Brooks Patterson says he'd rather 'join the Klan' than CEO group

A day after the Free Press reported that L. Brooks Patterson had taken a swipe at a group of CEOs working to rebuild Detroit, the Oakland County executive doubled down saying he would rather "join the Klan" than join the group, media reports said.

In a bluntly worded letter sent to Oakland County Chamber directors, Patterson had accused DTE Energy CEO Gerry Anderson and other top business leaders of being "self-appointed saviors" trying to steal Oakland County-based businesses for the city.

The group of metro Detroit CEOS hopes to create the sort of regional business development agency found in many other cities.

Patterson sent the July 26 letter, inviting Chamber members to a meeting at Patterson's office Thursday afternoon to oppose the business leaders' efforts.

Crain's and the Detroit News reported Thursday that Patterson met with members of the Oakland County Chamber of Commerce in his offices in Pontiac and after the meeting, when asked whether he would join the regional CEO group, said:

"Oh, hell no. I'd rather join the Klan."

https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2018/08/09/brooks-patterson-ceo-group-klan/948981002/