NNPA

When the FBI announced that they were placing fugitive Assata Shakur (Joanne Chesimard) on the list of most wanted terrorists and that they were offering an additional $1 million for her capture, it caught most of the world by complete surprise.  Assata has been living quietly in exile in Cuba where she was given political asylum for 30  years. The former member of the Black Liberation Army escaped captivity after being tried and convicted — under controversial circumstances — in connection with the killing of a New Jersey State policeman.  Several other allegations against her were dropped either through acquittals or mistrials.

Assata Shakur had been a member of the Black Panther Party, later joining the Black Liberation Army. Like many other Black activists in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she witnessed the vicious repression of the Black Freedom Movement — and other movements of the time — by agencies of the U.S. government, including through the use of the now notorious COINTELPRO (the FBI’s Counter Intelligence Program). COINTELPRO involved the infiltration and disruption of organizations that the FBI concluded were a threat to the U.S. elite. Disruption included rumor-mongering, provocation, the encouraging of splits, imprisonment and murder. The intensity of the repression of the Black Freedom Movement, in this case, led many activists to conclude that, at a minimum, self-defense was necessary. For others, the conclusion was that a military arm of the Black Freedom Movement was needed.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with the conclusions arrived at by Assata Shakur, one thing is very important: She was never a terrorist. Let us be clear about the meaning of this word that we hear so regularly these days. A “terrorist” is someone who uses military methods/violence against civilians in order to advance a political objective. There is nothing in the activism of Assata Shakur that displays anything approaching terrorism. Additionally, since her exile, she has not been involved with any activities in the U.S. that could be construed as terrorist.

So, what is this about? It appears that the main inspiration for this outrage is to derail any efforts at the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Upon the reelection of President Obama, there have been rumors circulating that there might be efforts to remove Cuba from the list of countries supporting terrorism. There were additional suggestions that there might be efforts towards normalization.

There are groups in the U.S. who oppose normalization of relations with Cuba, and they will do anything that they can to disrupt such efforts. Whether those elements convinced the FBI to take this step is irrelevant. The fact is that this step complicates discussions about changing the terms of U.S./Cuban relations. Right-wing Cuban exiles as well as ultra-conservative elements in our political establishment have an interest in the status quo; most of this country is more interested in improvement in relations with Cuba.

For this reason, we need to understand the upping of the ante on Assata as not only a threat to her existence, a violation of Cuban and international law, but also a cynical move to disrupt efforts to end the Cold War in the Western Hemisphere.

Now is the time to demand that President Obama and Attorney General Holder reverse the decision of the FBI. Let’s end this ridiculous melodrama.

Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a senior scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies, the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum and the author of “‘They’re Bankrupting Us!’ — And 20 Other Myths about Unions.” Follow him at www.billfletcherjr.com

Progressive Michiganders have, in response to the proposed and imposed emergency managers, opposed the emergency manager (EM) laws as attacks on or subversions of democracy. This concern is based primarily around the emergency managers’ ability to dismiss the decision-making power of elected officials. This, in effect, removes the franchise from subject populations by disempowering those who won office by the vote.

There are countless good reasons to oppose the petty tyrant EMs, but opposing them on the grounds that the EM invalidates a pre-existing democratic norm both overvalues the status quo ante (for example, Mayor Bing vs. Emergency Manager equal horrible options to choose from) and misconstrues democracy.

Michigan governors appointed “emergency managers” to (mis)manage parts of or entire city bureaucracies since 2000. Former governors Engler and Granholm and current Gov. Snyder declared that certain city governments, mostly of majority Black cities — the white supremacist application of the EM laws, exactly whose vote is getting tossed out? — has been somewhat ignored, were so poorly run that the decision-making power should be devolved to the state government.

