"But wait . . . ," Detroit's mayor and council still say, in effect.
They argue that an expanded consent agreement with the state is an alternative to emergency financial management of the cash-strapped city, as Christine Ferretti describes in The Detroit News.
"They say we don't have a plan," council President Charles Pugh said Friday. "We do have a plan. Our plan is better now. . . . It's not smoke and mirrors. We really do believe there is a way to fix this. What does (Snyder) believe an emergency manager can do that we can't do?" . . .
City leaders have 10 days to appeal the governor's decision declaring Detroit is in a state of financial emergency. Some council members said they will forge ahead on an expanded consent agreement with detailed milestones that they believe would allow the city to regain financial stability on its own.
The mayor or the council can challenge Snyder's decision. If they go that route, a hearing will be held in Lansing on March 12.
Mayor Dave Bing didn't attend Gov. Snyder's announcement of his emergency management decision Friday. His only public statement was a one-minute video response (below) saying he'll look at the city's possible next moves. After voicing respect for Snyder's decision, Bing said he does "not favor an emergency manager for the city of Detroit."
MKore forceful language comes from the city's Democratic lawmakers in Lansing, as Chad Livengood and two colleagues report in The News.
"The governor should not have the largest voice when deciding what's best for Detroit," said Rep. Brian Banks, who represents parts of northeast Detroit. "An EFM (emergency financial manager) is simply a dictatorship."
State Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, calls the state "an estranged parent who now believes he can come back home and say what needs to happen — and that doesn't work,"
Back at the city council, member Saunteel Jenkins told Ferretti:
"We'll continue to look for ways to improve our financial condition and we'll provide those alternatives to the governor.
"I haven't seen a situation where an emergency manager has come in and solved a crisis."
