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

 

 

 

 

 

Cush's Solutions to the City of Detroit's Probems with Love

By George Cushingberry Jr. 

 

 

BJ Jones, a successful Detroit Black businessman and I were talking about his long time mentee Eddie Hall. One of America’s most successful auto dealers started from humble beginnings and worked his way through to where he is now. He valeted for the late Dick Harris, pioneer Black auto dealer and then for Mrs. Porterfield Wilson also heir to auto dealerships. BJ was talking how he had been successful in Saline, Ann Arbor and Royal Oak. He was not as successful in the City of Detroit. In fact we couldn’t think of any auto dealer today in Detroit city proper.  (B.J. wasn’t letting me use my academic research.) "What we need today is more Blacks serious about business. Find a need and fill it." He's right. Instead of focusing on jobs we need to focus on providing service, widgets, and useful products and innovative art for the market place.

 

When I become a councilman I will focus on the following:

1. Helping individuals with employment and entrepreneurship. That’s one person at a time
2. Expand drug treatment and insure immediate assistance to those in crisis addiction.
3. Lower the homeless population by making mental health treatment a priority. This will reduce the desperation actions and lower the homeless population.
4. Focus on Community Policing. If you know the neighbors personally and take the kids to parents first we can strengthen the community. Too many people are focused on retribution, retaliation, recriminations as opposed to rehabilitative prevention and treatment..

Earlier they retired the honorable Jackie Robinson's # 42 as an honor for all he accomplished for our nation and people.

 

WHY HASN'T OUR NAACP REALLY HONORED HIM?

 

WE SHOULD. HE WAS A TRUE BRIDGE BUILDER WHO CARRIED HIMSELF WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

 

JAMES BROWN WAS RIGHT....."I don't want nobody to give me nothing, open up the door and I'll get it myself."

 

That’s the spirit to propel our City to greater heights.

 

STRAIGHT AHEAD

AND BACK TO THE ROOTS

With Love,
George Cushingberry Jr.  esq.
Your Candidate for Detroit City Council District #2

Managing the EFM / How to defend against the damage of un-accounted decision making

By The Friends of Cushingberry



       Some of you out there are wondering why someone would want the job as a City Council member in Detroit. The word from Lansing is that a City Council is not needed because we have been assigned a new leader from the Governor. Now this new leader can finally attack the pension system without impunity or accountability to anyone but two or three people within State Government.


Former Pension board managers have been charged in Federal Court for bribery, and mismanaging the fund for personal gain. Mayor Kilpatrick borrowed funds during the height of the financial fraud and deceit in the housing and financial markets. The result of their tenure in office was damaging the reputation innocent and caring legislators who represented Detroit in Lansing based on lies and mis-truths. Depending on who the accountant of the day is, the City pension is fully funded or close to being insolvent. Being on the city council will be a challenge, but a challenge that George Cushingberry Jr. will handle if elected to the job.

Like a baseball team that have hacked the signs from the catcher to the pitcher, signs from the first base coach to the runner, every move and counter move has been plotted and planned on by the Management of the Emergency Manager. With help from the Michigan Attorney Generals office, the pension board will be replaced by appointees of the Emergency Manager. The massive attempts to alter, or eliminate costs on the backs of the workers by reducing benefits and services will begin.

Mayors in the State of Michigan are going through the same dilemma with their employees regarding pensions. Cities like Lansing, Allen Park, and others are having the same issue regarding pension funding. Pension systems own land and other assets that can be utilized to manufacture products to compliment the funding of the fund by their employees. To resolve the funding issue, new funding sources must be investigated and implemented so that retirees and current employees can live with quality health care without the worry of being put out in the streets. City employees did not come to work for over 30+ years to give their time and lives to make their work meaningless.
 

For instance City retiree funds could be used to fix, upgrade, and maintain Belle Isle with upgraded facilities. Just like a senior discount at the fast food places, City retirees and residents would get a discount on services and events on the island. Investments in City assets like Coleman Young International Airport with regional flights to cites in the US and Canada will enhance the fund with increased business is a possible revenue generator.   Another possiblity is investing in Michigan's farmland for the purpose of growing crops of plants that can be manufactured into useful products for sale.

