DAVID7750's - COMMENTS

   Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick is gone (almost) (maybe) he still has two (2) weeks until September 18,  to withdraw his plea. If he finally ends this sad tale of an intelligent, articulate and magentic person gone wrong, he will go to Jail, like too many black males with promise. He had the breeding, education and connections to be a Great Mayor - but he let arrogance, self importance, ego and greed blind him to serve Detroit and not himself.

  The Mayor finally admitted his unlawful behavior and accepted the best plea deal he could get, framed by local attorneys, not his 'dream team' of high priced outstate attorneys, and in the end it was the local attorneys that got the Mayor a plea deal. It will be interesting to see who pays for the 'dream team' - probably the taxpayers.

  Unresolved issue - where is the Mayor going to get $1,000,000. to pay his fine. Is his campaign fund and charitable organizations going to be used???. Is he going to use the 'birthday money' from Police Chief Bully-Cummings and other assistant and deputy chiefs.

   Everyone wants Detroit to 'move forward' BUT we now must await the FBI indictments of several City Council members, who put themselves above service to Detroit. This may force the Governor to step in and install a state administrator to run Detroit until the criminal cases are resolved and Detroit elects a new and hopefully better Council.

  And Kilpatrick and his father may face Federal indictments, he may not have seen the last of courtrooms. There maybe more - contractors, police executives, city officials, city workers and assorted hangers on.

  Test messages - OMG - don't forget those. They may reveal bigger problems for Detroit to overcome. Including what the Mayor and others did in office and what they thought of people doing and about to do business with Detroit.

  Still an issue and unresolved, is the Manoogian mansion bachelor party, in which, it is alleged that Carlita Kilpatrick feloniously assaulted an exoctic dancer (stripper) Tamara Greene. The coverup by the Mayor is part of the reason for the current scandal. Michigan Attorney General Michael Cox and Governor Granholm, may also be involved in the coverup - we need the TRUTH.

   Is Martha Reeves mentally able to be a Council member? Her comments about Tiger Stadium (are they tearing it down?) and comments after the Mayor's plea call into question her competence.

   And should the Council be wary of an actions Monica Conyers takes, in regards, to council business? She maybe a central target of the FBI and her emotional outbursts, also call into question her competence, let alone her votes. It's a shame and an embarrassement that the wife of a Congressman is even in such a postion. Maybe John Conyers should tell his wife to resign to save Detroit and himself embarrassment.

   I like Ken Cockrel, Jr. and over eight years ago, thought he might make a good Mayor. But, he failed to raise the hiring standards of the Detroit Police Department or to improve the Department. He failed to get the money ($2- $12 million) - he (Cockrel) admitted that Mike Ilitch owes the City for the security and maintenance of Tiger Stadium. That is more money than Kilpatrick settled the Whistleblowers lawsuit for. The money is still OWED. It's time that soon to be Mayor Cockrel  get's the money back.

   What do you think...address the Issues...

  Tina Fey for Vice President, the creator and star of the hit television show '30 Rock' on NBC and Emmy Award winner has apparently decided to try and conquer new challenges - running for Republican Vice President.

  The former Saturday Night Live star is trading on her popularity, good looks, and sense of humor by becoming the Republican Vice President. Her face is instantly recognizable - her bubbly personality is contagious and her youth is a great asset.

  She had great experiences on SNL and knows about world leaders and events thru SNL News  - Weekend Updates. She would make a great Vice President.

  Oops...that's not Tina Fey - look at her glasses, its its and imposter. It's Alaska Governor Sarah Palin - who is on the front line of defending America, because Alaska is so near Russia - within walking distance.

  What if Russia got advanced information the Palin was going to be picked and replaced her with a look alike - we could be electing a woman who is impersonating Tina Fey and could be a secret Russian agent.

