Albert Cobo
Albert Cobo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 1957 (aged 63) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, businessman |
| Years active | 1935–1957 |
| Known for | Mayor of Detroit (1950–1957) |
Albert Eugene Cobo (October 2, 1893 – September 12, 1957) was a prominent American politician who held the office of mayor of Detroit from 1950 until his passing in 1957.
Early and personal life
Born in Detroit on October 2, 1893, Albert Cobo married his childhood companion, Ethel. Together, they had two daughters named Jean and Elaine.
Early career
While attending night classes at the Detroit Business Institute focusing on business administration and accounting, Cobo managed two candy stores in Detroit. After completing his education, he sold these businesses and secured a position at Burroughs Corporation, where he advanced to an executive role. During the economic hardships of the Great Depression in 1933, Burroughs temporarily assigned Cobo, then an accountant, to assist the city for six months in addressing its fiscal challenges. Subsequently, he ran for office and was elected as Detroit City Treasurer in 1935.
In his role as treasurer, Cobo introduced a seven-year tax payment plan that enabled homeowners behind on taxes to retain their properties, which earned him considerable voter approval. After serving seven consecutive terms as treasurer, he successfully campaigned for mayor in 1949.
Election
Cobo commenced his tenure as mayor in 1949 after defeating George Edwards, a Liberal Common Council member known for his UAW activism and support for New Deal policies. Representing a Republican background with corporate executive experience, Cobo centered his campaign on opposing public housing projects and expressing concerns about racial integration. He emphasized fiscal conservatism and free-market values while resisting public housing proposals favored by Edwards.
He gained substantial backing from white neighborhood improvement groups apprehensive about public housing developments, which helped him secure victories in predominantly white precincts on Detroit’s Northeast and Northwest sides. Despite Detroit’s Democratic dominance and strong labor union presence, Cobo won the election and was re-elected twice more—in 1951 and again in 1953 (the latter term lasting four years).
Public housing
Cobo’s election strengthened the role of civic organizations. He committed to preventing public housing projects from being dispersed into single-family residential neighborhoods, opposing all but four sites situated in city centers with significant Black populations. By decelerating public housing construction and appointing Harry J. Durbin—a developer specializing in single-family homes—to lead the Detroit Housing Commission, Cobo restricted affordable housing availability for low-income families during the 1950s. He defended this approach by arguing that property owners who contributed most to city taxes deserved superior services compared to public housing residents. His position received praise from real estate interests and civic leaders alike. Between 1937 and 1955, only 8,155 public housing units were created in Detroit, mostly consisting of high-density complexes such as Jeffries, Brewster, and Douglass Homes. Among large cities, Detroit ranked eighteenth out of twenty-five for low-rent housing starts relative to overall housing development. By dismantling public housing initiatives, Cobo reassured civic leaders that minority advocacy groups would lose influence.
Appointees
Cobo placed individuals with strong business and real estate expertise—rather than career bureaucrats—in key municipal roles. This shift prompted James Inglis, former head of the Detroit Housing Commission, to resign; he was succeeded by developer Harry J. Durbin along with real estate executives Walter Gessell and George Isabell. Additionally, two members of the Housing Commission held leadership positions within the Detroit Building Trades Council, further embedding private industry interests into housing policy decisions. In 1951, Cobo appointed Alan E. MacNichol—president of a civic association—to the City Plan Commission and formed an advisory committee dominated by private property stakeholders to influence zoning regulations. His resistance to public housing stemmed from prioritizing private developer ownership over government subsidies for economically disadvantaged residents.
Among his appointments, the most contentious was John Laub as head of the Commission of Community Relations (CCR), which replaced the Mayor’s Interracial Committee following criticism over its civil rights efforts. Laub, who led the pro-Cobo Northwest Civic Federation, was selected over candidates advocating desegregation and opposing discriminatory housing policies.
Urban revitalization
One of the central initiatives during Cobo's tenure was the enhancement of Detroit's deteriorating infrastructure. He championed developments such as the Civic Center, Medical Center, and housing projects aimed at middle-income residents within predominantly African American neighborhoods in the city's core.
Schoolcraft Gardens
The Schoolcraft Gardens Cooperative, a private venture on Detroit’s Northwest Side designed to offer modern, spacious townhouses as exemplary "workers" housing, was stopped by Cobo. Supported by the UAW and envisioned as an integrated community, the project encountered fierce resistance from local real estate groups and homeowners who portrayed it as a socialist threat to property ownership. The campaign against it included over 10,000 protest postcards and formal objections from area clergy, which influenced city leaders. Ultimately, Cobo vetoed the zoning amendments required for the development, bringing the initiative to a halt.
Expressway expansion
Cobo was a vigorous advocate for extending expressways, appealing particularly to wealthier suburban residents who desired quicker travel into Detroit.
Later years
In 1956, Cobo sought the governorship of Michigan as the Republican nominee but was defeated by G. Mennen Williams after securing ten consecutive electoral wins within Detroit. He chose not to pursue a fourth term as mayor in 1957.
Additionally, Cobo served as president of the American Municipal Association and acted as a trustee for the United States Conference of Mayors.
Legacy
During Cobo's administration, Detroit reached its highest population level of approximately 1.8 million in 1950. He passed away from a heart attack on September 12, 1957, just before his final term concluded. The convention center originally named Cobo Hall in his memory was later renamed TCF Center on August 27, 2019. Cobo’s final resting place is Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.