I .
Diana Ro s
returns to
otown­
lock; oc
and 'equt y'
Di Da R 5 MoftS Back To Moton - Lock, S "
Equity Owoer: Mo own Records has announced that Diana
Ross is returning to the label both as an artist and equity
owner. Ross, 44, who originally left Motown in 1980, was
signed to MCA when it joined forces with Boston Ventures
to purchase the. label from Berry Gordy last June for $61 mil­
lion. As part of this new agreement, Ross has invested an
undisclosed amount into the label, In return, Ross will
receive part of the 20% minority ownership stake that Gordy
made a condition of the sale. In her partnership role, Ross
'will sit in on Mo own's Advisory Committee, and will also
play a part in bringing new talent aboard According to
Motown president Jheryl Busby, "she's already come up with
some great ideas and concepts." In a prepared statement,
Ross proclaimed delight with her new association with
. Motown, adding that she was "looking forward to assuming
a partnership position as well as an artistic role in Motown."
Ross will release an album for the label in May. A 1989 world
tour will follow .... Meanwhile, talks with Solar Records chief
Dick Griffey, have been suspended. Motown has slated a
press conference, presumably to address both the dissolu­
tion of MotownlSolar talks, as well as the Diana Ross an-.
nouncement
Will E ever truly emerge: Well, according to its
magazine's New York staff, the answer is yes. The publica­
tion is now slated to hit the stands sometime this fall, with
the original investors still in tow. If you'll recall, it was just
three weeks before it's first scheduled launch, last Septem­
ber, Time Inc. backed out when Syndicated Communica­
tions, the magazine's primary investor failed to come up with
all of their share. Tune Inc, however, has kept their word to
go ahead with the project once the additional backing was
found. Ames, bowever,· still working to close <leak with
po ential investors that wiD seal a more solid financial out-
100 for the magazine, which is targeting upscale, profes­
sional blacks as i s core reading audience.
#
t
P tier S 21 Cat iy H With 53 Millio
Price � Sidney Poitier will co-host a party (with actor
Ro ert Wag er) thi eekend to showcase the
des�artJbus· oommunity the first bouse of the 21st
Century". The use, dubbed "the Ow-leston Estate", be­
cause of its blend of 21st-Century tedmol� with a "2O's-like
feeling of a stately manor·,· expected to sell between S3
an 4.5 million, for such features as voice-controlled com­
puters that operate fiber-optic and laser lights, along with its
collectors-item, sculptures and murals.
M Sc: The eight-hour, S20
million production of -Lonesome Dove" took center stage in
over 23.6 million American households, and marked the
debut of Motown Productions a viable, new star in the
Hollywood business community. The adaptation of the best­
selling novel, which could prove to be the season's most
watched mini-series, was the brainchild of Motown's other
wonder - Suzanne DePasse. There was at first major con­
cern that "Dove- couldn't deliver the ratings. Berry Gordy
had his own doubts. But according to CBS, the numbers for
'"00 e· make it the 14th highest-rated mini series in TV his­
tory. (Roo�" !emains nu�r one). Moto�, �r.ant�d
a tidy $1 milbon profit, IS now set to split distribution
revenues to come.
Can Be Deceiving: While it appears that blacks are
gaining cceptanee in advertisiag, a recent Screen A�?rs
Guild report indictes that just 11.93% of all TV advertising
. roles in 1987 were filled by minority actors. What's more, It
was revealed that Proctor &. Gamble, the nations biggest ad­
vertiser, spent only $2.5 million?n a.dver�ing in bla� media
annually, compared to $20 million m Latino advertising,
Official
promises
eltlzen input
By ROD Seigel
. HIGHLAND PARK - The
. Highland Park City Council
. voted to apply for a $25,000
rant from the state Com­
munities in Transition Project.
Funds will be used to make a
community and economic
development plan for bringing
in industry and increasing jobs.
The planning grant would be
administered by Highland Park
DEVCO, in cooperation with
thecily. .
. Highland Park officials indi­
cated that DEVCO would con­
tribute $70,000 in matching
funds.
There would be no expense
for the city.
Tom Kelly,' Director of the
Community Development, indi­
cated that in building up in­
dustry, it was n�ary to do an
in debth study of what industries
and jobs the city might be
suitable for.
