EDITORIAL: “Potholes Aren’t The Fault Of The City”

ANN ARBOR’S LOBBYIST Kirk Profit also lobbies for Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County, the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College. According to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Profit’s lobbying firm—Governmental Consultant Services Inc (GCSI)—spent $1.6 million lobbying Lansing pols in  2013. GCSI was the top-spending lobbying firm in the state. What does Mr. Profit do exactly? He recently appeared before Ann Arbor City Council and assured the group that “potholes aren’t the fault of the city.”

While Mr. Profit was referring to local roads, such as the Huron Street/Jackson corridor, which are the responsibility of the state, the spectacle was just that, a spectacle. It was yet another dog and pony show put on by our local elected officials who are desperate to shift responsibility for a crumbling infrastructure, including roads, water and sewer pipes.

Mr. Profit and Mayor Hieftje commiserated over the $10.4 million in state revenue sharing that “probably should be $10.8 million,” according to Mr. Profit. What they didn’t bring up is the dedicated Street Repair Millage that city residents pay each year that generates between $9-$11 million.

Mr. Profit spoke at Council’s work session to update them on what’s happening in Lansing. It’s a concept straight out of the early 19th century, when communication was not instantaneous and travel perilous. Paying GCSI $50,000 each year for Mr. Profit to “carry the news” between Lansing and Ann Arbor is a waste of taxpayer money. City Council members could arrange for state-level officials to present regular updates. Both Senator Rebekah Warren and Representative Jeff Irwin commute between Ann Arbor and Lansing.

In addition, it should raise eyebrows that Mr. Profit has repeatedly been caught by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network “lobbying” Senator Rebekah Warren over food and drinks at Ann Arbor’s expense.

Finally, we think Mr. Profit’s roster of local clients presents a quandary. While Ann Arbor “should” be getting more state profit sharing funds, U of M officials clamor for more state funding, as well. Which client does Mr. Profit lobby on behalf of when urging state officials to allocate more money to education or to road repair? His clients compete against each other for state funding, and no lobbyist can represent all of them equitably.