DETROIT CONTINGENT OF CONCERNED COALITION TO RESPECT PRISONERS’ RIGHTS HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE MOUND RD. PRISON DEC. 14

Elaine Brown

Link to radio interview with Elaine Brown by Davey D on KPFA Radio, Oakland CA (excellent, thorough interview is about 10 minutes into the tape)

Young prisoner Rodriques Dukes in solitary confinement at Georgia's Hays State Prison Photo National Geographic

GEORGIA PRESS RELEASE:

Concerned Coalition to Respect Prisoners’ Rights

Demand Governor Perdue and DOC Commissioner Brian Owens

Stop Violence Against Striking Prisoners

 PRESS CONFERENCE December 13, 2010, 3:30 p.m.

State Capitol 100 Washington Street Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia uses a paramilitary system that demands a rigid structure and full accountability of both inmates and COs (Corrections Officers). A CO monitors a cell-house to instill authority over the inmates. (Photo Credit Gregory Henry)

NAACP State Chairman Edward Dubose joined by representatives from the Nation of Islam, elected officials and others, who have formed the Concerned Coalition to Respect Prisoners’ Rights, will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. today at the Capitol to urge Governor Perdue and Department of Corrections Commissioner Owens to halt the violent tactics being employed by guards against thousands of striking prisoners.  They have reached out to Perdue and Owens for meetings earlier in the day.

Begun on December 9, 2010, the prisoners’ peaceful protest has been historic in scope and in the unity of thousands of black, brown, white, Muslim, Christian, Rastafarian prisoners, including those at Augusta, Baldwin, Calhoun, Hancock, Hays, Macon, Rogers, Smith, Telfair, Valdosta and Ware State Prisons.  For five days, now, these men have shut down all activity at most of these facilities.

            The prisoners are petitioning the DOC for their human rights, including being paid for their labor, provided educational opportunities, decent health care and nutritional meals, a halt to cruel and unusual punishments, and just parole decisions.

The DOC has made itself unavailable to the press and prisoner family members, creating fears that, behind closed doors, the Department will escalate this peaceful protest to a violent confrontation.  The Coalition is urging the DOC to come to the table in peace to address the prisoners’ concerns.

“Due to the harsh conditions faced behind bars and the need for prison reform, the men are staying in their cells as a form of peaceful protest.  No officials or staff have been threatened and no property has been damaged.  These men’s requests are reasonable and in accord with the basic respect and treatment every human being deserves,” said Elaine Brown, a social activist and former Black Panther Party leader.  Brown is spearheading the Concerned Coalition to Respect Prisoners’ Rights.  More information about the Coalition can be found on its Facebook page.

#   #   #

Contact:   Concerned Coalition to Respect Prisoners’ Rights concernedcoalitionga@gmail.com

LETTER TO GEORGIA GOVERNOR

Concerned Coalition to Respect Prisoners’ Rights

Gov. Sonny Perdue, Georgia

December 13, 2010

Via Hand Delivery

The Honorable Sonny Perdue

Governor of Georgia

203 State Capitol

Atlanta, Georgia  30334

Dear Governor Perdue:

            On behalf of the newly-formed Concerned Coalition to Respect Prisoners’ Rights, a nation-wide formation, I implore you to direct the Department of Corrections, headed by Commissioner Brian Owens, to cease and desist from using violent tactics to force prisoners engaged in a non-violent labor strike to return to work.

            The Coalition would like to sit down with you and Commissioner Owens to discuss ways to bring all parties to the table to address the prisoners’ concerns over human rights’ violations, including being forced to labor without pay.  We will make ourselves available at any time.

Edward DuBose, Pres. GA NAACP

            We look forward to coming together with you and the Commissioner as soon as possible, toward a peaceful conclusion to the prisoners’ strike.

 Sincerely yours,

Edward Dubose, Chair, Georgia NAACP

Tell the Georgia Department of Corrections that you stand with protesting prisoners

Click on: http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tell_the_georgia_department_of_corrections_that_you_stand_with_protesting_prisoners

Targeting: Brian Owens (Commissioner, GA Department of Corrections)

Started by: Wendy Jason

On Thursday, December 9, prisoners across Georgia joined in solidarity to demand that their basic human needs be met. You can help them gain access to the supports and services that will preserve their dignity by supporting their nonviolent protest. Please sign the following letter to Brian Owens, Commissioner of the GA Department of Corrections.

—-

Greetings,

I’m writing to express my concerns over the conditions of Georgia’s prisons, and to urge you to address the needs of Georgia’s prisoners.  After days of peaceful protest from prisoners across the state, no apparent action has been taken towards acknowledging their demands for measures aimed solely at preserving their dignity as human beings. Further, there have been reports that their nonviolence has been met with violence and the further deprivation of basic rights.
These acts of violence must stop, and the conditions of Georgia’s prisons must be addressed without further delay.  I stand in solidarity with the prisoners and insist that they be treated with respect and dignity, and that you act now to begin fulfilling the following demands:

·         A LIVING WAGE FOR WORK:  In violation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude, the DOC demands prisoners work for free.

·         EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:  For the great majority of prisoners, the DOC denies all opportunities for education beyond the GED, despite the benefit to both prisoners and society.

·         DECENT HEALTH CARE:  In violation of the 8th Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments, the DOC denies adequate medical care to prisoners, charges excessive fees for the most minimal care and is responsible for extraordinary pain and suffering.

·         AN END TO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS:  In further violation of the 8th Amendment, the DOC is responsible for cruel prisoner punishments for minor infractions of rules.

·         DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS:  Georgia prisoners are confined in over-crowded, substandard conditions, with little heat in winter and oppressive heat in summer.

·         NUTRITIONAL MEALS:  Vegetables and fruit are in short supply in DOC facilities while starches and fatty foods are plentiful.

·         VOCATIONAL AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  The DOC has stripped its facilities of all opportunities for skills training, self-improvement and proper exercise.

·         ACCESS TO FAMILIES:  The DOC has disconnected thousands of prisoners from their families by imposing excessive telephone charges and innumerable barriers to visitation.

