June 7, 2013
Among the many things that can be said about the Honorable Mayor Coleman A. Young, one of them is that he embraced a very colorful communication style. He knew how to make a point and frequently spiced his message with language that may not...
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May 23, 2013
“Handguns are basically designed, and primarily used, to kill people. There is a definite correlation between the presence of guns and homicide rates. Over a period of six years, the number of gun permits in Detroit tripled and the rate of...
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May 7, 2013
Robert (Bob) A. Popa left his job at the Detroit News to become the press secretary for the first African American mayor of Detroit. The job of Coleman Young’s press secretary was not only to get his boss's message out but to defend him and the...
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April 18, 2013
Politicians, to stay viable, must nurture relationships with supporters. It is evident that Coleman A. Young was no slouch when it came to mustering the efforts of celebrity star power on behalf of his candidacy. This became apparent as the new...
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April 3, 2013
Some proclamations issued by high public officials can change the nature of law and the course of human history as did the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Under normal circumstances, a proclamation is an official announcement used by various...
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March 21, 2013
Communications with Mayor Young's office came from many quarters, to be sure. However, it is surprising to witness the spectrum that is covered. Foreign dignitaries, U.S. government officials and the White House all competed with state, county...
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March 11, 2013
On March 15, 1974, Mayor Young visited the Main Library of the Detroit Public Library (DPL) for the dedication of a portrait bust and mosaic of the Polish astronomer Copernicus (Mikolaj Kopernik). The portrait bust of Copernicus was...
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February 21, 2013
In 1972, although the legendary recording label Motown Records left the city from which it derived its name, music as a social medium continued to reverberate in Detroit. Some artists expressed their commitment to civic spirit and social...
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February 7, 2013
As Coleman Young’s new administration began to settle in, no time was wasted in addressing the issue of restructuring the police department in two fundamental ways. One objective was to make officers more responsive and accessible to...
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February 4, 2013
In April of 1974, the teacher and students of Custer Elementary School created a folder with pictures, autographs, and messages for the new mayor of their city. Here is a poem that exemplifies some of the sentiments expressed by the youngsters...
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