The governors imposed EMs on Benton Harbor, Detroit, Ecorse, Flint, Hamtramck, Highland Park and Pontiac along with, separately, the Detroit and Highland Park school districts. Wherever appointed, the EM takes on decision-making power formerly held by elected officials. It is this aspect, along with the EM’s power to renegotiate union contracts, that critics cite as reasons why EMs are an attack on democracy. Some go so far as to describe EMs as occupying powers. EMs certainly remove local decision-making power and effectively remove voting rights for subject populations, making mere seat-warmers of elected officials. But a quick look at social movements in history puts to question the image of democracy offered by critics.

This is clear in situations where populations previously denied voting rights participate in shaping politics. The Civil Rights Movement against racial segregation had its greatest successes before most southern Black folk had access to the polls. Virtually all the benchmark victories won by the Civil Rights Movement — the Civil Rights Act, school desegregation, the Voting Rights Act, an end to Jim Crow laws, etc. — were won in spite of the fact that southern Blacks were largely denied voting rights. If by “democracy” we mean “voting” rights, then the Civil Rights Movement won access to democracy. But if by “democracy” we mean the mass participation in shaping politics, then the Civil Rights Movement arguably produced broader democracy in the period before it won voting rights than after, despite the extension of the franchise (see the new book “Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party” for a discussion on the Civil Rights Movement as an insurgent social movement and the end of that insurgency with the Voting Rights Act and end of de jure segregation). The franchise did not allow access to democracy; the franchise was won through democracy.

Women’s suffrage throughout the world is another example of the shaping of politics by people denied the vote. Migrant justice is yet another realm where the communities leading the struggle do so with restricted access to voting. Anti-apartheid and decolonization struggles have been fought and won in spite of the lack of voting rights. Such mass participation in politics seems far more democratic than any recent election we’ve had in Detroit.

These social justice victories — like so many throughout history — were won through making impossible the daily conduct of business. Organizers and community members in these movements interacted directly with power — primarily through confrontation — and shaped politics through these interactions. Electoral campaigns, however, simply allocate power from one person who already has it (the incumbent) to another (the challenger) without, generally speaking, the electoral base playing a significant role in shaping politics. In such a system, the elections are not central to democracy and those holding office are not significant repositories of democratic power.

Does Gov. Snyder intend for the EM to replace local decision-making power? Obviously. But Snyder and the EMs can only do so if we avoid mass participation in politics, if we reject democracy. If, however, we embrace democracy, then we can shape politics directly through creative participation and disrupt the EMs and their regressive plans. We can decide to not cooperate with the impoverished view of politics — (s)elected officials as being the sole legitimate possessors of political power — that gives the EMs their power. The governor can only succeed if we cooperate with the image of governance he’s relying upon. We can do better. We, like subjects of undemocratic rule throughout history, can become ungovernable.

Jimmy Johnson is an unemployed Detroiter. He can be reached at johnson.jimmy@gmail.com

By T. Kelly
The Michigan Citizen

DETROIT — At its monthly meeting May 9, the Detroit Board of Education unanimously voted to seek a federal grand jury investigation into the “unlawful use of federal funds designated for use by the Detroit Public Schools (DPS).”

The Board claimed that the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), the former Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb, Emergency Manager (EM) Roy Roberts, Gov. Rick Sndyer and other state officials “conspired to violate the law” in ways that were “unethical and unlawful.”

“This is the tiger that’s going to bite,” said Board Vice President Herman Davis, author of the resolution. “At the end of our watch, they can’t ask why didn’t you do something?”

Davis said a federal grand jury is necessary because “it’s what [former EFM] Robert Bobb said. He told the Board; he’d do what he wants to do until someone stops him.”

The resolution lists the reasons for calling for the federal investigation: the $12 million loan EM Roy Roberts authorized for the EAA from DPS; Snyder’s use of $7 million in mortgage relief money for the EAA; unauthorized transfer of $250 million in DPS bond construction projects to EAA; and the wrongful manipulation and falsification of test scores.

