When it comes to public scrutiny, newly minted emergency manager Kevyn Orr won't get pass in Detroit -- not by a long shot.
The latest: The Detroit News raises the prospect of a conflict of interest with his law firm, Jones Day, which has been hired by the city to help restructure Detroit's long-term debt. Orr resigned from the firm when taking the EM job.
Detroit News reporters Joel Kurth and Darren Nichols write:
Supporters of Orr call it an ideal pairing, adding familiarity and expertise to what could be make-or-break negotiations. Detractors fear it's a dangerous conflict because Jones Day also represents major banks and bondholders to whom Detroit could owe millions of dollars.
"The question is: Who are they representing? Are they representing the interest of the city of Detroit, or are they just looking to get paid?" asked Ed McNeil, special assistant to the president of the city's largest union, AFSCME Council 25.
"The fear is that big corporations are the ones who are going to be making out, not Detroiters."
Orr tells the paper that it's not unusual for a bankruptcy attorney to hire its own firm. The firm issued a statement saying Detroit is its top concern.
