Black Drivers Irked with Police
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omeTbwn COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK Hesllanu .(Dbsttiner' Your hometown newspaper serving Westland for 36 years * I «* Thursday, June 22, 2000 hometownnewspapers. net 75c Volume 36 Number 6 Westland, Michigan ©2000 HomsTown Communicatlont Network1ft Black drivers irked with police Renewed charges of racial profiling by the local police officers of mistreating and Slater was arrested for having a sus Westland Police Department surfaced during harassing blacks. pended license,, but he was cleared Monday's city council meeting. Black drivers "We expect the police department to after he proved the ticket had been dis say they are stopped and harassed for no . serve and protect us and not harass us missed in Hamtramck. Slater, a Hous* good reason. and make us afraid,'' resident Sherry ton resident formerly of Detroit, said Douglas said. he; wasn't even in Michigan when, BY DARRELL CLEM sometimes referred to as DWB. Chief Emery Price has denied that someone used his identity in 1999, STAFF WBITSB "There is a problem with racism and his department engages in racism or Slater, an Exxpn-Mobil Corp: d cl e mOoe Jiam ecomm jiet DWB in the city of Westland," longtime singles out black motorists. employee,, accused officers of racial pro Accused of racism, Westland police resident Reasther Everett said Mon Twish the perception but there was filing and said they asked him whether officers are coming under increasing day, urging city officials to address the n't one of racial profiling," he said. he sold drugs or had guns. fire for allegations of mistreating issue. Criticism has mounted since two Lettie Thomas, a 35-year-old Detroit African Americans and singling them "Our city is too good a place to have police officers stopped Texas resident passenger in Slater's 1994 BMW, out for questionable traffic stops. this kind of reputation," she said. Willie Slater on June 3, warning him demanded an apology Monday night Some critics say local officers unfair Everett's remarks surfaced during a for an improper turn and having an air. and questioned why officers left her ly harass minority drivers for what Westland City Council meeting as a freshener hanging from his rear-view "stranded" on the street after arresting amounts to "driving while black," group of African Americans accused mirror. Please s«e MNVtltS. AS our Gardening pros W^B^PWWWM/ pjnpwww*' • IN THE PAPER TODAY apology BY DARREIX CLEM STAFF WRITEE dcient0oe.homecoiiuik.aet AT HOME Facing new allegations of Open Meetings Act violations, Westland City Council President Charles "Trav" Grif Little plants, big delights: fin has averted a lawsuit by issuing an Bonsai plants offer an apology. Local attorney Lyle Dickson had artistic bonanza, for view threatened a suit unless the council ers and growers alike./Dl apologized for ending a June 5 meeting agd denying several citizens their right to speak - a move Dickson called ille gal. ENTERTAINMENT Griffin made statements Monday indicating that he accidentally over Music: Cathie Ryan looked citizens who raised their hands brings traditional songs in hopes of addressing the council June 5. '• • • • sung in Gaelic as well as "It never was my intent ... to deny $1 iii auyvwy u»c '»B*it KJ opwciA, tie »mu. nx,t \tt ttguuM, IIXUOU, t-u me Griffin told a crowd during Monday's Frog Island Festival in meeting that if he erred, "I'm sorry." Ypsilanti's historic Depot He added later that "you have my apologies." Town on Sunday. /El IT TOM HAVUCT Earlier in the meeting, Griffin hud Dig In: Junior Master Gar denied quashing public comment and Dining: Try Dagwood's dener participants at the rejected allegations that his actions Deli and Eatery in Farm- violated the Open Meetings Act. Westland library work on Many citizens have made public ington./EB the butterfly garden. statements critical of the council since Above is Rodney Donald, Griffin and colleagues David Cox, 11, of Westland, working David James and Sharon Scott fired REAL ESTATE former City Clerk Patricia Gibbons an with Marian Gonsior, in Jan 18 charge of the program. At Griffin issued his apology Monday Sweat equity: Area volun right, Julieann Halliwell, after several citizens addressed the teers takeoff their busi 8, of Westland gets a council and complained of not being ness hats and put on hard marigold from her mom, allowed to speak at the-June 5 meet- inB- hats to help build a Jane. The young people "There were many people that had house. /Fl also did a "pizza garden" their hands raised and wished to be of basil, green peppers, heard - one was myself," resident tomatoes, parsley and Judith Marentette said. other items at the library. Residents.Marian Greenfield, Chris INDEX They are earning junior tine Millisor and Georgia Becker also told Griffin that he ignored their Apartments/63 HomeTown Master Gardener certifica efforts to make public statements. At Home/D ' Life/Bl tion through Michigan . "Whether you want to admit it or Automotive/M jobs/as State University. not, you did deny me my right to Ciassified/F.GJ 0bituaries/A2 Please sec I, A4 Classified 0pinions/A12-13 lndex/F5 ftea! Estate/Fl Crosswofd/F6 Service Giiide/J2 Entertainment/El Sport s/Ct e contract , concerns are raised BY DARRELL CLKM new, five-year contract increasing the ment, citing some complaint* about fer hiring a local company rather than STAFF Warm* service and saying the city hasn't bid risking a pact with an out-of-state firm dctem&6e«hoai60<Mhifc.n6; city's costs by 4 percent starting June HumrT'iv. n f !;ts>ifiwK 30 - and 3 percent every other year. its garbage-hauling contract in years. that could usher in poor service. f Westland residents will continue to WeBtland City Council members Anderson and LeBlanc questioned "This issue," Griffin said, "is a matter \V< >K l\ have their garbage picked up by the approved Painter & Ruthenberg's con whether the city might get a better of service." same company, despite some concerns tract in a 4-2 vote Monday, retaining a price by seeking bids Kuthentorg conceded that Westland about service and costs. company that has picked up Westland But council President Charles "Trav" residents havt» witnessed some late "1 sold my car in a Inkster-based Painter & Ruthenberg, trash for about three decades, Griffin and colleague.* Sandra Cicirelli, garbage service in recent yearn, week. I will recommend now paid about $1,5 million a year to Councilmen Glenn Anderson and David Cox and David James favored your paper to others haul Westland's garbage, has secured a Richard LeBlanc opposed the agree the garbage contract, saying they pre ~~ Please see APPKOVID, M who have items iosell* Patricia G Summer Festival will provide a grand old time Royal Oak BTJUUlBlOWN west to City Halt before ending at the festival ' H t - I < (t f * »« t , t •; " &TAFF WttTO grounds. •net The new route was due partly to construction, said • , -1 ; 11 • \-•i> Fireworks, food and fun for all ages will highlight board member Gary Bulson, The "nice change" wan the Westland Summer Festival Thursday, June 29, also designed to attract more families on a Saturday through Tuesday, July 4. Saturday will also feature a special Family Fun The festival will take place at Central City Park Day with clowria, magician*, games and a children's and environs, by City Hall. Daily features include picnic A classic car Bhow is on tap that day. t<K>, carnival rides, Vegas and bingo games And music, Saturday, July 1, is a big day for the festival, said everything from country and classic rock to polka and Bulson, of Men on the Move movers. The Family Fun top 40, Day will feature inpxpenmve fun, such HP immature On Saturday, July 1, there will be a parade honor golf, a flight simulator, an obstacle rour.*i» find slot ing America beginning at 10 am Aside from the new cars, in addition to the carnival riden. day and time, the parade will follow a new route, It The 2000 Baby and Toddler of tho Year cmitr*!*. will begin on Wayne Road north of Warren, moving iTWT rwmttTBSTA* I south en Wayne to Ford Road. Prom there, it will go Please wrr NiftVAL, A4 *W&r Robert Thorns* In 1H$ »••«*•» straw* To pltK.r n classified nd: 734 ;>91-0900 Newsroom: 734 953-2104 Home Delivery: 734*591 0500 7%« Observer 4k Eccentric/ THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2000 (W)A2 $&*£/ power Stormy weather's no friend to Jones, deputy court administra the 18th District Court. tor. Court sessions were being il)e$tlan5 ©bseruer The court on Ford Road, whith^ held in council chambers at the lost power in May, again was nearby Westland City Hall. "No phones either," said Jones, **4«*«»«ft« without power Wednesday. **«*•#•«-* "This is happening with quite who was unsure when the power would return. tsftsfl i^Pwe^P aaas^ spssass9a^ sajwRs1 ••^asa'iifs^BT assi^s^p^p vnaiaaT a bit of frequency," said Karen Mae eod Nnata* ftemttat Susan Rofttok, ''ai' ^^*/^*^V. 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