Daily Briefs

Lawmakers urge Detroit-area mayor to resign over recordings


WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Federal, state and county lawmakers are calling for a Detroit-area mayor to quit after unverified audio tapes surfaced purportedly featuring him making racist and sexist comments.

Warren Mayor Jim Fouts denies it’s his voice on the recordings released Monday by online news site Motor City Muckraker. Fouts issued a similar denial last month, following the release of recordings containing disparaging remarks about disabled people.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sander Levin and other lawmakers issued a statement Tuesday urging Fouts to resign. They describe the recorded comments as “racist and disparaging of women.”

Fouts said via Facebook that he’s being slandered and that he won’t resign.

The mayor has been feuding with Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel over allegations that Hackel allowed soil to be illegally dumped at a Sterling Heights amphitheater.

 

Police union upset over internal report on race, equality
 

DETROIT (AP) — The union representing Detroit police officers wants Chief James Craig to disband a committee looking at racial attitudes inside the department.

An internal report released last week said there are conflicts between some black officers and higher-ranking white officers. Mark Diaz, head of the union, says the group hasn't heard those complaints.

And if the union hears complaints, Diaz says, he takes them to the department.

He told reporters Monday the report creates a hostile atmosphere. While the report criticizes commanding officers, Diaz says the negative information rubs off on everyone.

About 70 percent of the department is black.

Craig, who is black, said he treats racial issues seriously. But he said most instances in the report were based on what he considers to be perception and rumors.

 

Detroit Mercy Law to hold annual Professionalism in Action Jan. 27
 

Detroit Mercy Law is holding its annual Professionalism in Action event in conjunction with the State Bar of Michigan on Friday, Jan. 27 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the School of Law, 651 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit.
State Bar President Larry Nolan will give the keynote address at this event.

Professionalism in Action emphasizes Detroit Mercy Law’s commitment to incorporate ethics across the curriculum. Prominent judges and lawyers will discuss the importance of civility and work through a series of ethical and professionalism hypotheticals with all first-year law students in small groups and  a networking reception will follow.
 

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