Political News and Commentary with the Right Perspective. NAVIGATION
  • Front Page
  • News
  • Multimedia
  • Tags
  • RSS Feed


  • Advertise on RightMichigan.com


    NEWS TIPS!

    Get the RightMighigan.com toolbar!


    RightMichigan.com

    Buzz

    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Some Detroit Leaders Providing Hope


    By leondrolet, Section News
    Posted on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:50:32 AM EST
    Tags: Detroit, Robert Bobb, Dave Bing, Bob Ficano, taxes (all tags)

    Sadly, the word "Detroit" is synonymous with "dysfunction" thanks to the scandals of Monica Conyers and former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the ineptitude of the City Council. But let's not let those dark clouds obscure several bright lights emerging from the ranks of Detroit's political leaders.

    Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb is the brightest of those lights. Since being appointed in March, Mr. Bobb has tackled the seemingly hopeless disaster that is the Detroit Public School System with inspiring vigor.

    In just a few months, Bobb has slashed a $430 million deficit nearly in half by eliminating bloated staffing and uncovering fraud. Bobb has cut 181 positions out of the 231 person curriculum department, terminated half of the district's assistant superintendents, and dumped eleven of the 21 "executive cabinet" members.

    Bob hasn't just juggled numbers and laid off unnecessary personnel - he's aggressively tackled fraud and corruption. In the past two weeks, Bobb uncovered over 250 non-existent "ghost workers" on the payroll and suspended seven more employees accused of theft and embezzlement after investigations were initiated under his watch.

    And Mr. Bobb isn't finished yet. He plans on privatizing the district's transportation services, is considering additional privatization, and will close 29 schools this fall.

    Cold hearted? Only if one believes that a school district's primary job is to employ adults and coddle unions instead of putting resources into educating children. The kids and taxpayers of Detroit should hail Bobb as a hero.

    And Mayor Bing should take notice. The Mayor started out on the right foot by rejecting the perk of the Manoogian Mansion, opting to rent out the building for the benefit of taxpayers. Bing then suggested that the City's grossly inefficient public lighting department be outsourced, only to back away when confronted by union intimidation. Let's hope the Mayor regains his nerve.

    Bing need only to look to the Wayne County Building downtown for another example of strong, responsible fiscal leadership.

    Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, facing a sizable deficit, isn't foisting a tax hike on suffering citizens like nearby Macomb County. Instead, he's proposing a 20 percent budget cut - including the layoffs of about 500 county employees and consolidation of two departments. Ficano is also asking the county's employees to accept cuts in wages and benefits to avert 440 more layoffs. Ficano's crusade to put Wayne County's financial house in order is good for Detroit.

    With Mayor Bing joining Detroit's widely-respected City Clerk Janice Winfrey in City government, there's hope for ethical and stable leadership. Now, Mayor, please take on the City's sacred cows.  And Robert Bobb's professionalism, courage and leadership may finally result in a functional school district for the City.

    Michigan's next governor should take notice and bring Mr. Bobb to Lansing.

    Leon Drolet
    MI Taxpayers Alliance
    www.mitaxpayers.org

    < Wednesday in the Sphere: July 1 | Dems' health care scheme expensive, inefficient, say local doctors and Free Market advocates >


    Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit


    Display: Sort:
    WJR. (none / 0) (#1)
    by KG One on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 12:41:48 PM EST
    Mr. Bobb was on Paul W. this morning talking about the status of the DPS.

    Two of the things that I found disappointing was that his contract expires next year and that it cannot be extended due to state law.

    I thought that was regretable because here was someone who was actually making inroads to fixing the problems with the DPS.

    I'm skeptical that they'll find someone who has enough of a spine to take on the status quo.

    Appointment (none / 0) (#3)
    by stevenstmason on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 12:41:54 AM EST
    Who appointed Bobb to his position? Oh, that's right, the same person you trash on a regular basis. What's wrong Leon, your keyboard can't type G-R-A-N-H-O-L-M when it's something positive?

    Okay, stevenmason.... (none / 0) (#6)
    by leondrolet on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 09:11:32 AM EST
    G-R-A-N-H-O-L-M. Granholm did a wonderful thing by appointing Robert Bobb.

    Not only is Bobb doing a fantastic job, he is doing it by acting exactly the OPPOSITE of how Granholm has acted as a leader.

    Granholm should be praised for appointing someone who provides such a clear contrast with her in leadership and policy.

    Good job, Governor! Thank you for making ONE appointment that provides an example of logical, rational and principled leadership. Granholm's appointment of Bobb stands in stark contrast to the failure of the vast majority of the Governor's other decisions.  

    Oh, and stevie, one more thing. Please do not take personally my suggestion that RightMichigan seek a new pet troll. This has nothing to do with you as a person and I hope that one day you will achieve the comprehension, rhetorical and reading skills to be a top-notch troll. Good luck!

    A state takeover of the City of Detroit?!? (none / 0) (#8)
    by KG One on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 01:16:55 PM EST
    What are you mad?

    The locals will never stand for it!

    They admire and respect the phenominal leadership displayed repeatedly by the Conyers', Kilpatrick's, Young, Reeves, Watson...

    Display: Sort:

    Login

    Make a new account

    Username:
    Password:
    Tweet along with RightMichigan by
    following us on Twitter HERE!

    Related Links

    + Also by leondrolet
    create account | faq | search