  Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 655 Registered: 01-2006 |
Like many others, I was very vocal in my stance against Mayor Kilpatrick during his first term. Despite this, I still voted him back, as I considered him the lesser of two evils in the election. There have been good things and bad that have come from his administration. Contrary to DetroitYES popular style, I'm going to go positive here for a moment... The Detroit International Riverfront should be the single defining piece of the mayors legacy. When the casino plan took a different route, he took the initiative to make the riverfront development a top priority. Now I know this is small in comparison to the size and scale of the city as a whole, but the unity displayed on the riverfront over the past couple weeks is something that I have personally only witnessed after sports championships in this town. I give the mayor and his crew props for developing and executing on a great plan. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1078 Registered: 07-2004 |
Except ... it wasn't planned or developed by the mayor. www.detroitriverfront.org | ||
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634 Post Number: 124 Registered: 10-2005 |
Doesn't stop him from taking credit for it though. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 656 Registered: 01-2006 |
So you are telling me that the mayor/city had nothing to do with deciding what to do with the dead riverfront? Who established the conservancy? I'm not saying you are wrong, but a project like the riverfront does not get built and operate as a public park without some sort of city involvement. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 956 Registered: 12-2005 |
From the Conservancy's web site: The Conservancy was created as a result of a recommendation from a 90-day visioning study under the leadership of Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick in 2002. That would appear to be the extent of the CoD's involvement, the rest happened as a result of the Conservancy and the many foundations and individuals who have contributed their time and money. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1079 Registered: 07-2004 |
Detroitstar: Sure. There are city people involved. Notably, the city's Cheif Information Officer. (PR) Other Detroit organization involved, either integrally or titularly, are General Motors Corporation, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, The Bing Group, City Year Detroit, Greektown Casino, Detroit Regional Chamber, McGregor Fund, City Council, Greater Detroit Building Trades Council, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), MotorCities National Heritage Area, The Ford Motor Company, Detroit International Wildlife Refuge, Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, M Group, Inc., CenTra, Inc., Fourmidable Group, The Stroh Companies, Governor’s Office for Southeast Michigan, NBD Bank NA & NBD Bancorp, Inc., Wayne County Board of Commissioners, Southwest Detroit Business Association, Wayne Country Parks Division In fairness, I'm sure the guy from the mayor's office who writes press releases helped out at those quarterly meetings. | ||
Civilprotectionunit4346 Member Username: Civilprotectionunit4346 Post Number: 72 Registered: 06-2007 |
Kwame is corrupt...nuff said'! | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 350 Registered: 11-2003 |
"The Detroit International Riverfront should be the single defining piece of the mayors legacy." Come on now. What is being done about serving the people? Providing city services? Providing good schools? A sidewalk is built and all the corrupt self-centered acts are dismissed? | ||
The_recycling_people Member Username: The_recycling_people Post Number: 32 Registered: 11-2006 |
If you think you can beat 'em, then run. This mayor has proven to be very electable, some things are going his way, and if you happen to live in the right neighborhood, you are probably pretty happy. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. There is nothing worse than a proponent that, after losing an election or having their candidate lose an election, spending the entire next term crying about it. Use your boundless energy in a positive fashion rather than for negative goals. Just my .02 the recycling people | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 1468 Registered: 06-2006 |
Detroitstar: new riverfront was done by private individuals with private money...public officials and and public money played a nominal role at best... shit, as a volunteer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, I had more to do with the riverfront than the mayor did... | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 658 Registered: 01-2006 |
Considering that my neighborhood directly benefits from the riverfront, I guess my original statement is a bit biased. I do acknowledge that there is not a direct affect on the majority of the city. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1081 Registered: 07-2004 |
"There is nothing worse than a proponent that, after losing an election or having their candidate lose an election, spending the entire next term crying about it." That's right. Except when it is YOUR candidate that loses an election. Then, I bet all that "crying" or "whining" becomes a sober petition to the government for a redress of grievances. | ||
The_recycling_people Member Username: The_recycling_people Post Number: 33 Registered: 11-2006 |
"That's right. Except when it is YOUR candidate that loses an election. Then, I bet all that "crying" or "whining" becomes a sober petition to the government for a redress of grievances." I just hope that you can get past the loss and support at least some of the good that is being done. Four years of crying and wishing, rather than being proactive, will be a wasted four years. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1084 Registered: 07-2004 |
