Detroit Mayor Dave Bing isn’t pleased that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s solution for fixing Detroit: blowing it up and starting from scratch.
Bing, who is not running for re-election, spoke out against Menino’s remark on Tuesday, harshly criticizing for him using the term “blow up” — especially considering the bombing that took place in Boston back in April.
“It is extremely regrettable that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino used such an unfortunate choice of words to describe what he would do if he came to Detroit,” Bing said, according to The Associated Press. “I would think the mayor of a city that recently experienced a deadly bombing attack would be more sensitive and not use the phrase ‘blow up.'”
Menino made his comment during an interview with The New York Times Magazine, published late last week. The Bostonian was asked how he would handle Detroit’s unique economic situation — and his response was rather, er, explosive.
“I’d blow up the place and start all over,” he said, before adding, “No, seriously, when it takes a police officer 90 minutes to answer a call, there’s something wrong with the system.”
He added that “inaction” and “leadership” also played a role in the Motor City’s demise.
Despite wanting to “blow up” the Motor City, Menino did say that if he couldn’t live in Boston, Detroit and Baltimore would be top of his list for other places to live.
Following Bing’s criticism, a spokeswoman for Menino clarified that he simply meant he would overhaul the city’s systems.
“The mayor is sorry that people have taken offense,” Dot Joyce told The AP. “It was never his intention.”
Bing invited Menino to visit Detroit himself and see how inaccurate his claims were.
“The Detroit Police Department’s response time is not — and has never been — 90 minutes,” Bing said. “And, most of our city’s buildings are not boarded up. Since taking office more than four years ago, there has been tireless action on the part of my administration to improve the quality of life for our citizens.”