  OMG - its a Russian Conspiracy.......

  ps: Palin made a very remarkable acceptance speech, hitting all the notes, she needed to hit - who she was, who her family was, explaining her experience, and hitting back at the Democrats, and telling all that McCain / Palin would be good for America.

        But - the Alaskan Troopers Union is filing an ethics complaint against her, the Alaskan Senate is holding hearings concerning her firing of a Police Commissier (and they claim that the McCain campaign is trying to delay the hearings - interfering) so that the final report will be delayed past the November election - these are serious charges....was she properly vetted (investigated) and did McCain make a capricious, impetiuos choice?

 WOW - Thanks to Fox2Detroit for LIVE coverage of Governor Granholm's Removal Hearings of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. The only Detroit station providing live gavel to gavel coverage - while others use the internet (assuming people have acess).

  It will not be a ratings sucess, but it is in the Public Interest to have it on commercial tv versus just the internet, so that anyone interested may view the proceedings and not just those wealthy enough to have a computer.

  The Governor is conducting herself and the hearings in a proper manner, that shows no bias..

  But the most intriguing question is, and hasn't been asked is Why? with all the high priced attorneys that the Mayor is paying - Why? is he entrusting this important faze to Sharon McPhail? a woman who accused him of hotwiring her council seat - and who is clealy not had the legal experience of the other attorneys.

  The Mayor should be removed from office - and he deserves his day in court - his presumption of innocence. He can get a fair trail. But he should not be Mayor while his days counting down to his trials' are counting down.

  Deal or No Deal: Did Mayor Kilpatrick lawyers strike a deal? Yes or No - only a few people know for sure. But rumors were flying and the media went into frenzy mode - trying to be the first, and everyone got it wrong, because???

  The Mayor has known the truth about his actions - if there is a plea deal it should include Jail Time, so that future elected politicians will understand that resigning their office - is not sufficient to make up for misconduct in office, for lying in court, and betraying the public trust.

  Hopefully tonight - the Deal will get done, for Detroit ...

  Jamie Lynn Spears, a 16 year old pregnant teenager was a political rally point of the Republican right wingers - oh so concerned with 'family values' - now the John McCain's Republican choice for Vice President, the little known Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin's , 17 year old daughter is five (5) months preganant it is a 'non issue' according to 'Babes' Buchanan and Saul Anuzi (Michigan GOP Chairman)....

  Its a 'private issue' and the children should not be subject to politics..But its OK if the Republicans can use children to further 'far right wing' agenda of Abstinence Only - 750,000 teenagers will become pregnant this year. And Palin, the 'hockey mom' the reformer with no real political experience is anti abortion and pro abstinence only - well apparently her daughter didn't get the message.

  And we as Voters deserve to know if she (Palin) faked a pregnancy to cover up her daughters first baby - we deserve to know if she tried to get her brother-in-law fired as an Alaskan State Trooper for personal reasons.

  Palin's daughter is 17 - her mother wants to be Vice President and we are supposed to turn a blind eye - to give the family privacy?

  McCain made a bad choice for Vice President, if Palin is the best woman the Republicans can offer as VP - then they should have picked a male.

  The Republicans can do better - they should admit it and  find a 'reason' for Palin to withdraw and pick a qualified VP - and let her have her privacy. It is the Republican Party that is forcing Sarah Palin on the American Voter, not the Democrats.

  Palin is NO role model for women, no heroic figure. She has family problems and should withdraw or others should make sure McCain finds another VP.

  The Republicans don't need another Dan Quayle or Spiro Agnew and neither do the American voters.

ALSO:

   Obama is no more a secret Muslim 'manchurian candidate', than John F. Kennedy was a Catholic pawn of the Pope - both right wing, ignorant comments that denigrate people of all religions, faiths and beliefs...

  Bush/Cheney have done more damage to the American image worldwide than any other Presidents. We are no longer the most powerful country in the world, no longer the moral guiding light.

