I remember the
morning that I woke up and read the breaking story of the " Text
Message Scandal." It started out as most mornings. I rolled over
about 8 or so to the smell of fresh coffee brewing in my kitchen. I
set the coffee maker instead of an alarm clock. The aroma wafting
through the air around a few corners and making it's way to my bedroom
is the way I choose to rise and shine. I did my usual morning ritual.
Bathroom, quick walk through the house, open the blinds and then turn
on my computer. I go into the kitchen to make my first cup of coffee.
By the time I make it back to my desk the computer is up and humming.
I sit down with coffee in hand and click on Freep.com. Little did I
know that morning that life for me would change and seemingly at this
point never be the same.
I can't remember the title of the first
headline, but whatever it was it grabbed my attention. I never read the
heavy stuff right off the bat in the morning. Normally I check the
weather or a few of the columnist. I do however remember thinking that
it was probably another political story telling the exploits of
Kilpatrick. I also remember quite vividly that the first couple of
lines had me reeling. Right off the cuff I felt this would be different. This was a big deal. When sex and politics rear their heads in the same story, you know you have something big!
I
should mention at this point that I don't live in Detroit and I hadn't
watched the full scope of coverage of the trial in which defendant
Kilpatrick and Beatty perjured themselves. I'd catch the evening news
and get the days details. I do remember seeing Kilpatricks face on the
news vowing to appeal once the city lost the case. I was living out of
state when Kilpatrick was elected and had moved back to a suburban
community in Michigan in the spring of 2005. I had no idea who Tamara
Green was and had no inkling of Manoogian parties or EPU security
force. Now I should also tell you that I was born in Detroit. Right
there at Herman Kiefer. I went to elementary school with Ella Mae
Bully. I recall reading that she had made police chief while I was
living out of state. I felt proud. A neighborhood home girl had made
good! I had no idea....
So on the fateful morning that my life
changed, most of the specific sordid details and accusations of firings
and lies and adultery were all new to me and the more I read the more I
started to realize that this was not just a passing story. This was
something that would change the face of Detroit forever. I remember
being angry at what Kilpatrick and Beatty had done to the officers.
Christine Beatty rolling her rather large eyes was replayed over and
over that day on the news. I remember reading the text messages and
feeling bad for Carlita Kilpatrick, the mayors poor wife. I was glued
to the television by noon. Between the Freep.com on the computer and
the television I didn't get a stitch of work done that first couple of
days.
I recall how he ran off and hid like a scared little boy.
Showing up in Florida. Florida? Ok man what the heck's up here? I
kept thinking that if he had nothing to hide and if he could "maybe"
explain to the public that a mistake was made it may blow over. Well,
not blow over but maybe it's not as bad as it appears. My first real
anger came when he was photographed skulking in the dark behind the
gates of the mansion when he finally returned to Detroit from Florida.
Cars coming and going at the mansion those first days. His handlers
getting his story straight. However nothing to this day makes me as
sick as the news conference in the church. sitting there with Carlita.
The corners of his mouth caked and dry. Attempting to solicit sympathy
for his wrongs. They say the eyes don't lie. His eyes portrayed
insincerity to me. His eyes showed me a boy in a big man size body.
His eyes show weakness. Carlita sitting beside him like she would
breathe fire at any moment. By then I had read of the alleged assault
on Ms. Green by Carlita. So she was no longer a victim, but just
another wife that took her anger out on the wrong party.
I knew
at this point I was being affected. Coming into my house each evening
and going straight to the computer for a new tidbit of "The Scandal."
Every conversation with friends and family had some mention of "The
Scandal." Finding myself becoming angry at the indifference of my
Detroit friends who seemed to not care that their mayor was a crooked
crook that was lying and deceiving them from every angle. The thought
that he had something to do with the death of Ms. Green is enough for
me to wish very bad things to befall him. I found myself worrying about
the retired clerk that had come forward with information on the Green
police report and assault. My maternal instincts made my blood boil
each time I saw the Ms. Greens beautiful children and thought how they
will never feel their mothers embrace. They would one day read all of
the ugly things that were being said about her and how she was shot
down like a wild animal. Yes. the affect on me was real and taking a
chunk out of happy go lucky spirit.
I found myself sitting at
my computer for hours posting and arguing my point. Attending the
first rally on the day of the State of The City Address was the day
that I knew I need to get a grip. I drove downtown alone with the
thought of a fully organized rally. Attended by other concerned
citizens that were fully committed and intent on running this hood out
of office. Instead I found maybe 60 or 70 people at the most. I still
felt proud that I walked the walk. After the rally I recall thinking
that "whoa", now you Ms. suburbanite cutie pie are down here on
Woodward and what ever street alone and it's dusk. You parked 4 blocks
away and now you have to walk past all of these transients, drunks and
druggies to make it back to your vehicle and your safe little
community. Are you insane? The people that are directly affected don't
seem to care and you are willing to risk life and limb and they didn't
even bother to show up!
I made it home that evening just in time
to hear Kilpatricks tirade at the end of the speech. I thought to
myself that he is simply a fool. I thought about all of those people
that had strode past me in the snow on their way into the Opera house
while I walked the picket line. The smug looks on their faces as if I
was beneath them. "Get out of the way you little people." " We're off
to see the Wizard." I was angry! How dare you sheep!
Still
at that point I, nor anyone in the public had any idea how bad it was
really going to get and how the entire state would be touched and
shaken by this administrations crimes. Here we are some 3 months later
and it has become a powder keg. We know it's going to blow and we sit
and wait. Not because we are gluttons for drama. It's because now we
know many many more details. It's got to blow. It's inevitable.
The
past week has been the hardest on me. The details that have come out
are hard to read and yet hard not to read. The worst part to me, a
rational , hardworking, respectful and intelligent open minded woman,
is that he won't go. He refuses to take his punishment like a man and
let the city out of his grip. I feel the pain and anger of the fellow
Michiganians as well as others who are posting on the various stories.
There is insight. There is anger. There is loathing. There is racism.
There is pain. There is frustration. There is hatred. There are
conspiracy theories. There are jokes. There are revelations. There is
networking on solutions.
I want to tune out. I want to have
something else to think about when I wake up each morning. I want to
stop hurting over my beloved Detroit. I
want the city to get about the business of cleaning up this mess and
trying to get a fresh start. If there is any good to come out of this
entire mess is my hope that lessons will be learned to those that are
in power to use the checks and balances that are a part of your job
description. I hope the City Council is ashamed for having the wool
pulled over their eyes. I hope the voters know who to keep out of
office in the next election. You useless space takers know who you are
! You absolute spectacles know who you are!
I, like so many
others frequented Greektown, Fishbones and Tom's Oyster Bar as some of
my favorites. This time of year my girlfriends and me love going to
downtown Detroit. Not now. Not until this mayor is history! I suppose
thats whenmost of us can finally tune Kwame out. At this point I am now
tuning off my television and my computer after a short while of reading
and listening, but how do I tune out my mind? It's troubled and there
is only one thing to ease my mind at this point. I need to see The
mayor pay for his crimes against the city of Detroit.
