clash of the titans
clash of the titans Mayoral candidates sound off at chamber lunch By Joyce Wiswell The tone was jovial but the stakes were serious as Detroit’s two mayoral candidates addressed members of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce at its annual business luncheon on October 17. Rather than share the stage at Shenandoah Country Club, Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan each sat down for a cozy chat with Charlie Langton of Fox 2 News. The candidates seemed to agree on many of the issues raised, including the belief that Gov. Rick Snyder was wrong to appoint an emergency financial manager for Detroit. “I think the person was sent here illegally,” said Napoleon of Kevyn Orr, adding there was not a “compelling enough reason” for the “dictatorship” appointment. “It is the most anti-democratic thing I have seen in my adult life.” Duggan said he lobbied extensively against the emergency manager and that if elected, he would implore Snyder to eliminate Orr’s position. “You don’t turn around an organization with an outsider,” he said. “Turn around” were words Duggan used often as he cited his experience running the once-floundering Detroit Medical Center. “It took three hours to see an [emergency room] doctor when I took over. We cut it down and now 95 percent of patients see one in 25 minutes.” That experience, he said, will serve businesspeople well if he is elected Detroit’s mayor. “Anyone who has done the Detroit permitting process knows exactly what I am talking about,” Duggan said, promising a “prompt, fair and final permitting process.” Napoleon scored points by praising Detroit’s independent grocers and slamming generous incentives to lure businesses like Whole Foods and Meijer into the city. “Anyone here can rival Whole Foods with a grocery store — and probably would not have asked for a tax abatement,” he said. “Give the tax break to people contributing to the community for the past 40 or 50 years. I would give it to someone sitting in this room before Whole Foods.” Duggan pledged in his first year to lower tax abatements. “I will base Above: Charlie Langton quizzes Benny Napoleon. Left: Mike Duggan makes a point. property taxes on the real value of the property,” he said. Both men said they would improve police response times and defended the right of store owners to call 911 about loiterers. “It’s the police’s job” to handle such matters, Napoleon said. “Before we put demands on our business owners to make better use of 911 we first have to show up when you call,” said Duggan. Napoleon passionately defended pensions for employees of the police and fire departments. “It in enshrined in the constitution,” he said. Duggan agreed that previously agreed-to pensions should be kept intact, calling them “sacrosanct,” but said he’d like to see 401 (k) retirement funds enacted instead. Napoleon cited his personal friendship with Matty Moroun, the owner of the Ambassador Bridge who has been criticized for leaving the Michigan Central Station in a decrepit state. “I think I can convince Mr. Maroon to do something with it,” he said of the decaying landmark train station. Langton asked each man to say something nice about the other. “What do you like about Mike Duggan?” he asked Napoleon. “The way he dresses,” said the sheriff. Duggan was a bit more magnanimous, calling his opponent “a good guy, a great conversationalist and a pleasure to be around.” Duggan was asked by an audience member how Detroit can help the many Chaldean refugees coming into Michigan. “The ‘us vs. them’ policies will be gone once and for all,” he replied. “All will be equally valued.” Photos by David Reed 26 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2013
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