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
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
Jan 20, 2014
The city of Detroit is planning to hand over to billionaires Mike and Marion Ilitch 37 properties in the area where a new hockey arena will be built, according to the Detroit News. The land giveaway, still to be approved by the city council, is part of a 650 million “development” plan for the area, which also includes 450 million dollars in state and city tax breaks to the Ilitches for building the arena there.
The area of the development also happens to stretch all the way from Detroit’s current entertainment district to the Motor City Casino and Hotel, owned by none other than Marion Ilitch, and will provide parking, restaurants, and other entertainment to patrons of the casino.
The city is keeping details of the development plan hush-hush from residents in the area. Somehow, however, land speculators seem to know enough about the plan that they are buying up properties in the area, expecting to make a fast buck when the plan comes to fruition, according to the News.
The city and state have plenty of money to hand to land speculators, contractors, and billionaire sports team and casino owners like the Ilitches. At the same time, state and local politicians and the media howl about supposedly “greedy” city workers fighting to stop cuts to their pensions and retiree health care. It’s Robin Hood in reverse: Taking from city workers’ meager retirement income to give to the filthy rich!