“Michigan Governor Rick Snyder tapped a restructuring expert who helped successfully steer Chrysler through a government-backed bankruptcy to lead a state takeover of Detroit. The move by a white, Republican governor to take control of a predominantly black and Democratic city has drawn intense criticism and charges of racism. The choice of Kevyn Orr, an African American and Democrat who grew up in Michigan, should help stem some of that criticism. Emergency managers have the power to eliminate entire departments, change labor contracts, sell city assets and rewrite laws without any public review or input.”
