SMART PAGES - Detroit Black Pages

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DETROIT
B U S I N E S S
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P O L I T I C S
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C O M M U N I T Y
SMART
PAGES
SEPT./OCT. 2014
“Building Business to Business and Business to Community Relationships”
Marcus and
LaDonna Murray
Owners of AVA Care
and Case Management
Helping accident victims
and their families receive
needed health benefits pgs. 16-17
EXCLUSIVE:
Interviews with Mark Schauer,
Democratic Candidate for Governor
and Gary Peters Democractic
Candidate for U.S. Senate
by Brandon Jessup pgs. 22-23
The Bartell Family
Part II pg 15
Lakeshore-Rickman JV, LLC.
130 Jobs for Detroit Residents pg. 24
Presents:
Quicken Loans
Sports Zone
The whole family’s invited to enjoy
basketball in the heart of the city at
the Quicken Loans Sports Zone in
Cadillac Square, part of Campus
Martius Park in downtown Detroit.
• Four half-courts available daily
• Monday, September 8 – Sunday, October 5,
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Basketballs available for checkout from
the game kiosks in Cadillac Square
• Organized basketball events
• Roasting Plant 3-on-3 Challenge
• Lunchtime Lightning
• 3-point shootouts
FREE and open to the public!
For more information about organized events, please visit
CampusMartiusPark.org/Series/Quicken-Loans-Sports-Zone
2
On the
Road Recovery
Homeowners, Business
Owners, Entrepreneurs!
A second round of Foreclosures is on the way.
Later this year and in 2015. Get Prepared Now!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
YOU MUST ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE
Monique Carter, Veteran Real Estate Broker of
Carter & Associates and her team of experts will
show you how to:
1. Save your Home from Foreclosure
2. Retain your Home After Foreclosure
3. Understand Short Sales and why they are necessary
4, Eliminate Debt, School Loans, Medical Bills
5. Settle IRS Tax Issues
6. Improve your Credit and Repair Bad Credit
7. Understand Bankruptcy
8. Get out of Adjustable Rate Mortgages
University of Phoenix
26261 Evergreen Rd. 5th Floor | Southfield, MI 58076
Call 248-357-1755
www.carterassociatesrealty.com
www.buyandsellsemichigan.com
Join
Wine on the Water (WOW5)
“A Toast to Detroit’s Black Women
in Broadcast Media”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 3
8 am-2 pm
Only $20.00
Registration Fee
at door
Welcome to the first issue of
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troit
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niche as aKhadija
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Sigmon business ownersJason
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sumers with resource information
geared
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OFFICE
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DETROIT
B U S I N E S S
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P O L I T I C S
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SMART
PAGES
C O M M U N I T Y
Publisher/Senior Editor
Beverly Smith
Monthly Columnists
Nina Abubakari
Aundrea Bradford
Senior Writer
Willie Brake
Charlene Mitchell-Rodgers
Barbara Brazile
Business Consultant/Advisors Krystle Caffie
Thomas Hardiman, Sr.
Daimeon Cotton
Laura Sigmon
Jason Cole
Benjamin J. Cunningham
Sheila Hawkins
DeShawn Holmes
Samirian Hill
Ellis Liddell
Simone Lightfoot
Charlene Mitchell-Rogers
David Rambeau
Brenda Reeves
Gary Smith
Ginger Tansil
Jeffrey Taylor
SERVING
METROPOLITAN
DETROIT
Ann Arbor | Flint | Grand Rapids | Lansing
Muskegon | Pontiac | Saginaw
Contributing Writers
Charles Biggs
Carmen Carter
Stacy Goldberg
Angeline Lawrence
Darrell Washington
Khadija Wallace
Photography
Gordon Alexander
Beverly Smith
Delivery Service
New Hope Eagle
Logistics
Layout Artists
Darrell Washington
Dywan A. Smith “Flyerman”
OFFICE PHONE: 313.268.3523
www.detroitsmartpages.com |SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
277 Gratiot Ave. Ste. 503 | 2014
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MI 48226
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PUBLISHERS MESSAGE
Ferguson brought us back to the 60’s
Wow, did Ferguson, Missouri take us
back to the 60’s or what? Just one day after
Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old
teenager was shot and killed by Ferguson
police officer, Darren Wilson, you would
think in 2014, that a better approach in
handling protesters would not result in
army tanks, dogs, tactical police, trained
sniper riflemen or
tear gas to handle
demonstrators.
.
Army
veterans of both wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan agree that the
police
response
in Ferguson apBEVERLY SMITH peared to be not only
heavy-handed but out
of step with the most effective ways for
both law enforcement and military personnel to respond to demonstrations.
Scriven King, a 10-year veteran
of the U.S. Air Force’s law enforcement
component and a SWAT officer, attributed
the initial spasm of violence to a lack
of leadership and mismanagement of
public perception on the Ferguson Police
Department’s behalf. “The first thing that
went wrong was when the police showed
up with K-9 units,” Scriven said. “The
dogs played on racist imagery…it played
the situation up and the department wasn’t
cognizant of the imagery.” King added
that, instead of deescalating the situation
on the second day, the police responded
with armored vehicles and SWAT officers
clad in bulletproof vests and military-grade
rifles. “Officers were calling the Protesters
‘animals,’ ” King said. “I can’t imagine a
military unit would do that in any scenario.”
“We went through some pretty
bad areas of Afghanistan, but we
didn’t wear that much gear,” said Kyle
Dykstra, an Army veteran and former
security officer for the State Department.
“You see the police are standing online
with bulletproof vests and rifles pointed at
people’s chests,” said Jason Fritz, a former
Army officer and an international policing
operations analyst. “That’s not controlling
the crowd, that’s intimidating them.
Don’t know about you, but watching
this play out on television took me back
to 1961 when Eugene “Bull” Connor,
Birmingham, Alabama’s Commissioner
of Public Safety, encouraged the violence
the Freedom Riders was met with as they
came into Birmingham to help register
Black people to vote during the Civil Rights
Movement. The Freedom Riders, mostly
young people, were met with powerful
water hoses and dogs. Connor was known
to have ties with the KKK and in 1962
he sought the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination. He began his campaign
promising to buy “one hundred new police
dogs for use in the event of more Freedom
Riders.” Ironically, The Ferguson Police
Department also had ties to the KKK.
The other incident that came to
mind was the actions of George Wallace,
Governor of Alabama in 1963 when he,
along with state troopers, stood in the
Schoolhouse Door at Foster Auditorium
at the University of Alabama to block
the first two African-Americans from
enrolling in the all-white University of
Alabama. This was Wallace’s attempt to
keep his inaugural promise of “segregation
now, segregation tomorrow, segregation
forever” and stop the desegregation of
schools by trying to block the entry of
Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood.
The students were accompanied by then
Deputy U.S. Attorney General, Nicholas
Katzenbach. Very ironic, our current U.S.
Attorney General Eric Holder who went to
Ferguson to bring calm and vow that the
Justice Department would look into the
killing of Michael Brown is the brotherin-law of Vivian Malone Jones. Resources:
Washington Post, Thomas Gibbons-Neff
Mainstream News Media Should Have
Cultural Diversity Training
Equally as bad as seeing the images
of guns, dogs and tear gas aimed at
demonstrators was the awkwardness of
many news reporters covering the events
in Ferguson and on live broadcasts over the
two week period. It was painful to listen
to the dialogue [lack of] or questions they
asked the black demonstrators they were
interviewing and embarrassing to watch the
interactions they [tried] to have. There is
still such a racial divide in this country and
that also played out on television as well.
Chris Hayes of MSNBC referred
to a gentleman who is known around
Ferguson as an activist and sported a
beard as a “character”. Many didn’t
know what to say or have a comeback
when the protesters gave comments.
Devin Scillian, host of Flashpoint
on WDIV TV 4, Sundays at 10am, was
completely not on his game when he aired a
video from facebook of a black man ranting
about crime in the black community as if
it was a comparison to the Ferguson case.
And then thought that he should stay out of
the dialogue of the panel that was all black.
How can there be any understanding of race
relations when you want to separate yourself
from the dialogue? To compare black crime
in black communities to white crime in
white communities is a true comparison. We
know there is too much crime committed
by black people in black communities,
and many things are being done to stop
the violence; but to compare these two
unfortunate occurrences as the same thing
is admitting that you don’t have a clue to
the plight of black men when it comes to
injustices in the criminal justice system.
Thank you Kim Trent and Oneita Jackson
for letting Scillian know the difference.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 313.268.3523
I N S P I R AT I O N A L C O R N E R
Spiritually Conscious/Conscience
C
onsciousness refers to your individual awareness of your
thoughts, memories, feelings,
environment, and understanding. It is
important to be conscious of everything
going on around you. For instance, if you
were given an anesthesia before undergoing an operation,
you are no longer
conscious. When you
are awaken, you often
have no knowledge of
the operation, because
you
were sleep/or
BARBARA BRAZILE
dead to the world. Being unconscious for any period is like being dead, because you have no sense of
life, memory, or awareness. Study shows
that sleep is the closest thing to death. Spiritually speaking, you can be
awake and breathing, but unconscious of
what the truth is concerning the purpose
and plan of your Heavenly Father, and
your eternal life, which leads to spiritual
death if you are not awakened, or told the
truth. As long as you are breathing, you
want to be conscious and know the absolute truth about all things, instead of be-
ing unconscious, or dead concerning your
Heavenly Father. You must also desire
within to know the real deal about your
Heavenly Father, not someone’s warmed
over version, but what our Heavenly
Father will reveal to you by His spirit. He is
‘just’ and merciful, but you must sincerely
desire to know truth, even if it hurts.
cast.net/ in this world. It is high time that
people open their eyes and ears to listen
to the cries of this fatal world, of people
killing each other relentlessly, because
they too are dead, walking around with
no truth, mercy or understanding within
them, and unconscious to the light/life of
true knowledge that shines in darkness.
We all have a conscience that we often call
our inner voice that directs us and pulls
our coattail to what is right or wrong.
The world is use to dishing out and
eating anything, but we want our soul to
hear and receive the proper nutrition of
soul food, not junk food. You can be spiritually dead concerning the truth, and not
conscious that you are deceived, though
you are physically walking and breathing. There is a movie called The Walking
Dead. These dead people are unconscious
zombies that have come back to life physically so, for the sole purpose of killing
others, to make them just as they are, in
principle…dead to the truth; this is the
same thing happening http://www.com-
Keep in mind, the power of our
Heavenly Father is real, whether you
are conscious of it or not. Our Heavenly
Father is Life, and life is consciousness.
The words Conscious and Conscience are both similar in terms of
awareness, and are equally important to
understand. We all have a conscience
that we often call our inner voice that
directs us and pulls our coattail to what
is right or wrong. Our conscience is the
part of our minds that makes us aware
of our actions, conduct, motives and
intent. We can never escape our con-
science, because it is like a Geiger counter, a built in GPA system, or an alert
that we schedule on our smart phones. Likewise spiritually, your conscience is the voice within your inner
being, instructing you in the right direction, so listen to your conscience and
hear truth. It is the voice of our Heavenly
Father, who speaks to our hearts, not our
imaginations, and helps us to discern and
understand the path He has directed for us
to take. Our Heavenly Father is our true
conscience, and the only authority that can
teach truth, and give understanding in its
pureness. Our conscience plays a big part
in us being conscious. You cannot ignore
your conscience, just as you must be willing to accept truth...or the consequences.
Likewise, if a tree is not willing to bend, it breaks; if it breaks, it
dies. Therefore, we must bend spiritually, in order to live, eternally.
CONTACT INFO:
Barbara Brazile
President, Brazille Enterprises
Phone: 248.766.2726
S P O R T S TA L K
Rob Parker, Mixing it up at Sporty Cutz Barber Shop
There’s a serious buzz going around
town about “Rob Parker’s Shop Talk”, a
sports talk show produced by Rob Parker,
sports analyst and business owner. Shop
Talk is recorded at Sporty Cutz Barber
Shop, which Parker
has owned now
for over a decade.
The talk show is
based on customers
engaging in dialogue
with and barbers and
interact in debate
DESHAWN HOLMES form over current
events
in
the
sports
world.
“I just think it’s real” says Parker
when asked about what influenced him to
do “Shop Talk.” “It’s a lot of guys out here
who love sports and have a passion for
sports. Owning a barbershop for so many
years I’ve heard people there. So I thought
what a great avenue to let guys in the
shop who know sports, talk about sports,
and be on a talk show while doing it.”
With
highlight
performances,
celebrity walk in guests, hip hop
news and other great information
discussions. This is a show that will
definitely
keep you on the edge.
Parker was the first black sports
columnist in 1993 for the Detroit Free
Press and the first black general sports
columnist at Newsday in New York in
1995. Parker was also a regular on ESPNs
First Take, where he debated controversial
sports topics with Skip Bayless and
Stephen A. Smith He also appeared on
ESPN’s Numbers never Lie with Michael
Smith. Parker still works at WDIV- TV.
A position that he‘s held since 1993.
Living in Detroit for over 20
years. Parker developed a personal love
for Detroit and the Detroit natives. “I
fell in love with the people more than
anything, ”says Parker “I feel they
adopted me here. The people show
me mad love in the Detroit, always
Parker developed a personal
love for Detroit and the Detroit
natives. “I fell in love with the
people more than anything,
”says Parker “I feel they adopted me here. The people show
me mad love in the Detroit,
always supported efforts I did
in the city. That’s what makes
me love the city.”
supported efforts I did in the city.
That’s what makes me love the city.”
Some of Shop Talk sponsors
include: Bobs Classic Kicks, Beans
and Corn bread and City Wings. Shop
talk is in the perfect position of growth.
You can catch Rob Parker’s Shop Talk
Saturday mornings @ 11:30am on
WADL/TV 38.
CONTACT INFO:
Deshawn Holmes at
[email protected]
Michael V. Roberts Honored for Commitment to Detroit’s
Resurgence, Entrepreneur Calls Detroit his Second Home
The Motor City is best known for
the auto manufacturing business, music
and architecture. Over the past century iconic names like Henry Ford, John
Francis Dodge, Albert Kahn and Berry
Gordy have helped to make Detroit one
of this country’s most progressive cities. The auto barons, music producer
and famed architect put the city on the
map as a desirable place to work, live,
and discover the American dream. Despite the recession and the city’s current
bankruptcy status, African American
businessmen like the late cable TV owner Don Barden, developers and several auto dealers have joined the ranks of
entrepreneurs who have actively made
a difference in Detroit’s comeback.
One of the newcomers to “The D”
is Michael V. Roberts, Sr., Founder and
CEO of St. Louis, MO-based, The Roberts Companies. He has invested millions of dollars into the purchase and
renovation of a former Omni Hotel on
Detroit’s vibrant riverfront that had been
closed and boarded up. His commitment
to helping revitalize the city has caught
the attention of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and numerous organizations that
are booking events. Free weekly jazz
concerts sponsored by Prestige Automotive Group, owned by Gregory Jackson,
another African American businessman,
have attracted large crowds every week.
It’s very clear that Detroiters and visiting out-of-town guests love the atmosphere at The Roberts Riverwalk Hotel.
Native Detroiter Magazine and its
publisher, Sherman Eaton recently honored Roberts at its annual white party.
A crowd of 600 guests applauded as he
accepted the award, calling Detroit his
second home. The St. Louis, MO native expressed a great love for the city,
and has vowed to make the Roberts
Riverwalk Hotel an elegant and serene
destination for travelers and Detroiters
alike. “I call this beautiful space the
Detroit Riviera” he says, pointing out at
the magnificent Detroit Riverwalk and
views of Windsor, Canada. “We are the
only Detroit Hotel located directly on
the Detroit River. No other hotel can duplicate this gorgeous setting” he added.
The historic turn-of-the century building has been upgraded with $2
million worth of cosmetic changes. Another $3 million is earmarked for a new,
glass front conference center as well as
an outdoor swimming pool and patio.
Donovan Martin, Human Resources Manager Roberts Riverwalk Hotel, Michael Roberts,
CEO Roberts Riverwalk Hotel and Sherman Eaton, Publisher Native Detroiter Magazine.
