Marche du Nain Rouge — tenth anniversary plus movie update

Today is the tenth Marche du Nain Rouge, as the Detroit Metro Times explains.

[T]he parade was formed by then-WSU law school students Francis Grunow and Joe Uhl in 2009, who wanted to create a Detroit-style take on the Mardis Gras tradition, noting how the festival took on a new meaning for New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. They picked the Sunday after the vernal equinox as the date of the inaugural Marche, making it a springtime event and allowing some space on the calendar following Mardis Gras and St. Patrick's Day. Apparently plenty of other metro Detroiters wanted the same thing; the idea took off, and the event now draws a crowd of thousands, complete with elaborate floats, New Orleans-style marching bands, dancers, and more.

That's the event.  What about the Nain Rouge (Red Dwarf) itself?

The legend of the Nain Rouge is said to go back to 1701, when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Detroit. The short version of the tale is that Cadillac was attacked by the feared "Red Dwarf," who then cursed Cadillac and the city. The truth is actually a bit more complicated, outlined in a 2016 Metro Times cover story.

The first printed reference to the Nain doesn't appear until Legends of Le Détroit by Marie Caroline Watson Hamlin, published in 1883 — some 180 years after Cadillac's alleged encounter. In Hamlin's version, a fortune teller tells Cadillac he will found a great city, but warns that if he continues to sell brandy to the Native American tribes — a lucrative business, but one contrary to the advice of the Jesuits — it would eventually lead to bloodshed, and spell ruin for him and his city. Cadillac is warned to "appease the Nain Rouge," or the "demon of the strait," should it ever appear. Later, while walking along the Detroit River, Cadillac encounters the Nain — which has gleaming eyes and sharp teeth. Cadillac ignores the fortune teller's advice, and whacks the creature with his cane — forever cursing Detroit.

Both Metro Times articles discuss the folkloric origin of the Nain Rouge, a topic I covered before either in I converse with The Archdruid and his readers about Le Nain Rouge.  Sorry, I can't help but claim some credit, although that really goes to the blogger at EsoterX, whose research I used.

I don't yet have any video of this year's event, but WDIV described last year's event in Marche Du Nain Rouge sweeps through Midtown Detroit.

The Detroit tradition involves some very elaborate costumes, to say the least.

The Marche du Nain Rouge always has a political component, although it's usually about local politics and government, not national politics.  However, MLive captured an exception as Costumed 'Donald Trump' rides float at Marche du Nain Rouge.


That float reminds me of a giant mechanical roach.  Even I wouldn't make that comparison to Trump.  As for the voice in the background, that's the parade's version of the Nain Rouge haranguing the crowd.  He is such a jerk.  Speaking of which, watch as Nain Rouge and his press secretary antagonize the crowd.


As I wrote, a jerk.

In addition to the parade, I have an update on last year's Nain Rouge movie for Marche du Nain Rouge 2018.  Follow over the jump.

Regional Transit Millage on November ballot

As I foreshadowed in First carpool lane in Michigan as part of I-75 upgrade, the ballot measure to fund increased regional mass transit that I mentioned at the end of Clawson 4th of July Parade will be on the ballot.

On the bus ride back to the start of the parade, I ran into advocates for the Regional rapid transit plan for Metro Detroit.  The taxes to support the plan will likely be on the November ballot.  Look for me to cover that issue at least once this fall.

The Detroit Metro Times has the story in Welp, it's official: this November you can vote on regional transportation.

On Tuesday clerks of Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties accepted the controversial proposal to fund the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan’s (RTA) Regional Master Transit Plan. This acceptance — which came at the eleventh hour — means voters can now hit the polls this November and weigh in on a plan that aims to tackle many of the region's unaddressed transit issues.

"This is the opportunity Southeast Michigan residents have been waiting for – the opportunity to finally connect Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties," Kelly Rossman-McKinney, a spokesperson for A Coalition for Transit (ACT) said in a statement Tuesday.

The Detroit Free Press has the ballot language in Counties approve regional transit millage language.

A Proposal Authorizing the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) to Levy an Assessment

The proposal would authorize the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) to levy within Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties a property tax assessment:

• at a rate of 1.2 mills ($1.20 per $1,000 of taxable value);
• for 20 years beginning in 2016 and ending in 2035;
• that may not be increased, renewed, or used for other purposes without direct voter approval; and
• to be used upon the affirmative vote of an RTA board member from each RTA member jurisdiction for the purpose of construction and operation of a public transportation system connecting Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, including rapid transit bus routes across county lines, specialized service for senior citizens and people with disabilities, commuter rail, airport express service, and other public transportation purposes permitted by law, consistent with RTA bylaws and subject to the limitations of the Regional Transit Authority Act.

If this new additional assessment is approved and levied, revenue will be disbursed to the RTA. It is estimated that $160,907,285 will be collected in the first year. Should this assessment be approved?

