Blight Task Force Co-Chairs Linda Smith, Dan Gilbert and Glenda Price last year.
Dan Gilbert isn't shy about slapping the media when he feels wronged. This time, The Detroit News fires back.
The Quicken Loans founder calls News reporters Christine MacDonald and Joel Kurth, irresponsible for an in-depth story. The article suggests that while Gilbert is helping lead the charge against blight in the city, Quicken issued a number of mortgages for homes that have gone into default and became blighted properties.
"I thought these two were professionals. Clearly they're not," Gilbert said on WJR's Frank Beckmann show.
The Detroit News on Wednesday shot back.
Managing editor Gary Miles said Wednesday evening that Gilbert's remarks are disappointing, Metro Times reporter Ryan Felton writes.
"Mr. Gilbert didn’t so much challenge the facts of our reporting on foreclosures and blight in Detroit as he did attempt to assail the character and reputation of two of the most trusted and decorated journalists in Detroit and the credibility of The News," Miles said in a statement to MT.
"That’s disappointing. We’re happy to discuss our findings or analysis, as we did with him and his team prior to publication. Their positions were well-represented. To respond to the name-calling would only serve to devalue the important work that was done here."
Separately, in a reference to the fact that The News rents office space from a Gilbert-owned company (Bedrock Real Estate Services), Miles says on Facebook: "I hope this helps people realize that we can do good journalism no matter who owns the building we're sitting in."
On WJR, Gilbert defends his firm's Detroit mortgages
"Every loan that we did in the City of Detroit in the 10 years they studied — between 2005 and 2014 — were conventional FHA, VA loans with average interest rates of 6 percenyt."