Both will face the Detroit Riverwalk
with spectacular views. The hotel is
taking reservations for holiday parties,
weddings, receptions, meetings and oth-
er special events. Please visit www.detroitriverwalkhotel.com or call 313-2599500 to arrange for a tour of the facility.
SMART MONEY MANAGEMENT
Will the New FICO
Credit Score Changes
Help Borrowers?
FICO (Fair Isaac Corp) recently announced a change to the way it calculates
the credit scoring metric. FICO credit
score is used by 90% of lenders, such as
banks, credit card issuers, auto lenders,
and other businesses to determine the borrower’s credit worthiness and the interest
rate to charge. A higher score could get
you better terms on car and home loans.
The three most significant changes to the
calculations involves paid collections,
medical bills and limited credit history:
• Debts that go to
collections agencies
and get repaid won’t
count against a consumer’s FICO score.
• Medical debts will
SAMIRIAN HILL have a smaller effect on the score. If
your only major bad mark comes from
unpaid medical debts, FICO says it expects your credit score to go up by 25
points. (Scores range from 300 to 850.)
• A technique to analyze people’s creditworthiness if they don’t
have much of a credit history.
The big change is medical bills.
You can be a credit-worthy bill paying
consumer and get derailed financially
by a sudden medical development. The
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
(CFPB), a government agency, said consumers may be penalized too severely for
medical debt. They stated that medical
debt could be the result of a dispute between the provider and the insurer, instead
of someone failing to pay back a debt
they incurred. The Association of Credit
and Collection Professionals says health
care-related bills account for about 38 percent of the debt that gets collected.
Many borrowers have good repayment habits, but have negative credit files
of unresolved medical debt. Fair Isaac estimates the new model will increase scores
by a median 25 points. 25 points can increase a moderate FICO credit score of
675 to a good score of 700; or a good score
of 700 to a great score of 725. If you have
really bad credit or really good credit, it
will not make much of a difference.
Also, the FICO changes will be
favorable to borrowers with limited
credit history. The new technique will
help lenders evaluate people who do
not have a bank account, mortgage or
credit card — including young people,
retirees and lower income households.
The effect remains to be seen.
Sounds exciting, right? Well, not so
fast.
Even though FICO 9, as it is called,
is expected to take effect this fall, lenders
are not required to purchase the newer
version. The new model only matters, if
financing sources adopt it to evaluate applicants. The impact of this change will
take much longer, some are saying years.
According to industry insiders, “FICO
9 is a long way off from adoption. It’s
not likely to help many buyers anytime
soon, despite the hype.” (New FICO
model could raise scores, but it may not
help home buyers anytime soon, Washington Post, August 22, 2014).
The two major home lending sources, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not
intend to use the new credit scoring met-
Fair Isaac estimates the new
model will increase scores by a
median 25 points. 25 points can
increase a moderate FICO credit
score of 675 to a good score of
700; or a good score of 700 to a
great score of 725.
Is your Business Facing IRS issues?
Are You Facing Foreclosure?
Do you have Bad Credit?
Thinking About Filing Bankruptcy?
You Must attend Our September
Monthly Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 25, 2014
6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Charles Wright Museum
of African American History
315 Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
Call: 313-268-3523 for more information
Email: [email protected]
www.detroitblackchamber.com
ric to evaluate home applications in the
immediate future and do not have a timeline in place for when they will begin to
evaluate it for adoption. Both use, and
have confidence in, FICO scores from
model changes dating between 2004 and
2008. Even the last consumer-friendly model change from six years ago is
still under evaluation. Banks and other
lenders typically follow the lead of the
two primary lenders. Industry adoption of the new FICO credit scoring system is expected to be very limited.
You probably are asking yourself, why the slow drag for adopting a
change that can be favorable to consumers, housing market, and the economy
as a whole? Cost and bureaucracy are
the two largest factors. It would be very
costly to retool the underwriting process
and implement changes, not to mention
all of the meetings and approvals.
Bravo to CFPB and Fair Isaac Corp
for developing solutions to help consumers
move from surviving to thriving. Lenders, the ball is now in your court.
CONTACT INFO:
Samirian Hill,
President and Founder of BudgetWise
Financial Solutions, LLC,
E-mail: [email protected].
Phone: 248-905-1826
COLE’S CORNER
The Turnaround is happening now…Are You Ready?
Along with administrating three
associations; REIA of Detroit (Real
Estate Investors), (MMCA) Michigan
Minority
Contractors
Association
and (NAMCE Detroit), the National
Association of Minority Consulting
Engineers Detroit, I’m starting a fourth
around Urban Planning. I meet one on
one with the African American citizens
of Detroit around several key factors;
Personal
Finance,
Business
Finance,
Real Estate Finance
and
Organization
capacity
building.
These efforts have
led to some economic
empowerment
for
those who listen.
JASON COLE
Michigan
Department of Transportation (MDOT)
has a saying “Ready, Willing and
Able for Success.” These are the pre
qualifiers for success with MDOT.
DBE
Certification
(Disadvantaged
Business
Enterprise),
Contractor
Line of Credit (LOC), a Performance
Bond and Service Pre-Qualification.
I use that same template to help in
the personal lives of those I assist. My
Template is the following: No Felony,
Valid Driver’s License, Decent FICO
Score, and Drug Free. As Detroit
goes from zero to hero you must be
ready. If you are not ready, there
are service providers for: Felonies:
Chris Blount, Expungement Attorney.,
www.streetdemocracy.org., for Driver
Responsibility Fees, Financial Education
Services for improved FICO and
Narcotics Anonymous for Drug Rehab.
Recently my brother, Blakeley
D. Cole enrolled in the Access for
All Building and Construction Trades
Apprenticeship Readiness Training
Program, www.miroad2work.org. The
classes were over a nine week period and
294 hours of training for the following
trades; Electrician, Bricklayer, Carpenter,
Operating Engineer, Laborer, Cement
Mason, and Ironworker. “After 9 weeks
of training I got a job with starting pay of
$32,000...that will lead to a career where
I can make much more”. said Blakely.
Most of the positions pay more than
$25 an hour once you have completed
classroom and On the Job Training?
The training is offered in Downtown
Detroit and includes a transportation
stipend. Call or 313.945.5200 ext. 4317.
Next series of classes are starting soon.
The Access for All Program
participant requirements are: Must be a
Detroit resident, 18yrs of age, Unemployed
or Underemployed, High School Diploma
or GED, Valid Drivers License, Drug
Free, Criminal Background Check, and
a 10th Grade Reading & Math Level.
Are you prepared to make
a living in the New Detroit
because the Old Detroit is
dead and not coming back?
Major organizations are supporting
this initiative; U.S. Federal Government,
State of Michigan, County of Wayne, City
of Detroit, Detroit Regional Workforce
Fund, United Way for Southeast
Michigan, Michigan HRDI, SER
Metro Detroit, Green Door Initiative,
Southwest Solutions, Michigan Building
and Construction Trades Council,
Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation
Association MITA, Knight Foundation,
Kresge Foundation, U.S. Department
of
Labor,
Kellogg
Foundation,
Skillman Foundation, Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation,
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
DEGC, JP Morgan Chase Global
Philanthropy, and the Michigan Office
of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives.
Administrators of the Program
include; Don O’Connell, Executive
Director,
Executive
Director,
International Union of Operating
Engineers Local 324, William McCoy,
Instructor who happens to be 86 years
old and Joann Bailey, Instructor.
Detroit is going through a rebirth
that includes more than 10.5bil in
construction related spending in the areas
of Lighting, Roads, Bridges, Airports,
Highways, Water & Sewer, Housing,
Education, Healthcare and Demolition.
This construction period will last well
beyond 2020. Are you prepared to make
a living in the New Detroit because the
Old Detroit is dead and not coming back?
I host meetings every First Friday
on Real Estate Investing www.
reiaofdetroit.com, every Second
Thursday on Engineering www.
namcenational.org, and every
Third Wednesday on Construction
www.michmca.org.
R E A L E S TAT E I N V E S T M E N T S
How to Recognize a Bad Real Estate Deal
As a first-time investor, here are five tips
on how to spot a bad real estate deal:
1. Weak Local Market Conditions
There are two major factors to underwriting a real estate deal—the market
and the property. Of these two, the local
market
conditions
always trumps everything else. A great
property in a declining
market can be a bad
investment. Analyzing the demographic
trends of population
growth, income, and
GARY L. SMITH employment in the
local market will
tell you where opportunity or risk lies.
2. Misleading Financials
Anyone who has ever prepared a
projection of property operations knows
that by tweaking the assumptions, the bottom line can be manipulated into whatever
will make the deal work. Many sellers will
overestimate revenue and/or underestimate expenses, thereby asking for a higher
sales price because the property appears
more profitable than it really is. That’s why
it is critical to get the real operating numbers, not a projection of potential rent and
estimated expenses. Confirm and verify
every element of income and expense, and
make sure your offer is based on the actual financial performance of the property.
3. Poor Quality Tenants
Leases are the most important documents that attach to an income property. The existing leases produce the
income, so it is critical to review every lease and understand the financial
strength of the tenant behind each lease.
In an apartment building, tenant
As a buyer, know that the
burden of diligence is on
you—do your research and
check to see if there are
any legal restrictions to
your use of the property
as planned or proposed.
files with poor or non-existent credit reports and lack of references are a red
flag. If the building is filled with tenants who have a history of making late
payments or being evicted, your vacancy, as well management and legal expenses will be higher than anticipated.
The same screening mechanism takes
place with tenants in shopping centers or
office buildings - examination of rent rolls,
payment histories, and credit files of existing tenants can be very enlightening in
quantifying the risk quotient of each tenant.
Recognize that your expectation in receiving your rental income is driven by the
health of your tenants’ business operations.
4. Hidden Property Conditions
In commercial real estate, it’s important to remember that the seller always
knows more about the property than you
do. As a buyer, your job is to dig for the
information the seller may not want to volunteer, or perhaps isn’t aware of, in order to
make an intelligent decision about the deal.
Part of your due diligence checklist
involves
inspecting
the
property
condition, including physical items
such as building systems, environmental matters and structural components.
Hire the right professionals to give
you estimates on the maintenance costs of
these items, their lifespan, and how much
it will cost to replace them when needed.
If a building is 40 years old and
has old plumbing or a roof that is falling
apart, it will require more maintenance
and upkeep than a recently constructed
building. These numbers need to be accounted for in your financial analysis of
the property, and should be reflected in the
purchase price you offer the seller today.
5. Legal Challenges
Just as important as the physical condition of the property are the
intangible items, such as title, survey,
zoning and land-use regulations. Is
the current land use and zoning consistent with your plans for the property? SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | PAGE 8
Many times, a seller will market
their property indicating that it can be
zoned for another use and has the development potential to add additional
square footage. As a buyer, know that the
burden of diligence is on you—do your
research and check to see if there are
any legal restrictions to your use of
the property as planned or proposed.
Because zoning and land use regulations
change with time, do not assume that the
proposed use of the site will be permitted as advertised by the broker or seller. Knowledge of contract law, insurance, finance, accounting, and tax law is
also critical to doing things right at the beginning to insure a successful outcome on
your investment Finally, when it comes to
facilitating your investment activities, hire
an attorney who SPECIALIZES in commercial real estate transactions! I cannot
emphasize this enough. Following these
simple rules and recommendations can
prevent you from making a poor real estate investment decision on your first deal.
Don’t let the excitement of your first investment cloud your judgment and make you
rush through the due diligence process, or
cause you to invest in the wrong property.
CONTACT INFO:
Gary L. Smith
[email protected]
248.415.2600 main
248.415.2663 direct
TIME MANAGEMENT
Accountability Paves The Way
I
t’s really easy to create the plan and
all that goes with it, but it’s not a
smart move to be the only one holding you accountable, especially if what
you’re up to is something that has you
stretching yourself.
Accountability
is
most often one of the
missing pieces. Being
accountable means
that you alone are liable and answerable
for what happens,
and for what doesn’t
SHEILA HAWKINS
happen. For what you
do and for what you
don’t do. Without it, getting your desired end results becomes more difficult.
Accountability is a choice; it’s a
way of being. Choosing to be accountable means that you identify with what
that means and fully accept the responsibility for what happens and for
any mishaps along the way without
pointing fingers. It’s a personal choice
to demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving exceptional results.
Standing in that space of complete
ownership means identifying with who
it is that you have to be to get the things
done that will lead to the outcome that you
desire. When you look up at the summit
you may realize that the situation calls for
you to be an entirely different way. You
have to step up your game to rise to the
has to be someone who understands who
you are, knows what you’re working to
achieve and who will hold your feet to the
fire no matter what. They also have to be
able to put their foot in your rear if need
be and trust me, that time will come. This
trusted individual takes on the responsi-
Choosing to be accountable means that you
identify with what that means and fully accept
the responsibility for what happens and for any
mishaps along the way without pointing fingers.
occasion. It also means that you are completely authentic with yourself and with
everyone else no matter what comes your
way. Occupying that space means that
you are in alignment with who it is you
are called to be inside of every moment.
When you’re up to big things, which
I believe all of us should be, you can’t
solely rely on yourself for accountability. Get an accountability partner; a friend,
colleague, or a coach. Whomever it is
bility of supporting you and making you
answer for your actions, or lack thereof.
You step up to the plate and take things
on. Being liable to be called on to render
an account in answer for your actions.
As you move forward, remember to acknowledge reality and own
the reality regardless of what it is.
When you hit bumps in the road, find
a way to glide over them. When problems arise, create and carry out solu-
tions. Hold the vision for what you
want and pave your way to the summit.
If you’re into mobile apps and you
need some help with accountability, check
out my productivity app In “Do” Time.
It supports you throughout the week to
help keep you accountable. As of the
time of this publication, it’s available on
Google Play and coming to Apple soon.
Visit www.thirdeyegroup.net for the
direct Services include office organizing, productivity training, coaching, and workshops. Learn more by
visiting www.thirdeyegroup.net and
pick up more productivity tips at her
blog
www.timeandspaceblog.com.
Hawkins provides customized
services tailored to the needs and personality of the client, creating order
and peace, transforming environments, initiatives and lives. Services
include office organizing, productivity training, coaching, and workshops. CONTACT INFO:
Sheila Hawkins
President/CEO Third Eye Group
www.thirdeyegroup.net
www.timeandspaceblog.com
P R E PA R I N G F O R C O L L E G E
Is Your Student’s High GPA Masking Their True Incompetence?
GPA, otherwise known as Grade
Point Average is considered the common indicator for student academic performance. Typically, a 4.0 is the highest
average that a student can achieve.
It represents an A
Plus. Getting an “A”
in a course subject
sounds good, right?
Wait! Hold on! That
“A” could be maskJEFFREY TAYLOR ing a student’s incompetence without
the parent and student knowing. Striving to maintain a high grade should be
every student’s objective. But, there
is so much more to be considered.
The problem is that grade point
average is often not a true indicator of a
student’s performance, potential, or college competitive readiness on a broad
comparative scale. One of the best ways
to gauge the value of a student’s true
grade average is by comparing their
grade point average and test scores to
other student’s grade point averages and
test scores in surrounding area schools,
school districts, and nations. When comparing scores; if a student has a high
grade but lower test scores; that could
mean that the grade is substandard as
compared to other schools and students.
This maybe controversial but one
thing is certain, scholarship providers
and colleges review this test score data
for searching for top talent. Understand-
ic on behalf of the student. My research
clearly shows that a student’s poor test
taking skills is most times a reflection
of poor study skills and the lack thereof.
Let me give you an example. While
The problem is that grade point average is
often not a true indicator of a student’s performance, potential, or college competitive
readiness on a broad comparative scale.
ing this is as critical as having clarity
about college admission opportunities, scholarships, and even internships.
Many students and parents are
not aware of this reality and automatically assume that a high grade point
average means more than what it actually means. In urban areas students
are often caught off guard when they
graduate from high school and struggle
miserably after arriving at college and
that four year college tour turns into a
6 year college tour simply because the
student’s high GPA masked their incompetence. Many students with high GPAs
are not prepared for college level courses.
