Rep. John Conyers thinks Kevyn Orr is a ball full of conflicts of interest.
John Conyers
Conyers, who hosted a public forum at the Fellowship Chapel in Detroit last week for residents to talk about the city's bankruptcy filing, also feels Orr isn't bothering to listen to the people he's serving.
In opinion piece published in the Detroit News, Conyers writes:
First, the emergency manager’s constitutional and moral authority to act on Detroit’s behalf is very much in doubt. This shouldn’t be surprising given that Mr. Orr assumed power after Michigan voters rejected the emergency manager law itself, only to have their votes ignored by a lame-duck legislature. That neither Mr. Orr nor his office would participate in the public forum illustrates the problem.
Second, a legal structure has been imposed upon Detroit that is replete with conflicts of interest. One of the principal reasons Detroit has faced financial turmoil is the State of Michigan has failed to honor its revenue sharing commitments. Therefore, we must question the extent a manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder can be expected to hold the state to its commitment. The fact Mr. Orr has been placed in the position of supervising his former law firm and its ample fee requests also creates significant additional conflicts and costs.
Conyers, a big supporter of labor, also writes that Orr will violate the state Constitution if he messes with city pensions, not to mention what a slap in the face it is ignore the history of working class in Detroit.
Conyers ends by saying:
Even if Mr. Orr wasn’t elected by the people, it is critical he take time to hear their voices.
