The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

Emergency Manager Ruins Pontiac

Mar 18, 2013

Supporters of Rick Snyder’s appointment of an Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) for Detroit actually dare to point to the city of Pontiac as a successful example where one was put in place.

Successful maybe–but only if success means overturning labor contracts, selling off the city’s assets and privatizing almost every city service the city of Pontiac once provided. Pontiac’s EFM eliminated all but 50 of the city’s 600 government jobs. He outsourced the city’s police force, fire department, garbage collection, animal control, vital records and street maintenance. He also privatized the parking meters.

That means Pontiac residents’ taxes will go elsewhere, including to profits for private companies. Imagine what that will mean for the quality of services the people of Pontiac will receive in the long run!

That’s just a glimpse of the kind of cuts Detroiters can expect–except on a much larger scale–if the new EFM has his way.