Let's be honest. It's been a shit weekend for everyone. We're here on a sunday morning, dawn breaks and we see broken dreams floating down the street in streams of blood. Many good people died. There is no one who gained anything this weekend. I will now try and provide insight in the reasoning behind the removal of Mr. Evolve and Ms. OpheliaPayne.
 

4 weeks ago
Godfather Gato and I communicated our plans to the late Curiosity, late Borya, late AnomandorRake and the now Godfather Nakamura. What we had in mind was a more radical version of what you see today. It was aimed at not having one person, or group, make claim over a city, but enable healthy competition. In the discussion that followed we agreed that was all a bit to radical, so we decided to open up half the country like that. And each of us got a city to govern as they pleased. As they pleased, but with the intent to make efforts count. To enable new talent. To prevent building a supercity, to prevent herding people, just to keep them away from the competition. Each of us went their way with the knowledge we'd stand by each other in making this approach work. Despite reasonable doubts and questions, we made the promise to work on this as a team.
 

The past 4 weeks
We saw each city take their approach. Both Chicago and Detroit grew relatively fast, something I rather saw different in light of the plans, but we agreed each was to govern their city as they saw fit. We trusted each other in upholding the promised intent and being responsible for those in our cities to work in line with the plans. The task to inspire the people in your city to live up to a new attitude, is difficult and takes time. We allow  for that time as long as it doesn't give the community any problems. Both Mr. Evolve and Ms. Payne ran proper families, as many others do across the country, but despite all their qualities, they did not appear to step it up and show their worth in a more public manner. I have to give credit to Evolve for his reserved approach in Made Man promotions though. But all in all, nothing that really showed they carried a new mentality. Nothing that showed they were pushing their families to make Detroit look different than what we've all seen before. And that's no sin. Nothing wrong there and nothing that required action.
 

The past weekend
Don Borya retired. One of the people that openly supported the plans was gone. No retirement note was found, but people close to the late Don told me that his relation with OpheliaPayne seemed to suffer from some pressure. Something that can happen and although saddened by the loss of Borya, this was nothing to that warranted any action. Communication to both AnomanderRake and OpheliaPayne was sent, giving my condolences and offering help and advise if it was needed. Detroit communicated internally and was debating what to do. Don Rake's suggestion to take was the central district was not appreciated by Mr. Evolve and Ms. Payne, mainly due to the decreased involvement of Don Rake in our community in recent times. Again, a reasonable thing to not be happy about. Myself, nor Gato, nor Nakamura knew anything about this internal communication or issue, and thus we weren't involved. All good.
 

The murder of AnomanderRake
Initiated by Mr. Evolve and Ms. Payne, Don Rake was murdered, shocking the country. Here another public supporter of our proposed plans was dead. So here we are at a moment where people, in support of the community were being killed by people who had no clear identity in that area. That unclear identity was no issue, as long as they fell under the responsibility of people who were known to be trusted. Without Don Borya and Don Rake Detroit had lost it's identity that warranted it's free government and none of the remaining leaders had shown prior to be a valid replacement for that identity. Without extra information about the event, and the trust that Mr. Evolve and Ms. Payne would be worthy replacements, the murder of Don Rake was interpreted as an attack on the community. Nakamura, ChristianGato and myself decided this warranted intervention from the community. As a group, without protection, had attacked people that were protected.
 

The activity of Don Rake
This was perhaps a real concern, something people outside Detroit noticed as well. The idea to remove someone like that is not strange at all, although Don Rake's trip was coming to an end. It wouldn't be so much of a problem if the attacking party had shown to be a worthy replacement of their victim. But it's been communicated that efforts will count, and not the assumption that someone could potentially show that effort. Once showing aggression, you will be judged on your achievements so far, not on your dreams. Especially not when they are not known. Despite his recent inactivity, Don Rake had still a higher standing in his efforts and shown identity than those responsible of the attack.
 

The murder of the families
Yes, innocent people died in last night events. Due to an unfortunate gun malfunction Mr. Evolve was able to survive the initial attack and posing a threat to the rest of the community. Assuming loyalty to their fallen, or alive, leaders and with that the will to fight we chose to remove the people that could have aided in the counter-attack.

