Possible Deal to Save Detroit ‘Stymied’ by Unions, Ailing City Faces State Takeover
Detroit officials have until Thursday (what’s with Thursday deadlines?) to rescue their ailing city from financial insolvency or a state takeover.
“A deal backed by Mayor Dave Bing and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, would grant the city the power to void contracts and slash costs but not provide state funding or loans to bail the city out of its financial problems,” CNN Money reports.
But fierce “opposition from unions — in a city that remains a bastion of labor power — has so far stymied efforts to pass a rescue package,” the report adds.
If the city council doesn’t get its act together and come to an agreement on the deal by Thursday, Gov. Snyder has announced that he will (legally) appoint an “emergency manager” to take over the day-to-day operations normally performed by the mayor and city council.
“The city council is under pressure from the public and city unions to reject the deal with the state [emphasis added],” Money reports, “At the same time, it would lose its powers if Snyder goes ahead and names an emergency manager.”
And with all these massive fiscal problems, the only action the council has taken this week was to double the city’s corporate income tax to 2 percent.
“Years of decline in population and businesses and a shrinking of the tax base have pushed Detroit into a deep financial hole despite a recent resurgence in the U.S. auto industry,” CNN Money reports.
“Without more cost cutting, the city will won’t be able to pay its bills come June. An estimate in January, the most recently available, was that the city would be down to $20.9 million in the bank by the end of this week,” the report adds.
So let’s say the unions have their way, the city council can’t come to an agreement on the Bing & Snyder deal, and the governor appoints an “emergency manager.” What powers would he/she have to save Detroit? If it comes to that, an “emergency manager” would have the authority “to void contracts with both unions and vendors” and sell off city assets.
Void contracts with unions? Whoa. If the unions don’t like the rescue package, they’re going to hate a Republican-appointed “emergency manager.”
“As the debates, negotiations and lawsuits raged this week, they did so without Bing, who was recently released from the hospital after serious intestinal surgery and won’t return to work for two weeks,” CNN Money reports.
“Both Bing and Snyder say they want to avoid a state takeover, which in itself could be the first step toward the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation’s history.”
And now for something truly depressing, here’s a portion of Kevin Bauman’s collection of 100 abandoned Detroit homes (via Business Insider):
Photo 1 of 21
Photo 2 of 21
Photo 3 of 21
Photo 4 of 21
Photo 5 of 21
Photo 6 of 21
Photo 7 of 21
Photo 8 of 21
Photo 9 of 21
Photo 10 of 21
Photo 11 of 21
Photo 12 of 21
Photo 13 of 21
Photo 14 of 21
Photo 15 of 21
Photo 16 of 21
Photo 17 of 21
Photo 18 of 21
Photo 19 of 21
Photo 20 of 21
Photo 21 of 21
See the rest of Bauman’s collection here.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 577 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 372 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (122)
commonsenseguy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:09amthis the future of america, the unions especially their union bosses and former bosses,bill aires for starters, could careless about their city or state just about their money,and they claim to represent the people,when obama is reelected or steals the reelection the unions will do just as they are in europe ,greece,and the other countries, destroy everything in site just to keep their money, the unions are willing to destroy the only free country in the world,with the beliefs that they will be untouchable when the soro’s obama regime take over,but as history has shown, the people { the union workers } will be use and thrown out to the curb with the rest of america,and their bosses will be in the big house with the rest of the communist regime, this just a small step and the demise of america is the ultimate goal,
Report Post »god bless this great country,and god i pray that we can save her from the future that the crazy left wing,communist,union nut jobs have envisioned,and from the worlds most spooky dude and his minions.
TAXEVERYONE
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 6:56pmIt is Bill Ayers, and he was a convicted terrorist during the 60′s, not a union boss. He was worse than any union boss.
Report Post »rawmilker
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:40pmThe unions are going to be left with no $$ to embezzle…. :-(
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:00amDon’t even bother……..it was to late in 1976 when that worthless Moron Coleman Young got elected…..he was an Obama junior, and if you look at Detroit , you will exactly what Democrats want to do to the entire country !!!!!! I beg you , please don’t let them !!!!!! VOTE !
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:33am@teamarcheson … your transparent attempt to make tea party members look bad is pathetic … tea party members aren’t racist … nice try troll
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:36amAlike Greece… Socialists cannot admit to failure… but simply go into SelfDestruct Mode!
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:43amThe lack of cars seems to emphasize the emptiness. The streets are empty, the city is resting. There is peace because there are no people to disturb this rest. The homes are standing looking as though they are well beaten and almost grateful for the rest. Those who destroyed this destroyed this city must have gone away with the ones who tried to save it. The houses must feel freedom from the hell within their walls. The houses must be glad.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:16amYou know, it seems to me, at some point this becomes extortion or economic terrorism.
