Detroit politics

[SDC]

It's wrong of me, I know, and I feel guilty, but I'm taking enormous pleasure in following the sex, lies, and personal messaging scandal in Detroit. If you're curious, look at the local papers (www.detnews.com, www.freep.com). Nothing against Kwame or Beatty, it's just outrageous entertainment, of a type and on a scale unseen since, I think, Bill met Monica.

If I were a betting man, I'd organize a pool as to how long Kwame survives in office. I would myself bet that he will remain. Never bet against him, that's my rule. He could have been caught in the courtroom having sex with Beatty while testifying under oath and simultaneously strangling kittens and puppies with his bare hands, and I'd still bet he'll remain in office.

I'd be glad to learn if others are as entertained. You can't make this stuff up.

 

[sackett]

At close range, it's not entertaining, just exasperating. I don't care where Mrs. Kilpatric's little boy sticks his don't mind my language, but his squeezing money out of this poor old city and expecting to get away with it turns yerz trooly's stomach.

Unless he goes up on criminal charges, yes, he'll stay in office. It will make little difference, and then even less difference, and then he'll finally be gone.

 

[SDC]

You're right. I'm in NYC and this is only entertaining from a distance. (I said I felt guilty about enjoying it.) The most wonderful piece is, as you refer to, that he has the city pay for his defense, and then perjures himself 16 ways to Sunday, and then has the city pay for the settlement with the fired policeman with apparently some secret (non-disclosure?) provisions...

Compared to this, Bill and Monica were small timers.

 

[sackett]

True, you admitted to feeling guilty. Wish he would.

You're right. I'm in NYC and this is only entertaining from a distance. (I said I felt guilty about enjoying it.) The most wonderful piece is, as you refer to, that he has the city pay for his defense, and then perjures himself 16 ways to Sunday, and then has the city pay for the settlement with the fired policeman with apparently some secret (non-disclosure?) provisions...

Compared to this, Bill and Monica were small timers.

Oh, it's cruder than that. Kwaim also likes to charge the city for his hotel and rental car while out in Colorado with Mrs. Beatty. There have been other peculations and till-dippings.

You have to expect that kind of thing in city government almost anywhere, to be sure. There's always too much money lying around, and too little oversight.

When it comes to graft, this town is playschool compared to Chicago.

 

[fishbait]

I'd be glad to learn if others are as entertained. You can't make this stuff up.

Being a retired Detroit police officer and a Detroit resident for 50 years, I can hardly say that I am entertained. Those of us who grew up in Detroit are deeply saddened by the decline and decay that has destroyed this once shining city. What has happened in Detroit since the election of Coleman Young in 1974 is tragic.

I do, however, take some satisfaction in seeing Kwame Kilpatrick being exposed for what he is. But, it won't make a difference; he'll be re-elected and the rot will continue.

I've lived in upstate New York for the past 10 years and on my last visit to Detroit was so devestated with the decline that I will never visit my native city again. Sad. So very sad.

 

[sackett]

Funny thing, though, people keep putting money into Detroit. It's like a lot of cities: junky and beaten-up here, flashy and toney over there. Downtown's looking better, and, another funny thing, Kwaim gets some of the credit. (Deserves it? Well....)

Fishbait will pardon me,* but Detroit was a grubby, gritty, unhandsome town on the best day it ever had. But it exists for good reasons, and it just keeps going on.

* Hope so. I don't mess with cops.

 

[SDC]

I think Detroit needs to be thought of as a boom town that went bust, just like any number of mining towns further west, in fact, in many places. (The UP?) It was a good sized city in 1900, out of industry and Great Lakes shipping. But then it exploded with the auto industry. Since 1960, the industry has been ratcheting down and spreading world wide. It seems as though Detroit is declining to the size it would have been without an auto industry.

While the city+region's politics of race are the worst of any area I've lived, I think it's the economics, not racial conflict, that are strangling it. Look at the "jewels" that keep getting sold to the 'burbs; the DIA, the Zoo... what else?

My wife is a native (I'm not) and shares the kind of very depressed nostalgia that I think Fishbait is expressing. I worked for 5 years at Wayne State and that anchors its area; but you go.... Well, you all know.

 

[fishbait]

Fishbait will pardon me,* but Detroit was a grubby, gritty, unhandsome town on the best day it ever had.

Maybe the years have clouded my memories but, I remember the mid-1950's. Well-kept Elm lined streets, safe neighborhoods, a bustling downtown, and grand architecture throughout. Now, except for the RenCen enclave, it looks like Dresden after the firebombings.

* Hope so. I don't mess with cops

Are you old enough to remember the "Big Four"? I worked the 11 cruiser at Davison Station. Ah. Those were the days! Wonder what ever became of my trusty black-jack.

 

[Basilio]

As a native Michigander, and 45 mile from the epicenter, I can say a lot of people are disappointed but not surprised. We thought that Dennis Archer was the dawn of a new era for Detroit, and pretty proud of the city after the Young years.
I figured something like this would eventually happen. Being mayor was sort of his way of bidding time till he took over his mother's seat in congress, but I figure that is gone, along with most chances at a legal or political career. All he had going for himself was his name and his brashness. Now he will hide behind his family and church till the real legal show starts.

