Attending a Jim Fouts State of the City address is always an
adventure, as the Warren mayor bounces from subject to subject and shares his
opinions on a wide array of matters that extend far beyond the city’s borders.
It’s sort of a Foutsian Festivus.
Wednesday’s speech was all that and more. The mayor spoke
for well over an hour and, even before he got started, things got interesting.
for well over an hour and, even before he got started, things got interesting.
A pastor who appeared on stage to give the invocation
(nobody seems to know who he was) told a truly tasteless joke before offering a
prayer.
(nobody seems to know who he was) told a truly tasteless joke before offering a
prayer.
The joke went something like this: Fouts is always ready to help any
constituent. He recently passed along to a woman the advice that a priest once
gave to a married woman. This woman was battered and bruised on a regular basis
by her drunken husband. The priest advised her that, the next time her husband
comes home under the influence, pour some water in her mouth but don’t swallow
it until he falls asleep. A few weeks later the woman visited the priest and her
appearance and demeanor indicated that the beatings had stopped. She expressed
amazement that the water did the trick. It’s not the water that does it, the
priest responded, it’s keeping your mouth shut.
constituent. He recently passed along to a woman the advice that a priest once
gave to a married woman. This woman was battered and bruised on a regular basis
by her drunken husband. The priest advised her that, the next time her husband
comes home under the influence, pour some water in her mouth but don’t swallow
it until he falls asleep. A few weeks later the woman visited the priest and her
appearance and demeanor indicated that the beatings had stopped. She expressed
amazement that the water did the trick. It’s not the water that does it, the
priest responded, it’s keeping your mouth shut.
*****
Fouts was introduced
to the huge luncheon crowd by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. The Fouts
team apparently gave Hackel a two-page bio on the mayor to read but the executive tossed it
aside. Hackel offered very brief
remarks, schmoozing the mayor by praising his responsiveness to constituents
and fellow officials. “When it comes to your mayor, I feel like I work for him,”
the executive said.
to the huge luncheon crowd by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. The Fouts
team apparently gave Hackel a two-page bio on the mayor to read but the executive tossed it
aside. Hackel offered very brief
remarks, schmoozing the mayor by praising his responsiveness to constituents
and fellow officials. “When it comes to your mayor, I feel like I work for him,”
the executive said.
When he took his place at the podium, Fouts returned the
compliment. “He (Hackel) always responds, and as governor, he will respond even
better.”
compliment. “He (Hackel) always responds, and as governor, he will respond even
better.”
*****
Fouts made little effort to hide his disdain for Campbell
Ewald and their decision to leave town and relocate in downtown Detroit. He
recounted for the audience in detail the case he made for Warren, in comparison
to Detroit, to a Campbell Ewald top executive. Lower taxes, less crime, etc.
But Fouts also took the move as a personal affront. The quirky mayor pointed out a poll that
found 37 percent of Detroit voters support Mike Duggan for mayor in the November
election, 20 percent support Benny Napoleon, only 8 percent back incumbent
Mayor Dave Bing and just behind Bing, at 6 percent, is Krystal Crittendon, “a
relative unknown,” Fouts noted.
Ewald and their decision to leave town and relocate in downtown Detroit. He
recounted for the audience in detail the case he made for Warren, in comparison
to Detroit, to a Campbell Ewald top executive. Lower taxes, less crime, etc.
But Fouts also took the move as a personal affront. The quirky mayor pointed out a poll that
found 37 percent of Detroit voters support Mike Duggan for mayor in the November
election, 20 percent support Benny Napoleon, only 8 percent back incumbent
Mayor Dave Bing and just behind Bing, at 6 percent, is Krystal Crittendon, “a
relative unknown,” Fouts noted.
In comparison to Bing’s 8 percent, Fouts, as he’s very fond
of saying – and he reminded the crowd again — won re-election in 2011 with 81
percent of the vote.
of saying – and he reminded the crowd again — won re-election in 2011 with 81
percent of the vote.
*****
Referring to federal funding the city has secured, he gave a
thumbs up to 81-year-old Congressman Sandy Levin and his brother, Sen. Carl
Levin.
thumbs up to 81-year-old Congressman Sandy Levin and his brother, Sen. Carl
Levin.
“Sandy, don’t you ever retire. We need you. And I’m going to
try to get his brother to change his mind” about retiring, Fouts said. Calling
Levin the greatest senator in Michigan history, Fouts said the field of
potential candidates for the 2014 vacancy – Democrats and Republicans – don’t
measure up to the incumbent. “I am sending an open request (a letter) to Sen.
Levin: Please do not retire.”
try to get his brother to change his mind” about retiring, Fouts said. Calling
Levin the greatest senator in Michigan history, Fouts said the field of
potential candidates for the 2014 vacancy – Democrats and Republicans – don’t
measure up to the incumbent. “I am sending an open request (a letter) to Sen.
Levin: Please do not retire.”
*****
Fouts routinely engages in hyperbole in these speeches, so a
little fact-checking is always necessary. Citing the millages passed by Warren
voters in 2010, 2011 and 2012, the eccentric mayor remarked: “Three successes in three
years – unheard of.” Someone should remind the mayor that the nearby Utica
school district previously went decades without losing a millage election.
Fouts also trumpeted his plan to repair residential streets, calling it the
first major road improvements since Warren became a city in the 1950s. Again,
someone should remind the mayor that the extension of I-696, which created a
massive construction zone across the entire city, dwarfed anything that City
Hall has on its plate.
little fact-checking is always necessary. Citing the millages passed by Warren
voters in 2010, 2011 and 2012, the eccentric mayor remarked: “Three successes in three
years – unheard of.” Someone should remind the mayor that the nearby Utica
school district previously went decades without losing a millage election.
Fouts also trumpeted his plan to repair residential streets, calling it the
first major road improvements since Warren became a city in the 1950s. Again,
someone should remind the mayor that the extension of I-696, which created a
massive construction zone across the entire city, dwarfed anything that City
Hall has on its plate.
*****
Fouts certainly has an army of critics but he does
demonstrate political courage and he is deeply loyal to his top administrators.
Near the end of his speech he heaped praise on Gus Ghanam, even though Ghanam
is under a federal investigation for alleged corruption at the city Public
Services Department.
demonstrate political courage and he is deeply loyal to his top administrators.
Near the end of his speech he heaped praise on Gus Ghanam, even though Ghanam
is under a federal investigation for alleged corruption at the city Public
Services Department.
Knowing that many in the audience would be thinking about
Ghanam’s legal problems, the mayor called him a “go-to guy” and urged the crowd
to give him sustained applause. “When you need to get something done, you go to
Gus Ghanam,” Fouts said.
Ghanam’s legal problems, the mayor called him a “go-to guy” and urged the crowd
to give him sustained applause. “When you need to get something done, you go to
Gus Ghanam,” Fouts said.
Deeply loyal?
Deeply loyal to Ghanam and Sabaugh. And his secretary. That's it.