Being on the wrong side of progress is embarassing...

Just something I noticed following the death of Jack Kevorkian last week --

Here is Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jessica Cooper berating Kevorkian after he was convicted of second-degree murder in April 1999 for personally triggering the death of one of his patients:

"You invited yourself to the wrong forum," she said in a lecture that was broadcast worldwide. "When you purposely inject another human being with what you know to be a lethal dosage of poison, that sir, is murder and the jury found so.

"Then you had the audacity to go on national television, show the world what you did and dare the legal system to stop you. Well, sir, consider yourself stopped." (Detroit Free Press)

Now, here is former Oakland County Circuit Court Judge (and current Oakland County Prosecutor) Jessica Cooper responding to the news Kevorkian's death:

“I think he brought to light a debate that needed to take place, and one that continues in medical schools and Main Street today,” Cooper said. “And in the last decade or 12 years, we’ve seen the growth of hospice, a movement toward death with peace and dignity, and I think we can thank him for that. This debate will continue in a calm and reasoned fashion. My condolences go out to his family and friends and supporters.” (Detroit Free Press)

...oh, and sorry for sentencing you to 10-25 years in prison!

Collected news, May 14

Burton Theater on Cass closes over a financial dispute with the building's landlord, hope to move to a new location in the fall (Detroit Free Press)

Obama administration allocates $336 million to high speed rail between Detroit and Chicago (Detroit Free Press)

At the Park Shelton, rentals are 100% occupied, the remaining 14 unfinished units are being built for sale, and commercial space will most likely soon be full (Model D Media)

Woodward Light Rail construction now being planned in one phase (Jefferson to Eight Mile), hopefully running in 2015 (MetroTimes)

Le Petit Zinc, 1055 Trumbull

Le Petit Zinc, an awesome French restaurant at the corner of Trumbull and Howard, in the often overlooked southern end of Corktown. Everything I've had here has been great, including crepes and coffee drinks. And there's a patio!

36 Hours in Detroit

From the New York Times:

"No video can portray the passion one finds on the streets of Detroit these days, where everyone from the doorman to the D.J. will tell you they believe in this city’s future. While certain areas are indeed eerily empty, other neighborhoods — including midtown, downtown and Corktown — are bustling with new businesses that range from creperies and barbecue joints catering to the young artists and entrepreneurs migrating to Motown, to a just-opened hostel that invites tourists to explore Detroit with the aid of local volunteer guides . . . No urban enthusiast will want to miss the recovery that Detroit is now attempting."

Collected news, May 5

• Broderick Tower interior demolition is 75% complete (Model D Media)
  

• More on small business activity in Corktown, along Michigan Avenue and in the former Baile Corcaigh space on Trumbull (Detroit News)
  

• First townhome for rent in North Corktown's formerly abandoned Spaulding Court (Model D Media)
  

• Hostel Detroit opens at the corner of Vermont and Spruce in North Corktown (The South End)