Saturday, Aug. 28, will mark the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom convened by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other deputies of the Civil Rights Movement. The same date also commemorates the murder of Emmett Till in 1955, as well as the 2008 Denver nomination of Barack Obama becoming the first Black president of the United States.
Last week, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s CEO, Dan Loepp, displayed the kind of bold leadership the city of Detroit needs to get back in the game and help stabilize the local economy. Blue Cross announced the relocation of its 3000 employees from its office park in Southfield to downtown Detroit and the Renaissance Center. This is a great shot in the arm for the city, and a smart strategic business decision by the Blues.
Based on their positions on various issues, and on interviews with the candidates, the Michigan Chronicle editorial board believes the best choice among the Democratic candidates for governor is current House Speaker Andy Dillon, and the best choice among Republicans is Rick Snyder.
President Obama comes to town Friday to tout the success of his rescue of the American auto industry during one of the most troubled economic times in history. An industry that is not perfect but has done much to build the Black middle class for a very long time.
The race is on for the most coveted seat in Michigan: the governorship. But the question remains whether the candidates are good enough to energize voter turnout across the state. Since we were introduced to the various candidates running for both the Republican and Democratic parties I have been wondering if Michigan has been cursed this year, partly because of the most dismal economy the state has seen in a long time. None of the men running for governor appear to have any fire in their stomach, to make voters grasp the urgency of the issues at stake.
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled last week strictly along partisan lines to lift the ban that previously prevented insurance companies from using credit scores to set rates for consumers.
Why did they betray the public trust,destroy their lives and cost many people their livelihoods? They were some of the smartest people if you were shopping for public service candidates with knowledge and understanding of the nexus between government and the people.
Right wing talk show host Glenn Beck and his Tea Party disciples (who had never seen anything wrong with government, not even the George W. Bush administration, until America elected its first Black President Barack Obama) plan a “Restoring Honor” rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, Aug. 28.
Mayor Dave Bing used the recent Big Four discussion on Mackinac Island to signal his readiness to take over the Detroit Public Schools once Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb’s contract ends.
I attended the Mackinac Policy Conference last week, not with excitement but with caution, knowing that this annual political ritual on Mackinac Island more often than not creates a political stalemate on the most important issues rather than working cohesively on solutions.
