It isn't pretty.

Pensioner's lives are facing potential hardships and/or ruin.

Detroit is about $20-billion in the hole.

City assets are on the auction block (literally).

This is a very convoluted financial mess we're talking about here.  

You are essentially responsible for cleaning up 60+ years of fiscal ineptitude.

Ideally to get things done as quickly and painless as possible, you want to bring in people who are experienced at this.

No argument there.

The problem here is that, given that this is more or less a public restructuring, that things would be, I don't know, transparent.

It's what the guv campaigned under.

It's what Detroit's EM pledged when he took the job.

Now we're finding out that isn't really happening.

Some of the things that EM Orr is sidestepping is city policies of having it law department vet contracts and make disclosures on past practices.

Some people may downplay this requirement as the Detroit City Government essentially being rendered moot under an EM. Speaking personally, a second set of eye looking something over never hurt. Especially when they were already being paid.

But that's not all of what The Free Press has reported.

Kevyn Orr's previous employer, Jones Day, was quietly given a contract extension.

Originally they were contracted to be paid $3.3-million, now that's going up to about $18-million.

Hmmmmm, interesting; "Hiring away" someone from a firm and paying him less money. Now that firm is looking at making at least a $15-million increase from its original contract.

One last final thought, this one from Governor (elect) Rick Snyder himself:

"Rick Snyder is the leader who can make government efficient and transparent. Rick Snyder's leadership in the private sector uniquely prepares him to lead the transformation of state government from bureaucracy into a 21 st century government that efficiently provides great services at a responsible cost and shows taxpayers results.