Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI.

[Vox]

This is circulating around now, on Facebook. No major market news yet.

As you probably know, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed
legislation passed by the Republican-dominated House and Senate that gives
State-appointed Emergency Financial Managers [[EFMs) historically broad and
sweeping powers. These new powers allow the EFM to cancel or modify contracts
[[including with unions) and even to fire the municipality's government.


Today, for the first time, a EFM did just that. According to a press
release from the Michigan AFL-CIO, Joseph L. Harris, EFM for Benton Harbor, Michigan
issued "an order prohibiting all action by all city boards, commissions,
authorities and other entities, except as authorized by the emergency
manager."

http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/04/a...financial.html

[EL Jimbo]

This is how democracy dies.

[Wesley Mouch]

If democracy involves public figures giving other public figures money they don't have to do things inefficiently, then death and rebirth is called for.

Real democracy is when the public decides something. Not when public officials give things to other public officials. That's an oligarchy.

[Vox]

I'm hoping that it's not true, but it's really not surprising, given the history.

[R8RBOB]

Congratulations to Joe Harris. He is showing current and future EFMs how it is suppose to be done. For that he will get to kiss the ring of his godfather, Don Barzini...err Snyder.

[tiorted]

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...S02/104160351/

[rjk]

"Benton Harbor has struggled with a controversial trash hauling contract, lawsuits related to the contract, new competition for water services and city officials who sometimes clashed to the point that meetings dragged on for hours, Joseph said.
"I have seen for more than 30 years the mismanagement of funds and personnel in the city," Joseph said. "Infighting has been going on for decades."


From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110416/...#ixzz1Jg7lsCgn

[JBMcB]

So, if a city is going down the tubes, and the elected officials refuse to do anything about it, what should happen? Should we just allow the city to implode?

I don't really have an opinion on EFMs, but I don't really see the difference between what an EFM has the power to do and what receivership would do anyways.

[skyl4rk]

Now if we could just get an EFM for the State of Michigan and the federal government.

Continuing, worsening budget deficits are evidence of failure of the democratic system of government.

Joe Harris, coming to a town near you very soon.

[stasu1213]

My gut feeling is that the same thing will happen to Detroit in probably a year or so. I would rather see the city given over to the emergency financial manager and let he/she lay off people and sell off the city's jewels instead of the mayor and council laying off people, giving away the city jewels, and still letting the emergency financial manager take over the city of Detroit

[stasu1213]

"Benton Harbor has struggled with a controversial trash hauling contract, lawsuits related to the contract, new competition for water services and city officials who sometimes clashed to the point that meetings dragged on for hours, Joseph said.
"I have seen for more than 30 years the mismanagement of funds and personnel in the city," Joseph said. "Infighting has been going on for decades."Emergency-manager-cuts-roles-of-Benton-Harbor-officials#ixzz1Jg7lsCgn[/URL]

Infight was and still is one of the reason why projects in Detroit are not completed on time.

[DetroitDad]

I support this, so long as it sticks with financials. America really came out behind. We managed our money very poorly in the past, on all levels; from personal, to commercial, to bureaucratic. We had our shot, and we may have blown it.

This is undoubtedly horrible. But what can I say? It is what it is? We will undoubtedly strike out at our Governor, but this really rests on all our shoulders; willing lambs with blindfolds on, being led to slaughter, then served to the rich as a very fine delicacy.

Don't worry, they won't waste us. They'll wrap us in saran wrap and stick us in the fridge so they can have leftovers at work tomorrow. I think you will find the fridge space to be quit comfortably tailored for your stay. The temperature is set to maintain an ideal, and keep you from going into the food danger zone. Here, you can play with Miss Cheese and plan a tall todooral., all just to pass the time.

Pass the time.

Pass the time.

Pass the time.

Pass the time.

Pass the time.


Just be glad you are not in the developing world up in the freezer.

[stasu1213]

I had heard that the EFM violates taxation without representation. Detroiters had already been denied that for years now. Elected leaders had not been looking out for the best interest of the people who tax dollars pay the leader's salary; instead the leaders had the casinos and corporations best interested in heart and mind.

[Danny]

It won't be long that Detroit will be next. It's city government will be gone in a EFM flash!

[Danny]

This is how democracy dies.

"With a thunderous applause!" Sez... Queen Amadala of Planet Naboo. [[ Star Wars Galaxy)

[1KielsonDrive]

If democracy involves public figures giving other public figures money they don't have to do things inefficiently, then death and rebirth is called for.

Real democracy is when the public decides something. Not when public officials give things to other public officials. That's an oligarchy.

