A fair denouement for Dave Bing?

**brizee** · March-07-13, 06:22 PM

http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/artic...bing_to_resign

This is not a EFM discussion so please keep it to yourself, or at least out of this thread.

I pretty much agree with the article [[I agree with alot of what Dawsey writes for the site).

He was, is and will end his career as a do nothing.

The handjob he has received from the media is infuriating. He was practically anointed mayor months before the special election. And the demonization of EVERYONE else around him from employees, to city council is disgusting. As if being non-confrontational and docile is a virtue unto itself.

I'm noticing eerie similiarities with Mike Duggan, and I support him. Hopefully that says more about the dogshit media in this town that Duggan.

**Detroitnerd** · March-07-13, 06:36 PM

IMHO all he ever was was a Trojan horse for Kilpatrick castaways.

**downtownguy** · March-07-13, 08:44 PM

Now you wont read that in the dailies. IMHO, Bing is as much, if not more responsible for the city's demise over the last 3 1/2 years. It's more fun to mock council, and often they deserve it. But he is, for gosh sake, the MAYOR. The vacuum of his leadership is why we notice council's actions. The mayor is given the majority of power, yet he squanders it with no leadership. Since he didn't move into the city until he was elected, I was always somewhat dubious of his commitment. After he's out of office come 2014 -- and I'm sure he will be -- I wonder how long it will take him to move the furniture back to Franklin?

**Honky Tonk** · March-07-13, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

Now you wont read that in the dailies. IMHO, Bing is as much, if not more responsible for the city's demise over the last 3 1/2 years. It's more fun to mock council, and often they deserve it. But he is, for gosh sake, the MAYOR. The vacuum of his leadership is why we notice council's actions. The mayor is given the majority of power, yet he squanders it with no leadership. Since he didn't move into the city until he was elected, I was always somewhat dubious of his commitment. After he's out of office come 2014 -- and I'm sure he will be -- I wonder how long it will take him to move the furniture back to Franklin?

Kinda like Duggan.

**firstandten** · March-07-13, 09:59 PM

Look, I don't blame the residents of Detroit for putting Bing in office. Giving what we have been thru, Bing looked like he could stabilize the situation and by him being a businessman he would know what was wrong and how to fix it. The voters had no way of knowing that over the years Bing carefully crafted the image of the businessman who was honest and could fix problems. Little did the voters in Detroit know that Mr. Bing's businesses were going down the tubes while he was running for office.The voters glossed over the lies on his resume, all of which should have sent up red flags. By the time people really looked into his business practices and realized his companies were an HR nightmare with capable employees in and out of his companies like a revolving door, and GM basically holding his hand while he was in business. And guess what ? the same thing happened with the city with appointees in and out like a revolving door . You had capable people willing to guide him jumping ship. The big difference he was not accountable in the private sector in the public sector he is and I think he is just tired of not having the control he is use to having. The good will he has built up over the years is used up. The voters have now seen thru him and they don't like what they see.

**Det_ard** · March-07-13, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by firstandten

Look, I don't blame the residents of Detroit for putting Bing in office. Giving what we have been thru, Bing looked like he could stabilize the situation and by him being a businessman he would know what was wrong and how to fix it. The voters had no way of knowing that over the years Bing carefully crafted the image of the businessman who was honest and could fix problems. Little did the voters in Detroit know that Mr. Bing's businesses were going down the tubes while he was running for office.The voters glossed over the lies on his resume, all of which should have sent up red flags. By the time people really looked into his business practices and realized his companies were an HR nightmare with capable employees in and out of his companies like a revolving door, and GM basically holding his hand while he was in business. And guess what ? the same thing happened with the city with appointees in and out like a revolving door . You had capable people willing to guide him jumping ship. The big difference he was not accountable in the private sector in the public sector he is and I think he is just tired of not having the control he is use to having. The good will he has built up over the years is used up. The voters have now seen thru him and they don't like what they see.

Everyone I spoke to with first hand experience dealing with Bing and his companies told me he was a mediocre businessman, propped up by his customers in order to keep a minority business alive. Despite this, he was probably the best choice for mayor.

Similarly, Duggan is probably the best choice this time around but he's no prize either. Detroit seems to have a very hard time attracting competent, honest, non-crazy pols. The coming EM will probably be the best talent Detroit has seen in my lifetime.

**firstandten** · March-08-13, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by Det_ard

Everyone I spoke to with first hand experience dealing with Bing and his companies told me he was a mediocre businessman, propped up by his customers in order to keep a minority business alive. Despite this, he was probably the best choice for mayor.

Similarly, Duggan is probably the best choice this time around but he's no prize either. Detroit seems to have a very hard time attracting competent, honest, non-crazy pols. The coming EM will probably be the best talent Detroit has seen in my lifetime.

