♪
♪
WELCOME BACK, OUR GUEST THIS
WEEK IS NEWLY ELECTED FLINT
MAYOR SHELDON NEELY OUR LEAD
STORY THE BUDGET MESS CONTINUES
TO BE JUST THAT ON THE OTR PANEL
CHAD LIVENGOOD BETH LEBLANC AND
ZOE CLARK
SIT IN WITH US AS WE GET THE
INSIDE OUT...OFF THE RECORD.
♪
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AND NOW THIS EDITION OF OFF THE
RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.
♪
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WELCOME
BACK TO OFF THE RECORD.
THIS BUDGET STORY, WHOA,
GOODNESS GRACIOUS I NEED TO TAKE
A PILL HERE WHAT HAPPENED THIS
WEEK BETH?
>> YESTERDAY THEY LOOKED LIKE
THEY WERE AT THE EDGE OF A
BREAKTHROUGH ON THE BUDGET LOTS
OF PEOPLE WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
IT AND THEN THEY WALKED IT BACK
FROM THE EDGE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE TO
SUPPLEMENTALS READY TO GO.
BUT THE ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE
HOLDING THINGS UP IS SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER SHIRKEY WANTS
GOVERNOR WHITMER TO SIGN A LAW
THAT WOULD RESTRAINT HER
AUTHORITY TO USE A STATE
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD AND
GOVERNOR WHITMER DOESN'T WANT TO
SIGN THAT LAW SO THAT IS KIND OF
THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
>> CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR.
>> CONTINUING TO BE CLOSE BUT NO
CIGAR ONE STATE SENATOR THIS
WEEK SAID LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN
BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS
THE PARTICIPATION TROPHY, THE
PARTICIPATION BADGE WE HAVE
SHOWED UP AND SORT OF DONE THE
BARE MINIMUM, THE NEGOTIATIONS
THIS WEEK REMINDED ME OF THREE
CHILDREN IN A FAMILY LIKE THE
TWO KIDS ALWAYS AGAINST THE ONE
BUT IT ALWAYS SORT OF DEPENDS ON
WHETHER THE OLDER OR THE MIDDLE
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LEE CHATFIELD
GRETCHEN WHITMER SEEMING TO HAVE
A PLAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
SORT OF SAYING NO, NO, NO, WAIT
UP.
AND NOW THE HOUSE HAS SCHEDULED
ANOTHER DAY NEXT WEEK WAS MEANT
TO GO ON YOU KNOW THE DEER
HUNTING WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
CALL IT BREAK AND NOW WE ARE
GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
WEEK.
>> SO MR. SHIRKEY'S DECISION TO
PUT THIS ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THIS
ISSUE WAS THAT A POLICY
STATEMENT OR A POLITICAL
STATEMENT?
>> WELL, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT
THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER WOULD
LIKE TO GET A POUND OF FLESH OUT
OF THE GOVERNOR THIS WHOLE
EPISODE WHERE SHE GOES ON A VETO
SPREE OF SOME 900 SOME ODD
DOLLARS AND MAKE A RARE MOVE
HASN'T BEEN DONE SINCE 1991 TO
TRANSFER 600 MILLION DOLLARS
WITHIN REARRANGE HOW THE
LEGISLATURE DEEMED THE MONEY TO
BE SPENT.
HE WANTS HER TO APOLOGIZE FOR
THIS.
BASICALLY.
AND RESCIND THESE CUTS AND AT
THE SAME TIME TRY TO PREVENT IT
FROM HAPPENING AGAIN NEXT YEAR
SO HE WANTS AT LEAST THE VERY
LEAST SOME TYPE OF ENFORCE
BOILERPLATE A NEW TERM IN
LANSING THIS WEEK.
>> BOILERPLATE NOW THE DIALS ARE
CLICKING.
>> BREAK THE LANSING DOWN FOR
PEOPLE AND BASICALLY THEY WANT
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MAKE
BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE AND BUDGET
BILLS HAVE THE MEANING OF LAW SO
THEY NEED TO CHANGE A STATUTE
OVER HERE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
>> THE CRUX OF THIS IS HE WILL
NOT DO A HANDSHAKE WITH THIS
GOVERNOR IS THAT A FAIR
STATEMENT?
>> YES AND WE HAD AMBER MCCANN
COME OUT THIS WEEK BECAUSE THIS
GOVERNOR IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY
THOSE ARE SOME FIGHTING WORDS
RIGHT THERE AT THE PART OF JUST
THE UNWILLINGNESS EVEN IF YOU DO
IT IN PUBLIC AND EVEN IF SHE
MAKES A STATEMENT HAND TO GOD
THAT LIKE THEY ARE STILL NOT
GOING TO AGREE AND THAT THEY
WANT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HOLD
UP IN COURT BASICALLY.
