According to the Detroit News at about 2am, Monday, 21st of December, 2009, "Tom Barrow is calling for the Detroit Board of Canvassers to resign [afer] a full investigation into the Nov. 3 election [in which] the Wayne County Board of Canvassers ruled that none of the 41,485 absentee ballots will be recounted after issues were uncovered with security seals on some ballot boxes. This was 20,000 less than what was reported to this writer by on Saturday evening, when a call was put through to confirm the veracity of what was stated on Tom Barrow's FB page.
Garfield, never mentioned to this writer any number less than 60,000 on Saturday evening and gave the impression that unvetted votes would be in limbo, whereas it has been reported in the News, that any unvetted votes would be construed as being properly casted.
It seems all the crying and yelping is about process if you now listen to the new tune of Barrow. Sure, process is supposed to be fair and admittedly some seals from the voting Machines did not match what was in the books according to the report in the News. But it seems Janice Winfrey and Daniel Baxter receive a passing grade and their professional conduct or management oversight does not seem to fall under a cloud of suspicion any longer-in this writer's mind. Since Barrow has conceded.
However the Election Law expert in the Detroit News-explained 'if a ballot cannot be recounted due to whatever the reason-that is, it cannot be re-assessed, then the original determing vote stands. Meaning any vote for Bing that could not be recounted stays with Bing and likewise for Tom Barrow. That being the case, Barrow is knocked out flat cold, not by TKO or decision, but by unanimous consent from all three judges: Bing, the Board of Canvassers and Barrow.
It seems at press time the Michigan Municipal League is calling for an ad hoc work group to look at a need for widespread ethics. It wants to parnter strategically with the Municipal Attorneys to help tweak theoretical ethics into practiceable tenets. Surely, Detroit is at the top of that list! Pugh has said he wants to hash out some ethics language the Council can go by.
But the Charter already has said provisions, according to the research this writer has conducted perusing the current Home Rule Charter for the City of Detroit.
Sec. 2-106 Standards of Conduct
1.)
"The use of public office for private gain is prohibited. The City Council shall implement this prohibition by ordinance, consistent with state law. The ordinance shall contain appropriate penalities for violation of its provisions. The ordinance shall provide for the reasonable disclosure of substantial financial interests held by any elective officer, appointee, or employee who regularly exercises significant authority of solicitation, negotiation, approval, amendment, performance or renewal of city contracts, and in real property which is subject to a governmental decision by the city or any agency of the city. The ordinance shall prohibit actions
elected officers, appointees, and employees which create the appearance of impropriety."
2.)
"An independent Board of Ethics is created. The Board of Ethics shall consists of seven (7) members."
a.)
"Five (5) members of the public who are appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the city council, which shall not be reasonably be withheld; [this has been the problem thus far over the years]"
b.)
"The Corporation Counsel, and"
c.)
"The Director of the Department of Human Resources"
In section two it calls for Forfeiture of an office or appointment if charged with a felony (but does not say that a person will lose their job if convicted of a felony while employed. The Board of Ethics members may not be employees or elected official or appointees. They can only serve without pay. They have the authority to compell consultation with any employee, appointee or elected official it deems necessary.
During the Kwame Kilpatrick scandal this writer does not recall a Board of Ethics convening and mandating consultation from the Council or the Mayor or any appointee. This writer is not even sure who serves on said Board of Ethics over the last few years or if the Mayor appointeed the HR Director and Corporate Counsel to thereon serve (e.g., Sharon McPhail, Mr. Johnson both served as Corporate Counsel if he is not mistaken).
In closing, unless Dave Bing can start to consolidate the 37 Departments and agencies soon, begging for money from Wall Street and getting approval to do so from the State of Michigan will be for naught because if the Republicans capture Lansing in full-there might be an Emergency Financial Manager later if not sooner depending on budgets over the next year or two.
It seems Terri Lynn Land should say something about the "process" of counting votes in Detroit. And hopefully the Governor will say a word or two about Detroit that will set the tone for the upcoming year.
This writer recognizes Dave Bing: Hz Honor, the Mayor, you have the floor!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Competitive Advantage: American Manufacturing At Its Best!
The new merger or acquisition of Chrysler by Fiat is starting to pay dividends. Fiat could have chosen to build its new engine-that sources say will eclipse 39miles per gallon-anywhere in the USA or outside of the country-in Brazil where 50% of the products will be sold.
