the Michigan Citizen
Sun, Jan 22, 2012
By Marcus Wright
DETROIT — The Michigan House of Representatives may soon vote into law a bill that would change Public Act 4 and make it easier for the governor to appoint and reappoint emergency managers who have dictatorial powers over local units of government in receivership. Emergency managers can sell public utilities, dismiss elected officials and break contracts.
The Senate, in a 26-12 party-line vote, passed and sent Bill 865 to the House on Dec. 15, 2011. Opponents of the bill say it is an attempt to invalidate the current referendum petition and could make the EM law immune to future voter referendum by including a cash appropriation as part of the bill.
Presently, emergency managers control Detroit Public Schools, Pontiac, Ecorse, Flint and Benton Harbor. A review team recently declared Highland Park School District in a state of emergency. All have majority Black and Democratic populations.
A team appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder is currently reviewing Detroit’s finances. If it determines Detroit needs an emergency manager and Snyder appoints one, 50.7 percent of all Black people in Michigan will be unable to elect their local officials.
