Freep: It's time for Gov. Snyder to appoint an emergency manager for Detroit

**Novine** · February-19-13, 08:48 AM

Stephen Henderson and company endorse a state takeover of city government. This is the same crowd that endorsed Bing for Mayor and everyone has seen how well that worked out.

**corktownyuppie** · February-19-13, 08:50 AM

Attacking the person is easy...attacking the idea is harder. If you don't think we need an EM, I'm sure there are 700,000 Detroiters who would be glad to entertain another option.

And if you're in favor of bankruptcy, I can get on board with that. You still have to go through emergency management to get to bankruptcy.

**ggores** · February-22-13, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Attacking the person is easy...attacking the idea is harder. If you don't think we need an EM, I'm sure there are 700,000 Detroiters who would be glad to entertain another option.

And of those supposed 700,00 Detroiters, way too many are illiterate.

**corktownyuppie** · February-23-13, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by ggores

And of those supposed 700,00 Detroiters, way too many are illiterate.

Yeah. An unfortunately, it's tough for illiterate parents to teach their children to read. So we need a better solution.

**313WX** · February-19-13, 09:15 AM

Per the Detroit News, no sane person wants to touch Detroit with a 6-foot pole [[and I don't blame them).

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130219/METRO01/302190338/Detroit-emergency-manager-may-hard-find?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Detroit

— Several named candidates for Detroit emergency manager have publicly said they do not want the job as Gov. Rick Snyder today is scheduled to receive a review of the state's finances.

**rb336** · February-19-13, 09:22 AM

I'm not sure Bing is a catastrophe as mayor. Pretty sure the biggest issue in righting the city is the council

**Wesley Mouch** · February-19-13, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by rb336

I'm not sure Bing is a catastrophe as mayor. Pretty sure the biggest issue in righting the city is the council

Biggest issue is fighting those who like power more than success.

**Hermod** · February-19-13, 09:45 AM

You don't need to make a politically correct appointment. The EM doesn't need to be black or from Detroit. What is needed is an honest, reasonably intelligent, Grade-AAA Asshole who carries a chainsaw in a holster ion his hip.

**rex** · February-19-13, 10:26 AM

Joanne Watson could fix all these problems in 1 term as mayor. I really hope she runs

**michimoby** · February-19-13, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by rex

Joanne Watson could fix all these problems in 1 term as mayor. I really hope she runs

I didn't know The Onion had a branch in Detroit...

**nain rouge** · February-20-13, 10:43 AM

OK, I know, I know - pensions are something no one wants to talk about. But I just want to say that I fail to see how pensions are anything at all like other long-term debts. The pensioners didn't give Detroit loans to cover operating expenses, and they didn't provide any services that weren't already paid for a long time ago. It's not really debt so much as a ridiculous promise to hand out free money to employees that once worked for the city.

Of course, no one wants to talk about this issue because it's too much like social security, another untenable situation that the older generations are counting on for free money.

**noise** · February-20-13, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by nain rouge

OK, I know, I know - pensions are something no one wants to talk about. But I just want to say that I fail to see how pensions are anything at all like other long-term debts. The pensioners didn't give Detroit loans to cover operating expenses, and they didn't provide any services that weren't already paid for a long time ago. It's not really debt so much as a ridiculous promise to hand out free money to employees that once worked for the city.

Of course, no one wants to talk about this issue because it's too much like social security, another untenable situation that the older generations are counting on for free money.

No, it's just that nobody is taking the bait.

**DetBill** · February-20-13, 11:26 AM

Am just reading on the freep press about Councils reaction to the report and its the typical rhetoric about finding other means,,[[ there are none), and the oh so tiring rant of Joanne Watson and how the report is "Anti black" . Why does she need to inject racism in every evaluation ?.. She is the biggest racist I see on that council. She may have gotten away with the silliness before but her day has come,, The fact is the financial situation is a total mess, there is no city solution and its time to get this debacle straightened out..She takes absolutely no responsibility for contributing to this mess.. .The color crap is just plain ludicrous. Most of us are just plain tired of it all.

**Kevgoblue** · February-20-13, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by noise

No, it's just that nobody is taking the bait.

Why not? Sounds like a legitimate question to me. The findings said bonds and retirees are consuming 35 to 42 cents of each dollar the city takes in. If thats not a 500lb gorilla in the room, then I don't know what is.

**Danny** · February-20-13, 01:01 PM

I can't wait for Romulus Augustulus [[ DAVE BING) to surrender the laurel reef crown [[ The City of Detroit Seal) to Odoacer, the German King. [[ EMERGENCY FINANCIAL MANAGER).

The end of Black control of Detroit is coming within 30 days.

R.I.P. Black Detroit 1975 to 2013

**Wesley Mouch** · February-20-13, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

I can't wait for Romulus Augustulus [[ DAVE BING) to surrender the laurel reef crown [[ The City of Detroit Seal) to Odoacer, the German King. [[ EMERGENCY FINANCIAL MANAGER).

The end of Black control of Detroit is coming within 30 days.

R.I.P. Black Detroit 1975 to 2013

Control will end only if the elected leaders absolve themselves of responsibility due to EFM. If they instead embrace the reform process, they can be true leaders and extend the reign of 'black control' you lament.

I really do hope that some leadership emerges here.

**Danny** · February-20-13, 01:18 PM

Detroit City Councilman Anton Spivey on Detroit's possible EFM or bankruptcy:

" I don't want to hear about it. I don't want to talk about it."

