Oakland Executive, Detroit Developer Trade Barbs Over Jobs

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, known for outspoken candor that occasionally gets him into trouble, sounded the opening volley in a war of words with Detroit businessman and booster Dan Gilbert Wednesday.

The Detroit Free Press reports Patterson was speaking at a gathering of technology companies in Southfield Wednesday when he pledged, “I’ll fight to keep you here in Oakland County,” then added, “Are you listening, Dan?

“I would be more impressed with Mr. Gilbert’s efforts if he were to bring in high-tech companies from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois rather than looking through the fertile vineyards of Oakland County,” Patterson said.

Gilbert received the message, loud and clear, and fired back in a statement:

“I would actually be more impressed if Brooks had gotten his facts correct. Of the more than 120 technology companies that have opened shop in SE Michigan’s leading high-tech corridor along Woodward in downtown Detroit, more than 100 of them were launched right in the heart of the region’s urban core.

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“However, we did recently ‘woo’ a large financial institution’s regional HQ from the ‘fertile vineyards of Oakland County,’ “ Gilbert added. “In all seriousness, it would be much more productive if we could all work together to grow the region and state, leaving the divisive politics of the past in the past where they belong. Are you listening, Brooks?”

Fifth Third Bank announced last week that its regional headquarters would exit Southfield and move to the One Woodward Building in downtown Detroit.
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L. Brooks Patterson photo via Creative Commons