Thank You, Mayor Bing, for confirming some suspicions...

[R8RBOB]

For every Michael Bloomberg, you get Dave Bing. Bing was way over his head and I don't fault him for that. Detroit is a huge responsibility and Bing realized that Detroit was no Bing Steel. We should have known that Bing was in trouble when he kept a number of the Kilpatrick people on-board including Karen Dumas. Bing was an outsider from the streets of Franklin and he needed insiders to help him with the job. Dumas saw first-hand how "Queen B" Beatty showed her authority and she want her taste.

[kraig]

For every Michael Bloomberg, you get Dave Bing. Bing was way over his head and I don't fault him for that. Detroit is a huge responsibility and Bing realized that Detroit was no Bing Steel. We should have known that Bing was in trouble when he kept a number of the Kilpatrick people on-board including Karen Dumas. Bing was an outsider from the streets of Franklin and he needed insiders to help him with the job. Dumas saw first-hand how "Queen B" Beatty showed her authority and she want her taste.

Just for the record, Dumas was gone when Bing took office, he brought her in. 100% agreement with everything else. And I'm willing to bet that Snyder isn't too happy with the exposure of he and Bing's machinations. This will effect his credibility as well.

[bartock]

Just for the record, Dumas was gone when Bing took office, he brought her in. 100% agreement with everything else. And I'm willing to bet that Snyder isn't too happy with the exposure of he and Bing's machinations. This will effect his credibility as well.

I don't think this has any affect on Snyder's credibility.

As for the female thing, the problem that I have with several of the sound bites put forth in this thread is that Mr. Henderson noted that, as of now, no one has accused anyone else of a more than plutonic involvement between Bing and Dumas. I agree with most of what R8RBOB says and what Mr. Henderson said about Dumas. It appears that they were/are in over their heads. The Kwame comparison goes directly to a character issue that doesn't appear to exist.

[kraig]

I don't think this has any affect on Snyder's credibility.

As for the female thing, the problem that I have with several of the sound bites put forth in this thread is that Mr. Henderson noted that, as of now, no one has accused anyone else of a more than plutonic involvement between Bing and Dumas. I agree with most of what R8RBOB says and what Mr. Henderson said about Dumas. It appears that they were/are in over their heads. The Kwame comparison goes directly to a character issue that doesn't appear to exist.

The effect I see this having on Snyder's credibility is that the media is going to press him for information and details on what he and Bing did agree to. Right now, Snyder's Rep and Robert Bobb are pulling a Kwame and making statements in response to what has been put out while not directly addressing them. Such as Bobb stating that he never met with Bing about the issue. Which doesn't answer the question of whether he ever met with a Rep for Bing over the issue. In Snyder's case, his Rep stated that, while talked about, the idea of giving direct control to Bing over DPS was turned down. But, when given some thought, it doesn't directly answer if Kirk Lewis was the indirect way of giving Bing control of DPS.

There are a lot of State Reps and Senators that voted for the new EFM legislation based upon information that was provided by Snyder and Bing in tandem. If all of that work was altered based upon Dumas running the Mayor, it messes with Bing's credibility because it makes him appear weak and ineffectual and it messes with Snyder's credibility because it signals a lack of follow through on his part to let the deal unravel. To the State Reps and Senators, it was Snyder's responsibility to see things through on the state's end.

For example, Governor Grnaholm suffered credibility issues when she couldn't deliver on the billionaire that wanted to give 250 million to Detroit schools and Ken Cockrel's credibility suffered greatly when he couldn't deliver the Cobo deal after promising the Reps and Senators that he could.

Not delivering for your constituency is one thing. Not delivering for those that you make deals with, whether it's above board or under the table, is something else. So whereas Snyders credibility with the general public may not take too much of a hit, his credibility with the backroom deal making crowd will.

[R8RBOB]

The effect I see this having on Snyder's credibility is that the media is going to press him for information and details on what he and Bing did agree to. Right now, Snyder's Rep and Robert Bobb are pulling a Kwame and making statements in response to what has been put out while not directly addressing them. Such as Bobb stating that he never met with Bing about the issue. Which doesn't answer the question of whether he ever met with a Rep for Bing over the issue. In Snyder's case, his Rep stated that, while talked about, the idea of giving direct control to Bing over DPS was turned down. But, when given some thought, it doesn't directly answer if Kirk Lewis was the indirect way of giving Bing control of DPS.

Theory: The governor's office approached Bing and suggested that he take over as EM for DPS. As an incentive they will make him the EM for Detroit and push to change the EFM law so that the mayor could remove the school board and city council thereby giving him sole authority. Bing liked the idea of EM for Detroit but could not come out publicly and say he wanted it because he would be labeled by the citizens as a dictator. He did not want control of the schools because DPS is so broken, it would take a god to fix that mess. Bing offered an alternative: put my man as DPS EM and make me CofD EM.

One thing people have to remember is that Gary Brown was trying to come up with another alternative: give the mayor EM-like powers but keep the council. This would imply that word got out that the mayor was negotiating to become EM and Brown was angling to keep his job.

[kraig]

Theory: The governor's office approached Bing and suggested that he take over as EM for DPS. As an incentive they will make him the EM for Detroit and push to change the EFM law so that the mayor could remove the school board and city council thereby giving him sole authority. Bing liked the idea of EM for Detroit but could not come out publicly and say he wanted it because he would be labeled by the citizens as a dictator. He did not want control of the schools because DPS is so broken, it would take a god to fix that mess. Bing offered an alternative: put my man as DPS EM and make me CofD EM.

