Council Candidates Respond
By Eric T. Campbell
Michigan Citizen Newspaper
DETROIT — Almost 200 candidates are running for Detroit City Council in the Aug. 4 primary election. The Michigan Citizen published a questionnaire in June offering council and mayoral candidates an opportunity to share their vision with our readers.
We chose to focus on candidates’ and answers that seemed the most comprehensive and detailed. The responses are:
Anemashaun Bomani calls his campaign “a grassroots movement.” The current director of the Malcolm X Center, Bomani proposes the creation of a Financial Review Board to oversee and give transparency to all city contracts. Bomani also seeks to establish Neighborhood Food Banks to address Detroit’s lack of fresh food outlets.
Bomani advocates a revision of the city charter and an elected police chief as opposed to an appointed one.
“While much is made of the Cobo Hall issue and tunnel ownership, there has been no mention made by any candidate for office, (including the newly elected Mayor) of the enormous pain and suffering thousands of displaced Detroiters are experiencing as a result of the current housing and financial crisis,” Bomani said.
General Motors retiree and UAW member Chris Beatty, not to be confused with Christine Beatty, former Chief of Staff under Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, wrote that privatization of city services should be a last resort. He sees the demolition of vacant buildings in Detroit as an opportunity for job creation.
Beatty disagrees with any community control of local police but favors a community response team to deal with local police issues.
On the issue of crime, Beatty says, “I would work on an ordinance to demand surveillance and intervention of suspected drug, prostitution and after-hour locations within 72 hours.”
A city-government veteran in Detroit and Fontana, Calif., Annivory Calvert says she has a plan to implement 150,000 green jobs in conjunction with the redevelopment of Cobo Hall.
Calvert recommends a one-stop for the coordination of small business development in Detroit, providing resources for business permits, inspections, grants and financing.
As the coordinator for several large infrastructure projects in Fontana, Calvert has a particular interest in the proper use of federal stimulus funds in Detroit as a catalyst for job creation.
“The city is not effectively using the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, nor has the city properly used relationships with our U.S. Congress and Senate members to implement plans that bring stimulus funds and earmarks for major Public Works projects to put our people back to work and strengthen our economy.”
Herbie J. Felton says that his years as a mortgage officer will serve him in any role as a financial overseer. He would like to see the opening of medical and “hi-tech” training centers across the city to prepare Detroiters for a changing economy.
As for recent discussion over mayoral oversight of Detroit Public Schools, Felton writes: “If you had asked me this six months ago, I’d have said, absolutely not. Now I say I don’t care who runs the schools, as long as we have safe and good schools to send our kids to.”
Council Candidate Yolanda Jack has been a leader and supervisor at the Detroit Mosaic Youth Theater as well as the chair of the parent advisory committee at the Nsoroma Institute.
“Privatization of governmental agencies generally does not benefit society at large,” Jack writes in her email. “Government control allows transparency and intervention, and generally benefits all citizens.”
Jack sees immediate benefits from community councils and stronger community connections to the Detroit Police Department.
Her views about mayoral control of the school district were also concise and straightforward.
“The mayor should not be in control of the Detroit Public Schools. Increased parental involvement (on the Board and in the classrooms) along with equitable funding per student will improve our schools.”
In her role as Director of the Business Improvement District at the Jefferson East Business Association, candidate Sheila Jackson has worked directly with city departments. Jackson’s experience includes serving on city council-related committees, creating budgets and writing by-laws and board governance structures.
Jackson says that the city is not capitalizing on the sale of older city-owned buildings.
As for state government violating home rule, Jackson writes, “Local rule is superior to state takeover as it is apt to be in tune with the citizenry. Lansing already has its own issues to deal with.”
Darlita Jones brings a broad educational background to her candidacy, including a master’s degree in counseling and human development. She has developed and implemented million dollar budgets for the CAU International Center and UNCF Special Programs.
Jones’ email response indicates a belief in continuing the private/public relationships that have recently become a large part of local governing.
She specifically cites investment into green technologies, agriculture and our local waterways to increase job creation in the City of Detroit.
