I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
Even though Synagro Technologies has been tied to a bribery scandal that may land two company representatives, consultant Rayford Jackson and former Michigan executive James Rosendall, in prison, the Texas-based waste disposal company is in the running for a new contract with the city.
When bribery charges against the company and elected officials came out this year, Synagro agreed to terminate a $1.2 billion contract with the city.
Now, just months after two major Michigan figures have been convicted, Synagro is eyeing Detroit again. This time they want to sign a multi-million dollar contract to haul the city’s solid waste.
As the Michigan Citizen reported this week, sludge disposal in the city has a history of being a dirty business in more than one way. In 1982 Charles Beckham, who currently serves as Mayor Dave Bing’s Chief of Staff, was convicted of accepting a bribe connected with a sludge deal and spent two years in prison for it.
In June, former City Councilwoman Monica Conyers was convicted on conspiracy charges in the Synagro sludge hauling scandal in which the convicted Synagro leaders offered her money in exchange for a favorable vote on the $1.2 billion waste disposal contract that was canceled this year. Conyers could get up to five years in prison at her sentencing scheduled for January 15.
Synagro may have slim chances at getting another deal with the city given that on a local level, at least, the company name is now tied to a major bribery scandal. But according to the Michigan Citizen report there’s nothing stopping the company from competing for the lowest bid according to Detroit Water and Sewage Department representatives.
The city council is ultimately in charge of making decisions on contracts.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter