Two Michigan law makers want to require the Chief to be state certified

Letter to the Editor, Detroit, News,

Re: Mich. lawmakers want to require police chiefs to be certified as officers, October 30, 2013

Dear Editor:

This "controversy" is much ado about nothing. Chief Craig has 36 years of experience in Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, ME, and Cincinnati. As Chief of Police, he serves primarily in an administrative, policy-setting role. And he's extremely qualified to do just that. I applaud him for being determined to become State certified, but I think his time could better be spent being Chief. Since law-makers (like State Senators Virgil Smith and Coleman Young Jr.) make laws, maybe they should be required to be lawyers, right? 

Thomas E. Page

Letter to Free Press regarding the Detroit Council rejecting a 30 year lease of Belle Isle

Re: Rochelle Riley's column, Sunday, October 20, 2013, "Detroit is Pure Michigan, too"

Dear editor:

By first refusing to even put the Governor's proposed lease of Belle Isle to a council vote, and now by rejecting a 30-year lease, the Detroit City Council has successfully destroyed any remaining goodwill by the people of Michigan.  I doubt that any other jurisdiction in Michigan, a super-ceding democracy by the way, would look a "gift horse" in the mouth as the Council did. The Governor's proposed lease would allow the City to retain ownership of Belle Isle. It would relieve the City of all expenses related to maintaining it, much less improving it. Detroit Police Officers would be freed up to perform duties where people live and work.  Making Belle Isle a State Park would likely increase property values, and taxes, in the adjacent neighborhoods. Restaurants and other shops would open to cater to an increase in visitors.  Bicyclists would be able to ride to, from, and on the Isle without dodging broken glass. 

Detroit may be "Pure Michigan," as Rochelle Riley writes. But the actions of the Detroit City Council in rejecting the lease are pure sophistry.

Thomas E. Page

Belle Isle Lease - Watson calls it a "rape"

Letter to the Detroit Free Press on this topic.

October 3, 2013

About the only thing that would thrill me more than the State leasing Belle Isle from the City would be for Councilwoman Watson to immediately resign from the Council. November can't come soon enough. Watson took demagoguery to a new low when she called the lease a "rape" of the City.

I applaud the Governor, Mr. Orr, and Mayor Bing for coming to a win-win agreement to manage Belle Isle. As a regular cyclist on Belle Isle, I look forward to the day when I don't have to constantly steer clear of broken glass in the roadway.  

Thomas E. Page

State to lease Belle Isle from the City!

I sent the following letter to the Detroit News in response to the article announcing the lease of Belle Isle to the State of Michigan.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131001/METRO01/310010072/1486/metro08/Belle-Isle-run-state-park-will-get-10M-redo

Dear Editor:

I completely support the lease of Belle Isle to the State of Michigan. And I thank Governor Snyder and Emergency Manager Orr for moving forward on this win-win agreement. Unfortunately, some City Council members continue to espouse the ridiculous point of view that this lease is attempt by the State to steal the City's jewels. The City hasn't done a good job of maintaining, much less improving, Belle Isle for many years. I am a regular user of Belle Isle, usually on a bicycle. I am hopeful that this lease will lead to regular and continuous sweeping of broken glass from the Belle Isle bridge and the paths on the Isle itself.  Hopefully, the City will use the $6 million dollars it annually (supposedlLy) spent on Belle Isle maintenance to improve other parks, such as Chandler Park and Rouge Park. 

I am as excited by the prospect of an improved Belle Isle as I am by the prospect of a new City Council in November! I will relish the day that the leader of the "Gang of No," Councilwoman Joann Watson, leaves the City Council.

Thomas E. Page

Detroit Police Department - not sure how much as changed

I thought things were getting better with the Detroit Police Department. I attended a crime in Brush Park meeting last evening. A Sergeant from Central Events Section represented the DPD. Out of nowhere this Sergeant says (not his exact words), "We all know what's going on in downtown with race," clearly implying that white people were the problem. He then proceeded to give the typical "blame the victim" diatribe about people leaving valuables in cars. No substantive suggests were offered about addressing the problem. I was furious. I didn't want to disrupt the meeting so I didn't say anything. He left afterwards. Same old, same old.

No hotel shuttle service from the Metro Airport to downtown Detroit

I sent the following letter to the Detroit News in response to the following article.  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130917/METRO01/309170022

Dear Editor:

The Wayne County Airport Authority is obviously much more concerned with enhancing revenue from parking spaces, taxi and Metro Car contracts, and rental car fees than with being the economic engine it purports to be. The lack of affordable and reliable transportation from the airport to downtown is a disgrace. This lack discourages tourists, conventioneers, and conferences from coming to our City. I belong to a number of professional group that have annual meetings. Suggestions that they meet in Detroit are often met with, "How will we get downtown from the airport?" A reasonably priced reliable express bus service from the airport to downtown is the least the airport should provide. 