  The Russians knew it when they invaded Georgia - and all Bush could do is speak words with no force behind them. Mugabe of Zimbabwe knew it too. The Chinese know it - when Bush speaks of Human Rights - that Bush authorized torture and a suppression of American civil liberties.

  If you are going to comment - Speak to the issues !

  We - our Country - the USA has nominated a black / African American man for President, an historic event.

  Because of Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton, your son or daughter may now relalistically desire to become President of the United States, at least in the Democratic Party. An inclusive party.

  We are about to nominate the oldest man ever to run for President, by a Party that still clings to right wing ideology over what's best for America.

   There are important issues facing this Country - the Democratic Convention has started - or has it????

   I don't think so: the Big Bang Theory, Deal or No Deal, High School Musical - Get In the Picture, Prison Break, or the don't miss - Gossip Girl are on - more important than the Democratic Convention?

  No wonder young voters, have no interest in politics or voting - they are not exposed to the interesting events and commentary about the way Democrats and Republicans Conventions operate - the people, the speeches the analysis.

  I remember staying up past midnite to see John F. Kennedy nominated for President, the youngest candidate ever, a Catholic, some said too inexperienced, and yet we learned about him and others through convention coverage - it was fascinating. I watched as Robert Kennedy went across this Country speaking and engaging people and I watched his funeral. I watched as Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated. I watched Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and others were nominated for President and watched as the uniquely American political conventions played out day after day - listened to the speeches, watched the people, watched the drama the chaos and tragedy of the 1968 Convention all live - for several nights - but now these unique events which come only once every four (4) years is denigrated, dismissed and ignored by TV networks whose bottom line is $$$$$ and not the Public Interest.

  We watched the Olmpics from China - Live - for 14 days and nights - BUT get only glimpses of the uniquely American political conventions after 10 pm....How Outrageous - How sad...

  We try to export Democracy at the point of a gun, our President speaks about the importance of Democracy and a freely elected govenment - BUT - we can't stand to watch it on our TVs. The networks think or have been told - we are not interested - its not commercially viable -

  We may be tired of the long long often boring and repitious tv news clips of our candidates. We are tired of the attack ads, the distortion of our candidates positions - But we should be able to see on all of our commercial tv networks - the uniquely American event - the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.....Demand It..

  We are Americans - Democracy is our hallmark - not be shunted aside by the Gossip Girl.

   Those of you who missed Senator Ted Kennedy's speech live - missed television at its best (but only on CNN) as he spoke for the 'torch being passed' and how 'American soldiers lives should not be spent on a mistake - but for a mission worthy of their sacrifices'

  Oh No - John McCain didnt pick an inexperienced governor (two years as governor), with no national political experience to be a Hearbeat away for the Presidency.??? Say it ain't so John......

If you wondered where all the 'scap' from historic Detroit Tiger Stadium is going - not far - trucks are heading N / Michigan Avenue, S / on Lonyo, then W / on John Kronk (9100), to Ferrous Processing and Trading Co. there truck after truck line up to disgorge their contents.  

 Remember that there was nothing was wrong with the structure of Tiger Stadium - the Stadium could have lasted long into the 21st Century, if the City had chosen to use it as an entertainment, revenue producing site.

A security employee at Ferrous said that no Tiger Stadium seats are coming to the site - where are all those orange and blue seats - that demolition photographs show  go - or are going????

Another Detroit scandal?

 ps. if police and politicians want to stop the theft of copper, and other metals, stolen cars, stripping of aluminum off vacant houses, they need to check every scrap metal dealer on John Kronk and the area.  

(c) photo by: M News Service / MNS Photo 

At least 35 indictments coming
Hold on to your seats because the growing Synagro scandal will allegedly produce as many as 35 indictments by October if not sooner. The scandal has extended beyond just the Synagro deal and will reportedly include such things as Cobo Hall etc.

