L. Brooks Attacks DIA Again, This Time Over Pay Raises

[rjlj]

Agreed. .

I seriously believe there's a real problem with your entire "there's always somebody who will do your job for less money" philosophy.

[dtowncitylover]

I seriously believe there's a real problem with your entire "there's always somebody who will do your job for less money" philosophy.

Maybe we can get the curator of the Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City to be our curator less?

I kid, I kid!

[Danny]

L.B. Patterson [[ known the white man version of Coleman Young) Needs to shut up about the DIA pay raise problem. If the management is doing alright taking care of the our precious treasures. That's fine by me. At least Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County and DIA Members can get in for free.

L.B. Patterson makes more money than poor Detroit black folks. Be grateful of what you have Patterson. Quite whining! You are going to be out of office soon.

[noise]

I don't have such a philosophy. Maybe re-read the thread.

As is typically the case with your posts, you don't really know what it is you're saying.

[Bham1982]

But it isn't that obscene compared to the other great art museums of the US.

And why does that matter? The DIA is publicly funded through a special regional tax, the other great art museums generally aren't.

And Detroit isn't any other city. It's a bankrupt city with a supposedly cash-strapped institution. Why would its salary structure be compared to those of healthy institutions in prosperous cities where taxpayers aren't paying for nonprofit salaries?

You can pay him 1 bazillion dollars for all I care. Just admit you lied about DIA finances, refund the taxpayers, and end the surcharge.

It's funny how angry Americans react to our tax dollars being spent on this, supporting a fabulous cultural institution [[endowment, preservation, salaries, et al), but are silent on spending billions/trillions on war or angry when we try to delegate money from the military industrial complex to education or health care. But I digress...

And it's even funnier how you prefer to change the topic and go ranting on military industrial complex nonsense when the topic is the taxpayers of Michigan who were lied to by the corrupt mooches at the DIA.

[Bham1982]

As is typically the case with your posts, you don't really know what it is you're saying.

Why don't you help us out and point us to the source of your utter confusion.

Where was it claimed that there was such a philosophy where everyone had to be paid as little as humanly possible?

Supposedly cash-strapped nonprofits begging broke taxpayers for a bailout shouldn't treat the public like garbage, that's all. Tell the truth and admit the DIA is flush with money, and you want even more. Don't plead poverty, then go on a binge of hookers and blow.

[noise]

Why don't you help us out and point us to the source of your utter confusion.

Where was it claimed that there was such a philosophy where everyone had to be paid as little as humanly possible?

Nowhere and that's not what I wrote. Maybe it's you who needs to re-read the thread!

You claimed somebody would do the job for less. I claimed that's a flawed argument.

[Bham1982]

You claimed somebody would do the job for less. I claimed that's a flawed argument.

Yes I did. In fact Graham Beal himself did it for less, until the taxpayers were lied to and gave him more.

What is the flaw in the argument?

[dtowncitylover]

And why does that matter? The DIA is publicly funded through a special regional tax, the other great art museums generally aren't.

And Detroit isn't any other city. It's a bankrupt city with a supposedly cash-strapped institution. Why would its salary structure be compared to those of healthy institutions in prosperous cities where taxpayers aren't paying for nonprofit salaries?

You can pay him 1 bazillion dollars for all I care. Just admit you lied about DIA finances, refund the taxpayers, and end the surcharge.



And it's even funnier how you prefer to change the topic and go ranting on military industrial complex nonsense when the topic is the taxpayers of Michigan who were lied to by the corrupt mooches at the DIA.

But we weren't lied to. They were financially struggling. Now that they're better funded thanks to us and moving in the right direction to remain financially viable once the tax ends, some people got raises. Big woop.

I wasn't really ranting and didn't want to change the topic [[note: digress), I just wanted to point out how stupid some people's anger is about stupid minor things like this.

And you're right, he could be making a billion dollars, but at the end of the day he isn't and I get to go to a fabulous museum for free thanks to our tax dollars.

Please show evidence that they're corrupt. That could be libel if you have no evidence. This isn't corruption. This is everyday compensation for running a well respecting cultural institution under hard times.

[Wesley Mouch]

I seriously believe there's a real problem with your entire "there's always somebody who will do your job for less money" philosophy.

Its a real problem for your only if there is someone, and you have no skills that are in demand.

Reducing wages to the level of skills is important for our economy to be competitive. We can artifically set wages, as we often do, but in the end our lunch will be eaten by others. Then in the end, we suffer.

