Detroit’s Mayor Kilpatrick Shrugs Off the City Councils Plea to Resign

March 19, 2008

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Motown has been going through some bad times as of late. They are facing some of the worst economic pitfalls the city has ever seen, having to face an increased crime rate, and a continued decrease in public school accountability that wasn’t anything to brag about in the first place. To top everything off, the citizens of Detroit are now facing national scrutiny for the antics of Kwame Kilpatrick, the cities Mayor. Scandal after scandal has riddled Kilpatrick throughout his first four years, and now carrying into his second term. The Detroit City Council finally had seen enough, and on the heels of Kwame’s State of the City Address, where he went off script and used profanities that included racially charged rhetoric which included “N—-r”, and referenced “lynch mobs”, and earlier today voted to call for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s resignation.

The final vote tally was 7-1 in favor of requesting the Mayor to step down. Voting yes were Council President Ken Cockrel Jr., Sheila Cockrel, Barbara-Rose Collins, Brenda Jones, Kwame Kenyatta, Alberta Tinsley-Talabi and JoAnn Watson. Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers voted no. Martha Reeves was absent. The resolution is non binding, and Kilpatrick has dismissed it as irrelevant and vowed not to resign.

Kilpatrick downplayed the resolution this afternoon after a gathering at Wayne County Community College’s east-side campus appearance, the embattled Mayor went on the record with reporters regarding his reaction to the councils vote:

“My reaction is, OK, now since it’s over, it has no effect, it’s not binding, let’s get back to work,” Kilpatrick told a pack of reporters. “I don’t blame anybody on council. The incredible scrutiny and overwhelming pressure of the media - you all are something - it’s probably tough for anybody there.”
Kilpatirck said he “absolutely” can still work with the council.

“I don’t think anybody in this city could have stood up to that scrutiny but me. No, I don’t think it will affect us at all. I think we will keep moving forward.”

These statements make it clear that there will be no end to the circus that has taken over the once proud city of Detroit, the city which I call my hometown. With the residents split, half in support, and half bitterly opposed, there is no real chance for the things that need to done mainly because of the utter disdain felt between Kwame Kilpatrick and his people, and the City Council and there members. Those members are the same ones whom made it a point to use clear and concise language in their request for his resignation, there is an overwhelming and growing sentiment amongst citizens of Detroit that the City Council should stand firm against Mayor Kilpatrick and seek his resignation.” in their written request sent to the Mayor earlier today, and I think if anything sums up Kwame Kilpatrick’s time spent as Detroit Mayor better then any thing else I have come across.