Beatty not going away easily
We got some information that a Land Rover with the vanity license plate CGB ( Christine Beatty?) was spotted in front  of the house next door to the Manoogian Mansion Thursday morning. It couldn't be could it? If you live in Detroit you probably received that fancy glossy pictorial listing Mayor Kilpatrick's " accomplishments". Speculation has reached us that placed Beatty as the publisher of the propaganda piece. How she got paid is a question that begs an answer. Rumor said she has a consulting contract with the city. ...Stay tuned

DETROIT BEST WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT GOING ON IN DETROIT IS:    firejerryo.com  click and read.............

  Detroit PO John Bennett was suspended 4.5 years for starting and maintaining a website critical of former Detroit Police Chief Jerry Oliver, who once praised the website.

  Ella Bully Cummings, (current PC bobble head - whose text messages indicate that she was part of the cabal - back stabbing - that helped cripple Oliver's effort to reform the Department) instead of rescinding the suspension - continued it - thru loss after loss in courts and State administrative hearings.

  Bennett finally was re-instated with back pay and benefits, continues his efforts to be a 'truth teller' in a City sorely lacking in Truth, Integrity, Leadership, Morality... read it and leave comments on his blog and here...what do you think???

WWW.FIREJERRYO.COM    

On June 28, 1990, South African leader Nelson Mandela thrilled 49,000 as he described his life during apartheid............. at Detroit Tiger Stadium...

Nat King Cole sang .....at Detroit Tiger Stadium...............

The Detroit Lions played at Detroit Tiger Stadium................... 

100,000,000 (100 million) people, off all colors enjoyed coming to events at Navin Field,  Bennett Field, Briggs Stadium and Tiger Stadium.

Wallace Triplett was only the third African-American to be picked in the NFL draft, taken by the Detroit Lions in 1949, but he was the first of the draftees to take the field in a league game (other African-Americans had previously played in the league). The 5'-10", 173-pounder played running back and return specialist for the Lions from 1949-50.

   The Michigan Central Train Station discriminated against blacks - The Roosevelt Hotel across the street discriminated against blacks...but The Tombstone (train station) stands as a depressing monument to a former great Detroit, the Roosevelt Hotel, implodes brick by brick, day by day, month by month, and year by year - both are within a baseball throw of historic Detroit Tiger Stadium, yet - Barbara Rose Collins is not seeking their demolition or proclaiming -  they to be used in a Dracula movie.

   Barbara Rose Collins, a Detroit City Councilwoman and disgraced former Congress woman made clearly racist comments - about Tiger Stadium

"I know there's a lot of nostalgia for it, and people are crying," she said. "I don't have any fond memories of it."

"There's no purpose for it, except for a Dracula movie," she said.

   Maybe if she would have gone to some of the other hundreds of events at Tiger Stadium, maybe she would have different feelings - but clearly - she didn't. That may explain, in part, why she and her fellow council members have failed to ask for an investigation of Mike Ilitch and why? and where?  the money he got,($4 - $12. million) for the security and maintenance was spent. A federal investigation is needed considering all the corruption of Detroit City government - the Mayor and the Council..and an FBI investigation (of the Tiger Stadium situation) is believed to be underway.

   Tiger Stadium deserves to be saved and used as an entertainment - revenue producing source for Detroit. The Mayor and City Council, who continually play the Race Card - even against themselves have failed the residents of Detroit. Millions of $$$$ have been lost to Detroit as Tiger Stadium stayed vacant - despite it's revenue producing ability. Fenway Park, a near Tiger Stadium equal, was just renovated and is a Jewel of Boston - Why not Tiger Stadium? Detroit residents and residents of Michigan and history lovers everywhere deserve better.

   The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy has been told that any development plans of 3,000 or more seats would be VETOED by Mike Ilitch- that shows who is calling the shots about Tiger Stadium, The DEGC which has lied to Corktown residents, and the Detroit Planning Commission should not be allowed to continue their deception.

