She simply could have told L. Brooks Patterson to knock it off. But
then in her own way, Governor Jennifer Granholm did just that.
You've heard the Oakland County executive renewing his criticism of
the Detroit Water Board which has the suburbs over the barrel, so to
speak, and he doesn't like it one iota.
Well the governor is not fond of his rhetoric either in that it once
more seeks to pit the city vs. the suburbs and vice versa. She is to
the point in her criticism.
"Throughout his career, (he) has fanned this flame a lot and it's
very unfortunate." She concedes he has "zeal" to defend his home turf
but at what cost she asks?
"He has historically pitted county against the City of
Detroit…(but) that kind of mindset is anachronistic and unhelpful when
you want to take a regional approach," she advises him in no uncertain
terms.
The governor contends there is a court ordered agreement in place
on how to address water issues and she wants that document to work and
suggests that Mr. Patterson come to the table to discuss that "with an
open hand rather than a fist."
This is heavy-duty stuff for a governor who generally likes to
play nice and still she is not done.
She is worried that as the new governor tries to forge a
bipartisan climate at the capitol, the Patterson remarks could poison
that effort if the city and suburban lawmakers get into a tangle over
water.
"Yes, you're correct" she tells Michigan Public TV during her
final exit interview, "if there is a city-suburb battle, none of that
is good for the State of Michigan. We are one Michigan and we should
not be fanning the flames of division."
Warm letter to follow.