>> AND THE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS
THIS YOU KNOW LITERALLY HOURS
AFTER LEE CHATFIELD THE HOUSE
SPEAKER CUTS A DEAL, CHATFIELD
WANTS TO CUT DEALS IT'S PRETTY
CLEAR IN ALL THIS.
>> HE WENT INTO HER OFFICE ALONE
AND THE TWO OF THEM CAME UP WITH
THIS DEAL.
>> WELL THURSDAY MORNING AGAIN
SHE CAME OUT, SPOKE TO
REPORTERS, SAID YOU KNOW LOOKING
LIKE THERE IS A DEAL UNLESS
SOMETHING YOU KNOW WRONG HAPPENS
AND WELL SOMETHING WRONG
HAPPENED.
>> THE SOMETHING WAS NEVER IN
THE ROOM.
>> WELL EXACTLY.
>> OKAY THE SOMETHING THE
MAJORITY I'M NOT LOOK YOU CAN'T
GET INSIDE THIS GUY'S HEAD BUT
WE ALL KNOW POLITICS HE WASN'T
IN THERE, WAS NOT PARTY TO THE
DEAL SO IS HE GOING TO ROLLOVER
AND NOT MAKE A STATEMENT HERE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON
HERE?
>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE
A LOT OF PROMISES AT THE
BEGINNING OF TERM THAT THIS
WOULDN'T BECOME WASHINGTON EVEN
THOUGH WE HAD DIVIDED GOVERNMENT
AND I MEAN THIS MAX STRONGLY OF
WASHINGTON D.C. AT THIS POINT.
AND I THINK WE ARE RISKING KIND
OF BECOMING LIKE WHITE NOISE FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO PAY
ATTENTION BUT CAN'T FALLEN
FORCIBLE BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE OR
THIS ODD STATE ADMINISTRATIVE
BOARD TRANSFER.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK IF THEY ARE TRYING TO
MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT IT'S
GETTING A LITTLE LOST IN THE
WEEDS HERE.
>> WHAT IS GETTING LOST IS THE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AT
RISK, THEY ARE NOW PAWNS IN THIS
GAME AND BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND
THE MAJORITY LEADER SOME WOULD
SAY HAVE USED THEM AS PAWNS, THE
GOVERNOR USED THEM AS PAWNS TO
GET THE REPUBLICANS AT THE TABLE
TO BARGAIN NOW MR. SHIRKEY IS
USING THEM AS PAWNS TO GET HER
TO DO WHAT THEY WANT.
>> THEY THINK THATTED THEY
WEATHERED THE STORM AND SIX
WEEKS OF CUTS AND THE WAY THE
STATE DISTRIBUTES MONEY IN THIS
1.5 BILLION IT TAKES A WHILE TO
FEED OUT SOME OF THE PAYMENTS
DON'T HAPPEN UNTIL DECEMBER AND
WHEN COLLEGES STOPPED GETTING
THE PRIVATE COLLEGES STOPPED
GETTING THEIR PAYMENTS FOR THE
TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR MIDDLE
AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS GOING TO
HOPE COLLEGE AND SUCH YOU KNOW
THEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START
HEARING ABOUT IT AND NOW THE
LEGISLATORS ARE GOING HOME, THE
HOUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE
TECHNICAL SESSIONS SCHEDULED FOR
NEXT WEEK THEY ARE NOT COMING
BACK.
JUST WATCH AND THIS IS AND
PEOPLE HAVE TRIPS PLANNED,
VACATIONS, THEY AIN'T COMING
BACK UNTIL DECEMBER SO NOW THIS
IS GOING TO GO ON FOR ANOTHER
THREE WEEKS AND SET IN AND THE
PAIN WILL BE FELT MORE.
>> THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN
CHECKBOOK YOU GET YOUR PAYCHECK
YOU DON'T WRITE ALL YOUR BILLS
WHETHER IT'S LIKE TO CABLE OR TO
HEAT OR WHATEVER ALL ON ONE DAY.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
WATCH OVER THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS
EXACTLY AS YOU SAID AND THERE IS
A PLETHORA OF ORGANIZATIONS
WHETHER IT'S FOSTER CARE WHETHER
IT'S AUTISM THAT HAS FOLKS
SUPPORT, RIGHT, IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT IF YOU POLLED RIGHT NOW AND
SAID DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS
MONEY SHOULD BE CUT AND HERE IS
I WANT TO PICK UP WHAT BETH WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT D.C., THIS
IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE
BROUGHT ON TO THEMSELVES.
