Michael Stampfler, the former emergency manager in Pontiac, Michigan gave a speech last night at a Rotary International meeting in Wyandotte.
The Detroit Free Press reports he told the group the state's emergency manager law is "destined to fail."
In describing the law as a quick fix of cityfinances without planning for future economic development and civic engagement, Michael Stampfler said Public Act 4 makes it easy for cities to fall right back into distress when the emergency manager leaves. His comments came at a Rotary International meeting in Wyandotte. But he stopped short of prescribing concrete fixes to the law, instead suggesting that the Legislature needs to amend it to provide for what he called civic capital -- a base of socially conscious individuals to guide a city just out of receivership -- and capital infrastructure, ensuring a city has the economic framework to survive after the bills have been paid and the budget balanced.
Stampfler resigned as Pontiac's emergency manager last September after 14 months on the job. He was replaced by Lou Schimmel who currently holds the post.
