October 09, 2001

Todd Everett

Will Detroit’s political reform process make Detroit the first urban town to resemble a suburb? In the current mayors race accusations of experience or the lack thereof, are a main topic in both campaigns. Age has now been made a factor or campaign tactic on both sides. The two candidates are separated in age by over 30 years. The elder being old enough to be the juniors grandparent. And it seems as if everyone has taken sides. The divisions in Detroit are running as high as ever, higher than the divisions that the current mayor, Dennis Archer, has been accused of creating. The current political race is being said to resemble a popularity contest. You have a former football star and a one time minor actor both trying to be the next mayor of Detroit. The question should not be who do you like more but who will make Detroit a better place for its residents.

Personal feelings have always been a factor in any political campaign. Emotions run high and people get caught up in what is said instead of what are the facts. This will never completely change. But sentiment alone cannot run city services. A city like Detroit needs to pick up trash in a timely manner and keep the streets clear of snow. Or perhaps create positions for appointees not subject to the direct affects of a political office. What ever is your top item that you believe a mayor should do on the job that should be the topic of conversation in the mayor’s race. Thus far this has not been the case.

What have the candidates said or what have they indicated they support is not always that clear. Both candidates, Gil Hill and Kwame Kilpatrick have said they oppose privatization. Yet both have supported forms of privatization in the past in their respective elected posts. Council President Gil Hill has seemed to imply regret on some of his past decisions as a council member. While this does little for those who say that he has ‘sold out’. It shows that he can admit his mistakes without passing the blame. A mayor, the cities leader, must at all times make the city his top priority. And the city is the residents. A leader is not perfect and therefore will make mistakes. Knowing when to admit those mistakes shows maturity and finding a remedy shows your ability.

State Representative Kwame Kilpatrick has indicated numerous times that he has brought 800 million dollars to the city of Detroit during his tenure as Leader of the Democratic Caucus. While that number is impressive it is not the actual amount that made it to the city. At most it is an amount that was available for Detroit to use if it applied to certain criteria or used it in certain circumstances. Rarely is a large sum amount of funds set aside for any city in Michigan in that amount in such a short span of time.

What neither candidate has stated is how they plan to do what they have promised. Election promises are often vague and misleading and this year is no exception. No one has shown how he will increase the job pool inside the city of Detroit. No one has shown how he will improve the neighborhood infrastructure for Detroit residents. The only stated position or proposal is one, which neither candidate has originated and is not guaranteed. A regional transpiration plan involving high-speed dedicated bus routes is now being sold to area lawmakers as a way to boost the region and provide for suburban to urban transportation. It is supposed to help fix some of the transportation problems in this metro area. This idea is shaky and few give it a chance to even get through the planning stage. But some Republican Lansing lawmakers, including Kwame Kilpatrick, are slowly pushing it through the state house. The problem with proposals such as these is that they put the cart before the horse. They promise to spend money to fix a perceived problem with transportation while not ensuring that there is a base or market ready to move in and use this expensive would be transportation system.

Detroit needs improved city services, an increase or creation of some city services and in some cases removing some city services. Detroit also needs a solid business base that does not rely on a few large companies in a few markets. Currently Downtown Detroit has the worlds largest auto company. Three casinos and entertainment sector which is largely dominated by professional sports. The non-sports entities draw crowds but do nothing to spin off business to the rest of the downtown area. Gone are the small stores that all city residents’ need that provide items used everyday. Shoe stores, clothing stores, eateries, pharmacies used to litter the downtown area. Living in the downtown area is recent promises to what is the new theory as a way to restore Detroit’s downtown. But this is a gamble with unproven results and no benchmarks for success. The current housing development being built is offered at prices unreachable by the vast majority of current city residents.

With the exception of working for the city, or other government offices, a good job in Detroit is a luxury and no longer a given. The influx of the casinos provided the most recent new ‘’good jobs for Detroit residents. There are no plans for others even Compuware’s headquarters will import their employees from the suburbs. Detroit used to be the place where people went to get a good paying job. Now it’s the place where people live while they seek jobs in the suburbs. Every recent transportation plan, including the one mentioned above, plans to move Detroit residents to jobs in the suburbs. This plan leaves Detroit downtown barren of prospects for the future and no hope of increasing any development. Most of the current or recent development involves taxpayer’s money in some form and without taxpayer assistance it seems none of the stadiums, casino or other development in progress would have taken place. Detroit is still not a desirable destination for the areas business owners. This has to be what the next would be mayor addresses now, not after the November election.

How will either candidate make Detroit a desired location to locate a new or existing business? Then how will they make the many neighborhoods desirable for small businesses that are still necessary for every city to survive? A trip to the nearest mega store that sells everything from groceries to blue jeans is not feasible for all residents all the time. This is part of what causes the traffic problems in the current suburbs. When they were designed and developed they left out the corner clothing boutique or hat store that people can patronize without getting in their car or hoping a bus and spending 20 to 30 minutes on the road. Detroit of course had all of what is necessary for its neighborhoods and downtown to prosper and in the span of 20 years saw it leave town or close down. Will either candidate present a plan or address the question of what they will do to return Detroit to the urban center and area leader that Detroit once enjoyed? Detroit will continue to become a bedroom community. The exact charge that was levied against the suburbs in the 80’s is now being reversed against the city of Detroit. The next mayor will have a direct impact of the direction of the city in the not only the next four years but the next decade.