City residents have the power of the ballot initiative to force change on government when the Mayor and City Council cannot make a decision in a timely manner. This is the perfect counter-attack from the people on a rouge State Legislature and City Leadership. The bottom line is that we have to look at ways to maintain and add value to the employee pension system with innovative thoughts and sound planning. Making sure that city retirees don't become sacrificial lambs at the hands of the wolves is my priority. It's time Push change with Cush on the City Council for the rebirth, revitalization, and re-investment into the land that we know as the City of Detroit

 

Restoring The Revenue: Managing the Emergency Financial Manager with a Push from Cush.

Reclaiming and Re-Investing Detroit

By George Cushingberry Jr.

Candidate for Detroit City Council District #2

Kenneth Orr the appointed EFM for the City of Detroit, was on Cynthia Canty's show on public radio WUOM 91.7 FM.  He was again trying to assess what the city needs. What Detroit does not need to do is to attack its retirees and employees by balancing the budgets on the back of their labor.  If I am elected to City Council, I will not let that happen and do the following for the citizens of the City of Detroit, especially the ones in the new District #2.

First, stem the tide and make plans to refinance quickly by finding NEW WAYS to RAISE revenue. Continuous cutting does not grow anything, if you don't do any long term planning and investment. Statutory revenue sharing can’t be promised past two years. John Engler was a pro and Dennis Archer was a neophyte when it came to legislative issues. (Engler) knew the law reducing income taxes would stay and the appropriation would only be bound for two years. (Article 4 Section 31. Michigan Constitution). To fully understand this situation please read David Ashenfelter (a man I respect as a journalist since I still have a press card) article on the Handshake deal in "Bridges Magazine" (click here to read it) as reported on Canty's program.

Expand the 911 charge to cell phone towers so that each call may be assessed a fraction of a penny as an amendment to the utility users tax. (Review the House Fiscal Agency reports on the Restitution of Revenue 2007-2010)

Accept that property taxes invented in the 19th Century have run their course and must be allowed to cease to exist.

Take a look at the federal carbon tax proposed by President Obama.

Add our health care coverage to the exchanges so that we can piggyback the city and its retirees.Immediately apply for federal grants which we have neglected asking for like safe routes to school. When Rev. Mike Murphy ran the program they had planned to tear down Greenlawn between Fenkell and Puritan so the new combined school children in Ellla Fitzgerald/Mary McCloud Bethune wouldn't be subject to the devastation in their young psyche.

Get the water dept. to replace manhole covers! 

Apply for a state recreation bond grant to build a new state of the art recreation facility and regional health resource center at the Old Johnson Center facility on Cherrylawn and Chippewa. This can be accomplished with co-operation from corporate health systems and insurance providers with a pledge match the funding. We all need more physical exercise! Our regional health in Metro Detroit could be a model for others. We had a swimming pool in the 50's and 60's why not now!  Next to violence, one of the biggest killers in our community is the lack of ability to swim or stay afloat in deep water.

Getting treatment on demand for people suffering from substance abuse and mental illness is a priority. This can and will help reduce crime.  This will also help move money from corporate prisons to schools and health care needs because as Sheriff Benny Napolean once stated, a large number of the people that his employees encounter have substantial reading problems that lead to a frustrated person committing crimes because of being comfortable with the lifestyle, giving them temporary success.

To gain legitimacy, Kenneth Orr should be seen picking up paper on the streets in the neighborhoods instead of being a behind the desk dictator sent in from Lansing to loot the resources of the City of Detroit. Now you see why we need some, smart, sophisticated, stable, and stallions on city council. If you choose me to represent you on City Council in 2013, I will make sure that this happens for the benefit of the people of the City of Detroit.

What it takes to Make a Great City: Neighborhood Residents and Business working together to bring peace and prosperity.

Supporting City of Detroit Business Establishments

By George Cushingberry Jr. Esq.

