The Shock Doctrine: "Kevyn Orr talks privatization, pensions, DIA art at forum".

[pa28]

From Michigan Public Radio

Paying pricey consultants while city is in bankruptcy. Orr acknowledged that anger over the city paying big money to private consultants ($62 million, by the most recent count) is “an understandable emotional response.” But he said they need to “find the best people” to get Detroit through bankruptcy and restructuring, and said that even if they end up costing the city more than $100 million, that’s just a small slice of Detroit’s $12 billion in unsecured debt.

Orr fails to mention his former law firm is one of the top beneficiaries of the bankruptcy cash grab raking in millions in fees. They are set to bill millions more. Good times!

City pensions. Orr said that dealing with Detroit’s unfunded pension liabilities — he pegs that number at $3.5 billion, though others disagree — is “one of the more difficult aspects of my job.” He said he sympathizes with pensioners who fear cuts are coming, but insisted: "This is an emergency. This is a crisis. I’ve got to address all of these very difficult issues.” And he blamed pension funds mismanagement for getting to this point. “With pensions, the issue isn’t really what I’m doing … it’s what’s already been done.”

Orr lies by omission once again. An independent review recently showed the city's pension to be 90% funded. As an unsecured creditor the fund may be wiped out in bankruptcy court.

In bankruptcy, “everything is on the table.” Orr said that includes DIA artwork. “At the end of the day, I’m a receiver, and I have a fiduciary responsibility to account for all of the assets of the city of Detroit.” Of the museum’s 66,000 pieces, Orr said 35,000 are “free and clear,” meaning they’re city property with no limitation on selling them.

Michigan's AG ruled out a sale of art in June. Incredibly, instead of using that opinion to place the burden on creditors Orr deliberately and squarely put a DIA liquidation back on the table.

What's happening in Detroit, if successful, will be a template for other GOP governors to liquidate public property for the benefit of their sponsors.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. When you said "DIA art" I thought you meant the horse outside *Denver* International Airport

I f***ing HATE that piece of art --








WHO THE F*** DESIGNS SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND WHO THE FUCK AGREES TO BUILD IT!!! It's got red eyes and exposed ribs. It looks like the frickin' 2nd horseman of the Apocalypse.

(CONFESSION -- As a little girl, it made me cry.)

[pa28]

2. Yikes!

I'm really having nightmares tonight.

[Buddha_of_Wisdom]

4. That is a cursed horse. The sculpturer that made this was killed by that horse.

It needs to be melted down and something better. I heard it was going to be moved elsewhere .....

And it looks evil at night....

I wonder whose bright idea was to set it up?

It'd be better suited in Briargate in Colorado Springs, in front of the FOTF.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. My first (and last) boss was a Project Manager for construction projects.

I can attest with absolute certainty that the sculpture was not the singular idea of one person. Oh, sure the artist had his input but once that was put-in an entire group of people looked at it and said, "Sure, let's go with that."

THAT is the scariest part.

[Hydra]

3. Detroit is a test case

Of how efficiently they can loot a major city and how many people will object.

[pa28]

6. Even if you don't live in Detroit you should be paying attention.

This movie is coming to a theater near you.