Troy city government aids boycott over mayor's homophobic ravings

by: Eric B.

Tue Dec 20, 2011 at 11:20:14 AM EST

My sister lives in one of the furthest flung of Chicago's suburbs. I always make fun of where she lives, matter of fact, because the difference in communities is as noticeable as going past a road sign. But, there is something about where she lives that I envy, which is a vibrant train system. She lives about an hour outside of Chicago, which is the same travel distance that I live from Lansing, but she doesn't actually have to drive into town ... she can take the train. The train station closest to where she lives (in the community next to hers), in fact, has a little district of shops about 200 yards away from it, set aside with plenty of parking and a nice mix of casual dining and specialty shops ... I have a bottle of olive oil infused with porcini mushroom from a visit to this area, matter of fact. it's very apparent that without the train station, this little shopping district wouldn't exist. Mass transit has made that part of that city accessible to people from all over metro Chicago.

This brings us to Troy, which during our last visit with this otherwise unremarkable suburb of Detroit was laboring through a holiday shopping boycott spurred by idiotic comments made by their new mayor on Facebook.

Troy City Council decided to scrap plans to build a new transit center last night. Anyone who has had the misfortune of listening to a Troy City Council public comment session knows a vocal portion of their peasantry believe improving transit will lead to teeming hoards of hoods, muggers, and—worst of all—black people descending upon their quiet little architecture of nowhere community.

Well, no, there is no statistical correlation between building a transit station and a spread of urban crime; but there is a statistical correlation between building a transit station and a spread in suburban retail dollars. If you want people to spend money in your town, then you make it as easy as possible for them to get there. If you don't, then you wall yourself off with only your own prejudices to keep you company.

The real question here is how long Troy's business community is going to tolerate a mayor and city council that is working against its interests. First, there was the national disgrace she made of the town, a disgrace that cost the city at least one convention. Now, this.

Update! ... We go, for a comment, to a Troy business.

...

After watching the disappointing behavior of City Council and being exposed to some of the individual actions such as those of the Mayor and Councilman Fleming this morning I am drafting a memo to all Magna group presidents and our Magna corporate executives strongly recommending that Magna International no longer consider the City of Troy for  future site considerations, expansions or new job creation. I have also recommended that where ever and when ever possible we reduce our footprint and employment level in Troy in favor or communities who act in the best interest of both the residents and business and not simply use their public position to advance their own private agenda. Michele, once again on behalf of Magna and the over 1000 employees we have based in Troy I would like to truly express my appreciation for all of your efforts, your professionalism and your commitment to the business community of the City of Troy. I hope that you and yours have a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

In other words, rightwing social policy is bad for business. What say we apply this principle across the board?