What it takes to make a great City?: Honoring Legendary Bassist William "Will" Austin

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

With help from Edward "T-Money" Green -  A Tribute from a loving Son to his Dad October 23, 2013 @ 12:00am




Bassist Will Austin

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, 20501 Livernois Ave., Detroit, MI, there will be a tribute to William “Will” Austin, extraordinary bass player. That name may be unfamiliar to some but his professionalism and musicianship are known worldwide.

Austin, a self-taught Bassist performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Lil’ Esther Phillips, drummer Gene Krupa, Terry Pollard, Ysef Lateef, Sammy Davis Jr., Sonny Stitt, Johnny Hartman, Diane Carroll and list goes on and on. Austin a native of Saint Louis, Missouri moved to Detroit in the mid 50’s and worked in Automotive Sales by day and jammed at jazz and blues clubs by night; along with raising a family. A regular performer at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, it would be an injustice to refer to Austin as a sideman, because his music kept the rhythm, provided the bottom and supported the vocalist.

 

Always mindful of giving back to his community, Austin received the “Legends of Jazz Award” from the Detroit Instituted of Arts.  He and the late Alma Smith and Bert Myrick often performed for the late Father Cunningham’s Focus Hope Christmas Party.

A loving husband and father of four Austin’s sons are also musicians. Tony Green plays the bass, Will Austin III plays guitar and Steve Austin plays keys.  Daughter, Oriana does not play an instrument.

Edward "T-Money" Green

This tribute to Will Austin is sure to be a star studded event.   Tony Green, a celebrated writer, producer and bassist said, “I wanted to honor my dad.  To tell him how much I love and appreciate him as a father and musician.  This event will include performances by musicians my dad performed with and mentored.  The doors at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge open at 5pm. My dad doesn’t know all the details of the night so help us keep it quiet.   Tickets are $10 and are available at the door”.

 

The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.  totally supports the event, and will make it a point to highlight the talent and the legacy of some of Detroit's own. We are glad that we can honor someone who is alive to appreciate it instead of honoring them after they have passed away. Detroit has produced so many musicians that have went on to professional stardom, and musicians who learned how to play from some of Mr. Austin's students that went on to college and played in bands to pay for school.  So when you hear a thumping bass coming from a car or sitting at a concert, you can be rest assured that the sprit of Will Austin is in full effect.

 

 

For the Future of Detroit

www.cushforcouncil.com

 

 

 

 

 

Restoring the Revenue: Fixing Detroit’s lighting issues through educational training, the Wind and the Sun.

by The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.
Sept. 11, 2013

Why should we accept failure?  Accepting mediocre work as a solution is unacceptable for Detroit.  Replacing streetlights in the city powered by DTE with solar powered streetlights made in Detroit will create jobs and opportunity for everyone. Recently the City of Highland Park tore out their streetlights and converted to Solar Power because they cost too much to operate. Why not Detroit, Hamtramck and any other city in Michigan doing the same thing? (click here to read about the City of Highland Park Lighting effort)

 

Our Future is NOW

We have solar powered everything else and we call ourselves technically savvy but, we are operating City Government like the 1940’s when it comes to technology innovation. We have done well as a city and we can do much better.  An electrician by the name of Roland Cornish in Lansing Michigan once told a group of students that "there is a big difference in electronics and being an electrician".  We have people that are very good at hot rigging home for illegal electric service.    Why can’t we train them to work FOR the people by paying them a living wage to maintain the electrical infrastructure for the city?    By training them and hiring them we are creating a circular revenue stream of working people in the City and neighborhoods. Unions like the  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (www.Ibew.com) and public school programs will address the shortage by finding and training kids and adults who want to work.
 

Solar Power and Wind is our friend

December in Michigan is a cloud covered mess sometimes. When that happens, we have a backup through the use of wind generated energy.   Using a combination of strategically located wind turbines and solar power, the City of Detroit will cut energy costs in half. Our city is being challenged to be great again through innovation and creation of positive ideas. The adversity that has found us will soon be converted to positive energy.  The new district structure will give neighborhoods a voice they have never had before.   If City Council members have to live in the District they represent, this should also hold true for City Workers to live in the City.  Although not required, we can provide more incentives to build homes in Detroit where the jobs are.  

