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Pete Bigelow · Midwest Memo: Detroit Mayor Dave Bing Defiant, Milwaukee Courts Chinese Investment, U.K. Investigates Groupon
December 2nd, 2011
Three stories making news across the Midwest today:
1. Bing defiant over looming Detroit takeover. A state takeover of Detroit and its ruinous financial situation has seemed imminent for weeks, if not months. On Thursday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder told Mayor Dave Bing he would initiate a 30-day review of the city’s finances, a precursor to the appointment of an emergency manager. Bing then gathered the city council and other leaders and declared his opposition. “We are Detroit,” he told the Detroit Free Press. “Detroit needs to be run by Detroiters.” Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley wonders whether the unified front is too little, too late. She asks, “Why does it always take a crisis?” before city leaders finally work together.
2. Milwaukee mayor China bound. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett leaves Sunday for his second trade mission to China. He’ll spend a week visiting Beijing and the growing port of Ningbo, which already has an informal sister-city relationship with Milwaukee, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Barrett tells the newspaper he’ll pitch the city’s strengths in manufacturing and industries related to water, food and beverages in hopes of luring more jobs and investment. He’ll also talk to Ningbo police commanders about purchasing Harley-Davidson motorcycles for officers. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s China Council will pay for the trip. In a related item, Chinese officials tell the Associated Press they want to convert some of the country’s U.S. government debt into investment in renovating American roads and subways.
3. U.K. investigates Groupon practices. Chicago-based Groupon Inc. is being investigated by Britain’s Office of Fair Trading over concerns about unfair promotions and exaggerated savings, Bloomberg reports today. The investigation commenced in July and expanded after receiving a complaint. “Given Groupon’s track record, we have serious concerns about its ability to adhere to the advertising code,” the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority said in a statement. In a written response, Groupon said it is “constantly evolving business process” and cooperating with the probe.
