Most people here are well aware of the fact that the City of Detroit has filed for bankruptcy. Most people are also aware of the fact that Lansing has assigned an Emergency Manager to financially clean house.
Long-time readers are aware that this inevitable outcome was as plain as day to most local observers like myself, and borrowing a page from the President, want to make this as process as painful as possible to the principles involved, so that the actions which have caused it are never repeated again.
Ever!
Yes, the EM appointed by Gov. Snyder has brought some baggage with him.
Yes, he has made a few enemies along the way.
Yes, even the Governor himself has drawn himself into the fray by how the EM is compensated and most importantly by whom.
But in his defense, he has made some tough decisions which needed to me made.
Staffing is being addressed.
Benefits are being brought to a manageable level, given the resources available to the Detroit.
Assets are being looked at. And when appropriate, are being used to pay off the debts incurred by the city due to it habitual fiscal ineptitude.
The latter isn't really making any new friends with those in charge of overseeing Detroit's Art Museum, a collection wholly owned by the City of Detroit.
Yes, I'm talking about the DIA.
Long-time readers may also recall how the DIA managed to successfully con the Tri-County Region into believing that the DIA was in the poor house and ram through a regional art tax to fund their little operation.
With their meal ticket now in jeopardy because two of those counties aren't keen on taxpayer money going to bailout Detroit, a fact they were repeatedly warned about when the respective county boards placed this tax on the ballot, the DIA Board is looking at new ways to pull their collective fat out of the fire.
You're going to love what scheme they have come up with this time.
{Details after the fold.}
