Councilwoman Reeves to keep donations from ex-Synagro exec

Detroit -- City Councilwoman Martha Reeves says she will not return campaign donations from a former sludge company executive who plead guilty to bribing city officials in connection with a billion dollar waste handling contract.

"The only way you can get into the political ring is by donations," Reeves said, explaining that her change in position from yes to no on the contract was a matter of conscience and good sense. "Am I going to give it back? No!"

Former Councilwoman Monica Conyers, who pleaded guilty to taking bribes in exchange for her vote on the $1.2 billion sludge deal, is "petrified" about the prospects of prison says her lawyer, Steve Fishman. He also says that Sam Riddle, Conyers' former associate who is also the subject of federal bribery investigations, should stop shooting his mouth off in the press and cut a deal with prosecutors.

"Far be it for me to tell anybody what to do," Fishman says. "But if I got trapped in a burning house, I would probably try to find the hose rather than the box of matches."

Aldolph Mongo, political strategist and rabid Detroit booster, says the city is "out of control" and believes that Mayor David Bing was right to unceremoniously dump his chief of police last week.

"Right thing to do, wrong way to do it," Mongo says. "We've got a lot of dysfunctional people running around. Criminals have really staked out the city and are really running parts of the city."

As a special treat, Reeves, the former Motown star, sings tribute to the late Michael Jackson as Fishman accompanies her on keyboards.

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