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SaveMICity Panel Huge Hit at 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference

Huge crowd at SaveMICity panel discussion at the 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference.
The Michigan Municipal League’s Anthony Minghine participates in the panel discussion.

We had a fantastic panel discussion this morning about why we need to fix Michigan’s broken system for funding municipalities. The discussion took place at the state’s premiere political event of the year – the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy

Conference on Mackinac Island happening this week.

The Michigan Municipal League and the SaveMICity campaign and our partners used the Policy Conference as an opportunity to launch our newly enhanced SaveMICity education outreach initiative. Check out the press release and view a blog about it here. The panel event was a huge success as there was a standing room only crowd. We did a highly successful panel discussion at last year’s conference and this one seemed to even top last year’s success, which is especially noteworthy because there was more competition and a lot more news happening at this year’s conference.

C.S. Mott Foundation President Ridgway White declares the state’s system for funding municipalities as “broken.”

The session – “Not Open for Business: Why Disinvestment in Michigan Cities is Hampering Economic Opportunity” – and enhanced education campaign is generously sponsored by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The session included welcoming remarks by Mott Foundation President Ridgway White, opening comments by U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee and a panel discussion moderated by Doug Rothwell of Business Leaders for Michigan with the League’s Anthony Minghine, Gordon Krater of Plante Moran and Chris Coleman, former mayor of St. Paul, Minn.

The enhanced campaign is focused on digital outreach so fittingly we released a new animated video to explain the issue and launched an improved savemicity.org website with fresh content and updated social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. The new 3-minute animated video creatively explains why and how Michigan’s system for funding its municipalities is broken. The video can be viewed at the bottom of this post and found on YouTube here.

We also did extensive FB and Twitter posts that we’re shared by dozens of supporters and followers of the Michigan Municipal League and our partner organizations. We’ve complied many of those tweets below, so while the video of the actual panel discussion won’t be posted for a couple days you can follow the tweets to get a feel for the success of Wednesday’s session. It was a packed house and some excellent conversation.

Minghine and SEMCOG Executive Director Kathleen Lomako discuss on Detroit Public TV how Michigan’s municipal funding system needs to track with the economy, but doesn’t.

We’re also getting some tremendous media coverage, including interviews with the Detroit Free Press, mlive.com, Detroit Public TV’s MiWeek program, WWJ News Radio, Bankole Thompson and others. Here is a list of the coverage we’ve found online so far and we will update this list as it grows:

Detroit Public Television Interviews Tony Minghine and Kathleen Lomako of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments at 2018 Mackinac Policy Conference. Conversation focuses on broken municipal finance system  – Detroit Public Television, MiWeek, May 30, 2018. View the full interview here.

Could Struggling Michigan Cities Short-Circuit State’s Economic Rebound? – Politically Speaking by Chad Selweski, May 30, 2018

Mackinac Policy Conference served sober realism along with champagne – Detroit Free Press, June 3, 2018 (SaveMICity referenced when mentioning comments made by Congressman Kildee).

Congressman Dan Kildee: We Need a Smarter, More Sustainable Agenda to Support America’s Cities and Towns – Dan Kildee House.gove – May 30, 2018 (Includes compete transcript of Congressman Kildee’s comments made during the session)

Where was Flint at This Year’s Conference? – mlive.com,  June 3, 2018 (references Congressman Kildee’s comments at SaveMICity panel session).

Mackinac Policy Conference could help these 5 Michigan regions – Detroit Free Press, May 28, 2018

Many Metro Area Cities Paralyzed by Inability to Raise Revenues – WDET 101.9 Michigan Public Radio

Ann Arbor Among Five Regions to be Focused on in Mackinac Policy Conference Panel on Wednesday – ClickonDetroit’s All About Ann Abor (A4) – May 29, 2018

Mackinac Policy Conference Could Help These 5 Michigan regions – WZZM13.com, May 29, 2018

Enjoy these tweets:

Detroit Chamber‏ @DetroitChamber

Placemaking is economic development. Building vitality and energy in downtown St. Paul was my jobs strategy, says former @cityofsaintpaul Mayor Chris Coleman. #MPC18

Kathy Barks Hoffman‏ @KathyBHoffman 29m29 minutes ago

Plante Moran Partner Gordon Krater explains that cities and businesses cannot cut their way out to profitability. Improved communities requires investment.

