Shady Welcomes You

Today while I was driving home, I noticed a really cool billboard that said, "Welcome to the D". Sure, it' a simple phrase, but it really stood out as I was rounding up the exit from 96 to 94 East. I am not sure how long it's been there because this is a new route for me, but it's a really cool- looking sign. It's set on an all-black billboard and has a type-style similar to some of the graffiti that can be seen around town. Oh, and not to mention that it came from our hometown hero, Eminem, and his friends at Shady Records. I was so struck by it when I saw it that I immediately started to think of a way that I could take a picture of it to upload to my blog. Although, I'll have to investigate that more the next few times I pass it because it is located on a very sharp turn and might not be possible...

Detroit Public Schools to Receive Help from Governor's Team

Yesterday, Michigan's governor, Jennifer Granholm, announced a plan that could enable the struggling Detroit Public School system to get a grip on its spiraling debt problems.

The district, which is currently $48 million in the red, has been run by a state-appointed Board for the last four years. Under its supervision, numerous complaints from DPS students and their parents have been made, citing crowded classrooms and a lack of textbooks for pupils. More recently, the public learned of the massive deficit that the Board has created during the short time it has been overseeing the school district.

After shooting down the highly-controversial Proposal E in the November election, Detroit citizens have made it clear that they want the power of the district to rest with a school board that they elect. However, with such a large deficit, as well as the negative track record of previous boards, Granholm has been thrust into a difficult situation. Unfortunately, the situation has gotten uglier by the day; just recently, the state's Superintendent of Instruction called upon DPS to submit two- and five-year action plans for alleviating its financial crisis, both of which are due at the end of this calendar year.

With compliance deadlines looming and a loyal public looking for her support, the governor has been forced to examine alternative measures that could assist the district in meeting its goals, while not snatching away the citizens' desire to elect its own board. Yesterday afternoon in a public press conference, Granholm announced one of these alternatives: to create a special team to assist the district during its time of need.

Although she was vague in reference to possible team members, the governor did make it clear that she envisions a team of experts made up of individuals from a broad array of professions.

Granholm also noted that she is seeking flexibility with the December 31 deadline that Tom Watkins, Michigan's Superintendent of Instruction, imposed for receipt of the district's two- and five-year budget plans. She also added that refinancing the district's debt is an option to create immediate cash flow, although she does not believe that it will be a long-term solution.

You're Too Much, Readers!

When I started out doing this blog a few months ago, I had no idea the response I would receive from family and friends - not to mention complete strangers. It is so cool when I log into my e-mail and have a message from someone in the Detroit area - or somewhere on the other side of the country - that happened upon my blog and took the action to write me a quick note about it.

Along similar lines, you may have noticed that my old blog address, http://jaimehalaas.blogspot.com, is no longer in commission. My decision to change the address was prompted by two things. First, I have had some issues lately with my personal information getting into the wrong hands; therefore, I am safeguarding these possessions by any means possible, which includes axing my old blog address. Second, after blog-writing for almost three months, I feel that now is a good time to begin improvements on Girl in the D - thus far, my blog is only in "rough draft mode". To get it to the next level, I have been examining - on a large scale - what is good about it and what is not so good. At the top of that list is a goal to have the entire blog more focused on information relevant to Detroit. Therefore, having the blog address as my own name was one of the first things that needed changing.

Check back often to see if I am keeping up with my goal. And, of course, please feel free to e-mail me any comments or suggestions you have - I love to hear outside opinions.

Thanks,

Jaime

Statler Hotel Saved From Destruction...for Now

A round of applause goes to the Friends of the Book-Cadillac Hotel and its supporters, who were successful in staving off the go-ahead for the destruction of the once-popular Statler hotel, which is located on Washington Boulevard in the Grand Circus Park area.

The hotel, which has stood vacant since 1975, was approved for demolition in May 2004 by the Detroit Historic Commission after no serious buying inquisitions were made following a $4.1 million clean-up of the property. Detroit's development office publicly stated that demolishing the hotel would be the most cost-effective method for the land area the Statler sits on, although demolition figures have not been released.

Friends of the Book-Cadillac and other preservationists filed a restraining order against the city, which was granted by Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Baxter. The restraining order is in effect for two weeks - at that time, the city will go before her in an attempt to appeal her decision.

The Statler hotel was built during 1914 and opened its doors the following year. Each of the original 800 guest rooms featured a private bath - a unique feature the Statler was proud to offer at the time. Later that year, the popularity of the Statler paved the way for an addition - a wing with 200 rooms - bringing the total number of rooms to one thousand.

Newly Opened Detroit Hospital for the Mentally Ill

When I first read about the construction of Circle of Life, a behavioral hospital set to open its doors in 2004 in downtown Detroit, I have to admit: I was more than a little skeptical.

Beginning in 1991, Michigan's government fought to close (yes, you read that right) the state's 12 mental hospitals. In what it deemed as the best way to "bring the deficit down", the government, led by John Engler, succeeded as the last mental hospital in Metro Detroit - located in Northville - closed its doors. Luckily, Engler ran into a little road block called term limits, and Jennifer Granholm - the newly-elected governor - created a task force on mental health just weeks after she took office.

Mentally ill adults and children, though, were still confronted with the fact that the only available public mental health care available in Metro Detroit was the Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland for adults, or Hawthorne Center in Livonia for children.

Considering that the majority of seriously mentally ill people do not have the ability nor conscientiousness about their disease or condition to get themselves to a mental hospital (take a walk or drive around downtown Detroit and you'll see quite a few mentally ill people haphazardly walking the streets), it is absolutely absurd to believe that they would be able to get to Walter Reuther Hospital - a 30-minute drive from downtown. They cannot really go to ER's anymore, either; the decade of downsizing of mental hospitals in Metro Detroit has caused an increase of 45% in the number of mentally ill patients going to the ER departments of public hospitals. As a result of this increase, there are now increased waiting times, errors in diagnosis, and many more negative effects. So, basically, at the end of 2002, our mental health system was under suffering severely.

But then, almost out of nowhere, an investor decided to buy the old Saratoga Hospital on Gratiot, which he planned to turn into an office building. However, in a surprising and awesome turn of events, he met someone (a clinical psychologist) who explained the lack of mental health care in Detroit and the need for more facilities. And, almost like that, the plan for Circle of Life, the first behavioral hospital to open in Detroit in 30 years - was conceived. Check back tomorrow for detailed information on Circle of Life and how it is making the city of Detroit a better place.