As we have passed voting day in Detroit, the voters have elected Mayor Dave Bing. During this campaign, though there were several debates and events to learn more about the candidates, none of them translated into a significant going into the polls. The fact that Mayor Bing was elected, despite appearing to be the trailing candidate, shows that what matters is what happens in the voting booth. Now that our mayor, though temporary, has been elected, it’s time to get serious about Detroit and the state of our region.

The issues that we face include: huge deficit in the city of Detroit, a mismanaged school system filled with corruption, and neighborhoods besieged by violence. Both candidates have discussed how we as citizens can take back our city by looking within ourselves and examining what each of us can do. The key is to protect our children’s education and providing them a future.

The crisis manager for Detroit Public Schools is proposing closing schools while, at the same time, asking for the support of parents and guardians. It is essential that each parent or guardian plays an important role in that child’s education by talking with the teachers, volunteering at school and monitoring your child’s behavior. We need to step up. Next, we have to make sure that recreation centers, youth clubs and community groups can provide opportunities for youth to stay out of trouble, focus on their future and to find options other than crime.

Mayor Bing will have to figure out how to reduce the deficit without raising taxes and further reducing city services such as youth programs. We, as citizens, are not able to fix the deficit but we can choose the best person that can do what’s best for Detroit and its residents.  Becoming mayor of Detroit is not about name recognition, previous affiliations, or family legacies. It is  about getting down to business and turning this region around. We will have to make some hard choices on what we’re going to do with Cobo Hall, build cooperative and positive relations with our suburban neighbors while making our city viable again.

This can only happen if we vote again this fall. If not, we will be stuck with someone that we don’t like or respect that was not chosen by us. I, for one, like to be in control of my own destiny and I will again be stepping into the voting booth to make my choice. You can either join me in this effort or you can sit back and let someone else make the choice. Which one is it?