For its startup in Sept. 2012, the EAA took 15 DPS buildings, contents and students. Snyder promoted the EAA as a statewide district to help the lowest five percent of learners. He promised no state funds would be used and promoted his experiment as reform education.

Board President Lamar Lemmons said the EAA did not take “just the lowest five percent. We told them don’t take the whole school.” To Lemmons, it meant Snyder was not creating a reform district but a competing district.

Roberts’ $12 million loan from DPS to the EAA is troublesome for the elected board, which not only lacks power to do anything about Roberts’ actions, but cannot get any information it needs, Lemmons said.

DPS went from surplus funds to a deficit under the first state takeover in 1999. Gov. Jennifer Granholm used the state-created deficit as the reason to appoint Bobb as Emergency Financial Manager. Bobb added $100 million to DPS debt.

Davis said that Roberts is now loaning DPS money to the state-created EAA. At the EAA board meeting May 9, it was revealed that the EAA is operating with a $1.2 million dollar deficit. The balance on the debt it owes DPS is over $2 million and due in July. If EAA can’t pay, who pays DPS?

During discussion of the grand jury resolution, Board Member Ida Short said by law no school district can guarantee a loan for another district.

“When one entity isn’t eligible to borrow money and uses one who is eligible, it’s money laundering,” Lemmons said. “Why would you loan money to a competing district?” he asked. “Would GM loan Honda money? It’s a conflict of interest. At that time, Roy Roberts was chair of the EAA board and EM of DPS.”

Davis said the EAA’s manipulation of test scores has been documented by Wayne State Education Professor Tom Pedroni. The EAA’s unwillingness to reveal test scores has also been a problem for St. Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton and St. Board of Education Member Michelle Fecteau.

Federal funds bought many of the books and supplies contained in the buildings taken by the EAA, Davis said. The board asked for an inventory of what was in each building, but the EAA refused.

Voters approved a $250 million bond issue in 2009 that was used in the construction and renovation of schools. Many of the brand new schools, including Mumford High, were among those taken by the EAA, Davis said. “That $250 million intended for DPS was transferred to EAA by authority of Gov. Snyder, prior EFM, EM Roy Roberts and other state officials,” reads the resolution.

Davis said the request for a federal grand jury has been sent to Attorney General Eric Holder. The board attorneys are preparing a lawsuit to file in federal court as well, he said.

“All of this is their [the EAA] way of pulling the wool over the eyes of the public,” Davis said. “It’s a mirage they trying to build. They are privatizing education, trying to make money off of education. We have got to stop them.”

For many, Orr’s report did not reveal much new information on the city’s financial emergency. According to the report, city debt is about $15 billion. The city is spending more than it is taking in. It has a structural deficit with revenue falling every year, with the city taking loans to cover operating expenses.

The city has borrowed up to and more than $100 million every year for the last 10 years. According to Orr, the city is “insolvent” and has “exhausted its ability to borrow.”

The report also notes that Orr will work to balance providing city services with cutting costs and reducing long-term debt. The report states retiree benefits erode a third of the city’s operating budget.

According to the report, the EM is using the Consent Agreement, approved by City Council in 2012, as a roadmap. In the agreement, the report outlines changes that include a public lighting authority, modifications at the Detroit Department of Transportation and a transfer of Belle Isle. These changes have been highlighted as cost-saving measures for the city.

In Orr’s report, he says “an important part of the initial efforts” was to meet with community stakeholders, citizens, citizens groups and elected officials.

“The Emergency Manager has provided information about his goals and activities in various media interviews and public speaking engagements,” the report states.

Yet, his office has ignored several requests for interviews from this paper.

As a new city office, the EM hired a chief of staff and two new staff members.

Orr did note, in the report, that he is still evaluating the city’s assets. A more complete plan for the city of Detroit will be released in 60-90 days. It is not yet clear if the city will file for bankruptcy.