I'll admit that we should've kept those associates that slept alive. That was uncalled for and I take blame for that.
I want to add though that if your leaders hadn't acted in a way that triggered this response, everyone would just be eating their sunday brunches with their families right now. Mr. Evolve and Ms. Payne made a judgement call. One that I can understand even, but they failed to judge their own position and with that exposed their families to a great danger.
 

The line
The plans that we communicated is an open door for opportunities. People can basically do what they want to make money, have fun and be involved in a community on the level they are motivated for. However the choice of taking control over a city, or deciding who's operation to shut down is one that brings responsibilities. And people should've shown to be ready for those responsibilities. This is not the time where we claim a reward and then think about potentially earning it. You work hard. Show to be the best. And then claim the position that confirms that.
 

Debate
I reckon there will be a discussion about this speech and our actions, whether they are justified and in line with what we aim to achieve. I am ready for that. I want to politely ask everyone to engage each other in a human and respectful manner. Let's have opposing opinions, but let's all be human. Thank you in advance.

I respect your accepting the blame openly and honestly. I have no qualms with errors in judgement, provided the parties in question hold their hands aloft and accept the responsibility of their actions. Given the circumstances, it was a decision that I remain opposed to, but I can appreciate the reasons it was taken. Fair play to you Oakheart.

Interesting.

Danica pushes off from the slightly damp wall she was leaning against, now that the New York Don was finished.

It's not often that the explanation from the "winning" side matches up with the explanation from those on the other side, no matter how childishly the other side tries to explain itself. Come to think of it, it's also a refreshing change.

As one who's mother was gunned down on her way home, ignorant of the events surrounding the brief bit of chaos, I can only say it's disappointing. Broken dreams indeed. That you have some regret towards the deaths of those who were sleeping is appreciated, even if it doesn't really matter. The dead are still dead, no matter what we may feel afterwards. The reasoning behind taking those shots were sound and that's what truly matters.

If anything, that bullet saved her from having to make an uncomfortable choice. Between remaining loyal to someone who was overreaching their grasp and unwilling to communicate or sitting out and dishonoring her blood oath.

She tucks a few strands of loose hair behind her ear.

It seems to me that this was a clash between two differing views on how to move forward after Don Borya's retirement. That in mind, I hope that there are attempts to have communication be of paramount importance in the future. All this shooting is, in the end, bad for business and Our Thing is a business. Not kingdoms, vying for ephemeral control over miles of pavement and steel. Something that seems to be forgotten when it comes to tension between families.

Thank you very much Don Oakheart for the explanation and transparency in these matters. My condolences goes out to the kin of all of the fallen. HuntMike, is an attempt at change not at least just that? Something was attempted, although it might not have seen the desired results which did not really surprise us at all since we seen an explosion of families set up across the country which starved them all of new blood. But at least he tried, so why are you judging on an attempt at change? I'm sure now he will look forward and try something else, much like anyone has done when they met failure. You don't just give up or you will get no where in life and accomplish very little. Many of the best inventions were the results of thousands of failures and even complete mistakes. I'm not sure if you expect him to just give up on making the changes he so desires as you have added absolutely nothing to the discussion, but if that is the case you will just be back next week with more complaints I'm sure that he hasn't tried enough. As the late Winston Churchill stated himself and I quote "success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

A harsh view, HuntMike. I think the boroughs were a good idea and with the other cities open there just weren't enough people to see out it's success. Personally I'd have liked to see it as a continuous thing but alas, Godfather Gato has ceased this particular project.

There is change here, in fact the deaths explained here were a result of this change. Ophelia and Evolve were deemed as unprotected due to their lack of contribution to the community (as viewed by the powers that be) and they took out a protected mobster, Anomander.

In another time, the death of Don Anomander wouldn't have turned many heads but due to the protected status he held it meant that those who agree to this system had to uphold it's values.

