Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit

Dave Bing Vision Speech

Part 1: Welcome/Introduction/Purpose

I’m glad to be here with you today – and I want to thank Derrick Coleman and Sweet Georgia Brown for hosting us here.

I want to acknowledge those public servants and community leaders here for all they do to build strong communities.

You know – I’ve been in Detroit for the past 42 years, but up until now, I’ve never been an active politician. In fact, I plan to be a statesman, and not a politician. A statesman will tell you the truth, even if it’s not popular. A politician will tell you what’s popular, even if it’s not the truth.

But I’m happy to share the truth with you here today about the concerns for Detroit that we all have, and how I will approach them as Mayor.

What we all want is resurgence for Detroit – so our citizens can have a strong foundation and every opportunity to build good and happy lives for themselves and their families.

And – during this campaign, we will build a plan for that, as we listen to our citizens.

I am attending meetings in senior buildings, in community centers, in barber shops and beauty parlors, and at shopping malls in coffee stores across this city, this month alone.

We’ve launched a website – BingforMayor.com. I hope the website will provide a place for two-way communication with voters about the issues that confront our city.

All of this outreach is to get your input. After all, it’s our City Hall.

And throughout this campaign, I will give additional policy speeches on subjects like the economy and jobs, public safety, education, and more – to detail more of the initiatives citizens would see from a Bing Administration.

But the message here today is that I invite you to join the cause – and to be a part of the change you wish to see.



Part 2: Define the Choice

We have an important choice to make in this election.

Our nation has just voted to discard the failed policies of the past and to embrace monumental change by electing new leadership.

It is time for us Detroiters to do the same thing.

We need new leadership, For Detroit.

Like the country itself, Detroit is at a crossroads. We have a special election coming up that could be among the most important in Detroit’s history.

And in this election – I believe the choice is clear.

We can choose to move our city forward with fresh leadership and fresh ideas, or we can stay on the same path of stagnation and corruption in city government.

We need government that works, For Detroit. For Detroiters. For you.

We can choose to witness job loss and the continuing decay of our neighborhoods and our schools, or we can stand up and take bold action to improve Detroit for this and future generations.

We can settle for the same old career politicians, or we can do as the nation has done and vote for change.

I ask for your support to bring that change. I want to be a mayor that fights - For Detroit.

I am running for Mayor to attract jobs and investment to Detroit and to restore integrity to the office of mayor. I am running to help citizens build neighborhoods that they love.

This is all about: Jobs. Integrity. Neighborhoods.

And before, I cover some of the challenges our city faces, I will make you a solemn promise: If I am fortunate enough to serve as your Mayor, I will always put YOU first.

I humbly offer a proven track record of success:

- the ability to create and sustain jobs in our city
- an insistence that business be conducted openly, honestly, with integrity and transparency.
- a long history of working collaboratively with others
- compassion for those in need – all because I simply want to give back to a city that I love

Part 3: Vision

Because I love this city, and because I listen to the streets and to the board room, I hear a collective vision for Detroit.

A city that is safe and clean – with a solid image.

A place where both large and small businesses locate and expand jobs.

A place where people come to live, to work, and to play.

A place full of thriving neighborhoods – and happy families.

A place with good schools that guarantee each child an opportunity to succeed.

A place where leaders are concerned more about the public’s welfare than their own.

This vision can be realized, with a plan and a government that works for you.

And because we all know that at the core of every successful city is the ability for its families to get good-paying jobs…I will start with jobs…



Part 4: Jobs

Our great mayor and my friend Coleman A. Young was right when he said we address a number of our city’s problems when we provide job opportunities for our people.

Job retention and job creation are paramount to Detroit’s resurgence.

Times are tough. Our people are hurting.

High unemployment leads to home foreclosures, higher crime rates, lower tax revenues and increased despair…problems that have plagued Detroit for far too long.

I know what it takes to bring jobs to our city. I have created jobs for Detroiters and I have kept Detroiters employed during tough economic times, just like we’re facing now.

