0Wmwi and CE. O. Detroit
Edison, 2000 Second Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226 and t� .
W� Lo� of the Michigan
I Pu�hc Service Commission,.
which regulates Detroit �n,
at Post Office Box 30221, Lans­
ing, Michigan 48909.
Those that wish can receive
envelopes, stamps and
stationery at the Highland Park
City Hall.
Those that fe t Uncomfort­
able writing long letters could
send a post card, which will also
be distributed at city hall.
Peop can receive informa­
tion on this movement by calling
Fred Farris at 252-0022 or Mary
Thomas at 252-0027 or 252--
0028.
'We must act] immediatcly,"
the Mayor said.
Scott also wants people to
sign petitions again 'the Edison
move circulated by the High-
land Park Caucus Club. '
However, Scott and the other
community leaders stressed this
was only a start and that more
massive forms of protest could
However, when Scott be­
ca me mayor, she failed to
respond to council requests for
the legal opinion the state gave,
preventing council from taking
action on getting the wording on
the ballot.
Both the city clerk's office
and the county clerk's office
state that even if Mayor Scott
does send the issue to council, it
would now be too late to get any
issue on the ballot for this year's
election. Icss than a month
away.
. SCOll also promised to give
the council at the October 17
meeting information it re­
quested about the sliding scale
for employee salaries.
DID YOU KNOW ... that the
AIDS picture gels confusing at
time. For example, ew York
City ti�alth officials recently
reduced by half the number of
people suspected of carrying
the AIDS virus. The move raises
questions as to whether the dis­
ease is as widespread as we were
first told
ByR
HIGHLAND PARK -
RPger Ramsey, leader of a
movement to recall Highland
Par k Mayor Martha G. Scott .
suing her, her Public Safe
Director Marshall Emerson
nd the city of Highland Park
for denying him information he
requested under the Michigan
Freedom of Information Act.
Several month ago Ramsey
asked for information on ac­
t tions taken by the Scott Ad­
ministration' hom both Mayor
Mayot1pushes demons tra tions agains
Edison
1
be waged after the Friday
demonstration.
Marion Crammer of the
Wayne County Welfare Rights
Organization stated, "Whether
you're on public assistance or
wheth�r you hav a job you're
concerned about Detroit
�n."
Crammer emphasized that
th� closing concerned not only
Highland Park but Detroiters
and even Hamtramck, which
was allowed to keep their/office.
"This is only a. beginning." she .
said. '"They (Edison officials)
are going to close every last one
of the offices in our area Once
they close the office around
here, they'll close it in
Hamtramck"
Johnnie Benson of the
Mother's Club recalled how
protests in the 60s won gains in, .
the schools at a time when High­
land Park had only one Black
teacher.
The mayor stated, re
gonna succeed. If we believe it
and work for it, will"
, I
HIGHLAND PARK - High­
land Park Mayor' Martha G.
Scott called meeting with ap­
proJimately 100 block club and
community aders to map
strategies for an active protest
movement - similar to civil
rights activities in the 60s­
against Detroit Edison's plan to
close its Highland Park office.
Scott contends that it would
be hardship for senior citizens
and those with handicaps to
ta e three buses to the next
nearest office in Hamtramck,
"It takes a large tax base from
us (Highland Park)" she added
Scott is asking citizens to at­
tend a demonstration in front of
th Edison Highland Park of­
fice, 13953 Woodward 10 a.m. to
12 noon Friday October 7 spon­
sored by the Highland Park
Mother's Club.
She also urges them to call
the office of Detroit Edison
Chairman Walter J. Me- Carthy
at (313) 237-8(XX).
t She wants peop to send let­
ters to Walter J. Mc Carthy,
""'".,.". .... agrees to reveal state
comm s abo ency
By I
HIGHLAND PARK -
uring Mayor' ight on' Mon-
day October 3, Mayor Martha
G. colt promise 0 provid
city council at the next meeting,
October 17, with information on
the state's official opinion on
. proposed changes in wording
designed to make the city's
. residency requirement IegaUy
effective.
Last year Scott's predecessor
Robert B. BlackweU told the
council he received legal dvice
that city charter provisio on
residency were·u enforceable"
and could be challenged in
court, bcca of faults in their
wording.
Council members, indu .
