Discussing Economic Stability and City Management with Former Mayor Ken Massey

In this second conversation with former Mayor Ken Massey, we get into the nuts and bolts of how Farmington Hills government actually functions - and why that matters to your wallet and your property values. Ken explains why the mayor has no administrative power beyond running meetings, how the city manager oversees everything from our Triple-A bond rating to snowplow routes, and why political disruption at the top doesn't just stay at the top. We discuss real examples: how stability helped attract Nissan's $45 million crash test facility, why our police department ranks as one of the safest in the nation, and how creative solutions like brine pre-treatment saved taxpayers money while cutting salt usage by 60%. Ken also addresses something that's been bothering me - if City Manager Gary Machin received a positive performance evaluation and a raise back in March, why the sudden push to terminate him just weeks after an election where management changes weren't even mentioned? The disconnect is troubling. When businesses are deciding whether to invest millions here, when your property values depend on the commercial-residential tax split, and when department heads are questioning their job security, government instability isn't just a political inside-baseball issue. It affects every resident's quality of life and financial bottom line.