In Praise Of Anthony Adams

It’s fun to be a contrarian. While everyone goes one way, a contrarian is ahead of the pack going the other.

I feel that way about Anthony Adams, the Deputy Mayor in Detroit right now. As Deputy, he is “the second in command of city government.”

While everyone is attacking him, I happen to think that he is doing a great job for the City of Detroit, making tough decisions that need to be done on the border file. Of course they make him unpopular but that does not mean that his decisions are wrong. However, it seems that he needs to get along better with co-workers, especially in other branches of Government. He may need some "coaching" as H.R. practitioners would say

As an outsider who really does not understand well how the American system works, I do not understand how the “legislature” can tell the “executive” what the Deputy can and cannot do. The issue re the Veto and over-ride seems to me to be political with the issue being more of style rather than substance.

My suggestion for Deputy Mayor Adams is to take out individual Councillors for lunch or dinner at Xochimilco in Mexicantown (that's where the DRIC takes people so it must be good) and re-establish proper relationships. Or perhaps the Governor's hubby is available in the same way he "helped" Windsor's dysfunctional Mayor and Council.

I won’t comment on the Port Deal since I do not know much about it but I do know more about the Tunnel deal. I would suggest that Anthony Adams (and the Detroit Mayor) may one day soon be viewed as the most farsighted politicians in Detroit/Windsor.

Take a look at what has happened at the border over the last few days. First the US Customs slow-down over the week-end backed up cars at the Tunnel and bridge, then the car accident at the Tunnel and now the alert because of London. What a mess with cars and trucks waiting at times for hours because of the increased alerts all over North America, not just here.

So what did the Deputy Mayor negotiate…a deal with the Bridge Co. that ultimately could have opened up 200 Customs booths with a secured roadway for vehicles. Those booths would, and will, serve the Bridge to give them a huge competitive advantage but could also have helped the Tunnel stay in business. Frankly, once the Bridge enhancement project is finished and the new booths are built, who would ever use the Tunnel as it is constructed now and face long wait-times when the Bridge will be virtually free-flowing.

Eddie knows this and that is why he is desperate to do a Tunnel deal NOW! He can see the horrible financial position the Tunnel will be in. Just ask Eddie what has happened in the month since he has raised tolls to Tunnel volumes. He better get a financier in now and pray.

So Deputy Adams, just relax and take a deep breath. You will be bashed and suffer the slings and arrows today but you will be vindicated tomorrow. Who knows, they may name the road to the 200 booths after you!