Napoleon takes jab at Duggan with Palmer Woods comment

By Ron Savage
Fox 2 News

DETROIT (WJBK) -- Speaking at the pulpit of the New Bethel Baptist Church, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon said Palmer Woods is not Detroit.

Napoleon was referring to Mike Duggan, who moved into Palmer Woods and like Napoleon is exploring a run for mayor.

Napoleon added Duggan cannot say he has the common experiences Detroiters have.

We visited with folks in Palmer Woods.  Many are familiar with Napoleon's "Palmer Woods is not Detroit" statement.

"I love it.  We have a wonderful community here, and Palmer Woods is very much Detroit and I pay taxes just like Detroiters pay taxes.  So yes, please don't tell me we're not in Detroit," said Alicia Turner.

"We knew we would be up against this when we started this effort," said Bryan Barnhill, Duggan's campaign manager.  Duggan is out of town.

"These kinds of messages have been a part of Sheriff Napoleon's messaging over the past month."

We asked Napoleon for comment.  He declined for this story, but directed us to his Twitter and Facebook pages.  Napoleon does a backpedal from the comments in church and wrote on Twitter, "Palmer Wood is not Detroit?  Nothing is further from the truth."

However, the Palmer Woods experience is far different from that of the average Detroiters' neighborhood.

Jim Anderson of Palmer Woods said he has met both Napoleon and Duggan.

"I'm in favor for whichever person can get the job done.  I sort of know both of them, but I'm a little mixed at this point.  I like them both.  I don't think you can go wrong with either one of them."

"Just based upon the positive response we've been getting from Detroiters in neighborhoods all across this city, that divisiveness won't work," Barnhill said.

Napoleon's office indicated the sheriff does want to meet with Fox 2 Thursday morning.