Free Talk Live

Fed up with crime, citizens hit streets
Francis X. Donnelly / The Detroit News

Detroit -- With its handsome brick homes and trimmed lawns, Russell Woods is an unlikely setting for a revolution.

For the past three nights, however, residents from all over the city who are fed up with crime have descended upon this neighborhood in a northwest section of Detroit.

As they patrol the tree-lined streets, they're encountering residents who share their views.

Mayor Bing of Detroit wants to shrink the size of the city, and intends on accomplishing that by 'relocating' residents and shutting off city services to other parts of the city. Of course, he wants Federal funds to accomplish this and is anticipating lots of legal challenges to his plan.

Detroit -- As Michigan State Police investigators sort out the shooting of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones, one aspect is clear: Detroit taxpayers will pay.

DETROIT - Local 4 Defenders have learned that in Detroit in the last two weeks, nearly ten crimes have been reported involving men posing as police officers. The latest incident, Thursday morning, resulted in the shooting death of a 35-year-old woman and critical wounding of her 12-year-old sister. Those attackers remain at large.

Retired Detroit police detective Tom Berry said in some cases, the police impersonators stop cars on the street.

DETROIT — Gun advocates, in competition with Detroit police, offered a buyback program of their own Thursday.

As police conducted a gun buyback event at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 10400 Stoepel in Detroit, about a dozen protesters stood across the street making offers of their own.

"Guns Wanted! Cash" and "Cash for guns," their signs read. They beckoned those in line with their guns concealed in towels and bags, to come across the street for a better price.

MCLOUD, OK -- Several residents in McLoud are upset after the city announced a $17 water bill for residents who use a well. According to City Manager Larry Dillon, the small fee will help pay for emergency services such as police officers and fire fighters. Because of an old city ordinance, rural residents with in 100-yards of a water line didn't have to pay for those services; but because of a struggling economy, every dollar counts.

ACLU sues the City of Detroit over a raid on an art gallery and alleges that the Detroit Police are essentially shaking down people for money.

Here’s an interesting question about the proper scope of government arising from Obion County, Tennessee. The county does not have its own fire department, and instead relies on the fire protection services of the nearby City of Fulton. But there’s a catch: The City of Fulton does not automatically serve residents of the county. If Obion County residents want to be protected by the City of Fulton Fire Department, they need to pay a $75 fee to the City.

Glendale (CA) city officials are forcing residents to take down mirrors they’ve attached to trees in the public right-of-way so they can better see oncoming traffic while exiting their driveways. Residents say in the absence of any speed-reduction enhancements, such as speed humps, the round convex mirrors are one of the few safety measures they have. City officials, though, say it’s about more than tree damage. City codes don’t allow anything to be attached to city-owned trees or street-light poles. Also, nothing can be placed in the public right-of-way because of liability concerns.