Dave Bing
Mayor of Detroit
When he’s not running the nation’s 11th largest city, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing likes to tour the links. In July, the former Detroit Pistons guard and basketball Hall of Famer took part in the George Blaha 20th Annual High Hopes Golf Invitational at Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Township. The event raised funds for Vista Maria, a child-welfare agency for girls and their families, in Dearborn Heights.
“Golf is a game I enjoy, but I don’t get to play it as much as I’d like,” says Bing, who, after hanging up his high-tops, built a successful auto-supply business in Detroit. He wasn’t able to stay for dinner either, citing the need to return to Detroit to negotiate with unions over possible pay cuts to help shrink a city deficit estimated to be between $275 million and $300 million.
Still, he says, he enjoyed the round of golf with his foursome, which included his wife, Yvette; Palace Sports & Entertainment president Tom Wilson; and newly appointed Pistons coach John Kuester.
“It was a great day,” he says, “and as much as I [would like to have] stayed for dinner, the business of running the city of Detroit comes first.”
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Reader Comments:
I think that Mayor Bing, has the chance to reinvent the city of Detroit! I think he is right about downsizing the city, and taking down crumbling areas, that are dangerous, and gang infested! I believe in what I am hearing, about artists buying cheap houses, and fixing them up, and improving the city, while exposing there artwork to Detroit! This is exactly what Detroit needs! Detroit can become a model city for the arts, like Atlanta G.A used to be!Detroit has some of the most beautiful 1920's 1930's Architecture in this country! I would advice the Mayor not to make the same mistake that Atlanta G.A. did, but to concentrate on saving these old structures, and gradually when the money starts coming in again,bringing them up to code, and turning them into Museums Art Galleries, Housing Complexes! Has it ever been thought of, to turn the old Packard Bell Auto Complex, into lofts and luxury Condos? What an idea! I am very interested in purchasing an older home in Detroit! I have found several in pretty good shape for around 2000 dollars!In areas of the city, where people are starting to move back in! I was told by the real estate company, that these where in decent enough areas, these homes to be spared the bulldozer! Mayor Bing you have to be careful though! You do not want to tear down a neighborhood , where people are moving back in and fixing things up again, because this is good for the city and will bring life back into a dying city! I am seriously thinking about buying a house in Detroit, because I love the water, and Detroit has lots of water! I think Detroit Michigan, can become a model city in the future, with lots to do lots of arts and music, and above all welcome folks from all ethnic backgrounds, to show the world Detroit is on the ball! Good luck best of wishes! S. Revier
I forgot to mention: I would very much like to be apart of bringing the city of Detroit back to life! It should be a city where racism is not tolerated! We are all human, we all make mistakes, but the biggest accomplishment of all is we can all learn to live together, and flourish! And help each other! For comments you can email me at rjs677@aol.com! S. Revier