Thomas E. Page

Incompetence of the Detroit Police Department

http://www.freep.com/article/20130811/NEWS01/308110005/hubbard-farms-rape-vigilante-justice-assault-teenage-girl

August 11, 2013

Dear Editor: 

The continued incompetence of the Detroit Police Department to perform the basic measures of crime investigation alarms and infuriates me. In the southwest Detroit case, a fifteen year old girl of reduced mental capacity alleged she was raped by a 43 year old man. The victim identified the suspect, and the apartment where the alleged attack took place. According to the reports, the suspect is well-known in the community.  You don't have to be a Sherlock Holmes to solve this crime. Rather, you just have to do the basics: get search warrants expeditiously, collect the evidence, and have the evidence appropriately analyzed. In this case, it took the Detroit Police Department almost three weeks to get the "rape kit" to the Michigan State Police laboratory for analysis. To make matters worse, it took sixteen days for the DPD to search the suspect's apartment and confiscate evidence, such as bed sheets.  

I certainly do not support the so-called "street justice" that reportedly was inflicted on the suspect. But I do understand the frustration of the community at the pace and thoroughness of the DPD investigation.

I have absolute confidence in the ability of Chief Craig to right the foundering DPD ship. I know that he brings a needed sense of urgency to his position. I hope this sense of urgency results in action by DPD investigators and officers.

Thomas E. Page

Los Angeles Police Department, retired

I sent the following e-mail letter to the Detroit News in response to the "Not Guilty" verdict in the George Zimmerman trial in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman was tried for 2nd Degree Murder and Manslaughter in the shooting deal of Trayvon Martin.

Dear Editor:

A jury's finding that a person is "Not Guilty" does not mean that the former defendant didn't do anything wrong. "Not Guilty" doesn't mean that the person's actions were appropriate, that the level of force was consistent with the situation. Further, "Not Guilty" shouldn't suggest to those easily swayed  that they should imitate the former defendant's actions. Simply, "Not Guilty" means that the jury determined that the prosecution, though evidence, did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the elements of the charged crime (s). 

As a citizen and as a criminal justice professional, I have often been surprised, and even astounded, by jury decisions.  The O.J. Simpson murder trial comes immediately to mind, as does the Casey Anthony acquittal.  But I have never said (absent corruption such as jury-tampering) that a jury made the wrong decision. Only jurors listen to every bit of testimony, see every bit of admitted evidence, view face to face every witness, and then discuss, argue and debate the case with fellow jurors during deliberations. I may believe the jury found a guilty person "Not Guilty." But unless I was on the jury, I can't in good faith say the jury made a "wrong" decision. 

Finally, the Double Jeopardy clause of the 5th Amendment prohibits the re-prosecution of a an acquitted person for the same offense. 

Our criminal justice system isn't perfect. Certainly, guilty people sometimes go free. But we should accept these imperfections in order to insure that the innocent person isn't falsely convicted.

Thomas E. Page

Los Angeles Police Department, retired

Former Detroit Police Officer

Mayor Bing and NYC's Bloomberg battle over murder rates

Dear Editor:

Mayor Bing apparently does not understand that Detroit isn't the rule; rather it's the exception when it comes to murder rates. Most large cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and yes, even Chicago, have murder rates that are literally a fraction of Detroit's rate.  Mayor Bing challenges New York Mayor Bloomberg's statement of fact that New York's murder rate is one-tenth of Detroit's by writing that Detroit doesn't have techniques such as "stop and frisk at will."  My goodness, Mr. Mayor. "Stop and frisk" is constitutionally protected proactive policing. It's not randomly stopping people and violating their rights.

I am a former Detroit Police officer, and have retired from the Los Angeles Police Department.  In spite of many professional and proactive police officers, the Detroit Police Department has time and time again demonstrated that it does not have the creativity, the flexibility, and the will to effectively fight crime in our community. A lack of resources isn't the problem, any more than "more cops on the street" is a solution. The DPD lacks leadership. In my opinion, large parts of our community have little confidence in the Detroit Police Department. That's one of the reasons that many of us who live in the Midtown/New Center neighborhoods rely on the Wayne State Police Department for police services. I am not certain that the DPD should continue to be the primary policing agency in our city.

Thomas E. Page

Retired, Los Angeles Police Department

I sent the following letter to the Detroit Free Press editorial department on April 14, 2013

Re: Tom Walsh article, April 14, 2013, "Bridge is a gift we can't squander"

Dear Editor:

Tom Walsh properly points out that our region has failed to implement the most basic of transit systems to connect downtown Detroit with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. 

