Back in 2012, the struggling Detroit Institute of Art pressed for a very temporary millage tax from 3 surrounding counties. They swore it was just temporary and they’d easily get back on their financial feet in a few years. Needless to say, I predicted at the time it would become another permanent tax. The DIA just announced they want a 10-year extension on the millage tax, and they are tried hard to make sure the vote is in an off-year election, like this coming March. This is because their polling shows that it is more likely to get approved by voters when there is little turnout. They promised that the tax they collected would allow them to increase their endowment fund, which needs to be at $600 million to keep the museum functioning on its own. Guess how big the endowment fund is today? Just $232 million, less than half of that target amount.
A Detroit Police Officer from the 10th Precinct was unable to avoid a woman driver who crossed lanes into him, causing him to strike a building with his vehicle. The woman immediately fled the scene and has not been caught.
And finally, in “It is a Darwin move to be anywhere near Detroit” news,
- The body of a mid-20s Detroit man was discovered in an alley off Waltham Street, how he died is unknown, the Medical Examiner is investigating.
- A 23-year-old Detroit mother and her baby were wounded by gunshots at her home on Freeland. She answered a knock on her front door when a man in a mask began firing shots.
- A 28-year-old Detroiter and lifelong criminal, JuJuan Parks was charged with first-degree murder of a Detroit Police Officer, Sgt. Rasheen McClain. Police say that Parks’ obsession with a girl prompted a 2-week shooting spree, killing at least 2 and wounding several people. Naturally, Parks was on parole from an assault and firearms charge.
- Giovanni Naccarato is a Detroit slumlord who arsoned his own apartment building. He was only sentenced to probation while the prosecution was arguing for a 4-year prison sentence.
- 24-year-old Detroiter Nathan Pace was charged with distributing child pornography. When they searched his home, they discovered that he produced the material.
- 11 dogs were rescued from a Detroit dog-fighting ring at 2 homes on Anglin, no arrests have been made.
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