Detroit City Council tries to find cuts and prevent Emergency Manager appointment

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Detroit City Council members are among the players in a high stakes game of beat the clock.

They met all day long, among themselves, with the Financial Review Team and with Mayor Dave Bing to avoid the appointment of an emergency manager.

"We're in a cash crisis and we're in a fiscal crisis," said President Charles Pugh.

"We fit all the criteria for an emergency manager," added President Pro Tem Gary Brown.

Late Tuesday they got encouraging news about the delicate negotiations with the city's largest union. There was significant progress but union officials will not offer any details or make any comment before details can be worked out.

There is is still a thirty million dollar gap between the Mayor's cost cutting Plan A and council's Plan B. More meetings are planned with the Mayor and his financial officers to review the proposals line by line.

Council will vote Friday on a new list of cuts.

Council member Kwame Kenyatta is concerned about anxiety created by the mere possibility recreation centers could be closed.

"We're scaring the hell out of people," says Kenyatta.

President Pugh says if centers do close the city would work with DPS to keep school buildings that have gyms and pools open later for young people and senior citizens.