Meet the 5 worst mayors in Detroit history. Detroit honors some of its best with monuments and courthouses.
We honor one of its worst with a convention center. Detroit has had 75 mayors in its 313-year history, and, like the city itself, there’s plenty of good — and plenty of bad. Two of our mayors are considered among the 10 best that the U.S. has ever seen. Yet, coming up with three others to round out a top five is more challenging — and certainly more controversial — than you’d think. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the city’s half century of decline and unprecedented number of challenges, coming up with five crummy mayors is a heck of a lot easier. ■ Related: More Detroit 313th birthday fun and coverage So here they are, a look at the five worst men to lead the Motor City. 1.
Mayor from Jan. 4, 2002, to Sept. 18, 2008. You couldn't say no to Bobby Ferguson, city contractor testifies in Detroit corruption trial. You couldn't say no to Bobby Ferguson, city contractor testifies in Detroit corruption trial. Michigan House votes to end February elections. LANSING, MI -- Michigan would eliminate February elections under legislation approved Thursday by the Michigan House, limiting local and statewide elections to three dates a year.
Supporters say optional February elections often feature single-issue ballot questions on school millages or bonds but are marked by low voter turnout. "This is pro-taxpayer and good government legislation," Rep. Lisa Lyons, R-Alto, said in a statement. "...It just makes sense that questions of increased taxes or fees are posed in elections when more voters participate. " The six-bill package passed the House by fairly wide margins -- a main proposal advanced to the Senate in a 93-17 vote -- but Rep.
Jon Hoadley spoke out against the election elimination plan in a floor speech. "We literally just became the Legislature that took away a voting opportunity for residents," Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, said after session. Michigan consolidated state and local elections in 2003. How corruption deepened Detroit's crisis. DETROIT -- Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was a spender, a schemer and a liar.
And taxpayers paid for it, by the millions. Over seven years, Kilpatrick's public corruption schemes, lavish lifestyle and ethical missteps cost taxpayers at least $20 million, a tab the financially strapped city was in no position to pick up but did anyway — usually without knowing. On Thursday, Kilpatrick will be sentenced for 24 corruption convictions. As he heads to federal prison for what could be decades, one important question lingers: How much did his extortion, kickback and bribery rackets contribute to the city's financial crisis and its filing in July for the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation's history?
"Kilpatrick is not the main culprit of the city's historic bankruptcy, which is the result of larger social and economic forces at work for decade," federal prosecutors said in court documents. From then until now: A look at Detroit's corrupt political past. The high cost of corruption: How Kwame Kilpatrick's crimes deepened Detroit's crisis. Zakopinion. By The Opinionaters: Rolf Li and Zakyr Rhemtulla Remember in the “old days” when America was a REAL economic powerhouse, unlike today where it is try to “be” an economic powerhouse?
Remember when the USA had the power to develop anything they wanted and had all the funding in the world to do so? Remember when America lead the world in manufacturing? Well the past is in the past and we are never going back. In the mid to late 1900’s, Detroit was dubbed “Motor City” by everyone around the world as it housed the world’s largest group of automobile factories. Detroit is home to famed rappers such as Eminem, Proof, and rap group D12. In addition to that, Detroit broke many human rights laws when it cut off water to thousands of citizens.
Kwame Kilpatrick's lawyer asks appeals court to toss conviction. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has repeatedly argued that he had the wrong lawyer for his public corruption trial and that his conviction should be tossed because of it.
On Tuesday, three federal appeals judges pressed Kilpatrick's new attorney to back up that claim, asking several times for proof that the trial lawyer's role made any difference in the outcome of the case. The prosecution says it didn't, and maintains that Kilpatrick would have been convicted even if he had a different lawyer. Ex-Detroit mayor sentenced to 28 years in prison for corruption.
Jury convicts ex-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick of corruption - latimes. DETROIT (AP) — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted Monday of corruption charges, ensuring a return to prison for a man once among the nation's youngest big-city leaders.
Jurors convicted Kilpatrick of a raft of crimes, including a racketeering conspiracy charge that carries a maximum punishment of 20 years behind bars. He was portrayed during a five-month trial as an unscrupulous politician who took bribes, rigged contracts and lived far beyond his means while in office until fall 2008. Kilpatrick wore a surprised, puzzled look at times as U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds read the jury's verdict: guilty of 24 charges, not guilty on three and no consensus on three more. Kilpatrick declined to speak to reporters as he left the courthouse.