Mark Hackel Advocates a More Regional Focus
Prime Politics 05-22-2013 Hits:48 
Patrick Keating/Chronicle Staff
If there is one issue Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel would like to see discussed at the Mackinac Policy Conference, it is regional focus. “In other words, how do we brand the region?” he asked, saying he deals with the same question at the county level. Macomb is comprised of 27 varying municipalities. Hackel’s job is to figure out how to brand the county — based upon the unique assets of the individual communities within it — so that people get a perspective of what the county is all about. He believes the same concept should be expanded to the region, because Southeast Michigan is competing with other regions throughout the world for resources, assets and attractions. “We have some unique things in this region that we don’t cross-promote as regional leaders,” Hackel said, adding that they need to figure out how to come together to get people to understand the importance of this region. He also noted that Macomb and the region are ignoring the recreational opportunities and quality of life assets that also are economic opportunities. “Lake St. Clair and the Clinton River,” he said. “It’s the mainstream main street.” Hackel’s eighth floor office overlooks the Clinton River, which he said ties into Oakland County. “How do we make that connectivity as regional partners?” he asked. He said the Clinton River runs through Mt. Clemens, and asked why there isn’t a vibrant downtown, with investment from the private sector building on that riverfront. “How come we don’t see canoe rentals?” he asked. He also said the Clinton River is greater in size than “little creeks” that have been developed by other states. Hackel said that near the mouth of the Clinton River, there are businesses, such as restaurants, where people on the river can stop. But these are far fewer than there once were. There used to be a great boating...
Read moreFicano Wants Municipal Finance Discussed at Mackinac
Prime Politics 05-22-2013 Hits:15 Patrick Keating/Chronicle Staff
According to Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, municipal finance is the one issue attendees of the Mackinac Policy Conference need to discuss this year. He said Wayne County has lost $100 million since 2009 because it depends on property taxes. “The state’s revenues have gone up, and all of it has been because of action that helps themselves,” Ficano said. “For example, the auto industry really is the thing that has bolstered the state in the past couple of years because it has come back up.” He also said when there are increases in employment — such as 1,000 jobs at the Wayne Assembly Plant or 1,200 in Flat Rock — everyone pays income tax, but all that revenue goes to the state. “None of it is seen on the local level,” Ficano said. He also noted that when people are working, they buy more things, but the sales taxes from those purchases likewise go to the state. “On top of that, the state has increased its income tax rate from 3.9 to 4.25,” he said. “They’ve eliminated a number of deductions, and also tax pensions. So all that revenue goes to the state of Michigan, so if you had two charts, you would see the state of Michigan’s going up like that, and they never anticipated property values would drop like this. So we’re limited.” Ficano said that even if Wayne County bounced back to where it was in 2009 regarding property values, it would take until 2025 to get there because there is a 5 percent cap on each year it could increase. “Well, it’s not bouncing back at that rate,” he said. “So, that’s the dilemma we face in this.” Ficano pointed out that the state government increased its budget in every department except the Department of Corrections. “That’s their prerogative, but meanwhile revenue sharing and everything...
Read moreBenghazi-IRS-Leaks-- What about jobs?
Prime Politics 05-21-2013 Hits:150 
By Bob Weiner and Nakia Gladden
By Bob Weiner & Nakia GladdenThe nation's media are transfixed with obsessive coverage of Hillary Clinton's role (there was none) in the talking points on the Benghazi deaths, IRS investigation of Tea Party groups' tax deductions (the same way they earlier asked the same of the NAACP), the Justice Department's demand for AP's phone records concerning leaks on Yemeni terrorists (after Congress had demanded the investigation of the leaks); and the press properly wants to know what to do about Syria, and how to end sex abuse in the U.S. military.Meanwhile, WHAT ABOUT JOBS? That's the real problem that will define our future success as a country for the rest of this century, and it is a question Rep. John Conyers is asking. The silence has been deafening. At the President's news conferences, which we attended this week and last week, there was not a single question from the media about jobs.Despite the Dow reaching all-time highs, the number of jobs available has seen no such luck. "Are we in the midst of a jobless recovery?" asked MSNBC's Chuck Todd last week on "Andrea Mitchell Reports." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment is at 7.5%. Though that is the lowest it has been in the last four years, the U.S.post-World War II norm is about 5% unemployment and has often been at 4% or under. . Michigan's unemployment rate is a staggering 8.5%. Michigan tops the list for African Americans who are unemployed at 18.7%.What are the major factors contributing to the slow recovery of jobs in the US? Outsourcing is at the top of the list. Shipping jobs overseas for cheaper labor hinders the opportunity for job growth. Moreover, based on recent tragic events in Bangladesh's and China's factories, lives would be saved because companies would be regulated...
