CDB Flashback #2: When We Solved the Woodward Corridor Mass Transit, Light Rail Problem

Crain's Detroit Business - October 16, 2006    

Remember back in 2006, when the best minds in metro Detroit business and government got together and finally developed a workable plan for light rail and mass transit along the Woodward corridor? Detroiters with a direct, convenient way to get to jobs in the suburbs; suburbanites with direct, convenient transportation to jobs downtown and in the RenCen; and the hospitality and entertainment industries thriving downtown as people hopped mass transit for dining, concerts and theatrical presentations. 

Oh, wait ... we didn't get any of that. Well, maybe next year!

Off the Drawing Board: As I've sorted through boxes of my old Crain's Detroit Business cartoon originals, it's clear that business and civic leaders in metro Detroit are masters of non-decision making. This cartoon is just one example, but there are many other recurring topics I'll be sharing in the coming weeks and months. To be clear, when you see themes and topics repeated, it's not because I ran out of ideas; it's because our politicians and captains of industry did!
 

Missing January's 'Car Prom'

Crain's Detroit Business, December 23

With the move of Detroit's North American International Auto Show to June, the Charity Preview is being reimagined, including a more casual component to take place outdoors on the riverfront. Personally, I'm missing the traditional January "Car Prom." It was our chance, in the darkness of Detroit winter, to dress up in formalwear and shine for an evening.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: I shared these two concepts with my editor and my final cartoon evolved from a little of each. I wish I could have included the secondary punch line, "... trading my parka and hand sanitizer for shades and sunscreen!"

Cartoon of the Week: 'Looped' In

Crain's Detroit Business - March 12

Given the current state of our metro Detroit roads, and the current state of our Tigers, is it really a good idea to consider a high-speed transportation system to connect us with another city that offers an art museum, a zoo and a professional baseball team?
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: My first draft of this idea featured a different punch line. "Thank you," to my editor, Michael Lee, whose suggestion to explore others made for a better cartoon, and assured my safe passage through Ohio on my next trip.

Cartoon of the Week: It's Cyber Monday - Wish Big!

Crain's Detroit Business - November 27

It's Cyber Monday and many people are seeking to fulfill holiday wish lists online - including metro Detroit. This Cyber Monday, why not wish big?!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Day: "Play Ball!"

The News-Herald - February 17

There's no more welcome sign of the coming spring than the phrase "pitchers and catchers report." Lakeland may be 1,170 miles from Detroit via I-75, but just knowing the pitchers and catchers are there stretching and getting ready for spring training warms millions of hearts in the metro Detroit area. Tigers fans, it won't be long until, "... the voice of the turtle is heard in the land!"
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Play Ball! For Real

The News-Herald - August 23

There's relief for metro Detroiters from the heartbreak of the Tigers' season. Taylor, Mich., is the annual host of the Junior League World Series and the finals are Sunday, August 23. Finally - some meaningful baseball in our area, in August!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: The Downtown Real Estate Game Gets Serious Again

Crain's Detroit Business - March 9

The Downtown Detroit real estate game is making a come-back. For a long time, it seemed to be forgotten, but now everybody's interested in rolling the dice and taking a turn.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: My original concept for this idea featured  more traditional approach of player sitting around a table, playing a board game. As I developed the full-size rough, I thought the composition was more dynamic with the players actually standing on the board, playing the game. My editor, Jennette Smith, suggested mentioning more real estate to broaden the concept.


Way Off the Drawing Board: Another concept I thought had potential for this week's Crain's Detroit Business is the new Detroit Parking System. I still like it, and I'm betting the topic will be in the news again ...

Cartoon of the Day: A Christmas Classic Returns

Crain's Detroit Business - November 24

Nothing warms my heart like a Christmas Classic as the holiday season begins, and there's no more special classic than my hometown. Happy Holidays Detroit - it's good to be celebrating with you!
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: I sketched a few holiday-themed ideas for the November 24 edition of Crain's Detroit Business, but tossed them all when I was inspired by The Old Redford Theatre presentation of Jean Shepard's "A Christmas Story."

Cartoons of the Day that Weren't: Goodbye Cadillac HQ!

Unpublished - September 2014

A couple of ideas I had for Crain's Detroit Business regarding the move of Cadillac headquarters to New York City. Neither was published, but I had fun working on them with my editor, and I kinda' like 'em, so I thought I'd share them here. Two takes:

1. What if, by relocating to NYC, the whole Cadillac product development and strategy team took on the persona of the cast of "Seinfeld?!"
2. Well, Lincoln once left The D ... and we know how that turned out! (Welcome home, Lincoln!)

So, as the car brand named after the founder of The Motor City leaves for The Big Apple, I say, "... we'll leave the light on for you!"
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Day: Walk on Through the Storm, Detroit!

Crain's Detroit Business - June 16

The outpouring of emotion, from so many sources, in the effort to help Detroit and its people recover from bankruptcy is overwhelming and gratifying (especially to someone like me, who grew up and went to school in Detroit). As the pledges of support were counted and totaled over the past two weeks, I felt the same sort of rush that I did as a kid, watching Jerry Lewis in the waning moments of his annual telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, so I say to Detroit ... "Walk on, walk on, walk on through the storm - you'll never walk alone!"
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: This idea started with the pledges by the Detroit Three automakers, the Mellon and Getty pledges came while I was refining the idea and made it even stronger. Collaborating with my editor at Crain's Detroit Business, we refined the punch line and enhanced the message. (The idea below the rough at the right is one of those that you just have to get out of your system, groan and move on! *grin*)

Cartoon of the Day: Construction Zone

Crain's Detroit Business - February 24

As Detroit Mayor Duggan delivers his first-ever State of the City Address, given the current state of the city, it's probably going to sound a lot like a construction plan. But, as we all know, if we have a little patience, construction projects usually yield results that last for years. So, let's get the shovels in the ground!
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: An alternative cartoon idea that I offered my Crain's editors for this week focused on the privatization of trash hauling in Detroit, as part of the bankruptcy recovery plan. I had a little fun with the theme ...

