Duggan Fires DDOT Chief - Declares Population Will Be Growing By Next Election 2017

[esp1986]

Just heard this on WDET. Duggan seems to have grabbed the bull by the horns, verbally at least, declaring that change is already happening. He touted the success in plowing the snow from all Detroit streets and implementing 24 hour garbage pickup/catch up as his evidence.

Saying he was appalled by seeing crowded bus stops caused by buses running two hours late on his drive in to work, he has fired the DDOT chief.

He is asking Detroiters for a six month honeymoon, urging them to stick it out and not move away. He also declared that the city's population will be growing by the time of the next mayoral election.

He definitely hit the ground running. What will happen when he hits the many walls and political land mines out there? Good luck Mike.

The best thing about his situation is the Emergency Manager. Most individuals would have fought back, but Duggan has forged a relationship out of necessity. By doing this, many of the walls he stands to hit, he can go to Orr and he can approve changes without having to get clowncil approval. Orr has very broad and substantial powers, and Duggan certainly sees this as an advantage, which is why he is working with Orr while he is here. The goal is not for Orr to be here, but as long as he is, he can be a major asset to breaking down the barriers of city government that got in the way and put the city in this predicament in the first place.

It may pose a bigger problem down the road when Orr leaves, but the hope is, that many of those barriers are exposed and eliminated while he is here.

[Lowell]

The best thing about his situation is the Emergency Manager. Most individuals would have fought back, but Duggan has forged a relationship out of necessity. By doing this, many of the walls he stands to hit, he can go to Orr and he can approve changes without having to get clowncil approval. Orr has very broad and substantial powers, and Duggan certainly sees this as an advantage, which is why he is working with Orr while he is here. The goal is not for Orr to be here, but as long as he is, he can be a major asset to breaking down the barriers of city government that got in the way and put the city in this predicament in the first place.

It may pose a bigger problem down the road when Orr leaves, but the hope is, that many of those barriers are exposed and eliminated while he is here.

Excellent analysis^ esp. He is singing a song many in Detroit have been wanting to hear by 'taking names and kicking butts'. It appeals on the PR level and he is getting loads of attaboys but he does this with a degree of protection from the man with the checkbook, Orr.

..the guy that Duggan summarily dismissed WAS the "expert" brought in less than 5 months ago and he was apparently fired for something entirely out of his control [[40% of the drivers not physically able to get into work).

What happens when duggan's new out of state "expert" brought in to turn around DDOT fails to do so in less than 5 months? Fire him and get another one?

Another excellent^ point that made me go hmmm... The fact that Duggan had a replacement at hand and that the current chief is not having his desk emptied and being frog-walked out of the building but will be hanging around until Sept. does add a bit curiosity to this drama.

It is as if Duggan is gambling he can get things noticeably improved in six months, and more importantly before Orr leaves and democracy returns, that he will have so much popularity and political capital that Council will in his pocket [or afraid of him] instead of being the rancorous obstructionist body it too has often been.

[motz]

Another excellent^ point that made me go hmmm... The fact that Duggan had a replacement at hand and that the current chief is not having his desk emptied and being frog-walked out of the building but will be hanging around until Sept. does add a bit curiosity to this drama.

It is as if Duggan is gambling he can get things noticeably improved in six months, and more importantly before Orr leaves and democracy returns, that he will have so much popularity and political capital that Council will in his pocket [or afraid of him] instead of being the rancorous obstructionist body it too has often been.

Again, Duggan has been campaigning to become mayor of Detroit for how long? It doesn't take a rocket surgeon [[har har) to go by a bus stop, watch when the buses arrive and compare it to what the schedule is supposed to be. Or to even ask those riders. From there, you get an idea that the system is being poorly managed and start thinking about who you, as a well connected person in both the private and public sectors, know who might fit that role well. It is not that far fetched in reality, just extremely far fetched to think that far ahead in Detroit politics. And I am not saying that is what he did, but that he MIGHT HAVE done that.