Read moreVa. GOP Candidate: Planned Parenthood Worse Than KKK, Civil Rights Leaders …
Prime Politics 05-21-2013 Hits:68 NewsOne Staff
Virginia Republican E.W. Jackson secured the nomination to run for Lt. Governor on Saturday, and, today RawStory.com unearthed a YouTube video in which he says that Planned Parenthood is more “lethal” to the Black community than the KKK, civil rights leaders are guilty of genocide and Christians must decide if they want to follow Jesus or be in the Democratic Party. Read more from Raw Story: E.W. Jackson, a pastor and Harvard graduate who previous sought Virginia’s senate seat, is the party’s first African-American candidate for statewide office since the 1980s. He’s also part of a trio of fringe conservatives leading the Virginia Republican Party’s statewide ticket, joined by state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli running for governor and state Sen. Mark Obenshain running for attorney general. “The Democrat Party has created an unholy alliance between certain so-called civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood, which has killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions,” he said in a video published to his official YouTube page. “Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was. “They can keep their homosexuality private,” he said. “You and I cannot hide being black. I need not recount to you the painful history of slavery, Jim Crow, lynchings and sterilizations, all because of skin color. Anyone who dares equate the so-called gay rights movement to the history of black Americans is exploiting the black community.” Click here to see video
Read more2 Mile Wide Tornado Hits: Death Toll Rising; 30 Children Feared Dead In Ele…
News Briefs 05-21-2013 Hits:92 Skyyhook, Contributing Editor/Urban Daily
According to The New York Times, A tornado described by the National Weather Service as “large and deadly” touched down south of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon in the suburb of Moore, causing widespread destruction officials said.President Obama has been in touch with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and alerted her that he’s directed the government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide any assistance she needs. FEMA has sent a special team to Oklahoma’s emergency operations center to help out and dispatch resources.Obama also let Fallin know that she was to contact him directly if the federal government can provide additional help. The White House says Obama’s homeland security team is keeping him updated on the situation.Two elementary schools were badly damaged, Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood Elementary School, according to reports from KFOR-TV. (Who is streaming live coverage online from Moore.) Lance West, a reporter and anchor for KFOR-TV, was tasked with giving the gut wrenching news to the audience that the search at Plaza Towers Elementary School, had changed from a “Search And Rescue” to a “Recovery Search” as word officially came down that they believed they had located the 24 children Kindergarden through 3rd graders, and that they feared all had perished. Lance West was understandably overcome with the news and had a hard time trying to deliver it live on air.Helicopter pilots from KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City flew over and filmed the horrific destruction. MSNBC is reporting that the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner is now saying there are 24 confirmed deaths thus far, but they are expecting that number to rise drastically as the severity of the storm simply made it impossible for some to survive. MSNBC is also calling this the worst Tornado in United States history. Meteorologist in Oklahoma City, knew that most people in the...
Read moreDetroit Children's Choir and Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensem…
Community 05-21-2013 Hits:197 
The Detroit Children's Choir (DCC), in partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles (CYE), is excited to announce the creation of the Detroit Children's Choir's Concert Chorale, a groundbreaking choral program for metro Detroit children. The Concert Chorale will be a unique education and performance experience led by DCC artistic director Lauri Hogle. The program's opening season will begin in the fall of 2013. "We are thrilled to be joining with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Youth Ensembles to offer this incredible new experience to the children of southeast Michigan," said Hogle. "The kids involved with this program will be surrounded by excellence, rigorous training, and focused, positive development of musical skill and musicianship. Choral music has the power to shape a life, develop a leader, and instill confidence with successful creation of something beautiful, positive, and uplifting." Concert Chorale members will receive music literacy and sight-reading training as well as learn healthy vocal technique. Repertoire will vary across musical genres including pieces from American culture heritage, classical choral repertoire, and texts in foreign languages. In partnership with CYE, chorale members will be immersed in a number of extraordinary performance opportunities with access to the state of the art facilities of the Max M. Fisher Music Center - including historic Orchestra Hall. "As a community supported orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is committed to partnering with wonderful organizations such as the Detroit Children's Choir," said Charles Burke, CYE Artistic Director. "The Concert Chorale will allow children from all across metro Detroit to come together and create a community of choral singing that will transform the lives of all involved. The DSO's Civic Youth Ensembles is happy to be committed partners in this valuable and important effort." The Concert Chorale is open to all children ages 8-14 who have unchanged treble voices and are...
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If there’s one car segment that has emerged out of the auto industry’s shakeup as a shining example that things are a lot a brighter, it’s the affordable midsize sedan.
