Some American cities are falling and the causes are as simple as being broke or poorly managed. Citizens rail against big takeovers of their hometowns. Civic leaders meet and put their heads together to come up with a plan to save the city and/or city services vital to the community. This article touches on the cities that found innovative ways to fix what is broken and take care of its citizens.
How a City Goes Broke
All it takes is one piece of very expensive equipment bought on loan to run a city into major debt. The city bought a very expensive incinerator under the assumption that the trash companies using it would pay a fee every time. That didn’t work out the way it was planned. So the city borrowed new money to put toward the old loan. Soon enough, the new loans mounted and send the city into the red. The Governor called in a receiver to take over the city’s finances who was not supported by the city leaders or its city employees. This is how a city goes broke and ends up in bankruptcy. Others ways to put a community in debt are paying out huge pensions to city workers who have only a few years of service logged, giving larger than normal pay raises, and building a pool or ballpark when there is already one there.
Corporations Back Big City Services
Fleet services take care of and replace city vehicles like ambulances and police cars. But when the city is operating in the red, the fleets are put on hold. Repairs do not get done and cars and trucks scrape by using the same aging parts which badly need replacing. This is not a workable solution when residents need police protection or emergency services. When the city is MotorCity, also known as Detroit, where else do you turn to other than the big name corporations that made the city was it was. Ford, GM, Chrysler, and Penske are four of the majors who donated more than $8 million dollars to buy the city more police and emergency vehicles. Quicken Loans and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan also donated. This is proof positive that every business, large or small, can do something to help restore the city where they operate.
What Works and Does Not Work
Every city has services which citizens need to be safe, have emergency medical care, good roads, strong schools and responsible city leaders. If the city does not have the funds it needs to pay city employees, repair or replace vehicles, take over schools that are failing or any other necessary function, it files for bankruptcy or is its financial functions are given to an outside, objective person or company to manage until the city can prove it will not go into debt again. What works is unique to that city and what does not work is clear from how other cities have not taken receivership seriously. Communities of Distinction realizes if the residents want to see their city survive, they too need a voice to. Think of cutting elected officials’ salaries and selling off some property to American companies to save and make some money. An emergency city manager can negotiate labor and vendor contracts. But they are usually not local. If all sides work together, a city can be saved, jobs may not be lost and pride will return. It takes a city of people to revive and save a hometown.