The purpose of this blog is to explore the effect that the economic downturn has had on one of the wealthiest counties in America. Oakland County, whose affluent neighborhoods stack up with the richest countrywide, is no different than the rest of the country when it comes to being prone to an economic depression.
Now Pontiac may not have ever been one of the Bloomfields or Birminghams, but if one wanted to see the real effects of what "we don't have any money" means when a city says it, then look no further than one of the states oldest cities.
The city seemed to take a step in the right direction on Nov. 4, when Leon B. Jukowski was voted into office over Sandy-Michael McDonald.
Jukowski will probably not turn the city around in four years, but as a former attorney and business man he has a better shot than his opponent, whose slogan was "change is going to come, are you"? (say that out loud)
Only took a shot at McDonald in his closing statement, vowing that he would "not have any ties to friends in office".
The good news for the city was short lived however, as the no-limit auction for the Pontiac Silverdome recently drew to a close. According to Jukowski, the city is going to get chump change for the historic venue from an auction. He believes the city should sell the property to a private investor based on tax-value.
“If we own it and run it, then we have to pay for it,” Jukowski said. “If we sell it to someone, then they have to pay to run it.”
No one knows how much the Silverdome ended up going for and if the city feels like the amount is not adequate then they can opt out of the sale.
As of right now though, Pontiac is a dying city more than $100 million in debt located in an affluent county whose problems keep multiplying.
Don't tell that to McDonald though, who is still serving for the city and thinks that, "Pontiac's best days are ahead".
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