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

Save the Date Feb. 27th 2018 - Voter Education and Registration Drive

By George Cushingberry Jr. - Executive Director  NW. Detroit Leadership Council

Tribute to Autoworkers

Elks Club

50 Manchester

Highland Park MI 48203

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 @ 5:30pm

Quoting George Cushingberry 

"I am proud of my family, friends, and freedom fighters that have given our area great roots in manufacturing."

George Cushingberry Jr. Executive director of NORTHWEST DETROIT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL has announced a voter registration and education program  to honor Black pioneers in he Automobile industry.  Anyone who worked in the Highland Park Plant are especially welcome to attend.  Free dinner for senior citizens will be available 

Highland Park Michigan was the epicenter of the Automobile Industry and modern transportation.  The first paved road in America evolved because of work that was done here. Ford Motor Company  would  not exist today because of the Model-T manufacturing. George and friends will be there to film testimony for the record. The old Ford Building is a historical gem that must be preserved and re-purposed for 21st century use.

Voting is Power, Register AND Vote  

George Cushingberry Jr. and friends are reminding everyone to register and vote because when you have the right information, your vote is a decision on the direction of the quality of life, health, and pursuit of happiness in our community  

Sponsored by the Northwest Detroit Leadership Council    

16211 LaSalle   

Detroit MI 48221

Phone (313) 307-8733               

Email: gccushingberry@hotmail.com             

Donations welcome

  

The Sage of Detroit Speaks! Cush's Corner on WFDF 910AM Detroit MI

By Richard C. Clement

Former Detroit City Council member and Sage of Detroit, George Cushingberry Jr. will be a regular host on WFDF 910AM Detroit Superstation Weeknights from 6 to 7pm Monday through Friday.   He will be there to comment and take questions on issues such as, giving back to our children through education and, letting them dare to dream big.  This is a vision for the start of repairing the damage to public education in the City of Detroit.

On Tuesday, January 23, at 6pm will have Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform representatives to talk about the current state of the recently enacted Marijuana facilities ordinance in the City of Detroit.  Additionally, we will discuss some of the uses of the male marijuana plant to manufacture and maintain municipal services like fuel for vehicles. Or making clothes and concrete from the plant.

Website Definition of 'Sage'

During the week of the North American International Auto Show from Monday 1/22 to Friday 1/26 he will be broadcasting live and taking questions from the general public. Otherwise, the show will originate from the studio.  Taking questions online and by phone, the call in numbers are (313) 209-9000 or (313) 778-7600.  

Website 910AM Superstation WFDF Detroit MI

Alongside of George is yours truly, Richard C. Clement a lifelong warrior for marijuana reform, and owner of C-Systems Technology Consultants specializing in technology needs of customers. He is responsible for creating jobs and opportunity for many people by being an active resource for knowledge and interacting with State and local governments. In 2007 Mr. Clement gathered over 4000 signatures, along with many other people to place Medical Marijuana on the ballot.  The measure won by %63 of the vote in 2008.
   

On Fridays from 5-7pm,  Richard will be co-hosting the popular show 5xl Large and In Charge on www.tapdetroit.com with Edward "T-Money" Green the bass master of Detroit on Detroit's Dankest Internet Radio Station.  A Pasteur School alumnus, he has played for the Dramatics and Death Row Records.  His bassline is a signature on many songs for artists like Snoop Dogg, Ron Banks and others

Richard "Free The Weed" Clement

Stay tuned to George weekdays from 6-7pm on 910 AM, your online and on-time radio station.

Starting A Marijuana Business in the City Of Detroit - Green Jobs and Opportunity for All

By  Richard C. Clement  - Marijuana Policy Consultant  - CSystems

With a loud voice from the community, the City of Detroit will begin taking applications from the City Marijuana Facilities Website as soon as possible.  Under the leadership of Chief Information Officer Beth Niblock, the task will be accomplished promptly. Until then potential applicants shall immediately file with the State of Michigan for a License to Operate.  For a $6000 filing fee, you will be assured a spot in line for the City of Detroit Opt-In process.

Until then, concerned citizens and potential business owners are cordially encouraged to contact the Office of Mayor Mike Duggan and, the nine members of the Detroit City Council to support their Information Technology department staff to get it done much earlier than June 15^th.

The City law department does not have any legal grounds to impede this process because, Judge Robert Colombo vacated the restraining order from VK Holdings LLC on January 4^th, 2018. This lawsuit is a failed attempt to wait on the announcement from Attorney General Jeff Sessions to restart the war on weed. The old ordinance was created by a few special interest groups who want to squeeze other applicants out by outrageous rules and regulations. 

Website: Stopping an attempt at Legislative Voter Fraud

To save the taxpayers of Detroit time and money in legal fees and, re-direct some of the funding for technology support,  the Board Of Zoning Appeals and BSEED will go through the list of addresses that were rejected under the new ordinance and provide leave of appeal to affected business owners under the new ordinance.