.@GordonKrater of @PlanteMoran: “We employ 1,300 people in #Michigan, but we won’t” if Michigan doesn’t fix its cities, make them attractive to younger workers. #SaveMICity @SaveMICity #MPC2018

Jen Rigterink‏ @rigterink1 14m14 minutes ago

Jen Rigterink Retweeted Detroit Chamber

Placemaking IS economic development! #SaveMICity

Rep. Dan Kildee‏ @RepDanKildee
Appreciate the @MottFoundation hosting such an important conversation on the future of Michigan’s #CitiesandTowns this morning at #MPC18. Packed room and great conversation!

“It’s not just abt creating hip places to live w/ microbreweries, we have to rebuild cities for everyone …” says @cityofsaintpaul @mayorcoleman in great piece by @cbsnewsman abt last week’s @SaveMICity panel at #MPC18 politicscentral.org/could-struggli… @aminghine #SaveMICity @DPGilmartin

Kathy Barks Hoffman‏ @KathyBHoffman 47m47 minutes ago

.@aminghine: Many #Michigan residents would back putting more money into transportation to @FixMIState. A wise investment, but many lawmakers reluctant to pay enough to adequately fix the roads. #SaveMICity #MPC2018 @SaveMICity

The League‏ @MMLeague 8m8 minutes ago

@GordonKrater of @PlanteMoran at @SaveMICity panel discussion #MPC2018 #MPC18: “business goes to where there’s the best talent” @DPGilmartin @gisgie #SaveMICity @aminghine @nickrmanes @crainsdetroit @DetroitChamber @MIRSnews @GongwerMichigan

Katharine Cz Merritt‏ @MIDawgFan 45m45 minutes ago

“We can’t cut our way out of this.” @MMLeague @aminghine #saveMIcity #MPC18

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 16m16 minutes ago

 

U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee: “Flint is not an anomaly — it’s a warning.”

Thanks again to the @MottFoundation, @RepDanKildee, the panelists, and our audience this morning for a thought-provoking panel on investing in Michigan’s core cities. #MPC18

 

Katharine Cz Merritt‏ @MIDawgFan 2h2 hours ago

“We have a broken municipal finance system….Flint is not an anomaly.” @dankildee #SaveMICity #MPC18 @MiPlaceNews @MMLeague

 

Former @CityofSaintPaul @mayorcoleman: This isn’t about hip cities with micro-breweries on every block, it’s about building a city for everyone and investing in roads, education, affordable housing, transit. #MPC18 #MPC2018 @DPGilmartin @aminghine @SaveMICity

Kathy Barks Hoffman‏ @KathyBHoffman 55m55 minutes ago

.@aminghine of @MMLeague: There’s no way for #Michigan as a whole to thrive if its cities, one by one, fail and fall off a financial cliff. #SaveMICity @SaveMICity #MPC2018

Business must be at the table, helping lead to find regional solutions to issues. The Itasca Project and @GreaterMSP in Minnesota show a model of how to do this, says former @CityofSaintPaul Mayor Chris Coleman. #MPC18

The League‏ @MMLeague 26m26 minutes ago

@BusLeadersforMI CEO Doug Rothwell ignores the red light to continue to constructive dialogue during compelling #MPC18 panel on cities. Fixing municipal finance in Michigan shaping up to be the breakout issue at Mackinac this year. Follow #SaveMICity to learn more. #MPC2018

 17 Apr 2017

@MMLeague COO @aminghine not interested in using the “t-word” (taxes) to solve municipal finance problems first, interested more in strategic investments with a global view. #SaveMICity #mpc2018 #mpc18

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 29m29 minutes ago

Cities are working to deliver 2018 healthcare on a model that was built in the 70’s or before. The state must partner with cities to give them the tools to manage and address legacy costs, says @MMLeague’s Anthony Minghine. #MPC18

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 29m29 minutes ago

@BusLeadersforMI CEO Doug Rothwell ignores the red light to continue to constructive dialogue during compelling #MPC18 panel on cities. Fixing municipal finance in Michigan shaping up to be the breakout issue at Mackinac this year. Follow #SaveMICity to learn more. #MPC2018