I am a midtown Detroit resident, and am a frequent traveler. Until a few years ago, I was able to take SMART route 125 (Fort Street) from downtown to the airport. And although the ride took approximately an hour and a half, it didn't require a transfer to a different bus. Since SMART discontinued direct service to the airport from Detroit, even that option is not available.  The lack of mass transit from the airport to downtown hotels and attractions hurts our community's ability to attract conferences, visitors, and tourists.  

I'm pleased to hear that the Convention & Visitors Bureau is finally working on a proposal to improve airport transit. A reasonably priced express bus shuttle, with hourly service, that links downtown hotels with the airport should be extremely easy to implement.  Unfortunately, the short-sighted Airport Authority and Metro Cars would probably try to derail any transit system that may curtail use of the Metro parking garages and limousine services.

I would like to encourage my professional association to hold its annual conference (attended by 1,000) in downtown Detroit in two years. But the lack of reasonably priced transit from the airport to downtown makes our City a tough sell. 

Thomas E. Page

The following letter to the Detroit News is in response to Wendell Anthony's comment in the linked article.  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130227/METRO/302270350/

Dear Editor:

Wendell Anthony knows exactly what he's suggesting by asking the rhetorical question "Has Michigan become the new Mississippi?" He is implying that the appointment of an Emergency Manager for the City of Detroit by a white governor is akin to instituting Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, and literacy tests to deprive black people of voting rights. It's incendiary statements like Anthony's, that are a pure figment of his imagination, that cause many Michiganders of good will to want to say "to heck with Detroit; let it die." Apparently, Mr. Anthony would prefer that Detroit become the new Enron, the new Hostess, or the new Greece. And that's where municipal bankruptcy will lead us.  An Emergency Manager is our best and maybe last chance to avoid the consequences of municipal bankruptcy. I applaud Governor Snyder and his team for looking out for the best interests of all Michiganders, including Detroiters.

Thomas E. Page

Letter to the Detroit Free Press, February 15, 2013

Re: February 13, 2013 article, "New panel to explore options for
improving Belle Isle"

Dear Editor:

Detroit City Council President Pugh wants to form a "new panel" to
explore options to improve Belle Isle.  Not surprisingly, Councilwoman
Joann Watson endorses this idea, and in fact wants to be on this
panel. The only three duties of this panel should be, in order:
1) Profusely apologize to the Governor, the people of Michigan, and
Detroiters for the Council's collective stupidity in failing to
approve a lease with the State;
2) Plead with the Governor to rescind his withdrawal of the proposed lease; and
3) Approve the lease without delay.

Thomas E. Page

Re: Detroit council's Pugh seeks study group to tackle Belle Isle,
February 13, 2013

From The Detroit News:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130213/METRO01/302130331#ixzz2KmIa0tl8

Dear Editor:

Rather than form a "working group" to look at options for Belle Isle
as proposed by Council President Pugh, the City Council should
collectively get down on their hands and knees and beg Governor Snyder
and the State to resubmit the withdrawn lease agreement. The Council's
refusal to even vote on the proposed lease with the State destroyed
any remaining credibility of the Council. I will not support any Belle
Isle plan that gives the City of Detroit any control over Belle Isle.
I hope that one of the first steps of any Emergency Manager will be to
turn Belle Isle over to the State.

Thomas E. Page
New Center, Detroit

Re: Detroit City Council's rejection of the Belle Isle lease
Letters sent to the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News

Dear Editor:

The legendary baseball manager Casey Stengel famously said in
frustration over the ineptitude of the NY Mets, "Can't anyone here
play this game?" In a decision worthy of the 1962 NY Mets, the Detroit
City Council looked a gift-horse in the mouth and rejected a win-win
Belle Isle lease agreement with the State. The City would have saved
approximately $7 million a year, and Belle Isle would have been
maintained and improved at no cost to the City. Saving $7 million is
the same as earning $7 million.  I hope the City Council is not
surprised when the Governor, after getting sand kicked in his face,
appoints an Emergency Manager for the City. I hope that day comes
soon.

As Casey Stengel rhetorically asked, I too wonder if there's anyone on
the City Council who can "play this game." With the exception of
Council members Brown, Jenkins, and Tate, the answer is a resounding
"NO." We will not forgive nor forget those Council members who
rejected the Belle Isle lease. The November election can't come soon
enough.

Thomas E. Page

My Jean Paul Sartre "Hell is Other People" designation is awarded to the entire City of Detroit City Council for its failure to approve a Belle Isle lease agreement with the State of Michigan. The agreement would have resulted in the State of Michigan managing Belle Isle, at no cost to the City, for a 10 year renewable lease. The City of Detroit would have saved over $6 million annually. 

