Soon, half of Michigan blacks will have no elected local government

[UrbScotty]

Back in December of 2011, I wrote a series of pieces that showed how Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law was having a skewed negative impact on African American cities. With Detroit on the verge have being assigned an Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) and with updated census data, it’s time to revisit the chart that put this law on the national radar.

If Detroit gets an EFM, 49% of the African Americans in Michigan will live in cities where their elected officials have been replaced by a single, state-appointed ruler.

Here is the data:

http://www.eclectablog.com/2013/02/with-detroit-under-an-emergency-financial-manager-half-of-michigan-blacks-will-have-no-elected-local-government.html

[KansDem]

1. "...replaced by a single, state-appointed ruler"

That's because they're like orchids!

Explanation begins at 1'44"

(The slap occurs at 3'44&quot

[Pakid]

2. This is just plain wrong

but then this is what happens when a Republican idiot gets in office we get the shaft.

[catbyte]

3. We voted the EM law down in November so those bastards tweaked it. I am filled with rage.

[CrispyQ]

4. "Republicans don't want to govern. They want to rule." ~Molly Ivins

This is sooooo wrong.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Kick against the pricks!

[SoCalDem]

6. and yet Michigan is "leaning republican" for re-electing Snyder

go figure..

For ANYTHING to change MI simply HAS to get rid of him and they have to get back control of their statehouse..

If he's re-elected and the repubs stay in charge, we won't recognize MI in a few years..

[UrbScotty]

8. Where do you see that? A poll showed that people say he's doing a bad job (61-36%)

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/political/exclusive-poll-governor-rick-snyders-job-performance-rating-slips-double-digits

[SoCalDem]

9. Cook's poll from December 2012

has MI "leaning" republican

[barbtries]

7. that is breathtaking.

move in the feds. something must be done to stop this, it's unamerican!

[fujiyama]

10. I don't know how the city is supposed to get out of the mess it's in

There's no tax base. The city is $14 billion in debt.

And no, neither feds or the state government is going to bail them out. And the city council is so corrupt, I don't see what difference it will make even if they did. Mayor Bing is a decent guy and is doing everything he can - with a uncooperative city council and a very hostile governor and state legislature. The city will continue to hemorrhage people and the tax base will continue to dwindle. The city will still be saddled with unfunded pensions and liabilities.

But even if the takeover occurs, any attempt to renegotiate contracts will be challenged. Detroit's dire fiscal crisis provides Snyder with a very good cover to rid the city of public unions (he's following Walker's template, though no city in WI is in as bad shape as Detroit). And the reality is, this will likely play out similar to Wisconsin. Snyder is likely to win reelection, unless Dems can come up with a very strong challenger.

Flint's current problems may provide a guide as to how this plays out. I believe they're under emergency management now. Bankruptcy would be a mess and will have ripple effects on a state going through a precarious but somewhat steady recovery over the last few years. In that regard, any attempt by Snyder to force the city into bankruptcy may be foolish.