Thursday, March 4, 2010
MWRO: DTE - Illegal power hookup resumed hours before fatal fire
ShareThis
Detroit Free Press
March 4, 2010
By Amber Hunt
Original Article: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100303/NEWS01/100303011/1318/DTE-Illegal-power-hookup-resumed-hours-before-fatal-fire&template=fullarticle
Someone inside the now-charred home on Detroit’s Bangor Street was determined to keep the electricity flowing.
Within hours of DTE Energy cutting off service to the home because it had been hooked up illegally for months, two locks that had been placed by the utility on the electric meter box had been cut off — and power was restored.
The Detroit Fire Department is investigating whether that second illegal hookup led to the Tuesday deaths of three children – Travion Young, 5, Salena, 3, and Fantasia, 4 – after a blaze tore through the two-story home.
Four children survived the blaze by jumping from a second-story window, witnesses said. At least one – Jalen Young – was still being treated at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit this evening. A spokeswoman there said the boy was in good condition.Sylvia Young, the youngsters’ mother, was not home when the fire started, officials said.
Shomika Young, the children’s aunt, said the three who died were the closest of all the children.
“They were great kids, all of them,” she said. “Travion, the 5-year-old, he was short. We called him ‘Mighty Midget.’”
An electric space heater was visible through the front window of the home, and neighbors said they believe the family was using the device to keep warm because DTE had disconnected the gas, which is harder to reconnect than electricity.
“We can’t encourage customers enough to contact us if they’re having problems paying their utility bills,” said Scott Simons, a DTE spokesman, “but if we don’t know about them, it’s very tough.”
Original Article:
Fire officials said the investigation is ongoing. Sylvia Young told WDIV-TV (Channel 4) that her landlord had supplied her with the space heater.
DTE had disconnected gas and electricity to the home at 3 p.m. Members of the utility’s theft-investigation team removed the gas meter and double-locked the electricity meter, Simons said.
Less than four hours later, the home was engulfed in flames.
Seven children were home alone when the fire broke out, said Jarmar Taylor, 18, who lives nearby and said he rushed to the home when he saw flames bust through a front bay window.
“They threw the infant down to my mom,” Taylor said. “There was no way out.”
Neighbors said they tried in vain to break down the front door. They rushed behind the house and kicked in a back door, but the smoke was too thick to enter, said Diante Wilson, 27.
Anton Mills, 20, said he lived in the house until December, after which the new family moved in. The property is a rental home that, as of March 1, was $637 delinquent in property taxes, according to City of Detroit records.
Keith Owens, Wayne County director of communications, said the listed owner is Darnell Jackson of Detroit. A woman answering the phone at Jackson’s residence said he wasn’t available for comment.
Today, the front porch of the home had turned into a makeshift shrine as people dropped off stuffed animals, balloons and candles.
LaTonya Jackson, 42, approached the home and blessed it, then bellowed scripture.
“DTE has got blood on their hands,” she yelled. “DTE!”
Simons said a previous resident had DTE cut off services to the home Dec. 11. No one had asked for it to be restored since then, he said.
Fifth Battalion Fire Chief Gary Lauer said that firefighters arriving at the scene about 6:30 p.m. thought the home was vacant until someone finally told them that three children were trapped upstairs.
They found the children pretty quickly, Lauer said. “But the smoke and the heat and the fire was so intense, they were in pretty bad shape when we found them.”
The mother arrived at the home shortly after the fire broke out, hysterical about the tragedy, Lauer said.
Contact AMBER HUNT: 313-223-4526 or alhunt@freepress.com.
March 4, 2010
By Amber Hunt
Original Article: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100303/NEWS01/100303011/1318/DTE-Illegal-power-hookup-resumed-hours-before-fatal-fire&template=fullarticle
Someone inside the now-charred home on Detroit’s Bangor Street was determined to keep the electricity flowing.
Within hours of DTE Energy cutting off service to the home because it had been hooked up illegally for months, two locks that had been placed by the utility on the electric meter box had been cut off — and power was restored.
The Detroit Fire Department is investigating whether that second illegal hookup led to the Tuesday deaths of three children – Travion Young, 5, Salena, 3, and Fantasia, 4 – after a blaze tore through the two-story home.