 

Johnson Recreation Center

If we are all talking about running government like a business, then City employees living within the city limits would have a %50 reduction in property tax and, other incentives like (discounted air fare and tickets to sporting events for example) that are given to private company employees.  The re-opening of Johnson Recreation Center for the neighborhood is essential to revitalize the neighborhood. Recreation Centers are a vital part of the life of the City and they must be revisited.  Paying high priced consultants to fix a low price problem is an economic imbalance that can be corrected.
 

George Cushingberry Jr. and
A young man registering to vote for the 1st time

Getting on I-75, I-94, I-96, and the Lodge northbound at 5pm is a testament to the need for a regional light rail system.  The energy saved in lighting costs can be re-invested into City-Wide and regional transportation systems with the passenger cars built in Michigan inside a converted Packer plant for instance. All of the plant’s power needs are generated through bio-diesel engines, wind and solar power. If we are using the retirees pension program to fund joint business ventures and real estate, we can divert that funding to rebuild the city by purchasing entire tracts of land for development into things like, affordable housing and entrepreneur zones with City Wide Wi-Fi as an example.  A good business always re-invests their profit into their primary assets like the people and where they live. The Friends of George Cushingberry are always open to ideas that will revitalize and re-energize the city. If you have other ideas please use our comment section at the end of this article to share your ideas with us.

The Boundaries of District #2

 

These are the type of changes that our City needs to prosper and, you will get it if you Elect George Cushingberry to the Detroit City Council. He is the man for YOU in District #2. 

#PushCUSH for Detroit

www.cushforcouncil.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restoring the Revenue: Green Jobs and Justice for our City / Vote by November 5th 2013 @ 8pm

By The Friends of George Cushingberry

If you are living in the City and looking for your garbage to be picked up in a timely manner, help is on the way!  Green jobs IS the way to re-invent and re-vitalize the land mass we call the City of Detroit.   Opportunities in manufacturing products from the land are abundant.   Green jobs in energy will spur development of domestically produced fuel that will cut costs for truckers and city owned vehicles. The increased costs of development will be reinvested into the community because of the increase in people needed to do work. 

Someone has to fix the numerous pot holes, keep the water running, and process the information because one or two people cant do it alone.

Bio Fuel Trucks and Teamsters

We already have the services of Michigan State University's agriculture extension that can work in a partnership to foster research and development of alternative energy sources.  In a partnership with the Teamsters, Union truck drivers will be encouraged to use alternative fuel made from Industrial Grade Hemp grown in Michigan.  Converting all city vehicles to run on bio fuels will stimulate and invigorate activity, ideas and positive thinking that the world can use to make a better place.  We want to  have the second coming of Berry Gordy with a green thumb. (click here for information on Hemp Fuel)

Air Force 4 - US Secretary of State's
Personal Aircraft/Mid Range

I want to give another big shout out to the Green and White with the impending land development project for the old State Fairgrounds.  Let by MSU Alumnus Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Marvin Beatty, jobs will be created with the addition of one of Magic's signature theatre complex with a new Amtrak rail station. The complex will also serve as one of the central hubs for the City Wide/Regional light rail system.  Debating over 3.3 miles for a light rail track is an insult to City Residents who can walk that distance when we really need a city wide system that will include transportation to and from Metro Airport and, the renovated Tuskegee Airman International Airport with commercial air service. The upgraded airport will handle aircraft from Southwest, Delta, Magic Johnson Enterprises, Jay-Z, John Travolta, and anybody else who wants to come here and do business. These are the projects that will create jobs and not debate jobs. This will be a benefit to the community and create job opportunities for City residents along with creating a new revenue stream for the City.

One Home at a Time
We need to create jobs!