Then there are parents that believe
that their student doesn’t test well when
the true problem is a lack of work eth-
interviewing a parent and a student I
will ask how much time is invested in
their extra-curricular activities such as
dance or sports and how much time is
spent preparing for the ACT. Unfortunately, the extra-curricular activities are
the priority over ACT test readiness.
The extra-curricular activity may get 20
hours per week while test readiness may
receive 30 minutes over a week’s time.
This is actually good news. If the
student refocuses their energy and spends
more time on test readiness, their scores
and confidence can improve. I personally
believe that far too many parents and students do not understand the time commitment necessary and skill building protocol for being a “college ready” student in
the 21st century or the urgency to be ready
to compete with students worldwide.
One thing is certain; we are currently living in a global economy where
many smaller nations lead the world in
college readiness. Their education focus
is on critical thinking courses and subject
mastery, not grade performance. GPA is
not the standard that parents should be
relying on as a primary measure for academic achievement and college readiness.
I teach students the fundamentals
of subject mastery. They don’t like the
rigorous workload, but when followed,
it strengthens the student’s ability to develop their skills. Skill mastery is a better
indicator of subject mastery, which leads
to greater academic success and student
fulfillment. Free seminars are available at www.tuitionreductionplan.com.
Certified College Planning Specialist, Jeffrey Taylor provides holistic college planning services. He is available for
speaking events, college fairs, and events.
Email: [email protected].
CONTACT INFO:
Jeffrey Taylor
Certified College Planning Specialist
College Funding Resources, LLC
www.tuitionreductionplan.com
Phone: 248.230.9668
URBAN JOURNEYS
We Are Not Deceived - An Analysis of the Theater Department at Wayne State University
David Rambeau
Find out just what any people will quietly
submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be im-
posed upon them, and these will continue till
they are resisted with either words or blows or
with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed
by the endurance of those whom they oppress.
Frederick Douglass....
Civil Disobedience Manual
er education, WSU, in the region.
Two of the primary messages
For the department, black theater
and learning experiences conveyed to is an afterthought, a minor concession to
WSU students and to the metro De- Wayne State’s urban location. Even these
troit urban community by Wayne State
University are White (Cultural and For decades the theater department
Economic) Supremacy and Black (Cul- has limited the production of black
tural & Economic) Inferiority. These plays to one per year and black faculty
in the department to one individual,
phenomena are found throughout
essentially marginalizing the academthe university, but they are especial- ic and cultural development of black
ly graphic in the Theater Department. theater students on campus and black
For decades the theater department has theater in the community.
limited the production of black plays to one per year and black faculty in the department minimal concessions would not exist exto one individual, essentially marginalizing cept for the actions a conscious group of
the academic and cultural de- us took in the 70s to interrupt the historic
velopment of black theater stu- pattern of mis-education and exclusion of
dents on campus and black theater meaningful black education in the theater
in the community. This starvation the- department. Without our efforts the WSU
ater diet, meager in depth and breath,
Theater Department would still be
is served in the context of a city, doing plays like The Green Pastures, To Kill
Detroit, that is about 83% black A Mockingbird and A Member of the Wedand a county, Wayne, that is about ding to satisfy their paternalistic fantasies.
43% black. These percentages transWe are not deceived by their inlate into about 700,000 black people stitutional and cultural racism, by their
who deserve more and better from the decrepit educational process, by their
major academic institution of high- so-called “liberal” monopoly of the
Commons, i.e. Wayne State University stages, student scholarships, faculty employment and cultural dominance
and exclusion, as well as all the rest of
the public resources of the university. Nor are we impressed by or sympathetic towards the black apologists or
facilitators for these oppressive policies
whom the university rewards with jobs and
approval, with praise and elevation to unmerited prominence as so-called sensible
or responsible leaders of the black community in the arts, humanities or sciences.
Faced with these conditions we
must reiterate our displeasure and by our
communication and our actions serve
notice that we will once again actively oppose them. A proverb states, “The
best time to plant a tree is forty years
ago; the next best time is today.” With
our current effort we have fulfilled the
proverb’s essence and our mission. CONTACT INFO:
David Rambeau at
ConceptEastTheater on Facebook.com
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article
are those of the writer and not of Detroit SMART
pages newspaper.
Michigan general election contest for Governor is closer
than expected. Why is it and at what possible cost?
by Eric foster
In the latest round of polling conducted by EPIC-MRA for the Detroit
Free Press, Mark Schauer has a slight
lead over Republican Governor Rick
Snyder (45% to 43%, with a 4% +/MOE. Michigan elections are supposed
to favor Republicans in Gubernatorial
elections and Democrats in presidential
elections based upon turnout, so why
is the polling for this election close?
Data analysis of Michigan’s general election selection process over the
past 54 years demonstrates an evenly divided state. In the 25 elections for Governor or President during this period,
Democrats have won 13 elections and
Republicans have won 12. Only three
have been close elections where the final
margin was less than 4% (1960, 1970 and
1990) while the four elections have been
landslide model (2006-2012) with Democrats winning three and Republicans
winning one. The overall partisan split
is 49% Republican and 51% Democrat
over those years. Based upon the voting selection model, Michigan elections
should be close, but we believe that the
closeness currently has a more profound
and impactful reason that could throw
us back into the gridlock of the Granholm years, Republican voter discontent.
Michigan’s libertarian and Tea Party voting wing detest any expansion of
government or involvement in programs
that they believe infringe upon individual
freedoms. They especially detest Milliken
Republicans and moderates in their party.
Gov. Snyder is the poster child for their expansionist fears. His crimes in their minds:
Now Democrats will say hold
on, he is not the next coming of Jim
Blanchard or Carl Levin so why are you
upset, he is not one of us. Democrats are
also upset with him regarding the Grand
Bargain, the Pension tax and the EM law
and are motivated to remove him because
of these actions. This mutual anger has
This mutual anger has created a unique environment where
a number of tea party groups are considering boycotting the
gubernatorial election and just voting for Republican’s down
the ballot to provide Mark Schauer with a victory and punish
Rick Snyder. Now, why could that be bad for Democrats?
Because a Schauer Governorship with a majority Republican legislature that can’t override his vetoes creates gridlock
and stops government in its tracks.
• Support for the expansion of Medicaid
via Obamacare
• The Grand Bargain to bail out Detroit’s
pension system
• The State’s management of Belle Isle
• Emergency Manager Law expansion to
cities like Lincoln Park
• The Pension tax
• His efforts to increase funding for roads
via increased tax revenues
created a unique environment where a
number of tea party groups are considering boycotting the gubernatorial election
and just voting for Republican’s down
the ballot to provide Mark Schauer with
a victory and punish Rick Snyder. Now,
why could that be bad for Democrats?
Because a Schauer Governorship with
a majority Republican legislature that
can’t override his vetoes creates grid-
lock and stops government in its tracks.
If you are libertarian and Tea Party conservative, preventing any solutions
that increases the size of government
through taxes, services or investment
in infrastructure would be considered
a victory. It can also create a narrative
that the Democratic Governor is very
ineffective as a leader. If you’re Schauer, winning this way can have long range
negative impacts for Democratic prospects in gaining seats in the legislature
and changing the district maps for the
2022 redistricting process. If that’s the
case, it may be better for Democrats to
lose the governor’s office and allow the
Tea Party discontent with Rick Snyder to
grow, better positioning them for victory
opportunities in 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Contact info: Eric Foster is a Senior
Consultant & Chief Strategist for LB3
Management & Associates, a full-service
management consultancy firm dedicated
to meeting the unique needs of a diverse
and demanding clientele. Our firm uses an
integrated business planning approach to
design innovative programs and strategy
to guide organizations to implementation.
To reach Eric or for more information go
to www.lb3manage.com or 248-952-8094.
H E A LT H S M A R T I N T H E W O R K P L A C E
Does Your Company Have A Worksite Nutrition Program?
Employers and Employees Benefit
D
id you know that diet is one of
the biggest indicators of an individual’s overall health status?
The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
suggests that businesses (both small
and large) create a
“culture of health”
in the workplace.1
In doing so, employees are encouraged, through
STACY
policies, benefits
GOLDBERG
and environmental change, to develop and maintain a
healthy lifestyle. Making a positive
change in dietary lifestyle will lead
to better health outcomes, and will,
thus, benefit the employer as well.
tension, diabetes, and even cancer.
“A systematic review of 56
published studies of worksite health
programs showed that well-implemented workplace health programs
can lead to 25% savings each on absenteeism, health care costs, and
workers’ compensation and disability management claims costs.”2
According to Goetzel et al., “four
of the top ten most expensive health
conditions to U.S. employers are related
to heart disease and stroke (high blood
pressure, heart attack, diabetes, and
chest pain).”3 Further, the CDC states
that obesity and related chronic diseases cost employers up to $93 billion per
year in health insurance claims. Again,
the severity is very much preventable with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
THE COST OF ABSENTEEISM
PRODUCTIVITY
Productivity is achieved when
high profits meet high quality. This
is ideal. When an employee is absent due to sickness, both quality
and profit are sacrificed. But what
if the employee shows up for work
despite being ill? This is called pre-
A person’s immune system is
highly influenced by the quality of
their diet. A malnourished employee will incur more frequent sick days
at work. For businesses, this means
high costs, headaches, and a disruption in the daily workflow process.
Absenteeism is costly, so keeping employees
healthy and at work is undoubtedly in the best
interest of any employer. Helping employees
maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle will lead to
stronger immune systems and less sick days.
Injuries, illness and medical appointments are the most commonly
reported reasons for missing work.
While the cost of absenteeism differs
between the types of occupations, the
estimated cost of an unscheduled absence of a U.S. employee is $3,600 per
hourly employee per year, and $2,650
per salaried employee per year.2 Absenteeism is costly, so keeping employees
healthy and at work is undoubtedly
in the best interest of any employer.
Helping employees maintain a healthy
diet and lifestyle will lead to stronger
immune systems and less sick days.
HEALTH CARE COSTS
According to the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation, “eighty-four
percent of all health care spending in
2006 was for the 50% of the population who have one or more chronic
medical conditions.”5 Proper nutrition
can prevent many chronic diseases,
such as obesity, heart disease, hyper-
senteeism, and is also very costly.
A sick employee performs
sub-optimally and is a hazard. Sneezing, coughing, and like symptoms are
distracting. Additionally, such symptoms are highly contagious and can
be easily spread where there is contact with many other employees.
Nutrition is also found to enhance
productivity directly. A study reported
by the National Institute of Health found
that proper nutrition enhances brain
function and cognitive performance –
making the employee most efficient.4
Since diet is a major indicator of a person’s overall health, many implications
follow. Creating a worksite nutrition
program at the workplace can ensure
that these repercussions are positive for
both the employee and the employer.
Providing team members with
nutrition education programs such as
lunch & learns, grocery store tours, on-
site nutrition counseling and healthy
snacks are a benefit. Many companies feed their team members healthy
meals, in addition to snacks such as
nuts, seeds, healthy whole grain cookies such as Home Free Treats, low
sugar, high protein energy bars such
as KIND Snacks, high fiber popcorn
such as Skinny Pop and many more.
In today’s world, nutrition is
a benefit just like insurance, medical care and childcare. Are you
helping your employees and your
company be the best they can be?
Resource info:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2013. Workplace Health Model. http://www.
cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/model/
index.html. Accessed June 03, 2014.
2. Circadian’s Shiftwork Practices 2005
3. Chapman LS. Meta-evaluation of worksite
health promotion economic return studies:
2005 update. Am J Health Promot. 2005 JulAug;19(6):1-11.
4. Goetzel RZ, Hawkins K, Ozminkowski RJ,
et al. The health and productivity cost burden
of the top-10 physical and mental health conditions affecting six large US employers in
1999. J Occup Environ Med. 2003;45:5–14.
5. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Chronic
Care: Making the Case for Ongoing Care.
Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2010:16.http://www.rwjf.org/content/
dam/farm/reports/reports/2010/rwjf54583.
Accessed June 03, 2014.
CONTACT INFO:
Stacy Goldberg
MPH, RN and CEO Savorfull
www.savorfull.com
Make the
Smart Move!
Call Smart Marketing and
Consulting Today!
Full Service Advertising, Marketing and
Consulting Services, Including: Public Relations,
TV/Radio Commercials, Promotional items,
Business Assessments, and creative ideas
to promote your business.
Get The Smart “AD” Vantage
Detroit Smart Pages Newspaper
Your Advertising and Marketing Vehicle
Call 313-268-3523
It’s the SMART Thing to Do!
ASK THE LAWYER: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE!
Non-profit Corporations: How To Obtain and Maintain 501c3
I
501 (c)(3) Tax-ExemptStatus
f your non-profit company is a charitable, religious or educational organization, you should strongly consider
applying for 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, certain organizations
are exempt from paying federal income
taxes. There are also
other benefits under
federal law available
to companies that
are tax-exempt under 501 (c)(3). Look
at it this way: your
non-profit organization can avoid payDAIMEON M.
ment of federal income
COTTON, ESQ.
taxes and any contributions from donors may be deductible as a charitable contribution.
Not only do these benefits present
a nice incentive for generous giving, but
they also help non-profit companies invest
greater funds in their noble causes. Michigan companies granted tax-exempt status
under 501 (c)(3) are entitled to Michigan
sales and use tax exemptions. One word
of caution, however. Qualifying as a 501
(c)(3) organization does not automatically mean that you’re exempt from paying real estate taxes. If you qualify for
such status, a separate application must
be filed with the local assessor’s office.
Before applying to the IRS, make
sure that you have filed proper Articles of
Incorporation (“Articles”) with the State
and have drafted appropriate Bylaws.
The Articles must communicate that
the organization’s purpose is consistent
with the tax-exempt purpose of 501 (c)
(3). They must not expressly permit activities that are inconsistent with the 501
(c)(3) tax-exempt purpose. The Articles
must also indicate that the company’s
assets are dedicated to the tax-exempt
purpose of 501 (c)(3). It may be helpful for an attorney to review the Articles
and Bylaws to ensure that they comply
with all applicable legal requirements.
Once your Articles and Bylaws
are squared away, you must file an
IRS “Form 1023” application. Make a
checklist of the documentation, information and fees required to complete
the application. The application process
may take up to a year depending on
any issues that arise. Additionally, you
must file an IRS “Form SS-4” to obtain an Employer Identification Number
(“EIN”) if you haven’t already done so.
After obtaining the 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status, proper diligence will go a
long way to ensure that you keep it. Your
company must maintain records clearly
detailing the organization’s accountings
and activities. For instance, the approved
501 (c)(3) application documents and the
organization’s annual returns must be
provided for public inspection upon request. Annual statements must be made
available for a three-year period from the
filing date. There are also specific requirements for documenting charitable contributions. To reduce the chances of having your section 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt
status (automatically) revoked, maintain
impeccable bookkeeping and establish a
tickler system. The bottom line is this: a
501 (c)(3) company must file an annual
“Form 990” tax return. If it fails to do so,
its status will automatically be revoked.
Furthermore, please be fully aware
of the activities conducted on behalf of
the company. For example, 501 (c)(3)
companies must not participate in political campaigns or support political candidates, and should refrain from lobbying.
The company’s earnings cannot inure to
the benefit of any private shareholder,
director or member. The company must
not operate for the benefit of private interests of any members or individuals,
or conduct any business or trade that is
not related to the company’s tax-exempt
purpose. And of course, the compa-
The bottom line is this:
a 501 (c)(3) company
must file an annual
“Form 990” tax return.
If it fails to do so, its
status will automatically be revoked.
ny must not engage in illegal activity.
Indeed, obtaining a 501 (c)
(3) tax-exemption could benefit your
non-profit charitable company, but you
must take proper steps to maintain the
benefits. Visit www.irs.gov for more
information on the 501 (c)(3) tax exemption. Consult a business attorney to
learn more about your legal obligations
when running a non-profit company.
