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EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

**di
EL
& TIM RICE'S

Building A Better Detroit

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mayor and his wife, Carlita, have 6-year-old twin boys and
e's a big man with big ideas for the city of
a 5-month-old boy.
Detroit. And Detroit Jewry seems eager to
Statistics show that 82 percent of all juvenile delinquency
embrace Kwame Kilpatrick in his first term as
in
Detroit takes place after school. So there's urgency to his
mayor.
call
to develop young minds, not just young bodies, via
Many of us who call suburbia home grew up in Detroit
after-school
youth programs that hone computer and job
and have fond memories of those years. Whether you lived
interview
skills.
This approach requires not only urban
near Dexter and Davison, Curtis and Meyers or Seven Mile
leadership,
but
also
assistance from suburbanites.
and Schaefer, the schools were good, the streets were clean
Kilpatrick,
who
learned
the ropes of bipartisanship during
and the neighborhoods were safe. Detroit was our home
three terms in the Michigan House, acknowledges that.
and we were proud to tell the world that.
He caught my ear when he challenged those of us in the
Things
after the 1967 riots, which accelerated
0 changed
b
Excalibur audience to reconnect "to the community that
white — and Jewish — flight from the city. Jews had
gave you your start." He was talking to each of us who can
begun leaving the city for Oak Park, Southfield and West
trace our humble beginnings to Detroit and who
Bloomfield years before.
parleyed the vast opportunities of its public
Jews have continued to live in the city, or have
schools
into successful lives and careers.
moved west or east, but the epicenter of Detroit
"That
connection," he said, "is what draws
Jewry is now north, in Oakland County. Over time,
everyone back to the central responsibility of
most of the synagogues followed their congregants
making sure the next generation of people have a
there. Today, only two synagogues are in Detroit.
foundation upon which to build their business
Still, we've kept a presence south of Eight Mile.
career or their political career."
Jews live and work in the city as well as support its
He was challenging those of us who have a sub
cultural jewels. Jews also are investors in property
urban
zip code, but a love for the city, to not feel
Kwame
management and land redevelop-
like
outsiders.
"We're going to work together,"
Kilpatri
ck
ment. Many synagogues have part-
Kilpatrick
said.
"For us to be the global commu-
nerships with Detroit churches or
nity
that
we
purport
to be, it's Detroit and the
schools. The Jewish Community
region. We really need to have that mentality if
Council of Metropolitan Detroit
struck gold with its Detroit Jewish
we want to compete for our children's sake."
Coalition for Literacy.
Sustaining The Energy
Mayor Kilpatrick, just 31, owes a debt
of gratitude to Jewish support. Many of
Soon after speaking, the mayor left for a four-day trade
ROBERT A. his top contributors are Jewish profession-
mission to Dubai, Detroit's partner city, in the United
als who work or invest in the city and
S KLA.R
Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf. The American Arab
yearn for it to be the next great urban
Chamber of Commerce-arranged trip raised eyebrows
Editor
turnaround.
among Jews, who wondered if Kilpatrick was taking sides
Detroit has plenty of challenges, including blight, crime,
in the Mideast conflict.
public transit, an insufficient retail base and a cash-
Given that he visited Israel on a Jewish Community
strapped school system under the governor's control.
Council-sponsored trip in 1999 and may return -
But if anyone can add more sheen to Detroit's tar-
there this year, and that many of Detroit Jewry's
nished image, it is Kilpatrick — if he can strike a
most respected leaders back him, I sense the pre-
productive relationship with the city council.
vailing mood is to take Kilpatrick's word on this
Addressing the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
issue. The mayor says he went with no agenda
Detroit's occasional luncheon series of speakers on
other than to boost trade between the two areas
May 7, Kilpatrick sketched out a vision that's rooted
and bring foreign investment to Detroit, given
in educating the city's children, and assuring clean
the large number of Arab Americans who live or
and safe streets.
work there. He says all of southeast Michigan
Joshua
"Many of us think of world-class cities that have
would benefit, though I fear that hope is a mere
Opperer
thriving restaurants, a thriving retail downtown and
pipe dream.
huge buildings that you can see for miles," he said
Kilpatrick put it this way in his Federation
before 300 people at the Excalibur Center in
address: "We're beginning a new feeling of all of us partici-
Southfield. "But really global cities, cities that are talked
pating in the progress and prosperity of the city so that it
about all over the world, are cities where families feel safe
can enhance the total quality of life in this region, so that
and secure with their children, and which are clean — and
it can compete against the rest of the world. That is the
the world knows it.
new spirit and the new energy in the city of Detroit."
"When we have that," he added, "the other things come.
Joshua Opperer, one of Detroit Jewry's rising young lead-
In turnaround situations all over this country, it started
ers, was drawn to Kilpatrick a year ago. The Huntington
with some very basic quality-of-life issues."
Woods resident recalls Kilpatrick saying, " 'We're going to
do it right here, right now. We're going to change this city
Giving Back
and we're going to change the world.' And the voters of the
city believed that he had the vision, the intellect and the
Kilpatrick's optimism springs from his hope for a city
drive to get it done. And we're very proud of him for that."
where, for kids, "cognitive skills are celebrated and not just
I like the mayor, too. He's a man with integrity. I hope
athletic prowess."
he survives the ultimate test — that of time, with his feet
"Then you have a city where everyone can constructively
to the political fire. ❑
participate in its progress —
-zrity," he said. The

AIDA

THE TIMELESS LOVE STORY

JARC'S 2002

Spectacular Fall
Fundraiser!

September 30th

October 1st

Fisher Theatre

A powerful complex love

story, where bigotry and
hatred are swept out the
window, and love,
compassion and
forgiveness triumph.

ATTENTION
FISHER SERIES TICKET HOLDERS:
When you purchase tickets to
JARC's AIDA, the Fisher Theatre will
buy back tickets from any series ticket
holder. Call 248-538-6610
ext. 304 for details.

30301 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
jarc@jarc.org • www.jard.org

****4111.111-1111.41

5/17
2002

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