Study shows minorities pay higher insurance premiums

Lloyd's of London - Photo by Charis Tsevis

A recent study has shown that consumers in predominantly minority neighborhoods pay as much as 30% more for auto insurance as do others in similar accident costs. This study was published by ProPublica, an independent, investigative journalism outlet that has won multiple Pulitzer Prizes.

In conducting their research, ProPublcia looked at premium and claim payouts in California, Illinois, Texas, and Missouri. They identified insurance claims in different areas.

Once they identified predominately white neighborhoods that had ones that had the same level of insurance claims as predominately black or Latino neighborhoods, they compared the premiums that consumers in those neighborhoods were charged. In each instance, the predominately white neighborhoods paid less for auto insurance than their minority counterparts with the same claims history.

The full text of this report on the auto insurance industry is available here. The methodology and source of information behind this study are explained in more detail here.

The Insurance Information Institue, a trade group for the insurance industry, disputes the findings from ProPublica in an op-ed available here. The insurance industry argues that ProPublica did not use the correct information in their analysis. This is true.

Of course, it's also true that the data that the insurance industry says that should be used for an analysis like this is not publicly available. ProPublica used the closest proximity to the ideal information from that data is available.

This brings me to two important conclusions.

1. More information ought to be available publicly. It's impossible for any discussion or debate to happen when only one party in the conversation has reliable data. As it currently is, with only the insurance industry have detailed data, it creates an environment that is ripe for abuse.
2. There needs to be more review done on an independent basis. The fact that a difference in prices paid among predominately white and predominately minority neighborhoods is this consistent across states and insurance carriers clearly demonstrates in my mind that something is amiss and someone needs to look into independently.

People have argued that auto insurance premiums had a racial component to them for years. This adds at least a little bit of additional credibility to those arguments.

1 dead, 2 injured after shooting on Ashton

The Detroit Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened late Wednesday night on Ashton Ave. in the Warrendale neighborhood. One victim was killed in what police describe as an apparent carjacking. Two other victims were injured and transported to a nearby hospital.

This shooting happened on Ashton, between Whitlock and W. Warren Ave.

According to a report from WDIV-TV, the three victims were in a silver car when two gunmen approached their vehicle. Words were reportedly exchanged and then the gunmen opened fire of the occupants of that car.

Officers from the Detroit Police Department have interviewed the surviving victims as well as neighbors in the area. They are also seeking surveillance video from a nearby home.

Anyone with information this shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 800-SPEAK-UP. Callers can remain completely anonymous. A cash reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Gabe Leland kicks off re-election campaign

Leland kicks off re-election - Photo by Frank Nemecek

Earlier this evening, Gabe Leland, who represents the Warrendale and surrounding neighborhoods on the Detroit City Council, kicked off his re-election campaign. If re-elected, this will be his second term representing District 7 on the Council.

A large group of residents and business owners were on hand to lend their support.

Leland has kept the neighborhoods at the forefront during his first time on the Detroit City Council. He pledged to continue doing that if re-elected.

I supported Gabe Leland in his previous 2013 campaign. I've been proud of his work over the past four years. It is my pleasure to endorse and support his re-election efforts this year.

Running and biking event coming to Rouge Park

Tour de Troit will present a duathlon, which features cycling and running portions of the event, in Detroit's Rouge Park. This event, billed as the Rouge-A-thlon, will begin at 9 am with a 5K run. It will be followed by a 10K bike ride and then followed by a second 5K run. The entire event will be chip-timed, to the finish line.

This will be a total of 20 kilometers around the largest park in Detroit, with stunning paved pathways and winding roads.

This inaugural race will be limited to 250 participants. There are 50 slots available for VIP registration which will include priority placement in the transition station, a premium t-shirt, and a TDT branded running towel. The VIP option may be selected at checkout during the online registration process.

This event is not sweeper supported, which is important for the cycling portion of this race. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bicycle tools, tubes, pump, and other equipment. Registration will include the duathlon, a beer, Amicci's Pizza baked on site, and a finisher medal. Proceeds from this event go towards Friends of Rouge Park.

This race is a partnership between Tour de Troit, the Kidney Foundation and the Friends of Rouge Park. More details and on-line registration are available here.

Fatal Music - Review

The twists and turns in Peter Morfoot’s “Fatal Music” make this crime novel an enjoyable read. The book is the latest in a series following Homicide Captain Paul Darac of the Brigade Criminelle as he uncovers clues to catch a killer.

At first, this at-home death of an elderly woman looks as cut and dry as a heart attack in a hot tub but deeper exploration from Darac (and brilliant intuition) prove there is more to this investigation than meets the eye. Set in France, the author wastes no time in setting the tone for a compelling story that not only heightens your imagination but also provides a smooth soundtrack along with it.

Forget the basics in this soundtrack though, Morfoot gives us an advanced lesson in some of the greats of Jazz. Being sure to mention names like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Thelonious Monk, Morfoot exposes readers to the tone of his novel through the music Darac is mesmerized by. Whether playing a club, listening to it, or admiring it, Jazz is clearly Darac’s first and longest love.

