We are living in extraordinary times. While Dan Gilbert, Pete Karmanos and others in the business community continue to provide investment and momentum for development, commerce, downtown living and increased tax revenue in the city, Detroit’s civic leadership continues to struggle. This morning, the Editorial Page Editors of both dailies, Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson – addressed the issue head on with necessary candor.
Opines Finley of the Detroit News: “Somewhere in the city there may be someone capable of running Detroit, but it’s not the bunch occupying City Hall. [Governor] Snyder tried a shared-power arrangement in deference to the city’s pleas to respect local control. Now the governor can see what local control looks like in Detroit. Snyder should appoint an emergency manager and put an end to this train wreck before it takes down the rest of the state.”
Anytime anyone questions the power of the press and importance of the media (including oft-maligned print), I point to columns like this or, similarly, Pulitzer Prize winning pieces that bring public corruption such as Kwame Kilpatrick’s wrongdoings to light. Outstanding journalism cannot be underestimated and should not go unappreciated as it serves as an important seeker of truth and catalyst for positive change.