Tribute to Dr. Allen Cushingberry a True Friend and Legend to The City of Detroit

 By The Friends of Cushingberry,

Announcement 

 

Dr. Allen Lee Cushingberry November 12, 1958 – January 22, 2021 

 

On Friday January 22, 2021, Loving Brother, Uncle, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Mentor and Kind Friend, Dr. Allen Lee Cushingberry  (Affectionally known as AL) of West Bloomfield Michigan entered into eternal peace at the age of 63. 

Born November 12, 1958 to the union of George C.  Cushingberry Sr. and Edna L.  (James) Cushingberry of age at The new Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church and was Baptized by The Rev. John L . Webb.  Al remained a member at new Mount Vernon before moving his membership to the Detroit Unity Temple. He graduated from Henry Ford High School (Detroit)/ Eastern Michigan University (BA).  University of Michigan (MS) and Southern California University (PhD).) Dr. Cushingberry served as professor for many years at the Wayne County Community District, before starting his own business Amir and Associated of Southfield Michigan. His love for the arts prompted him to form and direct The Michigan Theater Troup, where many aspiring artists developed their skills. Al will remain in the hearts and memories of his three brothers Rev. George C. Cushingberry Jr. (Maria).  Carey W. Cushingberry (Cheryl), Dennis B Cushingberry and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Andrews Funeral Home Detroit.  

Memorial Donations can be made to a Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date. Please share a memory with the family on Al’s Guest Book. 

The Case for New Detroit Public School Board Members - ELECT 3 for DPSCD by Nov 3.

On July 31st, 2020  the Detroit City Council Airport Taskforce gave a presentation hosted by Councilmember Scott Benson. 

At that meeting Mayor Mike Duggan released his plan to reduce the airport by removing runway 25 from the grounds to build a factory. He also said that the Federal Aviation Administration and MDOT offered a 95 to 1 ratio of funding to cities and schools for the purposes of development as a matter of fact. All they require is a plan. With a sound business plan, the airline industry will return to normal and, new air carriers will offer services at the airport with flights, creating jobs. 

The rumor of expanding City Airport will shut down Metro Airport will be rendered null and void. Instead it will be a partnership with a new Wayne County Airport Authority that includes Wayne County Community College and, DPSCD. By electing Detroit Public School board members with a vison, this money will allow for the development of a Wayne County Regional Airport partnership with Detroit Public Schools. 

Homeowners will be paid to relocate and paid well. Especially the all the property between Van Dyke and Conner including the church on French Road because they will be sacrificing their property for a new dual purpose runway for training education and General aviation. Commercial  airlines will have a longer runway that extends from McNichols (6 mile) to Gratiot for their and, a new tunnel under McNichols using allocated FAA and USDOT funding programs.  For every one dollar that the City of Detroit and, Detroit Public Schools invest into the airport grounds, the federal government will match it with 95 dollars to help complete the project. 

Interested airline carriers such as Delta, Jet Blue and a host of others have often indicated support for this effort because of the need for people in the aviation industry. Surveys were performed by previous city councilmembers demonstrated the benefit of investment into City Airport with city pension funds instead of a pipeline from Lake Huron to Flint. If the management from Lansing would have taken the proper actions, the people would have realized a 95 to one return on their investment. Because of poor decisions made, the Detroit Public School district lost jobs and revenue from landing fees from missing air traffic.   

The expansion of  Benjamin O. Davis HS will include internship programs in fighting fires at an airport with the Detroit Fire Department. This will take away the excuse given by Mayor Duggan that certain pilots will not land in Detroit because there are no fire trucks on site with proper equipment.  With a better plan presented to MDOT and FAA, all of this can be accomplished quickly.  

Finally, the current board does not reflect the history and legacy of the Detroit Public Schools. Jared Finney, Dr. Ethelene Crockett should have never been removed from the system. To repair the damage of years from emergency mismanagement upon our schools, this entire board must be replaced with people who have a vested interest in the future and direction of DPS. Retired Teachers and State Representatives with education backgrounds, along with technology professionals educated in the Detroit Public School system belong on school boards.

  

Elect Richard C. Clement to the Detroit Public School Board Community District on or before 8pm Nov 3rd, 2020. 

#FreeKDET  #ShowUpAndVote 

  Donate to the campaign through our Cash App Link. www.cash.app/$CsystemsRCC

Richard Clement Sr is on the ballot for Detroit School Board Candidate Vote by Nov. 3rd 2020

My name is Richard Clement and, I am a candidate for the Detroit Public School Board. I am running to promote education that will improve the quality of life in our City, State, nation, and the world. The man that freed the weed will help the children read because, reading is essential to everything in life. This includes reading the instructions on how to use Siri and, using a computer.  If you support change for the sake of our future, you must elect people who have our best interest at heart.   

