Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s profile in this week’s New Yorker is not sitting well with many in Detroit.
The article, by Paige Williams, titled ‘Drop Dead Detroit’ casts Patterson as the personification of affluent Oakland County, and is teeming with controversial comments about the Motor City
“Anytime I talk about Detroit, it will not be positive. Therefore, I’m called a Detroit basher. The truth hurts, you know? Tough shit.”
“I used to say to my kids, ‘First of all, there’s no reason for you to go to Detroit. We’ve got restaurants out here.’ They don’t even have movie theatres in Detroit—not one.”
“I can’t imagine finding something in Detroit that we don’t have in spades here. Except for live sports. We don’t have baseball, football. For that, fine—get in and get out.”
“And, before you go to Detroit, you get your gas out here. You do not, do not, under any circumstances, stop in Detroit at a gas station! That’s just a call for a carjacking.”
A statement from Bill Mullan, Patterson Spokesman stated:
It is clear Paige Williams had an agenda when she interviewed County Executive Patterson. She cast him in a false light in order to fit her preconceived and outdated notions about the region. Mr. Patterson’s record on advancing regional issues in a transparent and responsible manner is unparalleled.
The National Action Network headed by Rev. Charles Williams II, will hold a press conference, Tuesday at 11 a.m. at King Solomon Baptist Church, to address the comments made by the Oakland County Executive.
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