CONGREGATION ITNAI MOSHE
outcome to allow the process to
conclude by telling the people
who have worked for the city and
have earned and relied on their
pensions, "Sorry, Charlie, there's
nothing we can do."
Coming together and making
Detroit a viable growth platform
for the future requires shared
sacrifice and commitment. It is
certain that the pensioners will
take a major hit on their health
benefits. To extend their loss any
further is unconscionable.
I'm not a resident of the city,
but when I'm out of town and
someone asks, "Where are you
from?" I always say, "Detroit!'
Since I was in my early 20s, I have
endured the comments — "I'm
sorry" or "Rough place:' Worse
than that is the never ending,
"Oh."
We don't need to blame the
banks, our corrupt officials or
anyone else to justify correcting
this problem. It doesn't matter
what the cause — there is only
one right and moral outcome
— and that is to make sure that
those who have earned their pen-
sions keep them.
If we want a real city — one
that is safe and a focal point of
the region — we're going to have
to make it happen. There are not
enough Dan Gilberts; we all need
to kick in — and it's an invest-
ment long overdue and worth the
risk.
A vibrant city boosts the econ-
omy and puts money in the bank.
I'm a non-resident of Detroit. I
don't pay city of Detroit income
tax, and I hate paying taxes like
everyone. But we all long for a
vibrant, healthy city and want to
be proud Detroiters. It's not that
complicated. We have to pay for
it. If this means we must pay a
slightly higher sales tax or sustain
a bump in state income tax so
that the pensioners receive their
due and we put the city on the
right track, so be it.
In two years, when I'm out of
town and someone asks me where
I'm from, I will say, "Detroit?'
The question is whether they
will say, "sad story" or "wow, they
really came together:'
❑
Ken Gross is an attorney with Thav
Gross and host of The Financial Crisis
Talk Center show that airs weekly at
9 a.m. Saturdays on WDFN 1130 AM,
"The Fan" and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, on
MyTV20.
Wors ip, earn, and smile with us this year, including the
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