What is good about Detroit? Cars, Belle Isle, and other things...

As I campaign in the district, I was thinking about all the good things that Detroit has to offer an individual. My mind quickly thought of Belle Isle, the people’s park. An urban getaway at the foot of Lake St. Clair and a Detroit icon since Detroit was declared a city. The beach, golf courses, museum and planetarium are world class and as always just needs some maintenance and some Detroit Love.

While you hear the negative press rip the city, other cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angles, Philadelphia, and Newark have 10 times the corruption issues that Detroit has. These Cities receive 1/10th of the publicity that Detroit has and yet, the City of Detroit rolls on. Sometimes the major Detroit newspapers are acting like the Harper’s Weekly of the 2nd black re-construction era in America.

Some of the finest automobiles are built in Detroit. Cars like the Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and DHS with 90% American made parts made by the men and women of the UAW. And the new electric VOLT car will be built in the City of Detroit.

Children’s hospital is a world class institution and the talent in Detroit is legendary. Starting from Henry Ford, musicians such as Anita Baker, The Winans, The Clark Sisters, Earl Klugh, Diana Ross, sports stars such as Dave DeBusher, Willie Horton, and Jerome Bettis are the tip of the talented iceberg.

Most of these people were students in Detroit Public Schools and did extremely well despite the verbal abuse and neglect the teachers face. And the teachers are super dedicated to the students because many of them do graduate and grow up to be fine citizens.

The loyalty to the sports teams is unmatched. The recent success of the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings do not overshadow the blind faith and dedication of the Detroit Lions. These fans come game after game to have a party good time in the City and follow the ups and downs of the Lions like a cult despite 51 years and counting of not winning a championship. And one day the people will be consoled, when the Lions win the Super Bowl.

Just like the Auto Industry and Motown changed the face of the world, we will lead the country out of the dumps by being the first major city to recover from the recession/depression that we are in now.




We are melting pot of citizens from various backgrounds and experiences. Together we can make a mix of Detroit power to start creating products and services that will be respected and used worldwide. And working in cooperation with land grant colleges and universities like Michigan State, Detroit and the State of Michigan will lead a new revolution in the greening of America.

What is good about Detroit? Urban Farming and the total “Overgrow of the Government”.

Urban farming is a skill and hobby passed on to generations of Detroit residents. In the height of World War II, the federal government sponsored Victory Gardens in which homeowners were encouraged to grow a little garden in their back yards to help with the war effort. When people did not have to purchase food, the money went to the defense department in form of the auto plants being converted to the manufacturing of military hardware such as tanks, jeeps, and aircraft.

Hardcore Detroiters from Mayor Coleman Young days remember the ‘Farm A Lot’ program in which the city passed out seeds to residents at the neighborhood city halls. This was sponsored by the executive leadership of the City so that they can cultivate the neighborhoods and empty lots into food production centers.

As I was working in my garden, I was thinking aloud to myself about what’s GOOD about the City of Detroit.? The first thing that came to my mind is Eastern Market and the rich selection of Michigan grown plants, vegetables, and fruit. In the summer months, you can listen to live music, shop for food, have a good meal, and enjoy that atmosphere of being around people who like the same things you do.

And for a large number of Detroiters, urban farming was a way of life in addition to going to the market. Some people even sell their home grown food at the market. Nothing tastes better than some homegrown eastside sage cultivated south of 8 Mile Road and east of Woodward. The west side comes in with broccoli, potatoes and collard greens. Together with fresh mint, cabbage, corn, and other spices, Detroiters have been overgrowing the neighborhoods for years. Collectively, Detroit Residents can and will outgrow any agribusiness in the world.


Some people justified having dogs to protect the crops from ‘early picking’ by neighborhood kids and squirrels. When the crops were harvested, neighbors traded food between each other in a spirit of giving. Detroit residents carry on a rich tradition of growing fruits and vegetables in their own backyards. And as times get tough, growing your own food may become another vehicle to the revitalization of the Detroit. Before I end this article, I want someone to e-mail me the cost of food and vegetables among the bloggers. How much does it cost for 1 pound of tomatoes, 1 pound of corn, and pound of broccoli. And as I go through the responses, a winner will be selected to receive a gift certificate to shop at Eastern Market or any business in my district.

The Resurgence of Coleman Young International Airport. (formerly known as City Airport)

“If it’s good enough for Condi, it's good enough for me.”



Super Bowl XL was one of the best events that the city of Detroit ever hosted. The game was such an event that Dr. Condoleezza Rice flew her government issued aircraft into Coleman Young International Airport (DTT) and had doorstep service in Detroit.





Her aircraft was treated with the upmost care by the men and women of the Detroit Police Department.

I see the need for a resurgence and re-investment in Coleman Young International airport. With a re-investment and a readjustment, Coleman Young International Airport could generate a sizable income despite the lagging economy. Currently Airlines like Mesaba, and others have smaller aircraft that can handle 20 passengers. We also see the need to upgrade the runways.

For a long range goal, we can offer commuter service to people who want to work in other cities by week and commute. Regardless of these facts, the people of the City shall not and will not let a City treasure such as City Airport be forgotten.

