Detroit's Next Mayor, Worried Yet?

[Cincinnati_Kid]

i'm not a fan of the free school lunches for every single student. It's socialism.

gtfoh. Tell me you're a Trump supporter, without actually telling me.

[401don]

I'm not a fan of the free school lunches for every single student. It's socialism.

Logic like that is why the U.S. will never join the rest of the world in offering universal healthcare.

[K-slice]

I totally agree.

I don't want someone who has spent their entire life only working for a "Can't Fail" entity. Let me explain.


Duggan had many jobs that required him to perform or get fired. He had to manage huge operations and somehow make them successful. That took many skills and many connections outside of churches and block clubs like these clowns have.


People that have only worked for the government, i.e. city council, which "Can't Fail" because no matter how stupid they are, they will probably get reelected; or THAW, an entity that "Can't Fail" because it relies on government aid and donations, should not be mayor. I don't want simply a school board member because once again, that's a "Can't Fail" entity because no matter how stupid you are, as long as you're a loudmouth, you'll keep your position.


That's the problem in the city. We look at loudmouths and popular people because they may have a civic connection [[pastor's daughter) or came from a "Can't Fail" entity. That does not mean they are capable of being mayor. Ask yourself when comparing candidates: Does the candidate's entire background and success come from a "Can't Fail" entity? If it does, we should not consider them experienced enough to be mayor of Detroit.

This is EXACTLY RIGHT! The first three things we should be looking for in a candidate are:

1. Private Sector Experience
2. Private Sector Experience
3. Private Sector Experience

[stasu1213]

Hey folks in the hoods.

What is next Detroit mayor would be?

1. The one that take our city back to 1970s Coleman Young Era?

2. The one who take our city back to gentrified sell out?

3. The one who take city back to throwing Manoogian Parties?

Whatever Detroiters decide who their next mayor will be. It better be the one that acts like Mike Duggan.

Give us a reason why Mary Sheffield would make a good Mayor

[Henry Whalley]

Give us a reason why Mary Sheffield would make a good Mayor

Unable to think of one.

[stasu1213]

Unable to think of one.

I think that Sheffield ran unopposed her last 2 terms. I am trying to be neutral and wait to see who all will be in the ring and who will win the debates

[mwilbert]

This is EXACTLY RIGHT! The first three things we should be looking for in a candidate are:

1. Private Sector Experience
2. Private Sector Experience
3. Private Sector Experience

I don't actually agree with this. Honestly Duggan didn't really have much private sector experience either--the DMC was a non-profit until he was leaving, and Wayne County isn't the private sector either. Nothing wrong with private sector experience, but it's not essential. What I would like to see is successful administrative experience running a reasonably sized organization. The problem with someone like Mary Sheffield, whom I have nothing against, and who does have a public administration degree, is that as far as I can tell she's never run anything of any size or complexity, and I really don't think starting with Detroit is a good idea.

[Henry Whalley]

I'm not a fan of the free school lunches for every single student. It's socialism.

It's a medical fact that school children must eat because the brain requires energy to work properly. What's your excuse?

[Zacha341]

Duggan is one of four candidates for Governor's spot 2026:

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...r-race-so-far/

Saunteel Jenkins is starting her campaign for run...

https://www.instagram.com/bridgedetr...l/DE5AbAVMk8d/

[1953]

Private sector experience doesn't necessarily qualify one to run the public sector, which has a different set of incentives and goals than the private sector.

1953

[Henry Whalley]

Private sector experience doesn't necessarily qualify one to run the public sector, which has a different set of incentives and goals than the private sector.

Private sector experience is buffoonery, bankruptcy, bailout. Rinse and repeat.

[K-slice]

I don't actually agree with this. Honestly Duggan didn't really have much private sector experience either--the DMC was a non-profit until he was leaving, and Wayne County isn't the private sector either. Nothing wrong with private sector experience, but it's not essential. What I would like to see is successful administrative experience running a reasonably sized organization. The problem with someone like Mary Sheffield, whom I have nothing against, and who does have a public administration degree, is that as far as I can tell she's never run anything of any size or complexity, and I really don't think starting with Detroit is a good idea.

