Razor Aquatics swimmers splash past racial stereotypes Roots. B1
Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 81 – No. 38 | May 30 - June 5, 2018
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Third Annual Summit brings the fight against the opioid epidemic On Wednesday, May 23 the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority (DWMHA), in collaboration with Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC) hosted the Third Annual Opioid Abuse and Heroin Overdose Solutions Summit at the Burton Manor in Livonia. The Summit, created in 2016, is a coordinated response to the national crisis that impacts individuals from all ethnicities, communities and social economic backgrounds. The issue impacts American families, job markets, increases the cost of health care and greatly impacts the law enforcement communities. “The Opioid Epidemic does not discriminate,” said Willie Brooks, President and CEO of DWMHA. “We are standing together to raise awareness, work to refine services all to prevent opioid related deaths.” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control most recent data, 42,249 people have died of overdoses in this country in 2016. Michigan ranks 15th in the nation for all overdose deaths with drug-related deaths have increased 19.6 percent from 2015. With over 600 registered attendees, from law enforcement and medical communities to faithbased and recovery organizations, this year’s Summit will focus on the individual impacts of the epidemic. “We’re taking the conversation to ground zero of the epidemic: home with our families and schools,” said Kate Kohn-Parrott, President and CEO of GDAHC. “It’s important to keep those most impacted engaged and informed.” The year will feature a diverse selection of panelists focusing on employers, families, schools and communities role in fighting the epidemic. Several subject matter experts are on the program including Bassam Batarse, MD of the Office of Veteran Affairs, Ranaldo Ollie of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Calista Harbaugh, MD of University of Michigan, Michigan OPEN, touching on the role of acute care and opioids. Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority will highlight the work it has done with Naloxone Opioid Overdose Kit trainings, distribution of Deterra Drug Disposal Bags and the placement of Drug TakeBack Boxes throughout Wayne County. On top of the work it has done, DWMHA will honor the work of
See SUMMIT page A2
WHAT’S INSIDE
NFL tries to silence its players with new protest policy Game. B2
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Detroiter Sharron Solomon (far right) protesting the Detroit Grand Prix being held on Belle Isle.
Parks over Penske: Locals concerned about use of Belle Isle for Grand Prix
By Branden Hunter They stood along Jefferson Avenue near the entrance to Belle Isle Park by the dozens with signs that read, “Belle Isle is a park, not a racetrack”, “Penske Park, restricted access”, and even “Stop in the name of love.” The group Belle Isle Concern has been protesting the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear being held on the island for years, trying to have it removed. The community group made up of local residents and park users, which was founded in 2015, has concerns about the noise, pollution, limited access to the island, traffic jams, concrete barriers, fencing, grandstands, and possible destruction to the park that is associated with the Grand Prix. The race first came to Detroit in 1982 and moved from the streets to Belle Isle in 1992. The group believes Detroit’s one-of-a-kind park should be available to the public every day of the year and not a private Indy racetrack. “The group actually started in the summer of 2015,” said Belle Isle Concern organizer Sandra Novacek, who lives in downtown Detroit. “That year, it took about 120 days to setup and tear down the Grand Prix race and a lot of people were very unhappy about that because it took away the park. Then, the DNR (Michigan Department of Nat-
ural Resources) announced that in the summer, there was going to be another race on the island in July right up the Scott Fountain, which is a treasure on the island. Not only were they going to take up more space on the island but possibly damage the fountain.” “We believe that Belle Isle is a park and not a racetrack. It’s here for all of us in Detroit to use for a place to escape
from the craziness of the city. It’s the premier park in the city and since 20 percent of it will be used for 20 percent of the year for the Grand Prix next weekend, we feel the park is being misused.” The three-day race June 1-3 is being put on by billionaire businessman Roger Penske, who teamed up with the Downtown Detroit Partnership to bring the Grand Prix back to Belle Isle in 2007, after a 7-year hiatus. Officials of the race
say the Grand Prix has contributed more than $13 million in improvements to Belle Isle Park since the event returned to the Motor City and have taken measures to reduce the time they spend on the island. Also, an independent economic study conducted in 2017 said the Grand Prix generated $58 million in total spending for the region last year. “We have cut the build out and removal process down by 27 days since 2015 and by a week since last year,” said Michael Montri, president of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. “We have implemented other changes to minimize the impact the event has on the citizens that enjoy Belle Isle. We will continue to be good stewards of the island moving forward and the Grand Prix remains focused on our goal of making a positive impact on Belle Isle and our community.” But the Belle Isle Concern group said they wanted to make it clear that they do not have a personal problem with the race. They simply do not want it taking place at their beloved park. They did not have a solution to where the race could take place elsewhere in the city but said that is not their job to decide that. “I feel like racing doesn’t belong on Belle Isle,” said park user Sharron Solomon, who is not officially a part of the
See GRAND
PRIX page A2
Tata Technologies to move North American headquarters to Detroit’s TechTown helping Tata Technologies locate its North American headquarters in Detroit.”
Tata Technologies, a Tata Group company, announced that it is relocating its North American headquarters from Novi to Detroit in early 2019. Tata Technologies CEO Warren Harris and COO Sonal Ramrakhiani made the announcement at the company’s soon-to-be headquarters at 6001 Cass Ave. in Detroit. They were joined by Mayor Mike Duggan, Platform Executive Chairman Peter Cummings, Platform President and CEO Dietrich Knoer, and Detroit Economic Growth Corp. Executive Vice President Peter Chapman. The building, located in Detroit’s TechTown neighborhood, will undergo a complete rehabilitation to accommodate more than 150 Tata Technologies employees. Harris listed proximity to leading automotive, mobility and tech companies, access to talent, and support from Detroit Mayor Duggan as just some of the reasons for the move.
“For 150 years, the Tata Group has placed community at the core of its purpose,” said Sonal Ramrakhiani, Tata Technologies Chief Operating Officer – Americas. “In keeping with that ethos, Tata Technologies has actively contributed to community development since we were founded in Michigan in 1989. We look forward to contributing to the ‘resurgence of Detroit’ by creating STEM job opportunities.”
The Albert Kahn-designed building at 6001 Cass in Detroit will be the future North American headquarters of Tata Technologies. – Photo: VanDyke Horn “North America is a very important market for Tata Technologies,” Harris said. “Being part of Detroit’s business environment will enable access to automotive, mobility and tech com-
panies, thereby accelerating our growth strategy and, in return, allowing us to reinvest in the city with new jobs. We are thankful to the Mayor, The Platform and the DEGC for their support in
“We are thrilled that Tata Technologies has chosen Detroit as the site of its North American headquarters and will work with their partners at The Platform to renovate a significant building in our city’s core,” Mayor Duggan said. “Tata Technologies joins a growing number of global companies in choosing Detroit as a base. This move helps to strengthen Detroit’s position as
See RELOCATING page A5