Detroit gets too much attention from State of Michigan.

**Corktown Mark** · December-18-13, 08:31 AM

Detroiters and other Michigan residents agree. There is too much “special attention” given to the City of Detroit.

The special attention given to Detroit over the last generation has resulted in extreme economic dislocation. Many of the actions taken by the State of Michigan that are meant in specific for Detroit are reversible errors. Michigan should act to correct them now.

pretty good description of what is happening here
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/opinio...ons/index.html
some history can be found here
http://corktownconnection.org/340-th...ity-of-detroit

Detroit had for decades an agreement that required the employees of the city to live in Detroit. One very destructive act by the state stripped Detroit of being able to continue this productive and helpful agreement. These agreements resulted in most neighborhoods having Detroit City employees as residents. They were the eyes and ears of Detroit's elected and appointed officials and an effective anti crime and anti blight force working for the city of Detroit.

Detroit's ability to tax itself has been recently severely restricted by the state of Michigan. This includes a state forced rollback of the city's income tax. Detroiters are willing and have been always willing to step up and pay their own way. But these efforts are stymied by the state of Michigan.

Detroit voted to allow three casinos to operate in the city. What was NEVER expected was the state of Michigan would take for itself the lions share of the tax revenue and leave the actual support for these casinos to the tax payers of Detroit. This is another case of “special attention” that, if corrected, would more then cover Detroit's annual spending deficit.

Detroit, back when Detroit voters were in charge decided all contractors working for the city of Detroit must pay a living wage so their employees could afford to live in respect and dignity in the city. The state of Michigan stripped Detroit and a few other Michigan cities [[Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor) of this power under the Engler administration.

All of these actions taken by the state of Michigan have had a detrimental effect on Southeast Michigan. The entire region is hurt by what the Governor and the Emergency Manager are doing to Detroit and other Michigan cities. Michigan must somehow explain why a majority of African American Michigan residents are stripped of their power to have local control of their government. This is freely granted to virtually all white residents of the state. Michigan must explain to the world which is watching closely today why these actions against Detroit were taken in the name of ALL Michigan voters.

**gnome** · December-18-13, 09:52 AM

I love Detroit but to consider that most of its problems are not self-inflicted is a gross misreading of history.

**dmike76** · December-18-13, 10:09 AM

That post is pretty lame. There aren't very many facts in there, and based on my admittedly limited knowledge, I don't think that you can entirely blame the state for Detroit's woes. I'm also not a huge fan of forcing people to live in a city that they don't want to live in. While I agree that it DID have an effect on population bleed, that is not something that should be reversed. If you want to make the argument that an EM is taking away people's rights by having a non-elected official, then you can't back this forced residency thing, because that's taking away people's rights to live and work where they want.

**EastsideAl** · December-18-13, 10:50 AM

To say nothing of the revenue sharing agreement the state just outright reneged on. And then compounding that by burying the state's obligations and debt to the city in the bankruptcy proceeding that they forced on us.

Lansing has NEVER had Detroit's best interests in mind. And since the city became majority African-American, the state's actions have often been marked by outright hostility. I thought Engler was bad with his constant campaign race-baiting, but nothing speaks louder than unilaterally stripping citizens of their democratic rights - but only certain citizens, in an undeniable pattern - and imposing a state-controlled dictator on them. And people like to think that Jim Crow is all in the past...

**Dan Wesson** · December-18-13, 11:13 AM

WOW...
Whoaa....

This talk takes me back...

**Gistok** · December-18-13, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by UrbanAlliance

Detroit voted to allow three casinos to operate in the city. What was NEVER expected was the state of Michigan would take for itself the lions share of the tax revenue and leave the actual support for these casinos to the tax payers of Detroit. This is another case of “special attention” that, if corrected, would more then cover Detroit's annual spending deficit.

Where did you come up with this??

Here are the facts...

1) the ENTIRE state voted to allow three Detroit Casinos.