CONTACT INFO:
Daimeon M. Cotton, ESQ.
or [email protected]
BROOKINS CONSTRUCTION TRADE SCHOOL
For a Career in Carpentry and Construction: Licensed by the
Department of Labor as a Certified Apprenticeship School
Register at the Employment Solutions Corporation, a Michigan Works Program at
Northwest Activities Center Wed-Thurs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., located at
18100 Meyers Rd, Detroit, Michigan. Call: 313-873-7321.
Brookins Construction Trade School is located at 1930 Division St.
The carpentry instruction training course will run 13 weeks.
Classes will be held from 8am-5pm Monday – Friday during each school term except for
Holidays. Students must achieve a “C” or better to satisfactory pass a class
and must pass all posted test evaluations on Framing,
Plastering, Drywall, Measuring and Blueprint reading.
Contact the Brookins School at
313-220-2290 or 313-740-4904 Website:www.brookinstrade.org
KEYS TO EMPLOYMENT
Looking for Work: Full Time Gig with a Few
Small Breaks Stop in at Detroit Vintage
Coffee And Tea for a break in your day!
A
job search, as I’m sure you’ve realized, is a full time task. At minimum, you may spend 32 hours a
week strategizing and social media-izing
with hopes of finding a new gig. Hiring
experts admit it often takes at least three
contacts with an individual before a connection starts to pay
off. But in Detroit,
where the United
States Labor Bureau
reports that the rate
of
unemployment doubles that of the state
AUNDRED
at a whopping 16
BRADFORD
percent, it is high
time to put in over time. With so many
out of work in these parts, competition
for employment may be stiffer than ever.
But hold on…he who works the hardest
– and the smartest- usually gets the prize.
In your efforts to find gainful, meaningful
work, consider these tips:
• Sending out yet another shout-out to
your family and friends of your need for
work.
• Consistently communicating via email
or phone with recruiters and staffing
agencies.
• Keeping a watchful eye and listening
ear to the media to find out which companies are hiring or not.
•Joining a job search support group or
creating one of your own.
•Being open to new experiences, like acquiring new skills and meeting new people, virtually or in person.
And always celebrate good news:
The federal government recently announced funding for the Job Driven
Grant, a $150 million dollar initiative of
which Michigan will benefit. Our state’s
stake is roughly $6 million for job training. Consider calling the unemployment
office or your state representative to see
how you can participate. Still, there may
well be some days when your daily grind
may seem like it’s chasing the wind,
but something is bound to materialize.
To avoid giving up altogether on
your search, take time to unwind. When
you need a break or simply want to grab
some tea or coffee to make it through
another work week, drop into Detroit
Vintage Coffee and Tea, a cozy, peaceful palace of a place I recently stumbled
upon. This new haven on W. Eight Mile
in northwest Detroit opened a year ago
and offers a bit of love for everyone. True
to its name, from the service to the décor, this hot spot is all things antique.
Iced tea served in mason jars, hot teas
in fanciful teacups and saucers, French
pressed coffee ground to order, the drinks
and light food fare are fresh and wholesome. The vintage atmosphere will make
you want to stay well past your last sip.
It took two years for Pam Duvall
and her sister Paula Murphy to re-imagine and restore the space into what today looks like a rustic attic insulated
from floor to ceiling with relics like old
framed photos, vintage clocks, old-fashioned sofas for sitting, traditional coffee
and end tables, and lots of other little
things you could only image while rummaging through your great great grandparents’ home (but purposely arranged).
For a relaxing getaway from your full time job search, visit Detroit Vintage College and
Tea Shop, Fridays - Sundays, where owner Pamela Duvall is happy to serve.
Long time locals may remember
the location as the Paris Inn, where the
sisters’ grandparents, Frank and Mary
Pauling served up soul food. When it
closed in the mid 1990’s, the space sat
vacant for years until the sisters began
redesigning the building, which comes
with its own free parking. Today, Detroiters drop in for a choice of about
seven coffees, 15 tea selections and
a kind offering of sweets and snacks.
Job hunters, take a brief reprieve.
From Friday to Sunday, the weekend is
here. Slow down and drop in at Detroit
Vintage for a relaxing respite from the
week’s job search. If you feel the need,
indulge in a cup of the customers’ favorite Jamaican Me Crazy. And, it’s okay
to sneak a peek into your email while
you’re there and see how the week’s efforts have paid off. Wi-Fi is available, so
don’t distress. Once your ship comes in,
contact Detroit Smart Pages and we’ll
share your story with other readers.
Detroit Vintage Coffee and
Tea is open Friday through Sunday
from 10 am to 6 pm. The location
also hosts meetings and events. For
more information, call 313-341-4810.
Aundrea Bradford teaches courses
in communications, writes and edits for a
variety of publications and businesses. Contact her at [email protected].
COVER STORY
Vested in Detroit, The Bartell Family:
Deeply Rooted in Family, Community and Faith
Second of a Two Part Series
By Detroit SMART Pages
The Bartell family’s story and
legacy should definitely be included
in Detroit’s history as a major player
and important piece of the puzzle that
makes Detroit a true Renaissance City.
Their family’s amazing business acumen and community engagement plays
a significant role in cultivating the tapestry of Detroit’s cultural and economic foot print as one of the most diverse
and empowering cities in America.
When David and Hazel Bartell
moved to Detroit in 1946, they probably didn’t realize the impact their strong
family bond, spiritual guidance, work
ethics and parenting skills would have
on their children. As you see in the family photo, David and Hazel Bartell had
fourteen children. As stated in the first
part of this series, the children incorporated their parents values and work ethics
into their personal lives and are making
their own footprint in shaping their futures and the next generations of Bartells.
A two part series can only touch
the surface of all the accomplishments
this family has made over the years. The
very first job the Bartell children had was
working for their father in his janitorial
business that he owned for over 15 years
while employed at Ford Motor Company.
This issue will focus on Andre Bartell. While attending MacKenzie High
School, Andre took classes in fabric and
clothing and fashion merchandising. He
received a basketball scholarship to attend
Coppin State University in Baltimore,
Maryland. It didn’t take long for Andre
to step out on his own in the fashion industry at the age of 18 as a professional
runway model and print model for Travis-Winkey Modeling Agency for over 8
years also located in Baltimore. The Agency was booked by Essence Magazine. As
a model for Travis-Winkey, Andre graced
the runway stage for one of the largest
fashion shows held in Harlem at the Harlem Festival in 1981. Andre remembers
20-30 thousand people at the out-door
event, the largest crowd he had ever seen.
Andre was definitely bitten by the
fashion bug and came back home to
open his own company called Andre and
Company USA, Modeling Agency in
Southfield, Michigan. The school taught
classes in social grace, poise, style and
runway modeling for ages 14 and up for
over 5 years. After marrying his wife
LaChanda, Andre then
started to work for Sequoia Industries Manufacturing Co. While
working as a machine
operator, Andre also was
hired as the editor of the
company’s newsletter.
After working 5
years as editor, Andre
opened his own printing company while still
working at Sequoia.
The
company
was
called Consumer Cents
located in Southfield,
Michigan. Their slogan
was “We as consumers are trying to make
Cents.” After 2 years,
Andre and LaChanda
moved the business to
Detroit in 1991 and
re-branded themselves
and re-named the business, Detroit
Business Center to reach a larger market and added additional services. Their
goal was to help small businesses market and maintain their business image.
Andre believes in
living without limits
and says that there is
nothing you can’t do.
Detroit Business Center was and
still is a complete marketing and advertising company and resource center. Detroit
Business Center is the parent company
to Digimax Business Copy Store which
opened in 2003 bringing the newest technology to the neighborhood. Andre also
had a sense style, design and creativity,
but he had a natural ability to develop
businesses. Digimax, located at 18461 W.
McNichols, offers a wide range of services including, custom printing, promotional items, copy services, faxing, scanning, wifi and shipping. Digimax prints
everything but money, Andre added.
Andre believes in living without
limits and says that there is nothing you
can’t do. He is an avid reader and feels
that books are the civilization of mankind. Andre has published many magazines in the hair and fashion industry and
partnered in many other business ventures. He is truly a renaissance man and
excels in business development. Andre is
currently Vice President of Business De-
velopment of the Black Shopping Channel founded by Media Mogul, Cleveland
Gary, President and CEO. The Black
Shopping Channel, (BSC) is the First
Urban TV Shopping Channel in America. Stay tuned, much more to come from
Andre and the Black Shopping Channel,
www.blackshoppingchannel.com. BSC
plans to hire over 100 people in customer service and sales consultant positions.
Andre and LaChanda are the parents of 4 children two boys and two girls.
The oldest son, Jeffrey has since passed
but left a legacy in the field of art as a
professional dancer. He danced with the
Spectrum Dance Theater under creative
director, Donald Byrd. The Jeffrey and the
Artists Foundation is named in his honor.
I’m sure you’ve seen the “Sit on
it Detroit” Benches at bus stops around
town. They are the creations of Andre’s
son, Kyle and his partner Charles Molnar. “Sit On It Detroit” is an effort to
provide benches for seating at bus stops
made out of reclaimed wood from abandoned houses and businesses within the
city. The benches are handcrafted by lo-
cal artisans and each bench has a builtin bookshelf with a plexi-glass covering.
The idea is to encourage citizens to read,
borrow, and donate books. The network
of benches will act as a free library to
those waiting at bus stops in the city.
As you can see, we’ve only scratched
the surface of the Bartell siblings and each
of them is doing so much more than we
have space for on these pages. This family
is rich in family unity and giving back to
the community. Just as their family crest
says, Inheriting Wisdom, Creating a Legacy. The Bartell Family is United Forever.
CONTACT INFO:
Digimax Business Copy Store
18461 West McNichols St.
Detroit, MI 48219
313-255-4300
[email protected]
COVER STORY
Registered Nurses Marcus and LaDonna Murray have come
to the rescue, helping accident victims and their families
get needed health benefits
Marcus and Ladonna Murray, founded AVA Care and Case Management to
serve citizens of Michigan injured in automobile accidents. Trained in the Insurance and Health aspects of care delivery,
Marcus and LaDonna decided to formulate a system to aid accident victims who
qualify for benefits under Michigan’s NoFault law and assist them in navigating
through the maze of paperwork, bureaucracy, and processes to regain normalcy
in their lives following an automobile
accident. They lead a team of highly
qualified and experienced Registered
Nurses all working to achieve a common
goal “Maximum Medical Improvement
and Recovery as quickly as possible”
Their mission is no small undertaking. In Michigan alone there are over
335,000 documented automobile accidents each year. In addition, the number
of resulting injuries is between 75,000 and
100,000. Each accident impacts the lives
of the injured in different ways. With the
high number of Michigan drivers distracted, fatigued, and “under the influence”
Michigan’s catastrophic injury tolls are
rising. Many accidents result most commonly in broken bones that typically heal
in six to eight weeks. However, some are
life-changing events that leave the victim’s health, hopes, and dreams mangled
in the accident-carnage never to return
again. Ava Care & Case Management
continues to grow to meet the demand”
says Marcus; “we are hiring and training
Registered Nurses on an ongoing basis
to meet the needs of Metropolitan Detroit and the surrounding communities.”
Michigan became a “No-Fault”
state in 1978 to improve the benefit
amounts paid for injuries in vehicle accidents and created the Michigan Catastrophic Claim Association, a private,
nonprofit association that reimburses
auto insurers for personal injury protection benefits after they exceed $530,000
per claim. Mr. Murray says “ with the
challenges many local communities are
facing, the slow pace of changing burned
out street lights has led to a huge escalation in pedestrian versus motor vehicle
injuries. A driver in many areas in and
around Detroit will have a difficult time
trying to prevent hitting a person walking
on a dimly or non-lit street. Lighting is
no longer simply a city planning issue,
it has become a public health dilemma”
“Local communities are also
stretched when it comes to law enforcement to document and investigate auto
injuries due to shrinkage in patrol officer
ranks. Most Peace Officers have no idea
how important their report of an accident
is to the injured person’s recovery. Many
officers fail to take the time to properly
document accident details, or the incident
at all, which in many cases has prevented injured parties from receiving benefits
they so desperately need. That’s where
Ava Care & Case Management steps in.
We assist the injured person and their family in getting all of their ducks in order to
enable the receipt of benefits without the
tion coverage of your no-fault policy also
covers anyone who does not have a nofault policy and is hurt as a passenger or
pedestrian in an accident involving your
car. It will also cover a motorcyclist who
is hurt in an accident involving your car.
If you have an auto accident, nofault insurance pays for your medical expenses, wage loss benefits, replacement
services, and the damage you do to other
people’s property. It does not matter who
caused the accident. Michigan is the only
state to require unlimited medical cover-
If you have an auto accident, no-fault insurance
pays for your medical expenses, wage loss benefits, replacement services, and the damage you do
to other people’s property. It does not matter who
caused the accident. Michigan is the only state to
require unlimited medical coverage for all insured
drivers.
costly fees charged by attorneys- typically 33%. Case management services are a
fully covered benefit under Michigan NoFault,” says Mr. Murray. A no-fault policy covers all family members living in the
same house. Personal injury protection
benefits will be paid even when a family
member is a passenger in another person’s
car or is a pedestrian when an accident
takes place. The personal injury protec-
age for all insured drivers. Unfortunately those that need assistance the most
usually have no idea that these benefits
even exist, or how to access the benefits.
AVA Care and Case Management’s
single driving mission is to identify and
assist those individuals who need help
the most. AVA assesses the current dilemma, outlining all stakeholders, devising a fitting approach, develops a
game plan for both economic and health
recovery of the injured party and orchestrates the interactions between Insurers,
Payers, Providers, Hospitals, Family,
and Employer on behalf of the Injured
Party until optimal success is achieved.
Marcus is no stranger to the complications that occur when a loved one
becomes an accident victim. His first
encounter with case management was as
a teenager when his father was severely injured in an accident that left him a
quadriplegic. Marcus learned how people were treated differently based on
demographics. His home was literally
turned into a home care facility and he
experienced all the problems and roadblocks his family had to go through to
get the proper healthcare services his father needed to reach a functional level.
Marcus was born in Highland Park
but grew up on the west side of Detroit
and attended Murray Wright High School.
His mother was a Registered Nurse and
he grew up in a family of nurses. He
first wanted to become a doctor while
attending Dillard University in New Orleans, La. He received his RN license
in 1988. Marcus met his wife LaDonna
when they were both nurses at Detroit
Medical Center. LaDonna, born in South
Africa, but living in Canada was a critical care nurse in the emergency room.
LaDonna was raised in Ontario, Canada
Continued on page 17
COVER STORY
and prior to becoming a nurse, she was
an accountant. She was awarded a scholarship from Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and received her RN license in 1992.
Marcus has always excelled in
business and had a natural ability when
it came to financial matters. He is a Certified Case Manager, a Certified Managed
Care Nurse, a Disability Management
Specialist and is qualified to supervise
other case managers. Marcus and LaDonna are both dedicated to providing the
best care and case management services
Care. AVA has a history of working with
many of the largest Insurance Companies in the Nation helping them deliver
services at the least ultimate cost. Some
of the carriers AVA works with include:
AAA, Progressive, State Farm, Farm
Bureau, Allstate, GEICO, Titan, Nationwide, and Citizens. Some of the Healthcare Provider partners include, Beaumont
Hospital, the Rehabilitation Institute of
Michigan, Detroit Receiving Hospital,
Sinai Grace Hospital, Henry Ford Health
Systems, St John’s Hospital, Pontiac
Most people injured in Michigan would be
best served by calling a Nurse Case Manager first to understand their benefits in order
to make an educated decision as to whether
an attorney would be beneficial or not.
to any injured party in an auto accident.
Just a little over 5 years ago, AVA
started with 4 people, Marcus, LaDonna
and 2 Case Managers. Marcus and Ladonna have grown the company to over 200
employees. AVA has one focus and one
goal: to effectively evaluate the need for
care and assistance. If the need is there,
AVA Care and Case Management gets
results. Specializing in care to the seriously injured, AVA’s care-giving model
is founded on principles of Nursing developed in the age of DRGs and Managed
Osteopathic Hospital, McLaren Health
System, and Select Specialty Hospitals.
