What good did Kwame Kilpatrick do?

**jtf1972** · May-26-10, 11:47 PM

This is something I have been wondering for a few weeks.

I have been living away for the past decade, so my POV is a bit different from where it was when I lived in Detroit. When there I could point to both positive and negative things that came about due to Mayors Young & Archer. However, looking at Kilpatrick, I cannot point to a single thing that occurred on his watch that was a positive. Several positive things have been a part of the past decade, from the rebirth of Campus Martius & the Book Cadillac to the River Walk, but they always seem to have begun during Archer's administration or were projects he had been opposed to [[he had wanted to demolish the BC.)

In the only press conference I was able to sit and stomach, he lauded his accomplishments of repaving DFD driveways [[wasn't that a contract to his pal?) before passing the mic to the Fire Commissioner [[who then announced company closings & layoffs, leaving Mr. Mayor to avoid the negativity.)

Possibly the Dequindre Cut is the only thing I can think of... Is there anything else? A broken clock is right twice a day. Couldn't a broken mayor get two things right in nearly two terms? [[Which I still believe at least the 2005 election was rigged.)

**smogboy** · May-27-10, 12:10 AM

It's always a fuzzy line as to what he has direct involvement in doing. Sure, things like the Super Bowl came here during his tenure, but did he do anything other than be the guy at the door when the guests showed up? Who really knows? Lots of positive things happened during his regime [[I can still hear his voice at the Red Wings victory party at Hart Plaza saying "Wed Wings!"), but how many of them can he truly take credit for laying down the groundwork, making the phone calls, and negotiating for? I'm sure if you were to ask Kwame, he'd say that he was responsible for the sun coming up in the morning.

Politicians are always taking credit for all sorts of things their predecessors did, for things that were set into motion from a federal level, and for things that just fell into their laps. I'm sure the bulk of the leg work done by anyone at that level is probably done by a dedicated bunch of staffers, legal teams and civic leaders.

But for all the good that he might've done, the pain, embarrassment, national shame, and financial stress that he put on the City outweighs it all. Instead of being transformative, he truly lived up to being a leech and felt a sense of entitlement that this city just didn't need.

**kryptonite** · May-27-10, 07:01 AM

For starters, he 'did' Christine Beatty which got a lot of guys off the hook there.

Seriously, I thought he accomplished some very positive things early on. Some things I noticed: parks were better maintained, vacant lots were mowed, Eastern Market was cleaner than in past years, he was able to cooperate well with suburban leaders and I don't recall hearing any of the ubiquitous Coleman Young-type inflammatory anti-suburb racist statements from Kilpatrick.

Early on I thought he had potential to become an effective leader. Things obviously went horribly wrong. he is self-destructing and has ruined a potentially successful life for himself. He has made a high-profile loser of himself and has made the city even more of a laughing stock.

Luckily for him, there is Monica who may exceed his negative accomplishments.

**daddeeo** · May-27-10, 07:06 AM

Yeah, Kwame brought a lot of hope and excitement when he took office but he threw it all away. Hubris did him in.

**313WX** · May-27-10, 07:30 AM

When you really think about it, nothing, at least not without any help on the low.

**gnome** · May-27-10, 07:40 AM

Kwame did a terrific job during the massive blackout. He was everywhere keeping people calm and chilled out. A focused and respectful voice in a time of crisis. His performance during that time was truly impressive.

**Detroitej72** · May-27-10, 07:45 AM

Kwame's best accomplishment? Resigning.

Honorable mention: trying to electrocute Sharon McPhal.

**Detroitnerd** · May-27-10, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Kwame did a terrific job during the massive blackout. He was everywhere keeping people calm and chilled out. A focused and respectful voice in a time of crisis. His performance during that time was truly impressive.

He fronted well during the blackout, but he was essentially lying when he said all that, wasn't he? I found that if you examined what he said, it often wouldn't be borne out by the facts.

I also don't think he was instrumental in the Dequindre Cut. Seems like that was already in the works by various groups before he took office.

One decent move was the ordinance requiring gas station developers to re-use old gas station sites instead of gradually browning out lot after lot. That was sensible, I thought.

Retroit · May-27-10, 09:16 AM

Unfortunately one bad decision, which triggers further bad decisions, can overshadow all the good that a politician has accomplished. All the good that Richard Nixon accomplished when he was President is overlooked because of his decision to take part in the cover-up of the Watergate break-in.

**Danny** · May-27-10, 10:09 AM

What else Kwame did for the Detroit? NOTHING BUT THROWING STRIPPER PARTIES AT THE MANOOGIAN MANSION. Hiring his goon squads and firing long time Dennis Archer buddies and having text sex with Christine Beatty.

