Letter to the Detroit News, e-mailed on February 28, 2011. Regarding: Suburban representation on the Water and Sewage Department Board and Emergency Financial Mangers.

Dear Editor:

Like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned, Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh and fellow-fiddler JoAnn Watson are ranting about an alleged suburban takover, supposedly sanctioned by Mayor Bing, of the Water and Sewage Department. Also, Pugh and Watson express outrage that the State is trying to be prepared for the possible fiscal collapse of Detroit (and other cities to be sure) by training emergency financial managers in advance. Which is what a prudent State government should be doing.

Apparently Pugh and Watson have never been repeatedly put on hold when trying to call 911; apparently the police actually show up when called by them to a crime scene; apparently the street lights work on their streets.

In spite of high taxes, Detroiters, such as me, receive inferior City services. Rather than working to improve services by cooperating with other communities, the fiddlers rally their minions to demonstrate and fight against the imaginary threat of outsiders who are trying to seize "control" of City assets. The fight over "control" is a needless diversion from what the City Council should be doing: making Detroit a better and safer place to live, work, and play.

Thomas E. Page