Marcus and LaDonna are the proud
parents of three sons ranging in age
from 7 to 20. Their oldest son is going
into nursing and has just completed his
first year at Western Michigan University. Their second son is a senior in High
School and aspires to become a Judge
and their seven year old, is the intra-office courier who after a long day of
transporting documents from one office
to another, might be seen taking a break
with French fries spread across the conference table. He aspires to be a Super
Hero. We at Detroit Smart Pages were
impressed at the diversity within their
company and the level of expertise and
professionalism displayed by their staff.
If there is a serious need, AVA will
develop a plan that is clear, realistic,
and achievable with definite timelines
and goals. And if there is no need, AVA
can provide referrals to community and
government solutions which may assist
in achieving the client’s goal of recovery.
Call AVA today for a no-obligation consultation, employment or refer a loved one
who may need their help. AVA is located in
Clinton Township, Michigan with 2 satellite offices; one in Midtown Detroit and the
other in Southfield. If you have questions
or need help, you can call Marcus Murray
for a telephone consultation or to schedule
an appointment directly at 586-461-2074.
A representative will come to your home,
or hospital room to get you started today.
Ava Care & Case Management is an Equal
Opportunity Employer Incorporated in the
State of Michigan. For more information
on AVA Care and Case Management,
visit their website at www.callava.com.
Detroit Smart Pages asked Marcus a few questions about AVA Care and Case Management
and why their services are so important to injured accident victims.
DSP: Why should you call AVA first
when you or a loved one is injured
in an automobile accident?
Marcus: The AVA team consists
solely of medical professionals who
have embraced the need to balance
information, justice, access, and quality care with cost-efficient healthcare
delivery strategies. AVA does not take
sides. We hold as our two symbols,
the Scales of Justice, and the Medical
Emblem, to symbolize impartiality,
fairness, justice, competent delivery,
and equality of healthcare under the
laws that govern accident victim
healthcare in Michigan. The bottom
line is this; we are professionals who
understand how to get the job done.
DSP: What does AVA do that an
attorney can’t do?
Marcus: The Ava Care Case
Management team primarily consists
of Registered Nurses with well over
100 years of combined experience in
healthcare delivery. We do not
practice law or provide legal opinion,
we simple help our clients obtain the
services and benefits they need following a serious injury. Medical case
management is what we do.
We understand the issues
within the healthcare system such as
fragmentation, bias, disparate, and
unequal care, which gives Ava Care
a competitive edge in recommending what our clients need. Law is
a specialty as is Healthcare. Most
people injured in Michigan would be
best served by calling a Nurse Case
Manager first to understand their
benefits in order to make an educated
decision as to whether an attorney
would be beneficial or not. Attorneys
are best utilized when there is a problem. Nurses are best utilized when an
injured person needs help.
DSP: There are so many Attorneys
advertising to call them first when
involved in an accident. What is
AVA’s biggest challenge to providing needed healthcare benefits to
qualified injured parties?
Marcus: Ambulance chasers.
People need to know that according
to Michigan Law, an attorney should
not contact an injured party within 30
days of their accident. It is a violation
of the Michigan Bar Code of Conduct, but it happens every day at all
of the Level 1 Trauma Centers. As a
result, the delivery of care under
No-Fault circumstances
has become adversarial in many
cases. Rightfully so, insurance
company adjusters have had
no choice but to become Harsh
Task-Masters in order to screen and
weed through “the many who have
made it bad for the few”. Many
hustlers have attempted to enter the
No-Fault environment solely for the
purpose of profit. They are easy to
recognize, they have no healthcare
background, no licensure, and usually
no certifications. Every family has the
right to receive service from trained
professionals. We at Ava Care stand
ready to serve you and we encourage
your readers to give us a call.
DSP: What type of clients does AVA
service the most?
Marcus: The majority of our
clients are seriously injured. 90%
of our patients are severely injured,
paralyzed, have broken bones, brain
injuries, or amputations. Over 80%
of our clients are referred by past
clients, doctors, hospitals, lawyers,
and leaders in the community.
DSP: What are AVA’s future plans
to further assist accident victims?
Marcus: We are currently
developing a Safe Drivers Program
that will allow you to obtain your
police record at no cost, determine
who is the responsible Payor in your
accident, and help you determine
if there is actually a need for an
attorney. We recently reated a new
dedicated division specializing in
Vehicle and Home Purchases for
the severely injured and a Life Care
Planning Program that can calculate
and document the amount of money
necessary to live a lifetime following
an accident. Additionally we have
become strategic partners with one of
the local Level 1 Trauma healthcare
entities assisting them in mitigating
loss by identifying which patients
are eligible to receive the unlimited
medical benefits afforded by
Michigan’s No-Fault protocol.
Theses 3 projects alone will propel
AVA into the upper echelons of
practitioners in Medical Case
Management Nationwide by the
end of 2016.
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from auto, motorcycle and other types of accidents,
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WFT also specializes in
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recommendation of major manufacturers
of Securement systems by utilizing all
components (shoulder and lap belts) for
maximum safety! Improperly securing
the passenger (without the use of
shoulder and lap belts), places the client
in jeopardy of greater injuries in the
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S M A R T E AT S
September is National Honey Month! October is National Caramel Month!
By Khadija B. Wallace
Honey is a carbohydrate source
which provides 17 grams per tablespoon,
this also makes it ideal for your working
muscles since carbohydrates are the
primary fuel the body uses for energy.
Carbohydrates are necessary in the diet
to help maintain muscle glycogen, also
known as stored carbohydrates, which are the most important fuel source for athletes
to help them keep going. Whether you’re looking for an energy boost or just a sweet
reward after a long workout, honey is a quick, easy, and delicious all-natural energy
source!
1. Usage Tips
When planning a workout training program, remember that honey is a source
of carbohydrates, providing 17 grams at just 64 calories per tablespoon. Combining
honey with fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and other healthful foods can
add to your total nutrition and give you a great natural energy boost. Try these tips to
fuel your diet with the sweet goodness of honey!
• Staying hydrated is one of the most important tools for an athlete. Simply add
honey to your bottle of water for an energy boost during your next workout.
• Snacks are a great way to add extra fruits and vegetables to your diet. Try mixing
peanut butter and honey, or honey and light cream cheese, as a dip for fresh fruits or
vegetables.
• Peanut butter and honey sandwiches on whole wheat bread are a great, high-energy
snack to provide a good combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat.
• Since honey is a convenient, portable source of energy, take it with you for a day of
long period activities to help sustain your energy levels.
Feel free to celebrate September as National Honey Month and enjoy nature the
way it is intended to be!
It’s Caramel time of the year and October
brings in National Caramel Month. What better
way to welcome the fall than the sweet and pure
enjoyment of caramel! Having a fall event? Here
is a simple caramel recipe to invite fall into your
fall festivities.
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Whole Apples or Apple slices
• Preparation
1. Cook butter and brown sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until
sugar melts.
2. Stir in 1/2 cup whipping cream, stirring occasionally. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Serve with apple slices.
Feel free to celebrate October as National Caramel Month and enjoy a sweet
and pure fall treat!
Khadija B. Wallace is Founder & CEO of Joyful Treats Catering.
For more food celebrations and fun fact tips or recipes, sign up for newsletter at:
www.joyfultreatscatering.com.
Citations: National Honey Board
WILLIAMS
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ATTORNEYSAND
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A DETROIT LAW FIRM SERVING DETROIT
Business Litigation
Business law
535 Griswold • Suite
1000
•
Detroit,
Michigan
48226
•
(313)
963-3873
• Fax (313) 961-6879
Real Estate
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Domain
www.williamsacosta.com
Litigation
Real Estate
A DETROIT LAW FIRM SERVING DETROIT
535 Grisold • Suite 1000 • Detroit, Michigan 48226
(313) 963-3873 • Fax (313) 961-6879
www.williamsacosta.com
Fall TV Season Brings Big Changes to Network & Local TV
News Shake-Ups, Switch-Ups & Heated Competition
BIGGEST SURPRISES
AT NBC & NETWORKS
FASTEST-GROWING
LOCAL TV STATION
WXYZ-TV, CHANNEL 7
It’s big news! The Southfield, MI
based broadcast station has opened a
second studio in downtown Detroit. The
street level studio is located in the Chase
Tower which was recently purchased by
real estate mogul Dan Gilbert. It was
66 years ago that the
station first took to the
airwaves from its original studio located on
Woodward
Avenue.
Returning to its roots,
the new studio opens
this fall with stunning
views of Woodward Avenue and Campus Martius. For starters, the new studio
will be home to a live 12 noon weekday
newscast with anchor JoAnne Purtan.
Passerby’s will be able to see the
broadcast from the sidewalk. WXYZ
recently purchased the cable network,
Bounce TV and Detroit’s TV20, adding additional newscasts using WXYZ
on-air talent. This latest move is anoth-
er bold step in competing against rivals
WDIV-TV 4 and Fox 2 News. WXYZTV Vice President & General Manager
Ed Fernandez is confident that the recent
acquisitions and expansions will be great
for the station in the long-term. “This is
a historic step in our mission to be the
best station for Detroit. The new studio
will give 7 Action News viewers an exciting front-row seat to the city’s incredible
rebirth and allow us to connect in meaningful new ways with people making a
difference and guiding Detroit’s transformation”. With Channel 7’s huge financial commitment it will be interesting to
watch for changes at Channels 2 and 4.
Television’s longest running network
news public affairs
show, Meet the Press
is changing hosts once
again. David Gregory,
who took over the moderator’s chair after the untimely death of long-time host
Tim Russert in 2008 has been replaced.
Under Russert, the show was a solid number one in the ratings. The ratings quickly fell to number three, behind Face the
Nation on CBS, and This Week on ABC.
Many say it was Gregory’s non-confrontational demeanor and
soft interview style
that caused viewers
to turn off. He is replaced by veteran NBC
reporter Chuck Todd,
who has been the network’s chief political
correspondent for many years, covering the White House and Capitol Hill.
Over at ABC, many are shocked
at the sudden announcement by Diane
Sawyer that she will be leaving the World
News Tonight anchor post. Her replacement is David Muir, who has filled in for
Sawyer for most of the summer months.
Many compare Muir to the late Peter
Jennings for his suave looks and easy
style. Muir is nearly 30 years younger
than Sawyer 68, who says she is anxious
to return to reporting
and doing special indepth interviews now
that ABC’s Barbara
Walters has retired.
Insiders say Walters
is only semi-retired,
and although she has
left the daily talk show, The View, she is
still on board to do breaking interviews
with newsmakers. The two will compete for the big interviews. Stay tuned.
BEST ONLINE FEATURE PUBLICATION
THE SOCIAL D WITH CHUCK BENNETT
No
one
knows what’s
fabulous
and
who’s hot in
metro Detroit
better than Michigan’s own style guru,
Chuck Bennett. A veteran fashion and
social scene writer for The Detroit News
and HOUR magazine, Chuck’s lifestyle
is anything but mundane. His calendar
is filled with fabulous parties and charity events that have him rubbing elbows
with Detroit’s rich and famous crowd.
He frequently dines out, and gives
a candid assessment of food quality and
service at local restaurants. In addition to
BEST KEPT SECRET
ON DETROIT TV BRENDA PERRY
WHPR TV 33, Host Brenda Perryman
Sometimes the very best television
shows are not the ones that receive the
most fanfare and promotion. The small,
Highland Park-based TV studio that
broadcasts Brenda Perryman’s two shows,
Talk to Me, and Table Talk is gaining in
popularity, and is going digital which will
allow it to be seen by
more viewers. The former drama teacher, poet, and accomplished performer,
Perryman’s warm and friendly personality makes her guests feel comfortable.
Her interviewing style exudes warmth
and a sincere interest in each guest.
The show is non-confrontational
and informative. It’s a welcome break
from the daily doses of bad news that
we are so often overwhelmed by. Recent guests have included Michael V.
Roberts, owner of Detroit’s Roberts
Riverwalk Hotel, numerous political candidates and other newsmakers.
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The Social D, Chuck also appears weekly
on Fox 2 Morning as “The Style Ambassador”. His on-air segments feature fashion for men, women and children as well
as lifestyle segments. Although Chuck’s
agenda looks like more play than work, it
is clear that most of the parties he writes
about have a purpose. He has helped to
raise money for numerous causes including The Boys & Girls Clubs, The Yatooma
Foundation for Kids, and the Horatio Williams Foundation, for which he has helped
facilitate hundreds of college scholarships for at-risk young people. Check
out the website. www.thesociald.com
TIDBITS - CH.7’S
Spotlight on the News with Chuck
Stokes is moving from 9:30am to
10am on Sundays. This will put the
show in direct competition with
WDIV’s Flashpoint with host Devin
Scillian.
Kudos to The Michigan Chronicle
for the in-depth business article on
long-time Detroit developer Glenn
E. Wash. Writer, Donald James did
an excellent job in capturing Mr.
Wash’s personality and his vision for
Detroit.
Please send suggestions for this
column to [email protected]
H E A LT H C A R E A N D Y O U
Mental Health…Yes, The Affordable Care Act Covers That Also!
You finally have health insurance
through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Now ,what do you do? Quite naturally, you
should use it! Don’t hesitate to get an annual
physical and vision exam, or a dental exam
as your plan permits.
There are other aspects
of your overall health
that must be taken into
consideration. Maintaining your mental
health is just as important as knowing your
HIV status. ConsumNINA ABUBAKARI ers, who participate
in plans covered by
the Health Insurance Marketplace, should
become aware and utilize the behavioral
health services offered by their plan.
Mental health, sometimes termed
behavioral health, is defined as simply the
absence of a mental or behavioral disorder.
These disorders range from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and
dementia, to alcohol abuse. The World
Health Organization has determined that
major depression is the leading cause of
disability worldwide. Mental disorders
reverberate throughout all ethnicities and
social classifications, yet, higher rates of
depression exist for females compared to
males, and in African American communi-
ties compared to white communities. Many
people may suffer from these disorders as
a result of comorbid chronic diseases, such
as depression and diabetes. Health care
costs for patients with comorbid conditions
are high. Americans with mental disorders and chronic disease may be the most
vulnerable and expensive patients.
Early identification and intervention
has been shown to improve short term and
long term outcomes, resulting in increased
recovery capacity. Healthy People 2020
provides focus and support for mental
health success with the following goal:
Improve mental health through prevention and by ensuring access to appropriate,
quality mental health services. Depression
screening should be seen as a part of primary care services for both children and
adults. Center for Medicine and Medicaid
Service (CMS) has mandated that those
physicians participating in the Physician
Quality Reporting System (PQRS) report
depression screening using a standardized tool, and measure follow-up.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or simply the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aims to provide
better health care, establish healthy people
and healthy communities, and make health
care affordable. In order to address various
health care needs, all plans included in the
Healthcare Insurance Marketplace are required to cover mental health services as
an essential health benefit (EHB). EHB’s
encompass minimum coverage standards
for plan services including ambulatory care,
emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs,
rehabilitative and habilitative services and
devices, laboratory services, preventative/
wellness services or chronic disease management, and pediatric services.
Health insurance plans outside of the
Marketplace are governed by the Department of Health and Wellness Promotion
on a state by state basis and may include
basic coverage without mental health
and addiction treatment services.
The 2008, the Mental Health Parity & Addictions Equity Act, amended by
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), ensured compliance by health plans selected by the state to provide standardized
minimum coverage of behavioral health
services and less restrictive interpretations of “rehabilitative” service.
The State of Michigan developed the
Mental Health and Wellness Commission
to address mental health service deficiencies. Five work groups were developed to
address community needs including:
Mental disorders reverberate
throughout all ethnicities and
social classifications, yet,
higher rates of depression
exist for females compared
to males, and in African
American communities compared to white communities.
1. Education, employment, and veterans
2. Housing and independent living
3. Physical and mental health integration
4. Public safety and recipient rights
5. Data collection and stigma reduction.
The Commission made recommendations to improve the lives of individuals
with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse disorders,
as well as planning for more opportunities
for independence and self-determination,
better access to high-quality, coordinated
and consistent service and care, and the
evaluation of the effectiveness of services.