·         JUST PAROLE DECISIONS:  The Parole Board capriciously and regularly denies parole to the majority of prisoners despite evidence of eligibility.

I expect that you will convene a committee that includes prisoners, lawmakers, prison authorities, and prisoner advocates to take positive and concrete steps toward alleviating the inhumane conditions and lack of opportunities within Georgia’s correctional facilities.

Sincerely,

Thousands marched against auto bail-outs, lay-offs in Detroit Aug. 28; now GM wants to destroy DPS as well

$27 million grant to United Way, partner of Excellent Schools

By Russ Bellant

The GM Foundation announced on Dec. 10 that they made their largest grant ever, $27.1 million, to United Way of Southeastern Michigan (fka United Way of Detroit) to set up 20 academies in five area high schools. The high schools have not been named.

Charter schools CEO Doug Ross, Skillman Foundation CEO Carol Goss and DPS EFM Robert Bobb at Excellent Schools meeting

United Way is a signatory partner of the Excellent Schools Detroit plan for setting up privately controlled high schools to displace DPS high schools, funded by area foundations, including Skillman, Kresge, Kellogg and McGregor. The “incubator” for starting new schools for the Excellent Schools group is Michigan Future Inc. in Ann Arbor. MFI has been trying to get national foundations to fund the Excellent Schools plan to start up 35 high schools south of 12 mile and east of Telegraph. Whether in Detroit or a northern suburb, they are being set up to recruit DPS students.

Whether GM Foundation is funding the Excellent Schools or just a group that supports the plan is unclear. The nature and governance of the 20 academies is unclear. United Way was part of creating smaller high schools at Osborn and Cody which remained DPS schools.

Michael Tenbusch

United Way was a supporter of Mayoral control in the battle waged last summer, with Michael Tenbusch (former member of the state takeover board at DPS) leading the way for United Way. Tenbusch had previously set up Think Detroit, an athletic league, in the 1990’s, with Daniel Varner, who became a program officer of the Kellogg Foundation on April 29 and was recently appointed to the State Board of Education by Granholm to replace Reggie Turner.

As a program officer at Kellogg, Varner oversees the $7.5 million grant to Michigan Future Inc/Excellent Schools. How Varner will use his state board position to advance his day job projects has yet to be seen, but Varner is one of eight people that directly control Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan’s contract.

Michael Flanagan

He can push for more Michigan Department of Education influence to help Varner/Kellogg/Excellent Schools. Varner does not have to push hard on Flanagan, however; Flanagan is on the board of Michigan Future Inc, to set up the private school network, a pretty clear conflict with his duty to help DPS. In fact, there are a lot of ethically questionable relationships here.

(ed. note: The bills sponsored by State Rep. Fred Durhal, which he intends to bring back in the next legislative session, hand control of schools with deficits to Flanagan in exchange for tobacco settlement funds, which will go to the banks to pay off part of the schools’ huge debt loads.)

Kellogg has been a major funder of the Detroit Parent Network, so Varner has some leverage with them as well. It should be noted that Kellogg has taken the DPN grant off its website, however. Skillman recently committed $750,000 to DPN, a group started by Bob Thompson when he was pushing charter schools in Detroit.

Skillman has already given over a million dollars to DPS prior to this recent grant. All the Excellent Schools foundations have given DPN support in the last couple years. Two of them, Kresge and Kellogg, were the secret paymasters to Robert Bobb when it was announced that his contract was renewed in March. Research eventually unearthed their role in partially funding Bobb’s compensation. In turn, Bobb is also a signatory to the Excellent Schools plan to tear apart Detroit Public Schools and is permitting them to use DPS facilities to launch some schools. Another huge conflict of interest.

By Greg Thrasher

Movie still featured on racist blog which falsely claimed Detroit has highest murder rate in U.S.

Recently in the media industry various outlets and magazines including CNN and other outlets compiled a list of the most dangerous cities in the world; Detroit was on the list. This is an example of how shallow and worthless journalism, reporting and disinformation have become almost criminal (excuse the pun). Lists like these are often inferences based upon survey data, questionable data collections and subjective media accounts. There is no integrity in impotent lists like these other than tabloid currency.

What is more valuable and practical is crime data and information that is based upon the actual security and risk of harm to individuals and property. Yet this type of crime data has little currency and shock value for the media industry tales of crimes and victims suffering at the end of a gun of a nasty crack head has more bite and as such more ratings and the potential of more eyeballs, blog hits, advertisement fees and data which is based upon sound inferences and accurate crime findings. 

Inflated crime reports help finance more cops, courts and prisons

The reporting of crime is now a commodity that is marketed to make revenue for a number of industries and interests.  Crime is big business for the lawyers, bail bond agencies, city and county court departments, correctional facilities as well as companies which sell crime prevention gadgets and of course insurance companies that make money on fear and the specter of being a victim. Crime is a money maker even for the medical industry. It should be noted as well that entire non-profit organizations are created around the industry of crime in America.

None of the data collected nor the lists directly evaluate the ratio or metric about actual danger to victims. Most victims of crime know their assailants and many of them are family and friends. Crime data and information that provides insights on the pathology of crime is never the news that is reported by the media. Cause and effect reporting regarding crime in the media is very rare and more often the domain of college studies and research conducted by academic interests for publication in academics journals and trade publications. The real hard core data and truths about crime are often never reported in the daily media outlets.

Aiyana Jones, killed by Detroit cop while TV series 48 Hours was filming Photo by Brandy Baker

Factually most people are rarely victims of remote danger or stranger inflicted criminal acts. Most people are safer with strangers than actual people they have a history or relation with. In reality with regard to family crimes and spousal abuse, the victims are at risk often from other family member and not strangers. In the area of  property crimes many of these crimes are also committed by criminals who know the victim.

One of the nasty little secrets about crimes that is known to most police departments is that criminals will flip on each other and most crimes can be solved not by police investigations but by the the offer of rewards and plea deals. In the real world most crimes are caused by a very small percentage of the population; most people never commit a crime and are never a victim of a crime. Yet this truth is rarely reported in the media especially when it comes to cities like Detroit and other urban venues.

