Flashpoint: Experts talk bankruptcy, Saunteel Jenkins talks council

Panel also looks at new Michigan gas tax

DETROIT – In the first segment of Sunday morning's Flashpoint, Devin Scillian meets with Metro Times columnist Michael Jackman, Detroit News editorial page director Nolan Finley, The Michigan Citizen publisher Catherine Kelly and Michigan Chronicle senior editor Bankole Thompson about Detroit's bankruptcy and how it was handled.

Though the city is preparing to emerge from Chapter 9 in the near future, Jackman believes that the bankruptcy never should have happened in the first place. The experts examined the ways in which Detroit prepared for bankruptcy and where we are today.

You can watch the first segment of this week's Flashpoint in its entirety in the clip above.

After the first break, the panel talked about whether or not the bankruptcy was a new opportunity for the city of Detroit. Though issues like poverty and crime rates remain high, is the new financial start a positive step for Detroit?
Finley said that he thinks the banks took a big hit during bankruptcy because money that would have gone to those banks will now be available to leaders to improve Detroit's services.

Jackman talks about why he still isn't sold that bankruptcy was the right move for the city. You can watch the second segment in the video below.

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In the final segment of Flashpoint, Saunteel Jenkins joins Devin to talk about the perception that she left the Detroit City Council to become the CEO of the Detroit-based nonprofit The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW). The public was unhappy that Jenkins left the council less than a year into her term just when it was beginning to gain influence and power in Detroit.

Jenkins says she didn't leave because THAW was a better paying job, and explains the choice that she made. She said she spent many years with the Detroit City Council, helping the city through some of its toughest years.

You can watch the entire interview with Jenkins in the video below.

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