Matt Bach‏ @mattbach 33m33 minutes ago

.@MottFoundation Ridgway White declares Michigan’s municipal finance system “broken” – attracting talent only happens when we invest in infrastructure. @SaveMICity #MPC18 @DPGilmartin @TJBucholz @gisgie #MPC2018 @flintjournal @ronfonger @racostaJourno

WKKF‏ @WK_Kellogg_Fdn 35m35 minutes ago

If you’re not building an equitable community—a community that works for everybody—you’re missing the boat. If you’re pushing out teachers and firefighters, if they can’t afford to live there, you’ve got a problem. @mayorcoleman #MPC18

The League‏ @MMLeague 37m37 minutes ago

.@aminghine of @MMLeague explains there’s no way for #Michigan as a whole to thrive if its cities, one by one, fail and fall off a financial cliff. #SaveMICity @SaveMICity #MPC2018 #MPC18 @DPGilmartin @jonathanoosting @emilyjanelawler

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 38m38 minutes ago

Former St. Paul , Minn., Mayor Chris Coleman tells how businesses and cities working together made a tremendous difference in his city.

Former @CityofSaintPaul Mayor Chris Coleman: This isn’t about hip cities with micro-breweries on every block, it’s about building a city for everyone and investing in roads, education, affordable housing, transit. #MPC18

Matt Bach‏ @mattbach 40m40 minutes ago

@GordonKrater of @PlanteMoran explains public transportation, placemaking, education are what attract people to cities; poor, underfunded services drive them away. #SaveMICity @SaveMICity #MPC2018 #MPC18 @DPGilmartin @gisgie

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 41m41 minutes ago

@MMLeague CEO @aminghine says Michigan candidates for statewide office on both sides of the political spectrum are not speaking nearly enough about this challenge – “we won’t have a prosperous Michigan if our cities fall one by one.” #SaveMICity #MPC18 #MPC2018 #MILeg

Nick Manes‏ @nickrmanes 44m44 minutes ago

There’s lots of talk on this muni finance panel about the issue being a “political football.” The issue was also discussed at last year’s conference. Can’t tell for sure but there don’t appear to be any Governor candidates in the room. #MPC18

Jen Rigterink‏ @rigterink1 22m22 minutes ago

Jen Rigterink Retweeted Nick Manes

Where’s this in your plan for MI? $8.1 BILLION diverted away from communities. Are you going to let the state continue to balance its budget on the backs of cities? @SchuetteOnDuty @briancalley @gretchenwhitmer @ShriForMI @AbdulElSayed @pjcolbeck #SaveMICity #MPC18 @MMLeague

Kathy Barks Hoffman‏ @KathyBHoffman 1h1 hour ago

Chris Coleman say state lawmakers must “get out of this mindset that cities are the enemy,” realize they’re economic drivers for a state, attract companies, new residents. #SaveMICity @SaveMICity #MPC2018

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 46m46 minutes ago

.@PlanteMoran Partner Gordon Krater: I’ve been in business a long time. You can’t your way to profitability. Better infrastructure will take more funding and better regional thinking and collaboration. #MPC18

Melanie Piana‏ @melpiana 48m48 minutes ago

If you destroy the economic success of a core city, then the entire state suffers—why rural communities need to care about fixing Michigan’s municipal finance system—former St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. #mpc18 @MMLeague @SaveMICity

Matt Bach‏ @mattbach 49m49 minutes ago

“Flint is not an anomaly — it’s a warning.” – @dankildee on the true costs of disinvesting in all of our cities #Flint #SaveMICity #MPC18 #MPC2018 @SaveMICity @DPGilmartin @MottFoundation @flintjournal @racostaJourno @ronfonger @emilyjanelawler @aminghine

Vanguard‏ @VanguardPubAfrs 1h1 hour ago

Vanguard Retweeted TJ Bucholz

Proud of #client @SaveMICity for bringing awareness to #Michigan’s broken system for funding municipalities. #MPC2018 #SaveMICity

WKKF‏ @WK_Kellogg_Fdn 50m50 minutes ago

Building a culture of vitality that focus on public spaces and places where talent wants to be is key in building #EconomicOpportunity.  #MPC18

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 2h2 hours ago

Congressman @dankildee addresses #MPC18 panel on the cost of disinvesting in our cities, says Flint Water Crisis was a direct result of abdicating our responsibilities in supporting our communities. #SaveMICity