Reporting and information of this nature at end of the day does not make anyone safer it only demonizes entire cities with fiction and disinformation. A city like Detroit which is often demonized by the the publication of lists which claim Detroit is the most violent venue in America are always in a defensive and recovery mode as they try to defend the myths and disinformation that these publications  have created about the city and its residents. It often takes decades to recover from the ugly images of the city that are created by articles which inflate the level of crime in the city. Entire neighborhoods  are destroyed and demonized by false accusations of being crime infested venues. New business are handcuffed by the fictional portrayal of crime in areas where business are located. The crime of reporting crime must stop!

UNDER A CLIMATE OF FEAR: PARENT COMPLAINTS FROM THE DETROIT DISTRICT  

Aurora Harris

http://detroitparentswithspecialedstudents.blogspot.com/

By Aurora Harris

Dear Readers, Parents, Friends, Colleagues, Constituents, Students, Professors, and Mentees,

Due to many calls about complaints from parents within the Detroit school district in general about school closures, transportation problems, and, calls from parents of special needs/disabled students that are experiencing compliance issues, please find below a list of what parents are complaining about as it relates to being under emergency financial management. Some of these complaints have been reported to EMF Robert Bobb. Other complaints have not been reported because some parents feel that their complaints are repeatedly disregarded.

Detroit EFM Robert Bobb

 They often say,  “What’s the use in calling Robert Bobb? We keep complaining and nothing happens.” Some of these complaints were reported to news reporters, but the stories weren’t published in the papers, for whatever reason. Some of the complaints were even sent to advocates and legislators in Lansing.

Many parents feel that there is a major lack of communication from administration to parent, school to school, parent to parent, and parent group to parent group, including whatever is being reported or not reported by local news sources to the public… Basically, parents feel they aren’t being told about anything concerning changes in Federal and State laws that removed consent from IEP’s (individual education plans), and, other forms concerning their special needs children, and, the stories that illustrate their panic, distress, stress, and frustration are not being told or they are reported in a slanted way.

Today’s entry is not about sensationalism. This blog entry is about fall-out and fear…the stressful experiences of parents and special needs students.  I was asked to write this entry by concerned parents, many of whom are afraid to step forward and be identified.  I consider their request timely because as of yesterday, I received the following info from an advocate (that was distributed in September through October by other advocates). If you click on the links from the Michigan Department of Education- Office of Special Education, you can download the NEW AND REVISED forms to your desktop:

_________________________________
What you are about to read are some of the things that happens to special needs/disabled children and non-English speaking parents and children when public education in Detroit is being destroyed during the ‘takeover” or “downsizing” of the schools and the city.  Many special needs students are labeled as failures and discriminated against. Certified special ed teachers and caring support staff are fired, resource support for children with Autism, ADD, Speech, Brain injuries, and severe disabilities are canceled, and transition adults due to compliance issues are either not admitted or placed into vocational training or forced into a curriculum where they sit all day to do “paperwork”… not receiving hands on training.

If you have had an experience like these, please feel free to add your experience or concerns by writing in the “Comments” section. You may join this blog and advocates will forward you important information to assist you. If you want to remain anonymous, just go to the sidebar in this blog and find an advocacy group that can assist you.

The following complaints were reported to various advocates of special needs children and their parents between September 2010 to the present time.

Due to parents being targeted and fear within the district, parents do not want to be identified. Some parents feel that these violations are taking place because of major firings of staff, teachers, personnel, counselors, bi-lingual personnel in schools, transportation and safety departments. Certain parents that serve on a special ed parents’ committee have also been targeted due to complaints concerning their child or children. Many parents feel that ALL teachers, principals, staff, resource support staff, personnel, and the current Detroit Public Schools Board are not to blame for what has been out of compliance for the past two years.

Parental Consent has been removed from IEP’s after the Initial IEP. Some parents feel that just because you remove the Parent Consent sign off line and the boxes where parents can check off whether they agree or disagree with the IEP, that the removal of the signature of the parent DOES NOT REMOVE THE LAWS OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS AND PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS THAT PROTECT THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. LAWS AND PROTECTIONS INCLUDE IDEA, 504, CIVIL RIGHTS, AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT, PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS FOR PARENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH RECIPIENT RIGHTS.

I. TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT PLACE CHILDREN IN HARMS WAY AND CREATES SAFETY ISSUES

Special ed children have special transportation needs

1. Special needs children being dropped off at different schools that parents did not enroll them in. This caused panic among parents that tried to find their children.
2. Special needs children were still sitting at home waiting for transportation to pick them up as late as October.
3. Special needs students dropped off “at nearest corner” instead of “curb to curb” or “door to door” which means pick up from home to school and return from school to home.
4. IEP transportation instructions are being changed to “pick up” and drop off at nearest corner” which poses safety issues for all special needs/disabled children. 

Questions that were asked by an elder parent: “If I am on a walker or wheelchair, disabled myself, and my child is in a wheelchair, is the school, or city or state going to send me someone to help me and my child through the snow to the nearest corner?” What if the bus is late? Why do we have to stand on a corner in the middle of winter running the risk of getting ill?” Why is cab service for disabled kids cancelled?”

5. Parent reported staff not securing wheelchair bound child properly for transport. Bus attendant not securing child properly at all.  ADA violation, IDEA violation, 504 violation
6. Bus attendant and/or driver inappropriately and illegally questioning special needs child about address and illegally, without verifying with parent or giving notification,  changed student’s transportation instructions, changed parent and child address, and changed phone number to a non working phone number. All changes are violations of IEP, ADA, IDEA, 504 and Privacy
7. No Bi-lingual translators on buses or in Transportation or information in other languages to help non-English speaking parents locate or find their children when buses are late or student does not arrive at home.
8. No bus personnel on buses that are trained sign language for the deaf and hearing impaired.

