First of its kind effort hits the streets Saturday
DETROIT, Oct. 1, 2011/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following release is being issued by Stand Up for Democracy:
Who: Dozens of community volunteers and people driving up to sign the repeal of the emergency manager law
What: Innovative effort to collect signatures launches with the ease and convenience of a fast food drive thru concept
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 2011
Where: Mammoth Shopping Center at the intersection of Grand River and Greenfield on Detroit's westside
Why: The Stand Up for Democracy campaign distributed 70,000 petitions to volunteers across Michigan to repeal Public Act 4. The law is seen as a naked power grab by Lansing that created emergency managers and gave them sweeping powers including the ability to:
- Seize and sell public assets without a court order
- Strip elected officials of their duties without due process
- Dissolve/merge cities, townships and school districts without a popular vote
- Break binding contracts and eliminate collective bargaining rights at will
- Close vital public services without a public hearing
- Outsource public services and enter into contracts without legislative oversight
In June volunteers in Ann Arbor, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, Monroe, Pontiac, Petoskey, Traverse City and Ypsilanti launched a petition drive and circulated 30,000 repeal petitions. 70,000 petitions have been in circulation since then. Only 161,000 valid voter signatures are needed to place the issue on the ballot in November 2012. When the signatures are validated, PA 4 is suspended until the general election. For more information go to www.michiganforward.org or www.standup4democracy.com or call 1-866-306-5168 to volunteer.
SOURCE Stand Up for Democracy
