The state of Michigan is getting ready to institute an emergency manager to effectively take over the financial operations of the auto industry city of Pontiac, which has struggled economically for more than a decade.
"...Pontiac, with its population of 70,000, 2008 annual budget of $52 million and an outsize accumulated budget deficit of $12 million. Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has previously stated that the city is in economic crisis, and at a hearing in Lansing on Wednesday she allowed the city to present its case."
"She is likely to appoint an emergency manager to take over the municipal finances in the next several days. Pontiac would be Michigan's fifth city in 20 years to undergo a state take-over. Flint had an emergency manager for two years, ending in 2004. Two other municipalities have them now - Highland Park and Three Oaks - three would be more than the state has ever had at one time, yet another signal of how entrenched Michigan's long recession has become."
"As G.M. shed more than 3,000 jobs in Pontiac over the last two years, it compounded more than a decade's worth of job and population loss."
"'The mayor's office and the City Council have exhibited an ongoing inability to resolve the city's budget issues,' Ms. Granholm said last week in a letter to the mayor, Clarence E. Phillips."
FULL STORY: In an Auto Industry Hometown, a Familiar Financial Road
First US Hydrogen Public Utility to Launch in California
The project will serve as an intermediary between clean hydrogen providers and consumers.
Michigan’s Draft Five-Year Transportation Plan Includes $10.9 Billion for Highway Projects
Michigan legislators are also considering $3.7 billion for the state’s Public Transportation Program over the next five years.
Why Big Infrastructure Projects Go Over Budget
Most major infrastructure projects fail to meet projected timelines or budgets. Some experts say this is a structural flaw built into "systematically deceptive" estimate practices.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
More Apartments Are Being Built in Less-Dense Areas
Rising housing costs in urban cores and a demand for rental housing is driving more multifamily development to exurbs and small metros.
Plastic Bag Bans Actually Worked
U.S. coastal areas with plastic bag bans or fees saw significant reductions in plastic bag pollution — but plastic waste as a whole is growing.
Improving Indoor Air Quality, One Block at a Time
A movement to switch to electric appliances at the neighborhood scale is taking off in California.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)