detroit, the implementation of this ordinance will be suspended until a vote is taken.

          Corporation Council Attorney Melvin “Butch” Hollowell and staff  have been crafting the language for the petition since October 2015. Corporation council staff has promised Pro Tem Cushingberry that language will be available to the public on or before February 2^nd,  2016. 

           Meanwhile organizations like MI-Legalize and Abrogate Michigan have Ballot Initiative petitions that will alleviate the issues with the City to make a fair and equitable law regarding Marijuana in Michigan. The Marijuana industry has been a boon to places like Lowes and Home Depot for construction material. Work for Union Electricians, Carpenters and Bricklayers are in demand because of the new ganja-peneuer industry. Empty buildings in the City are being used instead of open to being looted and set fire by people like squatters who use open flame to keep warm.

            The only restrictions that the Marijuana community agrees with is the 1000 foot barrier from a school.  Otherwise, everything else about the ordinance is up for a ballot vote by the people.

Stay tuned to Detroit City Council live stream at www.detroitmi.gov  Channel 10 on February 2^nd, 2016 at 10 am to view the presentation.

District 2 State of the District Field Report - Continue the Push with Pro Tem Cush!

Greetings,

A Toast to Deception by the
Emergency Manager and Flint Officials

          The situation in Flint Michigan regarding the water is a criminal act of negligence committed by employees of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  We are strongly recommending that Barbara McQuade and Loretta Lynch with the United States Department of Justice to convene a grand jury to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the falsification of documents that produced this disaster. There is no excuse for this criminal behavior from Civil Servants who took an oath to serve the people with honesty and integrity.  As compensation to Flint residents, their co-pays for the Affordable Care Act shall be significantly reduced by %95 to %100 to accommodate the health care needs of the affected.  When the water is so bad that General Motors can’t use it to build their cars, then why it was good for people to drink according to State of Michigan “experts”. The participants in this modern day Tuskegee Experiment for profit shall be stung like a Hornet in a court of law.

        The process for obtaining a License for Marijuana Caregiver Centers is taking place as we speak. Fees by law will not be higher than $1000 and through the referendum process a fair and equitable ordinance will become the law of all the people.  Unfortunately, there are some members in our community who want to create a problem that does not exist.  There are some in the community who say that these places bring crime and drive the values of property down.  Under further inspection by Council staff members of these businesses, these allegations are not true. Recently in January of 2016, Detroit Police Chief James Craig was quoted on Detroit Speaks with Cliff Russell (WCHB 1200 AM Detroit MI) that the crime numbers associated with these Marijuana places are not there and, the department has more issues to deal with like murders, car jackings, and mentally ill people that need help instead of jail.

        We have African American pastors that own Caregiver Centers that employ many people. They do not support the 1000 foot requirement from a religious institution and requesting that this and other provisions be placed on the ballot for November 2016. Furthermore some of these pastors should know better and seem to forget the history of the Slave Trade were Black People sold other Black people into slavery. In this case the pastors support keeping marijuana illegal to support the for profit prison industry.  There are cities like Ypsilanti, Lansing, Flint, that have many Caregiver Centers in their cities, therefore the allegations made by community groups regarding these places of business are unfounded and remind you of the 1939 Reefer Madness movement.

                The Livernois Avenue of Fashion is thriving again with new lights and businesses that meet the needs of their customers.  The lights took longer than expected because the wiring on the street was over 50 years old. We support the business owners on the Avenue who want the parking meters removed from the street.  They have caused the business owners to lose customers because of the inflexibility of the meters and our office is working with the owners to resolve the problems. We want more people to start voicing their concerns to Wayne County and Lansing for the condition of Outer Drive from Livernois all the way to Southfield Freeway.  Between Livernois and Wyoming, the road conditions are atrocious and needs to be paved over immediately. We want to highlight and give a shout out to the new Hartford Village complex on Meyers and welcome to our new residents who will be living there.

                The empty land at the State Fairgrounds has a site plan and layout by the Magic Plus LLC group. We hope that this group can expand their efforts as far as they can between Woodward, John R, 8 Mile, and McNichols because this area is begging for redevelopment. The plan is for a movie theater,  housing, and a fully modal transportation center that includes, Amtrak, Light Rail, DDOT, and SMART. On 7 mile and Woodward a faith based transportation hub in partnership with the Tasty World, BP Gas Station, Miles Green Acres Compassion Center, and the Perfecting Church will facilitate the connection between North, South, East, and West distances in the city.  We support the participation of the Magic Plus Group in the re-vitalization of Detroit.  We will continue to support the development of a regional light rail system that will rival Miami, Washington DC, and New York rail systems. 