But according to stipulations by the Barack H. Obama's Administration, the U.S. Government has spurred Fiat to increase its stake, because although it has an equitable position in the company by Wall Street standards of over 10% that entail notifying the SEC-it can increase its equity to 35% by building cars in the U.S.
But get this, Fiat wants to increase its equity in the company while concomitantly increasing its profits-a no brainer you might say. Well, in the current labor milieu in the U.S. profitability is not easily achieved. So, Fiat scanned the environment and found an example that offers a global advantage in lil' ole Monroe County, Michigan.
At the Dundee Engine plant there will be 155 new hires. All of which must be Knowledge Workers (KWs). The day of brawn model is gone, the brain model is not only on the horizon it is the vanishing point of the old: as far as the eye can see, this type of plant and personnel will foment and foster knowledge wokers! Those workers who can scan the environment and bring back to the operations' managers ideas, knowledge, information, data that will sustain its advantage! Eitehr from the classroom or from publications and conversations.
As Jack Welch was found of saying: If you don't have a competitive advantage-don't compete! It looks like Chrysler if it can grow this model to replace the old model at all facilities in the next few years-the world will witness the Renaissance of American Manufacturing and its antecedent Global Advantage!
In the future, when they start to hire for the plant jobs again and they will, you will need at least a two year degree. If you only have a H.S. Diploma or a GED or even two years of college and no credential you need not apply. It seems Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is adding value to productivity which compounds into quality, high job satisfaction, and high wages.
According to the article "Chrysler currently employs 257 people at the Dundee plant, which operates under a flexible labor agreement that requires all hourly workers to have a journeyman's skilled trades certificate or at least a two-year degree in a technical field." (http://www.freep.com/article/20091217/BUSINESS01/91217025/1319/Chrysler-to-expand-Dundee-engine-production-add-jobs)
But according to stipulations by the Barack H. Obama's Administration, the U.S. Government has spurred Fiat to increase its stake, because although it has an equitable position in the company by Wall Street standards of over 10% that entail notifying the SEC-it can increase its equity to 35% by building cars in the U.S.
But get this, Fiat wants to increase its equity in the company while concomitantly increasing its profits-a no brainer you might say. Well, in the current labor milieu in the U.S. profitability is not easily achieved. So, Fiat scanned the environment and found an example that offers a global advantage in lil' ole Monroe County, Michigan.
At the Dundee Engine plant there will be 155 new hires. All of which must be Knowledge Workers (KWs). The day of brawn model is gone, the brain model is not only on the horizon it is the vanishing point of the old: as far as the eye can see, this type of plant and personnel will foment and foster knowledge wokers! Those workers who can scan the environment and bring back to the operations' managers ideas, knowledge, information, data that will sustain its advantage! Eitehr from the classroom or from publications and conversations.
As Jack Welch was found of saying: If you don't have a competitive advantage-don't compete! It looks like Chrysler if it can grow this model to replace the old model at all facilities in the next few years-the world will witness the Renaissance of American Manufacturing and its antecedent Global Advantage!
In the future, when they start to hire for the plant jobs again and they will, you will need at least a two year degree. If you only have a H.S. Diploma or a GED or even two years of college and no credential you need not apply. It seems Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is adding value to productivity which compounds into quality, high job satisfaction, and high wages.
According to the article "Chrysler currently employs 257 people at the Dundee plant, which operates under a flexible labor agreement that requires all hourly workers to have a journeyman's skilled trades certificate or at least a two-year degree in a technical field." (http://www.freep.com/article/20091217/BUSINESS01/91217025/1319/Chrysler-to-expand-Dundee-engine-production-add-jobs)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
no more WHITE lies: the truth of color
The link below discusses the recent Census Bureau bomb shell that Whites will become a minority in the USA a little later than expected due to non-stimulus dollars: of course we have thrown everything at this wailing economy-except leveraging our strengths-our diversity.
Sure, WHITES have been a minority in the global population for centuries. But the white lies we (The USA) have told ourselves-namely-the minorities that are here now-that WHITE supremacy is well-supreme has been a lie the whole while. Sort of like scaring the be-jesus out of slaves-if they only knew they were in the majority the whole while on most slave plantations.
See, what the USA needs is to start relishing in its diversity. Diversity needs to be the linchpin in our economic recovery-the poorest are getting poorer-so to speak. Ergo, reverse the trend among the poor: If the POTUS, Barack H. Obama's job creation plan which involves getting more financing for start up and re-starts from Banks can be targeted towards Demographics holes, we can resurface-figuratively and literally.