 

[sackett]

Hell, I shouldn't talk about Detroit in the old days. They were way before my time.

And that's instructive: I moved here in 1980. (I recall a gleeful 1980 cover story in Newsweek: "Detroit on the Skids!" 'Twasn't encouraging.) But: I bought a house in a nice neighborhood -- and it's even nicer today. The Zoo, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Orchestra, Wayne State -- they're still here and prospering, and who owns them is unimportant. (ETA: I forgot to mention the Medical Center.)

Kilfatric will go the way other sleazeballs go.

 

[332nd]

Being a retired Detroit police officer and a Detroit resident for 50 years, I can hardly say that I am entertained. Those of us who grew up in Detroit are deeply saddened by the decline and decay that has destroyed this once shining city. What has happened in Detroit since the election of Coleman Young in 1974 is tragic.

I do, however, take some satisfaction in seeing Kwame Kilpatrick being exposed for what he is. But, it won't make a difference; he'll be re-elected and the rot will continue.

I've lived in upstate New York for the past 10 years and on my last visit to Detroit was so devestated with the decline that I will never visit my native city again. Sad. So very sad.

My Granddad knew him for a brief period when the 332nd cam back from overseas and didn't like him. He said that Young had a lot of mouth for someone who didn't make it to the fight. (WWII)

 

[Furcifer]

As a Windsorite I have the pleasure of being able to watch the Detroit Mayoral office mess from an adequate distance.

My favourite "What did Kwame do this time?" moment was a story from Channel 7 a few years back. It seems every year there is a meeting (The US Conference of Mayors I believe) of all the Mayors in the country to discuss, well whatever Mayors discuss when they get together I suppose. Anyways, Kwame rolled into the conference with something like a 20 person entourage. When he was interviewed about the entourage, all of which were there on the city's dime mind you, he basically said they were required staff, how was he supposed to run thing properly yada yada yada. He was pressed further about the fact that something like 8 of the 20 were actually his personal body gaurds, why were they needed at this conference of Mayors, his response was something to the effect of "Well, I'm the Mayor of Detroit, it's a tough town, this is how we ride"
Of course the back drop to this was interviews with Mayors from much bigger cities (LA comes to mind) and much "tougher" cities (Philly and Washinton, DC I believe it was) all being asked where there "entourage" was and who else they came with. "By myself" and "I didn't even bring my wife" were the typical answers. When asked where their "Bodyguards" were the look on each of their faces was priceless, "Bodyguards?", "Who?", "My What?" topped the list.
Between the Mayors office, the Police Department and Con-Ed this stuff seems to happen once or twice a month in Detroit. Long live The Bad Boys of Detroit.

 

[SDC]

As a Windsorite I have the pleasure of being able to watch the Detroit Mayoral office mess from an adequate distance.

My favourite "What did Kwame do this time?" moment was a story from Channel 7 a few years back. It seems every year there is a meeting (The US Conference of Mayors I believe) of all the Mayors in the country to discuss, well whatever Mayors discuss when they get together I suppose. Anyways, Kwame rolled into the conference with something like a 20 person entourage. When he was interviewed about the entourage, all of which were there on the city's dime mind you, he basically said they were required staff, how was he supposed to run thing properly yada yada yada. He was pressed further about the fact that something like 8 of the 20 were actually his personal body gaurds, why were they needed at this conference of Mayors, his response was something to the effect of "Well, I'm the Mayor of Detroit, it's a tough town, this is how we ride"
Of course the back drop to this was interviews with Mayors from much bigger cities (LA comes to mind) and much "tougher" cities (Philly and Washinton, DC I believe it was) all being asked where there "entourage" was and who else they came with. "By myself" and "I didn't even bring my wife" were the typical answers. When asked where their "Bodyguards" were the look on each of their faces was priceless, "Bodyguards?", "Who?", "My What?" topped the list.
Between the Mayors office, the Police Department and Con-Ed this stuff seems to happen once or twice a month in Detroit. Long live The Bad Boys of Detroit.

I'll bet someone, somewhere, is looking through the TV footage of this meeting, checking for Kwame's chief of staff (a.k.a. his love interest). Gives a somewhat different spin on "I didn't even bring my wife" comments.

And then there is always the Party that Never Was at the Manoogian Mansion. I don't suppose there is any suspicion that the stripper who was there, and murdered several years later, was killed by the bodyguards. Nah. That wouldn't work. Kwame would have to have been ashamed or feel threatened, and obviously he feels neither.

 

[headscratcher4]

I liked Dennis Archer...worked for him, thought he was a reasonably good straight shooter, but Detroit got the mayor it deserved...heck, people have elected this guy twice and it isn't like there haven't been other issues about him, how he uses the police, city money, etc.

Anyway...a roll-call of inspiration: Roman Gibbs, Colman Young & Kirkpatrick....with the exception of Archer, there's the last 45 years of Detroit...