Non-profits can still go out of business, whish is to the point casscorridor was making. Duggan was also deputy County Executive for a decade, and while not private secor experience, is as close as you can get in the public secotor.

Let's say, expereince running and managing an organization that CAN fail [[unlike THAW or City Council) if it's not run well is the #1 qualification, and this experience is ALMOST exclusivly gained in the public secotor where far more accountability exists.

[casscorridor]

Detroit should be very worried. Good governance can't be taken for granted, and there are very few individuals who can govern effectively. Duggan inherited a bankrupt city in population free fall and has overseen a massive turnaround. The city now has investment grade credit rating and a population that has increased for the first time more than half a century. Looking around the neighborhoods, the changes might not be as visible as those Downtown, but he's established strong fundamentals on which to build upon beginning with fiscal responsibility. A less competent mayor could easily reverse this progress.

[Redesigned83]

I really hope people take a serious look at Fred Durhal [[if he officially announces). This seems like Mary's to lose but every time I've listen to Durhal I've liked his priorities

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Detroit should be very worried. Good governance can't be taken for granted, and there are very few individuals who can govern effectively. Duggan inherited a bankrupt city in population free fall and has overseen a massive turnaround. The city now has investment grade credit rating and a population that has increased for the first time more than half a century. Looking around the neighborhoods, the changes might not be as visible as those Downtown, but he's established strong fundamentals on which to build upon beginning with fiscal responsibility. A less competent mayor could easily reverse this progress.

Good point. Whoever becomes the next Mayor, also has to maintain a good working relationship with the Power Brokers who make things happen. Duggan didn't turn it around just by himself.

[stasu1213]

Good point. Whoever becomes the next Mayor, also has to maintain a good working relationship with the Power Brokers who make things happen. Duggan didn't turn it around just by himself.

I would like to see who these powerbrokers will endorse for Mayor. Sure one candidate had received a couple of thousands from one power broker. That doesn’t mean the powerbroker supported that candidate wholly

[Zacha341]

Well it can be argued that what Duggan has stood on [presented] as mayor will be his stance as governor:

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan: City will continue to work with ICE

Mayor gets blowback from migrant groups for using the 'i-word'

[Hypestyles]

Who are the Detroit Council of Baptist Pastors poised to endorse, if anyone?
I'm wondering how drastically will Duggan's allies split up when it comes to the latest mayoral race.
Who is going to advocate for change in the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners?

[Rocket]

Logic like that is why the U.S. will never join the rest of the world in offering universal healthcare.

Except that by "Offering" you actually mean mandating. That's the only way it can work. Those that CAN afford healthcare would never voluntarily enter a socialist system where they have to wait months to see a doctor. And there's no hope of paying for it if you don't force the better off to pay 2-3x normal for worse healthcare.

The median wait time for health care in Canada was 27.7 weeks in 2023.

You wouldn't be so in favor of socialist healthcare if it was YOUR child having a hard time breathing and they tell you they can squeeze you in 6 months from now.




We've been blessed with these years of having Mayor Duggan at the helm. I sure hope my fellow Detroit voters haven't yet forgotten the Kwamee days, and choose a candidate for their integrity and wisdom, and not how "hip-hop" they are.

[oladub]

Not directly related to Detroit except that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, now residing in Traverse City, might be Detroit Michigan's next Senator.

"In February 2025, Buttigieg announced he is considering a bid for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat, following Senator Gary Peters' decision not to seek a third term." -Politico

[Canadian Visitor]

Except that by "Offering" you actually mean mandating. That's the only way it can work.

You really ought not make assertions that are factually untrue, because you've done zero research and have zero understanding about how these things work.

Canada is not the only model of universal health insurance.