WE ARE NOT IN THE OUT OF 2000
WHERE THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE
MONEY.
THEY ARE NOT DEALING WITH A
NATURAL DISASTER OR GOD FOR BID
AN OIL SPILL OR SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THIS IS
DRAMA THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT
TOGETHER BY LAWMAKERS
THEMSELVES.
THIS IS NOT BEING DONE TO THEM.
>> WILL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
PLAY THIS CARD AND NOW MAKE
MR. SHIRKEY THE BAD GUY WHO IS
NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING UP
THE GIVING BACK OF THIS MONEY?
>> I MEAN, I THINK THEY WILL
PLAY THE CARD WHETHER IT'S
SUCCESSFULLY PLAYED I'M NOT
SURE.
I MEAN, IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW THE
PARENTS WHOSE KID IS GOING TO A
PRIVATE COLLEGE AND GETTING
MICHIGAN TUITION GRANT AND ALL
THE SUDDEN IT DISAPPEARED WHO
THEY HOLD RESPONSIBLE IS WHAT
EVERYBODY SHOULD BE PAYING
ATTENTION TO AND AT THIS POINT I
THINK THEY WILL LOOK AT WHO CUT
THE FUNDING.
>> WELL, THAT IS WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS WILL SAY LOOK AT
GOVERNOR YOU STARTED THIS MESS,
YOU PUT THIS INTO PLAY, OKAY,
I'M JUST STANDING UP FOR WHAT I
BELIEVE IN AND WILL BE
MR. SHIRKEY'S RESPONSE.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY WHO
KNOWS WHO MR. SHIRKEY IS SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER BUT HIS NAME IS
NOT ON THE MASS HEAD OF THE
STATE BASICALLY.
GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER IS AND
I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE
YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS MIKE
BUCHARD THE OAKLAND COUNTY
SHERIFF HE SAID WHITMER IS
HOLDING US HOSTAGE.
HOLDING AND OVER THE LOST
PAYMENTS FOR ROAD PATROL AND FOR
THE JAIL AND I TALKED TO A
PROVIDER WHO RUNS FOSTER CARE
AND SHE SAYS BASICALLY THE SAME
THING I MEAN SHE PUTS THE BLAME
BACK THEN SO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE THINKS THEY WEATHERED THE
STORM, THE STORM HAS NOT PASSED.
AND BUT AT THE SAME TIME SHIRKEY
THIS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO A
GAME TIME DECISION FOR HIM HE IS
GETTING PRESSURE FROM MEMBERS,
THEY ARE HEARING IT FROM ALL
CORNERS AND THAT WAS PART OF THE
STRATEGY OF THE GOVERNOR'S VETO
IS THEY WERE VERY MUCH TARGETED
AT OUT OF STATE REPUBLICANS.
>> LET'S ALSO THROW INTO THE MIX
THE POSSIBILITY THAT MR. SHIRKEY
IS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR.
OKAY HE HAS NOT SAID THAT, HE
WAS ASKED ON THE ISLAND HAVE YOU
BEEN APPROACHED AND HE SAID I
WILL NOT LIE SO HE HAS BEEN
APPROACHED BUT IF YOU THROW THAT
INTO THE MIX TOO HE IS SUBJECT
TO THE CRITICISM RIGHTLY OR
WRONGLY THIS IS A SET UP TO MAKE
THE GOVERNOR LOOK BAD.
>> WHAT WOULD SHIRKEY CALL
HIMSELF THEN MY OWN GOVERNOR, ME
GOVERNOR.
>> CAREFUL YOU WILL GET INTO
TROUBLE ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
ELECTION WHAT WAS THE LEAD STORY
OUT OF THAT?
>> LET ME ANSWER MY OWN QUESTION
ONCE.
THE MARIJUANA VOTES AROUND THE
STATE.
>> WE HAVE OVER HALF DOZEN
COMMUNITIES THAT SAID WE DON'T
WANT THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> JOINING 1300S WHO SAID THE
SAME THING.
>> YEAH, I MEAN WE HAVE FREED
THE WEED TO QUOTE COLEMAN YOUNG
THE SECOND BUT THERE IS GOING TO
BE RESTRICTIONS TO THIS IN SOME
COMMUNITIES ARE JUST NOT GOING
TO STAND FOR IT AND, YOU KNOW,
THOSE COMMUNITIES MAY LOSE OUT
ON THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OF
THE JOBS AND THE STORE FRONTS
AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS THAT
WILL BE FILLED WITH THESE WITH
THIS NEW INDUSTRY.
>> WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF?
>> REMINDS ME A LITTLE OPPOSITE
OF LAWMAKERS LIKE WHEN VOTERS
VOTE FOR THEIR LOCAL CONGRESS
FOLKS BUT EVERYONE ELSE IN D.C.
IS AWFUL, RIGHT, IT REMINDS ME A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WE WANT FOLKS
TO SMOKE LEGAL MARIJUANA WE JUST
DON'T WANT THEM TO DO IT CLOSE
TO US, RIGHT?
AND WHAT ARE FOLKS SCARED OF THE
SAME POINTS THAT WERE MADE LAST
YEAR WHEN THE BALLOT PROPOSAL
RIGHT CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, KIDS
GETTING INTO IT, IT BREEDS
CRIME, GATE WAY DRUG ALL THE
THINGS WE HAVE HEARD SO I DON'T
THINK IT'S SHOCKING THEY WENT
DOWN BUT LOOK MARIJUANA IS LEGAL
IN MICHIGAN AND IT'S ONE MORE
INDICATION THAT THIS ODD PATCH
WORK SINCE 2008 WHEN YOU KNOW
THE LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL
MARIJUANA HAPPENED THAT THIS
STATE IS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK.
>> YEAH AND I THINK THERE IS
THAT IDEA OF NOT IN MY OWN
BACKYARD RIGHT THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE THEY MAY HAVE VOTED FOR
IT IN NOVEMBER BUT WHEN IT CAME
TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY THEY
DIDN'T WANT IT THERE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS
WILL THERE BE ENOUGH LOCATIONS
WITH COMMERCIAL SALES THAT IT
WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THIS AND I
DON'T THINK THAT IS A CONCERN AT
ALL.
I THINK THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF
PLACES.
>> ALTHOUGH SOMEBODY WHISPERED
IN MY EAR IN PENNSYLVANIA THEY
HAVE NOT SOLD ALL THEIR LICENSES
THERE WILL LICENSES FOR
MARIJUANA AND PEOPLE ARE NOT
GOBBLING THEM UP LIKE THEY
THOUGHT THEY WOULD AND STILL A
BOAT LOAD OF MONEY TO BE MADE
HERE.
>> YES.
>> DISTRIBUTION, GROWTH, SALE,
THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
>> A BIG STORY OUT OF THE
ELECTION ON TUESDAY WAS THE
SCHOOL BONDS UP AND DOWN THE
BALLOT.
THEY SEEM TO.
>> THIS IS GOING TO COST YOU
LIVENGOOD.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT ANN ARBOR
VOTERS PASSED A BILLION AND IT'S
SIGNIFICANT AND STATEMENT TO
LEGISLATURES IN THIS TOWN WHEN
THEY ARE TRYING TO EVALUATE
WHETHER THEY WANT TO GET IN THE
WEEDS ON EDUCATIONAL REFORM
THERE IS PLENTY OF VOTER SUPPORT
OUT THERE FOR MAKING SCHOOLS
BETTER.
>> DON'T YOU THINK CHAD THIS
GOES EXACTLY BACK TO THE
WILLINGNESS TO VOTE FOR THINGS
THAT ARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> EXACTLY.
>> THIS YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> THERE IS NO TAX FREE OUT
THERE OR IN MICHIGAN.
>> NOT LOCALLY IT WAS 75 OR 80%
OF THESE THAT PASSED BUT THEN
STATEWIDE IT'S LIKE NO MONEY FOR
ROADS BUT ROAD MILLAGES
STATEWIDE YOU KNOW INCREASE IN
EDUCATION BUT LOCALLY IT IS.
AND THE ANN ARBOR, ONE BILLION
DOLLARS IT'S LIKE THE SECOND
LARGEST IN HISTORY ONLY TO
DETROIT WAS INDICATIVE I THINK
OF PEOPLE GOING, OKAY, THE STATE
AIN'T GOING TO MAKE EDUCATION
GREAT WE ARE GOING TO STEP UP IN
OUR COMMUNITIES AND VOTE FOR IT.
>> WHICH IS THEN COUNTER TO THE
WHOLE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND PROPOSAL
A WHICH WAS TO CLOSE THE GAP
BETWEEN THE HAVE AND HAVE NOT
AND THIS GAP JUST GOT BIGGER.
>> IT WILL.
