Anyone who is rooting for a better Detroit should be concerned about transparency and openness in the next Detroit government.
The struggles of everyday people and the efforts of those with genuine interest, including individuals and businesses invested in Detroit and its future, should not be squandered on the altar of secrecy, bureacracy and ineffectiveness where the public has little or no information regarding oversight of the government that purports to represent them.
That message was made clear Monday at Wayne State University Law School auditorium during the first “Detroit Good Governance Leadership Summit” where leaders in government, business, civic, labor, media and other segments of the community gathered to discuss tools and resources to ensure that there was transparency and accountability in local government, especially in light of what has taken place in Detroit in the last decade.
The arrival of the summit could not be more timely in light of the two mayoral contenders, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon and former Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan, are vying for the top leadership of Detroit in the general election on Nov. 5. These candidates have an obligation to make transparency the central focus of their administration should, whichever one wins two weeks from now.
The cross-pollination of ideas at the summit underscored the strong interest from various individuals and groups concerned about the lack of transparency when dealing with government.
An example is Gov. Rick Snyder’s secret Nerd Fund which was among the questions raised at the summit by panelist and labor leader Karla Swift, the newly minted president of the Michigan AFL-CIO who spoke candidly about the contradictory messages that political leaders send to their constituents. Public pressure forced the governor’s office to declare this week that the fund was being shut down.
Detroit’s newly appointed inspector general, James Heath, talked about the need for new municipal government to make openness and preventing waste a key element of how it does business on behalf of taxpayers.
According to Heath, the Office of Inspector General is uniquely positioned to play a prominent role in preventing wrongdoing before it drains valuable city resources.
“Toward that end, the OIG works cooperatively with city departments and agencies to institute the type of internal controls and best practices which can greatly deter waste, abuse, fraud, and corruption,” Heath said.
He has assembled an impressive team of attorneys, auditors and investigators dedicated to the mission of accountability. The office is located at 65 Cadillac Square, suite 3210.
Consistent with the best practices of other investigatory agencies, Heath decided early on to locate the office outside of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center to allow city employees and the general public to feel more secure in making complaints concerning wrongdoing they have observed and to be interviewed confidentially outside of the glare of City Hall.
Politicians always have an issue coming out clear on things and it is no surprise that they end up running afoul of not only the law but the expectations of good governance they often preach on the campaign trail.
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, whose office prosecuted former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick as well as many other city officials, was one of the summit organizers.
“Our city is ready to turn the page and move on from the corruption of the Kilpatrick administration, but it is important to learn from our history so that we do not repeat it. A government with integrity will ensure that the next chapter in our history is a positive one,” McQuade said. “We are hopeful that rooting out public corruption will restore confidence in government and attract leaders with integrity. The city can attract businesses that were relegated to the sidelines during the days when bribery and extortion were part of our city’s culture.”
McQuade, who was appointed by President Obama continued, “Citizens who became cynical because of corruption can feel empowered to renew their engagement in civic life. There are many good and talented people in Detroit who are ready to step up and lead.”
Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans founder and chairman, appeared for a special conversation during which he spoke at length about Detroit and the need to change the narrative of the city.
Gilbert also took time to further dismiss the “60 Minutes” presentation on Detroit which he said underestimates the growth that is taking place in the city. He said he was ready to put the searchlight on helping rebuild Detroit’s neighborhoods, citing as an example his willingness to be part of a three-person committee created to address blight in Detroit.
Bertram Marks, general counsel of the Detroit Council of Baptist Pators & Vicinity, highlighted the need for public trust. Detroiters, he said, want to have faith in their government.
“Those who wish to serve in public office can only be effective when they are trusted. Once trust is established, it must be maintained. Accountability to the needs and desires of the public should be the principal measure of how we screen and elect candidates for public service,” Marks said. “We have all been both witness and victim to the wounds inflicted by corruption. It has been horrendous. Equally troubling is the rising tide of mistrust concerning the perceived agendas of political parties.”
Marks said Detroit’s revival cannot be a Republican or Democratic tool to promote the prowess of one party over another.
“Instead, the comeback story of Detroit must be an effort free from cronyism, racism, political wrangling and labeling. As Detroit rebuilds itself, those charged with the responsibility of governing must be bipartisan, multicultural and beyond pandering to wealth and power,” Marks said. “The people who are most vulnerable in our community must be our top priority. Making sure these citizens have a high quality of life is how history will measure the revitalization of Detroit.”
I have long maintained that the whole notion of government accountability is rooted in the idea of strong democratic governance. That those who seek public office must bring with them accountability as a virtue and a way of life. That elected and public officials sworn to protect the public’s interests must conduct themselves always in and outside of their offices in a way that shows accountability, qualities and attributes deserving of anyone who should be trusted with the public coffers.
In our current political dispensation, the most visible and important example in seeking an honest government is the saga of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was convicted in a sweeping federal corruption trial and has now been sentenced.
TV One network aired the first national comprehensive documentary on the rise of fall of the former mayor Monday night that was very telling. The one hour film on Kilpatrick captured in details and facts the essence of that era and really put into context the temptations that accompany political office and how that leads to bad governance. It is a sad American story to come from Detroit. But the city should not be held hostage by that era.
Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, told the gathering at Wayne that it is time for Detroit to free itself from the Kilpatrick era and move on.
Federal Bar Association Chapter President Michael K. Lee applauded the summit, saying, “The power of elected officials is derived solely from the willingness of the people to agree to that governance. That willingness is contingent on the credibility of those in public office as seen through the eyes of that populace. A primary tool that a populace uses to measure that credibility is transparency, by which a populace can measure honesty and integrity.”
Wayne Law Dean Jocelyn Benson also was a panelist at the summit, welcomed the opportunity for the law school to serve as the venue for the summit.
“An honest and open government is the most basic part of maintaining the public trust and reinforcing the democratic process,” Benson said. “Wayne Law School is thrilled to be hosting this event focused on how the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to ensure municipal government in Detroit is transparent and accountable.”
Paul Tait, head of the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), one of the summit sponsors who deputized for MAC chairperson and also chair of the Wayne State University Board of Governors Debbie Dingell, said it was timely that Detroit begins to look at public integrity in government with the next chapter of leadership.
Bankole Thompson is the editor of the Michigan Chronicle and author of the forthcoming 2014 book on Detroit titled “Rising From the Ashes: Engaging Detroit’s Future with Courage.” His most recent book “Obama and Christian Loyalty,” deals with the politics of the religious right, black theology and the president’s faith posture across a myriad of issues with an epilogue written by former White House spokesman Robert S. Weiner. He is a political analyst at WDET-101.9FM (Detroit Public Radio) and a member of the weekly “Obama Watch” roundtable on WLIB-1190AM New York. Email him at bankole@bankolethompson.com and visit www.bankolethompson.com.