   Speak Out - Speak Up call the Detroit City Council (313 224 4505) and tell them to Save Tiger Stadium. for more info go to:  www.preservetigerstadium.com  

   DAVID7750's Album

Bang bang - your dead !!! A little Patty Hearst II - ? - with her flip flops on, Grace (5) holds a military style assault rifle - that could get her killed, a police officer killed or grieving families for both...but really, it's a soft air gun - that shoots pellets than can cause welts...

But at the right time under the wrong circumstances it could get someone killed. All toy guns, pellet guns, bb guns, soft air guns should not be designed to look like real guns and they should be colored neon orange or yellow.  

Police Chief William Dwyer (Farming Hills, Mi - now Warren Police Dept) along with Taylor (Mi) Police Chief has spoken out against toy guns - every police department, sheriff's department, and other law enforcement agencies should speak out for a ban on the manufacture, sale and distribution of realistically designed and colored toy guns.

Since 1988, as a Detroit Police Officer, I have been trying to get realistically styled and colored toy guns banned. There should be a ban on the manufacture, sale and distribution of bb guns, air soft guns/rifles, pellet guns and/or they should be colored neon yellow or orange or red...

Call you local police department, sheriff's office, or local law enforcement office and tell them to speak out for a ban. Call your congressmen and state legislators and tell them to pass a bill to protect children, law enforcement officers and the public.

 Leave your comments...............  

JULY 9, 2008

Demolition of historic Detroit Tiger Stadium expands - a hole in the wall and our memories are let out.. Write down your memories on this blog page.photo by: David L. Malhalab,  M News Service / MNS Photo

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   Why are there still seats left in historic Detroit Tiger Stadium - when hundreds of people wanted to buy them during the auction of memorabilia that netted the City of Detroit only $300,000.,(undocumented).?????  

    Is this payment for the demolition crews that have to pay the City $300,000. if the entire Stadium is demolished?   

    How much are the remaining seats worth?

     And still the TRUTH hasn't been told by the Media - about the lies by Tom Monaghan, the City, Mike Ilitch, Ken Cockrel, George Jackson and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.

     Its time Mickey Briggs, the Fetzer Foundation, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and others to step up and condemn publicly - the demoliton of historic Detroit Tiger Stadium and tell the Truth as they know it.

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**********  'Stranded at the Corner' the documentary DVD about efforts to save historic Detroit Tiger Stadium is still available. Contact: Peter C. Riley (313 402 4565)..The DVD has archival footage of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, with other events that brought 100,000,000 people to Tiger Stadium and interviews with people who are involved in efforts to save Tiger Stadium - with a dash of humor. It is 83 minutes long and a must see for everyone - buy for yourself or give as a gift.

JUNE 30, 2008 - DEMOLITION OF TIGER STADIUM BEGINS, THE GREEN TO THE RIGHT IS ORIGINAL STADIUM SECTION  photo by: David L. Malhalab 

    The demolition of historic Detroit Tiger Stadium has begun. The construction crews, in a perfectly timed effort, punched an 8' hole into the center-left field outer wall, as City government was virtually incumunicado, the swirl of corruption stories, and the school board vote on their deficiet would make the beginning of demolition a small footnote in and on the news, and so it began.  

   The dark forces of corruption that have marked the 'demolition by neglect' of Tiger Stadium are winning. Since 1999, when Tiger Stadium was closed, the City has made no serious effort to encourage development or use of the Stadium as and entertainment venue - because Mike Ilitch, owner of the Tigers, Red Wings and Little Ceasar's Pizza didn' want competition for his entertainment facilities.

    Ilitch the billionaire and his wife, who owns Motor City Casino a baseball throw away, a short stroll to the 'field of dreams' should have developed the Stadium as another premiere entertainment facility -develop it as an historic site, that would draw tourists to Detroit, but NO - Ilitch took $420,000 a year ($2-$12 million dollars) for the maintenance and security of Tiger Stadium since 1999 and allowed it to fall into disrepair and neglect. Is Ilitch a FELON??. The FBI has been asked to investigate. You should boycott - Little Ceasar's Pizza.

