BlackLiberalBoomer

Well! Could this “Step” be more timely? As we move along our journey of self-discovery for making Detroit better, Step 6 says to “remove all defects of character”…

This weekly series is very loosely based on the AA 12-Step Program, and the purpose is to look to ourselves for the answers–not to blame others.

However, here in Detroit–especially because of the most excruciating developments of last week, most of us have come to the conclusion that the Mayor has to go. Even The Michigan Chronicle, Detroit’s premier Black newspaper, has taken the unprecedented step of calling for the Mayor’s resignation in this week’s issue.

We here are looking for solutions that are best for the City of Detroit; ways to let go of the past and move Detroit forward. We have to realize that…

* The Mayor cannot be effective in running the City while he is embroiled in all of these legal and political distractions.
* The Mayor has lost all credibility in working with the regional and national people and business leaders necessary for continued growth in Detroit.
* The Mayor has brought shame and ridicule on his family, the City of Detroit, and the entire State of Michigan with his actions.

There are some who say that the media, the Wayne County Prosecutor, and the Michigan Attorney General have been unfairly “piling on” the Mayor; or that all of this is “racially based”. While some of that may have been true in the past, if we really look at the facts, it becomes painfully obvious that the “”defects” that have caused this ever-worsening situation are those of the Mayor himself.

It is also true that the Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has brought many positive changes to the City, especially with his working relationships with businesses who are investing in Detroit, all of that has also been completely negated by his actions.

None of us is perfect; we all have “defects” in our character. But the actions of the Mayor and the ramifications for the people of the City of Detroit and the entire region and state can no longer be ignored, justified, swept under the rug, apologized for, or tolerated.

The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity has “recommended” that mayor Kilpatrick step down; although several members disagreed with withdrawing support for Mr. Kilpatrick during his time of crisis.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is holding a hearing on September 3 (three weeks from today) on a request from the Detroit City Council to remove the Mayor.

Meanwhile, we are the ones who still have to live and work in Detroit. We are the ones dealing with the repercussions of this whole situation. But we are also the ones we have been waiting for…we the people are the government. It is up to us to demand that our leadership reflect who we really are and we we really want to be. The government we presently have is not representing the best about us or our City; it is time for us to effect the changes necessary.

I look forward to your thoughts and ideas in the comments section…

Shameless Plug: Please read my husband’s blog The “D” Spot…

Welcome back to our 12-Step Series on how we, as Detroiters can bring healing to our City ourselves. We are more than our fractured leadership. We are better than the media often portrays us. We determine what our City will be and can be.

Most 12-Step Programs are God-focused; this series of posts will not be. The 12-Step Programs started with Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s, and have been very successful. The foundation of the 12-Step Programs is to focus on one issue or problem and to overcome denial of the problem and distractions that might keep one from overcoming or fixing the problem.

While acknowledging the value and importance of God in many peoples’ lives, and giving due respect to the principle tenets of the original 12-Step Programs, in this series of posts, we are going to focus on the power within ourselves to bring about the changes we desire.

Here in Detroit, the main problem seems to be that of dysfunctional leadership. Between the dual scandals of the Detroit Mayor’s Office and the Detroit City Council, as well as the continuing problems with the Detroit Public Schools, it would seem almost hopeless that the leadership and resulting non-accomplishments of any city’s main institutions could keep Detroit afloat, much less thriving.

But the purpose of this series is to admonish us to take steps ourselves to make Detroit the City it should be. In coming weeks, I will be publishing some of the comments from you, from us about ideas for using our own power to bring about positive change. Start thinking about it…

What power do you, what power do we have? What can you, what can we do besides wring our hands and complain? We, meaning those who live and/or work in Detroit can do several things…

1) Make our leaders accountable. That means informing ourselves on what should be done by a certain leader or group of leaders, and then taking steps to make sure that those things are done. In our system of government, the leaders work for the people, not the other way around. They are public servants; we are the “bosses”! I would love to read in the comments section your ideas for reminding our leaders that they work for us…not for themselves.