Tom Watkins, President and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, wasted no time endorsing the millage.  Two days after the measure was put on the ballot he wrote OPINION: Get metro area moving: Vote 'yes' on public transit in The Press&Guide of Dearborn.

Every elected official, civic, business, labor and religious leader should be promoting a "yes" vote on Nov. 8 to move Michigan forward by building a much-needed regional transit system.

An investment in mobility in the four-county region (Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Washtenaw plus the City of Detroit) is an investment in our collective future. The region’s leaders have put forth a proposal to raise tax dollars for a sensible regional transit initiative. It is truly a positive step to see the leadership of Southeast Michigan come together to jump start our region.
...
This is an opportunity to vote your self-interest and help Michigan catch up with the rest of world by providing a viable public transit system.

Vote YES on Nov. 8.

Help drive our region boldly into the future.

I couldn't have said it any better myself.  May this ballot measure be as successful as Renew for the Zoo, which was renewed overwhelmingly.

Examiner.com articles on Supreme Court and ballot proposals

I concluded Good news for Democrats, bad news for proposals at Examiner.com, by whining about not finishing all I wanted to do.

Had I not run out of time and energy last night, I would have written a fourth article about the polling in the Michigan Supreme Court contests. That's also good news for Democrats, as Connie Kelley and Bridget McCormack, the two candidates the Free Press endorsed, are both leading for the two eight-year terms on the ballot. That would be enough to swing control of the court to the Democrats.

It turned out that I got my opportunity after all. The Detroit News and Lansing State Journal both posted the summaries of their endorsements today, which made them newsworthy again. I also stumbled across an angle for the story, making Bridget Mary McCormack the star. After all, as you'll find out if you read the entire article, everything happened to her. Also, it seems that most everyone likes her.

It's been a busy week for University of Michigan law professor Bridget Mary McCormack as she runs for Michigan Supreme Court.
Credits: McCormack's campaign website

A busy week for McCormack and others in Supreme Court contest

It's been a wild week for Bridget Mary McCormack's campaign for Michigan Supreme Court. The University of Michigan law professor earned the endorsement of one newspaper last Sunday, had two others reissue their earlier endorsements this Sunday, and received both an endorsement and free advertising from a prominent Detroit area attorney in between. On Tuesday, McCormack also came in second in a statewide poll for a contest in which there would be two victors.

That was the good news. The bad news was that she became the target for an attack ad from an outside group. In response, she defended herself on television Friday.

As for the other candidates for the state's highest court, they came along for the ride, with four candidates, Shelia Johnson, Connie Marie Kelley, Stephen Markman, and Brian Zahra, earning two endorsements each, Johnson and Kelley also being the beneficiaries of donated advertising, and Kelley and Zahra also leading in the polls.

It pleased me to find two sources who agreed with me on who to vote for. In case you haven't already figured out who, it's the three women I used to illustrate Examiner.com article on Michigan Supreme Court nominees--Johnson, Kelley, and McCormack.

  Michigan Democrats' "Three Supremes" at this spring's endorsement convention.
Speaking of agreeing with endorsements, I disagreed with the opinions I described in Examiner.com article about Free Press referendum endorsements.

For what it's worth, this is not how I would vote. I'm voting no on Proposal 1, as I think the assault on democracy and local control is a cure worse than the disease. I'm also voting yes on Proposals 2, 3, and 4. I'll have more to say about Proposal 3 in particular.
...
However, I agree with the Detroit Free Press on the rest. I'm voting no on Proposals 5 and 6.

Lucky me, I managed to find some papers whose opinions I agree with and did so barely in time to write about them as newsworthy. That pleased me.

Proposal endorsements of alternative weeklies favor change over status quo

This past week, two of Michigan's alternative weeklies published their endorsements for the six proposals on the ballot. Unlike the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and Lansing State Journal, which favored the status quo by telling their readers to vote "yes on 1, no on the rest," the alternative weeklies recommended voters cast their ballots for change.

Last Sunday, City Pulse included its recommendations in a massive editorial covering offices at all levels as well as proposals. The Lansing weekly urged no votes on Proposals 1, 5, and 6 and yes votes on 2, 3, and 4.

On Friday, it was the Metro Times turn. The metro Detroit alternative paper agreed with City Pulse on voting no on Proposals 1, 5, and 6 and yes votes on 2 and 3. They had second thoughts about Proposal 4 and urged their readers to vote no.

I'm still voting yes on 4, but at least I'll listen to the Metro Times.

Finally, there's one bit of unfinished business to attend to. From the conclusion of Election news from campuses in the swing states:

Speaking of university governing boards, the Detroit Free Press endorsed six candidates, four Democrats and two Republicans, for the three elected university boards governing the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. I should write an article about that for Examiner.com, if I can figure out a newsworthy angle.

I have. Stay tuned.

Occupy Detroit begins today

Original here

Metro Times: Occupy Detroit now planned for Friday

Detroit Free Press: Occupy Detroit protesters to camp out in Grand Circus Park

Detroit News: Occupy Detroit plans march today