At a City Council Candidate forum last night at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit, city council President Ken Cockrel Jr. said. “If you reduced my salary by 50%, I’m outta here. I can’t live off that.”
The question posed was “Do you support a 50% reduction in salary for Mayor, City Council, and City Clerk?” The question was meant to see just how far sitting and council candidates would go to save Detroit, and not themselves. Are you running for the people, or for the money? Are you for Detroit, or for personal gain? Ken Cockrel’s answer was very clear; he is in this for the money, not for the people. This job is public service. You are not suppose to get rich doing this job, you are suppose to help the citizens with this job. If you feel you can’t live off of $40,000 a year, then you should leave. Most people would to do what you do for ONLY $40,000 a year.
The mayor is asking people to reduce their salaries, but not that of his staff and other city officials such as city council, and city clerk. If you want your workers to take these cuts, you should also take a cut, a cut more than just 10%. I don’t want to hear how the Mayor is working only for a dollar, Dave Bing will not be Mayor forever and the next Mayor will receive this salary. I’m calling for a salary reduction of at least 30% for the top three offices in Detroit. Show the people you are at least willing to take a punch also, not just ask others to take a fall. Sacrifice is in order to maintain balance within the city budget. Cutting or reducing the salaries of the top offices will not balance the budget, but every cent count in these trying times and it will let others know that you stand with them and not against them.
Most of the other candidates were also against the 50% reduction, some offered other solutions to this budget problem. John Bennett said. “A 30% reduction in salary is enough.” While Fred Elliott Hall was the only candidate to out right agree with this 50% reduction in salary saying. “I have no problem with it.” Hall also goes on to say that he “would not reduce his personal budget.” as a council member, because he is for “giving jobs, not taking them away.”
As for the question “Did Mayor Bing’s cuts go to far or not far enough?” James Tate thinks Detroit need to find other way of generating revenue “instead of cutting jobs that affects families.” Tate also thinks Detroit should “offer naming rights to some of its public buildings.” much like Comerica Park. Gary Brown says “Don’t blame Dave Bing for the cuts that have to be made under his watch because of someone else’s administration.”
Attendetees for last night forum were: Jai-Lee Dearing, Gary Brown, JoAnn Watson, James Tate, Shelley Foy, John Bennett, Ken Cockrel Jr.
Late comers were: David Cross, Fred Hall, and Raphael Johnson.
No shows were: Charles Pugh, Brenda Jones, Saunteel Jenkins, Kwame Kenyatta, Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, Andre Spivey, Lisa Howze, and Mohamed Okdie. No show,no vote if you ask me.
If you couldn’t make it to the forum last night, be sure to watch the debates on WADL-TV (Channel 38) on Oct 15, 22, and 29. Vote Detroit.
The question posed was “Do you support a 50% reduction in salary for Mayor, City Council, and City Clerk?” The question was meant to see just how far sitting and council candidates would go to save Detroit, and not themselves. Are you running for the people, or for the money? Are you for Detroit, or for personal gain? Ken Cockrel’s answer was very clear; he is in this for the money, not for the people. This job is public service. You are not suppose to get rich doing this job, you are suppose to help the citizens with this job. If you feel you can’t live off of $40,000 a year, then you should leave. Most people would to do what you do for ONLY $40,000 a year.
The mayor is asking people to reduce their salaries, but not that of his staff and other city officials such as city council, and city clerk. If you want your workers to take these cuts, you should also take a cut, a cut more than just 10%. I don’t want to hear how the Mayor is working only for a dollar, Dave Bing will not be Mayor forever and the next Mayor will receive this salary. I’m calling for a salary reduction of at least 30% for the top three offices in Detroit. Show the people you are at least willing to take a punch also, not just ask others to take a fall. Sacrifice is in order to maintain balance within the city budget. Cutting or reducing the salaries of the top offices will not balance the budget, but every cent count in these trying times and it will let others know that you stand with them and not against them.
Most of the other candidates were also against the 50% reduction, some offered other solutions to this budget problem. John Bennett said. “A 30% reduction in salary is enough.” While Fred Elliott Hall was the only candidate to out right agree with this 50% reduction in salary saying. “I have no problem with it.” Hall also goes on to say that he “would not reduce his personal budget.” as a council member, because he is for “giving jobs, not taking them away.”
As for the question “Did Mayor Bing’s cuts go to far or not far enough?” James Tate thinks Detroit need to find other way of generating revenue “instead of cutting jobs that affects families.” Tate also thinks Detroit should “offer naming rights to some of its public buildings.” much like Comerica Park. Gary Brown says “Don’t blame Dave Bing for the cuts that have to be made under his watch because of someone else’s administration.”
Attendetees for last night forum were: Jai-Lee Dearing, Gary Brown, JoAnn Watson, James Tate, Shelley Foy, John Bennett, Ken Cockrel Jr.
Late comers were: David Cross, Fred Hall, and Raphael Johnson.
No shows were: Charles Pugh, Brenda Jones, Saunteel Jenkins, Kwame Kenyatta, Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, Andre Spivey, Lisa Howze, and Mohamed Okdie. No show,no vote if you ask me.
If you couldn’t make it to the forum last night, be sure to watch the debates on WADL-TV (Channel 38) on Oct 15, 22, and 29. Vote Detroit.
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