I went to my first SEMCOG meeting today, where I made my introduction to the other elected officials of the region. SEMCOG, the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments, is a body comprised of elected officials in Southeastern Michigan, who periodically come together to discuss ways to move our region forward.

In my introductory meeting I was able to make some remarks. I used my comments to tell the body how much I was looking forward to working with them.  I wanted them to understand that, in this global economy, our competition is not one another, but Paris, Sydney, and Germany. I stressed to them the importance of working together to deal with the dwindling resources and revenues facing many municipalities in Michigan. I shared with them my great hope for our brighter future, which we can experience together.

I learned in this first meeting that the problems we are facing in Detroit are shared throughout the region. I truly look forward to us sharing in each others success, as we solve these problems together.

Today, I was able to sit down with Charlie Beckham and Dr. Janet Anderson, the heads of the office of Operations Restructuring, to receive an update on the work they have been doing in Cadillac Tower. Operations Restructuring is an initiative Mayor Bing implemented to begin the conversation on how we provide services to our citizens more efficiently and effectively. As you all know, our city government is too big; and, with our dwindling population, we must begin the discussion on how we downsize and reshape our governmental structure.

I was very encouraged with Dr. Janet Anderson’s leadership. Her years of experience and level of expertise gives me confidence that the right person is in charge. After brief introductions, she began to brief my team and I on the restructuring committees goals and how they plan to achieve those goals. Citizens will be glad to know that they are using a “service delivery model”, which is a scholarly way of saying they are looking at how they can provide citizens with better services.

Currently, the committee is involved in interagency discussion, asking three questions: (1) how much money is in our budget, (2) how much money are we spending, and (3) are we meeting citizens’ expectations? This process is multi-leveled and pretty extensive. However, this is what is expected when you are talking about re-engineering the entire system of how we service the people of Detroit.

Before leaving the meeting I was able to give a few recommendations pertaining to the purchasing process, recreational centers, and the establishment of an executive/legislative working group. As the meeting wrapped up, it was clear that there will be difficult decisions and hard fights ahead, but I want citizens to know that I am ready and willing to make these tough decisions in order for Detroit to succeed!