        This growth within the district may result in the re-activation of the fire house at Curtis and Livernois that is 2.5 miles from Pasteur School into a fully operational fire house. In layperson terms there will be two fire trucks instead of one with a rescue unit. Some of the older firehouses may qualify for a historic grant because of the age of the facility.  This means that a Detroit based company like CAASTI Construction Company (www.caasti.com) can redo the interior of fire houses and create job opportunities for carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, etc.  

         This growth will continue with the additional officers needed at the 12th Precinct because of the redevelopment of the old State Fairgrounds property by Magic PLUS. When this project is completed DPD will be adding at least 10 new officers to patrol the new neighborhood.

        

         The Adams/Butzel Recreation Center has a world class NHL sized hockey skating rink. It is one of the Department’s premiere recreation centers in the district. Did you know that African Americans invented the game of Hockey? (click here to find out)  If you want to learn how to play the game, then this is the place to come.  Trainers with professional hockey experience are available to teach you the basics.

         We will work to remove one of the Emergency Managers orders regarding the parking tickets. We want citizens to get a 24 hour grace period to pay a $20 fine instead of being socked $45 a pop.  Michigan cities like Lansing are forgiving when it comes to parking tickets and people. 

Property Tax Progress (click here)

Finally, we want to give a shout out to Pastor Oscar King of the Northwest Unity Baptist Church whose leadership in the District has helped to make for a better quality of life in our neighborhood and our city.

Fire up Detroit, Fire Up!

An Apology to L. Brooks Patterson and Support for the Teachers at Cass Tech

By Richard C. Clement

Mr. L. Brooks Patterson will be receiving a phone call and a personal visit from Legislative Aide Richard Clement at 313 224-4535 apologizing for offending him by calling him a drunkard in social media. The comments made by me in response to the trolls insulting the integrity and leadership of Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. in social media with unprofessional names was inappropriate at a personal level.

I do apologize to all Cass Tech Alumni for mis-representing the boss on his Facebook Account as a Cass Tech Alumni. I was acting like a Technician when I am actually a Mumford Mustang in support of public education including(but not limited to) art, swimming, music, S.T.E.M, careers, drivers ed, special ed, politics, public safety like EMT, Police, Fire, sports, broadcasting, etc. This apology includes all of the retired DPS teachers, including the substitutes I dogged along the way to becoming an adult.

I support DPS employees all the way up to Elected Board Member Lamar Lemmonds, to Pasteur School and back again. Public education is under attack from hucksters and speculators who see every child as a $7,500 profit center instead of an asset with unique traits and talent that numbers cannot measure.  

If anyone in a public position says that teachers are overpaid, they should be arrested for a misdemeanor and given a choice of 90 days in jail or, work as a substitute teacher one day week for an entire school year. Furthermore, public school teacher’s health care costs should include the use of Medical Marijuana to treat the PTSD conditions of the job. Teachers do an excellent job with the resources that they are given. We need educators instead of MBA’s and speculators in charge of education because the number testing thing is not working.

Finally I want to congratulate all of the teachers at Cass Tech who took a stand and said enough is enough. I want them to make sure to find every student who will be 18 years old on or before November 8^th, 2015, and have them register and voting for people who have your best interests at heart.  

Thank you,

Richard C. Clement

Legislative Aide to Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. District 2

CC: Shout out to WDIV 4 Detroit Reporter Priya Mann for getting back with me.

W.W.C.Y.D. if he had social media available?

Where WWCYD equals What Would Coleman Young Do?

Property Taxes in Detroit. Good news message on how you can save some money

by Richard C. Clement

Now is the time to plan to lower your property tax if you feel that your assessment is unfair. There are three possible steps to the annual appeal process:

1. Assessors Review (local)

2. March Board of Review (local)

3. Michigan Tax Tribunal (state)

Make plans to appeal your assessment between the dates of February 2^nd through 16^th.  If you are not satisfied with the local assessor’s review, you have a right to appeal the March board of review. (Click Here to Review the Steps Needed to get the Job done)

There are many programs available to lower your taxes such as a poverty exemption credit and Neighborhood Enterprise Zones. (Click here to read NEZ information). This is only the request form for a poverty application please do not submit financial information with the form!

