Oakland County and the DIA: Just one more reason this region will continue to decline

[Goose]

based on both sides of the arguement i have seen here, why is the solution always more money and more money in the face of government taxation

maybe look outside the government for solutions.. it always government, more money, more government

more government, more money

more government, more money

its always the same answer

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

With the broad, deep-rooted, and long-term corruption in Detroit, Wayne County, the Airport- not too mention very poor long term planning by cultural institutions including but not limited to the Science Center- if I were a suburban voter I would be highly skeptical of voting for the DIA millage. Note: I am a DIA member and frequent patron. Actions have consequences. Detroit has earned a reputation for waste and fraud. Cleaning our own house, fiscally speaking, would go a long way towards earning suburban trust. And the DIA should be audited, short and long term financial plans should be filed [[with ample review time), and they should commit to capping administrative costs for the museum, increased at no more than the rate of inflation. And OF COURSE there should be very tight rules- with full transparency- for all hiring and contracting. If those things were done, then a suburban voter wouldn't be an idiot to vote for a DIA millage.

[rjk]

With the broad, deep-rooted, and long-term corruption in Detroit, Wayne County, the Airport- not too mention very poor long term planning by cultural institutions including but not limited to the Science Center- if I were a suburban voter I would be highly skeptical of voting for the DIA millage. Note: I am a DIA member and frequent patron. Actions have consequences. Detroit has earned a reputation for waste and fraud. Cleaning our own house, fiscally speaking, would go a long way towards earning suburban trust. And the DIA should be audited, short and long term financial plans should be filed [[with ample review time), and they should commit to capping administrative costs for the museum, increased at no more than the rate of inflation. And OF COURSE there should be very tight rules- with full transparency- for all hiring and contracting. If those things were done, then a suburban voter wouldn't be an idiot to vote for a DIA millage.

Absolutely, nice post.
I'll probably vote yes, but I'll be looking at the things you mentioned.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Absolutely, nice post.
I'll probably vote yes, but I'll be looking at the things you mentioned.

I am not universally opposed to Detroit and Detroit institutions getting outside help; we should just give anyone helping out a reason to beleive their money won't be wasted. Imagine if a DIA millage passed, and it turned out that some corrupt idiot like the guy from the Science Center got it into a similar situation. It would be the last money ever to flow into Detroit from the suburbs. Efficiency and accountability should precede all borrowing.

[Wesley Mouch]

Mikey -- wise.

[canuck]

The Toledo Museum of Art is free. A donation is accepted, but there is no one there guarding the door. Toledo is very much analogous to what we have only on a smaller scale, however they have an art museum that is phemonenal. It would be treasured in cities ten times its size.

I think what we have here is apathy. In the past Detroit borne much of the cost of operating the DIA as a service to the world. In later years we were lucky to have benefactors that help to keep it afloat and to expand it. With this expansion, the DIA has become more expensive of a place to operate. We can't ask benefactor to give any more than they already are.

JT1 brings up a good point about HCMA. I had not realized that they had pulled thier funding from some smaller projects in the City such as the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. I was aware that Chandler Park was on the chopping block several years back. It is however a bit hypocritical to ask others to fund the DIA then complain about Detroit funding other places if we are placing these into a regional context. Maybe HCMA can provide some dollars for the DIA, has this been broached? They certainly have been taking a lot more out then they have been putting in.

St Louis too is similar to other cities with a long record of abandonment and shift to suburban gravity. It too has a lot of freebies in the cultural department. Here is a list that also mentions Kalamazoo as a cheapskate heaven for cultural amenities.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-bes...eapskates.html

[Mikeg]

I agree with letting the voters decide, however until I can read more from the DIA and the new "arts authorities" and also see the specifics of the ballot proposal, I have to reserve judgment as to whether or not I can support it. How many years is the millage proposal for? If it is passed, I'd like to know whether they have to come back and ask for a renewal in 5, 10 or 20 years. I'd also like to know if the new "arts authority" and DIA intends to levy and spend only the millage amount that is needed in any one year [[subject the 0.2 mil cap) or do they intend to levy and spend the full 0.2 mil right from the get-go? Revenue from the full 0.2 mil would appear to more than make up for any recent losses of state funding.

And why the rush to get it on the August Primary ballot? The DIA's executive VP is quoted as saying, "Our real job starts now. We've got to do mailings to catch the absentee-ballot voters..."

Put the millage proposal on the November 2012 General Election ballot where there will be a far greater turnout and you pick up an extra three months to "sell" the new tax to voters. I happen to believe that there is a compelling argument to be made that the DIA is a regional asset that that needs to be saved and which is worthy of regional tax support, but I am not an easy "sell".

If they want my vote and belief that they will use my money wisely, the DIA must make the effort to put forth a convincing argument to the public and do the "sell" job right. However, their reluctance to give the greatest numbers of voters the opportunity to decide suggests a measure of contempt for the electorate and a desire to push this proposal through on a light turnout election where mailings to known patrons of the arts and election day GOTV phone calls to them can produce the necessary margin of victory with the minimum amount of effort on the part of the DIA.

[Novine]

"With the broad, deep-rooted, and long-term corruption in Detroit, Wayne County, the Airport- not too mention very poor long term planning by cultural institutions including but not limited to the Science Center- if I were a suburban voter I would be highly skeptical of voting for the DIA millage. Note: I am a DIA member and frequent patron. '

Sounds like you're not very well acquainted with how the museum is funded or run.

[Wesley Mouch]

"With the broad, deep-rooted, and long-term corruption in Detroit, Wayne County, the Airport- not too mention very poor long term planning by cultural institutions including but not limited to the Science Center- if I were a suburban voter I would be highly skeptical of voting for the DIA millage. Note: I am a DIA member and frequent patron. '

Sounds like you're not very well acquainted with how the museum is funded or run.

You are often judged by the company you keep.

If the poster is not well acquainted with how the museum is funded or run, you might also assume that some legislators might also need an education. Sounds like the DIA needs to get out into the suburban community with good information.

[rex]

Detroit is like Oakland Counties irresponsible older sibling that dropped out of school in the 7th grade, has drug and health problems, and can't read.... While they don't like you they still want to borrow your money so they can play at the casino. I for one would be more inclined to want to help the city if Joanne Watson couldnt touch the money. Useless woman that she is.

[Wesley Mouch]

based on both sides of the arguement i have seen here, why is the solution always more money and more money in the face of government taxation

maybe look outside the government for solutions.. it always government, more money, more government

more government, more money

more government, more money

its always the same answer

A quotation from this week's column by George Will.

None of this is surprising to Madisonians, which all sensible Americans are. James Madison warned [[in Federalist 48) that government power “is of an encroaching nature.” If unresisted, it produces iniquitous sharing of other people’s property.

The entire column is an interesting example of what unbridled government power can do -- must read for those of you who fear a police state.