A View of a Jaw Breaker

A round of applause for Jay Leno please.

I'm not a big fan of his, but I've gained some respect for him after he announced he's coming to Detroit to give a free concert for unemployed auto workers here on April 7th.

He's no stranger to the area. He's an avid car collector. He filmed a movie here way back in the day (it wasn't the best movie, but he did it before filming in Detroit was cool - and profitable for film companies). He recently performed at Caesar's Windsor. He's doing the area a solid with a goodwill gesture to help take everyone's minds off the mounting job losses and seemingly inevitable collapse of the American auto industry as we know it. Whether or not you're a fan of his, you have to appreciate his kindness and thoughtfulness right?

Not if you're a Detroit city council member. Rather than thank Mr. Leno for trying to cheer up the area's citizens (and their constituents), Martha Reeves and Monica Conyers decided it's best to bitch and moan about him performing at the Palace of Auburn Hills - located about 30 miles north of downtown Detroit. Logistically, it makes sense. It's the largest venue in the area with easy access to freeways and parking. The Detroit Pistons are donating the use of the venue and parking will be free. And there's a small group of people who are going to be wrapping up usage of all the other Detroit facilities that week. You'd think those Final Four folks could skedaddle out of town sooner, but maybe they want to stick around for the three ring circus that is Detroit city government.

The lack of gratitude and the complete ineptitude displayed Detroit's City Council members like Ms. Conyers and Ms. Reeves is jaw dropping.

I think I know the reason he won't come into the city limits for the concert - Branford doesn't know how to play "Singin' In the Rain."

More later, but let me endorse a candidate for the council. I think he'll fit right in.

UPDATE: L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive, is a Republican. Someone needs to point out to him that his party's mascot is the elephant, not the jackass he's determined to be. It's bad enough that Detroit's city officials are an embarrassment. Must he be a slack jawed yokel too? (When you click on the link, be sure to watch the video. It's funnier than anything Leno's team could've scripted.)