Actually, I didn't have a horse in the last race, so I sort of wonder who you're addressing. Oh, I see. That's not really what you're getting at anyway. You see this is just another opportunity to use the "crying and wishing" line that you clearly love to use. What it's called, The_recycling_people, is "dismissing people's concerns". People, under the Constitution, have a right to free speech and a right to redress of grievances. When you call people's grievances "whining" or "crying" or "praying", what you are doing is dismissing people's concerns. You have taken their legitimate, articulated complaints and belittled them as "emotional outbursts". Never you mind that they are legitimate grievances that governments are supposed to listen to and act upon. Like I said, only when YOU find that your complaints are not being listened to, will you then see them for what they are -- not "whining" or "crying" or "wishing" -- but your right as an American to express them and demand that they be listened to. But no worries, Recycler. (Patting on poor wittew head to make you feel better after all that exertion that went into typing those tearful comments.) | ||
The_recycling_people Member Username: The_recycling_people Post Number: 34 Registered: 11-2006 |
In the time that it took you type that manifesto, you could have done something that actually makes a difference in this city. Environmental legislation has never been at the forefront of any election, and with who has been elected on a national level for this past decade, it would have been easier to whine - yet we choose to soldier on and make a difference when we can. I just hope that you actually get up from the keyboard and engage your community to make the changes that you desire rather than sit back and hope that government does it for you. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1085 Registered: 07-2004 |
OK, Recycler, I can see where this is going. Why are you taking the time to make any criticism AT ALL? We need to all pull together and make the environment better, not fight. Except, of course, when they happen to agree with you about a problem. Then, I'm sure it's not "whining" but substantial complaining. What is your post except a post "whining" that other people won't stop complaining? And, since you persist in attempting to belittle other people's complaints, why should anybody forge common cause with you? Shit, in the time that it took you to write that post, I'm sure you could have been doing something like picking up some of that garbage piled up at Holden and Trumbull. Why weren't you? | ||
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634 Post Number: 125 Registered: 10-2005 |
Recycler- Maybe the question should be; why is it necessary for one to be an activist just to have basic quality of life issues addressed in the CoD? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1452 Registered: 12-2005 |
Coleman Young took credit for the restoration of the Fox theatre. his administration's contribution to the effort was to a) behave like a functional city government and actually follow through on their end of things b) cut through the red tape (see above) c) stay out of the way of progress d) re-do the streets and sidewalks this is S.O.P. for city gub-ments. Look what I did--pay no attention to the corporate donors behind that curtain. | ||
The_recycling_people Member Username: The_recycling_people Post Number: 35 Registered: 11-2006 |
I am not calling anyone an activist that has issues with the way the CoD is being run... I am merely pointing out that the negativity towards the whole of city government, without accepting the good that is being accomplished in certain areas is pointless. Case in point: The mayor had NOTHING TO DO with the riverwalk, is corrupt, and the one house on Bentler street that is still standing needs more cops during the day. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1087 Registered: 07-2004 |
The_recycling_people: Down on negativity since 2007. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 873 Registered: 11-2004 |
So i guess if we aren't going to give Kilpatrick credit for the Riverwalk then we shouldn't give Archer credit for Campus Martius. In both city played similar roles they did the inital planning for the area, but didn't design or build it. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1088 Registered: 07-2004 |
Hmmm, when a mayor chooses to send his PR person as his emissary at the quarterly meetings, one wonders how substantive his involvement was. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3089 Registered: 02-2005 |
I'm not sure if the E. Riverfront should be the SINGLE defining part of Kilpatrick's legacy. He will be known for it, but I think it wants to be known as the mayor who solidified several neighborhoods. He is trying to reinvigorate several good neighborhoods like East English Village, and redevelop other worse-off neighborhoods like Brightmoor. This could leave a legacy. I think the real shift that has happened during the KK administration, and which is surely already a legacy, is the speed and vigor with which the city government pursues economic development. The administration, DEGC, DDA, and other semi-public organizations have worked together masterfully in making development happen, and creating an environment which is better for business. It is clear that the administration has gone out of its way to woo employers, furthermore, and in a city/region that is losing so many jobs, you really need to get down on the ground and beg. If Quicken moves downtown, Dan Gilbert should get 99 percent of the credit, but Kilpatrick and the host of people that persuaded Gilbert, and that made Detroit respectable enough to earn a new corporate HQ, are responsible for 1 percent-- 1 percent that was absolutely neccesary to make the deal happen. A new convention center may also be a chance for KK, and other regional leaders (clearly not LBP) to leave a legacy. As a corrolary, there is the whole "big event" mentality that KK is been huge on. The idea of Detroit being a place to be and a place to visit is not new (remember "It's a Great Time in Detroit!" from Archer?), but Kilpatrick has aggressively pursued events, and given us a legitimate chance of being a host thanks to the new hotels and the much more polished downtown that we now have. 10-15 years ago, a visitor rarely got a good first impression, and rarely left Detroit with any positive thoughts, because even our CBD was depressed, lacking life, and often crumbling. Now, at the very least, our streets are clean, we have beautiful park space, new buildings, rehabbed old buildings, and plenty of energy in our downtown. Between this, a burgeoning midtown, even more cultural/entertainment/food attractions then before, and a handful of other revitalized neighborhoods, most visitors do leave with positive feelings now. And if nothing else, KK's legacy is all the energy, enthusiasm, and interest in the city that he uncovered. I say "uncovered" because I believe it was latent, or dormant. Few people truly were interested and willing to invest in Detroit prior to 2000, but there were plenty who were interested at the very least, and who yearned for a legit city and a chance to take back an urban space...now they have a chance because they were called into action by this administration, and enabled to do so through legitimate incentives. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1091 Registered: 07-2004 |
