Inside This Issue

EXCLUSIVE July/August, 2020 SMART PAGES DBUSINESSETR - POLITICS OI- COMMUNITYT SINCE 2006 “Building Business to Business and Business to Community Relationships” INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Pandemic Could Get Much, Much Worse. We Must Act Now! Prof. John Barry pg. 10 COVID-19 Survivors, Essential Workers, City Officials, Community Coronavirus - Covid-19 Cases Leaders, Talk about the as of July 23, 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Global Confirmed 15,250,804 Deaths: 623,897 Trump Administration is United States Failing America - Confirmed: 4,038,967 Deaths: 145,384 Incompetence and Abuse of Power pg.5 Michigan Confirmed: 83,730 Deaths: 6,388 Celebrating the Life and Detroit Legacy of Congressman Confirmed: 13,134 John Lewis (Rev. C.T. Vivian Deaths: 1554 and Rev. Joseph Lowery) pg.13 Pandemic, Police Brutality, Protests and Racial Discrimination pg.14 www.detroitsmartpages.com | [email protected] Local help with your Medicare questions. Take advantage of it. Give me a call and I can help answer your Medicare questions so you can find the UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage plan that fits your needs. Take the confusion out of Medicare Get help comparing plans Receive one-on-one service Make switching plans easier I’m Janet Adams, a licensed sales representative in Detroit, Michigan. Nigel Sanders, a first year dents and other participants. When it comes to Medicare, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. What works well for your neighbor may not be the best fit for you. And what met your needs last year might not be the best fit this year. Take advantage of this time to explore your Howard University Student and Representative Manoogian Medicare choices so you can enroll in a plan with confidence. I’m here to help. I know the ins and outs of Medicare, and I can Detroit Country Day School grad- talked about how she was so help make it easier for you to understand too. Go ahead, take advantage. uate, leading more than a thou- surprised to see all of the people Call me today to learn more. sand protesters to walk and sit in there in the Birmingham park, Janet Adams the southbound lanes of Woodward the very Birmingham park that Licensed Sales Representative 313-401-1449, TTY 711 Avenue in Birmingham, Michigan. she grew up in filled on that day UHCMedicareSolutions.com The peaceful and very diverse with more than 1000 people of protest included a car processional diverse backgrounds protesting, with vehicles dawning boldly paint- marching, and speaking about Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage ed words, “Jews for Black Lives injustices… She said she never organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. Matter.” Nigel was one of the or- thought she would see the day. Y0066_20SPRJ54747_C SPRJ54747 ganizers of the march that culmi- Nigel is part of the Detroit Soli- nated with a rally and open mic darity Movement, Black Activist speeches from State Representative Mobility Network (B.A.M.N.) Mari Manoogian and dozens of stu- www.detroitsmartpages.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 | PAGE 2 IT’S NOT TOO LATE FILL OUT YOUR WAYS TO CENSUS FORM! RESPOND: • BY MAIL CALL: • ONLINE 844-330-2020 • CALL THE For More Information CENSUS HOTLINE GO TO 2020CENSUS.GOV WEBSITE FOR ONLINE SIGN UP Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones Talks Candidly about her Coronavirus Experience Detroit Smart Pages asked Council President Brenda Jones a few questions about her experience as a COVID-19 survivor and her overall thoughts on the impact of COVID-19 in Detroit and the State. SP: Did you have any symptoms Michigan on March 10th, how Duggan and Governor Whitmer? that raised red flags to get tested? do you feel the response has Council President Jones: The facts I did not have any symptoms per se. I had been from the coordinated ef- speak for themselves. Thanks to Gover- not been feeling well, but I did not have forts of the CDC, State and City nor Whitmer’s Stay Home, Stay Safe Ex- the full complement of symptoms that of Detroit Health Departments? ecutive Order our state did not see the would allow me to be tested. However, I Council President Jones: I think the massive COVID-19 outbreaks that oth- made two attempts to get tested and wait- CDC did a fine job of informing the pub- er states saw when they opened sooner ed in line for several hours each time, only lic about COVID-19. But I think elect- than recommended. Mayor Duggan’s to be turned away. When my cough and ed officials such as Mayor Duggan, my daily COVID-19 briefings kept the public fever persisted, I received a prescription colleagues on City Council and Gover- timely and fully informed on important to be tested and the results were positive. nor Whitmer have set the standard for matters related to testing, food distri- SP: