State Rep. Olumba wants state hearings to remove Ficano

 The Detroit News

By Christine MacDonald

Detroit— A state representative is calling on Wayne County commissioners to pass a resolution urging Gov. Rick Snyder to start removal hearings for Executive Robert Ficano.

Rep. John Olumba, D-Detroit, sent a letter to the 15-member panel seeking the resolution for hearings similar to those that helped lead to Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s plea bargain and resignation in 2008. Commissioners aren’t likely to take him up on the request.

Olumba has criticized Ficano since last fall, when it was revealed that former economic development director Turkia Mullin received a $200,000 severance after leaving for a better paying job as CEO of Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The recent disclosure that Ficano promised former Deputy Azzam Elder a severance of at least $300,000 and sweetened his pension is more evidence that state hearings are necessary, Olumba said. The FBI is investigating, but Olumba said it’s unclear how long the probe would last.  Read More

 

GOP bill subjects Black cities to more beaucracy under EM

  

 the Michigan Citizen

Sun, Jan 22, 2012

By Marcus Wright

 

DETROIT — The Michigan House of Representatives may soon vote into law a bill that would change Public Act 4 and make it easier for the governor to appoint and reappoint emergency managers who have dictatorial powers over local units of government in receivership. Emergency managers can sell public utilities, dismiss elected officials and break contracts.

The Senate, in a 26-12 party-line vote, passed and sent Bill 865 to the House on Dec. 15, 2011. Opponents of the bill say it is an attempt to invalidate the current referendum petition and could make the EM law immune to future voter referendum by including a cash appropriation as part of the bill.

Presently, emergency managers control Detroit Public Schools, Pontiac, Ecorse, Flint and Benton Harbor. A review team recently declared Highland Park School District in a state of emergency. All have majority Black and Democratic populations.

A team appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder is currently reviewing Detroit’s finances. If it determines Detroit needs an emergency manager and Snyder appoints one, 50.7 percent of all Black people in Michigan will be unable to elect their local officials.

Read More

State legislator, community calls for investigation of Wayne County Executive

 The Michigan Citizen

By Zenobia Jeffries

DETROIT — Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and his administration will not only be investigated by the FBI, but the county executive and three of his officials may have their law licenses revoked.

On Oct. 19, Attorney Leland McRae, on behalf of State Rep. John Olumba, filed complaints with the Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate Ficano, former County Director of Economic and Neighborhood Development Turkia Mullin, former deputy County Executive Azzam Elder and former County Assistant Corporate Counsel Chief Marianne Talon. The four have been accused of professional misconduct and failure to report professional misconduct. Mullin has additionally been accused of prohibited conflict of interest.

At issue is a $200,000 severance payout to Mullin, which many believe is unethical if not illegal. Reacting to community outrage and allegations of misappropriation of county funds, Ficano suspended Elder and Talon for 30 days without pay.

Yet, this may only be the beginning for county executive Ficano and his administration. Read More

Thank-You, Call Your Michigan Rep. urging their support of HR 139

Thank you everyone for the support and prayers that are lifting my family and I up.

Yet, there is another step you can take to support this effort –

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN LANSING or WRITE ON THEIR FACEBOOK WALL urging them to support *HOUSE RESOLUTION 139 Click Here to find YOUR MICHIGAN Rep.

The resolution  urges the Attorney General to conduct an investigation into matters concerning the Wayne County Scandal; afterwards, inform TWO others about this issue by copying and pasting this post onto your Facebook wall &/or email.

God Bless and Help us all.

*Read House Resolution 139 under  Current Buzz

Lawmaker seeks AG probe of Wayne County severance payout

 Turkia Awada Mullin has agreed to return the $200,000 severance payment.

The Detroit News

By Kathleen Gray

State Rep. John Olumba, D-Detroit, wants to cut out the middle man and have the Attorney General’s office begin an immediate investigation of questionable payments and practices in Wayne County.

The hearing today in the House Oversight, Reform and Ethics committee added to the scandal that started with a $200,000 severance payment given to former Wayne County economic development director Turkia Mullin, and has expanded to other severance payments and deals made by shadowy foundations set up to bring development to Wayne County.

The request for an investigation has been turned over to the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council, because Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, has said she has a conflict in investigating another county elected official. Read more