Detroit City Hall Insider

Category: City officials

Victor Mercado tells new bosses he's glad they're not the Detroit council

Is Victor Mercado a Phil Collins fan? Because, like the '80s schmaltz-rock king, Mercado has said "Hello, I Must Be Going!" yet again to the D.

The City Hall Insider's big brother, Political Insider, reported Oct. 15 that Mercado was back in town working for the alphabet-soup firm of PCI LLC. If so, he barely stayed long enough to enjoy the city's high-quality H2O because this week he took a job as the chief of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District that serves San Antonio, according to the Express-News.

He met the board Wednesday, shook hands and told them that he's oh so happy not to be working for the Detroit City Council anymore.

Mercado, who caught flack for raising rates and being too chummy with Kwame Kilpatrick, succceds Gil Olivares, who was fired for his own sex scandal. According to the Express-News, Olivares was handed his walking papers after he was indicted by a grand jury on claims of wiretapping employees' phones and giving $20,000 to a female employee he fired after hooking up with.

Mercado's job pays $190,000 in San Antonio, $60,000 less than he made in Detroit until leaving in 2008. In honor of the job, here's another guy who appreciates "high-quality H2O."

Category: Detroit Police Department

Detroit police rang her bell

Residents have long complained that when they call Detroit Police, no one shows up or they're extremely late. So how would you respond if the police called you?

If you're Liz Blondy, owner of Canine to Five Dog Care on Cass Avenue, you might get "very emotional" and think you're "going to cry."

Here's what happened: Lt. Darin Szalagy from Central District called Blondy and left a message. She called back the next day and, after initial pleasantries, he said, "I just called to check in with you and see how things are going? How's the neighborhood doing?"

Blondy said police have never before rung her bell. Her first reaction was "are you kidding?" She then told the lieutenant, "things are going well."

The conversation lasted less than five minutes, but the impression was deep, Blondy said. "It went a long way with me," said Blondy, who shared the experience on Facebook. "It let me know I made a good decision to do business in the city."

The Insider spoke with Central District Commander Shereece Fleming-Freeman to get the 411 on the 911 making calls to businesses. The 23-year veteran said officers assigned to one of the five beats in the Central District are encouraged to make regular contact with the community. She said it is important for them to become familiar with the community and people they have sworn to protect.

In honor of police ringing Blondy's bell, here's Anita Ward letting her fingers do the walking.

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Category: Kwame Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick, Beatty owed money from D.C. hotel

If former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is having trouble making restitution next month, he might want to check out the Michigan Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division, rather than scouring his sofa for spare change.

The state is holding $375 apiece for Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty from "miscellaneous outstanding checks" from the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. State records show Beatty's windfall comes from Oct. 26, 2001, while Kilpatrick's is from Nov. 2, 2001 -- just four days before he was elected the youngest mayor in Detroit's history.

At the time, Beatty was running Kilpatrick's campaign. The overpayments to the Grand Hyatt came nearly a year before another trip to a Washington D.C. hotel luridly detailed in text messages that describe Beatty sneaking into Kilpatrick's hotel room, and the then-mayor dismissing her worries of exposure with his now-classic rejoinder, "Busted is what you see!"

On the stand during the 2007 whistle-blower trial, Beatty said she couldn't recall spending time alone with Kilpatrick in his room during that trip, but "doubt(ed) it." She also denied that she was ever romantically involved with Kilpatrick from "2001 to 2003."

The money from the Grand Hyatt was bounced to the state on Sept. 14, 2007, three days after a jury in the civil trial returned a verdict against Kilpatrick. By law, banks, hotels or other businesses generally hold onto unclaimed property for a few years before turning them over to the State Treasury.

While the checks are intriguing, state records offer few other clues. They don't indicate whether Kilpatrick and Beatty were at the hotel together, what the charges were for -- or even if they were ever there. In theory, they could have canceled. Likewise, the state can't definitively say this is the same Kwame Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty who once roamed City Hall unless they pick up the money, said Terry Stanton, a spokesman for the treasury. There's always the possibility wacky teens or other mischief makers could have used their names at the hotel.

Speaking of money, if a big-bucks commission falls through for Kilpatrick today, he could be wearing his next two $6,000 restitution payments on his wrist. Intrepid Free Press shutterbugs snapped a photo of Kilpatrick's 'mayor' cufflinks that also reveals an eye-popping watch that looks like a steel and yellow gold Rolex Daytona, which costs about $12,000 used.

Mike Simmons of Simmons and Clark jewelry in Detroit eyeballed the photo for the City Hall Insider. He noted the dial didn't exactly match a traditional Daytona, so he couldn't tell if the watch was altered or something else altogether. But he did note that it appears to have 10 diamonds.

