In 1988, an abandoned house on John George's block in Northwest Detroit had become a magnet for drug activity. When the city failed to respond to the community's cries for help, John bought some plywood and a bucket of paint. When he began boarding up the abandoned house his neighbors, Felix B. Wright III and Albert E. Mack joined in. When the drug dealers returned later that night, they could not get into the house. They left and never returned. Through that simple act, a lifelong friendship was started, and the Motor City Blight Busters was born.