Detroit’s emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, may be a Washington bankruptcy lawyer, but the newest new thing to descend on Detroit at the behest of Gov. Rick Snyder is demonstrating a knack for plain talk mixed with purpose. In an interview today with NewsTalk 760-WJR’s Paul W. Smith, Orr set the tone for his Friday meeting with the … Continue Reading →
Daniel Howes
News and a running commentary on business, the economy, politics and Detroit
Anti-EM throng ignores economic reality pushing Detroit to brink of collapse
Protests, blame and complaints about the venue Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr chose for his public meeting Monday don’t do a single thing to alter the inconvenient truth about Detroit’s dire financial predicament. No, in the time-honored tradition of the city’s dysfunctional politics, the outpouring of emotion merely adds more heat to a grave situation that … Continue Reading →
City Council's latest Belle Isle 'working group' maneuver not a joke. Or is it?
Now, after Gov. Rick Snyder pulled the Belle Isle lease deal over City Council’s inaction? Now, after Mayor Dave Bing said he would be forced to close 50 city parks this coming season because the cash-strapped city could not afford to (barely) maintain both Belle Isle and the parks? Now, Council President Charles Pugh wants … Continue Reading →
Detroit denial: 'If we get them the heck out of here, we won't be broke'
Hard to know whether to laugh or cry: One day after city officials told members of their Financial Advisory Board that Detroit could run out of cash as early as next month, union officials and a few stalwart citizens used another City Council meeting today to share their financial acumen with whoever happened to be … Continue Reading →
Who needs the Emergency Manager Law anyway?
The repeal of Public Act 4, the controversial emergency manager law, has labor unions, politicians and self-appointed defenders of democracy dancing in the proverbial streets. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Snyder, the bailout team at the state Treasury and a handful of EM’s installed around the state are pondering what to do now, whether to push new legislation to clarify … Continue Reading →
Can Kwame Kilpatrick actually make a promise he would keep?
Here’s hoping, cuz Hizzoner says in e-mails obtained by The Detroit News that he has “no intentions of ever residing here again. I’m often thought of as a Detroiter, but I am not. My life, family and residency is in Texas.” Unless, of course, the disgraced former mayor’s home ends up being a cell somewhere in … Continue Reading →
DTE backs Michigan Science Center, now moving closer to reopening
The resurrection of the Detroit’s science center is another step closer to reality. The DTE Energy Foundation said this week that it has committed $250,000 to the effort to reopen the Museum District site on John R as the Michigan Science Center. “We appreciate DTE Energy Foundation’s quick response to our funding needs,” Tom Stephens, chairman of … Continue Reading →
Cadillac's Global 4.0 gambit carries cautionary tale from Euro veteran
An old contact from my days as a European correspondent reached out with musings prompted by Thursday’s column. His wisdom should be required reading inside Cadillac and across the big offices atop General Motors Co.’s Renaissance Center, starting with CEO Dan Akerson. Here, in its entirety, is Mark R.’s take on Cadillac Global 4.0 from his … Continue Reading →
Time running out for dysfunctional Detroit City Hall to press reforms
The only surprise in the Financial Advisory Board’s warning that Detroit is running out of time in its pathetic effort to restructure government is that it’s a surprise … to anyone. Dysfunction reigns: if Mayor Dave Bing and his administration can summon the moxie to press ahead with reform, they can’t make the politics work … Continue Reading →
Michigan's Dave Camp upping pressure on Treasury over Delphi penison scandal
Good to see at least one Michigan lawmaker has the gumption to challenge the Treasury Department’s slow-walk on details behind the Delphi Corp. pension scandal. Rep. Dave Camp, the Midland Republican who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, issued a statement today saying documents obtained by congressional investigators show that Treasury officials — not … Continue Reading →