 

Retired NHL Legend Darren McCarthy and
Richard Clement.

I feel that DPS has always been the best when it came to serving the community. The district was damaged from mismanagement from Lansing and, the best way to fix it is from the top down.  On or before November 3rd, voters have a chance to elect the best 3 candidates and, recall the other four board members for not representing the will of the people.

www.blackgirlhockeyclub.org

I am a graduate of the Detroit Public Schools attending Pasteur Elementary, White Elementary, Hampton Jr. High and Mumford HS where I excelled in music and sports. Although the grades that I earned were not the top of the class, I graduated anyway and was determined to give back to my community by furthering my education past high school.

I am a graduate of Alabama State University where I majored in Computer Information Systems and a member of the Marching band. I also have experience in state and local governments in Lansing and Detroit as an information technology employee. I am currently retired from Teaching at Lansing Community College, Lansing School District, Hamtramck,  was fortunate enough to work for 11 years as a guest teacher.

While serving as a board member of Black Data Processing Associates (1990-1997), I was responsible for training disadvantaged youth on computer skills that competed and scored well in national competition with others in their age group. These students went on to be great mothers, fathers, and professionals in medicine and information technology.

I served on the boards of the Michigan Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana laws and various start up canna-businesses in Michigan. From 2014 to 2017, I worked as a legislative aide to Council-member Pro-Tempore George Cushingberry Jr advising on education and marijuana reform in Detroit. During my tenure on the Michigan NORML board of directors, marijuana was decriminalized for medical and recreational use saving the taxpayers millions of dollars in fess on legal system and generating jobs at the same time. The marijuana industry was one of few departments in State Government to show a profit. Fees were reduced because the program generated too much money at one time.

Nov 3rd, 2020 - Ballot Sample 
Vote to represent with Dagnogo and Clement

From now until 8pm on November 3rd, 2020 start from the back of your ballot first and, elect Richard Clement and Sherry Gay-Dagnogo to the Detroit School Board. If I am elected this will be my platform. 

• Teacher safety and health care needs to protect them from Covid 19 and, the effects of PTSD by renegotiating contracts to allow for treating symptoms with cannabis. 
• De-emphasize test scores as a primary determination for allocating funds.
• Increased funding of programs such as music, sports and, special education development.
• Promote opportunities for jobs in aviation education with Benjamin O. Davis High 
• Promote the use of urban farming in and make science fun again with parental supervision to grow food, medicine and, materials like concrete with hemp.

Thank you for your support.

Donate to the campaign through our Cash App Link. www.cash.app/$CsystemsRCC

Congratulations to Abraham Aiyash State Rep District 4

Congratulations to Abraham Aiyash for his victory in the race to replace the late State Representative Isaac Robinson in District 4.  Coming in first out of 13 candidates took a lot of hard work and effort from his team. 

Abraham Aiyash District 4
www.voteaiyash.com

Tawanna Simpson ran a tactical campaign and placed 3rd out of 15 candidates. Congratulations to her on the effort she put into the campaign.  We endorsed Tawanna and, our efforts fell short of our goal.  Team Simpson wants to thank all of those who voted for her. 

Issues like expungement of marijuana crimes, Detroit City Airport expansion to include an educational and commercial complex are some of the causes that Isaac would have fought for. We hope you do a even better job that he did to improve our neighborhood. 

We wish him well and, we hope that Mr Aiyash will work well to represent the best interests of the neighborhood.. 

Vote straight Blue on or before November 3rd, 2020 8pm. 

www.simpson4michigan.com

Cass Tech Alumnus George Cushingberry Jr (1971) - Favors Name Change of the High School and Wayne County

The time has come to change the names of Cass Technical High School and Wayne County to the name of  Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, says 1971 Cass Tech alumnus George Cushingberry Jr. 

Cushingberry favors replacing their names because of the racist history toward slaves and native Americans by General Anthony Wayne and Lewis Cass. General Wayne made himself famous by slaughtering native Americans and turning the #Detroit river red with their blood as he was taking their property. Lewis Cass treatment of slaves was a documented disregard for human rights and, their quality of life. 

George Cushingberry Jr.

Replacing their names with Point du Sable will a decisive action to repair many years of hurt and disrespect to people who did not have a voice or a choice in their quality of life. 

