"We are very dedicated to working with the City Council. The mayor's dedicated to working with the City Council, and I think that they're dedicated to working with us," Kriss Andrews said Thursday.
Detroit's new program management director was talking cooperation just a week after overriding the City Council's no vote on work rule changes and a 10 percent wage cut for the city's union employees, workers who are still smarting and maybe council members, too.
"It's always better to get the council in on the front end if you expect to get their approval as to bringing it the day before a vote and presenting it to us, and then we had absolutely no input," said Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown. "I'm asking the administration to be more forthcoming with these documents."
Brown is asking the administration and Financial Advisory Board for more access and greater input into the plan to turn the city around.
"If we don't get the city financially stable, it's very difficult to accomplish any other objective," Andrews said. "I'm never going to say financial stability is job one, but we have to accomplish it so we can do all the things that a city is supposed to do."
A city that could run out of cash again by October.
"If we work with all the constituencies on the other initiatives, we'll be able to get the cash flow stable on a longer term basis. Now if everything goes south, we've got a problem in October, but we don't believe everything's going to go south, and we're dedicated to making sure that doesn't happen," said Andrews. "In reality, people are closer together than sometimes it appears in the news media, and I think we're going to be able to bring the leaders of the city together and move forward constructively."
Andrews' career has included leading automotive suppliers through turnarounds and, more recently, a solar company into bankruptcy. Keeping Detroit out of that situation is his priority.
"We're dedicated to not having the situation that's played out in California and Pennsylvania and other cities in Michigan where there are very dire consequences when people don't get out ahead of the problem, so we're trying to get ahead of the problems."
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:21 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:21:55 GMT
The mountains of petroleum coke along Detroit's riverfront continue to grow. Now lawmakers are saying the stuff has to go as the story gets national attention.
The mountains of petroleum coke along Detroit's riverfront continue to grow. Now lawmakers are saying the stuff has to go as the story gets national attention.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:20:38 GMT
Neighbors said he threatened them with a shotgun, then opened fire wounding two people. Now one of the victims has said he's angry the man accused of pulling the trigger is already out of jail.
Neighbors said he threatened them with a shotgun, then opened fire wounding two people. Now one of the victims has said he's angry the man accused of pulling the trigger is already out of jail.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:57 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:57:50 GMT
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:17 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:17:22 GMT
We are learning more about the past of the man currently in police custody in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Sabrina Gianino.
We are learning more about the past of the man currently in police custody in connection with the murder of 35-year-old Sabrina Gianino. 42-year-old Myron Williams is on probation in Michigan for a drug paraphernalia charge. He also has quite a past in Louisiana.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:30 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:30:05 GMT
There are new developments in the murder of a young woman in Grosse Pointe Park. Police have a person in custody in connection with the death of Sabrina Gianino, who was found strangled last week.
There are new developments in the murder of a young woman in Grosse Pointe Park. Police have a person in custody in connection with the death of Sabrina Gianino, who was found strangled last week.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:39 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:39:46 GMT
Army Specialist Jenna Beno bravely fought for our country. Sadly, she died after an attack in Iraq. Thursday, the young soldier was honored during an emotional ceremony in Clarkston.
Army Specialist Jenna Beno bravely fought for our country. Sadly, she died after an attack in Iraq. Thursday, the young soldier was honored during an emotional ceremony in Clarkston.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:21 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:21:55 GMT
The mountains of petroleum coke along Detroit's riverfront continue to grow. Now lawmakers are saying the stuff has to go as the story gets national attention.
The mountains of petroleum coke along Detroit's riverfront continue to grow. Now lawmakers are saying the stuff has to go as the story gets national attention.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:53 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:53:47 GMT
Anna Bailey was walking back from the gas station Thursday morning when she found 16-year-old Emonte Davis lying in the middle of the sidewalk on Sharon Street. He had been shot in the chest, and she tried to help.
Anna Bailey was walking back from the gas station Thursday morning when she found 16-year-old Emonte Davis lying in the middle of the sidewalk on Sharon Street. He had been shot in the chest, and she tried to help.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:38 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:38:56 GMT
Kwame Kilpatrick, now a convicted felon, officially fired his longtime attorney Jim Thomas on Thursday. It's a move that will delay the former mayor's sentencing.
Kwame Kilpatrick, now a convicted felon, officially fired his longtime attorney Jim Thomas on Thursday. It's a move that will delay the former mayor's sentencing.