The question regarding sources of untapped funding for the city elicited this written response from Jones: “Funding is limited, the focus must be on how the city can diversify to increase revenue, not on what funding the city is not using.”
Jones also advocates a stronger web of neighborhood associations to deal with community relations with local police.
DeeAnn Mullins cites her years in leadership positions with Delta Airlines, as an independent agent and AFLAC. Mullins wishes to address the high insurance rates paid by businesses in the city of Detroit.
“I would look at the costs associated with maintaining a business within city limits and offset it accordingly for a certain number of years,” Mullins writes. “Once we get a handle on our deficit I would look at additional ways of assisting our small business owners.”
Regarding the reduction in crime, Mullins says, specifically, that she would look to coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s office “on making it a federal crime to carry a concealed weapon.”
Current councilmember JoAnn Watson has served the city for six years. She was previously a staffer for U.S. Congressman John Conyers. Watson, in her email response, says that she has been an advocate for small business through her efforts to increase grants from the Small Business Association and the Detroit Economic Growth Association.
Regarding the reduction in crime in Detroit, Watson says that, “The best crime prevention is full employment, so I’m aggressively promoting more employment constantly.”
As co-founder of Keep the Vote No Takeover, Watson is firm in her position, no mayoral control of educational institutions.
“I oppose Mayoral control of the schools,” Watson writes. “I believe the elected school board should govern as voted on by the citizens.”
Watson has sponsored laws limiting privatization as mandated by Charter and strongly supports the reopening of police precincts.
D. Etta Wilcoxon’s resume reaches into both the private and public sectors. She ran for mayor of Detroit in the most recent primary election and is currently the publisher of the Renaissance Observer.
Wilcoxon supports a more aggressive stance towards federal stimulus funds.
“The seemingly obvious source of funding that the city is not using appears to be the full scope of the federal stimulus money. Stimulus monies should have been put aside for the job creating factories that I have argued should be located in the city of Detroit. These include wind farm factories and lithium-ion battery factories.”
Wilcoxon does not support the mayor’s takeover of Detroit’s public schools. “The people of this city have spoken loudly and clearly in saying that they want control of their schools.”
By Eric T. Campbell
Michigan Citizen Newspaper
DETROIT — Almost 200 candidates are running for Detroit City Council in the Aug. 4 primary election. The Michigan Citizen published a questionnaire in June offering council and mayoral candidates an opportunity to share their vision with our readers.
We chose to focus on candidates’ and answers that seemed the most comprehensive and detailed. The responses are:
Anemashaun Bomani calls his campaign “a grassroots movement.” The current director of the Malcolm X Center, Bomani proposes the creation of a Financial Review Board to oversee and give transparency to all city contracts. Bomani also seeks to establish Neighborhood Food Banks to address Detroit’s lack of fresh food outlets.
Bomani advocates a revision of the city charter and an elected police chief as opposed to an appointed one.
“While much is made of the Cobo Hall issue and tunnel ownership, there has been no mention made by any candidate for office, (including the newly elected Mayor) of the enormous pain and suffering thousands of displaced Detroiters are experiencing as a result of the current housing and financial crisis,” Bomani said.
General Motors retiree and UAW member Chris Beatty, not to be confused with Christine Beatty, former Chief of Staff under Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, wrote that privatization of city services should be a last resort. He sees the demolition of vacant buildings in Detroit as an opportunity for job creation.
Beatty disagrees with any community control of local police but favors a community response team to deal with local police issues.
On the issue of crime, Beatty says, “I would work on an ordinance to demand surveillance and intervention of suspected drug, prostitution and after-hour locations within 72 hours.”
A city-government veteran in Detroit and Fontana, Calif., Annivory Calvert says she has a plan to implement 150,000 green jobs in conjunction with the redevelopment of Cobo Hall.
Calvert recommends a one-stop for the coordination of small business development in Detroit, providing resources for business permits, inspections, grants and financing.
As the coordinator for several large infrastructure projects in Fontana, Calvert has a particular interest in the proper use of federal stimulus funds in Detroit as a catalyst for job creation.
“The city is not effectively using the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, nor has the city properly used relationships with our U.S. Congress and Senate members to implement plans that bring stimulus funds and earmarks for major Public Works projects to put our people back to work and strengthen our economy.”
