Judge sides with city council on Cobo Deal

LodgeDodger · April-09-09, 12:57 PM

http://freep.com/article/20090409/NE...l+on+Cobo+deal

City Council needs to change their minds...

diver1369 · April-09-09, 01:42 PM

The question that I haven't seen asked is who put the language in the Cobo deal that required City Council to approve it? I suppose it's only right that CC have a say in the deal, it's just too bad that since they were included in the deal that they weren't brought into the negotiations or at least consulted on a regular basis. I believe the CC vote could have easily gone the other way if the CC was respected instead of looked upon as an afterthought.

**detroit313** · April-09-09, 01:47 PM

Sad...

<313>

**irish_mafia** · April-09-09, 02:27 PM

If it were not for all the businesses downtown that will be hurt this stupidity, I would say screw em, they deserve what they get. Of course, the poor bastards that invested in all the hotels and associated businesses downtown don't deserve this crap.

Let's get it in Troy before Chicago takes the deal.

At this point in time, nobody is going to invest in the city, it will just go back to slum [[not a far leap) and the people who want to help will be held back until it goes into receivership.

LodgeDodger · April-09-09, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by diver1369

The question that I haven't seen asked is who put the language in the Cobo deal that required City Council to approve it? I suppose it's only right that CC have a say in the deal, it's just too bad that since they were included in the deal that they weren't brought into the negotiations or at least consulted on a regular basis. I believe the CC vote could have easily gone the other way if the CC was respected instead of looked upon as an afterthought.

Actually, Diver, they were. They even attended some of the planning meetings. They had the final say, but all those involved in the five years of discussions thought they were on board.

The council's rejection was political.

**Searay215** · April-09-09, 02:39 PM

Well you win Monica.....its all yours - You pay to fix, renovate and expand it....oh thats right you don't have any money.....too bad!!!! Time to move the Auto show to another venue....Thanks Monica, see if your husband will spring for some federal funds to do the job.

**firstandten** · April-09-09, 02:44 PM

All of the political theatre took away from legitimate questions the council had about the Cobo deal. Its just too bad the council couldn't have been more professional about it.

**Bobl** · April-09-09, 02:46 PM

A victory for Ms Conyers. A defeat for Detroit. Patterson will be looking to win the war, and bring the Auto Show and other events to Oakland County.
The problem is, it's not a game of one upmanship or a war. It might be the last chance to begin a sane, metropolitan approach to the region's problems.
Chicago will be glad to take the Auto Show, thank you, and the "us" vs "them" bullshit will continue from the Conyers people and the Patterson people.
Sad.

**sg9018** · April-09-09, 03:28 PM

Here is Patterson's response,

In-friggin’-credible!

"If they’re popping champagne corks in Detroit City Council chambers this afternoon, I would suggest to you it’s terribly premature. What City Council has done is overturn five years of hard negotiation that was Detroit’s last best chance to secure long term funding for Cobo Hall and frankly the North American International Auto Show.

"It is absolutely appalling to see what they’ve done to themselves. When Cobo Hall is shuttered like the nearby Ford Auditorium, City Council has nobody to blame but themselves for being so shortsighted.

"The legislation they defeated was the last best chance for Cobo Hall and the City of Detroit. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is; how badly I feel for the sensible citizens of the City of Detroit.

"I have no stomach, no appetite, no interest in going back to the table to rewrite a piece of legislation that would be satisfactory to Monica Conyers.

"When I get home from vacation, I’m going to call around to see if there’s any interest in attempting to move the venue of the North American International Auto Show to a site in the suburbs including Oakland County.”

and Cockrel will appeal the ruling.

**vintagesoul** · April-09-09, 03:46 PM

I hope Cockrel does appeal. I'm so tired of Monica's bs. She acts like a brat and wastes everyone's valuable time on her petty grudges.

I'm pretty sure negotiations wouldn't have gone on for 5 years if they didn't think they were going to get approval...that being said...I agree with the observance of politics in play here. Makes me want to scream.

Just another in a long line of poor embarrassing city-self-destructing behavior by our council. I cannot wait to vote for their replacements. [[only the obvious ones of course).

**thecarl** · April-09-09, 04:11 PM

besides cobo hall, is there a better venue for city of detroit's government to funnel money to whomever they please? *nobody* on council wants that meal ticket taken away. and of course, the books are in a state where they cannot be audited. even the $30M that kwame tacked onto the bond [[stole) without consulting the stakeholders is gone, and the regional leaders - to my knowledge - never made an issue of this during negotations. i know every city has corruption, but cripes, at least there's some results to go along with it. in detroit, you get the contract, then it doesn't matter if the work is done poorly, or not at all.