Your opinion. And I might add, a very right-wing, authoritarian opinion, bordering on totalitarianism. "If you can't do it right, Big Brother will do it for you regardless of consequences". Wait and see how many wealthy, white, communities these edicts affect. As bad as politicians are, and I have loud and documented record of railing against both sides of the aisle, this is not the way to go. Snyder is nothing less than neo-con, tea partier attempting to disguise himself as 'moderate share the pain' guy. There is nothing 'fair' about this, nor is the 'pain' shared.

[Det_ard]

Joe Harris. I thought that name sounded familiar. He was the Auditor General for the City of Detroit in the last decade, and Detroit's CFO under Cockrel. He always struck me as one of the "good guys", the guy who criticized Kilpatrick for late audit reports and sloppy financial reporting and non-existent controls.

While I have some ideological qualms about the EFM process, on a practical level it's clearly needed and will probably yield positive results. Just a temporary benevolent dictator.

It sounds like Joe Harris may be coming to a city near us soon, by the sounds of this article, and I'd welcome him back with a hearty "kick ass"!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42473216...ws-detroit_mi/

[English]

"With a thunderous applause!" Sez... Queen Amadala of Planet Naboo. [[ Star Wars Galaxy)

Thanks, Danny. I needed the laugh.

If this is what the 21st century is going to be like, give me a time machine. What an awful time we live in.

[douglasm]

I'm suprised someone hasn't challenged this in court. The problem I see [[as an elected official myself) is when you suspend the powers of elected officals, you're suspending the rights of the population within that jurisdiction to have a say in their own affairs. I'm not denying that there is infighting within the governing body of the city for a long time, but aparently it has been condoned and sanctioned by the voters who elected the clowns that run Benton Harbor.

[Vox]

I'm suprised someone hasn't challenged this in court. The problem I see [[as an elected official myself) is when you suspend the powers of elected officals, you're suspending the rights of the population within that jurisdiction to have a say in their own affairs. I'm not denying that there is infighting within the governing body of the city for a long time, but aparently it has been condoned and sanctioned by the voters who elected the clowns that run Benton Harbor.

I'm really no huge fan of the EFM concept, but I can see the point of having them.

There's a certain segment of the population that is absolutely opposed to this concept, since it has made their livelihood fair game. When an EFM wasn't capable of being a game changer, it seems as if that an EFM was no big deal. Now, of course, we can see what direction this is taking,

Douglasm, you know full well that if a city and it's elected leaders will not act in a manner that they need to in order to survive, then others must come in to avoid bankruptcy. It's interesting to note that the city leaders were not removed, just certain powers were.

[Wesley Mouch]

...when you suspend the powers of elected officals, you're suspending the rights of the population within that jurisdiction to have a say in their own affairs....

Yes. That's correct. And its because, and only because of their anti-social behavior. Remember that others have rights as well. I have a right to not pay for the actions of BH's elected officials, for example.

Looked at another way, the police have certain rights to detain you, but they have the responsibility as well to do so in accordance with rules. If they break rules, they lose their rights. Likewise, the public by electing idiots acts irresponsibily, they can have their rights taken away from them. To the extend necessary to protect the rights of others. They can continue to vote for idiots, and put them in office, and run their city into the ground -- but only until their actions infringe on the rights of others, including the city workers who rely on the city for pension funding, for example.

[mwilbert]

The problem I see [[as an elected official myself) is when you suspend the powers of elected officals, you're suspending the rights of the population within that jurisdiction to have a say in their own affairs.

I suppose it is possible that some powers of the EFM violate home rule provisions of the Michigan constitution, but I don't see where people have a right to be represented by a municipal government. A substantial number of people of Michigan don't even have a municipal government.

[Wesley Mouch]

...but I don't see where people have a right to be represented by a municipal government. A substantial number of people of Michigan don't even have a municipal government.

Excellent point.

[Baselinepunk]

I just think that it's very ironic the second they get in power; a political party that tells folks government should be out of their lives, tries to dictate what a woman can do with their body, blows up local control and expands government control over as much as they can. Why the people within their own ranks can't see how hypocritical their own party is makes no sense. They justify their actions just as wesley does; saying it's ok this time to be hypocritical because it's them that are doing it. But you better damn well believe that if a Democrat even breathed a word of the concept of a EFM the Republicans would be pissing their pants over what they would see as SOCIALISM!!!

Seriously, the Tea Partiers are a bunch of desperate and jealous folks who feel that if they are not doing well, then neither can you - especially if your a public employee. How many of these bums are drawing unemployment while bitching about government entitlements? I know of one BIG Tea Party bum in my area that's doing just that. We need to weed these Tea Party Bums out of our government and return control back to the people.

[EL Jimbo]

I suppose it is possible that some powers of the EFM violate home rule provisions of the Michigan constitution, but I don't see where people have a right to be represented by a municipal government. A substantial number of people of Michigan don't even have a municipal government.

How is this true at all? 100% of Michigan is at least part of an incorporated township. That means that each resident is at least represented at the municipal level by a township board.