I remember when Monica Conyers was on 97.1 FM with Mike Valenti and Terry Foster. Foster refered to her as, "Monica."
She became very irate and said they needed to call her, "Council President."
What should we call you now, Monica? Ex-president? Ex-council member? What about Felon?
I honestly try to not relish when someone crashes and burns. It's very sad when someone in the position of authority abuses that power. When they crush opposition under their feet. When they blunder their way through their political office and hurt the people who they claim they want to help.
While it might be nice to enjoy that fall because they received payback for their misconduct, it isn't very satisfying to see a council person or politician break the law and get busted. Why? Because the crime hurts the people the most.
I feel a sense of relief and not joy that she is finally off the City Council.
Conyers brought shame to Detroit during a time when it was buried under the mess that was Kwame Kilpatrick. Her (hopefully) going to jail won't remove the blemish she cast on this great city. It will only make the Motor City another punchline on the evening news.
What do we do now?
We move forward. We support Mayor Dave Bing and the good people on the City Council. We look into the candidates in the upcoming elections with discerning eyes. We also let those who do get elected - not just in Detroit but the entire state - know we will be watching. We will make sure you help revive Detroit, and Flint, and Lansing, and the Upper Peninsula, and the entire state of Michigan.
Already, a new Cobo deal is expected to pass now that Conyers and her stance against white people benefiting in anyway from a Cobo deal is gone.
That is one sign of rebirth in the city. Now, we need many more.
Conyers' fall from power needs to be a lesson for any politician that decides a few thousand dollars is worth the public's trust. Hopefully, the judge will see to it an example is set. Until politicians believe they will get caught for their misdeeds and the punishment will be severe, the corruption won't stop.
Detroit will rebound from this embarrassment but there will be some people in and out of Michigan that will use the Conyers' mess as another reason to scorn Detroit.
All we can do is try to make things better and let people know we will not tolerate inept leadership.
Until next time, enjoy Michigan.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:22 pm
They no longer suffer if the criminal (Conyers) is in jail. In the City Council, she hurt the people. In jail, she can only hurt herself. I guess I see it as the people being saved from a criminal, that’s all.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I can see why people would enjoy the payback and I think it’s justice and deserved, I guess I just hate the way the people of Detroit always have to suffer. It’s true they voted her in, but not everyone wanted her in office.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I’m going to respectfully disagree (slightly) here, because personally, I relish in the joy of someone like Conyers getting caught. Her criminal activity hurt the people of Detroit, as well as the people of Michigan (and with all the federal money Detroit gets, everyone in America too).
From local, to state, to federal government … these bureaucracies are chock-full of outright criminals! Every time I see one go down, I view it as a win for “we the people!”
It’s sad that these politicos are such greedy, power-hungry criminals indeed, but getting them out of office and off the street, is a benefit to society at large!