Detroit emergency manager decision to be revealed by Gov. Rick Snyder Thursday
Source: Michigan Live
Detroit emergency manager decision to be revealed by Gov. Rick Snyder Thursday
By Khalil AlHajal | kalhajal@mlive.com
on March 13, 2013 at 9:30 PM, updated March 13, 2013 at 10:09 PM
DETROIT, MI -- After months of talks, proposals, financial reviews, confrontations and protests, Gov. Rick Snyder will announce his final decision on Detroit's financial emergency Thursday.
Snyder is widely expected to appoint lawyer Kevyn Orr to take over the city as emergency manager.
He also has the option of arranging a new consent agreement for a path to financial stability with the city, though it's not likely that's what he has planned for his 2 p.m. press conference Thursday.
An emergency manger would have the authority to strip elected officials of their powers and pay, sell city assets and void union contracts.
Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/03/detroit_emergency_manger_decis.html
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)But the voters in the whole state of Michigan rejected the premise in a referendum a few short months ago.
By the letter of the law, your comment is still iffy. By the spirit of the law, it is wrong.
Regardless, the EM concept is anti-democratic bullshit.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)It varies widely as to its nature and scope. Jerry Brown was all over the City of Bell too, but CA has different legal approaches (including forced disincorporation) than Michigan.
This is all based on the concept that cities are creations of the state and the state in the end has the responsibility for their operation. That goes for counties and other local agencies as well. When they start to meltdown, the state has the legal obligation to step in, and they do, not just in Michigan.
I have some skin in the Benton Harbor debacle. Something had to be done, BH was that screwed up. The decision and appointment of the EFM was done under a Democratic governor.
I have not been following Detroit saga that closely. Be interesting to see what actions are taken to try and get it financially solvent again.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)This is all based on the concept that cities are creations of the state and the state in the end has the responsibility for their operation. That goes for counties and other local agencies as well. When they start to meltdown, the state has the legal obligation to step in, and they do, not just in Michigan.
Every state has its own form of takeover powers. It varies widely as to its nature and scope. Jerry Brown was all over the City of Bell too, but CA has different legal approaches (including forced disincorporation) than Michigan.
I have some skin in the Benton Harbor debacle, also in Michigan. Something had to be done and the decision and appointment of the EFM was done under a Democratic governor. The state had to step in, Benton Harbor was just that screwed up.
I have not been following Detroit saga that closely. Be interesting to see what actions are taken to try and get it financially solvent again.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)buying that for one second.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)of the state. There is no loss of democracy since nobody's right to vote has been taken away. A local agency is being restructured by the entity responsible for it.
All that said, its not clear to me how much trouble Detroit is in.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)that it creates and regulates, including cities. One of the areas they have an obligation to step in on is financial irregularities and insolvency. Cities are chartered by the state and the state can revoke its charter (IAW state law) if it chooses. Up until recently I was unaware of that aspect of the law.
The Michigan law is unusual, but the state intervention is happening all over the country, including CA.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)From the people of course, through democratic election.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)A new one could change the EFM or cancel it.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)The argument, which is made elsewhere in this thread, is that Detroit did not need an EFM. That seems to have considerable merit. That was not the case in Bell nor Benton Harbor.
What would you suggest be done when a municipality is as screwed up as Bell and Benton Harbor were?
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)not at any time would I suggest a mess like that one. Let the people straighten it out through representative government like the U.S. is supposed to be providing to its citizenry.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)I first got interested in the MI process with Benton Harbor. I have some skin in the game there.
All states have some means to step in, Jerry Brown is doing it with some regularity in CA.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)on Jerry Brown in the process?
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)I am not stepping on Jerry Brown, he had little choice with Bell as did Granholm when it came to Benton Harbor.
Not sure about Detroit, but BH and Bell required intervention IMO.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)not a loss of representation. My ass!
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Both of which were taken over by elected Democratic Governors
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)Since the local government (presumably freely elected) are clearly crooked (Bell) or incompetent (Benton Harbor), what do you suggest be done and by whom?
Declaring that local democracy should triumph is a lot like saying that the free market will solve all our troubles. What do you do when it clearly fails?
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Constitutional in no way, no how. Maybe you should learn the facts that Detroit DOES NOT have a short-term cash crisis....
http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2013/03/oped-discussion-reveals-serious-flaws.html
Javaman
(62,444 posts)Rick Snyder: I'm going to give a very brief statement then introduce the new emergency manager for Detroit. We are living in tough times and as such require tough measures such as denying American people their basic right to vote, but that's beside the issue, I'm now going to introduce to the new city manager for the city of Detroit. I give you Mr. S. Tan.
A big cloud of smoke "poofs" up behind the podium and the smell of brimstone fills the room.
S. Tan: Moooohooooohahahahahahahahaaaaaaa!!!! Don't let the pointy pointy horns fool you, I'm really a nice guy! Huh? No laughs? I was told to open with a joke!
classof56
(5,376 posts)lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)0rganism
(23,856 posts)and Detroit is a pretty fucking big straw.
It has become necessary for the people of Michigan to retake their government through overwhelming acts of civil disobedience. Shut Lansing down hard, so the governor and that crappy legislature can't even make it in to work. Anything less will be undone in an off-year election, and within a year it'll be right back the way it is now.