Government of Detroit, Michigan

With a charter adopted on July 1, 1974, the government of Detroit, Michigan, is run by a mayor, the nine-member Detroit City Council, and clerk elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Detroit has a "strong mayoral" system, with the mayor approving departmental appointments. The council approves budgets, but the mayor is not obligated to adhere to any earmarking. The city clerk supervises elections and is formally charged with the maintenance of municipal records. City ordinances and substantially large contracts must be approved by the council. Municipal elections for mayor, city council and city clerk are held every year congruent to 1 modulo 4 (meaning 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009). [Ward, George E. (July 1993). [http://www.crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/1990s/1993/rpt31002.pdf Detroit Charter Revision - A Brief History] . "Citizens Research Council of Michigan" (pdf file).]

Politics

Detroit consistently supports the Democratic Party in local and national elections. Elected first in 2001, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, son of Democratic congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, has been dubbed as "America's hip-hop mayor" because of his fondness for youth culture, flashy dress (fur coat) and a diamond stud earring as well as his sponsorship of a "hip-hop" summit. [ [http://www.forrelease.com/D20030418/def008.P2.04182003171023.18422.html Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick Announces Hip-Hop Summit for April 26 In Partnership With HSAN, NAACP, Clear Channel (April 18, 2003)] . "ForRelease.com".] Since taking office, the mayor has been dogged by accusations of impropriety although in 2005 he was re-elected to a second four-year term.

Suburb baiting is a common feature in Detroit politics. In his 1974 inaugural address, former Mayor Coleman Young told the city's criminals to "hit Eight Mile Road" [McGraw, Bill et al. (1991). [http://wsupress.wayne.edu/africana/afrlabor/mcgrawqmcy/mcgrawb.html "The Quotations Of Mayor Coleman A. Young"] . Wayne State University Press.] (the most prominent dividing line between Detroit and northern suburbs). Mayor Dennis Archer, a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice, refocused the city's attention on urban development with a plan to permit three casinos downtown. When Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick found himself behind in the polls in the 2005 election, his campaign tried to draw attention to the support his opponent, Freman Hendrix, received in the suburbs. During one debate, Kilpatrick spoke of higher illegal drug use in the suburbs when compared with Detroit. [cite web|author=The Associated Press|title=Mayor rekindles tensions between Detroit and suburbs|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-19-detroit-mayor_x.htm?csp=34|work=USA Today|date=2005-09-19|acceesdate=2008-07-30] Kilpatrick supporters have noted improvements taking place in the city, while opponents criticized him for policies which facilitate gentrification.

In 2000, the City requested an investigation by the United States Justice Department into the Detroit Police Department which was concluded in 2003 over allegations regarding its use of force and civil rights violations. [ [http://www.detroitmi.gov/police/dept/crib/crib.htm Quarterly Status Report to the Independent Federal Monitor] . "Detroit Police Department" Retrieved on April 8, 2007.] The city proceeded with a major reorganization of the Detroit Police Department. Mayor Kilpatrick had joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, [cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members Retrieved on June 19, 2007] an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.

After much legal wrangling, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick resigned effective September 19, 2008 [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/UPDATE/809040464] , after being charged with eight felonies on March 24, 2008. ["Bill McGraw: Kilpatrick a first for Detroit", Bill McGraw, Detroit Free Press, March 24, 2008] ["Mayor of Detroit Faces 8 Counts in Perjury Case", http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/us/25detroit.html, Monica Davey and Nick Bunkley, "New York Times", March 25, 2008]

Courts

Detroit's courts are all state-administered and elections are nonpartisan. The Circuit and Probate Courts for Wayne County are located in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (formerly the "City-County Building"). Circuit and probate judges are elected county-wide, with circuit judges handling all cases where more than $25,000 is in dispute, felonies, divorce/custody actions, and matters of general equitable jurisdictions. Probate Court is responsible for estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships and juvenile matters. The divorce/family court docket is run jointly with the Circuit Court. [ [http://www.waynecounty.com/courts/ Wayne County Court System (2004)] . "Wayne County, Michigan website (accessed April 20, 2006)".]

The 36th District Court, with judges elected city-wide, handles civil disputes where less than $25,000 is in dispute, landlord-tenant matters, misdemeanors, and preliminary examinations of criminal defendants charged with felonies prior to being bound over to circuit court. The 36th District Court incorporated the city's common pleas, traffic court, and misdemeanor prosecutions. [ [http://www.36thdistrictcourt.org/ Michigan's 36th District Court] at ‘’www.36thdistrictcourt.org (accessed April 20, 2006).’‘]

In addition to these trial courts, Detroit hosts the 1st District of the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan located in the Theodore Levin Federal Courthouse building in Downtown Detroit. [Mason, Philip (October 1995). [http://www.theragens.com/history/Levin%20-%20Theodore's%20Courthouse.htm Naming of the Court House in Detroit after Theodore Levin] . "The Ragens" at www.theragens.com/history/ (accessed April 20, 2006).]

City finances

In addition to property tax, the city levies an income tax of 2.65% on residents, 1.325% on non-residents, and 1.6% on corporations. Revenue is also obtained from utility taxes, hotel excises and from the Detroit-owned Water and Sewer system that provides most of the fresh water and wastewater treatment facilities within the metropolitan area. Detroit has had to fight off legislative efforts to turn control of the system to the suburbs. [ Wisely, John (10/25/05). [http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0510/25/A10-360055.htm Suburbs ramp up water system fight] . "The Detroit News".]

Under Mayor Kilpatick's administration, the city's streamlined government has a balanced budget and is seeing new growth in business and tourism. [ Mayor Kwami Kilpatrick (4-12-2006). [http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/8650757/detail.html Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Explains Budget Plan] "WDIV ClickonDetroit.com"] . With a decreased population from prior decades, the city planned a reduced workforce and more consolidated operations. [Lin, Judy (4/28/05). [http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0504/28/b01-164896.htm Detroit triggers loan limit] . "The Detroit News".] In addition, Detroit had asked for pay cuts and other "give backs" from the municipal unions that represent city employees. [ Heath, B., "et al." (1/13/05). [http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0501/13/A01-58735.htm Mayor: Fix Detroit or risk takeover] . "Detroit News".]

Detroit is hampered not only on continuing decline in its tax base and the lack of private business activity within the city, but also criticism of widespread mismanagement.

ister cities

Detroit has a close relationship with its neighbor to the east:
*

Other sister cities include: [ [http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/MI Online Directory: Michigan, USA (2006)] . "Sister Cities International" (accessed April 20, 2006).]
*flagicon|Japan Toyota City, Japan
*flagicon|United Arab Emirates Dubai, United Arab Emirates
*flagicon|Italy Turin, Italy
*flagicon|Belarus Minsk, Belarus
*flagicon|Zambia Kitwe, Zambia
*flagicon|Bahamas Nassau, Bahamas
*flagicon|China Chongqing, China [ [http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/MI Online Directory: Michigan, USA (2006)] . "Sister Cities International" (accessed April 20, 2006).]

References

ee also

*Flag of Detroit

External links

* [http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/mayor/default.htm Office of the Mayor of Detroit]
* [http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/legislative/CityCouncil/Default.htm Detroit City Council]
* [http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/directory.htm Directory of Detroit city departments]