THE IMPROVEMENTS TO ANN ARBOR IS
MADE TO SCHOOLS AND PUT SOLAR
PANELS ON TOP OF EVERY BUILDING
SO THEY CAN OFF SET THE CARBON
FOOT PRINT OF THE AIR
CONDITIONING THEY ARE GOING TO
ADD AND HAVE AIR CONDITIONING IN
EVERY BUILDING, I MEAN YOU
WOULDN'T FIND A QUARTER OF THE
SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE STATE
HAVE AIR CONDITIONING AND KIND
OF ADDS TO THE ADDITIONAL
ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS A SYSTEM
OF SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL
EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN.
>> YEAH.
>> LET'S CALL IN THE NEW MAYOR
OF FLINT SHELDON NEELY.
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE
SHELDON NEELY WAS ELECTED MAYOR
OF FLINT AND LEADS THE MICHIGAN
HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS FINAL
TERM CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS
FORMER MEMBER OF THE FLINT CITY
COUNCIL FOR NINE YEARS A UNION
PRESIDENT AND BROADCAST
ENGINEER, HE HOLDS DEGREES FROM
DELTA COLLEGE AND SAGINAW STATE
UNIVERSITY.
MR. MAYOR ELECT CONGRATULATIONS,
SIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
>> YOU HAVING FUN?
>> IT'S BEEN BUSY.
>> HOW MANY HOURS SLEEP HAVE YOU
HAD?
>> FOUR SINCE THE ELECTION.
>> THAT IS AN EXCUSE FOR WHAT IS
ABOUT TO FOLLOW.
WE WILL SEE.
>> SO WE SAID MAYOR ELECT BUT
YOUR OPPONENT THE CURRENT
SITTING MAYOR KAREN WEAVER HAS
NOT ACTUALLY I'M ASSUMING MADE A
CALL TO YOU YET TO SAY THE JOB
IS YOURS, FILL US IN ON WHERE
THINGS STAND WITH WHETHER OR NOT
MAYOR WEAVER WILL CONCEDE AND
WHEN YOU MAY TAKE OVER YOUR JOB.
>> WELL WE TAKE OVER MONDAY,
IT'S GOING TO BE SWEARING IN SO
I RESIGNED MY POSITION AS A
STATE LEGISLATURE 11:59 A.M.
MONDAY MORNING AND SWEAR IN
ABOUT 12:00 NOON PURSUANT TO THE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FLINT.
WHETHER OR NOT KAREN WEAVER
ACQUIESCES TO WHAT THE VOTERS
SAID ON NOVEMBER 6TH IS
IRRELEVANT TO ME.
YOU KNOW I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD
YOU KNOW WITH THE SENSE OF UNITY
AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THAT
AND HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER
WHETHER YOU ARE BLACK, WHITE,
RICH OR POOR WE HAVE TO ALL COME
TOGETHER TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT
AND I WAS HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC
SHE WOULD GIVE A PHONE CALL BUT
IF SHE DOESN'T WE ARE STILL
MOVING FORWARD.
>> QUITE A FEW PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES HAVE CALLED YOU, WHAT
DO YOU THINK THAT TELLS YOU
ABOUT THE CITY OF FLINT AND SORT
OF THE WHOLE NARRATIVE
NATIONWIDE THAT A BUNCH OF
DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING YOU
LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE POST OF
THE STATE AND THE POST OF OUR
NATION REALLY SPEAKS TO
COMMUNITIES THAT IS UNDER SERVED
OR UNDER VALUED AND FLINT HAS
REPRESENTED THAT YOU KNOW
UNFORTUNATELY.
WE ARE NOT A COMMUNITY OF
VICTIMS.
I REPRESENTED A COMMUNITY OF
CHAMPIONS AND VICTORS AND SO I
THINK THEY TIED INTO THAT AND
THAT SPIRIT OF HOPE THAT IS
GOING TO BE INSERTED BACK IN THE
BODY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I
THINK THEY WANT TO TAP IN AND
USE ME AS AN IV FOR WHAT IS
GOING TO BE PURSUANT OR GOING TO
BE COMING FOR THEM IN AN UP
COMING YEAR.
>> ARE YOU SUPPORTING ANYBODY AT
THIS POINT?
>> NO.
I'VE BEEN I WAS SUPPORTING
SHELDON NEELY FOR THE LAST EIGHT
MONTHS SO THAT HAS BEEN A JOB ON
TO ITSELF BUT MY WIFE WILL TELL
ME YOU KNOW SHE SAID I'VE BEEN
YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTER AND THAT
IS A GREAT THING AND HAS BEEN MY
GREATEST AND BIGGEST SUPPORTER.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL CANCELLED THE
CASES OF PEOPLE WITH CHARGES
AGAINST THEM IN THE FLINT WATER
CRISIS?
