Shikha Dalmia on Huff Post Live at 9.00 Eastern: Should Detroit Sell its Art Museum?

What was blasphemous even some months ago is now an open topic of conversation in Motown : Should Detroit put its Von Goghs and Monets on the chopping blog to pay off creditors, among whom are retired policemen as well as and private lenders? Does a dying and bankrupt city need a great art museum? Will the cause of art be better served in a city that can afford it?

Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia will discuss with James Polous.

Tune in.

Comments

[Paul.]

Detroit has an art museum?

[Sevo]

Paul.| 8.1.13 @ 8:00PM |#
"Detroit has an art museum?"

As I understand it, most cities own the museum but the art properties are not owned by the city. D-town is pretty nuch unique in that it owns both.
No one is gonna pay a penny for RE, but the art is worth something.

[Almanian!]

Yeah - it's actually pretty nice.

http://www.dia.org/

[SweatingGin]

Also fun will be what happens with the DIA tax on Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. I bet it ends up paying city pensions, not keeping the DIA open.

The city should have got it off their books (and away from their liabilities) years ago.

[Almanian!]

Yep. I never liked that tax. But I live in Livingston County, so not my problem...

[SweatingGin]

Lucky for you.

[Ted S.]

He still lives in Michigan, though.

[Agammamon]

If you're saying, as I think you are, that those counties are taxed, ostensibly, to support the museum then I can assure that once the museum is closed and the art sold off, those counties will continue to be taxed.

Heck, until 2005 we were paying a phone tax that was originally instituted to pay for the Spanish-American war (and its still not fully repealed).

[SweatingGin]

That's what I'm suggesting, yes.

It was just put in in November -- free admission for residents of those three counties, in exchange for a tax. I forget the exact amount, think it hits me under $50/year.

[Agammamon]

I would be so pissed - near $50 for a museum I *might* hit once a year.

I imagine the museum loved it though - no one wants to come pay to see our stuff so we'll just go ahead and take your money and then you can come or not as you please.

[SweatingGin]

That was the idea, yea.

"Free admission! Just vote for this tax increase!"

"You do like art, don't you?"

[SIV]

They should raffle the art as individual pieces and small lots.
It would be like an auction where they could keep all the bids.

[Sevo]

SIV| 8.1.13 @ 8:01PM |#
"They should raffle the art as individual pieces and small lots.
It would be like an auction where they could keep all the bids."

Disagreed.
Detroit should out-source the auction to those who know how to market that sort of stuff.
Tell the city workers to go clean the toilets so live bidders aren't put off.

[Warrren]

Why do you hate clean restrooms?

[Sevo]

"Why do you hate clean restrooms?"

You're right; out-source that too.
Maybe the city workers can, oh, sweep the gutters?

[Warrren]

Sigh.

[Sevo]

Awright, what CAN they do?

[Warrren]

If experience is any guide, there is nothing that they can be trusted with.

But if we must have them then I guess they can count stuff. Just stay out of the way and count trees and mosquitoes and so forth.

[General Butt Naked]

As you type it out on a government invented computer connected to the government invented internet. Lemme guess, you like drive on roads, too?

Taxes are the price of civilization, get over it.

[Marshall Gill]

Please tell me this is simply your Tony impersonation.

[Agammamon]

No, contract that out also. You just have to pay off the union for using non-union labor but its still cheaper than paying city employees to do it and as a bonus you'll actually get clean gutters.

[Rich]

Should Detroit put its Von Goghs and Monets on the chopping blog to pay off creditors?

Von Goghs are rarities. Detroit can probably get lot for them on the chopping blog.

[Sevo]

..."Should Detroit Sell its Art Museum?"

It is an asset, right? Sell it and use it to pay the creditors.

[RBS]

Just let me know when OCP takes over.

[Anonymous Coward]

Should Detroit put its Van Goghs and Monets on the chopping block to pay off creditors, among whom are retired policemen as well as and private lenders?

Why shouldn't they? Isn't Barry the one who's constantly bitching that the government should pay its bills?

[Almanian!]

Whaddya mean I can't pay my bills?
Why dyah think I'm broke...HUH?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why dyah think I'm broke...HUH?

Obviously, you aren't taxing your peasants enough.

[Ted S.]

Since you corrected it to Van Gogh, you'd better pronounce the -gh as a guttural sound, too.

[Thane of Whiterun]

Yes, no, yes.

Any other questions?

[Some call me Tim?]

Is this a serious question?

[A Serious Man]

No, no it isn't.

[Almanian!]

Are you serious? Are YOU serious?

