Protesters Disrupt Financial Review Team Meeting
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - More than 50 protesters disrupted a financial review team meeting as they worked to decide if an emergency manager should be named to run Detroit.
Chanting "no consent decree," "no take over," and breaking into verses of "We Shall Overcome," the crowd Monday essentially stopped State Treasurer Andy Dillon from speaking.
The crowd tried to shout down one man who stood to support more financial oversight.
The board is charged with making a recommendation Monday to Gov. Rick Snyder on whether he should appoint an emergency manager, accept a consent agreement or take no action.
The review team is now forced to meet publicly after an Ingham County Judge ruled their private hearings violated the state's Open Meetings Act.
Governor Rick Snyder said on Monday that the state and Detroit could have a consent agreement to restructure the city's long term finances in place sometime this week. Detroit is likely to run out of money in coming months and could end up in bankruptcy if no state action occurs.
Meantime, Congressman Hansen Clarke is trying to get some federal help.
"I'll be introducing legislation to provide emergency financial relief to the city of Detroit to avoid bankruptcy and to avoid the appointment of an emergency financial manager," said Clarke. "The legislation will be based on similar legislation that Congress enacted in the 1970's to prevent the bankruptcy of New York City."
Clarke said he'll need to market the bill as an investment in the city and southeast Michigan, adding that he does realize that any relief he's able to get for the city will come with strings attached.
WWJ Newsradio 950 will have complete coverage of the financial crisis in a special broadcast at 7 p.m. Monday: "Detroit-City in Crisis," hosted by WWJ's Jayne Bower and Vickie Thomas.
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
