U-Matic

Mayor Young Retirement Announcement #1
06.22.93

U-Matic S tape containing the first of two parts of footage of Mayor Coleman A. Young's press conference to announce his retirement, held on June 22, 1993. This section spans the beginning of the conference, where he discusses his achievements, desire for the city's future, into the following question and answer period. The footage is continued on tape 2015.009.127.

Young opens the announcement with a statement regarding the upcoming 1993 Detroit mayoral election, and about the achievements of his 20-year stint as mayor. Among the achievements he notes is an inclusive city government, city support of minority-owned businesses, changes within the Detroit Police Department, riverfront development, neighborhood developments (Victoria Park, and the rebuilding of Virginia Park following the "1967 rebellion"), and the operation of two automotive plants in the city. He also notes continuing challenges--unemployment, crime, and a limited budget--but is optimistic about the state and future of Detroit. He then lists several projects which he says are "still in the hopper"--expansion of the port of Detroit, a new railroad tunnel under the river, a multi-modal transportation center on the river, high-speed rail linking Detroit to Chicago and Montreal, a new Amtrak depot in New Center, an elevated train system over Woodward Avenue linking downtown to the suburbs, and the expansion of City Airport. He also expresses hopes for a new Tiger Stadium, a new shopping center downtown, continued neighborhood developments, and allowance for the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility's incinerator to operate at full capacity.

Young then announces his decision to not seek reelection during the 1993 Detroit election. Despite this, he will stay in the city and remain active in public service potentially via teaching and writing.

Afterward, Young opens the floor to questions from the press, who can be heard from off camera while it remains trained on him for his answers and reactions. Regarding the impact of his health on the decision, Mayor Young explains that he refuses to speculate about what decision he would make under different circumstances. He also states that it is too soon for him to endorse any of the other candidates. He also states that he reached the decision about not seeking re-election the night prior. When asked, he also expresses that he has no regrets about the decision. With a chuckle, he says that the qualities possessed by the next mayor should be "love for the city, and a thick skin." He next says the proudest moment of his administration was the passage of the referendum by the voters to raise the income tax in 1982 to balance the city's budget. He does not have the answer to whether Charlie Williams will run for mayor. He says that his meeting with appointees was not emotional, then jokes with the reporter about whether they get emotional. He also briefly expresses his wishes for how he wants to be remembered, jokes about the "perks" of office and of being a private citizen, and expresses that he still has this job for six more months and will be focusing on that. He then handles a series of short questions about plans for a new stadium for the Detroit Tigers, the future of casino gambling in the city, and his message for people glad to see him go. When pressed about "sad moments" of his term, he speaks about the hounding by federal authorities and the press of Chief William Hart and the Executive Deputy Frank Blount, and money and effort that went into the investigation of city contracts with Vista Disposal Incorporated. When asked about Detroit's perpetual state of crisis, he retorts by saying the Detroit has been caught up in national crises. He then speaks about the growing inclusion of African Americans and women in city government under his administration. When asked about his poor relationship with the suburbs, he says it is a "bum rap," and cites his establishment of the tri-county conference of mayors. He also contrasts his policy of maintaining a 50-50 ratio of white and African American people on his staff while his city is 80% African American, to discrimination in the suburbs, and charges the press ought to focus on that latter phenomena. He then speaks briefly about labor and race. When asked about the future of federal investigations into the city, he replies that questions about further federal investigation into the city are better directed to the Attorney General. He again jokes about how he wants to be remembered historically. And when asked about criticism of President Bill Clinton by the U.S Conference of Mayors he concurs. He says he hopes to have more impact on the issues of the next election than the editorial pages of the newspapers do. He is then asked several questions about Charlie Williams, although neither he nor the press are sure if he applied to run. The tape ends as Young talks about his recent dealing with Governor John Engler in regard to gambling and the polluted Uniroyal site on the riverfront.

The recording is on a UCA 30S tape with a handwritten label marked, "Mayor Young's Retirement Announcement; 06.22.93; #1." The cassette is housed in a black plastic latching case with a 3M label marked, "Mayor Young's Retirement Announcement; 06.22.93; #1."