DECEMBER 2009

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one-on-one Charles Pugh addresses Chaldean Chamber and Detroit Independent Grocer members at Shenandoah CN: What do you think are the top three misconceptions about Chaldean stores and their owners? Charles Pugh: ‘There is no food desert here’ A familiar face to most Metro Detroiters due to his long career as a TV reporter, Charles Pugh garnered the most votes in Detroit’s November election for City Council. That means he will serve as council president when he takes office on January 1. Pugh and three of his fellow council election winners met over dinner with members of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Independent Grocers at Shenandoah Country Club on November 17 (see page 36). Afterwards, he sat down with Chamber Executive Director Martin Manna, a Chaldean News co-publisher, for a chat. Chaldean News: What are your plans as the new Detroit City Council president? Charles Pugh: I want to continue this important dialogue that has been started [with Chaldean business owners in Detroit] because the Chaldean community has been vital to this community — creating convenience, strong neighborhoods, showing commitment when others either couldn’t or didn’t, and providing jobs. Concerns of the community are very important. When you rely on somebody, you take them for PHOTO BY RAMIZ ROMAYA granted. You don’t take the fact that, when you lobby for a big chain to come into town, what about all the people who have been here, who have invested and shown commitment? That is a valid concern to have and you won’t hear it unless you sit down and talk. Sometimes phone calls and emails get lost; this kind of face-to-face dialogue is important. The minority communities need to look at our commonalities and work with each other. I think both communities would be stronger. The African- American community and the Chaldean community could have a less stereotypical dialogue and a real dialogue. As we move forward, realize that a strong African-American community and a strong Chaldean community is a strong Detroit. So that’s what I am committed to. Plus, I like clearing up mistakes of the past. I like forging a new future where we are more open and accepting of people and realize that we are really in the same boat. We both really love Detroit and are Detroiters. We need to listen to these concerns and why we need to earmark some of those dollars to support assisting businesses that have shown commitment with their own money invested in our community, hiring Detroiters and providing for our community. That is a commitment that we need to keep and make. CP: That the store is not clean and the produce or meat is not fresh; that stores are changing the dates on meat and that kind of stuff. Another misconception is that prices are higher in Detroit stores than in suburban stores. Maybe another misconception is that Chaldean storeowners don’t pay taxes. That’s the kind of stuff you hear, crazy things. But it is not substantiated and nobody asks or checks up on it. It is interesting that you hear those things but then you don’t refute it. You know, I grew up in the University Foods Market. The first time I went there was probably 1977 or ‘78 when I was 7 or 8 years old. This was more than 30 years ago, when he was located at Trumbell and Forest. It was a good grocery store then, and now with the new location [on West Warren], it is one of the best grocery stores in town, period. So, you can’t refute that with BS rumors and misconceptions — they have been there a long time and shown their commitment. The prices are good, the service is good, and the produce and meat are good, the parking is good, it’s clean, the cooked food is good. What else do you want? I don’t understand how these misconceptions can be so pervasive. And maybe they’re not as pervasive as they used to be. Maybe the people who started these rumors are dying off. I think that is an old school mentality. You don’t see it on Facebook or Twitter. You don’t really hear about it anymore. Now my uncles and aunts, when I was little they used to say those things. But that was 25-30 years ago. Today there might be remnants of that but there are so many examples that refute that and blow it out of the water. Go in the store, walk down the aisles, spend some money and talk about it. I did that before I ran. When I was a journalist on the radio, I was so excited about Mike’s Fresh Market coming [to Livernois and Seven Mile] because I had been to the one on Gratiot. So I always tell everybody to go to the store. If he fails, then everybody in this community fails. And that neighborhood in particular has to have a grocery store like that. I felt that it was my duty as a journalist to spread that message. It is my duty as one of the leaders of the city to spread the message that we need to dispel of any rumors and myths. And also form a new relationship with the people, a new financial commitment. We need to reprioritize the allocation of those dollars. A portion of those dollars should be set aside for those businesses that already exist, not just to the newcomers. CN: Chaldeans have been contributing to the city for more than 40 years yet as we already discussed, they feel there is a bias against them. Chain and non-Chaldean-owned stores have received abatements and subsidies, and Governor Jennifer Granholm has a plan to open 15 new supermarkets and grant millions to non- Chaldeans. What are your thoughts? CP: My thoughts are that the governor doesn’t listen. With all due respect to the governor, who 38 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2009 cn1209_0148.indd 38 11/25/09 5:05:36 PM