>> FRUSTRATION, I'M STILL A
RESIDENT MY FAMILY IS THERE.
>> WAS IT A BAD CALL?
>> I WOULD NOT SAY IT'S A BAD
CALL BUT THE ONLY CALL LEFT.
>> WHY DID IT FRUSTRATE YOU?
>> 36 MILLION OR SO WENT TO THE
PROSECUTION WITH TODAY FLOOD
LEADING THE CASE AND BILL
SCHUETTE SUPERVISED THE WHOLE
EFFORT AND CALLED FOR THE
INVESTIGATION AND FRUSTRATION
BECAUSE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS WAS
LOST NOT ONLY THE STATE OF FLINT
BUT MICHIGAN AND WHEN YOU WASTE
RESOURCES AND HAVE TO HAVE
SOMEWHAT OF A RESTART OR A
REFOCUS IT'S A FRUSTRATING
THOUGHT.
>> DO YOU AGREE THAT IT NEEDED A
REFOCUS?
>> WELL, I'M NOT A LAWYER, YOU
AND I WENT TO THE SAME LAW
SCHOOL RIGHT AND SO I CAN'T
SECOND GUESS THEIR LEGAL
OPINIONS ON WHAT NEEDED TO
HAPPEN.
BUT I TRUST ATTORNEY GENERAL
DANA NESSEL TO MOVE THIS CASE
FORWARD AND I'M OPTIMISTIC SHE
WILL BRING THOSE WHOSE
CRIMINALLY CULPABLE TO JUSTICE.
>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE
HAPPEN GOING FORWARD WITH THOSE
CHANGES?
AND WHAT INFLUENCE, IF ANY, DO
YOU HAVE AS MAYOR?
>> SUPPORTIVE GOING FORWARD AND
HOLDING THOSE CULPABLE TO WHAT
HAPPENED TO THE RESIDENTS IN
FLINT AND MAKING SURE THIS NEVER
HAPPENS TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY
WHILE WE ARE AROUND AND SO I'M
FORTH THINKING WHEN IT RELATES
TO MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE
PATHWAYS OF PERMISSIBLE HEALTH
TO GET TO THE PLACE THEY NEED TO
TO MAKE YOU KNOW RESIDENTS OF
THE CITY OF FLINT WHOLE.
>> MAYOR ELECT IF YOU COULD SAY
WELL I GUESS TO YOUR FORMER
COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE
RIGHT NOW FLINT NEEDS ONE THING
THAT THE STATE COULD DO FOR THE
CITY, TO HELP IT TO CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD WHAT WOULD THAT ASK
BE IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC
WAND AND GET WHAT YOU WANTED?
>> WHEN YOU GET TO LANSING YOUR
FIRST NAME IS REP AND LAST IS
DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN AND I ASK
THEM TO TURN TO THE UNION SIDE
OF WHAT HAPPENED AND LOOK INTO
YOUR HEARTS IN THIS AND WHAT WE
NEED IN FLINT, WHATEVER THEY
NEED YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE
WILLING TO LISTEN AND WILLING TO
LOOK FORWARD TO TRY TO HELP AND
ASSIST.
>> IS THAT FUNDING?
>> IT'S FUNDING IN MOST PARTS
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT LANSING
DOES GIVES FUNDING AND SO WE ARE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FUNDING
AND THE GOAL IS THIS WE WANT TO
CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD AND TAKE
FLINT TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S
INDEPENDENT OF ANY SUBSIDIES OR
ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF WHATEVER
COMMUNITIES GET.
FLINT HAS TO BE RESTORED TO THAT
POINT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE
AN ON GOING AND INTO PERPETUITY
HELP BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WANT TO
GET TO AN INDEPENDENT PLACE AND
WHERE I WILL TAKE IT.
>> THAT IS FIVE YEARS DOWN THE
ROAD.
>> IT COULD BE, I'M GETTING ON
THE RIGHT TRACK AND WHETHER IT'S
THREE YEARS OR FIVE YEARS WE
WILL REFOCUS THE MISSION OF WHAT
WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE FLINT A
BETTER PLACE AND BETTER QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND FLINT
IS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND
THE MOST SEGREGATED CITY IN THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN BUT WE ARE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO
UNITE OUR EFFORTS AND THOUGHTS
AROUND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW
RESIDENTIAL RECREATION,
ECONOMICS EDUCATION AND SAFETY I
CALL THEM THE FIVE POINTS OF
LIFE THAT EVERYONE HAS
BIRMINGHAM HAS THE THINGS AND
CITY OF FLINT AND PONTIAC AND
HIGHLAND PARK DESERVES THOSE
THINGS AND LEGISLATIVE BLACK
CAUCUS AND WHEN I SUBMIT TO
RESIGN AND THE URBAN CORE AND
DECONSTRUCTED BY THE EMERGENCY
MANAGER VIRUS SO WE HAVE TO
SOMEWHAT MAKE THOSE COMMUNITIES
WHOLE AGAIN.
>> ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THE
LEDGER WE TALK ABOUT THIS
PREVIOUSLY BUT FLINT'S PENSION
FUND IS 36% FUNDED, IT WAS 50%
JUST FIVE YEARS AGO SO IT HAS
BEEN IN DECLINE AND AT THE SAME
TIME THIS CITY'S FINANCES SHOW
AT LEAST THE MOST RECENT BUDGET
THEY ARE PROJECTING SPEND DOWN
OF THE FUND BALANCE AND DEFICIT
SPENDING IS GOING TO RETURN TO
FLINT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TURN
AROUND THAT SHIP?
>> YOU SOUNDED LIKE TIM SKUBICK
THERE WHEN YOU GAVE ME THE SCARY
NUMBERS BUT WHAT WE WHERE GOING
TO DO IS TAKE ANALYSIS AND DO A
FINANCIAL AUDIT TO SEE WHERE WE
ARE AND DO AN OPERATIONAL AUDIT
TO SEE WHERE WE ARE BUT MANY
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN ARE UNDER FUNDED IN
PENSION SYSTEMS SO THAT IS NOT
UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF FLINT BUT
FIGURE PATHWAYS AROUND THAT
BECAUSE I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE CITY OF FLINT HONORS
ALL COMMITMENTS TO RETIREES AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
THE NECESSARY THINGS TO HAVE A
COURSE CORRECTION TO TRY TO OFF
SET SOME OF THOSE DANGEROUS
NUMBERS THAT YOU JUST SAID.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH
THE POLICE CHIEF?
.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW
DIRECTION THERE.
>> THE CURRENT CHIEF IS OUT.
>> THE CURRENT CHIEF RIGHT NOW
WILL BE OUT, YES.
>> WHEN?
>> MONDAY.
>> WHY?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMS OF
SAFETY AND COMMUNITY SAFETY IS
VERY SERIOUS AND YOU CANNOT HAVE
ANY OTHER THINGS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, GOOD
QUALITY OF LIFE IF YOU DON'T
FEEL SAFE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
THE CURRENT CHIEF IS A GOOD
FRIEND.
I CONSIDER HIM A PERSONAL FRIEND
BUT WE NEED A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION AND WE NEED SOMETHING
THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO
UNITE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS THROUGH MICHIGAN STATE
POLICE OFFICERS WHICH ARE INSIDE
THE CITY OF FLINT, WE HAVE THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE
OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
AND NEED A COOPERATIVE LEVEL OF
UNDERSTANDING HOW WE ARE GOING
TO BE POLICING OUR COMMUNITY SO
I THINK WE NEED TO BRING
SOMEBODY IN THAT WILL BE ABLE TO
BE THE COAGULANT IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY IN MIND?
>> A COUPLE PEOPLE IN MIND AND
DATING A FEW OF THEM BUT.
>> PREDATING THIS WEEK.
>> MY GOODNESS YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A FEW
PEOPLE BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS
THAT FLINT IS A COMMUNITY IN
CRISIS AND IN TRIAGE SO WHO
WANTS TO LEAVE THAT HAS A SKILL
SET SOMEWHERE THEY CURRENTLY ARE
FOR LESS MONEY AND MORE WORK,
RIGHT.
>> SO DO YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO
COME IN AND BE TOUGHER ON CRIME
AND ARREST EVERYTHING THAT
MOVES?
>> NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL, WE
REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT
EDUCATION AND DIFFERENT PATHWAYS
TO WHERE WE CAN STOP CRIME
GROWING AND HANDLE CRIME WHILE
WE ARE THERE AND HAVE CLEAR
CASES NOT JUST PATROLLING THE
REST BUT WE NEED DETECTIVES TO
GET THE CRIMINALS WHO ARE
HABITUAL CRIMINALS OFF THE
STREETS BECAUSE YOU WILL FIND
YOU HAVE A SMALL NUCLEUS OF
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
COMMITTING CRIME ALL AROUND YOUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> MAYOR, I'M SURE THIS HAPPENS
TO YOU AND PROBABLY EVERYONE
AROUND THIS TABLE WHEN YOU
TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND
YOU SAY THE WORD FLINT THE FIRST
QUESTION ALWAYS IS THE WATER
SAFE TO DRINK AND MICHIGAN RADIO
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING
ON THAT AND ONE OF THE TOP
STORIES IS THE WATER IS SAFE TO
DRINK...BUT IT'S COMPLICATED
WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER WHEN SOMEONE
SAYS TO YOU IS THE WATER IN
FLINT SAFE TO DRINK?
