Exclusive: Gov. Snyder plans to appoint emergency manager over Detroit after little progress

[DonViejo]

Source: Motor City Muckraker


January 30, 2013 by Steve Neavling

Gov. Rick Snyder plans to appoint an emergency manager over Detroit as early as next month because city officials have failed for a year to make meaningful reductions in the city’s cash-starved budget, city and Lansing sources told the Motor City Muckraker.

State officials have been meeting privately with Mayor Dave Bing’s administration and a few council members over the past month to discuss the future under a state financial takeover.

While details are not yet clear, state law gives an emergency manager the authority to sell city assets, bypass city council, impose new union contracts and privatize services.

Snyder has already appointed an emergency manager in Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Pontiac and Allen Park, and in the Detroit, Highland Park and Muskegon Heights school districts.

Sources said Snyder plans to make the appointment in February or March.

-snip-

Read more: http://motorcitymuckraker.com/2013/01/30/exclusive-gov-snyder-plans-to-appoint-emergency-manager-over-detroit-after-little-progress/

[leftyohiolib]

1. have these areas already using them improved?

Snyder has already appointed an emergency manager in Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Flint, Pontiac and Allen Park, and in the Detroit, Highland Park and Muskegon Heights school districts.

getting stuff done is easy when you're a dictator

[amandabeech]

2. The Muskegon Heights school district was shut down and the money handed over to a private

charter school. I don't know if the charter was non-profit or for-profit.

I'm overdue to visit the area (my Mom lives and I grew up about 45 miles north of M.H.), and maybe I'll hear something then.

The people of Muskegon Heights have tried just about everything to get the spending under control and to get the students learning at an acceptable level, but it is not well-situated. The Muskegon area, of which the Heights is a smallish part, has been post-industrial since the Reagan Recession in 1981. The area used to have plenty of decent blue collar jobs, but almost everything closed. At this point, I think that all the industrial businesses in the Heights have closed. When that happens, it just seems to suck the life out of everything. And of course, the crime rate, especially the murder rate, has increased.

I'm afraid that all the formerly industrial cities in the middle of the country are going the way of the Heights. All the Michigan cities named are in big trouble (many of them are first-ring Detroit 'burbs), and now look at Chicago. Even when the rest of the Midwest was having problems, Chicago kept going. Now, the City and the State are in horrid financial shape because of previous promises and contracts, and I believe that income taxes have been raised. IIRC, some of the big businesses headquartered in downtown Chicago have threatened to move out state. If only they would move to Michigan with its lowered corporate tax rate--lowered by raising the rate for seniors and the working poor.

I'm at the point that I would accept an emergency manager who had a good track record of turning things around.

Dave Bing, the former Piston and industrialist who has been wrestling with PTB in Detroit, actually might be a decent emergency manager. He's been elected, but the EM status would give him more powers to do what has to be done. What an awful situation.

[leftyohiolib]

3. it sounds awful but you dont want charter schools when/if they destroy the public school system and

the teachers union the schools will be free to teach the kids whatever the corporation running the charter is told to teach the kids. creationism , democrats are evil you know gawd-fearing republican lies

[leftyohiolib]

4. btw how IS that charter school situation going is it having any impact?

[amandabeech]

5. I may be able to find out when I go home in the next couple of weeks.

I was sick over the holidays.

From what I've seen, very few charter schools work very well, but the situation there is so desperate that if a charter works out, I'd accept it.

BTW, only two of my female relatives AREN'T or WEREN'T teachers. The benefits of an NEA or AFTA school are obvious to me, and my family has benefited much from the good health care and retirement benefits offered.

If the charter doesn't work, and I'm not saying that it will, then I will be the first to say, "Dump it and return to the situation ante."

[leftyohiolib]

8. thanks

[KamaAina]

6. "Dave Bing... actually might be a decent emergency manager."

What makes you think there's a snowball's chance in Hell that Snyder would appoint Bing? Or anyone other than an out-and out fascist??

[amandabeech]

7. I did not offer any opinion as to whom Snyder will pick.

I merely stated my own opinion as to whom might be a good pick. I do not have Snyder's ear.

Good day.