NEXT CAMPAIGN MEETING MAY 4TH!

Please join us Monday, May 4th at 7 o'clock p.m. at 17405 Lahser , North of Grand River at the Motor City Blight Busters Resource Center, 2nd Floor for our next campaign meeting. Learn how you can get involved to bring back positive change in DETROIT, plus a great discussion on PROPOSAL C on the Detroit City Charter Revision.

Hope to see you there because things are "heating" up as we get closer and closer to Election Day on AUGUST 4, 2009! Election time is just 3 months away.

CALL (313) 341-2660 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

RACE & REGIONALISM: PANCAKES & POLITICS '09

I attended Pancakes & Politics Forum 2 on Thursday, April 23rd at the Detroit Athletic Club. I met some interesting folks and heard interesting discussion from the panelists, which included: Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers; Peter Karmanos, the Compuware CEO; Phil Power of the Center for Michigan Think Tank and famed Demographer Kurt Metzger. There was discussion on the state of Cobo, our education system, mass transit, light rail and race relations in our region and how the state of that impacts all of the above. I also had a great interview with Real Time Media. I will try to get the video and place it on the website. Stay tuned.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE

MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD. REGISTER & VOTE

The Detroit Mayoral Special Election is coming up fast. The voter registration deadline for the May 5th election is Monday, April 6. This is the last day to register to vote for the May 5th election, according to the Michigan Secretary of State.

Detroit voters will elect either Dave Bing or Ken Cockrel, Jr.(The Interim Mayor) and school districts will elect board members and vote on bond issues. Some communities will vote on millages for police and fire departments or select members of library boards.

See you at the polls on Tuesday, May 5th!

NETTLES FORMING "DETROIT EARTH TEAM"

Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 24th!

The Motor City Makeover has turned into Detroit’s Spring Clean Up. It has already begun, runs through June 2009 and promises to be the biggest, best effort ever. I am organizing the Nettles Detroit Earth Team to participate in the event. Please contact our volunteer coordinator Tonie Dance at toniedance62@att.net.

The City of Detroit will jump start the effort by removing graffiti, tackling major dump sites, demolishing abandoned homes, cleaning parks and recreation centers and planting trees from March through early May. Then the Detroit Earth Team will jump in and do its part throughout the city: West side, East Side, Southwest Detroit and Northwest Detroit. See the list below for the specific city sectors.

CLEANING THE CITY BY SECTORS
Detroit’s Spring Clean Up is still a bagged litter campaign, and the cleanup will take place by sector on the following Saturdays:

Saturday, April 25— Sectors 1, 2, 9 & 10

Saturday, May 2 — Sectors 3 & 4

Saturday, May 9 —Sectors 5 & 6

Saturday, May 16 -- Sectors 7 & 8

Please see the map below to identify your sector.

DETROIT SPRING CLEAN MAP

Livin’ on the Edge: Rigged electrical hookups pose fatal risks
By Chief Paul Nettles
Special to The Michigan Citizen (Reprint from 3/29/2009)

DETROIT--In these hard times, fire deaths caused by rigged gas and electric hookups are sadly becoming an everyday thing. Once a sign of squatters — gas, electrical, and water bypass methods are being used by families living on the edge and even businesses just trying to survive during this severe economic crisis.

Sometimes lamp cords are hooked up to bypass an electric meter, or sometimes it’s as simple as someone running an extension cord to the house next door to tap into its power supply. The methods are illegal and extremely dangerous.

We can’t control job loss or a layoff, but we can control the level of safety in our own homes.

In the interim, every house should have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to protect against fire hazards until the fire department can respond.

When it comes to businesses everyone should be alert to illegal electrical hookups.

Case in point: The Power Plant nightclub in Highland Park. Last month, the after-hours establishment was raided by law enforcement who say they found drugs, alcohol and weapons. However, what was even more frightening was the fact that the crowded club had jerry-rigged utility hookups, no fire extinguishers and only one exit/entrance — a recipe for tragedy.

Be aware of signs of an illegal electrical hookup, which are:

- Flickering or dimming lights.

- Sparks from an outlet.

- Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers.

- A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance.

- Discolored or warm wall outlets.

- A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance or lingering in the air.

Get into the habit of doing a quick visual scan of usable exits. If there’s only one, you should make your visit as brief as possible. Also — be on the lookout for damaged, cords and, make sure multiple or even single extension cords are not running across doorways or under carpets because that’s a sure-fire accident just waiting to happen.

DETROIT PUBLIC SAFETY SUMMIT

Detroit Fire Commisioner Tyrone Scott, Ron Savage & Chief Nettles

Mayor Cockrel, Chief Nettles & Public Safety Top Brass Appear at Summit in Northwest Detroit Hosted by Pastor Jerome Warfield

On Thursday, March 19th, Chief Nettles attended a Public Safety Summit that featured a panel of Detroit's top law enforcement and fire officials. The three-hour event was emceed by FOX-2 weekend anchor, Ron Savage, who is a volunteer fire fighter himself. Pastor Jerome Warfield hosted the event at his church, Leland Missionary Baptist. Pastor Warfield is also the Chairman of the Brightmoor Alliance. Chief Nettles had an opportunity to meet several community leaders and get valuable feedback regarding their concerns.

The meeting began with dinner and a panel discussion ensued at 6 p.m. The summit was not without a bit of drama after the lights went out due to a car hitting a utility pole near Outer Drive. Although the crowded ground-floor meeting room was left without electricity, the group was more energized than ever. Ron Savage did a great job of keeping the event moving despite the mishap and virtually everyone stayed.

The panel discussed city- and county-wide public safety problems, including blight, possible solutions and future plans. The panel also fielded questions from the audience. Mayor Cockrel appeared post-power outage and addressed Detroit concerns.

SAVE COBO HALL RALLY!

CALLING ALL COBO HALL SUPPORTERS!!!

Chief Nettles will be attending the Save Cobo Hall Rally this weekend. Join us to show your support on one of Detroit's most important issues: SAVING CITY ASSETS.


The rally will be Saturday,
March 14, 2009
12:00 noon at:

Triumph Church Eastern Campus
2760 E. Grand Blvd. @ I-75

See you there!

Campaign Spotlight: Meet Tonie Dance

Tonie Dance is our new Volunteer Coordinator. Please contact him at toniedance62@att.net to learn more about campaign volunteer opportunities.

Born in Germany and raised in Detroit, Tonie comes from a military family. He started college on the doctor track, but his experiences led him to a career in juvenile justice. Imbued with an Information Technology (IT) background, Tonie went on to automate the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility as its Manager of Management Information Systems that helped thousands of area families receive much-needed comprehensive services. Tonie retired last June 2008, after 30 years of service. He founded Dance MIS Consulting designed to aid small and medium-sized businesses to upgrade their computer systems and more. Very active in his church community, Tonie is also involved in the music ministry at his church home because he believes that "Children are our Future!"

Thank you Tonie Dance for bringing your wealth of knowledge and skill set to the Paul Nettles for Detroit City Council Campaign!

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CANDIDACY

YES WE CAN!

DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 15TH OR SATIRDAY MAY 16TH
TIME: DAYTIME
WHERE: Detroit, OUTDOOR LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED

Hear more about Chief Nettles' stance on:
COBO ~ Water Dept ~ Bridge ~ Tunnel
-AND-
JOBS ~ POLICE & FIRE SAFETY ~ NEIGHBORHOODS ~ SCHOOLS

New Vision, New Leadership. . .A New Detroit!

VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE ~
ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS

WORKING FOR YOU....WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY!