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The State of Michigan steps in to save Buena Vista schools. Oh, wait. No they didn’t.

By on May 14, 2013 in Education, GOPocrisy, Pontiac, Republican-Fail, Rick Snyder

We regret the error

While the State of Michigan has stepped in to save the failing Pontiac schools from closing its doors due to lack of funding, they have NOT done this for Buena Vista schools. Rather, the federal government has, albeit in an absurdly lame fashion. The school is closed for the remainder of the school year but the feds are providing money for a voluntary “enhanced skills camp”.

Much more including video of Congressman Dan Kildee speaking about this issue on last night’s All In With Chris Hayes on MSNBC.


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Another Michigan school district is ready to lock its doors due to lack of money

By on May 10, 2013 in Education, Pontiac

I’m sure another corporate tax cut is all that is needed

I mentioned this briefly in my post this morning about Buena Vista schools being closed for the fourth consecutive day but now the Detroit News is reporting it as a near-certainty: the Pontiac School District is out of money and will not meet their next payroll. They also have no money to pay vendors that provide custodial, transporation, and other services.

Click through for more.


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Pontiac in the crosshairs — Emergency Manager Lou Schimmel shares his wisdom

By on May 2, 2012 in Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Pontiac, Public Act 4

Pontiac – we build excitement?

There’s a pretty well-written, well-researched and fair piece about Michigan’s Emergency Manager crisis at Governing.com. It focuses heavily on Pontiac and their history with EMs including their current one, Louis Schimmler.

There wasn’t a lot in the article that I didn’t already know but there were two things that caught my attention…


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Former Pontiac Emergency Manager Stampfler: “City charters are just interesting reading”

By on April 25, 2012 in Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Pontiac

I find your quaint city constitutions mildly amusing…

At a speech criticizing Michigan’s Emergency Manager law yesterday, former Pontiac Emergency Manager Michael Stampfler was talked about the importance of investing in capital infrastructure and something he called civic capital — engagement of the local citizens in the process of governing.

Then he suggested that city charters were just “interesting reading”.

Here’s video from Bruce Fealk of the Rochester Citizen and Communications Director for Michigan Rising:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: The first question I have is did you, at what point, what did you think that our charter meant to your job in our city?…

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Former Pontiac Emergency Manager Michael Stampfler says Public Act 4 isn’t working (and can’t work)

By on April 17, 2012 in Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Pontiac

Oh. NOW you tell us.

Former Emergency Manager of Pontiac Michael Stampfler is giving a presentation to the Rotary Club of Wyandotte about why Public Act 4 – Michigan’s Emergency Manager law — isn’t working and cannot work.

Stampfler says, “I do not believe EMs can be successful — they abrogate the civic structure of the community for a period of years then return it virtually dismantled for the community to attempt to somehow make a go of it. The program provides no structure for long term recovery, and that is why most communities slide back into trouble, if they experience any relief at all — a vicious cycle.…

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The artlessness of the Snyder administration’s approach to imposing Emergency Managers

By on March 14, 2012 in Detroit, Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Joe Harris, Pontiac, Rick Snyder

You don’t have to be a jerk about it

Last spring when I published exclusive audio of Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris talking about crushing the unions, I was shocked at what he said and, more to the point, how he said it:

So, I’ve laid off twenty-five people. I’ve laid off nine police officers. I’ve laid off four fireman. I’ve haven’t’ done that yet but this Friday — after the townhall meeting. Oh, they know it’s comin’! They know it’s comin’! And I’ve laid off four EPW — I had nine major equipment or heavy equipment operators but only five pieces of heavy equipment.…

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EXCLUSIVE: The cost of privatization – Pontiac has water contamination issues under United Water

By on January 26, 2012 in Emergency Managers, Pontiac

This past year, the Emergency Manager of Pontiac at the time, Michael Stampfler signed a five-year contract with United Water to run their water and wastewater treatment systems. The move was said to save Pontiac an astonishing $2.8 million per year.

I broke a story that made national news about the fact that, by hiring United Water, Stampfler had hired a company facing a multiple felony counts by the U.S. Justice Department for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

United Water Services Inc., the former contract operator of the Gary Sanitary District wastewater treatment works in Gary, Ind., and two of its employees, were charged today with conspiracy and felony violations of the Clean Water Act in a 26-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury, the Justice Department announced today.…

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More on Emergency Manager Louis Schimmel’s decision to forfeit millions in HUD funds for Pontiac

By on January 12, 2012 in Emergency Managers, Pontiac

Yesterday, I wrote about how Pontiac Emergency Manager Louis Schimmel signed an agreement with Oakland County to manage monies from a substantial HUD grant. This boneheaded decision, it turns out, would have resulted in a loss of upwards of $800,000 per year for Pontiac. Thankfully, Congressman Gary Peters stepped in to prevent this from occurring.

Federal and local politicians lined up Wednesday to announce they undid a move taken by Pontiac’s state-appointed emergency manager that would have cost Pontiac thousands in federal funds.

While they were at it, they took time to slam Emergency Manager Lou Schimmel’s method of management.

…


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US Rep Gary Peters rescues millions of dollars nearly forfeited by Pontiac Emergency Manager Louis Schimmel

By on January 11, 2012 in Emergency Managers, Pontiac

This is shocking to me (though I suppose it shouldn’t be.) Pontiac’s Emergency Manager Louis Schimmel that all but gave away millions of dollars dedicated to the City of Pontiac due to a single decision he made as EM. He was able to do this with no accountability because he is, after all, completely in control of the entire government there.

Thankfully Congressman Gary Peters stepped in to literally save the day. Now millions of dollars that would have transferred to Oakland County with no strings attached will now be going to Pontiac, the intended recipient.

Take a look at the press release sent out today by Rep.…


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Imposition of yet another Emergency Manager in Michigan + other EM news

By on January 5, 2012 in Emergency Managers, Highland Park, Pontiac

The Emergency Manager juggernaut continues to roll unabated in Michigan. In early December, I reported that Muskegon Heights school district was requesting an Emergency Manager and that a state review had been initiated.

Yesterday, the Snyder administration added Highland Park schools to the list.

An emergency manager may soon take charge of the Highland Park School District. A state review panel today recommended the governor appoint someone to fix the school district’s “financial emergency.”

The financial review team has been looking at the Highland Park School District’s books since November.

The panel’s report to the governor finds the school district is $11 million in the red.

…


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