Election Results - Good, bad or the same for Detroit? [City & Metro]

[Lowell]

Republicans have swept control of all branches of Michigan government, Governor, House, Senate and Supreme Court. I am curious to the opinion of the forum as to how this will affect Detroit and its family of communities.

Here are some I foresee:

1-The new governor should have a great opportunity to enact his vision in view of his party controlling all reigns of government and by eschewing radical [Tea Party] support he enters as a non-polarizing figure. To his credit he has shown awareness of the crisis of Detroit. But what can he really do?

2-With the incoming party promising billion dollar plus tax cuts and facing yet another billion and half dollar gap there will be absolutely no room to maneuver. Detroit and suburbs alike will be on their own and find no help or sympathy from Lansing. I expect municipal bankruptcies and consolidation of services to be an outcome.

3-The controversial film credit will come under heavy attack. It may be difficult to be rid completely but it will not remain the generous handout it has become. Since the benefits largely accrue to metro Detroit, that will be a minus for the region.

4-The DRIC will be under attack and the hand of Manny Moroun will be improved. Even with the Canadian offers to cover the costs, the politics surrounding this will stall any action and nothing will happen.

Good, bad or the same? The same.

Okay your turn...

[tarkus]

How can you say Mannys hand will be improved? He backed Bernero.

[Lowell]

The legislature will not put one cent into the DRIC at any level. Manny will point out that his will be self-financed, play up his 'American' credentials and land on his feet. This will stall the DRIC, effectively improving Manny's hand. Just my opinion and I hope I am wrong.

[BrushStart]

I think it all really depends on whether Rick takes a sensible, non-politcally polarized approach to problem solving. Most of the issues in Michigan are not really political until politicians get involved. If he can bring the republicans closer to the center, he might actually accomplish a lot that will benefit SE Michigan. I think the biggest thing Snyder can do is not back away from his campaign promise of restoring Michigan's central cities, in which he stated mass transit was a critical element. He needs to paint mass transit as not neccessarily only part of a liberal agenda, but can be part of a conservative one as well. That would really benefit Metro Detroit.

Municipal bankruptcies might actually be good for Metro Detroit in the long-term. Sometimes you have to clean house from time-to-time, even if the hand is forced. I think Snyder is definitely the guy who take what appears to be a bad situation and find the silver lining... at least that's how he comes off.

As far as the bridge is concerned, hopefully Snyder can push DRIC through a conservative legislature for the betterment of the state or, alternatively, mediate a negotiation between Canada and Manny. Either way, this is a great issue to practice non-partisan politics and actually get a bridge built. If I were Snyder, the bridge would be at the top of my agenda because it is a visibile, tangible accomplishment that he can put his name on, not only for historical purposes, but if he plans to run for re-election. Having a second bridge is popular with most of the voting public.

[Melocoton]

I agree that the DRIC will probably stall unless Snyder goes to the wall for it and twists arms. Manny backed Virg, but he also heavily backs the Republican leadership--he buys politicians on a bipartisan basis.

I don't rate Snyder's kind words for Detroit and cities. Don't all politicians [[even Republicans) say vague things like "In order for Michigan to be great, Detroit has to be great again blah blah," when they get elected? Now that the election is over, I don't expect to hear much more on it, at least not anything concrete.

So, of the three choices I say somewhere between "bad" and "same."

[yupislyr]

Talks are already underway between Canada and the US to push through an alternate plan if Michigan doesn't get on board.

"Feds mull alternate DRIC route"

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Feds...102/story.html

[jackie5275]

I think Snyder will find he's got alot of the system to learn come January. For someone who's not a politician or hasn't worked in any capacity at any level of government, this can take a full year. He's talked about concepts like best value budgeting and others like that which can work in the corporate world, but not in government due to too many statutes, policies, & procedures. We'll see how long he can go by being non-partisan.

If he acts like a true businessperson regarding Detroit, I can see receivership for it. However, I don't think he's brave enough to do it, at least not yet.

I expect the same for the first year. After that, I'll have to revisit my position.

