PROFILE

Zelda and Eli Robinson
have similar concerns.

AMY J. MEHLER

Staff Writer

P hoto by Gle n n Triest

C

atching up with
Eli and Zelda Rob-
inson is a little like
chasing your hat in
the wind — just
when you think you've
caught it, another gust blows
it away. .
Not only do the Robinsons,
both active in Southfield pol-
itics, maintain frenetic work
and travel schedules, they
answer to separate appoint-
ment books.
Mr. Robinson's a busy ac-
countant, financial lecturer
and Southfield city coun-
cilman. Mrs. Robinson's a
business colleague, educator
and elected Southfield school
board member.
Both offer important ad-
vice: If you want them
together, better schedule
well in advance.
"It's difficult, but not im-
possible," said Mr. Robin-
son. "The trick isn't so much
finding free time. The trick
is finding free time at the
same time."
When Mr. Robinson, pres-
ident of Eli Robinson and
Co., isn't home or working in
his Southfield accounting
firm, he can be found writing
or lecturing on the benefits
of financial planning. If he's
not in his office, look for him
at the Southfield Civic
Center, working with a
committee, attending
meetings or talking with
fellow members of city coun-
cil.
Mrs. Robinson, who works
part-time in her husband's
office, is also difficult to pin
down. Elected to the school
board 16 years ago, Mrs.
Robinson helps maintain
and budget for the city's 15
public schools. She's also the
organization's vice president
as well as a past president.
In addition, Mrs. Robinson
represents the Southfield
school district at the Mich-
igan Association of School
Boards. This summer she
completed a TV series deal-
ing with each of the six na-
tional education goals- de-
veloped by President Bush
and the National Governors
Association.
The Robinsons, whose po-
litical careers add up to more

than 30 years, don't think
their jobs present a conflict
of interest. They have a
policy not to let individual
politics interfere with their
home life.
"It's natural we have diff-
erent interests and they will
sometimes collide," Mr.
Robinson said. "But we try
hard to leave it at the of-
fice."
Mrs. Robinson said she
and her husband sometimes
attend each other's con-
ferences.
"There are issues we share
and there are others we
don't talk about," Mrs.
Robinson said. "But I'm
always learning all the time.
I think we understand each
other better now. Before I
ran for office, I don't think
Eli understood everything I
was already doing.
"We share the same con-
stituency, if not every
issue," Mr. Robinson said.
One issue that grabs both
Robinsons' attention is
school finance. Both agree
that money is a pressing
issue in Michigan, but Mrs.
Robinson says the
legislature intrudes too
much on the local level.
Oakland County has a
majority of out-of-formula
districts, Mrs. Robinson ex-

Eli and

Zelda Robinson

are

best friends

in and out

of the

office.

n

plained. This means school
districts with larger tax
bases, like Southfield,
receive less state money
than other districts.
"Oakland County is con-
sidered one of the wealthiest
counties in the country,"
Mrs. Robinson said. "But we
have special needs and are
forced to draw heavily on
local money. Since
Southfield has a high tax
base, the governor thinks
less funds. But we still have
to educate and meet the
needs of our students."

Mrs. Robinson lobbies
local legislators like Rep.
Maxine Berman and Sen.
Jack Faxon.
"Last year cost the city
schools almost $4 million out
of budget," she said. "We
had to restructure our
budget. Instead of remaining
local, money is sent to poorer
'districts. Unlike Congress,
we're not allowed to leave an
unbalanced budget."
Southfield public schools
depend heavily on monies
raised through local taxes.
"About 99.5 percent of
programs end up locally
funded," Mrs. Robinson said.
"And we lose money through
state recapture since we're
no longer reimbursed for
special programming."
While Mrs. Robinson is
concerned with school fun-
ding, Mr. Robinson has the
same worries about main-
taining the financial viabili-
ty of the city.
"Without financial stabili-
ty, everything is a smoke
and a dream," he said.
"When you are fiscally
stable, then all other issues
can be discussed. Then you
can afford to talk about
needs. Then you can start to
meet the wants on your list."
Mr. Robinson, chair of the
city council's finance corn-

mittee and member of the fi-
nance committee of the Na-
tional League of Cities, said
he frequently hears from
people who are anti growth
development. Southfield has
23 million square feet of of-
fice space, as opposed to
about 16 million square feet
in the city of Detroit.
"They don't want to see
any more highrise apart-
ments or industrial parks in
Southfield, but they still ex-
pect the same amount of
money to fund their pro-
grams or projects," Mr.
Robinson said.
Vicki Goldbaum, member
of city council and the Na-
tional League of Cities
board of directors, said she
and Mr. Robinson often work
together on economic devel-
opment.
"I guess I watch for bu-
reaucratic waste in
Southfield, while Eli is
responsible for the outlines,"
said Mrs. Goldbaum, on the
council 14 years. "It works
well. The whole council
works together, but we're
particularly interested in
the financial welfare of the
city."
Politics, said Mr. Robin-
son, is the art of compromise
and moderation.
"Everyone wants their
garbage picked up, but no
one wants to see it put down
anywhere," he said.
"Everyone wants everything
recycled, but no one wants to
buy recycled goods. Well,
folks, there ain't no such
thing as a free lunch."
Mr. Robinson said city
council encourages local
businesses and industries to
spend money refurbishing
their facades. He said coun-
cil won't grant businesses
loans or permits unless they
resurface and repair store
fronts.
"This is very important for
the physical image of
Southfield now," Mr. Robin-
son said. "We're trying to
see to it Southfield has a
fresh, new look."
Areas giving Mr. Robinson
and other Southfield officials
the most concern are the
streets and buildings around
Eight Mile Road.
"The streets butt up and

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