The study would be involved
elly stated his staff was al­
ready interviewing and had
found several businesses ho
wanted to "stay and expand
t a public hearing required
fo submitting the grant
proposal, reside ts were largely
favprable, but s me hard ques-
- ove jail
By ROD Seigel ,
HIGHLA D PARK -
T e Highlan Park City'
Council vote to set up a
�egotiating t m", to work
th Wayne C unty officials
i developin a tentative
a reement for new county
ja I facility fo less serious
c imes, locate within the
ci.
The team ould consis
of members of e city coun­
cil, Highland Park Mayor
Martha G. Stand "other
helpful parties , who wpul
be commission to develop
"the most fe le and ad­
vantageous te tative agree­
ment."
The reso u tion em ..
p .asized that before "any
final action" is aken on the
agreement, th negotiatin
team would h to "repor
b ck to the ople of the
ci y .. .in a seri of open and
�eU advertised public hear­
mgs,
"No final mmitment
should be mad "the resolu­
tion stated, u til the full
details of t tentative
a�eement ha been "sub­
mjtted to the scrutiny of
the communi •
After the ublic has a
chance to look it over, the
re olution d clared, it
sh uld be subi to a final
vo e of the Ci Council as
as .. .the ap roval of the
yor.
in:
- Analyzing past and
present community conditions
and projected conditions in the
future.
°Preparing of a community
development strategy for com­
munity review and input.
I pl. f· I
- repar mg a rna com-
munity development plan, in­
cluding projects, priorities, and'
a description of potential fund­
ing sources and strategies for
putting the plan into effect.
Kelly emphasized that block
clubs and businesses ould be
consulted in the planning
process.
"My staff will interview every
business and talk to every block
club." Kelly stated. "What hap­
pens on Woodward, Hamilton,
or Davison affects every block in
Highland Park (by providing
jobs or making shopping avail­
able)."
IXED DRINKS
AT LEAST I'fr ,ATNfIt CAI'I£
.J
tions were raise .
One woman, who lived west
of Hamilton, one of the poorest
sections of town, expressed con­
cern. that because the study
w d be utilizing block clubs .
getting community ideas, an
residents in her area had no
block clubs, they might not be
consulted
Qne man said, "Highland
Pari bas been studied to dea .
'rhat will the survey teU us that
we don't already know?"
elly stated that studies
ma in the past were often long
and general, or they were made
to j lily a particular project, in-
stead of looking around and
see· g what businesses "were
best suited for Highlan� Park."
Today, he added, require­
me both in Lansing, and in
Washington called fo more
"specific" and "systemmatic"
plans.
"The state and federal
government will not give u
money to make pretty little
m ps." he said.
Among the stated objectives
of the program are:
-Assessing the area to un­
ders and the economy", and
new opportunities. ':
_j Identify areas of strength
and weaknesses.
- Develop a shared . ion of
the �ture, which will focus on
area efforts.
Set realistic goals and ob­
jecti es.
Develop a working con­
sens among diverse interests
within the community.
- Mobilize public and
priva e resources and establish
basis for submission of poten­
tial citizen implementation
proj cts,
A the hearing. another per- -
so tated, "People are tired of
brokfn promises. �e've heard
for �s a shopping center was
goin to be built up. . .
A woman stated, ry-to in­
volve as many resi nts in the
stud (including jobs), because
we'r beginning to forget about
resi ney. People don't work in
this OIty, and the money is taken
out" I
Katherine Clarkson, head of
the Highland Park Historic As­
sociation stated, "Any plan is
I usel�ss. ithout developers.
(comrg into Highland Park).
WhaJ is being do e to get
developers?"
A r�urth woman s ted simp­
ly, "I'r a housewife. I want to
have put in it (the p an), when
it ge down to the table."
U fortunately, some who
came to the meeting, precisely
beca e they wanted to speak at
the p blic hearing, left before it
began because theydid not un­
derstand council procedures.
T ey thought it was sup­
pose to be held uring the
"Publi c Session" ju t before
coun ·1 meetin and did not
realize hearings are held in the
midd of the council meeting it-I
self.