Time For Change in Detroit
Monica Conyers, Detroit City Council President and trophy wife of US Rep. John Conyers, has been named in an FBI probe into bribery allegations concerning the city's recently approved sludge waste hauling deal with Houston based Synagro. Also named in the probe is former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and his father, Bernard Kilpatrick. The political parties of any of those involved could not be determined.
None of the three have been charged. Yet.
In addition to these three an additional five persons were identified by the Detroit Free Press though not specifically named in the probe.
From the Freep:
The identities of the eight individuals emerged Tuesday as legal experts debated why federal prosecutors described the eight with names such as City Official A, Relative A and City Council Member A.The pervasive corruption of Detroit city politics is going to make Chicago's rough and tumble game look relatively pedestrian.
Most experts interviewed Tuesday said Rosendall's highly detailed 18-page plea agreement sends a clear message that time is running out for anyone who participated in the conspiracy but who so far has refused to cooperate.
"The window of opportunity to cooperate with the government will only be open for a short time, and whoever comes in first will get the best deal," said Detroit criminal lawyer David Griem.
There has been no deal signed since Kwame Kilpatrick or Monica Conyers took office that is not suspect, and because of this there is no city official currently serving in office that is above suspicion. Who did what, who spoke to whom, who is on the take? At this point, it is anyone's guess.
That is too bad for those current and former members of city government that acted honorably in all the city's dealings, but it goes with the territory of politics. (Just like it was too bad that honorable Republicans lost US House seats just because Mark Foley is a stupid pervert.)
When there is doubt it is time for change.
It is therefore time for a clean sweep in Detroit. Out with the old and in with the new.
I know the politicians of Detroit will disagree with that, but will the voters?
1 comment:
To answer that last question, YES.
The voters of Detroit will never change their voting pattern. If Kwame didn't convince them in his first term and Jennifer Granholm didn't in hers then you almost have to just step back, put your hands slowly into the air and say "Oooookay. Have fun."
--Nick
www.RightMichigan.com
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