Of course, it could be worse, I was born in Flint....just take a look at the shape Flint's in.

 

[Furcifer]

And then there is always the Party that Never Was at the Manoogian Mansion. I don't suppose there is any suspicion that the stripper who was there, and murdered several years later, was killed by the bodyguards. Nah. That wouldn't work. Kwame would have to have been ashamed or feel threatened, and obviously he feels neither.

Oh yah. Has it been that long? I seem to recall the bodygaurds knocking the crap out of a reporter more recently when questioned about the Manoogian Mansion. I've been back and forth from here to Vancouver over the last few years so I've missed a lot. I may just be recalling a more recent incident when the bodygaurds beat up a reporter.

 

[Distracted1]

As a Windsorite I have the pleasure of being able to watch the Detroit Mayoral office mess from an adequate distance.

My favourite "What did Kwame do this time?" moment was a story from Channel 7 a few years back. It seems every year there is a meeting (The US Conference of Mayors I believe) of all the Mayors in the country to discuss, well whatever Mayors discuss when they get together I suppose. Anyways, Kwame rolled into the conference with something like a 20 person entourage. When he was interviewed about the entourage, all of which were there on the city's dime mind you, he basically said they were required staff, how was he supposed to run thing properly yada yada yada. He was pressed further about the fact that something like 8 of the 20 were actually his personal body gaurds, why were they needed at this conference of Mayors, his response was something to the effect of "Well, I'm the Mayor of Detroit, it's a tough town, this is how we ride"
Of course the back drop to this was interviews with Mayors from much bigger cities (LA comes to mind) and much "tougher" cities (Philly and Washinton, DC I believe it was) all being asked where there "entourage" was and who else they came with. "By myself" and "I didn't even bring my wife" were the typical answers. When asked where their "Bodyguards" were the look on each of their faces was priceless, "Bodyguards?", "Who?", "My What?" topped the list.
Between the Mayors office, the Police Department and Con-Ed this stuff seems to happen once or twice a month in Detroit. Long live The Bad Boys of Detroit.

I was born and raised on the Southwest side of Detroit. I remember it fondly up until the mid-to-late seventies when the white flight began in earnest and houses were simply walked away from- then burned- then used as crack dens-then burned again. I moved out in 1990.
I now live in Northeast Philly, and I can tell you with certainty- Phily is nowhere near as "tough" a town as Detroit.
I still have family in the Detroit suburbs, and can't help but make every visit a sad trip up Vernor Hwy to Michigan ave, marvelling at how things that seemed to have hit rock bottom have actually found a way to sink even lower.
I do remember the "Big 4". The sight of the unmarked sedan always struck fear into the hearts of my teenage freinds and I the way a can of Raid must strike fear into the heart of a cockroach. There are already four big cops in that car-no room for prisoners
I think Kwame represents the defeated attitude of the residents. After Young, the riots, the abandonment, the layoffs, etc.. The only thing Detroiters have left to be proud of is their "Gangsterness"

 

[Furcifer]

I now live in Northeast Philly, and I can tell you with certainty- Phily is nowhere near as "tough" a town as Detroit.

Agreed. I used the term "tough" because that's what I remember Kwame implying when he was asked. I believe the reporters segwayed into the interviews with Philly and DC's Mayors noting that at the time Philly and DC were ranked 1 and 2 respectively for per capita murders. I wish I remembered it better for fear of misquoting. I think the idea is still conveyed though.
As it stands now, Detroit apparently needs a "thug" to run the city, that's just how tough Detroit is.

 

[corplinx]

I liked Dennis Archer...worked for him, thought he was a reasonably good straight shooter, but Detroit got the mayor it deserved...heck, people have elected this guy twice and it isn't like there haven't been other issues about him, how he uses the police, city money, etc.

Anyway...a roll-call of inspiration: Roman Gibbs, Colman Young & Kirkpatrick....with the exception of Archer, there's the last 45 years of Detroit...

Of course, it could be worse, I was born in Flint....just take a look at the shape Flint's in.

I was about to make a reference to Nagin, Herenton, and Marion Barry and about how blacks keep re-electing the most corrupt or incompetent mayors in large urban areas. However, whites re-elected Nixon so we can't throw stones.

 

[fishbait]

As it stands now, Detroit apparently needs a "thug" to run the city, that's just how tough Detroit is.

All those street thugs are nothing more than ignorant wannabes who prey like a pack of jackels on weaker citizens only when they have the advantage. When confronted they cry like babies looking for their mama. The same goes for the motorcycle gangs like the Renegades and the Scavangers. They only attack in swarms when they have the advantage.

The last real tough guys were the Black Panthers back in the 60's. We had a grudging respect for a lot of them.

 

[SDC]

I worked in Detroit from the summer of 1999-summer 2004. What struck me most was not swaggering (real or pseudo-tough) gangsters and wannabees, but the emptiness. I know there are still nearly a million people there, but somehow it seems like a ghost town.