DPS buys Emergency Manger $40k SUV, Same Week He Announces Cuts

**Anchor Bar** · August-05-11, 10:31 PM

From Channel 7 News:

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/local_n...2440%2C000-suv

**brizee** · August-05-11, 11:31 PM

Detroit needs the Chinese solution to graft and corruption.

**English** · August-06-11, 12:07 AM

For once, Detroiters had nothing to do with this particular --redacted--. He was imposed on Detroit.

**Malcove Magnesia** · August-06-11, 12:20 AM

Oh, so you'd rather go back to the way mismanagement used to be before Bobb?

**Zacha341** · August-06-11, 08:02 AM

It IS nor need not be an Either/ OR issue.

Mismanagement and continued 'big-wig' spending needs to stop! I guess all of Bobb's well heeled 'expense account' pampered consultants and 'vendors' are gone back out of town....

Originally Posted by Malcove Magnesia

Oh, so you'd rather go back to the way mismanagement used to be before Bobb?

**English** · August-06-11, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

It IS nor not need not be an Either/ OR issue.

Mismanagement and continued 'big-wig' spending need to stop! I guess all of Bobb well heeled 'expense account' pampered consultants and 'vendors' are gone back out of town....

Thank you. I was about to give that comment the side eye, but you've handled it for me. Anyone who's not about teaching and learning needs to get out of education, period.

**DetroitTeacher** · August-06-11, 07:05 AM

Not exactly what I wanted to hear. I would have had more respect for him had he declined the car. Shoot, I'm driving a 2002 model, and it was free [[or I'd still be driving my 1987 version). I would bet he has a driver, too, for security reasons. Does he really think we are that insane as to try and harm him? I can handle cuts as long as the perks are done away with and everyone takes them [[except those poor folks on hourly...they don't make squat as is).

I almost had some respect for this guy because he also chopped 10% off his salary...not so much anymore.

**mwilbert** · August-06-11, 07:16 AM

I know he isn't a politician, exactly, but this is the kind of misstep that you get from someone who has a bit of a political tin ear. Even if it was the best possible move financially [[which I doubt), it is going to rub people the wrong way under the circumstances.

lilpup · August-06-11, 08:42 AM

SUVs are standard personal security vehicles nowadays and I imagine he and Bobb have had plenty of threats made against them.

Seriously, this guy is an ex-GM higher up - he doesn't need the school district to get an SUV and he isn't going to financially gain much, relative to his GM position, from the EFM job.

Some people just want to stir the shit.

If people aren't willing to allow him an SUV for safety's sake then the entire DPS police aren't needed either.

**Anchor Bar** · August-06-11, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by lilpup

this guy is an ex-GM higher up - he doesn't need the school district to get an SUV and he isn't going to financially gain much, relative to his GM position, from the EFM job..

Using that logic, isn't that a pretty good reason that he should have paid for his car? Just playing devil's advocate, Detroit.

**Detroitej72** · August-06-11, 11:24 AM

Was the car promised to him as part of his compensation package?

Even so, I can see where this sends the wrong message to the public. Besides, as a retired GM executive, he should be able to get a pretty good deal on an SUV on his own.

**adamjab19** · August-06-11, 11:37 AM

Kind of bad form.

**Zacha341** · August-06-11, 12:55 PM

That 'option' does seem to emerge doesn't it?

Originally Posted by Detroitej

...as a retired GM executive, he should be able to get a pretty good deal on an SUV on his own.

**Zacha341** · August-06-11, 12:45 PM

Yeah, the SUV purchase is not the worse or highest expense it can be argued. At least it's a one time cost allotment... I just hope that there's not a repeat of the 'enterouge' of out of towners with big salaries, and vendors and sub-vendors and consultants to the consultants, and assistants to the assistants, 'hierarchy' merry-go-round.... yah-dah!

**313hero** · August-08-11, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Yeah, the SUV purchase is not the worse or highest expense it can be argued. At least it's a one time cost allotment... I just hope that there's not a repeat of the 'enterouge' of out of towners with big salaries, and vendors and sub-vendors and consultants to the consultants, and assistants to the assistants, 'hierarchy' merry-go-round.... yah-dah!