Herbie J. Felton says that his years as a mortgage officer will serve him in any role as a financial overseer. He would like to see the opening of medical and “hi-tech” training centers across the city to prepare Detroiters for a changing economy.
As for recent discussion over mayoral oversight of Detroit Public Schools, Felton writes: “If you had asked me this six months ago, I’d have said, absolutely not. Now I say I don’t care who runs the schools, as long as we have safe and good schools to send our kids to.”
Council Candidate Yolanda Jack has been a leader and supervisor at the Detroit Mosaic Youth Theater as well as the chair of the parent advisory committee at the Nsoroma Institute.
“Privatization of governmental agencies generally does not benefit society at large,” Jack writes in her email. “Government control allows transparency and intervention, and generally benefits all citizens.”
Jack sees immediate benefits from community councils and stronger community connections to the Detroit Police Department.
Her views about mayoral control of the school district were also concise and straightforward.
“The mayor should not be in control of the Detroit Public Schools. Increased parental involvement (on the Board and in the classrooms) along with equitable funding per student will improve our schools.”
In her role as Director of the Business Improvement District at the Jefferson East Business Association, candidate Sheila Jackson has worked directly with city departments. Jackson’s experience includes serving on city council-related committees, creating budgets and writing by-laws and board governance structures.
Jackson says that the city is not capitalizing on the sale of older city-owned buildings.
As for state government violating home rule, Jackson writes, “Local rule is superior to state takeover as it is apt to be in tune with the citizenry. Lansing already has its own issues to deal with.”
Darlita Jones brings a broad educational background to her candidacy, including a master’s degree in counseling and human development. She has developed and implemented million dollar budgets for the CAU International Center and UNCF Special Programs.
Jones’ email response indicates a belief in continuing the private/public relationships that have recently become a large part of local governing.
She specifically cites investment into green technologies, agriculture and our local waterways to increase job creation in the City of Detroit.
The question regarding sources of untapped funding for the city elicited this written response from Jones: “Funding is limited, the focus must be on how the city can diversify to increase revenue, not on what funding the city is not using.”
Jones also advocates a stronger web of neighborhood associations to deal with community relations with local police.
DeeAnn Mullins cites her years in leadership positions with Delta Airlines, as an independent agent and AFLAC. Mullins wishes to address the high insurance rates paid by businesses in the city of Detroit.
“I would look at the costs associated with maintaining a business within city limits and offset it accordingly for a certain number of years,” Mullins writes. “Once we get a handle on our deficit I would look at additional ways of assisting our small business owners.”
Regarding the reduction in crime, Mullins says, specifically, that she would look to coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s office “on making it a federal crime to carry a concealed weapon.”
Current councilmember JoAnn Watson has served the city for six years. She was previously a staffer for U.S. Congressman John Conyers. Watson, in her email response, says that she has been an advocate for small business through her efforts to increase grants from the Small Business Association and the Detroit Economic Growth Association.
Regarding the reduction in crime in Detroit, Watson says that, “The best crime prevention is full employment, so I’m aggressively promoting more employment constantly.”
As co-founder of Keep the Vote No Takeover, Watson is firm in her position, no mayoral control of educational institutions.
“I oppose Mayoral control of the schools,” Watson writes. “I believe the elected school board should govern as voted on by the citizens.”
Watson has sponsored laws limiting privatization as mandated by Charter and strongly supports the reopening of police precincts.
D. Etta Wilcoxon’s resume reaches into both the private and public sectors. She ran for mayor of Detroit in the most recent primary election and is currently the publisher of the Renaissance Observer.
Wilcoxon supports a more aggressive stance towards federal stimulus funds.
“The seemingly obvious source of funding that the city is not using appears to be the full scope of the federal stimulus money. Stimulus monies should have been put aside for the job creating factories that I have argued should be located in the city of Detroit. These include wind farm factories and lithium-ion battery factories.”
Wilcoxon does not support the mayor’s takeover of Detroit’s public schools. “The people of this city have spoken loudly and clearly in saying that they want control of their schools.”
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