Well, I went to Hamtramck and interviewed Schimmel, and talked to a lot of people who live there. At the end of the day I had a grudging respect for the guy. In fact, what surprised me was that most of the citizens I talked with respected him too.
They usually started out by saying that they didn’t like Schimmel and railing on about some of the high-handed things he had done. They would criticize this decision or that. They thought it was time for him to leave. But then they would say, almost confidentially, “Look. It’s true. We needed him. Our crooked, corrupt and incompetent politicians screwed things up so badly there was no other choice. But now it’s time for him to go.”
Well, eventually he did leave. Hamtramck got back on its feet. It is not a rich city, and is never likely to be one. But there is enough of an economic base that the city, internationally famous for its distinctively Polish flavor, should be just fine.
That is, if it lives within its means. And that’s what I like about Bud Schimmel. He believes that people need to take responsibility for their actions. That isn’t a solely Republican idea; it was what we try to teach our kids. You want a new bike, Billy, then save up for it. If you want a hamster, Mandy, you have to feed and take care of it.
Sadly, the people running our cities often don’t seem to get it. It’s a good thing our Constitution requires local governments to balance their budgets. If it didn‘t, it‘s perfectly clear that Michigan collectively would owe more debt than the value of the world.
Here’s a case right now that is an example of failed leadership. Pontiac is a city of 67,000 people that happens to be the county seat in Oakland, our richest county. Mayor Clarence Phillips says he would like the state to take over his town.
“I‘m just tired of the dog chasing its tail In this city,” he said, adding that his city needs some type of intervention.
Well, if he feels that way, he should resign.
The entire city council should resign too, or be recalled. When we elect politicians, the understanding is that we pay them to make the tough decisions when necessary.
Don’t have enough dough? Then, you’ve got to cut spending, raise taxes or both. If the state has to take over your town, it is an open admission that the citizens can’t govern themselves.
And if democracy can’t work in Pontiac, how on earth do we think we can bring it to Iraq?
YOU TOOK MAYOR PHILLIPS COMMENTS OUT OF CONTEXT. I BET YOU DIDN'T TELL HIM THAT YOU THOUGHT HE SHOULD RESIGN WHILE YOU CONDUCTED THIS SO=CALLED INTERVIEW. WHAT I BELIEVE THE MAYOR WAS TRYING TO SAY AND WE IN PONTIAC UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU HAVE A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CITY COUNCIL THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT IT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE CITY OR THE CITIZENS. COUNCIL SEEMS TO BE DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LET THE PHILLIPS ADMINISTRATION SUCCEED, EVEN IF THEY INVENTED THE CURE FOR CANCER. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME AMONG THEM WHO HAVE DESIGNS ON BEING MAYOR AND HAVE DECIDED TO WAGE A CAMPAIGN TO BE POLITICALLY DISRUPTED FOR 4 YEARS. THEY HAVE BOTCHED DEAL AFTER DEAL DESPITE THE SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS THE MAYOR HAS MADE. THEY HAVE BOTCHED THE SILVERDOME DEAL AND THE GOLF COURSE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HAVE BOUGHT MONEY TO THE CITY. IT APPEARS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS PLACED ITS OWN DESIRES AND AMBITIONS ABOVE WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY. ITS TOO MUCH TRYING TO BE MAYOR ON THEIR PART AND OVERSTEPPING THERE BOUNDS AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY. IN PONTIAC THE ELECTION AND THE POLITICS NEVER ENDS. MAYOR PHILLIPS HAS STOOD UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. HE TRIES TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS IN A BAD SITUATION BUT MOST OF THE COUNCIL HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO MAKING SURE THAT THE PHILLIPS ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL. WE NOTICED THAT HIS REQUEST TO THE STATE CALMED THINGS DOWN QUITE A BIT AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE PROGRESS AT THE CITY. I GUESS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPANY COMING ONE TENDS TO BE ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR. EITHER WAY, YOUR REMARKS WERE OFF-BASE AND UNFAIR. YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION IN PONTIAC. PERHAPS YOU NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF INVESTIGATING OR PERHAPS YOU SHOULD RESIGN.
Posted by: E. SLOAN | December 31, 2007 at 08:19 AM