National Day of Climate Action is this Saturday, November 3, nationwide, and you can and should take part. The Environmental Movement is on the move and this Saturday presents a great chance to stop complaining about how little is being done to curb greenhouse gases and to start doing something about it politically. Communities of environmentally conscious Michiganders are gathering for two events in Warren and two events in Ann Arbor.

Michigan is rich in both natural resources and in natural resource polluters. In order to retain the former, the latter have to change. Unfortunately, the polluting powers that be will need some shoving before they will reform.

Let’s start taking a stand this weekend.

By the way, I just watched Who Killed the Electric Car? this weekend and couldn’t get out of bed for a day I was so depressed afterward. But the next day, I wanted to get out there and do something. This weekend can be the beginning of that “doing something” for me and for you.

There has been very little coverage of this recently, which surprises me. During last month’s election, a name familiar to many Detroiters appeared on the ballots for Michigan’s 4th District State Representative. Coleman Young Jr, whose real name is Joel Loving, won the district in a landslide victory.

I wonder if the voters in district 4 (where I voted) even know who or what Coleman Young Jr stands for. According to the Michigan Family Association Voters Guide, Coleman Young Jr’s positions on issues are far more in line with the Republicans than any urban Democrat. Not to mention, his only real connection to Coleman Young Sr. is in his genetics. He has very little political experience (Subway Restaurants & Autozone don’t count) and is totally unqualified.

I’m not a huge fan of Coleman Young Sr, but I read his autobiography and I respect the man. However, Coleman Young Jr. appears to be nothing more than an unqualified fraud who is playing off of his father’s respected name.

I was sad to hear that Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido died yesterday.

I didn’t know Mr. Guido personally, but I did know that he was elected, by his peers, as the 64th president of the United States Conference of Mayors in June 2006, and that his leadership led to some wonderful things in Dearborn, such as the $43 million Ford Community & Performing Arts Center and the Dearborn Ice Skating Center.
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I was eating dinner at Sala Thai tonight and former Mayor Dennis Archer happened to be sitting a few booths over! Also, Sala Thai is very delicious. I like Thai Basil out on 6 mile and Newburgh (in Livonia) better, but Sala Thai is probably the best thai food in the greater downtown area. It’s in an old firehouse just north of the sheds at Eastern Market.

Just a friendly reminder to cast your ballots today. The polls are open until 8 pm, so there’s still plenty of time.

I voted this morning at a precinct on Detroit’s near East side at 9:00 and it was a pleasant and smooth experience. I always take a little sheet with me with the candidates/proposals on it, so I was in and out of there in about 15 minutes. I noticed at least two election officials watching guard over the voting area, but didn’t witness any voters have problems while I was there.

Less than 5 days until Election Day 2006.

Have you decided who you are voting for? If not, check out the Gannett Michigan Voters Guide or Publius. I know I’ve mentioned these site before, but they’re worth another mention because both offer easy ways to find out the races you’ll be voting on.
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If you want your voice heard on election day but still haven’t registered to vote, you better get on it — and quick.
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Today is primary election day in Michigan. I voted on my way to work this morning and timed how long it took me: 13 minutes, and that includes a 200-yard walk to and from my car and the voting area inside the building.

Granted, I did my homework last week so I knew exactly who I was voting for when I got my ballot, but even still - I cannot see it taking longer than 30 minutes to vote in a primary election in Michigan.

No excuses — get out and vote today! The polls close at 8 pm.
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Watching the news clips of today’s immigration rallies/protests, I could help but noticed the predominantly Hispanic crowd. I realized the US has a large population of Hispanic immigrants (both legal and illegal), but what about all the other immigrants? Is not the United States a melting pot of the world? Does not our heritage stretch to every corner of the world whether we like it or not?

I have read in the papers immigrants from Europe and Asia being told this wasn’t their fight. The immigration laws aren’t just against undocumented Hispanics, but also undocumented Asians and Europeans and Africans and Australians and even Canadians.

I am not suggesting something shouldn’t be done about undocumented immigrants. But I don’t think they are stealing our jobs. Many are doing jobs Americans refuse to do - because it doesn’t pay enough or is beneath them. No matter what someone needs to do the job. Do we need to strengthen our borders, sure. 9/11 proved that, but not everyone is a terrorist, not everyone is a freeloader. We can not judge so indiscriminantly based on where someone comes from.

Detroit’s immigrants have barely raised their voices. If you missed the rallies, you never heard of them. Yet this city was built by immigrants. By those looking for a job. By those willing to do the dirty work. So where is Detroit’s voice in this issue? Why is it so quiet?

I found this here:
“‘If you are somebody who has lost a job, you need to vote for a change.’ That quote belongs to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, that Democrat, from November of 2004.

This year, Granholm is facing a stiff challenge from Republican Dick Devos, and it seems she cannot even go to a DC fundraiser for herself at Vernon Jordan’s place without the Michigan Republicans’ “jobs clock” there to remind her that her State is losing one job every 20 minutes.

Quips MRP Chairman Saul Anuzis: ‘I hope the jobs clock sitting outside the fundraiser serves as a reminder to the Governor that in the 2 hours she spends hobnobbing with fellow Democrats, Michigan will lose another 6 jobs.’

Tick, tick, tick, tick… ”

Well put, and well noted.