    Ken Cockrel, Jr, president of the Detroit City Council said, "your boy (Peter C. Riley) was right. He (Ilitch) owes us the money, and I will do everything to get it back"... that was over a year ago. Before the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation members - LIED - to the Detroit Planning Commission in a presentation of their case for demolition.

   The Commission knew they were being lied to - and rejected the Corporation proposal - for demolition. That was before Scott of the DEGC - LIED - to the Corktown Residents Council, telling them that it was 'too dangerous' for their members to tour Tiger Stadium, for a fact finding effort.

   There have been numerous proposals to utilize, renovate and preserve Tiger Stadium, but the City never fully cooperated with the proponents - allowing Tiger Stadium to sit idle and decay.

    The final chapter in the history of Tiger Stadium maybe demolition, but it may also include information on 'convictions' of Ilitch, George Jackson and others who allowed a City jewel to be demolished and left only as a memory of what was, what might and could have been.

     Maybe their will be Justice - for historic Tiger Stadium, but I still want the Stadium.       

      FOR MORE INFO:  Please donate to help save the Old Tiger Stadium   CLICK...

DETROIT TIGERS STADIUM UNIQUE AND RARE ITEMS GAME USED! - eBay (item 250255743164 end time Jun-11-08 17:49:57 PDT)

    The above is a link to a current Ebay auction of stolen items from historic Detroit Tiger Stadium in 2000.

    Mike Ilitch was receiving $400,000. a year to maintain (as it was in 1999) and to provide security for historic Detroit Tiger Stadium. Obviously from the auction site, and from the general look of Tiger Stadium - now - Ilitch looks like he didn't spend a dime of the nearly, $2 - $12 million dollars he got from Detroit, a financailly ailing city.

   While we celebrate the Red Wings Stanley Cup victory - remember the millions of dollars he has gotten from the City - for Tiger Stadium, with no obvious accountabilty! No one is above the law - Adolph Albert Taubman the billionaire went to jail - Shouldn't Mike Ilitch??

    It seems to be a felony crime that the City is allowing to go unpunished. Ken Cockrel, Jr. told me that he believes that "Ilitch owes us the money" and that " I'll do whatever necessary to get it back" that was over at least a year ago, and he still has done nothing. Councilwoman Joanne Watson has also said, that she believes Ilitch owes the City money for Tiger Stadium. Why? is the Council so slow to recover millions of dollars - especially when Detroit has a deficit?? Do they worship Ilitch or are they afraid of him?

   The Packard plant is litterally failing onto the streets of Detroit, the Train Station looms as a ominus tombstone over Detroit - there are dozens of abandon buildings throughout Detroit that are a danger to the public and  have better economic locations for business- but there is no rush to demolish them.  Why? the rush to demolish Tiger Stadium. 

    Legitimate proposals by upstanding businessmen were offered to use Tiger Stadium as a money making entertainment facility since 1999, those offers were ignored, dismissed or discouraged - there was no legitimate offer that the City would accept. Detroit has lost millions and millions of dollars - $$$$$$$, Why? There needs to be a criminal investigation.

    George Jackson and members of the Detroit Economic Development Corporation have lied to the Corktown residents, the Detroit City Planning Commission, the residents of Detroit and Michigan. And yet the DEGC is getting its way - with the demolition of Tiger Stadium.

    Detroit recieved about $300,000 for items sold at auction from Tiger Stadium - although no public final accounting has been released. That means that possibly millions of dollars worth of items were stolen from Tiger Stadium - in the manner described in the Ebay auction - and Ilitch should be held accountable for that.

    There needs to be an investigation by the Detroit City Council, the Michigan State Police and the FBI into what public corruption was involved in the 'demolition by neglect' of Tiger Stadium and Why the City has lost millions of dollars for the use of Tiger Stadium since 1999, and the theft of items from Tiger Stadium, including the Historical Marker. The investigation must include Mike Ilitch, the DEGC and the Mayor.

