Reasoning On Why The City Must Abandon The Anti-Marijuana Reform Lawsuit

By Richard Clement - Marijuana Policy Consultant

After further review of Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Robert Colombo's decision to overturn the voter approved Proposals A and B,  a further analysis of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act was undertaken by interested parties like me.  The question becomes:

Is a ballot initiative similar to a protest petition as specified in the Mi Zoning Enabling Act?  (MCL 125.3403 - Amending a zoning ordinance) 

Did the people speak clearly to the issue of amending the zoning ordinance?  It was clear that the original ordinance was not a choice of the people but, administratively enacted by a majority vote of the City Council.   The owners/voters of the land objected and, responded clearly with their vote, exceeding the 20% threshold required in Section 403 of the Zoning Enabling Act.

Why Can't Weed Be Friends

The ultimate decision maker of laws are the people who have to live by them.  Therefore the petitions were filed according the law and, the case should be dismissed by the Michigan Supreme Court.  To review the opposition's argument that the neighborhoods do not want them, a tight review of the voting results show that a very large majority of the opposition is located in 10 distinct neighborhoods or voting precincts within City Council Districts 1, and 2.  The City of Detroit has 490 neighborhood precincts and 480 of them voted yes on both proposals (98% Yes / 2% no)

The resources spent with the Law Department must be redirected to Information Technology development, hiring Marijuana compliance inspectors to make sure that quality products are being sold and, customer service are being provided as requested by the majority of the citizens of the City.

To make this happen, you must call or email Mayor Duggan and all nine Detroit City Council members asking them to  Cease and Desist with the lawsuit and, allow Information Technology professionals the ability to do their jobs for the people who have hired them in the City of Detroit.

City of Detroit Website (City Council)


City of Detroit (Mayor)


Michigan Zoning Enabling ACT  Section (125.3403)

125.3403 Amendment to zoning ordinance; filing of protest petition; vote. Sec. 403. 

(1) An amendment to a zoning ordinance by a city or village is subject to a protest petition as required by this subsection. If a protest petition is filed, approval of the amendment to the zoning ordinance shall require a 2/3 vote of the legislative body, unless a larger vote, not to exceed a 3/4 vote, is required by ordinance or charter. The protest petition shall be presented to the legislative body of the city or village before final legislative action on the amendment and shall be signed by 1 or more of the following: 

• (a) The owners of at least 20% of the area of land included in the proposed change. 

• (b) The owners of at least 20% of the area of land included within an area extending outward 100 feet from any point on the boundary of the land included in the proposed change. 

(2) Publicly owned land shall be excluded in calculating the 20% land area requirement under subsection (1). 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006

Voter Suppression for Marijuana Reform Creates Voter Apathy and Mistrust in Detroit

By Richard Clement

The recent opt in and zoning initiatives on the November 7th, 2017 ballot was approved in  480 of the 490 voting precincts within the City of Detroit. Both proposals passed by 98% citywide, so it is baffling when the Council introduces a moratorium and directs the City Law Department to invalidate election results. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Robert Colombo allowed the City of Detroit to switch from being defendants to plaintiffs on the same charges that were tossed for two plaintiffs Marcus Cummings and VK Holdings LLC at 12800 E. Eight Mile.  

Michigan Attorney General Candidate
Dana Nessel
www.dana2018.com

The same Judge who deemed their case frivolous, used the same information to invalidate the ballot initiative. The City was allowed to refile charges at 12:01pm, allowing Judge Colombo to wait until 6:30pm to flip flop on the law. This is the same procedure that the Legislators in Lansing used to throw out the no vote on the Emergency Manager, reinstating them to loot City assets and poison children in Flint Michigan without fear or retribution.

The numbers below are a breakdown of the vote by City Council district.  In Districts 4 through 7, Opting Into State Law passed by 100% of the vote with Zoning passing by 98%. In City Council District 3, Marijuana passed by 98% whereas Districts 1 and 2 had a 94% percent rate of approval.  Both proposals A and B, passed by a 98% margin in the entire city.

Dist	PCT#		A	A%	B	B%	A+B	A+B%	AorB	AorB%
1	76		71	93.4%	68	89.5%	72	94.7%	67	88.2%
2	81		73	90.1%	72	88.9%	76	93.8%	70	86.4%
3	67		65	97.0%	65	97.0%	66	98.5%	64	95.5%
4	68		68	100.0%	68	100.0%	68	100.0%	68	100.0%
5	74		74	100.0%	73	98.6%	74	100.0%	73	98.6%
6	58		58	100.0%	57	98.3%	58	100.0%	57	98.3%
7	66		66	100.0%	65	98.5%	66	100.0%	65	98.5%
ALL	490		475	96.9%	468	95.5%	480	98.0%	464	94.7%

Legislative voter fraud is when elected officials move to negate the will of their citizens after a vote because the results are not to their liking. For the City of Detroit leadership to file a motion with Wayne County Circuit Court to invalidate the results of a vote is deplorable. This action creates voter apathy,  proves the case to some in the community, especially the African American community that their vote does not count. This action by the city creates mistrust in our government among citizens in Detroit, especially the young people under 40 years of age. 

Making decisions after normal working hours so that people are not aware of what is going on until the next morning is deplorable. This should not be the new method of operation (MO) for democracy in Michigan. To stop this we must elect an Attorney General like Dana Nessel who would step up and fight for the will of the people, instead of the interest of a few. We must put good leaders with wisdom and knowledge in the Michigan State House and Senate. We must elect Judges and Sheriffs who have the people's best interest at heart.

This decision by Judge Colombo must be appealed for the sake of democracy. The children are learning from their elected leaders that their votes can be suppressed. This is not good for education, and the future of our City.  Especially to the ancestors like Mrs. Amelia Boynton who who got punched in the mouth on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Alabama so that her and others have the opportunity to determine the direction of their community by voting. 

Contact your Detroit City Council Today at www.detroitmi.gov/Government/City-Council and tell them to respect the will of the people because, they are employees of the people who employ them with their vote.

Saving our Overmedicated Youth From Opioids With Dr. Margret Betts on Cush Corner

Dr. Margret Betts

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

See, hear, and speak with Dr. Margret Betts on Cush’s Corner Show on  Superstation WFDF 910AM Detroit, Michigan between 6 and 7pm Wednesdays.  She will be discussing using holistic medicine vs State Issued Psychotic drugs for behavior problems with youth. Her strong belief is that our children are over medicated and offered prescription drugs instead of holistic and alternative medicine.  She was an instrumental advisor to the late Maryanne Goldbold who held Detroit Police and State Troopers at bay when Child protective services tried to take her 13 year old daughter away because, she decided to take her daughter off of prescription medicine in 2011. 

www.910amsuperstation.com

Currently, Dr. Betts is President and Medical Director of the Betts Medical Group which specializes in internal and adolescentmedicine in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Betts has been actively practicing medicine for more than 20 years and has made it her personal mission to provide quality holistic medical care in order to improve the physical and emotional well being of those in need and to provide education to ensure sustainability.

The Station Call in number is (313) 778-7600  or (313)778-7601

    

Website:  Maryanne Goldbold v State of MI ChildProtective Svcs  MLive April 2011