Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said Thursday he did not authorize his law department chief to issue an opinion that the city's consent agreement over finances with the state is void.
But some city council members told the Free Press that Bing is not being truthful.
Three council members who were at a meeting last week between the council, Bing and city lawyers said the mayor made it clear he approved of sending a letter from the Law Department that challenged the consent deal. It was written by city Law Department chief Krystal Crittendon, who said the agreement violated Detroit's city charter and Michigan law.
But Bing insisted today that he never authorized Crittendon to send the letter to Gov. Rick Snyder that declared the April 4 consent agreement "void and unenforceable." Crittendon said the city could not enter into the agreement because the state owes $4.75 million to Detroit for water service to the state-owned Michigan State Fairgrounds and, more important, $224 million in state revenue sharing.