**Research conducted by Angel Warren,
Associate, Fern Health Solutions
CONTACT INFO:
Nina Abubakari, MPH, MBA, JD, FACHE
Owner, Fern Health Solutions
www.fernhealth.com
Phone: 313.823.2326
Worry-Free Transportation really lives up to its name!
T
By Detroit SMART Pages
here are hundreds of non-medical
transportation companies in Michigan that provide transportation
services to the many clients that are faced
with physical or mental challenges. Worry-Free Transportation not only meets all
of the local, state and federal regulatory
qualifications in the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) industry but
their staff exceeds the state requirements.
Owners Will and Jeanette Owens
have definitely lived up to the name of
their company by providing “excellent”
transportation service in the metropolitan
Detroit area for over 15 years. Worry-Free
Transportation, (WFT) specializes in
transporting non-ambulatory (wheelchair
confined) individuals that have suffered
catastrophic and traumatic injuries resulting from auto, motorcycle and other
types of accidents. Their mission is to
compassionately serve individuals with
differing abilities while continually striving to assure their maximum quality of life
by meeting their specific mobility needs.
“Safety is our number one
priority with our clients”, says Will
Owens. “It is our goal to provide
professional quality service by ensuring we hire, train and retain quality staff.
“We sincerely care about the people we
serve! It is why we are in business.”
WFT
ensures
its
commitment to all of their clients and to the
non-emergency
medical
transportation industry by having its staff qualified and screened in the following:
• Substance Abuse Screened and
re-screened on a random basis.
• Staff must pass a Criminal Background Check.
• Possessesa Michigan Chauffeurs
Licenses.
• Advanced Defensive Driving and Skills Refinement Trained Certified.
• CPR/First Aid Certified.
• Wheelchair Securement Certified
(utilizing shoulder and lap belts).
• USDOT-Medical Examiner’s Certified (Commercial Driver Fitness Determination)
• “Recipient Rights” Certified through Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority.
WFT is ADA Compliant (American Disability Act) and is certified in
transporting over 140 individuals on a
daily basis and complete over 1,300 trips
per week and projected to surpass 65,000
trips in 2014. WFT transports clients to
the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan
(RIM/DMC), Henry Ford and Beaumont
Hospitals, Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority and affiliates and to numerous other organizations
throughout Oakland, Wayne, Macomb,
and Genesee counties plus other counties
upon request. Their corporate fleet of 24
vehicles is comprised of new or newer vehicles. Each of their vehicles has a Video
Worry-Free Transportation,
Inc. is a Certified Minority
Business Enterprise and
one of the largest and most
respected transportation
providers in Michigan.
Event Recorder for added safety. All of
their wheelchair vans are fully equipped.
WFT knows how to respond to
an individual’s particular transportation
needs for catastrophic injuries (traumatic
brain injuries, spinal/back injuries, amputees and many other types of personal-injury auto cases as proven by the number
and scope of various associations, case
management firms, insurance companies
and personal-injury law firms that have
contracts and/or agreements with them.
WFT has the ability to track all of its
vehicles when on the road with an in-house
Fleet Tracking System and the fleet is on
a Preventative Maintenance Schedule in
order to keep the fleet on the road without
interruptions to its daily schedules. The
company’s fleet is state inspected and
commercially insured. WFT employs 30
individuals ready to serve. The staff and
company vehicles are company identifiable with corporate uniforms and photo ID
badges to make their clients feel comfortable, safe and worry-free. WFT is a current
sponsor of the Brain Injury Association of
Michigan (BIAMI) and Case Management Society of America-Detroit Chapter.
WFT is among the few providers
in the industry that continues to make
investments in their staff and company to offer their valued clients the best
possible service and have a complete
worry-free experience. WFT is located at 3525 Elizabeth Lake Rd., Waterford, MI 48328. Visit the website at:
www.wft1.com or email: [email protected]. Call: (248) 481-8811.
See advertisement page 18.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH MARK SCHAUER AND GARY PETERS
Can Michigan Do Better with a New Man at its Helm?
By Brandon Jessup
The question across the state of
Michigan as voters prepare for the upcoming gubernatorial election is, Can
our state do better? On December 11,
2012 I didn’t know
it then but I met the
Michigan Democratic Party’s candidate
for governor, Mark
Schauer. That day
and those following Mark stood with
unionized
workers
BRANDON
against looming Right
JESSUP
to Work legislation.
The former legislator was even pepper sprayed by the state police thousands were organizing to protect.
In an interview during the protest
Schauer said, “…while people were exercising their first amendment rights, I
among them got pepper sprayed by police
officers…Republicans have not provided
for any public hearings or opportunities
for people to speak on these bills, that they
can hear how the people really feel.” This
is a stark contrast from Michigan’s current
governor, Rick Snyder. Snyder is known
for avoiding public discourse around
controversial issues and legislation.
The former Congressman for Michigan’s 7th district isn’t a stranger to fighting against the odds or standing up for
working people. Just before Mark Schauer won the official nomination from the
Democratic Party in late August, I interviewed Michigan’s prospective future
Governor for Detroit Smart Pages on his
jobs plan for all of Michigan, education
reform and how his leadership in Michigan’s top post benefits the entire state.
taxes on the middle class.” Michigan’s
slow recovery from our nation’s financial crisis in 2009 is a sticking point for
Mark Schauer. Michigan is currently the
5th worst in unemployment in the United States at 7.7%. Detroit’s unemployment rate has been double the state’s
rate since Snyder took office in 2011.
Schauer served during one of the
toughest times in modern government.
As the nation celebrated electing its first
African-American president, Barack
Obama, cities across the country were
nity.” Education reform in the Schauer plan
starts with funding early education for all
students in Michigan’s public education
system. “Children in for-profit charters
watch sometimes $2,000 of their funding
go to shareholders; my plan brings additional resources to help wrap communities around our schools and our children.”
Re-creating the pipeline to jobs is
how Mark Schauer intends to reverse the
pipeline to prison found in many of the
state’s core communities. “Community
college delivers relevant education for
collapsing under financial crisis. Michigan lost over 300,000 manufacturing
jobs during this period. Schauer recalls
this time in Congress, “there were 2.5
million jobs at stake, I voted for the auto
recovery and the Affordable Care Act
while in Congress. Then Snyder called
the auto rescue over blown, now he wants
to take credit for something he had little
to do with.” Not only did Schauer vote
the right way, he encouraged General
young people and adults,” says Schauer
but that isn’t where he ends with higher
education opportunities. Affordability
opens the door to access; with more adults
looking to sharpen their skills to compete
in a global economy, rising tuition costs
are putting four-year and two-year higher education options farther out of reach.
Schauer’s solution brings a student loan re-financing authority to assist
college graduates, provide base fiscal
TURNING MICHIGAN AROUND
FROM ONE TOUGH NERD’S TERRIBLE PATH
Running against an incumbent for
statewide office is not an easy task, but
Mark Schauer isn’t your average candidate for Governor. The Michigan native
is a son of a high school science teacher and registered nurse. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Albion
College and Masters Degree in Public
Administration from Western Michigan
University, Schauer found himself piloting program development for an anti-poverty agency in Battle Creek named
Community Action Agency. Here, he
instituted a local Head Start program
for the community’s children as well as
a broad range of programs for the poor.
“Michigan is headed in the wrong
direction,” opens Schauer “…one tough
nerd got easy on his corporate friends,
giving them a $1 Billion tax break while
cutting education funding and raising
“Democracy in Michigan is important; reversing Emergency Management is a pivotal step in
preserving the process. Michigan is the birthplace of the middle class and democracy is a
value of the labor movement,” says Schauer.
Motors to stay in Michigan and build its
Sonic and Traverse vehicles in the state.
“Snyder’s tax breaks and Right to Work
have slowed job creation,” said Schauer.
To become governor,
it’s not
enough to know what’s been done wrong,
you must have a plan to fix it. Mark
Schauer points to his campaign platform, “Blueprint: A Michigan that works
for Everyone” a ten-point jobs plan that
is designed to create a state that puts
workers, education and small businesses first. Schauer’s plan for Michigan focuses heavily on education, “Every district in Michigan is hurting; we have to
take the profit out of public education.
Education is not a business opportu-
funding for Michigan’s public universities by restoring the cuts made by the
Snyder administration these last four
years and restoring Michigan’s Tuition
Grants to provide additional support for
private higher-education institutions.
Additional highlights of Schauer’s job
plan include:
• Raising Michigan’s Renewable Energy
Standard to 30 percent clean energy
by 2035, which will make Michigan a
leader in advanced energy and create
thousands of good-paying manufacturing
and construction jobs?
• Expanding lending programs for small
businesses so entrepreneurs have access
to start-up capital to grow their businesses and create Michigan jobs.
• Creating a Michigan In-Sourcing
Initiative to provide a one-stop-shop
for businesses seeking to bring jobs to
Michigan from other states and countries like China and Mexico.
• Adopting tougher “Buy Michigan
First” policies to ensure our tax dollars
support Michigan businesses and help
create Michigan jobs.
ONE TOUGH BUNCH TO MOVE
MICHIGAN FORWARD
The recent August primary here
in Michigan should be a huge wakeup call for Democrats and Republicans
alike. Low voter turnout from Michigan’s urban areas in 2010 delivered an
easy victory for conservative candidates across the state. Four years later it seems emergency management,
stagnant wages and rising taxes on the
state’s working and middle class could be
more than a wet blanket on Mark Schauer’s 18-month campaign for governor.
Schauer is not only confident in
his campaign, he’s confident in his running mate for Lieutenant Governor, Lisa
Brown, currently Oakland County Clerk
and alumni from the Michigan House of
Representatives. “Lisa is a great legislator, fighter and champion for equality and
women,” chimes Schauer when asked
about Brown. “She’s a mother, she fought
against Snyder and his education cuts…
Women drive Michigan’s economy, our
state must fight for equal pay for women
because it helps every household in Michigan.” Schauer and Brown are both giant
killers in their own right; both have beaten incumbent Republicans in tough races
and both know how to work both sides of
the aisle to get things done for the public.
Schauer and Brown aren’t alone
in their effort to take Michigan back
for the working class. He’s putting in
the work to make his candidacy known
in every county in the state to get “…
Democrats, Independents and Republicans motivated for change,” says
Schauer. Since June 1st the Michigan
Democratic Coordinated Campaign has
opened 30 offices and counting to organize communities to vote in November.
“Democracy in Michigan is important;
reversing Emergency Management is a
pivotal step in preserving the process.
Michigan is the birthplace of the middle class and democracy is a value of
the labor movement,” says Schauer.
V O T E T U E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 4
Congressman Gary Peters Looks to bring Michigan’s Middle Class
and small businesses to the table as U.S. Senator
By Brandon Jessup
On televisions across Michigan, the
commercials have been blaring around
one of the most important campaigns voters will decide this fall, who will replace
long-time United States Senator, Carl
Levin. Since winter, the race has centered around two political heavyweights
Republican Terri Lynn Land and Democrat Gary Peters. Peters currently represents much of Southeast Michigan as
U.S. Congressman for Michigan’s 14th
Congressional district; covering both
Oakland and Wayne counties from Pontiac through much of Detroit’s east side
and the Grosse Pointes. I had the opportunity to speak with the Congressman
on his candidacy for the U.S Senate and
his platform for economic development,
women’s rights and the attacks from
out-sourcing and providing the resources needed for a successful recovery.
CREATING JOBS AND EXPANDING MICHIGAN’S SMALL BUSINESSES
Building Michigan’s small business community has been a foundation
of the Congressman’s work in Washington D.C.. Having an acute sense of
creating legislation that provides good
paying jobs, training and education for
Michigan residents comes from Peters’
experience in the investment industry
and helping America’s economy grow.
Peters recognizes the shortcomings in
America’s financial system for many
small businesses. As principal author
of the State Small Business Credit Ini-
Gary Peters candidate for United States Senate
Republicans on immigration reform.
Peters is no stranger to Michigan
politics and government. Before serving
in the US Congress, he worked twenty
years in the financial industry as an investor. Soon after, Peters threw his hat in
our state’s political ring as a state senator to then Michigan’s 14th district serving much of Oakland County until 2002.
In 2008, he joined Congress during the
nation’s financial collapse, immediately joining President Barack Obama in
delivering relief for America’s working
families. He supported the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act and
worked to restore American manufacturing. “Michigan has more engineers and
skilled laborers per capita than anywhere
in the country,” says Peters. The co-chair
of the automotive caucus in the US
House of Representatives affirms his
commitment to keeping Michigan an
“auto state”. He has spent a considerable amount of time with US Senator
Debbie Stabenow advocating against
tiative, a provision of the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 (H.R.
5297), he sought to create legislation
that provides lending opportunities
for start-ups and existing businesses.
The Congressman points to local
success stories in metro Detroit as proof
that his legislation works and has immediate impact. “The State Small Business Credit Initiative helped New Center Stamping purchase a new stamping
press to expand their operations, creating
sixty-five new jobs, forty-five are residents of the city of Detroit,” recalls Peters. “Too many businesses in our area
can’t get the credit they need to succeed, the SSBCI has created approximately six thousand jobs in Michigan
and fifty-thousand jobs nationwide.”
Detroit has taken center stage in
the Congressman’s work to reinvest
in Michigan’s economy. Through his
work as co-chair of the Innovation Caucus in the lower chamber of Congress,
Gary Peters has hosted two “Start-Up
Days” in the state’s largest metropolitan area, one at Detroit Venture Partners and a second at Pony Ride Detroit.
Peters looks to his business experience as a compass for improving
Michigan’s economy. The prospective
US Senator says, “Detroit is a major
logistics hub for the planet, it’s one of
our most vibrant economic areas; we
must take advantage of this.” Pointing to Detroit’s location between major
financial centers Chicago, Toronto and
Montreal; Peters is working to prioritize
funding to make the Motor City America’s number one border crossing and
Port Huron it’s third. The Laredo, Texas
border crossing has received funding to
improve its logistics, making this crossing the largest in the nation. Getting Detroit’s second bridge to Windsor built is
a major component in expanding American exports, imports and boosting our
productivity back to first in the nation.
CONSERVATIVE ATTACKS
MISSING THEIR MARK
If political ads were a way to measure the importance of any elected office,
Michigan’s race for US Senate is at the
top of the charts. Terri Lynn Land has
laid various charges on Peter’s record on
immigration and women’s rights. Land’s
“Really” ad drew criticism for wasting
expensive television airtime, even being
dubbed as the “...worst political ad of
2014”, by GOP pollster Frank Luntz.”
Fact is, Land is opposed to the Paycheck Fairness Act,” says Peters. Many
believe that bringing economic equality
begins with our nation’s women, you can
add the Congressman to that overwhelming majority. “Women’s issues are family issues...” recalls Peters, “...the first
bill I spoke in favor of and voted for
was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.”
Another but expected contrast between Gary Peters and his competition
lay with health care. Peters is a known
supporter of the Affordable Care Act.
He sees Health Care Reform as tied with
Jobs. He signals the two-hundred and
seventy thousand new Michigan families
insured under the ACA and the three hundred thousand additional families with
Medicaid in our state as clear victories
for everyone. His opponent has a very
different vision for health care and its impact on women. Land supports the recent Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Supreme
Court decision that gives a woman’s
employer the right to make health care
decisions on her behalf, Peters opposes,
calling the ruling “absolutely wrong”.
The space between the Congressman and others in the race for Michigan’s
open Senate seat grows when it comes
to immigration. Peters says America’s
immigration policy must work, it’s now
broken. “America has been a beacon
for the best and brightest,” recalling his
own family history. The great-grandson of a revolutionary solider and immigrant says immigration reform brings
skilled workers to the country. He calls
the conservative attacks on his record
on immigration as “cherry-picking” and
“failing to tell the whole story”. Peters
is currently co-sponsoring legislation
that provides comprehensive immigration reform, including $46 billion
in resources to bolster enforcement.