>> YOU KNOW, PERCEPTION ISSUE
RIGHT AND SO FLINT WAS
TRAUMATIZED AND ANY TIME YOU
HAVE TRAUMA WITH ANYTHING YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH REMEDIATION
OF THE TRAUMA SO WE HAVE NOT
BEEN EFFECTIVELY GOING AND
TALKING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN THE LEVEL
OF TRAUMA WILL START TO
DISSIPATE.
AND SO THE WATER IS TESTING
BETTER, YES.
BUT PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THAT
WATER IS THAT THEY WON'T DRINK
IT AGAIN SO WE HAVE TO GET TO A
PLACE WHERE WE HAVE TO COME OFF
OF BOTTLED WATER AT SOME
PARTICULAR POINT.
>> ARE YOU DRINKING THE WATER?
>> NO, OUT OF THE TAP DIRECTLY,
NO.
I'M DRINKING FILTERED WATER.
MY WIFE THINKS SHE IS NOT
DRINKING FILTERED WATER BUT
EVERY TIME SHE PUTS HER CUP IN
IF ICE MAKER I SAID YOU KNOW
IT'S COMING FROM THE TAP BUT
COMES THROUGH A FILTER SO IT'S A
LEVEL OF COMFORT TIM AND HOW WE
HAVE TO GET THERE IS GOING TO BE
A COMMUNITY EFFORT AND EDUCATION
PROCESS.
>> MAYOR, THERE HAS BEEN SOME
BACK AND FORTH OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS BETWEEN THE
STATE AND MAYOR WEAVER'S
ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE
REPLACEMENT OF LEAD SERVICE
LINES.
HOW DO YOU HOPE TO REPAIR THAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE OR
DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IF YOU
FEEL THAT'S NEEDED?
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE.
AND PEOPLE FAIL TO REALIZE WHEN
THE CRISIS HIT WE DID
APPROPRIATIONS AND WE DID BUDGET
AMENDMENTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS,
NOT ONE LEGISLATOR IN THE HOUSE
OR SENATE VOTED NO AGAINST THAT
AND THE STATE PLACE PROBABLY
MORE IN ACCESS OF 300 MILLION TO
THE RECOVERY EFFORT IN THE CITY
OF FLINT AND SO THAT IS A
COOPERATIVE EFFORT THERE.
THE IDEA ABOUT YOU KNOW HOW THAT
HAPPENED ON THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL
YOU CAN HAVE AN ALL-STAR
QUARTERBACK THROW THE BALL BUT
NOT A GOOD CATCHER YOU HAVE A
LOSING TEAM AND THE GOVERNOR
WILL HAVE AN ALL STAR RECEIVER
SO THEY CAN THROW THE BALL AND
GET THE BALL AND WE WILL TAKE IT
IN THE END ZONE AND GET A WIN
FOR THE PEOPLE.
>> DO YOU THINK GOVERNOR SNYDER
SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH
SOMETHING?
>> YES.
I THINK HE SHOULD BE CHARGED
WITH SOMETHING.
WHAT THAT SOMETHING IS I DO NOT
KNOW BUT DENNIS MUCH MORE WAS
CHIEF OF STAFF AND IF YOU READ
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MUCH MORE
AND THE GOVERNOR AT THAT
PARTICULAR TIME YOU KNOW IT
SHOWED A LEVEL OF A LACK OF
EMPATHY THAT WHAT WAS GOING ON
IN THE CITY OF FLINT SO YOU KNOW
I BELIEVE HE SHOULD BE BUT WHAT
LEVEL OF CULPABILITY HE HAS THAT
IS STILL LEFT TO BE DETERMINED.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO CHARGE HIM
FOR LACK OF EMPATHY?
>> WELL IF IT'S A CRIMINAL
CHARGE, YES, BUT I DON'T THINK
IT IS.
BUT I THINK WHATEVER CRIMINAL
CASE MAY OCCUR FROM THIS WITH
DANA NESSEL I'M NOT SURE IF HE
SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH A
CRIMINAL CRIME BUT DEFINITELY HE
SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
SOMETHING.
>> WANT TO HANG AROUND FOR OT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND COME
BACK WITH SHELDON NEELY MAYOR OF
FLINT.
SEE YOU THEN.
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♪