**President Sekou** · April-09-09, 04:15 PM

Oh well Detroiters deserve what they vote for. If I am the rest of the state I build a brand new shiny convention center outside of the city and take the auto show away simply for spite.

**Novine** · April-09-09, 04:49 PM

No one should be surprised by the outcome. The language of the state law and the legal precedents were airtight in favor of a decision for the City Council. Shame on state lawmakers for excluding the Mayor from this process and giving the Council veto power over this decision.

Patterson's talk of moving the Auto Show to OC is a lot of hot air. There's no private financing for a center as large as Cobo in the suburbs. There's no government financing for a center as large as Cobo in the suburbs. The owners of the existing center in Novi are not going to expand for a single show and there's not enough large shows that would come to Novi to justify the expansion for the rest of the year. There's no location in OC that can provide the hotel rooms for a show the size of the Auto Show or similar shows.

**3WC** · April-09-09, 04:52 PM

It seems there is such a simple remedy for you folks. Why doesn't the legislature just amend the law to require only the approval of the Mayor? What does the legislature care about this one way or another? Should be a 30 minute remedy.

Could it be that the legislature views Detroit as Comedy Central and mandated that the deal have Council approval just for laughs, knowing how the Council would address the proposal.?

**Crumbled_pavement** · April-09-09, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by 3WC

It seems there is such a simple remedy for you folks. Why doesn't the legislature just amend the law to require only the approval of the Mayor?

That's what I were wondering.

**softailrider** · April-09-09, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

No one should be surprised by the outcome. The language of the state law and the legal precedents were airtight in favor of a decision for the City Council. Shame on state lawmakers for excluding the Mayor from this process and giving the Council veto power over this decision.

Patterson's talk of moving the Auto Show to OC is a lot of hot air. There's no private financing for a center as large as Cobo in the suburbs. There's no government financing for a center as large as Cobo in the suburbs. The owners of the existing center in Novi are not going to expand for a single show and there's not enough large shows that would come to Novi to justify the expansion for the rest of the year. There's no location in OC that can provide the hotel rooms for a show the size of the Auto Show or similar shows.

Au contrare......Patterson says there's a one million square foot building that needs very little to get it up to par for the auto show, he says its on Centerpoint Parkway., near the Pontiac - Bloomfield Township border. I Live about 4 miles from there - I'm not sure what building he's talking about though.

Angry Dad · April-09-09, 06:23 PM

This is sad. I can understand why the judge sided with CC. I just can't understand where CC got their attitude. This is like somebody stopping a heart attack victim from getting CPR. Not that the victim was going to live for sure but they want to make sure that he dies.

**Novine** · April-09-09, 06:46 PM

".Patterson says there's a one million square foot building that needs very little to get it up to par for the auto show, he says its on Centerpoint Parkway., near the Pontiac - Bloomfield Township border. I Live about 4 miles from there - I'm not sure what building he's talking about though."

Let's say this building exists. Who's money is going to renovate it? Who's money is going to operate it? What hotels are the people visiting going to stay at? What shows other than the auto show would take place at this location that would keep it in operation year-round? Do you really believe that people are going to come from across the country and the world to attend shows at the Centerpoint campus? Just because LBP blows this hot air doesn't mean you should accept his word as gospel.

Angry Dad · April-09-09, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

".Patterson says there's a one million square foot building that needs very little to get it up to par for the auto show, he says its on Centerpoint Parkway., near the Pontiac - Bloomfield Township border. I Live about 4 miles from there - I'm not sure what building he's talking about though."

Let's say this building exists. Who's money is going to renovate it? Who's money is going to operate it? What hotels are the people visiting going to stay at? What shows other than the auto show would take place at this location that would keep it in operation year-round? Do you really believe that people are going to come from across the country and the world to attend shows at the Centerpoint campus? Just because LBP blows this hot air doesn't mean you should accept his word as gospel.

LBP is likely talking about a closed or soon to be closed GM assembly plant.

By the same token, why would people come to Detroit after some of the nonsense Monica spews?

**Novine** · April-09-09, 07:10 PM

"LBP is likely talking about a closed or soon to be closed GM assembly plant.

