Editorial Quick Hits: Bing recall is a diversion

The Detroit News

The Wayne County Election Commission has approved the wording of a recall petition against Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. The commission had little choice. Under the state Constitution and court interpretations, all a recall petition has to do is state a reasonably clear reason for the attempted action. In this case, the recallers used the mayor's decision to reduce bus service. The head of the city's AFSCME local said the union had no formal role in the recall effort but added many of the local's members may participate. Success in gaining the 57,000 signatures necessary to force a recall election is unlikely, but the effort is an unhelpful and unnecessary distraction in a city facing double-digit unemployment, a declining tax base and continuing problems with violent crime.

Pontiac's reasonable gamble

Sometimes you have to try for the long ball hit, and that's what the Pontiac Downtown Development Authority is doing with its offer of free rent in the beleaguered city's downtown district. Firms would be offered free rent and parking for a year if they move into the area. They would have to agree to extend their leases for a second year at market rates, plus additional years if building owners had to do custom renovations. The district has 700,000 square feet of office and storefront space available. Like other older industrial centers, Pontiac has been hard hit by the contraction of the auto industry and planning decisions such as a ring road that have hurt the once flourishing county seat. Business density tends to be inviting both for customers and other business, so the plan is worth a try. We hope it works.

Tougher math standards necessary

Starting this fall, Detroit Public Schools seventh-graders will take pre-algebra as part of a five-year academic plan to ameliorate the district's poor test scores and graduation rate. These are the kinds of changes necessary to prepare students for a more rigorous high school curriculum. Students will follow with algebra I in eighth-grade, at least one year earlier than normal in the district; statewide, algebra I in eighth grade is not unusual in higher performing districts. Michigan's curriculum standards for seventh- and eighth-graders include pre-algebra, according to the Michigan Department of Education. The recent results of this year's Michigan Merit Examination for high school juniors showed less than 16 percent of DPS students scoring proficient or higher in math. So while the district will need to buy textbooks and provide additional teacher training, this new requirement is a worthwhile investment.