Lawmaker Takes 'Dissolve Detroit' Plan To National Media
DETROIT (WWJ) - As the city of Detroit continues to teeter on a possible bankruptcy, one state senator is attracting national media attention for his "Dissolve Detroit" proposal.
State Senator Rick Jones represents the 24th District.
The Lansing Area Republican spoke Friday afternoon to CNBC about the fiscal state of the city:
"It's ridiculous, it's dysfunctional, and if they don't save their own city it may be time to look at dissolving it (into Wayne County)," Jones said. "Perhaps a smaller city could spring out of it, you know, something that is functional. They have a massive amount of land with nothing, so, they've gotta do something.
"You know, they've lost 25 percent of their population over the last decade before the census. One person left every 22 minutes," Jones said.
Jones blames the city's budget crisis largely on Detroit City Council members who, he said, refuse to work with the governor or their mayor to "right the ship."
"They're spending like there's no tomorrow and there's no control," said Jones. " ... They wanna keep control of their money and that's understandable. But they have to be responsible because if they go into federal bankruptcy the vultures will come in and grab all the jewels of Detroit ..."
Jones said he's worried such gems as Belle Isle, Cobo Center and even the Detroit Institute of Arts would crumble and the likelihood of federal bankruptcy is far worse than his proposal.
"What would happen to the jobs if they went through federal bankruptcy? The employees would lose everything; the retirees would lose everything and that's what we're facing."
Jones said the Michigan taxpayers he represents will not bail out Detroit.
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