DDA APPOINTMENT

JOEL RASH POST ON MLIVE THE FOLLOWING FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF THE DDA POSITITION WITHDRAWAL BY MS.WILSON
JOELRASH SAID:Terry, you suggest the council 'follow the charter' and block the nomination. What provision of the charter is being violated here? It seems that the candidate you supported in the past, Mayor Williamson, was the one who violated the charter by making up new titles (CEO and COO) and appointing people without council or DDA Board consent.
First I will RE POST what I wrote.
January 07, 2010, 5:38AM
No its is not Go Dayne.
Mr. Mayor you have made a mistake. Mr. Ford will be the best possible choice to head the DDA. The Council will be correct to block this appointment. The era of this community believing every word you utter has ended. Your process of governing demonstrates that your administration is just politics as usual. We are tired of this. Follow the charter, build coalitions of support and lead. You may be too young to know the rich history of community service that Larry Ford has given this community. He has worked in the brackground just getting the job done. I am a downtown business person and I want Larry Ford to head the DDA. I have been on the DDA and you must work with the board to accomplish your vision. I suggest the council block the appointment of Wislon. Its their job. You need to be sent back to the drawing board and given a time out.

January 07, 2010, 6:18AM
It is also clear that the Flint City Council representing all of us must approve this decision. They should listen to us and we say KEEP LARRY FORD. The DDA a public body subject to the freedom of information act and the open meeting act has a mission to develop downtown. Downtown interest working privately behind closed doors have manipulated resource allocation to themselves. Their initiatives that are risky like the Parking ramp are left with the DDA. How much else have the saddled us with. We need accountability through the DDA to protect our tax dollars. An inexperienced cheer leader cannot match the ability of larry Ford to protect our interests.
January 07, 2010, 10:35AM
OLDEASTSIDE SAID "Terry, I am beginning to believe that you are part of the "Old Boys Network" and that you need to endorse moves that keep you business."
I am 58 and have had several political appointments. The Ombudsman experience took me outside the net work, I chose to to stay out side. On this case Larry Ford is a friend and I respect the opinion of Inez Brown plus I was a member of the DDA as City Clerk and have that knowledge on how it is supposed to work. As to keeping me in business ?I am a downtown Flint Divorce Attorney located across the street from the Court house. Thank You for bringing up my business but the Good Old Boys Network would be too concerned for their pensions to seek a divorce. The DDA has a mission that Larry Ford is bringing back to life. But thats my opinion, you have yours. I like this Mayor, we do not have to agree all the time, none of us are perfect.
RASH SAID:you suggest the council 'follow the charter' and block the nomination. What provision of the charter is being violated here?
BANKERT: I did not say the Mayor Violated the Charter on MLIVE
RASH SAID:It seems that the candidate you supported in the past, Mayor Williamson, was the one who violated the charter by making up new titles (CEO and COO) and appointing people without council or DDA Board consent.
BANKERT: I supported Mayor Walling openly in the last election and still do today. We just disagree on the DDA issue. Many people supported Williamson at one time or another in the past. I was one. The Mayor currently has on staff in high position A PERSON that at one time was on Don Williamsons Advisory committee. Be careful where you through that rock.
BANKERT: The community must insists that the Flint City Council and Flint Mayor and all of the multiple member bodies follow State Law Code and case law, Attorney General Opinion, City Charter , Promulgated rule and procedures in that order. This commitment will protect us all.
Now as to Ms. Wilson resignation letter. Yes I did call her a cheer leader, meaning to young and inexperienced for the job to lead the DDA. The DDA is an independent Multiple Member body. The very fact that the Mayor has to bring the nominees name to council demonstrate it is not the Mayor appointment alone.
But others posting comments anonymously did "smear" unfairly. For that I apologize to her. I did not but it was happening around me and I should have spoke out against it. With that said,having gone through A SIMILAR very trying appointment process a half dozen times the old adage applies "If you cannot take the heat stay out of the kitchen".
The Downtown Business need the involvement of Kettering University and the University of Michigan, Uptown Reinvestment and the Mott Foundation in the affairs of our City. Who ever the DDA Director is will have to work with these entities.
Again to Ms Wilson you were treated unfairly, hopefully not by me, for that inaction on my part I apologize. I do not apologize for advocating the appointment of larry Ford as the permanent DDA Director.
Posted here by
Terry R. Bankert

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