Detroit Mayor: 'I Won't Work For The Governor'
DETROIT (WWJ) - Clearly angry, and occasionally cursing, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing came out swinging on Wednesday against a proposed consent agreement with the state.
Bing said Lansing's proposed deal to fix the city's finances amounts to an unconstitutional takeover.
"I'm receptive to help, but you're not gonna just to jam something down my throat and expect me, if I don't like it that, you know, that that's going to be OK," said Bing. "And that's what happened with this agreement. I don't like it. It's not good for the city of Detroit."
The proposal was an ultimatum that would shift political power, consolidate public utilities and shrink city staff and salaries.
Bing said he had no input in the 21-page plan delivered to the city by Gov. Rick Snyder and Treasurer Andy Dillon on Tuesday.
"We could have negotiated it and come out together. But it was like, 'Here it is,' and I don't accept it," said Bing.
- View a copy of the consent agreement (.pdf format) -
According to the proposed plan, the city would control the city's CEO, CFO and Director of Human Resources. Bing said that would cost Detroit money that it doesn't have.
"That's all the control points within city government, and if you let any one of those people go the breakup fee is gonna be a million dollars," said Bing. "Now you tell me - what the hell? Why would I sign something like that?"
The Mayor said he was elected to run the city and he won't work for Lansing or the team appointed under the agreement.
"There's no silver bullet out here. There's no perfect plan," said Bing. "My goal is to work with people. I don't intend to work for somebody. I won't work for the governor. I won't work for that financial team of 9 people. I work for the people of the city of Detroit because they voted me in to do this."
Detroit is facing cash flow problems and a $197 million budget deficit. A state review team has already been digging into its troubled finances, and the governor could appoint an emergency manager.
Bing said that he would not accept the of position of emergency manager even if it's offered by the state.
As far as his uncharacteristic cursing?
"You're lucky that I didn't say anything else that was on my mind," Bing said.
Bing's remarks came during a speaking series at the Wayne County Community College Downtown Campus.
MORE: Snyder Says Consent Agreement Not A 'Power Grab'