Bilingual staff needed

II. BI-LINGUAL ISSUES

a.  No Bi-lingual staff at Welcome Center, Placement office, Transportation, Security or schools to assist with enrollment or placement in Special education classes or programs, or to assist in emergency situations for non-English speaking Spanish, Arab, Hindi, Bengali, or Hmong populations  (Discrimination, Civil Rights)
III. UNSAFE SCHOOL BUILDINGS, CLASSROOMS AND
TRANSFER OF STUDENTS WITHOUT PARENTS BEING NOTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER (IEP Violations, Prior Written Notice procedures violated: IDEA, ADA, 504 CIVIL RIGHTS)

The Spanish speaking population reports:
a. No Bi-lingual staff at schools to assist non-English speakers with enrollment process.
b. New security team harassing special needs students at a high school.
c. Under the imposed “Inclusion” model. Students transferred from one Academy to a High School without giving Prior Written Notice or notification in a timely manner. Parents did not understand why students were moved without their consent. Some could not find their children until they could get info from a Spanish speaking student. (IEP, Prior Written Notice violation)

Rats and mice infest some special ed facilities

2. Parents of special needs students saw mice and/or rats and reported infestation in a school that already has ADA violations on it.  Parents and students concerned about rat or mice contamination in food that is served to students. Parents and students are expected to “bear with” the fact that nothing will be done to fix the school until students are moved to a school that is being refurbished. Violations include: mice in classrooms, broken glass in a door, 16 doors that need repair, holding students back from being placed in vocational programs like commercial foods because of kitchen violations.

Parents are repeatedly told to “Call Robert Bobb.” Parents have been told that “nothing can be done until construction on the refurbished building is completed.” Parents repeatedly called facilities department until they sent staff to “put down more traps.”

One of the questions from parents is: WHY ARE OTHER GENERAL ED STUDENTS GETTING NEW SCHOOLS OR MOVED INTO REFURBISHED SCHOOLS QUICKLY AND OUR SPECIAL NEEDS /DISABLED STUDENTS EXPECTED TO BE IN A RAT INFESTED SCHOOL?  Parents report that special needs/disabled students are illegally withheld from being placed in hands-on training and vocational programs for up to two years while construction is taking place on the re-furbished school that will not be ready until February? or March? or June? or September? 2011.

Teachers and other staff needed

IV. DUE TO PERSONNEL / TEACHER  FIRINGS and INCLUSION: NOT ENOUGH CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND RESOURCE STAFF, RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN ARE BEING CANCELLED.
1. Parent reported their school had to wait two months to get certified Special Ed Teachers
2. Under the “Inclusion” or General Ed model, special needs children are placed in overcrowded class rooms. Parents feel that overcrowding is a safety issue.
3. Parents reported student had speech therapy canceled. Some parents were told “Your child talks better than the other ones” as a reason to cancel speech therapy.
4. Parents reported that students’ resources are being canceled because they “Plateaued out” or “They have gone as far as they can go with this disability” or “They have reached the highest limit they can go”
5. Non Certified assistants are reported as running classes instead of teachers.
6. Parents feel that there is general attitude and air throughout the district that there is a discriminatory “lumping together or dumping” of all special needs/disabled students into “inclusive” or general ed classes without regard to the individuality of the student or consideration of their single or multiple disability.

While some special needs children were recently reported that they like inclusive classes, most special needs children are the subject of bullying, teasing, and harassment. Many children with severe disabilities or multi-disabilities are in specialized classes and cannot be mainstreamed.

Some parents feel that their special needs children may not be able to pass new charter school curriculum standards and fear that if they don’t meet AYP (annual yearly progress) the students will be further stigmatized and labeled as failures in schools labeled as failures, and dumped into overcrowded classrooms instead of being considered as being an “excellent or gifted students in an Excellent School” that is given the opportunity to have a classroom with fewer students and more individual attention from teachers.

Some parents feel that the current model of education is treating all special needs children exactly the same as if they have exactly the same learning or physical challenges, without consideration to the multitude and combination of educational challenges and needs that have to be addressed.

Many parents of special needs children are not shown respect. They are either treated and talked to badly or targeted by certain school personnel to “make their lives hell” when they complain or try to get services or IEP’s completed.

Scared student

One parent reported that in the past month, due to complaints about a school not scheduling IEP in a timely fashion, and, the IEP being late, staff A. TRIED TO CONDUCT AN IEP WITHOUT HER BEING PRESENT WITH JUST THE DAUGHTER, and B. LIED TO THE DAUGHTER AND TOLD HER THAT HER MOTHER CANCELED THE IEP WHEN THE MOTHER WAS IN THE PARKING LOT, and, C. THIS WEEK THEY CONVENED AN IEP WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE (AT THE LAST MINUTE) WHILE THE PARENT WAS WAITING FOR RESPONSE TO A MEDIATION REQUEST BECAUSE THE IEP WAS CONTINUALLY DELAYED OR SCHEDULED AT THE LAST MINUTE.  AT ONE IEP, THEY TRIED TO GET THE STUDENT TO SIGN THE PAPER WITHOUT HER MOTHER PRESENT.

Another parent reported that her special needs child is repeatedly harassed at school by “certain staff”. “Certain staff” appears to be picking on the student and stockpiling what can be construed as behavior issues that could lead to the student being expelled. This week the parent reported that the special needs student was pushed by a staff member and was injured. Case is being investigated.
…End of complaints…

The complaints you have just read came from parents who wish to remain anonymous. One of the pointst of the parents asking me to post them was to let other parents know what is going on in Detroit in hope that more parents will discuss and/or step forward with their issues. There are many people here in Detroit who would love to hear from parents in other cities just for moral support or to hear a kind word…and would love to hear from parents of special needs children in New Orleans, since Detroit is often compared with New Orleans.

In an effort to inform parents of special needs/disabled students of changes with IEP forms, other advocates and myself are scheduling workshops. On December 14, 2010 I will be at Detroit Transition Center West with parents of the East and West vocational schools for adult special needs transition students (aged 20-26) at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the changes with the IEP form, and, new forms that parents should know about. The school is located at 4800 Collingwood Street  Detroit, MI 48204-1418  between Yellowstone and Cascade Streets.