To qualify for a tax exemption under the poverty program, you must:

1. Own and occupy the property as your primary homestead as of December 31, 2014.

2. Must have a principal residence exemption on file.

3. Household (related and non-related) annual income must fall within the poverty guidelines.

4. You must submit a completed application and provide all required documents for the board to render a decision.

Incomplete applications may not be considered. Important notice any person who knowingly makes a false statement or misrepresentation will be denied a poverty exemption and may be prosecuted to the fullest extent provided by law. Any or all applications are subject to random home inspections for compliance with City of Detroit guidelines. (Click Here For Poverty Tax Exemption Forms)

If you disagree with the March Board of Review decision, you have as a right by law to appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. All Property Classified Real Property can be protested at the March Board of Review. This is necessary to protect your rights to further appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal for valuation and exemption appeals and/or State Tax Commission for classification appeals.

To appeal a decision of the March Board of Review, you must write to the Michigan Tax Tribunal before June 30th each year. Please visit www.michigan.gov/taxtrib  for the appropriate appeal form.

Property Classified Commercial Real, Industrial Real Appeal to the March Board of Review is not required. However, if desired, an appeal must be made during the Assessors Review Period (see above for deadline) in order to appeal to the March Board of Review; or an appeal can be made directly to the Michigan Tax Tribunal prior to May 31st .

Property Classified Commercial Personal, Industrial Personal and Utility Personal

Taxpayers who wish to appeal for these classifications are not required to appear at the March Board of Review. However, if desired, an appeal may be made to the March Board of Review (see above for deadline and mailing address) or an appeal can be made directly to the Michigan Tax Tribunal prior to May 31st . Appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal requires that a personal property statement be filed by February 20th .

Michigan Tax Tribunal P.O. Box 30232 Lansing, M 48909 (517) 636-7551 www.michigan.gov/taxtrib

Field Report Ordinance #61 and Marijuana Reform in Detroit. The Next Step

by Richard C. Clement

The 6 to 1 vote by the body of the Detroit City Council to approve Ordinance #61 for Marijuana Management and regulation in is a good start to work from. With modifications and input from the citizens of Detroit this Ordinance can be modified, re-codified to everyone’s satisfaction before March of 2016.

The good news first is that everyone agrees about the need to be licensed with the City as a business.

Without taxing the churches, a license fee amount agreed upon by all would bring significant revenue to the City’s coffers to be re-distributed to quality of life issues like park maintenance, road repair, recreation centers for children and seniors, etc.  A percentage of that revenue would go for the management of the industry with a new Department of Cannabis at City Hall.

March Madness and Marijuana Jobs - 16 New Careers Available

This department would consist of a few administrators and representatives from Building Safety, Fire Marshall, and Treasury that would be responsible for the establishment, management, and quality of Marijuana used in the City of Detroit.

Other issues can be resolved by adhering to the following steps.

1. If you support the efforts of my friend and esteemed Pastor Marvin Winans, then you should google search the following topics, Harry Ainslinger, Michelle Alexander, Hemp Concrete, and have him meet me at Miles Green Acers Compassion Center at an agreed time and date. Then have Brother Marvin make an appointment at (313) 224-4535 to see me in the office so we can talk about a solution about (but not limited to) weed, blight, and other things to make this city right.
2. Skip to Step 7 otherwise proceed to Step 3
3. If you are or planning to be a cannabis business owner, it is strongly recommended that you “know the neighborhood”. If you the owner or your landlord establishes a good relationship with your neighbors, then everything will be fine.  Issues like parking, security, and operational hours are things to consider when moving into a new building. If the neighbors (including religious institutions) within the proximity of the business approve of your location, then you may be granted a waiver to remain at the location by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
4. Skip to Step 7 otherwise proceed to Step 5
5. Upon presentation of signatures from 5000 registered electors in the City of Detroit, the citizens will direct City Clerk Janice Winfrey to place Ordinance #61 to a referendum up or down vote of the people. This vote is required to be held at the next regularly scheduled election in 2016.  (August or November) During this time, the ordinance is suspended and cannot be enforced.
6. Detroit voters have the opportunity to implement language that would be acceptable to all stakeholders, addressing issues like zoning regulations and yearly license fee amounts as an ordinance with 5000 valid signatures from registered electors who live IN the City of Detroit through the ballot initiative process.
7. End process.

When it is all said and done all interested stakeholders like native and longtime residents of Detroit will have a say in the direction of the future of Detroit.  Otherwise, we want to thank Councilmember James Tate of District 1 for stirring up the "pot".  He was recently selected as the keynote speaker at the Founders Day Luncheon by Detroit Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University on February 21^st, 2015 at 11:00am at DeCarlos Hall and Banquet Center. Tickets are $40 each and can be picked up in Councilmember Pro Tem Cushingberry’s office. 