**agirlintheD** · May-27-10, 12:08 PM

What good did Kwame Kilpatrick do?

Went to prison.

**GOAT** · May-27-10, 12:13 PM

I agree with GirlintheD.

I mean really, he tainted everything he touched. From schools, police, DFD, administration and public works to even strippers.

I wonder who got paid what in the Book-Cadillac deal. Detroit may not even be able to climb out of the destruction the asshole brought the city.

Can the feds take over the city because even the state is all cocked-up [[previous DPS distasters show that).

**GOAT** · May-27-10, 12:14 PM

All the good King Kilpatrick did? What was that? With his bitch of a Mom screaming to defend "y'alls boy"; the whole family has fucked southeast Michigan without a kiss...just jam it in!

**agirlintheD** · May-27-10, 01:12 PM

Way to put things in perspective GOAT!!! I like the way you think!

**trotwood** · May-27-10, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by detroitej72

honorable mention: Trying to electrocute sharon mcphal.

rotflmao!!

**downtownguy** · May-27-10, 03:59 PM

He struck a deal to get the casinos off the riverfront. I still don't know what Archer was thinking when he did that.

**Johnlodge** · May-27-10, 04:23 PM

He finally got that median put in on Livernois that wasn't needed and nobody wanted. And I guess now won't be cut either.

**Lowell** · May-27-10, 04:54 PM

This sounds like 'Hitler made the trains run on time and created the VW beetle".

Whatever he did was far outweighed by the damage he did to to the City of Detroit and, by extension, to the region. His arrogance and behavior did have unintended positives. It brought on the magnifying glass of numerous investigations, many still unfolding, that are rooting out corruption and incompetence.

It is so sad. He had the potential for greatness but lacked the humility and sympathy that his suffering city needed.

So long 'Big Diamond'.

**detroitbob66** · May-27-10, 07:11 PM

He showed us what NOT to do...but he did pave some of the worst roads around the city of Detroit a few years back!

**Kevgoblue** · May-27-10, 09:28 PM

http://www.huliq.com/48238/detroit-m...se-sex-scandal

"Kilpatrick brought Detroitâ€™s budget into balance by reducing the City workforce by 25 percent, negotiating unprecedented concessions with City employee unions, sharply reducing overtime, cutting back on outside contracts and transferring operations of some City institutions to non-profit organizations."

And don't forget all the residents enjoying reduced property taxes, who live in the Neighborhood Enterprise Zones.

**agirlintheD** · May-27-10, 09:57 PM

[quote=Lowell;149978]
Whatever he did was far outweighed by the damage he did to to the City of Detroit and, by extension, to the region. His arrogance and behavior did have unintended positives. It brought on the magnifying glass of numerous investigations, many still unfolding, that are rooting out corruption and incompetence.

Lowell, "far outweighed" ....too funny....he far outweighed many things!

**firstandten** · May-27-10, 11:24 PM

In 2000 at the Dems convention, Kwame Kilpatrick and Barack Obama [[then Ill state senator) were touted as the new generation of Democratic politicans. You could have thought that KK had every bit of a chance to be as successful in politics as Barack. KK is every bit of a speaker as Barack [[maybe better, a good point for discussion). An excellent command of the political issues affecting Detroit

Barack used his talent, worked hard and in the process made his own breaks and had some luck which happens when you work hard.

KK on the other hand wasted his god given talents by being personally undisciplined, thinking he could continue to tell people what they wanted to hear to get out of jams instead of being accountable for his actions.

I get upset with KK like I get upset with the NFL Lineman who's a first round draft choice who eats himself out of the league, or the NBA player who can't leave the drugs alone. Wasting a god given talent instead of using the gift in a positive manner is what makes me angry.

**reddog289** · May-28-10, 12:00 AM

Well said First and Ten

**Kevgoblue** · May-28-10, 09:29 AM

What reddog289 said.

**Detroitnerd** · May-28-10, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

http://www.huliq.com/48238/detroit-m...se-sex-scandal

"Kilpatrick brought Detroitâ€™s budget into balance by reducing the City workforce by 25 percent, negotiating unprecedented concessions with City employee unions, sharply reducing overtime, cutting back on outside contracts and transferring operations of some City institutions to non-profit organizations."

And don't forget all the residents enjoying reduced property taxes, who live in the Neighborhood Enterprise Zones.

Sounds like a bunch of BS. He balanced the budget? Hahaha.