To incinerate or dispose and recycle?

The Free Press (weeks after the Metrotimes began covering the story) writes that the city of Detroit must decide soon whether to keep the incinerator. I'll be shocked if they shut it down -- doing so would constitute an admission that building it was a mistake, and our politicians are loath to admit their errors.

Detroit: The birthplace of "nerd"

In an otherwise uninteresting column in The New York Times, David Brooks makes a startling revelation -- the word "nerd" first gained circulation in Detroit! Dr. Seuss is credited with coining the word in 1950 in If I Ran the Circus, but Newsweek first noted its use in everyday speech in our own beloved city.

DPS superintendent criticized

The Detroit News questions DPS Superintendent Connie Calloway's competence:

Superintendent Connie Calloway is drawing criticism for a series of recent communication missteps that have community leaders and even supporters concerned that she may be losing buy-in for initiatives that are essential to rehabilitating the 106,000-student school system.

Calloway's plan to overhaul five low-performing schools nearly collapsed before getting off the ground as frustrated parents and board members blasted her administration for its lack of information on the concept. She has been absent for meetings on the school overhaul initiative and for a press conference on the district's $45 million budget deficit.

"Either she is passionately disrespectful or just inept, but at $280,000 a year, neither is acceptable," said radio talk show host Mildred Gaddis.

Perhaps saving DPS is too great a task for anyone to handle.

“Let’s Meet in the D!”

Tom Walsh of the Free Press reports that Christopher Ilitch is leading a campaign to get local businesses to hold conventions Downtown rather than other cities. Why send your employees to Vegas when we have casinos and hotels here?

A number of firms have already made this sensible pledge: Little Caesers, General Motors, Ford Motor, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Crain Communications, Deloitte, Detroit Medical Center, ePrize, Northwest Airlines, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Verizon Wireless and the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

DMC expands campus

The News reports that the Detroit Medical Center will build a new, $34 million pediatric center on Beaubien Street, across from the existing Children's Hospital. This will be the first expansion of DMC's campus in thirty years.

Bad news for DPS: $45 milion deficit

Worst case scenario: DPS could return to state oversight. That's according to the Detroit News, whose editorial board seems to be awaiting just such a catastrophe so charter schools can take over the district.

End is near for Tiger Stadium

The New York Times reported yesterday on the pending demolition of old Tiger Stadium. I regretfully agree with the closing quote: “This is an old city. But history here is discounted by a lot of people.”

New apartments downtown

According to the Free Press, 1403 and 1413 Woodward will be converted into 70 upscale apartments with first-floor retail. The earliest occupancy would be spring 2010.

Get involved with TRU

Local transit advocates Transportation Riders United are hosting an Open House tonight at 6:30 pm for new volunteers interested in bringing rapid transit to Detroit. TRU's office is on the 16th floor of the Guardian Building (500 Griswold - Suite 1650).

$220,500 offered for GAR building

A new offer is on the table for the castle-like Grand Army of the Republic building downtown: