Who's to blame for Detroit's collapse? - latimes

A for-lease sign on a building in downtown Detroit. The city filed for Chapter… (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images ) Detroit filed for bankruptcy Thursday, making it the largest U.S. city to ever seek Chapter 9 protection. It’s sad news for the once-great city. Still, the headline seemed to have delighted many. Just check out The Times' comments section, with several readers gleefully blaming Democrats. In a 2011 Op-Ed about Detroit’s collapse, Scott Martelle, author of “Detroit: A Biography,” gave readers a view of the Michigan city through a different lens. The collapse of Detroit has roots in intentional de-industrialization by the Big Three automakers, which in the 1950s began aggressively spider-webbing operations across the nation to produce cars closer to regional markets, and to reduce labor costs by investing in less labor-friendly places than union-heavy Detroit. Racism plays a significant role too. So, what’s next for Detroit? No federal bailout, period.

Detroit's first post-bankruptcy budget: 'Balanced and modest' spending Detroit’s first budget under bankruptcy has the city spending less than $1 billion from its general fund in each of the next three years, according to the spending plan released Friday by emergency manager Kevyn Orr’s office. The budget is consistent with a restructuring blueprint the city filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, a spokesman for Orr said. So the city’s spending plan — typically worked out between the mayor and the City Council — will be subject to the outcome of the city’s bankruptcy case. ■ Full coverage:Detroit’s financial crisis “The budget presented is balanced and modest,” Orr spokesman Bill Nowling said. Many city departments will face moderate to slight budget cuts under Orr’s plan. But the mayor’s office would be getting a bump. Mayor Mike Duggan will not have to approve Orr’s budget, Duggan’s spokesman said. ■ Related:Detroit bankruptcy legislation calls for 20 years of oversight ■ Related: Detroit bankruptcy costs hit $36M in 2013, expected to soar in 2014

Detroit Police Department To Close Offices After 4 P.M., Offer 'Virtual Precincts' A budget shakeup is forcing some drastic changes in the Detroit Police Department. Effective Monday, the city’s police precincts will no longer remain open around the clock. According to a document obtained by the Detroit Free Press, the department plans to eliminate numerous desk jobs and transfer police working in office positions to street patrols during night-time hours. Between 4 p.m and 8 a.m., the public must make reports through a call center, under a new system of “virtual police precincts,” the Detroit News reports. “I think it’s going to work,” Detroit Police Commander Steve Dolunt told the Free Press. A supervisor and another staff member will be present at physical precincts to handle basic functions, as will officers who deal with prisoners, the Free Press reports. The department will make a formal announcement about the policy changes Thursday.

Ann Arbor officials to discuss police and fire department budgets Monday night Ann Arbor officials have turned their attention to the city's budget for fiscal year 2015-16, which starts July 1, and among the first items they'll be discussing in detail is public safety. The Ann Arbor City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday for a special budget work session on the second floor of city hall, 301 E. Huron St. The meeting is open to the public. Topics of discussion include the budgets for the city's police and fire departments, courts, administrator's office, and finance and administrative services. Tom Crawford, the city's chief financial officer, is expected to give an overview of the city's general fund budget forecasts for both fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17. No council action is taken at work sessions. "What council will be hearing are some identified maintenance needs, some smaller capital needs, some items that have been deferred over the years," City Administrator Steve Powers said of what to expect Monday night.