Kevyn Orr at Wayne State Law School

[48205to24]

Orr stated that he would not rule out going after the state for the revenue sharing money, as he is obligated by law to pursue redress from any and all sources. My gut tells me that any debt "workout" plan may come from the state.

He also stated his intent to put the Belle Isle lease on the table again, but he will not sell it.

Get ready for interesting times.

As long as the state doesnt shut it down and fence it up for more festivals, concerts, etc. I wonder if the state makes money off of the island will the city see the any of it?

[corktownyuppie]

As long as the state doesnt shut it down and fence it up for more festivals, concerts, etc. I wonder if the state makes money off of the island will the city see the any of it?

[[1) I believe that all money generated on the island will go towards the island.

[[2) I believe that we are in no position to negotiate, and I just hope the state will still take the deal that was on the table last year.

[[3) Lastly, is that regardless of what the city/state decide...if this thing goes into Chapter 9, the bankruptcy court could view the lease as a strategy to prevent creditors from seeing any potential revenue that could have been generated. And even if the bankruptcy court rules in favor of the city/state, the creditors will sue -- Matty Moroun-style.

I imagine that the worst case scenario [[since we can't be forced to sell Belle Isle) would be that they void the lease to the state, force the city to start charging an admissions fee on it, and refuse to fund any of the necessary capital improvements.

Chapter 9 could go a whole lot of different ways, and it's quite unclear who or what would be better off.

[belleislerunner]

I get that we live in a democractic republic. Which means the mayor and city council should have public hearings. It also means we, as citizens, are ultimately responsible for what happened over the past 50 years. No one else. We were the CEO's of the cities [[i.e. we elected someone to represent us on our behalf). We clearly failed to govern, or appoint people who could govern effectively.

The emergency manager is the warden sent to correct us. He has no allegiance to us, nor should he. He is here to fix our problems. Prisoners don't suggest punishments or corrective therapy to their wardens. They do as they're told.

In 16.5 months, we'll have our city back and collectively we will become CEO's again. But to think an emergency manager "owes" us public dialogue is patently absurd.

[313WX]

I get that we live in a democractic republic. Which means the mayor and city council should have public hearings. It also means we, as citizens, are ultimately responsible for what happened over the past 50 years. No one else. We were the CEO's of the cities [[i.e. we elected someone to represent us on our behalf). We clearly failed to govern, or appoint people who could govern effectively.

The emergency manager is the warden sent to correct us. He has no allegiance to us, nor should he. He is here to fix our problems. Prisoners don't suggest punishments or corrective therapy to their wardens. They do as they're told.

In 16.5 months, we'll have our city back and collectively we will become CEO's again. But to think an emergency manager "owes" us public dialogue is patently absurd.

The purpose of these so-called public hearings is to create the illusion that Detroiters stil have their democratic rights and to lessen the bite of any lawsuits filed against PA 436, such as the federal lawsuits that are pending.

[Wesley Mouch]

I get that we live in a democractic republic. Which means the mayor and city council should have public hearings. It also means we, as citizens, are ultimately responsible for what happened over the past 50 years. No one else. We were the CEO's of the cities [[i.e. we elected someone to represent us on our behalf). We clearly failed to govern, or appoint people who could govern effectively.

The emergency manager is the warden sent to correct us. He has no allegiance to us, nor should he. He is here to fix our problems. Prisoners don't suggest punishments or corrective therapy to their wardens. They do as they're told.

In 16.5 months, we'll have our city back and collectively we will become CEO's again. But to think an emergency manager "owes" us public dialogue is patently absurd.

Exactly right. I'm glad Orr has the sense to engage the public -- but I think he has zero obligation to do so.

Let's not mistake EFM Orr for a civic leader. He may be a better leader than we've had, but his role here is not to engage the populace and build a coalition. His job is to straighten out the cities finances. We elected him to do so by our choices of leaders. Local leaders who were incompetent. State and Federal leaders who gave us what we wanted -- a public service that gets more expensive and less effective year after year. Mix that with a bad economy, and the weak don't survive. We were weak.

[downtownguy]

Exactly right. I'm glad Orr has the sense to engage the public -- but I think he has zero obligation to do so.

Exactly wrong.

According to The Detroit News,

The Detroit Emergency Manager, Kevyn Orr, is required by Public Act 436 to hold a public meeting announcing the Financial and Operating Plan established in the first 90 days as Emergency Manager.

[Wesley Mouch]

Exactly wrong.

According to The Detroit News,

True enough. I wasn't aware that it was a legal requirements. My comment wasn't about whether he had to hold meetings by law.

I should have said that there's no need for public meetings -- except to comply with the law. I think its a waste of time. Most public meetings these days are. There's this idea that somehow if you hold a public meeting, everything's gonna be alright.

[antongast]

There's this idea that somehow if you hold a public meeting, everything's gonna be alright.

I am pretty sure that nobody actually believes this.