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Crowd interrupts state financial review meeting in Detroit

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Update 5:26 p.m.

The state review team looking into Detroit’s finances held what was supposed to be its last meeting today.

The meeting was chaotic.

State Treasurer Andy Dillon and other review team members were often drowned out by shouting and singing protesters in the audience.

In the end, the review reaffirmed that a "severe financial emergency" does exist in Detroit.

But there's no consent agreement between the state and city leaders yet.

Dillon said Governor Snyder is still talking with city leaders.

"If a consent agreement can be adopted, that's an alternative for the Governor, and that's what he prefers to see," said Dillon.

Dillon says if the two sides can't reach an agreement, the Governor can appoint an emergency manager for Detroit.

But by law, he'll need to act within the next ten days.

5:00 p.m.

The state financial review team meeting in Detroit today has adjourned. They did so without making recommendations to Gov. Snyder for how to resolve Detroit's financial crisis.

The meeting was open to the public and was interrupted by loud outbursts from the crowd. The Detroit Free Press estimated the crowd at around 100 people.

4:35 p.m.

A state-appointed financial review team met in Detroit today and was expected to deliver its recommendation to Gov. Snyder regarding the potential appointment of a emergency manager for the city.

Protesters attending the meeting interrupted State Treasurer Andy Dillon during his presentation shouting "No takeover." At one point, the crowd began to sing "We Shall Overcome."

More from the Detroit Free Press:

State treasurer Andy Dillon couldn’t finish his report about Detroit’s finances because the crowd was standing and shouting. Audience members were warned that they will be removed if they continue interrupting proceedings. At one point Dillon called the audience rude, prompting more protest and causing security to move in on the meeting. The review board attempted to continue with its discussion. Police officers were present at the meeting. Later, a skirmish between a security guard and a protester interrupted the meeting, but financial review team members tried to keep the meeting going.

Michigan Radio's Sarah Cwiek was at the meeting and will have more for us later.

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.
Sarah Cwiek joined Michigan Public in October 2009. As our Detroit reporter, she is helping us expand our coverage of the economy, politics, and culture in and around the city of Detroit.
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