Why Your Business Needs to be Certified as a Diverse Supplier Money. A5
Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 85 – No. 8 | Oct. 27 - Nov. 2, 2021
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Criticism Heats Up at Redistricting Public Hearing By Andre Ash The Michigan Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission (MICRC) held a public hearing Wednesday, October 20, at TCF Center in Detroit. The 1 p.m. meeting, which got off to a delayed 25-minute start, nearly filled the Ballroom with residents who were concerned about the way in which they will be represented per the drafts the commission had proposed.
Michigan Chronicle’s Editorial Board Makes Municipal General Election Endorsements On Tuesday, November 2, Detroit voters will have the opportunity to “voice their choice” and elect a mayor, city clerk and city council members. Ahead of the General Elections, the Michigan Chronicle Editorial Board has made its endorsements.
Citizens in Michigan voted in 2018 to rid gerrymandering, in a referendum lead by the group Voter, Not Politicians. In previous years, gerrymandering allowed politicians to draw up maps to manipulate or cast favor to one political party or for election results they want. Starting in 2022, the MICRC, a bipartisan group, will take on the role of drawing up new boundaries state-wide. According to the State of Michigan’s website, the commission’s mission is to “assure Michigan’s Congressional, State Senate and State House district lines are drawn fairly in a citizen led, transparent process, meeting Constitutional mandates.” “We [Black Detroiters] don’t have the majority voting power in the State,” said Ramone Jackson, a member of the Pressure, a community advocacy group in Detroit. He was one of the many citizens who signed up for public comment at the commission hearing. “When we send reps to Lansing, we send nine people in a ring to fight against 100 more people …When they redistrict these communities and bring others voters in to vote with us, they are giving them the opportunity to elect officials with us.” The criteria for reaching a fair and equitable standard calls on the commission to access equal population, adhere to the voting rights act, community interest and partisan fairness. Recently, elected officials and community activists gathered outside the Spirt of Detroit statue to call for changes to the way the current commission is slicing and dicing the maps. Instead of politicians, the commission will decide the district boundaries on how citizens are represented on the state and congressional level. The commission says they are doing what’s fair in population, by the constitution and other required steps. One of those steps is taking public feedback. “Democracy is working,” said Edward Woods III, communications and outreach director, MICRC. “Michigan residents are being heard. You never got this chance before in the previous system. People have a chance to show up, speak up and help the commission #DrawFairMaps. We’re thrilled that we’re having this level of engagement, but the level of engagement can’t just be
Detroit City Clerk
Mayor
At-Large
Mike Duggan
Janice Winfrey
Coleman Young II
When Mayor Duggan took office in January 2014, Detroit was experiencing the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. Duggan eventually gained control of the city, and after assembling one of the most diverse administrations in the city’s history, the mayor rolled out his plan, which included lighting the city nights with more than 60,000 LED street lights, overhauling the system for better trash and big bulk pick up, establishing reliable public transportation, improving police and fire departments’ response times and tearing down or renovating abandoned homes.
Since being elected to the office of City Clerk in 2005, Janice Winfrey has had both strong critics and staunch supporters. Yet Winfrey’s supporters point to her abilities to work with local groups, organizations, churches, nonprofits and other local entities to increase voter turnout. She is credited with implementing five new voting systems in the city and the introduction of BallotTrax to track the status and whereabouts of every absentee ballot during the election process. Amid the criticism and support, Winfrey continues to identify and facilitate better methods to improve elections. At a time when state legislation for new election laws is trying to be passed, which many feel will curb access to voting especially in Detroit, we need an experienced City Clerk to ward off attempts to usurp the will of Detroit voters. The Michigan Chronicle emphatically endorses the re-election of Janice Winfrey for City Clerk.
For 12 years, Coleman Young II has demonstrated leadership on the state level. From 2005 to 2010, Young was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. From 2011 to 2018, he served in the Michigan State Senate, representing District 1. Young has vowed total commitment to the people of Detroit in addressing their needs, including getting people vaccinated, neighborhood public safety and cleanliness, affordable housing and grants for Detroit homeowners to rehabilitate their properties. The Michigan Chronicle endorses Coleman Young II, believing he will bring leadership, dedication and a fresh vision for helping Detroiters move forward at this critical juncture in time.