Were you surprised that you leaders during a crisis. I also must rec- bution, safety and financial assistance, tested positive? What was your amongst other vital pieces of information. quarantine routine and what do But I think elected officials SP: As of July 9, 2020, there you credit your recovery? such as Mayor Duggan, my have current and real information about were 67,237 confirmed cases of Council President Jones: Yes, I was colleagues on City Council the virus and how to protect themselves. COVID-19 in Michigan and 6,015 deaths. In the past few weeks, we surprised. I did not really believe I and Governor Whitmer have I also must acknowledge the brave and selfless people we call “essential have seen an uptick in confirmed had COVID-19 because, at that time set the standard for leaders there was not contact tracing. Look- workers.” I always said these are the positive cases. We are again at during a crisis. I also must ing back, I now realize I had been sev- people who leave their families so we “high risk” for Caronavirus out- eral places in the company of several recognize Denise Fair, Chief and our families can stay home, stay breaks. What is your definitive mes- people who also tested positive. My Public Health Officer for safe and live our lives. This includes sage to Detroiters on staying safe quarantine routine was almost exact- the City of Detroit, and city workers such as bus drivers, police and helping others to stay safe? ly as my work routine because the De- Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Chief officers, firefighters and first respond- Council President Jones: My message is to continue to follow the advice and troit City Council had already begun to Medical Executive for the ers; all medical professionals, caregiv- ers; volunteers; store clerks; and any- direction of medical professionals. We work remotely when I tested positive. State of Michigan. I was able to continue chairing the one else who allowed us to stay home. do not have a vaccine nor a cure yet, so City Council Budget Hearings, For- SP: As a survivor of COVID-19 we must continue to take all necessary mal Sessions and I even began hosting ognize Denise Fair, Chief Public Health and President of the Detroit City precautions such as following Gover- several Digital Community Outreach Officer for the City of Detroit, and Dr. Council, can you tell us in your nor Whitmer’s mask order; practicing meetings each week. There is only one Joneigh Khaldun, Chief Medical Execu- own words how serious this vi- social distancing and taking other pre- reason I credit for my recovery: GOD. tive for the State of Michigan. These are rus is and why it’s vital to the ventative and protective measures to SP: Since the first Coronavi- two dynamic women who have helped residents to follow all guide- safeguard not only ourselves, but to pro- rus cases were documented in to ensure Detroiters and Michiganders lines handed down from Mayor tect our loved ones, friends and others. SERVING DETROIT AND THE METROPOLITAN AREA BUSINESS • POLITICS COMMUNITY “Building Business to Business and Business to Community Relationships” Photography Delivery Service Publisher/Senior Editor Monthly Columnists Beverly Smith New Hope Eagle Logistics Beverly Smith Barbara Brazile Aundrea Bradford Eric Hobson Jason Cole Ellis Liddell Senior Writer Gary Smith Regeania Hunter Graphic Artist Charlene Mitchell-Rodgers Sheila Hawkins Joey Carr Darrell Washington - Contact: 734-476-6709 Dorma McGruder Latricia Wright Business Consultant/Advisor David Rambeau Willie Brake www.detroitsmartpages.com Laura Sigmon OFFICE PHONE: 313.268.3523 www.detroitsmartpages.com | [email protected] www.detroitsmartpages.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 | PAGE 4 PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE The Trump Administration is Failing America- Incompetence, Racial Division and Abuse of Power is crumbling our Democracy and has caused the deaths of thousands of lives unnecessarily… ccording to PoliticusUSA, far their capacity and professional independence. byists and Republicans openly calling for rus is very much under control in the USA,” from making America great, Don- A failed state suffers from crum- those agencies and departments’ demise, or even as cases were growing exponentially. ald Trump has transformed Ameri- bling infrastructures, faltering utility sup- by drastically cutting funding to break them. It might seem hyperbolic to compare Aca into what is arguably a “failed state.” In plies and educational and health facilities, Trump has made no secret that pit- the U.S. government to a failed state that fact, Trump and his and deteriorating basic human-develop- ting Americans against each other is par- cannot project its authority or adequately Republican facilitators ment indicators, such as infant mortality amount to his dictatorial goal.

Load more