I do not believe EMs [emergency managers] can be successful — they abrogate the civic structure of the community for a period of years then return it virtually dismantled for the community to attempt to somehow make a go of it. The program provides no structure for long term recovery, and that is why most communities slide back into trouble, if they experience any relief at all — a vicious cycle.Michael Stampfler, former emergency manager of Pontiac, Michigan • Turning against his old gig as the enormously powerful yet unelected city chief, so to speak. Michigan’s emergency manager law has been controversial since it was signed into law by Governer Rick Snyder in 2012. The law gave new authority to so-called “emergency managers,” people appointed by the Governor to manage cities in financial crisis. So expansive are the new powers that the EM can function as a literal halt to democracy at the local level — Benton Harbor serves as a prime example. Joseph Harris, appointed EM in 2010 by then Governor Granholm, has stripped the city council of its authority to cast votes, stating the only role of the local government “is the authority that’s provided to them or is given to them by the emergency manager.” Maybe now, with a strictly pragmatic argument from an insider, the state of affairs in Benton Harbor will draw a bit more attention. source (via • follow)
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