It's amazing that Michigan has been able to do this for so long. But, it's good to know where the country's headed.

At least they'd be contributing a significant chunk of change to local schools and the like.

The nearest casino to me doesn't do a damn thing for the community. Hell, they even spent a few months trying to get out of paying their bill for FIRE, POLICE, and WATER/SEWER SERVICES.

I was going to say something like "welcome to Michigan politics..." but I see that's pretty much already covered.

/loves the state
//hates the politics

Is there even that much money left to wring out of the locals?

puffy999: At least they'd be contributing a significant chunk of change to local schools and the like.

The nearest casino to me doesn't do a damn thing for the community. Hell, they even spent a few months trying to get out of paying their bill for FIRE, POLICE, and WATER/SEWER SERVICES.

Casinos were sold to PA voters with promises that the tax revenue would replace property taxes. You can guess how that turned out.

GoldSpider: puffy999: At least they'd be contributing a significant chunk of change to local schools and the like.

The nearest casino to me doesn't do a damn thing for the community. Hell, they even spent a few months trying to get out of paying their bill for FIRE, POLICE, and WATER/SEWER SERVICES.

Casinos were sold to PA voters with promises that the tax revenue would replace property taxes. You can guess how that turned out.

HAHA..... and the lottery will pay for education!

/suckers

Why would it be illegal? This is Republican economic policy at its finest, loot the taxpayers to feed the rich.

Rape, pillage, larcency and rape.

So, it sold for $500,000 when, earlier, people were willing to pay $12 and $18 million?

Seems legit.

T-Servo: Rape, pillage, larcency and rape.

You said rape twice.

I heard about this earlier.

The entire Pontiac city council voted unanimously to not sell the Silverdome, and certainly not with no minimum price. But they have absolutely no say in the matter; emergency managers are God-Emperors of wherever they're appointed by Michigan's governor.

I love and adore Michigan (the land and people) -- I lived there for a couple of decades. Once the car factories (and their supporting parts makers) all started shutting down, the state collapsed in on itself financially. That's when the feeding began.

It's turned into a millionaire's pinata -- filled with good stuff, but you have to whack the shiat out of it to get it. After watching this for a few years, I could see the writing on the wall. I'm a teacher, and education is (according to many republicans) filled with yummy candy -- I moved to another state. I have no idea how the state will recover from the complete pillaging that's currently ongoing.

If it does, I'll probably move back. It's a beautiful state with some really nice people. It's just a shame there's so many depraved, slavering rich people (most from out-of-state) prowling around the joint.

I'm just waiting for the story about the emergency manager who declared that new brides must spend their wedding nights in his bed.

aaronx: Having lived in Michigan for 41 of the last 49 years, I'll say this:

Once the Republican party figured out how to siphon a big chunk of the white vote away from the Democrats with what was, in essence, a racist appeal, Republicans have run rough-shod over the state.

A note here: the Republicans never came out and said that they'd 'keep the darkies down' or anything that odious, they use terms like "Detroit power-brokers" and others.

Like all good cons, the victims -- to this day -- didn't realize that they had been jobbed.

Ever wonder why Michigan elects Republicans to local office, but Democrats for President? I think it is because no Republican since Reagan has known to blow that particular dog-whistle while campaigning in MIchigan. (Reagan blew it everywhere.)

Michigan is one of those states that is blue in the cities, deep red in the sticks. I've often described Michigan as being divided into two pieces...Detroit, and everywhere else.

"Everywhere Else" has long held a grudge against Detroit because of the untold numbers of voter referendums that end up going one way or the other because Detroit voted contrary to what the rural areas wanted. I hear similar complaints about Illinois residents with regard to Chicago. Politicians for years have exploited the racial aspect of it as well. I remember my Dad biatching endlessly about all the lazy welfare niBONGs in Detroit living off of his tax money.

Michigan traditionally elects Democratic presidents because of the labor forces that are concentrated in the cities and because the city populations out number the rural ones. With Detroit losing residents at the rate they're going, that could change, but I think enough people are waking up and realizing what the current Republicans are doing to the state that the power balance is going to shift this November. At least I hope it does but there's no guarantee. I love living here and would hate to move, but I'm not above it if things get worse.

ytterbium: SDRR: GoldSpider: puffy999: At least they'd be contributing a significant chunk of change to local schools and the like.

The nearest casino to me doesn't do a damn thing for the community. Hell, they even spent a few months trying to get out of paying their bill for FIRE, POLICE, and WATER/SEWER SERVICES.

Casinos were sold to PA voters with promises that the tax revenue would replace property taxes. You can guess how that turned out.

HAHA..... and the lottery will pay for education!

/suckers

One of the reason we just moved to MI is the incredible schools the local casino paid for and support.

Plus, every kid who graduates high school here gets a $5K a year towards college, up to 5 years.

They also paid for a new baseball complex and sponsor Little League, so the fees are negligible.

