DECEMBER 2009

council connects
with the community
Newly elected Detroit council members meet with Chaldean businesses
BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO
No one was arguing that the
city of Detroit is facing major
challenges during a November
dinner meeting with some of
the newly elected city council members
and Chaldean store owners.
“We have a lot of work to do,”
said Saunteel Jenkins, newly elected
council member at the Shenandoah
Country Club event.
The Chaldean American Chamber
of Commerce organized the meet
and greet event primarily focused on
store owners in Detroit. “The city
council and mayor cannot do it alone.
We are going to come to you. We are
onto a new beginning,” said Jenkins.
Four new members of the council
spoke for a few minutes to the crowd
of about 50. They included Jenkins,
Gary Brown, Reverend Andre Spivey
and Charles Pugh.
What needs to be addressed is
how to build a stronger relationship
between the city of Detroit and Chaldeans
who operate businesses there and
Martin Manna, executive director of
Left: Jillian Semaan was Charles Pugh’s campaign manager. Above: Gary Brown makes a point.
PHOTOS BY RAMIZ ROMAYA
the chamber, believes it starts with educating
people. He began with a brief
history lesson on the community and
the store owners. He also appropriately
addressed the tumultuous relationship
between former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
and the Chaldeans.
“It is important that the elected
leaders understand what it costs our
Chaldeans to do business in the city,”
said Manna. “We want to build a partnership
and we understand that we
must do our part as much as we expect
the city’s leadership to do their part.”
Recognizing the respected and
successful markets, Spivey urged those
store owners to help those who are not
doing as good of a job running their
businesses, and said the city council is
ready to work with Chaldeans.
“Some of you could have closed
up shop, gone across 8 Mile and had
less crime, less headache and less liability,”
said Spivey. “We thank you
for staying in Detroit. When you
come to council, we will not berate
you. We are going to work with you
and as we tell our good stories in Detroit,
we urge you to do the same.
Tell your story. Together we will rid
Detroit of the ‘food desert’ image.
There are some underserved areas
but we have great store owners and
great supermarkets.”
Gary Brown spent 10 years working
in a supermarket, Farmer Jack,
before he became a police officer.
While still on the force, Brown introduced
a program that would put more
officers on the street and help protect
retailers operating in Detroit. He is
reintroducing the program, which
would allow off-duty armed police
officers in uniform with a scout car to
work as security for local businesses.
The officers, although fully equipped
with radios to talk to dispatch, would
actually be paid by the store owners
during their off-duty time to protect
the store. “This will only work if the
city properly markets this program
and you take advantage of it,” said
Brown. “You can have confidence in
city council. We are prepared to hit
the ground running.”
Although he no longer operates a
business in the city, Detroit Independent
Grocers (DIG) Co-Chair John
Loussia agrees. “People keep telling
us to reach out and talk about how
we have contributed to the city,” said
Loussia. “We cannot just complain
every time we meet with the city’s
36 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2009
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