 
Ltorivia485
Member
Username: Ltorivia485
Post Number: 3010
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 - 11:44 pm: |    |
Please excuse me if this poll has already been conducted on this board. I came back to post on DetroitYes! because I am fed up with what is happening to the image and future development of the city of Detroit. If you try to travel anywhere and tell someone you're from Detroit, you get stares, bewilderment, and flat-out shock from some folks wondering what the heck is wrong with the state. Logic doesn't seem to apply here because previous scandals have ended with resignations of public officials within 48 hours. This poll is probably too early to judge, but I want to hear from everyone. In your opinion, who has been the worst mayor of Detroit?
A. Coleman A. Young
B. Kwame Kilpatrick
My opinion? I think Young stayed in office too long and stifled regional relationships socially and economically. However, I never thought Kilpatrick would surpass him in the level of corruption and arrogance. He's making Young's legacy look better as the weeks progress with this scandal. |
Richard_bak
Member
Username: Richard_bak
Post Number: 217
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 12:01 am: | |
KK is easily the worst mayor to come along in decades, the most corrupt and arrogant since Charles Bowles became, in 1930, the first mayor of a big city ever recalled from office. That's saying something. We've had other shnooks and crooks, but KK comes across as an authentic street thug.
I believe many people, if they look at Young objectively, will say he was a good mayor for the first couple terms but then fell victim to his own hubris. While doing a magazine piece in 1985 (or was it '86?), I followed him around one day as he campaigned for his fourth term. I went into the assignment expecting to dislike the guy but came away liking him. He was easily one of the most charismatic people I've ever met. And his autobiography, "Hard Stuff," ghost-written by Lonnie Wheeler, is a helluva read.
The MFIC---for better or worse, that was Coleman Young. |
Lodgedodger
Member
Username: Lodgedodger
Post Number: 258
Registered: 05-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 5:10 am: | |
KK |
Zrx_doug
Member
Username: Zrx_doug
Post Number: 411
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 6:17 am: | |
They are both crooked, but Coleman was GOOD at it..
I'll give my vote for "worst" to Kwame. |
Mrsjdaniels
Member
Username: Mrsjdaniels
Post Number: 1107
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 9:39 am: | |
I think that it is a tie...I def believe that both have had a harmful impact on the city.
Think about it, we have all the pieces to be great and we aren't for some reason.
1. We are an international port yet we don't exploit our resources.
2. We have an in city island that has become nothing more than a hang out for teenie boppers.
3. We have a TIER 1, PACE research institution in the middle of the city that has open admission policies...everybody in the frickin city should have at least an Associates.
4. We've got the best hustlers in the world who continue to hustle for the devil, not God.
I just don't get it. I was telling my husband the other day, as we watched some b-roll of Chicago on HGTV...I said "that's how you do corruption" |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 3367
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 11:06 am: | |
Easily Kilpatrick. I agree with Richard_bak.
Coleman was a victim of his era as much as anything else. Kwame is a victim of his own arrogance. |
Wally
Member
Username: Wally
Post Number: 471
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 11:09 am: | |
I vote Kwame. As far as I know, Young never went to jail. |
Firstandten
Member
Username: Firstandten
Post Number: 251
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 11:09 am: | |
Plus Coleman never went to jail. People went to jail on Coleman's behalf. |
Wally
Member
Username: Wally
Post Number: 472
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 11:11 am: | |
People died on Kwame's behalf. Whoops, those are just rumors. |
Detroitplanner
Member
Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1802
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 11:59 am: | |
I could never understand people's problem with Young. Grass was cut, cops would come, the budget was balanced. I think a lot of what you hear is legend based the fact that the City was in a position of struggling with racism and the impact of the shrinking population (this started in the 1950's folks).
He was certainly no saint, but there are far worse. |
Detroitrise
Member
Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 3308
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 12:03 pm: | |
^Agreed.
Coleman Young had nothing but good intentions for the city of Detroit. Of course, we can't ignore the fact the city lost over 500,000 people & most of its tax base during his administration (white middle class).
So KK is definitely the worst. |
Mayor_sekou
Member
Username: Mayor_sekou
Post Number: 2475
Registered: 09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 12:04 pm: | |
Coleman was really only hated by suburbanites, which makes him forever popular with some Detroiters, but Kwame may be hated by everyone for letting the world know how big of a shithole Detroit really is. |
Jcole
Member
Username: Jcole
Post Number: 3136
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 12:06 pm: | |
The only reason Hizzoner CAY didn't go to jail was that he was good at being slippery. Kwame isn't as good. Look back at some of the scandals. |
65memories
Member
Username: 65memories
Post Number: 598
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 2:55 pm: | |
After Kilpatrick, Charles Bowles is the worst Mayor, followed closely by Albert Cobo. |
Eastsidedame
Member
Username: Eastsidedame
Post Number: 518
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 9:11 pm: | |
Yah, what Jcole said.
KK, first, then Young, & Bowles. The Traitorous Trio. Boo hiss.
KK & Bowles just got caught. Young is second because he didn't get caught and more time to mess Detroit up. Maybe he just paid off the right people. And somebody died in the Bowles situation.
Oh, yes, I keep forgetting about Strawberry! Well maybe a stripper in the '00s isn't as important as a radio guy in the '30s?? |
Richard_bak
Member
Username: Richard_bak
Post Number: 247
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 9:26 pm: | |
That's because Jerry Buckley didn't look as good in a G-string and 4-inch heels as Strawberry. No broadcaster does (unless you're Marv Albert, I guess). |
Eriedearie
Member
Username: Eriedearie
Post Number: 2640
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 9:54 pm: | |
Here's where I will vote for KK! |
Sumas
Member
Username: Sumas
Post Number: 188
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 10:53 pm: | |
KK than Bowles but other ex mayors have done jail time too. |
Eastsidedame
Member
Username: Eastsidedame
Post Number: 526
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 1:52 am: | |
I think "ex" mayors is the key, here. Jailed while they were in office?
(Message edited by eastsidedame on August 08, 2008) |
Smogboy
Member
Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 8525
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 2:55 am: | |
This is about the ONLY place I'd vote for KK. CAY might've been a bad bad man but he was at least somewhat shrewd about it and never spent jail time for his shenanigans. There aren't any mug shots of Hizzoner out there that we know of and KK's already had two within the last few months.
I'm also part of me is partial to KK being a bigger stink because he's current and ol' King Coleman was ages ago. |
Tayllik
Member
Username: Tayllik
Post Number: 12
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 7:40 am: | |
Kwame is clearly worst
but I must defend Coleman the only thing Coleman Young ever did was stay in office for too long. He was the right mayor for that time if had only serve 2 or 3 terms Detroit would be better off today. |
Danny
Member
Username: Danny
Post Number: 7592
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 8:06 am: | |
Who is worst mayor in Detroit?
Kwame Kilpatrick, 10,000 times much worse then Charles Bowles in Detroit history. |
Gary
Member
Username: Gary
Post Number: 332
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 08, 2008 - 8:36 am: | |
Richard Reading has to be among the Big 3 along with KK and Bowles. Young was slippery and he dodged more than one bullet while he was in office, but nobody ever proved anything against him. He was a crook, no doubt, but he pales in comparison to these other guys for outright corruption.
Honorable mention to Louis Miriani. |