Scott, who was then Council
President, voted to accept the
wording Blackwell propo ed
I and sent it to the state for an
opinion --- the rust legal tep
toward putting charter changes
on the ballot
P tricia Oli i n
City Treasurer
ByRon· I
.t�IGHLAND PARK - The
HIghland Park City Council
voted uanminou Iy to appoint
Patricia Ohler, City Treasurer
to replace Lucille Jones, who
died t month:
Ms. Oli , who served as
deputy city treasurer will hold
the post of treasurer under the
charter only until an election
can be held This will be during
the ext city, county, state or 03-
tioDal election, when candidates
for tre urer can be placed
the ballot,
By R e nlow I of civil rights, said, "Rosa Parks
On Friday September 30, at has given Blac the image tha
Wayne State's McGregor Con- has helped us to stand up be
Cerfnce Center, Congressman cause she sat down."
John Conyer ho ted a retire- December 1, 1955 marked
ment reception for 'The Mother the turning point in Parks' life
of the Modern Day Civil Rights and \york when whe stood up to
Movement. Rosa L. Parks. racial segregation by refusing to
Conyer. led the reception give up her bus seat to a White
saying that "Parks is a legend in man in Alabama. Her story is
her own time: He continued, nearly legend i American
"She has done more for me by Black hi tory .
working for me than I could Her defiance resulted in a 13
have ever done for her y month bus boycott by Black
. employing her." citizens and finally a Supreme
Conyers admitted his error in Court decision intcrgrating the
stating that Parks was retiring. bus line. the boy coil was led by
He said she is not actually retir- a young Black mini ter, and
ing, only leaving his staff to gave this country one of its most
devote ber fuU attention to the loved and re pected leaders -
Rosa and Raymond Parks 10- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I
stitute of Self Development Parks moved North to
which she ounded in 1987. ne Detroit nd began working with
program seeks to help youth Congressman Conyers Jr. in
achieve self-confidence and 1965. where she remained dedi-
determination to improve their - cated to the principles of Dr.
lives and reach their goals. King and the movement she
City Council President Erma helped to lead
Henderson, who reflected upon Also speaking about Parks
many years of personal and were Preside t of the Detroit
political struggles in th� realm chapter of SCLC Dr. Cla�d I
I Recall leader sues H.P. ayor
Rosa Parks leaves Co
, office,\takes on ----
Young; Kim West n and the
G spel Unlimited who enter­
tained; Damon Keith, eldon
Tappe, and Director f The
Parks In titute, Elaine teele
who gave Par a gift certificate
for her faU wardro .
Par ks \va presented with
various plaques for her out­
standing achievement in the
field of Civil Rights. One of die
plaques was sent by Rev. Jesse
Jackson, it re d: "To Rosa Parks
with tired feet but a tireless
spirit,"
Reverend Frederic
Sampson spo e words of wis­
dom in Parks' behalf when he
said he has accused the com­
munity of "Prostituting" Parks
by using her as a means of draw­
ing the crowds and then giving
her a plaque or something she
cannot spend or put in the bank.
Parks herself said, "As long
as I can think and move I will be
busy. She added, "I know if we
work together, it (equal rights)
doesn't bave to be a difficu It
dream to fullfill.·
Scott and MarsbaU Emerson,
head of the Public Safety
Department (uniting Highland
Park police and fire service).
Observer suggest that Ram­
sey may have sought tho infor­
mation in order to get ammuni­
tion for his recall campaign.
10 a brief delivered to Wayne
County Circuit Court, Ramsey's
attorney Frederic W. More,
who works at the First National
Bank BuiI� states tha Scott
refused to provide Ramsey with
almost all of the information he
requested and Emerson refused
to give him anything.
The brief calls their failure to
honor Ramsey's request "ar­
bitrary .and capricious" and a
violation of the state Freedom
of Information Act.
Ramsey is asking th court to
provide the mayor with an ord r
to show cause why he should not
be given the information.
He is also king for the city
to pay court costs and "punitive
damages,"
Frank Bledsoe of the High-
land Park Law Department was
se ed with the summons on I
1:10 p.m, Tuesday eptember
2700 behalf of colt and Emer­
son. They now have until Mon­
day October 17 to reply.
The case is scheduled to go
before Judge John R, Kirwin.
Fred Farris, Scott's d­
ministrative assistant said that
the mayor's office could not
comment, because th issue is
going to court.
Ramsey, the plaintive, was
unavailable for commenl
'.
I .