As mayor, I will use my business connections and my business experience to create a climate in our city that attracts new businesses, stabilizes existing ones, and promotes entrepreneurship.

We will work to eliminate the red tape, excessive delays and unnecessary paperwork that discourage business development.

I will encourage entrepreneurship and the development of small business - encouraging partnerships between private sector leaders and emerging businesspeople.

I will reward hometown entrepreneurs. There are so many incentive programs for people outside the city to create jobs within Detroit. We should be rewarding those local entrepreneurs who have committed to creating jobs and doing business in Detroit. We should be tailoring incentives to Detroit-based job creators.

The new “energy economy” should provide new and exciting opportunities for Detroit. As Michigan works to transform its economy through the development of alternative energy sources and “green technologies,” Detroit must be prepared to participate in and benefit from these new initiatives.

I will work with the state and unions and President Elect Obama to support his initiative to create an energy-focused youth jobs program.

I will work with the state to attract energy business to our city. My administration will work to identify homes and older buildings in the city that can be rebuilt as energy efficient, using green technologies, while we eradicate blight.

And while we prepare our youth for the jobs of the future, I will expand training and re-training programs so workers of all ages can find and retain good jobs that pay good wages.

The health care profession, nursing in particular, provides an area of great promise to workers making job transitions. I will talk about this in more detail, later.

There is much to be done in this area… but these are just a few ideas from which to start.

While I’m proud of my days in the NBA – no job has been more meaningful to me than that of job creator.


Part 5: Public Safety

Much of what we need to accomplish in Detroit hinges on our ability to provide effective public safety.

The growth of our neighborhoods, the development of new businesses, our ability to keep and attract new residents all depend on the safety and security of our people.

We should feel safe in our city – and many Detroiters feel anything but safe.

Although there was a decline in murders in 2007, we still achieved the dubious honor as murder capital of the US in 2007.

Well, we must change this.

When it comes to crime - I won’t just be tough.

If we can’t clean up our crime problem, the rest of a plan for Detroit’s resurgence will fail.

Our battle plan on crime will be unveiled at a future point, but I will say today that my Administration’s highest budget priority will be Public Safety.

I will restructure the Police Department to establish maximum response times for patrol officers to respond to citizen calls for assistance on any Detroit street at any given time.

I will pursue federal funding to improve the Police Department’s ability to fight crime more effectively.

We must find a way to put more officers on the beat and in the streets. President Clinton put cops on the street, and Bush took them off. I will hold President Obama’s Administration to the promise of full funding of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for hiring and training; procuring equipment and support systems; paying officers to perform intelligence, anti-terror or homeland security; and developing new technologies.

And we must do something to reduce the number of illegal guns in our city. Veteran Detroit police officers tell me we have far too many people riding around in their cars with AK47s, automatic and semi-automatic weapons on their laps. Detroiters of all ages are becoming victims of gun violence. Under my administration, the Detroit Police Department will work diligently to get as many illegal guns off the streets as possible – as well as the people who carry them.

If we reduce the crime rate, we can change our image and begin to make the case for new employers - but we must also educate our children and workforce in order to attract those jobs.


Part 6: Education

This brings us to another one of Detroit’s most pressing problems – education.

Our graduation rates are too low, and our dropout rates are too high.

Our children are threatened by violence on their way to and from school.

Too many of our young people that do graduate from our schools are unprepared to handle college courses or compete for today’s high-tech jobs.

While we are educating our children, we must let them know that we love them, and that we will protect them, and that we also have high expectations of them.

As the world economy becomes more competitive, we know we must adopt a more progressive approach to education in order for our children to compete, too.

What we must do with education - is all about - and all for, our kids.

I know that our Detroit Public School system is not a part of city government, yet it would be irresponsible of me to become Mayor of the city and do nothing to address our education issues.

