July 3 ,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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Driving While Black racial profiling billboard set to go live Monday, July 6
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FridayMusings
is able to report today that the End Racial Profiling billboard will be live by Monday morning, July 6 on I-96 at Telegraph.
Delisha Upshaw
,
pictured left,
comments in making the announcement that "Whether you gave $1 or a lot of dollars or shared this with friends, or was honest about your discomfort with it so we could have some dialogue here, you helped make this happen. Thank you!"
When
FridayMusings
broke the story on Wednesday that Livonia Citizens Caring about Black Lives it prompted a hue and cry across the city. Some objecting. Some supporting. Some agonizing whether this was the correct course of action.
A poll was placed in Musings asking if the accusation of Livonia profiling drivers and targeting those who were Driving While Black was fair or unfair. The results of this unscientific poll was convincing. 70.5 saying that the perception was fair. 29.5 that the perception was unfair.
Of the 100+ comments submitted here is a sample of what our Livonia neighbors are thinking on the subject:
Ray DePerro:
I know that Livonia is a predominantly white city. I think Ms Upshaw's characterization is a little unfair. How many white people are in court ? They do commit crimes too. She paints a pretty broad brush with her statements. She did not name the civic leaders that she has a grievance with. Maybe she should ask for a one on one meeting with them to clear the air . Yes Livonia is not perfect but we are trying to change and I think the majority of Livonia residents do agree that the killing of these people of color is reprehensible and there is no place in today's society for such actions. Calling a city racially biased is not in my opinion helping advance the ongoing conversation that needs to continue in our city.
Conrad Schwartz
:
I must be the most ignorant person on earth. I am retired so the majority of my driving is done in Livonia, things like Kroger, the drugstore, the golf courses and restaurants are always on my to-do list. So to my point, how do the police identify a car being driven at 30, 40, 60, or 75 miles per hour as being driven by a white person or by a black person. I sit at red lights and can’t see into the car next to me with these tinted side windows. I believe the whole racist thing is B S.
Chris Kirsten
:
racial profiling in livonia? Yeah.....not buying it. Promoting this kind of B.S. only divides us even more. I back the Livonia Police Department 100%.
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Mike Rudell
:
I unfortunately do think that this is a disproportionate number of black people that get pulled over in Livonia compared to our demographics. It's been an issue for a long time. I trust and believe that most of our police officers are working hard and doing the right thing,
Barbara Harlow
Anytime I raise concerns that this is the perception of Livonia outside of our city, I am shut down. Not just discrimination while driving but in housing, etc. This should be taken seriously. Whether the intention is discrimination or not, the perception is real.
Sara Overwater
Hi there! Thank you for your coverage of the billboard campaign! I also marched in Livonia and I thought it was an uplifting experience. I am, as well. I've been working to promote the billboard campaign, collect petition signatures, obtain information through the Michigan FOIA, as well as having conversations with people in city government and participating in the Listening Tour event.
While I'm sorry to hear you don't agree with the billboard initiative, I understand your position. A sign like this will not be popular with everyone, however, after seeing that it has the support of many BIPOC I came to the conclusion that it was the right course of action. This billboard amplifies their voices, which I feel is a huge part of being an ally.
Additionally, I believe the suggestions you offer instead of the billboard would be great supplemental actions! Can you help by supporting our members in taking those actions? Your contacts in civic clubs and organizations would be so helpful. Perhaps you can share some info with the group. Thank you for your action ideas (which are *always welcome*) and the exposure!
Courtney SF
I love the billboard and I donated. I would also love to see the other ideas you proposed come to fruition. I don’t think it has to be an either/or.
Laura Pike Green
:
This has been known for many years. Ive been told by my black friends that they take a chance driving in Livonia
.
Terry Sdao
Is this billboard to make our Police Officers fearful of pulling a black person over. I for one stand behind our Police Officers 100%. Instead of spending money something as this, why are they not spending money helping with what is going on in Chicago, NY, etc & try to stop the senseless black on black shootings/killing. Instead of wanting to work together, whomever put this sign up wants the racism/hate to continue. . . .the billboard does not belong. If you feel Livonia is racial profiling, then you have your freedom to move.
Kathryn Tomassini
All I can say is that I had a wonderful co-worker at the hospital who is African American. She told me for the last 13 years that she is worried on her drive to work in Livonia. Worried about being pulled over by Livonia police because of her race. This was long before the BLM movement. Other than that, my only experience is as a white person from Livonia which doesn't give me the knowledge to say much of anything about this subject. I can say that this billboard makes me feel very uncomfortable.
Louise Weller
I am very torn about this. It would be a very unpleasant commentary on Livonia. But I personally know a black man who drives miles out of his way to avoid driving through our city. He has been stopped several times. I also remember visiting the LPD one day to ask to speak to the community relations officer (there is none). In the lobby there were several people sitting in chairs and I noticed more than half were black (in our predominantly white city). I asked what was going on and the police officer said, "oh, they're just paying fines." The group collecting donations for the billboard asked the LPD for statistics on who is stopped in Livonia, but were unable to get that info.
Nancy Osborne
I also have black friends and relatives that have been stopped multiple times for no reason. They weren't given a ticket but they still felt targeted.
Laura Pike Green
This has been known for many years. I've been told by my black friends they take a chance driving in Livonia.
Kate Shishkovsky:
Outstanding commentary on the proposed billboard!! A masterful job!
