- Apologize.
- Fix the problem.
- Share your lesson - Make it a teaching moment.
- Stay the course.
- Fight back only if you have something to fight for
- Make good.
- Stop the rants.
- This is not about you anymore, it is about Toronto.
- Move on.
- Work on re-building your reputation.
Detroit, Sex Scandals and How to Save Your Reputation
Former New York Governor Elliott Spitzer did it, Former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner is trying to do it, Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford almost did it and former Portland Mayor Sam Adams served out his term despite admitting to a relationship with a teenage boy. So what should Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh do to save a reputation he has worked so hard to build, first as a journalist, then as a rising leader in Detroit? He should:
- Stop avoiding the media and start talking. Either set the record straight or face up to the mistakes made. We all have issues, some worse than others and some more public. Some people will be forgiving. Others will not. However, elected officials have a responsibility to be accountable to the people who elected them. So seek us out, rather than hide.
- Get in front of the issue. The more you let it linger and the more you let others talk for you, the harder it will be to recover your reputation.
- Apologize. Admit what you did or did not do and set the record straight.
- Create political goodwill. After you apologize work hard on finding positive solutions that will help you move forward and the rest of the city to move on to other more important issues.
- Stay visible and take positive steps to gaining your reputation back. Admit what you did (if you did it) and take positive steps to rehabilitate yourself and move on.
Unfortunately, in politics and in government, scandals happen. People love power and sometimes the perks of elected office gets the most of us. It is no excuse, and unfortuantely it is not uncommon. In fact, earlier this month, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic was forced to resign over a spying issue. The Mayor of Toronto was recently pegged for a drug addiction he did or did not have and the Mayor of Montreal resigned over a bribery scandal, the Mayor of a Montreal suburb resigned over issues with a prostitute. A government minister in Italy resigned over tax issues, while a Governor of a Mexican state was just arrested for embezzlement -- And all of this in just one month.
So what is another scandal involving the President of the Detroit City Council. There is no doubt, this city has seen its fair share of drama, that we have been the front and center of national talk shows for it, but we are not alone. And those involved, should take steps to face the music, stand before the public, admit what did or did not happen and help us all move on.
A little perspective about Detroit...
Over the past few weeks, I have and will have the opportunity to travel outside of Detroit. For example, last week I was in Chicago for a trade show. While in Chicago, the news that dominated the front page of the Tribune was not the indictment of former Mayor Kilpatrick, it was the trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and the testimony his staffers gave under oath. In addition, people who live in Chicago know of the alleged corruption in that city, but they ignore it because their trash gets picked up, the lights are always on and the city continues to thrive with new developments. While it does not make it right, it is what that city has built its reputation on.
Tonight, I just returned from Toronto. While I was not there for the G-20 Summit, I did read and see pictures of the the police car burning, and heard first hand stories of friends who were not allowed to leave their buildings that were in the security zone, due to violent protests, not to mention protesters breaking the windows of a number of Starbuck's and other downtown businesses. Also in Toronto, Canadian Tourism took care of the international media while visiting Toronto. In the media centre, they created a "fake lake" to resemble the lakes of Muskoka, two hours from Toronto and the site of the G8 meetings. The "fake lake" was inside the convention center and was actually the target of stories about the costs of this Summit and the length Canada was going to promote tourism in the Country at a time that they virtually shut Canada's economic epicenter down to host a two day meeting of world leaders -- As if the Winter Olympics did not accomplish that for them, during one of the busiest tourist times for Toronto, given Canada Day on July 1. Also, they forced the Toronto Blue Jays to relocate their home game to Philadelphia, who wore their home uniform in Philly. A city that normally never receives bad publicity certainly felt the brunt of it in just a short weekend.
In addition, on July 1, the Canadian government will institute a combined GST/PST (tax), placing up to 13 percent taxes on professional services (law, accounting), hair cuts, gym memberships, restaurant tabs, home remodeling, new construction, subscriptions etc, which has not been handled well. This frankly, is an opportunity for us to promote shopping in Detroit to our Canadian neighbors.
After the Fourth of July, I will be travelling to Cleveland, where corruption and bribes of public officials continues to rock Cuyahoga County, where several public officials and business owners have been indicted and a number of others on the way, with the federal government targeting Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo and Democratic Party Chair and Chair of the Cuyahoga County Commission Jimmy Dimore This is the same city, that in the last year or two had major issues affecting their Port Authority, involving money or the lack thereof to fund certain projects.
Next month, I will be travelling to San Francisco, where its' current Mayor (and failed gubernatorial candidate) Gavin Newsom, had an affair with his campaign manager's wife in 2007.
So, a bit of perspective -- All eyes are not necessarily on Detroit. People are really consumed with what is going on in their city and their own backyard. As we work hard to rebuild, repair and rebrand our image, we are not alone and we should think that everyone is concerned with Detroit, or that we have such a terrible reputation. Unfortunately, we are not the only city with the problems we have. We certainly would like the Kilpatrick era to come to a close and for the headlines to change about Detroit. To do so, we need to celebrate and honor our past, but stay focused on our strengths and move on from our failures.
Detroit, like Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco or Hartford, where another Mayor resigned after corruption charges, should not let a political scandal or their public officials failures define their city or region. It is up to the region, to work collectively to promote itself and show first hand what they are capable of doing.
There are no doubt, lessons to learn and impart from where we have been to help create the blueprint that will guide us in moving forward. With an election upon us in just a few months, we need to elect leaders who will not just be held accountable, we need leadership will will lead by example and will not stray from taking risks at a time of tremendous opportunity. I look forward to working with you and with our new leaders on that journey.
Best wishes for a Happy Fourth of July.
Daniel
Wind - It means the world to us!
[gallery] I am returning to Detroit this evening by way of Via Rail, from Toronto. I was in Toronto for an invitation only road show by Vestas Wind. Vestas is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. Those attending the day long event were financiers, developers, consultants, academics and government officials from Ontario. The purpose of the meeting was to talk about the potential of off shore wind in the Great Lakes, an issue I just completed a project for with South Point Wind -- an off shore wind project proposal in Lakes Erie and St. Clair.
The discussion centered on the need to create a "New Frontier" to create energy independence for Canada and the United States. Vestas has been in this industry for 30 years and installed their first off shore wind turbine in 1990. They know the industry and the opportunities the Great Lakes provide in terms of transitioning to sources of renewable energy.
However, as we have learned from current initiatives now under way on Michigan's west coast and in Ontario, to begin this process it is vital to engage key stakeholders from the start. This includes the First Nation's in Canada and Native American's in the U.S., government officials from the local state/provincial and federal levels, industry, academics, suppliers, labor, local communities, the media and others in the process.
From the initial stages of a project such as off shore wind, it is vital that the developers of the project engage the community in a discussion of what they seek to accomplish. In fact, funding from investors or others may hinge upon their strategic communications plan.
Project organizers should understand that they will not convince everyone on the merits of their project, but they can start early, by creating the messages to convey while avoiding rumors and dispelling myths. This includes meeting with local officials to gain their input and support, editors of local papers and the other dailies. In meeting with the community at-large, it is important to make sure that you also have the people financing or backing the project, your legal team, lobbyists, consultants and the appropriate government officials available to answer questions and address concerns. In bringing "the team" together and in front of the community, developers will eliminate any question about transparency, will aptly address any concern by the community, and will go along way in developing relationships with those they intend to invest in.