Tag: Detroit (page 3)

Today, amidst the work stoppage by DDOT bus drivers and concerns over upset and dis-spirited riders, State Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) proclaimed three words: "Free the jitney!" proving there is something straight up about a guy who sees the essence of a problem and goes right to fixing it.

Perhaps some of you may have read a piece at PJ Media by Richard Fernandez?  In "Single Point Of Failure," Fernandez describes how big government can choke liberty and innovation, and even notes the seemingly paradoxical place liberal run governments must be in to support anti union measures that prohibit strikes for public transportation.

"The BART strike in the Bay area prompted John Diaz to argue in a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed that strikes in the Bay Area should be outlawed. Yes that's right. No right to strike in Berkeley.  He admits this proposal sounds fascist -- is fascist -- but the situation in San Francisco allows no alternative."

Given the singular version of transportation promoted by the left these days, it can be spectacularly gratifying to have such a well met crisis drive home the consistent folly of over managing the daily affairs human beings.  In the PJ article, it is planners run amuck, (and into a ditch) concentration of populations, (ala A21) and in a heartbeat, everyone is susceptible to the most minor interruption of government benevolence, and general transportation assistance.

Because he wants to "first of all acknowledge" their "great mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick."

Gathering together "Great Leadership"

Obama:

"I'm looking forward to a lengthy collaboration"

Former Detroit Mayor and trendsetter Kwame Kilpatrick got what he earned (again) yesterday with a 28 year sentence for being a good Democrat.

In other news, a pay for play [victim] complains:

"Construction company Walbridge wants as much as $5 million in restitution that prosecutors want awarded to Detroit because company officials argue the firm was victimized by Kilpatrick's criminal scheme."

Its even asked:

"Legal expert Peter Henning has said the companies involved in the conspiracy were going to be needed by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to help prosecute the case and that it's "hard to distinguish" whether the payer of a bribe is also culpable of a crime.

Long-time readers are aware that this inevitable outcome was as plain as day to most local observers like myself, and borrowing a page from the President, want to make this as process as painful as possible to the principles involved, so that the actions which have caused it are never repeated again.

Ever!

Yes, the EM appointed by Gov. Snyder has brought some baggage with him.

Yes, he has made a few enemies along the way.

Yes, even the Governor himself has drawn himself into the fray by how the EM is compensated and most importantly by whom.

But in his defense, he has made some tough decisions which needed to me made.

Staffing is being addressed.

Benefits are being brought to a manageable level, given the resources available to the Detroit.

Assets are being looked at. And when appropriate, are being used to pay off the debts incurred by the city due to it habitual fiscal ineptitude.

The latter isn't really making any new friends with those in charge of overseeing Detroit's Art Museum, a collection wholly owned by the City of Detroit.

Yes, I'm talking about the DIA.

Long-time readers may also recall how the DIA managed to successfully con the Tri-County Region into believing that the DIA was in the poor house and ram through a regional art tax to fund their little operation.

With their meal ticket now in jeopardy because two of those counties aren't keen on taxpayer money going to bailout Detroit, a fact they were repeatedly warned about when the respective county boards placed this tax on the ballot, the DIA Board is looking at new ways to pull their collective fat out of the fire.

You're going to love what scheme they have come up with this time.

At the time, this didn't really make a whole lot of sense.

Sure people make donations to charity all of the time.

They usually do this for altruistic reasons.

Sometimes they simply do it for good PR.

But in Detroit this didn't make any sense whatsoever.

There really wasn't anything to be gained from this action (especially doing it secretly)

"Any personal issues he is working through have not, in any way, affected his performance as State Treasurer."

Pure Bee-esS.  Meet current Treasury Department "Executive Assistant," and former Dillon House staffer ($56,000.00), Amy U. Hichez.

State Treasurer Andy Dillon's secretary sued his ex-wife for defamation Wednesday for claiming she had an affair with her boss.

In a lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, Amy U. Hichez denied having an affair with Andy Dillon - allegations Carol Owens-Dillon publicly leveled in a July 7 posting on her Facebook page.
....

Owens-Dillon stood by the allegations Wednesday.

"I'm surprised she is doing this because she will be putting her boss negatively in the press and I'm quite sure he doesn't need that," Owens-Dillon said in a statement to The News.

Indeed.  What further defamation is possible with those who sit in government with Andy and his buddy, Miles Handy?  Yet, much like Hillary Clinton, and Huma Abedin, the slovenly attired self-invented Nerd persona is going to stand by his man.  Frillant move for the Executive branch of state government that is the flagship of the MI-GOP.

Pure Schadenfreude.

Dillon has acknowledged a bout with alcoholism while being the governor's point man for handling financially distressed cities and school districts.

But now the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is considering a domestic assault charge against Dillon stemming from a July 13 confrontation with his ex-wife, Carol Owens-Dillon, at their Redford Township home.

Dillon, a former Democratic speaker of the state House of Representatives, and the Snyder administration are not answering questions about his alleged actions.

"We do not believe it is appropriate to respond to speculation," Snyder spokesman Dave Murray said Tuesday in a statement. "Gov. Snyder believes Treasurer Dillon is doing a good job on behalf of the people of Michigan."

Again, zero transparency from Rick Snyder.  Sure Dave Murray, we little people "believe" you too.  Just try boozing as a "point man" in the Private Sector, and see how long it takes to be shown the door.  And, this is a so-called Executive's decision?  Amazing.  Fact remains that Rick Snyder owns that appointment, and isn't man enough to deal with his can of worms - but, he'll have to before long.  There's more...

"Treasurer Dillon is in the office and on the job every day, working diligently as always for the people of the State of Michigan," spokesman Terry Stanton said in an email. "Any personal issues he is working through have not, in any way, affected his performance as State Treasurer."

12 years of taxpayer funded professional turd polishing just can't be wrong, yes?  Survey says...

A Wayne County Family Court judge has issued a mutual restraining order against Dillon and his ex-wife after they filed competing personal protection orders against each other.

The acrimony stems from a July 13 incident at the Dillon residence in Redford Township where Carol Owens-Dillon alleges her ex-husband hired a tow truck driver to break into a vehicle she was driving that contained her divorce files. In court records, Owens-Dillon claims she had "racially-charged text messages" in the file that she intended to deliver to Snyder.