The Duggan-led administration continues to attract new businesses to the Motor City with a negotiated first-look commitment to hire qualified Detroiters. When Amazon opens its $400 million giant distribution center next year on the grounds of the former Michigan State Fair, the company will hire at least 1,200 workers, most of which will be Detroiters. The mayor’s interest in building a better Detroit goes beyond downtown and midtown. Through partnerships, such as Motor City Match and other initiatives, Black businesses, developments and entrepreneurships are on the rise in local neighborhoods. Under Duggan’s leadership, Detroit’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic made national news with mass vaccination centers established at TCF and Ford Field. Detroit was one of the first cities in America to make vaccines available to residents as young as 16 years old. While there have been accomplishments under Duggan, more work must be done to improve the city for its people, especially in areas of public health and public safety. Based on his overall achievements, the Michigan Chronicle believes Mayor Duggan has earned the right to another term to carry out his vision and plan for a better Detroit for all.
Detroit City Council At-Large
Janee Ayers Janee Ayers has been on City Council since 2015. She chairs the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee to ensure that Detroit has a balanced budget and avoids financial issues. Ayers is also vice-chair of the Public Health & Safety Committee, which is instrumental in helping residents and small business owners receive needed resources during the COVID19 pandemic. Ayers has been a constant advocate for jobs and economic opportunities for Detroiters; investing in Detroit’s communities; reducing recidivism and ensuring that returning citizens have opportunities; and advocating for a safe, reliable transit system. The Michigan Chronicle is confident that Ayers will continue her mission as Council At-Large by advocating for every district across the city.
District 1
James Tate
Since winning a Council seat in 2009, James Tate has worked diligently on behalf of Detroiters. His reputation of hosting a minimum of three community meetings each month in District 1 has given him real accessibility to hearing directly from the people he serves. Tate pledges to continue his efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and make them safer, create equitable access to the city’s cannabis industry for Detroiters and expand small businesses. Tate has worked with his peers on Council and the mayor to create testing and vaccine sites while providing PPE units to protect citizens. With many fresh faces expected at the Council table after the election, The Michigan Chronicle believes James Tate will render steady and smart leadership to help the Motor City keep running. District 2
Roy McCallister Jr. Incumbent Councilman Roy McCallister Jr. has been invaluable to District 2. Since winning
See ENDORSEMENTS page A2
See REDISTRICTING page A2
WHAT’S INSIDE
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Michigan Chronicle Endorses Votes “Yes” on Proposals R and E
Michigan Chronicle Editorial Board
With Election Day, Tuesday, November 2, only a few days away, registered Detroit voters will have to make critical decisions that will shape the future of their city and region for years to come.
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Yet, while the mayoral race is primarily grabbing all of the headlines, perhaps one of the most impactful issues facing Detroiters will be whether to vote “yes” or “no” on Proposal R and Proposal E. The Michigan Chronicle fully endorses “yes” votes on both Prop R and E for a variety of reasons that primarily, we feel, would ensure better economic opportunities for Black residents from reparations to the decriminalization of entheogenic plants. A Case for Prop R
On July 21, Detroit City Council unanimously passed to have a ballot question proposed to citizens in the November general election. Per Ballotpedia, the ballot question will appear as: “Should the Detroit City Council establish a Reparations Task Force to make recommendations for housing and economic development programs that address historical discrimination against the Black community in Detroit?” The Reparations question has been discussed and presented as legislation in Congress by John Conyers and HR1 at the local level in the City of Evanston, Ill., in which an ordinance was passed to help address the housing disparity caused by the racial divide which started as Slavery, the Michigan Democratic Party
Black Caucus reported. A “yes” vote supports creating a city reparations committee tasked with making recommendations for housing and economic development programs for Black Detroit residents, according to www.ballotpedia.com. Michigan Democratic Black Caucus Chair Keith Williams is pro-reparations and is on a path toward addressing some of those needs with local political leaders he’s teamed up with to close the gap for Black Detroiters. The plan will be funded by a 3 percent tax on recreational marijuana and donations, Williams confirmed. Back in June, Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Mary Sheffield passed a historic Reparations Resolution.
The effort garnered thousands of signatures (the deadline for signatures to put a reparations proposal on the November ballot was June 13) and succeeded in creating a committee to oversee the creation and development of a “Reparations Fund.” This would be to make recommendations for funding allocations “to address historical discrimination against the Black community in Detroit,” according to the article. “While it will take several lifetimes to fully repair the harm caused by slavery and the systemic oppression of African Americans in this country, the time has passed for us to embark upon this righteous journey,” Sheffield said in a statement. “Reparations is not only neces-
See PROPOSALS page A2