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Sun Spots

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Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
January
Year
1974
OCR Text

SUN SPOTS

Here we are again with only 60 days 'til spring. And to pick things up a bit, here's some news about SUN SPOTS' favorite porker, Mayor James Stephenson. Hizzoner has been having his share of abuse lately. On Feb. 6, he has to appear in court with his own lawyer to answer charges brought up in the Tribal Funding suit against the city to get its money. The court issued a temporary injunction to keep the Mayor's debt ridden, depleted city budget from sucking up the People's Ballroom funds. And if that's not enough, the rent control and $5 marijuana ballot proposals have been certified by the city clerk and will appear on the ballot. Last Friday, Hizzoner addressed a gathering of local real estate rnoguls in which he made it clear that City Hall was on their side in the rent control fight. The Mayor, a lawyer who should know better, made the illegal offer of his City Hall office to anyone working against rent control and the $5 marijuana ballot proposals both of which have an excellent chance of passing, if, that is. we all register to vote.

Another local diehard in trouble is UM Vice President Allan Smith. Smith is now saying that an increase in tuition may be necessary next fall - despite the fact that Gov. Milliken already proposed a 10 percent increase in ÜM's budget from the state. This is the same Allan Smith who said last October that there would be no fee hike if he was in his right mind. So he lost it over the holidays?

Liz Taylor. the Washtenaw County Supervisor, not the movie star, is the subject of an Internal Revenue Service probe into her non-payment of federal income taxes since May, 1970. Ms. Taylor said she won't pay again in 1973 because "I do not believe the American role in Southeast Asia has ended."

Tax withholding, as a form of war protest, is not only fashionable. but now it's legal or maybe getting that way. In a landmark federal court ruling, two Quakers, Lorraine Cleveland and Leonard Cadwallder, did not have to pay the IRS the 51.6 percent of their taxes withheld as a war protest since 1969. Last week. in response to an IRS suit against the two employees of the American Friends Service Committee, U.S. District Judge Clarence Newcomer of Philadelphia ruled that forcing the two Quakers to finance a military effort which they opposed on religious and moral grounds was a violation of "their free exercise of religion".

After enduring months of continual harassment and political sabotage, Student Government Council President Lee Gill resigned his post Friday night, Jan. 11. Lee had a lot of good plans to use the funds and resources of SGC to develop positive programs for students and the local community. Since Lee's departure, SGC meetings have deteriorated into 3-ring circuses -- one of which was ended by a call to the local police to break up the ruckus. Next issue of the SUN, look for our story on interference and racism which systematically sought to destroy Lee Gill's credibility and eventually forced him out of office.

The state police are using a toll-free phone number for its "Turn In Pushers" (TIP) program whereby they will pay cash for tips leading to the arrest or conviction of so-called "major dope pushers". The cash won't be publicly accounted for. The calls will be recorded but not traced. In other areas, such narc lines have been jammed with thousands of calls trom users exercising their free speech rights to tell the state police where to go with their stool pigeon money. No reason it can't happen here. It's toll-free on I -800-292-2277.

Lightnin's set at the Primo will be broadcast. live on Tuesday, Jan. 29, starting at 11:15 pm on WCBN-FM 89.5 -- dig it.

Joe Cocker is off his duff after 18 months and has recorded eight tracks towards a new as yet untitled album. No release date set.

Humble Pie's new album, Thunder Box will be out next month and ready to eat.

Cream - that's Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker , and Jack Bruce, are getting back together for another album and U.S. concert tour for more gold on the wall - and in the bank.

Billy Preston has been sitting in on most of the Rolling Stones' recording sessions for their up-coming album, with new tracks on one side and old hits on the other.

Grand Funk Railroad, right in the middle of a bodacious fight with their former manager Terry Knight, has won the right to keep their name, despite Knight's claims that he owns it.

And speaking of music, let's not forget the musical benefits that help struggling peoples' organizations. In your basic benefit, the band plays for free, the benefitted group provides rnuch of the labor and publicity as it can, and the host club. bar or hall turns over the gate or cover charge to the community group. The Primo in particular has held frequent benefits for such local groups as the Children's Community Center, People's Ballroom, Ozone Parade, People's Food Co-op, Pass It on Freedom School and the SUN. The SUN benefit last Jan. 13 drew moderate attendance. SUN SPOTS would like to thank the two groups who played for the SUN benefit: the Vipers and the CJQ. Also thanks to CKLW, WWWW, and WCBN for the publicity. The SUN took in $186 and spent $57 for the PA, flyers etc leaving $129. The next SUN benefit is due Tuesday, Feb.19. Watch for it. And any community group interested in arranging a fit should call Frank Bach at Rainbow MultiMedia.

Ozone House is in need of places for people to crash for one or two nights. If you have extra floor space, couches, etc. please call Ozone House at 769-6540 to find out about their programs. Also, Ozone House is recruiting for alternative foster care homes. They can license anyone over 21 years of age in any combination of living situations. They have licensed groups of single women, groups of single men, communal homes, young couples - in other words, anyone who is interested in helping a young person under the age of 17 who needs an alternative to their present living situation. Contact Carol Kirsch at 769-6540 for further details on how you can help your younger brothers and sisters.

The annual Kiwanis Club Sale, a great place to pick up on cheap and useful items of varied description, will beheld on Thurs., Fri., and Sat., Feb. 7-8-9. Hours are l0 am to 8pm on Thurs. and Fri., till 3 on Saturday.

The SUN street magic program is under way with 3 highly successful coin vending boxes at 3 killer location - and we have 3 more on their way, thanks to the folks who responded to our loan request. Regrettably, the State St. box got its window kicked in by some cretin, but we fixed it good as new the next day. And a few times someone has ripped off all the papers from a box while only paying for one. If you see anybody tampering with our coin boxes, please give us a call.

Letters, people - we need letters, your letters. Tell us what you think - good or bad. Help us with SUNSPOT items, story ideas, anything you've got in mind. Tell us.

Alan Watts' lecture series, The Philosophy Of The East In Understandable Western Terms, is now on every Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 1 a.m; on WABX-FM.

Ralph Nader will speak on Future Energy Resources as part of the Future Worlds lecture series on Jan. 29 in Hill Auditorium at 3 p.m. for $1.

Union Gallery will present an invitational show of the works of several women artists from the Ann Arbor area April 7 thru 27. Panel discussions, poetry readings, guerrilla theater, music and films will accompany the women' show. Anyone interested in participating should call Sherryl Shaw at 761-2924.

The Whole Earth Catalogue will be back, or so claims editor Stewart Brand who created the tool-access manual. Brand quit publishing back in 1971, but recent changes in the world situation have prompted Brand to return. He also has plans for another magazine called The Co-Evolution Quarterly.

The Michigan Prisoners Labor Union (PLU) purchased 77 Christmas presents for prisoners in Michigan Prisons. The 70 presented were purchased for men behind the walls of Jackson, and 7 were sent to the women's penitentiary at the Detroit House of Correction. Power to the Prisoners, Join the Union!

Our apologies to Democratic 4th Ward candidate for City Council James Kenworthy. In our story last issue criticizing the Human Rights Party for risking a potentially disastrous repeat of last year's vote splitting, we reported Kenworthy's first name as David. Kenworthy's chief opponent in the 4th will be Councilman William Colburn, who without the presence of HRPer Margo Nichols in the race would probably lose to Kenworthy.

We've gotten a great deal of response to the HRP editorial, and we're still seeking more in the form of letters, visits, etc. The HRP, meanwhile, will make a final determination on how to conduct the delicate 4th Ward race at their "mass" meeting on January 30th.