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.

Public Meeting with the Regional Transit Authority and Magic Plus Reps. June 23, 2016 @ 6pm

by The Friends of Cushingberry  

WWW.RTAMICHIGAN.ORG

The Regional Transit Authority meetings will be holding public meetings on the master plan at various locations in the City. One of them will be on Thursday June 23^rd, 2016 at the Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers Detroit, MI 48235 starting at 6pm. This project will create opportunity for jobs and new housing in Northwest Detroit. It is very important for Detroit residents to take notice and be a part of the solution for the future of the city.  Developers are already planning for the future now by redesigning neighborhoods and empty land like the old Michigan State Fairgrounds property. If you miss this meeting, this is the RTA Community Meetings Schedule Website Link: 

       Website Link Magic Plus/Redico LLC Site Plan for the Michigan State Fairgrounds

This development includes the Amtrak Rail Station as proposed by the Magic Plus/Redico LLC Development Group. This station will replace the facility on Milwaukee and Woodward which is handicapped unfriendly, and has poor access to trains.  Detroit residents should not have to travel to Dearborn to catch a long distance train to Ann Arbor, Chicago, or anywhere else. There will be state of the art Movie Theater with plush seating and reclining chairs to watch your movie.  The adjoining entertainment complex along with other major retailers and affordable housing will make this the hot spot of the City. 

Citizens will have easier access to rapid bus and light rail transportation. Southeastern Michigan along with the rest of the state is light years behind with regional and statewide transportation.  Large companies and corporations will be able to build the train cars, the rails, and build the system and employ lots of people doing new things.  One of the Big Three Automakers like Ford or GM will have to add an extra line in their plants to build rail cars.  Something like GM Bus and Rail Division with workers travelling back and forth from Detroit to Lansing, Grand Rapids and back.

Public Notices From The RTA Website Link

Currently, The City of Detroit has over 11,000 vacant office buildings that were built for businesses that come and go frequently.  Therefore we do not need any more additional office space at the State Fairgrounds location. Dan Gilbert is doing very well in that area of office building construction. We need to build up the neighborhoods by fixing the one that we live in now in Northwest Detroit. The area of John R, Woodward from 8 mile to 6 mile, has a varying quality of life from elegant homes to squatters and heroin addicts roaming the street.  It is also a critical hub for omni-directional transportation at Woodward and 7 mile in Detroit.

The benefit to the community of this Regional Transit project is that it will provide for omni-directional transportation in Southeastern Michigan.  Detroit to Ann Arbor, Metro Airport, and back is very possible. This project must include an investment into educational institutions like Detroit Public Schools holding training programs.  Certified and qualified teachers will train students with help from Trade Union Apprentice programs that will construct homes, fix roads, and other building jobs when the project is finished. Co-Partners Earvin Johnson and Marvin Beatty has committed to hire and educate Detroit Public Schools young men and women to participate in this project.

Councilmember Pro-Tem Cushingberry and Magic Plus/Redico members are strongly recommending that you attend and find out what is going on.  

Senate Bill 207 - Roadside Saliva Test Bill Will Test the Limits of Civil Liberties Based on Flawed Theory

by Richard C. Clement - Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.


      Senate Bill 207 sponsored by Michigan State Senator Rick Jones will allow a sworn police officer to require you to take a saliva test if you are sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle whether it is moving or not. It is vaguely worded so that the officer may arrest you if you test positive for the presence of marijuana in your system for operating a motor vehicle, including if the car is parked. 

Senate Bill 207 reads as follows:

”SEC. 625R. (1) A PEACE OFFICER WHO IS CERTIFIED AS A DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 625T IN A COUNTY PARTICIPATING IN THE ROADSIDE DRUG TESTING PILOT PROGRAM UNDER SECTION 625T WHO HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON WAS OPERATING A VEHICLE UPON A HIGHWAY OR OTHER PLACE OPEN  TO THE PUBLIC OR GENERALLY ACCESSIBLE TO MOTOR VEHICLES, INCLUDING AN AREA DESIGNATED FOR THE PARKING OF VEHICLES, WITHIN THIS STATE AND THAT THE PERSON BY THE CONSUMPTION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, MAY HAVE AFFECTED HIS OR HER ABILITY TO OPERATE A VEHICLE, OR REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON HAD IN HIS OR HER BODY ANY AMOUNT OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE LISTED IN SCHEDULE 1 UNDER SECTION 7212 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CODE, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7212, OR A RULE PROMULGATED UNDER THAT SECTION, OR OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 7214(A)(iv) OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CODE, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7214, MAY REQUIRE THE PERSON TO SUBMIT TO A PRELIMINARY ORAL FLUID ANALYSIS ADMINISTERED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. “

Senator Rick Jones(R-24)

How do you get the job as a Drug Certification expert?  This newly created position will pay for itself by the number of stops with saliva tests and bonuses for convictions. Otherwise, this is another cash cow contract for consultants who “understand marijuana”, just like the ones who attended the Attorney General’s presentation on clearing the air regarding Medical Marijuana. Their expertise was based on research stating the Marijuana and Xanax will cause death due to a lethal combination of the two substances.

