Time to update my chart…
Back in December, I took a look at how many cities and schools were in financial crisis under Governor Rick Snyder compared with his predecessors. The results were pretty shocking:
When you look at the situation under Governor Snyder compared with his predecessors, the data is striking. Including all cities and schools that have either had a consent agreement, an emergency manager, or that are being considered for an emergency manager, Governor Snyder is far and away the leader.Under John Engler, there were 3 cities (Flint, Hamtramck, and Highland Park).
Under Jennifer Granholm there were 5 cities (Benton Harbor, Ecorse, Highland Park, Pontiac, and Three Oaks Village) and one school district (Detroit Public Schools).
Under Rick Snyder, there an astounding 12 cities (Lincoln Park, Highland Park, Royal Oak Township, Hamtramck, Detroit, Allen Park, Inkster, Flint, Benton Harbor, Pontiac, Ecorse, and River Rouge) and 6 school districts (Ecorse Public Schools, East Detroit Public Schools, Pontiac Public Schools, Muskegon Heights Public Schools, Highland Park Public Schools, and Detroit Public Schools).
As of yesterday, Governor Snyder’s tally is now up to 20:
Gov. Rick Snyder declared financial emergencies Thursday in Highland Park and Royal Oak Township, setting the stage for the possible appointment of emergency managers to take over municipal government in the Metro Detroit communities.Snyder agreed with the findings of two state financial review teams that the two communities are running persistent budget deficits and not paying vendors on time.
Under Michigan’s emergency manager law, elected officials in the two communities have seven days — until Monday — to request a hearing on the governor’s determination.
Highland Park and Royal Oak Township officials could choose between getting a state-appointed emergency manager, a financial consent agreement with the state, neutral mediation with its creditors or Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy.
But Highland Park Mayor DeAndre Windom said the city plans to appeal Snyder’s finding of a financial emergency to the state Department of Treasury.
“We’ve had three emergency managers here already,” he said. “That’s not the solution.”
Mayor Windom is right. His city has now been in a financial emergency under all three governors. If the Emergency Manager approach worked, that would obviously not be the case.
It’s also worth noting that the addition of these two cities continues the trend of disenfranchising the majority of African Americans in Michigan. Highland Park is 93.5% African American. Royal Oak Township is 95.3% African American.
So, it’s time to update my chart:
Turnaround state, Governor? Really? You actually have the audacity to make that claim? That takes “rebranding” into farcical territory.
What a fraud.