Working for Weed Peace in Detroit

We hope to see supporters of higher education, and friends of Councilmember Tate like my friend and colleague Pastor Marvin Winans come to our event. Friends and colleagues of Richard Clement are welcome to attend also. Please call (313) 224-4535 or email clementr@detroitmi.gov if you are interested in attending with the proceeds going toward needy students attending Alabama State University.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday* and we want to see you all in 2016!

Where Holiday* = Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Your Personal Birthday, New Years,etc

Richard C. Clement  

Marijuana Policy Analyst

Office of Councilmember Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. District 2

www.detroitmi.gov

Ending the War on Pot in the City of Detroit with Democracy at the Ballot Box - Protecting the Right to Vote by Referendum

By Richard C. Clement

On Thursday December 17, 2015 at 1:15pm, the Detroit City Council will be voting to implement changes in Ordinance number #61 that will eliminate up to 95% of the Marijuana Dispensary businesses in the City of Detroit.  The reasons for their removal is that a number of community groups and Church pastors say that these places are illegal according to the State of Michigan.  This is the same State of Michigan that poisoned the water in Flint Michigan, committed Voter Fraud by re-establishing the Emergency Manager by making it referendum proof, and decimated public education with under-performing academies and a bunch of MBA’s running the education system instead of educators.

Another reason for the “swift passage” of this ordinance is that a sitting City Council-member has been promised a financial interest in a marijuana facility if this ordinance passed as written. The Council-member will get a 10% stake in a facility called “The Reef”.  A direct quote from the article states the following:

“I was there, and I can personally attest to the fact that Terrence Mansour is working on a deal to give a Detroit city council member and their significant other a 10 percent cut of the action from his dispensary to pass these new rules,” Brikho said. “It’s a pay-to-play system that is being created by these dirty, corrupt bureaucrats and the fat cats like Mansour who own them. This is a heist that is taking place. It’s criminal.”

(Click here to Read the Entire Story Regarding the Councilmember "Deal") 

(Click here to view the "Pastors War On Pot" courtesy of Fox 2 News Detroit MI )

After the national embarrassment of indictments, convictions, and issues of public trust, the only honorable thing to do is let the Citizens of Detroit vote on the ordinance in the general election in November 2016 through the referendum process. Council-member Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. believes that the Citizen Electors of the City of Detroit should be making that decision to restore trust and integrity in Detroit and it's elected officials.

Objections to ordinance

1. Unreasonable Hours of Operation. Forcing businesses to close at 8pm based on unsupported data may be un-constitutional and may be challenged in a court of law.
2. Unreasonable excuses to prevent consumption onsite of Marijuana after purchase or growing. If onsite consumption is allowed for Hookah Bars, Micro Breweries, and Cigar Bars, there is no excuse to prevent onsite consumption of marijuana on private property with the permission of the owner. Prosecuting these types of “crimes” is a waste of law enforcement, and legal resources of the City of Detroit.
3. Removal of Drive through businesses based on unsubstantiated data and the faulty theory of the late Harry Ainslinger 1^st Director of the US Drug Enforcement Agency(DEA)     
4. Arbitrary and capricious zoning distances for MMJ businesses and neighborhoods that will Zone 90% of all marijuana businesses out of business while liquor stores and churches are allowed to cluster with no extra requirements. 
5. Prohibiting Waivers for Marijuana Businesses

Solutions:

1. 24hr operations with a special permit license
2. Removal of onsite consumption restrictions from the ordinance
3. Special Permit to operate a Drive through. These places should be zoned like a bank or drugstore like CVS, Walgreens, etc.
4. Allow a special use permit for cultivation in commercial areas. 
1. B4 industry, square footage
5. 1000 Feet from a school under the US Drug Free Zone laws
6. Community Benefit Agreement with the Marijuana facilities promising to hire Detroit residents, and help keep up the neighborhood adding to the uplift of the quality of life for residents. Including allowing business owners to select a school and perform 20 hrs. community service.

A ballot initiative to replace this zoning ordinance will give Detroit citizens a perfect opportunity to conduct business as long as they are being good citizens. Currently there are an untold number of Hair Salons, Liquor Stores, and churches that are right next to each other. Some pastors welcome the new business as it has been treated as a blight remover and employer.

