Benny Napoleon's comments = RUDE

**Artistic** · January-02-13, 07:47 AM

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

**Zacha341** · January-02-13, 07:56 AM

Pure rhetoric.... Standard preaching to the choir [[and I'm not anti-church) stuff! "It's our Detroit" alright. How many of his peers remain in the city at this point?

Ummm - 'news-flash' perhaps it was "our Detroit" [[sic) at a point - recall the glory days under KK and what-not but that IS OVER! Done. Squandered and wasted. The cash cow finally laid down.

Palmer Woods not part of Detroit? Utter nonsense! Napoleon probably has some well-heal friends and that live there. He really shot past the runway on that one!

**Dexlin** · January-02-13, 08:01 AM

Napolean's going to be surprised to see how much this code-talk doesn't work, anymore. I don't think these idiots realized how Kilpatrick's crap changed the whole political and electoral game. Detroiters have already elected one carpetbagger [[Bing), and they'll sure as hell give another a look if they believe his or her message is better. I say this as someone with no dog in the fight. I'm not at all sure - to say the least - if Duggan is the transformative candidate Detroit needs. What I do know is that Napolean has shown by this that he sure as hell isn't.

BTW, I hope every damned Palmer Park resident is down at city hall holding up signs reading "Palmer Park is Detroit." What a totally stupid thing to say, and bless his heart, he thinks he's going to get rewarded for that bull. Detroit's changed, Benny. Your mayoral campaign wasn't serious to begin with; now, it's really a joke.

**Zacha341** · January-02-13, 08:26 AM

I hear you. The standard canards are getting REALLY TIRED... past tired. BTW he said Palmer Woods, not Park but that makes the comment even more bizarre. This is one of our few remaining large scale, tax paying, property-maintaining-middle-class and beyond communities - um, Detroter's STRIVING TO STAY in Detroit!

He insulted them all... and as I said I'm sure he has friends along with potential constituents living in Palmer Woods...

THE SAME FOLK HE NEEDS FOR VOTES and influence others to VOTE FOR HIM! Duh!

Originally Posted by Dexlin

I don't think these idiots realized how Kilpatrick's crap changed the whole political and electoral game.

BTW, I hope every damned Palmer Park resident is down at city hall holding up signs reading "Palmer Park is Detroit." What a totally stupid thing to say, and bless his heart, he thinks he's going to get rewarded for that bull. Detroit's changed, Benny. Your mayoral campaign wasn't serious to begin with; now, it's really a joke.

**SWMAP** · January-02-13, 08:09 AM

Duggan saved the jobs of thousands of Detroiters when the Medical Center hospitals and clinics were saved. Literally thousands, as the DMC largest non-governmental employer in the City.
I am a Detroiter. I have lived next to an abandoned house. I have had no streetlights for years. I have stray dogs running everywhere and empty lots filled with litter and dumped debris. We have fear and crime. I am a Detroiter and I do plan to vote for Duggan on his excellent management record.

**Hypestyles** · January-02-13, 08:36 AM

sheesh.. this will certainly be an interesting [[read: inadvertently comedic and bizarre) campaign year. I will be sending long letters to all the self-described candidates..

**gazhekwe** · January-02-13, 08:49 AM

Hmmm. I worked with Benny Napoleon years ago, he was a very astute young up and coming guy. In retrospect, he would say or do what he felt would get him further up the ladder. He has done well. But this mess could well be his 47%. You cannot throw the only people with cash to support your campaign out the window. And don't we all want Detroit to be the sum of its parts, with the problematic parts working to achieve the stability of the neighborhoods that still work?

**Zacha341** · January-02-13, 09:50 AM

^^^ Well stated Gazhekwe! He is kicking the ladder from beneath him with this nonsense. I wonder what his 'damage control' statement will be comprised of?

**AGinthe313** · January-02-13, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

^^^ Well stated Gazhekwe! He is kicking the ladder from beneath him with this nonsense. I wonder what his 'damage control' statement will be comprised of?

Here it is [[the damage control) from Benny's Facebook Page...

“Palmer Woods is not Detroit? Nothing is further from the truth. It is one of our prized neighborhoods. However, the Palmer Woods experience is far different from that of the average Detroiter’s neighborhood experience. Most Detroiters, including those in Palmer Woods, understand that without clarification. But to set the record straight, I believe Palmer Woods is not only Detroit, it is what we want Detroit neighborhoods to aspire to be. And our city won’t be transformed until the Palmer Woods experience is one that is shared by all Detroiters.”

“As Detroiters, we embrace our city’s non-residential stakeholders. We embrace the fact that many are rooting for us; understanding that we will never have a thriving state of Michigan, or southeast region without a vibrant city of Detroit. However, they should respect that those of us who raise families here amid the crime, joblessness, dwindling city services and a struggling education system, and understand how personal it is when one lives amongst it.”

**poobert** · January-02-13, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by AGinthe313

Here it is [[the damage control) from Benny's Facebook Page...

“Palmer Woods is not Detroit? Nothing is further from the truth. It is one of our prized neighborhoods. However, the Palmer Woods experience is far different from that of the average Detroiter’s neighborhood experience. Most Detroiters, including those in Palmer Woods, understand that without clarification. But to set the record straight, I believe Palmer Woods is not only Detroit, it is what we want Detroit neighborhoods to aspire to be. And our city won’t be transformed until the Palmer Woods experience is one that is shared by all Detroiters.”

