While there are plenty of exceptions, power does a funny thing to many that gain it, so it would seem. Greed and invincibility oft go hand in hand, along with a good dose of pompousness if not outright self-righteousness. I'll be the first to admit that the numbers probably aren't as high as we would be led to believe by media reports, but those that come to light are real doozies. As the old saying goes,
Power tends to corrupt,
and absolute power
corrupts absolutely.
- Lord Acton, 1887
And this story has more heads than Medusa's head has snakes...
DATELINE: DETROIT, MICHIGAN
When you think of America's industrial centers through the years, no doubt you will put on that list the hub of automotive history, Detroit. The Motor City. The original Motown. It's enough that that region overall is reeling from a lousy, failing economy that sees gloom at many a turn. Things ain't what they used to be there, but change is also inevitable.
Many residents want change to include their mayor getting ousted ASAP. Could be you've heard only bits and pieces in the news about the circus-like atmosphere that has been in place surrounding mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Not for days or weeks, but many, many months.
The biggest expose on national news was an alleged romantic liason he had with his chief of staff, Christine Beatty...all lied about while under oath (and still under litigation). I suppose I should state that "circus" is too nice of a word. "Embarrassment" and "disgust" are words used by many citizens there, fed up with the black eye Detroit has been (and continues to be) dealing with.
Following is but a bullet-list of "Kwissues" on the front burners:
• Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was ordered to jail Thursday August 7 for violating a condition of his bond (he disappeared to Canada for a quick trip ‘to get away’, without required notification to the courts). What awaits him in legal issues include:
• Felony conspiracy, perjury, obstruction of justice and official misconduct charges filed by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in March that could send Kilpatrick to prison for years.
• Recent charges in early August for assaulting a police officer, announced by Michigan Atty. Gen. Mike Cox.
• A long-running FBI investigation of alleged City Hall corruption in which the mayor's father, Bernard N. Kilpatrick, and close advisers of the mayor are reportedly among those under investigation. Apples don't fall far from their trees.
• Detroit City Council efforts to oust the mayor through a process called forfeiture, for which trial-like proceedings are set to begin Aug. 18.
• Removal hearings before Gov. Jennifer Granholm that were requested by city council and that are set to begin Sept. 3.
• A federal civil lawsuit brought by the family of a slain exotic dancer that alleges Kilpatrick and other city officials obstructed the Tamara Greene homicide investigation.
• A civil lawsuit brought by Detroit's two daily newspapers that seeks the release of all records related to last year's $8.4 million settlement of two police whistle-blower lawsuits and that could force the release of text messages sent and received by the mayor and his close advisers.
• Veteran Detroit police detective Ira Todd is suing the mayor in Wayne County Circuit Court, alleging he was demoted for investigating alleged links between the mayor and drug dealers.
• A civil lawsuit filed by attorney Corbett Edge O'Meara seeks to hold Kilpatrick personally liable for part of the $8.4 million whistle-blower settlement, alleging some of the money the city paid was "hush money" related to the text messages.
• Douglas Bayer, a former emergency medical technician in Detroit, has filed suit in Monroe County Circuit Court, alleging the city retaliated against him for providing the Michigan State Police with information about a long-rumored party involving strippers at the mayor's Manoogian Mansion.
• A civil lawsuit filed by Detroit Police Officer Tony Davis alleges Davis was retaliated against for having information about alleged sexual liaisons involving the mayor.
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