Motown from "suburbs" of Detroit?
On March 25, 2011, I e-mailed the following letter to the Detroit Free Press.
Dear Editor:
Detroiters, of which I am one, shouldn't be too hard on Ryan Seacrest for his comment that Hitsville USA, Motown, originated "...in the suburbs of Detroit." In many cities, such as Los Angeles where I lived for 25 years, the term "suburb" refers to districts out of the downtown central business district. For example, the neighborhoods of Sherman Oaks, Reseda, and Van Nuys are all suburbs within the City of Los Angeles. These neighborhoods have very distinct identities, including signs at their "borders." Yet, they are still part of the City of Los Angeles. Locally, few people refer to Hamtramck and Highland Park as suburbs, even though they are separate communities with distinct governments. On the other hand, the campuses of Marygrove College and my Alma Mater, the University of Detroit, are suburban in character, even though they are within the City of Detroit.
Come to think of it, I live in the suburbs of Detroit, the New Center Area, a stone's throw from Hitsville USA!
Thomas E. Page
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Police "on the streets" comment
Letter published in the Detroit Free Press on March 21, 2011
Get smarter about putting police on the street
I wholeheartedly support City Councilman Gary Brown’s efforts to put more police officers “on the street” by identifying jobs that could more efficiently be performed by civilian employees. Other cities, such as Los Angeles, use uniformed civilians to direct traffic at sporting events and concerts. Civilians not only do the job much cheaper but more professionally. Many jurisdictions also use uniformed civilians to respond to noninjury vehicle accident reports, as well as simple larcenies.
Putting “more officers on the street,” is only part of what will make our city safer. We need our officers and police supervisors to work smarter, to actually solve crime rather than just respond to 911 calls.
Most experienced police officers will tell you that it’s a small number of criminals who are responsible for most of the crime. Give the street officers and their immediate supervisors the responsibility to solve crimes and arrest the criminals. And hold their commanding officers accountable for implementing solutions to crime in their areas. Gun buyback programs and the like may make good press, but they do little to stop crime.
Thomas E. Page Retired, Los Angeles Police
Department Detroit
Letter published in the Detroit Free Press on March 21, 2011
Get smarter about putting police on the street
I wholeheartedly support City Councilman Gary Brown’s efforts to put more police officers “on the street” by identifying jobs that could more efficiently be performed by civilian employees. Other cities, such as Los Angeles, use uniformed civilians to direct traffic at sporting events and concerts. Civilians not only do the job much cheaper but more professionally. Many jurisdictions also use uniformed civilians to respond to noninjury vehicle accident reports, as well as simple larcenies.
Putting “more officers on the street,” is only part of what will make our city safer. We need our officers and police supervisors to work smarter, to actually solve crime rather than just respond to 911 calls.
Most experienced police officers will tell you that it’s a small number of criminals who are responsible for most of the crime. Give the street officers and their immediate supervisors the responsibility to solve crimes and arrest the criminals. And hold their commanding officers accountable for implementing solutions to crime in their areas. Gun buyback programs and the like may make good press, but they do little to stop crime.
Thomas E. Page Retired, Los Angeles Police
Department Detroit
Monday, March 14, 2011
I-94 expansion letter.
I sent this letter to the Detroit Free Press on March 11, 2011, in response to an editorial urging the completion of repairs and 2 lane expansion through the heart of Detroit of I-94, the Edsel Ford Freeway.
Dear editor:
The State and SEMCOG should cancel the two lane expansion of I-94. This is an absolute waste of taxpayer funds that diverts precious dollars from the maintenance and repair of existing roadways. It's a disgrace the way MDOT hasn't maintained roadways, bridges and overpasses. Better to take that $1.5 billion plus and use part of it to add bridges and pedestrian overpasses over the freeway. Reconnect the neighborhoods that this freeway, and others, destroyed. As your editorial states, this project was planned over 20 years ago. Times have changed. Twenty years ago we didn't have $4 a gallon gas. Expanding freeways in the heart of the City of Detroit will do nothing, and will hurt, the nascent urban renaissance. Kill it now.
****
The following was printed in the March 15, 2011 Detroit Free Press:
Don't expand I-94
The state and SEMCOG should cancel the two-lane expansion of I-94. This is a waste of taxpayer funds that diverts precious dollars from the maintenance and repair of existing roadways.
It's a disgrace the way Michigan Department of Transportation hasn't maintained roadways, bridges and overpasses. Better to take that $1.5 billion-plus and use part of it to add bridges and pedestrian overpasses over the freeway. Reconnect the neighborhoods that this freeway, and others, destroyed.
This project was planned more than 20 years ago. Times have changed. Twenty years ago, we didn't have $4-a-gallon gas. Expanding freeways in the heart of the city will do nothing and will hurt the nascent urban renaissance.
Thomas E. Page
Detroit
I sent this letter to the Detroit Free Press on March 11, 2011, in response to an editorial urging the completion of repairs and 2 lane expansion through the heart of Detroit of I-94, the Edsel Ford Freeway.
Dear editor:
The State and SEMCOG should cancel the two lane expansion of I-94. This is an absolute waste of taxpayer funds that diverts precious dollars from the maintenance and repair of existing roadways. It's a disgrace the way MDOT hasn't maintained roadways, bridges and overpasses. Better to take that $1.5 billion plus and use part of it to add bridges and pedestrian overpasses over the freeway. Reconnect the neighborhoods that this freeway, and others, destroyed. As your editorial states, this project was planned over 20 years ago. Times have changed. Twenty years ago we didn't have $4 a gallon gas. Expanding freeways in the heart of the City of Detroit will do nothing, and will hurt, the nascent urban renaissance. Kill it now.
****
The following was printed in the March 15, 2011 Detroit Free Press:
Don't expand I-94
The state and SEMCOG should cancel the two-lane expansion of I-94. This is a waste of taxpayer funds that diverts precious dollars from the maintenance and repair of existing roadways.
It's a disgrace the way Michigan Department of Transportation hasn't maintained roadways, bridges and overpasses. Better to take that $1.5 billion-plus and use part of it to add bridges and pedestrian overpasses over the freeway. Reconnect the neighborhoods that this freeway, and others, destroyed.
This project was planned more than 20 years ago. Times have changed. Twenty years ago, we didn't have $4-a-gallon gas. Expanding freeways in the heart of the city will do nothing and will hurt the nascent urban renaissance.
Thomas E. Page
Detroit
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