Jackson Family, City Put Stop Sign On Michael Jackson Avenue
Not so fast, Detroit! A ceremony dedicating Michael Jackson Avenue has been cancelled. Why? Well, it seems there's been a misunderstanding. It appears the Jackson family thought Michael's brothers were being honored, too. The Detroit Free-Press says the Jackson family thought the honorary street was for the Jackson 5, the family musical act that began in 1970, and quickly saw Michael emerge as the star of the show. Meanwhile, the city of Detroit has a problem on its hands.
The hitch: An amendment passed last year by Detroit City Council prohibits ceremonial street designations for organizations or groups. The decision to go with Michael Jackson Avenue was "a compromise," Stephen Grady, chief of staff for council president Brenda Jones, said at the time.
The unveiling and ceremony were schedule to coincide with the Detroit Music Festival, where the surviving Jackson are schedule to perform. The Free-Press says the Jackson will still get a key to the city from the mayor. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the group auditioning in Detroit and signing with Motown Records.
Seems to me, the law was poorly written. You can't honor groups? So the Temptations, Four Tops and Supremes are SOL? What about the Tigers? They're not an individual. Now a good lawyer could probably are that acts and teams are a single entity, but that for the next episode of Detroit Legal.
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