Aptly named “Fatal Music” for the obvious ode to Jazz, the arts do not stop there. Morfoot ties in the high-profile world of France’s art scene where Darac finds himself in the quarters of famed art collectors and curators piecing together how a famous painting could have anything to do with the murder of his jazz queen. From the seedy streets and Jazz clubs of the Babazouk to the cultured world of art lovers this investigation has Darac (and his team) scrambling to find answers and as each clue is revealed, more action unfolds.

Suspense, drama, and action make each page turn quicker than the last and your heartstrings to pull more than the strings on Darac’s guitar. With so many opportunities for motive, means and just plain hatred, figuring out who is the culprit will leave readers blown away by jazz and crime.

Publisher's note: This review of "Fatal Music" was written by Shalen Franchini. It is the first in a series of book reviews that will appear on this blog in the coming weeks.

"Fatal Music" by Peter Morfoot went on sale today from Titan Books.

Help for sexual assault victims

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month - a national campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

It's about time - Photo by Leticia Bertin/Flickr

Each year during the month of April, state, territory, tribal and community-based organizations, rape crisis centers, government agencies, businesses, campuses and individuals plan events and activities to highlight sexual violence as a public health, human rights, and social justice issue and reinforce the need for prevention efforts.

To kick this campaign off locally, Ricardo Moore, who represents the Warrendale and surrounding neighborhoods on the Detroit Police Commission, sent along a list of resources for victims of sexual assault.

Resources for sexual assault victims include:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH)
800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)
800-787-3224 (TTY)
www.ndvh.org

The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673)
www.rainn.org

National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline Number - Just for teens. You can talk one-on-one with a trained advocate 24/7 who can offer support and connect you to resources.
866-331-9474
866-331-8453 (TTY)
www.loveisrespect.org

This list is presented as this blog's Tip of the Week - a semi-regular feature to highlight ways to make life better for readers or for the community as a whole.

Police chase ends tragically in Detroit

Michigan State Police investigate a crash on Ashton
Photo by Frank Nemecek

What appears to have been a chase involving the Michigan State Police in the Warrendale neighborhood of Detroit has ended badly this evening. A white Chrysler 300 sedan hit two parked vehicles and crashed into a tree on Ashton, just north of Paul, at approximately 6:30 this evening.

Police officers on the scene declined to comment due to their on-going investigation. However, neighbors in the area reported that two individuals in a car being chased died in this crash.

Michigan State Police have Ashton, between Whitlock and Paul Streets, closed for their investigation. State troopers have canvassed the block asking residents about they might have seen and if they have any camera footage that might show details of the chase.

More news as this story develops.

Police cars block off Paul St at the Southfield Fwy.
Photo by Frank Nemecek

Update @ 9:14 p.m.
According to neighbors, it would appear that the Michigan State Police broke off their pursuit as soon as it headed into a residential neighborhood. The individuals that they were chasing, however, continued to flee and subsequently hit two other vehicles before slamming into a tree.

More news as this story develops.

Update @ 10:21 p.m.
This pursuit reportedly started on the Southfield Freeway when Michigan state troopers noticed that the driver was not wearing a seat belt and had tinted windows. They attempted to pull the driver over to issue a citation.

Unfortunately, the driver attempted to flee rather than pull over.

More news at this story develops.

Update @ 10:32 p.m.
The Detroit Fire Department is currently at the scene. They are cutting the mangled sedan open so the remains of the driver and passenger can be removed from this vehicle.

Update @ 10:39 p.m.
According to a neighbor who lives near the crash site, the impact was severe enough that the engine block of that car dislodged from the vehicle. It then continued traveling for a few more feet before landing on the ground.

Any additional updates will have to wait until tomorrow morning.

Update - Saturday, April 1 @ 10:59 a.m.

The crash site as of this morning - Photo by Frank Nemecek

The wreckage from this crash is largely cleared at this point. The yellow police tape has been removed. Ashton is once again one to vehicular traffic and residents are going about their daily routines.

The tree that the fleeing vehicle slammed into, however, still stands with obvious damage to its trunk - a reminder of the spot where two foolish individuals lost their life.

Debris is still littered along the road and sidewalks. I found pieces of the destroyed Chrysler 300 sedan as far as 60 feet from the crash site.

I suspect that residents who live near this spot will continue to find small pieces of that car for days or weeks to come.

Debris from the crash - Photo by Frank Nemecek

All of this will be a lingering reminder of why it's a terrible idea to flee from the police, especially over something as minor as a traffic ticket. The driver probably had some other reason for wanting to run - a warrant for his arrest, a suspended license, or some other reason that probably made sense to him at that moment.

The tragic reality, though, is that none of those things are worth losing one's life over nor are they worth jeoparding the lives of others for.

This, I'm afraid, is a lesson that the ill-fated driver learned too late.