Bing: Detroit has new financial threat

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DETROIT, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Detroit Mayor David Bing said the repeal of Michigan's emergency management law threatens his city's efforts to get its fiscal house in order.

In an interview with The Detroit News, Bing said Friday that unions representing municipal employees will be able to stall cuts in wages and benefits.

"Now that the law is not in effect anymore, all of the 25 initiatives that we had are probably up for a legal interpretation," Bing said. "It's a waste of money, it's a waste of time, and it's going to keep us from moving our agenda forward."

The Detroit Police Officers Association sent a letter to the city Thursday, two days after the vote on the law, asking for restoration of cuts in salaries and benefits for police officers.

The emergency management law allowed the governor to replace elected officials with appointed managers. Detroit bypassed having a manager by entering a consent agreement with the state.