Patterson vs. Detroit Chamber: No Renewal Of Oakland's $80,000 Annual Payment

Oakland County's executive is at odds with the Detroit Regional Chamber over its stance against legislation to allow a 200-bed hospital in Independence Township.

L. Brooks Patterson describes the chamber as "a little more Detroit than it is regional" in comments to Chad Halcom of Crain's. 

The influential business group opposes a push by McLaren Health Care and others to let hospital networks expand without going thorugh a state review process to determine if they qualify for a "certificate of need." That ticks off Patterson, Halcom reports.

L. Brooks Patterson

Patterson said he shared his concerns several weeks ago in a meeting with chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah. . . .

"We're contributing about $80,000 ... this year (to the chamber), and I've made it clear I'm going to finish out and honor my commitment for this fiscal year and then not renew it next year," Patterson said. . . . I'm going to have to stand by my own responsibilities."

This disagreement is the latest in a series, the Oakland leader indicates to the business weekly.

"There have been a couple of gripes with the chamber before. . . .

"With the amount of return we can expect on that (McLaren) investment, I can damn near turn around an entire local economy with that money. And my own regional chamber doesn't even want me to have that money."