Mayor James Fouts
One of the questions you have to ask is: Is this even constitutional?
The Detroit Free Press reports that Warren Mayor Jim Fouts, seldom shy to skirt controversy, has implemented a new policy that forbids city’s inspectors and political appointees in Warren from buying rental property within the city limits.
Christina Hall of the Freep reports that the policy is designed to avoid any appearances of a conflict of interest, and Fouts believe it could be a model for other cities.
The Freep writes that Robert Sedler, an expert in constitutional law at Wayne State University, says the policy would be declared unconstitutional if challenged in court.
“One of the things about living under a Constitution is that sometimes policies that are well-intended are not permissible because they violate Constitutional rights,” Sedler told the Freep. -- Allan Lengel
