Detroit Historical Society | Mayor Coleman Young Press Conference with Lindell Holmes (1990) @DetroitHistoricalSociety | Uploaded November 2017 | Updated October 2024, 11 hours ago.
2015.008.235
detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/5B2422B7-F9B3-402E-B06B-367570354908
U-Matic tape containing footage of the April 24, 1990 press conference where Mayor Coleman A. Young presents the newly minted International Boxing Federation World Super Middleweight champion, Lindell Holmes, with the championship belt, followed by a sometimes heated exchange on various topics between Young and the reporters.
The tape begins with Mayor Young joking with the reporters gathered in the conference room about the absence of reporters from WJBK. He then begins the press conference with an introduction of Lindell Holmes, who stands to the right of the podium with two other men. In his introduction Young recounts Holmes' recent defeat of Frank Tate. Young then presents the World Super Middleweight Championship belt to Holmes. In turn, Holmes then presents Young with a pair of boxing gloves which results in Bill Bond jokingly asking from off camera if they're to be used against City Council or against his news team.
Holmes then takes several questions from the press about his career. He talks about fellow Detroit-based boxers Tommy Hearns and Frank Tate, and mentions wanting to organize a fight with Tommy Hearns, who he knows from training a Kronk Gym. He also talks about Detroit's strong recreation programs and boxing tradition. He also speaks about keeping kids away from drugs and crime. Young and Holmes are then asked to restage the belt presentation for the latecomers from WJBK. In his last question, Holmes is asked about how he got started in boxing, and Young notes a parallel between his story and that of Joe Louis.
Young then takes general questions from the press. He is asked about orders to shut down the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility's incinerator, the American Civil Liberty Union's challenge against the residency rules for city employees (during which Young attacks the Union's past efforts against drug testing for police officers), elevated parking rates and future fee increases, and hostility toward the media on display at a recent rally of his supporters at Ford Auditorium. While responding to the issue of media bashing, Young complains about leaks from the grand jury investigations into the VIsta Disposal and Magnum Oil issues. Young accuses the city's media of violating "cardinal principles," and building a metaphorical wall between the city and suburbs.
Following a brief gap in the tape, Young responds further about the incinerator situation, mentions the state's desire to take over city assets, refuses to comment on his relationship with Governor James Blanchard, and discusses making cuts to balance the budget. On this point he stresses the cuts should not be made toward demolishing blighted structures as citizens are dangerously attempting to do that themselves. He also talks about creating new legislation to target absentee landlords, in particular the owner of the downtown Hudson's location. Similarly he talks about putting the burden of cleaning up issues of toxic waste at former industrial sites onto their previous owners. He is also asked about Housing Secretary Jack Kemp's recent comments about public housing in the city. Finally, returning to the issue of raised rates for parking on streets and city structures, he mentions that the increase will be minimal compared to the rates charged by owners of public lots, who he characterizes as "bandits." While responding to Bill Bonds on the matter of the difficult of regulating private parking lot rates, Young jokes that another definition of free enterprise is "shaft them before they shaft you."
The recording is on a black 3M UCA 60 U-Matic tape with a handwritten 3M label. The tape is housed within a black plastic case with a matching label on its cover.
2015.008.235
detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/5B2422B7-F9B3-402E-B06B-367570354908
U-Matic tape containing footage of the April 24, 1990 press conference where Mayor Coleman A. Young presents the newly minted International Boxing Federation World Super Middleweight champion, Lindell Holmes, with the championship belt, followed by a sometimes heated exchange on various topics between Young and the reporters.
The tape begins with Mayor Young joking with the reporters gathered in the conference room about the absence of reporters from WJBK. He then begins the press conference with an introduction of Lindell Holmes, who stands to the right of the podium with two other men. In his introduction Young recounts Holmes' recent defeat of Frank Tate. Young then presents the World Super Middleweight Championship belt to Holmes. In turn, Holmes then presents Young with a pair of boxing gloves which results in Bill Bond jokingly asking from off camera if they're to be used against City Council or against his news team.
Holmes then takes several questions from the press about his career. He talks about fellow Detroit-based boxers Tommy Hearns and Frank Tate, and mentions wanting to organize a fight with Tommy Hearns, who he knows from training a Kronk Gym. He also talks about Detroit's strong recreation programs and boxing tradition. He also speaks about keeping kids away from drugs and crime. Young and Holmes are then asked to restage the belt presentation for the latecomers from WJBK. In his last question, Holmes is asked about how he got started in boxing, and Young notes a parallel between his story and that of Joe Louis.
Young then takes general questions from the press. He is asked about orders to shut down the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility's incinerator, the American Civil Liberty Union's challenge against the residency rules for city employees (during which Young attacks the Union's past efforts against drug testing for police officers), elevated parking rates and future fee increases, and hostility toward the media on display at a recent rally of his supporters at Ford Auditorium. While responding to the issue of media bashing, Young complains about leaks from the grand jury investigations into the VIsta Disposal and Magnum Oil issues. Young accuses the city's media of violating "cardinal principles," and building a metaphorical wall between the city and suburbs.
Following a brief gap in the tape, Young responds further about the incinerator situation, mentions the state's desire to take over city assets, refuses to comment on his relationship with Governor James Blanchard, and discusses making cuts to balance the budget. On this point he stresses the cuts should not be made toward demolishing blighted structures as citizens are dangerously attempting to do that themselves. He also talks about creating new legislation to target absentee landlords, in particular the owner of the downtown Hudson's location. Similarly he talks about putting the burden of cleaning up issues of toxic waste at former industrial sites onto their previous owners. He is also asked about Housing Secretary Jack Kemp's recent comments about public housing in the city. Finally, returning to the issue of raised rates for parking on streets and city structures, he mentions that the increase will be minimal compared to the rates charged by owners of public lots, who he characterizes as "bandits." While responding to Bill Bonds on the matter of the difficult of regulating private parking lot rates, Young jokes that another definition of free enterprise is "shaft them before they shaft you."
The recording is on a black 3M UCA 60 U-Matic tape with a handwritten 3M label. The tape is housed within a black plastic case with a matching label on its cover.