Not saying this is commonplace, it's nice to see an exception.

/I probably will not get involved in state or local politics

Where the heck do you live - Mount Pleasant? That sure the heck ain't happening around here (Detroit area).

ytterbium: SDRR: GoldSpider: puffy999: At least they'd be contributing a significant chunk of change to local schools and the like.

The nearest casino to me doesn't do a damn thing for the community. Hell, they even spent a few months trying to get out of paying their bill for FIRE, POLICE, and WATER/SEWER SERVICES.

Casinos were sold to PA voters with promises that the tax revenue would replace property taxes. You can guess how that turned out.

HAHA..... and the lottery will pay for education!

/suckers

One of the reason we just moved to MI is the incredible schools the local casino paid for and support.

Plus, every kid who graduates high school here gets a $5K a year towards college, up to 5 years.

They also paid for a new baseball complex and sponsor Little League, so the fees are negligible.

Not saying this is commonplace, it's nice to see an exception.

/I probably will not get involved in state or local politics


what part of Michigan?
how do you like the taxes?

It is going to cost millions to get the stink out of that place.

I'll probably go, like I did for the greektown casinos', once.

/works in Pontiac.
//The industrial side of Pontiac.
///The city is a hole.

What I find the most interesting as someone who lives in Michigan, the whole Financial Emergency Manger thing doesn't get all that much play in the media. Detroit is in a fight over being forced to have one, so that gets talked about, but because the local Detroit government is so absolutely incompetent, no one outside of the city is outraged. Even those like me who see this as a complete slap in the face to Democracy and completely illegal and wrong, view it as the only thing that might save Detroit from themselves.

wxboy: If Subby is implying that the Silverdome was worth $50m when it was sold, he/she's crazy. The place is a dump. And more casinos will not happen in Michigan (save for Indian casinos). The ones that are open now are facing a ton of competition from adjacent states and will fight hard to keep it from happening.

Plus Detroit has Windsor, Canada right across the river that has gambling.

Wow, the "emergency manager" is corrupt? Shocking.

Why the whole state doesn't riot is amazing to me. Reps should be outraged since they are the party of "small government" and Dems should be outraged because...of...well...everything else. Just goes to show ya that those in power have their hands in the piggy bank at the expense of the middle class.

TheNyquilKid: What I find the most interesting as someone who lives in Michigan, the whole Financial Emergency Manger thing doesn't get all that much play in the media. Detroit is in a fight over being forced to have one, so that gets talked about, but because the local Detroit government is so absolutely incompetent, no one outside of the city is outraged. Even those like me who see this as a complete slap in the face to Democracy and completely illegal and wrong, view it as the only thing that might save Detroit from themselves.

I would agree with that, except apparently there is ZERO way to ensure that the Emergency Manger(s) will actually improve things rather than raping the city and leaving it worse off than before. Putting a city or town under dictatorial fiat with no recourse against corruption is never a good idea.

TheNyquilKid: What I find the most interesting as someone who lives in Michigan, the whole Financial Emergency Manger thing doesn't get all that much play in the media. Detroit is in a fight over being forced to have one, so that gets talked about, but because the local Detroit government is so absolutely incompetent, no one outside of the city is outraged. Even those like me who see this as a complete slap in the face to Democracy and completely illegal and wrong, view it as the only thing that might save Detroit from themselves.

This. It's almost surreal how corrupt Detroit has been over the years. And watching them try to dig their way out from under all that shiat is like watching molasses flow in the middle of a blizzard in Sirberia.

Snyder is the most corrupt govenor the state has ever seen.

WI241TH: When Republicans watch Back to the Future do they root for Biff?:

When they watch "Its a Wonderful Life" they don't see a problem with Pottersville.

Blink
After watching this for a few years ... I moved to another state.

You are a coward and a traitor.

Muta: When they watch "Its a Wonderful Life" they don't see a problem with Pottersville

Hey, Pottersville wasn't all bad. Unlike Bedford Falls, where the only thing for adults to do is to go to a high school dance, Pottersville is a jumping town. Sure, it's under the thumb of a ruthless plutocrat, but it's full of loose women and hot jazz clubs.

TheNyquilKid: What I find the most interesting as someone who lives in Michigan, the whole Financial Emergency Manger thing doesn't get all that much play in the media. Detroit is in a fight over being forced to have one, so that gets talked about, but because the local Detroit government is so absolutely incompetent, no one outside of the city is outraged. Even those like me who see this as a complete slap in the face to Democracy and completely illegal and wrong, view it as the only thing that might save Detroit from themselves.

Rachel Maddow regularly talks about the Emergency Manager fiasco on her show; I'm sure that she'll do a segment on the Silverdome sale as well.

WI241TH: When Republicans watch Back to the Future do they root for Biff?:

/I bet they do

Mother of god he looks just like El Rushbo.