Regional recycling centers located in strategic areas of the city by district will create job opportunities for Detroit citizens to get jobs. Senior Citizen positions will be available for people who want to work up to 20 hours a week just to keep busy.  In the northwest corner of District 2, there are tracts of land that needs to be revitalized through the construction of homes using concrete made from Industrial Hemp. Hemp-Crete is a cross between Concrete and the male Cannabis plant.  It is mixed together to make things like drywall so that you can use it to rebuild a  home.  Detroit will have it's own version of HGTV ( www.hgtv.com )where people will have the opportunity to "pimp their home" with construction and home modernization ideas. (click here for information about Hemp Crete)

Sen. Virgil Smith & Rick Bowers

Our opponent in District 2 does not support Magic Johnson's plan for Detroit and, has vowed to defeat the entire process in favor of upscale homes at prices that are not affordable to anyone making under $100,000 a year.  There are many other land areas in Detroit including District 2 that have open tracts of land to build a gated community.  If elected, I would prefer more public employees providing timely garbage pickup, lights, road maintenance, City Wide Wi-Fi zones, Police, and Firefighters.

#PushCUSH for Detroit

A vote for Rick Bowers is a vote for Rick Snyder and the GOP.  If you care about this City then I am empathically asking you to vote early for me at WC3!  Wayne County Community College's East and West Campus locations will be open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm to allow you to vote early by absentee.  You have to check a box saying that you need to vote early because you will not be available to vote in person on election day of November 5th.  In other words, you can go to work on Nov. 5th and don't have to rush  from work or home to vote. With this length of time to vote, you have NO excuse to not vote and participate in your government.

Hopefully our City Clerk's office will have a web page online saying that your application has been processed and your vote will be counted.

#PushCUSHingberry for Detroit City Council!

Vote early for me at these locations:

• Wayne County Community College Campus  
• 8200 W. Outer Drive or 5901 Conner 9a-5p Mon-Sat
• Detroit Department of Elections 
• 2978 W. Grand Blvd.  9am to 5pm  Mon-Fri.

Together we can change and maintain Detroit for a better quality of life.

Sincerely,
The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.  Candidate for Detroit City Council
The Man for YOU, in District #2

www.cushforcouncil.com

Restoring the Revenue: City of Detroit Bankrupcy Filing Timeline

By:  Friends of George Cushingberry Jr. 

       This is the schedule of proceedings from the US Bankruptcy court regarding the bankruptcy filing by the appointed leadership of the City of Detroit.  The City of Detroit is not Gateway Computer Company and our Police and Fire Department employees do not deserve to be paid Wal-Mart wages for a difficult and dangerous job. 





If you have an objection to the filing of the bankruptcy you need to use this form from the court.  (Click Here to download and print the objection form)        

"The Bankruptcy Code permits objections to the petition. 11 U.S.C. § 921(c). Typically, objections concern issues like whether negotiations have been conducted in good faith, whether the state has authorized the municipality to file, and whether the petition was filed in good faith. If an objection to the petition is filed, the court must hold a hearing on the objection. Id. The court may dismiss a petition if it determines that the debtor did not file the petition in good faith or that the petition does not meet the requirements of title 11. Id."

If the petition is not dismissed upon an objection, the Bankruptcy Code requires the court to order relief, allowing the case to proceed under chapter 9. 11 U.S.C. § 921(d).

        Gateway employment under Snyder went from a 20,000 employees down to 7,000 with over 19,000 jobs shipped to Mexico and China.  We do not want the same for the City of Detroit. Just imagine that you will have privatized public safety officers and fire fighters working for profit on the number of arrests, prosecutions, and putting out fires.   There is too much room for manipulation and fraud to boots profits if this is allowed to continue.       

             This bankruptcy filing has created few extremely high paying jobs for small venture capital firms that specialize in selling off property, cutting wages and benefits for WORKING people, and skimming off the profit leaving behind a tornado of low wage jobs and empty homes. 100 hours work of work at $495.00 an hour adds up for Conway MacKenzie's Charles Moore and others on the gravy train. It has allowed a bunch of video game nerds and bean counters to tell retired and current Police and Fire Department personnel that they don't work hard enough, and they can train anyone to do the job for much cheaper.    

    Detroit workers must stand up, file an objection and let your voice be heard.  We want timely garbage pickup,  streets to be repaired with quality concrete or asphalt, and city employees to be paid a fair and living wage. We want our retirees and current employees to have quality health care because health is a moral issue not financial. 

