Normally I write 鈥渢heme鈥 columns. But during the planning of this month鈥檚 edition, I attended two important milestones unrelated to the content.
First was the QLine鈥檚 debut. While waiting in line, a person next to me had a camera. I asked if he was shooting for someone. He wasn鈥檛, but said I should meet a guy standing nearby. It was Peter Benz, who rode the last Detroit streetcar in April 1956. I chatted with him on a 鈥渓oop鈥 from Grand Circus Park south and back. What a treat! I found out he鈥檚 also the vice chair of the Friends of the Detroit River. Now that鈥檚 worth a follow-up.
But let鈥檚 talk transit. We supported the Regional Transit Authority鈥檚 ballot that narrowly failed last November. So I listened with mixed emotions as civic leaders gushed about Detroit鈥檚 private/public partnership that resulted in a 3.3-mile-long 鈥渢ransit鈥 link. Nearby were the Motor City Freedom Riders, who basically said: 鈥淵ea, that鈥檚 nice. But it鈥檚 not really a transit solution.鈥
The good news? The parade of politicians and business folks speaking that day all agreed that the QLine should only be the start. Maybe we鈥檒l get an opportunity to vote next year. Perhaps we should leave Oakland and Macomb counties out of the conversation.
I also attended the Michigan Opera Theatre鈥檚 Grand Salute honoring David DiChiera. I got a chance to speak with DiChiera for our June issue about Ivan Moshchuk recording his music, but it was an honor to witness an 鈥渙pera鈥檚 greatest hits鈥 show featuring stars from around the world giving Dr. D. his due.
When Mayor Mike Duggan announced that the Detroit Opera House would be renamed the David DiChiera Performing Arts Center, there were a few tears shed, in the crowd as well as by DiChiera.
Bravissimo, Dr. D.! You have certainly made a difference in our lives.
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