The relationship between the Mayor’s office and the Office of the Superintendent and the school board is critical to the education of our children.

The task is large.

The Governor has appointed a state financial review team to examine DPS finances – as our school system faces a huge budget deficit.

Enrollment has declined – with an estimated 10,000 children leaving each year.

As a community activist, I’ve immersed myself in various school settings and models – and I’ve learned a lot. Public education, private charters, public charters – all of it.

In the public school I’ve been involved in, 96% graduated, and 93% went onto college. We must do all we can to duplicate this success. We cannot lose any more children.

We must give parents a “choice” of public schools.

My pledge is to work with DPS to do whatever is necessary, first and foremost, to improve our public schools.

We must take the best of what works and put together an array of opportunities that will get the job done for students.

In addition to implementing a more progressive approach to education overall, there are a few steps we must also take.

As Mayor, I will:

First, instruct the Chief of Police to pay special attention to activities in and around our schools to prevent violence and the harassment of students.

Second, encourage increased involvement within our schools by responsible city residents and get parents more involved.

Third, I will continue to visit our schools to speak to and mentor students as I have for years, and encourage others to do likewise.

Fourth, I will deal with the hours immediately after school which is the time when most young people get into trouble - working to ensure that our city recreation centers and community centers remain open, and that they actively recruit neighborhood children and their parents to participate in positive, healthy activities and programs.

As a young man, the mentorship of a coach and a strong community center kept me off the streets and in the classroom. I want that for our children, too.

A good educational model, safe schools, mentorship, parental involvement, and support for growth and development will be the cornerstones of our approach.

And the foundation for a strong school is a strong neighborhood…


Part 7: Neighborhoods

So, if we are to improve public safety, and attract good jobs – with a prepared and educated workforce, we will have the core elements for vital neighborhoods.

Co-chairing the Next Neighborhood Committee taught me that the way back for Detroit involves creating anchors.

Take Henry Ford Hospital, for example: An institution in the high demand area of health care – in need of over 1,000 nurses.

These are good, high-paying jobs.

Today, those nursing jobs are filled by Canadians, many of whom live in Windsor.

No offense to any Canadians who are here – but I’d rather those nurses be Detroiters.

And by the way, while we train our own to do that work, I’d just as soon have those Canadians living in Detroit – next to Henry Ford Hospital.

In our target areas, we will really crack down on crime, and clean up the area.

Working with the hospital and community colleges and even the high schools, we can build an effort to educate and train those who need or will need jobs.

And, as the students come, there will be a demand for housing and retail business, like grocery stores and shopping centers, which in turn will spur small business growth and create even more new jobs.

My vision includes creating several neighborhood projects that provide both a future for our current citizens, and creates an impetus for those who once lived here to come back home.

I will be the kind of mayor who utilizes the office to harness our talent and bring the leaders of various sectors together to create these vital places.

And as we rebuild neighborhoods for the future, we must also honor our senior citizens – those on who helped to build a great city with a great history…


Part 8: Seniors

Our seniors helped to build this city, and we owe it to them to make sure they are safe and provided for.

My mother, who is 83 years young, and my in-laws here in Detroit remind me each day what senior citizens face.

In no way can we tolerate those who would prey upon our seniors, whether they are common street criminals, or scam artists, or business people wearing shirts and ties. Especially during these tough economic times, we must protect our seniors, many of whom live on a fixed income.

As Mayor of Detroit, I will assign a top-level person within my administration to spend time with our seniors and to specifically handle the issues that confront them.

I will instruct the Chief of Police to develop strategies that monitor the safety of our seniors and provide rapid responses to their calls for assistance. We will boost community policing in those areas where our seniors live and where they are experiencing high crime rates.

The community centers and senior centers located across Detroit will work cooperatively with our seniors to provide the programming and activities they want in a safe and pleasant atmosphere.

Many of us remember when our seniors rode for free on D-DOT busses. I understand the need for our seniors to have safe, reliable and affordable transportation. So as Mayor, I will propose that we eliminate the bus fare for seniors and for the physically challenged.

