The city of Detroit is spending $200,000 in public bond money to fix the pool at the mayor’s mansion. The same city Recreation Department that had to shut down city pools to due to lack of funds is managing the repairs.
And before some Uptown apologist can jump up to say “Aha! Charlotte does not a have a mayor’s mansion!” please note that neither did Detroit until a wealthy local industrialist donated the 5,000 square-foot property to the city in 1966. The home has been a money sink for the city. Just since 1994 Detroit has spent $1.3 million on it.
Good money after bad. Sound achingly familiar to anyone? Besides, if you don’t think some local Charlotte money-bags might someday “donate” property to the city for a mayor’s residence you are just not paying attention to the level of vanity and self-absorption that oozes from local movers and shakers.
Give it time. Detroit here we come.
