I think you forgot a "FARK: " in there somewhere.

Can't they just dissolve the city and start over?

Not the gov't, mind you, I'm talking the whole city.

Just turn it over to OCP. I've heard good things.

They missed the meeting so the state WOULD take over. That was the result they wanted.

four95: They missed the meeting so the state WOULD take over. That was the result they wanted.

Best case for them -- state takes over, balances the budget so they don't have to, they get reelected, continue to get their bloated full-time salary and private cars.

I live in this area, and in defense of the City Council members, they are a sackfull of uneducated, self-important, horse's asses. I hope this clears up any confusion.

four95: They missed the meeting so the state WOULD take over. That was the result they wanted.

This.

Did the media wait around for 20 minutes to be sure?

meanmutton: four95: They missed the meeting so the state WOULD take over. That was the result they wanted.

Best case for them -- state takes over, balances the budget so they don't have to, they get reelected, continue to get their bloated full-time salary and private cars.

Wonder if the emergency city manager can appoint people to the city council or abolish/suspend it entirely.

There are only 9 people on the city council of Detroit? That seems like an awfully low number.

atomsmoosher: Can't they just dissolve the city and start over?

Not the gov't, mind you, I'm talking the whole city.

I'm not sure there's enough Coke in the world to do the job properly.

Born and raised there, and yup....that sounds about right. Detroit is always getting in its own way.

StormChaser: There are only 9 people on the city council of Detroit? That seems like an awfully low number.

It's based on actual number of people living in Detroit, not # of empty buildings.

/They need to clean it up, stop throwing money in the black hole.

meanmutton: four95: They missed the meeting so the state WOULD take over. That was the result they wanted.

Best case for them -- state takes over, balances the budget so they don't have to, they get reelected, continue to get their bloated full-time salary and private cars.

If the state takes over, what do you need local politicians for? Have they thought their cunning plan all the way through?

They're just worried about this guy and out looking for him:

I like visiting Detroit so I can pick fights with street gangs.

beta_plus: They're just worried about this guy and out looking for him:

[www.getthebigpicture.net image 640x429]

Or this guy:


/Let's give him a big hand!

meanmutton: Best case for them -- state takes over, balances the budget so they don't have to, they get reelected, continue to get their bloated full-time salary and private cars.

but are the cars Chrysler 300's? you know, the commercial where it says "you've arrived"? look at me momma, i drivin' a fancy car to go with my fancy suit mamma!!! more good news momma, i'm a reverend now.

Obama saved Detroit because voters hate bailouts = Detroit needs a bailout. Wait what???

atomsmoosher: Can't they just dissolve the city and start over?

Not the gov't, mind you, I'm talking the whole city.

Can we get my wife's family out first? I'd appreciate it. Oh, and the Red Wings. Beyond that, I'm okay with this.

whycome no detroit tag.

/everybody knows detroit is in florida

The rules say, five out of nine people have to be present, and it took the Mayor---HOW LONG?---to notice they weren't there?

Drew, Fark needs a DUH tag.

taliesinwi: Wonder if the emergency city manager can appoint people to the city council or abolish/suspend it entirely.

The most practical and thus unlikely solution would be to "shatter" the city and re-draw the whole farking area, from boundaries to zones. It would effectively end Detroit as we know it. You'd have to come up with new names for the new towns you'd create from the mess, but history shouldn't get in the way of standard of living.

Don't hold your breath. It would cost money, and the state won't be coming in with the intention of spending any.

Build a giant wall around it, toss in undesirables and/or food every once in a while. We will have an awesome setting for an American B13 or possibly another Snake Pliskin movie. But not that one with Ray Liotta, that sucked.

Tobe fair, security for the meeting was being handled by ED-209.

dragonchild: taliesinwi: Wonder if the emergency city manager can appoint people to the city council or abolish/suspend it entirely.

The most practical and thus unlikely solution would be to "shatter" the city and re-draw the whole farking area, from boundaries to zones. It would effectively end Detroit as we know it. You'd have to come up with new names for the new towns you'd create from the mess, but history shouldn't get in the way of standard of living.

Don't hold your breath. It would cost money, and the state won't be coming in with the intention of spending any.

The State of Michigan is in almost as bad a financial shape as Detroit itself.

Basically speaking, you have houses which are listed by banks at more than they are worth, and the banks won't discount the loans. The City lists the worth of the house as what they want it to be, and taxes it according to how much money they want,
not what the suckers taxpayers can afford. So they fall short, and increase taxes on the remaining people, which drives them off as well.

Vicious circle.

They can't even level the town and start over, that would cost too much, and they still have thousands of dollars in taxes owed on those vacant lots---which they will not forgive.

olddinosaur: The rules say, five out of nine people have to be present, and it took the Mayor---HOW LONG?---to notice they weren't there?

Pugh is the City Council President. Mayor Bing had nothing to do with the meeting.

/Maybe we can get $40 for that shat-hole.

ginko: StormChaser: There are only 9 people on the city council of Detroit? That seems like an awfully low number.

It's based on actual number of people living in Detroit, not # of empty buildings.

/They need to clean it up, stop throwing money in the black hole.

If I had a couple hundred grand lying around I would buy property in Detroit. A lot of it. Eventually the 5K houses that nobody wants will be property worth 500K. That might not be for 50 years, but eventually it will happen.

mjbok: If I had a couple hundred grand lying around I would buy property in Detroit. A lot of it. Eventually the 5K houses that nobody wants will be property worth 500K. That might not be for 50 years, but eventually it will happen.

