Washtenaw: Regionalism

The Detroit News reports on Thursday’s forum of five southeast Michigan leaders who discussed regional issues at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual policy conference on Mackinac Island. An animated exchange between Washtenaw County board chair Conan Smith and Oakland County executive L. Brooks Patterson highlighted tensions. Responding to Smith’s support of regional taxes, Patterson said “…you don’t have any skin in the game. Until you pay your way in, I don’t think you have a whole lot to say about how it’s done.” [Source]