Judge tosses state takeover lawsuit

Judge tosses state takeover lawsuit

By Steve Neavling The rhetoric-laced drama unfolding over who controls Detroit’s finances took a big twist today when a judge quickly dismissed a lawsuit by the city’s attorney that challenged the state’s financial intervention. Now city and state officials can get back to fixing a budget that has run a deficit every year for more […]

Council Decides Apple Orchard Fight More Urgent than Solving Budget Crisis

Council Decides Apple Orchard Fight More Urgent than Solving Budget Crisis

By Steve Neavling Leave it to Detroit City Council to turn a peaceful apple orchard into a heated, divisive issue. Forget the city’s other problems, like chronic poverty, high illiteracy rates, tens of thousands of vacant homes and a budget shortfall that could land Detroit in bankruptcy court. When council members learned Tuesday that volunteers […]

Detroit Consent Agreement May Violate State Constitution

Detroit Consent Agreement May Violate State Constitution

By Editorial Columnist Greg Murray On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, I appeared before the Detroit City Council to share my belief that the so-called “consent” agreement between the state and Detroit actually violates the Headlee Amendment. It is my position that the “consent” agreement included unconditional terms Detroit had no choice but to acquiesce to.  One […]