Flint And The Detroit Sick-Out: Is Michigan Botching Its Response?

46:34

May 05, 2016

Fixing Michigan- from Flint's water crisis to failing schools in Detroit. Are state takeovers the answers or the problem?

Detroit teachers march outside the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. Detroit Public Schools transition manager Steven Rhodes says 45,628 of approximately 46,000 students were forced to miss classes Monday as 1,562 teachers called in sick. The mass sick-out has forced the district to close 94 of its 97 schools. Detroit's schools are expected to be out of cash starting July 1. The state earlier gave the district $48.7 million in emergency funding to keep it open through June 30 as the Legislature considers a $720 million restructuring plan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) — Detroit teachers march outside the district headquarters, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Detroit. The mass sick-out has forced the district to close 94 of its 97 schools. Detroit's schools are expected to be out of cash starting July 1. The state earlier gave the district $48.7 million in emergency funding to keep it open through June 30 as the Legislature considers a $720 million restructuring plan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

The president was in Michigan yesterday, in Flint, telling that beleaguered city “I’ve got your back,” after all the water woes we’ve heard about there. Meanwhile in Detroit, teachers walking off the job this week in almost all the city’s schools, complaining about mold and rats and afraid they won’t be paid. When cities and school districts get in trouble, it’s hard to get out. Michigan’s cities tell that story. This hour On Point: Detroit, Flint, and lessons from the troubles in Michigan.
-Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Stephen Henderson, host of the WDET show Detroit Today, editor of the Detroit Free Press editorial page. (@SHendersonFreep)

Jim Ananich, State Senator representing the 27th Distric in Michigan, which includes Flint. (@jimananich)

Kil Huh, senior director of the American Cities Program at the Pew Charitable Trusts. (@KilHuh)

Kevyn Orr, former emergency manager of Detroit. Partner-in-charge at the Washington office of Jones Day.

From Tom's Reading List

Obama to Flint: 'Don't lose hope,' drinks the water — In a speech to a restless audience at a high school gymnasium, Obama also urged parents of those children to get them tested — but also to have faith in their resilience and not to use the poisoned water as an excuse not to expect great things from them."That attitude is just as corrosive to democracy as that stuff that put lead in your water," he said. "It's not enough to fix the water. We need to fix the culture of neglect." (USA Today)

Detroit Teachers Return to Classrooms After 2 Days Out — "Detroit school classes resumed Wednesday after teachers received assurances that they will be fully paid for the school year. Two consecutive days of mass teacher sick-outs closed the schools and gave nearly 45,000 schoolchildren unscheduled days off. Meanwhile, a Michigan panel has approved a $500 million plan that would bail out and overhaul Detroit's ailing school district, which will run out of money at the end of June." (Associated Press)

Want to fix Michigan cities? Here's how — "Flint’s the worst iteration of Michigan’s failure to care for its cities. City officials should never be looking over their books trying to find ways to save money on clean water. But those are the kinds of choices the state’s strained relationship with its cities demands local governments make. The trouble in Michigan’s cities has been a slow degradation of state support — which escalated during the gubernatorial terms of John Engler and Jennifer Granholm — combined with tight restrictions on the ways cities can find revenue for themselves." (Detroit Free Press)

This program aired on May 5, 2016.