“Gimme what I want, or I’ll hurt you !”
Shameful.
I hope their neighbors remember to “thank them” for bankrupting the city, and “driving” off good jobs, and forcing property taxes through the ceiling.
Way to go, socialist democrats and communist unions!!
Just think, some day you can tell your grandchildren how you and a few of your friends, destroyed entire cities!! When you do, you can also explain to them why they are in debt $250,000 the day they are born, and in debt $1,000,000 by the time they get their first job.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:20amTheir agenda does seem to be getting clearer and clearer. I hope what few people are left in Detroit will realize they are pawns in a master plan and will not vote for Obama. There are people who actually want to see Detroit succeed, but it isn’t the libs, unions, or Obama. Union members don’t seem to realize they are pawns in the destruction of their country, and are leaving their children and grandchildren in line for a hopeless future, unless they follow in the union footsteps. If that is their path, they will still have a “boss” telling them what to do, when to do it, and how high to jump. It will be a union dog and pony show!
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:41amFire EVERYONE tear up the contracts and start from scratch.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:42amLooks like they have already stole all the money. It’s called bankruptcy, it‘s what happens when you can’t pay your bills. Turn out the lights and push it into the lake.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:40amThe line should read,
Dave Bing, DEMOCRAT Mayor
Why do they leave out what affiliation DEMOCRATs have. Are they embarrassed?? Is it not something to be proud of, being in the DEMOCRAT Party of the KKK, and BARRY, and Bull Connor, Spitzer, Corzine, Gore, Van Jones, Saul Alinsky, Rev Wright, Sharpton, Jesse??
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:34amUnions will continue to cut their throats even though they know it is unsustainable.
Report Post »How dumb can these people be ?
4truth2all
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:02amYo BLACKYB:
Interesting thoughts … how about this … the houses look sad and lonely.. The ones that were to fill them with love have gone, They needed someone to care for them, they can not make it on their own nor do they desire to ….no, a house was meant by God to be a home.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:47pm@tomferra
This reminds me of the line from “Storm of the Century”, S King…..“Give me what I want and I will go away”. After the assembly of towns people, it looks like the bag was filled with many more rocks and thousands of people left their homes with their families…overflow from one century to another. Sad.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:27pmof course they want to postpone the deadline for a budget, they have never been on a budget before the unions and communist have taken over the city and want their over paid state workers to continue scaming money from those that work to give it to themselves and their wellfare voters, the city has been corupt since the democraps have been voted in. The teachers are the worst in the country and dumb down the children to the point they can’t read, write or do math by highschool,unwed motherhood ,drugs,crime,murder is the norm, the unions and taxes have helped by their demands so buinesses and manufacturing have left, not only do they need a emergency manager they need exorcist’s
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:05pmThis is the future of America under Kaiser Obama in miniature; what is happening there will soon enough lead to state failures and their surrendering of complete soverignty to the Federal authorities in return for assistance; and the complete collapse of the Republic.
Look for the macro scale to happen soon, now that the city micro scale is occuring.
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:31pmSo So true…You see the Obama child Mayor in Chicago trying desperately now to get daddy Obama to help out with another 6 billion dollar bailout. Well of course the other 30 billion they have gotten over the past years never worked ..So this is going to be different..Happening all over in the “New age progressive commie” run urban centers….
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:53pmIf you’re a progressive in Detroit, you expect everything for free.
Report Post »When everything is free, you care about nothing else.
When you don’t care about anything else, neighborhoods deteriorate.
When neighborhoods deteriorate, you become trapped.
Don’t get trapped. Abandon progressive ideas.
JohnQTaxpayer
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:51pmThis is how the democrat created welfare state dies; does the city have a DNR?
JQT
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:55amJQT
Someone stole the copper wiring for the ventilator.
Detroit is near asystole.
OMG 2012
Report Post »I_DIAL_1911
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:44pmYou can blast Detroit all you want, but consider what is happening here in SE Michigan as a trailer of what is about to transpire in your little piece of the Pleasantville, USA if this a-hole (imposter-in chief) stays in office. Welcome home, lock and load.
REMEMBER… When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away. Go ahead and snicker…..today.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:17pmI agree … it is spreading and soon will be all of Michigan .. I was appauled last year at the decline of my old hometown .. and up north … every other commercial on TV was how to get a “free” gov’t cell phone! .. jobs are leaving because of the UNION THUGS .. and the state is dying under the weight of supporting Detroit.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:41pmTake a look at those abandoned houses, look like they were pretty nice at one time, with plenty of land around them. Even if someone wanted to go to Detroit today and try to develop it, the “people” who are there would make it impossible. Imagine some white family that decided to move into one of those old houses and fix it up, they wouldn’t last a year in the neighborhood, even if they home-schooled, even if they had guns for security, etc.
