Mayor Bing Unhappy With City Lawyer's Challenge: "Keeps Detroit's Financing at Risk"

It wouldn't take much guessing to figure out that Mayor Dave Bing would be none too happy with Detroit Corporation Counsel Krystal Crittendon's 11th hour decision on Thursday to ask Lansing to reconsider his dismissal last month of her suit challenging the consent agreement. 

The challenge could once again put the city in the position of losing out on state funding to help bail it out of its dire financial situation.

Bing issued a statement late Friday afternoon: 

"I am disappointed the Corporation Counsel has chosen to prolong the needless litigation over the Financial Stability Agreement.

By filing this motion of reconsideration, on the last possible day to appeal Judge William Collette’s previous ruling, she keeps the legal challenge of the FSA alive and she keeps the Detroit’s financing at risk, making it harder for us to stabilize the city. This lawsuit does not fix a street light, does not put buses in service, and does not put more police officers on the street.

Moreover, the Corporation Counsel’s lawsuit has already caused the City to pay higher interest rates on its borrowed money and damaged the City’s credit rating.

Crittendon,  in a letter to the City Council, Crittendon said the judge in Lansing overlooked the soundness of her argument against the agreement.
"Please be advised that I, as corporation counsel stand by my decision to have the courts determine the validity of the" consent agreement, she wrote. -- A.L.