Those have got to be worth something.

Category: City politics

Jai-Lee Dearing in courtroom crowd during murder case

Jai-Lee Dearing has been quiet since losing his latest bid for City Council, but the Insider couldn't help but noticing him this week in the courtroom for a Highland Park man accused of killing his 15-year-old son.

Dearing didn't want to discuss his presence at the hearings Tuesday and Wednesday. But his attorney, David Draper, is representing the father, Jamar Pinkney Sr., who is accused of marching his naked son into a field and shooting him execution-style as he begged for life.

On Tuesday, Dearing was chatty with courthouse visitors as an arrest warrant was prepare against Pinkney. But Wednesday, Dearing appeared shook by the charges that include first-degree murder.

After the arriagnment Dearing chatted with Draper and his co-counsel on the case Corbett Edge O'Meara outside the courthouse.

Category: City Council

First perk for new council members: Free CCW classes

Attention newly elected City Council members: If you want to pack heat, Rick Ector is your gun guy.

Displaying entrepreneurial and promotional grit that would make Barnum proud, the owner of Rick's Firearm Academy of Detroit is offering all council members free concealed weapons permit training so they can be fully strapped -- and legit -- while considering the city's business.

His eight-hour instruction classes normally cost $150, plus fees that can tack on another $35. Days after a controversy erupted about newly elected members with CCW permits Ector blasted his deal on Twitter and Facebook.

"Absolutely, it's a legitimate offer," said Ector, a systems analyst for an auto company who moonlights in the CCW biz. "I would consider it an honor to have another armed council member."

Newcomers Gary Brown, Charles Pugh and James Tate are already locked and loaded, and so is veteran Kwame Kenyatta. The Rev. Andre Spivey picked up a CCW application last week -- and Ector has his sights on him. He's called Spivey's church, but the reverend said he has more pressing issues such as getting ready for the term that starts January.

City ordinances ban concealed weapons in public buildings, and Ector said fears of council members going Yosemite Sam the next time one refers to another as Shrek, screams "that's disrespectful" or breaks into "Onward Christian Soldiers" are unfounded.

"That's a lot of hysteria ...," Ector said, explaining that initial fears of Wild West behavior subsided after the 2000 CCW law went into effect. "We've proven them wrong."

So far, no council members have heeded his call, but what the hay, Ector figured. "I'm just trying to cash in on free publicity," he acknowledged. "I like to stir things up."

"I'm pushing the cause for gun ownership. If we can make crime a more hazardous work environment for criminals, it'll be safer for people who are anti-gun," Ector said.

Category: City Council

Sheila Cockrel AWOL for scolding reprise

Councilman Kwame Kenyatta sounded off again Tuesday at his colleague Sheila Cockrel for bolting from a meeting Friday, preventing a quorum.

In doing so, the council was unable to take up a planned crackdown on strip clubs, which includes an alcohol ban and requirement that topless dancers wear opaque pasties.

Kenyatta said her stepson, Council President Kenneth Cockrel Jr., should have sent police officers after Sheila and the media gave her a "free ride."

If he or other council members walked out, Kenyatta said The News' Nolan Finley and other media would have deemed them "inept, disrespectful and shameful." He said next time council members should be warned they can't leave the table, "or we'll see you at 1300", a reference to police headquarters at 1300 Beaubein.

Ironically, Sheila Cockrel was absent for Kenyatta's rebuke. Doubling the irony, Kenyatta walked out of the room halfway through Councilwoman Brenda Jones' own scold of Sheila.

"Stop that man!" Kenneth Cockrel joked, amid audience snickers.

It appears the council crackdown on strip clubs will have to wait for the new council. Although the City Hall Insider never underestimates the pull of Councilwoman JoAnn Watson -- who is pushing the council to come back from recess to take up the new regulations -- the council panel's last official meeting of the year is 10 a.m. Friday.

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Category: Kwame Kilpatrick

Former mayor name-checks bygone post-punk rockers

Kwame Kilpatrick's interview with The Final Call may be the talk of the town today, but it covered a line of reasoning he's perfected for years: (1) Don't call Christine Beatty a "whore," you sexist pig. (2) The media are out to get me.(3) People don't like me because I am a strong man who wears dapper suits and doesn't kowtow. (4) Still, it's all good.

But what intrigued the Insider is the former mayor, who quoted R&B lyrics in his racy text-messages also appeared to name-check the obscure and under-appreciated 1980s post-punk band Theatre of Hate.

Kilpatrick bemoaned that critics who couldn't attack his record criticized his perceived arrogance and created a "theater of hatred" that drove him from office.