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:43pmI love old houses like these…….This is a crying shame
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:02am@ab5r
Report Post »The reason you see all that land around those once beautiful homes, is because all of the other homes that were once on that block, have been demolished…. I went home for my nephews wedding, and we visited our old neighborhood, I told my brother, I didn’t remember the yards being so big…. He looked at me like I was nuts, and said ” your looking at the whole block dumbass, and that’s the only house left……….. It is freaky !!!
AB5r
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:19amYes, that thought had crossed my mine, unbelievable. The pictures are of the best ones remaining!
Report Post »Sgt_R_USMC
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:05amThose homes didn’t have that land around them before.. those are empty city blocks that formerly had rows of homes! I‘ve seen before and after pictures and there’s an entire website devoted to Detroit being reclaimed by nature; can’t rememeber the name of it but something to do with Urban Prairies.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:46amYou would think there would be some sign of prior houses, part of the foundation or something. I’ll have to find that Urban prairie site. There was a plan actually to revert a huge section of Detroit to farmland, guess it will come to that at some point. That will involve taking large sections of the city out of the tax base (whatever it is at this point) and removing police and fire from that area, so there would probably be a savings overall to the city dollar wise. But if they weren’t so incompetent you have to believe that long term it would be better to get some people to redevelop those areas. It is just that no one in their right mind would be willing to invest two cents with those clowns in charge.
Report Post »Sgt_R_USMC
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:23pmOne of most amazing things is the speed at which nature is reclaiming huge parts of the city and the animal life returning to sites where concrete, steel, and brick had formerly been. It’s actually pretty neat to go on google maps and choose detroit, then street view, then just zoom out and look at all the green and empty neighborhoods that are close to downtown. Who would want to live in that jungle anyway? The answer is: Animals
Report Post »Dotado
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:34pmNot much difference between Detroit and Greece. Same mentallity.
Report Post »BreeZee
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:49pmDetroit is the first “brick in the wall” to fall. This is a prime example of what the unions and the progressives have done to the country. Go back in history and look at most all the problems in the country today and it will led back to the progressives. Everything from piss poor education to escalating crime in the streets is due to progressives.
New slogan
Report Post »**If you vote for BHO, you will be to blame**
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:07pm@Dotado: Its also a prime example of why the unions need to be done away with; they have entirely way too much power and control over key areas of the nation…they are thugs and monopolies across the board.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 6:00amSnow – the unions have outlived their usefulness. They were needed in Industry and in mining but accomplished their goals and should be disbanded. They are now run by a bunch of thugs who influence politicians and use their rank and file for their own ends and not to help the working man.
One of the primary reasons that industry is leaving America is the burdensome demands of the unions.
Notice that the foreign car companies opening production facilities in America are all in right to work states? The employees have good paying jobs with benefits and no unions.
Look at what the NLRB has tired to do with Boeing in SC, thats political influence and Sweet Old Baracks appointment of Union men to the board.
OMG 2012
Report Post »tmplarnite
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:26pmHey Lefty coast Californidiots …take a good look at Detroit… THAT is what is going to befall you liberal fools…in fact it has already started in the towns around you that are about to declare bankruptcy…Moon Beam Brown is going to ensure it….sad but true!
Report Post »castlerock legup
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:17pmI used to be proud to admit l live the first 12 years of my life in Detroit back in the 50′s…..But I realized when I was in my 30′s that those dame unions would be the death of my home town someday. Sorry Detroit.
Report Post »I should have said “ the unions and the Democratic Party”
spirited
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:16pmThe demise of once lovely neighborhoods is unfortunately not just a, Detroit lost work problem. Every major city has experienced this to varying degrees.
People make a neighborhood….through self- respect and respect for others.
>It should be the unions that are broken. (period)
Report Post »kennebec
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:22pmthe great society model city now below a million population 1st time since 1890s
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:38pmit‘s not only the unions it’s also people that make a career of being on wellfare and the democrapes that allow it. They would rather live in poverty on wellfare then put some effort out and get an education then a job, women that keep having babies without husbands have no charactor or morals and raise their kids the same way then they blame the others for their poverty
Report Post »GramSam
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:15pmThis is what unions do. Which is why I do not understand why public employees need an union, who are they being protected against, us the taxpayers, who pay their wages. It’s assinine.
Report Post »RobMac68
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:57pmProtection against the elected official who is generally irresponsible when it comes to financial planning and then they punish the employees with lay-offs and no pay raises. If the employee was at least shown a little bit of decency, why would they vote to go union? I work for a city government and I am union. The employees, in the same job position I am in but work for the county, are non-union and just voted down going union. The difference is they are never thrown under the bus.
