The Detroit Greens and the Green Party of Michigan submit this proposal to host the GPUS 2008 Annual National Meeting and Nominating Convention in Detroit.

The location for the convention is the downtown Detroit Cobo Center with accomodations at the nearby Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. Additional hotels are available in the surrounding area. The convention will be held from June 18 – June 22, 2008.

The necessary rooms at the Cobo Center will cost $6,600. Rooms at the Marriott are $120/night.

Detroit, the Motor City, recently celebrated it 300^th anniversary. Its history includes initiating the law leading Michigan to become the first territory in the western hemisphere to ban capital punishment. It became home to the auto industry which attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants and poor people from the South . Key unionization movements of the 30s were initiated in Michigan and Detroit. It had one of largest Black and working class political movements in the country. It also had one of the largest urban rebellions. For these, Detroit was punished. In addition, the auto industry has waned. Detroit has lost over ½ its population. It is now among the poorest, most segregated cities where 40,000 each year have their water cut off. Detroit sits in a larger metropolitan area of 5 million.

It is a border city with the busiest international crossing in North America with its sister city, Windsor, across the Detroit River.

The city hosted the 2005 MLB All-Star Game and the 2006 NFL Superbowl. In 2007, Detroit is hosting the national NAACP convention.

Centrally located in the mid-west, with an international airport which is a main Northwest Airlines hub, Detroit is also easily accessible by car or train. It is 5 hours by car from Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Public transportation in Detroit is poor though many restaurants and attractions are within walking distance. Transport services between the airport and hotel is available.

The host committee is currently looking at 2 union facilities with some availability during June & July of 2008. Each facility has hosted conventions of the size of our Nominating Convention. One is located downtown on the riverfront. The other is located between the airport and downtown in the adjacent city of Dearborn, home of the largest Arab American community outside the Middle East.

The Convention in Detroit will help local Greens strengthen ties to the African-American community and the larger Detroit metro area communities. The Convention will increase the possibilities of recruiting candidates for public office from the African-American community. The Convention will increase Green Party visibility in the local African-American media -- Michigan Citizen, Michigan Chronicle, local radio, and community access cable stations -- as well as mainstream media like the Detroit Free Press.

The Convention in Detroit will also enable Convention delegates to learn more about the Arab-American community in the United States. The largest Arab-American community in North America is in the adjacent suburb of Dearborn.

The Detroit Green Party and the Green Party of Michigan both support this proposal. Detroit Greens meet monthly and have run candidates in partisan races in Detroit for 6 years. Detroit and Michigan Greens have good working relationships with many progressive groups and are confident that we can supply the necessary volunteers from our ranks and those of our friends.

Cobo Proposal for Green Party (PDF)

Cobo Rooms for Green Party (PDF)

Cobo Brochure (PDF)