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Detroit emergency: Even though Detroit has made some economic headway recently, a financial state of emergency was declared for the city.
A view of downtown Detroit s shown March 23, 2011. Recent census figures show that Detroit has lost 25 percent of its population in the last ten years, bringing the city's population down to its lowest since 1910. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a financial emergency for cash-strapped Detroit on Friday, but Democrats in the state described it as a “hostile takeover.”
Snyder will appoint an emergency manager to look over Detroit, despite the city having showed economic improvements in recent months. It will be the largest city in the United States to undergo state control.
“In many respects I describe today as both a sad day … saying there’s a financial emergency in Detroit, but also a day of optimism and promise because it’s time to start moving forward and solving these problems,” Snyder was quoted by the The Associated Press as saying on Friday
Detroit suffers from a $327 million budget deficit and has more than $14 billion in long-term debt.
Snyder said he has someone in mind for the position already, but did not elaborate on who that might be, according to Fox News.
Snyder said he thinks the new emergency manager will oversee the city for at least 18 months.
“Citizens are not getting the services they deserve and need,” Snyder added. “Public safety, lighting, transportation — all those areas need help and it’s time to call all hands on deck and say let’s all work together.”
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing previously said he is interested in state-backed help. “I’m more interested, instead of fighting Lansing, in working with them,” he said.
The Michigan Democratic Party, however, was not pleased with the development.
“Today, Governor Snyder has decided to unilaterally take over control of the City of Detroit from its democratically elected leaders,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson in a statement obtained by MLive.com. “This is nothing but a hostile take-over; we would expect this from a CEO, but not from a Governor.”
Johnson said Snyder has usurped “the democratic process is a deeply disappointing moment in our state’s history.”
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