Germany guarantees healthcare coverage, but the care is delivered by the private sector with choice of provider.

They do this by mandating that unions/companies in each sector of the economy provide health insurance to their workers, but they can choose the insurance companies and providers they wish. Broad core coverage is similar, but each package is unique bases on workers needs/desires.

Britain and Australia both have state-funded/provided healthcare, and both have private systems in the alternative.

Even Canada is really 10 different provincial insurance systems. By and large, doctors are independent small businesses that bill the state insurer for providing service. I can see any family doctor I wish, or go to a walk in clinic and I can see any specialist I wish or go to any emergency ward.

The idea of this top-down, state directed scheme that decides everything is Fox News type nonsense.

Yes, the state decides what procedures are funded, broadly speaking, and what drugs are paid for, not on a case by case basis, but overall. The amount of money within the insurance system, along with block grants that fund core operations of hospitals to determine capacity and waits at some level, but those decisions are generally more local in nature on the details.

Those that CAN afford healthcare would never voluntarily enter a socialist system where they have to wait months to see a doctor. [/quote]

I can and do get a same-day appointment with my family doctor in Toronto for anything urgent, her practice [[multi-doctor) also does after hours care, weekend care and virtual care. If the matter is non-urgent [[routine tests, vaccinations, annual physical, the typical wait is 10 days to 2 weeks)

Now, it is true, that many people [[about 20%) lack a family doctor, for some, that's just cause they don't try; but for others, it is a doctor shortage and lack of practices taking on new patients. Typically, such people can and will get care from walk in clinics, failing that, they can go to an ER.

***

Your wait time assertion mixes all sorts of things up.

If your child is having difficulty breathing, that is an Emergency and they can and will be seen immediately. Not told to wait six months.

Six month waits do exist [[and longer) for some non-urgent procedures and patients. And yes, that is unacceptable and excessive.

But it has relatively little to do with being a universal insurance scheme, and more to do with a doctor shortage which the government caused by freezing medical school enrollment for a generation. Marginal under-funding, but more particularly a shortage of long term care beds, [[which has patients awaiting such care clogging up hospitals), as well as a system that's a bit sclerotic at times in terms of adapting to changes.

In respect of patients and care, just like in the U.S. patients are triaged. Broadly and over simplistically, you are ranked CTAS 1 - 5 based on your level of urgency.

1/2 means, immediate care now, its emergent, 3 is very soon/high urgency, and most patients in these categories are well served.

Our big issues are CTAS 4 and 5 patients, with visibly long waits for certain tests, low priority access to specialists, and waits for some elective surgery, such as knee/hip replacement.

On the above, if you can't walk, if you're that broken your CTAS 2/3, and you will not wait six months.

But if you can manage, and the pain can be treated, you may wait that long.

Here are the wait times for knee replacement in Ontario [[province-wide) [[this information is all public by the way)

Priority 4 Patients

Waited on average
126 Days


Priority 3 Patients

Waited on average
90 Days


Priority 2 Patients

Waited on average
44 Days



That, unfortunately reflects longer wait times in many small communities.....

In Toronto, if I wanted that surgery....these are the wait times currently at Mt. Sinai hospital:

3

Sinai Health System-Mount Sinai Site

600 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5G1X5
Distance: 1.1 km


Overall Wait 2


Priority 4 Patients


Waited on average
173 Days


Priority 3 Patients

Waited on average
25 Days


Priority 2 Patients

Waited on average
10 Days



Or I could get referred to Sunnybrook instead:

6

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

2075 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4N3M5
Distance: 9.3 km


Overall Wait 2


Priority 4 Patients

Waited on average
58 Days


Priority 3 Patients

Waited on average
11 Days


Priority 2 Patients

No surgeries
in reporting period

For more info, look here: https://www.ontariohealth.ca/public-...-times-results




****

Now....about the quality of care.....

The U.S. publication Newsweek ranks hospitals from around the world....

https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/wo...hospitals-2024

You'll find Toronto General at number 3 on the planet.

