What?!?

Considering the lumps automakers have taken in recent months, Detroit losing the North American International Auto Show would do nothing but further hinder the domestic car companies. Every sector of government, local, state, and federal, should be doing all they can to help the American auto industry be competitive. Yesterday, the City Council of Detroit failed that mission. 

In order to keep the auto show, Cobo Center must be expanded and upgraded. This makes the City Council's decision to reject the recent agreement to upgrade the facility and work on a regional level absurd. The time has come for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties to work with the city of Detroit. It strikes me as unreasonable to take the money of the suburbs, but refuse to allow them any say in how Cobo is run. The deal was a good one for Detroiters, Cobo receives improvements and the City Council would have veto power over the Regional Authority that would have power to make decisions. 

Using federal stimulus money will require regional cooperation, the very same that the Detroit City Council adamantly opposed for "their Cobo." 

Detroit's City Council made a vote against citizens, regional cooperation, and the domestic auto industry yesterday, widening an already large gap between Detroit and the suburbs.

The Primary Arrives

Tomorrow is the day, voters will head to the polls for local elections across the area. In Northern Oakland County there's a millage renewal (hoping it passes) and downtown, there's the dwindling of 15 candidates down to 2. 

As a believer that the time for a new day has come, here's hoping it comes down to Freman Hendrix and Dave Bing. I thought Freman should have won last time, and still think he'd make an amazing mayor. As for Dave Bing, see my earlier post on where I'd like to see him.

Freman's the man for the following reasons:

- A link to Dennis Archer is one I respect and would love to see back in the mayor's office.

- He's articulate.

- He has a plan to use the Police force more efficiently.

- He has appeal to young people, a key to a turnaround for the city.

- He has (seemingly) strong ethics.

- He's an advocate for the city, has poise, and is ready to take on the position.

The new mayor has no room for error. Experience counts in this election - Freman Hendrix has it.

A health care solution

It's a problem, not only for citizens but for every American company that hopes to compete internationally. How to solve it? Here's my proposal.

- Create a medicare plan for everyone under 18. Children receive coverage just like anyone over the age of 65 and would not be covered under their parent's plan.

- Allow universities to provide basic insurance as part of regular tuition, covering those over 18 who are in school.

- Require doctors to maintain electronic records, reducing overhead expenses and making medicine more efficient. This will lower the cost consumers/insurance companies pay for office visits.

- Government would pay for catastrophic coverage for everyone. Few people use this, and it drives up the cost of insurance considerably. Have a non-profit administer it.

- Expand the number of small clinics in pharmacies and grocery stores. This will allow people to take care of small needs quickly and inexpensively. 

It's a start that creates a private/public partnership.

Bing for Superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools?

Financial crisis, low morale, and a poor success rate are all characteristics of the current state of the Detroit Public Schools. The turnaround of the public school system is the key to the improvement of the city as a whole. With the many problems, the superintendent of the schools must be someone with financial awareness, and strong business sense. Someone from the city who has the ability and awareness to turn around the failing school system is Dave Bing. As he campaigns for mayor, he stresses his work ethic and ability to get things done. 

While I believe he could make a positive impact as mayor, he would make a much bigger difference by working to develop a strong system for the youth. As schools improve, more families will move downtown, improving neighborhoods and the city as a whole.

Headed to Dallas

Peter Karmanos should receive credit from Detroiters for the recent decision to offer Kwame Kilpatrick employment at a subsidiary of his company in Dallas. It's a move most have been critical of - many suggest the former mayor should not be hired. To state the opinion of the minority (in this case, me) Karmanos has done a very positive thing for Detroit, essentially buying out the former mayor. 

The only way Detroit can move on is to have an election, select a new permanent mayor, and remove Kilpatrick from the spotlight. Unless he moved away and had a new opportunity, this would not happen. He would continue to be a featured media story and would cause a major distraction. Each day he's spent in Detroit since his release from jail, Kwame Kilpatrick has ben on the front page and the election for mayor has been relegated to the metro section. The time has come to put the Kilpatrick era in the past, and that can only happen if he leaves the city and starts anew somewhere else. Had he not received this opportunity, it's likely he would have remained in the metro area, working in the private sector, and been a story time and time again. 

When considered as a "buyout," the salary and new position is well worth the former mayor moving on and letting the city progress from a trying period.