Quote Originally Posted by Danny View Post
...seems to me that there are no loophole for a proposed annexation of Detroit and suburbs.
Technically, you are correct that there is no loophole, but this is because no loophole is needed as consolidation of cities is explicitly allowed!
Proceedings for consolidation may be initiated by the filing of a petition with the commission signed by a number of registered electors who are residents of 1 or more of the affected municipalities at least equal to 5% of the total population of the affected municipalities {123.1012[[1)}
After the public hearing on a proposed consolidation and review by the commission, the commission may deny the proposed consolidation, revise the boundaries of the territory to be consolidated and approve the proposal, or approve the consolidation without any change. {123.1012a[[1)}
If there is opposition to the consolidation, 5% of the voters can have it put up for vote:
If a consolidation proposal is approved with or without a revision of the boundaries the commission's order becomes final 45 days after the date of the order unless within that 45 days a petition for a referendum is filed with the commission which contains the signatures of at least 5% of the registered electors residing in the area to be consolidated as approved by the commission. If a petition is not filed and the commission's order becomes final the secretary shall send a certified copy of the order to the petitioner and the clerk of each county, city, village or township affected and to the secretary of state. If the petition is filed, the commission after determining the validity of the petition shall submit the proposition to a vote of the electors of the affected municipalities and shall specify a date later than the referendum on which the commission's order becomes final. {123.1012a[[3)}
In order to be adopted, the proposition to consolidate shall receive an affirmative majority vote in each municipality affected voting separately. If a majority of the votes cast in each municipality affected are in favor of the proposed consolidation the commission's order becomes final and proceedings may be conducted in accordance with sections 13 to 17. Otherwise the proceedings on the consolidation proposal shall terminate. {123.1012a[[4)}

I think that it would be a mistake to limit the consolidation [[I am going to use that term instead of annexation, because that is what we are talking about) to just the adjacent ring of suburbs around Detroit. Consolidation should cover the whole metropolitan area. This will put more pressure on each city to join, so as not to be surrounded and excluded.

The racial opposition is being exaggerated. Most of the suburbs have seen a large influx of blacks from Detroit. If any suburbanites are truly racist, it should be obvious by now that municipal boundaries have not kept the blacks out, so why have them?

The political opposition is being exaggerated. Politicians love power, so why would they not be eager to be leader of the whole metropolis instead of just a city or county?

The school opposition is being exaggerated. School districts will not change [[unless they choose to).

The police and fire opposition is being exaggerated. They are already cooperating. Suburban police departments have already established relations with Detroit since many of the suburban crimes are committed by Detroiters.

The water/sewage situation is a perfect example of why many suburbanites should be in favor of consolidation; it would give them more control. Better mass transit would also be an easier sell if they had more control over money spent. The key is convincing suburbanites that consolidation will put the control in their hands as they will be the majority. Detroit is incapable of maintaining their city and this has proved detrimental to the metropolitan region. Detroit doesn't need to be taken over by far-away Lansing, it needs to be taken over by the people who know the situation best - suburbanites.