October 25, 1984 Devil's Night Press Conference, Tape 1

2015.008.290
detroithistorical.pastperfecto...
U-Matic S tape containing the first half of a recording of the October 25, 1984 press conference regarding preparations to curb Devil's Night arson, featuring Mayor Coleman A. Young, Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Arthur Jefferson, Department of Public Works Director Al Johnson, Detroit Fire Department Commissioner Mel Jefferson, and the Detroit Police Department's Executive Deputy Chief Jim Bannon. The recording is continued on tape 2015.008.291.
The tape opens with audio of crowd sounds followed by a picture which alternates between a test pattern and a black screen. During the period, a picture occasionally appears showing Mayor Coleman A. Young waiting at a podium, as a technician sets up his microphone. When the picture stabilizes, Young is still at the podium, and the crew can be heard solving the last of their audio problems.
In the audible portion of the tape, Young talks about partnering with the superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools to combat Devil's Night arson. He mentions a similar partnership, involving the utility companies' "eyes and ears" programs which formed in response to a series of sexual assaults of students on their way to school in February of 1984.
Young then introduces a long list of Detroit Police Department and Detroit Fire Department representatives which are present at the conference. When an off-camera voice interjects that Young did not mention someone "by name", Young jokes that person would not want to be known by the names he usually calls them.
Young then contrasts soaping windows and dumping garbage cans on the mischief nights of his youth, to the contemporary destructive Devil's Nights. In response he states that there will be a maximum mobilization of the Detroit Police Department, the Detroit Fire Department, the Department of Public Works, Detroit Public Schools personnel, and citizen volunteers. He also asks for the cooperation of the media.
Dr. Arthur Jefferson, Superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools then takes to the podium. He talks in brief about school system's plans for the effort.
Next, Young introduces Al Johnson, the Director of Detroit Public Works. Johnson explains that the D.P.W. will have a fleet of trucks patrolling the city, prepared to fight small fires, and alert the fire department to larger fires by radio.
He is followed by Fire Commissioner Mel Jefferson, who explains that they plan on mobilizing more firefighters, arson investigators, and volunteers. He also expresses hope that the media will participate.
The tape ends with the introduction of the Detroit Police Department's Executive Deputy Chief Jim Bannon, who jokes that Mayor Young may have inspired some young people to soap windows through his earlier remarks. Bannon's address is continued on tape 2015.008.291.
The recording is on a 3M MBU-18 U-Matic S tape with a handwritten 3M label on its top. The tape is housed in a black plastic latching case with a matching label on its cover.