Facing the Wreckage Head-On

Detroit has declined immeasurably since Peter Drucker described it, more than a half-century ago, as “the industrial city per se.” But even by today’s diminished expectations, the past few weeks have been especially tough.

Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, already in prison for probation violations, was arraigned in federal court on 19 counts of felony fraud and tax charges. The president of the local school board resigned and was hit with criminal charges after he allegedly fondled himself during a meeting with a colleague. And newly released Census figures show that Detroit continues to lose residents.

Yet despite all the setbacks, the Motor City may well have begun the very earliest stages of a turnaround. This is largely due to a trait that current Detroit Mayor Dave Bing displays and that every manager, especially during this uncertain age, should emulate: the resolve to look at the worst problems square in the face.