Detroit health department chief fired in corruption probe

**Richard** · May-26-11, 12:49 AM

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing fired the health department’s director today as part of a widening investigation into corruption within city government.

Police escorted Yvonne Anthony from the Department of Health and Wellness Promotion after she told staff this morning that she was planning on quitting.

http://www.freep.com/article/2011052...sectionstories

This is good news and it would be nice to see headlines like this pasted every day of the week.It is a shame that the whole tar and feather routine is obsolete,as these people have had no problem stealing from and endangering the residents for years. Kudos

lilpup · May-26-11, 06:35 AM

and yet some people want to make it ok to unknowingly hire convicted felons for city jobs

**Ray1936** · May-26-11, 04:21 PM

"Department of Health and Wellness Promotion"

I don't know why the C of D even has this department. Isn't that a county/state function?

**Fnemecek** · May-26-11, 04:36 PM

The Health Dept. has been a City department for as long as I can remember, which is basically back to the mid-1980s. Kilpatrick renamed the Dept. of Health & Wellness Promotion when Detroit was named one of the fattest cities in America.

**stasu1213** · May-26-11, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

The Health Dept. has been a City department for as long as I can remember, which is basically back to the mid-1980s. Kilpatrick renamed the Dept. of Health & Wellness Promotion when Detroit was named one of the fattest cities in America.

Was this lady one of Kilpatrick's appointees?

**DocTerry** · May-26-11, 11:06 PM

No. Bing appointed her.

**Zacha341** · May-27-11, 03:13 AM

There's probably tons more corruption unrevealed, considering that the strong mindset of 'justification' branded into these thieves minds. No need to worry about outsiders stealing Detroit's 'jewels' [[as the term goes) when they are being stolen from the inside... Crazy!

Originally Posted by Richard

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing fired the health department’s director today as part of a widening investigation into corruption within city government....

**erikd** · May-27-11, 03:57 AM

Dave Bing's "widening investigation into city corruption"= FAIL

We should not still be seeing this type of corruption after two years of Bing. This is simply unacceptable.

**Zacha341** · May-27-11, 06:28 AM

Unacceptable. But understandable, in terms of how entrenched the corruption is. We've got a 'culture' of fraud corruption going on here - fuel by bold and systemic justification and sloppy oversight with loads of people looking the other way as they receive their cut along the corruption chain..... Most of the people involved engaged in it as a matter of fact, the 'standard way' of doing things... they were quite 'comforted' and comfortable in conducting business [[sic) this way.

Originally Posted by erikd

Dave Bing's "widening investigation into city corruption"= FAIL

We should not still be seeing this type of corruption after two years of Bing. This is simply unacceptable.

lilpup · May-27-11, 06:37 AM

Detroit probably hasn't been free of corruption since the 1910s at the latest.

**Zacha341** · May-27-11, 08:00 AM

Good point. For example, during prohibition Detroit was on the wild with booze runs right across the frozen Detroit river, speak-easy's, political figures looking the other way... etc.

Originally Posted by lilpup

Detroit probably hasn't been free of corruption since the 1910s at the latest.

**Hypestyles** · May-27-11, 09:10 AM

the justice dept. needs to be brought in for a sweeping investigation of all city departments..

**Ray1936** · May-27-11, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by lilpup

Detroit probably hasn't been free of corruption since the 1910s at the latest.

No, but it's only been the last 25 where it's also been riddled with stupidity.

**Fnemecek** · May-27-11, 11:46 AM

I'm just waiting for Mayor Bing to tell us one more time how we can trust his administration.

**agirlintheD** · May-27-11, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

I'm just waiting for Mayor Bing to tell us one more time how we can trust his administration.

I think I'll flip my lid!

**DocTerry** · May-27-11, 02:57 PM

I tried to trace the history of corruption here once. Older historical documents and newer history works all suggest it goes back to the first English and French landings. Hope it won't take that long to undo, but not too optimistic lately.

lilpup · May-27-11, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Fnemecek

I'm just waiting for Mayor Bing to tell us one more time how we can trust his administration.

Well, at least he's flushing the crap he finds instead of just demanding a slice for himself and those on the friends and family plan.

**BVos** · May-27-11, 08:49 PM

Here's an unbelievable interview with the former director:

http://detnews.com/article/20110527/METRO/105270356/1409/Fired-Detroit-official-defends-$200K-furniture-buy

My favorite line:

"Just because I am the director doesn't make me responsible for everything in the department,"

She obviously doesn't even understand the basics of management or public service.

**Switchmanjim** · May-27-11, 10:49 PM

As Buggs Bunny would say "what a maroon''

lilpup · May-27-11, 10:50 PM

Over $124k salary? That's pretty steep. No wonder she doesn't get it about the furniture.