    Contact  members of the Detroit City Council: Ken Cockrel (313 224 4505), Monica Conyers (313 224 4530),  Sheila Cockrel (313 224 1337), Martha Reeves (313 224 4510), Joann Watson (313 224 4536), Kwame Kenyatta (313 224 1198), Brenda Jones (313 224 1245), Barbara Rose Collins (313 224 1298), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (313 224 1645). It is still not to late to preserve what is left of Tiger Stadium and to restore it to a viable entertainment facility - that it should have been since 1999. Call today...everyday..

Remember to vote - August 5th and November 4th, 2008.

The August 5th Primary is more important that the General Election - so look carefully at all the candidates and vote for the best one, based on their views and how they agee with yours.

Then vote on November 4th,  for the best of two candidates.

    Fenway Park is a town jewel and tourist attraction. Lambeau Field is a tourist attraction and town jewel (and TV star - in commercials seen by millions of Michigan residents). Tiger Stadium should  have been a tourist attraction and town jewel - not to mention TV star, just like Lambeau Field, but alas Mike Ilitch, George Jackson (and the DEGC) along with  Detroit Mayors and lackadaisical City Council conspired to allow it fall into 'demolition by neglect' and maybe ultimately into demolition by wrecking ball or melted down to scrap.  

    Full Count (Detroit News - Aguilar / May 28)...doesn't tell the full story of the decline and fall of historic Detroit Tiger Stadium. George Jackson, of the DEGC, has lied repeatedly to the media and then complains about the attention given to Tiger Stadium development efforts. There was NEVER a level playing field for those who wanted to preserve Tiger Stadium as an entertainment venue that could bring in millions of dollars to the City and millions upon millions of more tourists, added onto the 100,000,000 million visitors that have enjoyed Tiger Stadium as a baseball mecca, a football mecca, a concert venue, a rally venue, a special event venue - not just a 'MLB' venue as Jackson haughtily dismisses Tiger Stadium.

   Tiger Stadium had value - to Detroit - and still has even though gutted, it remains a solid well built facility, that could offer a home to Wayne State University sports teams, too rock concerts, political rallies, special events, add a Michigan Sports Hall of Fame -  it is not too late.    

   The final out has not been made - the final chapter in Tiger Stadium has not been written, but if it is..history will hopefully finally tell the truth - that George Jackson and members of the DEGC lied to and misled the Corktown residents, the Detroit Planning Commission, and the residents of Detroit and Michigan. History may record that Mike Ilitch played a major role in the 'demolition by neglect' of historic Detroit Tiger Stadium and that he was a felon, who took $2 - 12 million dollars from the City of Detroit for the maintenance and security of Tiger Stadium and it doesn't look like he spent a dime of it on Tiger Stadium - history should ask as others should - where did the money go? The only difference between Ilitch and convicted felon, Adolph Alfred Taubman is that Taubman took from the rich and Ilitch took badly need dollars from a struggling city.  

    If historic Detroit Tiger Stadium falls to the wrecking ball, and melted into scrap - of history, it will not be because Ernie Harwell failed, or the Tiger Stadium Conservancy failed, or the Tiger Stadium Fan Club failed, or Frank Rashid failed, or Peter C. Riley failed, or Mickey Briggs failed, or the Fetzer Foundation failed, or Peter Huithwaite failed, or Harry Glanz failed, or any of the others that wanted to preserve and utilize historic Detroit Tiger Stadium - it will be because a Billionaire, his wife and other city politicians and leaders - didn't want to save Tiger Stadium for their own SELFISH reasons, maybe history will find those reasons.  

    Tiger Stadium is still not history. Save Tiger Stadium - call the Detroit City Council members, including Ken Cockrel, Jr (313 224 4505) and tell them to let Tiger Stadium live and prosper as an entertainment venue and TV star - like Fenway Park and Lambeau Field do.    

