Martha Reeves Follow-up Tease

**Steve Wilson** · April-27-09, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by eastsidechris

Classic clip of the night:

Wilson points out that it is not a vacation break for council, and they were supposed to be hard at work on the city budget, yet here is Reeves in San Fran for a week, performing. He asks her if she has anything to say.

Her only response:
"This too shall pass."
....

I know this is a biblical reference but now could somebody please tell me what in the world she actually MEANT by that???

Ravine · April-27-09, 10:49 PM

Oh Steve, we are pretty sagacious, here on DY, but I doubt that even the most keenly insightful, among us, is self-confident enough to take a stab at deciphering Reeves' remark.

Heh. Someone mentioned code-speak. No other language, not even Chinese, comes in so many wildly different dialects.

diver1369 · April-27-09, 11:27 PM

Steve Wilson got the documentation showing how people were paid but there was no proof shown that they weren't doing work for the pay. He only had the word of Ms. Chamber's. I believe he'll need more than what he's shown to interest the Feds. Hopefully, the primary election in August will make all the bad actors go away.

As far as Ms. Reeves "This will pass" comment, I believe she's referring to Steve Wilson's perceived harassment of her.

Mista Alan · April-27-09, 11:44 PM

Yeah no evidence...except that whole sworn statement thing. Oh wait!

http://www.wxyz.com/news/story/WILSO...pxb6WiGiQ.cspx

**R8RBOB** · April-28-09, 12:59 AM

This is why you don't elect entertainers to public office. I don't fault Ms. Reeves for wanting to perform. I fault the people who elected her to office. I hope Detroiters will do the right thing and allow Ms. Reeves continue to perform without her day job.

Retroit · April-28-09, 08:01 AM

"This too shall pass."

Translation: "Despite having my corruption brought to their attention repeatedly, I believe the people of Detroit are so stupid that they will actually vote for me again."

**gnome** · April-28-09, 08:05 AM

Good job Steve. Thanx for holding their feet to the fire.

I do wonder though, Steve, what is more difficult ... finding crooked politicos or deciding which one to go after?

LodgeDodger · April-28-09, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Good job Steve. Thanx for holding their feet to the fire.

I do wonder though, Steve, what is more difficult ... finding crooked politicos or deciding which one to go after?

Oh, let me answer for Steve! I'm quite sure the difficulty lies in deciding which. Afterall, you can't swing a dead cat in this town without hitting a crooked politician!

Okay, I'll now stop speaking for Steve!

diver1369 · April-28-09, 10:52 AM

When Scott Lewis busted Alonzo Bates for padding his payroll with his girl friend and her daughter, he had actual timed video footage of each person on another job or in another city during the time they were supposed to be working for Mr. Bates. I didn't see that last night. What I saw was a dust-up over a timekeeping issue and the alleged use of racial epithets against Ms. Chambers. Her case will depend on the testimony or statement of the other white employee under Ms. Reeves employ. Perhaps if Steve Wilson had spent more time tracking Mr. Council and Mr. Stevens during their "normal" work day rather than employ the ambush interview he did in San Francisco, he'd have more of a case. Until then, this may play to those with a bias but I doubt whether it will stand up in a court of law where the level of proof is higher.

detmich · April-28-09, 10:56 AM

Why would anyone be angry at the media for demonstrating how dysfunctional Detroit's government is? How about applauding local media for shedding light on a sad, sad situation.

**carman** · April-28-09, 12:26 PM

Here is why the anger detmich.

If you are African-American, reside in Detroit and do something wrong, it is not good. However, if you are African-American, reside in Detroit, do something wrong and are called out by a Caucasion, it is now good. The perpetrator of this deed has now earned a Badge of Honor. This Badge earns votes. This Badge also allows the use of the Race Card which in turn incites anger.

Retroit · April-28-09, 05:29 PM

Good point, carman. But I wonder: why aren't blacks calling out blacks [[or at least not as much as they should)? I ask this sincerely: are blacks not as concerned about these things as whites? Is corruption thought of as an acceptable way of conducting business? Are corrupt black city officials thought of as more powerful the more outrageous their behavior is? Is any black person in power given a blank pass simply because the skin color matches?

I know I'm probably starting the Race Riot of 2009, but I really am just trying to understand why Detroit is so damned dysfunctional?

And I readily acknowledge that there are many good, intelligent black Detroiters.

**mikeinmotown** · April-28-09, 10:18 PM

As a white Detroiter, I am so tired of hearing the race card. The investigation of Martha Reeves, who by the way lives in my building, has nothing to do with race and everything to do with another city employee, who is paid by me a taxpayer, stealing from my city. Reeves is a very nice person. Very nice. But that is no excuse to steal my tax dollars. Reeves needs to be investigated and if found guilty, go to jail. Detroiters must wake up and stop electing people by name only. Remember Colman Young Jr. changed his name from Joel Loving. He did it just to get our votes. Hey it worked didn't it. Wake Up Detroit.

**kraig** · April-29-09, 08:06 AM

Was there anything illegal about Martha Reeves performing in San Francisco? I can see being upset with the time sheet issue. But, if she is off performing and making money on her own, legally, there shouldn't be a problem. This is still America.