Thank you for your time, Aurora Harris

Judge Wendy Baxter’s Opinion & Order: Detroit Public Schools, Robert Bobb & Control of Academics

By Aurora Harris

http://detroitparentswithspecialedstudents.blogspot.com/

On December 6, 2010, regarding the case of the Detroit Board of Education vs Robert Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager for Detroit Public Schools, Case No. 09-020160 AW, Honorable Judge Wendy Baxter of the Circuit Court of the County of Wayne, ruled in favor of the Detroit Board of Education. A few days ago, I posted that I would post the legal document on this blog. However, due to the size of the document (over 60 pages long), I found that I couldn’t post it. Therefore, if anyone would like a copy of the case please send an email to me at aurora917@gmail.com

With regard to the state of education in Detroit, my particular focus as a parent and advocate of an autistic person has been to bring to the forefront of discussions, whether they be at community, local and state, or academic levels, is the voice of parents with special needs/disabled children and transition adults in vocational schools.

Idil Abdul with her autistic son Ayub Abdi, 5

From late August through October 8, 2010, I was a member of the Detroit Public Schools Academic Transition Team with two other parents of children with special needs, and, members of the community (parents, educators, public education supporters, reform supporters, charter school supporters). During those two and a half months, the concerns and issues of parents with special needs children in the Detroit Public Schools were brought to the discussion of education during the analysis of the DPS District Plans of former Superintendent Theresa Gueyser and the Excellent Schools reform plan of EMF Robert Bobb for the purpose of making recommendations to the Board and the new Superintendent.

During that time, if it had not been for the three of us parents with special needs children…Special Education, the certified special education teachers, and special needs students K-12, and transition students (aged 20-26) in Detroit’s only two adult vocational schools for disabled adults would not have been heard. Continue reading →

Pastors Bill Wylie-Kellerman, Edwin Rowe, David Bullock, Charles Williams II, and Maurice Rudd condemn attacks on working and poor people by the banks, corporations and government at a press conference April 17

Pastor Bill Wylie-Kellerman of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, a life-long activist and advocate for the poor, has penned a profound piece on Corktown resident Steve DiPonio’s beating of another Corktown resident, Charles Duncan, who happens to be homeless, on Oct. 6. BE SURE TO READ THE PASTOR’S COMMENTARY IN THIS WEEK’S METRO TIMES. It says it ALL. Go to:  

http://metrotimes.com/news/looking-for-real-justice-1.1074246.  

According to an article in the Detroit News, published on Nov. 13, long after the incident and only after DiPonio was charged,   

Steven DiPonio

“(Diponio) told the arresting officer he was tired of the man sleeping behind a school near his house,” said Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens.  

Diponio allegedly took a rope from his pickup, tied up Duncan and beat him several times with a baseball bat, said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.  

Diponio tied the man to his bumper and dragged him in his car a short distance before neighbors freed Duncan, police said. Duncan was left bleeding on the sidewalk before a witness called police, Stephens said. Details about his current condition or injuries weren’t available late Friday.” 
http://detnews.com/article/20101113/METRO/11130342/Detroiter-accused-of-beating-homeless-man–dragging-him-behind-truck#ixzz17YHKMGrJ  

Pastor Wylie-Kellerman’s commentary targets the gentrification, racism and classism that have struck Corktown in recent years, as well as other areas of Detroit that Mayor Dave Bing has proposed to “down-size” (meaning the people, not the miles).  Wylie-Kellerman  condemns it all and calls on people of conscience to join together to stop this wholesale onlaught.  

Phil Cooley, owner of Slow's Bar-B-Q and development company

Note that the Detroit News article quotes the owner of Slow’s Bar-B-Q, Phil Cooley, who said he is trying to  find other places to put the homeless folks in Roosevelt Park, across from his chi-chi eatery.  Cooley is one of six co-chairs of Bing’s downsizing Detroit Advisory Task Force, and also one of the “Conquistadors” Wylie-Kellerman talks about in his article, who campaigned to shut down his church’s soup kitchen and “the free hand-outs in our neighborhood that facilitate the drugs, crime and general malcontent . . .”   

 (See earlier series of five VOD articles on Bing’s plans for Detroit, which include bios of Task Force members. Another article addresses Bing’s chief planner Toni Griffin’s comments that Detroit presents an opportunity for change that can be compared only to the transformation Hurricane Katrina wrought on  New Orleans.)  

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 18: Democratic U.S. presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks about his tax policy during an address September 18, 2007 in Washington, DC. Obama outlined his plan on reducing taxes for low income families and increasing capital gains and dividend taxes. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

By David Sirota

Newspaper columnist, radio host (AM760), bestselling author

Posted: December 7, 2010 12:40 PM   The Huffington Post

Four pieces of news today about the tax debate leads me to the modest conclusion that America — or at least the capital that governs in its name — has gone entirely, unmistakably and undeniably batshit crazy.

1. We just had an election that focused intently on the problems that come with a growing national deficit and debt. Correspondingly, almost every major poll after the election shows the majority of the country therefore doesn’t want to extend Bush tax cuts on income above $250,000 a year. Nonetheless, a Democratic president who won the biggest electoral landslide in contemporary history on a promise to rescind those tax cuts — that same president is now pushing to extend those very tax cuts, thus seriously increasing the national deficit/debt.

Former President William Clinton backs deal too

2. President Clinton’s former chief of staff, John Podesta — a man who, as head of the liberal Center for American Progress, zealously defends the economic record and model of President Clinton — just issued a press release arguing for an extension of all the Bush tax cuts in order to not “abandon the millions of Americans who are struggling to keep their families afloat.” In other words, President Clinton’s former chief of staff is arguing that returning to President Clinton’s tax rates would “abandon the millions of Americans who are struggling to keep their families afloat.”

3. The Democratic Party, which for a decade rightly argued that Bush tax cuts blew a hole in our budget and didn’t spur serious economic growth, is now suddenly arguing that we must extend all the Bush tax cuts to preserve the prospect of economic growth. Somehow, the party now believes spending $60 billion a year on reducing tax rates for income above $250,000 is a better way to spur economic growth than using the same money to (as just one example cited in the New York Times) make college entirely free for half of all American students.

4. Despite Democrats controlling all branches of America’s federal legislative apparatus, Republicans are governing the country. As the AP reports under the headline “Republicans achieve top goal in Obama tax-cut plan,” the GOP “largely dictated the terms of President Barack Obama’s proposed tax-cut compromise.” This, despite the fact that to stop the Bush tax cuts, all Democrats had to do was pass nothing.