By the same token, why would people come to Detroit after some of the nonsense Monica spews?"

Sounds like a totally unrealistic conversion prospect.

Most people coming to Detroit don't sit around and read the latest ramblings from Monica and the rest of the city council. They come to attend a convention in an area where they can enjoy opportunities to eat, drink and see the local sights when they're not attending convention activities. Is that going to happen at the Centerpoint location? No.

Angry Dad · April-09-09, 07:23 PM

No other way to put it but those that throw a convention know what and who Monica is.

Cobo Hall the building doesn't matter anymore. It's her attitude.

Patterson likely could arrange a package to finance a new convention center. I doubt he wants to. Can't say that about city council.

Don't let your hate of Patterson obscure the incompetence of Detroit's elected elite.

LodgeDodger · April-09-09, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Angry Dad

This is sad. I can understand why the judge sided with CC. I just can't understand where CC got their attitude. This is like somebody stopping a heart attack victim from getting CPR. Not that the victim was going to live for sure but they want to make sure that he dies.

The council is anti-Cockrel. They're doing this to mess up his chances for Mayor. Think about it, he would have looked like the hero had the council passed the deal. I'm quite sure other factors are at work [[possible payola) but the objections were political.

Dear FBI: Keep digging.

LodgeDodger · April-09-09, 07:58 PM

New article in the FREEP says Bing is slamming Cockrel over the Cobo defeat.

Bing is quoted as saying:
"My opponent's failures have cost Detroit investment, job creation, tourism dollars and more,â€ Bing said in a statement. â€œThis development dramatically underscores the need for a change in the leadership of Detroit. We need leadership that can get the deal done."

Oh please! Bing wouldn't have had much better luck. The council would have picked any sort of reason to block any deal Bing could have brokered.

**R8RBOB** · April-09-09, 08:30 PM

First off, the judge in this case made the correct ruling. The state of Michigan gave City Council the ability to kill this deal and they did. I question the veto by Cockrel because I believe vetoes were used to kill a resolution, not approve it. That said, Cockrel should had secured the votes before the state signed off on this. He may not be the City Council president but he can still hobnob. Hell, if Kilpatrick can track down Barbara-Rose Collins at dinner to get her to vote to sell the tunnel, Cockrel could have done the same with this deal.

I am for a regional control of Cobo because Detroit can't afford it on its own. The state, Cockrel, Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne just have to go back to the drawing board.

As for Brooks' desire to move the Auto Show to Pontiac or anywhere else in Oakland County, dismiss this nonsense. Even if the folks from the Auto Show wanted to move it, it would be going to Chicago or perhaps Los Angeles. Comparing Pontiac to Chicago is like comparing a chick pea to a orange. It is Detroit or bust for the NAIAS.

**detroitbob** · April-09-09, 10:24 PM

IMHO, the 'fix' of Cobo Hall is another lipstick on the pig scenario. A new facility built near to downtown, on a site using some of the expanse of vacant land that surrounds downtown makes sense...the Cobo hall site is land locked and the Army Corp of Engineers already refused pilings to extend it over the river, a new city owned garage, opps, partially owned city garage, blocks crossing Congress St., going east over the Lodge doesn't seem to be in ther cards, although taking down the near diaster called the Hotel Pontch would make sense if this were a possibility. Remember, McCormick Place in Chicago is removed from downtown Chicago, and the Metro rail line that serves the complex is the most direct access along with sprawling parking which would obviously happen in a new facility built anywhere, including the burbs.

The area across from Motor City Casino makes sense as it is under-used. I'm sure that DTE would love to unload the facility they own over on on the Lodge...the Council is beyond help and the situation won't improve anytime soon. The tie in from downtown>midtown would be a boon to clean up a stretch of the city that has no real plans that I am aware of.

The sideshow called the Council will rock on doing degrees of damage that we can't imagine until, if, or when the Charter gets revised OR the city goes completely BUST and the State takes over. At this point that might be the best hope for a good housecleaning---and I never thought I would come to this conclusion, but after living in this town all my life and watching the decline accelerate to this point, it seems like this is the only way for any clean up to happen without more prolonged hijinks from Woodward and Jefferson. Is there something in the water down there? I remember Mary Beck and Jack Kelly were the butt of jokes, but their bickering and fighting pale by the currrent insanity.

The tragedy of the last Charter revision was the change of name, i.e. dropping 'Common' from the formal name.