Robin Henke:
I have no problem with the signs. I’m not sure if they are fair or not, but I do know there is a perception that it is true. Usually there is always some truth behind a perception. I also like your ideas. Could we not choose to do it all?
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Interfaith Prayer Service held this week sponsored by
Felician Ministries and St. Mary Hospital
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Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan attended this weeks interfaith prayer service and posted the following on her Facebook Page. The message is significant and for that reason the typewriter wanted to share her thoughts with you:
“Dismantling Racism” was the theme of this morning’s interfaith prayer service sponsored by the Felician Ministries and St. Mary Mercy Hospital. We stood in solidarity with those whose dignity is assaulted because of the color of their skin. And the best expression of what that solidarity meant came from a quote by Sara Ahmed read by Madonna University’s VP Mission Integration:
“Solidarity does not assume that our struggles are the same struggles, or that our pain is the same pain, or that our hope is for the same future. Solidarity involves commitment and work, as well as the recognition that even if we do not have the same feelings, or the same lives, or the same bodies, we do live on common ground.”
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July in Livonia
7
Drive in Movie @ 7:30
Livonia Parks and Recreation
9
Steve King and the Dittlies
Music from the Heart
Livonia Parks and Recreation ·
16
Major Woody
Music from the Heart
21
Summer Fun Series @ 6:00
Miss Paula and the Candy Bandits
Livonia Parks and Recreation
23
Weekend Comeback
Music from the Heart
28
Drive in Movie @ 7:30
Livonia Parks and Recreation
30
Toppermost Beatles Tribute
Music from the Heart
August in Livonia
4
Primary Election
6
Sinjon Smith
Music from the Heart
13
Devin Scillian and Arizona Sun
Music from the Heart
20
Cruzin Jupiter
Music from the Heart
27
Cosmic Groove Band
Music from the Heart
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Livonia knows how to make partnerships work. And this summer is no different. Join in on the fun at the Kirksey Center.
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FridayMusings is announcing a new partnership sure to add to the enjoyment of those Tuesday and Thursday nights at Music from the Heart, Night at the Movies and the Summer Fun Series.
And the partnerships are stepping up to the plate to help make the partnership work and to provide an addition to the fun nights at the Kirksey Recreation Center.
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This year these family entertainment nights are set for the Jack Kirksey Recreation Center--outdoors of course. The first night is July 7 with a Drive In Movie. Two nights later join in with Steve King and the Dittlies. And every week after that just mark your calendar for a Tuesday and Thursday.
How simple is that.
Parks and Recreation
is teaming up with
Mystic Kettle Corn
and the
Clarenceville Athletic Boosters
to serve up kettle corn and lots of water. Check out the full series in FridayMusings Good Things are Happening column, or on the Parks and Recreation site.
Water, popcorn and entertainment. Partnerships with our hometown athletes and some darn good popcorn offered up by Mystic Kettle Corn.
I'm ready for a Livonia summer. Partnerships always make it happen. Check out the schedule in the Good Things Happen column.
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Another slice of history from Dan MacIver
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4 more movie nights thanks to Tim Klisz
Venture down the road to Northville
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Livonia attorney Tim Klisz is sponsoring a series of free outdoor movies at the huge Don Massey estate in Northville, now home to Livonia and Learning.
Living and Learning's vision is for the city of Northville to be the nation’s model in training people who have autism with the skills they will need to be contributing members of society.
The dates for the movies are July 15, 22, August 5 and 19.
The typewriter is willing to get a one night visa to leave Livonia to support Living and Learning in Northville. I like, no love, movies and with the Phoenix on shutdown for a while I take them where ever I can.
Besides if I get in trouble
Timothy J. Klisz
will be there to bail me out. I think.
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Well it's official Michelle Clemens' application has been reviewed and approved. She has been accepted to participate in the January 2021 Masters Training study abroad program in Thailand.
This is a total cultural immersion program and as she exclaims "It's going to be the experience of a lifetime!"
Regular readers of Musings know of this dynamic lady as having started a foundation in memory of her son Ian Clemens. In her words:
"Our son Ian wanted to be a Wolverine since he was 3 years old. So, when the acceptance letter from the University of Michigan College of Engineering came, along with the other acceptance letters, we knew his decision had already been made.
"Ian had a passion for learning and enjoying life. He loved spending time with his family, and his wonderful friends. He excelled academically and surrounded himself with like minded friends who over the years have become part of our family.
"He wanted to become an engineer so he could develop something that would vastly improve the quality of people’s lives all over the world. His challenge, and mission was to figure out what that something would be.
"As he moved into his dorm in August of 2012, he was so excited to begin working on figuring out that "something" and participating in all that the University had to offer. Three and half weeks after Ian started classes at the University, he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Upon being diagnosed the doctors suggested that Ian withdraw from school with a plan to return in the second semester.
"Hearing this, and making this decision was harder for Ian than hearing he had brain cancer. He wanted to be able to do it all, but realized he needed to focus on one thing at a time in order to have the strength to fight. He remained driven, positive, and so brave through all the unpleasantries he had to experience. Ian was always looking for a shred of humor in order to lighten the mood. We never saw a moment of “giving up”.
"Fighting every step of the way, and always making sure everyone close to him were handling things okay."
The foundation assists families with children battling cancer by providing financial assistance to children’s cancer centers, emergency funds (funds available to help families
with travel expense, lodging, loss of income, and medical expense).
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