As I said, mark this day down: It’s the day it became undeniably clear that we’ve gone completely batshit crazy.

Systematic Recycling site at 9125 W. Jefferson

Husband of Michigan Citizen publisher advocated for Systematic Recycling, according to former state rep

By Diane Bukowski

DETROIT – Carlyle/Synagro may have been chased from within Detroit’s borders, at least for the time being, but the dog left its wagging tail behind.

The company had ties to Systematic Recycling, LLC, located at 9125 W. Jefferson, across from Detroit’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Systematic has been operating since 2006 despite complaints from neighbors of “unbearable odors” and at least three fires a year from large piles of compost.

Sam Riddle and Theresa Landrum at Call em Out Dinner in Feb. 2010, holding copy of The Michigan Citizen

“The stench is horrendous,” said community member Theresa Landrum, who has taken part in years of protests to shut the company down. “It smells like something decaying, it takes your breath away. Even if you shut your windows, it still gets into your house. Children on the playground at Delray Neighborhood House are even affected.”

The Detroit City Council approved a two-year “community host agreement” with Systematic in 2007 despite widespread community opposition. Heavy pressure from former Synagro executive James Rosendall and former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s administration was instrumental, according to reports in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press at the time.

The reports said former Kilpatrick aides Kandia Milton and Michael Tardif, among others, pressed hard for the vote, and for state legislation that would allow Systematic to handle larger amounts of compost.

Tardif, who was a Michigan Democratic Party superdelegate to the national convention in 2008, wed Catherine Kelly, publisher of the Michigan Citizen newspaper, on Aug. 6 of this year, according to marriage registry records.

Despite such heavyweight opposition, southwest Detroiters celebrated a recent court victory against the Systematic.

“On Friday, November 19, 2010, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen MacDonald ruled in our favor, denying Systematic Recycling . . . a temporary restraining order to prevent the city from issuing tickets for violations,” said a release from Greening Detroit.com.

Homes just blocks from Systematic Recycling site

“Earlier this year, the City of Detroit revoked the zoning grant for Systematic Recycling due to a number of illegal practices that created a nuisance that threaten our community and our health, including the excessively large piles and unbearable odors that violate state law.”

Systematic’s lawsuit has been ongoing in both state and federal courts since April, 2009. The company contended that it was operating on land that was zoned for such usage, was in an already heavily industrialized and polluted area, had not been cited by the City of Detroit, and was being unfairly targeted for reasons including its woman-owned status.

Cindy Rhodes-Victor, attorney for Systematic’s owner Renee Michaels, did not respond to a call for comment on Judge MacDonald’s ruling.

In federal court, U.S. District Judge David Lawson earlier denied Systematic’s motion for an injunction to prevent the city from shutting it down at the end of its two-year host agreement. Lawson said Systematic had other options, including a city appeals process.

Systematic Recycling mounds of compost produce noxious odors, vermin according to MDEQ

Lawson noted in his ruling, “Within the period from December 2006 through November 2008, Systematic Recycling received several citations and warnings from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality  . . . . and Wayne County Department of Environment. . . . for violations of the rule against emission of odors beyond the facility’s property line, accumulating an excessive amount of yard clippings . . . . and fires that occurred from heat generated by compost piles maintained in violation of the Wayne County solid waste ordinances. The MDEQ sent Michaels a warning letter on October 7, 2008 citing problems including improper storage of yard clippings in excess of allowable limits, ponding water, pests between waste piles, and fires requiring Detroit Fire Department responses.”

Lawson added, “In January of 2009, evidence came to light that Systematic Recycling might have secured its Host Community Agreement with the city by means of a bribe carried out by James R. Rosendall, an owner of the company that leased to Systematic its land in southwest Detroit.”

Former Synagro exec James Rosendall, now serving federal time

Alliance Rental and Leasing owns the land on which Systematic is located. According to state records, Rosendall heads Alliance. He is now incarcerated after admitting to bribing city officials to obtain both a $47 million city sewage disposal contract for Synagro, and the two-year “Community Host Agreement” for Systematic. Synagro and the city mutually agreed to rescind that contract after his plea, but Systematic stayed.

In a detailed plea agreement last year, Rosendall agreed to cooperate with federal investigators by naming names in exchange for a lighter sentence. He is serving a sentence of 11 months in the federal prison at Elkton, Ohio, with a release date of May 13, 2011, according to federal records. Wayne County land records show that the U.S. Department of Justice has a lien on the Systematic site.

Landrum said Michaels told residents at a community meeting that she intended to sell Systematic to Synagro after the two year host agreement was up. The land Synagro wanted for its sludge disposal facility, at 7915 W. Jefferson (formerly the proposed site for the Minergy incinerator), is adjacent to Rosendall’s land.

“Rosendall did all the talking at the meeting,” Landrum said. “She [Michaels] just sat there quietly. I’ll never forget that. Why would you open up to operate for two years and then just up and sell the company?”

Former Council member, then vice-president, Monica Conyers reversed her votes on both Synagro and Systematic, allowing the agreements with the companies to pass

Landrum said busloads of southwest community members attended City Council meetings to stop Systematic before the Council vote of 5-4 in May of 2007, months before the Council’s identical vote approving the Synagro contract in November of that year. Systematic had already begun operations in 2006 without the agreement.

“Systematic should have been shut down years ago,” Landrum said. “Citizens had to fight for themselves from the grassroots level. We had called the city to complain when the site went up. Systematic was originally supposed to operate on only five acres, but ended up operating in a much larger area. People testified about the stench and poor maintenance and the effects on the children of our community.”

She commended former State Rep. Steve Tobocman and his successor State Rep. Rashida Tlaib for joining the community in those protests.

Former State Rep. Steve Tobocman

Tobocman told the Detroit News in 2008, “I knew Rosendall was involved in Synagro, but when he showed up for this [Systematic] … that was strange.” He also identified Tardif and Milton as advocates for Systematic.  Milton is now serving time in federal prison for taking bribes to sell the city’s only summer youth camp to a Greek church in Brighton, Michigan.