I feel that Bing did a bait and switch, and that's the reason I voted for him. I didn't necessary feel he was the best candidate but he convinced me with his "I will be a one-term mayor" promise. When he made that promise I was counting on him to make the tough decisions knowing the blow back would most likely make him a one term mayor but he would have at least some peoples eternal gratitude [[such as myself) for making that sacrifice and at least setting the table for the next guy to be successful [[remember he didn't need the job) Then once he got in he started to do and say things that let me know that he didn't want to be a one term mayor. At that point I knew things were not going to change in the city anytime soon. The ironic part is that he is going to be a one term mayor anyway but not the way I would have wanted it.

**softailrider** · March-08-13, 03:31 AM

I really think he was genuine and wanted to turn the city around. He appears to me to as be honest as the day is long. There was never any hint about graft or anything like that - he just wasn't up to the task. However, to pin the blame on him for the city's demise is totally insane.

**rb336** · March-08-13, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by firstandten

Look, I don't blame the residents of Detroit for putting Bing in office. Giving what we have been thru, Bing looked like he could stabilize the situation and by him being a businessman he would know what was wrong and how to fix it.

People keep thinking a government entity is like a business. We elect a businessman to be mayor - he can't work with the council. We elect a businessman to be governor. He raises taxes on those least able to afford it AND makes Michigan a less attractive place for other businesses to relocate to as shown by the drop in Michigan's rank for investment by out of state concerns. We were, in the last 3 years of Granholm's administration, number 2, 3 and 2. last year and the year before we were down in the 40s. On top of that, he handed contracts to his cronies - most notably to re-design the Michigan Talent Bank. The result of that is that the Pure Michigan Talent Connect became a useless tool - not that it was great before, but at least then it actually worked and sent job notifications almost immediately after the jobs came in instead of a week or even two later. And that is when the setting for updates is "daily"

**kenp** · March-08-13, 09:48 AM

The city deserved and got Bing.

**iheartthed** · March-08-13, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Det_ard

The coming EM will probably be the best talent Detroit has seen in my lifetime.

Archer seemed to be a pretty competent manager. For all of his faults, he did get the ball rolling on downtown's redevelopment. I wonder if he is he under consideration for the EM role?

**Scottathew** · March-08-13, 10:34 AM

I don't get a vote, but I was for Cockrel all the way. When Bing won I felt he'd probably do a good job.

My current opinion of Bing is that he's a good guy but a very ineffective mayor and lacks leadership.

Bing is a million times better than Kwame, but not good enough.

**Wesley Mouch** · March-08-13, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by rb336

People keep thinking a government entity is like a business. We elect a businessman to be mayor - he can't work with the council. We elect a businessman to be governor. He raises taxes on those least able to afford it AND makes Michigan a less attractive place for other businesses to relocate to as shown by the drop in Michigan's rank for investment by out of state concerns. We were, in the last 3 years of Granholm's administration, number 2, 3 and 2. last year and the year before we were down in the 40s. On top of that, he handed contracts to his cronies - most notably to re-design the Michigan Talent Bank. The result of that is that the Pure Michigan Talent Connect became a useless tool - not that it was great before, but at least then it actually worked and sent job notifications almost immediately after the jobs came in instead of a week or even two later. And that is when the setting for updates is "daily"

So the economy of America crashes, Michigan hits the rocks hardest, and its because we put businessmen in charge?

Certainly running a government isn't the same as running an auto plant, but the disrespect for leadership, financial skills, and administrative skills is misplaced, IMO.

Bing, he's been nothing great, but he was hardly Detroit's biggest problem. Neither is council. While not great, Bing seems to be doing alright given the task. Council on the other hand can't pull themselves out of the political mud, and are pulling everyone they can down with them as they desperately try to retain power. Name one decisive move by council -- a game changer.

**Det_ard** · March-08-13, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Archer seemed to be a pretty competent manager. For all of his faults, he did get the ball rolling on downtown's redevelopment. I wonder if he is he under consideration for the EM role?

Archer was a good, honest mayor but lacked a sense of urgency and decisiveness and made major errors in the casino siting process which killed, to this day, the burgeoning warehouse district between the Ren Cen and Harbortown.

**Honky Tonk** · March-08-13, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Det_ard

Archer was a good, honest mayor but lacked a sense of urgency and decisiveness and made major errors in the casino siting process which killed, to this day, the burgeoning warehouse district between the Ren Cen and Harbortown.

True. He single-handedly wiped out "Rivertown". However he did pave the streets of Detroit for the first time in YEARS, and put in place an effective trash pick up scenario. He was also able to get the 'burbs to get on board with Detroit's agenda, for the first time in years. He did a lot of things right. Wish he would have hung around longer.