Candidate for Detroit City Council District #2

My people, how lame and anti-Detroit y'all can be by saying you can't come to Will’s Place or other food operations cause they sell alcohol. Some of you will go to places that refuse to come to the city like Red Lobster that sell alcohol but that's ok.  Some of you complain that I do not have events at Black Business and that is not true.  Baker’s Keyboard, Mr. Mapps, Will’s Place, Penthouse, and other businesses have been Detroit institutions for a very long time.  These business owners and others have long weathered the storm of the economy while others have failed.   I also encourage and support the young business owners (35 and younger) who are stepping up to the plate.  We need more young (and old) Magic Johnson types to come in or evolve from the streets and schools of Detroit for the public good.

How long will this self-hatred last! Black Entrepreneurs in Detroit are suffering and they have the best food.  These business owners have been around Detroit for a very long time.  Some of them could have been franchise owners and CEO’s but chose to stay in the city because of the loyalty of customers, love for the city, and wanting to be their own boss. Kenisha, Channele and I were very pleased with the food at the Penthouse (Varsity Lounge on Google). Youngsters can eat too!  We marveled at the ingenuity of Detroit black business who have merged and worked together to survive. We all liked 7 Mile Shrimp from Dot and Etta’s and, it has been reborn inside Wills Place on 7 mile and Greenfield. 

Mother Cushingberry is still getting fresh food and produce cooked to order from down south. Welcome to the new user friendly Detroit that supports business in the neighborhood. Support Local Businesses and by doing that, you money gets circulated within the community in which you live by; owners maintaining their property, owners paying property taxes, and owners creating jobs and stimulating the neighborhood economy.  This will draw more people to the city and increase the need for people to be hired for the purposes of being police, firefighters, and other jobs as needed to sustain the City of Detroit.

Righting the Wrong in Detroit with Financial Accountability

By George Cushingberry Jr. 

Your Candidate for Detroit City Council District #2

A true public servant and friend Saul Greene came and asked me to introduce a bill to rationalize pensions.  This was shortly after Ken Cockrel lost the election to Dave Bing. According to the administration, the pension was underfunded and unstable. This was a stark difference to what the pension plan participants were saying.  Pension plan participants knew that The City of Detroit’s pension plan is solvent and, this has been an ongoing battle with administrations in the past and present to loot the fund to reduce costs and responsibilities to plan members.

With the data that I had at the time and, under extreme concern for my constituent’s well-being, I introduced this bill for sole purpose of pocket vetoing it.  A pocket veto is a dignified method of making sure that a bill never sees the light of day of a vote. As chairman of the powerful House of Representatives  Appropriations committee, I had the power to make sure that this happened in an orderly manner. The plan was to have City Retirees, UAW, D.P.O.A., and A.S.F.C.M.E. members to attend the hearing, call legislators, and just raise the holy roof in Lansing opposing this bill.   This would have been it for ANY bill that would have attacked the retirees in the City of Detroit.

To my shock and dismay, Mayor Bing gets rid of Saul and left me hanging out to dry in 2010 with my current and potential constituents. The Mayor allowed the lie to be perpetuated that his bill proposal was all mine. They claimed they had a plan that I sponsored and it became by law a deficit reduction bond. This failed administration as my friend Malik Shabazz calls it sold the bond and didn't make the course correction the council told him we had to make to keep things afloat.

What we need is someone with political, academic, and practical experience in city and all levels of government. So the derivative bond, deficit reduction bond, Republican anti Obama care plus, the current feather bedding with turn around experts by the state has indeed created an emergency. While I believe the people of Detroit will come out to vote and rectify the situation, I DO NOT support the Emergency Financial Manager because it creates more bureaucracy and even more lack of transparency. In 2014 we must focus on firing the current Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. I also asked Mike Duggan to run for Governor in 2014. We should invest first in those who stayed here in Detroit with loyalty credits on their property taxes based on length of time in the City.  This and other ideas are what it’s going to take to get the state right.

Now that we have an un-elected manager in control of the finances in my City, my voice on the council will serve as an ELECTED Financial Manager/Activist for the people. Therefore I am asking you to Push with Cush and support me for Detroit City Council in District #2.

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