SEMCOG‏ @SEMCOG 51m51 minutes ago

SEMCOG Retweeted The League

We appreciate being able to speak on behalf of our member local governments. @KathleenLomako @detroitpublictv @MiWeek #MPC18

WKKF‏ @WK_Kellogg_Fdn 55m55 minutes ago

Not Open for Business Panel: “Flint is not an anomaly, it is a warning.” Congressman @DanKildee #MPC18  @MottFoundation

WKKF‏ @WK_Kellogg_Fdn 55m55 minutes ago

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Panel ‘Not Open for Business’. Former mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota @mayorcoleman talks about investing in city infrastructure to create economic uptick in our state. @MottFoundation #MPC18

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 56m56 minutes ago

@MMLeague COO Tony Minghine says Michigan municipal finance has to track with the economy in order to ensure stability in economic downturn. #SaveMICity #MPC18

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 58m58 minutes ago

As a major global company, what is @PlanteMoran hoping to see in cities? An environment for public-private partnerships, mass transit, placemaking, and education, says firm Partner Gordon Krater. #MPC18

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 1h1 hour ago

Former @CityofSaintPaul Mayor Chris Coleman: Cities aren’t the enemies. They are the growth engines. #MPC18

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 1h1 hour ago

Placemaking is economic development. Building vitality and energy in downtown St. Paul was my jobs strategy, says former @cityofsaintpaul Mayor Chris Coleman. #MPC18

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 34m34 minutes ago

Business must be at the table, helping lead to find regional solutions to issues. The Itasca Project and @GreaterMSP in Minnesota show a model of how to do this, says former @CityofSaintPaul Mayor Chris Coleman. #MPC18

Martin Waymire‏ @martinwaymire 1h1 hour ago

Panel with Tony Minghine of @MMLeague, Gordon Krater of @PlanteMoran, former St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman talk with @BusLeadersforMI CEO Doug Rothwell about how much disinvestment in cities harms economic development, drives people away. #MPC2018 #SaveMICity @SaveMICity

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 39m39 minutes ago

Cities are working to deliver 2018 healthcare on a model that was built in the 70’s or before. The state must partner with cities to give them the tools to manage and address legacy costs, says @MMLeague’s Anthony Minghine. #MPC18

Regina Bell‏ @_reginabell 1h1 hour ago

@DetroitChamber #MPC18 @MMLeague Investing in communities

Nick Manes‏ @nickrmanes 1h1 hour ago

.@MMLeague officially kicking off the #SaveMICity campaign to address the state’s “broken” municipal finance system. #MPC18

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 1h1 hour ago

Former @cityofsaintpaul Mayor Chris Coleman shares success stories from Minnesota and its investment in itself as part of comprehensive #MPC18 panel on Michigan’s cities. #SaveMICity .@SaveMICity

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 1h1 hour ago

Michigan is dead last compared to all 50 states when it comes to state investment into communities.

Michigan is last in the growth of general muncipal revenue. Without investing to build stronger places, the state will lose residents and businesses, says @MMLeague’s Anthony Minghine. #MPC18

Mike Compagnoni‏ @MikeCompagnoni 1h1 hour ago

Great presentation about local government and the need to invest in communities! @aminghine @MMLeague #mpc18

Mayor Bryan Barnett‏ @MayorBarnett 1h1 hour ago

Great discussion about reinvesting in cities. Local governments consistently better manage resources yet receive less and less from the state and feds. #MPC18 @RochesterHills

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 1h1 hour ago

#MPC18 Shocking truth – more than $8 billion in revenues diverted away from communities – we must change the way we do business if we expect to stay in business. Follow @SaveMICity to learn more! #SaveMICity

 

The League’s Anthony Minghine and Ferndale Councilmember Melanie, League Board Vice President, talk about the broken system on WWJ News Radio. Piana

Melanie Piana‏ @melpiana 1h1 hour ago

Michigan has austerity tools—only making cuts to grow instead of investment tool for cities. Cannot cut our way to growth. @aminghine @MMLeague @SaveMICity #mpc18 @BusLeadersforMI

Rep. Dan Kildee‏Verified account @RepDanKildee 1h1 hour ago

In Michigan, we have a broken municipal finance system. Reduced funding for #CitiesandTowns means less essential services like police and fire. We need a new agenda—a Marshall Plan—for these communities to succeed. #MPC18 #SaveMICity

