The corners on Elsmere from Avis to Mandale have been at varying stages of disrepair for some time. For the last 3 years open, empty, and burning structures have contributed to the blight and seem to have helped fuel illegal and even violent activity in the area. Multiple requests have been made to the City of Detroit over the course of this time. During the last 5 weeks in particular the area within 2 square blocks of Lane and Elsmere has suffered 2 shootings and 8 fires. But this week changes are coming.

This Thursday the City of Detroit will be hosting a press conference at 1808 Elsmere to spearhead demolition efforts in the neighborhoods around Springwells in Southwest Detroit. The press conference will be at 9:00 am and Mayor Bing will be in attendance. There will be four properties demolished at that site on this day. We are asking everyone to come out and show their support around these much needed demolition efforts in our neighborhood! Translation will be provided at this event. Please share this information with others. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call me at 313.451.8380

If you had the microphone for 30 seconds during this press conference, what would you say or ask your audience?

This year's Cinco de Mayo Parade was filled with youth, families, instruments, horses, fashion, and rides!  This year the parade again traveled its traditional route from Patton Park to Clark Park.  Lasting for just over an hour it pleased visitors with a diverse arrangement of floats and performances.  Marching bands filled the streets with familiar sounds.  Horses pranced by.  Candy flew from cars and floats.  And young people from the community sported everything from signs with messages to the latest fashions from local shops.

What was YOUR experience?  Leave a comment below to let us know. What did you see, hear, taste, touch, and/or smell out in the neighborhood this weekend for the Cinco de Mayo festivities?