"More cops on the street:" not the answer to crime

Earlier this week, Detroit's Mayor Bing and Acting Chief Chester Logan announced a restructuring of the DPD. The primary restructuring consisted of closing done the gang unit and the Tactical Mobile Unit. The stated purpose was to put "more cops on the street." My letter to the Detroit Free Press is in response to this issue.

Re: Detroit Police Reorganization

Dear Editor:

Believing that putting more "cops on the street" will significantly impact our City's embarrassingly high crime rate is akin to believing that simply having more teachers will make students smarter. Just as it is with teachers in the classroom, it's what the officers do while "on the street" that matters. 

Do we continue with a failed EMS style of policing in which the police role is primarily reactionary, responding to calls for help or service? Or preferably, do we adopt a data-driven problem solving approach in which patrol officers and their supervisors seek out crime and criminals, and are held accountable for implementing strategies, including making arrests, to combat crime in their districts? 

The data-driven approach should also be partnered with so-called "broken-windows" tactics. in which crimes such as vandalism, graffiti, metal scrapping, and traffic violations are given a priority. As a police lecturer once said, criminals drive like criminals. Criminals do "drive-by" shootings, rarely "walk-by" shootings. 

The minor reorganization of the Department announced by Mayor Bing and Acting Chief Logan will have little impact on crime unless it is accompanied by real change in the tactics of patrol officers. Efficient policing has had a huge impact on reducing the crime rate in many U.S. cities. For too long, our city has been the outlier.

Thomas E. Page

A January 14, 2013 article in the Detroit News had the headline that 16% of Detroit murder victims are "visitors." http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130114/METRO01/301140319

Here's my letter to the Detroit News on this stunning misrepresentation.

Dear Editor:

As a veteran of the Los Angeles and Detroit Police Departments, I am a firm believer in accurate and honest crime reporting. But to call 16% of those murdered in Detroit "visitors" is not only misleading, it needlessly hurts our entire community.  Do you call non-Detroit residents who work at the Detroit News visitors? Or perhaps you call them "carpetbaggers?" Am I a "visitor" when I shop in Hamtramck? Of course not. Using the term "visitors" for those who have a primary residence in the suburbs, including Highland Park, Hamtramck, Dearborn, and others, recklessly damages our reputation, and creates the impression that tourists and true visitors to our town are being routinely gunned down.  And that's just not true.

Words matter. And if any institution should know and respect that, it's one of our major daily newspapers. Shame on the Detroit News. 

Thomas E. Page

"Retiring Boomers like college life"

USA Today article, January 15, 2013

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2013/01/14/retirement-community-saving-home/1817793/

This article isn't Detroit specific. In fact, it doesn't mention Detroit at all, save for Detroit's western suburb of Ann Arbor.  Certainly has relevance to our City.  The media constantly tells us how important it is to make our City appealing to young professionals. You know, the creative class. And I totally agree with that. But, I've felt for a long time that Detroit hasn't marketed itself to the retiring baby boomers and empty nesters.  Frankly, one of the reasons I was attracted to living in the Midtown/New Center area was the proximity to Wayne State, CCS, and the many cultural and entertainment options. It really is like living in a college town, but it's a real city too!  And even though I didn't attend Wayne State University (I went to what the South End many years ago referred to as "God's Little Acre" - that Catholic school (University of Detroit) on Livernois and McNichols.), WSU and CCS have become my neighborhood schools! I attend sporting events, cultural events, art exhibitions, and more. I think these schools and others ought to seriously consider building condos on/adjacent to their campuses to attract alums and others who desire to live close to energetic college campuses. 

Letter to the Editors of the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News regarding the Detroit murder rate.

Dear Editor:

Over the past twenty years, most major U.S. cities have achieved dramatic reductions in their crime rates, including the number of homicides.  Detroit is a major exception to this trend. Today, Detroit has a murder rate multiples of the rates in Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and most other cities. For example, Los Angeles, a city of approximately 4 million people, has reduced its homicide count to fewer than that of Detroit, a much smaller city.  Not only is Detroit a much smaller city, it covers a much smaller geographic area. In spite of the cutbacks in the Detroit Police Department, Detroit has MORE officers per capita than Los Angeles. 

Yes, the causes of crime are many, and are arguably complex. Regardless, other cities have proven that effective and efficient policing can make a huge difference in the crime rate. The Detroit Police Department's continued response to the crime rate is to complain about a lack of resources, a lack of community support, and to point out underlying social issues about which the Department has little control. Proactive policing, on the other hand, includes a data-driven focus on crimes. It also includes aggressive traffic enforcement which increases the visibility of the police, and the likelihood of criminals actually being caught. 

The City has announced that it is conducting a nationwide search for a new Chief of Police. Clearly, promoting from within the Department's ranks will lead to the same, old, ineffective style of policing. It's past time to bring in a new Chief who has a proven track record of crime reduction.

Thomas E. Page