David Palmer‏ @DavidPalmer76 1h1 hour ago

US Rep. Dan Kildee: What happened in Flint (water crisis) is a warning of what happens when we underfund civil society. #MPC18 @dankildee

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 2h2 hours ago

“Flint is not an anomaly – it’s a warning.” — @dankildee on the true costs of disinvesting in all of our cities. #MPC18 #SaveMICity @MMLeague

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 2h2 hours ago

.@RepDanKildee: Flint is not an anomaly. It’s a warning. We need a national conversation on how we fund and provide services in our older, industrial communities. #MPC18

Regina Bell‏ @_reginabell 2h2 hours ago

#MPC18 @dankildee state convo needed to ensure people living in any community have basic elements of a civil society

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 2h2 hours ago

Congressman @dankildee addresses #MPC18 panel on the cost of disinvesting in our cities, says Flint Water Crisis was a direct result of abdicating our responsibilities in supporting our communities. #SaveMICity

Detroit Chamber‏Verified account @DetroitChamber 2h2 hours ago

.@MottFoundation President Ridgeway White introducing today’s session on how Michigan can adapt its municipal financing to better support and invest in its cities. #MPC18

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 2h2 hours ago

.@MottFoundation Ridgeway White declares Michigan’s municipal finance system “broken” – attracting talent only happens when we invest in infrastructure. @SaveMICity #MPC18

Rep. Dan Kildee‏Verified account @RepDanKildee 2h2 hours ago

Speaking shortly at the @DetroitChamber‘s important discussion on the need to reinvest in older, industrial communities like my hometown of Flint. If you’re at #MPC18, please join us now in the Grand Pavilion!

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 2h2 hours ago

.@SaveMICity Going to be a packed Grand Pavilion for our 10:30 panel on the economic costs of disinvesting in our cities. #MPC18 attendees, still some room left!

Matt Bach‏ @mattbach 2h2 hours ago

.@MMLeague COO @aminghine we can’t cut our way to prosperity – @detroitpublictv interview now along with @SEMCOG exec dir #saveMIcity @SaveMICity @DPGilmartin

MML Foundation‏ @MMLFoundation 3h3 hours ago

Mott Foundation President Ridgway White opens the session.

Grateful to the @MottFoundation and our partners for their help in getting the #SaveMICity message out: http://SaveMICity.org  #mpc2018

Richard LeBlanc‏ @RepLeBlanc 3h3 hours ago

Thought-provoking video from Save MI City https://youtu.be/g_osM97nQAo  The disinvestment in our state & our communities is appalling, and it affects everyone. #SaveMICity

Matt Bach‏ @mattbach 4h4 hours ago

.@saveMICity 2.0 launches today at #MPC2018 with updated website (http://savemicity.org ), new video and social media pages #savemicity @DPGilmartin @aminghine @gisgie http://www.savemicity.org/savemicity-2-0-launches-today-at-mackinac-policy-conference-with-updated-website-new-video-social-media-pages/ … @nickrmanes @jonathanoosting @MMLeague @MMLFoundation @MottFoundation

Nathan Triplett‏ @NathanTriplett 4h4 hours ago

If you’re on Mackinac Island this morning for #MPC18, be sure to swing by the Grand Pavilion for @MMLeague‘s “Not Open for Business: Why Disinvestment in Michigan Cities Is Hampering Economic Opportunity” at 10:30-am. #SaveMICity http://www.savemicity.org/savemicity-session-at-mackinac-policy-conference-gets-great-advanced-media-coverage/ …

TJ Bucholz‏ @TJBucholz 4h4 hours ago

@SaveMICity making an important resurgence at #MPC18 today. Visit the website – http://www.savemicity.org  – and sign up! Not Open for Business: Why Disinvestment in Michigan Cities Is Hampering Economic Opportunity,” is sponsored by the Mott Foundation. #saveMIcity @MMLeague

The League‏ @MMLeague 4h4 hours ago

A lot of media buzz already generated for @MMLeague‘s #saveMIcity session at Mackinac Policy Conference today! #MPC2018 @SaveMICity @DPGilmartin @aminghine http://bit.ly/2J0XFQN 

 

New SaveMICity video:

[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/g_osM97nQAo”/]
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