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey will work for weed.
YES INDEED!.

If you are desiring to get into the Marijuana business in Detroit this is what you need to do:

• Identify a location that is allowed under the new ordinance
• Apply for a City of Detroit Facilities License on website
• Immediately file for a license from the State of Michigan Marijuana Facilities Licensing Website and pay the $6000 application fee   to be safe from persecution and prosecution.
• Get your signed approval letter from City Clerk Janice Winfrey
• Then you are on your way!

We want to thank Attorney Michael D. Stein (Website MichiganRadio.org) for his due diligence on the legal side of this effort and, if you have an attorney now,  they need to get to work on your behalf. As of this writing, at least 15 current and potential owners have filed a lawsuit against the City of Detroit Law and Information Technology department in Wayne County Circuit Court for insubordination.  One hour of time spent by a computer programmer analyst on the website will save the taxpayers lots of money and help generate jobs.

Call the City of Detroit Today!

Contact Website of Information:

Office of Mayor Mike Duggan

Detroit City Council

 President Brenda Jones (313) 224-1245       

 President ProTem Mary Sheffield (313) 224-4505

Corporation Counsel and Law Department for the City of Detroit

Article: Detroit Free Press Reporter Kathleen Gray  Detroit Gets a Reprieve

On My Last Day Of Working for You In Detroit City Council District 2 - A Summary

By Richard C. Clement

I knew this day would come.  Turn in your badge, keys, and parking passes. It was a real blast!   I met a lot of wonderful people and got some things done for the City. Starting with the Detroit Fire Department in 2014, they were paying for software that did not work. In 2017 they are using the latest technology and it works for a change. 

Firefighter health care will be subsidized by the Marijuana Excise Tax Fund that will pay into the First Responders Presumptive Care Fund managed by the Michigan Department of Treasury. We also helped to fix a few drain issues for constituents during the flood 2015 and, got the garbage picked up when the Advanced Disposal trucks would miss a house or two.

I truly enjoyed correcting Detroit News Editor Nolan Finley regarding the selection of Council President Jones and, Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry in 2014. I told him that he was wrong, where he could go, and how he could go. Four years later, I proved to be right by saying that “Jones and Cush will lead a new push for a better and brighter Detroit”. 

One of my proudest moments was on August 12^th, 2014, when I went to Windsor Canada on behalf of American Cannabis supporters to give my deepest apologies to Marc Emery and his wife Jodie, for the cruel treatment that the United States of America inflicted upon him for selling Marijuana seeds. He is a Canadian Citizen who lived in Vancouver British Colombia and was arrested on behalf of the DEA in 1999.  

Richard Clement and Marc Scott Emery 2014

He was held in a Federal prison in Mississippi for 5 years and unlike other international prisoners who are flown directly home, he was being humiliated by being forced out of the country through the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel 3000 miles away from his home.  He arrived in Windsor CA from Mississippi in shackles and chains with $170.00 US dollars and a brand new pair of Nikes. This cruel and un-usual punishment inspired Mr. Emery to embark on the largest voter registration drive to elect Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to office in 2015.

Website:  Commercial Air Service Detroit City Airport in 2018

Website: Metropolitan Airways Detroit Destinations

We were proud to stimulate the further development of Detroit City Airport as an Airport. We hope that hometown investors like Marcus Channey of Metropolitan Airways are allowed to invest millions into the property so that he can operate his airline from the location creating jobs. We also hope that the new Council does not foul up the progress being made for Benjamin O. Davis Aerospace High School to be relocated to the Airport grounds. When this happens, the school can restore their FAA/FCC certification program that was stolen by the mismanagement of the Emergency Managers.

We are glad that we helped Tindal Center reopen in Northwest Detroit.  We also feel that Johnson Center will be open one day. We wish Councilmember Roy McCalister the best to get this job done, along with the AMTRAK train station at State Fairgrounds.  This land is long overdue for development and it is time to quit screwing around with it.

As I leave this 13^th floor office for the final time, I can say that we did “Free The Weed for the jobs we need”.   All naysayers, doubters, and talk about-ers were wrong. Despite a few in the neighborhoods who come to hearings presenting falsified data and forged documents in opposition, both Marijuana ballot proposals passed by 60%. In every precinct in District 2, voters overwhelming chose to opt-into State Marijuana laws and decide where businesses will be located and, how they are operated.  The additional revenue from this industry can help Detroit City Retirees restore some of the damage inflicted upon them by State of Michigan financial mismanagement.

Finally the experience was real and thank you all for the memories:

Sincerely,

Richard C. Clement

Legislative Aide to Council President Pro Tem George Cushingberry Jr. 2014-2017