The background on of Jean Baptise Point du Sable from Wikapedia: 

From Wikapedia:

Point du Sable was of African descent, but little else is known of his life prior to the 1770s. During his career, the areas where he settled and traded around the Great Lakes and in the Illinois Country changed hands several times among France, Britain, Spain and the new United States. Described as handsome and well educated, Point du Sable married a Native American woman, Kitiwaha, and they had two children. In 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, he was arrested by the British military on suspicion of being an American rebel sympathizer. In the early 1780s he worked for the British lieutenant-governor of Michilimackinac on an estate at what is now the city of St. Clair, Michigan north of Detroit. Point du Sable was a prominent

As noted in EBONY magazine in 1963

[Point du Sable] is not yet honored in his own house (which Chicagoans call the "Kinzie House") or on his own land. No street bears his name and, save for the high school, he has no monument. Cadillac is honored in Detroit, Pitt in Pittsburgh, Cleveland in Cleveland—but the father of Chicago has no street or statue of stone to call his own.

Ebony, December 1963.^[67]
From Wikapedia - General Anthony Wayne

On August 20, 1794, he mounted an assault on the Indian confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in Maumee, Ohio, which was a decisive victory for the U.S. forces and ended the war. Wayne then continued to Kekionga where he oversaw the construction of Fort Wayne. He then negotiated the Treaty of Greenville between the tribal confederacy and the United States, which was signed on August 3, 1795. The treaty gave most of Ohio to the United States and cleared the way for the state to enter the Union in 1803.

If you support this name change, George Cushingberry strongly recommends that you vote in August and November to elect school board members and, county commissioners that will take action instead of passing the buck of responsibility.

Website  Jean Baptiste Point du Sable - Wikapedia 

Website General Anthony Wayne - Wikapedia

Cleo T. Wiley v City of Detroit et al, Detroit City Council, George Cushingberry Jr. - The Drama Continues

By Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.

PRESS RELEASE

The taxpayers of the City of Detroit are under attack again from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Cleo T. Wiley in the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court, Wayne County Michigan. On Wednesday March 11, 2020, US District Court Judge Marianne O. Battani dismissed all charges against the City of Detroit, Detroit City Council Members and, retired State Representative and former Detroit City Council-member George Cushingberry Jr. In her 23 page ruling, Judge Battani ruled that Cleo Wiley did not have sufficient evidence of sexual harassment and, was not entitled to protection under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as an Independent Contractor.  The court properly ruled that anyone working for a Detroit City Council member under a personal services contract is an at will employee subject to immediate dismissal. 

On Friday March 13, 2020, attorney Robin Beth Wagner filed the same charges with 3rd Circuit Court Judge Dana Margret Hathaway using State of Michigan Elliot/Larsen discrimination laws. The schedule of events for the case per order of Judge Hathaway:

1. Witness Exchange Filing:  September 4, 2020
2. Discovery Cutoff Date:      October 23, 2020
3. Case Evaluation Month:    December 2020

After step three is completed, two events are required to occur by court rule. The first one is a settlement conference and, the second one is a motion to dismiss the charges. Unless a motion to dismiss is filed within 30 days or, a settlement conference for both parties is held within 42 days the case will proceed to trial. It is noted in the record by Judge Battani that allegations are dismissed at the state level because of similarities between state and federal laws. 

The pursuit of this lawsuit the plaintiff is another attempt to shake down the taxpayers of Detroit for money. During George Cushingberry's time as President Pro-Tempore of City Council, he was responsible for putting in rules to prevent attack by plaintiffs filing frivolous lawsuits against the city.  He was also responsible for installing automation for the City Parking Department in 2015 generating over $200,000 dollars in revenue within one month of implementation. Among other monetary gains for the city, assets like Detroit City Airport and Benjamin O. Davis Aerospace High School were protected from the plans of Mayor Mike Duggan to shut it down to build more buildings that we don't need, given the massive vacancy rate of existing structures in the city.

After further review of his four year term on the Council, the incidents regarding former Council member George Cushingerry regarding a "high speed" police chase, antique cars and, sexual harassment charges were falsehoods promoted by Fox 2 Detroit News, led by former reporter M.L. Elrick. 

The car chase was proven to be false, the "antique" car was sold much less than value than advertised and, the sexual harassment charges were dismissed in court. Out of respect for the great men and women of the Detroit Police Department, police brutality charges and filing false police report charges were never pursued against the officers. Instead, we directed Chief James Craig to lecture the two officers on their mistakes and, to never, ever treat another citizen like that again. The culmination of these falsehoods served as grounds for dismissal of Mr. Elrick from Fox 2 Detroit in December of 2019. 

Tara Reade and Cleo T. Wiley

In summary, the #MeToo movement must be held accountable for promoting women to pursue frivolous lawsuits to extort money from individuals, smearing elected officials, influence elections of candidates for public office and, professionals in private businesses for financial gain. Extortion is a crime and harms women with legitimate claims. For that indiscretion, the accusers should be punished to the fullest extent of the law for extortion, filing false police reports and slander.

