Category: Emergency Managers

Evidence mounts that Emergency Management in Michigan was and IS a complete failure

Evidence mounts that Emergency Management in Michigan was and IS a complete failure

A couple of years ago, I wrote this: I have been saying for years (since 2011, precisely) that Emergency Management is a model that will not work to solve the intractable problems that have led to financial crises in our state’s former urban manufacturing hubs. Emergency Managers are armed only with tools of DEstruction, not with tools of CONstruction. They […]

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Indiana was the 2nd state to pass an emergency manager law and 2nd state to realize it doesn’t solve their problems

Indiana was the 2nd state to pass an emergency manager law and 2nd state to realize it doesn’t solve their problems

Back in 2012, Indiana became the second state after Michigan to pass an emergency manager law that allows the state to take control from locally, democratically elected leaders and put it into the hands of an appointed bureaucrat. The law covers any “distressed political subdivision” which, like in Michigan, includes municipalities or school districts. Furthermore, Indiana’s Emergency Managers have the […]

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Michigan’s Emergency Manager legacy: Democratic leaders work to clean up Republicans’ messes

Michigan’s Emergency Manager legacy: Democratic leaders work to clean up Republicans’ messes

I haven’t written much about the Flint Water Crisis lately, largely because my pals over at Michigan Advance and the fine reporters at MLive have been doing such a good job. I’m inspired to write today as I reflect on two recent stories, one of which is not actually about Flint. The first story is the astonishing move taken by […]

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After poisoning the water & putting government on an austerity budget, state hands the city of Flint back to local control

After poisoning the water & putting government on an austerity budget, state hands the city of Flint back to local control

For the past seven years, the city of Flint has been under the control of the state of Michigan. All government decisions made there were made by an unelected Emergency Manager or, later, a Receivership Transition Advisory Board. In the meantime, the city had its water poisoned with the powerful neurotoxin lead, saw 12 people die from an Legionnaire’s Disease […]

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Poor communities in Michigan still paying the costs of Emergency Managers. One of them sold off the school playground equipment.

Poor communities in Michigan still paying the costs of Emergency Managers. One of them sold off the school playground equipment.

In April of 2012, control over Muskegon Heights schools was handed over to an un-elected Emergency Manager, appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder. By July, Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon had signed a contract to turn the entire public school system over to the for-profit charter school operator Mosaica. Two years later the district was still insolvent and having to borrow almost […]

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THESE AREN’T THE CRIMINALS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR: Michigan Gov. Snyder & AG Schuette arguing that Emergency Managers are not “state officials” in Flint Water Crisis lawsuit

THESE AREN’T THE CRIMINALS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR: Michigan Gov. Snyder & AG Schuette arguing that Emergency Managers are not “state officials” in Flint Water Crisis lawsuit

In what can only be described as a Hail Mary attempt to use the Jedi Mind Trick on three judges on the Michigan Court of Appeals, Attorney General Bill Schuette’s Assistant Attorney General Nathan Gambill is arguing that Emergency Managers appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder are not “state officials”: The Michigan Court of Appeals is weighing legal arguments which may […]

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Two years ago today Gov. Snyder admitted to the #FlintWaterCrisis and people STILL cannot drink the water

Two years ago today Gov. Snyder admitted to the #FlintWaterCrisis and people STILL cannot drink the water

On April 25th, 2014, with its government run by the latest in a series of Emergency Managers appointed by Republican governor Rick Snyder, the city of Flint, Michigan switched its water system over to the Flint River, ending a decades-long purchase agreement with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) which draws its water from Lake Huron. Within a few […]

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Experts: #FlintWaterCrisis led to Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak and “horrifyingly large” drop in fertility rates

Experts: #FlintWaterCrisis led to Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak and “horrifyingly large” drop in fertility rates

Testimony in the first day of the preliminary examination for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, facing felony charges in the Flint Water Crisis, revealed that health experts believe the switch to the Flint River was the cause of the huge increase in cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in the beleaguered city: “My opinion is the most […]

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If local governments don’t screw over their retirees, Michigan Republicans may just dissolve their city

If local governments don’t screw over their retirees, Michigan Republicans may just dissolve their city

While the attention of the country is focused on the our unhinged president and his cruel, heartless Republican Party that is scheming every day on how to cut the taxes of their super wealthy benefactors and destroy the social safety to pay for it, Michigan Republicans have other plans. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof told The Detroit News this week […]

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The failure of Emergency Management in Michigan proven once again, starring: The #FlintWaterCrisis

The failure of Emergency Management in Michigan proven once again, starring: The #FlintWaterCrisis

We’ve seen this movie before… Last month, disinfectant dispensing equipment that chlorinates the drinking water supply of Flint, Michigan ran dry, allowing untreated water to be distributed to city residents. According to documents obtained by MLive reporter Ron Fonger, a plant worker attributed the mistake to water plant staff members who are severely over-worked and under-paid: A Flint water plant […]

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UPDATED x2: Snyder administration officials facing manslaughter charges over #FlintWaterCrisis but Snyder himself can’t be sued

UPDATED x2: Snyder administration officials facing manslaughter charges over #FlintWaterCrisis but Snyder himself can’t be sued

Big news out of Flint this morning. Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed charges against two current and two former Snyder administration officials and one former Flint official. Michigan Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon is being charged with felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office. Four others, including former Emergency Manager Darnell Earley, are also facing […]

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