2) prior to Detroit casinos there was an agreement between the state and the Indian tribes that the state would get gaming revenue from the Indian tribes, for as long as they had an exclusive gaming right. When the 3 casinos opened up, that income source from the Indian tribes was going away, so the state ALWAYS had plans to make up that revenue with Detroit casino revenue. That was how it was negotiated with the casinos and the city.

3) the state does NOT get the lions share of casino tax revenues. The rate is 19% total tax... 10.9% city, 8.1% state.

http://www.americangaming.org/indust...ation/michigan

**rb336** · December-18-13, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

I love Detroit but to consider that most of its problems are not self-inflicted is a gross misreading of history.

There is plenty of blame to go around and there HAS been state legislation that has been hostile to Detroit

**Wesley Mouch** · December-18-13, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by rb336

There is plenty of blame to go around and there HAS been state legislation that has been hostile to Detroit

So everyone's to blame. So what now?

I say leave it all behind. There's no future in our past.

**jaytheory** · December-18-13, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

So everyone's to blame. So what now?

I say leave it all behind. There's no future in our past.

Well Said Wes

**Novine** · December-18-13, 04:43 PM

This makes a good counterpoint to those people, especially outside the city, who claim all the city's problems are of their own doing. You can add to that list the state's mismanagement of DPS. They managed to take a bad system and make it worse - twice.

**brizee** · December-18-13, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

This makes a good counterpoint to those people, especially outside the city, who claim all the city's problems are of their own doing. You can add to that list the state's mismanagement of DPS. They managed to take a bad system and make it worse - twice.

And the unnecessary 10 year delay of a real transit system.

And the closing of mental health facilities, which Detroit disproportionately felt the weight of.

And the recent abortion of the anti scrapping laws, which the city again bears the most scars of.

How did us lowly Detroiters ever get so BLESSED to be saved by Michigan?

**rb336** · December-18-13, 06:52 PM

Don't see much of a negative about the anti-scrapping laws. Scrappers are among the biggest impediments to businesses thriving in some areas.

**brizee** · December-18-13, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by rb336

Don't see much of a negative about the anti-scrapping laws. Scrappers are among the biggest impediments to businesses thriving in some areas.

I mean they killed the anti scrapping laws.

An Oakland County Republican in the senate insisted on removing the 3-day waiting/no cash for catalytic converters and air conditioners.

**313WX** · December-18-13, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by brizee

And the unnecessary 10 year delay of a real transit system.

And the closing of mental health facilities, which Detroit disproportionately felt the weight of.

And the recent abortion of the anti scrapping laws, which the city again bears the most scars of.

How did us lowly Detroiters ever get so BLESSED to be saved by Michigan?

Not to mention the fact that they completely trampled over the democratic will of Detroiters by passing the same EM law and then appointing an EM after a whopping 82% of Detroit voters turned it down.

And also, the fact that Detroit has been given absolutely no attention by the Michigan tourism board in favor of rural areas in the middle of nowhere, whereas any other state in the country would fall over itself to brag about all of the things their big city offers.

**EastsideAl** · December-18-13, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

And also, the fact that Detroit has been given absolutely no attention by the Michigan tourism board in favor of rural areas in the middle of nowhere, whereas any other state in the country would fall over itself to brag about all of the things their big city offers.

Yes, but our big city is full of... you know... those people.

Not so many scary dark faces in, say, Traverse City.

**Hermod** · December-19-13, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

And also, the fact that Detroit has been given absolutely no attention by the Michigan tourism board in favor of rural areas in the middle of nowhere, whereas any other state in the country would fall over itself to brag about all of the things their big city offers.

Was Detroit ever the "draw" in Michigan tourism? The "Water-Winter Wonderland" motto was never about DIA or Greenfield Village. In 1950, people didn't come to Michigan to see Detroit. High School senior trips went to DC or new York and not to Detroit.

**casscorridor** · December-19-13, 02:15 PM

This just shows the hypocrisy of the State of Michigan in its takeover and mismanagement of Detroit. The state claims Detroit can't run itself while conveniently ignoring that it can't run Detroit either.