Four children survived the blaze by jumping from a second-story window, witnesses said. At least one – Jalen Young – was still being treated at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit this evening. A spokeswoman there said the boy was in good condition.Sylvia Young, the youngsters’ mother, was not home when the fire started, officials said.
Shomika Young, the children’s aunt, said the three who died were the closest of all the children.
“They were great kids, all of them,” she said. “Travion, the 5-year-old, he was short. We called him ‘Mighty Midget.’”
An electric space heater was visible through the front window of the home, and neighbors said they believe the family was using the device to keep warm because DTE had disconnected the gas, which is harder to reconnect than electricity.
“We can’t encourage customers enough to contact us if they’re having problems paying their utility bills,” said Scott Simons, a DTE spokesman, “but if we don’t know about them, it’s very tough.”
Original Article:
Fire officials said the investigation is ongoing. Sylvia Young told WDIV-TV (Channel 4) that her landlord had supplied her with the space heater.
DTE had disconnected gas and electricity to the home at 3 p.m. Members of the utility’s theft-investigation team removed the gas meter and double-locked the electricity meter, Simons said.
Less than four hours later, the home was engulfed in flames.
Seven children were home alone when the fire broke out, said Jarmar Taylor, 18, who lives nearby and said he rushed to the home when he saw flames bust through a front bay window.
“They threw the infant down to my mom,” Taylor said. “There was no way out.”
Neighbors said they tried in vain to break down the front door. They rushed behind the house and kicked in a back door, but the smoke was too thick to enter, said Diante Wilson, 27.
Anton Mills, 20, said he lived in the house until December, after which the new family moved in. The property is a rental home that, as of March 1, was $637 delinquent in property taxes, according to City of Detroit records.
Keith Owens, Wayne County director of communications, said the listed owner is Darnell Jackson of Detroit. A woman answering the phone at Jackson’s residence said he wasn’t available for comment.
Today, the front porch of the home had turned into a makeshift shrine as people dropped off stuffed animals, balloons and candles.
LaTonya Jackson, 42, approached the home and blessed it, then bellowed scripture.
“DTE has got blood on their hands,” she yelled. “DTE!”
Simons said a previous resident had DTE cut off services to the home Dec. 11. No one had asked for it to be restored since then, he said.
Fifth Battalion Fire Chief Gary Lauer said that firefighters arriving at the scene about 6:30 p.m. thought the home was vacant until someone finally told them that three children were trapped upstairs.
They found the children pretty quickly, Lauer said. “But the smoke and the heat and the fire was so intense, they were in pretty bad shape when we found them.”
The mother arrived at the home shortly after the fire broke out, hysterical about the tragedy, Lauer said.
Contact AMBER HUNT: 313-223-4526 or alhunt@freepress.com.
Labels: MWRO
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tues, Feb 23rd: Homelessness Marathon Begins at 7PM
ShareThis
BROADCAST TO ASK, "WHY NOT END HOMELESSNESS NOW?"
13th Annual Homelessness Marathon begins 7 p.m., EST, Tues. Feb 23rd
and run for 14 hours until 9 a.m., EST, Wed. Feb. 24th
"We have a mindset in this country that homelessness is a problem that can wait," comments Jeremy Weir Alderson, founder of the Homelessness Marathon, "but it's a dire emergency for the people who are homeless, a drain on our economy, and a stain on our national honor. We ought to solve this problem, and we could if we would only turn our attention to it."
The Homelessness Marathon will address the problem of homelessness by speaking directly with homeless people, who will give their first-hand testimony on how they became homeless and the obstacles they face before they can be housed again.
Hundreds of homeless people will be brought by bus (in rotating shifts) so that they can participate in this event and speak directly to the nation. They will be brought by shelters, advocacy groups, and grass roots organizations formed by homeless people themselves.
The broadcast will feature, as well, such speakers as Senator Carl Levin; Ron Gettlefinger, president of the United Auto Workers; and two of America's most outstanding anti-poverty advocates, Cheri Honkala, director of the Poor Peoples' Economic Human Rights Campaign and Paul Boden, director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project.
Prominent advocates from Detroit will participate, including Rev. Faith Fowler, director of Cass Community Social Services and Maureen Taylor, the state chairperson of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization.