 

 

Bankruptcy Timetable as Defined by the US Bankruptcy Court of Eastern Michigan
Case Number:  13-5384

1. August 19, 2013 Deadline to file Eligibility Objections. (Click Here for Form)

2. August 23, 2013 Deadline to serve written discovery requests.

3. September 6, 2013 Deadline for the City to file responses to the Eligibility Objections.

4. September 13, 2013 Deadline to comply with written discovery requests.

5. September 23, 2013 Deadline to complete non-expert depositions.

6. September 23, 2013 Deadline to designate expert witnesses and submit expert reports.

7. October 3, 2013 Deadline to counter-designate experts and submit reports.

8. October 10, 2013 Deadline to complete expert depositions.

9. October 17, 2013 Deadline to submit proposed joint final pretrial order.

10. October 17, 2013 Deadline to file pretrial briefs.

11. October 21, 2013 Pretrial conference (10:00 a.m.).

12. October 23, 2013 Trial on the Eligibility Objections.

       Additional dates as necessary - October 24-25, 28-29, November 4-8, 2013.

       (Mondays and Tuesdays- 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; other days- 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

13. Motion hearing dates (all at 10:00 a.m.):

        August 21, 28, 2013      December 11, 2013

        September 18, 2013       January 8, 22, 2014

        October 2,16, 2013        February 5, 19, 2014

        November 13,27, 2013  March 5 & 19, 2014

14. March 1, 2014 Deadline for the City of Detroit to file a plan

Let your voice be heard loud and clear.  The time may be short to file but the time is now to get the job done.  Even more important is that you participate and vote for your ELECTED City Council because all of the EFM positions will be gone by the end of 2014.  If we re-elect the  current leadership in November we will get more of these Emergency Financial Managers for the next 4 years. 

When you cast your vote for George Cushingberry Jr., the City of Detroit will have their own insurance company that can set competitive and lower rates for property and car owners. The charter that was voted upon by the people of Detroit has this provision clearly written in the language.


Let us take back Detroit one home at a time because the only direction to go is UP!

Please remember to register to vote by October 5th to vote for me in District 2 by November 5th.

Your city's future depends on it.


#PushCUSHingberry for Detroit City Council 2013
www.cushforcouncil.com
 The Committee to Elect George Cushingberry Jr.  to Detroit City Council District #2

Corners of Black History: The Annual 8 Mile Reunion in Detroit and my love for the City.

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr. & Committee to Elect George Cushingberry to Detroit City Council.


"There has always been good in the neighborhood" - Anon.


In a small corner of Detroit evolves a history and a talent so immense that it cannot be described until you have been there.  The annual 8 mile reunion is held every 2^nd August on the grounds that served as a mustering grounds for African American troops in Civil War. 




The base line road (8 mile) served as a marker for Lewis and Clark expedition to map the United States long before GPS was in the picture.  Later on in life it served as a National Guard base.   The infamous wall of segregation is nearby when the neighborhood was transitioning from predominantly Jewish to Black.

In the park behind the old Beaubien Jr. High School (Bates Academy) there are people who have made it another year and still standing here.  This is a welcome to each other because you are always thinking about the people who have made the transition to eternity, with the people who could not make it for other reason second. This event has come symbolize the gathering of people who grew up along the road we call 8 mile. 

 

And This is where it all began.

I was fortunate to have the Church’s Confidence when I served as secretary of the Sunday school under Rev. C.B. Heath and,  S.Leon Whitney. Pastor "J" has improved and expanded with Christ.

 

 

I will continue to work for my man Oscar Baker and it 8mile family.

Thanks to mom for the chicken, Dr. Al, Dennis, Carey, Roscoe Ben, Bowe, Willie, Jackie, Todd, Jim and all our poll team, Big Lu, Poku, Binion, Clement family.

 

I am indebted to Larry, Des, Trey Squared, and my main man B.J.
Without B. I couldn’t have sustained.
Thanks Pastors, deacons and my trustee Eddie my big brother.

 

I'm proud of my Church families.
Keep praying for me.