[Stosh]

Talks are already underway between Canada and the US to push through an alternate plan if Michigan doesn't get on board.

"Feds mull alternate DRIC route"

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Feds...102/story.html

Good. You now know exactly where the bridge will be built, where Canada is preparing to build it. Maybe this will be what is needed to get this piss-ant government out here to wake up.

[bailey]

I think Snyder will find he's got alot of the system to learn come January. For someone who's not a politician or hasn't worked in any capacity at any level of government, this can take a full year. He's talked about concepts like best value budgeting and others like that which can work in the corporate world, but not in government due to too many statutes, policies, & procedures. We'll see how long he can go by being non-partisan.

If he acts like a true businessperson regarding Detroit, I can see receivership for it. However, I don't think he's brave enough to do it, at least not yet.

I expect the same for the first year. After that, I'll have to revisit my position.

What does he need to be brave about with regard to receivership? The only things standing between Detroit and receivership was granholm's pandering to a democrat stronghold and a democratic majority in the house. should be an easy call.

[swingline]

I think it all really depends on whether Rick takes a sensible, non-politcally polarized approach to problem solving. Most of the issues in Michigan are not really political until politicians get involved. If he can bring the republicans closer to the center, he might actually accomplish a lot that will benefit SE Michigan. I think the biggest thing Snyder can do is not back away from his campaign promise of restoring Michigan's central cities, in which he stated mass transit was a critical element. He needs to paint mass transit as not neccessarily only part of a liberal agenda, but can be part of a conservative one as well. That would really benefit Metro Detroit.

Rick Snyder understands that his vision for a "re-invented" Michigan is impossible without a thriving Detroit serving as an economic engine. The problem is, hardly any of the outstate Republicans that will be calling the legislative shots for the next few years agree with him.

Even though the state money that Detroit receives through revenue sharing has been dramatically reduced over the last 15 years, the city still receives many tens of millions of state dollars every year that fund a menagerie of Detroit-only programs. Literally every such dollar will be on the Republican chopping block when they [[probably belatedly) start paying attention to the epic $1.6 billion hole projected for the next fiscal year.

Republicans were able to cynically campaign on the patently false premise that the Gov. Granholm and Michigan Democrats were taxing Michiganders to death despite a 13% reduction in the number of state employees and a 16% reduction in the state general fund over the last ten years. Now, when they actually have to govern and pay for the cost of government [[not to mention all of the tax cuts that everybody apparently deserves) the freeloaders in Detroit are going to get everything cut off. All that entrepreneurship and opportunity for young people encouraged by Mr. Snyder [[and which almost always needs a successful urban center to thrive) will have to take a back seat to tax cuts for Baby Boomers and retirees in places like Brighton Township and Hillsdale.

Rest assured though, even when the budget slogging gets tough, the less government is better crowd that now controls Lansing will find the time to pass a few "tough on crime" measures that principally serve to prop up the inmate population numbers rather than our quality of life.

[rjk]

I don't rate Snyder's kind words for Detroit and cities. Don't all politicians [[even Republicans) say vague things like "In order for Michigan to be great, Detroit has to be great again blah blah," when they get elected? Now that the election is over, I don't expect to hear much more on it, at least not anything concrete.

In recent times has a republican gotten numbers above single digits in Detroit? A republican doesn't need to pander to Detroit to win an election.

[Novine]

Detroit is going to get hammered by the Republican supermajority. Expect major funding cuts in many areas like education and health and human services that don't mean much in Bloomfield Hills but are badly needed in Detroit. Bankruptcy for Detroit is right around the corner.

[thatguy123]

A republican doesn't need to pander to Detroit to win an election.

If people didn't understand that concept before they do now. Michigan is far from "solid blue" as people on this board kid themselves into thinking. The US House results prove that.

[Hypestyles]

now that the results are in-- GOP governor, atty. general, sec. of state, GOP majority in state senate and house.. I wonder will all the carping about 'liberal rule' in michigan cease.. probably not..
if the Michigan budget deficit isn't addressed.. if unemployment doesn't change drastically.. if foreclosures continue.. I wonder how much will be blamed on Dems "out there"...

