NYT op-ed questions Detroit's oligarch class

[Bham1982]

An issue is that the rich often overestimate their skills in subjects outside of their core compentencies.

Gilbert thinks he knows what he's talking about re. urban revitalization, just because he's been wildly successful in other aspects of his life. Outside of moving workers downtown [[which is obvious and self-evident) his ideas strike me as stupid [[curb-running shuttle trolleys, downtown auto-world attractions, deep subsidies for otherwise uninterested retailers).

[Gistok]

An issue is that the rich often overestimate their skills in subjects outside of their core compentencies.

Gilbert thinks he knows what he's talking about re. urban revitalization, just because he's been wildly successful in other aspects of his life. Outside of moving workers downtown [[which is obvious and self-evident) his ideas strike me as stupid [[curb-running shuttle trolleys, downtown auto-world attractions, deep subsidies for otherwise uninterested retailers).

Stupid as in being a visionary... versus being a conservative non-risk taking individual? Remember Henry Ford was thought insane for offering $5 a day for workers.... look who ended up being the smart on in that scenario.

Billionaires aren't billionaires because they're stupid....

[Bham1982]

Billionaires aren't billionaires because they're stupid....

Right, but billionires have very shaky track records outside their core competencies.

Henry Ford was a bigot who received the highest possible civillian honors from the Nazis. He also established the disasterous Fordlandia, in Brazil, and was terrible to his family.

I don't see why people think Gilbert knows anything about fixing cities just because he's knows a lot about other things.

[Gistok]

Right, but billionires have very shaky track records outside their core competencies.

Henry Ford was a bigot who received the highest possible civillian honors from the Nazis. He also established the disasterous Fordlandia, in Brazil, and was terrible to his family.

I don't see why people think Gilbert knows anything about fixing cities just because he's knows a lot about other things.

Ford's personal beliefs are a red herring in this issue... and even the very rich take risks that don't always work out... but they do take risks...

As for Gilbert's core competencies go... that's the nice thing about being a billionaire... you can hire the top talent available to advise and run things. 3 years ago Gilbert didn't know the first thing about Gambling Casinos... by this summer he will own and operate one in Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati respectively.

Gilbert was smart enough to hire General Motor's Matt Cullen, the man who engineered GM's move to the Renaissance Center, and the massive plan to overhaul Detroit's riverfront... and under Gilbert to facilitate the building 2 new Ohio casinos, as well as the future plans for Greektown Casino expansion into the Campus Martius area.

Say what you like about Gilbert's core competencies... but when you're the boss, and you have the smarts to hire the right people [[as William Clay Ford Jr. did with the hiring of Alan Mulally to run Ford)... I find your criticism at best... premature... Time will tell what's right and what's not... until then everything else is just conjecture.

[bailey]

Right, but billionires have very shaky track records outside their core competencies.

Henry Ford was a bigot who received the highest possible civillian honors from the Nazis. He also established the disasterous Fordlandia, in Brazil, and was terrible to his family.

I don't see why people think Gilbert knows anything about fixing cities just because he's knows a lot about other things.

+ 1 on that. Could add that the Fords have a really terrific record owning a sports franchise too.

Hopefully Gilbert does what good leaders do best, provide the vision and appoint competent lieutenants to carry it out.

[Gistok]

+ 1 on that. Could add that the fords have a really terrific record owning a sports franchise too.

Hopefully gilbert does what good leaders do best, provide the vision and appoint competent lieutenants to carry it out.

bingo!.................

[Detroitnerd]

bingo!.................

Really? The same old Detroit top-down mode gets a bingo?

What he should do is listen to what people want, listen to those who know how it's done in other cities, and copy what works. As for Gilbert's "vision," let's be realistic. This is America: His vision is one of making money.

[Gistok]

Really? The same old Detroit top-down mode gets a bingo?

What he should do is listen to what people want, listen to those who know how it's done in other cities, and copy what works. As for Gilbert's "vision," let's be realistic. This is America: His vision is one of making money.

What the heck are you talking about??

I gave a bingo to....

provide the vision and appoint competent lieutenants to carry it out.

[beachboy]

bingo!.................

Ditto!!

We all try new things - most don't work but, like doctors, we bury our mistakes. The things that do work can make life a lot better for all concerned .. or just for a few .. that's the way life is.

So for those who think billionaires are not good urban planners, or should be censured for making mistakes like Fordlandia - here's a question: Where would Detroit be without Mr. Ilitch and Mr. Gilbert? ... or without Mr. [[Henry) Ford?

[Hermod]

Right, but billionires have very shaky track records outside their core competencies.

Henry Ford was a bigot who received the highest possible civillian honors from the Nazis. He also established the disasterous Fordlandia, in Brazil, and was terrible to his family.

Henry Ford's Eagle Boat program for the Navy in World War One was also a total mess.

[j to the jeremy]

Right, but billionires have very shaky track records outside their core competencies.

Henry Ford was a bigot who received the highest possible civillian honors from the Nazis. He also established the disasterous Fordlandia, in Brazil, and was terrible to his family.

I don't see why people think Gilbert knows anything about fixing cities just because he's knows a lot about other things.

Never thought i'd agree with Bham on here !