Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com •
December 5-11, 2018
DETROIT SEVEN-DAY FORECAST
37
CLOUDY
CLOUDY
PARTLY CLOUDY
PARTLY CLOUDY
MOSTLY SUNNY
SUNNY
MOSTLY SUNNY
WED. DEC. 5 33°/28°
THUR. DEC. 6 34°/21°
FRI. DEC. 7 29°/20°
SAT. DEC. 8 30°/20°
SUN. DEC. 9 32°/23°
MON. DEC. 10 34°/23°
TUE. DEC. 11 36°/26°
Literacy From page A-1 her team are ready to consult with counsel at the Department of Attorney General after Jan. 1.” New leadership in Michigan could change the state’s approach to the lawsuit, said Robert Sedler, a Wayne State University law professor and constitutional expert. “The governor and the attorney general could decide they don’t want to defend this case anymore and they want to work out a settlement with the plaintiffs,” Sedler said. “That’s the best solution,” he said. “This way, the plaintiffs accomplish their objectives.” The suit has sought to hold state officials — including Gov. Rick Snyder — responsible for system wide failures that the plaintiffs say have deprived Detroit children of their right to literacy, left many classrooms and buildings in terrible condition, and left teachers without the resources they need. This persisted, they say, while the state was in control of the school district from 1999 until 2005 and again from 2009 until the end of 2016. U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy III dismissed the lawsuit in late June. But the plaintiffs immediately filed an appeal, which is now before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. At the time, constitutional experts such as Sedler saw little chance of success as the Constitution doesn’t guarantee a fundamental right to literacy, and the U.S. Supreme Court isn’t likely to add any new fundamental rights. Detroit schools fire back The state’s largest school district argued that the state’s arguments carry racial undertones. Specifically, they targeted the state’s claim that : “While pointing the finger at Defendants, Plaintiffs ignore many other factors that contribute to illiteracy, such as poverty, parental involvement (or lack thereof), medical problems, intellectual limita-
tions, domestic violence, trauma, and other numerous influences.” The school district notes, “The only logical conclusion to be reached from reading the state’s motion to dismiss is that they are using the fake ‘intellectual limitations’ factor as code for race.” Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, in an interview Tuesday, said some of the state’s arguments were appalling, shallow and racist and “reflective of the justification of emergency management and the imposition of emergency management to begin with.” Vitti, who was hired in May 2017 to head the Detroit Public Schools Community District, has long argued that a racist element contributed to the conditions the district was left in after state control. “When you frame your argument to say low performance is linked to intellectual capacity, you’re talking about our children, and you can’t avoid the issues of race and class,” Vitti said. The brief said the more than 14 years of state control had a “disastrous” impact. “Although not beaten by torrential winds of a storm like the schools in New Orleans, DPSCD schools have too been decimated by a storm. Not a natural storm, but a storm of neglect. A storm of constitutional violations. A storm of legislation appointing emergency and transition managers with no experience in education to operate the district. And yes, a storm of racism.” As a result, the brief said, 93 percent of students read below grade level and 50 percent of school buildings need significant repairs. The “district continues to suffer from teacher vacancies because many highly qualified teachers choose not to teach in a district whose students cannot read (or read very poorly) and where buildings are crumbling, leaking, too hot in the spring/summer and too cold in the fall/winter.” Academics speak out A number of academic experts on education, civil rights, and ed-
ucation law joined several of the briefs filed this week. Elizabeth Moje, dean of the school of education at the University of Michigan, and 67 other scholars argued that Detroit children must contend with an education system that is separate and unequal. They asked the court to imagine “waking every morning to head off to buildings infested with rats and other vermin, piped through with lead-tainted water, with failing heating systems only to sit in decrepit classrooms with no certified teachers and no books.” It’s a reality, she said, for too many Detroit children. “Such a situation does not model for Detroit’s youth their right to liberty or a commitment to the common good of all members of a society. Compelled to attend school, but consigned to at best inadequate learning environments, Detroit youth learn the opposite of what the Constitution’s framers intended about the core democratic values of United States society,” the brief says. “They are not only denied access to the same education opportunities of their more affluent neighbors, but also are forced to endure poor, and at times inhumane, conditions in the name of schooling. This is not equal education; despite the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education ruling of 64 years past, separate education remains intact in Detroit.” American Federation of Teachers weighs in Detroit students fail to become literate “not because of a lack of effort, persistence, or devotion by educators, but due to the willful disregard of the state of Michigan,” wrote the AFT, the umbrella national union of the Detroit Federation of Teachers. The AFT brief said the state has “failed to provide educators in Detroit with the resources and tools necessary to ensure that students receive evidence-based literacy instruction at the elementary and secondary levels.”
