Score one for transparency In a stinging rebuke of the Snyder administration, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge William Collette ruled today that review teams that are part of the lead-up to imposing an Emergency Manager on a city or school district must comply with the Open Meetings Act. Ingham County Circuit Court Judge William Collette ruled this afternoon that state-appointed […]

Emergency Manager law under the microscope Tonight, a community forum will be held in Ann Arbor on the subject of Public Act 4, the Emergency Manager law. On Monday, February 6, from 6 to 8pm in the Eldersveld Room in the Department of Political Science (Haven Hall 5th Floor), the Undergraduate Political Science Association will host: “A Debate on the […]

Look out, Indiana! It’s comin’ right for ya! A couple of weeks ago, I told you about Indiana’s slide toward an Emergency Manager law of their own. I have been wondering how long it would take for a state other than Michigan to pursue an Emergency Manager law. The wait is over. This week, a Republican-sponsored bill allowing the imposition […]

Anyone wanna buy a sewer? Lotsa Emergency Manager tidbits to report today. Highland Park schools Emergency Manager takes the reinsAs I reported last Friday, a new Emergency Manager has been appointed in Michigan, this time it’s the Highland Park school district that has been taken over. You can read about Jack Martin HERE. He’s also on the team that is […]

Now tell me something I didn’t know The Detroit News ran a rather absurd article today titled “Michigan EM statute is strictest in nation”. No, dudes, the Michigan Emergency Manager statute is the ONLY ONE in the nation. Really, get your facts straight. The article is nothing more than a fluffy regurgitation of a handful of things I’ve been writing […]

Collective Bargaining Contracts Vulnerable I have been wondering how long it would take for a state other than Michigan to pursue an Emergency Manager law. The wait is over. This week, a Republican-sponsored bill allowing the imposition of an Emergency Manager on a “distressed political subdivision” (i.e., a municipality or school district) passed out of committee and goes on to […]

No earth-shattering news about Michigan’s on-going Emergency Manager Emergency, but there are some tidbits worth noting. Flint Community Leaders Hold Public Forum to Discuss Emergency Manager Emergency.Flint community leaders held a public forum on Tuesday to discuss Public Act 4 and its impact on the community. The panel discussion will revolve around “The Emergency Manager: Concerns and Outcomes for Flint,” […]

I checked in with Brandon Jessup from Michigan Forward yesterday after the protest at the gates of Governor Rick Snyder’s gated neighborhood. Their initial plan was to turn in the signatures yesterday. They need just over 160,000 valid signatures. Jessup told me that they now have over 180,000 petition signatures and are preparing to deliver the petitions sometime in late […]

Great coverage by The Rachel Maddow Show last night of the march and rally in front of the gated community where Michigan Governor Rick Snyder lives. Rev. David Bullock was spot-on perfect with his message and it’s one that will resonate with a wide variety of people. My favorite part of Rev. Bullock’s comments came at the end. There is […]

Here are a smattering of photos taken by my wife Anne C. Savage at today’s protest march and rally at the gate of Rick Snyder’s private enclave/gated community. Click the photo for the full Monty at Anne’s website. My liveblog complete with crappy pictures and video is HERE.

This afternoon is an anti-Emergency Manager law march on the home of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Stop back regularly for photos and updates. Rick Snyder recall group Michigan Rising on the scene (along with media). Buses starting to roll in. Lots of ominous-looking black SUVs along the march route. Weird. 3:55 pm – The crowd gathers. Several hundred and its […]