As Congressman, Gary Peters
works to provide common-sense, proactive legislation and he seeks to do
the same as U.S. Senator. Restoring the
rungs in the ladder of opportunity is a
passion of his and is important in rebuilding America’s middle class. “This
election provides the first time in twenty years Michigan has had an open seat
for United States Senate,” says Peters.
His Republican opponent hasn’t accepted an invitation to public debate.
Peters has been the favorite to win the
seat in our dominantly Democratic state,
but continues to welcome public discussion with Land. “There is no detail in
her plan, out-of-state billionaires and
her family fortune are supporting her
campaign, it’s time to defend her positions in public,” concludes Peters.
Regardless of which side of the aisle
you are on, if you don’t vote you won’t
have a voice. I agree with Congressman
Peters, with the first open U.S. Senate
race in two decades, no candidate or voter should sit out until Election Day, November 4. The time is now to get active
and get engaged, our state depends on it.
Brandon A. Jessup is CEO of
Michigan Forward Urban Affairs
Group, a political consulting company
to develop and advocate for progressive
public policy in Michigan. We build
political campaigns using innovative
communications strategies rooted in
grassroots organizing. Our commitment
is to the research, strategy and advocacy
of forward thinking public policy that
is beneficial to Michigan and its urban
centers. Visit us at www.miforward.
com or call: (734) 717-2745 – cell,
(313) 444-0849 – office. Follow Michigan Forward UAG on Twitter, Like
Michigan Forward UAG on Facebook.
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
Lakeshore-Rickman Demonstrates its Commitment to Detroit by
Providing Jobs and Benefits for 130 New Hires Within the City
N
ewly
formed
LakeshoreRickman JV LLC, a fullservice provider of Facilities
Management, Environmental Control and
Industrial Services for customers within
the automotive, defense, education,
healthcare and utilities industries,
announced that
it has provided
training
and
orientation
for
130 newly hired
employees.
Over 100 of the
new employees
hired are Detroit
residents.
“Conducting
the orientation represents a proud
moment for the Lakeshore-Rickman
organization,” said Rod Rickman,
CEO of Lakeshore-Rickman JV, LLC.
“As a native Detroiter who has always
demonstrated his commitment to the
city, providing living wage jobs for 130
people is a well-needed step forward for
the growth and development of Detroit
residents and Lakeshore-Rickman.”
The 130 employees are being
added as a result of Rickman Enterprise
Group and its partner, Lakeshore Global
creating a new joint venture, LakeshoreRickman JV, LLC, and successfully
winning a contract with Detroit
Public Schools to oversee and manage
the facilities operations of 28 DPS
buildings throughout the city of Detroit.
A number of the positions will
consist of skilled trade employees,
including electricians, plumbers, HVAC
specialists and others. Additional
positions include janitorial, custodial and
grounds keeping personnel. All of the
positions pay a living wage well above
the minimum wage, include benefits and
provide opportunities for career growth.
“The addition of these employees
will help Lakeshore-Rickman provide
even better service quality to our
customers,” said Rickman. “The
training and experience they bring as
skilled trade workers and facilities
management personnel integrates very
well with the core mission and functions
of Lakeshore-Rickman JV, LLC.
We’re excited to bring them aboard.”
Lakeshore-Rickman JV, LLC is
headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
The company is
ISO 9001 and
14001 compliant, a verified Veteran
Owned Business, a City of Detroit
HUB Zone Located Company and
a Michigan Minority and National
Minority
Supplier
Development
Council Member. Lakeshore-Rickman
provides total facility management,
custodial and industrial services to its
customers. For more information, please
visit
www.lakeshore-rickman.com.
Rickman Enterprise Group, a
minority based firm, is a leading facility
efficiency, industrial and environmental
services company that strives to provide
its customers with first-class service
JULY/AUGUST 2014 | PAGE 24
using new and innovative technology
and equipment that is sensitive to, and
responsible toward the preservation of
our environment. For more information,
please visit www.rickmanenterprise.com
Headquartered
in
Detroit,
Michigan (USA), Lakeshore Global
Corporation (LGC) emerged as one of
the eminent names amongst Government/
Commercial Contracting Companies
in the U.S. Lakeshore Global’s main
business revolves around, but is
not limited to, Water/Waste Water
Infrastructure related services, such
as underground, heavy civil, water &
waste water treatment, maintenance and
operation of facilities and systems, along
with municipal and public infrastructure
construction. For more information,
please
visit
www.lgcorp.com.
U.S.Headquarters
15533 Woodrow Wilson
Detroit, Michigan 48238
Phone: (313) 454-4000
Fax: (313) 454-4011
Email: [email protected]
ASK THE TECH GUY
A
The Importance of Protecting
Your Electronic Devices
s you probably have figured out
by now, I love technology. But
it can turn on you in a nanosecond. It freezes up, breaks down, acts out
or stops responding.
When a glitch or malfunction tries to push
you over the edge,
you need help from a
qualified professional.
All About Technology
is making life easier
for you with the inWILLIE BRAKE
troduction of brand
new Protection Plans to save the day.
All About Technology and its
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iPhones, iPads and other electronic devices for over 10 years, All About Technology and its affiliates have provided
a sense of security for thousands of individuals nationwide. Our low deductibles and affordable premiums make our
product attractive to all individuals who
own laptops/desktops, cameras, gaming equipment, cell phones and more.
Getting a new cell phone, computer, tablet or camera? If so, you already
know that the manufacturer’s warranty
protects you against defects. But you may
be tempted to buy the extended warranty. Unfortunately, the all-to-common
All About Technology
is making life easier
for you with the
introduction of brand
new Protection Plans
to save the day.
risks of damage and theft will still leave
you unprotected and having to spend
more than you bargained for should
something bad happen to your device.
According to a recent study, 37%
of technology users experience some sort
of damage to their equipment every year,
with many experiencing two or more incidents. In fact, more than 60% of technology failures are due to accidental damage. In most cases, these incidents are not
covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
To protect yourself from these risks,
consider electronics device insurance from
All About Technology. It’s not the same as
a warranty. There are several differences.
People tend to think they are the
same, but they are completely different.
If you have a warranty it may or may not
cover the damage to your device. You
must read the fine print. And if you use
a warranty to replace your electronic device, once your claim is settled, the warranty is void. Then you must purchase a
new warranty to cover the new device.
Insurance protects consumers for
the entire coverage period no matter how
many claims are filed. You can simply
file a new claim, and pay the deductible
when there is a loss. Gadget insurance
also allows them to bundle coverage for
several devices and can be purchased at
any time, unlike warranties, which must
be purchased in most cases, immediately.
When considering where to
buy product insurance, look for a
company that pays your claim in a
check, so you can choose your replacement device - get a new model,
a used one, or simply keep the cash.
All About Technology provides
reasonable insurance rates for many
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e-Readers, laptops, iPhones, MP3 players, digital cameras, game consoles and
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So whenever you finally get that
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been waiting for, make sure you get the
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You can also protect your existing equipment also! Don’t delay. Sign up today!
CONTACT INFO:
Willie E. Brake
All About Technology, Inc.,
www.callwillie.com
Phone: 313.218.4888
SMART MARKETING
The value of branding for you and your business
A
s business owners, you should
want to develop a main message about your company having it convey the most important factor
about who you are. Everyone should
know your brand and what it says about
your business. Simply put, branding is
the image of your
business and what
people think of
when they hear your
business’s
name
and your promise
to your customer. It
tells them what they
can expect when
DARRELL
purchasing
your
WASHINGTON
product or service.
Branding is defined as :The
marketing practice of creating a
name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from
other products. Branding is creating
an identity. The foundation of your
brand is your logo. Your website,
packaging and promotional materials, all of which should integrate your
logo, communicate your brand to your
customers and potential customers.
Your brand strategy is how, what,
where, when and to whom you plan on
communicating and delivering your
brand messages. Defining your brand is
like a journey of business self-discovery.
It can be difficult, challenging and
take a great deal of time. Your brand
should be powerful to make it the
customer’s first choice. It requires, at
the very least, that when creating your
brand, you answer these questions:
• What is your company’s mission?
• What are the benefits and features
of your products or services?
• What do your customers and
prospects already think of
your company?
• What qualities do you want them to
associate with your company?
It starts with having a strong
logo that is used in all of your communication tools both in print and online. Make sure to include your brand
in every aspect of your business, how
you answer your phone, what your
sales staff says about the company
when in store or on sales calls. Make
it your e-mail signature, place it on
everything! Create a “voice” for your
company that reflects your brand.
This voice should be used on all
written communication and incorporat-
ed in the visual imagery of all materials,
online and off. Make your brand friendly to the public. If possible try and develop a tagline. Make it a memorable,
meaningful and concise statement that
captures the essence of your brand.
Design templates and create
brand standards for your marketing materials. Use the same color
scheme, logo placement, look and feel
A strong brand is
invaluable as the
battle for customers
intensifies day by day.
throughout.. Be true to your brand.
Customers won’t return to you--or refer you to someone else--if you don’t
deliver on your brand promise. You
don’t need to be fancy, just consistent.
This tip involves all the above and
is critical to the success of your brand.
If you can’t do this, your attempts at
establishing a brand will fail. A strong
brand is invaluable as the battle for
customers intensifies day by day. It’s
important to spend time investing in
researching, defining, and building
your brand. After all, your brand is the
Center on Men’s Health Disparities
source of a promise to your consumer.
It’s a foundational piece in your marketing communication and one you
do not want to be without. Remember,
branding isn’t just for large companies. When customers have so many
choices, branding becomes an important competitive edge. That’s the value of branding for small businesses.
CONTACT INFO:
Darrell P. Washington
Owner, DJW Creative Services
www.djwcreativeservices.com
Phone: 734.476.6709
THE ART OF LIVING IN DETROIT
Africa: A Trip to Me
People take vacations and learn
about lots of different countries, but
it may not have dawned on them to
learn about their own (I was one),
no indictment, just a suggestion...
It was amazing leaving Detroit’s
Metropolitan
Airport with a stopover
in Germany and later arriving in Africa
several time zones
later. There was
much to be learned,
and lots of partying
to do, but I choose
GINGER TANSIL
to tell you about
the most surreal part of the excursion
first; a visit to Cape Coast Castle. That
was where many of my proud ancestors
spent the last days of their lives on African soil. The Cape Coast Castle was
built by the Portuguese in 1482. The
Dutch captured it in 1637 and sold it to
the British. So many different cultures
involved in the African Slave Trade, directly and indirectly that even older African Americans aren’t even aware of.
Understandably so, they saw slavery as something that started and ended
with southern whites and that’s the extent of their knowledge. That was what
they saw and that was what they’d heard.
Representatives went to Africa
disguised as missionaries but were really there to ravish and pilfer our motherland. To figure out every misdeed and
angle to benefit them. They marveled
at all Africa had to offer materialistic
and humanistic. They chose the best of
men and women and measured them
for chains unwittingly. The chains that
would eventually put them in bondage.
The governors lavish living quarters overlooking the blue Atlantic oceans
was visible. They were waited on hand
and foot and feasted on all the African
soil could yield as Africa’s people were
in the belly of the earth underneath the
castle. They (the British) even had their
church services as potential slaves were
beneath the floors screaming. There
was an especially small room for male
protestors (three hundred men or more
would be confined there) and suffocated for being such, and were eventually
scooped up and dropped into the ocean.
That room still has its original doors.
African women were confined
to a small cell which housed up to one
hundred and fifty women, and yes, you
guessed it, the governor had his pick of
African women with which to sleep. Ever
Alison Vaughn, CEO of Jackets
For Jobs, Recognized at Nasdaq
and honored in Times Square
By Gwen Thomas, PR Inc.
In honor of the national
Humanitarian Day, Alison Vaughn, CEO
of Jackets for Jobs, a Detroit based and
female owned company, was honored
at NASDAQ and
invited to ring the
closing bell to close
the stock market in
New York Times
Square. Alison was
asked to provide
remarks following
a brief introduction
ALISON VAUGHN of the work that she
is doing in the City
of Detroit, to train the unemployed on
business etiquette and job readiness. In
addition, Vaughn’s non-profit provides
business attire for both men and women as
a result of local donations and partnership
with TJMaxx and The Men’s Warehouse.
Jackets for Jobs, name and logo ran across
the NASDAQ Tower and a ticker tape in
Times Square in honor of the celebration.
This year represents Jackets for
Jobs, 14th year. Last year, Jackets for
Jobs opened its first International office,
in Botswana. Vaughn is also a candidate
Standing, looking at
the “Door of Return,” I
felt the strength of my
ancestors saying “tell
them that they are a
smart people, an intelligent people and we
have to know who we
are so history doesn’t
repeat itself”.
wondered why some of us have
straight noses and lips? It’s been proven
psychologically that captives began to
identify w/their captors ergo the self-hatred and hatred of others that resemble
us. You see it when you see Black people
talk about another’s “nappy hair”, or “big
lips” anything that pertains to us culturally. We see it as we please the Asian people
who take advantage of our fragile self-esteem and benefit financially by spending
all our money on “other people’s hair”.
Down the hall was the “Door of
No Return”. Fisherman sailed off into
the ocean. You could hear someone
ask, “Do the people know what happened to us”? The answer is proba-
bly the same answer for this country,
“some people know, and some don’t”.
As far as the eye could see was
excruciatingly, devastatingly, poverty
stricken land. This land? The land where
surgeons came to be trained? These people? The people who are the inventors
of mathematics, chemistry, engineering,
philosophy? These people with relatively no knowledge of their own brain
power. Such as with our own American
communities. All the self-hatred and
hatred of those that resemble us is the
same hatred that caused and causes bondage then and now, and in some part we
are responsible for our own undoing.
What would happen if we could
take ten children per year to Africa?
Would it make a difference? Would
there be even the slightest change in
our communities? Standing, looking at
the “Door of Return,” I felt the strength
of my ancestors saying “tell them that
they are a smart people, an intelligent
people and we have to know who we
are so history doesn’t repeat itself”.
CONTACT INFO:
Ginger Tansil
[email protected]
Phone: 313.909.2838
Lifeline Business and
Consulting Services
Specializing in Assisting Women Owned Businesses
Our Services Include:
in Goldman Sachs, 10k Small Businesses
program. She has appeared on national
television shows, such as Oprah, Martha
Stewart and The Today Show. On October 29, 2014, Alison Vaughn will speak
to over 1000 women at the Women’s
Islamic Economic Forum in DUBAI.
n Developing Your Business Idea
We will keep you focused and energized
n Developing and Revising Business Plans
A complete business plan that you can use
and grow your business and to give to
potential funding sources
n Developing Marketing Strategies to
Grow Your Business
Strategic marketing and promotional help
n Preparing Financial Projections
Preparing you for the journey ahead
Lifeline Consulting is your lifeline to use as your
business grows and are by your side every step of
the way offering encouragement!
If you are a woman owned business or a woman
with an idea for a business please contact us:
Contact Jackets for Jobs at:
Michigan Works Affiliate
5555 Conner St., Suite 2097
Detroit Michigan 48213
313-579-9160
LIFELINE CONSULTING
Call Nicole Huffman
313.965.3155
[email protected]
F O U R T H O F A S I X PA R T S E R I E S : T H E C O M P L E X I T I E S O F T H E N W O R D
The N-Word…Is it that complicated?
Among Blacks Many American
blacks and whites admit that nigger has
remained an imprint on black bodies
soaked in blood literally and metaphorically in American history. While some
blacks believe that
they have reclaimed
this word given them
by white oppressors,
there is no consensus on its use among
African Americans.
Nigger still registers raw discomfort
DR. NEAL A. LESTER among many African
Americans and retains
its power to injure, intimidate, threaten,
and degrade despite the NAACP’s 2007
mock funeral, the organization’s efforts
to remove the word from the dictionary,
or the many social media campaigns to
abolish the word’s use. Grassroots efforts
by some African Americans did change
Webster’s definition of nigger as synonymous with a black person in 2007. Many
hip hop clothing store called “Nigger”
in Malawi underscore the fact that use
of this word extends beyond US borders,
allegedly because of the globalization of
hip hop music that saturates the airwaves
with this word in one form or another. Black/ White Race Relations
Whites allege confusion when
blacks use the word nigger or nigga among themselves but whites cannot
without social consequence. Some blacks
claim the appropriation of this word as
inner group endearment or solidarity.