Report Post »disastros
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:28pmRobmac68 I just got off a bird from Detroit doing some work for a union plant i see the bleeding fist hand. It took 12 guys three days to due what i could of done in 45 minuets buy my self. Instead of the job costing the plant 3200 for my services the bill was 12000. Please explain to me how you are not bleeding the system dry!
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:11pmAs of 2000 per http://detroit.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm
Report Post »Detroit demographics
Race
White 116599 12.26%
Black or African American 775772 81.55%
American Indian and Alaska Native 3140 0.33%
Asian 9268 0.97%
Asian indian 2827 0.3%
Chinese 912 0.1%
Filipino 951 0.1%
Japanese 188 0.02%
Korean 217 0.02%
Vietnamese 393 0.04%
Other Asian 3780 0.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 251 0.03%
Native Hawaiian 46 0%
Guamanian or Chamorro 45 0%
Samoan 64 0.01%
Other Pacific Islander 96 0.01%
Some other race 24199 2.54%
Two or more races 22041 2.32%
beffuddled
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:37pmI don’t see White Hispanic in those demographics…
It’s a chocolate city, just like Zimbabwe.This will be the face of America if good people don’t stop the Democrats.
Report Post »strawberry411a
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:10pmDETROIT? Nuke it from space. It’s the only way to be sure.
Report Post »disastros
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:31pmTheir needs to be a cleansing of all the trash!
Report Post »JR1984
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:09pmAnd how long have Democrats and Unions been in charge of Detroit? Let them FAIL.. Losers
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:07pmHow sad.
So many of those buldings were once beautiful…. They don‘t make ’em like that anymore.
>Change should mean growth. Hopefully some can be saved and ‘lived’ in.
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:06pmThe bill is due and the unions are cornered. Naturally, unions, who were so pivotal is bringing about the destruction of my home town, Detroit, wouldn‘t want to be ’rescued’!
Since they can never say ‘yes’ to a good deal, say hello to my little friend…your new “rescue manager” !!!! lololol…..lololollo….!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:56pmJust wait until this starts happenning to the States!!! If Gov Walker loses, Wisconsin might be first???
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:56pmTake the city down. Than hire non-union workers to build more 1957 Chevys. Hire armed security to fend off the Union freaks. Break a few legs. They are used to it.
Report Post »felix
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:54pmunions and demothugs are the worst !
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:53pmthis is what democrat control does to a city
PERIOD
( in the democrats defense, if they deserve ANY , their constituents belong in either prison, or the zoo )
Report Post »marhee9
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:57pmIt’s also the unions leadership. In many dealings with these people during my executive days, they never care about what’s best for their own employees. It was only about power and control. The very things they accused us in management of. Typical liberal mindset.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW9-6m6dKZw
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:24amMarhee
You got it right. I have negotiated labor agreements with unions. In one case, I had to negotiate the impact of re-tooling a plant. The re-tooling would have made the facility world class. 60 employees would have been laid off. We offered a lucrative pension buyout and severance pay. The union voted it down. The plant was sold off. It has now been closed for 5 years.
I left the world of unionized business. I could no longer deal with union officers betraying their members.
Report Post »Daniel
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:25pmHey don’t insult the Detroit Zoo. When I was a kid (1960′s) living just north of Detroit (Clinton twp and Fraser), I used to go to the zoo regularly. Loved that zoo. Too bad, I hear the zoo is having problems too. What ashame. Detroit was a beautiful city, with beautiful homes and building throughout.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:50pmDetroit is what happens when unions acquire too much power and become inflexible in a given industry. Decay, decline, death.
“Decay, decline, death” sounds like a good new alliterative slogan for the Obama campaign.
Report Post »median
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:16amVery good mrbuthcher,make some posters,very big posters and take them to obummer rallys.
Report Post »beffuddled
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:39pmThat‘s a bumper sticker I could fit on Matt Lauer’s Limo.
Report Post »Carefreeflyer
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:50pmComing to a State near you.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:48pmBULLDOZE it DOWN.
Report Post »GingerHC
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:18pmThey have been.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:45pmNo more bailouts!!! Let the UNIONS take the city down. Then they can see exactly what they are getting by keeping the UNIONS around.
Report Post »unsafe
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:21pmAll those brown stone houses are just laid to waste. I hope the fools there love there town now and they still say god bless the unons and the Dems.They made there beds now lay in it, rats and all. This is what Gray Ind looks like and its all blacks their to so what does that tell us all? Burn the town down its a goner. until you clean out the trash it well stay the same no matter what you do to help this town.
Report Post »Smoovious
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:23pmlet the unions take control of the city :)
won’t matter to those of us in the rest of the state, Detroit never reflected Michigan as a whole anyways…
– Smoov
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:14amthis a portrait of america,and obama and the democommies are the painters,and all of their union,media mater,code pink, la raza,left wing nut jobs are the colors used to paint on the canvas to which is america.
Report Post »