Devil's Night in Detroit ... Turned into a Novel

As a kid, I can remember having mixed feelings about Devil's Night (the night before Halloween in Detroit ... look it up).

It was right around the time of my birthday, so I usually kept the birthday celebration going -- through Devil's Night, Oct. 30, and then Halloween, Oct. 31.

So, when I had the chance to write my latest short novel, I had a real event that provided the perfect setting for a story about adversity, love, pain, race, violence and more.

I developed "They Still Call it Devil's Night" with that, and so much more, in mind.

Check out my latest short novel (I am saving the longer, better ones for the possibility of traditional publishing (it could be a long shot, but I am gong to hang onto that hope).

Nolan Finley Is Correct About Monica Conyers, Detroit, North American International Auto Show

All of the obstructionism by members of the Detroit City Council, led by Monica Conyers, has put Detroit in a frightening position right now (with respect to continuing to host the gigantic North American International Auto Show). Conyers’ personal victory, however, in the effort to prevent a regional authority from assuming control of raggedy Cobo Hall (and provide funding to repair and expand it to keep it up to standard) may end up costing Detroit the Auto Show. The show could be headed out to the suburbs or it could be headed out of the state.

From Nolan Finley’s Detroit News blog:

The Detroit Auto Dealers Association seems plenty serious about moving the North American International Auto Show to Novi if Detroit doesn’t come up with a Cobo Center solution soon. The folks at Rock Financial Center have the shovels waiting to go in the ground on an 800,000-square-foot expansion to accommodate the auto show.

It would be a major coup for western Oakland County and would turn the Rock center into a major convention venue. That means more hotels and restaurants for the surrounding communities.

And none of it would be possible without Monica Conyers.

Hopefully new Detroit mayor Dave Bing will be able to cut through the garbage to bring people together and do something positive for the city of Detroit. Dealing with Conyers, however, will be no easy task (as the city, the region, the state and perhaps the world is increasingly becoming aware of).

Detroit News:
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/nolanfinleyblog/index.php?blogid=1246

Lets Not Play Revisionist History With Cass Tech High School

In reading the Detroit News, I ran into another one of those head-scratching articles. Cass Tech High School, in Detroit, is one of the most respected high schools in the nation. Why would anyone mess around with something as successful and historic as Cass Tech? Well, leave it to the Detroit City Council to try and mess around with something that has been so successful for generations. Not that City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson is necessarily messing with the academic success of academic success. She is, however, messing with the tradition of Cass Tech High School – it’s name.

Increasingly, people are going back and applying today’s standards to yesterday’s figures.

From the Detroit News:

A resolution before the Detroit City Council “urging the renaming” of Cass Technical High School because it is named for Lewis Cass, a former Michigan territorial governor. The resolution claims there’s an “inherent dichotomy” in the school that touts “fairness, equality and brotherhood” taking its name from Cass, the architect of the Trail of Tears that killed thousands of Native Americans.

Later, the article says the following:

Councilwoman JoAnn Watson introduced the resolution last week after she said she was approached by some students. A council subcommittee is studying the resolution.

“The young people have agreed to talk with those who are somewhat older,” Watson said. “I believe in a democratic process and to let everyone have access. Nothing has been decided.”

Note to Councilwoman Watson: Quit worrying about something of this nature and messing around with history. Cass may not be my favorite historical figure, but he did help make it possible for the existence of Cass Tech High School. Should the city of Detroit give back the land to the descendants of Lewis Cass?

Let it go. This hardly seems like a good use of the council’s time (there are way more pressing issues with Detroit Public Schools). Also, this whole resolution is disrespectful to history, prestige and far too many people to calculate.