By February 2021, we truly hope that this fiasco is brought to a decisive end.

Reference:   Case #20-003959-CD  

Cleo T. Wiley                                                                                    Plaintiff

       v 

City of Detroit, Detroit City Council, George Cushingberry Jr.         Defendants

Exhibit #1 - Deposition of Cleo T. Wiley 

Order of Dismissal US District Court Judge Marianne O. Battani (PDF)

Fox News:  Cleo Wiley Sues George Cushingberry Jr. for Sexual Harassment  - Reported by M.L. Elrick

Metro Times: Cleo Wiley's participation in the used car scandal against George Cushingberry Jr.  - Reporter Allie Gross

 

Notice To Reposses The Detroit Public School System One Building At A Time.

Court of the People – Detroit Michigan

Docket#: 2020-07-01 July 1, 2020

The People for Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett            V

Plaintiffs

Detroit Public Schools Community District Board Members,        Dr. Iris Taylor, President (term ending 12/31/2020)       Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, Vice President (term ending 12/31/2022)        Misha Stallworth, Secretary (term ending 12/31/2020)        Sonya Mays, Treasury (term ending 12/31/2020)        Dr. Georgia Lemmons (term ending 12/31/2022)       Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn (12/31/2020)       Dr Nikolai Vitti Superintendent DPSCD

Defendants

NOTICE OF REPOSSESSION

On this date at 5pm, July 1^st,  2020 we the people are executing this action to restore the name of Dr. Ethylene Jones Crockett on the building at 571 Mack Avenue Detroit Michigan 48206.  Upon taking this action, we want the name and legacy of Dr. Ben Carson to be reassigned to one or more of the following institutions or programs.

•  The Dr. Charles Wright Museum of African American History
• Grants written in his name to improve programs within DPSCD like special education with a science concentration.

While we acknowledge his accomplishments as a doctor. His blatant support of policies that have harmed our nation is not reflective of the proud residents of Detroit who really care about people. This name change was done by a few people in Lansing who wanted to remove the history and legacy of people who fought against slavery, believed in aviation training for our children and, taught young people how to be doctors and humanitarians to their fellow citizens.  The appalling actions on the Covid-19 by President Donald Trump  supported by Dr Carson as the director of Housing and Urban Development is completely unacceptable to people who finance the Detroit Public School Districts two entities, the legacy district and the community district.

Their only goal was to loot the City of Detroit of its assets and spend the money on overpaid consultants and contractors who put profit over people. When we vote in August and November we are voting for change at the state and federal level. This attempt to re-write the history of Detroit and rob our children’s education will be stopped on August 4^th, and November 3^rd at the ballot box.

When you dump Trump and elect a new school board, Ben Carson’s name will be no more in District 4.Therefore, we are demanding that the current school board immediately remove the name of Dr. Ben Carson from the school and replace it with the people’s choice. Or face the consequences at the ballot box.

 

 

History of Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett

Written by R. Wayne Hicks(1959-2018) www.electronicvillage.blogspot.com

 

Dr. Ethelene Crockett

My maternal grandmother, Ethelene Jones Crockett, was born in 1914 in St. Joseph, Michigan and grew up in Jackson, Michigan. She attended Jackson Junior College and graduated from University of Michigan. She married George Crockett, Jr. who was an accomplished lawyer, judge and congressman in his own right, and they had three children (including my Mom!) before she decided to attend medical school at Howard University in 1942.

Grandmother Crockett served her medical internship at Detroit Receiving Hospital but completed her residency in a New York City hospital because no Detroit hospital would accept an African American woman. She became the first Black female Ob/Gyn in the state of Michigan in 1952.

She retired from active practice in 1972. In 1978 she became the first woman president of the American Lung Association. Unfortunately, she died later that same year.

My grandmother was larger than life. I loved her very much. It would tickle her to know that her junior college created an alumni award in her name. The Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett Distinguished Alumni Award is awarded annually by Jackson Community College. Leonard Griehs won the award this year. Mr. Griehs is vice president of investor relations at Campbell Soup Company.

I just wanted to use this post to express gratitude to JCC for creating this award and to Mr. Griehs for winning it this year. Use this post as your reminder to give your Mom or Grandmother a call! Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.

From Wikapedia: Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett (1914-1978) was an influential physician and activist from Detroit. She was Michigan's first African-American female board certified OB/GYN,^[1] and the first woman to be president of the American Lung Association.^[2] In 1988, Crockett was inducted posthumously into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.