Category: Emergency Managers

Pontiac’s Emergency Manager fires several key city department heads, federally-indicted United Water to run public works

In September, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appointed Lou Schimmel to replace Michael Stampfler as Pontiac’s Emergency Manager. Yesterday, Schimmel fired several key department heads: the city clerk, the city attorney and director of public works. Pontiac Emergency Manager Lou Schimmel has fired the city’s clerk, attorney and director of public works in what he says is realignment in City Hall. […]

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Repeal Public Act 4 organizers (Michigan Forward) NEED YOUR HELP!

The effort to repeal Public Act 4, the odious “Emergency Manager Law”, is in the final stages. They are now in a serious campaign to count the signatures they have get them verified. They need YOUR HELP with this effort. From LaToya A. Henry, the Secretary-Treasurer of Michigan Forward: We have begun doing Saturday data entry and verification for the […]

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Emergency Manager Joe Harris to leave Benton Harbor soon

In a clear sign that Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris will soon be departing his position, job postings have begun appearing for a new City Manager. Benton Harbor has begun advertising for a city manager, a signal that the city’s state-appointed emergency manager, Joseph Harris, could be leaving the city soon. Before Harris can go, he said the city […]

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Yet another Mich city faces imposition of a Gov-appointed chancellor …errr .. Emergency Manager

Next up: Inkster: State officials are reviewing the finances of the city of Inkster — the first step on a path that could lead to appointment of an emergency manager. The 30-day review under the state’s toughened emergency manager law for local governments and school districts began last week, said Terry Stanton, a spokesman for the Treasury Department. ~SNIP~ Inkster […]

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Response filed challenging Gov. Snyder’s request for Supreme Ct. intervention on PA 4 suit

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how Governor Rick Snyder has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene in a Sugar Law Center lawsuit on behalf of 28 Michigan citizens, challenging Public Act 4, the Emergency Manager Law. Snyder asked the Court to expedite the process and make an instant decision, avoiding the discovery process and fact-finding that takes […]

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Flint and Detroit City Councils support repeal of Public Act 4 – the Emergency Manager Act

The city councils of two of Michigan’s major cities have weighed in on the repeal of Public Act 4 and both are in support. More accurately, the Flint City Council is in support of putting it on the ballot for voters to decide. The Detroit City Council voiced more full-throated support of the repeal. Here’s the scoop on Flint: The […]

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Pontiac gets a new Emergency Mgr, privatization “expert” & former Mackinac Center staffer Louis Schimmel

After the resignation last week of Michael Stampfler as Pontiac’s Emergency Manager, Louis Schmimmel was chosen as his replacement. The former emergency financial manager of Hamtramck and Ecorse is known as an expert at privatizing public services and comes highly recommended by the far-right conservative Mackinac Center think tank. Schmimmel, in fact, was the director of the Morey Fiscal Policy […]

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State takes first steps to placing Emergency Managers in Flint and Highland Park

Flint appears to be the next city in line for an Emergency Manager in Michigan. With only a $2 million deficit, it is still undergoing the initial review process. This is odd because, as Brandon Jessup of Michigan Forward notes, other cities with much larger problems have had their requests for an EM denied. Interesting, though is how Flint, facing […]

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John Covington, new chancellor for failing Michigan schools, faked conflict to break his previous contract

John Covington, new chancellor for failing Michigan schools, faked conflict to break his previous contract

This past week, John Covington was hired by the state of Michigan to oversee a collection of underperforming schools in the state. The new group, the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), will focus its efforts on improving failing schools around Michigan. In his new position, Covington may make as much as $1.5 million per year over 4 years if he meets […]

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Northville unionized teachers take a huge hit in their latest contract, Detroit union members fight back

Remember me writing about how Northville, Michigan teachers were being threatened by the imposition of an Emergency Manager as they moved into contract talks? This scenario was entirely predictable. The latest call for an emergency manager in Metro Detroit is coming from an unlikely place — the affluent Northville Public Schools. Stalled contract negotiations between administrators and employees have school […]

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Repeal of Emergency Manager Law (PA 4) in Michigan in VERY good shape

Just ten short summer weeks after its start, Michigan Forward is reporting some good news. According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Forward is already half-way to having the required signatures to put the repeal of PA 4, the Emergency Financial Manager Law, on the ballot in Michigan. Organizers of a drive to repeal Michigan’s emergency manager law said Tuesday […]

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