State Senator Proposes Dissolving City Of Detroit

CBS Detroit ^ | Thursday, November 29, 2012

[upchuck]

It would no doubt be controversial, but the idea of dissolving the fiscally struggling city of Detroit and absorbing it into Wayne County is being tossed around in Lansing.

WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports some state Republicans are talking about giving the city the option to vote itself into bankruptcy. And mid-Michigan Senator Rick Jones said all options should be considered — including dissolving the city.

“If we have to, that is one idea we have to look at. We really have to look at everything that is on the table,” Jones said. “Again, if this goes to federal bankruptcy, every employee down there will suffer, the city will suffer and the vultures will come in and take the jewels of Detroit and they will be gone.”

Local consultant Tom Watkins has proposed this in the past, but the idea has never played well among Detroiters.

In a live interview on WWJ Newsradio 950 Wednesday morning, Gov. Rick Snyder said he wouldn’t count anything out.

“Detroit needs to solve their problems, but they need support and we’ve been very supportive partners, I believe, in terms of offering different ideas and thoughts. And I just encourage them to work harder about working better together,” Snyder said.

[vette6387]

“Sources tell me Oakland, CA has signed an exclusive consulting contract with Detroit to learn how to “Get ‘er Done.” “

Just what sources? Our daughter lives in downtown Oakland and I can tell you that despite the troubles with the demonstrations, it doesn’t look like Detroit. And unlike Detroit, Oakland isn’t centered around a single industry. Understand, I don’t like what Oakland has become, there is just no parallel between it and Detroit. The problem Oakland has was the migration from the South during WWII to work in defense plants that are long gone.

[trebb]

Hell, GM became a government subsidiary, why not expand it to the whole dang city?

[only1percent]

I have been preaching this idea for years -- you also need to make the zone free of all regulation and tort liability for business and employment other than the most baseline safety and public nuisance rules.

Since “Enterprise Zones” did nothing substantial to halt the overall decline of Detroit, I’d propose the opposite. Make it a welfare free zone. No public assistance allowed. No subsidized public transportation. No section 8 help. No bridge cards issued or accepted. No WIC payments. No disability. No Obama phones. No school lunch assistance. Do that and just watch the rats flee the sinking ship. Then once the parasites and criminals are gone, watch how fast the area comes back.

[upchuck]

Excellent idea! But the libs would never agree. ‘cause they know it would work and show them for the fools they are.

[upchuck]

Neither of those is strong enough.

Thermite grenades?

Limited, shaped nuclear strike?

[dfwgator]

[Mad Dawgg]

"Limited, shaped nuclear strike?"

When you care to send the very best...

MOAB...

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

vultures will come in and take the jewels of Detroit

What? Detroit has jewels? Who knew?

Regards,
GtG

[NonValueAdded]

Offer it up as a test ground for Iran’s 50kt MOAB

[SunkenCiv]

I’m pretty sure it’s been dissolving on its own for years anyway.