Its funny that yall giving him a pass on this. Yall didnt give KK a pass on the 25k Navigator. But Give him a pass on a 40k Tahoe. SMH. He should be riding around in one of those Crown Vics if he has to have police protection. under city law you cant have police protecting you in your own car. so give him one of those Crown Vics and let him go w/ that.

**Zacha341** · August-08-11, 02:48 PM

^^^^ My response was simply that it is not the highest expense... "it can be argued". Not a pass. A repeat of the "enterouge": well heeled, put up in hotels, expense account laden, flights in and out of town etc.... that is completely unacceptable IMO. But others may "argue" that is fine...

Bottom line: DPS remains very top heavy on the administrative expense side. No pass on that!

**brizee** · August-08-11, 02:59 PM

This must be some more of that shared sacrifice that's being preached nowadays.

For a millionaire to spend 40000 of a financially bled institution's money show's monumentally poor decision making.

**Anchor Bar** · August-08-11, 03:23 PM

The only one giving him a pass that I can find is LilPup.

**DetroitTeacher** · August-08-11, 06:40 PM

Exactly. From the looks of it, it's ok for Roberts to drive his new truck but this same forumer would love for me to work for nothing and still have to buy all of the school supplies that I need to do my job.

Maybe I should float to the other side and work downtown where I can get perks and trips to PD and other exotic places [[I do have the background to such a job). Me thinks I am on the wrong end of the Tootsie-pop!

Originally Posted by Anchor Bar

The only one giving him a pass that I can find is LilPup.

**Thames** · August-08-11, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by 313hero

Its funny that yall giving him a pass on this. Yall didnt give KK a pass on the 25k Navigator. But Give him a pass on a 40k Tahoe. SMH. He should be riding around in one of those Crown Vics if he has to have police protection. under city law you cant have police protecting you in your own car. so give him one of those Crown Vics and let him go w/ that.

There is no comparison. KK lied about the lease purchase of the Navigator. He said it was for police under cover work and even got Ella Bully-Cummings to tell the same lie. Meanwhile his wife kept texting him and asking "Is my Nav ready yet?" Also, all expenditures $25000 and over had to approved by city council. The Nav lease purchase came in at $24.995. Clearly, he was trying to keep the purchase from the eyes of the council.

For the record, the $40,000 purchase for Roberts new vehicle is, in my opinion, indefensible. DPS can't even provide basic necessities, like toilet paper.

Nice. The reason the DPS exists is because there are children who need to go to school. They don't have books or even tp, BUT, on the first day of school, Roberts will be rolling up in his shiny new SUV and his entourage of security.

Clearly, there isn't a revenue problem in DPS, there is a spending problem.

Same goes for DHS, DPL, DWSD, etc, etc, etc.

**noise** · August-06-11, 08:48 AM

At least it's a less expensive, basic package Tahoe!

**Zacha341** · August-06-11, 12:47 PM

Yeah, a Cadillac Escalade SUV would have been a bit much and often stolen anyhow! LOL!

Originally Posted by noise

At least it's a less expensive, basic package Tahoe!

**rjk** · August-06-11, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by lilpup

SUVs are standard personal security vehicles nowadays and I imagine he and Bobb have had plenty of threats made against them.

Seriously, this guy is an ex-GM higher up - he doesn't need the school district to get an SUV and he isn't going to financially gain much, relative to his GM position, from the EFM job.

Some people just want to stir the shit.

If people aren't willing to allow him an SUV for safety's sake then the entire DPS police aren't needed either.

I pretty much agree. Unless there is a pattern of overspending this is small potatoes.
I'm sure WXYZ investigated this guy thoroughly and if this is the worst they could find on him he looks pretty clean.

**Roq** · August-06-11, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by rjk

I pretty much agree. Unless there is a pattern of overspending this is small potatoes.
I'm sure WXYZ investigated this guy thoroughly and if this is the worst they could find on him he looks pretty clean.

Same here. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think this is a big deal.

**firstandten** · August-06-11, 01:47 PM

In the grand scheme of things the vehicle is not a big deal. However in these times, a good show of support and of shared sacrifice would be not to accept the vehicle. As a matter of fact he should have said " I know I'm making you take 10% cuts I'm going to take a 20% pay cut".

I know its symbolism at best, but it helps the people thats being affected that at least the EFM understands.