A UM doctoral student in urban planning claims, “The Detroit Land Bank found itself in a mega project of $177 million to tear down abandoned homes, and had no capacity to manage it. So it was a contractor free for all and infill soil has contaminants because there was no oversight.” A small percentage of Detroit’s empty homes were demolished, 11,000, and many are now calling for an investigation into the safety of the infill soil that was used to be certain it isn’t poisoning residents.

59-year old Mervin Hawk is the union leader for AFSCME Local 1640. He embezzled $300,000 from the union over a 3 year period and is trying to get out of prison due to his diabetes.

Grosse Pointe Park businessman, Bob Bashara, is still trying to overturn his murder conviction. He hired a man to murder his wife so he could keep her money, his mistress, and his sex dungeon. The evidence and testimony was overwhelming and thankfully, he was sentenced to life in prison. The man who Bashara blackmailed into committing the murder could be out on parole in 10 years.

Detroit Police conducted a raid on a suspected dog-fighting ring near 8 Mile Rd. and Gratiot. Police and the Michigan Humane Society removed 10 Pit Bulls. The family and neighbors say there is no dog fighting, the homeowner is a dog breeder and the dogs are simply a part of their family. The family’s young daughters were crying when the animals were taken away. The Humane Society says they have identified a grand-champion fighting dog worth $50,000.

How big of a deterrent is Project Green Light? A clearly-marked project green light business on Detroit’s Harper was the victim of an attempted break in. Caught on camera (but no faces because of masks and hoodies), 3 suspects are seen using a large crow bar trying to open the back door for several minutes before giving up.

Detroit has one of the most violent crime rates of any city in the U.S. Guess what the Michigan State Police are up to? They are “cracking down on jaywalkers.” How about cracking down on drive by-shootings, carjackings, and rapes??

And finally, in “It is a Darwin move to be anywhere near Detroit” news,

• Detroit Police chased down a carjacker that ended in a crash and an arrest, no one was injured.
• Detroit Police arrested a Pittsburgh area official at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. Her husband was drunk, there was an incident with staff, he wouldn’t comply with officers and was arrested. Then, video shows she would not comply with Detroit Police officers, pushed back and was arrested as well.
• At 5pm on I-94 by the Detroit Metro Airport, a driver fired a shot at another motorist. Police were called and they arrested the man, a convict for whom it is illegal to possess a firearm.
• Karay Farries is a 15-year-old boy from Detroit that was last seen 3 days ago at a bus stop at Mack and Van Dyke.
• Another day in Detroit, another double shooting. This time a couple were non-fatally injured while getting out of their car, they heard gunshots and realized that they had been hit.
• The blockbuster play, “Hamilton” will be at the Fisher Theater for a month and the scammers are out in force with fake tickets.

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