Charlie Langton, Robert
Charlie Langton, Robert Ficano, George Jackson and L. Brooks Patterson. executive approach Ficano, Patterson and Jackson talk business By Vanessa Denha Garmo Business talk at Shenandoah Country Club last month was not overshadowed by the myriad reporters huddled to talk to Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano about the FBI subpoenas into county severance deals. However, the controversy did spark talk around the luncheon and was subtly addressed during the panel discussion. At the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s annual business luncheon on October 20, Ficano sat on a panel moderated by Charles Langton of Fox 2 News. Other panelists were Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and George Jackson, president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. Although the FBI’s look into Wayne County made headline news that day, serious issues about business and the region were discussed at the luncheon. The discussions started out as a civil conversation but heated up towards the end. Langton himself could not resist making note of the saga. He directed the first question to Ficano: “What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you this week?” “It isn’t my golf game,” joked Ficano. “On a more serious note, Trinity Health just announced it was moving 1,400 jobs to the Quicken Loans building in Wayne County.” This announcement also means a loss of 1,400 jobs from Oakland County, which Patterson quickly noted. “You don’t want to see business go from one county to another,” said Ficano, adding that the developments in Wayne County and along I -275 are what attract business to his county. George Jackson will manage the 0-million light rail project along Woodward Avenue. “For this to be effective it needs to go beyond 8 Mile Road,” he said. “It has to be cost effective. It is a public service and quality-of-life issue and transportation issue good for the community but we will look at the financial perspective.” Langton addressed the issue of tax abatements in luring businesses such as Whole Foods and Meijer to Detroit. He noted some have been given tax abatements and then left the city and “perhaps this is to the detriment of small business.” “I question to the detriment,” said Jackson. “One of the roles we play is giving people choice and choices they demand. When we target something with incentives, it tends to be something we don’t already have in the city. Every urban city uses incentives to go after certain targets they believe would be beneficial.” He added that they are attracting businesses that city residents go outside the city to shop in. “What would you say to a small business owner that has an operation in Detroit, weathered the storm, did not get help from the government and [then DEGC] give incentives to a big store that perhaps takes away business from that small business?” Langton asked. “This is a consumer-driven issue,” said Jackson. “I have a Meijer and Kroger that are close to me but I do my shopping at Market Fresh at Southfield and 13, at Plum and in Royal Oak I go to Holiday Market. I go there because they have what I want. That is the driver here. You use incentives as a temporary thing Photos by David Reed to develop a market. You are only a failure if you have to keep doing that.” The question that sparked a heated debate between Ficano and Patterson came from audience member Jeff Denha, who asked if right to work zones would help Michigan economically. “I don’t think right to work is the win-win proposition some believe it is. It will change the dynamics. However, I don’t know much about the bill and I would need more detail before I can comment,” said Jackson. “Is that a cop-out answer?” asked Langton. “Is that a non-answer?” “Charlie, I will give you a more definite answer,” chimed in Ficano. “I would be opposed to right to work legislation. The way the legislation works in this state, it would divide the state black and white. Even after the bill is passed you can do a petition drive until the next election. You are looking at a year or year and a half of stagnation. Investment is going to look at the state asking what are you doing and as this raging debate is going on the investment starts going someplace else.” “But Bob, doesn’t it show that this would be good for business?” asked Langton. “No,” said Ficano. “It is cheaper now to pay [workers] at Detroit automotive companies than it is at Toyota down south. What we should show is how we can work together. Look at negotiations between automotives here. Management and unions are working together and seeing an added value to do so.” “Charlie, what my friend Bob just did was an old debating trick,” said Patterson. “He changes the context of the question and answers a totally different question. The question was about right to work zones, not a right to work state. A zone here or a zone there, I am for it big time. Let us test if the zones are growing faster than the rest of the state.” Ficano replied, “You would go through the same thing — a prolonged time period whether it is a zone proposal or a state proposal.” He argued that businesses looking to locate in Michigan would be wondering what was going on with the zones and may choose to locate elsewhere. “We don’t do it because we are going to be intimidated or bullied by unions. Is that your position Bob? We have to try it. Where we are now EXECUTIVE continued on page 28 26 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2011
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