Point of View: State of the City



By: Dallas Deyampert
Intern Reporter/Writer
Photos by Kwabena Shabu



Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick delivered his annual State of the City speech at the Orchestra Hall last Tuesday, in Downtown Detroit. Songstress and Emmy Award Winner, Anita Baker sung the National Anthem and the Bishop John Sheer; pastor of Greater Mitchell Temple gave the prayer. Mayor Kilpatrick discussed topics witched ranged from the water bill increase to the Detroit Zoo. Guest ranging from city council, to the Governor, and Distinguished guests came out hear the speech.

With 1000 new housing units built last year, this year new housing will be doubled. Kilpatrick will be presenting his budget to the city council April 12 of this year. Insurance and tax burdens will decrease with our homeowners. They will identify local insurance companies outrageous cost. If the agreement is not fair, there will be a lawsuit with the help of administration Sharon McPhail and Lucius Vasser.

City services have been cut, also a scale back in employees must be made. And the payroll of the employees also has to be cut. The bulk trash pickup has been cut because the cost of bulk was costing 200 million dollars a year, which equals out to 250 police officers. Are labor cost are killing us by this means that to every dollar the city puts addiction 92 cent. Retiree costs are raised 21%. Retirement cost will be 30% of payroll.

The Mayor announced that next year property taxes will be reduced in 25 neighborhoods, 15 more neighborhoods in 20008 and an additional 10 neighborhoods in 20009. 20007 will be the first year for this tax cut.

128 new businesses in neighborhoods are the key to creating new jobs. A 42.5 million dollar fund by the Detroit casino�s, which will come out, may of this year by George Jackson and D.E.G.C. Sandy Pierce with Carter One Bank is funding a 200 million dollar fund. This fund will give small businesses 40,000 for every full time job that is created. Governor Granholm has a 2 billion dollar fund, which makes the economic growth better in the 21st century.

Downtown is growing with building like Compuware, YMCA, Hilton, and the new docks. Chief Information Director Derrick Miller says the entire city will be wireless by January 2008. Everyone will be able to connect to the Internet.

Violence has been an issue in are community mostly from mental illness. 70% of the mentally ill clients in the county are in Detroit. Most of these people are criminals and or homeless. State Senator Bev Hammerstrom is creating a Mental Health Authority to help impact crime and violence in our city.

With all the issue discussed we have to just wait for action!!!!!!!