Some whites are offended when other
whites use the word among themselves
in referencing blacks. While some whites
and some blacks argue that pronunciation of the word signals its impact and
intent as either endearment/solidarity or
insult—nigger, niggah, nigga—others argue that coming from any white person,
the word is consistently problematic and
stirs emotions that cannot be rationally
explained. Efforts to change the spelling
Whether the word nigger is spoken out
loud, written on a middle school classroom chalkboard, or sent through email,
the problem is the same: its use intends
to demean and to disparage. debate the appropriateness of euphemizing the word nigger with the more
politically correct “n-word” reference.
Nigger is not disconnected from
prevalent and blatantly racist behaviors,
attitudes, and visual imagery, such as the
animalization of black people by likening
them to coons, chimpanzees, monkeys,
or gorillas; nineteenth-century American
minstrelsy and past and present blackface
costuming; lynching; 1955 murder of
Emmett Till in Money, MS; 1987 KKK
murder of Michael Donald in Mobile, AL;
and the 1998 murder of James Byrd, Jr.,
in Jasper, TX. These and other examples
evidence an American history of stressed
race relations between blacks and whites. While all groups have words considered “taboo words” that insult and
attack—some referring specifically to
sexual identity or orientation, some to
economic class, some to religion, some
to gender identity, and some to intellectual capacity—nigger transcends such
categories in its ability to embody all
the negativity that can be mustered by
whites to demean any black person. Furthermore, a “nigger cake” in Sweden
created in 2012 to offer social commentary on female genital mutilation and a
and pronunciation of this word inherently acknowledge the problem with
the word itself. In fact, nigga, niggahs,
and niggars punctuate many popular
nineteenth-century American minstrel
songs by whites mocking blacks. Hence,
no revisions to the word nigger—either
its modified spelling or pronunciation—
can ignore or neutralize its original and
lingering derogatory meaning and intent.
Among some African Americans,
the word nigga is allegedly an intergroup
social linguistic ritual, a mark of community. This belief is not unanimously
shared by blacks old or young. Def Jam
Comedy spoken word poet Julian Curry’s “Niggers, Niggas, and Niggaz” tells
a predominantly black audience that
no matter the pronunciation and spelling, nigger is derogatory and insulting
to black people and that blacks’ use of it
does not reclaim it or give it new meaning. Black comedians Richard Pryor and
Paul Mooney once over-saturated their
acts with the word nigger but stopped
using the word even among their primarily black audiences because they
saw their use of it as perpetuating negative perceptions of and disrespect for
themselves and other African Americans. Practically no social, historical, and
political situations give whites “permission” to use the word nigger, especially in
interracial settings. Considerable media
fallout accompanies whites’ public use of
the word: family and relationship radio
host Dr. Laura Schlesinger’s 2010 rant
with a black caller (her claim that since
black rappers use the words she should
be able to do so as well); reality show
cast member Dog the Bounty Hunter’s
2007 recorded phone message to his son
about the son’s dating a black woman;
and a Florida white middle school teacher’s writing on a classroom chalkboard
to his students that then-Senator Barack
Obama’s 2008CHANGE mantra stood
for Come Help a Nigger Get Elected.
Common among anti-Obama slogans on
decals and t-shirts is: “2012—Don’t ReNig” and “Nigger, Please. It’s a White
House.” An internet visual representation mocking Obama as President tags
Air Force One with this letter/ number
combination: NI66ER. A bar owner in
GA displays multiple public signs—“I
Do Not/ Support the/ Nigger in/ The
Double Standard
In the 1960s, black authors and
artists used the word nigger prolifically in their performances of social
protests: Dick Gregory’s autobiography Nigger; Ed Bullins’ play The
Electronic Nigger; or poems by LeRoi
Jones, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni,
and the Last Poets. In these instances,
the word nigger was not a “term of endearment”; nigger separated African
Americans fighting for revolution to
change their racially oppressed state
from those content, passive, and committed to American assimilation and
the status quo. The anger in 1960’s
artistic expression sought to exorcise
African Americans’ negative thinking
about themselves as black Americans.
The power of the word nigger—
and any word that sounds like it such
as niggardly which bears no direct
connection to nigger—to sting, stun,
attack, and to resurrect America’s history of racial abuse, intimidation, and
violence reflects the present and past
racial divide culturally, historically, socially, and politically between
Hence, no revisions
to the word nigger—
either its modified
spelling or pronunciation—can ignore or
neutralize its original
and lingering derogatory meaning and
intent.
White House”; “Obama Gives Us Hope/
Dreams and Maybe’ a New Holiday/
That’s My Nigger.” The bar owner defends his actions as non-racist manifestations of his right to freedom of speech.
Whether the word nigger is spoken out loud, written on a middle school
classroom chalkboard, or sent through
email, the problem is the same: its use
intends to demean and to disparage. When the word nigger is interrogated, white and black people, young and
old, know that this word carries with
it a long and painful living history that
disparages black people like no other.
blacks and whites. Consistent media
attention and public outcry supports
the perception that when the word is
connected with whites referencing
blacks directly, indirectly, or generally, the word’s effect is to attack,
intimidate, or otherwise disparage.
Even when black and white
youths participate in a more integrated
and seemingly less racialized 21st century America, white youths express discomfort when they hear the word nigger spoken by their white peers in the
absence of black people, and blacks feel
uncomfortable and even angry when
their white friends assume this linguistic privilege in their presence. Comments from overa 200 high school Mississippians responding to a 2010 survey
by Clarion Ledger investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell reveal youths’ perceptions of and responses to this word’s
use among blacks and whites. Taken
together, these responses indicate that
anti-Black sentiments continue among
blacks and whites and can be summoned
and summarized in one word—nigger.
CONTACT INFO:
Neal A. Lester, PhD
Foundation Professor of English
Director, Project Humanities
website | facebook | YouTube
E L I M I N AT I N G B L I G H T
Warren’s Neighborhood Sweep Cleans Up Targeted Neighborhoods
by James R. Fouts, City of Warren Mayor
In November, 2007, after my
election as Warren Mayor, I made it my
top priority to make Warren a cleaner
and safer city. The “cleaner city”
priority began with my campaign idea
to conduct organized neighborhood
sweeps in targeted neighborhoods. I
established a task
force to implement
my
idea.
I
directed
the task force to
replace the system
of first reacting to
blight complaints
citywide to initiating a pro-active
program that would produce visible
results in target neighborhoods.
In the previous administrations, a
blight inspector would inspect blight
complaints throughout the 34.5 square
mile city, and it would be impossible to
follow up with any kind of supervision.
The task force recommended
a teamwork idea involving the
following
city
departments:
assessing, communications, building
inspections, DPW, planning, police,
property maintenance and sanitation.
Neighborhood Clean Sweep began in
April 2008 and has been conducted
annually since then.
Over 70,000
commercial and residential buildings
have been inspected since the
program began.
Here’s how each
department contributed to the effort:
Planning
identified
city
neighborhoods that needed cleanups.
Almost all were in the city’s south end
which featured houses built during
WW II. The typical wood-framed
home had 900 square feet on a 40 ft.
lot. Thirty years ago, these targeted
neighborhoods were dominated by
owner-occupied homes. As seniors
moved, they were replaced by renters
who sometimes do not take the same
pride in their homes as do owners.
Assessing provided addresses
of all businesses and residence in
each targeted neighborhood. The list
eliminated all addresses of all vacant
buildings and empty lots. It was what
I called a “purged” list that saved city
taxpayers printing and postage costs.
Communications
developed
a brochure for mailing that warned
those on the mailing list in advance
of inspections arriving in their
neighborhoods. We timed the mailings
of the brochure to arrive at least one
week prior to sweeps week so residents
would have time to clean up their yards.
BEFORE
Building Inspectors went through
the neighborhoods “tagging” vacant
homes and checking commercial properties for zoning and blight violations.
AFTER
Sanitation picked up everything
placed at the curb during sweeps week.
This allowed residents to clean up large
items. The amount of rubbish collected
An interesting sidelight is the response of the
residents and business owners. They made
comments to our inspectors like: “It’s about
time city hall did something about eliminating
blight,” “My neighborhood looks cleaner,” and
“My neighbors are now taking pride in their
homes.”
DPW
crews
drove
street
sweeping vehicles in the target
neighborhoods during “sweeps” week.
Police ticketed junk and unlicensed
vehicles parked on city streets.
Property
maintenance
inspectors walked house-to-house
during “sweeps” week issuing
5-day cleanup warning notices and,
following up with district court
violations
for
non-compliance.
during that week increased dramatically.
The results of this Neighborhood
Clean Sweep Program have been visible.
Residents and businesses are cleaning
up their properties before sweeps week
to avoid a 5-day warning notice and
possible $1,000 district court fines.
Of the 30,000 warning notices issued,
only 350 were ticketed which means
the vast majority of those businesses
and residences cited for blight cleaned
The violations include the following:
n Vacant structures and land (maintained in a clean,
safe and secure condition).
n Unsanitary conditions on property (exterior safe/clean).
n Grading and drainage (prevent accumulation of stagnant water).
n Grass/weeds over 6 inches tall.
n Rodent harborage.
n Accessory structures – detached garages/fences & walls.
n Inoperative/unlicensed vehicle on property (disassembled, disrepair, stripped or disabled).
n Unkept/unfiltered pool (clean a & sanitary condition and in
good condition).
n Exterior structure (maintained in good repair, structurally sound
& sanitary).
n Guards for basement windows (rodent shield, storm windows required).
n Protective treatment (all exterior surfaces – peeling, flaking,
chipped paint, wood/metal).
n Premises identification (no address/partial address).
n Improper drainage (improper gutters/downspouts).
n Overhang extensions (canopies/marquees/signs/awnings/stand pipes/dusts).
n Junk/debris on property (all exterior property free from rubbish).
n Disposal of rubbish (put out after 6 pm the night before pickup).
n Rubbish containers (leak proof/close fitting covers must be stored in rear property).
their properties within the 5-day period.
An interesting sidelight is the
response of the residents and business
owners. They made comments to our
inspectors like: “It’s about time city
hall did something about eliminating
blight,” “My neighborhood looks
cleaner,” and “My neighbors are now
taking pride in their homes.” To be
honest, there have been rare negative
comments like: “Why are your
inspectors nitpicking every little thing?”
Most violations could easily be
corrected during the 5-day period,
but some, like repainting a garage,
needed more time and inspectors
were instructed to be flexible. Also,
we demolished over 600 dilapidated
houses that were evaluated as
“unfit
for
human
habitation”
by our city building inspectors.
Inspectors are instructed to cite
vacant lots for high grass or weeds. If
the owner of record does not comply
with the 5-day warning notice, a city
contractor cuts the grass and bills the
owner, usually a bank or mortgage
company. Residences that look like
they are drug dens are referred to the
special investigations unit of the police
department. Drug raids have been
conducted pleasing nearby residents.
This unit averages 20 arrests and
three search warrants each month.
Inspectors are also instructed
to list homes advertised for rent, and
the rental inspections department
follows up with a phone call warning
that rental units must be registered
with the city. As a result, more rental
units are now registered with the city
and being inspected by our city’s
rental inspectors. We also established
an anti-blight telephone hotline 7
days a week 24 hours each day to
record anonymous complaints about
blight. The complaints are forwarded
to property maintenance inspectors.
Since the blight sweeps are
conducted April through October, the
property maintenance inspectors are
seasonal employees paid on an hourly
basis. The Neighborhood Sweeps
Program is an unqualified success.
Neighborhoods are indeed cleaner,
residents are taking pride in their
neighborhoods, and residents are calling
in blighted structures for city action.
The important features of this
program are communicating with
residents that sweeps week is soon
coming in their neighborhoods
and
the
teamwork
approach
among several city departments.
NAPA looking to enter Detroit’s market after racially charged
discrimination suit surfaces in Brooklyn Federal Court
North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is looking to conduct
business in Detroit’s health sector, sources say. This is following a discrimination lawsuit that was
filed when a North
Shore anesthesiologist and technician
allegedly
terrorized black orderlies
with nooses and
racial remarks, as
reported by the New York Daily News.
North Shore anesthesiologist
Dr. Charles Militana allegedly made
crude sexual remarks to plaintiff’s Elijah Crawford about the size of his genitals and disparaged President Obama
because he was black, according to the
discrimination suit. The suit was filed in
Brooklyn Federal Court by Ishmael Cox.
“When I see a noose, it’s a statement
of racial hate,” Crawford, 43, told the Daily News on Tuesday. “It’s a threat. It’s a
sign of terrorism. (New York Daily News)
NAPA is not viewed favorably in
the local market but could be trying to
infiltrate Detroit, which has an 82% African-American population, to bid on
contract opportunities. NAPA is also
known for squeezing out local competition with minority participation, while
out-sourcing workforces and extracting revenues from the local economy.
North Shore’s Dr. Militana,
who is being charged with racist epithets and other discriminatory claims,
is an employee of NAPA and serves
as its regional director. In a recent article, NAPA highlights Dr. Militana
as an ASC industry leader to know.
Detroit, with its large minority population, doesn’t need another
outside company that has a bad reputation with minorities and pending
lawsuits of discrimination.There are
plenty of Detroit-based firms that value diversity and hire and invest in the
local marketplace. These are the types
of companies that should be considered as Detroit’s major health providers.
Pyratech Security
“Security You Can Count On”
We Provide the following services:
GUARD SERVICE
• Uniformed Guards
• Executive Protection
• Unarmed and Armed Guards
INTRUSION DETECTION SYSTEMS
• Burglar
• Fire Alarms
• Medical Emergency Alarms
• 24 Hour Monitoring
• Closed Circuit TV
• Access Control
INVESTIGATIONS
• Civil Matters
• Criminal Matters
• Corporate Matters
• Surveillance
• Background Checks
• Insurance Matters
• Employment Theft
• Electronic Bug Sweeps
SECURITY CONSULTING
• Environmental Design
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• Specialized Security Equipment
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CALL: 313.345.2000 • www.pyratechsecurity.com
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
2014 || PAGE
PAGE 29
29
Big savings
for safe
drivers.
The Motor City Chargers
Coach JD Harvey is President
of Motor City Chargers Youth Sports
Organization, a tax exempt 501(C)3
non-profit organization located in Detroit, MI. The organization which aims
to help black youth stay off the streets
through sports (basketball, football, cheer
leading, dancing and step) and mentoring, is one of many who are working
hard to change this statistic for youth
ranging in ages from 5 to 15 years old.
“We’re assisting in giving these kids
an opportunity to have a life-changing experience,” he says. “Most of them are liv-
ing in low to moderate incomes homes
with single moms and no fathers, so
there’s a lack of positive male guidance
and support. Our organization does just
that! The coaches also act as mentors.”
Motor City Chargers YSO , a spinoff of Pop Warner Little Scholars, the
largest youth football, cheer and dance
program in the world, launched their program back in 2005. Their motto: “One
Team, One Family. It’s A Way Of Life.” To
enroll your child or for more information,
please call Coach Harvey at 313-757-1527
or visit www.motorcitychargers.com.
Dolapo Shodipo, Agent
22516 Telegraph Road
Southfield, MI 48033
Bus: 248-327-6745
[email protected]
1301900
Get a discount up to 50%.
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through Drive Safe & Save™.
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State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL
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Full Service Advertising, Marketing and Consulting Services, Including:
Public Relations, TV/Radio Commercials, Promotional items, Business
Assessments, and creative ideas to promote your business.
Get The Smart “AD” Vantage • Detroit Smart Pages Newspaper
Call 313-268-3523 It’s the SMART Thing to Do!
Fall Session Coming Soon!
for more info call 313-268-3523
www.detroitblackchamber.com

SMART PAGES - Detroit Black Pages

Transcription

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