Experts from elsewhere in the country will also participate, including Kathleen Johnson, director of Katrina Relief in Mississippi and Mike Rhodes, editor of the Community Alliance newspaper in Fresno, California, arguably, the cruelest city in America towards its homeless citizens.
The broadcast will originate from 12025 Woodrow Wilson St., a "green gym" recently opened by Cass Community Social Services for the use of its homeless clients. Detroit area radio stations participating in the broadcast will include, WHFR in Dearborn, the broadcast's host station; WHPR in Highland Park and CJAM in Windsor, Ontario.
The Homelessness Marathon is a consciousness-raising not a fund-raising broadcast. There will be no on-air solicitations.
More information about the broadcast can be found at: http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org.
Acclaim for the broadcast can be found at:
http://homelessnessmarathon.org/2008/2009/thank-yous-acclaim.html
To donate to the Homelessness Marathon go to:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=8154
13th Annual Homelessness Marathon begins 7 p.m., EST, Tues. Feb 23rd
and run for 14 hours until 9 a.m., EST, Wed. Feb. 24th
"We have a mindset in this country that homelessness is a problem that can wait," comments Jeremy Weir Alderson, founder of the Homelessness Marathon, "but it's a dire emergency for the people who are homeless, a drain on our economy, and a stain on our national honor. We ought to solve this problem, and we could if we would only turn our attention to it."
The Homelessness Marathon will address the problem of homelessness by speaking directly with homeless people, who will give their first-hand testimony on how they became homeless and the obstacles they face before they can be housed again.
Hundreds of homeless people will be brought by bus (in rotating shifts) so that they can participate in this event and speak directly to the nation. They will be brought by shelters, advocacy groups, and grass roots organizations formed by homeless people themselves.
The broadcast will feature, as well, such speakers as Senator Carl Levin; Ron Gettlefinger, president of the United Auto Workers; and two of America's most outstanding anti-poverty advocates, Cheri Honkala, director of the Poor Peoples' Economic Human Rights Campaign and Paul Boden, director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project.
Prominent advocates from Detroit will participate, including Rev. Faith Fowler, director of Cass Community Social Services and Maureen Taylor, the state chairperson of Michigan Welfare Rights Organization.
Experts from elsewhere in the country will also participate, including Kathleen Johnson, director of Katrina Relief in Mississippi and Mike Rhodes, editor of the Community Alliance newspaper in Fresno, California, arguably, the cruelest city in America towards its homeless citizens.
The broadcast will originate from 12025 Woodrow Wilson St., a "green gym" recently opened by Cass Community Social Services for the use of its homeless clients. Detroit area radio stations participating in the broadcast will include, WHFR in Dearborn, the broadcast's host station; WHPR in Highland Park and CJAM in Windsor, Ontario.
The Homelessness Marathon is a consciousness-raising not a fund-raising broadcast. There will be no on-air solicitations.
More information about the broadcast can be found at: http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org.
Acclaim for the broadcast can be found at:
http://homelessnessmarathon.org/2008/2009/thank-yous-acclaim.html
To donate to the Homelessness Marathon go to:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=8154
Labels: Carl Levin, Cheri Honkala, Homelessness Marathon, Kathleen Johnson, Maureen Taylor, Mike Rhodes, MWRO, Paul Boden, PPEHRC, Rev. Faith Folwer, Ron Gettlefinger, WRAP
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Save America Rallies – Auto Supply Chain Bus Tour Campaign
ShareThis
Dear MWRO Friends and Members,
Please join UAW Region 1A in two protests on Monday, 5/11 at 8:30 am in Dearborn, and 11am in Hamtramck!
Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Region 1A Presidents, Chairs and Retiree Chairs
From: Rory L. Gamble, Director
Subject: Save America Rallies – Auto Supply Chain Bus Tour Campaign
I am encouraging all active, laid off, or retired auto workers, steel workers, school teachers, firefighters, nurses, service workers, dealership and supplier employees, small business and management representatives, elected officials and civil and community leaders to “LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!”
The Alliance for American Manufacturing, The United Steelworkers, UAW and the Mayor’s Municipalities Automotive Coalition have partnered with elected officials and auto industry stakeholders to raise public awareness of the economic importance of the auto industry supply chain.