While we will lose a small bit of revenue with this initiative, It is only a tiny amount of a larger financial puzzle facing our city, which leads me to city finances.


Part 9: City Finances

We must get our fiscal house in order.

Our plan – and corresponding budget - must ultimately be bold and creative and disciplined – and balance our needs.

We must find the proper balance between taking more of a business approach to handling the budget and doing what we must do to invest in our people and the things that will allow our city to grow and prosper.

Every so often, we hear a different characterization of our deficit.

How can that be? Numbers simply don’t lie.

I will get under the hood and see what’s really going on.

I know that we must focus on our revenues and expected revenues first – before spending.

And we must root out waste, and only spend on those things that will grow a job, protect our people – like public safety and health care, or invest in the future – like education.

I will do my part to save citizens’ money by not taking any salary. And I will use those monies to hire additional police. Also, I will not live at the Manoogian Mansion. Instead, I will return it to the people for functions and parties, where it can become a revenue generator.

I will change the structure by consolidating the positions of Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff .

Our ultimate ability to succeed will rest upon growing the number of people who live in our city – and to expand our tax base.

While we must concentrate on keeping what we have first, I have a vision that says we will do the things required now so that the next generation will see Detroit, once again, with over one million residents.

And, that’s why we must have leadership that is dedicated to cleaning up how we do business and serving our people first, which is why we need a radical approach to restoring ethics and integrity to government.


Part 10: Ethics & Integrity in Government

Given where we are as a city right now, I want to do is bring integrity to the Mayor’s Office.

The dark cloud of law-breaking, political patronage, sweetheart deals and dishonesty swirling around city government has damaged Detroit’s image and crippled our city.

Our leaders have violated the sacred trust between voters and their officials. That trust can no longer be taken for granted. It must be earned. And that’s what I intend to do.

I’m going to earn that trust by reinvigorating the Board of Ethics. You may not know it, but the City of Detroit has an ethics ordinance. It is seldom enforced and is often violated.

As Mayor, I will follow the city’s ethics ordinance to the letter and insist that each individual in my administration vow to do the same by signing a pledge at hire to abide by the rule of law.

I will earn that trust by ending the revolving door of politics. With the City Council, I will work to prohibit any appointed official from leaving and going to do business with entities that acquire of do business with the city during their tenure. In a Bing Administration, appointees and employees will be working to serve the public and repair Detroit, not preparing to line their own pockets and receive a golden parachute on the way out.

I will earn that trust by creating a process for transparency in contracting. No more backroom deals.

I will make sure that city contracts are awarded based solely on competence and cost, and I will eliminate the “friends and family plan” and the “pay to play rules.”

And I will earn that trust through leading by example. Once I take office, my administration will create an ethics disclosure form similar to the one used in Congress that requires city elected officials to provide the public with knowledge of what they own, thereby eliminating secret conflicts of interest.

But the people of Detroit don’t want to hear just talk. They want someone who can walk the walk, as well. That’s why I’m going to fill out my own disclosure form and make it publicly available. By publicly laying all my cards on the table, I want to give the people of Detroit peace of mind about my interests. Today, I challenge my opponents to do the same. The people of this city deserve as much.

In the Bing Administration, city government will exist for the good of the people and not for anyone’s personal benefit.


Part 11: Conclusion

As your Mayor, I will fight for: Safe streets, Good jobs, Strong schools, Vital neighborhoods, and Integrity.

I have a vision for Detroit that includes:

- Safe streets.
- Good jobs.
- Strong schools.
- Vital neighborhoods.

For working people, for our families, for our seniors, for our children.

You know the saying – “The journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step.”

This is the beginning of a new journey for our city.

I invite you to walk this path with me.

Share the vision.

Let’s make change.

Let’s fight for Detroit and build a bright, bright future.

Thank you. God bless Detroit.