So trying something that has failed in the past, even though it has a different approach on it is wrong? I sure am glad Mr. Edison didn't take your approach or I would never see my wife's tits at night when I'm permitted to have my fun, yes that's the only time this activity is permitted. Please don't judge me. 

Mr Hunt we all know that open cities are nothing new and making them work for a short time until someone claims the city is hard enough to monitor and organise. But leaving cities open indefinitely is a slightly new stance do you not concede? Imagine a world where no one is ever authed. People have absolute freedom! Isn't that slightly different? Failure or success, original or a slight deviant from the norm, shouldn't we be congratulating this man at least for trying ANYTHING other than the norm that we have circulated around and around in for what 10? 15 years?!

The Mixer chuckles to himself at Bobby's comments: Very funny

It's been a rough week in general between events in Philly and Detroit, when so many people were looking with so much hope that all was going well sod's law comes and kicks and things go wrong.  The hope was the free cities and the chance to build would bring the best of society out and both Senza and I have enjoyed sending people out in the hope it builds; sadly it's had mixed results.

My main contact in the past with Detroit had been via Borya but had hopes for the experienced lineages in Detroit to show in it's growth and expansion as had done in Chicago.  Sadly these events and the seeming feel Borya had been the glue that held a city together brought the shock of these events and sympathy for those auth's held in limbo by Borya's retirement and then the following bloodshed.  Sadly, in these events those who feel innocent always die but these things could of been different if all those key targets were hit first wave.

Thank you Mr Oakheart for explaining this in the streets, I do have one question though. What is to be of Detroit now after all that's just transpired?

Reading through it seemed like your original plan is similar to what we see in the free cities. Does that mean now that Detroit real-estate is now a part of the free city project with the loss of Don Rake and retirement of Don Borya, or will Hoolz be allowed to step up the plate and try to succeed he's predecessors?

I only ask as nothing was clearly stated as of what will become of the city and I don't want to be one to assume.

Being honest here, anytime you have a city where you have the leader retire.. No explanation (except to a handful of people I guess) or heads up.. Followed by a leader killing another within the city.. You might as well raise the "kill me now" flag. It would be unreasonable to think the surrounding cities would not intervene when the city goes to Hell in a weekend.. Now with the insight RobOakhart has provided on the situation just adds to the dynamic of it. 

I feel no ill will towards the attackers, nor did my father. He was more or less expecting his demise. 

RobOakheart, I'd like to thank you for stepping up and putting yourself in the firing line. People will criticise you for your actions but you know as well as I do, you can't please everybody. 

Looking at the whole situation as an outsider, I can see why this needed to happen. Over the course of two days we saw Detroit lose Borya and AnomanderRake, two huge characters from the city. After the surprising exit of Borya a power move was always on the cards from somebody, I was just surprised to see it so soon. Taking out AnomanderRake without the agreement of all parties was a bold move. I would be disappointed to think that some kind of retaliation wasn't expected.

The dust will settle, people will complain, people will move on. This is ultimately the world we live in, action will always provoke reaction.

Hawkeye stumbles across Robs Speech after a long night on the gin martinis and listens to the whole speech and the other persons of interest including his own Trusted Crew leader Karen he waits until there is no one queuing up  to talk and decides to put fourth his own comments on the speech he sips his martini and steps forward.

"Firstly there has been few and far between times since anyone has come to the streets and explained a death or removal of power the regime before this was simply why should we let the masses know why anyone was killed or removed which led to plenty of tittering and bullshitting in coffee-shops as to why something happened people always talk this we know"

Hawkeye sips his Martini and chews the Olive

"I was talking to Don Rob only hours before saying how I liked the changes and now speeches and discussions are welcomed more importantly he has thrown this to the masses for us to discuss openly weather you believe his reasons or not this is a welcome comeback for me as its always very interesting reading for anyone who was involved or not involved and gives the chance to see how opinions are projected, as for the recent deaths and reasons I just patched up the wounded and as a doctor tried not to pick any sides"

Signore Costa, Detroit stood as a strong, able city which assisted with any matters that required a mutual decision to be made. I will make a further announcement in the coming hours regarding the future of Motor City.