[Zakalwe]

Has anyone commented on the Detroit fisting joke? Involves preexisting fist statute, huge can of Crisco.

http://www.queerty.com/local-f.....-20130731/

[Almanian!]

I've already suggested that The Fist? should be inserted into the rectal orifice of Spirit of Detroit (the "The Thinker" lookin' statue).

Sans Crisco - that's how they roll in the Muthafuckin D

[Warrren]

That thing would make a great battering ram in a post-apocalyptic movie.

[Almanian!]

Funny you say this - in the inevitable auction of city assets, I've already discussed with other distinguished alumni purchasing the fist as lawn art for our college fraternity, pointing it at the assholes next door, and pummeling their house to the ground.

YOU'VE BEEN FISTED, GAMS!

/Animal House-ish

[Warrren]

Yeah, I know. I subscribe to the NSA's People Peepin' service.

Silver level is on 59.99/month!

[RBS]

On topic, I just saw some AdCouncil commercial with some little kid whose dream is to grow up and be the mayor of Detroit.

[A Serious Man]

I have a 9 month old nephew. With my influence he's going to dream to grow up to be mayor King of Detroit.

[Warrren]

Way to set a low bar, kid.

[Sevo]

RBS| 8.1.13 @ 8:52PM |#
"On topic, I just saw some AdCouncil commercial with some little kid whose dream is to grow up and be the mayor of Detroit."

Now, THAT's funny!
In the SF Chron today, they had some supposed twenty-something pitching a story about another twenty-something who took it in the shorts with cancer (or something; you think I was gonna read that crap?) and pitching other twenty-somethings to throw away their money on Obozocare.
I hope s/he sucks sewage and dies.

[SweatingGin]

"I'm gonna embezzle so much, Kwame will blush!"

[Anonymous Coward]

some little kid whose dream is to grow up and be the mayor of Detroit.

So he'll be a crook, a trade unionist, a racist, or some combination of the three?

[Warrren]

It's only half-time in America! Why sell it now? Wait for the two-minute warning!

[Longtorso, Johnny]

Maybe the Lions can charge to be pall bearers, so they can let fans down one last time.

[Warrren]

Bah.

[SweatingGin]

They can't let fans down anymore, after the 0-16 season.

[Warrren]

Who'd they end up with from that resulting No. 1 pick?

[SweatingGin]

The lions squandered an amazing number of first round picks on terrible players over the years.

It got so bad that fans wore Cleveland (or was it Cincinatti?) jerseys to a home game.

The crowd would chant "Fire Millen!" Even at Wings and Tigers games.

I forget who it was. It was after Kitna, wasn't Stafford. Can't remember.

[Warrren]

No, it was Stafford and he's not bad so no additional snark can be had from that direction.

[SweatingGin]

Huh, I've lost track. I stand corrected.

[Almanian!]

"I've lost track"

EXACTLY. After 51 years on this planet, suffering the futility of Bill Ford, Sr., Russ Thomas, Matt Millen...whoda thunk we'd look back on the Wayne Fontes days as the halcyon era?

"Whady mean I'm FIRED?" - W. Fontes, recounting being fired.

"What's it take to get fired around here?" - Darryl Rogers, begging to be fired

"I took the wind...." - Marty Morninweg, providing all the rationale needed to be fired

[SweatingGin]

1 playoff win in my lifetime.

[Marshall Gill]

Um, Barry Sanders?

[Generic Stranger]

You know, giving the number 1 pick to the losers has to suck for the new guys. You bust your ass, get recognized as the Next Big Thing, and then they ship your ass off to Detroit.

[SweatingGin]

Hopefully the gap in pay between #1 and #2 or #3 makes up for going to an 0-16 team.

[Warrren]

If a team continues to suck the ass over consecutive years they should forfeit picks. Gives ownership something to avoid.

And/or lose home game dates. The worse you are the more of a traveling squad you become.

[Hyperion]

And while Detroit rusts further into Bolivian, Putin is enjoying punching Ofumbles in the kings tiny jewels.

Putin defies the great messiah

[RBS]

It's only a matter of time before Obama throws a public tantrum. I'd like to be a fly on the wall when Putin is talking to his people about the President.

[Hyperion]

It's only a matter of time before Obama throws a public tantrum

If I recall correctly, he's already done that a few times. Maybe next time is when he falls on the floor and kicks his legs while screaming incoherently.

[Knarf Yenrab (prev. An0nB0t)]

Little would make me happier than seeing Obama actually go Bulworth on America and have more moments like his meltdown following the gun-control/rose-garden debacle that began the sudden descent of his presidency.