You'll also find Toronto's Sunnybrook at number 30, and Mt. Sinai at number 32 and North York General at number 47.

4 hospitals in the best 50 in the world in just one Canadian city.

Just so you know, not a single U.S. city has 4 hospitals in the world's top 50.

You might want to consider outcomes while you're at it....

I wonder if anyone has reported on the average lifespan of someone with with Cystic Fibrosis in Canada vs the U.S.......

Oh... that was the New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/w...e-disease.html

Average lifespan for CF in Canada - 49, in the U.S. 37

Ah....but what about the population at large you ask, so glad you did:

	Canada	United States
Life Expectancy at Birth in yearsa	79.7	77.2
Infant Mortality Rate, deaths per 1,000 live birthsa	5.4	7
Life Expectancy at Age 19 in years	60.6b	58.3b

****

So now... the first thing you've learned today is that you have no idea what you're talking about.

The second thing is how laziness and failure to do research can result in embarrassment when someone who does know lays the facts out.

The Canadian model is imperfect as is every model; that makes no excuses for problems here, we need to do better.

But for middle or lower income folks, the most systems out perform the U.S. based on outcome and based on cost.

[Canadian Visitor]

I'm not a fan of the free school lunches for every single student. It's socialism.

How do feel about the roads being free? I mean subsidizing people driving! That seems like a socialist plot doesn't it? What about the fire department being free or police? I mean shouldn't 911 ask for your VISA card?

Why should roads be free but transit require a fare? Why should health insurance for the elderly be mostly covered [[Medicare) but not for kids or working age adults? Why should you get to deduct the cost of mortgage interest off your income tax, but not the rent you pay your landlord?

Maybe, rather than socialist plot, its just a policy choice. No, the government can't pay for everything, nor do most people want it to pay for nothing.

But there's lots of space in between. Canada has generally lacked a national school lunch program, and political announcements by the outgoing Prime Minister notwithstanding, it still really doesn't.

On the other hand, some schools provide some meals, at-cost or free, or varying price by student.

Meanwhile the government of Canada pays a cash transfer to people called the National Child benefit, which is per child under the age of 18, and is on a sliding scale based on your income. For children under 6, the max payment is just shy of $7,800 CAD for children over 6 it maxes out at ~$6,600 per year.

The benefit starts going down when you hit ~37k in annual earnings going to zero when you earn about 200k.

***

The point of noting the above is to say there are different ways to resolve the issue, but it ought to be a priority of every person that every child is adequately fed.

[ABetterDetroit]

The Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. has thrown his hat in the ring…

[Lowell]

A classic dark horse candidate? Anybody know about him?

I learned of the entry of Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. as a mayoral candidate from ML Elrick's article in the Sunday Free Press. Never heard of him? Me neither.

The story sent me down an internet rabbit hole where I discovered a truly remarkable backstory. It starts with his 1998 being appointed a fading ministry of 100 parishioners down in Boynton that had begun in the 1920s. Since then, he has grown it to several congregations in and around Detroit and 40,000 members. It would seem he is a classic bootstrapper with apparently very impressive organizational skills.

I would guess he has a huge name recognition barrier to overcome, but, providing he has no major skeletons in his closets, his backstory, rise, and skills could seem impressive to deep-pocket supporters. And, at his base, is his large church membership with perhaps as many as 20K of them Detroit voters who could give him an edge in the increasingly crowded primary field.

I notice he has an ad out on YouTube but has less than 700 views after four days and I can’t find a campaign website, so his digital marketing seems a bit slow, but maybe his in-person appeal is where he is going.

This is not an endorsement because I don't know enough, but, all in all, he gets my selection as the most interesting and intriguing candidate so far and by far.

[ABetterDetroit]

I had heard of him but that’s about it. It sounds like he will be a formidable candidate not only with donations but with an all ready made army of volunteers from his parishioners.