Weeks From Recall Vote, Troy Mayor Defends Herself In State-of-City Speech

Weeks away from a recall election, Mayor Janice Daniels on Thursday night defended her opposition to the Troy Transit Center, citing concern over the project's cost, the Detroit News reports.

"The two polarized political factions will never agree with each other," Daniels told a crowd of about 150 at her first state of the city address.

"One faction says it's the right way to go. The other faction says it is folly to spend money that doesn't exist (on a project) that has no demand and no clear design strategies."

Daniels, elected in November 2011 with tea party backing, has been criticized for her vote in December to reject $8.4 million in federal grant money to build the center.

The City Council later approved a scaled-down version of the project over her opposition.

In her 25-minute speech, the mayor highlighted improvements in the city this year, including businesses that have expanded or moved to Troy.