The article, “Mayoral aides pressed Detroit compost deal,” was written by News reporters David Josar and Christine McDonald, and published July 31, 2008.  According to the article, Tobocman said that Tardif “tried to persuade him to alter legislation that would restrict the amount of compost Systematic could process.”

Delray Neighborhood House and playground, blocks from Systematic

Tobocman told the News that Tardif argued with him as Milton stood by during the Mackinac Public Policy Conference in May, 2007.

“He just kept yelling that I didn’t care about jobs,” Tobocman said. The News said the facility was expected to provide only three to five jobs and bring in $20,000 a year to the city.

According to the News, Tardif worked directly for Kilpatrick through 2004, and then on his campaign staff from 2005-07, during which Kilpatrick paid him $138,500. It is unclear what work he is doing now.

State records show that Tardif founded the Detroit Compost Company, LLC in April, 2007, and the Aggregate Solutions Group, LLC in April, 2006. They are currently listed as “active but not in good standing,” and located at 547 E. Jefferson in Detroit.

Attorney James P. Allen, Sr. of Allen Brothers, PLLC Photo from Allen Brothers website

A request was made a week ago to Tardif’s attorney James Allen, Sr. and to Catherine Kelly and Michigan Citizen editor Teresa Kelly regarding whether these companies were related to Systematic Recycling or Synagro. It has not been answered to date.

Allen responded to an earlier request for information, directed only to the Kellys, regarding Tardif’s role in the Synagro scandal by threatening to sue this reporter over an article that had not even been published in the Voice of Detroit.

“Like the lies you have uttered against my client and as you are about to find out, talk can be anything but cheap,” Allen said in a letter dated Nov. 12. “My client is not going to stand idly by and allow you to defame him with impunity. He is a private citizen, not a public official, and your lies are entitled to no form of protection. You continue to propagate them and you will find out exactly how costly the words you type and speak can be.” (See VOD opinions page for copy of the letter and editor’s response.)

There are no records of any lawsuit brought against the Detroit News or the Detroit Free Press by Tardif or his attorney over numerous stories in which they cited Tardif’s alleged role in the Synagro scandal.  The stories said that Tardif, who is white, “cooperated” with federal officials in the Synagro investigation.

Three of the stories appear at  http://detnews.com/article/20090127/METRO01/901270371/City-Hall-corruption-probe-s-key-figures; http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807040381&template=fullarticle; and http://www.freep.com/article/20090127/NEWS01/301270003/Kilpatricks-Conyers-among-8-named-in-FBI-bribery-probe

Carlyle Group spoof

The Michigan Citizen earlier published numerous stories, most by this reporter, on Synagro and its parent company, the Carlyle Group, in which both former presidents George Bush, along with many other former government officials across the world, are involved.

The stories said that Synagro/Carlyle deliberately targeted Black administrations in cities like Detroit and Philadelphia through bribery entrapment schemes. They stressed that Rosendall, who is white, had received a lighter sentence than Black individuals caught up in the schemes, including Synagro consultant Rayford Jackson, who is currently serving five years in prison, and former City Council President Monica Conyers and her former aide Sam Riddle, who were sentenced to 37 months.

They also stressed that Synagro and Carlyle themselves had never been charged, despite evidence that high-level executives knew about the entrapment schemes.

Meanwhile, Carlyle/Synagro’s tail continues to wag at the Systematic site, along with costly lawsuits, which are pending further action in the courts.

GreeningDetroit.com is asking the southwest community to continue making complaints against Systematic to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality at  (313) 456-4700 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and (800) 292-4706 after 5 p.m. Such complaints may be instrumental in a final closure of the site.

The International Council for Urban Peace, Justice and Empowerment         

 As salaam Alaikum to the Muslim Ummah and As salaam Alaikum to all of those who bear witness to the one creator of the universe.

I seek refuge in Almighty God Allah from Shaitan, his whispers and those who follow him consciously and unconsciously.  I begin in the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful and I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and I bear witness that Mohammed, peace and blessings be upon him, is his messenger. 

Amir El Hajj Khalid Samad, Cleveland, Ohio

I begin by wishing all of our Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the Ummah Eid Mubarak! May Allah bless all of the returning Hajji’s and Hajja’s with a successful Eid.

On behalf of the International Council for Urban Peace, Justice and Empowerment and in conjunction with the West Coast Urban Peace, and Justice Coalition, I would like to take this opportunity to invite and request all of the Muslims throughout the United States and particularly those in the West Coast region to join with us and the International Council in helping to make the West Coast Peace, Justice and Empowerment Summit a successful one.

 A Call to Universal Oneness!

 We will be gathering Insha’Allah in Los Angeles, California on April 29-May 1, 2011.  As many of you know and for those who are not familiar, the International Council for Urban Peace, Justice and Empowerment grew out of the National Urban Gang Peace and Justice Summits that were held in the early 1990’s throughout the United States.  Those of us that have worked with the National Islamic leadership and many of the National Muslim organizations throughout the country are familiar with our work. 

Black youth listen to NOI Minister Louis Farrakhan Photo: The Final Call

Our organization and those we collaborated with and partnered with in the late 1980’s represent the veterans of the National Urban Peace and Justice Movement.  The Urban Peace and Justice Movement came together through the grace and mercy of Allah and his attribute as Al-Jami (the gatherer) and we reached out to organizations-faith and community based organizations-in all major cities in the United States to confront youth violence, crime, gang and other destructive behaviors that had reached epidemic proportions in our cities.  These efforts and other similar efforts came together and culminated in historical cease fires, truces and peace treaties in many major cities throughout the United States. 

First came Chicago, which was at the time, as it is now, one of the highest homicide rates in the United States.  It experienced a 10 year drop in homicides and gang related violence following the summits, but the promised peace dividends did not materialize and the homicides rose to their current level. Then came California, home to some of the most earth shattering gang violence in the country. 

