Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Wow, the lowest in 17 years! That's great for Detroit. 93 fires is a lot better than the 810 they had in 1984!

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2012 ... /211020356

Fewer!

So, how did Detroit fare this last Devils night? Fewer fires than in the past I hope?

This is a sad fact.

In a typical 24-hour period in Detroit, 20 to 30 fires are reported, but the night before Halloween sees a dramatic rise. Last year, 169 fires were reported; 119 the year before

Detroit averages approximately 500 fires per month, it's insane there. The new Community Watch program eliminates a good number of the Devil's Night fires. There's over 80,000 vacant building's in the city.... lots left to burn.

guest II wrote:From all the pictures and stories I've seen and read, it gives the impression that only half the city remains to be burned. It's really a terrible situation that is enjoyed by the hooligans and other worthless individuals who call it "fun" while the good citizens suffer.

I may be wrong, but I don't remember hearing of any other city haveing this problem as bad as Detroit had it. Seems every year a good chunk of the city got lit up!

From all the pictures and stories I've seen and read, it gives the impression that only half the city remains to be burned. It's really a terrible situation that is enjoyed by the hooligans and other worthless individuals who call it "fun" while the good citizens suffer.

Question for someone that lives in Detroit. Does Detroit still get all the fires set on Devil's night, or Hell's night, the night before Halloween? I know this used to be a big deal some years ago. Seems like half the city would be set on fire that night.

Impressively consistent Detroit named most dangerous US city – again.

Detroit, you're a great city — we just don't think it's a good idea for us to come visit right now. The latest list of the 10 most-dangerous cities in American has been released, and, surprise, (OK, it’s actually not surprising), Detroit and its hellscape of murder and mayhem has been ranked as the most dangerous place in the country for the fourth year in a row. According to the latest stats, there were 2,137 acts of violent crime per 100,000 residents — at least that’s a 10 percent drop over last year! Rounding out the top 10 from least-most-dangerous to most-most-dangerous are Buffalo, N.Y.; Cleveland; Stockton, Calif.; Baltimore; Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Oakland, Calif.; and St. Louis.

Rest in Peace Mongo

I regret to inform Lions fans and followers that former Lion great Alex Karras passed away either on October 9 or October 10 and it was reported on today's news reports as well. Sad to hear of his passing but at least Alex is now in a better place and no longer suffering anymore. God Bless Alex and thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and fans as well. Go Lions and rest in peace Alex.

This is a sad deal.


Lions great, Hollywood star Karras in hospice
Longtime Detroit Lions fans remember Alex Karras as one of the most dominating defensive linemen of his generation.

Movie buffs will never forget the scene from "Blazing Saddles" in which he knocked out a horse with one punch.

Karras has lived his life on the edge, but is now suffering from kidney failure and under hospice care at his home in California. The Detroit Free Press and Detroit News reported the former All-Pro defensive lineman and actor has been given only a few days to live because of recent kidney failure.

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/10/08/1 ... eedID=3867

I know this could happen in any city, but it had to happen in Detroit. Detroit can't catch a break!


October 8, 2012, 9:51 a.m.

Ralph Godbee Jr. stepped down as Detroit's police chief Monday after a sex scandal involving his relationship with an employee in the department's internal-affairs unit.

At a news conference, Mayor Dave Bing announced that Godbee, who had been under suspension in connection with the scandal, had decided to retire immediately. Godbee has been in the job since 2010, replacing former chief Warren Evans, who was forced out in part because of a sex scandal.

Bing said Godbee told him of his decision during a meeting Sunday. The move "was the right decision by the chief," the mayor said.

He said Godbee acknowledged having a relationship with the woman in the internal-affairs unit and was embarrassed by the latest incident.

"He felt he had let me down. He felt he had let the department down," Bing told reporters.

The unions aren't helping matters much in Detroit!


Here's a riddle for you: What do you call a horseshoer that doesn't shoe any horses? An employee of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. No, you're not supposed to laugh, but the perpetually cash-strapped city somehow still employs a horseshoer, even though the department does not own horses, nor does the former employee of the Police Department work with any of the city's four-legged equines. The horseshoer's position was revealed as part of an independent report that concluded that the DWSD could "trim more than 80% of its workforce," a suggestion that union leaders say isn't possible. In case you were wondering, the horseshoer's annual salary for doing nothing is $29,245. Maybe that's why horseshoes are lucky.