One thing people have to remember is that Gary Brown was trying to come up with another alternative: give the mayor EM-like powers but keep the council. This would imply that word got out that the mayor was negotiating to become EM and Brown was angling to keep his job.

That's a very good theory. Once all of the information comes out, your theory will pretty much be a fact. The only difference, in my opinion, is that Bing probably approached Snyder first. But that's neither here nor there.

[R8RBOB]

That's a very good theory. Once all of the information comes out, your theory will pretty much be a fact. The only difference, in my opinion, is that Bing probably approached Snyder first. But that's neither here nor there.

I could accept Bing going to the governor pushing his boy for the job. Bing knew the residents wanted the mayor's office take over the schools but Bing per se didn't want the job of managing the schools so he could have suggested Kirk Lewis.

[swingline]

Several comments in this thread have painted Ms. Dumas as some sort of incompetent holdover from the Kilpatrick friends and family era who is perpetuating that administration's corruption and lack of integrity. That is an inaccurate picture.

First of all, Ms. Dumas had left city government [[Director of Cultural Affairs Dept.) by the time Mayor Bing appointed her to the Director of Communications position. Second, her appointment by Kilpatrick was considered by many a good one. It was not political patronage. By the time she was appointed by Kilpatrick, Ms. Dumas was well known locally and had established a successful track record for the past 20 years as a public relations, communications and political consulting professional. Public relations and communications are two very important substantive areas to the successful promotion of Detroit's cultural amenities and assets. More important probably than museum or curator experience. In other words, she was not some corrupt Kilpatrick lackey given a cushy, no-work job.

Third, her experience and background perfectly fit the communications position for which Mayor Bing hired her.

Having said all that, there appears little doubt that after she arrived in the Mayor's office she became the source of some serious dysfunction. Mayor Bing's failure to deal with this problem reflects very poorly on him as Stephen Henderson has articulated. Indeed, this could be an administration-killer.

[bartock]

The effect I see this having on Snyder's credibility is that the media is going to press him for information and details on what he and Bing did agree to. Right now, Snyder's Rep and Robert Bobb are pulling a Kwame and making statements in response to what has been put out while not directly addressing them. Such as Bobb stating that he never met with Bing about the issue. Which doesn't answer the question of whether he ever met with a Rep for Bing over the issue. In Snyder's case, his Rep stated that, while talked about, the idea of giving direct control to Bing over DPS was turned down. But, when given some thought, it doesn't directly answer if Kirk Lewis was the indirect way of giving Bing control of DPS.

There are a lot of State Reps and Senators that voted for the new EFM legislation based upon information that was provided by Snyder and Bing in tandem. If all of that work was altered based upon Dumas running the Mayor, it messes with Bing's credibility because it makes him appear weak and ineffectual and it messes with Snyder's credibility because it signals a lack of follow through on his part to let the deal unravel. To the State Reps and Senators, it was Snyder's responsibility to see things through on the state's end.

For example, Governor Grnaholm suffered credibility issues when she couldn't deliver on the billionaire that wanted to give 250 million to Detroit schools and Ken Cockrel's credibility suffered greatly when he couldn't deliver the Cobo deal after promising the Reps and Senators that he could.

Not delivering for your constituency is one thing. Not delivering for those that you make deals with, whether it's above board or under the table, is something else. So whereas Snyders credibility with the general public may not take too much of a hit, his credibility with the backroom deal making crowd will.

OK I can see this.

[bartock]

I don't think this has any affect on Snyder's credibility.

As for the female thing, the problem that I have with several of the sound bites put forth in this thread is that Mr. Henderson noted that, as of now, no one has accused anyone else of a more than plutonic involvement between Bing and Dumas. I agree with most of what R8RBOB says and what Mr. Henderson said about Dumas. It appears that they were/are in over their heads. The Kwame comparison goes directly to a character issue that doesn't appear to exist.

Mea culpa on the mistake. Platonic.

Some ass on another web place pointed it out.

I've signed up on more than one occassion, but can't or won't get activated by the administrator.

Since obviously this is read over there, and since I can't get activated to address it in the proper place, a hearty F-you to Ya Mar.

[Danny]

KING BING has done his thing! Thanks the whistleblower of his former aide, The secret meeting to have BING, Dictator of Snyder's recievership kingdom is OUT! Our failed Black Detroit leaders still doing Satan's work!

WORD FROM THE STREET PROPHET


Offensive foul on DAVE BING! The former aide will shoot two.

NEDA. I MISS YOU SO.

[R8RBOB]

This story is gaining traction because Collins' lawsuit is providing a "fill in the blanks" for the public. Earlier this year, the media was reporting that Kirk Lewis was going to be the new EFM [[now EM) for DPS. The mayor knew the public wanted the mayor's office have a say in the future of DPS but Bing didn't want it the authority directly so he offered the next best thing: his boy. Then it was reported that Lewis had resigned from the city. The idea planted by the press was that he was taking the EM job, but in reality he was fired by the mayor after Dumas told him it would kill him. Afterwards, the media was alerted that Bing's office went to the governor to tell him not to consider Lewis which validates that there was a deal to place Lewis as the EM with both Bing and Snyder's blessing but Bing's backbone told him no and then he had to go to the governor and tell him choose someone else.

Mr. Bing is starting to attract that Kilpatrick funk that made the former mayor smell like a skunk.