I don't think it's quite that simple. You're going to be paying taxes on whatever the assessor decides to value the properties at, you'll be responsible for maintaining the property (snow removal, lawn mowing), you'll be liable for any injuries on the property, you'll have to deal with squatters, people dumping trash on your property, etc. The city or state could seize the property for a variety of reasons. Oh, and the odds of the property becoming valuable again aren't really that high. Greenfield development is much easier than brownfields, so it's entirely possible that Detroit will not recover in the next 100 years.

olddinosaur: dragonchild: taliesinwi: Wonder if the emergency city manager can appoint people to the city council or abolish/suspend it entirely.

The most practical and thus unlikely solution would be to "shatter" the city and re-draw the whole farking area, from boundaries to zones. It would effectively end Detroit as we know it. You'd have to come up with new names for the new towns you'd create from the mess, but history shouldn't get in the way of standard of living.

Don't hold your breath. It would cost money, and the state won't be coming in with the intention of spending any.

The State of Michigan is in almost as bad a financial shape as Detroit itself.

Basically speaking, you have houses which are listed by banks at more than they are worth, and the banks won't discount the loans. The City lists the worth of the house as what they want it to be, and taxes it according to how much money they want,
not what the suckers taxpayers can afford. So they fall short, and increase taxes on the remaining people, which drives them off as well.

Vicious circle.

They can't even level the town and start over, that would cost too much, and they still have thousands of dollars in taxes owed on those vacant lots---which they will not forgive.

Welcome to California. Same thing, different zip code.

greatgodyoshi: atomsmoosher: Can't they just dissolve the city and start over?

Not the gov't, mind you, I'm talking the whole city.

Can we get my wife's family out first? I'd appreciate it. Oh, and the Red Wings. Beyond that, I'm okay with this.

Really? Your wife's family?

Fine, but only if we can replace them with my wife's family in even trade.

Detroit is going to be even more farked when the city income tax decreases this year.

mjbok: If I had a couple hundred grand lying around I would buy property in Detroit. A lot of it. Eventually the 5K houses that nobody wants will be property worth 500K. That might not be for 50 years, but eventually it will happen.

This guy already beat you to it.
Link (new window)

mjbok: If I had a couple hundred grand lying around I would buy property in Detroit. A lot of it. Eventually the 5K houses that nobody wants will be property worth 500K.

If I had a couple hundred grand I'd pay off my own mortgage. Without the mortgage I'd maybe buy another house to rent out.

If I had a billion dollars, your plan sounds intriguing, but the first thing I'd have to do is buy out the council into submission or retirement. But I wouldn't do it to make more money; why the fark would I bother if I was already that rich? No, I'd basically buy up all of Detroit's vacant land and bring in some tree-huggers to re-forest the area -- but not the outlying areas I'd own. 40 years later I'd cut deals with various government agencies, hunting & wildlife groups to re-introduce various apex predators into the region (if they haven't already moved in), including wolverines. The last troll would be to will the whole farking area to some uber-far-left crazy hippie group along with an ironclad endowment to keep the thing untouched. When I die, the city of Detroit will have a giant, unzoned, untouchable wild forest in the middle of it that could be seen from space. From the ISS it'll look like goatse shoved a chia pet up his ass.

A 5k house is the cost of removing the mess that used to be a house. Well, by the time scrappers get done taking all the metal out, undesirables quit peeing on it and somebody torches it for good measure.

dragonchild: If I had a billion dollars, your plan sounds intriguing, but the first thing I'd have to do is buy out the council into submission or retirement.

No need, the emergency manager will replace them, I'm sure.

lack of warmth: A 5k house is the cost of removing the mess that used to be a house. Well, by the time scrappers get done taking all the metal out, undesirables quit peeing on it and somebody torches it for good measure.

Don't forget, many have lead paint and asbestos siding. Though apparently there is some value in the wood, as many were made from old growth forests and have a high recycle value.

altinos: Detroit is going to be even more farked when the city income tax decreases this year.

Gary, IN (Detroit Redux, only with steel instead of cars) is going to have the exact same problem. They haven't had money to do anything for years, and now they're going to have something like one third the amount of tax revenue.

*sigh* i guess i better start making a mad max outfit and bolting pieces of aluminum to the outside of my car... AGAIN

Can we just abandon Detroit already? Its a dead city that was dependant on an industry that has been outsourced.

Well I guess now everyone knows which council members are getting union kickbacks on the side.

Say, that reminds me...doesn't the Justice Department have an Attorney General anymore? Because you never hear about the feds investigating crap like this anymore. Back in the 1940's it was a huge deal, and they came in and cleaned house in Detroit. Yeah, the unions just picked up what was left and rebuilt their rape machine, but for ten or fifteen years Detroit was a really nice place to live.

atomsmoosher: greatgodyoshi: atomsmoosher: Can't they just dissolve the city and start over?

Not the gov't, mind you, I'm talking the whole city.

Can we get my wife's family out first? I'd appreciate it. Oh, and the Red Wings. Beyond that, I'm okay with this.

Really? Your wife's family?

Fine, but only if we can replace them with my wife's family in even trade.

Deal. And yeah, I actually like her family, as weird as that is. They don't mind that she settled, apparently. :)