The total outlay will improve the neighborhood surrounding the airport by having 24 hour guarded parking lots and, allowing certified citizens in the surrounding neighborhood to let clients park their cars on their property while they are away.

I am committed to the city and will continue to fight for the City of Detroit.

Open Letter to Congressmen John Dingell and John Conyers

** An open letter to U.S. Representatives John Conyers and John Dingell ***

Honorable John Conyers
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax

Honorable John Dingell
2328 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4071

From: The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.








I am requesting that your respective committees hold hearings and conduct and investigation on abuses of credit information, and mortgage flipping. This activity is a cause and effect of hyperinflation affecting my constituents. We need some answers to the questions that I pose below and, I also propose some solutions to the problem.

Question 1:
How many levels beyond the 1st sale of an individual mortgage were secured and sold?

Question 2:
How many recordings of sale by property address within street, zip code, income, and school district?

Proposed Solution 1:
Grant State Housing Authorities pursuant to Housing & Urban Development (HUD) laws to guarantee write downs of mortgages with unconceivable variable mortgage rates.

Proposed Solution 2:
Conversion to the use of long term Government Bonds (1 year note) as the basis for establishing mortgage rates.

Proposed Solution 3:
State regulators shall be granted the ability to produce reports tracking mortgage sales by property address within street, zip code, income by zip code, and by mortgage company. The reports can be created in a summary or a detail format.

To complete the task, I am requesting that this information be requested and compiled by subpoena from your committee to the 3 major credit bureaus. If they are not forthcoming and give you a lot of excuses, I would like your committee to assemble a government technology team composed of FBI, FHA, and Independent technical specialist personnel to extract the information.

I am hoping that your respective committees start these proceedings at your earliest opportunity. If the American taxpayer can bail out Bear Stearns and Wall St, then I feel that my constituents should have the same opportunity to use their money to restructure their mortgages.

This matter is of high priority to my constituents and the people of the State of Michigan.









State Rep. George Cushingberry Jr.
S0687 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
georgecushingberry@house.mi.gov
Fax: 517-373-7186
Phone: 517-373-2276

Hyper-Inflation and the Rescue of Detroit Homeowners

When Fuel and Food prices rise out of control and, purchasing power diminishes, a condition of Hyper-Inflation exists.


Government prints more paper money to pay for outrageous expenses it creates conducting its business domestically and worldwide. Since January 20th, 2000, the City of Detroit and America is paying for the un-regulated financial markets and speculated oil prices in world markets.



With the click of a mouse, oil prices fall and rise without solid rationale. This is fear based investments based on speculation by Wall Street and Texas Oil Men. A good example is this one by using Countries A, B, C, and D.

An example is a hurricane in country affecting the prices of oil in country B, C, and D. Countries A, B, and C are oil producers. Countries A and B never has shipped ANY oil to country D. By using ‘fear based financing’ the speculators will justify changing the prices in country D.

Hard assets like metal and food are speculated by "investors" who use these items to shield their assets. As a result Detroit residents lose their property, their former homes are abandoned, and stripped of their assets (copper wire, doors, furnaces) and sold to scrap yards for profit.

The main cause of hyperinflation is a massive and rapid increase in the amount of money, which is not supported by growth in the output of goods and services. This results in an imbalance between the supply and demand for the money (including currency and bank deposits), accompanied by a complete loss of confidence in the money, similar to a bank run. (Wikpedia Online Encyclopedia)


This is a perfect environment for upscale rip-off artists and executive criminals working in corporate America. The end result is that the land is being taken away from citizens of Detroit, right from under their feet.

As your Representative in State Legislature, I have taken steps to right this wrong. If you call my office toll free at 888 347-8008, I will share information with you regarding the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) that will allow you to re-finance mortgages if you are in a foreclosure situation.

The $300 garbage collection fee to Detroit residents, an explanation by Representative Cushingberry

The $300 garbage removal fee was an act by the Mayor and the City Council to offset the lowering of property tax. Cities all over the state use various methods to calculate the cost of paying for garbage. I was not responsible for this legislative act now or, when I was a Wayne County Commissioner.

The Republicans took the City of Detroit to court by a proxy organization called "Call Em Out" registered as the plaintiffs. They were handed a resounding defeat by the State Court who stated in their decision: "That the law allowing the change has been in existence for decades". The citizens of Detroit incurred the legal fees and the time wasted for this court case. My constituents were harmed by the partisan politics of ‘tit for tat’ retaliation that diverts badly needed funds from necessary projects and programs.

Representative Cushingberry remains staunchly on the side of the Citizens of Detroit who he believes are some of the most creative, talented, and greatest people on this earth.

New Information Coming Soon for Johnson Recreation Center...

I am currently working on new ideas for the Johnson Recreation Center. I am fully aware of the situation at hand. The plan is to have the City give the property to the State of Michigan. Once that happens, we can develop a full neighborhood recreation and service center for the benefit of the constituents of my district.





Please Stay tuned for more information on this issue from the appropriations committee that I chair.