Snyder has already named former Engler-ites to his cabinet.. any number of members of the legislature, as well as Johnson and Schuette, are neo-con idealogues.. Snyder's "compassionate conservative" pitch may not be long for this world.. Look how long it lasted with George W. Bush..

[belleislerunner]

I'm happy that Karmanos won for the WSU Board of Governors. Hopefully the deep pockets pay off for the campus.

Relative to Snyder, he made partner at a Big Six accounting Firm [[now there are only Four) in six years. Making partner at a Big Four firm is a feat in itself, and to do it in six years is unprecedented. With GOP help in the House, Senate and Court - I would expect him to make swift structural changes, that are based on objective and verifiable data [[as opposed to pandering to constituents). Someone has to make the tough decisions - swing the chopping axe - and I think he'll do it. Eight years of "accounting changes" and additional funding sources do nothing more than bandaid a bleeding tumor. We've been strung along long enough. I'm secretly pumped. Or not so secretly pumped =)

[Russix]

He has been called a pro-rail Republican. Unfortunately campaign speeches do not constitute a verbal contract.

[Gistok]

If people didn't understand that concept before they do now. Michigan is far from "solid blue" as people on this board kid themselves into thinking. The US House results prove that.

Where did you pick up that erroneous observation??

Even the most left leaning on this board concede that western Michigan is solid red, and the urban centers of eastern Michigan, while majority blue... also have a large number of independents, whose shifting loyalties usually determine the outcome of the state elections.

[bartock]

I think it all really depends on whether Rick takes a sensible, non-politcally polarized approach to problem solving. Most of the issues in Michigan are not really political until politicians get involved. If he can bring the republicans closer to the center, he might actually accomplish a lot that will benefit SE Michigan. I think the biggest thing Snyder can do is not back away from his campaign promise of restoring Michigan's central cities, in which he stated mass transit was a critical element. He needs to paint mass transit as not neccessarily only part of a liberal agenda, but can be part of a conservative one as well. That would really benefit Metro Detroit. .

Bullseye.

For as much as Snyder was critcized for not being specific enough with plans, he was specific in his desire to bring some cooperation to Lansing. I think it was a case of someone actually having the horse before the cart. Politicians can promise the moon and all sorts of specifics, but without any support, those specifics are simply pie-in-the-sky promises.

[Novine]

Poor Dave Bing, he's delusional. Changing residency requirements?

http://detnews.com/article/20101103/...-time%E2%80%99

That's not going to happen.

[Mr. Houdini]

Didn't Snyder say that he'd kill the Michigan film incentive if elected?

[Motor City Sam]

Poor Dave Bing, he's delusional. Changing residency requirements?

http://detnews.com/article/20101103/...-time%E2%80%99

That's not going to happen.

Shows just how out of touch Bing can be. No way in the world residency gets restored.

[Gannon]

There seemed to be little doubt of that.

[Motor City Sam]

Yesterday's election results just mean more bad times ahead for Detroit. Last time we had a Republican governor, we lost Recorder's Court, the Residency requirment, and had to hold a costly statewide election to get allow casinos after Engler bascially vetoed the Detroit city vote to allow them. Not to mention the closed mental heath clinics that put a bunch of patients out on the streets and increased the number of homeless in the City. Look for more of the same, especially with the GOP in power in the house and senate, too.

[Hermod]

Where did you pick up that erroneous observation??

Even the most left leaning on this board concede that western Michigan is solid red, and the urban centers of eastern Michigan, while majority blue... also have a large number of independents, whose shifting loyalties usually determine the outcome of the state elections.

Back in the 1950s, Soapy Williams used to win election as governor with majorities in three counties [[Wayne, Genessee, and Iron). All of the other counties in the state went for the Republicans.

[Stosh]

Poor Dave Bing, he's delusional. Changing residency requirements?

http://detnews.com/article/20101103/...-time%E2%80%99

That's not going to happen.

If he pulls that off, I would expect him to walk on water after that, for a encore.

If you change it for one, change it for all, then. All city employees.