Some will try and call this a quota-it is not. What is wrong with reflecting the society in which you are participle of, in the way your organization is designed-from a HR stand point or, from a governance stand point.
Yes, the numbers educationally are startling in the disparity and gaps in technology, digital dominance and yes, micro-economically between the future minority and the current minority. But surely there are some talented and educated Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans and African Americans that can own an AppleBees in Detroit or an Olive Garden in Detroit or a Ruby Tuesday in Detroit or a Golden Corral in Detroit or CostCos in Detroit or a Wal Mart in Detroit ... supply the pent up demand for these goods and services while providing a modicum of jobs-part time or full time-with or with out benefits-jobs-jobs-jobs!
The bottleneck in our economy is we have our heads burried in the bottle plugging progressing, basically we have our head stuck up our .....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091216/ap_on_go_ot/us_white_minority
Sure, WHITES have been a minority in the global population for centuries. But the white lies we (The USA) have told ourselves-namely-the minorities that are here now-that WHITE supremacy is well-supreme has been a lie the whole while. Sort of like scaring the be-jesus out of slaves-if they only knew they were in the majority the whole while on most slave plantations.
See, what the USA needs is to start relishing in its diversity. Diversity needs to be the linchpin in our economic recovery-the poorest are getting poorer-so to speak. Ergo, reverse the trend among the poor: If the POTUS, Barack H. Obama's job creation plan which involves getting more financing for start up and re-starts from Banks can be targeted towards Demographics holes, we can resurface-figuratively and literally.
Some will try and call this a quota-it is not. What is wrong with reflecting the society in which you are participle of, in the way your organization is designed-from a HR stand point or, from a governance stand point.
Yes, the numbers educationally are startling in the disparity and gaps in technology, digital dominance and yes, micro-economically between the future minority and the current minority. But surely there are some talented and educated Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans and African Americans that can own an AppleBees in Detroit or an Olive Garden in Detroit or a Ruby Tuesday in Detroit or a Golden Corral in Detroit or CostCos in Detroit or a Wal Mart in Detroit ... supply the pent up demand for these goods and services while providing a modicum of jobs-part time or full time-with or with out benefits-jobs-jobs-jobs!
The bottleneck in our economy is we have our heads burried in the bottle plugging progressing, basically we have our head stuck up our .....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091216/ap_on_go_ot/us_white_minority
How to improve the Detroit Public Schools
P.ublic E.ntrepreneurship R.e-inventing F.ailed E.ducation C.enters,
The Principals would be given charge of their per student allocation with budget responsibility.
Meaning, they can go with another food service contract, another maintenance and grounds contract, another security contract and hire, fire, and advertise for hiring who they want--as long as they keep the Board and the Superintendent informed about plans, forecasting, and budgeted items afore mentioned.
If the building had a 1,000 students and if the per pupil allocation is $8,000 per pupil the budget would be 8million.
This will empower the Principal not eviscerate them!
Then, if the school continues to fail the Principal rightly can be let go. But to execute a Principal when they are sinecures and de jure administrators is well a formula for what we have in Detroit and why we finished dead last on Math Scores for the 4th Graders. Instead of finishing at the top like the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
In my PERFEC system schools look like Charters, walk like Charters, but are not CHARTERS. No one is trying to break a Union up....the idea is "Public Entrepreneurship" as espoused by David Osbrone in his eponymous book "Reinventing Government."
The Principals would be given charge of their per student allocation with budget responsibility.
Meaning, they can go with another food service contract, another maintenance and grounds contract, another security contract and hire, fire, and advertise for hiring who they want--as long as they keep the Board and the Superintendent informed about plans, forecasting, and budgeted items afore mentioned.
If the building had a 1,000 students and if the per pupil allocation is $8,000 per pupil the budget would be 8million.
This will empower the Principal not eviscerate them!
Then, if the school continues to fail the Principal rightly can be let go. But to execute a Principal when they are sinecures and de jure administrators is well a formula for what we have in Detroit and why we finished dead last on Math Scores for the 4th Graders. Instead of finishing at the top like the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
In my PERFEC system schools look like Charters, walk like Charters, but are not CHARTERS. No one is trying to break a Union up....the idea is "Public Entrepreneurship" as espoused by David Osbrone in his eponymous book "Reinventing Government."
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