Oh, what a glorious day that was.

[Ted S.]

"If putting the children in concentration camps and keeping them away from all but approved adults can save the life of only one child, don't we have an obligation to try it?"

[Irish]

Little would make me happier than seeing Obama actually go Bulworth on America and have more moments like his meltdown following the gun-control/rose-garden debacle that began the sudden descent of his presidency.

Oh, what a glorious day that was.

My best memory of that day was going to Komsomol...I mean Huffington Post and seeing their SUPER SERIOUSLY ANGRY YOU GUYS front page with the black and white pictures of all the senators who voted for children to die.

Delightful.

[Irish]

Putin kicks Obama in the nuts, Obama apologizes for allowing his nuts to get in the way of Putin's foot.

[Gladstone]

You know who else had world mojo?

[Warrren]

Mojo Nixon?

[William of Purple]

Is Nixon still in prison?

[Generic Stranger]

Mojo Jojo?

[Warrren]

Topo Gigio?

[Generic Stranger]

I had to look that one up. I think you just dated yourself.

[Warrren]

Leave my personal life out of this.......I'm so alone.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Jim Morrison?

[Warrren]

Does Detroit have a world-class symphony? Maybe they can use that to attract people.

[Sevo]

Hey, it ain't called Mo Town for nothing!

[Warrren]

Now it's Less Town!

Ba-dum-bump!

[Ted S.]

What do you have against Mongoliatown?

[Warrren]

Forget it Jake, it's Mongoliatown.

[Hyperion]

They once had this thing called Motown, or something like that, I'm not sure what it was. And then there was this crazy dude who did a song about Motor City Madhouse, or something like that. But that's all gone now.

[Hyperion]

Also, they once had this guy who played some kind of the foozball, named Sanders, but he was a quitter, and then they got this giant robot dude named Megatron, and the city fell into ruins because everyone hated the first black president.

[SweatingGin]

Don't forget robocop.

The general one I've been seeing lately is it fell into ruins because free trade.

Never mind that people still make cars outside of the city.

[SweatingGin]

The DSO is very good, yes.

They've got the auto show for tourism. Barely.

No other big shows. Too much corruption and union graft for anyone to want to have a show there.

[Warrren]

Those people are just greedy what with not willing to pay for high-class American workers!

[Geoff Nathan]

Uh, actually, yes. I have a season subscription. YoYo Ma, Lang Lang, Gil Shaham, Hilary Hahn. And they have a terrific sound.
Have a look: dso.org

[disclaimer: I serve on a couple of their planning committees]

[Warrren]

There's AM links and PM links and there really needs to be Late Night Links to end HandR's posting day.

[Gladstone]

Well that means more clicks!

[Hyperion]

LATE NITE LINKS!

I vote yeah.

So, Reason, who will be your new late nite links host?

Can we vote on that too?

Poll time!

[Warrren]

I'll do it. I promise to be a loving and benevolent dictator.

[Hyperion]

Libertarians ain't down for that level of democracy. You'll have to go for Supreme Overlord, or you lose your monocle.

[Warrren]

Q What's the difference between an overlord and a supreme overlord?

A A supreme overlord is just an overlord with sour cream and tomatoes.

[Almanian!]

Lucy!!!

Is that allowed?

[Hyperion]

I thought that Lucy is banished from the Kingdom.

[Rich]

Yes! She could run the "Chopping Blog"!

[William of Purple]

DON'T TALK ABOUT LUCY

[Ted S.]

I vote for Lucy Steigerwald.

[Warrren]

Man, I'm losing to a cute chick. You can't explain that!

[Anonymous Coward]

@LucyStag is not impressed by your performance.

[Irish]

She's like Cool Hand Luke with her devil may care attitude.

[Francisco d Anconia]

I prefer single stories to links. Links have 400 posts and if you are late you can never catch up. Too many topics.

I suppose Late Night Links would have fewer posts though.

[SweatingGin]

Detroit bankruptcy is starting to hit municipal borrowing. Genessee county (home of Flint, maybe even worse than Detroit) postponed a bond offering.

Probably see Wayne County bankrupt before this is done, too. County has been stupid, and the county exec is Kwame Kilpatrick levels of corrupt.

[Warrren]

This needs to sweep the nation. It would be nice however if there were entrepreneurs ready to offer municipal services directly to residents.

[Almanian!]

I can't believe fucking Ficano isn't already in jail.

Turka Mullins anyone? Anyone?

Although I'd hit that. Mullins - not Ficano.