“As Detroiters, we embrace our city’s non-residential stakeholders. We embrace the fact that many are rooting for us; understanding that we will never have a thriving state of Michigan, or southeast region without a vibrant city of Detroit. However, they should respect that those of us who raise families here amid the crime, joblessness, dwindling city services and a struggling education system, and understand how personal it is when one lives amongst it.”

If he actually meant that, which I believe he does, he should have just said it, instead of being inflammatory to whip the masses up.

**Honky Tonk** · January-02-13, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by poobert

If he actually meant that, which I believe he does, he should have just said it, instead of being inflammatory to whip the masses up.

I still find his remarks, segregating, alienating, AND inflammitory. His damage control is just as bad as his original statement, IMO. Respect is a 2 way street.

**Zacha341** · January-02-13, 11:27 PM

Yep... His 'damage control' is nice I guess but his original comments were specific to touch several bases including the resentment factor as mentioned by another poster. He 'supposes' himself to be the fix that everyone should rally to for restitution. Not.

Originally Posted by poobert

If he actually meant that, which I believe he does, he should have just said it, instead of being inflammatory to whip the masses up.

**Smirnoff** · January-02-13, 09:56 AM

I believe all of want to hear a detailed plan of how the candidate would revitalize Detroit & restore basic services [[police, fire, 911, snow removal, crime, fire, demolition, etc). Not bash other candidates & "throw them under the bus" as their election platform.....wonder if he thinks Sherwood Forest is in Detroit

**Zacha341** · January-02-13, 11:42 AM

Or the Green Acres subdivision is in the burbs too. Where does he live? Perhaps a more 'authentic' Detroit area?

Originally Posted by Smirnoff

....wonder if he thinks Sherwood Forest is in Detroit

**rex** · January-02-13, 11:22 AM

Thats funny shit. "its our Detroit" Well... We all know what he means by that. Too bad he didn't just come out and say it. I bet Duggan woke up, read that drivel and did cartwheels for the first time in 40 years.

**winstonst** · January-02-13, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by rex

Thats funny shit. "its our Detroit" Well... We all know what he means by that. Too bad he didn't just come out and say it. I bet Duggan woke up, read that drivel and did cartwheels for the first time in 40 years.

Funny it may be, but I think it will work for him.

**Zacha341** · January-02-13, 11:28 AM

^^^ Funny indeed. Sadly 'our' criminal [[usually) crawling thru the window or kicking in the back door, or snatching out the ATM machine at the CVS or gas station. Get a grip folks. We need the best candidate to get this mess turned around. Napoleon's banter is fairly useless.

**daveyarm** · January-02-13, 11:55 AM

I cannot believe how badly people are misinterpreting his remark about Palmer Woods not being Detroit. Of course he knows it is geographically located in our city. What he meant was that Palmer Woods [[and Rosedale and Indian Village, etc.) are not typical neighborhoods. They are the elite few, while most Detroiters struggle with neighborhoods that are grossly substandard.

**Honky Tonk** · January-02-13, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by daveyarm

I cannot believe how badly people are misinterpreting his remark about Palmer Woods not being Detroit. Of course he knows it is geographically located in our city. What he meant was that Palmer Woods [[and Rosedale and Indian Village, etc.) are not typical neighborhoods. They are the elite few, while most Detroiters struggle with neighborhoods that are grossly substandard.

Of course he knows, and of course we know he knows. The audacity is him making a statement that Palmer Woods isn't a "real" Detroit area. Instant segregation and alienation. I had the good fortune of being invited to a Holiday event in Indian Village. As I slid through a stop sign and intersection, I was amazed the City didn't run a salt truck down the streets. People @ the gathering told me it's always like that in the winter, and that most nights, there are no streetlights. Not that I feel people there are more deserving then in other neighborhoods, but those people are paying a lot of City taxes for not getting basic services. I wonder if the same thing goes on in Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, etc?

**jolla** · January-02-13, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

As I slid through a stop sign and intersection, I was amazed the City didn't run a salt truck down the streets. People @ the gathering told me it's always like that in the winter, and that most nights, there are no streetlights. Not that I feel people there are more deserving then in other neighborhoods, but those people are paying a lot of City taxes for not getting basic services. I wonder if the same thing goes on in Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, etc?

Yes, it does. Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, and University District neighborhood associations pay for snow removal [[in addition to what the city does).

**Artistic** · January-03-13, 08:00 PM

I'm not buying what your selling

**Gannon** · January-04-13, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by Artistic

I'm not buying what your selling

If that was aimed at me, I was telling Honky Wonk about my initial accusation...the difference between 8235 and 7024 in the grid was less than a mile, and anything under 8000 was across Tireman, in Dearborn.

Not a problem residence for a county sheriff, but a huge one for a guy running for mayor.

Turns out the numbering of Oakman, which meanders through the Aviation subdivision [[designed and developed by Robert Oakman, if I've got my history right) on its way from Highland Park to the Rouge Complex, is different than the rest of the grid.

Spent my formative years within blocks of Benny's residence, and never knew until now that the numbers on the houses were different than streets one block over!

Cheers