**English** · May-27-11, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

There's probably tons more corruption unrevealed, considering that the strong mindset of 'justification' branded into these thieves minds. No need to worry about outsiders stealing Detroit's 'jewels' [[as the term goes) when they are being stolen from the inside... Crazy!

Girl, when I run into those old "Black Slate" black nationalists these days, I just *look* at them.

If you are going to talk the talk, you ought to walk the walk. And I am sorry, but those running present-day Detroit have acted almost as if they've existed in anarchy. People are getting tired of it. You can't continue to blame the Man for everything. As a comedian once said, "Racism doesn't force you to buy $500 shoes on a $22,000 salary."

I don't get why people who want to make money, drive a certain car, etc. go into the public sector anyway. Stop being so worried about flossing and start WORKING, folks!!!

**Zacha341** · May-28-11, 04:29 AM

Yep. I tune much of that out as I tend to vote and think independently. Much of the talk is 'high profile', vote culling rhetoric. Yet the justification of bold-faced corruption continues... and is too often 'winked' at.

Meanwhile some of the same folk who claim to be "down for the peeps" look out ONLY for self -- servants to their own greed. This is especially annoying with the big salary crowd! Like why for example can't you make it on $93,500 a year, when so many others make far less and choose not steal!

Originally Posted by English

Girl, when I run into those old "Black Slate" black nationalists these days, I just *look* at them.

If you are going to talk the talk, you ought to walk the walk. And I am sorry, but those running present-day Detroit have acted almost as if they've existed in anarchy. People are getting tired of it. You can't continue to blame the Man for everything. As a comedian once said, "Racism doesn't force you to buy $500 shoes on a $22,000 salary."

I don't get why people who want to make money, drive a certain car, etc. go into the public sector anyway. Stop being so worried about flossing and start WORKING, folks!!!

**LeadCzar** · May-28-11, 06:08 AM

Yes, there's always been corruption, but there have been leaders who make it a priority to root it out. When you have someone that has a proactive strategy which includes a strong human resources department, you may not eliminate it, but you can definitely keep it in check. That's what Bing is not doing. He has never taken control of the City as the Mayor should, and most of the corruption is not coming from appointees he has fired. It's coming from union/contract employees who were there before Bing came in and will be there when he's gone unless he does something about labor contracts. These people think they are invincible and that's why they behave so recklessly [[aside from the fact they they also have character flaws). The crazy thing is that Bing has fired a LOT of good people and he has kept some very questionable characters who only worry about saving their own hides. They could care less about the citizens of Detroit.

Case in Point: Yvonne Anthony should have been fired in March of 2010 when she ignored the Chief Medical Director, CDC, and State regarding the treatment of children with lead poisoning, but Bing wouldn't listen to anyone and she was allowed to keep doing her thing. He fired the people that were warning him, and he kept her! Why hasn't anyone thought to ask who was responsible for authorizing her daughter's time sheets every week? Yvonne Anthony got her daughter hired, but her daughter didn't report directly to her. Whoever was the daughter's manager has to sign time sheets that are submitted weekly [[or at least every two weeks) by every employee. So the big question is who was forging time sheets for the ghost daughter/employee and who was signing off on them? At minimum two or three other people had a direct hand in pulling this off. The media ought to be knocking on the doors of Bill Ridella & Audrey Smith. If they did not know, they should be fired for habitual negligence. If they did know, they should be fired for conspiracy to commit fraud. Yvonne Anthony was NOT alone on this. The fact that Bing & the media overlook things like this all the time tells you that all they are trying to do is close Detroit down. Once they get the Financial Manager in here, he/she will have the power to fire all these criminals - power that the Mayor apparently does not have or has not exercised. If you want to follow the whole health department debacle from 2009 forward, check this out.

**SWMAP** · May-28-11, 08:12 AM

Yvonne Anthony and the head of the DPL and the Director ofHuman Services that isn't responsible for employee $200,000 furniture purchases but thinks that a warming center in a bitter winter is a nice extra that her Dpt. shouldn't have to provide - they all three are union/ contract employees just ripping off the City??

**Detwa** · May-28-11, 08:20 AM

Does anyone know why Mildred Gaddis and her guests were so upset the other day that this woman was walked out of her office? I only tuned in for a minute but I heard callers complaining that that was disrespectful and he should have just accepted her resignation and let her leave with dignity - and Mildred was agreeing with them. I was really appalled at their position, and the more I read about this Anthony woman's story, the more I think Bing should have had her tossed out the window instead of walked out the front door!