Detroit Mayor Dave Bing: 'We won't give up on our city'

Detroit ? Mayor Dave Bing in his State of the City speech on Wednesday reiterated the city is facing a financial emergency, but insisted his administration has made progress in fixing its cash flow crisis.

The mayor did not directly address the looming threat of an emergency financial manager, other than to say the city has avoided one so far and will continue to work urgently to stave off insolvency. He outlined the steps the city has taken to restructure itself in the face of a shrinking population and dwindling tax base.

"Despite the naysayers' predictions, there have not been any payless paydays," Bing said. "No emergency manager to date. And no declaration of bankruptcy for the City of Detroit."

Bing painted a picture of hope for the state's largest city during his 40-minute address and told a packed auditorium at the Detroit High School of Arts that he's not giving up just yet.

"Despite our much-publicized financial issues, there is progress to report in Detroit," Bing said. "The picture is not all 'gloom and doom.' Every day there are more signs of hope and possibilities.

"Like many Detroiters, I, too, am a fighter," he said. "We can't ? and won't give up on our city."

Bing, 69, did not address whether he plans to seek a second term as mayor.

City Council President Charles Pugh said the speech "sounded like (Bing) was arguing out a case to re-elect him, but I don't think he's going to run again. I wouldn't put my money on it."

Pugh added he wished Bing "had not glossed over the emergency manager (issue). I wish he'd been very clear that we are working on a multitude of things to avoid emergency management."

Councilman Kenneth Cockrel Jr. said from a technical standpoint it was the best State of the City Bing has given, but the content wasn't there.

"He was hitting the right note, but I would have liked more substance on what he's going to do moving forward," Cockrel said. "I didn't hear enough. I didn't see him lay out what the game plan is for fixing the financial crisis going forward."

Political analyst Steve Hood said while it was good Bing talked about plans for downtown and some public-private partnerships, the mayor remains disconnected from what's really going on with city residents, particularly their concerns about crime.

"He didn't get to the meat about the plight that people are really feeling around here," Hood said.

Review due by weekend

Pressure is continuing to mount on city leaders to work through an ongoing cash crisis. The city, which is under a consent agreement with the state, is working to reshape its finances and operations to avoid insolvency. Officials said this week a review team that's looking into the city's issues is set to issue its report by this weekend.

State treasurer Andy Dillon, who was in the audience Wednesday night, said afterward he agreed with Bing that many people focus too much on the negative: "Today there was a positive message."

Dillon said the state is "working collaboratively with the city. It's a partnership. We have a fiscal challenge in front of us and want to be a partner for the city."

Detroit is facing an estimated accumulated deficit of nearly $326 million. It borrowed $137 million that is now being used to cover city expenses.

In his speech, Bing said the city's financial woes stem in part from a reduction in state revenue-sharing over the past decade, pointing out that he inherited an accumulated deficit of $332 million and long-term liabilities of $13.8 billion. He pointed to ways the city is seeking to generate savings and address its revenue shortfall, including:

Reducing city spending from $1.4 billion from fiscal year 2009 to a projected $1.1 billion for fiscal 2013.

Reducing the city work force from 13,420 to 9,696, and cutting payroll and benefit costs.

Outsourcing three city departments.

To increase operating efficiency, the city also has created a public lighting authority to address lighting problems, improved public transportation and outsourced payroll and benefits functions, he said.

Bing blamed most of the city's fiscal woes on cuts in revenue sharing in recent years. Last year, the city got $93 million less than it did in 2009, when he took office. In all, Detroit has lost more than $700 million in revenue sharing over the past 11 years, Bing said.

The first-term mayor also touted his vision for Detroit's future. The Detroit Strategic Framework, the city's 50-year vision for the future, was unveiled in January.

The plan, which received $150 million from the Kresge Foundation, seeks to regenerate and transform the city through economic development, neighborhood reinvestment and infrastructure improvements.

The goal is to help spur Detroit back to a level of national prominence over a period of five decades.

"The blueprint for the city will live for years to come," Bing said.

Still, Bing said the city cannot turn itself around without doing something about escalating crime.

Police changes

The city is in the midst of a massive restructuring of the department, which includes the elimination of several units. They include the violent crimes task force, tactical mobile unit and crime scene analysis unit.

Officers are to be redeployed to street patrols to bolster the force, whose uniformed ranks have decreased to 2,000 from about 3,000 in 2000. Last year, Detroit suffered through one of the most violent years in recent memory. Homicides increased 12 percent in 2012 to 386.

This spring, the department plans to move an additional 100 officers to the streets or to criminal investigations, Bing said. When the restructuring is completed, 80 percent of officers will be on the street and only 5 percent will be in administration.

The department also will launch a collaborative crime reduction plan called "Detroit One," a program that will focus on identifying and prosecuting gun uses and dismantling gangs. The initiative seeks to reduce crime by 25 percent.

"We are all fighting the same battle ? trying to reduce crime throughout our city," Bing said. "As I have said repeatedly, the fight against crime must involve everyone. Our elected officials. Our churches. Our schools. Our community groups. Our businesses. We all have a role and stake in the outcome."

Later, Bing said in an interview with The Detroit News he's trying to give the department as many tools as it can to be successful. He is also looking at some technology to offset the lack of officers.

"It's the most efficient way to get police to a crime scene," Bing said. "Our biggest issue is with all of the good things that are happening in Detroit we are still got to get our arms around crime. If people don't feel safe, whether it's downtown, midtown or their neighborhoods, it's hard to stay here.

" We're going to do everything we can to get the police department the resources it needs to get the job done."

Bing also announced a partnership with Pulte Homes to create a private non-profit group called the Detroit Blight Authority, which will work with community stakeholders such as the Kresge Foundation and DTE Energy to fight neighborhood blight.

The authority's pilot project, first reported by The News, includes demolition of a 10-block area on Detroit's east side near Eastern Market.

Bing said he plans to reach his goal of tearing down 10,000 abandoned structures this year. The city has knocked down nearly 6,700 vacant structures throughout Detroit to date, he said.

"While we can proudly point to all of these successes, my job is not done," Bing said.

City Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins said she thought Bing did a good job of "balancing out the positive and negative realities."

Jenkins noted some plans Bing laid out were long term, but she didn't want to speculate on a potential re-election bid.

"I won't guess," Jenkins said. "If it's a well thought out plan with a good foundation the next mayor could pick it up."

dnichols@detnews.com

(313) 222-2072

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130214/METRO01/302140381/1006/rss01

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