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Saturday, 29 October, 2011 11:38 PM
Hundreds
in Detroit, Canada Protest Matty Moroun as Jobs Buster
Bridge
Watch Detroit, Occupy Detroit, residents, faith and business owners
among protesters
PHOTO
BY MICHELE K. / ©AMERICAJR.com
Matty
Moroun owns the Michigan Central Train Depot, among many
other properties in the city of Detroit.
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DETROIT and WINDSOR,
Canada -- Calling Matty Moroun a bully whose personal interest
is standing in the way of jobs for workers in Detroit and Windsor,
hundreds of protestors lined both sides of the international border
Thursday in protest.
Individuals representing
Bridge Watch Detroit, Occupy Detroit and Occupy Windsor joined faith
and business leaders in the action against the Ambassador Bridge
Company.
"This is a clear
example of one of the richest 1% corrupting our democracy and using
it to act above the law. They circumvent the process and use divisive
tactics to continue to jeopardize our health, public safety and
to block jobs from the 99% who need them," said State Rep.
Rashida Tlaib. "For years, they have ignored the cries of our
community and also refused to be accountable to our local, state
and federal laws."
According to published
reports, Moroun has spent close to $5 million on advertisements
in opposition to the New International Trade Crossing (formerly
the Detroit River International Crossing, or DRIC). That investment
was characterized by Rich Robinson, the head of a non-profit group
that monitors campaign finances as, "unprecedented."
Another published report
stated that Moroun and his family members contributed $1.5 million
in the 2009-10 campaign cycle to state and congressional candidates
who could have a say on the bridge. The measure needed to move the
project forward –which is estimated would create 30,000 jobs
–died last week in a state Senate committee.
"Republicans in
Lansing are just like Republicans in Washington, they are bought
and sold by corporations and CEOs. In Washington, they killed the
American Jobs Act and in Lansing," said Kila Mosley, 27 of
Detroit. She has been trying to find work for the last six months.
"We are the 99%! We deserve jobs. We demand that our interests
come first with OUR government."
All the groups plan to
continue to keep the pressure on both Moroun and elected officials
to protect the public health, ensure that the Bridge Company complies
with court orders to stop trucks from rumbling through local neighborhoods,
and create jobs.
Source: Bridge Watch
Detroit
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PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Gov.
Snyder's plan calls for the new bridge to be located near
Delray Park, about two miles south from the current Ambassador
Bridge.
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Michigan
Chamber of Commerce Supports New International Trade Crossing, Urges
Lawmakers to Vote for Senate Bills 410-11
LANSING,
Mich. -- Calling on State Senators to support Michigan's
job providers, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce today urged members
of the Senate Economic Development Committee to act now on legislation
to create the New International Trade Crossing (NITC).
"The
Michigan Chamber of Commerce supports the NITC as a tool to promote
conditions favorable to job creation and business growth,"
said Michigan Chamber President and CEO Rich Studley. "The
Chamber has long supported improving the condition and performance
of Michigan's transportation system. Creation of the NITC is a necessary
and important step in rebuilding Michigan's roads and bridges."
"State
lawmakers have a clear choice by this important legislation: Be
a bridge builder or a barrier to progress," Studley added.
"The
Michigan Chamber has been a strong advocate of the Administration's
plan to reinvent Michigan and supports the new bridge between Detroit
to Windsor as part of that plan," noted Jim Holcomb, Senior
Vice President of Business Advocacy & Associate General Counsel
for the Michigan Chamber. "Building the NITC offers great benefits
to our state's economic future, including the creation and retention
of jobs."
"As
members of the State Senate prepare to vote on Senate Bills 410-11,
we ask them to support Michigan's job providers by voting 'yes'
on the NITC," Holcomb concluded.
The Michigan
Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing
approximately 6,800 employers, trade associations and local chambers
of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every
size and type in all 83 counties of the state. The Chamber was established
in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative,
political and legal process. It is one of only four state chambers
of commerce in the nation accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Source:
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Related
Story: Six
out of nine want the new Detroit bridge crossing to be adjacent
to Ambassador Bridge
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