Clearly Michigan’s law for a level of intoxication under the influence of cannabis has not been defined. A challenge to Sen. Jones regarding the influence of marijuana over alcohol was made to him but he declined the offer.  The challenge was that for every shot that he takes with his favorite liquor, I will take one toke on a joint.  Then we will drive a car on a test track set up by the Michigan State Police in Lansing. At every 10 intervals of toking and drinking, impairment levels will be tested.

Furthermore, this bill will be only implemented in “Test Areas” for perfection until it is implemented statewide. This is an admission on the State of Michigan that the bill is flawed and, will be fixed on the fly while people are incarcerated at the same time. This bill will be a cash cow for cash strapped counties that need new revenue.

Click Here for the FULL version of Senate Bill 207

Defense attorneys should have a field day with this one because this is a poorly written bill that will cost citizens and the State a lot of money. Other derogatory factors are racial profiling, and law enforcement abuse. County prosecutors who are zealots against marijuana will use this law to enhance their county treasuries on the backs of the citizens statewide. If you are a civil libertarian, medical marijuana user, or concerned citizen, you are strongly urged to contact Governor Rick Snyder not to sigh this bill into law.  Finally ask your State Representatives about where they stand on this bill before you vote for them in August 2016.

City of Detroit Organizational Chart - June 2016

Organizational Structure of the City of Detroit as of June 2016

Org Chart.  City of Detroit

T

Take Back Detroit Public Schools by Firing Uncle Ben And Bringing Back Dr. Crockett Again - Vote Aug and Nov 2016

by The Friends of Cushingberry

Dr. Ethlyene Jones Crockett - Vocational High School
Currently named Ben Carson HS

It is time to take back our Detroit Public Schools from State Mis-Management and, organizations like the Educational Achievement Authority. One step to take is removing Dr. Ben Carson's name from the high school and restoring the name of Dr. Ethylene J. Crockett. This repossession action is mandated by Dr. Carson’s support from people who do not have Our City of Detroit in its best interest. State oversight has been an abysmal failure and, we support District 8 State Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D) Detroit, and her efforts to rectify the wrongs of this proven failed policy from Lansing.

Currently, this school has removed programs like carpentry, electronics, and other classes that created independent contractors from at-risk and, children that did not want to go to a 4 year college. Dr. Carson's legacy is similar to US Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas, whose application and interpretation of law is an embarrassment to the legal profession.  His lone no vote (7 to 1 to exonerate) to execute an African American despite overwhelming evidence of racial discrimination by prosecutors supports actor George Takei's claim to refer to this man as a black-face clown.

"The Nerd has laid a Turd on the children's education in Detroit" -  A District 2 resident having a drink at the Penthouse Lounge

These two men highlight the diversity of the lack of common sense from some African Americans. Dr. Carson is a great brain surgeon that has no business in politics. Clarence Thomas practices law like he was awarded his law degree at Donald Trump University. This and other actions like disrespecting Harriett Tubman has created a groundswell in support to revoke all of his Detroit street credentials by removing his name from the school. This conduct has spearheaded D.P.S. supporters to ask their State Legislators to introduce a bill in Lansing to restore Dr. Crockett's name to the High School and, rename a special ed project after Dr. Carson in because he is a graduate of Detroit Southwestern High School. 

Michigan's policy on using test scores is a ploy to loot the hardworking people of Detroit from their hard earned wages.  The same people who want to limit the number of Medical Marijuana facilities in the City of Detroit want to create more charter schools in Detroit with no limits at all. With the help of a few church pastors, this shell game of moving bey-bey's kids from a public school to a charter school has become an art form of profiteering off the backs of children and their parents.

Handicapped and special needs children are completely ignored by the charter school system and, schools of choice are being used for athletic purposes or, to get money for count day. The day after count day, the child is sent back to their home district in Detroit.

Therefore we are strongly urging D.P.S. alumni members, Detroit parents, teachers, and children to support the removal of Dr. Ben Carson's name from the vocational school and restoring it with Dr. Crockett's.

By any means necessary...

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.