African Town debate grows hotter

[Allan]

An upset Mary Luevanos of the Latino social services agency La Sed tells Detroit City Council members the African Town proposals are discriminatory and racist.

African Town debate grows hotter

Three-hour council session punctuated by charges of racism

By Judy Lin / The Detroit News

DETROIT

[baldy]

The more I read about the ignorance of this, the more I get pissed. African town as a tribute to african culture is one thing, but they are making this out to be black town and therefore it is based on race and not culture. This is where the problem is. Why is it so hard to understand? Nothing good can come out of this. The whole thing should just be taken off the table and the money should be used to help the city instead of dividing it. Speaking of money, what's that about a resolution requesting a loan from the $30 million in casino money?

[Allan]

I agree 100%. If it was based on culture, that would be one thing, but as it stands right now, this plan is just plain racist. The city is 82% black anyway, so I don't understand why it is necessary to create a black business district. If this plan goes through, it will only hurt the city. Unfortunately, most of the clowns on city council don't realize this.

I don't even want to guess what the deal with the casino money is.

Where is the deal with these casinos anyway? This is ridiculous...these permanent casinos and hotels were supposed to open by 2006. Quite honestly, I would be surprised if construction ever began. We've seen demolition at the Greektown site, and that has been done for four or five months already now.

"We can have shovels in the ground and cranes in the air within 30 days.