The weather is still warm, the kids are back in school and the cider mills are open. It is definitely Indian Summer in Detroit.
An end to the saga finally happened on Thursday when Mayor Kilpatrick took a plea deal that included his resignation (on September 18th), one million dollars in restitution and four months of jail time. City Council President Kenneth Cockrel, Jr., a democrat and former county commissioner, will replace him temporarily.
More Information:
Governor Granholm’s removal hearing began on Wednesday. Several months ago, analysts doubted the governor would ever move to exercise her removal power because it would be a political landmine. In addition to due process concerns, she’d be removing a former ally and “interfering” in city business.
What changed? The momentum against Kilpatrick grew.
As Governor Granholm said herself during a meeting over which she brokered a possible plea bargain deal with the mayor, Kilpatrick should resign for the best interests of Michigan.
He should, but he won’t.
Technically the removal hearing is administrative in nature and considers only the allegations of official misconduct against Kilpatrick: the misuse of public funds. While there are no criminal penalties being considered, it should be noted that if Kilpatrick speaks in his own defense, his testimony could adversely affect his defense in his criminal trial, a trial in which he is constitutionally guaranteed protection against self incrimination under the Fifth Amendment.
This all begs the question: Do the ends justify the means?
More Information:
If you’re a fan of Top Chef or Hell’s Kitchen, you’ll get a kick out of visiting Livonia's American Harvest, a fine-dining restaurant with a menu furnished by students of Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts Department. As might be expected, the menu is ever changing and the prices are very reasonable for the dishes offered. Of course, you are something of a guinea pig, but don’t worry overly much; the students are well supervised by master and executive chefs.
The restaurant opens this month and has very limited hours:
Reservations are recommended: 734-452-4488
The specter of Hurricane Gustav changed and significantly shortened Obama’s planned speeches in Michigan on Labor Day:
Instead of his planned speeches, originally aimed at blue-collar workers, Obama explained it was not a time for politics. He did, however, salute the labor movement and acknowledge its many achievements, including the creation of America’s middleclass. He also identified himself as a “labor guy” before turning his attention to Hurricane Gustav. In addition to urging those present to donate to the Red Cross for the hurricane’s victims, he sang a few refrains from Aretha Franklin’s Chain of Fools – garnering good reviews – and led the respective crowds in a silent prayer.
More Information:
©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
All rights reserved.
