This is not the time for chutzpa!

If our elected representatives in Lansing are in need of any suggestions to “find” money to reallocate towards more important matters affecting Michigan, a local vote that was taken yesterday afternoon by an advisory committee would be my recommendation for a great place to start.

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Despite the barrage of letters, e-mails, phone calls and people personally speaking out against the proposed pay raise for Detroit’s elected officials, initiated by none other than Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones and Detroit City Clerk Janice “Speed Racer” Winfrey, the Detroit Elected Officials Compensation Commission yesterday voted unanimously to raise the pay of Detroit City Council Members, most of whom were in office while they spent Detroit into bankruptcy, by 2.5% beginning in 2016.

The rationale given by these elected officials for a pay hike was the long hours they need to put in and that their pay was incompatible with other cities.

Let me repeat this again so that there isn’t any confusion: A city council that ran itself into bankruptcy and “needed” to be bailed out by Michigan Taxpayers, was told by an advisory commission that it is due for a 2.5% raise.

Folks, I couldn’t make up a more insane story this morning if I tried!

The Commissions decision will raise the pay of the Detroit City Council President from and $80,757 to $82,776 and Detroit City Council Members along with Detroit City Clerk from $76,840 to $78,761

The one plus side to all of this, since Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan did not request a raise, his compensation will not be changed by the Commission’s decision.

After the meeting was over, Fox 2 Reporter M.L. Elrich asked the former democratic state senator from Detroit and current DEOCC Chairman his rationale behind the vote. His response,

“This was decided, uh, not by us, uh, but by, uh, the other folks that, uh, you know were kinda leading, uh, the city forward in planning for the next four years and we felt it important that we respect their work, uh, and, uh, approve what they had already approved.”

“Approve what they had already approved???”

There are several problems with his reasoning.

One, the “blueprint” that he is referring to (Detroit’s Plan of Adjustment…a.k.a. Detroit Bailout), is more of a rough outline, than something that is set in stone. Not everything spelled out in it had to be done.

It assumes a number of variables, among which, revenues to Detroit will be, at the very least, constant.

With Judges getting shot in front of their own homes, crime still running rampant around the city, and a school system that is hemorrhaging student at an unsustainable rate (something that will eventually affect those Neo-Detroiters who are moving into the Midtown & Downtown areas and begin having families of their own), even I don’t need my Magic 8-Ball to tell you how that will eventually play out.

Two, the Detroit Elected Officials Compensation Commission is an advisory commission. Much like any other advisory commission from any other municipality across Michigan, if there is a compelling rationale, they are not bound by what one group tells them. See example one above for compelling rationale.

Three, it is simply bad optics.

Remember, Detroit had just literally gotten out of bankruptcy (at least on paper, anyways).

Even though you have some deep-pocketed businesses (i.e. Gilbert, Illitch, Penske) who are willing to gamble truckloads of cash on Detroit turning around. If everyone else sees business as usual post-bankruptcy, all of that investment will ultimately be for naught.

The measure will now go to the full Detroit City Council.

A two-thirds vote is required for the measure to be denied.

A majority of Detroit’s City Council has already gone on record in support of a pay increase.

Stay tuned.

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