Detroit City Hall Insider

Category: City politics

Jai-Lee Dearing in courtroom crowd during murder case

Jai-Lee Dearing has been quiet since losing his latest bid for City Council, but the Insider couldn't help but noticing him this week in the courtroom for a Highland Park man accused of killing his 15-year-old son.

Dearing didn't want to discuss his presence at the hearings Tuesday and Wednesday. But his attorney, David Draper, is representing the father, Jamar Pinkney Sr., who is accused of marching his naked son into a field and shooting him execution-style as he begged for life.

On Tuesday, Dearing was chatty with courthouse visitors as an arrest warrant was prepare against Pinkney. But Wednesday, Dearing appeared shook by the charges that include first-degree murder.

After the arriagnment Dearing chatted with Draper and his co-counsel on the case Corbett Edge O'Meara outside the courthouse.

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Category: City politics

Gaddis talks up Detroit's politicos at Mackinac

Talk show host Mildred Gaddis, set up inside the front doors of the Grand Hotel here on Mackinac Island, was the belle of the ball for the city and region's political movers and shakers.

This morning on her show were Mayor Dave Bing, former Mayor Dennis Archer, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and a handful of candidates for City Council.

There were no bombshells, but Archer predicted there could be as many as eight new faces on the council next year, and he explained residents want integrity. Gaddis said she thinks the number of new council members will be closer to five.