[SweatingGin]

Ficano is awesome with the habit of approving big pensions and severances for cronies on their way out the door. $200k to Turkia when she resigned to be CEO of the airport.

Seems like the fed investigations of Kwame and his cronies aren't done, I wouldn't be shocked to see more hit the city council, and really wouldn't be shocked to see some indictments hit the county.

Especially as the money runs out. Ficano is asking for a $70 million mileage to cover the deficit. I'm thinking they may not be able to borrow anymore.

[Geoff Nathan]

Have you actually met her? A good friend did once, and came away rather unimpressed...

[Rich]

Don't postpone it -- I'm sure the Bernank would be in for a few billion.

[Ted S.]

I want to see government official dragged out of their homes kicking and screaming (preferably as their young children are being terrorized watching) as those homes go on the auction block to pay off the municipal debt they ran up.

It probably breaks all sorts of provisions in the Constitution, and is all sorts of non-libertarian, but dammit, I wouldn't mind seeing it.

[Warrren]

Put that shit on pay-per-view! You could pay off the debt in one go.

[Anonymous Coward]

Chrissie Matthews: Ted Cruz is a (Political) Terrorist

[Ted S.]

Chris Christie probably believes it, too.

[Gladstone]

Dissent is racist/treasonous.

[Anonymous Coward]

Anybody Chris Matthews doesn't like is a terrorist, because, you know, arguing in good faith is so passe:

Tea Partiers are terrorists.

Anti-abortionists are terrorists.

[Irish]

Chris Matthews is the greatest performance artist of all time.

[BelowTheRim]

This^^^^

You see the guy on Jeopardy a year or so ago?

By far the funniest episode I have even seen.

Even Kareem Abdul Jabar couldn't match his level of stupid and pedantic. I mean Chrissie couldn't even answer in the form of a question multiple times.

[MappRapp]

DUde is not making a whole lot of sense. Wow.

http://www.Anon-Top.tk

[Moe S]

Now, now, lay off Detroit. Them people is living in 'Mad Max' times.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think we should learn from the wisdom of Hizzoner of New York, El Bloombergo:

Bloomberg's immigration Rx: Send aliens to Detroit

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses -- and I'll ship them to Motown!

Mayor Bloomberg yesterday floated a startling fix to the vexing problems of illegal immigration and Rust Belt stagnation -- steer immigrants to struggling cities like Detroit and make them stay there to revitalize the local economies.

"I'll give you a good example of how you can fix some of the problems in America," Bloomberg said on NBC's "Meet the Press," where he also knocked Beltway pols in general and President Obama in particular.

"Take a look at the big old industrial cities -- Detroit, for example. The population has left. You got to do something about that," he said.

Getty Images'If I were the federal government, . . . you pass a law letting immigrants come in as long as they agree to go to Detroit and live there for five or 10 years, start businesses, take jobs.' "And if I were the federal government, assuming you could wave a magic wand, . . . you pass a law letting immigrants come in as long as they agree to go to Detroit and live there for five or 10 years, start businesses, take jobs, whatever."

Oh Mikey, you joker! Binding those indentured servants to the land for a term of service!

[Irish]

On the bright side, this idea would fix our immigration problem since no one would ever want to move here again.

[Irish]

United States government spends 24 million dollars on Cuban anti-Castro broadcast that no one can watch because it's been blocked by the Cubans for its entire run.

NOTHING LEFT TO CUT!

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

You know who else gave up on Detroit?

[Generic Stranger]

You guys sure you don't want it back?

[widget]

What was blasphemous even some months ago is now an open topic of conversation in Motown : Should Detroit put its Von Goghs and Monets the chopping blog to pay off creditors

Good idea. Gladys Knight and Dianna Ross are not dead yet.

[Doctor Whom]

Every Van Gogh must go! (Spot the pop-culture reference.)

[Thane of Whiterun]

Fuck off, American.

[Geoff Nathan]

Actually people in the area (not just the city of Detroit proper) do care about it, and on a nice weekend afternoon it's pretty damn crowded.

For that matter, the area around it (where I work) is a yuppie hellhole-- Shops, restaurants, the Detroit Symphony, boutiques, three other nice (although hardly world class) museums.

You should come visit some time.

Not saying that the surrounding area isn't a generalized bomb site--I drive through them daily on my way to work, but Mid-town and downtown are pretty cool places to hang out.

[Irish]

Don't bother. He's a mindless racist that cannot listen to reason.

[BelowTheRim]

I was in Detroit in April 2010. I am never going back unless someone pays me...a lot.

That city is dirty, ugly, broke, and statist.

And Fuck the Tigers.