The only thing that Joshua Smith has to worry about now is the City coming after him for doing business without a license and the State pursing him for sales taxes. Sorry to sound cynical, but nothing the govenments of the City and State might do would surprize me any more.

ed mertz wrote:Hi beecher,

It looks like Minn. has problems too.

Minneapolis (AP) — A gunman apparently involved in an ongoing dispute with someone at a Minneapolis home took aim at the house Tuesday and opened fire, killing a young boy who was sleeping on a couch inside, police said.

The shooting of 5-year-old Nizzel Anthony George at his grandmother's house comes six months after another child was killed by a stray bullet that entered a home just 20 blocks away. Outraged city officials and community members are calling for an end to the gun violence.

What is also sad is the two people caught and charged in this shooting are just teenagers, 15 & 17, kids themselves. I don't know why so many people think guns are the thing to turn to for settling an argument. What happened to dukeing it out face to face, not blasting bullets through the side of a house, killing a 5 year old that I wouldn't think was in a gang.

From the Mpls. Star newspaper:
Shannon, 17, and a 15-year-old boy, identified in court papers by his street name, "Funny Mo," are accused of going to Nizzel's family's house in north Minneapolis on June 26 and firing multiple rounds through the front wall, striking Nizzel once in the back. An internal Minneapolis police report indicates the tensions that led to the shooting relate to a long-standing violent feud between two north Minneapolis gangs.

As a metro Detroiter I am 'Extremely' proud of Joshua Smith. This story was broadcast on all the Detroit TV stations. Now it has made national news. This is the type of reporting we need our young folks to see ! Thanks Josh and please keep up the fine work. - ed

This young man is trying to lend a helping hand to Detroit.


Joshua Smith set up his lemonade stand Monday with a goal of raising $1,000 for the Motor City to ease the pain of its slashed services and laid-off workers, NewsTalkCleveland.com reported. Joshua’s parents helped set the prices for his drinks, charging $1 for water, $1.40 for lemonade and punch and popcorn for $1, $1.50 and $2 a bag.

In just five days the lemonade stand brought in more than $3,000–$3,340, to be exact–and Joshua was given an award for outstanding achievement from the Detroit City Council. He has also earned a $2,000 award for college from the Rosa L. Parks Scholarship Foundation.

Joshua sold the lemonade from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, USA Today reported. Aside from lemonade he also sold fruit punch–which he noted was organic–and popcorn flavored with sea salt.

His parents said they didn’t want to tell Joshua that his lemonade stand wouldn’t put much of a dent in the city’s $100 million deficit, but instead invested $100 in the stand and helped him get to work. They likely didn’t expect him to turn a $3,000 lemonade profit

“I’m really proud of him. He wasn’t asking how can he make money to buy himself something. My wife and I were talking about this earlier: Neither of us ever thought to do anything like this when we were kids,” Flynn Smith, a high school math teacher and associate pastor at Evangel Ministries, told USA Today.

The lemonade stand was a hit far outside Joshua’s neighborhood, NewsTalkCleveland.com reported. Contributions came from across the United States as far away as South Africa, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. The stand also drew some famous guests, including the University of Michigan men’s basketball team.

Joshua’s parents said the $3,000 lemonade profit will help maintain a park and playground near their home in the city’s Russell Woods neighborhood.

I agree with you Ed. Every large city has their problems.
The killing of these two small children in Mpls. by shots being fired at a house is so sad. One child was killed while sleeping and the other was doing homework at a table. They had no beef with the person that pulled the trigger and sprayed their house with bullets. Detroit, along with every other city does not need press like this.

The success of Comerica Park, Ford Field, the Fox, the Joe, the Ford/Greenfield museum, and other Metro Detroit is from these venues being family friendly. Bad behavior isn’t tolerated at all, or anywhere near, these sites. Unsuitable language, by itself, is grounds for a quick escort out. These events sell well, are great visits, safe, and represent the best of Detroit.

All of us wish the very best for the Detroit ferries. These are historic ships. The problem with the incidents in Toledo and Detroit is the marketing to the general public that created situations beyond the control of the crews.

Management and passengers acting badly on the Boblo Island ferries from Detroit led to the closing of the park and the idling of the ferries. The Boatnerd cruises prove the Detroit ferries can be viable with charters sponsored by organizations, community leaders, and government support. And, Boblo proved service to all of the general public will put you out of business.