2) Work to make your neighborhood better. Detroit is a beautiful collection of neighborhoods, but not all neighborhoods are beautiful. Saying that we are in tough economic times here in Detroit is an understatement, but what can you, what can we do to improve our neighborhoods? Have you noticed that vacant lots or medians on boulevards haven’t been taken care of by the City recently? You and your neighbors, we, might have to mow and clean up the trash ourselves. I would love to read your ideas in the comments section for helping to keep your neighborhood beautiful.

3) Work with a child or group of children not your own. The children are our future, and even if you don’t have school-aged children yourself, what happens with Detroit’s children and the Detroit Public Schools affect you both now and in the future. There are many direct and indirect ways for you to help out a child or group of children not your own. I would love to read in the comments section your ideas to directly or indirectly help Detroit’s children be the best they can be.

Remember, when leaving your comments, we already know what the problems are, we are seeking solutions; and not just any solutions, but solutions that you, that we, can bring about. I look forward to hearing from you, from us!

Did you read Alice Walker’s The Color Purple? Did you see the movie The Color Purple? Have you seen The Color Purple Broadway musical executive produced by Oprah Winfrey?

Betcha didn’t know that one-third of the lyrics and music writing team for the Tony-nominated musical The Color Purple is from right here in Detroit: graduated from Mumford High School! (Ms. Willis teamed up with Brenda Russell and Stephen Bray.)

Yes, Allee Willis, Mumford Class of ‘65, is an award-winning, very talented and prolific lyricist! In addition to The Color Purple, Ms. Willis also wrote: “Neutron Dance” for the Pointer Sisters (included in the Beverly Hills Cop movie–a movie about a Detroit Cop); “Boogie Wonderland” and “September” for Earth, Wind, and Fire, and the Emmy-nominated theme for the “Friends” TV Show!

Update: a reader of this blog commented to let me know that Stephen Bray is originally from the “D”, too! Thanks!

When The Color Purple opened here in Detroit recently, Allee Willis was on hand, and Mumford High School rolled out the red carpet for their home girl. Ms. Willis also received a plaque from the Detroit City Council, who grew up on Sorrento in northwest Detroit.

There is so much to find out about Allee Willis, you’ll have to visit her website!

Shameless Plug for my husband’s blog: Read The “D” Spot!

Last week, I asked: “Does Detroit Need Emergency Surgery?” As part of that answer, I announced that I would outline a “12-step” Program for Detroit and Detroiters.

With apologies to AA, I will modify the “12-steps” into something for healing for Detroit. I will also attempt to approach this from a positive outlook–not “Pollyana-ish”, but constant negativity/victimhood gets us nowhere.

At the time of this writing, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is under a 12-count indictment, and there will probably be more charges coming soon. We, the citizens and voters in Detroit, have to admit that no matter what good things for Detroit that the Mayor may have made possible, it is almost impossible to Detroit “on the good foot” while under such a cloud of multiple scandals.

As if that weren’t bad enough, some members of the Detroit City Council are under suspension because
of rumored corruption with a sludge-removal contract approved last year. The FBI has interviewed many of the Council members. The Chief of Staff for Council President Kenneth Cockrel, Jr. has resigned; but Council President Cockrel himself is not currently under suspicion. The Detroit City Council has become a laughing stock around the world: with cat-fights, name-calling and other childish behavior, ridiculous and unnecessary “resolutions“; all while trying to boot the Mayor out of office and keeping their own scandal problems under control at the same time.

Have all of these scandals made effective governing and oversight of the day-to-day issues of The City of Detroit unmanageable?

When I go to various venues in Detroit, I still see lots of people of all ages and races out enjoying themselves and benefiting from the wonderful attractions Detroit has to offer. Detroit has even been listed (finally!) as “travel destination“!

Are there ways to rescue the positive image that Detroit was again beginning to cultivate?

I’d love to hear your ideas…let’s not just complain…let’s do something: Detroit is now, and has always been, about its people.