Urban Peace

Many of the Muslim leadership from these major cities throughout the United States convened in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C. in order to develop a consensus on how to best approach these efforts.  Thanks to many of the leaders that are alive today, and those that are incarcerated, as well as those that have made the transition, we were able to establish with faith and community based organizations, a national movement that was responsible for what we called an urban peace initiative.  The urban peace initiative revolved for us around what almighty god Allah has enjoined upon us in his Quran as the answer to violent tribalism, within division and gang violence that was rampant and is rampant in many parts of the United States.

Bismilla’-Hir-Rahma’-Nir-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.  And hold fast, all of you together by the Rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and do not be divided among yourselves (being Muslims); And remember with thank Allah’s favor on you; For you were enemies and he joined your hearts together in love, so that by His Grace you became brethren; And you were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it.  Thus does Allah make His Signs clear to you:  that you may be guided.  (Sura 3:  Iyat 103)

As the Stop the Killing and Stop the Madness Movements began to take root, the seeds that were planted in these major cities throughout the country began to grow.  Coalitions were formed to address the madness from a holistic, cultural specific perspective. Many of those street organizations and their leadership, as well as grassroots spiritual, social, cultural, political leadership and activists came together and actually signed peace treaties, and cease fire agreements to work together to resolve conflicts.

In honor of Imam Jamil al-Amin (H. Rap Brown), incarcerated for life, and Imam Luqman Abdullah, assassinated outside Detroit Oct. 28, 2009

But also while these efforts were going on. Allah brought together like minded people to give structure to this effort including  Imam Jamil Al Amin, Musham-Bey, Minister Louis Farrakhan and members of the Nation of  Islam , Members of the Moorish Science Temple of America, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad, the late El Hajj Omar Ali-Bey, Amir Khalid Samad, Imam T. Rashad Byrdsong, members of Al Ummah, and the leadership of Shurah Councils from throughout the United States.

After the summits, after the cease fires, truces, peace treaties and were declared in Chicago and Los Angeles; we came together in Kansas City and then in Cleveland to give structure to the organization called the National Council for Urban (Gang) Peace and Justice after the Kansas City, Missouri Summit in 1993. Gang related homicides, assaults, and other crimes decreased by as much as 25% in major urban centers like Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

So my brothers and sisters, this is a call to action and mobilization.  Let us continue to work together and let us join hands with our other community and faith partners to make the West Coast Summit successful.

Please contact any of the following people for more information and to see how you can help make this summit a success: 

Jitu Sadiki 760-409-1745 (California) · Nisa Shabazz (678) 480-6555 (Atlanta) · Amir Khalid Samad (216) 538-4043 (Cleveland)· Rashad Byrdsong (412) 371-3689 (Pittsburgh) · Minister Rashid (786) 402-5286 (Flordia)·  Wallace “Gator” Bradley (312) 371-6914 (Chicago) ·Ibrahim “Yanga” Abdul Qahaar (404) 207-7026 (Atlanta)·Minister Damu Crenshaw-El (216) 559-1536 (Cleveland).

As salaam Alaikum,

Amir El-Hajj Khalid A. Samad 

Attorney Joyce Schon at left leads chant of “Bobb must go” at DPS board meeting Oct. 14, 2010

Board meeting set for 6 p.m. Tues. Dec. 7 at New Center One, Welcome Center, W. Grand Blvd. at Second

Ruling comes on the eve of crucial election in Detroit Federation of Teachers

RELEASE

The Wayne County Circuit Court held today that Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb has violated the law for the last 20 months by illegally taking control over the academic affairs of the Detroit Public Schools. 

The Court held that Bobb had no legal authority to seize that power.  It also declared that he had no educational expertise or experience — that “all [Bobb’s] study in education has emanated from unvetted sources, who may stand to benefit financially should his academic plans come to fruition and who have supplemented his pay.”

Finally, it held that his educational plan was a “fix” that was “short on teaching and learning wisdom,” an opportunity where some “stand to profit shielded …from the eye of public oversight of competitive bids” because of Bobb’s one-man rule.

Charter school CEO Doug Ross, Skillman Foundation CEO Carol Goss, and DPS Czar Robert Bobb at "Take Ownership" meeting on DPS

In the words of the ruling, [Bobb] “was empowered to figure out how to pay for education fashioned by the Board. Instead he created education products he proposed to implement. His business paradigm envisions competitive marketplace schools where parents shop like consumers for the best schools with best being dictated by survival of the fittest principles of caveat emptor [buyer beware]. …Schools will compete for the best students, leaving less gifted children or those that come from households that somehow fail to present their children to school in the optimal ready-to-learn state, [to] fall by the wayside. Only schools with the best teachers will thrive and without encouragement to foster cooperation among and between teachers and schools, the weak perish.”

George Washington, attorney for school board and BAMN

George Washington, an attorney who represented the Detroit school board, said “This decision is the beginning of the end of Bobb’s illegal dictatorship and of the pro-charter and anti-education policies that he has attempted to force down the throats of Detroit’s students and citizens.  We will do everything necessary to enforce this decision.”

The decision comes on the eve of a crucial runoff election in the Detroit Federation of Teachers.  Steve Conn, a long-time BAMN member who is a candidate for President on the Defend Public Education/Save Our Students slate, supported the lawsuit and hailed the decision.  Keith Johnson, the current President of the DFT, has supported Bobb from the day he was appointed.   

Shanta Driver, the National Chair of BAMN and one of the attorneys on the case, said “This decision rejects the educational program and the political methods that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and plutocrats like Bill Gates and Eli Broad have used in their attempt to destroy public education.  The decision and Steve Conn’s election as President of the DFT will vastly strengthen the national fight against Duncan’s pro-charter, market-based competitive education model and will make it possible for us to repair the enormous damage that Duncan, through enforcers like Michelle Rhee and Robert Bobb, has already done to our children’s futures.” 

Contacts:      George B. Washington (attorney) 313-963-1921; 313-715-4886

                        Steve Conn   313-645-9340

                        Joyce Schon (attorney) 313-434-7075

DPS Election flyer   

Link to Baxter opinion and order exceeds limits for this site; link available in Detroit Free Press article at:

http://www.freep.com/article/20101207/NEWS01/12070379/1322/Judge-Bobbs-efforts-to-fix-DPS-classrooms-arent-his-job