**carman** · April-29-09, 08:11 AM

Not sure about the legality of the situation and quite frankly don't care about that. My point is that when the story breaks, Detroiters are upset with her. As soon as a Caucasion calls her out, Detroiter rush to her back and are suddenly not upset with her anymore. What changed in what she did to now remove the issue. My guess is nothing, but she earned the "Badge of Honor".

**kraig** · April-29-09, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by carman

Not sure about the legality of the situation and quite frankly don't care about that. My point is that when the story breaks, Detroiters are upset with her. As soon as a Caucasion calls her out, Detroiter rush to her back and are suddenly not upset with her anymore. What changed in what she did to now remove the issue. My guess is nothing, but she earned the "Badge of Honor".

I'm still not going to support her in the fall. I didn't support her the first time either. It's not even a "Badge of Honor" issue, but, just stick to the substance of the issue. If the problem is the abuse of taxpayer dollars, stick with that. That's the illegal issue, not her earning an honest buck. Steve Wilson needs to state what's wrong, not imply or insinuate that something is wrong. That's just sensationalist journalism. I want facts.

**SWMAP** · April-29-09, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by kraig

Was there anything illegal about Martha Reeves performing in San Francisco? I can see being upset with the time sheet issue. But, if she is off performing and making money on her own, legally, there shouldn't be a problem. This is still America.

Council has weeks and weeks off every year. Those weeks are when Martha Reeves should schedule her concerts. She should not be in san francisco for a week moonlighting when Council is in session and purportedly working. She is being paid to be here and she is being paid to be there. Isn't that what those DPS building engineers were just fired for doing?

**kraig** · April-29-09, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

Council has weeks and weeks off every year. Those weeks are when Martha Reeves should schedule her concerts. She should not be in san francisco for a week moonlighting when Council is in session and purportedly working. She is being paid to be here and she is being paid to be there. Isn't that what those DPS building engineers were just fired for doing?

City Council was on recess when she went.

**SWMAP** · April-29-09, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by kraig

City Council was on recess when she went.

So, Reeves did not miss any council sessions to do this gig?

**kraig** · April-29-09, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

So, Reeves did not miss any council sessions to do this gig?

Not that I'm aware of. Unless they held a special session that was not previously scheduled. If you notice, Steve Wilson never stated that she was missing meetings. He implied that by questioning whether she should be at home working on the budget.

LodgeDodger · April-29-09, 11:10 AM

This is a little like closing the gate after the horses have gotten out, but the next charter needs to have a moonlighting clause.

Mista Alan · April-29-09, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by kraig

Not that I'm aware of. Unless they held a special session that was not previously scheduled. If you notice, Steve Wilson never stated that she was missing meetings. He implied that by questioning whether she should be at home working on the budget.

Actually Kraig you are incorrect. While council did not officially meet at the table, members were instructed by the mayor--and agreed at the table--that this week would be used to study the budget proposals made on Monday. There are many days out of the year when council doesn't meet at the table...however, members are still expected to show up to work. In this case, they had a specific, important task.

**detroitbob** · April-29-09, 09:52 PM

even if they were locked in a conclave [[like the cardinals during a papal election) and forced to study the budget proposals till they eyes swelled shut, I doubt it would help the majority of this bunch understand what the city [[or state) is up against. The fact that the mayor instucted them to work at this task means nothing. I doubt Ms. Reeves just booked this gig...it was probably arranged to months ago. Was Barbara Rose one of her back up singers...I figure since Martha backed up her version of Onward Christian Soldiers, turnabout was fair.

<members were instructed by the mayor--and agreed at the table--that this week would be used to study the budget proposals made on Monday. There are many days out of the year when council doesn't meet at the table...however, members are still expected to show up to work. In this case, they had a specific, important task.>

**kraig** · April-30-09, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Mista Alan

Actually Kraig you are incorrect. While council did not officially meet at the table, members were instructed by the mayor--and agreed at the table--that this week would be used to study the budget proposals made on Monday. There are many days out of the year when council doesn't meet at the table...however, members are still expected to show up to work. In this case, they had a specific, important task.

How am I incorrect? My response was that Council did not have any scheduled meetings, and they didn't have any meetings. That's correct.

**Steve Wilson** · April-30-09, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by diver1369

When Scott Lewis busted Alonzo Bates... Perhaps if Steve Wilson had spent more time tracking Mr. Council and Mr. Stevens during their "normal" work day rather than employ the ambush interview he did in San Francisco, he'd have more of a case..

Oh puh-leeeeze. First, I am not the police. I am not trying to build a prosecution, I'm producing a news report. Having watched the councilwoman and her aide Mr. Council on numerous occassions--did you SEE the earlier reports of him driving her to night clubs and casinos???--and then receiving documention of his claims to actually be working, coupled with statements from insiders who say he was not...and oh, I did mention the sworn statement that is the basis of the lawsuit, right?...all that together was more than enough for a reasonable news report.

And once again, "ambush interview" is a misnomer here. An ambush is when somebody you don't know, surprises you at time and place you don't expect to encounter them, for a purpose you are not aware of. Ms. Reeves had repeatedly refused requests for an interview, or even a telephone conversation after I had called, identified myself and my purpose. Ambush does not apply. I prefer to call these things "unscheduled accountability sessions" which generally happen only when a public figure refuses to schedule a time to address issues.