Politics

Kaffer: Detroit Mayoral Candidates Don't Have A Clue

May 31, 2013, 6:48 AM

Here’s the deal, writes Nancy Kaffer of the Free Press, after listening to Detroit's mayoral candidates discuss the issues at the Mackinac Policy Conference:

The City of Detroit has no money, services are close to rock bottom, crime is out of control, a state-appointed emergency manager is in charge, and residents continue to leave the city in droves.

The editorial page writer summarizes the candidates' positions:

  • Mike Duggan says that in his first 100 days, he’d reduce police response time, get street lights on and fill empty houses.
  • CPA and former state Rep. Lisa Howze says she’d manage the city’s debt.
  • State Rep. Fred Durhal Jr. says people must learn to live in a community without tearing it apart.
  • Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon says it’s important to reduce the crime rate.

These are all great ideas. They’re also not particularly new — or particularly practical.

There’s no money coming. The city has to balance its books with the cash and resources it has. And while the candidates talked about a variety of real problems that the city faces, I’m hard-pressed to see how any of the quasi-solutions the quartet proposed could be implemented without money.


Read more:  Detroit Free Press


Leave a Comment:

Photo Of The Day