Kevyn Orr at Wayne State Law School

[socks_mahoney]

All fun and games until the Wayne State Police start assaulting the press. At least we know Steve Neavling ain't no wussy.

[Honky Tonk]

All fun and games until the Wayne State Police start assaulting the press. At least we know Steve Neavling ain't no wussy.

What was THAT all about? Why did he get shoved by that cop?

[belleislerunner]

I was impressed with the poise and professionalism of Orr last night. He answered questions directly, didn't point blame, assessed the situation and gave his current thoughts. [[50/50 chance of bankruptcy, Belle Isle will be leased for 30 years etc). I was most disappointed by the quality of questions posed by the attendees - not one was insightful - and many were downright accusatory. The lunatic white guy screaming about banks being solely responsible for Detroit's ills was an embarassment to all Detroiters. People like that should be banned from future meetings.

[corktownyuppie]

I was impressed with the poise and professionalism of Orr last night. He answered questions directly, didn't point blame, assessed the situation and gave his current thoughts. [[50/50 chance of bankruptcy, Belle Isle will be leased for 30 years etc). I was most disappointed by the quality of questions posed by the attendees - not one was insightful - and many were downright accusatory. The lunatic white guy screaming about banks being solely responsible for Detroit's ills was an embarassment to all Detroiters. People like that should be banned from future meetings.

Here's my take on this...

[[1) I'm in banking, and I will admit that the fraudulent manipulation of the LIBOR really F'd Detroit. Now were banks solely -- or even primarily -- the cause of Detroit's ills? No.

[[2) As much as I would love to avoid stupid or irrational commentary, I think it's just as important to have the public voice be heard. HOWEVA, I don't think that the sound and fury of a small number of people should disrupt the honest and real dialogue of thee many others. You get 60 seconds, and STFU once your time is up. Have questions screened by a 3rd party so that we are hearing many points of view and not just the 30 loudest people in the room singing Onward Christian Soldiers.

[downtownguy]

All fun and games until the Wayne State Police start assaulting the press. At least we know Steve Neavling ain't no wussy.

Apparently, he wasn't the only journalist involuntarily dispatched outside.

Jeff Wattrick of Deadline Detroit writes that Neavling was shooting video of Wattrick getting shoved out the door by a DPD lieutenant when that WSU cop more forcefully threw Neavling out the door and onto the ground. From what I can see in the video, it looks like a WSU sergeant gets between the cop and Neavling pretty quick. I wonder if the sarge bothered to say anything about excessive force to his charge after the incident.

Wattrick's article:
Residents Locked-Out Of Kevyn Orr's Public Meeting In Classic Detroit Style

and Neavling's blog:
Public, media forced out of EM meeting

[Honky Tonk]

Apparently, he wasn't the only journalist involuntarily dispatched outside.

Jeff Wattrick of Deadline Detroit writes that Neavling was shooting video of Wattrick getting shoved out the door by a DPD lieutenant when that WSU cop more forcefully threw Neavling out the door and onto the ground. From what I can see in the video, it looks like a WSU sergeant gets between the cop and Neavling pretty quick. I wonder if the sarge bothered to say anything about excessive force to his charge after the incident.

Wattrick's article:
Residents Locked-Out Of Kevyn Orr's Public Meeting In Classic Detroit Style


and Neavling's blog:
Public, media forced out of EM meeting

I can't access Neavling's blog for some reason, but I'm disapointed reading Wattrick's. Sounds like he's got a case of sour grapes combined with "Don't you know WTF I am?" syndrome. I'm also surprised @ some of the analogies, parallels, undertones and conclusions he draws in his article. Almost like he's pleading for support. I for one, am glad it was handled the way it was. Not all -700,000 residents can get in, and that's it. No Ford Field, or Commerica Park. Orr's here to do a job, hand in a report, and come up with a game plan, not to listen to renditions of "Onward Christian Soldiers" by Detroit's Idle. Better luck next time.

[antongast]

...not to listen to renditions of "Onward Christian Soldiers" by Detroit's Idle.

You do remember who did that, right? A politician, engaging in political theater. Not a member of the public.

[Honky Tonk]

You do remember who did that, right? A politician, engaging in political theater. Not a member of the public.

It depends which time you're referring to? I seem to recall a couple of performances.

[antongast]

It depends which time you're referring to? I seem to recall a couple of performances.

I could certainly be wrong about this, but I am not remembering a member of the public singing Onward Christian Soldiers during a comment period, and I can't find anything on Google that isn't about Barbara-Rose Collins. I've attended a lot of public meetings in this city, been shut out of some others due to the same kind of bullshit Kevyn Orr pulled last night [[I did not have high hopes for Mr. Orr in general, but I did hope at least that he'd manage not to absorb some of the most frustrating practices of our regular political class), and I feel pretty comfortable saying that renditions of Onward Christian Soldiers are not a typical component of public comment periods at public meetings in Detroit.

[belleislerunner]

The problem of immature outbursts should be easily solved by using those same comment cards - but having the moderator collect them and then only she reads them to the speaker. You get public participation without the public embarassment.