Mayor Says Arson Spree in Flint, Mich., Meant to 'Terrorize' the City

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Arson Epidemic Began After City Laid Off Firefighters and Closed 2 Firehouses

A string of suspicious fires that hit the battered city of Flint, Mich., after more than 20 firefighters were laid off and two firehouses closed were meant to "terrorize the community," the mayor claims.

Since the job cuts in late March, 153 of 202 fires  mostly in vacant buildings  were classified as suspected arson, city officials said. The number of arson fires began to decline after a federal grant enabled the city to rehire some of the firefighters.

"I don't believe in coincidences," Mayor Dayne Walling told ABCNews.com.

A string of 14 suspicious fires erupted the night before the city laid off 23 firefighters and 23 police officers on March 24 in an attempt to close an $8 million budget deficit. Two of Flint's five fire stations were also shut down that night.

"The initial string of fires, more than a dozen in the first 24 hours as those layoffs were going into effect, were clearly motivated by a political agenda to terrorize the community," Walling said.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/flint-mayor-calls-arson-fires-terror/story?id=10703411

[truthisfreedom]

1. Horrible.

I hope they catch somebody.

[gratuitous]

2. Sounds like the mayor is blaming the firefighters

Am I reading this correctly?

[sabra]

3. "I don't believe in coincidences" - it does appear to be that way..

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

4. He's blaming them alright

Here's a link to an earlier story, this has been going on since March 25th or so, the article refers to the earlier incidents.

http://classicalvalues.com/archives/2010/04/the_statement_h.html

As a very important note

I do not agree with this website, it just has the story referred to in the OP.