The so-called Big Four local government leaders spent much of their time bickering over the proposed state law that would expand and refurbish Cobo Hall at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference Friday.
The four include Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Macomb County Commission chairman William Crouchman and Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano.
The invisible elephant in the room, felony charges pending against Kilpatrick, was barely mentioned.
In response to a question from the crowd, Mayor Kilpatrick said he believed the charges against him were a distraction that prevented "higher level" dialogue over economic development. None of the other panelists was willing to comment on the issue.
And Kilpatrick was far quieter Friday than he had been in earlier years at the event. At another point in the meeting, he said a major problem in metro Detroit is that "the region is mad, angry."
There was a bit of the old banter between Kilpatrick and Patterson at the start of the show, with Patterson noting the absence of Windsor, Ontario mayor Eddie Francis and saying that "the wrong mayor got left out." Kilpatrick fired back that "This is the only time I wish I was from Oakland County, because in Oakland County they give you a ride home."
As for Cobo, Patterson complained about specific provisions in the proposed state law, including giving Cobo to an authority that would have the power of eminent domain, as well as the power to establish ordinances with criminal penalties. He also complained that 50-year no-bid contracts were part of the proposal.
Crouchman, meanwhile, complained that he couldn't get economist David Sowerby to return his phone calls asking for an explanation of how he came up with the figure that 10 percent of Cobo's benefit goes to Macomb County.
Exasperated, radio talk show host Paul W. Smith said he'd hold the Big Four in place until the Cobo deal got finished, given the Detroit Auto Dealers Association threat to move the show -- and its 16,000 jobs and $500 million in economic activity, which amounts to a Super Bowl every year.
Eventually, Ficano said he'd remove the offending parts of the state law, and Smith pledged to follow up to connect Sowerby and Crouchman.
Left unsolved was Patterson's complaint that the Detroit casinos, automakers and the state of Michigan should pony up money for Cobo's expansion. Also clearly exasperated, Ficano pointed out that the automakers already paid hefty rent to be part of the show.
On other topics, Patterson touted his proposal for a four-day work week for county employees. He said that if 100,000 people in metro Detroit moved to such a schedule they'd save $42 million in gas expenses, assuming two gallons a day for the average commute. Kilpatrick said that idea wasn't feasible for the city of Detroit's work force.
Kilpatrick and Ficano also sparred over keeping young professionals in Detroit, with Ficano drawing applause from a group of young professionals brought to Mackinac by the Chamber by saying the community should simply ask them what they're most interested in. Kilpatrick, who at 35 said he's still young, scoffed at that idea, and said what young people want most is jobs.
Patterson also said his county's Emerging Sectors economic development program has brought 71 new businesses in high-growth industries to Oakland County, generating 11,800 jobs and $1 billion in new investment. Ficano, meanwhile, said Wayne County's Aerotropolis proposal is moving forward.
Mackinac Policy Conference - Sarah Hubbard 5/30
Speaking with WWJ's Jayne Bower and Bill Stevens, Sarah Hubbard, Vice President of Government Relations for the Detroit Regional Chamber, sums up results of the annual survey of those leaders attending the Mackinac Policy Conference.
Mackinac Policy Conference - Brooks On Cobo 5/30
WWJ's Sandra McNeil asks Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson if he felt teamed up on during the Cobo Hall expansion discussion on the Big Four Panel.
Mackinac Policy Conference - Mayor Kilpatrick 5/30
Following the Big Four panel discussion, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick addressed several key issues during a one-on-one interview with WWJ's Jeff Gilbert -- including a rumor that the Mayor wouldn't be seen at Mackinac this year.
Mackinac Policy Conference - Bouchard 5/30
WWJ's Bill Stevens talks with Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard about the Nathaniel Abraham case, politics on Mackinac and more.
Mackinac Policy Conference - Granholm Interview 5/30
Governor Jennifer Granholm addresses several hot issues including the Michigan Business Tax and Cobo expansion project during a live interview with WWJ's Jayne Bower, Joe Donovan and Roberta Jasina.
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