Staff Report

He said his administration should be credited with building a new public safety headquarters for the police, fire and IT departments. He also said his Detroit One initiative “put a dent in violent gun crimes.” According to the mayor, that initiative confiscated $8 million in drug money seizures.

Bing also believes the new Public Lighting authority will be good for Detroit, although it will actually reduce the number of streetlights in the city. He said he worked to “improve transportation options,” but he was widely criticized for reducing bus service, supporting regionalization and a regional rapid transit bus line that negated a rail system up Woodward to Eight Mile Road.

Mayor Bing also criticized Detroit residents and the media saying “we” all have to be “more accountable.” He urged Detroit citizens to vote more and said pundits who do not live in the city should not “pass off their opinions as reality.”

Bing also believes his findings are the guidelines for Detroit EM Kevin Orr’s first report and upcoming action. Bing says his administration helped “prepare the runway.”

He also criticized the state, saying that it is not a good partner and Gov. Snyder and his administration could have done “many things to help stabilize the finances” of the city.

Staff Report

Gatsby does Detroit

By Shea Howell
Special to the Michigan Citizen

The Office of the Emergency Manager issued its Financial and Operating Plan for the City of Detroit. It is a limited document. As predicted, it states Detroit is in financial trouble.

It repeats the concern for the $15 billion in long-term debt and adds that the city was out of money as of April 26, having $64 million in cash but $226 million in obligations. It goes on to tell us that much of the city is “dysfunctional.” Police, fire, water, lighting, transportation and recreation don’t work. All require an overhaul. All will be studied for plans for improvement. And we have a problem with blight. That will be studied, too. And then we can expect quick action.

The New York Times summed up the report as “dire.” The Times explains, “The picture of debt and disarray he paints may be bleaker even than earlier grim portrayals.” The best the Detroit Free Press could come up with was, “It’s hard to imagine how something could be disappointing and illuminating at the same time.” Nancy Kaffer noted it is “not exactly groundbreaking.”

As the Times suggests, the report is likely “to become a new focal point for debate for some in Detroit who have questioned the seriousness of the city’s troubles and the need for state intervention at a level rarely seen for a city of its size.”

But the limitations of the report rest more in the thinking it represents than in accounting.

Here unions are singled out as the major reasons for the problems of city finance. Pension and health care responsibilities are targeted as primary contributors to long-term debt.

There is no mention in this report of the serious, sustained disinvestment in the city by corporations. No mention of ill-conceived tax incentives given over the years to all kinds of development schemes. No mention of the role banks played in the encouragement of suburban over urban development. No mention of the foreclosure crisis and its acceleration of the depopulation of our city. No mention of the hostile state legislature that has done everything from remove residency requirements to renege on revenue sharing promises. No mention of the millions of dollars squandered by foundations.

The solutions the EM seeks will be directed primarily at what he has identified as the sources of the problem — unions, pensions and health care. Moreover, the solutions are seen in isolation from one other.

He continues the worn-out strategy of asserting “demolition” of abandoned structures will improve neighborhood life. He makes no mention of the use of “deconstruction” by neighborhood groups, churches and civic organization as a way to increase the economic activity in a community and to harness valuable resources. Instead, the current picture of “demolition” he advocates is one that conjures up destruction, dumping and dollars leaving the city.

Nor does he talk about the connections between various sectors of public life. We know that increasing recreational facilities and opening public parks decreases criminal activity. Yet this report, in its desire to privatize and punish, talks of these areas as unrelated.

The Emergency Manager got one thing right. He said, “You don’t get the magnitude of neighborhood blight we have overnight.” He went on, “Without a vision for what you want your city to be three, five, 10, 20, 30 years out, the totality of those circumstances [that] drove us here” will continue.

That is the challenge. We need to take every opportunity in our neighborhoods, block clubs, faith and civic organizations to talk with one another not only about how we want our city to look but what values we want that vision to reflect. That, in the long run, is the only path to a new future.