Oscar I love you and Robin for your confidence.
I could not have one without my true friend Sheree.
Thanks Pastor Perkins and Sr. Flip, Golden empress, Hottentott, the Black,

 

 

Thanks Locker Room Lounge.
Thanks Livernois and Hurst family.
I exist with your love.
Thank you James Weiner for all of your support

 

 

 

Thank you and shout out to all of you in the cannabis community who supported my efforts to bring a sane end to this horrible war on drugs.  The drug war is an additional tax on the backs of black people in our community and this must end now! Michael Kormorn, you are and always will be the man.

We celebrate breast cancer survivors.
My friends reminded me to not change on women rights.
I won’t....Edna probably switch me:-)

We taking our neighborhoods back one home and lot at a time.

Thanks to  all y’all and remember to Vote this November 5th (or by absentee two weeks earlier) to start a new day and Direction for our beloved City of Detroit.

LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING
BACK TO THE ROOTS
AND STRAIGHT AHEAD

 

 

 

The Committee to Elect George Cushingberry Jr. to Detroit City Council District #2

 

Restoring the Revenue: Stopping the Financial Coup De Tant upon Detroit Retirees and Current Employees

by The Friends of  Cushingberry

"We will rise from the ashes..."  - City of Detroit



 

The result of a bad bet on Wall St.

        The State of Michigan through Manager Kevin Orr filed and official bankruptcy request with the United States Bankruptcy Court.  According to the State through Mr. Orr, there has been mismanagement in Detroit for 60 years going back to 1953. Retired and Current Detroit Fire Department members are calling total feces on the entire proceedings.   The Detroit Pension fund is %96.1 funded by its stellar accounting staff who have served them while they gave their lives for their fellow human beings. Since the takeover, firefighter deaths have risen %264 percent due to the reduction in fire houses and layoffs. The result is that you have more abandoned property with valuable metals such as copper and aluminum that is money managed by Goldman Sachs in the commodities market.  This is also good for the Jones Day Law-Firm receiving $1.6 million dollars for 6 weeks of services that would have paid for 16 firefighters with full benefits and pension for one year. Detroit insurance rates will always be high due to lack of personnel and longer arrival times. In two to four minutes a home can go up in flames so hot that you have to stand across the street because of the heat.

The true purpose of the Bankruptcy filing is to accomplish these things:

1.       Dissolving the Public Unions in lieu of temporary contract workers

2.       Lowering Wages and Health benefits for Current Employees

3.       Restructuring the City Charter to override the law voted for by the Citizens.

4.       Using pension funds like poker chips on Wall Street to fund risky investments without constitutional protection from losses, fraud and mismanagement.

 

Through the use of politically motivated accounting, Detroiters and their retirees will get the short shaft regarding benefits. If you are a City Employee or retiree between the ages of 46 to 65, this means you! Privatization usually means at will employment at a lower wage scale.  The company that has the contract operates as an at will employer that can terminate a contract on the spot for any reason with no recourse. Using the bankruptcy to change the City charter is another clear example of usurping the will of the voters through legislative voting fraud. On the WDIV-TV 4 website, Kevin Orr said that he will attempt to change the city charter with the help of a federal bankruptcy judge. 

 

This bankruptcy filing may be a good opportunity for the people to remove an illegally appointed Emergency Manager through the Federal Voters Rights act.  The people will get the opportunity to file a complaint that the appointment of this person was illegal because the people voted against this type of position’s job duties.  The bankruptcy judge could invalidate the filing on a technicality.  The current council and previous mayors after Coleman Young signed bad deals with the State of Michigan or mismanaged money in a scandalous manner that hurt every Detroiter.

 

Hope is on the way!   Detroiters will get up work together and walk it off to relieve the stress. The City of Detroit will come back by every means necessary.  It will take the creation of jobs to maintain and rebuild the infrastructure of the city roads, and sewers.   It will take an investment into a citywide light rail system combined with a federal investment into Hi-Speed Rail between Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Chicago, Cleveland and Cincinnati OH.  Intermodal transportation is an investment that will restructure an entire region.   Driving on the Lodge northbound at 4:30-6:00 pm, the area begs for a light rail transport system.  There are so many cars leaving Detroit after 5:00 pm and coming into Detroit for events that a rail system running along the route of the freeway is a no brainer.