Was that merely clever word play from the silver-tongued former mayor or is he a closet fan of the band whose guitarist went onto greater glory with dunderhead rockers The Cult?

The Insider is intrigued and wonders whether Kilpatrick is grooving in Texas to an early '80s soundtrack of could-shoulda-woulda classics, from GBH and Big Country to Radio Birdman and the Celibate Rifles.

Probably not. But the Insider dares to dream. In keeping with the mood of the day, here's Theatre of Hate with "Propaganda."

Category: City Council

Pugh calls police settlement 'extortion'

In politics, it's said, there are no permanent friends or enemies, just permanent interest. Last week's election, though, brought the promise of a tight-knit Party of Five incoming council members: Charles Pugh, Gary Brown, Saunteel Jenkins, the Rev. Andre Spivey and James Tate.

The quintet appeared jointly at several events throughout the campaign and in the past week, Pugh and Brown, have become car-pool pals, traveling together to media visits. But Brown wasn't along for the ride Thursday as Pugh, Jenkins and Tate appeared Thursday on WJBK Fox-2's "Let it Rip" to discuss the story du jour: Police whistleblower attorney Michael Stefani's ongoing Attorney Discipline Board hearing.

Stefani made Brown a rich man in his police whistle-blower suit, but he's now in the hot seat because he used text messages from former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to parlay the $8.4 million deal. Kilpatrick is suing Stefani for big bucks, claiming he violated a confidentiality agreement by turning over the messages to the Detroit Free Press.

Quizzed by Fox 2 host Huel Perkins about what outcome they'd hope for from the suit, Tate sat silent. But Pugh and Jenkins piped up: "The money."

"It was extortion, so we should be paid back," Pugh said.

But doing so, in theory, could dip into Brown's pockets and jeopardize his BFF status with Pugh and the other newcomers.

Brown and Stefani no doubt have a different opinion and they're set to present their side as tentative, scheduled guests next Thursday on "Let it Rip" -- along with attorney William Mitchell, who represented Kilpatrick and kept a copy of the messages in a safety deposit box.

So far, the difference of opinion hasn't spoiled the feel-good vibes among the newcomers. Snoops tell the Insider they're all invited to Brown's house this week for a secret powwow. But the Insider will be watching as the drama unfolds.

Until then, here's the clip.

Category: City Council

Saucy lyrics irk Martha Reeves; JoAnn Watson irked when catch phrase used against her

As the final days tick by for the '05 council class, things are getting a little punchy on the 13th floor before the planned six-week recess Nov. 20.

Councilwoman Martha Reeves, whose four years on the panel end next month, this week said the city should take a cues from C. Delores Tucker and consider banning "vulgar lyrics that are being put in children's minds today."

The Motown songbird said she recently walked out of a nightclub because she was offended by song lyrics.

"It can drive me crazy listening to some of the music," Reeves said. "It's what they are playing that makes people go out and tear up their neighborhoods ... and rape people."

Later Tuesday, during a debate about whether to require topless dancers to wear pasties, Reeves said the city should up the ante even further and require them to wear bras.

Also this week, discussions turned testy when city attorney Lewis Smith turned the tables on Councilwoman JoAnn Watson and used one of her favorite rejoinders against her.

During a discussion about Mayor Dave Bing's court battle with AFSCME over contrasts, Watson asked Smith if a city lawyer attended the last hearing. Smith said he'd have to check back. Watson replied that must mean no.

"Please don't make that assumption ... that is disrespectful" Smith said.

A sudden hush grew over the council crowd. Watson often throws out "disrespectful" to speakers or council staffers during particularly heated exchanges.

"Disrespectful!" Watson replied. "I know you aren't saying that to me. You have to go back to school young man."

The council is back in session Friday, after two days off for Veterans Day and a furlough.

Category: City Council

Martha Reeves sings payday blues

At least six of the eight City Council members are feeling the same paycheck pain as many city workers, who have had to endure a 10 percent pay cut.

But Councilwoman Martha Reeves said Tuesday that she has not taken the cut because the Internal Revenue Service already garnishes most of her paycheck, leaving her only about $332 every two weeks. As of this summer, Reeves had more than $210,000 in state and federal income tax liens.

"I don't have anything to give," said Reeves, who lost re-election in August.

Also, it's not clear if Councilwoman Barbara Rose-Collins has taken a cut. She didn't return calls for comment.

But she wasn't included in resolutions passed Tuesday by the council, which created specific accounts to accept each of the six council members 10 percent cut.

Council members make $81,312 and the council president makes $85,456.

Currently all non-union city staffers have taken a 10 percent pay cut through furlough days and Mayor Dave Bing is pushing all city unions to do the same.