Rochelle Riley: Detroit gives Gov. Rick Snyder no choice

[ronaldj]

Strange, in my neck of the woods or perhaps I should say urban prairie, city politics don't count for much. Just pick up my trash containers and provide water and sewage services. Even burbs get that at a price.

Mostly on the eastside we have formed citizen groups that function well: we address crime, clean ups and programs to help the homeless, educate our kids, support our elders. We light our streets via home owners.

City forgot us a long time ago Basically in favor of detachment.

[313WX]

Strange, in my neck of the woods or perhaps I should say urban prairie, city politics don't count for much. Just pick up my trash containers and provide water and sewage services. Even burbs get that at a price.

Mostly on the eastside we have formed citizen groups that function well: we address crime, clean ups and programs to help the homeless, educate our kids, support our elders. We light our streets via home owners.

City forgot us a long time ago Basically in favor of detachment.

Why are you guys paying taxes if this is the case?

[Novine]

"You got a better alternative, Novine?"

No. mam2009 is right. The big pots of money that people think exist in the city budget aren't there. Look at the city budget. Public lighting doesn't cost the city money. Even if the lights don't work, the city is still collecting more in revenue for lights than it spends. Human Services has zero net cost in the city budget. Cutting those departments would have no immediate impact on finances. Where's the budget overruns? Police and Fire. How do you free up cash fast? Layoff cops and firefighters.