   David L. Malhalab  -  Detroit / Dearborn Heights - Retired DPD Sergeant -

Vote: David Lawrence Malhalab, State Representative 17th District - Livonia, Redford Twp, Dearborn Heights. August 5th....November 4th...Mark your calendars..                   

Detroit News Article................................................
.......................................................
......... Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Full count  -  Deadline nears in effort to preserve part of Tiger Stadium Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

The final out is coming up for Tiger Stadium, as the group seeking to save a portion of the historic ball field faces a Sunday deadline to come up with $369,000 to send the preservation effort into extra innings.

The preservation group -- Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy -- admits it doesn't have that kind of cash. Meanwhile city officials already have approved a demolition contract. They also point out they've seen no solid business plan to support the idea of keeping the old baseball diamond and 3,000 seats to create a Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and mixed-use development.

"It's bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded and a full count," said Ernie Harwell, the Hall of Fame broadcaster who's a member of the conservancy. "We've made tremendous progress, we've got wonderful support from key people, but it's still going to be a battle."

The volunteer nonprofit conservancy maintains it has made progress in identifying short-term and long-term support for the estimated $15 million project, including a pledge by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, to seek money from the 2009 federal budget.

But without either the money or another extension of the deadline, the only ball left at Tiger Stadium would be the wrecking ball.

Since last year, the city has given the conservancy group several extensions to come up with money to back its plans, but the Sunday deadline has significant weight. The city already has awarded a demolition contract to two companies to tear down the stadium. That agreement, approved in April, requires the companies to pay the city $300,000 to raze the entire stadium, or pay nothing to do the partial tear-down the conservancy group wants.

A total demolition is cheaper and leaves more iron and other material to be sold for scrap by the two firms, MCM Management Inc. and The Farrow Group Inc. The contractors want an answer on or before Sunday.

State Sen. Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit, House Majority leader and a member of the conservancy effort, said the group has made "great progress." Tobocman said he hopes the June 1 deadline can pass without a final decision.

"I don't think the conservancy is delaying any progress," Tobocman said. "I think the real date is when the wrecking ball comes around to the part of the stadium we want to save. Hopefully, if you have the House majority leader and a U.S. Senator working on this, that can give us some time."

S. Gary Spicer, Harwell's attorney and also a member of the conservancy group, says the organization has identified other sources of financing for the project, from tax credits and foundations and some private donors. The conservancy hasn't asked for public donations yet, Spicer said, because the group didn't want to take money without knowing it had a "solid long-term plan."

City official George Jackson, who also is president of quasi-public Detroit Economic Growth Corp, said time is up.

"We've been through now almost eights years of individuals and organizations that said they would renovate the stadium," Jackson said. "This is something that's never been done in history and you guys have given a lot of press to plans that never had a chance. But the bottom line it is a financial impracticality."

The cost of maintaining what the nonprofit wants "is astronomical," Jackson added.

"You need to know how difficult it is for us to maintain institutions that require contributions in general," Jackson said, citing the Detroit Zoo, Detroit Institute of Arts, Music Hall and Orchestra Hall. "They're basically venues that are doing what they are designed to do. And they do well, but it is still challenging in regards to fundraising and capital projects, operating and maintenance."

The flaw, he said, is that no city ever has found a new use for an abandoned Major League Baseball stadium.

"Its use was for a Major League Baseball game. It wasn't meant to be a condominium or a museum. The concept has to be practical and pragmatic and also cost effective. Not one legitimate developer -- throughout this whole process for all these years -- has stepped forward to do this," Jackson said.

"I understand people's sentiment and attachment to history, but let's look at the history of why this is never done," Jackson said.

Despite being caught in a squeeze play between time and money, the conservancy said it will continue its efforts until at least June 1.

You can reach Louis Aguilar at (313) 222-2760 or laguilar@detnews.com.