Big Five talk cooperation, more

Source: Mackinac Policy Conference Coverage blog
By: Matt Roush, WWJ and the Great Lakes IT Report
Published: June 1, 2007

Detroit's county leaders and Windsor, Ontario officials pledged to support the One D regional development initiative during the so-called Big Five session Friday at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who's opposed some regional initiatives in the past, touted his county's efforts, including the eight-county Oakland County-run law enforcement information network CLEMIS and Automation Alley, which he started in 1999.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said that when it comes to regionalism, "We all need each other to be successful," and that the region needs to "share services and opportunities. I believe there are several more opportunities for regional cooperation."

Kilpatrick pointed out that Detroit "never would have joined Automation Alley 15 years ago because it's an Oakland County thing. We're in it now, let's market the region as a whole, as the next place to build your business in technology or alternative energy."

And Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said that there's simply no way metro Detroit will survive "unless we go to the world now as a region."

The leaders also backed efforts to create an "aerotropolis" between Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports. Ficano said the county came up with the plan after studying airports in Asia and Europe, prompting this barb from Kilpatrick, who's been criticized for his travel expenses: "It's good that you got to travel, Bob, to Amsterdam and Hong Kong to see all this. Because they don't let me travel, Bob. I'm glad you can bring it back for all of us ... Y'all can go anywhere you want. I gotta hop around in a circle."

As for expectations of unions in the state, Kilpatrick said state officials must emulate what Detroit has done, getting major concessions from labor groups and cutting $300 million from the budget, and some wins at binding arbitration. He also said Granholm has shown leadership and is "ready to attack some of the structural problems in the general fund." Other leaders said they believe that union leaders acknowledge that something has to be done with retirement and health care costs.

The crowd also responded with applause from a suggestion from WJR moderator Paul W. Smith to the effect that maybe term limits aren't such a great idea.

-- By Matt Roush