Any congressman facing a new district after the lines have
been redrawn certainly needs to become acclimated to his new campaign turf. And
Rep. Gary Peters deserves some slack after he was stuck with one of the most
blatantly gerrymandered House districts in the nation – stretching from Belle
Isle to Southfield to the Birmingham/Bloomfield area.
Nonetheless, the Bloomfield Township Democrat’s campaign is apparently
still struggling to become familiar with all the nooks and crannies of the new
14th District. A message posted on Facebook by the congressman on
Friday invited residents to attend a public forum today in “East Detroit.”
Oops.
First, the city of East Detroit changed its name to
Eastpointe more than two decades ago. Second, Eastpointe is not in Peters’ new district.
And third, no one refers to portions of Detroit as east Detroit. The “east side”
is commonplace. The “northeast section” is fine.
I suppose Peters, a west-sider, will get the lingo down
before Election Day.
(btw: His campaign has since corrected the error.)