In regards to the Detroit bankruptcy...

[Bay Boy]

...when people or companies go bankrupt their assets can be ordered to be sold.

Assuming the City of Detroit owns the city streets; could those streets be sold off to the highest bidder?

[last1standing]

1. Only if the purchaser has to actually repair them.

Seriously, I very much doubt they could sell the streets but you never know anymore...

[Odious justice]

2. No for a variety of reasons.

The chapter nine will not allow the city to sell things that it did not previously have the power to sell. Privatizing roads that receive state and federal funds to maintain and/or roads essential to public use is not allowed in Michigan.

Also, the only form of Bankruptcy where you are forced to sell something without consent is a chapter 7 (liquidation).

The viable assets of an entity are used to determine how much ( best effort) they will be required to pay to unsecured creditors if they stay in bankruptcy.

[Progressive dog]

3. No one would want them.

It would cost too much to collect tolls.