Looks like Mayor Bing has decided to utilize the political firestorm surrounding the impending [[likely) EM to finally unveil the next stage in his Detroit Works Project.

With the city's finances finally on the table will Bing and this new steering committee have the ability to really promote and implement the kind of neighborhood and more generally land usage changes that would be required to stabilize city finances?

Will he even get the chance?

Finally, would an EM likely pick up this project and run with it, perhaps take it to its [[politically unpopular) ends?


http://www.freep.com/article/20111204/BUSINESS06/112040483/Bing-reboots-Detroit-Works

I think that this might be another political play for Lansing that the administration is doing something. The idea of shaping services to match communities makes perfect sense if its doable, however the idea of shaping communities to match services is bold and risky [[if not illegal on due process or other concerns). With the direction and speed that Snyder likely needs to move if he wants to have any chance at getting an EM into Detroit before a petition may stall the whole mechanism, I don't think Bing has enough time to start anything with the Detroit Works Project. However, if the mayor can get the commission off and running, I think there is some chance that where the ideas make sense an EM may follow the advice of the commission. Food for thought.

Oh, and here are the members of the steering committee, George Jackson is chair.

George W. Jackson, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Steering Committee Chair
Bishop Charles Ellis, Greater Grace Temple, Chair Mayor’s Advisory Task Force
Lydia Gutierrez, Hacienda Mexican Products, Chair Mayor’s Advisory Task Force
Heaster Wheeler, Wayne County, Chair Mayor’s Advisory Task Force
Alice Thompson, Black Family Development, Chair Mayor’s Advisory Task Force
Phillip Cooley, Slows Bar BQ, Chair Mayor’s Advisory Task Force
Rod Rickman, Rickman Enterprises
Dr. George Swan, COO, Wayne County Community College
Tyrone Davenport, CEO, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Laura Trudeau, Kresge Foundation
Don Chen, Ford Foundation
Marja Winters, City of Detroit Planning & Development Department
Marcell Todd, City of Detroit City Planning Commission