GM
The story of GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant is particularly illuminating of the lack of responsibility corporations feel for communities and workers. Some 1,400 homes, several churches and 140 businesses were located on the site when the “Poletown plant” was proposed decades ago. The land was taken by eminent domain, and so many were displaced. Evidently, that’s simply ancient history.
ganizations throughout the city, providing them with support and funding to put on monthly workshops. At the workshops, residents will receive one-on-one assistance completing their application. Additionally, each workshop provides access to printers to make copies of all necessary documents and notaries to complete the application all in one place. Unfortunately, the application can be overwhelming, and residents need to have many documents to apply (see all documentation requirements below). As a result, the main goal of these workshops is to alleviate some of the stress involved with completing the application. The same 20 community groups mentioned above will be working together to hold and facilitate 6 workshops in different districts throughout the city, during the first week of December. Qualified residents who have yet to complete the application for this year are highly encouraged to attend one of the workshops. These December workshops will be the last opportunity for residents to get help with completing the application in 2018. After December 10th, Detroit residents will no longer be able to apply for a 2018 property tax exemption. They will be able to apply for a 2019 exemption next year, however the exemption is not retroactive and only offers relief for the year in which a taxpayer applies. In an effort to further encourage residents to attend the workshops in December, the Quicken Loans Community Fund will provide free lunch for the first 75 residents who attend each day. For anyone who believes they may qualify, call 211, or text INFO to 85274 for information or visit the Detroit based workshops:
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REGIONAL NEWS Washtenaw County opposes proposed Federal Public Charge rule changes Proposed changes would leave many without basic food and medical care The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution opposing proposed changes to federal public charge rules. The proposed changes would redefine “public charge” – a legal term used to reject immigrants applying for green cards or temporary visas – to include anyone who accesses any of a number of vital health, nutrition and housing programs. The resolution makes clear that these changes are inconsistent with our county’s values and would be harmful both to immigrants and our entire community.
The resolution highlights how “immigrants make substantial contributions to the local community in diversity, cultural understanding, education, innovation and employment, and the proposed rule ignores these contributions by barring all but the wealthiest from immigrating.” More than one in 10 Washtenaw County residents are immigrants. The proposed rule will prevent many of these families from accessing federal benefits like Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), and Section 8 housing. The resolution says this will leave people without basic food and medical care.
What responsibility do companies owe anyone beyond their shareholders? I stand with Senator Warren in seeking to revisit the chartering of corporations in the United States to make sure they answer not only to shareholders but to their workers and communities, as well as for our land, air, water and climate.”
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“We value immigrants in our community,” says Andy LaBarre, Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. “The proposed public charge rule changes go against our values of opportunity, diversity, and humanitarian concern for people in our community.”
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Tax relief
PICKS 519 849 546 672 321 WEEK’S BEST LOTTERY
Widespread confusion about which benefits are and are not included in a public charge determination has already led to families avoiding programs that are not part of this proposed rule out of concern that any government program could cause problems for them.
District 3 & 4 Workshop
Date: Wednesday, December 5th: 10am - 4pm Location: Alkebulan Village, 7701 Harper Ave.
District 6 Workshop
Date: Friday, December 7th: 10am - 4pm Location: Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere St.
District 7 Workshop
Date: Thursday, December 6th: 10am - 4pm Location: St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center: 19321 W Chicago St.
UCHC City-Wide Workshop Date: Saturday, December 8th: 10am - 2pm Location: United Community Housing Coalition, 2727 2nd Ave, Suite #313
Income Eligibility Requirements Max income for a one-person household: $19,160 Max income for a two-person household: $22,450 Max income for a three-person household: $24,600 Max income for a four-person household: $28,100 Max income for a five-person household: $31,280 Max income for a six-person household: $35,460 Max income for a seven-person household: $39,640 Max income for a eight-person household: $43,820
Documents Required:
The effects of the proposed public charge rule changes extend beyond noncitizens who would be directly affected by the proposed rule, according to the resolution. For example, fear of using public health programs could increase the chances of a public health crisis. The Washtenaw County Board of Health passed a similar resolution. The Board of Commissioners and Board of Health will submit comments before the rule can become final and will send the resolution to the Washtenaw County congressional delegation, the Governor of the State of Michigan, and state representatives and senators. Individuals and agencies can submit comments to the Department of Homeland Security here: https://www.regulations.gov/ comment?D=DHS_FRDOC_0001-1706 until December 10, 2018. “We want immigrants to feel welcome in Washtenaw County,” says LaBarre. “I’m glad the Board voted unanimously to oppose these changes.” Washtenaw County Health Department The Washtenaw County Health Department promotes health and works to prevent disease and injury in our community. Our mission is to assure, in partnership with the community, the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through prevention and protection programs. The Washtenaw County Health Department has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. Visit us at washtenaw. org/health or call 734-544-6700.
Deed for the home in your name Current ID for all adults over 18 Proof of income for everyone over 18 (ex: W2’s, paystubs, SSI/SSD, food stamps, etc.)
Proof of expenses
(ex: current utility bills, tax payment plan, medical bills, credit card bills, etc.)
Proof of financial assets
(ex: bank statement, 401(k), insurance settlement, etc.) Report cards for school age children Notarized letter of help from anyone who is financially assisting 2017 Federal and State income tax returns, if eligible
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