Chaos at Cobo: Detroiters demanding federal help

Source: Detroit News

Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Chaos at Cobo: Detroiters demanding federal help
Christine MacDonald, Santiago Esparza and George Hunter / The Detroit News


Detroit -- A throng pushing to get into Cobo Center today to get applications for federal help on rent and utility bills has turned chaotic, resulting in at least five injuries.

Emergency medical technicians on the scene said they had treated at least five hopeful applicants who were injured during the rush to get inside the venue. People in wheelchairs and others using canes were being leaned on by people too weak to stand.

Meanwhile, outside some people reportedly were going through the crowd, snatching applications from those who'd already obtained them. There also was a constant din of screams from people insisting they be let inside.

Detroit Police 2nd Deputy Chief John Roach said 150 officers on the scene have gotten a handle on the situation.

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20091007/METRO01/910070396/Chaos-at-Cobo--Detroiters-demanding-federal-help

---

We're in for a long, cold winter.

:(

Detroit is such a mess. I fear the rest of the country is on it's way there.

Well said.
:toast:

It's called: Let them eat cake.

Senate and in teh WH.

But the problem is that the main thing involved in propelling our economy along right now, is the funding via Bernanke's digital monies. And those accounts always involve the banksters, not the average consumers. That is Why Wll St has been celebrating that the DOW has come close to 10 K again. WHile The average household sees few of the gains. Geithner and Bernanke should be sharing a jail cell, not mopping up Main Street dollars and sending them over to Wall Street.

Bernanke is Obama's pick by the way - he cannot be blamed on George W.

The need is great and the help is inadequate. Desperate people do desperate things.

Thank you for being compassionate. Things are indeed desperate in Michigan and Detroit the most of all. I mourn for this state I love.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091001/NEWS16/910010326

We are sixty miles south of Detroit. The whole area is dependent on the auto industry. I'd like to smack all of those people in the face who, months ago, were ranting about letting the auto industry die. Corporations have screwed us over. The cities have no tax revenue coming in to pay for police and fire. Toledo is trying to close a $20,000,000+ gap in its budget. I'm sure it's much worse in Detroit. I read an article a few days ago where bodies are stacking up in the morgue in Detroit because relatives cannot claim them and the city can't afford to bury them. Shocking!

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/01/news/economy/_morgue/index.htm

Things are just going to get worse here. It's bad in Toledo and it's nowhere NEAR as bad as in Detroit right now, where fully 33.3% of the people are living below the poverty line.

When our head is actually in the shitter.

:(

There. I said it.

I'm a Chicago native, lived for 15 years in NE Indiana before moving to Arizona.

The corporations screwed over the people, and the administrations -- plural -- have done nothing to stop it.

Everything from "Read my lips, no new taxes" to "Read my lips, Main Street before Wall Street."


TG

Sadly, I don't expect that to change either.

1) Skipped the Michigan primaries; did not negotiate in good faith for any sort of compromise to make Michigan's vote count.

2) Has visited Michigan only rarely.

3) Reneged almost immediately on his promise to renegotiate NAFTA.

4) Forces GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy with almost no mention of their impact on the state of Michigan. UAW contracts are unilaterally severed.

5) Simultaneously provides trillions to Wall Street, defends taxpayer supplied bonuses based on "the sanctity of contract". Administration worries aloud about the fate of upscale Manhattan eateries if bonuses not paid.

6) Protects politically favored industries (e.g. tire manufacturers) while preaching "free trade" as to Detroit.

7) Toyota, Hyundai the big winners in Cash for Clunkers. Again, it's "free trade" that requires taxpayers subsidize Asian autos.

8) Admin. pushes hard for mandatory, for-profit insurance with no relief for manufacturers whatsoever.

:shrug:

I just don't think it provides him any good photo ops.

Michigan would have been in a far worse position if McCain had been elected. GM and Chrysler would be liquidating as we speak.

I hope Obama does give more attention to Michigan and the issues that effect us (ex: NAFTA) because the state is in need of assistance.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

You tell me:

"Look at the City of Flint. What is the predominant political theory pushed in Flint?

Look at the City of Detroit. Who has run Detroit for the past umpteen decades?"

:WTF:

I almost responded to that message but then realized it wasn't worth my time.

What the F*** does the government THINK is going on in this country? Do they NEED to see the torches and pitchforks before they believe and accept the fact that there's a crisis and they'd better get their heads out of Wall Street and onto Main Street and Side Streets and start doing something substantial and supporting the welfare of the people?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Is that a troll under that bridge?

Your insight is minimal.