I think is a smart woman and works hard and cares, she doesn’t live here. The reality is that for those of us who do, it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that we do use our power as elected folk, and say, “With all due respect Madam Governor, I think the dollars would be better spent in the expansion and renovation of those stores that already exist.” If we look at a map at the coverage areas, we don’t need any new grocery stores. We might need one or two in some areas but why not offer that money to grocers that already exist to open second locations? CN: Do you believe that Detroit is a food desert? CP: Hell no, it’s not a food desert. People come in from out of town, swoop in and do these studies. Okay, there are neighborhoods that have to drive an extra 10 minutes, but that’s not a desert. In the very neighborhood where the governor had the news conference about the produce trucks delivering food is King Cole, one of the best grocery stores in the city. There was a point when it burned down, but it got rebuilt. I was one of those people that got on the radio and said, “Now this neighborhood is underserved because there is no grocery store.” Little did I know it was going to rebuild even better. I thought it was gone forever. Because in so many cases, like Lelli’s on Woodward, it burned down and rebuilt in Auburn Hills. So we have had examples of businesses that were destroyed by fire and then did not reopen. But there is no food desert here. There are areas where people may have to drive a little further. And people who have transportation problems. CN: We talked about the governor’s plan. City Council typically approves abatements and subsidies for new stores, and I know there has been talk about Meijer. What is your position on that? CP: I don’t want to knock Meijer – we need a Meijer; a major metropolis needs a store that sells everything and is open 24 hours. However, I am certainly for abatements and other incentives being offered to the stores that are here. There is nothing wrong with rewarding the businesses that are already here, enabling them to expand if they want or get a second location. Why go to another grocer if you can provide the grocers who are here with an opportunity for growth with some kind of tax relief? I am 100 percent in support of this. When I decided to run for council, one of my community engagement objectives was to have citizens patrol our neighborhood stores and protest if necessary. I don’t know that there will be a need for this if we are working with groups like the Chaldean Chamber that is very serious about quality, good product, good relationships and good environments. CN: What can Chaldeans do to help the city? CP: Tell your story more. You can’t let one bad apple spoil the bunch. If you have had one bad experience or one bad situation in one grocery store, you can’t hate everybody else with the same grudge; that’s not fair. CN: Have you considered a Shop Detroit campaign? CP: I am personally committed to that because it was one of my ideas anyway. I realized as a radio commentator that we need a concerted effort from our retailers to market the idea around Metro Detroit. I am committed to cheerleading for Detroit businesses and spending dollars in the city. That’s how we stay strong and reward the people who are committed to us, and it also keeps the neighborhood strong. CN: What hopes do you have in Mayor Dave Bing? CP: I pray for strength for him when dealing with the unions. He has a tough job that the council does not have to deal with. I pray for a strong vision for our city. I pray that he has the courage to make the decisions we know need to be made to balance our budget and create a deficit elimination plan. I pray for a greater spirit of cooperation. He has already shown a willingness and active outreach to the incoming council on many occasions. [Councilman-elect] Gary Brown and myself met with Mayor Bing a couple of days ago and had a very encouraging conversation and agreed that we would be agreeable even in our disagreements — that we would be mutually respectful and focus on the areas we all know we need to. It was a good beginning to our relationship. 182 W. Maple • Troy, MI 48084 Tel: (248) 362-2122 Fax: (248) 362-3664 Email: attstarwonder@aol.com Can Do For You List • Add a line for $9.99 • Switch to AT&T and keep your number • Upgrade your existing service • Analyze your bills • Add, remove or update features • Lower your bills • Activate a new service for: • AT&T High speed internet • U-verse (advanced TV) • Home phone service DJ Spinning All Night 44375 12 Mile Rd. Ste G152 • Novi, MI 48377 • 248.662.1100 Four Great Services, One Simple Bill. PHONE DOCTOR! David Dabish CELLULAR REPAIR: • FREE ESTIMATES ON DAMAGED CELL PHONES • LOANER PHONES AVAILABLE DECEMBER 2009 CHALDEAN NEWS 39 cn1209_0148.indd 39 11/25/09 5:05:50 PM
Page 1 and 2: VOL. 6 ISSUE XI METRO DETROIT CHALD
Page 3 and 4: Gary Sako 248-990-3010 Mary Ann Yon
Page 5 and 6: DECEMBER 2009 CHALDEAN NEWS 5 cn120
Page 7 and 8: W FARMINGTON HILLS 33250 12 MILE RO
Page 9 and 10: CONTENTS DECEMBER 2009 THE CHALDEAN
Page 11 and 12: GUEST column your LETTERS 2009 year
Page 13 and 14: A Fond Farewell From Jerry Shannon
Page 15 and 16: noteworthy Sharon Hannawa Paul Aske
Page 17 and 18: Community Bulletin Board Blame It o
Page 19 and 20: Happy Holidays from Tapper’s With
Page 21 and 22: SETTING THE STANDARD FOR INTEGRITY
Page 23 and 24: TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE Welcome t
Page 25 and 26: looking BACK Khalid Bahoura: Chicke
Page 27 and 28: stained-glass window depicting the
Page 29 and 30: A Program to help YOU. Services are
Page 31 and 32: Add the world. $ 5. Unlimited inter
Page 33 and 34: Smile a little every day. 32940 Mid
Page 35 and 36: “Make health choice your choice,
Page 37: Huntington Cleaners & Shirt Laundry
Page 41 and 42: 325-MONTH CD - 2.52% APY 1 TripleOp
Page 43 and 44: It’s all about the Spirit Ever
Page 45 and 46: in the KITCHEN with Haresa (Barley
Page 47 and 48: chaldean for KIDS Christmas Greetin
Page 49 and 50: PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESS
Page 51 and 52: Wedding Specials SEPTEMBER 15TH - M

DECEMBER 2009

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