These are the types of infrastructure jobs that Government creates and invests in for the public good.  Did you know that the computer industry was funded and promoted by Government?  The industry was funded heavily by the Defense Department with Admiral Grace Hopper who invented the COBOL programming language that is still used today. So when you hear these people talk about we don’t need government, ask them who the Government is?  The answer is looking at that person in the mirror.  Government of, by, for and maintained by the people. 

Our city needs an elected City Council with brains instead of, or in addition to the beauty. We need City leadership that is knowledgeable and have the people best interest at heart. Right now and up until August 5^th at 5pm, I want you to Vote today, in Person at: Wayne County Community College and the Detroit Election Commission. Find my name and please vote for George Cushingberry Jr. for City Council, the man for YOU, in District two.

 

 

www.cushforcouncil.com

Vote in person at the following locations until Aug 5:

Wayne County Community College Campus 8200 W. Outer Drive or 5901 Conner 9am to 5pm

Detroit Department of Elections 2978 W. Grand Blvd.  9am to 5pm

Support the Fire Department: www.facebook.com/HelpUsSaveYou  pswag313@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

George Cushingberry's 3 Point Solution to Crime with Love in the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan

Dear Potential Voters and Supporters,

This is what I would like to see happen for the Citizens of the State of Michigan, especially the ones located in the 2nd District of the City of Detroit.  We need to have our Detroit Citizens employed fixing the potholes in streets instead of being in Jail or, having a new one built for them. In order to accomplish this we need to employ people at all levels of the project.  We scream about giving people second chances, now it is time to step up to the plate and get the job done.
 

1.      There needs to be a change in the expungement law to allow a judge after 30 years to expunge any number of crimes in the interest of justice and economics. Possession of heroin and cocaine were felonies as well as marijuana possession of more than 100 plants or more. We have more guns and badges in Detroit now just not Detroit cops. They are now deputized officers employed with Wayne St. U, University of Detroit, and Detroit Public Schools. When you add in the rent a cops, parking officers, State Police, Federal Homeland Security it is too bad they can’t answer runs to assist Detroit like in years past.

2.      Once people serve their time we should try to give them every opportunity especially when they are productive citizens.  Citizens who are currently serving time (including probation) would get their sentences commuted and expunged for any Federal crime involving marijuana possession. This language would include an immediate cease and desist order to stop all asset forfeiture where property is taken and sold without the benefit of a trial. This would work well in Michigan for citizens Ryan Bashore, Dennis Forseberg, and 5 others representing the Lansing 7, caregivers who were given 3 year jail terms and, sent to Morgantown West Virginia for having more than 100 marijuana plants on their property.  Attorney General Eric Holder must reissue a stronger memo to all Federal Prosecutors in the United States of America to cease and desist all asset forfeiture, arrests, and prosecution of  citizens who possesses, consume, and manufacture Cannabis. President Obama must take action to remove Marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act because of the negative economic impact on local, State, and Federal budgets.

3.     I will actively pursue US Congress members Peters, Rogers, Dingell, Conyers, Levin, and Stabenow to introduce the bill and, get it to the President for his signature. The language will include a matrix which matches the crimes to the employment and prohibit employers from asking have you ever been convicted. (A child abuser or pedophile shouldn’t be a teacher) A model city ordinance and state law after Connecticut’s law is appropriate. Finally with passage of the Farm Bill to include the production of Industrial Hemp, the partnership between Michigan State University’s agriculture extension programs and the City of Detroit will create jobs and create prosperity here. The neighborhoods, especially the ones in District 2, will be green and looking right again. (no pun intended)

 

If I am elected to represent the Second District in the City of Detroit, I will assure you the citizen that I will work for the betterment of the City to help silence the violence. If you would like to help me in this effort then please remember to mark my name on your ballot. If you would like to donate please click the donation link here or, on my site www.cushforcouncil.com

 

The Community to Elect George Cushingberry Jr. to Detroit City Council, District #2