Cartoon of the Day: No Business Like Snow Business

Crain's Detroit Business - February 10

The outdoor venues of the Winter Olympic Games are threatened by temperatures that are too warm, and the possibility of snow melt. On top of all its financial troubles, Detroit is suffering under a prolonged deep freeze, with more snow accumulating than has fallen in nearly 100 years. It's time to put to work the ingenuity that made this the Motor City to work and deal with both crisis situations at once!
That's the Point!

 



Off the Drawing Board: I offered a couple of other takes on the "snow/financial crisis" theme to Jennette Smith, my editor at Crain's Detroit Business. Her input, and a couple of follow-up pencil roughs, led to the final idea that ran this week.
ds

There's No Business Like (Auto) Show Business!

The News-Herald - January 19

In metro Detroit, everybody is in the car business. It doesn't matter if you're a barber, a grocer or a dry cleaner; a doctor, a dentist or a tailor - our lives, and livelihoods, depend on the companies and the people who build and sell cars. So, it's only natural that in the Motor City, the "holiday season" extends through the run of the North American International Auto Show. Get to Cobo Center with your family and celebrate the industry that made - and continues to make - metro Detroit the Car Capital of the World!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Day: 'Mr. Duggan, You're Hired!'

Crain's Detroit Business - January 6

He may be the state of Michigan's highest-profile newly elected public official, but Mike Duggan's work rules and the order of his reporting within the current City of Detroit government infrastructure makes him seem more like a high-profile new hire.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: I offered another version of this week's Crain's Detroit Business editorial cartoon during discussions with my editor, Jennette Smith. Same topic, but with a New Years twist - January 6 seemed a little late for a New Years-focus, but I had fun with the rough! - ds

CARTOON of the DAY: No Debate On This!

Crain's Detroit Business - October 28

The final Detroit mayoral campaign debate is over and the two candidates - despite all their differences - have found one patch of common ground! Who says Kevyn Orr is divisive? Over the course of this campaign, he's proven to be quite a unifier.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: A couple of other takes under consideration for this week's Crain's Detroit Business editorial cartoon. In version two, I was going for a "Motor City" theme, with Duggan and Napoleon as mechanics vying to repair the city.

CARTOON of the DAY: Election or Spelling Bee?

Crain's Detroit Business - August 12

Detroit's mayoral primary election included a number of historic moments, but none as impressive as a write-in candidate finishing first - ahead of the current Wayne County Sheriff! Mike Duggan spent most of the primary election campaign teaching voters to spell his name correctly. Now, it's time to retool his campaign approach from spelling bee to civics lesson.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: This cartoon idea was the obvious one, as it was running immediately after the Detroit primary. The dialogue, however, took a fair amount of collaboration with my Crain's Detroit Business editor, Jennette Smith. We ended up with a simplified punch line that didn't compromise the gag (actually, I think it made it better). Thanks, Jennette!

CARTOON of the DAY: 'Dig' This Mash-Up

Crain's Detroit Business - June 24

Whenever the FBI digs up the latest Hoffa rumors, nothing ever turns up. However, whenever Kevyn Orr digs through Detroit's finances, it seems like another "body" always turns up. Thanks to my Crain's editor, Jennette Smith, for allowing me to go with this news mash-up for this week's Crain's Detroit Business editorial cartoon!
That's the Point!

CARTOON of the WEEK: Career Change?

Crain's Detroit Business - May 20

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing made news when he announced that he would not seek reelection to the top post in the economically challenged city, but he made even more news when he immediately added that he was exploring the possibility of running for the post of Wayne County Executive - currently held by (somewhat) embattled Robert Ficano. Does the idiom "Out of the frying pan into the fire" sound familiar?
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: This week, there were two major news stories to consider for my Crain's Detroit Business editorial cartoon - Mayor Bing's announcement and the 45-day report on the City of Detroit issued by Emergency Manager Kevin Orr. Here are a couple of ideas that my editors and I considered on that topic:

CARTOON of the DAY: Detroit 911

Crain's Detroit Business - March 18

Did somebody call 911 on behalf of financially beleaguered Detroit? Uh, yeah ... a long time ago ... but the first responders were parked outside the city limits until all the shouting in City Council was over (well, at least until the shouting subsided a bit). Let's keep our collective fingers crossed that the response was in time because a healthy Southeast Michigan depends on the recovery of the City of Detroit.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: For nearly two weeks, Jennette Smith, my editor at Crain's Detroit Business, and I worked on variations of EM editorial cartoons that played to the timeliness of both the Papal selection process and the naming of Detroit's Emergency Manager. Timing wasn't our ally, but I want to share of few of the roughs with you because, frankly, we were pretty happy with the concepts! (... and see if you can tell which one of the roughs below gave me a head start on the EM cartoon that appeared this week.)

CARTOONS of the DAY: Play (More) Ball!

The News-Herald - October 10

The Press & Guide - October 10

Bring on the Yankees or the Orioles ... there's baseball in Detroit in mid-October!!!
That's the Point!