Clearly the right plan is to allow wages to be set by employers without much interference from do-gooders, and then provide a robust social safety net that is compassionate. By staying the hell out of the way [[as my friend John says), we will build a robust economy that will be good for all.

That's true socialism. The goal of wealth for all.

The other alternative of controlled economy so favored by do-gooders results in everyone being poor.

I prefer wealth.

[bailey]

Of course you guys are going to start screaming about perscriptions and other sensational nonsense. Did you even read the second part of the article?

Take a look at Charity Navigator. The DIA is a four-start rated charity and Graham Beal makes less than 2% of the annual budget. Nearly 80% of the budget goes to programs and services.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...ary&orgid=3619

The Detroit Historical Society's CEO makes over 5% of its annual budget and it is a three-star charity.

Remember how that fuckhead Rochelle Riley was whining about saving the Charles H. Wright? It's a one-star rated charity with only about half of the money donated to it going to actual programs and services. Its CEO makes a higher percentage of the annual budget than the DIA's.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...ary&orgid=6980

I am no way affiliated with the DIA. You know, the voters actually got to assent to this, and seem to be in favor of a world-class Museum. That is what we have. There is even data to back all this up. You think somebody is going to run it for $14.00 per hour?

The issue [[and to LBP's point) is really about the optics of it. Someone, somewhere in the DIA should have said...yeah, we know our funding is back where it needs to be and we know that we should be giving some raises, but c'mon we just went to the public to beg for a millage after the state cut our funding and we're still in the middle of this whole BK thing. Lets hold on the bumps and bonuses for another 12-18 months.

[Bham1982]

But we weren't lied to. They were financially struggling. Now that they're better funded thanks to us and moving in the right direction to remain financially viable once the tax ends, some people got raises. Big woop.

No, the DIA lied to the public. Yes, this is a very big deal.

This is the exact quote from the DIA, in why taxpayers had to support the millage-

Annmarie Erickson, executive vice president of the DIA, says the museum is operating at "bare-bone levels." She says if they can’t secure more money, the museum will go into what she calls a “controlled shutdown”:

http://michiganradio.org/post/dia-co...support-museum

I wasn't really ranting and didn't want to change the topic [[note: digress), I just wanted to point out how stupid some people's anger is about stupid minor things like this.

I don't think it's "stupid or minor" when millions in taxpayer dollars are wasted on pigs feeding at the public trough.

This is everyday compensation for running a well respecting cultural institution under hard times.

It is not "everyday compensation" it's extraordinarily high compensation, and this isn't an "everyday region" it's an extraordinarily cash strapped region.

The fact is the DIA claimed "give us money or we die" and that wasn't the issue at all.

[jt1]

Detroit Zoo director gets larger paycheck - WXYZ.com

[[WXYZ) - The 7 Action News team has learned the Executive Director and CEO of the Detroit Zoo is getting a fatter paycheck--and if you live in one of the three metro Detroit counties, you're helping pay for it. Ron Kagan has gone from a 2011 salary of $284,200 to $470,184 in 2012

Let's look at the facts: Kagan's salary goes through the roof and no complaining even though there is a regional tax to support the zoo.

This leads me to believe one of two things [[1) people are pissed when a regional tax supports something in Detroit but have a different set of rules when a regional tax supports something outside of Detroit [[2) our low brow region prefers to look at Monkeys masterbate than appreciate some of the best art in the world.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

When was the last time Brooks attacked the DIA??

A half million a year? Doesn't he realize he is a semi-public employee?

If you ask me, they are all way overpaid. Comparing one overpaid fat cat to another is just a way to justify huge increases in salaries.

Nail on the head here. They all are overpaid, it's ridiculous. And what do they actually do to warrant such a salary?? Not much I bet. It's a shame those pension cuts are probably being used to give these people raises.

[Lowell]

Very bad optics, even worse timing. Just the kind of publicity the DIA does not need. What on earth is he thinking? $50,000? That's another guard. This really undermines the DIA's image of struggling to survive - which it is.

[poobert]

The issue [[and to LBP's point) is really about the optics of it. Someone, somewhere in the DIA should have said...yeah, we know our funding is back where it needs to be and we know that we should be giving some raises, but c'mon we just went to the public to beg for a millage after the state cut our funding and we're still in the middle of this whole BK thing. Lets hold on the bumps and bonuses for another 12-18 months.

This is really the only logical argument for the opposition. I just looks bad. It's kind of an amateurish, sophomoric move.

However, there isn't really a reason for outrage. We had our say. There was nothing about pay freezes. Outside of that, his salary is by no means out-of-line with anything locally or nationally.