**Dan Wesson** · December-20-13, 09:46 AM

Detroit gets too much attention from State of Michigan.

Why not?

Detroit is a subset of Michigan. Michigan is not a subset of Detroit.

If you want succession, go right ahead.

**Gistok** · December-20-13, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by casscorridor

This just shows the hypocrisy of the State of Michigan in its takeover and mismanagement of Detroit. The state claims Detroit can't run itself while conveniently ignoring that it can't run Detroit either.

I think you're jumping the gun on your judgement... it took Detroit 30 years to help mess things up... State of Michigan has only been at it for less than a year... already some things are improved... Belle Isle, city 911 response time... Monumental changes don't happen over night.

**Novine** · December-21-13, 03:09 PM

"I think you're jumping the gun on your judgement... it took Detroit 30 years to help mess things up... State of Michigan has only been at it for less than a year... already some things are improved... Belle Isle, city 911 response time... Monumental changes don't happen over night."

You're missing the point. The complaints aren't about the state's direct oversight of city operations, it's about all of the ways that actions by the state have hurt Detroit. How about the state takeover of DPS - twice in the last decade. Neither appeared to help the city and in many cases, did more harm than good.

**Wesley Mouch** · December-22-13, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Novine

"I think you're jumping the gun on your judgement... it took Detroit 30 years to help mess things up... State of Michigan has only been at it for less than a year... already some things are improved... Belle Isle, city 911 response time... Monumental changes don't happen over night."

You're missing the point. The complaints aren't about the state's direct oversight of city operations, it's about all of the ways that actions by the state have hurt Detroit. How about the state takeover of DPS - twice in the last decade. Neither appeared to help the city and in many cases, did more harm than good.

So what was the State supposed to do with DPS? Just let it go as it was? Do you really believe that everything was A-OK until the evil State showed up and destroyed DPS? How can you possibly say that the interventions did more harm than good?

Whoever dreamt up this idea that the State is very much to blame for everything was brilliant.

**rb336** · December-22-13, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

So what was the State supposed to do with DPS? Just let it go as it was? Do you really believe that everything was A-OK until the evil State showed up and destroyed DPS? How can you possibly say that the interventions did more harm than good?

Whoever dreamt up this idea that the State is very much to blame for everything was brilliant.

what you are ignoring is that the state made things worse. If the options were "do nothing" or "make matters worse" which would you choose?

**aj3647** · December-22-13, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

but nothing speaks louder than unilaterally stripping citizens of their democratic rights - but only certain citizens, in an undeniable pattern

Is Allen Park majority black as well? I didn't know that! I learn something new every day on DYES!

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

and imposing a state-controlled dictator on them. And people like to think that Jim Crow is all in the past...

Hyperbole will get you everywhere on DYes. Facts be dammed!

**Gistok** · December-22-13, 10:31 AM

I don't always agree with Wesley Mouch, but I do this time... and sometimes things need to get worse, in order to get better [[not the school system, but the city)... I think that all the state was doing was getting to the inevitable sooner rather than later...

**Wesley Mouch** · December-22-13, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by rb336

what you are ignoring is that the state made things worse. If the options were "do nothing" or "make matters worse" which would you choose?

That the State made things 'worse' is a matter of opinion. The State did things you didn't agree with.

We talk much about the 'toxic' political atmosphere 'these days' -- although I think even the Times has an article debunking this in the last few days. But what's really happening is that we have a large philosophical gap between tea party and the pity-charity left. One side's progress is another side's decay.

You see the State 'making matters worse'. Other see the City 'making matters worse'. So yes, I ignore the State's evil actions, because I don't see the actions as evil. Unless you can understand political diversity, we really can't have a discussion.

So let's try. Do you see that giving more money to Detroit when Detroit's not using it well might perpetuate the social dysfunction that's harming its own residents?

Or let's try this. There's more money coming to Detroit today from the State than before. Can you agree that this is because the State's financial reforms have increased the likelihood that money will be used for good?