Drop that lipstick

News Hits is relieved that someone at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building is taking this security stuff seriously. Anyone visiting the building lately has learned the hard way that all sorts of items — which to our untrained eyes seem decidedly nonlethal — are now prohibited. We’re talking about such weapons as makeup bottles, dental floss, headphones with cords, rat-tail combs, and, lest we forget the most deceptive of all: those plastic rubber coil-cord-things that people use on their key chains. To complicate matters, there’s no sign out front letting people know what exactly is forbidden. Consequently, folks who’ve been standing in line 20 minutes or so are frequently sent scurrying back to their cars to deposit said weapons, then returning to cool their heels in line again. When asked for details, William Polakowski, general manager of the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority, said “Don’t get me in the middle of this shit.” He referred us to 3rd Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Michael Sapala, otherwise known as the listmaster. Monday, Sapala refused to comment on the matter. Guess we’ll just get back in line.