Detroit City Council considers appeal on governor's ruling of financial emergency

Detroit City Council has until March 11th to act

DETROIT – Detroit City Council and Mayor Dave Bing continue to discuss, and consider, what action to take in response to Gov. Rick Snyder's finding that there is a financial emergency in the city.

No one in city hall disputes the governor's findings, but they are having a difficult time getting on the same page when it comes to how they want to respond.

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During a meeting Tuesday, most council members said they want to appeal the governor's decision, but some want to do more. One suggestion is trying to file a lawsuit to prevent emergency management.

City Council President Pro-Tem Gary Brown said without a unified front, an appeal is senseless.

"You know I'm willing to go forward with an appeal if in fact the mayor and council have a respectable plan that they want to present together," said Brown. "If that doesn't happen then I don't think we should appeal."

Bing released this statement Tuesday saying:

"I have been meeting with various members of City Council since the Governor's announcement last Friday.  I continue to weigh all available options related to a possible appeal of the Governor's financial emergency declaration."

Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh is ready to take even further action and wants a new expanded consent agreement that would stave off an emergency manager.

"What we're appealing is the fact that we don't need one person to come in from Lansing and run the city of Detroit. It would be devastating," said Pugh.

Pugh told the governor the same thing during a private meeting yesterday, and he said Snyder had no response.

Detroit City Council plans to meet again on Wednesday and they have invited the mayor to be part of the meeting, but it's not clear if the mayor will attend.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: Detroit in Crisis

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