Detroit Mayor follows Pres. Obama Strong Cities, which will weaken Detroit…

The Detroit Free Press 03/15/12 Todd Spangler

“Bing to meet with Obama staff on Strong Cities initiative:

http://www.freep.com/article/20120315/NEWS15/120315034/Dave-Bing-Barack-Obama-Strong-Cities-Strong-Communities

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is at the White House today meeting with Obama administration staff on the Strong Cities, Strong Communities initiative to coordinate efforts between federal agencies and cities.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order today that establishes a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities, building on a pilot project developed with officials in Detroit and five other metropolitan areas last year. The council is expected to recommend policies that would result in better coordination between federal policies and programs and local officials to address problems.

It was also not clear whether Bing would have the opportunity – or desire – to discuss with White House officials the city’s financial condition and the looming consent order that would hand over authority for solving Detroit’s fiscal problems to a city-state board.
Bing and other mayors were expected to meet with reporters outside the White House later today.

COMMON SENSE REVIEW

Ok so Mayor Bing went to Washington DC to discuss the implementation of Strong Cities, Strong Communities. Interesting enough, his trip is after he and city counsel members emphatically denounce Gov. Snyder’s consent agreement.

Is Mayor Bing don’t like the answer from the state so he runs to the fed? Like a child who prods one parent against another, Mayor Bing goes crying to the Obama Admin that the State is not FAIR!

Wait a minute! Detroit financial failure is a local issue that is under the umbrella of States rights, not Federal law.

Yet in July 11, 2011, a HUD press release:

The Detroit mayor stated:

"Strong Cities, Strong Communities is a program that will help us make Detroit a city that works," said Mayor Dave Bing. "The support of the Obama Administration is critical as we continue to strengthen neighborhoods, put Detroiters back to work and improve essential services such as transportation."

• Providing assistance and support – working with local communities to find ground up, not top down solutions ( Richard Trumpka’s Union philosophy)
• Partnering for growth (Spreading the Wealth)
• Improving the way federal government does business with communities, (this is a state’s issue)

The Obama Administration is misleading the people with promises of success when the programs do calculation goals or outcomes. The fact that leaders are agreeing to this promises will harm the people of the Communities and then we will see their strength.