The work being performed by these Marijuana business owners on their property rivals HGTV and it is something that should be honored because it raised the value of the property. For people who say that these businesses are “dumping” on Detroit, look at what they are dumping. Some of the revenue from these places could be used to fix public education and fund school districts like Highland Park Michigan, Inkster, and Detroit Public Schools for example.

Medical Marijuana has been the best blessing the City has ever had because lots of investors in state and out of state are headed to Detroit and Michigan to find property. Empty building that were not being used are being re-purposed and paying property taxes to the City, unlike Churches that are open and/or under construction unopened.

People, we need your support for letting the people vote on this issue.  We strongly encourage owners and supporters to contact Detroit City council-members (click here) and let them know how you feel about it.

The citizens of Detroit have too much sense and wisdom to be bought off from special interest groups, and un-informed clergy members who are stuck in the draconian era of 1939 of prohibition and don’t take the time to read. We are issuing an open challenge to Pastor Marvin Winans to visit one of these esteemed facilities right next to his church at Miles Green Acers on Woodward and 7 mile next to the Doughnut shop.  We will make sure that no one bites him and we hope that he and his pastor friends visit the ones on Woodward Avenue.  

We want the law to respect the will of the people instead of one person on the church steeple. We are a democracy not a theocracy!

Let the People Vote!

Detroit/Wayne County Property Taxes for 2016 - Plan Now to Save Later

By Richard C. Clement 

    Many Detroit Residents received certified letters from the Wayne County Treasurer in December of 2015 regarding their property taxes.  This letter is giving you fair warning that your will lose your home if you don’t pay the amount stated.  If you have contacted the Wayne County Treasurer and have a payment agreement then you are fine. If you own property in Detroit then you have an opportunity to redress your grievance about your property tax if you feel that the amount is not right.

     You have three opportunities to save your home, and lower your property taxes. December and January are the months to make the plan to appeal your assessment. On the first 15 days of February, the Board of Assessors allows a homeowner to apply to appeal their assessed tax amount. (ClickHere) for the details to appeal a City of Detroit Tax Assessment. To be successful at a hearing, you must do the following:

1. Get a current appraisal of your home/property
2. Keep up with your payment paperwork like receipts for payment and other maintenance work
3. Find 3 homes that are comparable in size to your home and the selling price. If the homes sold for less than yours is appraised, then your taxes will be lowered.
4. File an appeal before Feb 15^th with the City of Detroit
5. Get a hearing date from the assessor’s office
6. A decision is rendered by the Board of Assessors
7. If you are satisfied then you are done with it and the process ends here.
8. If you are not satisfied with the decision you can appeal to the Board of Review in writing on or before the second Monday in March which is March 14,2016 to get an appointment.
9. If you are not satisfied with the Board of Review's decision, then to protect your property rights, you must file an appeal with the  State of MichiganTax Tribunal

   Please be aware that some cases like buying a home dirt cheap in an auction, your property taxes may go up. Property taxes are driven from values in property surrounding your home in the neighborhood. Otherwise, there were many smiles from homeowners who left the 8th floor of the Coleman Young Municipal Center because of their savings.

     The second and third opportunities involve the certified letter from the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office.  When you turn the letter over to the back, you have two opportunities to save your home and, dispute the amount owed. The show cause hearing will give a home owner a right to dispute the amount owed or make arrangements to pay the balance. If you lose your appeal in this hearing, the next one is the notice of foreclosure hearing that will lay the groundwork for total loss of the home by March 31^st, 2016.

     However, if you make contact with someone right now, it will never get to this desperate situation of losing a home and becoming homeless. If you need help paying your property taxes (click here) for detailed information on what can be done.

For housing assistance these are some contact agencies that can help:

Wayne County Department of Human Services – DHS (formerly Family Independence Agency) can be contacted at (313) 456-1000. This is a general number from which you can obtain the phone number and address of your local DHS office. You can also simply go to your local office and apply for State Emergency Relief (SER). Offices are located throughout Wayne County.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund, Wayne County Office, (313) 899-1162. If you are a veteran with at least 6 months of wartime duty, you may qualify for financial assistance.

Wayne County Veteran Affairs (Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund), (313) 224-1862. If you are a veteran with any wartime service and an honorable discharge, you may qualify.

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) – (313) 842-7010, Help is available to those who qualify and is not limited to those of Arabic ethnicity.

City of Detroit Human Services Department, Central Operations Division – (313) 852-5634. (Detroit Homeowners only.)