Some observations from a person who actually pays attention to details:

1) The Silverdome was a white elephant the day it opened. Pontiac bet its future on the Lions, and that ceased to be a good idea the day Bobby Layne left the team.

2) To all of you biatching about Snyder's role, this sale took place while Granholm was still governor. She appointed this guy.

3) The local media isn't complaining about the legality of emergency managers, because state governments can pretty much do as they please when it comes to local government. (See: Federal republics, how do they work?)

4) Don't blame the EFM for not taking the offer in early 2008: the Pontiac mayor and council were still holding the reins then.

5) The city went into receivership in February 2009 and the stadium was sold in October. Quick question: what else happened between early 2008 and late 2009 that might have affected the ability to get top dollar for the Silverdome?

6) One more time for people outside of Michigan: a city has to be totally farked for the State to come in an appoint an emergency manager. That's why Three Oaks wound up being in the same club with places like Detroit, Flint and Pontiac. (If it were about race or everyday incompetence, Saginaw would have had an EFM appointed years ago.)

zappaisfrank: Plus Detroit has Windsor, Canada right across the river that has gambling.

Windsor also has decriminalized marijuana, a 19 year old drinking age, legalized prostitution and substantially less crime. I don't go to casinos, but if I did, I'd have many better options than one in the ghetto.

I am surprised no one has blamed the unions yet.

We all know the UAW were the ones really responsible for the sale of the Silverdome.

However, the city announced in October 2009 that the property would go to auction with no minimum bid,

[wtfamireading?]

Who made that decision?

"He (Andreas Apostolopoulos), Steve Apostolopoulos and Fred Leeb are part of Jobs First," Emily Gerkin Palsrok of Lambert Edwards & Associates said Monday. "As such, this is land that they're targeting to use."

That's some pretty good non-informationating there, Emily.

LibertyHiller: Some observations from a person who actually pays attention to details:

1) The Silverdome was a white elephant the day it opened. Pontiac bet its future on the Lions, and that ceased to be a good idea the day Bobby Layne left the team.

2) To all of you biatching about Snyder's role, this sale took place while Granholm was still governor. She appointed this guy.

3) The local media isn't complaining about the legality of emergency managers, because state governments can pretty much do as they please when it comes to local government. (See: Federal republics, how do they work?)

4) Don't blame the EFM for not taking the offer in early 2008: the Pontiac mayor and council were still holding the reins then.

5) The city went into receivership in February 2009 and the stadium was sold in October. Quick question: what else happened between early 2008 and late 2009 that might have affected the ability to get top dollar for the Silverdome?

6) One more time for people outside of Michigan: a city has to be totally farked for the State to come in an appoint an emergency manager. That's why Three Oaks wound up being in the same club with places like Detroit, Flint and Pontiac. (If it were about race or everyday incompetence, Saginaw would have had an EFM appointed years ago.)

This BUT there is still no reason for a government selling it that low instead of holding it.

This is exactly my fear of EMFs. Making decisions that are overly short term and don't serve the city.

But I also agree with Nyquil's post above.

quatchi: However, the city announced in October 2009 that the property would go to auction with no minimum bid,

[wtfamireading?]

Who made that decision?

Here's the 2002-2009 timeline, from Metro Times:

Jan. 6, 2002 - The Detroit Lions play their final game at the Silverdome, a 15-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys, before moving to Ford Field.

May 2002 - Online bidding begins for potential purchasers and developers for the Silverdome site.

July 2003 - Three finalists in the first-round bidding appear at a public forum to present their proposals which include offices, retail, restaurants, technology businesses, a hotel, an aquarium and convention space among the plans.

November 2004 - The Michigan High School Athletic Association holds its last football finals at the Silverdome, moving them to Ford Field in 2005. High school teams had played at the dome since 1976.

June 2005-February 2006 - The two remaining proposals from the July 2003 bidding deadline are withdrawn.

March 2007 - The Silverdome officially closes.

October 2007 - Nine bidders say they are interested in the site during the second round of bidding.

March 2008 - Seven plans are proposed at the deadline of the third round of bidding, including baseball, a casino, an indoor water park, horse racing, a convention center and a research park.

July 2008 - The Pontiac City Council votes 4-2 in favor of the potential $20 million Silverdome sale to Bloomfield Hills attorney H. Wallace Parker's Silver Stallion Development Corp. Mayor Clarence Phillips vetoes it. The City Council overrides the veto.

November 2008 - The deadline for the dome's sale to Silver Stallion passes without the city and the group making a deal.

March 2009 - Gov. Jennifer Granholm appoints Fred Leeb as Pontiac's emergency financial manager.

June 2009 - Emergency Financial Manager Fred Leeb announces plans to auction off the dome and plug its drain on city finances.

Sept. 3, 2009 - The Pontiac City Council unanimously rejects Leeb's proposal to auction the site with no minimum bid required. Leeb has the authority to proceed anyway.