During the week of May 11, 2009, bus tours and rallies will be held in several locations around the country to give Auto Supply Chain stakeholders an opportunity to let their voices be heard throughout the country. Members and other stakeholders will be asked to speak on how the erosion of the American manufacturing base has affected their lives. A great deal of Media coverage is expected.
UAW Region 1A active and retired workers are being asked to attend two rallies on May 11, 2009. The first rally will be held at the Dearborn City Hall, 14615 Michigan Avenue at 8:30 a.m. and the second rally will be held at Zussman Park, across from Hamtramck City Hall, 3401 Evaline, Hamtramck at 11 a.m.
Your attendance and support is strongly urged!! We need you to make calls to every rank and file member, retiree, surviving spouse, politician, regarding these rallies.
Two buses will leave UAW Region 1A on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 8 a.m. A box lunch will be provided.
To ensure that we have enough buses and boxed lunches, please contact Michelle Best at 313-299-2762 to let her know if you will be attending by noon on Friday, May 8th.
Thanking you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL:
Michelle Best
Secretary to Director
Rory L. Gamble
UAW Region 1A
313-299-2762
Please join UAW Region 1A in two protests on Monday, 5/11 at 8:30 am in Dearborn, and 11am in Hamtramck!
Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Region 1A Presidents, Chairs and Retiree Chairs
From: Rory L. Gamble, Director
Subject: Save America Rallies – Auto Supply Chain Bus Tour Campaign
I am encouraging all active, laid off, or retired auto workers, steel workers, school teachers, firefighters, nurses, service workers, dealership and supplier employees, small business and management representatives, elected officials and civil and community leaders to “LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!”
The Alliance for American Manufacturing, The United Steelworkers, UAW and the Mayor’s Municipalities Automotive Coalition have partnered with elected officials and auto industry stakeholders to raise public awareness of the economic importance of the auto industry supply chain.
During the week of May 11, 2009, bus tours and rallies will be held in several locations around the country to give Auto Supply Chain stakeholders an opportunity to let their voices be heard throughout the country. Members and other stakeholders will be asked to speak on how the erosion of the American manufacturing base has affected their lives. A great deal of Media coverage is expected.
UAW Region 1A active and retired workers are being asked to attend two rallies on May 11, 2009. The first rally will be held at the Dearborn City Hall, 14615 Michigan Avenue at 8:30 a.m. and the second rally will be held at Zussman Park, across from Hamtramck City Hall, 3401 Evaline, Hamtramck at 11 a.m.
Your attendance and support is strongly urged!! We need you to make calls to every rank and file member, retiree, surviving spouse, politician, regarding these rallies.
Two buses will leave UAW Region 1A on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 8 a.m. A box lunch will be provided.
To ensure that we have enough buses and boxed lunches, please contact Michelle Best at 313-299-2762 to let her know if you will be attending by noon on Friday, May 8th.
Thanking you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL:
Michelle Best
Secretary to Director
Rory L. Gamble
UAW Region 1A
313-299-2762
Monday, October 20, 2008
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization's Blog!
ShareThis
Hey all! Michigan Welfare Rights Organization is now publishing daily weblog reports on http://michiganwro.blogspot.com/ You can also sign up for the RSS feed on the sidebar.
They're looking for ideas and guest writers on issues in Detroit and Michigan such as:
* poverty
* housing
* jobs
* utilities
* education
* youth, families, seniors
* homelessness
* public assistance information
* activist groups
* human interest stories
* ...and more!
Please join in on reporting these concerns along with our solutions. As we learned from the water films, there is a national and international audience interested in learning more about Detroit and Michigan, and how they can help its people.
Contact Sylvia Orduno (mwroinfo@gmail.com) for more info.
They're looking for ideas and guest writers on issues in Detroit and Michigan such as:
* poverty
* housing
* jobs
* utilities
* education
* youth, families, seniors
* homelessness
* public assistance information
* activist groups
* human interest stories
* ...and more!
Please join in on reporting these concerns along with our solutions. As we learned from the water films, there is a national and international audience interested in learning more about Detroit and Michigan, and how they can help its people.
Contact Sylvia Orduno (mwroinfo@gmail.com) for more info.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]