I am sure he will leave a legacy every bit as positive as LBP. But for LBP, this is the time to discuss his legacy. To discuss the legacy of a two-term (so far) mayor that's not even 40 is silly. (Unless somebody is trying to do back-channel PR for him here. That would totally make sense.) | ||
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 225 Registered: 08-2005 |
I love the Riverwalk but for Christs sake, wasn't it overload for a few days...why can't we have this all summer? That way you aren't shoulder to shoulder with someone when you visit (ahem - Navy Pier, Toronto) and again with campus MArtius...great idea, but why in the middle of downtown? I wonder who has accident records so i can see how many ppl have gotten hurt in the roundabout and GM did the work on Riverwalk. Period point blank...an exec got tired of sitting on parking structure burms to eat lunch. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3091 Registered: 02-2005 |
With new residential buildings about to be built, it could very well be bustling every day in the future, Mrsjdaniels. Campus Martius doesn't appeal to some people who want large open spaces to run around, etc (it's not that kind of park), but it is still an outstanding urban "pocket park" or town square, and is ranked very highly among public spaces around the country. Many cities have something like this, and our happens to be one of the most beautiful. Plus its position in the middle of the CBD affords the nicest views and captures the largest amount of workers/visitors/residents in its central location. | ||
The_recycling_people Member Username: The_recycling_people Post Number: 36 Registered: 11-2006 |
I guess I missed the detroit nerd's comment on the pile of trash at Holden and Trumbull. What pile? Is it my waste? Oh, the pile of waste across from my facility that is occupied by another waste hauler. Or the pile of waste from the bankrupt landscaper? Or the pile of waste from my good neighbor at Commonwealth Industries? Did you mean the piles of waste throughout the city that we actively work with community groups and CDCs to clean up? Keep trashing the City Government and hope they change. It seems to be working for you. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1093 Registered: 07-2004 |
Just go pick it up. Or is it "not your problem." | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 193 Registered: 05-2004 |
All I'm hearing about is Downtown and river walks. What the heck is going on with the neighborhoods??? I see they had the big party and announcements but where is the action and the money? Kwame talks big ..like the new police station at the Mich. Central but nothing ever happens. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1094 Registered: 07-2004 |
Actually, Kwame does more than talk big, in my opinion. He LIES big. Take, for instance, his claim that he was president of the Cass Tech debate team? Or that under his watch EMS response times plummeted. Or that the city budget is "balanced." Or the Navigator is a police vehicle. From first to last, from subjects of importance to irrelevance, Kwame doesn't tell the truth. That's his legacy, at this point. He wanted a nice legacy and a good reputation, fine. But he blew it. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1768 Registered: 11-2003 |
quote: Please tell me you're joking. The single greatest thing about Campus Martius is that it is right in the middle of downtown. It wouldn't have had the same impact anywhere else. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4667 Registered: 08-2004 |
The 6 streets that spoke out from Campus Martius (north Woodward Ave., Caddillac Sq., Monroe Ave., south Woodward Ave, Michigan Ave., and Fort St.) used to be one big 6 spoke traffic nightmare, and now it's an orderly roundabout... And when GM moved to the RenCen... their ANNOUNCED plan all along was to redo the riverfront... LOL... at people who make things up... | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1095 Registered: 07-2004 |
Good points, Gistok. Personally, I remember Campus Martius was a place I always wanted to AVOID around 1990. Never knew if I was breaking the law when I'd drive through. Though a roundabout clearly takes some getting used to (I still see people in the far right lane changing lanes left to continue on the roundabout and people on the far left changing lanes right to get past the roundabout.) Time will tell. | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 522 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hard to vote him back when you didnt live in the city during the election, detroitstar | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1453 Registered: 12-2005 |
Campus Martius used to be known as the M.C.Escher memorial interchange. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 665 Registered: 01-2006 |
Good call out spirit...I worded that terribly. I did not vote for him as I did not live here at the time of the election, but I did volunteer with his campaign effort. The words just sounded weird as I put them together. | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 523 Registered: 11-2006 |
 fact checkin' | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 547 Registered: 03-2005 |
Much of the credit for downtown Detroit's rebirth should go to Chuck Forbes whose vision and real estate acumen created the theater district. He owned the Fox and was forced by the Young administration to sell it to Mike Illitch under the threat made to him by a top official that the City would stand in the way of any future development by him if he didn't sell. Bob Cosgrove | ||
Bumble Member Username: Bumble Post Number: 187 Registered: 11-2004 |
Is Kilpatrick still afraid of his own | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1096 Registered: 07-2004 |
^^ He still gets out for a little "Kwame time." (Redhead optional.) |
