Today, I stumbled upon an article in the Detroit News during my lunch break. The article, “Cost concerns stall search for Detroit police chief”, details political officials’ skepticism over the cost of finding candidates to be the next police chief of Detroit. Reading the article gave me both the inclination to smile at the irony, but also frown at the inactivity.
Before going any further, I write this blog from the vantage point of a concerned citizen, not a political activist with an agenda. My only goal is to live in a better Detroit.
While officials weigh the options of the police chief search, the city goes another day without a unified vision to combat crime. The same political leaders that voted collectively to reject the state of Michigan leasing Belle Isle are taking more time to find the next police chief because they are concerned with finances. If our political leaders were so concerned with the finances of Detroit, why did they reject an offer by the state to lease Belle Isle that would allow Detroit to retain ownership? Michigan would run Belle Isle as a state park and save the city millions of dollars annually.
This inconsistency speaks to a greater challenge. Our current political leaders are not taking the needed action to make our city better. In no way am I indicting the character of our elected officials; I believe that they share my goal of making the city better, but I disagree with how they pursue that goal. I said in my first post that I wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem. I would be more than willing to speak with any leader or citizen if I thought it could make our city better.
Yet, the same inaction that dragged along the consent agreement, Hantz farm, and even our police chief search speaks to a greater danger. Failure to act will result in municipal bankruptcy and an emergency manager will allocate city resources as they see fit. At that point, the same elected officials that grasp for their power will no longer have any influence.
I challenge my fellow citizens to not only be skeptical of the results of our leaders, but take action against it. This year presents two opportunities to voice how you want the city to move forward with the City Council and Mayoral election. Choose wisely.
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.
John F. Kennedy
Though I am not a Detroiter... I work in the city; and I am a firm believer that a strong Detroit is important for the rest of Southeast Michigan and the rest of the state.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see less in the headlines in the news about alleged corruption.
What are your thoughts about the long term viability of the city, and what should be done to get its fiscal house in order, and how it could be done in a responsible comprehensive manor?
Great post! Very strong voice!
ReplyDeleteLil wooguy, I believe in Detroit long term. More and more, I see the momentum of private investment along with government reform that signals that a tax base is being formed and that people consider Detroit a place to be again.
ReplyDeleteFinancially, the city still faces long term debt issues associated with pensions. While you may not be able to cut your way to prosperity, restructuring is still necessary to show people the city is serious and will provide the needed services to attract new citizens.