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on Detroit's possible EFM or bankruptcy:

"I'm greatly sorry that the citizens of Detroit are not getting the services they need. If Gov. Snyder appoints a EFM or go into bankruptcy. I would work along with them or this person until the end of my term."

Governor Rick Snyder on Detroit's possible EFM or bankruptcy:

" I applaud to the financial review board for looking over Detroit's terrible financial situation. I will look their paperwork and make my decision in a given day and time."

**Honky Tonk** · February-20-13, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

I can't wait for Romulus Augustulus [[ DAVE BING) to surrender the laurel reef crown [[ The City of Detroit Seal) to Odoacer, the German King. [[ EMERGENCY FINANCIAL MANAGER).

The end of Black control of Detroit is coming within 30 days.

R.I.P. Black Detroit 1975 to 2013

Danny, I take exception to your post. I work in an environment that has "black" mangers, and lots of them, male and female, that I answer to. They are totally competent in their job positions. Skin color has nothing to do with competence.

**Danny** · February-21-13, 02:57 PM

This is what I do if I was appointed Emergency FinancialManager:

Most of the taxes and statutory revenue sharing goes tothese Detroit city services:

1. Hire 1,000 to 2,000 police officers. Provide new squadcars and patrol certian neighborhoods that had more violent crimes. Hirecommunity police officers. Citizens can patrol their own neighborhoods day andnight. Tougher curfew laws of those 18 years and under will be enforced duringschool calender days unless they are accomplied by an adult. Mini beats will beinstalled. Main central Police Stations will be open 42 hrs. a day, 7 days aweek.

2. Restore EMS vehicles and provide up to 500 new EMS vehicleswithin 2 years. Increase responsive time for medical emergencies.

3. Provide new equipment and surplies for Detroit Fire Dept.Have every last fire hydrants inspected 2 times per season.

4. Go out into corporate and industrial centers of the worldand lure them into Detroit area including downtown. Provide new regional jobsincluding enviromental jobs.

5. Restore public lighting in every last Detroitneighborhood. Install solar transformers and L.E.D. fixtures into these newstreet lights. Put heavy fines to those either vandalizing or cause vehicleaccidents to those street posts. Install hidden traffic cameras into every lastmain roads in Detroit neighborhoods to prevent not only accidents but alsoviolent crime.

6. Work around financial loopholes to have The State ofMichigan partially lease Belle Isle with a $5.00 annual fee to Michiganresidents $3.00 fee to foreign visitors. Make the park free to all Detroitresidents only. Restore various Bell Isle Projects from the Belle Isle Casinoto re-opening of the Belle Isle Zoo.

7. Restore Subsidized housing projects through DetroitHousing Comission into various Detroit neighborhoods. Make sure those residentshave required paperwork to they could be a quick waiting list. Resident mustnot have years of housing disputes. Resident must be a sex offender, childmolester or be on parole until after 2 to 10 years of criminal record has beenforgiven. Housing will not be set up in a 'post Jeffries Projects-HermanGardens' setting, but in a mini luxury apt-condo setting. Provide 2 mandatoryseasonal inspection of their units. A three strikes rental law will be effectto a DHS resident. Their units should not have any illegal border-squatterdisputes, illegal drugs, gang activities, noise, any crimes. Damage to a DHSunit will result in absolute 90 day eviction notice; that includes a $500.00fine, loss of refund deposit and not be able to re-apply for any DHS unit.

8. All Detroit city government workers and city workers willrecieve up to 10 to 25% pay cut. There will be no raises or bonuses. Furloughdays will commence every friday. Pensions and benifts from its unions will notbe cut, even when their contract is over. Expect lower paychecks and increaseproperty taxes.

**fanniemae** · February-20-13, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by rex

Joanne Watson could fix all these problems in 1 term as mayor. I really hope she runs

OMG, no ! Please no !

**rex** · February-20-13, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by fanniemae

OMG, no ! Please no !

cmmon, Shes intelligent, reasonable and beautiful. Everything we need in a leader!!!!

**401don** · February-19-13, 11:06 AM

I don't understand how an EFM can operate a city where there simply isn't enough revenue to cover the most basic necessities. Does he just slash until the budget is balanced regardless of the consequences? Also, how can an EFM deal with the long-term debt issue, which is the really big problem?

**bailey** · February-19-13, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

I don't understand how an EFM can operate a city where there simply isn't enough revenue to cover the most basic necessities. Does he just slash until the budget is balanced regardless of the consequences? Also, how can an EFM deal with the long-term debt issue, which is the really big problem?

Is there really not enough revenue or is it so badly managed it's completely wasted?

**nain rouge** · February-19-13, 11:38 AM

It's time to cut entitlements, starting with pensioners. These crooks still think they can steal fat paychecks from the public sector decades after they've retired. I say - police and fire department response times come before the pensions. I say - reliable buses and infrastructural maintenance again come first. Most of the pensioners don't give a hoot if Rome burns as long as they get their bloated checks. To heck with 'em!

**iheartthed** · February-19-13, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by bailey

Is there really not enough revenue or is it so badly managed it's completely wasted?

Well, if every resident of Detroit just chipped in $20,000 then that $14B in long-term liabilities that the city is carrying wouldn't be an issue. However, considering that the average house price in Detroit now is barely $40K, good luck on finding enough residents with enough equity to borrow against and help out.