**rb336** · March-08-13, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

So the economy of America crashes, Michigan hits the rocks hardest, and its because we put businessmen in charge?

Certainly running a government isn't the same as running an auto plant, but the disrespect for leadership, financial skills, and administrative skills is misplaced, IMO.

Leadership that leads nowhere or the wrong direction deserves derision, and Snyder's major drop in the polls shows he is getting the derision he so deeply deserves.

Bing, on the other hand, simply failed as a leader because he hasn't got a clue about how to deal with shared authority. I agree with him far more often than with most of the council, but he started on the wrong path by being so autocratic.

**daddeeo** · March-08-13, 01:26 PM

You need a glorified janitor to clean up the city's messes. Comeback won't happen without big cutbacks and more pain. Crime has to go down and city services restored to a competent level.

**Honky Tonk** · March-08-13, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by daddeeo

You need a glorified janitor to clean up the city's messes. Comeback won't happen without big cutbacks and more pain. Crime has to go down and city services restored to a competent level.

He's called EFM. Coming to a City near you.

**Danny** · March-08-13, 04:08 PM

Mayor KING BING! did his best to keep Detroit out of hot financial trouble, but he's getting too senile to go out and about to bring international and national regional jobs ormake bi-partison deals to secure Detroit city services. He just lost that spark. Now he must get out of politics, retire and rest. You have your time on Earth, Bing make way for the young.

**firstandten** · March-08-13, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by rb336

Leadership that leads nowhere or the wrong direction deserves derision, and Snyder's major drop in the polls shows he is getting the derision he so deeply deserves.

Bing, on the other hand, simply failed as a leader because he hasn't got a clue about how to deal with shared authority. I agree with him far more often than with most of the council, but he started on the wrong path by being so autocratic.

Well said, I think he means well but its about results at this point

**mwilbert** · March-08-13, 09:12 PM

To me, it was the complete lack of urgency that made it clear he wasn't the right guy. When you say you are going to be a one-term mayor, you are implying you are going to get moving on whatever it is you are trying to to immediately, and keep pushing on it until you get done what you can get done. I don't blame him for an obstructive city council, or for the underlying problems of the city, but I do blame him for not really attacking any of those problems.

**firstandten** · March-08-13, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by mwilbert

To me, it was the complete lack of urgency that made it clear he wasn't the right guy. When you say you are going to be a one-term mayor, you are implying you are going to get moving on whatever it is you are trying to to immediately, and keep pushing on it until you get done what you can get done. I don't blame him for an obstructive city council, or for the underlying problems of the city, but I do blame him for not really attacking any of those problems.

If it was just a matter of maintaining status quo or providing some incremental change like it is in most cities then Bing would have been the right man for the job. However Detroit requires some fundamental changes in how it conducts its business. That requires a person that is visionary, tough and can think outside the box. Bing in my opinion gives us the toughness and that's about it. Duggan, I think may have those qualities, I need to hear more from him.

**brizee** · March-10-13, 02:36 PM

It's almost sad reading Bings reflections on his administration.

And from the comments it seems has sadsack routine has effectively turned everyone but him into the villains.

Am I really the only ones remembering the budget fights being about council wanting more cuts than the mayor submitted?

While we're on the subject of impotent leadership. I'd like to state I really can't wait until the papers in this town get a financial/ownership shakeup and dogshit peddlers like Nolan Finley and Drew Sharp get the fucking boot.

**stasu1213** · March-10-13, 05:44 PM

I feel that Mayor Bing was thrown into the mayor's office by the business community after Kilpatrick had screwed up so badly. The job was too much for him. I cant put all of the blame on him. Pugh and council had outcut him on the budget. Pugh had undermined Bing for Pugh could look good. Blame council also and not just the Mayor.

**evergreen** · March-10-13, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by brizee

It's almost sad reading Bings reflections on his administration.

And from the comments it seems has sadsack routine has effectively turned everyone but him into the villains.

Am I really the only ones remembering the budget fights being about council wanting more cuts than the mayor submitted?

While we're on the subject of impotent leadership. I'd like to state I really can't wait until the papers in this town get a financial/ownership shakeup and dogshit peddlers like Nolan Finley and Drew Sharp get the fucking boot.

You are right, council did propose budget cuts deeper than the mayor's. It's amazing how the papers try to heap all the blame on city council while ignoring Bing's breathtaking incompetence.

This is still a strong mayor system of governance. When the hub is missing from the wheel, the wheel collapses. We have a crisis in this city and a vacancy at the helm. The instability of his staff and his utter inability to frame a coherent response to the city's problems were fatal to any possibility of the city forging a way out of this thicket.

He should have had the decency to resign the last week when he effectively abdicated all responsibility for the city's future. I hope the em immediately eliminates his pay.