Outspoken Detroit City Councilman Kwame Kenyatta is calling it quits.
He tells Vickie Thomas of WWJ his resignation is effective Friday:
“I’m announcing to the people of Detroit that I am resigning from my office. I had made the decision some weeks ago.”
Thomas reports on WWJ's site:
Without giving a specific reason for resigning, Kenyatta said now that Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr is in place, the council is virtually powerless. He has some advice for Orr, though.
“We’re talking about paying who we owe, but what about going after money that folks owe us? Starting with your boss, Mr. EM. The state owes the city, has admitted that they owe the city. Even if we’ve got to talk about pennies on the dollar, well then give us our dollar,” he said.
Thomas also notes that Kenyatta has been on an extended medical leave for six months, and that health problems contributed to his decision to leave.
“When you’re going through medical challenges, you’re going through those challenges. So, I was not at a point to make a decision at that particular point in time,” he said.
Detroit News editorial page editor Nolan Finley three days ago urged the "missing in action" official to quit, saying Detroit "It doesn’t have the luxury of keeping a councilman . . . [who does] not come to meetings."
Kenyatta concedes in the WWJ interview that he the city is in bad shape.
“But I don’t think any of us can be proud of the condition and the situation that the present state of reality of the city of Detroit is in. I’m certainly not. I’m not leaving at a proud time.”
Kenyatta voices optimism the city will come back.
Earlier Coverage: Finley: Councilman Kenyatta Shouldn't Be Paid 'For a Job He's No Longer Doing'