Further, I love what the DIA is doing. It's damn good. Isn't merit-based what you guys want??

So they're not directly tax-payer funded, but there are plenty of corporations located in tax havens [[Burger Thing), living on subsidies, using tax loopholes, relying on public infrastructure creation, and their CEOs are making billions. No issues there?

And for Bham supposedly knowing everything, do you really not freaking know how democracy works?? Stop comparing Western politicians and NGO leaders to a totally different economy. I'm sure the CFO at TCBY makes more money than him but doesn't imply the job is more important. The ideal of our elected officials' salaries being relatively low across the board is so citizens don't go into public service to get rich.

[Scottathew]

Honestly, I'm not sure. Both sides have merit. That said, I just know that invoking L. Brooks here is like pouring gasoline on a fire. It's fun.[/COLOR]

LOL, I appreciate the honest discussion. I've felt rather on the fence about other topics too.

Yes, he's a gasoline and a lightning rod all-in-one.

[MSUguy]

Detroit Zoo director gets larger paycheck - WXYZ.com


[[WXYZ) - The 7 Action News team has learned the Executive Director and CEO of the Detroit Zoo is getting a fatter paycheck--and if you live in one of the three metro Detroit counties, you're helping pay for it. Ron Kagan has gone from a 2011 salary of $284,200 to $470,184 in 2012

Let's look at the facts: Kagan's salary goes through the roof and no complaining even though there is a regional tax to support the zoo.

This leads me to believe one of two things [[1) people are pissed when a regional tax supports something in Detroit but have a different set of rules when a regional tax supports something outside of Detroit [[2) our low brow region prefers to look at Monkeys masterbate than appreciate some of the best art in the world.

Funny how Brooksie had nothing to say about that

[bailey]

Funny how Brooksie had nothing to say about that

Maybe the 10 million dollar gift from the Polk family [[the largest one time gift ever to the Zoo) a month later overshadowed the news?

[Thruster315]

Maybe the 10 million dollar gift from the Polk family [[the largest one time gift ever to the Zoo) a month later overshadowed the news?

Careful now. Someone here could argue that the Polk family money should go exclusively to the penguins as opposed to Kagan.

[ABetterDetroit]

Dang, and I took art history just to meet more girls and a easy A....

[Ray1936]

Gosh, why would anyone waste time going to the DIA when there is so much free artistic beauty in the city to be seen?

[dtowncitylover]

No, the DIA lied to the public. Yes, this is a very big deal.

This is the exact quote from the DIA, in why taxpayers had to support the millage-

Annmarie Erickson, executive vice president of the DIA, says the museum is operating at "bare-bone levels." She says if they can’t secure more money, the museum will go into what she calls a “controlled shutdown”:

http://michiganradio.org/post/dia-co...support-museum


I don't think it's "stupid or minor" when millions in taxpayer dollars are wasted on pigs feeding at the public trough.



It is not "everyday compensation" it's extraordinarily high compensation, and this isn't an "everyday region" it's an extraordinarily cash strapped region.

The fact is the DIA claimed "give us money or we die" and that wasn't the issue at all.

But much of what taxpayers are paying for is going towards exactly what they were told it was going to go towards: salaries, endowments, preservation, free entrance, etc. I don't feel lied to. Just like when I rarely shop at Wal-Mart I know my money is going towards making the Walton family wealthier, a reason I rarely/never shop there. But I'd rather give my money towards the DIA, salries, endowments, et al because at least I know I'm supporting a fantastic museum supported by competent people. Millions of dollars isn't going towards these two people's salaries. Thousands of dollars is. Small amount in comparison to what the tri-counties are giving.

The value of the DIA is on par to what other museums are around the US, so it is an average compensation of our curator and the people that work there.

[Willi]

People should not have to pay EXTRA for exhibits when the museum is supposedly free.
One example - Fabergé exhibition at the museum definitely cost ordinary people an arm and a leg.

[Johnnny5]

Brooksie is doing a bit of grandstanding [[As usual), but I'm having a hard time thinking of a reasonable argument against what he's saying.

Considering the financial issues facing the City of Detroit, the DIA's recent cries of financial distress and their questionable PR campaign in getting the millages approved raises of this size are simply indefensible! It was under Mr. Beal's watch that an overly ambitious addition and renovation led to the much of DIA's financial difficulties in the first place and Mrs. Erickson was there for most of that time as well. The DIA then received what basically amounted to a taxpayer funded bailout and almost immediately these two receive enormous raises "Due to the financial performance of the DIA" ? What?