Matt Helms of the Free Press describes the almost complete role-reversal that has taken place under Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr in Detroit city hall, with all top administrators reporting to Orr, and no city departments reporting to Detroit's elected mayor, Dave Bing.
"From hiring a new police chief to choosing members of advisory boards, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and his staff have shaken up city operations from top to bottom, with little input from Detroit’s elected officials.
"Contrary to what the state and city had discussed for Bing’s role, Orr has essentially pushed Bing aside, forced out several of his administrators, assumed control of the city and left Bing and his team frustrated, powerless, resentful of Orr’s approach and feeling as though their contributions have not been recognized."
Neither Bing nor Orr would consent to interview with Helms, but Bing released a statement that said, in part, that he is “concerned and somewhat frustrated about the direction of the supposed partnership.”
Orr spokesman Bill Nowling told the Free Press that Orr is just doing what needs to be done.
“This is a restructuring,” Nowling told Helms. “You come in and you get to see what’s working and what’s not working. We had to focus in on what we had to restructure, and that required change agents in those positions. It has nothing to do with personalities or whose team they’re on. It has to do with who’s the right person for the job.”
Helms reports before Orr arrived, the relationship between him and Bing was sketched out in documents that were part of negotiations between Bing’s staff and Rich Baird, a key aide to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The documents indicated there would be a partnership between Bing and Orr, resembling “the relationship between an elected mayor and an appointed city manager used by a majority of Michigan cities.”
It remains unclear, of course, what kind of relationship Detroit's next mayor will have with Orr, who will continue to serve as emergency manager when either Mike Duggan or Benny Napoleon take office Jan. 1.
Both candidates have said they envision a strong role if they are elected, but Helm's article should be a warning signal that reality -- and Detroit's bankruptcy -- will dictate a different rapport with the emergency manager.
